Four broken boys

Departure of the Beans and a Quidditch match

Peter looked at Toebeans.

Toebeans looked back.

It was the last day of their Christmas holidays and Sirius, James and Remus were showering in the bathroom attached to their dorm. Peter could hear the roaring fall of water onto the tiled floor. There was a distinct voice cursing loudly at the sound of clattering. Ah yes, Remus must have dropped the soap bar. The door was shut and he very much hoped that no one would be able to hear this exchange over the water.

Peter took a deep breath. "I know who you are."

Toebeans blinked at him.

"You're not really a cat." Peter stated, trying not to feel stupid as the cat didn't say anything.

His confidence started to disappear. "Well, I don't think you're a cat." He stated uneasily.

Silence followed and Peter frowned. "You better not be a goddamn cat because I feel stupid now." He said loudly. "Maybe you're the stupid one, you know, since you're actually a cat." He followed up after the cat remained silent, just to let off some steam.

Toebeans winked.

Wait.

Winked?

He leapt off James' bed smoothly and sat onto the floor. Then his fur started to melt away into emerald material. The strange markings around his eyes formed something solid. His face went from round and cute to something long with pursed lips and not covered with fur. His - her eyes shrunk to look more humanlike. Peter tried not to let his face show too much surprise, he did know after all. He also slightly regretted his last comment.

"Good evening, Mr Pettigrew." McGonagall said, a smile gracing her lips and tight bun slightly out of place.

Peter found that no sound would come out his throat, even though he wasn't really in shock.

"You knew, didn't you?" She said.

Peter swallowed. "I'd heard the rumours - you know, the cat ones."

McGonagall nodded. "Ah yes, you are quite the one for gossip."

"We heard - I mean - I heard you were going to be on holiday during Christmas. And I overheard Dum - I mean - professor Dumbledore saying that you weren't answering his letters. So then I put two and two together and got..."

"The answer." McGonagall gave him a real smile. "You have proved me wrong, you are smarter than you appear."

Peter frowned. He didn't know wether that was a compliment or not.

"Do you know why I came?" She continued.

Peter shook his head.

"To keep an eye on your friends, Sirius and Remus." She gestured towards the bathroom, where Sirius' shrieks could be heard and James' roaring laughter. "Not Remus especially, but Sirius. There are many things that go on at home, and I know he wouldn't confide in even you three."

Peter didn't bother questioning the use of their first names.

"Watch them carefully for me." She told him, and swiftly left the room so only cat hairs were left on the floor.

Peter looked down at his hands. Huh, I guess I was right about naming her Minnie. Deciding that he'd have to create an elaborate story of a student losing their cat, he thought of how sad Sirius would be. He picked up his necessities for showering and went to the bathroom. Just before he opened the door a thought came to him.

The amount of times Sirius had kissed the cat.

_