Disclaimer: JKR owns Harry Potter stuff, and I fear her lawyers greatly so let's make this clear - she owns them, not me
The Man Who Turned
Three of the Marauders sat huddled over a book in the Gryffindor common room...discussing a new and dangerous plan.
"I'm not sure, Sirius, looks rather complex."
"Come on, James, me and you can pull this off. Perhaps Peter will have troubles, but we can get him through it."
"I may not have troubles..." Peter felt like Sirius had no faith in him at all. Really, he wasn't that hopeless...he had gone through as much as the rest of them. Sure, he'd messed up a few more things, caught them a few extra detentions, but Sirius didn't have to bring it up everytime. He was sure he could become an animagus. He'd just have to try.
"I can do this," Peter said confidently.
"Well, if Peter says he can, than you can't be having second thoughts James." Sirius smiled at his friend, knowing he was just as excited as himself. Animagi. Anticipation coursed through him. This was a huge adventure for him, a great feat he'd never forget. Like that prank they pulled last week. That was priceless. Except this was much bigger. And it was for Remus.
"Alright," James said with a laugh. "We'll do it."
* * * * *
"Come on, Peter, you've got to try harder."
"I am!"
Sirius was getting bored of waiting. He and James had perfected their transformation a week ago. He still remembered seeing James finally pull it off, and his little outburst that they should call him Prongs for the lovely antlers atop his head. As soon as James turned back, he'd remarked that they'd have to call Sirius Padfoot, for those wonderful little paws. Now he could sneak up and pull a prank with even more surprise. No one was safe! Sirius still laughed a little at the new nicknames. They were strange and definately unique, but much good they did while they sat here waiting for Peter to catch up.
"Peter, just try to be calm and concentrate. You can do it," James said assuringly. Even he was starting to grow impatient. The next full moon wasn't that far off. If Peter didn't make it, than they would have to wait another month. And they were so close too.
He watched as Peter stood in the middle of the dormitory, eyes closed and fists clenched. He and Sirius were sitting on James' bed, trying to help incourage Peter, and give any tips where they could. It was a little aggravating, watching him struggle so much, after they'd already done it. But James wasn't about to leave Peter out, and he knew Sirius wouldn't either.
"Peter, the full moon is only 3 days away. I don't want to wait for another month."
Well, James was pretty sure...
Peter took one deep breath and tried another time. He knew he could do this. He had to be able to do this. Sure, he always ended up messing things up in class, and he couldn't get any of the spells that Sirius or James found right, but this was the one he would do. He had to. Or else they would leave him behind. He didn't want that. He wanted to be with his friends. He tried to concentrate one more time.
'Just think the spell in your mind,' he thought. 'Just repeat it and imagine yourself changing into your hearts' true form, into a being that embodies YOU.'
All of a sudden, he felt a slight tingle in his fingers. Actually, the tingle was all over. And there was wind, like a wind from below. He opened his eyes slightly, and found himself looking up at Sirius and James, as they sat gaping. He felt changes happening, lots of them, all at once. The tingle was fur, gray and soft, and his arms and legs shrunk in comparison with his body. And, wait, was that a TAIL growing?
"Hey, he's done it..." Sirius said in amazement. He hadn't been altogether sure that Peter would actually succeed; he'd hoped and wanted him to, but part of him almost said that he was expecting far too much. But he had turned into a SMALL animal. He almost looked like a...
"He's a rat," James said plainly. He was staring too, but there was a small smile on his face. He was really happy for Peter; he knew he'd be really glad. And they could visit Remus this month.
"So, Prongs, what shall we name our new fellow animagus then?"
"Name? You mean like ours?"
"Of course. I think Wormtail quite fits." Sirius watched Peter flick the new, long tail back and forth before he started to change back.
"Wormtail?" Peter asked, not sure whether to take it as a compliment to get a name like them, or an insult.
"It think it sounds great then. But lets start planning for the full moon. We've got three days to figure out how we're getting down there," James said as he climbed off the bed and headed towards the side table for some parchment.
