Chapter Four - A Rat's Tale

Lots of clues in this one! And misdirection! We might say something that's entirely wrong! Or try to convince you that we're entirely wrong when we're entirely right or vice versa! And always remember that what the characters think they know might not be what is actually happening, and the characters might think they don't know what's going on but they actually do! Ugh… This is getting complicated!

And look out for the formatting! It might be giving you a message! Ooooh!

Peter Pettigrew had barely noticed what was going on with his friends, he was straight up oblivious. Peter was facing his own difficulty of making sure that Sirius and James thought he was cool! Yes, he had been facing this problem for six years now but it was still number one on his agenda! Besides, if it really mattered why Sirius was with Lily, the answer was quite obvious… If you had happened to have overheard the whole conversation between Lily and Sirius! Hogwarts could then understand Peter's confusion when James came up to his fellow Marauder freaking out over how Sirius was going to Hogsmeade with Lily Evans and Remus' 'lazyitis' or whatever garble James had poured and Peter had realized that JAMES DOESN'T KNOW! But even that was not the most surprising part! What was is that the number one on Peter's list and one of James' many drama-fits collided when James just about ran Peter over in the hallway!

"OW! Idiot, watch where you're-" James saw it was Peter and cut himself off. "All right, Pete? I have a mission for you!" The messy black haired boy slung an arm around his friend and maneuvered through the crowd into an almost-empty side corridor.

"What's the mission, Prongs? What mischief shall we embark on now?"

"Well, it's not as much mischief as it is espionage. Actually, it's just espionage and no mischief. What say you, Wormy?" Wormtail just stared in disbelief. Usually, it was Remus who did these sort of side missions since Sirius and James had a partnership. Finally, the watery eyed boy swallowed the surprise and spat out some sentences.

"Me?" he spluttered. "What? Spy? Who? Remus? Me?"

"Yes, you! Don't splutter, Marauders don't splutter and-"

"James, there's a reason why Sirius called your fourth year 'The Splutter Year!'"

"That was Lily's fault! Anyway, I need you to spy on Sirily during Hogsmeade. Remus will be helping you but we need your practical methods because who knows what Remus will do!"

"James, nobody finds your making-up-words-thing endearing! Just because 'the English language is stupid and doesn't have words to describe this', you can't make up words!"

"Sirily is Sirius and Lily's code name, Pete. It was a hard decision between Sirily and LilyPad. Pad as in Padfoot. Would you just agree to go with Remus and get to the bottom of this?"

"Oh, fine, Prongs. As long as you're not just getting me to do it because I'm a rat." Peter started to class, James following.

"Oh no, Pete. Although that's helpful, you need to reign in Remus. And you have to figure out what he knows! He was telling me why he thought Sirily are just friends and then he let slip he knows something that he can't tell me!" Peter racked his brain for anything that fit the scenario and came upon one recent late-night-whispered-Common-Room-conversation Peter stumbled upon when he Invisibility Cloak-ed down to the kitchens for some hot cocoa.

"Oh! You mean how Sirius is-"

"Yeah-exactly-Pete-got-to-run-now-I'm-late-to-class-bye!" James sprinted off towards one redhead girl levitating a stack of books. Pete chuckled, recognizing the voice James always used when Lily was nearby to end a conversation. The short, stocky boy headed off to his next class, honestly having no idea where or what it was, just following a girl who had all his same classes.

Peter had figured out the class was Herbology and was now engaged in a violent war with Remus against a Snargaluff. Peter had informed Remus about the James' request, realized that they both know about the secret James is totally oblivious towards but can't tell James because it's Sirius' to tell, and were now embarking on how to clue James in. James was obviously crazy and acting like Sirius fell in love with Snape! Basically, they decided James needed a little… Push in the right direction! Also known as, someone owes James an explanation. There's only one person qualified to do that, considering Sirius obviously wasn't ready to let the Kneazle out of the bag. But luckily that one person had a soft spot for Peter and Remus! Unfortunately, Remus was already sworn into Sirius and Lily's group, so a person from the other camp had to march past the front line, Soldier Peter Pettigrew. Time for a plan… Actually after Herbology was over, it was time for a plan. Right now, Remus and Peter, as James' detectives, had to figure out what the Merlin's left buttock they were going to do about Hogsmeade mission.

