Disclaimer: Peter, Harry, Remus, James and the rest don't belong to me. I'm just playing with them for a little while. Like sock puppets!

Warning: Slashy themes! Here we have a bit of Peter/Harry slash. (Somewhat unrequited) And some implied Peter/Remus. (They talk about it). But nothing actually happens. This is another one of those slow growing, tension fics. Considering the pairing, it would have to be.

Dedication: This is for Demeter, Kris the Intrepid Geek Queen, Kimagure, Kitten, Moira, and all the rest of you who always leave me kind reviews. I can't than you enough. Reviews are what keep these stories going.

Author's Note: Well, it seems the general consensus is that this should be continued. It's been a slow day, I did two other updates, I decided to do some of this. I'm liking it. I'm not as hard, deep in love with it as I am with some of my stories, but I'm enjoying it. And I have pleased the one whom issued this challenge/request, so that's all good. Just a note...I'm always up for a request story, if I'm not working on a ton of things. "Deathsong Balladeer". A request story. "Same As It Ever Was". A request story. "Darkest Sin", a request story. "Forbidden Desire". Request. "The Gift", one of my first requests. As was..."Bored". All of them requests. So if there's a pairing or situation you'd like to see, and would like to see me write, just drop me an e-mail, or IM me. :-)

And for clearance on sexualities: Harry and Remus are bi. James and Sirius are strait. Peter's pretty much purely homosexual. I think that's all that matter in this chapter...and ten points to your house if you get the rabid badger reference. (Kitten, I know you will.)

Timeless

Chapter 2

Peter couldn't focus on his homework. He kept thinking about the strange new transfer he had met. He replayed the meeting over and over again in his mind. Everything about it. He had come off as an idiot, he knew it. But Harry...Peter was quite happy that Harry was at Hogwarts, and in Gryffindor. He was paying absolutely no attention to his tutoring session. And Remus Lupin-fellow Gryffindor currently acting as tutor-had noticed. Peter was drumming his quill on the table, light green eyes unfocused and blank.

"Peter..." Remus snapped his fingers, and Peter blinked, eyes focusing on his tawny haired companion.

"Huh?"

"What's wrong? You've hardly been paying attention to a thing I've been saying."

"Yes I have." Peter said, forcing his brain to regurgitate the most recent thing that Remus had said. He couldn't. He was drawing a complete blank. Nothing came to mine.

"Really?" Remus raised an eyebrow. "Because I just told you I had a rabid badger down my pants."

"Um....oh?" Peter frowned. He wasn't entirely sure if Remmie was putting him on or not. But he doubted it.

"I was just saying that to see if to see if you were paying attention. And you aren't. What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing's wrong." Peter said, avidly. "I just met someone today."

"You met someone?" Remus set down the Transfiguration book and gazed mildly at Peter. "Met someone as in met them for the first time, or met someone as in you've found someone you're interested in romantically?"

Peter paused. In all actuality, it was a little bit of both. Harry was very attractive. Which was why Peter had automatically crossed him off as a possibility. The pretty people tended to stick with the pretty people. He didn't even make it to the next question, which was 'is he interested in other boys?'. It had almost been like he was flirting. But people rarely flirted with Peter.

"Met for the first time. He's a transfer."

"A transfer?" Remus frowned slightly. "I didn't know Hogwarts accepted transfers. From where?"

"I didn't ask. We sort of ran into each other. Literally." Peter gave a little chuckle. "I guess he's already met Malfoy."

"Lucius was giving him trouble already?" Remus sighed. "I really don't like that boy."

"If you aren't a Slytherin, you're not worth it." Peter nodded. Lucius Malfoy was three years ahead of them, but a terror all the same. "Yeah, we were talking about that."

"What House is the transfer?"

"Gryffindor. He's in the dorm now."

"Ah. Well, I'll meet him later then." Remus smiled slightly. "How is he?"

"Oh, he's nice." Peter said, remembering their conversation. He felt himself blushing, without even realizing it. He tried to cover it, but Remus had already seen.

"Nice, eh? I take it you think he's cute."

"Yes." Peter admitted. It was no secret among his friends that he preferred other boys to girls. He had figured if they all accepted Remus as a werewolf, they wouldn't have much of a problem with Peter liking boys. "He actually looks a lot like James. Skinnier. And taller. And I mean, his eyes and face are different. But a lot alike."

"Odd." Remus shrugged. "But not that unusual. They say everyone has a doppelganger."

"Doppelganger?" Remus was well known for his expansive vocabulary. Peter was not.

"A look alike. Supposedly we all have one, somewhere. Maybe we've found James'." He gave another little smile. "Well, since you're smitten I doubt I'm going to get any work out of you."

