A/N: Wowsers! Thanks for reading and thanks to BeholdTheMetatron1946, shadowwriter01, guest, grey wren, the twinblade alchemist, training to be a fangirl and sailormoonserenity99for reviewing! :D I honestly expected this story to maybe get 5 reviews or favs...
Well, I didn't know much about Peter so I had to do some 'homework' on him. I still do not really know who he is, because Peter isn't given much time in the books. And to be perfectly clear, I still *hate* Peter (who ruined the life of my poor Sirius and said horrible lies) but I think it is still possible for him to find some forgiveness in the afterlife.
I also think JK Rowling probably based Peter's name on Peter the apostle. In the bible, Peter, absolutely loved and served Jesus with his whole heart. But when it came time for Jesus' crucifixion, he denied Jesus three times, saying that he did not know him. This was a betrayal he immediately felt terrible about. But he did it out of fear.
I mean, if you were being threatened with the prospect of being nailed to a cross along with Jesus would you have the guts to do it?
I think Peter was probably frightened into betraying his friends. and as much as I love Sirius and hate Peter, I do think Peter got scared again when Sirius came running after him, ready to kill him for revenge. And it's not like because he escaped Azkaban, Peter had a good life. He still had a miserable loveless life where he spent 12 years as a rat. I guess he just didn't see that there are some things worst than death and a life, where you betrayed the only people who loved you, is one of them.
Reconciliation 4:
Peter Pettigrew
No.
No no no no no. It couldn't be Peter.
How could they let him in.
He turned to the mousy haired boy standing there, bold as brass. As if he weren't the worst person on the planet.
"How could they let you in?"
"They let you in didn't they?" Peter said. His face boyish and young like he'd been at Hogwarts.
"I am different."
"How different?" Peter said almost courageously. "We both got left behind by our friends and then made decisions."
Severus was flustered. He could not believe the things Peter was insinuating.
"I never made decisions like yours!"
"You killed people with the Death Eaters didn't you?" Peter looked him right in the eye and Severus saw a courage there that had been completely lacking on earth.
Oh merlin it was true. How could he have been allowed to arrive here either?
Peter placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "They told me it wasn't about judgment here."
Severus threw his hand off him and scowled. "Since when are you the bloody prophet Peter?!"
Peter bowed his head and stared down at his feet. "I spent some time with someone who claims to be a prophet. He explained a lot to me. He says it's not the healthy and good who need to be taught, but the needy and sick. The corrupt."
"And you expect me to believe you've reformed already?" Severus stared disdainfully at the one person he hated above all else. "I should kill you for what you did to Lily!"
"I am already dead." Peter smiled. "And so are you."
"I still hate you."
"You'll let go of it in time?"
"No I doubt that. And why are you being so agreeable?" Dammit it didn't make it easy to hate him.
Peter placed his hands in his pockets and strolled around him. "I guess I am not afraid anymore, I can see clearly now."
"Oh god and now you've gone sappy!" What's next reciting Seal songs?
"Severus I'm just trying to tell you one thing," Peter said and his blue eyes fixed steadily on him.
"What? What could you possibly tell me of value?"
"That you and me are alike, we are not so different."
"No!"
"We both betrayed our friends in a moment of fear."
"No. I'm nothing like you!"
"Severus we are both responsible for Lily's death." Peter stared at him. "Tell me how did Voldemort know about the prophecy?"
Severus finally broke down.
"I told him. I didn't know the seventh born child would be Lily's." Tears ran down his face. "I was a coward. I was fine with Voldemort murdering someone else's baby, some other family. I only regretted it when I found out it was Lily's. And then it was too late." He covered his face.
Peter took a sharp breathe. "I was tortured and threatened with death if I did not join Voldemort. I was a coward but he truly did torture me before I broke down. I was never strong or brave like my friends." His voice carried a deep seated grief. "No one tortured you Severus to join did they? You willingly joined the Death Eaters and you willingly gave Voldemort the prophecy to kill some innocent child and family...until you found out it was Lily's. We were the same."
"Oh god." Severus muttered.
Peter smiled. "The only difference is that you repented for your mistake by doing everything to protect Lily and then Harry. You redeemed yourself. I didn't and for that I've had a very hard time here." Peter shook his head. "On Sirius's insistence, I spent twelve years in Azkaban."
Severus looked up at him. "How is that possible? You've only been dead for a year."
"Time is flexible here. Expandable. I spent twelve years in Azkaban."
Peter suddenly laughed. "Sirius still wanted to throw me off a cliff when I came back."
Severus managed to smirk. "I'm sorry he didn't succeed."
"All my life I was afraid. So full of fear. I sought power and protection in others. In Azkaban, I learned the only thing to fear is fear itself. I learned I did not need anyone else to protect me."
Severus rolled his eyes, although he did feel gladness in his heart that Peter had learned somehing and that he'd chosen to do his due time in Azkaban.
"I'll be going back. I may spend up to a hundred years with the dementors until.."
"Until what?"
Peter smiled. "Until I learn to stop fearing fear."
"You were an awful human being."
"I was awfully afraid."
He turned to go.
"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"She's been waiting a long time to see you."
Now that is something he could smile about.
.
.
.
A/N
TO BE CLEAR (so nobody gets angry about peter being in 'heaven') this is supposed to be about the JK Rowling universe's version of the afterlife-in Deathly Hallows, when Harry dies, he and Voldemort end up in the same place in the afterlife. So it's not about heaven/hell in the HP universe but since Voldemor's body was a shrivelled up deformed baby, one assumes that he will have to repent in the afterlife...anyways i have no answers about these things!
Does anybody get the feeling that Lily will probably be the most badass angry dead person ever? Because she's a *redhead* and Harry's mom and Severus sort of bullied Harry...well he also saved Harry's life many times...well we'll see...and Lily's no angel either, she was pretty awful to Severus too when she stopped being friends with him!
