Reclamation of a Dream
By Spelljammer
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine; this is a not for profit work.
Summary: (AU, eventual slash) Peter Pettigrew in an act of reckless shame rescues Harry from Privet Drive and decides to raise him as his own.
Pairings: Sirius/Remus, Peter/Severus (unrequited) Harry/Severus (later, also unrequited)
Chapter 1: Innocent Sin
A tattered little gray rat shuffled his way down Magnolia Crescent in the dead of night. The rat carries himself with a bearing of stark fear and determination. The tiny feet pad through the nighttime streets. He knows better. He shouldn't do this. He shouldn't. But he had to have a glimpse of him. Since Harry lived, his parents didn't and Sirius was out of the picture, the rat had a very strong idea where the Boy-Who-Lived was staying. The blood ties from Lily's sister seemed to be the only way to protect the defenseless child. Problem was, at least according to Lily and James, she hated all things magical. It would stand to reason that she'd hate Harry as well. Not that the rat could do anything about it, he was too weak. After dodging cars, cats and other rats the gray one finally was at the end of his long journey only to hear the sounds of whimpering off to the side behind a beat up rubbish bin. The rat scraped by and in a pile of old rags, crates and a beat up couch there sat a little boy crying.
The Boy-Who-Lived to be exact.
He was a scrawny, wasted looking boy with wild hair. He only superficially looked liked James Potter. James never had given off that aura of scared prey even during the direst of situations. In that one moment the rat, Peter Pettigrew, felt that James' son was acting a lot like he did. And why was Harry outside in the dead of night anyway?
The rat quietly made his way towards the sobbing boy. This was pure madness. No doubt about it James' son was outside in the cold night in the trash with no adults in sight. Peter transformed into a man again.
"W-what ever is the matter dear l-lad?" Peter said in a very shaky voice.
"I'm vermin." The boy sputtered back.
"Who told you that?"
"M-my uncle. He hates me." The boy said paying no mind that he was talking to a stranger. Peter moved closer and sat on the dirty couch.
"Is that why you're away from home?"
"I'm a freak. Abnormal. Lowest of the low." The boy started to hiccup. Peter pulled out a handkerchief for Harry to use. It had some splotches of blood on it but nothing really noticeable. Harry buried his nose in the stained cloth and blew into it.
Peter wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't terribly shocked. Best to make sure, anyway.
"Is your name Harry?"
"Yes sir."
This was an interesting situation. Harry's wizard hating relations drove him to run away. Ran right into a true monster too. Peter remembers feeding Harry when he was just a mere babe. Well, he still is a mere babe right now. Too small to be out like this.
"D-do y-you live at the Dursley residence?" Peter asked.
"Yes sir."
"They hate you." Statement, not a question.
"Yes, um, how do you know me?" the boy asked. He looked up and saw Peter's very large, pudgy, heavy set face.
I knew your parents when they were in school. Peter started to say but his mouth felt like it was full of cotton. He couldn't put the words out of his mouth. "I'm vermin too. People hated me all my life." Seemed to be the only thing Peter could say to Harry.
"Yeah, but you've had to see me before if you know my name or where I live."
Sharp kid.Peter thought with a tiny bit of pride. He remembered how he had baby Harry strapped on his back when he needed to pick out fresh potions ingredients in the fields. I'll never have children Peter thought glumly. "I was at the hospital when your mummy gave birth to you." Peter said. Well, it was a start and a pretty good one too considering Harry's eyes just went wide and the sobbing stopped.
"D-d-daddy?" he whispered. Peter's heart stopped for a second and only the sounds of moths buzzing around the street lamps could heard. Peter was about to respond when Harry cut in. "No, don't tell me. I'll pretend." Peter's mind was scrambling but he composed himself the best he could.
"S-so you don't want to go home?" Peter asked.
Harry nodded his head. Peter was afraid to ask the next question but he had to know. Why would he be here otherwise?
"D-does he b-beat you?"
Harry nodded again. Peter felt tears run down his fat face. Peter buried his face in his calloused hands. He felt his robe tugged on. Harry handed the strange man his handkerchief back. Peter took it and blew his nose in it too. He didn't know what to do. He was at wit's end. Harry was supposed to be dead. Now he was in a hell house, worse than dead. All because of his sin. "Want to never go back?" Peter said on impulse. Harry nodded excitedly.
"What's your name?"
"Hmm, I have m-many names. Some call me Wormtail...others call me Scabbers." Peter said not wanting to reveal himself to Harry right away.
