DISCLAIMER: See previous chapter.

Peter Pettigrew has many friends but he only has three best friends: Remus Lupin, James Potter and Sirius Black. He would give his life for these people, and he believes they would do the same for him. He is especially good friends with Remus, since James and Sirius are always off together somewhere, doing something or other.

Peter would probably consider Remus his closest friend. Remus probably knows the most about him, but he knows an awful lot about Remus in return.

Peter would consider James to be his second closest friend. They talk and joke and plot, and it is fair to say that he is closer with James than he is with Sirius. That's not to say that he isn't great friends with Sirius. He is. It's just that, with the amount of time Sirius spends with other people (namely James and/or Remus), Peter is either with Remus, on his own, with his other friends, or with Sirius and other people. He and Sirius are rarely alone together; and when they are, food or pranking or the Map is often involved.

Peter still counts Sirius as one of his best mates – just, he is a lot closer to Remus.

However, despite his close friendship with Remus, Peter believes that, in Remus and Sirius's relationship, Remus is the 'reacher' and Sirius has settled.

Peter doesn't quite know why Sirius settled, since he could literally have anyone he wanted – if he would just open his bloody eyes! But Sirius seems to be oblivious to the attention he gets, too busy staring at Remus or trying to make Remus laugh.

Sirius could have anyone, but he chose Remus.

Not that that is a bad thing, Peter thinks. He just thinks that Sirius could have his pick of people, and he didn't have to settle for Remus.

Peter is quite fond of his werewolf friend. He thinks Remus is great; loyal and smart and quite funny – at least, James and Sirius always seem to find him funny. And Remus is always helping Peter with his homework. Remus is polite to everyone; pleasant to even Snape, who hates his guts! But he is very problematic and introverted and insecure. Remus is only kind to everyone because he fears hate and rejection. It's understandable, of course. He is a werewolf, after all; hated by much of the Wizarding population.

Being a werewolf limits Remus and it makes him worry about everything. Remus worries about school, and about someone finding out and exposing him; he worries about the future and his bleak job prospects; he worries about his friends and their possible (impossible) future rejection of him. Remus is pretty good at hiding his anxiety, but even he can't keep up his stoicism forever.

Once, in sixth year, Peter had caught Remus crying. He had left before Remus could see him, and he never brought it up. After all, crying isn't exactly manly and neither is talking about crying or feelings. Besides, Peter didn't think Remus would appreciate that particular talk; Remus is quite a private person, after all.

The problem Remus has, being a werewolf, is that he faces more hate and prejudice than most; and this restricts him from doing a lot of things. Being a 'Dark Creature' also leaves him with some quite noticeable physical scars.

The others – James and Sirius, and even Lily – say they don't notice the scars but Peter reckons they're bullshitting because it's kind of impossible to miss the three long jagged scars on Remus's right arm that stretch from his elbow to his knuckles. It's definitely impossible to miss the faint scar on Remus's face that stretches from his left eyebrow to his upper lip.

Being a werewolf also makes Remus freakishly aware of things; of sounds and smells and emotions. His condition seems to heighten his senses, and, if he's truly honest, it freaks Peter out sometimes. But it's useful sometimes; when pranking, for example – to know if someone is nearby. So Peter tries his best to not be freaked out by his best friend's abilities.

So, with all of Remus's insecurities and anxieties and problems, Peter believes that he is the 'reacher' whilst Sirius is the 'settler'.

Although Peter spends little time alone with Sirius, he knows how brilliant Black is. He is confident and cocky and everyone either loves or hates him – and he couldn't care less if someone didn't like him! Sirius is also, contrary to popular opinion, quite a genius. Not quite Remus's level of genius but he is pretty damn close in some aspects.

Peter has noticed – and he would deny it, if you confronted him about it – but he has noticed that Sirius has the advantage of good genes and that he is quite an attractive man. His high aristocratic cheekbones and striking grey eyes always seem to be the first thing Peter notices. His dark, silky hair is second. It always looks suspiciously good. Not that Remus isn't an alright looking bloke, Peter supposes. He's just not on par with Sirius.

Peter isn't blind. He knows that Sirius has his own problems. But they're not too bad. They're fixable, even; with a bit of help. But being a werewolf isn't so easily cured.

Peter doesn't want to be mean. It's just the way he feels. Of course, he wouldn't dare voice his opinions on the matter – for numerous reasons; the main ones being that Remus would undoubtedly agree and that would make Sirius mad, and Peter really doesn't want to be on the wrong side of Sirius Black! Sirius's temper is unrestrained, worthy of his name, and he is weirdly protective of Remus. Well, not weirdly, Peter supposes; they are shagging, after all. But still... Peter has got enough shit to deal with as it is without adding a vengeful Sirius to everything.

So, if Peter was asked who he thought the reacher was and who the settler was in Remus and Sirius's relationship, he would most likely hesitate to answer. But he would eventually answer with, "I couldn't tell you." Because even he knows that you don't tell your friends that one of them is better than the other.

Honestly, Peter reckons that if Remus and Sirius asked him and heard his answer, Remus would agree and they would then change the subject. Sirius, however, would disagree emphatically – because he is enamoured with Remus, for some reason – and loudly, even if he did secretly agree.

But Peter isn't going to say anything, and Remus and Sirius are never going to find out his true feelings on the matter, because they are men, and men don't discuss feelings, even if he does believe Remus is reaching and Sirius is settling.

Written: July, 2016
Rewritten: October, 2018