March, 1998

"Stand back," said Peter. "Stand away from the door. I am coming in."

He entered the dark dungeon. For a moment he gazed into the apparently empty cellar, then Harry and Ron flung themselves on him.

Ron forced his arm upwards, and Harry slapped a hand to his mouth, muffling his voice.

"What is it, Wormtail?" asked Lucius Malfoy, from above.

"Nothing!" Ron called back in a passable imitation of Peter's wheezy voice. "All fine!"

But Peter's silver arm was closing around Harry's throat, choking him.

"You're going to kill me?" choked Harry, attempting to prise off the metal fingers. "After I saved your life? You owe me, Wormtail!"

In a flash, Peter remembered all the times when James had stood up for him and protected him. Looking into Harry's eyes, he remembered how Lily had kind-heartedly defended him when James and Sirius teased him.

Peter's hand around Harry's throat slackened. He couldn't kill James and Lily's son.

Moments later, the silver hand that his master had gifted him turned against him and strangled him.

Peter fell.