Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all other characters that spewed forth from J
K Rowlings mind, are not mine. New Characters are, plot is a mix of mine
and Airin's. Based off of Airin's Artistic Hands. You should go read it if
you haven't.
~~~
Things quickly settled down. Sirius and I forgave and forgot, well, I
forgave, and he forgot as usual. Nothing happened for a long period of
time. Sirius continued to disappear three nights a week to go see his
mystery girl. And he still wouldn't tell us who she was. This was really
starting to bother James, who as Sirius best friend since before school,
had never had him keep something from him so long. James started hanging
out with me more. I enjoyed the extra time with one of my friends, but was
still curious to know what was going on with the other.
It had almost been a month when it happened. The day started out horrible. I woke late, and almost didn't make transfigurations on time. When we had to pair up to practice turning the mice we had into rabbits, Sirius paired up with Lilly and James and Remus paired up. Leaving me without a partner. I looked around the room, and the only other person without a partner Cindy Gartiana, another 6th year Gryfendore, who really should have ended up a Slytherin. She hated me and the rest of the Marauders, and was constantly trying to get Lilly to stop hanging out with us. However, we had to partner, and I spent the entire class suffering insults from her, and watching Lilly and Sirius joking, and James watching the two of them suspiciously. Apparently not all of his concerns about her being the mystery girl were gone. Remus also watched the two, while practicing of course.
Eventually Cindy had enough of my "pathetic, useless attempts" and set about showing me how to do it. Getting it done perfectly, and watching her get praised by McGonagall were enough to make me sick. To escape from this hell I asked McGonagall if I could be excused to the infirmary. Glad for an excuse to get rid of me, she said I could go. I spent the rest of the time in the care of Madame Pomfrey. Not finding anything really wrong with me she sent me back down to lunch, where I was subjected to the questions of my friends.
"Hey Wormtail! Where did you go during Transfigurations?" James scooted over to make room for me. Sirius and Remus were on the other side; Lilly was next to James. They all looked up at me expectantly.
"Went to the infirmary to escape from Miss Gartiana. Ugh the girl is insufferable." James, Remus and Sirius all laughed while Lilly tried to defend her.
"She's not that bad!" At a look from Sirius she let out a little laugh, and gave in. "Ok, so she's a snob, but she is a Gryfendore. So we have to put up with her."
"Doesn't make it any easier. No wonder she's the last to get a partner in all of our classes. Why'd you work with her today Peter?" James turned to look at me. Wondering if he can really not notice that no one but them seems to like me, I just stare at him for a second. His expression doesn't change and I realize he is serious.
I blush and manage to stammer out a reply. "Well, I'm not really friends with anyone but you guys, so if you all partner up, I was stuck with whoever was left."
The four of them just stare at me, and I become embarrassed, and look down at my feet. The silence becomes too much for me, and I look up at them, wondering what they are thinking. Not one of them had moved. Finally James muttered, "I never noticed." And went back to eating. The rest took this as their cue, and start eating again and talking about other matters. I just sit there, thinking on my shame, and loneness, but them Sirius tells a joke, and reaches over to punch my shoulder, and I shake off the melancholy thoughts. I have the marauders. They are enough.
After lunch we all head down to the dungeons for potions. Chandrick was waiting for us, and we all slipped into seats, James making sure to partner with me. I smiled at him and sat with parchment out waiting for the professor to give us the potion's ingredients. I've been working on my potions with Remus, and wanted to do well for once. Remus and Sirius sat at a cauldron close by. Lilly partnered with another of the girls, Emily Sandwick. The Slytherins, including Snape, all sat on the other side of the classroom. Why they partnered our two houses no one could figure out. I think they've hated each other since the days of the founding. Perhaps there was something between Godric and Salazar.
Chandrick strolled to the front of the class, and looked at all of us. "Today we will be attempting the Dire Life Draft. This potion is extremely complex and dangerous. It will drain anyone who drinks it of his or her life. They will age before our very eyes, until they have reached an age past, which any body can sustain. This potion only works on mortals. Try giving it to a vampire, and they will only find it pleasant drink. No pay attention." She listed off the ingredients. Gave us another warning and everyone in the class started, being more careful than usual. Seems her warning actually stuck.
