𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ;𝐑.𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲

"Suck it up, Peter."

Upon seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Peter tries to run, but is quickly restrained by Remus and Sirius before he even makes it out the door.

Both conscious adults are pointing their wands at him, and in desperation, the dumpy man turns on Harry.

"Harry! Look at you, you look so much like your father." He cries, advancing in on the boy with his hands outstretched. "Like James. We were the best of friends..."

"How dare you speak to Harry?" Sirius says angrily, yanking Pettigrew away from the bespectacled boy. "How dare you talk about James in front of him?" he said, circling Peter around the grand piano in the corner. Remus rushes to the other side, effectively blocking Peter from escaping. "You sold Lily and James to Voldemort, didn't you?" Remus demanded, wand pointed at Peter's face.

"I didn't mean to!" Peter whined, sounding like a child who'd been denied chocolate. "The Dark Lord. You have no idea the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done?"

"I would've died! I would've died rather than betray my friends!" Sirius screamed as Pettigrew managed to crawl under the piano. Harry stood in front of the door, blocking it to prevent Pettigrew from escaping. Peter seized the boy by the arms and brought his mouth to Harry's ear. "Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed! Your dad... Your dad would've spared me! He would have shown me mercy!" He screeched as Sirius and Remus dragged the man away from Harry once again.

"Don't listen to him, he'd say anything to save his ass." Rachelle advised, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Should have realized, Peter, that if Voldemort's didn't kill you, then we would. Together!" Sirius declared, both men already pointing their wands at the man, ready for the kill.

"No!"

"Harry, this man—" Remus started. "I know what he is. But we'll take him to the castle."
"Bless you, boy." Peter cried, falling to his knees. "Bless you!" he said again, trying to touch Harry's feet. "Get off!"

Harry backed away far enough so Pettigrew wouldn't touch him. "I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the dementors can have you."

"Admittedly, that's smarter." Rachelle mumbled as Peter started nibbling on his fingernails, whimpering like a baby.

•••

"Sorry about the bite. I reckon that twinges a bit." Sirius apologized as they made their way back through the tunnel, motioning to Ron's leg.
"A bit? A bit? You almost tore my leg off!" Ron cried indignantly.
"I was going for the rat. Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog. In fact, more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent. The tail, I could live with. But the fleas, they're murder." He panted before crawling out of the hole, helping Ron sit on the thick roots.

"Are you all right?" Rachelle asked Ron, receiving a deadpan look as a response. "Right. I'll ask again tomorrow."

"You better go," Ron says, motioning to Sirius. "No, it's fine. I'll stay." Harry refused. "You should go," Hermione reiterated. "We'll stay." Rachelle added.

Harry gave in, checking once more that it was okay for him to talk to Sirius before he finally left.

The girls turned their attention to Ron's wound. "That looks really painful." Hermione stated. "So painful. They... They might chop it." Rachelle rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, right." "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will fix it in a heartbeat." Hermione supplied.

"It's too late, it's ruined."
"So dramatic." Rachelle said, earning an elbow to the ribs in return. "It'll have to be chopped off." Ron insisted.