Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

30. The Rat

With one hand, Sirius pulled Scabbers from Ron's grasp, and with his other hand he pointed his stolen wand at the rat, performing the reverse transfiguration spell, forcing Scabbers to turn back into a human.
Once the rat began to grow, Sirius dropped him on the floor, and within seconds a fully grown man stood before them.
Cassiopeia took an involuntary step back as she stared at Peter Pettigrew, for the first time in 12 years.
The last time she'd seen him, had been on one of the worst nights of her life.

Sirius noticed her discomfort, and moved to stand beside her.
"Don't worry, he won't hurt you" promised Sirius.
Cassiopeia placed her arm around his, needing her brother's support.
"Hello Peter" Remus said calmly.
"Remus, my old friend, you've got to help me, Sirius wants to kill me" squeaked Peter.
"Perhaps you didn't hear everything while you were in your rat form Peter. But let me catch you up. Remus and Harry believe me now. The game is up" smiled Sirius.
"What game?" Questioned Peter nervously.
"They know that you were the traitor all those years ago, not me"
"You lie! Remus I swear I didn't do it. It was Sirius!".

Cassiopeia marched forward, unable to hear Peter's lies anymore.
"Do you remember one of the last conversations we had?" She demanded.
"No- no. That was a long time ago" stuttered Peter.
"Well, let me remind you. You asked me what I would do if all the Marauders died. I thought you were just being paranoid, and asking me a bunch of hypothetical questions. There was a war going on afterall. But now I know the real reason. You were planning on betraying your only friends, and you wanted to know if I would survive after you had done so" replied Cassiopeia.
"I was merely looking out for you. I had no idea what was about to happen. My questions were hypothetical".

"Liar!" Screamed Cassiopeia.
She took another step towards him, so that they were only a metre apart.
"If you claim to be innocent, then make me believe you. Look me in the eyes and tell me that my brother was the traitor and not you. Tell me that my suffering was due to him, and not you. Tell me that I didn't see you in Godric's Hollow that night, searching for your master, while I hid with Harry in the bathroom. Go on, tell me that I imagined it all!" continued Cassiopeia, staring Peter down.
Peter looked up from the floor, but he could only hold her gaze for a few seconds, before looking away.
"I can't" he said quietly.
"I know. Because you are nothing but a disgusting traitor" spat Cassiopeia.

"I didn't mean to betray James and Lily. I was scared. You have no idea what kind of weapons the dark lord posseses. I was just trying to stay alive. Sirius, you would have done the same thing, if you were in my shoes" insisted Peter.
"No, I would've died. I would have died rather than betray my friends!" Announced Sirius.
"He's right. We all would have died to protect you. And it hurts to know that you wouldn't have done the same for us" Remus said sadly.
"I had no choice. He would have killed me if I didn't tell him where James and Lily were" replied Peter.
"Then you should have died! And don't act as though the Potters were the only ones you betrayed. There was a traitor in the Order for months before James and Lily died. You helped Voldemort kill so many of our friends, you cowardly traitor!" Snapped Sirius.

Peter flinched at Voldemort's name.
"What? Don't like the sound of your master's name? Does it scare you? Well it should, because the rest of his death eaters are not very happy with you. They blame you for his downfall, which is why you've been hiding as a rat for 12 years. It wasn't because you were afraid of me. It's because you fear the death eaters that didn't end up in Azkaban. Because you know that they want to kill you" continued Sirius.
Peter wimpered, but didn't say anything.
"You used to be our friend, Peter. I saw you as a brother. But now I can't even look at you. You let my real brother take the fall for your crimes. You disgust me" spat Cassiopeia, before taking a step back to rejoin Sirius.

Sirius looked away from Peter to look at Harry.
"Do you believe me now? I never betrayed your parents. I loved James like a brother, and I would never have done anything to hurt him, I swear" insisted Sirius.
"I believe you" reassured Harry.
"No!" Peter cried out.
Sirius turned back to Peter and raised his wand, "It's time I finished what I started all those years ago. I'm finally going to commit the crime that I was imprisoned for".
"But this time you won't do it alone!" Added Remus, as he raised his wand at Peter.
"Together?" Asked Sirius.
"Together" nodded Remus.