James and I progressed ok, until we were waiting for the potion to turn pale lavender before adding the last ingredient, snakeroot. Then we heard a shout behind us and a splash in our cauldron. There was a small explosion as a stink bomb went off, covering both of us in the potion. Chaos broke out as everyone tried to get away from the mess. Chandrick calmed everyone down and headed over to us. She handed us towels to clean ourselves off.
"You boys are very lucky this potion only works when consumed. A lot of deadly potions work just by touch." I was thoroughly shaken, and relieved, I really had no wish to die, and didn't know what would happen when it splashed over us. I could tell James was thinking the same thing as he smiled in relief. Remus had run over to help us clean up, and Lilly and Emily were setting the cauldron back straight. I looked around for Sirius, and my eyes narrowed as I saw him slip back into his seat. He had been doing something elsewhere in the room. I turned to James to see if he had noticed but he hadn't. Had Sirius thrown the stick bomb? But why would he do it when we were making such a dangerous potion, and why to us? Was he mad because James was working with me? It didn't make any sense. But he was definitely up to something.
After that, Chandrick let the other finish their potions and we all headed back to the dorms. The others laughing and talking, but I hung back. I didn't want to confront Sirius with everyone else around. Tonight was one of his date nights. After class, he and James headed for Quidditch practice. I hung out in the commons room, doing work, and attempted to play chess with Remus. He had taken defeated me very soon, and we decided once again that I would never be good at that game. I went over in front of the fire to read, while Remus just daydreamed. Soon James came back from practice, slightly angry. Apparently he had once again tried to get Sirius to admit to who the girl was, and failed.
The evening passed, and when the others went up to the room, I stayed wished them goodnight, and stayed behind intent on talking to Sirius. Curfew passed, and still no sign of him. This was the latest he had been out. I was soon pacing in front of the fireplace. I heard a noise behind me, and jumped.
"Wormy? Why are you still up?" It was just James. I turned to face him.
"Sirius still hasn't come back. I wanted to talk to him. I think he was the one who threw the stink bomb in our potion." James looked at me stunned.
"Why would you think that?"
"I saw him doing something while we were cleaning. It seemed weird. I wanted to ask him why. But he hasn't come back yet."
"Do you think something could have happened? Should we go look for him?" I nodded, and James ran up to get his invisibility cloak and the Marauders map. We never went without them. Soon he was back with the cloak, but no map.
"Sirius must have it, it's not where we left it last." We both covered ourselves in the cloak and walked out of the portrait hole. Not having any clue where to start, we headed towards the main building, and were soon sneaking around a corridor full of empty classrooms. We stopped suddenly. There were voices ahead. Not know whom they belonged to, we snuck quietly towards them. It sounded like they were coming from an abandoned classroom at the far end of the corridor.
We were about to classrooms away, when James came to a sudden halt. I looked over at him and whispered, "Why'd ya stop?" He only motioned me to silence and pointed. Ahead of us, we could see Mrs. Norris that damned cat of Filch. We backed up slowly, trying to get away. But we ran into a small stand, and it wobbled. Immediately the cat's head snapped in our direction and let out a loud meow. Now we stood still, until we heard more commotion from the classroom, sounds of feet running, and we took off just as we heard Filches voice. Mrs. Norris headed after us, but amazingly, Filch seemed to be going the other way! We ducked into an empty classroom, and stood there out of breath. James pulled off the cloak and leaned against the wall.
"I think we lost her."
"Yeah, I wonder why Filch took off in the opposite direction. Maybe it wasn't him in the classroom." James looked at me.
"Do you think it was Sirius?"
"No, it sounded like two men. It had to be Filch and someone. Why else would Mrs. Norris be roaming around outside of it, without trying to get in that room?"
"True, I wonder who Filch was talking to. Think he's up to something bad?" I smiled.
"Yeah, maybe he'll get caught and Dumbledore will fire him!" Just then we heard the door open and Filches voice entered the room.
"Or maybe he was trying to see why two students are out after curfew and sneaking around the castle." James groaned and we both turned to see the caretaker of the castle framed in the door with Mrs. Norris rubbing herself happily against his legs. "I'll see you both get detention for this, and twenty points from Gryffindor each." Now it was my turn to groan. Forty points! Ouch. He grabbed us both by the arms, and I watched James pick up the cloak without him seeing. "Time to go see Dumbledore. I'd expel you, but you're lucky he's so much nicer than me." He said this with a sneer.
