Chapter 30:

I'm Just Saying What You're Thinking

Regulus made his way into the library the morning after the match. There were several Hufflepuffs and a ton of Ravenclaws around the desks towards the front of the library. There were only two Slytherins and practically no Gryffindors. They had clearly had a rather excitable party. Regulus made his way towards the back of the library, where he knew Peter Pettigrew would be hiding. The entire school had noticed that he spent more time in the library alone than he did with his friends. Regulus quickly found him hidden behind a stack of books in one of the darkest corners of the library.

Regulus took a moment to collect himself before saying, "alright Peter."

"What the hell do you want Black?" Peter retorted.

"Nothing much," Regulus grinned, "just wondering why you're here all on your own?"

"Why?" Peter squeaked.

"Because I would have thought you'd be celebrating with your friends… or am I mistaken in my belief that Gryffindor have won the Quidditch Cup… again," Regulus laughed bitterly.

"Yeah, they won," Peter frowned, "but I needed to study…"

"Do you think your friends have even noticed that you're not with them?" Regulus asked harshly, "or do you think they are too distracted by their little girlfriends… Lupin is with Stone… My brother has got the McKinnon girl… even Potter is getting with that Lily Evans girl… and who have you got Peter?"

Peter frowned but didn't speak.

"That's right you've got nobody… you're all alone… with your memories of your dead girlfriend… the only person who ever loved you."

Peter lunged forward but Regulus was quicker. He stepped back out of Peter's reach. "I'm only saying what you're thinking Peter; you're alone." Regulus turned around and walked out of the library leaving an angry Peter alone with his textbooks.

The other marauders didn't leave their beds until midday. They walked in together larger than life, spotting Peter at one end of the table. They made their way towards him, "alright Wormy?"

"Yeah," Peter replied without looking up.

"What's up with you Pete?" James laughed, "You look like you just heard someone's dead!"

Peter stood up and stormed off. "What the hell was that about?" Sirius frowned.

"Mary," Remus shook his head, "sometimes you guys just don't think."

"Shit!" James stood up, "I better go find him…"

James exited the Great Hall, pulling out the marauder's map to find his friend. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," James quickly searched the map for Peter. He found his dot in the library. James entered the library a few moments later and quickly found Peter hidden in his corner. "Pete…"

"Piss off James," Peter replied hotly.

"Wow Pete," James was taken aback, "come one man, I didn't think. I'm really sorry, man…"

"Just go away Potter."

"Come on Peter," James frowned, "it's me… I'm one of your best friends."

"Just go away," Peter repeated.

Peter didn't return to the Gryffindor tower until well after the other marauders went to bed that night and he didn't turn up at breakfast in the morning. James and Remus exchanged concerned glances as Peter joined them in Herbology in the afternoon. They hadn't seen him since the previous day; he hadn't even been in the Great Hall for lunch. He caught their eye before making his way to a back corner of the greenhouse as far as possible away from the other marauders. "What's up with Peter?" Lily asked James.

"I upset him," James replied honestly, "It was an accident…"

"Don't worry," Lily smiled sadly, "whatever you did he'll forgive you."

"I hope so," James frowned.

Peter went straight to the library after Herbology. Regulus was waiting for him at his table in the back corner. "Alright Wormtail?" Regulus grinned, he had his feet up on the table in front of him and was lounging back in his chair.

"Piss off Black," Peter retorted.

"Do you know I really don't get why they call you wormtail… is it because you're a creepy, worthless worm?" Regulus laughed coldly, "or maybe it's because you're a foul smelling rat…"

"I said piss off," Peter repeated angrily.

"And I'm just telling you what you're so called friends are thinking… you know they don't really like you, don't you?" Regulus raised an eyebrow at the fat teenager before him. "They just put up with you…"

"That's not true!"

"Isn't it? Why aren't they here now, helping you with your…" he picked up Peter's transfiguration textbook, "transfiguration revision…? Oh wait, its because they don't care…"

"You don't know anything about me and my friends," Peter told them.

"You're right… I don't know that Sirius and James are best friends… and I don't know that they laugh at you… or call you names… they call you fat you know… they think you're stupid…"

"Piss off."

"Come on, you know it's true…"

Later that night, Regulus returned to the Slytherin common room. His friend Lorx was waiting for him by the fire, "so how did it go with the Pettigrew idiot?"

"Fine…" Regulus replied.

"Come on Reg," Lorx complained, "you've got to give me something to tell them…"

"Tell them it's going fine," Regulus frowned, "He's angry with his friends… they're fighting… He's annoyed with Potter especially."

"Good," Lorx nodded, "you need to speed it along though Regulus. They won't wait forever."

"I know… I know… I'm working on it."

"All you need is the fricking password… you can do the rest yourself…"

"I don't want to get expelled… I think it would be better to…"

"Get Rebecca to do it then."

"No… I think it would be better to get Peter to do it."

"Why?" Lorx looked confused.

"Harder to trace… people know that Rebecca is my girlfriend… I'll get the blame…"

"Fair point," Lorx nodded.

Please Review...