A/N: I don't own the rights to any of these characters, settings or anything to do with Wizarding World. This is a work of fiction based on
the universe created by J.K Rowling.

CHAPTER THREE – PETER
November 1976

Laughter echoed around the Great Hall as Peter poured himself a third glass of orange juice. James and Sirius were sitting opposite him discussing, in hushed tones, the next Marauders outing. Remus sat to his right nosing through his Charms textbook and nibbling on a slice of toast. Peter returned to his sausage and eggs and watched as Remus closed his textbook with a sigh and gazed at Sirius who, seeming to notice Remus watching him, looked back at Remus and gave him a gentle smile. They had been doing that a lot lately; watching each other, smiling, all sorts of small intimate moments. Peter finished his plate and washed it down with his juice in one gulp, spilling some down the front of his jumper.

"Alright there Wormy?" James laughed, throwing him a napkin.

Peter hurriedly wiped the juice off his jumper and pushed his plate away from him, resting his arms on the table. James lent back, stretching his arms above his head and ruffled his hair, sighing.

"Fancy a bit of flying practice Padfoot?" James asked.

"Absolutely!" Sirius responded and turned to Remus, "Why don't you come along?"

"You know I hate flying." Remus said, raising his eyebrows.

"It's a nice day, probably the last sunny day we'll have for a while, you could do your homework in the stands?" Sirius countered.

Remus smirked at Sirius and turned to Peter, "How about it? Keep me company in the stands? We can finish the Potions essay together?"

"Sure, I need your help anyway I can't get my head around the technique for brewing antidotes." Peter replied and stood up to leave with the boys.

The four Marauders headed towards the doors when James suddenly collided with Yaxley and hissed under his breath.

"Bit early for you to be out and about isn't it? Don't snakes usually slither around at night?" James snapped.

Yaxley narrowed his eyes, "Careful Potter, don't go picking a fight you can't win."

"Is that a threat?" Sirius said, stepping closer to James, "It's not us who needs to be careful."

"You're on the wrong side boys and one of these days you're going to learn that the hard way."

Yaxley glared at Sirius as he shoved past James walking off to the Slytherin table. James clenched his fists and stormed off with Sirius close behind him. Peter looked back over his shoulder to the Slytherin table and met Yaxley's eyes. Yaxley was sitting with Rowle and McNair, all three of them smirking at Peter. Peter's stomach flipped and he felt Remus pulling his arm to follow him.

Peter struggled to keep up with Remus who was hurrying after James and Sirius. James spent the walk up to the dormitory cursing Yaxley and Slytherin's while Sirius egged him on. Peter remained quiet and kept his head down. Once they had gathered their homework and broomsticks the four boys headed back down the staircases and outside. Sirius was right, it was a nice sunny day. Peter squinted his eyes and followed James down the steps and on to the stretch of grass that led to the Quidditch Pitch. Peter peeled off his jacket, folded it over his arm and watched Remus and Sirius walking ahead of him. They were close together, leaning into one another as they strolled along the grass. Peter felt a squirm in his stomach as he watched them. Remus' laughter carried across the air and Sirius slung his arm across his shoulders. They had always been close, Peter knew that, but this was different. This was intimacy.

They reached the Quidditch Pitch and James immediately soared into the air. Sirius handed Remus his leather jacket before kicking off the ground after James. Peter watched as Remus stood there for a moment, clutching Sirius' jacket and smiling. Peter turned away from Remus and jumped over the barrier into the stands, climbing the stairs until he was halfway up. He pulled out his Potions textbook and began reading through the chapter on antidotes. He kept his eyes fixed on the page when Remus sat down next to him.

"I'm nearly done with mine I just need some more information about the Deflating Draught." Remus said, pulling out his quill and ink, "Have you started the essay yet?"

"Not yet." Peter replied.

"Most of the time it's just a matter of being patient, waiting for the magical effects to wear off and treat what remains. But some potions require special applications, there's an antidote for Veritaserum for example."

"Maybe I'll just write about Bezoars, they're basically an antidote, right?"

"You can't write a whole essay on Bezoars Peter!"

"I was joking Remus."

Peter turned the page and continued reading about Dittany and frowned at the sketches of half healed wounds. Peter could hear James and Sirius whooping in the background and looked up. James was zooming around the pitch with Sirius close behind him laughing and holding an oversized red ball, Air Dodgeball they called it. Peter wished he could master flying. Every time he got on a broomstick he was ill. Peter used to think it was being up so high but he doesn't seem to have any trouble with looking down from high surfaces so it can't be that. He always felt so exposed when he was on a broomstick, he didn't like that. He looked over at Remus and found himself staring. Remus was watching the boys flying with a smile on his face, it was the calmest Peter had ever seen him. Peter's stomach squirmed again and he shut his book.

"Do you think we're really on the right side?" Peter said and turned to Remus.

Remus stared at Peter, confused, "What do you mean"

"This war. What is it about really? How did it start? How do we know we're actually on the right side of it all?"

"Peter. Attacking witches and wizards because they're not pure is an attack against everything we stand for."

"What do we stand for Remus?"

