It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 34

"You will not mention that Narcissa was there, Peter."  The Headmaster's voice cut him off from his vengeful threat.  "You owe Harry Potter a 'Wizard's Debt', from that night in the 'Shrieking Shack', or have you forgotten?"

Pettigrew cringed . . . this was not going well, he was running out of options for saving himself if Harry called him on that little sticking point in the courtroom.  Peter was thinking furiously, 'maybe I can blurt that out before Harry says anything about the debt . . . they'd wonder what he was trying to cover up . . . yes, they'd have to know what wasn't being said . . . '

"Before you think too long on how to get around not honoring your 'Wizard's Debt', Peter, I think you should know that if Harry mentions it to you and you are even hesitating to own up to it, that beautiful silver hand your Master 'gifted' you with in the graveyard will strangle you to death and no-one will be able to stop it from doing so. . . It's been cursed to make sure you never betray the Dark Lord."

Peter nearly fainted. He stood there, staring down at his proudest possession; his outward sign, that all could see, of his faithfulness to the Dark Lord.  He'd been gifted with it, only he among all the Death Eaters.  Now it was his worst nightmare; it was primed to kill him if he ever waivered from his loyalty, if he ever tried to betray his Master.  If he could have, he would have gladly ripped it off his arm at that moment.  He collapsed onto the chair, staring out the window.

"I will make you one offer, Peter," said Dumbledore quietly.

Wormtail looked up at him, wild hope in his eyes.

"I will do a memory modification on you so you will only remember Minerva being there with Sirius.  Narcissa's presence and participation in that evening's events will not be part of your testimony as to how you were captured, if, indeed, that even comes up in the proceedings.  I think the revelations about Sirius, Lily, James and Cedric will be the main topics, but just in case?"  Albus held up his wand and raised an eyebrow, asking if Peter was willing and would co-operate.

"Don't have much choice, old man, come to that . . . but I am sorry about Lily and James  . . . I was too frightened of him to resist . . . and about that boy . . . "

"Cedric . . .  his name was Cedric," came Albus' withering retort.

"Sorry, yes . . . " Peter gulped. "Cedric . . . thank you, Headmaster, for this small mercy," sobbed Peter, hanging his head.

The Headmaster quietly whispered the spell, his wand pointed at Pettigrew, as the memory thread made its way out of Peter's mind, to be placed in a small vial Albus had pulled from his pocket.  Then he did a 'Memory Modification Charm' or two before he turned and left the room.  Peter's sobs could be heard, echoing down the dungeon hallway, until a heavy door at the end closed, bringing silence once more.

* * *

Amelia Bones, Emmaline Vance and their families had agreed to be hidden, but Mister Ollivander had refused to leave his store.  He assured Dumbledore that he would be fine, but  Death Eaters did raid his store and whisked him away to Malfoy Manor.  The unfortunate Death Eaters who had been caught in the Ministry were tried, sentenced and sent to Azkaban to serve out their time.  

Voldemort had moved into Malfoy Manor less than two days after Nagini's death.  The Dark Lord's justification was that if it had been an Auror raid, they'd be back and he wasn't going to be sitting there waiting. 

Bella, of course, came with him, acting as if it were her house, not her sister's; ordering Narcissa to use the best china, retrieving the best wines from Lucius' cellar, rearranging the furniture.  Fortunately, the bickering between the sisters amused Voldemort, and trying to thwart her sister's vindictive posturing helped Narcissa keep her mind off of 'the plan'.