A/N) This chapter is really short: just a short meeting between Dumbledore and Peter. I've been ill at the weekend so I didn't have time to write much. I thought I'd post this scene. The next chapter will make up for the abysmal length of this chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter Four

The Headmaster and the Rat

How does he know I'm here? Peter wondered. He trembled in his rat form, wondering again how Dumbledore knew he was hiding beneath his desk. What would happen if he revealed himself? Could he make a break for it?

No, his mind replied, Dumbledore was too powerful. He'd stop him from escaping. Nervousness ran through him, threatening to choke him. He had never been good at making decisions; he'd always relied on James, Sirius and Remus. Having to decide for himself was hard. What would James do? Prongs would face Dumbledore. But I'm scared to...His voice trailed off. Perhaps Dumbledore could help. Perhaps the Headmaster could help him...

Taking a deep breath, Peter Pettigrew crawled out from under the desk, transformed and stood before Dumbledore trying not to flinch under the steady gaze that bore into his green eyes.

"Why, Peter, have you betrayed the friendship that your friends have been trying to keep alive?"

Peter shrugged, un sure of what to say. "I don't know."

Dumbledore clasped his hands together, looking over his half-moon glasses, his eyes seemed to be searching Peter's soul. "You are afraid of the Dark Lord, are you not?"

Peter nodded.

"Then you must conquer this fear. You are a Gryffindor, not just any Gryffindor but a true one, if only you look deep inside yourself and find the courage that is buried within you. The Sorting Hat wouldn't have placed you there if you didn't have that in you." Dumbledore said.

"I can't. I don't have courage. I can't even see what the Hat saw in me. I'm a traitor to my friends. I'm not worthy of their trust." Peter mumbled, his heart finally breaking under the fact that he had probably destroyed the one thing that had kept him alive these past few years. Friendship. Brotherhood.

"You can still change that, Peter," Dumbledore replied, quietly, "Prove to your friends that you deserve their friendship. James will understand, so will Lily. Remus will as well. Sirius, on the other hand, may not trust you, but if you come through for them, then you can prove yourself worthy of such brothers."

Peter gulped, wishing that he had never taken the offer to be a Death Eater. He had thought that doing so he would be saving his friends: how wrong he had been in that assumption...

"You can go."

Peter looked up, surprised by the calm expression on the old man's face. "You're letting me go? You're not turning him in?" he stammered.

"I believe in second chances, Peter. I'm giving you a one time opportunity to rethink your path: a chance to turn your fortune around. I know you do not want to be a Death Eater: it was a choice you made thinking that it was right. There must be something that you want, and I can give it to you, but it does depend on what you ask for."

"Like a job?" Peter asked. Currently he was unemployed, unable to get into the profession he wanted because of his aimless skills in magic. More then anything in the world he wanted to be an Auror, proving that he had the skill and power to do so. He knew he could do it, he knew he was powerful, but because his N.E.W.T grades were so low, it had prevented him from entering the academy with Sirius, and later James.

James, of course, had followed a year after Sirius had entered the academy, and by the time James had finished the training course, Sirius was mentoring students. James had been mentored by Sirius, and that had been amusing to watch, especially when James moaned to his friends about Sirius' teaching methods.

Memories washed over him. Tears threatened to pour down his face.

"I know what you are thinking, Peter." Dumbledore said, "You want to go to the Auror Academy?"

Peter nodded. "But they won't accept me, not after what I've done."

But Dumbledore's answer surprised him. "I can help you get into the Academy, Peter, if you truly wish to be an Auror. I'm sure that James and Sirius would help you. I will speak to them about it, but for now I suggest you lie low and make sure that they don't find you, otherwise you may find yourself fighting your friends."

Peter nodded. His actions had destroyed his friendship with the others, but if anyone could help him, it would be Albus Dumbledore.

TBC

Okay, I know Peter being an Auror is not something he would do, but who knows? After all, he must be powerful especially if he can transform without the aid of James and Sirius each time he turns into a rat! Don't worry this is part of the plot anyway.

Next chapter will hopefully be out by Sunday. It'll be a little longer in waiting because I want to write a long chapter for once. I hope I can!

Please let me know what you think! I love reading your comments!