The Consequences of Solutions

Peter Pettigrew sat alone in the cell of Azkaban, almost mindless with boredom. He wasn’t sure how long he had been locked in Azkaban, but he was sure it was all Lucius Malfoy’s fault. "People may think me a coward, or a traitor, but I know a port-key when I see one!" He told himself. Surely Lucius had consipired to get the Dark Lord all to himself! But Pettigrew, Voldemort\'s most loyal and loving servant, would have none of that.



When Voldemort had ordered him to get into Hogwarts to spy on Draco and Harry, no one had known that Voldemort would not be in complete control of Harry Potter’s body. All the death eaters had assumed that Voldemort planned to inhabit the body of The-Boy-Who-Lived.



Unfortunately, Voldemort was no longer in control of any independent body. Harry Potter still walked around freely. And that meant that poor Peter Pettigrew, or, as he preferred to be called, Wormtail, was left without any directions to follow from his Lord. And seeing as how he had always been more of a follower then a leader, he had promptly been stumbled upon while scurrying through the hallways, trying to think of what he should do now.



And where would he be sent next, but Azkaban? So there he sat, thinking about the Dark Lord, and what he could do to help him this time. Wormtail knew he was expendable. He knew that everyone either thought he was grossly incompetent, or that he was only interested in protecting himself.



“But that just isn’t true!” he whined to himself as he scratched at the cell door. “My poor, powerful Master! How could he leave me without his plans!? How could he trust himself to that boy’s body, when mine was offered up willingly to be used in any way!? Am I not good enough for him? Surely he feels my love…surely he could see my loyalty!”



He leaned against the door, and slid down it, tears starting to fall down his dirty cheeks. “Master…why have you left me…”



-xxXxx-



Back in Hogwarts, Harry and Draco were deep in discussion with the Headmaster and Snape. Snape could only insist that Draco was in danger, because of Harry’s current body guest, and that they should be kept apart more often.



The Headmaster had simply shrugged off Snapes comments, and had suggested several people who might be suitable for being the Host of Voldemort’s soul. Lucius Malfoy was obviously out of the picture. Bellatrix Lestrange was another suggestion. If she could be lured out of hiding with the promise of being reunited with the Dark Lord, everyone was sure she wouldn’t mind hosting his soul. But the problem was that her magical energy would not be compatible with Voldemort’s. His magic was male, and hers was obviously female. If they were simply attempting a bond between the two, it wouldn’t be a problem - but this was Voldemort’s soul and life energy.



Finally Dumbledore suggested Wormtail. He admitted to the boys that the man had been found wandering the halls of Hogwarts, obviously practically out of his mind already. “He was muttering to himself about the Dark Lord. I daresay he loves his Master, even more then Voldemort may like.” Dumbledore chuckled.



The two young men, and Snape, stared back at the Headmaster with wide, frightened eyes. The thought that anyone would want to do anything sexual with Voldemort was sickening.



But Wormtail’s love would serve as a good conduit for Voldemort’s soul and power to flow through. And even if the soul of Voldemort did not wish to inhabit Wormtail’s wretched body, the spells used wouldn’t give him much of a choice. All that was needed would be for the host to be willing to take the soul. And nobody doubted Wormtail would disagree.



-xxXxx-



Wormtail did agree. He wasted not a second thinking about it. His Dark Lord would find a home within the body of the man who loved him. The Animagus didn’t even think of it as a punishment, nor did he consider it as receiving a life debt from Harry Potter. No, this was his joy, his privilege to accept the soul of his Master.



-xxXxx-



It was no secret that Voldemort thought his imminent transfer to Wormtail’s body was a punishment worse then death. He hated the leach with all the feeling he had. He hated the whimpering, the simpering agreement, the fawning and begging the man inflicted on him every day they had been near each other. That was why Voldemort sent Wormtail away so often. Away on unneeded jobs, into unwarranted dangers. And yet the damned man lived.



Voldemort raged within Harry’s body, flinging himself like a pin ball around Harry’s inmost thoughts, screaming with fury and disgust. And Harry laughed. Not that it was pleasant to have the Dark Lord in his mind, bumping against his private memories, But Harry did so enjoy dragging up any memories he had that involved the man Voldemort hated with a passion, but would soon join forever.



Draco hated that Harry had to live with Voldemort in his mind for even a few days. But he did not complain when Harry told him, laughter in his eyes, of how much Voldemort hated Wormtail, and how much Harry enjoyed torturing the Dark Lord with his memories of the man. Draco laughed along with Harry, as he stuffed yet another helping of pudding into his mouth. Pregnancy had given Draco quite an appreciation for food.



Though somewhere in his mind, Harry was still worried, he had stuffed the feelings of fear about Voldemort being within him down. He knew if he could hold out until the next morning, Peter Pettigrew would be brought to Hogwarts by the Aurors, and after a few spells within the Room of Requirement, Harry would be free of his personal demon forever. Free to live with his mate, and his unborn children, without fear of Voldemort ever again.



But as he fell asleep that night, something shifted inside him. Voldemort had a plan.