Foul

Peter rushed into the common room, heading to the girl’s staircase and wishing more than ever that he could go up the stairs. “Marlene!” he shouted up the staircase, hoping that someone would hear him. “Marlene? It’s Pete!”

He was about to shout again when he saw a head of dark curls pop out of the doorway at the top of the stairs. “Mary! Is Marlene up there?”
Mary smiled, “yeah gimme a minute Pete.” She disappeared and Peter turned to pace.

How do you dress for a date? Especially with people who have already seen you naked??
What if the boys were in the dorm? They would question why he needed Marl’s help.

He was taken out of his racing mind by a familiar voice, “Petey? What’s up?” He turned to see his childhood friend Marlene. Someone he knew wouldn’t judge too harshly his choice of date.
“I need your help.”

He brought Marlene up to his dorm, praying the others were out before opening the door.
“Peter will you tell me what you need help with now?” Marlene stood next to his bed as he quickly opened his dresser, scanning for brilliant outfit ideas to pop out at him. None did.

Peter turned to her, “I’m going on a date.” Marlene gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. “OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING! When??” “In an hour?” peter answered sheepishly.

She rushed towards him and was immediately shuffling through his shirts, pulling out a few and tossing them on the bed.
She turned to put one up to him to see what it looked like, “Wait,” she actually looked at him now, “Who are you going on a date with?”
“Could I not tell you that?”
“no.”
“What if I just tell you their house?”
“… maybe”
“Ravenclaw”

Marlene looked back at the shirts she had out, “I can work with th-” “And a Slytherin?”
Marlene stopped in her tracks, turning slowly to look at him.

“Are you upset?” Peter timidly asked, afraid of what she would say. “no. just surprised.” Peter nodded, “So… there’s two of them, a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin.” Peter nodded, “anything else I should know?”

Peter glanced up at this girl he had grown up with. Someone he knows would never judge him for being gay, as she is dating a Ravenclaw girl herself. Even if he knows this, it’s still hard to say out loud.
He takes a breath, “They’re both boys?”

Marlene nods, almost to herself. She puts down the shirt she was holding a pulls Peter into a hug. “I’m glad you told me Pete.”
Peter feels overcome with emotions, it’s the first time he’s really said it out loud. “I’m gay.” “I figured” She laughs and pulls away, looking into his eyes. “I’m proud of you Petey. Now let’s figure out how to knock the socks off these boys”
He laughs and goes to look at the shirts she’s pulled out.

They decide on a simple blue polo with black slacks. He pulls on a pair of blue converses and clasps the necklace he bought in America last summer, a simple leaf charm in silver.

Marlene convinces him to let her apply a bit of makeup, just some blush and light brown eyeliner, “to make your eyes pop” she says. They tame his hair, having been roughed up while he was studying and in the hectic race for an outfit.

Peter stands at the portrait hole in the common room, feeling confident and excited. Marlene stands next to him, almost more excited than Pete.

“I’m nervous.” He says, hand halting where it was going to open the door. “You’ve spent time with them before, right?”
“Yeah,” He turns to face Marlene, “But still. It’s different. This has more implications, more pressure.”

She nods, “I can understand that. But, they wouldn’t have asked you out if they didn’t like you. Nothing you’re going to say can make them change that this quickly.”
Peter nods, knowing she’s right. “Thanks Marls, love you.” He gives her a quick side hug and exits the common room.

He turns left, expecting the boys to come from that direction and assuming they’re on their way. He hears a whistle, turning to see where its coming from he sees Barty and Evan standing on the other side of the portrait, looking him up and down.

“Dear Petey, what ever will we do with?” Evan pushes off the wall where he was leaning before.
Evan is dressed in black jeans with a silver chain. His top is a simple white tank top with a green jacket over top. He’s added some new necklaces to his neck and Peter can tell he’s wearing lipstick, just enough.

