All in the Family

Chapter 59: The Riddle House

It was a run-down cottage, fit to fall in a burst of strong wind. Eight teenagers falling into its midst nearly did the job. Dust coated everything in such thick layers, the simultaneous sneezes nearly sent a chair falling over. A burnished teapot with long cold water sat ready on the stove, a chipped cup and bag never used set at the ready with no one to save it as it toppled on its side. The only distinguishing sight from the moth-eaten, broken recliner in the living room and the tightly fitted bed was the mansion just visible in the distant gloom.

Frank tried not to look at it longer than he had to, it gave him the creeps for no good reason. Upon closer inspection of the minuscule space, he found a book lodged into the broken back of the chair, but it had changed again to a dark blue. It was much, much thicker than the previous three versions, but as it had a light blue four emblazoned on the spine he was sure it was the right one he was supposed to find. Even without previous experience, it still gave off a magical energy as blatant as the tension filling the tiny area, and he'd rather not be too close as this place gave no choice when it blew, so he tried to crack it open and begin.

He didn't even get the chapter title out.

"So that's it then?"

Alice couldn't help but be rather impressed with the way Regulus bowed up to the three boys much older and larger than him, he certainly wasn't giving it much thought as he laid into them.

"Don't know what you're on about," Sirius Black scoffed while inspecting his nails, the air around him still exuding he always found himself winding up in dusty cottages a thousand miles from school do to magic outside their control. Then she reminded herself he regularly spent his free time in that Shrieking Shack and exploring the grounds with a werewolf, so maybe that's why the four had taken it in stride so quickly. This really wasn't such a big deal in comparison.

Regulus didn't seem to agree, as he shoved at his brother to keep his attention. Alice watched as all three, she turned purposefully just to see it as true, frowned reproachfully at him for it. "You know perfectly well! Why's Peter suddenly not looking anyone in the eye, eh? What did you lot say to him? He ruddy stood by you and defended you because of some crimes, now you can't be bothered to do the same?"

It seemed to take a lot of effort for Sirius Black to force his scowl to look light and amused as he continued antagonizing his brother. "Oh, as if I have to explain to you," he pandered. "Come on Reggie, you're smart enough to know the difference between the rat who set me up for a crime isn't the same as not doing it."

"He hasn't done it you arrogant shit!" Regulus shouted loud enough dust trickled down from the rafters.

"I don't see how it's your business," Potter finally cut in as Sirius wasn't holding back his anger much longer. "Why don't you run along back to your Dark Art's club now and let the big kids handle it."

If his goal had been to infuriate the younger Black beyond words, it worked. He turned on his heel and went to stand by the front door where Pettigrew was and hissed something quietly to him.

Pettigrew just shook his head fiercely, and then 'vanished.' This time though, they all had the sense of mind to look to the ground and just spot a bald tale slipping underneath the recliner.

The three Marauders still visible looked like they were going to be sick at the cowardly display, but Lily felt like bursting into applause someone other than her had finally called them out on their insolence. She wanted to have a go at them herself, but Frank had finally taken the lingering silence to begin.

Peter listened, just like he always had for his friends. He'd always been smaller, everyone always overlooked him, he'd been the perfect one to blend in and hear every conversation in a room even before he'd shrunk down to this size. He took in quickly everything there was to say about The Riddle House and stored that information away, connecting it easily to You-Know-Who, ergo it would definitely be important later. There would be a later, there had to be.

He would not confront his friends as Regulus had suggested, nor do anything to further incite them like suddenly trying to pathetically make friends with Longbottom and Smith. He doubted he could anyways, he still wasn't sure how he'd made the friends he had. They'd take him back though, just like they had Sirius, once he found a way of reminding them of his usefulness.

Doubts began plaguing him at once though, if they even should. He'd probably just turn around and somehow get James killed all over again. You-Know-Who was no unintelligent animal to be outsmarted as he'd done in the past, and it was clear to him now they didn't even need him to do that. Their tricks and planning couldn't last forever, when school ended they'd have to find something else to do, would probably have started to forget about him anyway, he'd already seen the beginnings of that. Who would need him around then to get information? What would be his purpose?

Frank read with intrigue about the history being fed to him, but felt he was the only one really taking it in. The three Marauders had banded together in a tight circle and seemed to be having some whispered argument Black was on the outs of. He kept shaking his head and gesturing over his shoulder a lot. Lily and Alice weren't being much better, looking out the window to the decrepit old Manor being described but exchanging softly whispered words as well while throwing pitiful looks to the younger Black, who was gazing foully at the recliner.

His namesake alone seemed to have his interest as he spotted burglars in the old house, and Frank couldn't help but glance up now to make sure a light wasn't visible there yet. He was the only one paying strict attention to the details provided as the war hero made his way along the property past his beloved plants, and then began overhearing You-Know-Who's conversation to Pettigrew.

He almost wished he could climb under some furniture and hear the rest of it out too rather than read through the dead air proceeding this portion. Pathetic was the kind way to put the following description of the interactions for plots of murder, a far cry from the boy he'd been seeing recently tagging around with the most extravagant students in the castle.

The poor old groundskeeper had been marked dead as soon as he'd entered that house, to this everyone knew. Still, there were flinches all around for the curse being cast, but it was Harry's experience seeing it all that had them gasping for breath as they were pulled away.