Wormtail the Spy

The filthy river meanders along its banks, overgrown with weeds and littered with garbage.

A huge chimney stands tall... It's a relic of an abandoned mill, eerie and desolate.

With a soft "plop," a bald, middle-aged man appeared out of nowhere on the riverbank, looking rather furtive.

He glanced around furtively, and only after confirming it was safe did he stoop and head towards Snape's house.

For over a year, Wormtail had been living in Snape's house, acting as the Dark Lord's eyes and watching over him.

However, in Peter's opinion, there was nothing worth monitoring about Snape.

Back in his school days, when he was still hanging out with James and Sirius, he already knew that this guy was a complete dark wizard.

How could such a born Death Eaters possibly betray the Dark Lord?

At that time, they never imagined that one day they would become "comrades" on the same path and even "live together".

The Marauders of the "Iron Quadrangle" later fell apart; some died, some went to prison, some became impoverished, and he... became a Death Eaters.

It just goes to show how unpredictable life is; no one knows whether an accident or tomorrow will come first.

Suddenly, Wormtail realized that he was a damn philosopher, smart since he was a child.

It's a pity no one paid attention to him; otherwise, he might be a famous wizarding thinker today.

After opening the door, Peter walked towards the living room.

After the meeting ended, Snape had not returned and no one knew where he had gone.

However, it's not the best option; Wormtail doesn't like this old man at all.

They were mortal enemies at Hogwarts, and now... he sees himself with the same hatred in his eyes.

Peter even suspected that if it weren't for the Dark Lord, he might have killed him.

I don't know where this deep hatred came from.

Back in school, James and Snape were the ones who were constantly at odds with Sirius.

I'm just a lackey!

Peter even killed Snape's enemy, James, and not only did he not say thank you, but he treated me like this... What a rude guy!

Wormtail swore and cursed, addressing all three generations of women in the Snape family.

Although he appears subservient to people's faces, he is still capable of striking hard behind their backs.

Peter wandered around for a while, and after confirming that Snape was really not home, he decided to sneak into his magical materials storage room.

Although he didn't dare to openly monitor Snape, he was still quite bold enough to use the guise of surveillance to steal valuable materials and sell them.

He walked to the door, raised his wand, and was about to make a move when a cough suddenly rang out from the corner.

Peter's whole body went limp. He thought Snape had returned, so he quickly made up a lame excuse and shouted:

"Severus, I think I heard a mouse making a sound. I wanted to take a look, don't misunderstand..."

"Peter, it's been a long time." A young wizard slowly emerged from the shadows.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Wormtail suddenly turned around, exclaiming incredulously, "Master... Master!"

Peter's expression was somewhat complicated.

He hadn't seen Tom for almost three years; and he hadn't received any orders from him for almost a year.

Peter almost thought his new master was dead and was about to become Voldemort's lackey again.

I never expected to meet you again at this time.

Tom smiled kindly, sat down gracefully on the sofa, and looked at his little spy.

"Master, where have you been all this time?" Peter quickly went over to him.

"I saw on the news that United States is in chaos. Did you cause that?"

Tom coughed awkwardly.

After being ambushed by the Stark, he was taken to Constantinople by the old man.

The current chaos in the United States has nothing to do with him.

Of course, nothing will happen if he doesn't blow up the Capitol.

Overall, however, the current turmoil in the United States is purely accidental and not his intention.

But that didn't stop Tom from nodding and readily admitting that he was the one who orchestrated the turmoil, deliberately provoking a war between United States Muggle and the Wizarding World!

Thus, they garnered another wave of admiration and praise from the Wormtail.

Tom quickly changed the subject.

He came here not to listen to Peter's boasts, but to find out about the Horcrux and get the original Old Voldy... dead as soon as possible!!

Wormtail recounted the contents of the meeting.

"The only strange thing is that after the meeting, the Dark Lord..." Peter hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly raised his right hand.

His pupils dilated with fear.

That hand was the Alchemy hand that was cut off when Voldemort was resurrected, after being used as "servant's blood," and was replaced with.

