Rats

From UnknowableWiki

Rats are rodents with an average life span of two to three years. They are usually longer than five inches. They are sometimes kept as pets (WP).

Peter Pettigrew's Animagus form is a grey rat. After Voldemort's fall in 1981, Peter transforms into a rat for over twelve years to hide from other Death Eaters who blame him for their master's fate (PA19). He stays with the Weasley family, who name him Scabbers and keep him as a pet (PS6). His true nature is revealed by his former friends Remus Lupin and Sirius Black in 1994 (PA19). Real rats help Pettigrew find his master Voldemort in Albania after his exposure (GF33).

The Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley sells highly intelligent, sleek black rats that are probably magical. The clerk recommends them as a replacement for the bad-looking Scabbers to Ron Weasley (PA4). When Ron denies this, she sells him some Rat Tonic (PA4).