"Well I stand for equality, Peter. I've been spat at and looked down on my whole life because of my little problem. I won't look down on any witch or wizard because they have Muggle heritage. Look at Lily, she's one of the most talented witches in our year and she's a Muggle Born. It shouldn't be a factor."

"Yaxley said -"

"Yaxley is a Death Eater supporter. He's power hungry and cruel."

"I guess."

Remus stared at Peter, concern written all over his face, "Peter, where is this coming from? You don't usually like to talk about the war."

"I was just thinking about it all and I guess... I guess I just wanted to know what we're really fighting for."

"I can't tell you what to fight for. That's got to come from you."

"I don't know what I want to fight for." Peter looked over at James and Sirius laughing and flying and sighed, "I just, I just don't want to lose any of you."

"Peter..." Remus moved closer to him and gently smiled, "We're family, we're always going to be family."

Peter nodded and started gathering up his things, "I'm not feeling too well, I'm just going to go back and have a nap or something."

"Do you want me to come back with you?"

"No, stay here. Someone's got to keep an eye on those two."

"You're right." Remus said watching Peter closely.

Peter nodded and headed to the stairs. He turned back to Remus, who was still watching him, and smiled, "Thanks Rem. I'm glad I've got you guys."

"I'm glad too." Remus smiled and Peter waved as he headed down the stairs.

Peter walked out of the Quidditch Pitch towards the castle again. More students were outside now, sprawled across the grass and running around near the lake. Peter heard a loud crash and turned to the lake. Tentacles waved across the water and Peter watched several second year Hufflepuff's shriek and run back from the banks of the lake. Peter chuckled to himself and his eyes found a group of Slytherin's close by sprawled across the grass. Peter's stomach dropped as he made eye contact with Yaxley who smirked in response. Peter narrowed his eyes and turned back to the castle and collided with Severus Snape, dropping his things.

"Careful there Peter." Said Severus.

Peter bent down trying gather up his things as quickly as possible. Severus bent down and picked up a few pieces of parchment and Peter's quills. They both stood up and Peter stood there quietly wishing James and Sirius were there to help him. Severus handed him the parchment and quills. Peter took them and looked up at Severus in confusion.

"Why are you helping me?" Peter asked.

"That's a funny way to say thank you." Severus responded.

"Can you blame him?" A voice called from behind Peter.

Yaxley sauntered over and stood next to Severus. Yaxley was a burly seventh year, he had sandy blonde hair that fell across his handsome face. Peter had always envied Yaxley; girls seemed to like him and he was never short of friends. He was the star of the Slytherin Quidditch Team and a favourite of Professor Slughorn's. Peter was yet to be invited to one of those dinners, even Remus had been to one.

"Look at the sort he associates with, Sev. I don't think you can expect any sort of courtesy from him." Yaxley said and raised his eyes at Peter.

"Leave my friends alone!" Peter snapped and Yaxley and Severus laughed.

"Friends?" Severus queried, "Come on Peter, you don't really think you're one of them, do you?"

"Think about it. Do you really fit in with them?" Yaxley sneered.

"Leave me alone!" Peter snapped, looking over at the Quidditch Pitch and back at Yaxley and

Severus.

"Look, Peter, we've got your best interest at heart. What do you think is going to happen when you graduate?" Severus said and Yaxley cocked an eyebrow at Peter.

Peter stood there, the unease churning away in his stomach. He shook his head and pushed past them to the castle as quickly as he could.

"Just trying to help you out." Yaxley called after him, "Come find me when you need a real friend!"

Peter felt his cheeks burning as he pushed through the front doors and shoved a first year out of the way at the staircase. The first year cried out as he hit the ground. Peter stopped for a moment before hurrying up the stairs and away from the first year, the Slytherin's, everyone. Once in his dormitory Peter began to pace, he felt sick. He had always felt like it was an accident that he was friends with James, Sirius and Remus. Peter believed for a long time that the only reason they took him in was because they shared a dormitory, if they weren't would they be friends? Peter willed himself to let it go, the Slytherin's had to just be messing with him. Remus had just told him they were a family hadn't he? He was important wasn't he? Peter wasn't so sure. Peter kicked the trunk at the end of his bed and collapsed on the mattress. Furious with himself, Peter stared at the framed photo of the four boys laughing together until he fell asleep.

Peter awoke suddenly to the sound of laughter and a door slamming shut. The room was darker than Peter remembered it and he could hear splattering against the window. Peter sat up and rubbed his eyes feeling disoriented.

"Have a good kip Wormy?" James asked, standing at the end of Peter's bed.

"Did I sleep all day?" Peter asked.

"Nah, just a few hours. We had to call it a day with flying after the rain started." James said and shook head spraying droplets of water at Peter, "Feeling refreshed?"

"Yeah..." Peter said and wiped the droplets off his face, "And wet."

James laughed, walked over to his bed and kicked his trunk open. He began stripping his wet clothes off and letting them fall on to the ground. Peter watched the rain hit the window next to his bed and wondered where Sirius and Remus were. He turned to ask James when he noticed Sirius' Rolling Stones shirt crumpled at the end of Remus' bed. Peter stared at it for a moment until his cheeks felt hot.

