Chapter One: New Beginnings
Cheesy Name I know But I wasn't feeling creative. On to the story:
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Standard disclaimers apply. Don McLean: I'm sorry. Sorry to you too, Ferguson the radio maker.
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Peter strolled merrily on his way to platform 9 and three quarters. He was very excited, and a bit jumpy, being his first day at a real wizard's school. With the help of his parents, he loaded his large trunk into the train car, and was set with a bag lunch of a turkey and Cheddar sandwich on whole grain wheat bread and a few sickles for juice. He jumped around excitedly looking at the other students. His mother looked tired and aggravated from trying to keep up with the feisty 11 year old.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to a NORMAL person school, Petey?" His mother asked him pleadingly, "Daddy says you can go to Worthingtonfordstanbridge Academy for Incredibly Gifted and Exceedingly Wealthy Young Boys and become a neurosurgeon like him!"
"Mom I'm 11 years old, you don't have to call me Petey. And of COURSE I'm sure I want to go to Hogworts and not dumb old Worthingtonfordstanbridge."
"Aw, Pamela, let the boy go." A young man with vibrant chesnut brown hair interjected.
"Pat, you're not helping." She chided.
"It'll be fun to have a wizard in the family, eh sport?" He ruffled Peter's hair with his hand and laughed, picking up the boy, abnormally small for his age, and giving him a suffocating bear hug.
"Don't let the guys see you hugging me dad, they'd tease me for forever." Said peter smoothing his hair to a condition he found suitable.
"Don't worry Pete, your image is top priority." He said with a booming laugh that rang all through the train station.
"Give mommy a kiss, Petey, and be safe!" She bent down and kissed her small son, leaving a lipstick imprint on his cheek, which he wiped off vigorously with his shirt sleeve.
"Peter Patrick Pettigrew! Where do you get off messing up your brand new and perfectly pressed white shirt?" His mother corrected, angrily examining the sleeve.
"I'll change on the train mom! Calm down!" Peter rolled his eyes, and seeing the look on his mothers face, quickly masked it as looking at the interesting arches on the ceiling.
"Bye Pete, see you at Christmas!" His father bellowed with a smile and a wave, wrapping his arm around Peter's nervous mother and pulling her closer.
"Bye Peter, don't forget to write to us! And follow all of the rules! And listen to your teachers! And do your homework! And make new friends!"
"Pamela, he's just going to School, not to the Moon." Pat stopped her mid-sentence.
"I know, but still…" She said with a wistful sigh at her young son.
"He'll be fine. Bye Pete!"
"Bye Peter!"
He waved goodbye to his mother and father, and escorted them out through the solid brick wall. Looking around, He saw another boy with his mom and dad. He had messy black hair that looked like he'd taken a comb to it backwords, and circular glasses, covered at the top by his long dark bangs.
"By James, have fun at Hogworts! Oh Frederick, do you remember when we were still at Hogwarts? Oh it was such fun, I wonder if Binns still teaches there, one of these days he's just going to walk right of his skin and keep on teaching History, I tell you." A young slender woman with long Ebony hair chirped merrily.
"Now, now, Hannah, we must let James get on the train or he can never get to Hogworts." A man with black hair, slicked with wet gel, and circular glasses with a light tortoise rim.
"You're right," she said with a longing sigh, like she wanted to get on the train in his place, "You'd better go or you'll be late for your first day!" She smiled with more enthusiasm than the boy, who was called James, was displaying.
"For God's sakes mum, it's just school. I've been to Wizarding preyears since I was six. There's nothing to worry about, mom." The boy snapped her to reality.
"I know, I know. Bye James, I'll see you this Christmas, unless you're having too much fun to come home. Send us post, James!"
"Bye James, I'll see you in June!" His father waved as James ambled on to the train car. Peter took the opportunity to go after him, to see where he would sit. Perhaps he could take his cues from the boy who seemed like a seasoned professional compared to himself.