Peter thought while Sirius and James talked plans out. Wormtail? Was he just some worm to them? No, it had to be just some random thought of Sirius'. He did that sometimes, but they were all friends. They had been for 5 years now, ever since their first year. He shook off the feeling of hurt and sat next to the two boys, listening to the plans and growing excited along with them.
* * * * *
Peter Pettigrew, now a full grown and graduated wizard, walked down a dingy little street, still thinking about the meeting that had just taken place. Why? Why would...You-Know-Who be after Lily and James? What had they ever done? Sure, James had been at the heart of some pranks at school, but then Sirius should be targeted, and Remus and...himself. Peter gulped suddenly. He didn't like to think about You-Know-Who being after him. It was a scary thought, and Peter quite liked life, even if he didn't live in the nicest of houses or with the best food to eat or with a truly warm place to sleep. Any life was better than none to him.
And now they had a little son to care for also! His mind flew to the little child he'd just seen today. He was a tiny little boy, seemingly ordinary in every way, but the way Lily and James acted, he might as well have been a little prince. And he had a common name too...Henry or Harold or something of the sort. Peter couldn't quite recall. Dates and names had never been his specialty. In fact, he wasn't altogether sure he had a specialty at all. He hadn't succeeded in doing anything well enough as far as he could remember, though his friends had of course. They normally did, and he normally didn't. That was just the way things had gone...
It was nearing winter, and the chill wind cut through every break in his cloak, chilling him to the bone. He was almost home, almost to the shelter of a couple walls to keep out the wind at least. And he was more comfortable with the Fire spell now then he had been at school. He knew that he still couldn't do all the spells others could, but he prized himself on a couple, and he used those to his advantage. That was what mattered.
He threw back the worn door and shuffled inside, closing it quickly and moving to the fireplace. He took out his wand, muttered a quick spell and got a nice fire going. Peter smiled slightly, feeling the warmth, and turned to put his cloak away. But then he saw someone he had missed, standing and staring at him. Peter froze. He had no idea who this was, some person in a nice black cloak and a face hidden beneath a hood, but he knew who he THOUGHT it was. He started to stutter, adrenline rushing through him.
"Y-you-you...You c-can't be...V-V-Vol-..."
The Man Who Turned
Three of the Marauders sat huddled over a book in the Gryffindor common room...discussing a new and dangerous plan.
"I'm not sure, Sirius, looks rather complex."
"Come on, James, me and you can pull this off. Perhaps Peter will have troubles, but we can get him through it."
"I may not have troubles..." Peter felt like Sirius had no faith in him at all. Really, he wasn't that hopeless...he had gone through as much as the rest of them. Sure, he'd messed up a few more things, caught them a few extra detentions, but Sirius didn't have to bring it up everytime. He was sure he could become an animagus. He'd just have to try.
"I can do this," Peter said confidently.
"Well, if Peter says he can, than you can't be having second thoughts James." Sirius smiled at his friend, knowing he was just as excited as himself. Animagi. Anticipation coursed through him. This was a huge adventure for him, a great feat he'd never forget. Like that prank they pulled last week. That was priceless. Except this was much bigger. And it was for Remus.
"Alright," James said with a laugh. "We'll do it."
* * * * *
"Come on, Peter, you've got to try harder."
"I am!"
Sirius was getting bored of waiting. He and James had perfected their transformation a week ago. He still remembered seeing James finally pull it off, and his little outburst that they should call him Prongs for the lovely antlers atop his head. As soon as James turned back, he'd remarked that they'd have to call Sirius Padfoot, for those wonderful little paws. Now he could sneak up and pull a prank with even more surprise. No one was safe! Sirius still laughed a little at the new nicknames. They were strange and definately unique, but much good they did while they sat here waiting for Peter to catch up.
"Peter, just try to be calm and concentrate. You can do it," James said assuringly. Even he was starting to grow impatient. The next full moon wasn't that far off. If Peter didn't make it, than they would have to wait another month. And they were so close too.
He watched as Peter stood in the middle of the dormitory, eyes closed and fists clenched. He and Sirius were sitting on James' bed, trying to help incourage Peter, and give any tips where they could. It was a little aggravating, watching him struggle so much, after they'd already done it. But James wasn't about to leave Peter out, and he knew Sirius wouldn't either.
