REPUTATION • [j.p.] ✔️

[38]

Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Obliviate

•••

PETER PETTIGREW FINALLY showed up at a dinner amongst the Marauders.

Jessie watched him carefully, narrowing her eyes. Regulus had given her a tip that she hadn't asked for and hadn't been able to tell the others. She tossed and turned more than usual tonight.

Peter had been at the meetings with Voldemort. He bore the mark on his forearm that Regulus had. She had sympathy for Regulus who realized that the crusade was sinister. But Peter agreed with every word they spoke there, whether it was truly him or out of fear, it was pathetic.

Because of it, Jessie insisted that everyone handed over the wands before dinner and for the whole evening. She also chose a small glass of wine while James and Sirius chugged the fire whiskey until she cut them off. After dinner she sent three of the Marauders outside to start a fire (for them it was a three man job).

Jessie insisted that Peter stay with her while they wash dishes. When Peter started to complain about having to do the dishes physically, James simply said, "She said it's good for bonding. I've been eating off napkins a lot lately."

"Don't want to bond with your wife? If I'm that bad I'm sure I can find a divorce lawyer..."

"No, no, no, don't do that! I love you, oh my god. It was a dumb comment I'm—you were only joking weren't you?" James frowned down at Jessie who nodded.

She leaned up and kissed him. "Go out and build me a fire. I love you."

"Love you, too."

Together Jessie and Peter washed the dishes, Peter with his long sleeves down the entire time, soaking them. She knew the mark was there, she just had to get him to confess it.

"You've been awfully busy lately," she said watching the boys out the window. She held up the fire extinguisher behind her. Moments later, James came running in to grab it.

"They're highly advanced in charms, but they can't start a fire without magic. They're hopeless," Peter scrunched up his nose.

"Hey! I'm married to one of them!" she laughed softly. "And he's actually very resourceful, mind you. He put together our bed and dresser all on his own. I even took his wand from him when he did it!"

For a moment, Jessie forgot she was talking to the enemy. That one of her friends had betrayed them. This man next to her was most likely the pawn Voldemort would use to know when she was having the baby she was yet to have and kill it. She shivered, setting a plate aside to dry.

"I've been looking for Miriam," Peter said, referring to his girlfriend. "She was muggleborn. He...he killed her," he said his voice cracking.

"He brought in his girlfriend, Jess. Peter killed her to prove his loyalty. She was pregnant. About five months by the look of it. He killed his girlfriend and his child. He is no man, he is a monster."

Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat. "I am so sorry, Peter." She hugged her friend, heart racing, hands trembling.

"She was pregnant. I didn't know until I found the body. He killed the baby too," he whimpered as he held her.

Had Regulus been lying? No, he couldn't have. If he wanted her for himself he would have dragged her off forcefully. Regulus had no other motive other than trying to get a night's rest with all of this off his chest.

"I'm going to go use the bathroom," Peter said softly. He sniffled, wiping at his tears as he went.

There was a soft knock on the door. Jessie hurried over, checking the peep hole. It was Regulus. She opened it quickly, and only slightly.

"Regulus," she hissed, "Your brother is here, you know?"

Regulus nodded. "Take this. Put it somewhere secret. So you won't forget what I told you the other night. I don't want you to forget it a-and Peter loves to obliviate..."

He shoved the envelope in her hand. "I should get going."

Jessie stuffed the envelope in her back pocket. "Thank you Regulus," she whispered.

"Jessie? Love? is someone there?" James' voice called out.

"Go!" she whispered, closing the door. She heard a loud crack as Regulus disapperated. James rounded the corner, walking over to her. "Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. Someone must of knocked and ran," she said softly, kissing his cheek. "I'm gonna use the bathroom in our room. Peter's in ours."

"All right, love. We got the fire going by the way," he said, smiling at her.

"Thanks. We'll be out shortly," she said disappearing into their room. She tucked the envelope first in her underwear drawer, but knew her husband would find is there. She moved on to put it inside her old textbooks. None of these idiots would find it there.

When Jessie came out of the bathroom, Peter was waiting for her. She jumped, placing a hand over her heart. She laughed softly. "You scared me, Peter!"

"I'm sorry, Jess," he whispered.

"What?" Jessie started reaching for her wand. She remember it wasn't there, but there was Peter, holding his.

"Obliv—

"JAMES!"

"—iate!"

•••

"Look! She's waking up!" cheered the voice of Sirius Black.

"Shut up. My head hurts," she whined softly.

She fluttered her eyes open to see all her friends around her. James held her hand tightly. He looked anxious as all hell.

"You okay, Jess? Peter said you passed out," he said softly, kissing her hand gently.

"James, I'm perfectly fine," she squeezed his hand in return. "Just a little headache."

"We'll get going so James can make you feel all better," Remus said, kissing her forehead and taking Sirius's hand. They moved around the bed, hugging Peter and James, Sirius kissing Jessie's cheek and then they were off.

"I should get going, too. I'll see you later," Peter said softly.

He left, just like that.

James sighed softly, playing with his wife's hair. "You scared the hell out of me, Mrs. Potter."

"I'm sorry," she squeezed his hand, grinning at the reminder that he was her husband.

"Why don't we get some rest," she said softly.

James nodded. "Sounds perfect."

•••
[Published: 06/23/18]
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