Trotting behind the boy with messy black hair and glasses, he stayed at a safe distance, trying not to see weird, or crazy. Surely this boy was the social elite of Hogwarts, he thought to himself, and if he was going to be cool, James was the person to be connected to. Peter trailed him into the train car and watched where James walked to, where he turned and what car he appeared to be sitting at. Counting to 15 before following him, Peter picked up his trunk and walked to the back of the train, where the other young Wizard had stopped. Opening the door and looking around, seeing James alone playing Solitaire with a new deck of cards, Peter asked casually, "Hello, Um, in here for me to sit is there room?" He felt like perhaps the wording had been wrong, but it was too late now to change it.
"Nope, s'all full." James replied. Peter, looking downcast and daunted, made for the door. " 'Was only joking! O'course there's room." Peter sat down on the bench near James. Just as he was about to speak, the train car burst open, and a boy with longer black hair and, dare he say it, a pretty smile. He looked like quite the charmer, with his well structured body and his fabulous thick hair. Sitting down next to James, the boy started a conversation loud enough for the whole train to hear.
"James!" The boy practically yelled, his booming voice echoing through the train car, "Where've you been!"
"I was here, and on time, I should be asking you that!" James said with false concern.
"My mum was giving me the "Pure blood is important to wizarding society, and don't you forget that, Sirius," speech again. I swear I'm going to grow up and marry a muggle just to make her angry. Not that I couldn't manage it, I've been beating off the neighborhood girls all summer. Like parasites, those things. I need some repellant or something. I swear, I'm just 11 years old, I'm not ready to commit!"
James laughed at this one, "Sirius, you need to get a smaller head is what you need to get."
"Hey! I like my head the way it is thank you very much." He began checking his head in the window with one eye, will throwing James a dirty look with the rest of his face, "Besides, you're just jealous." He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair posing in a mock-sexy sort of way. Peter couldn't contain his laughter. James' vociferous friend snapped to face the source of the incessant giggles.
"Oi, who's that, James."
"That's some kid who came to sit down in my train car; he's cool."
"What's your name, kid?"
"I'm Peter, I'm Peter Pettigrew." He said meekly in a small mousy voice.
Sirius uttered something under his breath that sounded like, "MENtal."
James chuckled and turned back to the boy. "First year?"
"Yup. My parents aren't Wizards, my mum was a bit reluctant to let me come."
"Muggles, eh? Don't tell my mum." Sirius said simply as James nodded vigorously, "On second thought, DO tell my mum, I'm sure she'd be very excited to hear that I'm "fraternizing with the enemy."' James shook with laughter at Sirius's sarcasm.
"What's a muggle?" Peter asked the boys with a bewildered expression on his face, trying to find any obvious Latin root for the word. Sirius looked taken aback, and glanced at James with furrowed brow looking confused.
"It's a person who's not a wizard…" Sirius replied slowly, his glance shifting back and forth from James to Peter.
"Oh…right. I knew that. Sort of." He gazed at his fate and bit his lower lip. They must have thought he was stupid now. While he was leaning down to pick up his backpack and grab one of the turkey sandwiches his mother packed him, he heard the dork bang open, and what sounded like three large objects falling to the floor. A boy about their age, maybe a little older, had walked into the train car with an armful of books, dropping Quidditch through the ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, and Basic Magic, 1st edition. He looked worn out and plopped down in a seat across from Sirius, pulling out the Quidditch book. He briefly greeted the others with a generalized, "Hi," and returned to his book. Peter looked at him curiously, and tilted his head to look at the tattered book cover, and the boy who was reading it. He had messy dark brown hair, but longer than James', and mahogany eyes contrasting oddly with the dark purple circles beneath them. Peter's mousy brown hair fell over his eyes and he shook his head vigorously to remove it from his face. Sirius snickered slightly at him, and Peter sunk low into his chair. Kicking his backpack unintentionally with his foot, Peter looked down to see that everything had fallen out of his bag. A copy of "Classic Car" magazine, an old radio, and about half his school books were scattered across the blue carpet. He got off his seat to pick them up, and the bookish looking boy with brown hair put down Quidditch through the Ages and helped him pick up his books. Sirius, however, grabbed up his radio before Peter had a chance to pick it up.
"What's this?" he asked, looking it over for any magical properties.
"It's a radio. That there's a 1969 Ferguson Auto Twin III," He said, beaming with pride.
