AN: In this Peter isn't as much the cowardly betrayer he was in the books, but he does end up giving in, though not by choice.

xXx

In one universe, Peter Pettigrew was a coward, one who betrayed his friends because he thought that another was more powerful patron. In that one he was a rat in more ways than just his animagus form. In that one he would have betrayed everything and everyone he had once held dear, but then again, what is true in one universe, is not always true in others.

In this particular universe, he had a little bit more in the way of a backbone, and perhaps a stronger will.

xXx

He was screaming, pain tearing through him as the "interrigation" as they called it proceeded, it had been two days already and he had broken, they had reached the end of his will power not to tell them what they wanted, he had given them everything they wanted and more, anything just to end the pain that had torn through him.

The one thing that Peter hadn't told them was what he was waiting for a chance to use, a possible escape and it was more because he hadn't used it for a while nor had it connected to what they tried to make him tell.

For a moment the room was empty and he reacted, transforming into his other form, a small rat, and ran as if his very life depended upon it, for which it and many others did. It took him a short time to make his way through the ancient stone of the fortress that the dark one had used as a prison and personal torture chamber.

He reverted to his human self and focused through the pain for long enough to apparate as close as he could to Hogsmeade.

Staggering, he felt weak, but his desperation drove him on, it took him time to make it to Hogwarts, but even then he was barely making it without collapsing every few steps. He felt tired, his mind fogging over, pain filling his entire being, only that pain was keeping him going, but he could get his mind clear enough to use magic.

He staggered as he reached the steps, his collapse pushing through the doors.

"Help," he stammered before blacking out, "The Potters...need help..."

xXx

Dumbledore had sent Fawkes immediately with a message as a look of Sorrow crossed his weathered face. Pettigrew had been missing for a long time, he hoped that it wasn't to late.

He hoped the message would arrive, and that he and the others could arrive in time to save the Potters.

xXx

The baby heard the screaming of his parents and sudden silence before the call of the phoenix resounded. He felt cold though fear kept him quiet.

Fawkes appeared with a scream that dazed the Dark Lord for a mere moment, but it was to late to save the boys parents, but the boy felt innocent, something within the bird forced his actions as he prepared to use the final trick they held in their own power.

Then a flash of green light stuck and the ird fell into the crib, into the lap of the boy.

"Good bye Potter," Voldemort snarled as he spoke the curse, "Avada Kadavra!"

Then something happened which had never happened before, flames burst forth from the firebird, and a blast of golden fire spread outwards, deflecting the curse right back at the dark wizard. The contact between the child and the bird spread the fire and both were consumed by the blaze of light that followed, and from the ashes, a babe rested when the light settled down, a massive crater spread in all directions as a pair of bright green eyes slowly closed to slumber, the innocence allowed a perfect fusion between Phoenix and Wizard to create something new. Flames danced around the child, forming patterns that would never be seen until he was ready.

And such was a hero born.

xXx

A month later Dumbledore was awed at the inferno that was in the process of consuming the house where he had left Harry.

The boy couldn't be found, but his relatives were stammering about Harry creating fire and then an explosion. Memory charms had revealed that Vernon had gotten angry and was storming towards him when the child started the fire in a most peculuar way, flames errupting into a pair of flaming wings.

The mention of wings had brought a tear to his eyes as a memory of his former pet touched his mind. He reached out and brushed the mind of the boy, but not enough to know where he was, only a brief memory of a flash of golden flame that seemed like the way a phoenix would travel, and he knew the boy was alive, but he didn't know where.

His mind turned to other things, Pettigrew had died in the hospital wing from his injuries, and the two remaining marauders were lost in a world of grief, hopefully this wouldn't be enough to push them over the edge. They'd already had to lock them up under an anti-apparition ward without their wands to keep them from making a direct assault on one of the known Death Eater strongholds. Thankfully, Voldemorts demise had slowed that down enough to keep it from happening for very long.

The old man had much to think about.