Chapter seventeen: The Love Part II

As the days got shorter, so did the attention spans of the students as the Christmas holidays grew closer. Each head of house went around collecting the names of those staying at Hogwarts over the break. James, Remus, Sirius, Peter and Lily's names were not on that list, however, for the boys were going to Remus' house and Lily was going home for the break. Peter had a hard time deciding once he heard that Sarah was staying, but with persuasion from the others, decided to join them.

On the day of departure, as the Marauders and Lily were in the entrance hall waiting for the carriages to arrive and take them to Hogsmaede station, Sarah caught up with Peter and asked, "Peter, can I speak with you, privately?" Peter nodded his head and after getting a big wink from Sirius, walked a little ways away from them with Sarah.

"Sorry 'bout that," she said when they were well out of earshot. "I just wanted to tell you something before you left."

"It's okay," Peter said. "What is it?"

Her face started to grow red. "Well, you know that thing I wanted to tell you on the train ride here?"

"Yeah."

"Well," she took a deep breath. Here it comes, Peter thought. "I really like-"

"I really like you too," Peter blurted out before he could stop himself. But the look that showed up on Sarah's face told him his guess was completely wrong. It was a look of surprise mixed with guilt.

"Oh," she said. "Oh, Peter. I'm really sorry. I don't have feelings for you like that." A blow to the stomach, "I was going to say I really like Sirius-" A knife to the heart, "and I was hoping that you could, you know, put in a good word for me." When Peter gave no response she said, "I'm really, truly sorry Peter. I didn't know you liked me-"

"It's okay," Peter said with a small smile, but it was hard to accomplish as he was fighting back tears. "Don't worry. I'll put in a good word. You know, friends help friends out."

Sarah hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank-you, Peter. I owe you one." With that she walked away leaving Peter to stand there. When he finally got control back over his legs, he walked back over to the others, just in time to catch their carriage.

"So," Sirius asked with an all knowing smirk as Peter sat in the carriage and closed the door. "What did she want?"

"You can wipe that 'I know you two are going out now so don't lie' smile off your face," Peter said bitterly. "She likes you." And that information did indeed wipe the smile off Sirius' and everyone else's, face.

A/N: Yeah, I know, short chapter. But that just means the next chapter is going to be super long. Oh yeah, I know you probably think I'm a horrible person, screwing up everyone's lives but hey, no one said that life was easy, now did they?