The class poured out the greenhouse, splitting into two groups. Remus followed the first out to Care Of Magical Creatures and Peter followed that one girl and her friends up to the castle. He reviewed the plan for Hogsmeade - someone had to tell Sirius and Lily that Remus and Peter had to spy on them, keep the couple in sight at all times, report back to James the truth (or what hopefully would be the truth) that 'Sirily' didn't hold hands, kiss, or do anything like that. Peter nodded once, satisfied with the plan, and moved on to how he was going to tell Lily to talk to James. Obviously, James had to be gone or else Peter would be in deep trouble, Lily had to be in a good mood, and Peter had to explain his position very well. So, order of business number one - James being gone. Quidditch practice. Done. Order of business number two - Lily being open-minded. Recently, Lily had been unusually happy. Peter thought it had to do with Sirius. Done. Finally, order of business number three - Peter explaining the situation well. That was going to be the hardest one as the fourth Marauder was known to fumble words and sighed a bit, hoping he didn't mess up, and checked back into reality. He was a staircase away from his next class, a few hours away from a chance to speak to Lily, and three days left until Hogsmeade. Peter swore. He was so going to mess up. This was important. Okay, maybe not talking to Lily, spying for James, and his next class, but James finding out was huge. But no one except Peter knew it yet. Peter swore again. This time, it really didn't have any meaning, but Sirius seemed to swear after saying particularly dramatic things and 'But no one except Peter knew it yet' sounded more dramatic than almost all the things Sirius swore after. Which was almost everything, mind you.

In almost a blink of an eye for Peter, he was a staircase away from the Gryffindor Common Room, thirty minutes away from a chance to speak to Lily, and closer to two days left until Hogsmeade. Peter scanned the Common Room before strategically sitting down in an armchair which was a couch away from Lily Evans' claimed armchair. Peter made sure he wasn't actually sitting in her armchair because, well, he really didn't want to be that shrimp of a bloke who sat in her chair last year. The fourth Marauder scanned the room one last time and began writing about the importance of nonverbal charms on the battlefield. He finished quickly as Flitwick's only requirement was to have all the necessary information which the teacher then began to list. He checked his list of homework, most of which had been completed in Peter's free period, and realized the only thing left was to apply the nonverbal charm lectures heard in recent classes on Lumos Maxima. Peter frowned a bit at the nonverbal part of it, but began to cast the spell instead his head.

Lumos Maxima. No light appeared.

Contrary to popular belief, Peter Pettigrew was not stupid. It was just the fact that his friends were basically geniuses that made everyone think that Peter wasn't the brightest Patronus in Auror Department.

Lumos Maxima. The tip of his wand sparked but that was all.

Yes, that was a bit annoying at times but his friends were redeemed by being so brill and when Peter came upon a particularly hard spell, they rose to the challenge of helping him.

Lumos Maxima. Peter could feel the magic surge down his arm and into his wand, where it abruptly died out.

All in all, Peter could use a bit of tutoring here and there but most people underestimated how smart the 'meek, boring boy who trailed after the true Marauders' really was.

Lumos Maxima. This time, the magic -

"Peter?" A female voice twisted into his thinking trance and Peter jumped, his wand hissing. "Sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt you, I just saw you sitting there and thought I should say hello what with us being friends and all!" Peter twisted in his chair and saw Lily Evans occupying her designated throne.

"Oh, Lily, blimey! You gave me a start! I was in a bit of a trance, practicing Maxima nonverbal. I'm having some difficulty." Peter smiled, jumping on the chance to talk to Lily. He checked his watch, making sure James was at Quidditch practice. The team would be doing drills by now.

"Merlin, did I ever! I knew the theory, but it's so hard applying it. I would blame your failures on Flitwick though, what he really should have done was start us on the standard Lumos. I tried that, got it right away, moved on to Maxima, and it made it so much easier!" Lily leaned over to Peter, motioning him to try it. Peter concentrated on the result he wanted, a tiny ball of light balancing on his wand's tip and thought the spell.

Lumos. Weak.

"Try it again, Peter. It took me a couple of tries."

