Peter's death

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"I think I get it now," Harry muttered, his wand oscillating between Peter Pettigrew and Sirius. Finally, his wand settled on Pettigrew.

"You did it, didn't you? You betrayed my parents?" Harry asked, staring directly into Pettigrew's eyes.

Peter's face paled further, sweat dripping down.

"You're wrong, Harry," he pleaded.

Suddenly, a desperate spark appeared in Peter's eyes.

"Twelve years! I've been at the Weasleys for twelve years! Haven't hurt anyone! Isn't that enough to prove my loyalty?"

"No!" Harry's voice was steely and unforgiving.

"What?" Peter stammered, looking around in confusion.

"You're not hiding from Black; you're hiding from your Death Eater colleagues!" Harry continued, his thoughts crystallizing.

"Voldemort listened to you and attacked my parents. After that, he was severely injured and disappeared. You played your role so well that even the Death Eaters were fooled. They thought you were dead and also believed Voldemort was gone. You feared their revenge."

Horror washed over Peter's face as Harry's words hit home.

"You didn't hurt the Weasleys because you couldn't be sure what happened to Voldemort. So you hid in a magical family, listening for news and waiting for the right time," Harry pressed on.

With each accusation, Peter trembled more violently until he finally collapsed to his knees. Harry's analysis had shattered his last defenses.

"I was scared," Peter sobbed, covering his face.

"The Dark Lord is so powerful—you can't imagine his power—I was terrified; they forced me!"

"That's no excuse! You betrayed us long before that!" Sirius shouted, nearly frantic.

"Because the Dark Lord would kill me if I didn't!" Peter wailed.

At this, Sirius's eyes turned red with fury.

"Then you should die! If it were me, I wouldn't betray my friends! Including you!" he roared.

Peter seemed to deflate entirely, collapsing to the ground, covering his face in defeat.

For a moment, the room was silent.

"So, this is the real truth?" Hermione murmured.

"Yes, it is. This is the truth," Lupin replied calmly.

"Peter, you know what's going to happen next." Lupin pulled out his wand and looked at the slumped Pettigrew.

"No!" Peter screamed, rushing towards Ethan.

"Ethan! You're an official of the Ministry of Magic! Please take me to the Ministry! I plead guilty! I'll stand trial! Sentence me to life!" he yelled, clinging to Ethan's leg.

"No," Ethan softly rejected Pettigrew's plea.

"Trials are for the living; you're already dead."

With that, Ethan kicked Peter back towards Sirius.

Sirius drew his wand and aimed it at Peter Pettigrew's face.

At this point, Peter Pettigrew seemed to have accepted this fact and closed his eyes calmly in Sirius's face.

It is equal to the arrival of his final judgment.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron all stared at this scene.

"It's time for justice," Sirius declared, taking a deep breath.

"I've been waiting for this moment for too long."

He drew his wand and aimed it at Peter Pettigrew's face.

Pettigrew, seemingly resigned to his fate, closed his eyes calmly, accepting his final judgment.

"One last thing, Peter," Sirius said suddenly.

"What?" Pettigrew opened his eyes curiously.

"James and Lily never doubted you," Sirius continued.

"Until the very end, they believed the fault lay elsewhere. They never suspected you, even as they died."

Peter's eyes welled with tears. For the first time, he seemed genuinely remorseful. "My God, my God," he whispered, tears streaming down his face.

"What have I done?"

But Sirius and Lupin had no intention of giving him a chance to reflect.

"Avada Kedavra!" they chanted simultaneously.

Two beams of green light struck Peter Pettigrew, and he crumpled to the ground like a broken puppet.

"I'm sorry, brother," he murmured with his last breath. His eyes, gradually losing their light, turned toward a dirty window. His limbs were splayed, his chest no longer rising and falling. Peter Pettigrew was dead.

Sirius and Lupin stood in silence, staring blankly at his lifeless body. Peter's final apology seemed to stir something in them, and Lupin, unable to bear the sight of Pettigrew's vacant eyes, reached out and gently closed them.

"So, is this the end of it all?" Sirius spread his hands, feeling an unexpected emptiness now that his twelve-year quest for vengeance was fulfilled.

"It seems so," Lupin replied quietly.

Sirius put his hands on his hips and looked around, trying to decide what to do next. His gaze finally settled on Harry.

"Harry, can I talk to you alone?" he asked cautiously.

Harry nodded eagerly, filled with curiosity and a newfound respect for his godfather.

Sirius then looked at Ethan, hoping for some privacy.

"Can we have a moment?"

Ethan crossed his arms and scowled. "This is my office. If you want to talk, you'll have to step outside."

Sirius clenched his jaw but complied, leading Harry into the corridor for a private conversation.

"Ethan, we need to take care of this," Lupin said, nodding towards Pettigrew's body.

Lupin found a piece of white cloth and covered Peter Pettigrew's lifeless form. The room felt heavy with the weight of the truth and the finality of their actions.