Magic That Shines Green

Chapter Four: A Lion's Pride

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I only own my OC.

I asked for reviews, I got two favs, and one alert. I guess I'll update for the two people who actually like the story.


-l-Peter-l-

I awoke, and looked around blearily. My dorm was empty. I couldn't hear Remus rummaging in his trunk, Sirius taking a shower or James' soft snores. I started and sat bolt upright and looked at the clock.

It was 7:50. I had already missed breakfast, and I had class in exactly ten minutes.

I grabbed my bookbag, stuffing some random books in it, one that looked like it could be Charms, and another that might be Transfiguration, a scroll of parchment, my planner Remus got me last year, an ink bottle, a couple battered old quills and my wand.

I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, taking the shortcut that only we knew of, and arrived, sprinting into Charms only moments before the bell rang.

I panted and took my seat next to Remus, who merely raised an eyebrow at my lateness, and then went back to writing today's date at the top of his paper, his name, and then what was written on the board.

" Took you long enough," Sirius said from next to Remus.

" Why didn't you guys wake me up?" I asked, feeling put out.

Sirius and James only laughed. " Just our little joke Pete."

Usually I would have laughed along with my friends, but now I was stubborn and only took out my scroll of parchment, and ink bottle, borrowing one of Remus' neatly taken care of quills. I wrote down whatever Remus had on his paper and ignored Sirius and James who were talking to Lily, Annabelle and Alice who sat in front of them.

I had been with the Marauders for years, six to be exact. I was part of their gang, we made the Marauders Map together. Heck, I even changed into a rat every Full Moon so that Moony wouldn't suffer, despite that he nearly ate me every time and I had to have Padfoot or Prongs save me. We had always relied on each other. We even had our own Marauder Code, which maybe no one else knew of, but it was important to us. But even through all of that, sometimes I felt like I didn't truly belong. Yes, they accepted me as a friend. Yes they accepted me into their group and let me hang out with them and pull pranks. But I never felt like they actually saw me as worth something.

They all were extremely gifted wizards. I was just Peter. Just Peter.

I couldn't calm Sirius down after a fight with his parents like Remus could. He always could tell when Sirius had been fighting with his brother or his parents, whereas I couldn't tell the difference if my life depended on it. And Remus alone could enter the dormitory when that happened, at least until Sirius was less likely to hit someone. James tried a few times, once getting his hair singed, and the other he got punched, breaking his glasses. He didn't take it personally of course, he knew Sirius was just upset. Sirius knew that James didn't take it personally. And maybe that's why Remus alone could get to him at those times. Because Sirius didn't dare hit Remus. One, it was against Marauder Code unless it was something important, like we had taken a potion. Or on the occasion of a Prank War, though we often didn't use physical violence.

Two, Remus took almost everything personally. And no one ever hit Moony, because he could take it sure, but no one ever did. Because James and Sirius were like brothers and wrestled on occasion, but that was different. And Moony was who held us up. He was also the one we all protected, partly because he was a werewolf, but also because he was like the middle child. The one who bridged me to the other Marauders. Without Remus, I doubt I ever would have been accepted.

I couldn't be as talented at Quiddtch either. James and Sirius, they were both on the team. In fact, this year James was made Captain, and he was a chaser, though he had been a good seeker when he was one. Sirius was a beater, and a good one at that. He was fast as James, and he didn't have to care about the quaffle, but he was strong enough to hit the bludgers, and protect the team. He was our protector in a way. He transformed into a dog, which was known to be loyal to its master, but also protective at times. He tried and failed to protect his younger brother from his family's belief in the Dark Lord being right, and blood purity. So maybe, now he saw us as his family and he protected us.

James was talented, he had good looks too. And he held us all together with his leadership. Some would debate around the school who was the true leader of the Marauders. Girls would squabble about who was better. And maybe some only guessed. No one really knew unless they were close to us, that despite protecting us, and having his looks, Sirius never really led us. He was more of James' brother that he never had. And Sirius and James seemed to be like one person sometimes, they worked together so well. And they shared thoughts silently sometimes, without a word. And Remus I believe, would catch the small exchanges, not commenting on it, but he seemed to understand whatever passed between them. Try as I might, I never understood what those glances they shared meant, not until later.

I don't know what I ever did for them. I was with them on pranks, but I never got the glory. I was their look out in case trouble came. And if it did, it was like I didn't exist, they would scatter, Remus making sure no trace of them remained, Sirius and James making sure he didn't get left behind, and then they would vanish. It was like I wasn't part of them. Then I would be in trouble, and none of them ever thanked me for taking the detention and points off.