James and I were both dragged into Dumbledore's office. We were to caught up in our punishment to get a good look, but I was awed by the phoenix. Dumbledore sat at his desk and just looked at us disappointed. "I won't ask why you are out after hours. It would probably just get you in more trouble." Filch made a protesting sound, but Dumbledore silenced him with a look. "I agree with Filches punishment, detention and forty points from Gryffindor. You will serve your detentions with Filch tomorrow evening. And I hope it will be sufficient to prevent against any further night wanderings." Filch grinned evilly, and James and I groaned again. Tomorrow was going to be hell.
Filch led us back to our dormitory, thinking aloud of nasty ways for us to spend our detention tomorrow. We were thankful to collapse in chairs in the commons room before heading back up to bed. It was then that I thought again of Sirius, and noticed he still wasn't back yet.
The next morning James and I sat quietly through breakfast as the other Gryffindor's came in and noticed the loss of points. We sat through their complaints and theory's as to how they had been lost. We were still ahead of Slytherin, but had lost our major lead. To make matter worse, Ravenclaw had gained quite a few points the day before, and was close to overtaking both Slytherin and us. Sirius never came down to breakfast, and missed Charms. Remus and Lilly were confused at our silence, and Sirius' absence. Finally, when Sirius didn't show up to lunch either, James and I left to go find him. He was in our dorm, and had just stepped out of the shower. I could see his bruised lips, and the marks on his skin.
"Sleep late Sirius? Had a busy night did you?" He looked back, surprised to find us there.
"Yeah, why?"
"Have you looked at the house points yet? We're missing forty points? Want to know why?" I was mad. It was his fault. We had been concerned for him, and he had been enjoying himself with his girlfriend. James and I got in trouble because he stayed out late snogging some girl he wouldn't even tell us who she was.
"How?" He was wary. I so rarely showed my anger to my friends, but this was to much for me.
"Because James and I got caught out in the castle after curfew. We also got detention tonight with Filch. Care to know why we were out after curfew? Hmm?" James was just staring at me. Sirius had backed away a little. I was likeing this too much. Being the one in control. I never get this feeling. It was nice to see their fear, and know that I was the one causing it.
"Why?" the fear was a little evident in his voice. I revelled in it.
"Because we were worried about you." I was shouting. "You were late. what if something happened to you! But you weren't in trouble were you? No, you were getting some ass from that mystery girl of yours weren't you? The one we can't even know about. Why are you so secretive? It's your fault that we got in trouble, and you're not even going to have to suffer for it. We are." Now James felt he had to say something.
"Peter, don't you think that is a bit much? I mean, the punishment could have been worse."
"Of course you'd stand up for him. You're his best friend. You stood up for him when he let Remus get out too. You always stick together don't you?"
Sirius was mad now. "You're still angry about that? That was a long time ago! I didn't tell you to go out and look for me last night. You should know I can take care of myself." James went over to stand next to him.
"No wonder you wanted to accuse him of that stink bomb yesterday!" I watched Sirius' eyes swing to James surprised, so it was him. But James didn't notice, and continued. "I say it was a Slytherin. You gotta get over it the Remus thing Peter. Like he said, it was a while ago. Honestly, he didn't do anything. We shouldn't have gone out." I just stared at him, anger flowing through me. How can he do this? Not Sirius' fault! Of course it was. If he would trust us enough to tell us anything, this wouldn't have happened.
But James would not see that. I watched the two of them across the room from me. Paired against me. I turned from the room, and fled down the stairs, and out the portrait hole, nearly knocking down Remus and Lilly as they were about to enter. I spared a glance at the two of them. Glaring for a second at Lilly. Then ran again.
"Peter! What happened.. Peter!" but I just continued on, not paying any heed to his cries behind me. I ran until I was on the other side of the lake, and couldn't run anymore. I collapsed in a little ball, my anger and frustration swirling around me like a protective cloak. That hadn't happened. No. No one listened to me. I know Sirius did it. I just can't figure out why. He might put me in danger, but not James. And I know he isn't good enough at potions to know that the potion wouldn't hurt us. It didn't make any sense. But I knew deep down, with no doubts, that he did it. And I would serve my detention with that thought swirling around my head. ~~~~~~~~~
Authors note: ohhh.. Peter finds a backbone and tastes power. hmmm.. Tell me what you think. Press the little button down below and leave a review!