"Why's that?" Harry asked. Peter decided to transform into the little rat. Soon the gray little rat climbed up on Harry's lap. "Whoa, brilliant." Harry whispered. Harry petted the rat on the head and the rat lapped the affection then plopped off the lap before returning to his squat, heavy, short human form. Peter extended his hand to Harry.
"People spit at me, beat me up and think I'm fairly disgusting. Maybe we can find a kingdom where no one hates us. Wanna come?" Peter asked.
"Will it be a place where magic exists?" Harry asked innocently.
"Count on it."
Without another word the innocent lad and the broken animagus silently left the remains of the trash heap and left Magnolia Crescent. After some traveling near the outskirts of the city (dodging a couple of constables along the way) he realized both he and Harry were quite hungry.
"Um, Mr. Wormtail?" Peter froze.
"Yeah, Harry?"
"I'm starving."
"That's funny, so am I." Peter laughed nervously. He had no muggle money but decided to go to early morning diner anyway and just charm the people there into giving them free food. When the pair found a suitable place that catered to factory workers just getting off of work the sun was beginning to rise. Peter saw that Harry was dressed in his pajamas and was a carrying a baby blanket around him.
Merlin, that's the blanket Lily bought him. Keyword being bought because Lily barely had any domestic training. Peter Pettigrew took out his wand and discreetly transfigured Harry's night clothes into day wear. Harry smiled and was nearly busted over squealing. Peter put his finger to his lips and simply winked at him. Harry nodded knowing to keep the magic a secret. Peter changed his clothes too. The two entered the little restaurant as some burly night shifters stopped in for dinner. Peter and Harry both kept a low profile as possible but no one payed them any mind except the waitress. They both order pancakes and bacon while Harry got orange juice and Peter got coffee. As Peter buttered his toast Harry asked a question.
"What happened to your finger?"
"A dog bit it off." Peter responded a bit too quickly.
"You should bite that dog."
"Ah, it's okay."
"So what are we going to do?" Harry asked.
"Not sure yet."
"Better think of something fast, we're fugitives now. Its kinda like those dumb movies of the week that Aunt Petunia likes watching."
You ain't just whistling "Hogwarts Forever" kid. Peter thought. If he wasn't in hot water before he was sure the authorities would be in overkill mode. Still it was for a good cause. Many new considerations popped up in Peter's mind. He couldn't stay at Otterey St. Catchpole anymore. He had to find a way to train Harry into his magical abilities. Had to deal with bringing up a child while being firmly below the poverty line. Merlin up in heaven! I'm actually going to do this! I'm stealing James' boy and pretty much going to say he's my own. Fuck! Atonement's a real bitch. Peter looked at Harry as he was drinking his orange juice with a straw. He couldn't be more than five or six years old. Harry smiled at him.
No don't tell me. I'll pretend.
Pretend that Peter was James or that James was still alive? The only way to go was to move forward.
"Come on son, the nice lady will pay for all this and we'll find that home we'll live in while in the magic kingdom." Screw the right path. This was Harry's life.
"'kay" was Harry's response. Peter did a slight of hand imperius that no one saw and the waitress put some of her own money in the register. Soon as Peter and Harry got up from the table a couple of women entered in the diner and actually cringed when they saw Peter. He was a rather gross looking fat parody of a man after all. As they passed by Peter merely rolled his eyes. He was used to this kind of treatment. They walked outside and soon Little Whinging started to wake up. Better find a hiding place and soon. Harry tugged on Peter's sleeve.
"Sleepy now."
"Me too. I think we can sneak into an empty room at an inn or someplace."
"M'right." Harry replied with a yawn.
So next thing they knew the two were sleeping on the floor in an abandoned flat with no furniture on the dodgy side of town. A few quick transfigurations and both had covers and pillows. Peter even put a muggle repellant charm so that the two wouldn't be bothered for awhile.
"Mr. Wormtail?"
"You don't have to call me that."
"Um, okay..."
"Yeah?"
"I won't miss them. I'll go anywhere and work you know."
"I know."
"Just don't drop me off on the side of the road or leave me in an orphanage."
"I won't, son. I only exist for your sake. My life is yours."
"That's good cause I read Oliver Twist and hate that's it's a true story."
"Don't worry Harry; everything's going to...what do mean Oliver Twist is a true story?" Peter asked alarmed.
"Starvation, child slavery, overwork. It's all true. I don't want to live like that. Orphanages are where bad boys go to." Harry said curling into himself.
Damn! The things you learn everyday! Peter ran his hand over Harry's head. "Harry you've been a very good boy today. I'll make sure you won't go to such a place."
"Really?" Peter saw the damn scar.
"Yeah, we'll find a place where vermin can live without people having to squash us just for being different.
Or weak.
