Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Because, frankly, it could be said Pettigrew had been punished enough.


People always say I should be punished more, but I was punished far more effectively than anyone seems to realize.

I saw him make his first friends. I put myself at risk to fight bullies-despite their parents serving my lord.

I saw him fight a troll. I saw him alone, and unwanted- it may have been better if my lord had finished the job.

I saw as he grew older and killed a basilisk- not because it was hurting his friends but because it was hurting people.

I saw him tormented by dementors in the deepest pits of his soul. I saw his boggart. I saw his first Patronus.

I saw him watch a classmate die.

I saw him as our world turned against him.

I saw him living in fear.

I wish I could have been brave, just once, like the Gryffindor the hat says I was. The Gryffindor he turned out to be in spades.

I didn't hesitate because the life debt. I hesitated because I had seen him grow up(far, far, far too fast)- and grow up brave. I hesitated because, just once, I wanted to be like him. Be like them. Brave.

Well, in the end, I didn't have to be brave. My hesitation killed me. Just like how I got them- and later so manny others- killed.

That's OK, I was already punished. I had to watch him grow up and know that his parents and the others couldn't. I had to watch his firsts and know that it was my fault. I should have been brave. I should have died the first time I met the dark lord. I would have died either way, but at least I would have died proud instead of dying a rat. Dying as a coward.

I should have been brave and died a hero. Instead, I died a villain. But that's OK. Because that's just part of my punishment.

My name is Peter Pettigrew. I know you hate me. That's just another part of my punishment.


A/N:His animagus form was a rat. Ignoring the Purebloods, and Remus, shouldn't Lily- being muggleborn- of known that rat is another word for traitor. I have a feeling this was a badly timed " Let's show Peter how much we care! " on James part. Lily probably didn't even know they had changed secret keepers until after the fact- if ever. I also have a feeling that Peter's betrayal was more him panicking, blurting out the first thing that came to mind, and then a prompt branding in case he was lying by Voldemort. Then, well, he was already screwed so cue more panicking- think how sometimes people kill people in self- defense, panic,and hide the body for a few decades before confessing on their deathbed,where they can't get punished for it. Peter should of come forward. He didn't- though I can see why not. Having your soul EATEN for doing the right thing(coming forward in this case,because so long as he avoided doing so dementors would not be after him) would deter anyone. If Peter had been brave just once the story would have turned out different.