"Peter, the full moon is only 3 days away. I don't want to wait for another month."
Well, James was pretty sure...
Peter took one deep breath and tried another time. He knew he could do this. He had to be able to do this. Sure, he always ended up messing things up in class, and he couldn't get any of the spells that Sirius or James found right, but this was the one he would do. He had to. Or else they would leave him behind. He didn't want that. He wanted to be with his friends. He tried to concentrate one more time.
'Just think the spell in your mind,' he thought. 'Just repeat it and imagine yourself changing into your hearts' true form, into a being that embodies YOU.'
All of a sudden, he felt a slight tingle in his fingers. Actually, the tingle was all over. And there was wind, like a wind from below. He opened his eyes slightly, and found himself looking up at Sirius and James, as they sat gaping. He felt changes happening, lots of them, all at once. The tingle was fur, gray and soft, and his arms and legs shrunk in comparison with his body. And, wait, was that a TAIL growing?
"Hey, he's done it..." Sirius said in amazement. He hadn't been altogether sure that Peter would actually succeed; he'd hoped and wanted him to, but part of him almost said that he was expecting far too much. But he had turned into a SMALL animal. He almost looked like a...
"He's a rat," James said plainly. He was staring too, but there was a small smile on his face. He was really happy for Peter; he knew he'd be really glad. And they could visit Remus this month.
"So, Prongs, what shall we name our new fellow animagus then?"
"Name? You mean like ours?"
"Of course. I think Wormtail quite fits." Sirius watched Peter flick the new, long tail back and forth before he started to change back.
"Wormtail?" Peter asked, not sure whether to take it as a compliment to get a name like them, or an insult.
"It think it sounds great then. But lets start planning for the full moon. We've got three days to figure out how we're getting down there," James said as he climbed off the bed and headed towards the side table for some parchment.
Peter thought while Sirius and James talked plans out. Wormtail? Was he just some worm to them? No, it had to be just some random thought of Sirius'. He did that sometimes, but they were all friends. They had been for 5 years now, ever since their first year. He shook off the feeling of hurt and sat next to the two boys, listening to the plans and growing excited along with them.
* * * * *
Peter Pettigrew, now a full grown and graduated wizard, walked down a dingy little street, still thinking about the meeting that had just taken place. Why? Why would...You-Know-Who be after Lily and James? What had they ever done? Sure, James had been at the heart of some pranks at school, but then Sirius should be targeted, and Remus and...himself. Peter gulped suddenly. He didn't like to think about You-Know-Who being after him. It was a scary thought, and Peter quite liked life, even if he didn't live in the nicest of houses or with the best food to eat or with a truly warm place to sleep. Any life was better than none to him.
And now they had a little son to care for also! His mind flew to the little child he'd just seen today. He was a tiny little boy, seemingly ordinary in every way, but the way Lily and James acted, he might as well have been a little prince. And he had a common name too...Henry or Harold or something of the sort. Peter couldn't quite recall. Dates and names had never been his specialty. In fact, he wasn't altogether sure he had a specialty at all. He hadn't succeeded in doing anything well enough as far as he could remember, though his friends had of course. They normally did, and he normally didn't. That was just the way things had gone...
It was nearing winter, and the chill wind cut through every break in his cloak, chilling him to the bone. He was almost home, almost to the shelter of a couple walls to keep out the wind at least. And he was more comfortable with the Fire spell now then he had been at school. He knew that he still couldn't do all the spells others could, but he prized himself on a couple, and he used those to his advantage. That was what mattered.
He threw back the worn door and shuffled inside, closing it quickly and moving to the fireplace. He took out his wand, muttered a quick spell and got a nice fire going. Peter smiled slightly, feeling the warmth, and turned to put his cloak away. But then he saw someone he had missed, standing and staring at him. Peter froze. He had no idea who this was, some person in a nice black cloak and a face hidden beneath a hood, but he knew who he THOUGHT it was. He started to stutter, adrenline rushing through him.
"Y-you-you...You c-can't be...V-V-Vol-..."