The Rat's Gift |Peter Pettigrew| (Completed) #harrypotterawards2019

3

"Why?"

James' question hovered between them , unable to get past the air which was thick with emotion. Peter looked in to James' eyes and he could not see an ounce of anger. Rather, it was filled with regret and sorrow. If there was one person in the world who had absolutely every right to hate Peter right down to the very core, it was James Potter. Yet, here he sat, without a sliver of hatred talking to Peter as if he were comforting him.

Once again, Peter thought of the question James had asked.

The circumstances that had led to him joining the Death Eaters flickered through his mind.

Peter had always known or rather he had always felt that he was a part of the Marauders only by default. He was a charitable case that they had taken pity upon and allowed in to their fine gang. Initially, it had been Remus who had introduced him to James and Sirius. They immediately welcomed him and let him tag along wherever they went. But very soon, it became apparent to Peter, that there was no way he was going to keep up with them. He could feel that sometimes, they, Sirius especially, felt pretty annoyed if he held them back when they were doing whatever they were doing. But either James or Remus always intervened on his behalf and as time went even they were sometimes cold towards him the culmination of which led to a huge fight in their seventh year.

"Pete! It was just a laugh. Come on! We do this to one another all the time!"

Sirius Black was trying to catch up with an absolutely livid Peter Pettigrew, who was practically running towards the Gryffindor tower, little specks of tears flying from his already watery looking eyes. As he was rushing, one of his shoelaces must've become undone for Peter tripped and fell flat on his face.

A group of fifth years girls, who were standing nearby burst in to giggles upon seeing this. Peter got up to his feet, his face red with embarrassment and he turned to face Sirius.

"Did you trip me on purpose?" he asked.

Sirius stopped midway, blinking and trying to catch his breath."Wha- Don't be silly, Pete. You know I didn't trip you!"

Peter however wasn't convinced, and still glaring at Sirius, proceeded to rush towards the Gryffindor tower. He screamed the password to the Fat Lady and was thankful that no one else was in the common room. However, once he reached the dorm, Remus was sitting on his bed, reading a book, while munching through some chocolate cauldrons.

"Blimey, what in the hell happened to you, Peter?" he asked in shock.

Peter didn't reply and instead walked towards his bed and slumped down on it, pulling the covers above his head so that it engulfed him completely.

Remus hastily moved towards Peter's bed and pulled the covers off him.

"Peter? What happened?"

"Leave me alone, Remus!" snapped Peter.

Remus was quite astonished. Peter was never the one to snap like this especially to him, Remus.

Before he could ask another question, Sirius rushed in to the dormitory, wearing an apologetic expression on his face.

He shook his head slightly at the questioning look by Remus and went forward to address Peter.

"Hey, Peter. Look, I didn't mean to. It just, you know, was in the heat of the moment."

Peter sat up and glared at Sirius with his arms crossed.