Peter Pettigrew swore that he had never felt such fear, not even when he served Voldemort!
Even though Voldemort used the Cruciatus Curse, one could at least discern a morbid enjoyment on his face and make some judgment about his psychology.
The boy before him showed only naked indifference!
No matter how much he wailed, begged for mercy, or even pretended to be driven mad by torture, it couldn't elicit the slightest emotional response from him.
Indescribable pain spread through his body, almost driving him to the brink of collapse.
"Do you know what to do?"
Argus's voice remained cold, but for Peter Pettigrew, it was nothing short of a final salvation.
He used the last of his strength to nod desperately.
The crimson light faded, and Peter Pettigrew collapsed helplessly to the ground.
His body twitched every now and then.
The ground was soaked with sweat.
After catching his breath, Peter rushed to Argus's feet and curled up in a ball.
He didn't even dare to lift his head!
"Tell me the whole story of what happened between you and Voldemort back then."
"Yes, yes, yes...yes!" peter stammered in response.
The moment the boy in front of him called out his name, he knew that he had no secrets left.
When he first met Ron while following him, he only saw him as a talented little wizard.
Even though he bore Grindelwald's name, he didn't care.
What about Grindelwald? So what if he's talented?
How many talented pure-blood wizards had he seen over the years?
James had no talent? Sirius had no talent?
They still ended up with one dead and the other in prison!
Only the surviving wizards were qualified to speak!
But...
Peter Pettigrew swallowed hard, his eyes filled with fear.
Argus's performance was clearly beyond his comprehension!
Whether it was his ability or his mentality!
He suppressed the thoughts swirling in his mind and began to stammer out his story.
"At that time, the master… no… was… that person."
"That man wanted to control the British wizarding world. I was captured by his Death Eaters, and eventually, unable to endure their torture, I chose to join him..."
Peter Pettigrew recounted why he sided with Voldemort, how he gradually extracted information about Hogwarts, and how he ultimately betrayed James.
He would occasionally look up to observe Argus's reaction.
Unfortunately, Argus's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end.
As he listened to Peter Pettigrew's words, he recalled the plot of the original story.
In the original story, Peter Pettigrew escaped after being exposed and captured, and traveled to the Albanian forest to help Voldemort resurrect in the Triwizard Tournament.
From Peter Pettigrew's perspective.
His identity and the truth of what happened back then were exposed, and what awaited him was a Dementor that was more terrifying than death.
Rather than waiting to die, it might as well take a gamble and help Voldemort make a comeback; maybe then there could be a chance to survive.
Voldemort had probably guessed Peter's thoughts, and considering Peter's past betrayals, he chose to have Peter cooperate with Barty Crouch Jr. to help him resurrect.
Barty Crouch Jr. was a staunch supporter of Voldemort. Instead of plotting against Voldemort through him, it was better to use him to drag his father down with him.
While he was thinking, Peter Pettigrew had finished recounting everything that had happened back then.
He looked at Argus with a pleading expression.
"This time I finally did something smart and didn't lie."
Argus nodded: "Next, I need you to do a few things."
Hearing this, Peter Pettigrew finally relaxed.
No matter what he did, at least he had saved his life!
As long as he could escape, there would be a chance to get rid of this demon!
But what Argus said next made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
"I need you back with Ron. After that, I'll find an opportunity to tell Sirius where you are."
"Bring him here so we can arrest you."
"This…this…you…" Peter Pettigrew wanted to defend himself, but he was afraid of angering Argus and getting hit with a few more Cruciatus Curses.
He was so anxious that he scratched his head and didn't know how to start the conversation.
"Don't worry, I'll help you escape from them."
"But... a beating is inevitable."
"Thank you for your mercy, Mr. Grindelwald!" Peter Pettigrew didn't care what Argus's reason was for letting him get arrested.
He would do anything to survive!
"Don't thank me yet, I need you to do more than just this," Argus said coldly.
"After you escape, go to the Albanian forest and help your master be resurrected."
"Albania? Resurrection?" Peter Pettigrew was completely dumbfounded.
You want me to resurrect Voldemort?
Did I hear that right?!
Aren't you a student at Hogwarts?
Is this something a Hogwarts student should be doing?
He racked his brains but still couldn't figure out what Argus was trying to do.
Argus showed no intention of explaining himself to him, and gave him a cold glance.
Wasn't I clear enough?
"Or do we need to use other methods to make you remember?"
Peter Pettigrew shook his head like a rattle.
Joke!
Let this devil remind me; who knew what methods he'd use!
He gave Argus a fawning smile.
"Mr. Grindelwald, I will do as you command. Can you let me go now?"
"I guarantee that no one else will know what happened today!"
"Of course!" Argus stood up. "However, given your history of betrayal."
"I need to cast a little spell on you."
Thick black mist emerged from Argus's wand and rapidly seeped into Peter Pettigrew's nose, eyes, and ears!
A chilling sensation quickly spread through Peter Pettigrew's body.
"Sirius is very likely staying near St. Mungo's Hospital. It would be too dangerous for you to go back by yourself."
"Wait a moment, I'll send someone to take you back."
...
St. Mungo's Hospital.
Lupin stared intently at Snape until he entered the hospital.
"Was Snape sent by Hogwarts to take care of Harry?"
"Let him take care of Harry? Are you kidding me!"
Lupin frowned, hesitating whether to follow, when suddenly a tremendous force came from behind him!
It blasted him to pieces!
A werewolf? At St. Mungo's Hospital?
"Are you going to turn the patients here into beasts like you?"
Snape sneered, gripping his wand and aiming it at Lupin, who had fallen to the ground.
His eyes were full of mockery.
Lupin hadn't expected Snape to be so alert, let alone to act so quickly!
He didn't even have time to react!
"What? After getting used to howling like a wolf, you've forgotten how to speak?"
"A werewolf that intends to attack St. Mungo's Hospital... I think the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic will be happy to deal with it."
Snape's face showed a hint of pleasure.
The scene before him had appeared in his imagination countless times, and now it was finally about to come true!
Lupin panicked at this point.
Given Snape's hatred for him, he was absolutely capable of doing something like that!
Just then, a dark figure suddenly darted out from the side!