"What the hell?" The words fell out of Sirius' mouth while Peter simply stared with his mouth slightly agape. He and Peter watched as James Potter sluggishly came through the door, practically dragging himself. The state of him was almost the complete opposite of how Sirius had come in earlier.

The pure state of exhaustion James wore was enough to startle anyone. Where yesterday he had only slight bags under his eyes, the same could not be said today. James' eyes were notably puffy even hidden behind the black circular glasses he wore. It looked as if the young Auror might pass out if he sat down, the dullness in his eyes was unsettling. The young man's hair was clean, but still a messy mop. His clothes had been thrown on haphazardly. His shirt had more wrinkles than Albus Dumbledore's forehead, and the trousers were almost as patchy as something Remus might have tried to wear. Suficeth to say, this was not what Peter and Sirius were expecting.

"What the Godric happened to you?" Sirius asked again, eyes wide and eyebrows furrowed.

James looked up and smiled weakly to his friends, but didn't say anything. He just plopped himself down across from them at the table. As he sat down the young Auror let out a sigh of relief. Setting his 'new' glasses down on the table, he crossed his arms into a makeshift pillow and rested his head on them.

"James?" Peter asked tentatively. "You alright?"

"Yeah…." James shrugged his shoulders, head still resting on his arms. "Just a bit tired…"

Peter wore a concerned expression, turning to Sirius for guidance.

Sirius felt the corner of his mouth quirk up slightly, a tormentative look in his eyes.

"Up late there, Jamsie?" Sirius tried to keep the smirk from blooming on his face, but it really wasn't working. The dusty blonde boy who sat beside him gawked, a blush spreading up his neck and face.

Peter instantly understood what his friend was suggesting, how could he not after rooming with him at Hogwarts? He looked over to see how James would react. The man had always been a bit touchy about jokes like this when Lily was involved.

James looked up from his makeshift pillow and glared at his friends. It wasn't a dangerous glare. There was no Auror intimidation in his sleepy eyes, but he was obviously annoyed.

That was all it took for Sirius to let out a string of laughter. Peter watched his two friends, biting his lip. James groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, come on Prongs." Sirius smiled widely as he spoke, his laughter having settled rather quickly. He knew not to push things too far when James was tired… Well, knowing and doing were two very different things.

"It's not like we're 15 anymore, you can tell us what really happened." The young Auror wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.

James pushed up from the table unamused and crossed his arms across his chest before he responded.

"Not anything you're thinking of, I assure you." James huffed as he spoke.

"Oh?" Sirius' gleeful grin didn't fade as he continued. "If you say so, Prongs."

James just rolled his eyes, turning to look at his other less frustrating friend. Peter was still biting his lip, trying to hide his small smile. When the dusty blonde noticed James' stare directed his way he decided to speak.

"Y-you do look terrible…" The small man stuttered. "You and Lily have a tiff or something?"

James nodded slightly but before he could speak, Sirius cut in.

"Oh I'm sure they had something last night."

James glowered at his friend while Peter spluttered. Sirius looked proud of himself. With honed Auror reflexes James' sneakily pulled out his wand, hiding it under that table.

"Padfoot..." Peter frowned at Sirius.

"Oh, come on Wormtail" Sirius shrugged off Peter's comment. "Have a lau-AAAH!"

Sirius jumped in his seat with his sudden exclamation of pain. Pulling his leg up onto his chair he rubbed it quickly as he let out a string of curses under his breath.

Peter watched him slightly confused.

"Really James?" The irritation in Sirius's voice was not mild like partner's had been. He bared his teeth, almost snarling as he focused on James.

"Yes, really." James spoke up, a smug look on his face. He set his wand on the table and picked up his glasses once more, slipping them back on. "Constant vigilance, you know?"

When Peter saw the wand he understood what had happened. A silent stinging hex, one of the few charms James had perfected during school. Having been almost famously bad at charms, James had worked extra hard to learn the ones needed to become an Auror. Both Remus and Lily had helped him alot during their last year at Hogwarts. Luckily that work had paid off, the evidence being Sirius's muttered swear words beside Peter.

Subconsciously Peter scooted just a little further away from Sirius, just in case another spell went flying. He didn't want to get caught in the fray. His motion went unnoticed as his two friends were having a staring contest. Yet another silent conversation was exchanged between the two, one Peter wasn't privy to, like always. The dusty blonde boy's shoulders drooped and a small frown pulled down at the corners of his mouth.

"Okay…" Sirius spoke up, having broken eye contact first. Looking in no particular direction he grabbed the back of his neck with one hand, rubbing it. "I might have deserved that…"

"Might?" James stared down at his incorrigible comrade. "Best hope Lily doesn't hear about this, or you'll be far worse off than I am now. She'd actually hex you."

Sirius huffed in response.

"What happened after we left?" The small voice of Peter cut in questioningly.

James let out a long sigh while reaching up to ruffle his messy hair.

"Nothing too bad…she cried alot at first, but…" He paused for a moment, "Well, you guys know Lills. She had to let her frustration out, so we were up pretty late... Just talking." James shot Sirius a look as he emphasized the last two words.

"That definitely took a long while," It was Sirius who spoke up again, his pouty frown quickly wiped away with a small smirk. He set his leg back down before continuing. "So, you held the basket for her?"

A look of recognition made its way to both the faces of Peter and James.

The phrase the raven haired man referenced was one he had coined back in school. According to young Sirius Black, it was when someone needed to unload their personal shopping basket. But they needed someone to help as they took out and reorganized the items. You couldn't just put them on the floor, now could you?

It didn't matter that Remus had suggested using a table or magic to hold the items. Sirius had reasoned that sometimes you need someone else to help you sort yourself out, not that he did that very well himself.