Lumos. Better.

"Again."

Lumos. A tiny spark.

"You're getting there!"

Lumos. Two tiny sparks.

"One more time!"

Lumos. Light flared.

"Perfect! Now do that a couple of times, just to get the feel of nonverbal. It's really just concentrating on the result, which I find amazing since I always thought it was the words doing the work, but it's actually the wizard." Lily rambled on as Peter perfected the nonverbal Lumos. He looked up at Lily Evans and her flushed cheeks and shining eyes.

"I think I got it," Peter said.

"Brill. Try Maxima now, and concentrate on getting the same feeling as Lumos. It might take a bit, but keep trying. You can always cast Maxima aloud to see the visual, then image it as you cast nonverbal."

"Cheers, Lily!"

"Anytime, Peter! I have to finish up a conclusion paragraph and plan out my next tutoring session for those cheeky little blighters. Oh, trying to get them to do nonverbal… So blinkered at that age, they wouldn't be able to do it! Just ask me if you need some help, I'll be glad to." Peter diligently got down to business, casting charm after charm. He mastered Lumos Maxima nonverbal and realized Lily's I'm-concentrating-so-do-NOT-disturb-me expression was gone. Peter still had 47 minutes. He mentally prepared himself. He physically prepared himself. And he began the battle. This was going to be very difficult. Very difficult indeed.

"Hey Lily? Are you done with your work?" The redhead looked up from her quill and parchment a little distracted. She blinked fog out of her eyes.

"Oh, yes, I am. Just doodling! What's up, Peter?" He thought he saw a drawing of a dark haired person before Lily filed it into her satchel.

"Well, James is going a little bit crazy because he thinks you and Sirius are romantically attached, and he -" Peter paused as Lily began spluttering. He remember earlier that day, James saying something about how Marauder's don't splutter. Peter ignored Lily's noises and continued. "He likes you so I would really appreciate if you would talk to James and -"

"I was afraid this would happen… But I can't help James, the only help he needs is someone to explain what's going on! The only person who can do that is Sirius Black!"

"Lily, you're the only one who can talk some sense into him! Just go up to him, say that you and Sirius are not dating, you're just friends, and tell him to stop being insane! You can even row with him or hex him-"

"Peter, I know you're trying to help James, but I can't do that!"

"Why not? Literally, just say 'James, Sirius and I are just friends, solemnly swear, so stop being insane!' I doubt he'd try to kiss you or anything like that."

"I don't want to come in contact with James right now!"

"Merlin, Lily. Why?"

"Because, well, I-" Lily faded away, her bright green eyes darting away from Peter's watery blue ones. "Fine. I will say that, only that, no follow-up conversations or anything."

"Thank you, Lily! Really, cheers! Oh, and James wants Remus and I to spy on you and Sirius during Hogsmeade."

"Oh, Agrippa, he found out about that?"

"You thought he wouldn't? Just stay in sight throughout the day and don't do anything I wouldn't."

"Anything that could be seen as dating?"

"Exactly. Thanks, Lily."

"No, thank you," Lily said, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to get ready for bed. James comes back in a few minutes, yeah? I'll talk to him tonight. Bye, Peter, we should do this again sometime. Not deal with drama, but spend some time together."

"Definitely. G'night!" Peter headed to the boy's dorm, glad he accomplished his mission. If he didn't, he probably would have had to spend Hogsmeade as a rat!

So, you like the chappy?

Oh and PLEASE review if you have any guesses about what is going on! If you get it right I will give you cyber hug and a shout out in a later chappy! If you get it wrong I will laugh at you!

Any guesses as to why Lily doesn't want to talk to James? I won't laugh at you. I may smirk though.

Oh I do… Is it because she has found out James' hidden secret that he is a bee bear and is attacking Ponyville so he can steal Twilight's cheese? And the only one who can stop him is Bon Bon?

Tele, you wrote this with me!

Well actually I don't know because you are the one who added that in!

Oh then, I'm not telling you if you're right! *evil laughter echoes around the cold, secretive cave Telemancer has chosen to meet in*

You're mean! But I know I'm right!

You are… How did you guess? Oh and check out our Jilly one-shot!