Chapter Five: Peter Pettigrew
Rating: Teen but there is some heavy language
Word count: 788
Summary: Peter Pettigrew makes his big appearance! Remus and Sirius leave the party, finally! They run in to Peter who is supposed to be on look-out duty.
A/N: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to the forgotten Marauder Peter. This chapter makes me almost feel sorry for Peter … almost.

The hallway on the seventh floor was relatively vacant. The word 'relatively' is used because there was one lone boy standing in the corridor. He was a jumpy lad. Every sound that was made by the old castle gave him a fright. The boy had a butterbeer clutched to his chest, as if the bottle contained the essence of his soul. Why wasn't this boy at the party? He was on look-out of course! Someone had to do the job and who better than the forgotten Marauder – Peter Pettigrew.

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Remus still felt the after-shock from the kiss. He was only vaguely aware of the squealing girls surrounding Sirius and he.

"I'm sorry, ladies," he heard Sirius say, "that's all you are going to see." There was a large unified sigh of disappointment from the girls.

Sirius gave the girls a final grin before he turned to go back to the snack table. Remus figured he'd better follow; he didn't want to be stuck in another tricky situation. By the time Remus manoeuvred his way to the table, Sirius had already poured himself a glass of Firewhisky.

"All that attention really gets one parched," Sirius said before he downed his glass in one shot. Remus watched with a look of scorn on his face. He really hoped that Sirius wouldn't get drunk. Remus did not feel like putting up with the philosopher Sirius tended to become. Also, he doubted he would get an encore to his kiss with an intoxicated Sirius – well, an encore with meaning.

"Gawd, you look awful, Moony," Sirius said, mid-pour. He set the cup and bottle back down on the table and put his hand on Remus' shoulder. His shoulder instantly began to tingle at the touch. "Do you want to head up to the common room now?"

Remus instantly perked up. This was the question he had been waiting for, "Yeah, I think I'll go. I wouldn't want anything strange happening."

Sirius patted Remus' shoulder, making his whole arm tingle, before removing it and heading for the door.

"Are you leaving already, Sirius?" a girl said, ambushing them.

"Unfortunately, Messr. Remus has had too much to drink, and I volunteered to escort him to the common room," Sirius said, turning himself into the hero.

"Oh, Sirius, that's so noble of you," she said with stars in her eyes.

"It's nothing. I would do anything for a friend," he had his charming grin on again. 'Arrogant prick,' Remus thought, but he couldn't help but feel flustered at Sirius smile.

The boys were intercepted a good three times before they finally reached the door.

"Fangirls," Sirius said, opening the door, "gotta love them." He motioned for Remus to leave first, then he followed.

"What the bloody hell do you think you are doing?" Sirius bellowed. Remus turned around just in time to see Peter Pettigrew jump a good meter off the ground, spilling his butterbeer.

"Oh, Sirius," Peter said, looking relieved, "you scared me there. I thought you might have been—"

"If you had the bloody map out you would have known it was us!" Sirius growled. "How the hell do you think you are going to keep watch if all you've got in your ruddy hand's a bottle of butterbeer! You think that'll stop Filch? You're so pathetic."

"I'm sorry, Padfoot. I'm so stupid …" Remus felt sorry for Peter. If Sirius wasn't insulting him, he was using Peter in someway or another. James wasn't any better towards the boy. Remus wasn't guiltless either. He was always present when the boy was abused, but he stood back and did nothing. Just like what he was doing now. "… and I should have never taken my eyes off the map –"

"Stop your grovelling, Wormtail," Sirius snapped, aggravated. "Now where did the idiot put the map?"

Peter looked like he was about to cry, "The map is in my pocket, Padfoot."

Remus noticed a corner of the parchment sticking out of Peter's pant pocket. Obviously, Sirius noticed as well, "Oh, that's a brilliant place to put the map when you are on look out. I don't know why we trust you with important jobs like this. You are utterly useless!" Sirius barked as he roughly shoved his hand in the boy's pocket to fish out the map. Remus watched jealously. For the first time in his life he wished he was Peter Pettigrew.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Sirius said, tapping the blank parchment with his wand. The paper instantly turned into an elaborate map. Remus waited impatiently for Sirius to plan their route. While Peter was holding back tears, Remus anticipated what would happen in the common room.