Rat

Rats are small mammals of the order Rodentia, distinguishable from mice by their larger size. Rats are typically regarded as vermin or pests, although they can be domesticated and kept as pets.

Rats can also serve as magical familiars to wizards and witches, although they typically only live for two or three years, and are not as popular as owls or cats.

The Weasley family kept a pet rat named "Scabbers" for twelve years, owned first by Percy Weasley and later by his younger brother Ron. However, it was revealed in 1994 that Scabbers was actually an animagus named Peter Pettigrew who had gone into hiding after Lord Voldemort's disappearance in 1981.

After fleeing Britain following his exposure, Pettigrew made his way to Albania, where he heard from the rats living in the area of Voldemort's presence in the forest.

Body parts from rats, such as the tail and spleen, are used as ingredients in potions, such as the Shrinking Solution.

The Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley sells sleek black rats that can play jump-rope with their own tails.