Chương 157: 36
Chapter 36: Greedy Predators
"What do you want from me?"
Peter Pettigrew, now somewhat recovered, looked at Ethan with a mix of fear and confusion. Despite having only met Ethan once on the Hogwarts Express, Peter felt an unsettling familiarity. His mind raced with questions. His mother was unaware of his illegal Animagus status, and only Sirius and Lupin knew he was still alive. Could it be them?
He hadn't heard any news of Sirius's release from Azkaban, so it must be Lupin. But Lupin was a werewolf, and that was a different matter altogether...
Peter's thoughts spun wildly.
"I'm simply asking for a favor," Ethan said with a composed smile.
Peter Pettigrew, despite his unremarkable appearance and lack of bravery, had considerable magical power. He was not on par with the Hogwarts headmasters, but he was formidable in his own right. The Marauders—Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter—were all strong in their own ways. Even though Sirius had been imprisoned for over a decade, Peter had been a rat for just as long, and Lupin had been on the run for years, their combat skills were still impressive.
They were all elite in their respective spheres. Yet, they all ultimately met tragic ends, with their lives intertwined with Harry's. Snape, their adversary, had also perished. The thought of whether they would clash again in the afterlife crossed Ethan's mind.
"Is this how you ask for help?" Peter panted, eyeing Ethan warily.
Peter couldn't fathom the young wizard before him, who wielded the Cruciatus Curse with more skill than himself and could perform magic without a wand. Ethan hadn't even drawn his wand yet. To think, this was a first-year student alongside Ronald.
"How would you prefer me to ask?" Ethan's gaze remained cold.
"What do you want me to do? I'll do it," Peter said, desperation evident in his voice. His fear for his life drove him to submission.
Even if he had his wand, Peter doubted he could defeat someone who could cast Unforgivable Curses without one. Without his wand, he felt even more powerless.
Peter had always been timid. He had joined Gryffindor to overcome his fear, aligning himself with James and the others to avoid being the victim of bullying. His allegiance to Voldemort had been driven by self-preservation, choosing the winning side. Now, threatened with death, he would comply without hesitation.
"Are you familiar with the Feindfyre?" Ethan asked, a key part of his agenda. He had wanted to learn this spell for a while but had found no one knowledgeable in Knockturn Alley.
The Fiery Curse was a powerful dark magic. It created a fire that could burn anything, including invisible objects like souls, and could mimic the forms of certain creatures. It was only extinguishable by the extremely powerful use of the Finite Incantatem.
Its primary drawback was its difficulty in control, making it dangerous to wield. However, Ethan's "Fire Affinity" made him well-suited to handle it, making the Feindfyre a perfect fit for his current needs.
"Yes!" Peter responded decisively. He had studied dark magic, including the Feindfyre, in secret while aligned with Voldemort. However, he hadn't used it since nearly burning himself during a practice due to its difficulty in control.
"And what about the Protego Diabolica?"
The Protego Diabolica, another powerful spell, was known for its destructive capability, having nearly leveled Paris and stumped all Aurors. Though depicted as blue in films, it was actually black in practice to stand out against dark backgrounds.
"No!" Peter replied, avoiding lying to Ethan. While he had heard of the Fire Guard, he had never acquired it.
"Then write down everything you know about Transfiguration, your experience with becoming an Animagus, and your knowledge of spells, alchemy, and potions."
This was Ethan's real motive for capturing Peter. He sought the knowledge contained in Peter's mind.
There were only seven known Animagi in this era, including Professor McGonagall. Known illegal Animagi included Rita Skeeter's beetle, Sirius's dog, Peter's rat, and James's stag. Others likely existed but were not widely known. Mastery of Animagus transformation was highly advanced magic, not something Professor McGonagall would teach until at least the fifth year due to its risky nature.
Peter, despite not being as skilled as McGonagall in other areas of Transfiguration, likely knew more about Animagus transformation than she did, given the successes of his contemporaries. The Marauders shared their knowledge freely among themselves.
"All of it?" Peter groaned, overwhelmed by the thought of detailing his extensive knowledge.
"Yes, all of it."
Snap!
Ethan snapped his fingers, and Peter's eyes glazed over.
Using the Imperius Curse would ensure Peter complied without affecting his memory, avoiding potential sabotage during the writing process.
With the desk, paper, and quill prepared, Peter began to write rapidly under the influence of the Imperius Curse.
Ethan had experimented with the Imperius Curse during the summer, finding it could last up to 148 hours, or seven days. For Peter, Ethan would only need to recast it every few days.
Once he had extracted the necessary information, Ethan planned to honor his agreement with Ron and return Scabbers.
After all, beyond the Gold Finger, familiarity with the plot was a significant advantage for a time traveler. Without Peter's knowledge, the timing and method of Voldemort's resurrection were uncertain, and the consequences would be unpredictable.
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