The Interrogation of Peter Pettigrew

Peter Pettigrew was terrified. Not only had he been caught - most unexpectedly - but he was about to be force-fed Veritas Serum.

Never in his entire life had he been more scared - not even when he was faced with the dark lord had he been so scared.

And why?? Because the only thing scarier to Peter Pettigrew than the dark lord was a Dementor's kiss.

Dementors - nasty, vile things, who suck the very happiness out of the air just by being present. The chill they carry with them everywhere bites one to the bone - and Peter knew he could not avoid what was coming any longer.

McGonagall bound his hands and feet and Snape searched him for his wand - which he found hidden in his ratty old jacket alongside the Dark Lord's own wand.

Harry immediately felt drawn to Voldemort's wand, and his own wand gave off a feeble hum, as though reunited with a long lost brother after a long time.

Then, Professor McGonagall released Peter from his petrification spell - allowing him to speak.

"Severus! Minerva! Please!" He begged, to no avail.

It was around this time that Ronald Weasley woke up, saw what was going on, and then promptly fainted once more.

"Draco, escort Mr. Weasley to the infirmary." Ordered Professor Snape. Draco begrudgingly did so, patting Harry on the back comfortingly before laboriously dragging Ron out of the great hall by his cloak - which quickly showed signs of tearing.

As soon as they were gone, Snape forced open Peter's mouth and poured Veritas Serum down his throat.

"Nooo!!!" Shouted Peter, but it was too late.

'Well, hello, Peter,' said Minerva McGonagall pleasantly, as though rats frequently erupted into old students around her. 'Long time, no see.'

'S-Severus ... Minerva ...' Even Pettigrew's voice was squeaky. His eyes darted towards the door, but his body was stuck still by his bonds. 'My friends ... my old friends ...'

Snape's wand arm rose, but Minerva seized him around the wrist, gave him a warning look, then turned again to Pettigrew, her voice light and casual.

'We've been wondering, Peter, about what happened the night Lily and James died. Do you care to inform us?

'Remus,' gasped Pettigrew desperately, and Harry could see beads of sweat breaking out over his pasty face, 'He tried to kill me...'

'So we've heard,' said Minerva, more coldly. 'I'd like to clear up one or two little matters with you, Peter, if you'd be so –'

'He's going to try and kill me again if he finds me!' Pettigrew shrieked suddenly, covering his face with his hands, and Harry saw that his index finger on his right hand was missing.

'No one's going to try and kill you until we've sorted a few things out,' said Minerva.

'Sorted things out?' squealed Pettigrew, looking wildly about him once more, eyes taking in the nearest windows and, again, the large doors of the great hall.

Snape started to laugh, a horrible, mirthless laugh that filled the whole room.

'Did you betray her, Peter? To Voldemort?' he asked.

Pettigrew flinched as though Snape had brandished a whip at him.

'What, scared to hear your old master's name?' said Snape. 'I don't blame you, Peter. His lot aren't very happy with you, are they?'

'What do you mean, Severus –' muttered Pettigrew, his breathing faster than ever. His whole face was shining with sweat now, 3 parts nervousness and 1 part from the effort of resisting the Veritas Serum.

'You haven't been hiding for 9 years as a rat because you're innocent, Peter,' said Snape. 'You've been hiding from Voldemort's old supporters. Voldemort went to the Potters' on your information... and Voldemort met his downfall there. And not all Voldemort's supporters ended up in Azkaban, did they? There are still plenty out here, biding their time, pretending they've seen the error of their ways... If they ever got wind that you were still alive, Peter –'

'Don't know ... what you're talking about ...' said Pettigrew again, more shrilly than ever.

'I must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend nine years as a rat,' said Minerva evenly.

'Scared!' squealed Pettigrew.

Snape's face contorted.

'How dare you,' he growled, sounding suddenly like he was ready to rip out Peter's throat with his bare hands, (and in truth, he had been ready to do just that.) 'You were the spy from the beginning! Admit it!"