It had almost been a month when it happened. The day started out horrible. I woke late, and almost didn't make transfigurations on time. When we had to pair up to practice turning the mice we had into rabbits, Sirius paired up with Lilly and James and Remus paired up. Leaving me without a partner. I looked around the room, and the only other person without a partner Cindy Gartiana, another 6th year Gryfendore, who really should have ended up a Slytherin. She hated me and the rest of the Marauders, and was constantly trying to get Lilly to stop hanging out with us. However, we had to partner, and I spent the entire class suffering insults from her, and watching Lilly and Sirius joking, and James watching the two of them suspiciously. Apparently not all of his concerns about her being the mystery girl were gone. Remus also watched the two, while practicing of course.
Eventually Cindy had enough of my "pathetic, useless attempts" and set about showing me how to do it. Getting it done perfectly, and watching her get praised by McGonagall were enough to make me sick. To escape from this hell I asked McGonagall if I could be excused to the infirmary. Glad for an excuse to get rid of me, she said I could go. I spent the rest of the time in the care of Madame Pomfrey. Not finding anything really wrong with me she sent me back down to lunch, where I was subjected to the questions of my friends.
"Hey Wormtail! Where did you go during Transfigurations?" James scooted over to make room for me. Sirius and Remus were on the other side; Lilly was next to James. They all looked up at me expectantly.
"Went to the infirmary to escape from Miss Gartiana. Ugh the girl is insufferable." James, Remus and Sirius all laughed while Lilly tried to defend her.
"She's not that bad!" At a look from Sirius she let out a little laugh, and gave in. "Ok, so she's a snob, but she is a Gryfendore. So we have to put up with her."
"Doesn't make it any easier. No wonder she's the last to get a partner in all of our classes. Why'd you work with her today Peter?" James turned to look at me. Wondering if he can really not notice that no one but them seems to like me, I just stare at him for a second. His expression doesn't change and I realize he is serious.
I blush and manage to stammer out a reply. "Well, I'm not really friends with anyone but you guys, so if you all partner up, I was stuck with whoever was left."
The four of them just stare at me, and I become embarrassed, and look down at my feet. The silence becomes too much for me, and I look up at them, wondering what they are thinking. Not one of them had moved. Finally James muttered, "I never noticed." And went back to eating. The rest took this as their cue, and start eating again and talking about other matters. I just sit there, thinking on my shame, and loneness, but them Sirius tells a joke, and reaches over to punch my shoulder, and I shake off the melancholy thoughts. I have the marauders. They are enough.
After lunch we all head down to the dungeons for potions. Chandrick was waiting for us, and we all slipped into seats, James making sure to partner with me. I smiled at him and sat with parchment out waiting for the professor to give us the potion's ingredients. I've been working on my potions with Remus, and wanted to do well for once. Remus and Sirius sat at a cauldron close by. Lilly partnered with another of the girls, Emily Sandwick. The Slytherins, including Snape, all sat on the other side of the classroom. Why they partnered our two houses no one could figure out. I think they've hated each other since the days of the founding. Perhaps there was something between Godric and Salazar.
Chandrick strolled to the front of the class, and looked at all of us. "Today we will be attempting the Dire Life Draft. This potion is extremely complex and dangerous. It will drain anyone who drinks it of his or her life. They will age before our very eyes, until they have reached an age past, which any body can sustain. This potion only works on mortals. Try giving it to a vampire, and they will only find it pleasant drink. No pay attention." She listed off the ingredients. Gave us another warning and everyone in the class started, being more careful than usual. Seems her warning actually stuck.
James and I progressed ok, until we were waiting for the potion to turn pale lavender before adding the last ingredient, snakeroot. Then we heard a shout behind us and a splash in our cauldron. There was a small explosion as a stink bomb went off, covering both of us in the potion. Chaos broke out as everyone tried to get away from the mess. Chandrick calmed everyone down and headed over to us. She handed us towels to clean ourselves off.