"James." Peter said, "Where are Remus and Sirius?"

"They're getting something to eat I think." James responded, tugging on his jumper.

"Do you know what's happening with them?" Peter asked.

James looked up at Peter, "Dearest Moony and Padfoot have bonded a little more."

"Bonded how?" Peter got up from his bed and lent against the bedpost watching James.

James was now pointing his wand at his wet clothes siphoning off the water, "Well I'll tell you one thing Wormy, we won't be bonding in the same way."

James shook out his now dry shirt and threw it into his trunk moving his attention to his pants. Peter looked at the crumpled Rolling Stones shirt again and thought back to the nights Remus and Sirius had gone to bed early. On those nights, James would always insist on Peter keeping him company either in the Library or the Common Room doing homework or working on the map. They would go to bed hours after the other two and the curtains were always drawn around both beds. Peter had never thought about it too much, never assumed they might have been curled up together in one of the beds. James kicked his trunk close and pulled Peter back from his thoughts. Peter looked back at James who was now leaning against his own bedpost staring at Peter.

"Look, Wormy. They'll talk to us about it when they're ready. Okay?"

"You seem to know already?"

"I wasn't born yesterday Wormy. I saw this coming a mile away. It's a good thing, let's just give them their space and let them figure it out on their own for a bit, yeah?"

"Yeah."

James smiled and moved to his bedside table to get the snitch he stole in the fifth year. Peter opened his trunk and pulled out his potions textbook again.

"Shall we see what's going on downstairs? Maybe Evans is around?"

Peter laughed, "I won't say no to watching you get knocked back again."

James ruffled Peter's hair, "Come on chap."

Peter followed James downstairs to the Common Room. There were several students there playing chess and exploding snap. Peter noticed Lily curled up in the armchair closest to the fire reading. James headed straight to her and dropped down into the armchair next to her. Lily didn't look up from her book, James looked back over his shoulder at Peter and winked. Peter shook his head smiling and noticed Marlene sitting at a table by the window writing.

He'd always liked Marlene, she was gentle and kind. And Peter was lonely, he was the odd one out with the boys. Remus and Sirius had their own thing going on and James was still chasing Lily. Who did Peter have? Peter walked over to the table and Marlene looked up from her work.

"Hey Peter." She said.

"Is it alright if I sit here?" Peter asked and Marlene nodded, continuing with her homework.

Peter sat down and opened his Potions textbook. He could barely concentrate on the uses of Murtlap Essence and found himself constantly looking up at Marlene. She had her brown hair in a long braid down her back and was wearing a pale blue sweater. Peter had always thought she looked beautiful in blue. Marlene sighed and threw down her pen, Peter quickly looked back down at his book.

"I love the rain", Marlene whispered.

"Sorry?" Peter said looking out the window.

"The rain." Marlene said, "I always feel calm when it rains."

"You can never do anything when it rains." Peter argued and looked back at Marlene. She was smiling at Peter with her arms folded on the table, her homework laying forgotten underneath.

"Sure you can, that's when I get all my best work done."

"I suppose."

"What are you working on Peter?"

"The Antidotes essay, I'm rereading the chapter at the moment. I need to get my head around the technique a little more."

"Urgh, Potions. I prefer Transfiguration. I just finished McGonagall's homework."

"James and I finished that last night."

"You're all quite the little gang, aren't you?"

"Wouldn't want to meet us in a dark alley that's for sure!"

"You reckon you could outfight me?"

Marlene cocked an eyebrow and Peter laughed, "No, no. More like we could pull a Westside Story on your ass and outdance you."

Marlene threw her head back laughing and Peter smiled, she had a beautiful laugh. Marlene looked over at the fireplace and Peter followed her gaze. Lily had just slammed her book shut and stood up. James had struck out again. Marlene looked back at Peter and rolled her eyes.

"Tell me something, Peter. Why does he keep trying?" Marlene asked.

"I couldn't tell you" Peter replied and sighed, "Sucker for punishment I guess."

"Marlene!" Lily called from across the room, "I'm going to the Great Hall."

"Hold on!" Marlene replied, "Let me just pack up my things."

Peter felt his heart sink, he'd been enjoying her company. He watched her close her books and put everything into a neat pile. Peter wondered if she would knock him back. Probably, he thought to himself. Marlene stood up and beamed at Peter.

"You're not who I expected you to be."

Peter raised his eyebrows, "Who did you expect me to be?"

"I don't know... But not like this."

"Would it be okay if we spent some more time together?"

"Come on Marlene, he's starting to make 'jokes' now..." Lily cried.

"Coming!" Marlene called back and turned back to Peter. "Come find me some time, yeah?"

"I will" Peter said and watched as she hurried across the room to Lily, pushing James out the way. She looked back and smiled at Peter once more before disappearing through the portrait hole with Lily.

Peter felt a warmth throughout his body and a grin spread across this face. She didn't knock him back. Peter watched James ruffle his hair and fall back into the armchair, a sullen look across his face. Peter finally felt like he had something going for him that James didn't, something that was his and his alone. For the first time in a long-time Peter felt like he was important to someone, he felt like he belonged.