"Cool, how does it work? What's a radio do?" Sirius asked again.
"It plays music." The boy with brown hair and the large pile of books answered.
"How would you know that, Remus?" Asked Sirius with a puzzled expression.
"I know things."
"You should, I bet you've read the whole muggle dictionary.
"That's not true. I'm only on the G's."
"My condolences, I'm sure."
"Turn it on!" James pleaded, all together a little over excited.
"Ok." Peter turned a series of knobs and dials, turning it to a familiar the station, playing all the latest hits of 1971. A slow steady song started playing, about Music.
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride but something touched me deep inside, the day, the music, died. So...
"I LOVE THIS SONG!" Peter yelled, a little over enthusiastic, "Bye Bye Miss American Pie! Drove the Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry, an them good ol' boys were drinkin whiskey and rye singin this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die." He strummed his air guitar enthusiastically and the everyone in the train car, having tried to contain themselves, was rolling on the floor laughing hysterically. Peter blushed furiously, having gotten a little caught up. He could always bust out his air guitar when he was at home with out getting laughed at, mostly because he usually stayed up in his room and played with his model airplanes. He was about to turn tail and leave while they were still laughing, but Sirius grabbed him bye the back of his robes, still trying to calm himself down from his bark-like laughter.
"No, don't…go!" Sirius said panting for air between fits of giggles, "That was….the funniest…thing….I have…ever…seen!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, ha ha, Bye bye miss American pie!"
"Drove the something to the something, something Something was dry!" James joined with overly dramatic dance moves, "hmm hmmm whiskey and rye…saying this'll be the day that I die!" James continued the song as best he could. They started cracking up, and turned the volume on the radio as high as it would go. James continued to sing the lyrics as best he could, which was rather battered, but nonetheless entertaining. As the song was on it's last verse, the doors to the train car burst open to a boy who looked about their age, but looked like he'd been living in a box on 14th street until today. His hair was Black and greasy, his face looked like it had been washed less than his hair, and his great hooked nose didn't make matters any more promising for him. The only bit of him that didn't look like he crawled out of a rubbish tin was his uniform, which was neatly pressed.
"Well, I've discovered the source of the disturbing noises." The greasy boy articulated haughtily.
"Well, I've discovered the source of the disturbing smells." James replied, Sirius and Peter were roaring with laughter. Remus simply smiled and chuckled.
"You don't hear my laughing Potter, jokes are supposed to be funny."
"Who said I was kidding?"
"Har har. What a witty comeback."
"Just shake it off, James. He's just a stupid little kid trying to pick a fight." Remus interjected wisely.
"You're right, Lupin. Just get out of here, kid. Then maybe I won't have to kill you."
"If you don't think you could handle me, I understand. I have been taught all sorts of juicy bits of Dark Magic by my parents, it'd be hard for an amateur blood traitor like yourself."
"I don't think your magic could be any darker than the grease in your hair, that's what has me worried right now."
"Very funny Potter. I've heard of your family. My mom warned me about you Potters. You think you're better than everyone else just because your father is the related to Godric Gryffindor and you live in Godric's Hollow. That doesn't make you better than anyone Potter."
"Oh yeah? My parents have told me about you too. The say where you come from, they haven't yet heard of soap. And apparently, they were right." He retorted, holding his nose with one hand and waving the air around with the other.
"You think you're so funny don't you Potter. So special. But I bet you don't know half the magic I do."
"S'That a threat, Snape?"
"That's a threat."
"Why don't you try it, then? Give it a go?"
"I'd be much obliged." Snape raised his wand in the air, and had barely muttered, "Cr-" when James shouted, "Stupefy!" Snape flew back about 4 feet and landed in a heap next to the wall.
"He's not…dead…is he?" Peter asked, with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Nope. Not dead. It's a pity, too. He'd be so much less of a great little pillock."
"Don't say that!" said Remus. He looked very serious.
"Fine! I'm sorry."
"Much better." He said with a nod. The train stopped only a few minutes later at a great castle. Even the stonewalls were almost enchanting. Peter was so glad his mother had let him come, he just new he would love it here at Hogwarts, with James and Sirius and Remus. TBC
Cheesy Name I know But I wasn't feeling creative. On to the story:
********************************************************
Standard disclaimers apply. Don McLean: I'm sorry. Sorry to you too, Ferguson the radio maker.
