On paper, it was Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. In the eyes of the world, they were James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. But no one knew about the hierarchy within the group.

James and Sirius were popular because they were funny, good-looking, and charismatic. Sirius was the rebel, the heartbreaker, and an idol. James was the comedian, the rulebreaker, and the boy who fancied Lily Evans and made a spectacle out of it every now and then.

Then there was Remus. Quiet, but attractive in his own way, and he stood out among the Marauders as the smart one. He was the good boy, the good egg, but the secret mastermind behind all of the Marauders' pranks, which Sirius and James executed and took the blame for.

And Peter? He was the unwitting extra, the overlooked Marauder. Who would look at him when he was next to the other three? Even if he was by himself, people were disappointed. He had always been the oddball. He wasn't as attractive as Sirius, or as funny as James, or as smart as Remus. He wasn't anything special.

They didn't know what he did for the group — he helped with the pranks too — but no one praised his role, but the other three were showered.

The other three tried to include him, but to Peter, the battle lines were drawn, and as far as he was concerned, he was estranged on one side. The feeling was amplified when Sirius and Remus started dating in sixth year, and James and Lily in seventh. The three of them were so absorbed in their respective relationships and paid little attention to Peter. As the seventh year went on, it was clear that Peter had been all but cast out, but then he found a home with a new group after the year was over.

The Dark Lord played with his insecurities, and he knew what Peter's weakness was, and he granted him a boon. He would feel useful. He would belong and would play a special role.

The Dark Lord's arms were full of seductive promises, and Peter obliged.

After all, for the first time in his life, he was appreciated.


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