Word count: 648
Interlude: Sandra
You're Better Than Them
Sandra listened to Peter recount what had happened between him and Sirius while twisting strands of his hair between her fingers and providing sound effects at all the right parts of the story. The hand not occupied with his hair ran over his thigh, but he was worked up to the point of not reacting to it in the way he typically did. Her heart hurt knowing his best friends had been cruel to him when he had done nothing to deserve such treatment except stand up for her.
"Everything will be okay, sweetheart," she said, placing a lingering kiss on his cheek. "Your friends suck, but you have me. I'll always be there for you. If they don't realize how great you are, that's their loss, but it's my gain. The less time you spend with them, the more time you have for me."
She smiled brightly and leaned in, moving her hand farther up his leg. When he smiled back, her stomach fluttered. She was about to kiss him again when he spoke.
"That's true. I hadn't thought about it that way before."
His smile fell, and ice coated Sandra's stomach. She pushed herself closer to him, removing her hand from his leg to instead wrap both of her arms around his waist, prepared for the onslaught of insecurity she had come to expect.
"Why did you choose me?" Peter asked. "You're so popular that you could date anyone at Hogwarts. Why date me?"
Sandra scowled and hit him gently on the arm.
"You make me sound shallow when you say things like that, Peter. I've told you before, and I'll tell you as many times as I have to before you believe me: I don't care what anyone else says about us being together. I've admired you since third year when I watched you help that lost first year find her way to Potions. You have a bigger heart than any of your friends. The fact that the rest of the world can't see that just shows how messed up people are. Sirius Black wouldn't help a first year like you did. You're the only decent guy in this whole school. I'm lucky to have you."
She expected the compliments to put a smile back on his face, but the closest thing Peter managed was a grimace. He shifted in her embrace, loosening her arms around him.
"Sirius helps people…"
Sandra scoffed.
"When?" she asked. "I've never seen it. The only thing he does is taunt people. Sure, he can be flattering when he wants attention, but that's not real kindness. He doesn't help anyone unless there's something in it for him. You have true kindness in you, Peter. You're selfless. There was nothing for you to gain from helping that first year."
Peter still looked unsure, but the smile he offered her was more assured than the one he'd shown her before.
"I guess I just want things to be how they used to be," he admitted, tracing her name across the back of her hand with a finger. "Things were easy when we were younger. They're my best friends, you know? I don't like fighting with them."
"I know," Sandra said, reaching for his hair again and tugging it in in the exact way that made him shiver. "But things change. It's a fact of life. We're growing up, and sometimes, you have to leave friendships in the past because they aren't good for you. It's hard, but you have me, Peter. I'll always be here. I love you."
His smile was wide once more.
"I love you too."
He kissed her, and Sandra's stomach erupted in butterflies. It hurt that she had to build Peter up when he should have realized how amazing he was without her help, but when she got responses like this kiss, she was happy to do it.