Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me

A/N: I have no beta reader all mistakes are my own. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated but please no flames. Thank you.

Percy, Peter observed, could barely keep up his dignified, prefect attitude as he stared at the owl on the Weasley's kitchen table. His blue eyes betrayed his absolute glee as he picked up the cage to better inspect his new pet.

"Mum." whined one of the twins (Peter never could keep them straight). "Why does Percy get his own owl?"

"Because he's a prefect!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, regarding her third eldest child proudly.

The twins began on another one of their "lets finish each other's sentences" discussions that reminded Peter painfully of James and Sirius. Doing his best to tune them out only served to remind him of his advice to Remus when he had been made a prefect.

Peter recalled how much James and Sirius's taunts had hurt Remus as he showed them his shiny new badge. The congratulations Peter had offered, however, where disregarded, worthless to his friend, as Remus wilted under the other two's insensitive ridicule.

"I'll name him Hermes!" Percy's abrupt, and loud, declaration brought Peter momentarily back to reality. "After the Greek messenger god," he informed his siblings. "A fine name for an owl." Peter's owl had been named after his mother before he even left for school. The name, Mildred, which Peter thought was actually a very pretty name, had caused his friends to snicker. The fact that he named his owl after his mother became just another causal insult in the other Marauder's arsenal.

So caught up in his memories was Peter that he failed to notice Percy, who usually brought him everywhere (the incident with the twins trying to turn him hot pink had yet to be forgotten), was running off without his rat.

"Don't forget Scabbers." Mr. Weasley called after his son. James and Sirius had often forgotten to include him in their plans for another brilliant prank.

"Oh right!" Percy exclaimed. "I was going to give him to Ron. Now that I have Hermes."

One of the twins snorted. "Ron will be thrilled. A hand-me-down rat to go with his hand-me-down robes." He whispered to his double.

Peter sighed; of course Ron didn't want him. He was just a worthless, stupid, forgettable rat.