********************************************************
Peter strolled merrily on his way to platform 9 and three quarters. He was very excited, and a bit jumpy, being his first day at a real wizard's school. With the help of his parents, he loaded his large trunk into the train car, and was set with a bag lunch of a turkey and Cheddar sandwich on whole grain wheat bread and a few sickles for juice. He jumped around excitedly looking at the other students. His mother looked tired and aggravated from trying to keep up with the feisty 11 year old.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to a NORMAL person school, Petey?" His mother asked him pleadingly, "Daddy says you can go to Worthingtonfordstanbridge Academy for Incredibly Gifted and Exceedingly Wealthy Young Boys and become a neurosurgeon like him!"
"Mom I'm 11 years old, you don't have to call me Petey. And of COURSE I'm sure I want to go to Hogworts and not dumb old Worthingtonfordstanbridge."
"Aw, Pamela, let the boy go." A young man with vibrant chesnut brown hair interjected.
"Pat, you're not helping." She chided.
"It'll be fun to have a wizard in the family, eh sport?" He ruffled Peter's hair with his hand and laughed, picking up the boy, abnormally small for his age, and giving him a suffocating bear hug.
"Don't let the guys see you hugging me dad, they'd tease me for forever." Said peter smoothing his hair to a condition he found suitable.
"Don't worry Pete, your image is top priority." He said with a booming laugh that rang all through the train station.
"Give mommy a kiss, Petey, and be safe!" She bent down and kissed her small son, leaving a lipstick imprint on his cheek, which he wiped off vigorously with his shirt sleeve.
"Peter Patrick Pettigrew! Where do you get off messing up your brand new and perfectly pressed white shirt?" His mother corrected, angrily examining the sleeve.
"I'll change on the train mom! Calm down!" Peter rolled his eyes, and seeing the look on his mothers face, quickly masked it as looking at the interesting arches on the ceiling.
"Bye Pete, see you at Christmas!" His father bellowed with a smile and a wave, wrapping his arm around Peter's nervous mother and pulling her closer.
"Bye Peter, don't forget to write to us! And follow all of the rules! And listen to your teachers! And do your homework! And make new friends!"
"Pamela, he's just going to School, not to the Moon." Pat stopped her mid-sentence.
"I know, but still…" She said with a wistful sigh at her young son.
"He'll be fine. Bye Pete!"
"Bye Peter!"
He waved goodbye to his mother and father, and escorted them out through the solid brick wall. Looking around, He saw another boy with his mom and dad. He had messy black hair that looked like he'd taken a comb to it backwords, and circular glasses, covered at the top by his long dark bangs.
"By James, have fun at Hogworts! Oh Frederick, do you remember when we were still at Hogwarts? Oh it was such fun, I wonder if Binns still teaches there, one of these days he's just going to walk right of his skin and keep on teaching History, I tell you." A young slender woman with long Ebony hair chirped merrily.
"Now, now, Hannah, we must let James get on the train or he can never get to Hogworts." A man with black hair, slicked with wet gel, and circular glasses with a light tortoise rim.
"You're right," she said with a longing sigh, like she wanted to get on the train in his place, "You'd better go or you'll be late for your first day!" She smiled with more enthusiasm than the boy, who was called James, was displaying.
"For God's sakes mum, it's just school. I've been to Wizarding preyears since I was six. There's nothing to worry about, mom." The boy snapped her to reality.
"I know, I know. Bye James, I'll see you this Christmas, unless you're having too much fun to come home. Send us post, James!"
"Bye James, I'll see you in June!" His father waved as James ambled on to the train car. Peter took the opportunity to go after him, to see where he would sit. Perhaps he could take his cues from the boy who seemed like a seasoned professional compared to himself.
