“What about it?” said Ron defiantly.

“He’s got a toe missing,” said Black.

“Of course,” Lupin breathed. “So simple ... so brilliant ... he cut it off himself?”

“Just before he transformed,” said Black. “When I cornered him, he yelled for the whole street to hear that I’d betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he blew apart the street with the wand behind his back, killed everyone within twenty feet of himself-- and sped down into the sewer with the other rats...”

“Didn’t you ever, Ron?” said Lupin. “The biggest bit of him they ever found was his finger.”

“Look, Scabbers probably had a fight with another rat or something! He’s been in my family for ages, right ----”

“Twelve years, in fact,” said Lupin. “Didn’t you ever why he was living for so long?”

“We -- we’ve been taking good care of him!” said Ron.

“Not looking too good at the moment, though, is he?” said Lupin. “I’d guess he’s been losing weight ever since he heard Sirius was on the loose again...”

“He’s been scared of that mad cat!” said Ron, nodding toward Crookshanks, who still purring on the bed.

But that wasn’t right, Harry though suddenly .... Scabbers had been looking ill before he met Crookshanks ... ever since Ron’s return from Egypt ... since the time Black had escaped... (363)

“Harry,” said Lupin hurriedly, “don’t you see? All this time we’ve thought Sirius betrayed your parents, and Peter tracked him down -- but it was the other way around, don’t you see? Peter betrayed your mother and father -- Sirius tracked Peter down ---” (365)

“Harry... I as good as killed them,” he croaked. “I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me... I’m to blame, I know it... The night they died, I’d arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he’d gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn’t feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents’ house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies... I realized what Peter must have done.. what I’d done...” (365)