Title: The Heir of… Potter?

Author: BertaS

Pairing: None

Rating: PG - Swearing

Word Count: 1035

Warnings: Language

Summary: Summer before 5th year. Harry gets some interesting news that he needs to share.

A/N: Well, it's been a while, but here's the next chapter. Please review as your questions and comments may cause more of this to dribble out of my brain, hopefully.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, movies or anything else you may recognize. And the only payment I will receive, is the warm fuzzy I get from your reviews.

Part 3

Marvolo followed the elf into the elegantly decorated sitting room. "Master has a visitor." The elf announced.

"At this hour? Who would…" Lucius started then caught sight of Marvolo. "My Lord?" He immediately rose from his chair and took a knee. He turned his head slightly and hissed, "Draco!" at his son who was just sitting there staring at the Dark Lord.

The young man seemed to realize what was required of him and slid off his chair to copy his father's position on one knee with his head bowed and hands folded on the upright knee.

Marvolo smirked slightly. "Rise. Don't be too hard on him Lucius, he is after all not in my service, yet." He nodded to the lady of the house. "Do please forgive the late hour, Mrs. Malfoy, but I must barrow your husband."

Narcissa dropped into a deep curtsy and received a half bow in return as she said, "Of course, my Lord." She nodded to Lucius and commanded, "Come Draco it is past your bed time."

The adult Malfoy's were both pleased that the young man waited until he and his mother were in the corridor before complaining that he was fifteen and old enough to stay up as late as he wanted.

When they were alone, Lucius touched his left arm, "Forgive me, my Lord, I did not feel…"

Marvolo shook his head. "I didn't. A minor flaw in the mark. I have to have someone with it to call others." He sighed and gestured to a chair, "May I?"

"Of course, my Lord, please. Do you need anything? Food? Drink?" Lucius was a bit thrown off by the calmness and unusual behavior of the Dark Lord.

Marvolo sighed again as he sank in to one of the chairs near the fire. "I wouldn't say no to a brandy."

When they both had drinks and Lucius had sat gingerly on the edge of his own chair he opened his mouth as if to speak only to close it again.

"Speak Lucius." Marvolo said with a smirk.

"Apologies, my Lord. I was trying to determine if I should inquire as to Peter's where-abouts."

Marvolo snorted, "Oh, indeed you should. Discreetly." He had a rather annoyed look on his face as he continued, "The little rat has gone missing."

~~OO~~

He shivered in the center of the small cage, in the center of a large desk, in a well-proportioned office, the warning and previous events fresh in his mind:

"Oh good, you're awake." The boy had said with a grin that he had often seen on the face of the boy's father. Usually while plotting pranks. "I wouldn't try to transform if I were you." The boy flicked the cage, made from close set wire mesh, with his finger. "It's charmed unbreakable." The boy almost looked like he wanted the rat to try.

Peter really didn't like being carried in a cage as the swaying motion was making him feel sicker than just being captured in his rat form. He did wonder how that had happened as the last he remembered was going to sleep in his room at the Dark Lord's hideout.

Then he was plopped down on a small desk. He had just let out a little squeak of relief when Death-On-Silent-White-Wings landed on the top of the cage shaking it violently. Shrieking at the top of his little rat lungs, Peter scurried around the perimeter of the cage briefly getting caught in the exercise wheel in his panic. It took a while for him to calm down and begin to appreciate the charms on the cage that protected him. Of course, then an elf was summoned to take him to his current unknown location.

~~OO~~

Amelia Bones was not happy to find a large rat in a cage on her desk when she entered her supposedly locked office on Monday morning. Looking closer there was also a letter laying in front of the cage. It was set in such a way that she did not have to touch it to read:

Dear Madam Bones,

This rat is an illegal Animagus, the cage is charmed unbreakable and password protected.

In addition, this rat is responsible for the kidnapping of Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory at the end of the last task of the Triwizard tournament. He killed Mr. Diggory and forced Mr. Potter to participate in a dark ritual to give Voldemort a new body. This forced participation of Mr. Potter may constitute an attempt at line theft.

This rat has been hiding as a rat in the company of young children. Children that took him to Hogwarts as a pet and unknowingly allowed a marked death eater to roam freely about the dorm and castle.

A little over a year ago three students (Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley) witnessed a confrontation between this rat and Sirius Black where in this rat confessed to being the Potter's real Secret Keeper, framing Mr. Black and killing the twelve people on the street with a blasting curse that hit a gas main.

This rat is Peter Pettigrew.

Sincerely,

A Friend

PS: The Password is Justice

When Lucius arrived an hour later, the Ministry would resemble an ant nest that had been kicked over.

~~OO~~

"What are you doing boy?" growled Vernon when he caught sight of Harry leaning against the door frame to the lounge listening to the evening news program Vernon was watching.

Harry shrugged, "Listening to the news, Uncle."

Vernon snorted, "Why?" The boy had been doing this since he returned from that freak school he attended and had been shooed away several times.

Harry sighed, "Just thought I'd find out what is going on in the world. You know, this growing up thing? I'm thinking about giving it a go." He then returned his attention to the telly as the weather caster came on after the break.

Vernon harrumphed and proceeded to ignore the boy until the next advert when he ordered Harry to bring him a beer and changed the channel to watch the last half of the football match which the boy thankfully showed no interest in.

To be Continued…