At this moment, it went out of control, as if it were sentient, and suddenly and mercilessly moved towards Peter's throat, gripping his neck tightly.

The Wormtail turned pale with horror, its entire body rising into the air as if suspended in the center of a spider web, its face contorted, its neck gripped tightly.

"Master, please save me... hurry..."

Tom squinted at the Alchemy arms, raised his wand, and began chanting a spell.

Peter's vision began to blur, and he stammered, pleading desperately with Voldemort:

"Master... I dare not... I will never betray you again... Please don't kill me..."

After Tom finished chanting the spell, the silver arm suddenly released its grip, and he, having escaped death, fell heavily to the ground like a puddle of mud.

The Wormtail sat on the ground, panting heavily, and asked in shock, "What happened?"

"One of Voldemort's little spells: disobey his orders and you'll be killed," Tom said, sitting on the sofa.

"But nothing happened all the time before?" the Wormtail said.

He used to pass on a lot of information to Tom, even betraying the Dark Lord, and nothing bad happened to him.

"I cut off contact with Voldemort a while ago," Tom explained after thinking for a moment.

Previously, although Tom was resurrected, he was still part of the Horcrux community, and the overall connection of their souls was not severed.

Regardless of who Wormtail pledged allegiance to, it was allegiance to Voldemort, so it cannot be considered betrayal.

But at Easter, Tom severed this connection, and the two had no further dealings.

Peter betrays again, the magic on the silver hand will be triggered, allowing you to kill him.

The Wormtail looked at the silver arm with fear. It had originally thought it was a treasure, but it turned out to be a deadly threat.

"Don't worry, Peter, I just used magic to control it, nothing will happen again," Tom said.

"Speak, what were you trying to say?"

The Wormtail was terrified; it collapsed to the ground, its face ashen, its eyes fixed on the silver hand.

"Master... maybe... let's just forget about it..."

Peter doesn't want to die!

Tom stared intently at the Wormtail, then suddenly pressed down on the other's shoulder, his voice growing softer.

"Peter, don't be afraid, I'm here. Remember what I told you before?"

Help me, and I will save you from the curse of death and lead you to a future that brings eternal immortality.

"Look at Voldemort again. Even if you are loyal to him, he still thinks about keeping a trick up his sleeve to kill you, but I would not do that."

You've been a spy for three years; this is your last mission. Once you've completed it, I'll take you away.

Tell me, will you help me?

Peter, affected by Tom's voice, seemed less afraid and mumbled incoherently:

"Dark Lord... prepare his snake and place it with me so I can keep it safe."

Tom squinted.

He understood his true nature; although he possessed a snake-controlling ability, he had no reason to solemnly entrust a snake to someone else.

Unless it's very important!

A snake isn't that important, but if it's... Horcrux...

Horcrux?!

It's not impossible; wasn't the original self, who was the diary, placed with the servant Malfoy?

It's definitely Horcrux... Based on Tom's understanding of Voldemort, he was certain.

Tom still remembers that conversation he had with Slughorn years ago.

The plan to have seven souls coexist and to create six Horcrux was also decided after that conversation.

Tom, holding the Soul-Gathering Coffin he received from Death, could clearly see that four Horcrux had already been destroyed.

With this snake, only one Horcrux remains, enough to kill Voldemort himself.

Unexpectedly, this Horcrux was delivered directly into my hands.

Was Voldemort out of his mind, or just incredibly unlucky?

But Tom didn't intend to do it himself.

Destroying the Horcrux was useless; he still needed Stark and Dumbledore to kill Voldemort.

They will only take action once they are certain, with their own hands, that the Horcrux is gone.

Tom looked at Peter, at this treacherous servant, at this man whose stance was already precarious because of a silver hand.

Finally, he laughed and said:

"Peter, once you get the snake, just stay here and hold out for a few days, and your mission will be over."

I'll take you away and give you the mission reward!

"Yes, Master!"

Peter was overjoyed; he seemed to see a bright future ahead.