Forever A Marauder

Three: Peter

PETER

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Peter scanned himself over in the bathroom mirror. His curly, light hair swooped upwards into a slight curve. In the middle of the bedroom, Sirius was throwing on a shirt and Peter saw the muscle of his front. Peter couldn't help but wish for that kind of physique. Looking at his own arms under his long sleeves, Peter disliked the thickness of them. He didn't have the toned stomach from years of Quidditch like James, or Sirius natural build, or even the softness of Remus that made him attractive to others.

"You done yet, mate? I need a shower." Remus popped his head in through the door. Peter spun to face Remus with a start. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah, yeah." Peter used his arms to motion towards the shower as he stepped past his taller friend. Remus had a bundle of clothes in his hands. Remus clapped Peter on the back as he shut the door behind him. Peter sat on the chair he slept on the night before and looked out a large window in James' room, squinting at the spotless blue sky. Fresh snow glistened under the sun, making it even harder to look at.

"I'm going to wake Cal up," Sirius announced as he left the room. James wasn't present; Peter was pretty sure he went to find his parents for something. Across the hall, Peter heard Sirius roar. Calysta let out a short scream.

"Sirius!" Her voice screeched, turning into giggles. The door was pushed open further by Sirius' foot and he emerged through the door way with his girlfriend dangling over his shoulder. She was begging him to put her down.

"Never!" He spun in a circle, and Calysta squealed again helplessly grabbing the back of Sirius' jumper. Peter snickered at her attempts.

"I c-can't...breathe!" Calysta gasped. Sirius stopped spinning and placed her on the bed, his arms planted on either side of her shoulders. Peter awkwardly drew his attention elsewhere when Calysta leaned her face up to kiss Sirius.

"Oh, gross. Come on guys, on my bed? You're traumatizing Peter," James groaned as he walked into the room. Peter looked up in time to see James drag his hand down his face. Sirius laughed and jumped off. Calysta followed him up into a sitting position.

"Don't stop on my account." Peter mumbled quietly. Calysta glared at him jokingly. Peter let out a short laugh, taking the tray of food from James' arms.

"Where's-"

"Shower." Peter answered, setting the weighted tray on the table. James was referring to Remus. James glanced at the closed door and nodded. He made his way over the couch, flopping down on it. Calysta jumped onto it next to him and reached forward to a cup of tea. Sirius stayed standing and swiped a slice of toast with butter. James slowly chewed his food, looking deep in thought. Peter noticed when the constant white noise of the shower water came to a stop.

"My mum said she'll contact the Aurors office about your mum, Cal. She doesn't want to send you to your brother's without knowing it's completely safe." James spoke after swallowing. Calysta looked up from her cup she had been swirling in her hand.

"Really?" Her eyes brightened. James nodded. "I didn't know you could do that." James shrugged.

"Just as long as they get the message right?"

"Seems like they already did," Sirius butted in, handing an articled from the Daily Prophet over to James. "Look at this." His voice sounded like a warning of bad news. James' eyes scanned it over; Calysta looking over his shoulder. Her expression sunk.

"Leena Daelynn, Head of Department of Foreign Magic and Exchanges, found ally to Voldemort and his followers. Death Eaters captured by infamous Auror, Mad-Eye Moody, at Daelynn's manor point fingers. Two other members escaped the home after the incident. Head of the Department not found. Aurors on high alert for the missing wizards." Calysta read a few important parts of the front page section.

"They think you're missing?" Remus asked, joining the conversation. His hair was plastered to his head, a few drops landing on his shoulders. Calysta stared at the paper, the face of "Mad-Eye Moody" looking back at her with his fake eye.

"I was supposed to go to my brother's. I think he was expecting me and when I didn't show, he reported it." Calysta rubbed her temples and groaned. "That, or he's being careful. I need to write to him. James, do you have any parchment?" James nodded and scavenged through the drawers in his desk.

"Cal, they didn't kill your father! He's still alive. Right here," Sirius slid his finger under a few sentences. "...it says they only dead they found was a Death Eater." Calysta gasped and grabbed the paper. Sirius looked at Remus, who was smiling. Peter joined Calysta and read the page too.

"It's true, Calysta!" Peter exclaimed. Calysta hugged it to her, a tear rolling down her cheek. Sirius went to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I have to see him. I have to go find him." She stated, standing up.

"Now? It's not safe." Sirius shook his head. Calysta sat back down, tapping her fingers on her chin. Everyone's attention went to James as he returned with a roll of parchment.

"Here ya go," James tossed the parchment to Calysta. She straightened the roll. Remus went to his trunk and pulled out a glass pen he got for Christmas.

"Use this." He offered. Peter helped Remus pass it to Calysta. She spent a few minutes writing; when she finally put the pen down, she rolled the parchment up again.

"Mind if I...?" Calysta pointed to James' owl in the cage by his bed. James nodded quickly. "Thanks." The owl in the cage hooted and hopped out of the open bars. It waited patiently for Calysta to tie it on its leg and open the window. It flapped its wings and flew into the clear sky. She turned back around and sat on the couch.

"I hope your brother gets that soon." Peter stated. Calysta smiled at her hands.

"I do too."

"Do you want to go outside?" Sirius suddenly asked, smirking at James. James returned the gesture. Remus and Peter looked between the two suspiciously.

"Why?" Calysta asked. Sirius winked. He stood and took his hat from his trunk and put it on Calysta's head.

"Come on," He shouted, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind him. James motioned for Remus and Peter to follow him as he ran out behind Calysta. As the five pounded down the stairs, James' mother asked what they were doing. James replied,

"We're going to play in the snow!" He yelled, lifting his hands in the air with childish excitement. Peter laughed at his childish behavior. Sirius and Calysta grabbed their coats and threw the door open, leaving it wide for the rest of them. They were all outside, throwing snow in the air and kicking at the deep powder. Peter's nose turned red in the nippy weather almost instantly.

"Don't. You. Dare." Calysta held out her hands towards James, who was bent over to scoop up a handful of snow. Ignoring her demands, James launched a snowball at her. The snow exploded over the front of her coat. James fell over in laughter.

"Oi, that's my girlfriend, you tosser!" Sirius yelled, laughing manically. "Boys!" He held up a hand. Remus, Peter, and Sirius alike bombarded James with snow to his face and chest.

"Nice aim!" Calysta encouraged them, clapping her hands and jumping up and down. Remus slipped, falling on his back in the snow. Calysta walked over to him, laughing softer and she helped him up. James was on the ground too, holding up his hands to cover his face. "Alright, I think I'm avenged."

"Yeah, Sirius, your girl is avenged!" James grunted, clamoring to his feet. Sirius clutched his stomach as he barked with laughter. Peter scraped his hands together to brush off the snow. Calysta screamed, having slipped into the snow. Sirius rushed over to her. Sirius jumped away, covering his body soon enough to block a very large chunk of snow that floated from the ground.

"Calysta!" Sirius yelped, the snow following him down to the ground. Calysta rose from the snow and her face was red from laughter. Sirius scowled at her. Peter was dodging snowballs thrown by Remus, his cheeks freezing as he was hit by one in the face. For about an hour they stayed outside, only going in at the request of James' mother, saying they were going to get sick.