The dread balloon, round VII

[pauraque_bk]

Round I: Dolores Umbridge
Round II: Vernon Dursley
Round III: Cornelius Fudge
Round IV: Bellatrix Lestrange
Round V: Albus Dumbledore
Round VI: Lord Voldemort

'Well... this should be very easy,' Lord Voldemort continued, still smiling as he advanced on Percy. 'A Ministry paper-pusher, pitted against the most powerful wizard in existence. I may not have my wand, but we are still two against one.'

Percy went white with horror. 'But-- I-- I helped you! I thought I was doing the right thing!'

Lord Voldemort chuckled, rolling his red eyes. 'Yes,' he hissed, 'they always do...'

Percy backed away as the Dark wizard advanced on him, until he bumped into the basket wall and could go no further. He put up his arm on instinct to shield himself, unable to look-- waiting to be seized and thrown overboard like the others... waiting...

'ARGH! Wormtail, what are you doing!?'

Percy's eyes flew open-- the fat little man had reappeared behind his master, and had him by the neck with his vicious-looking silver hand. Lord Voldemort grasped at his throat, struggling for Pettigrew to release him. 'Let go of me, you--!' His words were cut off with a choke as Pettigrew tightened his grip and began to pull the Dark wizard to the edge of the basket.

'Fool!' said Voldemort in a strangled cry. 'Do you believe drowning can defeat me? If you live, you will regret this betrayal!'

Pettigrew didn't answer, but with a massive effort -- sweating and huffing for breath -- hauled Voldemort over the side, and let him fall. There was a terrible, keening screech -- then a splash -- then silence.

Percy stared at Pettigrew, who stood before him with a sort of terrified delight on his face. They were both breathless. 'Why?' Percy gasped, once he could manage to speak.

Pettigrew coughed as he began to speak -- his voice had been out of use the entire day. 'Y-you were my master longer than he was... Ten years... and you were always kind to me. Always protected me. Look at you now... all grown up.'

The man edged towards Percy and reached out a gnarled hand to touch his face. Percy flinched reflexively -- Pettigrew looked disappointed, but stepped back.

'Now what do we do?' Percy asked, turning to look down at the water, so much closer than when the sacrifices had begun. The air prickled, and Pettigrew became Wormtail once more. The rat clambered up the wall to check the effect.

[Poll #398773]

The Balloon Master Sez:

On the sea past losers float
While fans of rats and Head Boys gloat.
The first to be autotomized
Was Umbridge, to no great surprise.
Vernon next, Fudge after him,
Then Bella's turn to sink or swim.
Albus had some tricksy friends,
But he was booted in the end.
Lord Voldemort was slippery, but
He, too, failed to make the cut.
Whoever triumphs, our balloon
Will float into the sunset soon,
So cast your ballot just once more;
Be it rat or prat you're rooting for,
Campaigners all, be sure to note
The golden rule: ONE FAN, ONE VOTE!

[EDIT: The final round is closed. Proceed to the conclusion.]

Comments

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

That was sweet! Yay, Peter! Peter Rules!

I think they should craft the balloon into a raft, and float off together.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

...dude, this was a close second to Sophie's choice. You have no idea how hooked I am on this series :-P

[ani-bester.livejournal.com]

This is better than an Reality TV!
Ok *sigh* I voted against . . . Peter

I know I know, but . . . He did so much throwing Voldemort over, but he'd lose it all if he sacrificed Percy to save hismelf.
I like Peter more than Percy but and I hate it when Peter's redemptions involve death but arghhhh,

The Peter/Percy angst is just so much better if Peter jumps =P

[couchemal.livejournal.com]

Love the final poem there. This has been lots of fun!

I hope your cat is still OK.

[pauraque]

Thanks. :)

The cat's okay. She's been eating a bit, and has another appointment this Friday.

[riibu.livejournal.com]

This was a difficult one. But I finally decided Peter has to jump to get fully redeemed and save his former master Percy. *sigh* I have tears in my eyes...

[spican.livejournal.com]

This is delightful and awful -- I love that they're the last two, but I don't want either to go! I agree with ani_bester that Peter sacrificing Percy seems all wrong at this point, but otoh the rat jumping will hardly make much difference to the balloon's fate. So. Uhm. My vote is Percy jumps. Please be gentle. :(

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

Look at you now... all grown up.'

My brave, precious rat dumpling! You've taken on so much responsibility. Allow me to lighten the load.

*tosses petulant percy overboard*

[fruce.livejournal.com]

Noooooo. Save the two of them together. Or let them go down together. But don't ruin the Peter/Percy.

Waaaaaaaah. I'm going to have to think about this one.

[shocolate.livejournal.com]

I have voted for percy in every round - please can he finally go!!!!

[black-dog.livejournal.com]

Have we determined that Peter weighs only as much as a rat, when he's in rat form? If so, and the balloon is still falling, then clearly Percy is doomed whether or not Peter jumps. The only question is whether he would be so heartless as to rob Peter of his chance for survival! Therefore, I vote Percy for the big dive. See, and I didn't even have to expose my evil prejudices here. :)

[marksykins.livejournal.com]

Wah, can't they just have a lovely Master/Pet relationship in an ever-sinking balloon?! Or... or... yeah! What black_dog said!

*sighs*

Fine. Bye Peter. You've hurt my Harry more than Percy has, so adios to you.

[slinkhard.livejournal.com]

Bye Peter. You've hurt my Harry more than Percy has, so adios to you.

