Lionheart ~ Harry Potter (Under Heavy Editing)

Chapter Thirty-Three | Dirty Coward

With two sinister expressions, Lupin and Sirius hauled Pettigrew out of the wall, throwing him up to his feet.

Ariana got her first good look at him, and she was repelled. He was a short, stubby man. The thin hair atop his head was receding, leaving a scrawny covering on the sides if his head. Two yellowing teeth were prominent when he opened his mouth, accompanied by curled fingernails that looked like claws.

She coukd certainly tell his animagus form was a rat. Even down to his movements; her held his hands close to his face like an animal would, sniffed like a rodent and stuttered.

Pettigrew sniffed, then looked up at his 'friends', his eyes widening. "Remus? ... S- Sirius? My old friends," he said, spreading his arms. His beady, watery eyes darted towards the doorway and his body followed, but Lupin and Sirius both flung him backwards.

Pettigrew's nose twitched. "Ariana, all grown up. So like your -"

He reached out with a grubby hand, but Ariana's relations were like lightening. In a flash, the tip of her wand was pressing into his chin, forcing him to finish his sentence prematurely. A pathetic whimper left his mouth, but the witch felt no pity. This man had played a hand in her mother's death.

"Lay a finger on me and I swear I'll personally remove your other ones," she growled lowly, staring into his horrid eyes with a fierce, emotionless expression.

Lupin lunged forward and pulled Pettigrew away from Ariana, placing himself between her and the slightly mad man. "Get away from her!"

The witch couldn't deny that her heart skipped a beat, but it was no time to pay attention to her warm, fuzzy feelings, of which she disapproved.

Ariana's wand remained trained on Pettigrew, then he advanced on Harry. She knew Harry could handle himself, but she still edged closer to his side, prepared to defend him.

Pettigrew spoke quickly, shuffling forwards. "Harry, look at you. You're so like your father, just like James. We were best friends, me and your father -"

"How dare you speak to Harry!" Sirius growled, hearding the ratty man away from Harry with the borrowed wand in his hand. Pettigrew ran behind the piano, which wasn't the brightest idea, since Lupin and Black blocked his two ways out. "How dare you speak of James in front of him!"

Lupin had his wand aimed at Pettigrew's snivelling face, looking furious. "You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?"

Ariana knew she had to keep her temper under control, so she balled her left fist. Her nails began to slice into her skin, but the pain was a controlling factor, making sure she didn't do something rash.

"I didn't mean to," Pettigrew whined, as if that was a satisfactory excuse. "The Dark Lord... You have no idea the weapons he possesses. Ask yourself, Sirius. What would you of done? What would you of done?"

"I would of died! I would of died rather than betray my friends!"

The coward ducked underneath the piano, making a desperate break for the door. Ariana, clearly thinking the same as Harry, shot into the doorway.

Harry stood in front of Ariana, his arms outstretched in the doorway. Pettigrew placed his chubby hands on the boy's shoulders, making a final attempt to sway him. From this angle, Ariana could see the absent middle finger on his left hand.

"Your father wouldn't want me killed. Your dad, your dad would of spared me. He would of showed me mercy - AHH!" Pettigrew trailed off into a shout as he was pried off of Harry, once again being tossed backwards by a pair of men who were in the mood to avenge their friend.