Trotting behind the boy with messy black hair and glasses, he stayed at a safe distance, trying not to see weird, or crazy. Surely this boy was the social elite of Hogwarts, he thought to himself, and if he was going to be cool, James was the person to be connected to. Peter trailed him into the train car and watched where James walked to, where he turned and what car he appeared to be sitting at. Counting to 15 before following him, Peter picked up his trunk and walked to the back of the train, where the other young Wizard had stopped. Opening the door and looking around, seeing James alone playing Solitaire with a new deck of cards, Peter asked casually, "Hello, Um, in here for me to sit is there room?" He felt like perhaps the wording had been wrong, but it was too late now to change it.
"Nope, s'all full." James replied. Peter, looking downcast and daunted, made for the door. " 'Was only joking! O'course there's room." Peter sat down on the bench near James. Just as he was about to speak, the train car burst open, and a boy with longer black hair and, dare he say it, a pretty smile. He looked like quite the charmer, with his well structured body and his fabulous thick hair. Sitting down next to James, the boy started a conversation loud enough for the whole train to hear.
"James!" The boy practically yelled, his booming voice echoing through the train car, "Where've you been!"
"I was here, and on time, I should be asking you that!" James said with false concern.
"My mum was giving me the "Pure blood is important to wizarding society, and don't you forget that, Sirius," speech again. I swear I'm going to grow up and marry a muggle just to make her angry. Not that I couldn't manage it, I've been beating off the neighborhood girls all summer. Like parasites, those things. I need some repellant or something. I swear, I'm just 11 years old, I'm not ready to commit!"
James laughed at this one, "Sirius, you need to get a smaller head is what you need to get."
"Hey! I like my head the way it is thank you very much." He began checking his head in the window with one eye, will throwing James a dirty look with the rest of his face, "Besides, you're just jealous." He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair posing in a mock-sexy sort of way. Peter couldn't contain his laughter. James' vociferous friend snapped to face the source of the incessant giggles.
"Oi, who's that, James."
"That's some kid who came to sit down in my train car; he's cool."
"What's your name, kid?"
"I'm Peter, I'm Peter Pettigrew." He said meekly in a small mousy voice.
Sirius uttered something under his breath that sounded like, "MENtal."
James chuckled and turned back to the boy. "First year?"
"Yup. My parents aren't Wizards, my mum was a bit reluctant to let me come."
"Muggles, eh? Don't tell my mum." Sirius said simply as James nodded vigorously, "On second thought, DO tell my mum, I'm sure she'd be very excited to hear that I'm "fraternizing with the enemy."' James shook with laughter at Sirius's sarcasm.
"What's a muggle?" Peter asked the boys with a bewildered expression on his face, trying to find any obvious Latin root for the word. Sirius looked taken aback, and glanced at James with furrowed brow looking confused.
"It's a person who's not a wizard…" Sirius replied slowly, his glance shifting back and forth from James to Peter.
"Oh…right. I knew that. Sort of." He gazed at his fate and bit his lower lip. They must have thought he was stupid now. While he was leaning down to pick up his backpack and grab one of the turkey sandwiches his mother packed him, he heard the dork bang open, and what sounded like three large objects falling to the floor. A boy about their age, maybe a little older, had walked into the train car with an armful of books, dropping Quidditch through the ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, and Basic Magic, 1st edition. He looked worn out and plopped down in a seat across from Sirius, pulling out the Quidditch book. He briefly greeted the others with a generalized, "Hi," and returned to his book. Peter looked at him curiously, and tilted his head to look at the tattered book cover, and the boy who was reading it. He had messy dark brown hair, but longer than James', and mahogany eyes contrasting oddly with the dark purple circles beneath them. Peter's mousy brown hair fell over his eyes and he shook his head vigorously to remove it from his face. Sirius snickered slightly at him, and Peter sunk low into his chair. Kicking his backpack unintentionally with his foot, Peter looked down to see that everything had fallen out of his bag. A copy of "Classic Car" magazine, an old radio, and about half his school books were scattered across the blue carpet. He got off his seat to pick them up, and the bookish looking boy with brown hair put down Quidditch through the Ages and helped him pick up his books. Sirius, however, grabbed up his radio before Peter had a chance to pick it up.
"What's this?" he asked, looking it over for any magical properties.
"It's a radio. That there's a 1969 Ferguson Auto Twin III," He said, beaming with pride.
