From small beginnings come great things

~Proverb

Chapter Four

Goodbye, Farewell

"There are far too many poor's on your grades, Peter. Don't even get me started on your dreadful in potions. All of it is absolutely unacceptable! You aren't even passing most of your classes! I don't know why your teachers aren't more concerned! They haven't been in contact with me at all over this! Maybe I should make an appointment with Professor Dumbledore to ask him about his educators apparent lack of concern! I bet that will change things!" Peter Pettigrew Sr, Peter's rotund and increasingly red-faced father, was ranting loudly as the trio, Peter and his father and mother, made their way through the bustling crowd of King's Cross.

With each comment, an insult directed at Peter's intelligence and work ethic, Peter scrunched up his frame, so he was smaller and smaller. All he wanted was to disappear from sight. His father's loud exclamations were drawing the curious gazes of the large crowd. Soon, Peter was sure everyone would know he was lousy at school.

"Oh, darling. I don't know- "Peter's mother Eloise squeaked. She had eyes glassy from unspilled tears and was anxiously twisting a handkerchief in her hands. However, before she could finish her thought, her husband interrupted her.

"Though, I wouldn't have to take time out of my day, nor waste the time of your Headmaster, Peter, if you tried a little harder. You got an excellent in your theoretical Transfiguration final, so you clearly aren't a complete idiot. You just don't work hard enough and apply yourself. You spend far too much time messing around with those boys," he said the last two words like they left a terrible bitter taste in his mouth, "and not enough time in the library working on your studies.

"Third year is a very important year and, if you don't turn your marks around, we may need to have a serious talk about sending you to Drumstrang. They take academic achievement very seriously and have extremely effective ways of ensuring it." As Peter Sr. spoke about Drumstrang, he got a glint in his eye. Peter's father had wanted to send the younger Pettigrew to the wizarding school somewhere in Eastern Europe since Peter's first year. However, his mum hated the idea of Peter going so far away for schooling and managed to convince her husband against it.

The look in his eyes at that moment, however, made Peter feel almost positive that his father would get his way that time. Either Peter would improve his grades of he'd be set to a harsh school away from the only friends he'd ever had.

"I'll try harder," Peter spoke quietly. Unable to look his father, with an intense, judgemental look on his face, directly in the eye, Peter began scanning the crowd. His father seemed satisfied with Peter's hushed statement as the elder Pettigrew stopped talking. For the rest of the short journey, the three Pettigrew's walked in a much-desired peaceful silence. Peter continued to focus on the crowd as they went, which is how he first saw Remus Lupin and his parents emerge from the crowd.

Peter was about to rush forward and greet his friend for the first time when he was stopped by what he was witnessing. Remus and his mum and dad stood in a tight circle, completely lost to the world. His mother, similar to Peter's own, had teary eyes and a sad expression on her face. What had stopped Peter was Remus' father. Lyall, if Peter remembered his name correctly, was looking at his son with an expression of pure love and joy. Peter's father had never looked at him that way before and Peter felt jealous at the sight.

"Peter!" Remus had spotted the mousy haired boy and was making his way over to the Pettigrews, his parents following after. Peter set his face, plastered a happy grin on his face. He was happy to see his friend, the smile was genuine, it just took a little more effort than normal to express it.

"Hello, Remus! How was your summer?" Peter asked. The two boys exchanged pleasantries before a coughing sound caught Peter's attention. He turned to look behind him and saw the annoyed, expectant look on his father's face.

"Peter, where are your manners? Are you going to introduce us?" his father asked through gritted teeth. Peter Pettigrew Sr. only showed his anger at home, never in the presence of others, but that didn't mean he was an expert at controlling it.

"Right, sorry. Mum, father, this is my friend Remus and his parents," Peter spoke, his voice small and mousy. Having done his duty, the two sets of parents more formally introduced themselves.

"Well, we should be going. It's almost eleven. Wouldn't want to miss the train!" Peter spoke again. He was always worried about what his father would say to others, having experienced a fair amount of shame and embarrassment at the hands of the man. Peter found it was best to limit the amount of interacting the elder Pettigrew did.

To emphasize his point, Peter grabbed his mother's hands and pulled her to the entrance of the platform. Once there, he dropped his mother's hand and then looked around, making sure none of the muggles spotted him. Assured of this fact, he quickly passed through the barrier onto the platform, leaving his mother momentarily on the other side. Remus and his parents followed suit and Peter's mother came through last, a sad sorry expression on her face.

"Your father was worried about missing too much work. He figured we could manage on our own," his mother spoke quietly so only he could hear. Remus, however, noticed the absence and gave Peter a sympathetic look, but didn't say a word.

"Remus! Peter! There you are! It's a quarter to eleven! You're cutting it awfully close! Sirius and I were worried!" James Potter exclaimed, suddenly appearing out of the mist and crowds of people. Sirius Black followed closely behind him, chuckling at his friend's antics.

"I told James that if you two missed the train, Remus could just enchant a muggle car or motorcycle and use that to get you to school. James wasn't so sure. He said, 'that's some pretty complicated magic and a pretty far-fetched plan.' But I didn't have any doubt. I told him, 'Jamesy, this is Remy and Pete we're talking about. Remy can perform any spell he sets his mind to, while Pete's got the most creative, resourceful mind I've ever met!' Then the two of you showed up and all of our concern, worrying, and imagining were rendered moot. Now you're all caught up!" Sirius spoke, some of his words running together as he was talking relatively quickly. Peter focused in on the voice Sirius used and the somewhat strange and, at least in the case of James and Remus based on their expressions, unwelcome nicknames Sirius had given them.

"Yes. Yes. It was all quite dramatic. Now, if we don't get on the train soon, it'll leave, and we'll have to seriously consider alternate means of getting to Hogwarts. I, for one, do not want to do that. It sounds like it would be an adventure, but I would rather not jeopardize getting to Hogwarts for the sake of an adventure. At least not right now. So, shall we?" James said, his body almost twitching with nervous energy. Peter found it interesting and enduring that James, who would normally do anything for adventure, was not willing to risk Hogwarts for it. Hogwarts was more important.

James turned to bid farewell to his parents, as did Remus. Sirius stood apart from the Potters, a little awkwardly, and scuffed his shoe on the ground for something to do. Peter turned his attention away from his friends and towards his mother. Her eyes were even glassier than they had been earlier, and there were a few tear tracks running down her cheeks.

"Have a wonderful year, darling," his mother spoke, her voice hitching with emotion. Peter nodded, allowing his mother to wrap her arms around him and embrace him tightly. As he stood in his mother's loving embrace, his own arms wrapped tightly around her waist, he said a silent thank you that his father hadn't come through the barrier. He would not approve of the display of affection and would have cut it off. Peter allowed himself to revel in the moment for a few more seconds before breaking it off and boarding the Hogwarts Express.

Great adventure awaited and Peter could hardly contain his anticipation.