A/N: My roughly-hundred-word HP "what if?" musings. I've taken canon events and made them turn out differently. Thank you, lj community HP100 for giving me the idea to do this. What if's are so much fun!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, you know the drill.
The Rat
"NO, HARRY DON'T!" Hermione pleaded desperately.He didn't listen, didn't care. There was no way it would work. No way they could save both Sirius and Buckbeak. Something would go wrong. Something always went wrong.
But not this time.
He held out his wand steadily, pointing towards the traitor. "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" he bellowed. He had half a mind to shout curses and hexes that would have a considerably worse effect on the rat, but thought better of it.
For a moment, all was still.
He walked over cautiously. He stooped over and picked up the stunned rat who was the very same wizard that had betrayed his parents.
The corners of Harry's mouth turned upward slightly, for he realized that from now on... everything would be different.