Hahahahaha, that's why I voted for Peter to live!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Your poem! Meter 'n' rhyme 'n' everything! Oh, so good.

*doesn't vote, too interested in the logic of other voters*

[pauraque]

Thanks. I didn't realize at the beginning that this project would entail so much writing, and I certainly didn't plan on any tetrameter couplets. *g*

[dailyplanet.livejournal.com]

Vote for courage and integrity in balloon leadership!

Peter Pettigrew is a kind wizard who, although having a perfectly good silver hand, has REFRAINED from killing werewolves with it. This kind of self-control is unknown to lesser beings, like say, Weasleys.

Peter is the only logical choice to rule the balloon. Think about what your children's children would do!

After all, everyone knows the ancient superstition about redheads in balloons. "Ye who vote for the safety of a redhead childe wyll fynd mysfortune!"

Don't let that happen to you, VOTE PERCY, save yourselves!

[ani-bester.livejournal.com]

If I ever run for political office, will you be my campaign manager? *L*

[dailyplanet.livejournal.com]

ABSOLUTELY!

[epsilon-delta.livejournal.com]

Argh. I was afraid I'd have to eventually decide between those two. *wibble* Well, since I like them both equally, I went with the logical choice. Peter is lighter than Percy as Wormtail, and if both he and Percy on the balloon are causing it to sink, most of the weight has to be contributed by Percy. So. *sniff* I voted Percy. Wah.

[lycoris.livejournal.com]

*fingers crossed*

Come on Percy! Come on! LIVE PERCY, LIVE! *hopes*

[s8219.livejournal.com]

::slips in the thread for a very important message::

::ICON LOVE::

[lycoris.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Your icon is pretty cool too. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

The man edged towards Percy and reached out a gnarled hand to touch his face. Percy flinched reflexively -- Pettigrew looked disappointed, but stepped back.

*sniffles*

Peter saves you from the Dark Lord and you still have the audacity to want to save your own skin, Percy? Over you go.

(Hoorah for the poem!)

[pauraque]

Thank you. ^_^

[undeadgoat.livejournal.com]

*cratches head over how "automatized" fits into the poem*

Peter has to go, because I hate him. See? I'm using such brilliant logic that I fear I may have to kill myself from the stupidity of it.

That or I shouldn't be doing things like this this early in the morning, but is it my fault that the meetings weren't regularly scheduled? No. And since I odn't feel like doing homewor, or find wherever it is my friends hang out on days I'm late, I'm exploiting the school computers in an attempt to catch up with my flist.

[undeadgoat.livejournal.com]

Oh, and the head? I'm scratching it.

[pauraque]

It's "autotomized". It means to cut off a part of oneself (auto-tom-ize), particularly in the case of an animal cutting off one of its own limbs to save its life. Metaphorical in this case.

See, fandom teaches you something new every day. :)

[undeadgoat.livejournal.com]

Ah. Makes much more sense. And I know what "tom" means, as I'm the crazy Greek word parts lady I just did a packet on Greek roots.

[chresimos.livejournal.com]

Pettigrew coughed as he began to speak -- his voice had been out of use the entire day. 'Y-you were my master longer than he was... Ten years... and you were always kind to me. Always protected me. Look at you now... all grown up.'

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Man, now I can't throw Peter out.

But wait, Percy is still really the innocent here.

But then...poor Peter making teh sacrifice, only to meet an untimely doom?

But then, Percy is heavier.

But then, I can't really see Peter doing anything that's not in his own interest - because he values self-preservation above all other things.

ARGH. *tears hair*

I think I will abstain. Or maybe loiter around until closing time and try for voting a tie. >:D!

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

;_;

Goodbye, Peter. This hurts me more than it hurts you. Emotionally speaking, anyway.

And even though I just voted him off the balloon--GO PETER! Way to knock off the Dark Lord!

[trobadora]

This desperately needs a "go down together" option... How the hell am I supposed to choose?!

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

There always needs to be a "go down together" option ;)


*gets net ready to catch whoever falls, because, much love for both*

[trobadora]

And I meant to post this yesterday, but the journal went into read-only mode...

I almost abstained, but I voted Percy off in the end, but only because things were leaning towards Peter, so I thought I'd try to even things out a bit.

[strangemuses.livejournal.com]

Peter Pettigrew must go! Look at you now... all grown up. Ha! Don't be fooled by his blatant attempts to manipulate poor Percy. He's just assessing him to see if he can tackle him and throw him overboard. Nope! Into the drink goes the rat, I say.



*saves Percy*

[pauraque]

I have to say, this made me completely crack up. :D

[glamaphonic]

Awwww. Peter! I don't want you to die, but...

Percy is innocent and I loff him and thus must live.

sigh

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

Stalking the balloon, but not voting - have already demonstrated my inability to grasp the need for personal preferences over logic (whatever the grounds one chooses). This has been (is being) so much fun. Thank you. Love your interactive fic.

[pauraque]

Thank you, I'm glad you've enjoyed it. :)

[luinthoron.livejournal.com]

I've been voting for Percy until now, but I'm afraid at this point I'll have to toss Peter out. Sorry!

[chthonya]

Ah yes, the silver hand. Nice one. But you know what they say about rats and sinking ships...

Whoever triumphs, our balloon
Will float into the sunset soon,

You expect us to believe that? ;)

Be it rat or prat you're rooting for,

*snicker*

[cheshyre]

I feel stupid, but I can't tell. Are we voting on who should jump or who should survive?

FWIW, I vote Percy survive and Peter go bye-bye.