If I tried to calm Sirius down, I would take one step in the dorm and he would probably break my nose. If I tried to play Quidditch, they would laugh that I couldn't even ride a broom properly. I wasn't as smart as Remus. He would study for hours, completely absorbed in what he was reading. I couldn't do that. And he always could push Sirius and James into studying a bit at least. Whereas if I tried that, they would laugh and walk away to plan a new prank.

I was their cheerleader more like. During pranks, I admired them, they were so good at what they did. I couldn't do what they were. I didn't have the pride, strength, or wit that they had.

Maybe I never belonged in their group. I just wasn't Marauder material. I wasn't even in their league. And unless I even was in their dorm, I doubt they would have even noticed the boy who struggled with grades, couldn't even throw a proper stunner, couldn't fight, and couldn't even run faster than a caterpillar.

-l-Remus-l-

I took notes, not listening to James or Sirius, instead I was completely focused on learning about the 'avis' spell. It would shoot birds out of ones wand.

Next to me, Peter was writing as much as he could. Though without much success, his eyes flickered over the page, reading it before he wrote, and his eyes would narrow in concentration, before he continued to write.

I could catch brief snatches of the conversation Annabelle was having with James and Sirius.

She was telling them that her parents were muggles. She was muggleborn, and that her brother Chris had been at Hogwarts too. I didn't recognize the name Chris Jacobs. In fact, I didn't know if the guy existed. Apparently Chris had been killed by Death Eaters over the summer, just like James' parents.

" Was his name Chris Jacobs?" I asked.

She shook her head. " No, Chis Evergreen. He erm...well he's my half brother. Same mother," she replied.

I nodded and turned when Professor Flitwick announced we would now be trying out the spell.

I picked up my wand, and tapped James on the shoulder. He turned, looking at me. I nodded to the Professor, and then jabbed my wand at the spell.

He nodded, and picked up his own wand, read the spell carefully and then. " Avis!" On his command, out of his wand flew perhaps a dozen white doves.

I preformed my spell, and out flew golden birds, which on my instruction, turned an ocean blue.

Peter raised his wand, and when he shot his spell, one of my birds turned to ice. I clucked my tongue, disapprovingly, and chided him.

" It's the way you're moving your wrist. You need more swish and less flick," I instructed patiently.

He tried again, this time out of his wand, instead of a dozen birds, flew a fiery phoenix, which flew high in the air, and gracefully landed on his desk, which nearly set his parchment on fire, but I put out the fire with an agumenti charm, and vanished the bird quickly.

He was given homework. Practice and lots of it, at which I volunteered to help him.

That wasn't the worst at least. Someone else produced beautiful birds, but when they tried to change the animal's color, the birds merely exploded. Another girl's birds attacked her, and she was forced to beat them back with her textbook.

During the passing period, we went to Transfiguration which was odd. Usually we slacked, and ended up late minus me, because I insisted on going to the next class and left after they didn't listen.

I quickly figured out it was only because of Annabelle that he insisted we go to class. He sat down on his desk and watched the girls as Alice told them a story about her summer.

James watched them with rapt attention, not noticing that the rest of us were far from entertained. We had no care to sit here for another 13 minutes until class.

" Just go talk to her already," I said, nodding to where Annabelle was talking with Lily and Alice.

James turned red at being caught and shook his head. " I don't know what to say to her. I barely know her!"

This didn't happen very often, when James Potter got embarrassed or lost his ability to form a coherent sentence. He just isn't the type to get flustered when it has to do about a girl. He's good with the ladies, and he knows it. So usually he won't get shy like this. I looked up at him in slight surprise. He definitely liked Annabelle. He had it bad too.

Sirius looked amused, though, James didn't notice, as his attention was half on me, and half on the girl talking with her friends. I felt like I was getting the smaller half of his attention.

" Just talk to Lily, you are her friend, and then Annabelle will join in," I suggested.

He shook his head again. " I don't know how to start a conversation with Lily either."

I sighed, standing up. " Padfoot if you will?" I asked.

Sirius nodded, standing up from leaning on the desk.

" Just say it is Head's stuff, like the Prefect's schedules, alright?" I suggested, and then Sirius took his shoulders, steering him to where the girls were laughing at something Alice said.

James glared at me, in mock anger, and smiled quickly as he was left alone in front of the girls.

Hopefully he would be able to push his pride down and just talk to her.