"You boys are very lucky this potion only works when consumed. A lot of deadly potions work just by touch." I was thoroughly shaken, and relieved, I really had no wish to die, and didn't know what would happen when it splashed over us. I could tell James was thinking the same thing as he smiled in relief. Remus had run over to help us clean up, and Lilly and Emily were setting the cauldron back straight. I looked around for Sirius, and my eyes narrowed as I saw him slip back into his seat. He had been doing something elsewhere in the room. I turned to James to see if he had noticed but he hadn't. Had Sirius thrown the stick bomb? But why would he do it when we were making such a dangerous potion, and why to us? Was he mad because James was working with me? It didn't make any sense. But he was definitely up to something.
After that, Chandrick let the other finish their potions and we all headed back to the dorms. The others laughing and talking, but I hung back. I didn't want to confront Sirius with everyone else around. Tonight was one of his date nights. After class, he and James headed for Quidditch practice. I hung out in the commons room, doing work, and attempted to play chess with Remus. He had taken defeated me very soon, and we decided once again that I would never be good at that game. I went over in front of the fire to read, while Remus just daydreamed. Soon James came back from practice, slightly angry. Apparently he had once again tried to get Sirius to admit to who the girl was, and failed.
The evening passed, and when the others went up to the room, I stayed wished them goodnight, and stayed behind intent on talking to Sirius. Curfew passed, and still no sign of him. This was the latest he had been out. I was soon pacing in front of the fireplace. I heard a noise behind me, and jumped.
"Wormy? Why are you still up?" It was just James. I turned to face him.
"Sirius still hasn't come back. I wanted to talk to him. I think he was the one who threw the stink bomb in our potion." James looked at me stunned.
"Why would you think that?"
"I saw him doing something while we were cleaning. It seemed weird. I wanted to ask him why. But he hasn't come back yet."
"Do you think something could have happened? Should we go look for him?" I nodded, and James ran up to get his invisibility cloak and the Marauders map. We never went without them. Soon he was back with the cloak, but no map.
"Sirius must have it, it's not where we left it last." We both covered ourselves in the cloak and walked out of the portrait hole. Not having any clue where to start, we headed towards the main building, and were soon sneaking around a corridor full of empty classrooms. We stopped suddenly. There were voices ahead. Not know whom they belonged to, we snuck quietly towards them. It sounded like they were coming from an abandoned classroom at the far end of the corridor.
We were about to classrooms away, when James came to a sudden halt. I looked over at him and whispered, "Why'd ya stop?" He only motioned me to silence and pointed. Ahead of us, we could see Mrs. Norris that damned cat of Filch. We backed up slowly, trying to get away. But we ran into a small stand, and it wobbled. Immediately the cat's head snapped in our direction and let out a loud meow. Now we stood still, until we heard more commotion from the classroom, sounds of feet running, and we took off just as we heard Filches voice. Mrs. Norris headed after us, but amazingly, Filch seemed to be going the other way! We ducked into an empty classroom, and stood there out of breath. James pulled off the cloak and leaned against the wall.
"I think we lost her."
"Yeah, I wonder why Filch took off in the opposite direction. Maybe it wasn't him in the classroom." James looked at me.
"Do you think it was Sirius?"
"No, it sounded like two men. It had to be Filch and someone. Why else would Mrs. Norris be roaming around outside of it, without trying to get in that room?"
"True, I wonder who Filch was talking to. Think he's up to something bad?" I smiled.
"Yeah, maybe he'll get caught and Dumbledore will fire him!" Just then we heard the door open and Filches voice entered the room.
"Or maybe he was trying to see why two students are out after curfew and sneaking around the castle." James groaned and we both turned to see the caretaker of the castle framed in the door with Mrs. Norris rubbing herself happily against his legs. "I'll see you both get detention for this, and twenty points from Gryffindor each." Now it was my turn to groan. Forty points! Ouch. He grabbed us both by the arms, and I watched James pick up the cloak without him seeing. "Time to go see Dumbledore. I'd expel you, but you're lucky he's so much nicer than me." He said this with a sneer.
