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 FIFTEEN – PETER
March 1978

"Did you pack the sunscreen? I don't want to come back to school looking like a tomato!" Sirius said as he put on his sunglasses.

"I packed two bottles, so settle down Padfoot!" James replied and chuckled, "But I think tomato would suit you!"

"It most certainly would not!" Sirius said, outraged, "I do tan or nothing at all!"

James laughed and nodded at Sirius, "Light me a cigarette would you?"

Sirius lit two cigarettes and stuck one in James' mouth who continued to drive and sing along to the music. Peter smiled at the two of them and turned to Remus who was sharing the back seat with him. Remus was engrossed in his textbook, a slight crease in his forehead as he concentrated on what he was reading. Sirius whirled around in his seat and suddenly yanked the book away from Remus.

"Babe what the hell?" Remus said.

"We made a promise. No school work on our trip!" Sirius said, "You'll get this back when we come home."

"Rude." Remus said and pouted.

"You'll thank me later babe." Sirius said and blew Remus a kiss.

Remus rolled his eyes and turned to Peter, "Please tell me you brought a textbook too?"

"Nope." Peter said, "I could use a break from school. And we did promise…"

"But we have N.E. coming up, I need to be prepared!" Remus argued.

"Moony, you were born prepared…" Peter said and chuckled, "You will be fine, it's only three days."

"You two better not be talking about exams!" James said, shaking his head, "There'll be none of that!"

"I already confiscated a textbook Prongs." Sirius added.

"Merlin's pants, Moony!" James said.

"What?! I like to study…" Remus argued.

"We all agreed… After this trip it's exams and then graduation and then…" Peter said, his voice trailing off at the end.

"And then we go to war." Sirius whispered and stared out the window.

James reached over and squeezed Sirius' shoulder. Sirius flinched and James quickly dropped his hand and frowned. Peter had noticed things like this going on ever since Sirius got out of the hospital. Sirius has been putting on a brave face and telling them all he was fine but he stopped hugging James, or holding Remus' hand and when he walked through the castle he clung to the walls. Peter hated seeing Sirius so broken. Lily and Remus went round and charmed all the windows and doors so they wouldn't ever accidentally slam and scare Sirius. They all kept doing whatever they could to make things easier for him but he still couldn't sleep throughout the night.

James started singing louder and Peter smiled as Sirius joined in again. Peter noticed Remus watching them and smiling too and Peter nudged him.

"Are you looking forward to the beach, Moony?"

"I haven't been for a long time. I can't wait to go swimming again."

"I like to swim in the ocean. I just can't stand the sand, it gets everywhere!"

Remus chuckled, "I can help you with that, don't worry."

"Yes god forbid you get a sandy ass!" James chimed in.

"Speaking from experience Prongs?" Sirius teased.

"Sand has NEVER been in my ass thank you very much!" James replied.

Peter chuckled, "Spoken like a true sandy ass!"

Sirius burst out laughing and James grinned as he pulled into the beach carpark. Peter scrambled out of the car once James parked and stretched. Remus was unpacking the car with Sirius and Peter watched as Sirius stopped for a moment and hugged Remus. Peter smiled as the two of them held each other, it had been a long time since Sirius had reached out to Remus like this. Sirius kissed Remus and slung a tent bag over his shoulder.

"He's getting better." James said, suddenly beside Peter.

"It's really nice to see them like that again."

"He'll get there, we just need to keep doing what we're doing and he'll come back to us."

"I know. I see glimpses of him here and there and they're becoming more frequent now."

"It might be because Hope has died… He doesn't want to let her down and not be there for Moony…"

Peter looked back over at Sirius and Remus who were still holding hands and talking to one another in whispers.

"Moony seems like he's doing better. They're both stronger than they realise."

James slung his arm around Peter's shoulders, "We all are, Wormy."

Peter beamed at James and nodded towards the car, "Let's help them unpack, then we can start having fun!"

Peter pulled out the food box and slung the other tent bag over his shoulder. Remus stacked the chairs on top of the food and waved his wand to levitate them. Sirius and James grabbed the remaining bags and shut the boot. The four of them hurried down the sandy path and on to the beach until they found a spot to set everything up. They all began waving their wands and the tents assembled themselves and the chairs and hammocks set up around them. Sirius peeled his shirt off and threw it at James.

"Race you to the ocean!"

James shrugged out of this shirt and grinned at Sirius, "You're on!"

The two of them took off to the water shouting at one another until James dove under the water first and Sirius dove in straight after him. They broke through the water laughing and splashing at one another and Peter chuckled to himself.

"It's good to hear him laugh like that." Remus said as he climbed into a hammock.

Peter dropped into the hammock next to him, "Yeah, I haven't heard him laugh like that in months."

Remus sat up and began waving his wand at Peter. Peter cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I promised to charm you so the sand wouldn't annoy you…"

"Right. Thanks Moony."

"Anytime, remind me to teach you while we're here."

They sat there in silence for a while and Peter closed his eyes and enjoyed the sunshine on his skin. It had been his idea to go away together. Soon they would be finished with school and fighting in the war, all Peter wanted was one weekend away with his best friends before things got serious. Peter lit himself a cigarette and listened to Sirius and James carrying on in the water.

