-Chapter Thirty-five-

The Secret of Peter Pettigrew

Harry sat alone in the common room in Gryfindor tower, trying to remember all the good times he had there. He took out of his pocket the Marauder's Map, which he had brought with him during his trips to Hogwarts. He looked at it one last time.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry said tapping the map with his wand. The map came to life with the ink slithering across the page showing Hogwarts. He looked through the castles infrastructure. Lupin, Ron and Hermione were waiting for him down in the hall. Slughorn and Snape were walking towards the Room of Requirements and… Peter Pettigrew was not in the dungeons.

"How'd did he get out?" Harry growled to himself. He stuffed the map in his pocket and set off through the portrait hole. He walked down the marble staircase taking the map out every now and again to see where Pettigrew had gone. He was in fourth floor.

Harry turned down into the charms corridor holding out his wand ready. He looked at the map Peter Pettigrew was heading this way. Harry spun around on the spot looking for Pettigrew. He felt some thing stroke his shoe.

A large brown rat scurried past Harry's shoe a silver paw on its right. Harry knew it was Pettigrew from way it looked at him and from the paw. His rat eyes were filled with fear and started to back away slowly.

"Don't even think about it, Wormtail!" Harry shouted, but it was to late the rat scurried away. Harry flicked his wand a blue light just missing it as it turned the corner.

"Oy, we're trying to sleep 'ere," yelled a red-nosed wizard in his portrait.

"Sorry," Harry stammered as he ran down the corridor after Wormtail. Harry dished the map out of his pocket looking to see Wormtail running up the stairs.

He turned and ran after Wormtail who was heading towards the Astronomy Tower. "Get back here, Peter!" Harry roared after him. "Stupefy!" Harry shouted a red spark hitting the staircase as Wormtail scurried towards the stairwell leading to the Astronomy tower.

Harry ran up the stairs into the Astronomy tower, to find it empty. Harry looked around his wand raised. He looked at the map to find Peter scurrying towards the door/ Harry turned flicking his wand the door slamming shut.

Pettigrew transformed back into his usual rat-like person twitching tearfully as he saw Harry standing there. "What are you doing, Wormtail?" Harry spat coldly.

"I need to get out of here," Pettigrew shrieked. "He'll come for me. He'll come for me... I can feel him... I can feel him in my mind…" he held his hand looking frantically at the floor his small eyes watering.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked gingerly. Wormtail collapsed to the floor holding his head in pain. Harry moved towards him holding his hands and pulling them away from his head, "calm down! Just calm down!" Harry placed a hand on his head; he closed his eyes and breathed in, "Legilmens!"

A high-pitched cold voice echoed through his head. It was Voldemort, "Come to me Wormtail! Come to me now! Or she will die!"

"Clear your mind," Harry said to Wormtail, "focus you mind on something else."

"He is weak, Potter. He can not close his mind. He shall be your downfall," Voldemort hissed.

Harry thought hard on something that would drive Voldemort away. Ginny, he thought. A picture of Ginny popped into Harry's head. She stood there her red hair flowing down to her shoulders and the smell of flowers that usually accompanied her.

He suddenly, heard a loud high-pitched scream as Voldemort left Wormtail's mind. Harry opened his eyes, sweat dripping down his brow as he tired to breathe. His scar prickled a little as he collapsed on the floor. Wormtail slouched down on the door.

"How long has he been in your mind?" Harry asked breathlessly.

"S-s-since last week," Wormtail spluttered fearfully cowering by the door.

"What did he mean she will die?" Harry demanded.

Wormtail looked down at the floor, "he meant my mother." Wormtail suddenly, exploded into tears little droplets peeping out of his tiny eyes. He held his hand over his eyes, "he's going to kill her and its all my fault."

"A lot of death's are your fault," Harry spat coldly standing up onto his feet. "What makes this one any different?"

"She's… the reason I… I betrayed your p-p-parents," Wormtail said hoarsely through his tears. Harry stared at him shocked. He couldn't breathe.

"What are you talking about?" Harry breathed slowly.

"The Dark Lord said that if I gave the information to where your parents where," Wormtail sobbed slowly, "he'd kill my mother."

Harry looked at him shocked but then looked at him angrily. "DIN'T LIE! YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE MY PARENTS DIED, SIRIUS SAID SO," Harry roared.

"Yes," Wormtail stammered, "I had. We were loosing and most of our own men were being outnumbered. I was scared."

"So you became the spy!" Harry nodded coldly.

"Yes," Wormtail shrunk, "I didn't know what to do... I was afraid. So, I went to the Dark Lord asking to join him. But, I asked him to spare James, Lily, Sirius and Remus," he finished quickly.

"And then, you betrayed them!" Harry spat angrily.

"No!" Wormtail shouted pleadingly, "when I found out he was after James and Lily I got cold feet… I tried to get out... b-b-but the Dark Lord…" Pettigrew shivered uncontrollably. "And then, he threatened to kill my mother if I didn't tell him where they where…"

Harry had a small twinge of pity for Pettigrew mixed with a loud roaring sensation of hate. But, the pity started to grow as he saw the tears drip down his rat face.

"A-a-and now he's going to kill her," Pettigrew sobbed burying his face his silver hand. Harry looked at his and at Pettigrews. As much as he hated what he was about to do he couldn't let Pettigrew loose his mother no matter what he was.

Harry pointed his wand at a small telescope, "where's you mother?" Harry said briskly.

"Only I know. I placed the Fidelius charm on her home so she'd be safe," Pettigrew squeaked.

"Voldemort's been invading your mind for a week now he'll know," Harry said briskly, he flicked his wand at the telescope. "Portus! Grab hold."

Pettigrew grabbed hold of the telescope as did Harry. He felt an invisible hook pull him by his navel as he is pulled into a swirl of red, green and blue colours banging against Pettigrew until finally-

SLAM! His legs buckled onto a hard cold pavement. A light shone over him. He looked up to see the Dark Mark hanging over heap of rubble a thin rat like woman lay spread-eagled on the rubble her eyes looking at the mark blankly. She was dead.

"No," Pettigrew breathed. "Mother."

He ran towards his mother collapsing to his knees. Harry heard the sound of a slate breaking on his knees. Harry watched as Pettigrew held his mother burying his face in her black hair. He sobbed uncontrollably.

Harry bowed his head. He looked up at the Dark Mark and at the sobbing Wormtail holding his dead mother. The woman he had tried to protect and had betrayed his parents for.

To Harry's surprise, after everything Pettigrew had done he had now forgiven him for what he did. Last year, all he knew was that Pettigrew was a traitor and he wanted vengeance. Now, there was a greyness to it. Wormtail was never strong and he never had the courage Sirius, Lupin or his father had or even his mother had and Voldemort knew that and he used his mother to force the information out of him.

It was like Voldemort was the snake and Wormtail was the rat and he was backed in corner and had everything to loose. Only he made the wrong choice.

Harry placed a hand on his shoulder; "forgive me…" Wormtail sobbed hoarsely to his mother through his tears.

Harry bowed his head; He hesitated before saying, "I do."