Pettigrew's face contorted in his struggle; he was almost panting for breath.

'Me, a spy ... must be out of your mind ... never ... don't know how you can say such a –'

'Lily and James only made you Secret-Keeper because Sirius Black suggested it,' Snape hissed, so venomously that Pettigrew flinched backward. 'Even I thought it was the perfect plan... a bluff... Voldemort would be sure to go after Sirius, would never dream they'd use a weak, talentless thing like you... it must have been the finest moment of your miserable life, telling Voldemort you could hand him the Potters.'

Pettigrew was muttering distractedly; Harry couldn't help paying more attention to the ashen color of Pettigrew's face, and the way his eyes continued to dart towards the windows and door.

'No!'

Pettigrew, at long last, had given up, as though Snape's words had been his own death sentence.

'You sold Lily and James to Voldemort,' said Minerva, who was shaking. 'Do you deny it?'

Pettigrew burst into tears. It was horrible to watch: he looked like an oversized, balding baby, cowering on the floor.

'Severus, Minerva, what could I have done? The Dark Lord... you have no idea... he has weapons you can't imagine... I was scared, Severus, I was never brave like Sirius and Remus and James. I never meant it to happen... He Who Must Not Be Named forced me –'

'DON'T LIE!' bellowed Snape. 'YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!'

'He – he was taking over everywhere!' gasped Pettigrew. 'Wh-what was there to be gained by refusing him?'

'What was there to be gained by fighting the evilest wizard who has ever existed?' said Minerva, with a terrible fury in her face. 'Only innocent lives, Peter!'

'You don't understand!' whined Pettigrew. 'He would have killed me!'

'THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!' roared Snape. 'DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS THEY WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!'

Snape and McGonagall stood shoulder to shoulder, wands raised.

'You should have realized,' said Minerva quietly. 'If Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Goodbye, Peter.'

'NO!' Harry yelled. He ran forward, placing himself in front of Pettigrew, facing the wands. 'You can't kill him,' he said breathlessly. 'You can't.'

At that moment, a calm voice broke the tension between the groups. "I think that's quite enough, Professor Snape, McGonagall."

Albus Dumbledore had appeared at long last.

"He should die for what he's done!" Hissed Snape at Harry.

'I know,' Harry panted. 'We'll take him to the ministry. We'll hand him over to the Dementors. He can go to Azkaban... just don't kill him.'

'Harry!' gasped Pettigrew, and he trembled where he lay, tied up on the floor. 'You – thank you – it's more than I deserve – thank you –'

'Shut up,' Harry spat in disgust. 'I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because I don't reckon my father would've wanted us to become killers – just for you.'

No one moved or made a sound except Pettigrew, whose breath was coming in wheezes. Snape and Minerva were looking at each other. Then, with one movement, they lowered their wands.

'You're the only person who has the right to decide, Harry,' said Dumbledore.

'He can go to Azkaban,' Harry repeated. 'If anyone deserves that place, he does ...'

Pettigrew was still wheezing behind him.

'Very well,' said Dumbledore. 'Stand aside, Harry.'

Harry stepped out of the way. Thin cords shot from Albus's wand, and in the next moment, Pettigrew was wriggling on the floor, gagged.

'If you transform, Peter,' Said Professor Dumbledore sensibly, his own wand pointing at Pettigrew, too, 'I am certain my fellow Professors will take no issue in killing you. You agree, Harry?'

Harry looked down at the pitiful figure on the floor and nodded so that Pettigrew could see him.

"Harry, I would like for you to go back to your dorm room, for the time being. Feel free to take some food with you, as it appears that you have yet to finish your breakfast." Said Dumbledore, kindly.

"Alastor is on his way, Minerva. Until then, we three will guard over Mr. Pettigrew here." Said Dumbledore.

Harry numbly collected food from the table and left the hall and the three professors in it behind him.