"Yeah, she's been holding alot in." James confirmed his friend's question. "She's worried about her family and everything. They aren't taking her warnings seriously."

Sirius was about to make a joke, but Peter spoke before he could.

"I… I can't blame her…" Peter's voice trembled slightly as he hid his hands under the table, holding them tightly together.

James smiled sadly as he stared at the table.

"Me neither," James spoke with his hands as if trying to better convey what he was trying to say. "Especially after the scare we had last night."

"Things could have gone way differently." Sirius' voice came out in a hushed somber tone. Peter felt his gut clench at the sound. One could always tell how bad something truly was when Sirius Black sounded so… serious about it.

"Don't you guys need to go back?" The small dusty blonde boy's words pulled the group back to the present moment.

"Ug…" James groaned, remembering the assignment Alastor Moody had given the two Aurors the night before. "Yeah, we do."

"You know Prongs…" Sirius' expression gave nothing away as he began to speak. "Peter and I had a brilliant idea about that."

Fear. The feeling filled Peter Pettigriew's body. He felt faint, he could feel the blood drain out of his face. How could he be so stupid? Of all the things to bring up, he just had to mention this! The dusty blonde boy held his shaking hands even tighter. If only Remus was here.

"Oh?" James' curiosity made him look more awake than he had been all morning. Nothing like a Marauder's scheme to wake someone up in the morning.

"Yeah, you know Peter said it would be rude to just drop by without saying anything." Sirius puffed his chest out, a proud look easily beaming on his face. "So we should probably let her know we are coming, it's the gentlemanly thing to do of course."

"Uh, yeah?" A look of confusion made its way onto James' face. "I suppose that might be a good idea."

"So we should send her a letter." Sirius beamed brighter as if he had just become the sun itself.

"B-but… But Remus…." Peter forced the quiet words out. He had to try and stop this.

"Oh what Little Remmy doesn't know wont hurt him." Sirius laughed slightly as he spoke, clapping Peter on the back with his hand.

"You guys aren't making sense." James raised an eyebrow, looking from one friend to the other's as if they were speaking in riddles or something.

"Of course we are! You're just not keeping up." Sirius rolled his eyes as.

"How are you going to send her a letter then? Owl her?" James' hands moved freely as he spoke, trying to point out how crazy they were sounding to him.

"Of course not, what a silly idea Prongs. Tisk tisk" Sirius clicked his tongue in an almost condescending manner.

"I… I don't…" Peter tried to force the words out once again, but his throat tightened and his tongue seemed to swell up and fill his mouth. The words died on his tongue.

Sirius looked over at his small friend. Peter looked ill, as if a small gust of wind could whisk him away. The Auror frowned at the terrified look in his friends eyes. He was looking like that more and more every day. It was concerning to say the least. Sirius needed to help him and he knew exactly how.

Peter needed a boost of confidence! Sirius had seen how the dusty blonde had shriveled away in the presence of Alastor Moody. He didn't blame him, the man could be terrifying. If things went well, which they should, then Peter should walk away feeling stronger from this! And maybe, just maybe he would start to see how great he really was. Peter was a Marauder just like the rest of them. It was about time he realized that.

"Pete," Sirius held his friend's shoulder tightly, but reassuringly. "You got this. It's an easy job, but one only you can do for us."

"But…" Peter trembled slightly, but looked up to meet the eyes on the man touching his shoulder. The look Sirius wore was one of pride. Not pride in himself, pride in his friend. Peter felt something swell in his heart. Hope. Sirius believed in him…

"You guys don't mean…" James interrupted the moment his two friends were having, several emotions flitted across his face. Sock, horror, wonder, and finally excitement.

"Yup! Peter could deliver the letter." Sirius grinned, pulling his friend closer, giving him a side hug as he spoke to James. "He's small and quick! It's perfect!"

"Oh, that is Brilliant!" James exclaimed, his voice practically dripped with excitement. The sounds brought all the boys back to their youth for just a moment. With a broad smile James continued. "Are you sure about this Wormtail?"

The question hung in the air.

Peter clenched a hand close to his heart. What should he do? Remus said it was a bad idea… He'd be inclined to agree with his bookworm friend, in fact he fullhearted had… until this very moment. Sirius' looked down at him here and now. The feeling of confidence emanating off the man was contagious. Peter felt the hope in his heart growing steadily. It was offsetting the fear that gripped him so coldly. The solid comforting presents of his two friends made him want to believe.

"Maybe…" The word fell out of Peter's mouth before he knew it, dread washed over him as it did. He pushed the feeling down. He wanted to be brave. He wanted to make them proud. He wanted to Help. Taking a steadying breath he continued. "M-maybe, we should wait until it's dark."

"Yes!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing his hands up excitedly. "That's the spirit!"

"That's a perfect idea," James rubbed his hands together in excitement. "If it's dark you'll be practically invisible."

"You'll need to memorize the way to her flat." Sirius whipped out his wand, waving it around he summoned some parchment and a quill. "We don't need some other muggle getting it, now do we."

"Probably need to keep this little excursion a secret," James' mused aloud. "Moony wouldn't approve."

Sirius nodded to James as he began drawing a map on the table, James looked over his word helping him remember details that would help Peter find his way.

Peter watched as his two friends took off faster than a professional quidditch player. They didn't need much prompting to get working. Their Marauder's nature had instantly joined the party, as if they hadn't had any outlet for mischief as of late. The young man smiled at his friends, remembering many similar moments from his youth. Peter silently hoped he hadn't made a mistake, but Sirius was right.

He was just delivering a letter. What's the worst that could happen?

DUN DUN DUN!

Chapter 10 Done and Dusted!

Glad you've made it thus far, hope you've been enjoying yourself.

I'll see you all in the next chapter!

((All rights to Harry Potter Belong to J.K. Rowling))