"Sorry." Peter ducked his head, feeling a little bad. Remus was very nice to tutor him like this. "Er...don't tell Sirius, okay? You know how he gets..."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything." Sirius had a habit of talking down to Peter. The smaller Gryffindor didn't even think his friend knew what he was doing. But Sirius often made comments that made Peter feel rather bad about himself. And if he knew that Peter liked the new transfer...Peter would never hear the end of it. And, he suspected, neither would Harry. Sirius didn't exactly understand tact, or secrecy. And Remus knew that first hand.

"Thanks." Peter smiled. Remus was always good to keep a secret.

"Does he have a name?"

"Who? Oh!" Peter smacked himself. "Yeah. Harry."

"Harry?" Remus nodded. "Do you know if he's muggle born or not?"

"No...we didn't really talk about things like that."

"Ah. What did you talk about, then?"

"You know." Peter waved his hand vaguely. "Stuff."

"Tried to find out his preference?" Remus asked, smiling. It was almost teasing, but not quite. Remus didn't tease. Not like Sirius and James.

"No. He...I don't think he'd like me that way. Even if he did like guys." Peter sighed. He never had any luck with the guys he liked. He thought the world of Sirius, and considered him a god on earth. But Sirius was as strait as they came, and even if he wasn't, his standards were very high. James was out of the question as well. Again he only liked girls. And one girl in particular. Remus...Remus didn't date. He claimed a relationship with anyone wouldn't work, whether they knew what he was or not. But he was the closest Peter has ever had to a significant other. Though Peter was well aware that fooling around in detention was nowhere near significant other status.

"Oh?" Remus frowned. "And why not?"

"He's...you know." Peter waved his hand again. "Really good looking."

"So?" Remus folded his hands on the table. "What in the world does that have to do with anything?"

"Well...you know. I'm...not." The small Gryffindor suddenly didn't want to be having this conversation. He didn't like thinking about this sort of thing. He always ended up feeling depressed.

"Not what? Good looking?" Remus sighed, fixing warm amber eyes on Peter's. "I happen to think you're quite cute."

"You're just saying that." Peter didn't mean to sound petulant, but the words just came out. He was being honest. He didn't see himself as anything other then a little below average. Compared to his friends...

Sirius was a walking cover model. Tall, almost gypsy looking with his wavy black hair, dark eyes and tanned skin. He was well built, with a smoldering sexuality that drove anyone who was attracted to men wild. James was good looking as well, tall and slimly built with shaggy black hair, light blue eyes and fair skin. He had an open, friendly appearance that went well with his charming mannerisms. And Remus had an earthy, subdued beauty to him. Tawny gold and brown flecked hair, amber eyes, lightly tanned skin and toned form...even the haunted-ness to his features was appealing. Then there was Peter.

"No, I'm not. If I didn't think you were cute, I wouldn't have spent half an hour kissing you in detention a few weeks ago. I'm not quite as shallow as Sirius, but I do like to think I have standards."

"Yeah..." Peter nodded. //Good point. But it doesn't matter if Remmie thinks I'm cute. Not anymore. It matters if Harry thinks I'm cute.//

"So I'll assume there won't be anymore little sessions after class?" Remus asked mildly. Peter blanched. He hadn't thought so, even before Harry entered the picture. More then once would denote some sort of a relationship, and Remus didn't have those.

"Uh...did you want there to be?" He asked, stupidly. //Oh yes, you sound great. No wonder you're single!//

"I wouldn't mind. But if there's someone you're interested, by all means make advancements. I can't offer you anything more then what I already have."

"Oh, I know." Peter nodded. He didn't really mind that. He *wanted* more, but he had long ago learned that people like him had to take what they could get. And it wasn't often people like him got a chance at people like Remus Lupin. "I don't mind."

"I'm just warning you not to hold out for anything, that's all." Remus gave a sad smile. Remus always seemed sad. "This is all I'm ever going to be able to give anyone."

"Oh, I don't know." Peter gave what he hoped was a bright smile. He hated seeing Remmie upset, and it happened all too often. "Maybe someday you'll find somebody. Another werewolf, maybe!"

"Maybe..." Remus echoed. But it was clear he didn't agree. Peter sometimes wondered if Remus even realized how depressed he sounded. Severus Snape-Slytherin and loathed enemy of all four Gryffindor friends-often claimed that Remus' unassuming and slightly morose attitude were all an act, something to glean pity. But Peter knew Remus better then that. He hated being pitied.

"I'll just see how things go then." Peter continued brightly. //Maybe I have a chance with Harry. But if not, that's okay. I still have Remus. Sort of. It's better then nothing. And he *is* a very good kisser. I wonder if Harry's a good kisser? Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll get to find out...//

"Probably a good idea. I think we're finished here...Sirius and James should be about done with practice. Let's round them up and meet this new transfer, hmm?"

"Well...okay. He might be sleeping though." Peter cautioned. It had been a while since he left Harry in the dorm. He hoped his friends would like him. He hoped that there was a chance for being more then just friends...

But Peter hoped for a lot of things. And hoping rarely accomplished anything.

~~~