Peter worried about James incessantly, as he wasn't back with them until lunch on Monday. He worried for his own skin, especially because James was the only one who could tell their secret, the one that could land them in Azkaban.
When James arrived, he explained that he had just stayed to miss transfiguration, because he hadn't done the homework. Making them fret for nothing? Typical. Since it turned out that he was safe (at least for now, he reminded himself), Peter felt a bit better. He hated that something could have happened to all of them because James of all people had decided to be stupid. His other friends would never try that. In fact... The Hufflepuff girl from Muggle Studies, Magda, was beginning to become friends with him. Peter was even considering asking her to come to the next Hogsmeade visit. But he couldn't tell James or Sirius. They would laugh. They already made a habit of making fun of her spots. And this whole animagus thing... Was it worth it to be friends with someone who only made fun of you? Was it a bad idea to possibly take a potion that could result in excruciating death, one that would bind him closely to people who he was already growing away from? From people who lied about everything?
As it was, James would be well enough even, to practice tonight. Peter wished that he was half as talented at quidditch as James was. And the fact that he wasn't was continually irking him. He didn't need to be. So James shouldn't make fun of his clumsiness as much as he did. He had other friends who weren't so boastful, and Sirius never did stop teasing him...
In Peter's mind, he was beginning to see that these two famous boys weren't all that they were cracked up to be. Since they had gotten into relationships, they would hardly give him the time of day. Remus too, was worried more often, and could hardly seem to do more than cast his eyes up at the sky waiting for the next full moon. Until he transformed. Peter shivered with the thought of having to go out into the darkened grounds with a werewolf.
Just then, Rose came up to the table.
She was a bit too intimidating for him, but she was also quite nice when in the mood. The trick was getting her there, of which he seemed incapable. She only seemed to like certain people, and her moods changed as quickly as her opinions did. If someone was annoying her, she told them, and he often needed telling. "Peter, roll up your sleeves you're going to spread ink onto my essay. Peter, don't stir that way, to the left, Peter. The left." She really did make a perfect match for Sirius who'd enforce her commands if Peter didn't comply fast enough. Sure, she had been kind to him (and she still mostly was), but the way she acted, like she owned the place, got annoying. He preferred Ellie, really. She was much kinder, and always made time to talk to him, although it was usually about James. How great James was, how he was so funny... Peter was getting sick of them, too. And soon, he would be tied to them for good.
But he still had one last choice...
And he was just preparing himself to speak, waiting for the right time. He didn't need -no, want- their power, their popularity any more.
But meanwhile, Rose had news.
"I was just coming past the Slytherin table, Sirius, listen, you'll want to hear this, they've already appointed a new Slytherin keeper," she informed, as a matter-of-factly.
"Who?" James puzzled. As his job as captain, he would need to know. And he did happen to know that no one who had tried out for the Slytherin team in the fall had gone for seeker.
"Well," Rose replied. "That's where it gets interesting. It's Regulus!"
Sirius dropped his spoon halfway to his mouth and spilled hot soup all over himself.
Cursing loudly, he cleaned up quickly with a spell.
"What do you mean?!" He exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Your brother's the new Slytherin seeker. You should probably congratulate him," Remus replied, yawning and reading a book for Muggle Studies that he had gotten behind on during the time he was out.
"Yeah. I will. Eventually," Sirius confirmed, immediately casting a worried glance towards the far end of the hall where his brother had been sitting.
"Also, I need two people to gather ingredients this weekend for Friday," Rose announced, not missing the look on Sirius' face.
"Alright. Where to? Greenhouse? Potion Stores? Hogsmeade?" James asked, perfectly willing to pick up anything that was needed.
"It's not that simple this time," Rose answered, casting a wary glance out onto the snowy ceiling.
"Why?" Asked Peter, somewhat confused about what all the fuss could be about.
"Well, the next phase of the potion involves adding something of creatures of each of the elements. In case on of our forms can fly, we'll need hairs from a Thestral as the air element. Then for earth, we'll need manticore claw shavings, which I already have. Powdered dragon bone represents fire, but I've already got enough of that. Finally, for water, we'll need mermaid scales from the bottom of the Black Lake."
"So we still need to find thestral hair and mermaid scales?" Peter asked.
"What exactly is a thestral?" James interrupted. "I mean, I know what a mermaid is, but I've never even heard of one of those."
"That's because you never took Care of Magical Creatures," Ellie told him, relating to her previous time in that class. "They're sort of magical horses with wings. They live in the Dark Forest."
"Well! That's easy, then. We've been in there loads of times. We'll just wait for the snow to stop, and then go fetch them," Sirius said, finally returning to the conversation.
"That's not really the problem," Rose replied. "It's just… They're invisible. Unless you've watched someone die."
"Oh." James apologized, for the two of them.
"Hagrid's got a herd of them tamed. They're what pull the school carriages," Ellie informed. "But unless you can see the horses, there's no chance you'll find them in the forest."
"I'll go, then," Remus said, suddenly speaking in the silence that followed, softly, yet not worried or afraid.
"I can go too." Rose volunteered.
"Well, since we've got our sniffer dogs, I suppose that I can tag along," Sirius replied, making it clear that even if he couldn't see the horses, he could still be useful.
"No. We're going on Friday, on our free afternoon. You have detention all week," Rose reminded.
"Can't we go in the evening? Or at night?" He asked, still hanging on and trying to find a way to join in.
Rose shook her head. "No. We need to begin adding the ingredients on Friday evening. That will be too late. And besides, the forest is more dangerous at night. I wouldn't want to be caught out there, especially while the thestrals are hunting," she replied.
He decided to let it go.
"And the mermaid scales?" James asked.
"I have Gillyweed. Only enough for two people, but I think that both should go, for safety. It'll let you swim underwater without breathing. From what I've read, all you have to do is swim to the bottom, and pick some old mermaid scales off the lake bed. Should be easy. That needs doing on Friday afternoon, while we're in the forest. No one will be outdoors, let alone near the lake, in this weather."
"And whoever is going with me has to be a good swimmer," Ellie added, having conferred with Rose beforehand and deciding that she would be best suited for the aquatic task, while Rose would lead the expedition into the woods.
"Well, I suppose I'm the natural choice, then," James added. "Seeing as Peter doesn't swim."
"I don't mind staying back though," Peter relented. "I can keep a lookout on the lake." They all knew it was mostly his cowardice keeping him from arguing that he was really an excellent swimmer.
"Then it's settled. We'll meet early Friday morning for last minute details."
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Hey guys! this is just the beginning of what I really call part two. Lots of action and excitement coming, as well as Peter's 'evolution' (I haven't the slightest idea of what to call it) but ANYWAYS, hope you like it! Feel free to review and let me know what you think! Don't let the muggles get you down!
*Special thanks to K.H for reading! :)
post edit: wow, i'm a loser. Okay. Thanks for reading and reviewing though!