"Cool, how does it work? What's a radio do?" Sirius asked again.
"It plays music." The boy with brown hair and the large pile of books answered.
"How would you know that, Remus?" Asked Sirius with a puzzled expression.
"I know things."
"You should, I bet you've read the whole muggle dictionary.
"That's not true. I'm only on the G's."
"My condolences, I'm sure."
"Turn it on!" James pleaded, all together a little over excited.
"Ok." Peter turned a series of knobs and dials, turning it to a familiar the station, playing all the latest hits of 1971. A slow steady song started playing, about Music.
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride but something touched me deep inside, the day, the music, died. So...
"I LOVE THIS SONG!" Peter yelled, a little over enthusiastic, "Bye Bye Miss American Pie! Drove the Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry, an them good ol' boys were drinkin whiskey and rye singin this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die." He strummed his air guitar enthusiastically and the everyone in the train car, having tried to contain themselves, was rolling on the floor laughing hysterically. Peter blushed furiously, having gotten a little caught up. He could always bust out his air guitar when he was at home with out getting laughed at, mostly because he usually stayed up in his room and played with his model airplanes. He was about to turn tail and leave while they were still laughing, but Sirius grabbed him bye the back of his robes, still trying to calm himself down from his bark-like laughter.
"No, don't…go!" Sirius said panting for air between fits of giggles, "That was….the funniest…thing….I have…ever…seen!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, ha ha, Bye bye miss American pie!"
"Drove the something to the something, something Something was dry!" James joined with overly dramatic dance moves, "hmm hmmm whiskey and rye…saying this'll be the day that I die!" James continued the song as best he could. They started cracking up, and turned the volume on the radio as high as it would go. James continued to sing the lyrics as best he could, which was rather battered, but nonetheless entertaining. As the song was on it's last verse, the doors to the train car burst open to a boy who looked about their age, but looked like he'd been living in a box on 14th street until today. His hair was Black and greasy, his face looked like it had been washed less than his hair, and his great hooked nose didn't make matters any more promising for him. The only bit of him that didn't look like he crawled out of a rubbish tin was his uniform, which was neatly pressed.
"Well, I've discovered the source of the disturbing noises." The greasy boy articulated haughtily.
"Well, I've discovered the source of the disturbing smells." James replied, Sirius and Peter were roaring with laughter. Remus simply smiled and chuckled.
"You don't hear my laughing Potter, jokes are supposed to be funny."
"Who said I was kidding?"
"Har har. What a witty comeback."
"Just shake it off, James. He's just a stupid little kid trying to pick a fight." Remus interjected wisely.
"You're right, Lupin. Just get out of here, kid. Then maybe I won't have to kill you."
"If you don't think you could handle me, I understand. I have been taught all sorts of juicy bits of Dark Magic by my parents, it'd be hard for an amateur blood traitor like yourself."
"I don't think your magic could be any darker than the grease in your hair, that's what has me worried right now."
"Very funny Potter. I've heard of your family. My mom warned me about you Potters. You think you're better than everyone else just because your father is the related to Godric Gryffindor and you live in Godric's Hollow. That doesn't make you better than anyone Potter."
"Oh yeah? My parents have told me about you too. The say where you come from, they haven't yet heard of soap. And apparently, they were right." He retorted, holding his nose with one hand and waving the air around with the other.
"You think you're so funny don't you Potter. So special. But I bet you don't know half the magic I do."
"S'That a threat, Snape?"
"That's a threat."
"Why don't you try it, then? Give it a go?"
"I'd be much obliged." Snape raised his wand in the air, and had barely muttered, "Cr-" when James shouted, "Stupefy!" Snape flew back about 4 feet and landed in a heap next to the wall.
"He's not…dead…is he?" Peter asked, with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Nope. Not dead. It's a pity, too. He'd be so much less of a great little pillock."
"Don't say that!" said Remus. He looked very serious.
"Fine! I'm sorry."
"Much better." He said with a nod. The train stopped only a few minutes later at a great castle. Even the stonewalls were almost enchanting. Peter was so glad his mother had let him come, he just new he would love it here at Hogwarts, with James and Sirius and Remus. TBC