Peter’s Rescue Mission (cont. from last entry)

The room had never seem overly hospitiable, now it seemed even more cold and dirty than it had before. With a sigh Peter paced ‘his’ room at Riddle House. It had been over three months since he’d actually stayed there, as after Raya had inheirted Black Manor, she and Raven had moved him in there. But this evening had been Raya’s birthday party, which meant Sirius and Remus were both going to be present at Black Manor, and it would not be a good place for Peter to be. Maybe someday they will finaly see I’m truly sorry for what I did. Another sigh escaped him, Not that I expect them ever to forgive…

He had decided time would pass faster if he gave up and went to sleep. As he laid down on the dusty bed though, a flash of silver at the window caught his attention. Sitting back up, he threw open the door to allow the patronos messanger to enter (a trick Raven had taught him so they could pass messages). The silver wings of the butterfly spread out and it landed on the foot of the bed, then passing along the message Raven had sent him.

~Peter, Cole and Bella have invaded Black Manor. It is only Raya, I and the children here now. I fear for their safety. Please, come quickly and save them before those two realize they are here. ~

Fear clutched at Peter’s heart. No, this can’t be happening. Quickly he grabbed his wand and robe and disappated from Riddle House. He made sure to Apparate just outside Black Manor, not wanting to draw any undo attention to himself, and risk Bellatrix and Coleridge realizing the children were there. Caden and Orion were why he was there, and he would do as Raven asked, and save them first. Turning into his rat form, he quickly squeezed through a hole in the wall into the house, and scurried up the interior of the wall. Coming out in the nursery he seen that the children were indeed safe. Reverting back to his natural form, he was about to go in search of Raya and Raven, hoping they were fair as well. Before he could even make a move for the door a loud, thunderous noise sounded from the lower level of the house. Unsure of what to do next, wishing to help out his friends, a stiring in the direction of the crib served to remind him that the children were the first priority.

There was another crash, and the popping sound of Apparation, followed by Raya, looking quite dishevled rushing into the nursery, shutting the door behind her. Carefully he approached the younger witch, only imaging from the state of her, what had occured. “R-Raya, a-are y-you o-okay?” Tears continued to slide down the girl’s face “R-Raya?”

“P-Peter, please bring Caden and Orion to my dad.” Raya managed to get out. “Cole is still downstairs, and Bella might return…”

The man nodded in response. “I-I w-will. B-But w-what a-about you? I-If C-Cole…” ‘I can’t just leave you here.’

“I-I’ll be okay,” her words barely more than a whisper. “Just go, save the children. It’s what Raven wanted…” A shiver ran down Peter’s spine at the words…something hung in them, like some kind of finality that he didn’t want to give thought to.

“I-I’ll g-get s-someone t-to c-come f-for y-you.” Not wanting to leave her exposed if someone was to enter, Peter glanced around the room in search of some place she could b hidden. His eyes fell on the closet, it wasn’t ideal, but it was something. Lifting her into his arms, he felt her tense, but it passed quickly, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Setting her inside the closet, he worried if he should leave her there like that, but there was no other choice. If he didn’t take the children away now, he might not get the oppertunity.

Closing the closet door, Peter turned his attention back to the children. Scooping up Orion from the crib, the little boy nestled close to the familar body, oblivious to the danger that surrounded them. Next he turned to wake Caden, only to find the girl hadn’t really been asleep. “What about Mummy.” Worry shown in the little girl’s eyes, nearly breaking Peter’s heart.

“W-we must g-get y-you to y-your Grandp-pa.” Remus will know what to do…If only he’ll listen. Carefully he slipped from the room with the children, needing to get to a room with a fireplace, as he couldn’t risk Apparation with the little ones at this point. Finding a room with a fireplace, Peter nestled Orion in his right arm, taking Caden’s hand with his left, and telling her to hold on tight. Dropping some floo powder which he had held in his right hand Peter called out, “G-great Hall, Hogwarts.” A moment later, the strange trio exited the fireplace in the Great Hall, and Peter led the children out into the hall.

As it was night the halls were at least, thankfully, devoid of students. Peter led them to the first floor classroom, standing outside the door he released Caden’s hand. Raising his now free hand, he pounded as hard as he could on the door, a mixture of aprehension and fear twisted his insides into knots. Knocking once more, there was the sounds of movement from the other side. The door swung open open, Remus Lupin stood in the doorway, a dark expression on his face as he looked down at Peter, not even noticing his companions. “R-remus.” Peter flinched under the cold stare.

“I thought I told you never to come here again.”

“P-please Remus.” Peter’s eyes pleaded with the man before him. “H-here me out.

There was a tug on Remus’s pant leg. “Please Grandpa,” Caden’s small voice reached Remus’ ears. “Uncle Peter is only helping.”

“Uncle Peter.” Remus cringed saying it, he looked down at Caden, his expression softening, then realization dawned on him. There was his granddaughter, standing next to Peter. Looking back up to the man, he took notice of the small bundle he held in his arms. “What’s going on here?”

“Th-there’s trouble,” Peter began, “at Black M-manor. C-coleridge and Bellat-trix.” What followed was Peter attempting to tell Remus about recieving the patronous message, which only caused the other man to frown even more than he’d already been frowning. Then he told him of going to Black Manor, of finding the children safe, but Raya was not so lucky.

Remus stood listening until Peter paused. “What about Raven?”

“I-I d-don’t know.” It nearly killed him to admit as much.

Remus’s anger surged and he ground his teeth together, “I’ll kill the bastard.”

Peter wished he could tell him there was no need, as he would of loved to put an end to Coleridge Black. But first priority had to be the children, and their safety. He would of gladly risked his life for that of Raya and Raven, after all the two had done for him, but Caden and Orion needed protecting first.

Peter told him of hiding Raya, before bringing the children to safety. “Y-you must g-get to her,” he pleaded. “B-before B-bella returns, and C-cole finds h-her.”

Remus reached out, taking Orion from Peter. “I’ll take the children from here, I’ll send Sirius for Raya.” The werewolf’s eyes were filled with anger and rage, Peter couldn’t help but feel that some of it was still directed at him. “You.” Remus practically spat, “get out of here.” Swallowing hard, Peter nodded, and transformed into his animagus form once more, and scurried off through the hall.

I can’t leave. The rat’s mind whispered as he ran through the walls. I must know what’s going on. I must kn

ow that Raya is safe. I must know what has happened to Raven. His legs carried him along the familiar paths, and he found himself slipping through a hole and into a room. The rat’s eyes scanned the dark, deserted room, no sign of life lingered here. Transforming once again, Peter stood in the near dark. Somehow, as if knowing there was someone in the room, a soft glow emited. It had been over a year since anyone had been here, since Dumbledore’s staged death, and Raven’s last year of school. Letting out a sigh, he crossed the room and lay down on the now dusty bed. He could almost imagine the scent of milk and honey lingering on the pillow, as it had before, when this had been Raven’s room. His eyes went to where the door once stood, but now it was only stone, it had been sealed, it’s exsistence forgotten once more.