James and I were both dragged into Dumbledore's office. We were to caught up in our punishment to get a good look, but I was awed by the phoenix. Dumbledore sat at his desk and just looked at us disappointed. "I won't ask why you are out after hours. It would probably just get you in more trouble." Filch made a protesting sound, but Dumbledore silenced him with a look. "I agree with Filches punishment, detention and forty points from Gryffindor. You will serve your detentions with Filch tomorrow evening. And I hope it will be sufficient to prevent against any further night wanderings." Filch grinned evilly, and James and I groaned again. Tomorrow was going to be hell.
Filch led us back to our dormitory, thinking aloud of nasty ways for us to spend our detention tomorrow. We were thankful to collapse in chairs in the commons room before heading back up to bed. It was then that I thought again of Sirius, and noticed he still wasn't back yet.
The next morning James and I sat quietly through breakfast as the other Gryffindor's came in and noticed the loss of points. We sat through their complaints and theory's as to how they had been lost. We were still ahead of Slytherin, but had lost our major lead. To make matter worse, Ravenclaw had gained quite a few points the day before, and was close to overtaking both Slytherin and us. Sirius never came down to breakfast, and missed Charms. Remus and Lilly were confused at our silence, and Sirius' absence. Finally, when Sirius didn't show up to lunch either, James and I left to go find him. He was in our dorm, and had just stepped out of the shower. I could see his bruised lips, and the marks on his skin.
"Sleep late Sirius? Had a busy night did you?" He looked back, surprised to find us there.
"Yeah, why?"
"Have you looked at the house points yet? We're missing forty points? Want to know why?" I was mad. It was his fault. We had been concerned for him, and he had been enjoying himself with his girlfriend. James and I got in trouble because he stayed out late snogging some girl he wouldn't even tell us who she was.
"How?" He was wary. I so rarely showed my anger to my friends, but this was to much for me.
"Because James and I got caught out in the castle after curfew. We also got detention tonight with Filch. Care to know why we were out after curfew? Hmm?" James was just staring at me. Sirius had backed away a little. I was likeing this too much. Being the one in control. I never get this feeling. It was nice to see their fear, and know that I was the one causing it.
"Why?" the fear was a little evident in his voice. I revelled in it.
"Because we were worried about you." I was shouting. "You were late. what if something happened to you! But you weren't in trouble were you? No, you were getting some ass from that mystery girl of yours weren't you? The one we can't even know about. Why are you so secretive? It's your fault that we got in trouble, and you're not even going to have to suffer for it. We are." Now James felt he had to say something.
"Peter, don't you think that is a bit much? I mean, the punishment could have been worse."
"Of course you'd stand up for him. You're his best friend. You stood up for him when he let Remus get out too. You always stick together don't you?"
Sirius was mad now. "You're still angry about that? That was a long time ago! I didn't tell you to go out and look for me last night. You should know I can take care of myself." James went over to stand next to him.
"No wonder you wanted to accuse him of that stink bomb yesterday!" I watched Sirius' eyes swing to James surprised, so it was him. But James didn't notice, and continued. "I say it was a Slytherin. You gotta get over it the Remus thing Peter. Like he said, it was a while ago. Honestly, he didn't do anything. We shouldn't have gone out." I just stared at him, anger flowing through me. How can he do this? Not Sirius' fault! Of course it was. If he would trust us enough to tell us anything, this wouldn't have happened.
But James would not see that. I watched the two of them across the room from me. Paired against me. I turned from the room, and fled down the stairs, and out the portrait hole, nearly knocking down Remus and Lilly as they were about to enter. I spared a glance at the two of them. Glaring for a second at Lilly. Then ran again.
"Peter! What happened.. Peter!" but I just continued on, not paying any heed to his cries behind me. I ran until I was on the other side of the lake, and couldn't run anymore. I collapsed in a little ball, my anger and frustration swirling around me like a protective cloak. That hadn't happened. No. No one listened to me. I know Sirius did it. I just can't figure out why. He might put me in danger, but not James. And I know he isn't good enough at potions to know that the potion wouldn't hurt us. It didn't make any sense. But I knew deep down, with no doubts, that he did it. And I would serve my detention with that thought swirling around my head. ~~~~~~~~~
Authors note: ohhh.. Peter finds a backbone and tastes power. hmmm.. Tell me what you think. Press the little button down below and leave a review!
