The atmosphere in the courtroom shifted as Rufus Scrimgeour announced the next testimony. The crowd, which had been buzzing with whispers and murmurs during previous testimonies, fell into an uneasy silence. All eyes turned toward the small, trembling figure in the dock—Peter Pettigrew.

"Peter Pettigrew," Rufus began, his voice cutting through the stillness. "You will now be given the opportunity to present your version of events on the night James and Lily Potter were betrayed. Are you prepared to testify?"

Pettigrew’s face was pale and slick with sweat. His small, beady eyes darted nervously around the room. His body was hunched, as though trying to make himself disappear under the scrutiny of the Wizengamot.

Rufus gestured for him to begin. "You may proceed."

Peter’s voice, weak and shaky, barely carried across the room. "I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen," he stammered. "I was trapped. You-Know-Who… he was too powerful. He found me, forced me to betray them—James, Lily…"

A few murmurs rippled through the chamber. The members of the Wizengamot remained stern and unsympathetic. Pettigrew swallowed hard and continued, his voice breaking.

"I… I thought if I handed over their location, I’d be spared."

There was a palpable wave of disgust that coursed through the courtroom, though it remained hushed.

"You-Know-Who gave me no choice," Pettigrew whimpered, his gaze darting to the floor. "I never wanted to hurt them. I was scared for my life!"

Dolores Umbridge leaned forward, her face a mask of false sweetness. "Mr. Pettigrew, your story suggests that fear drove you to betray your closest friends. However, as we have already heard, Mr. Black has subjected himself to Veritaserum. He spoke of his innocence under its influence. Are you willing to do the same?"

Peter froze, his mouth agape, realizing he was backed into a corner. His eyes flickered with panic before he slowly nodded.

"Y-Yes, I will submit to Veritaserum," he croaked, his shoulders shaking slightly as the truth serum was administered.

A few moments passed in tense silence as the potion worked its way through his system. Pettigrew’s posture relaxed slightly, and his face took on a faraway, vacant expression.

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Rufus spoke once more, his voice firm. "Now, tell us the truth, Pettigrew. Why did you betray your friends?"

Pettigrew blinked slowly before his lips began to move, his voice devoid of hesitation.

"I never liked them," he confessed. "I never liked James, or Lily, or Sirius, or Lupin. They always made fun of me… always looked down on me." His voice wavered, but the Veritaserum ensured that the words spilled out unfiltered. "They were always so… confident. So sure of themselves. And I was just… there. Their little pet."

The courtroom was silent, the tension thickening with every word.

"I didn’t want them dead," Pettigrew continued, his voice cracking, "but I couldn’t stand being in their shadow anymore. They never really saw me. I was nothing to them."

Sirius, seated among the witnesses, clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as Pettigrew’s betrayal was laid bare for all to see.

"And You-Know-Who…" Pettigrew’s voice dropped to a terrified whisper. "He threatened me. I didn’t want to join him, but what choice did I have? He… he said he’d kill me. I had no other option. That’s why I gave up their location."

The room felt suffocating, every eye locked on Pettigrew as his pitiful confession hung in the air. His tears flowed freely now, but they elicited no sympathy. His cowardice and selfishness were on full display for all to see.

"I swear… I never wanted them dead," he whimpered again, his voice barely audible. "I just wanted to survive."

Rufus Scrimgeour stepped forward, his face hard as stone. "Peter Pettigrew, you have confessed to betraying James and Lily Potter and handing them over to You-Know-Who. You have spoken of your fear and cowardice, but you have not provided any justification for the suffering you caused. The Potters are dead, and countless others have suffered because of your actions. Fear may explain your motives, but it does not excuse them."

Peter trembled, his small frame quivering under the weight of the judgment being passed.

Rufus turned to the Wizengamot. "The testimony is complete. We now have all the information needed to proceed with the trial."

As the Veritaserum’s effects began to wear off, Pettigrew's shoulders slumped in defeat, his eyes wide with the dawning realization of what was to come. No words could save him now.