"Light me one too?" Remus asked.

Peter handed him his cigarette and lit himself another one, "Do you think James was annoyed that I asked him not to bring Lily?"

"Of course not." Remus replied, "Lily's off with Marlene and her family for Easter anyway. James has been looking forward to this road trip for weeks."

"I have too."

"It was a good idea, we all needed something like this."

"Moony, I'm so sorry about your Mum."

Remus blew out some smoke and took another drag, "Thanks Wormy. I miss her… I miss her a lot."

"Of course you do. She was a remarkable woman."

"She really was." Remus let out a heavy sigh, "But anyway. Where have you been hiding these days? I never seem to be able to find you?"

"I spend a lot of time in the library with… With someone, studying."

"You've certainly kept that quiet Wormy. Who's this someone?"

"I didn't know if I should tell you guys or not, she's a Hufflepuff."

"Oh Peter. I don't hate all Hufflepuff's for what happened to Sirius. Those three made their own choice, regardless of their house."

"I know that… It's just, I didn't want him to think I was betraying him or anything."

"He would never think that."

"Her name is Cara. I think you'd like her."

"I'm sure I would, can I meet her when we get back?"

"I'd like that. We study together, that's all it is really."

"Do you want it to be something else?"

"Yeah, I do. I really like her. I'm just not so sure she likes me like that."

"She'd be an idiot not to… Don't underestimate yourself Peter, you're a good guy."

"Thanks Moony."

Peter finished his cigarette and thought about telling Remus about the Slytherin's. Peter had noticed they were coming up to him more often than usual. Sometimes they just talk to him, about nothing, really just making small talk. Other times they say things to him that stay with him long after they're gone, things that nestle into his head and play over and over again.

Peter sat up to tell Remus when James and Sirius came bounding over and shook the water off themselves and all over Peter and Remus.

"The water is amazing!" Sirius said and lent over to kiss Remus.

"I can tell!" Remus chuckled, "You've drenched me!"

James pulled towels out of the bag and threw one at Remus and Sirius, "The sun is going to go down soon, let's make some dinner?"

"I am so hungry!" Peter said and pulled himself out of the hammock, "I'll help you."

Peter began putting logs together to make a fire while James began pulling out an assortment of food and pots and pans. Peter prodded the logs with his wand and blew the small flames that were conjured until they grew bigger.

Remus pulled Sirius into the hammock with him and Peter watched as Sirius buried himself into Remus' chest, a soft smile across his face.

"How does everyone feel about steak and salad?" James asked.

"No complaints from me!" Sirius called out, "Rem's happy too."

"I'll make the salad, you're better at cooking steak." Peter said and began to set up at the table James conjured.

Peter watched as James cooked the steaks while Remus and Sirius lay together in the hammock. Peter started preparing the salad and smiled to himself, this was exactly what he wanted for the weekend. His three best friends in the world and him. It was the safest he'd felt in months.

Sirius climbed out of the hammock, pulled Remus out too and sauntered over to Peter, a cheeky grin on his face.

"I know that look… What have you got planned?" Peter asked.

"I'm thirsty, thought I'd make us all something to drink." Sirius said and wriggled his eyebrows.

"Oh Merlin, have mercy on my liver!" James cried out dramatically.

"You need to learn how to drink Prongs." Sirius teased.

Peter chuckled and moved the salad out of the way and sat down near the fire. Remus sat down next to Peter and smiled at the ocean.

"Look at that sunset." Remus said.

Peter gazed at the sun setting over the ocean and smiled. James finished cooking and handed plates to Peter and Remus and sat down with them, the fire still burning. Sirius levitated glasses over to them all and sat down next to James. Sirius raised his glass and the others raised theirs too.

"Here's to the greatest people I know." Sirius said, "And to our final few months of school."

"Here, here!" James said.

"I'll drink to that!" Remus agreed.

"Cheers guys!" Peter said.

They all chinked their glasses and took a sip. Peter coughed as the liquor hit the back of his throat, Sirius had made his signature cocktail. Peter took another sip and began eating and watching the sun set over the ocean, no one said a word. After a while the sun had set and Remus had conjured some soft orbs of light to hang around them and Sirius began to play his guitar.

Peter cleared up the plates and pulled on his jumper before joining the boys around the fire again and smiled at them all.

"Let's take a photo of this." Peter said and Remus grinned at him.

"I'll set up the camera." Sirius said and rested his guitar in a hammock.

James slung his arm around Peter and Remus wandered over to them while Sirius set the camera up on the table. Peter ruffled James' hair and James winked at him.

"You guys ready?" Sirius called out before running over to them and throwing his arm around Remus.

Peter grinned at the camera until the flash went off and rested his head on James' shoulder. In the coming months their lives were going to change in a way Peter wasn't sure he could ever prepare himself for. Peter was terrified to fight in the war but he knew he would always have James, Remus and Sirius and even in the darkest of times he would always have this moment to call back to and in this moment he was the happiest he'd ever been.