InsaneJournal

The past two weeks since Dumbledore's return had been trying on Voldemort. Dumbledore was the only one who could stop Him, and that knowledge frustrated the Dark Lord to no end. Finally, He had decided it was time to determine just how faithful a particular traitor might be.

Voldemort knew about Peter Pettigrew's past from the October Prophet and the history books (or at least what was in them about Pettigrew). He also believed this was designed to trap to Him. He guessed the Ministry hoped to lure Him and Peter into a meeting and then spring a trap. Whether He was right or was being paranoid was of no consequence to Voldemort, He would meet with Peter without risk to His own life and if He took several aurors out in the process, then that was fine.

The wizard was middle-aged and fragile. So weak. So easy to manipulate.

Imperio, Voldemort thought and then ordered the stranger to do His bidding. The stranger walked to Peter Pettigrew's flat and delivered a package.

In the package was a wizarding chess piece and a note. The note, written in ancient runes, read, "Break the piece. The satisfaction of your desires await.." Voldemort had guessed of Pettigrew's passion for runes from the public records.

After placing the stranger under the imperius curse, Voldemort portkeyed to the meeting location and awaited Peter's arrival. The house was protected by the fidelius in addition to being unplottable and unobservable to Muggles. Voldemort knew the tracking charms that He guessed were in place on Pettigrew would lead any aurors to the general vicinity of the meeting place. But He also knew that there was no way they could gain access to the building without His consent.

Either the man would show and thus begin to prove his loyalty to the Dark Empire or the man would not show and prove his allegiance was to the status quo.