Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Term 13

Additional challenges listed below

Word Count – 504

"Come on, mate," said Sirius for the fifteenth time. "It's your birthday. We always go all out for a Marauders' birthday."

"Not this time, Sirius. I'm not in the mood to have a big party this year," said Peter laying down on the carpet in front of the Gryffindor common room fireplace.

Peter's stomach had been in knots for a while now. It was their last year at Hogwarts and he had no idea what he was going to do once this was all over. Being at Hogwarts with the boys was the only life he knew. Seeing James, Sirius and Remus with their lives basically laid out before them only made things worse. James was probably going to be an Auror and Sirius would join in just for the kicks. Remus, if he didn't become Minister, would end up being a Professor at Hogwarts. Peter? He had absolutely no idea where he was going after graduation.

Celebrating his birthday didn't feel like a top priority right now. All he wanted to do was curl up in bed, eat the chocolates Remus had given him as a present and wallow in self-pity. He would figure out what he wanted to do eventually, but today was not it. Today, he was going to be useless.

"No way, Pete! We cannot let your birthday go by uncelebrated," James joined in on the conversation.

"No, guys. Please. I'm not in the mood to throw a party or anything like it," Peter insisted.

"Well," said Remus. "Maybe we don't need to have a party. A celebration is enough."

"Remus, I already said that I-"

"We heard you and we don't care. When everyone goes to bed, we'll be staying here and we're doing something. Anything," insisted Sirius. "It's your last birthday here, mate. We can't let it go forgotten."

"It has clearly not been forgotten, since you all keep bugging me about it." Peter pinched them all in the calves. "Fine, but just the four of us."

"And Lily," James added.

Peter rolled his eyes. "And Lily."

As soon as everyone else went to bed, James, Peter, Sirius, Remus, and Lily stayed behind.

Sirius took the Invisibility Cape to go down in the kitchens and get the cake they had asked the House Elves to bake, and a couple more treats for them to eat. James and Lily used the passageways to go to Hogsmeade and get some Butterbeer and Peter and Remus stayed behind in the common room playing chess in case anyone decided to come down.

As they returned, sat on the floor in front of the fireplace and ate, Peter discovered that he was not that worried about his future anymore. If his friends would fight this vehemently just so he could have a birthday celebration, they surely would not let him leave school without a plan. That included Lily. Peter smiled at the family he had found while at Hogwarts. Everything would work out in the end as long as they were all together.

Insane House Challenge

#835 – Setting: Gryffindor Common Room

August Auction

Day 21/ Auction 4 – Character: Peter Pettigrew