Peter blushes at the comment and sight of Evan. The boys come closer, and Peter takes note of Barty’s changed appearance as well.
He’s added a green side skirt overtop of his black jeans, and wears a gray button up shirt, unbuttoned almost fully. His hands are adorned with rings and bracelets run up his tattooed arms. His shocking blue eyes are powdered with dark eyeshadow and liner.

Peter feels dimmed beneath their curious gazes, that is until Barty begins kissing up his neck. Peter stretches his head, grasping at Barty’s shoulders until he hears Marlene’s muffled voice: “You better not be snogging out there Pete! Get going!”
He chuckles and pulls Evan and Barty away from the Gryffindor tower.

They make their way to the entrance hall of the castle and continue outside. The sun is bright, and a cool breeze blows through the trees below. Peter follows Evan’s lead down the hill and past the whomping willow, giving the tree a wide birth.

The trio continues to the edge of the forest, where Barty and Evan stop to face Peter.
“Are you okay with entering the forest?” Barty says, “I know its dangerous but I promise we know what we’re doing and we won’t get lost.” He rushes to assure Peter about the safety, and Peter lets out a chuckle.

“Yes, I go in all the time with my friends” He doesn’t mention the fact that most of the time they are in Animagus form and accompanied by a werewolf.
If the boys are surprised by this information, they don’t share it, continuing on into the forest.

They walk for a few minutes before Evan tells Peter to close his eyes, “It’ll make the reveal better, I promise.”
Peter obliges and holds onto Barty and Evan’s hands while they lead him carefully over the roots and hills.

He only has to navigate with his eyes closed for a minute before they stop walking. “Okay Petey, open your eyes.”

Peter obeys, and sees before him a clearing in the forest. It is large and a lone tree stands in the middle, a Wild Cherry tree. Beneath the tree is a small blanket with a basket.

He walks closer and admires the tree, the cherries are ripe and he plucks one and places it in his mouth.
“mmmmhmm” he sighs at the taste, something that reminds him of his childhood.

He hears evan laugh and turns to look back at the boys. “Did you two plan this?”
“Obviously, we weren’t going to ask you out without a plan on what to do.” Barty replies. “But you assumed I would say yes?” Evan walks closer, “we hoped.”
“and we were right” Barty adds, sitting down on the blanket and opening up the basket to retrieve some pastries.

They all sit together and enjoy the food snuck from the kitchens. Peter picks a lot of cherries, and when he places a bowl of them in between the three on the blanket Evan immediately grabs one.

He dangles it before Barty’s face and watches greedily as Barty slowly bites it in half, maintaining eye contact with Evan.
Peter blushes at the display, still getting used to Evan and Barty’s actions outside of the bedroom.

They lounge in the sun together and spend the afternoon laughing and talking together. Peter enjoys it, feeling at ease around the chaotic duo. They are chaotic in a different way than the marauders, it’s refreshing.

He smiles when he remembers this is a date, that they actually asked him out with the intention of more.

As the sunlight dims, they begin to walk back to the castle. “we’ll grab them tomorrow” Evan replies when Peter asks about the blanket and basket. He wonders if that “we” includes him.

They make it back to the castle just as dinner is rolling around. Evan and Barty go in first and Peter waits a moment, so they aren’t seen walking in late together. Peter has just enough time to make it to his table and sit down next to Remus before Dumbledore begins the meal.

As he suspected, James and Sirius interrogate him about his whereabouts all afternoon.
“We looked in the library, but you weren’t there?” Peter fills his plate before answering, “I went for a walk.”
“Alone?” Sirius asks with an incredulous face.
“Yes?” Peter is glad when they drop the subject, but he doesn’t miss the knowing glance Remus sends him.

While the boys wait for desert to appear, Peter glances across the Great Hall and makes eye contact with Evan, who winks at him, making Peter blush slightly. He tries to control it and takes a swig of water.
He needs to do something about this blushing problem, they’re not going to be able to keep this a secret if Peter turns pink at every mention of the two best friends of Sirius’ younger brother.