I scrabble against the street,
claws scraping the cement.
Why me? Why me?

I tried, oh how I tried…
the Dark Lord is not kind to me!
He forces, and forces, and then-
just when you think all is safe
and he can’t find you…
he attacks
a snake in the grass.

Lily…
James…
James would have forgiven me,
he would have. If he lived.
The others always hated me!
But James, wonderful James
sweet, sweet Lily
they would have saved me,
but they are dead,
so I saved myself.

Can you blame me?
Moony, Padfoot
would you really have done different?
Maybe.
You two were always braver.
Don’t think I didn’t hear your whispers…
Little Wormtail!
Not good enough for me.
Don’t let him touch me, Remus.
I might catch it.

Well who’s talking now!
The Dark Lord has proclaimed it.
Sirius is arrested!
Sent to Azkaban!
Can courage
kill dementors, Padfoot?

Survival of the fittest, Sirius,
you said that sometimes.
Well now I survive,
and you perish.

Remus said perception matters.
Innocent I may not be
in your eyes, Sirius,
but to the rest of the world
I’m finally
A hero.