Peter
Two hours prior to the incident in the locked room.
James and Sirius were wondering around the castle looking specifically for one person, of course, the object of their affection that everyone didn't understand, including Peter, who was tagging along with them, because Remus specifically told Peter, word by word like he was talking to a child that Peter should make sure that James and Sirius won't trouble Regulus or cause unnecessary scenes that would summon them to the Headmaster's office. Remus believes that Pandora wasn't bluffing when she told him she would owl her parents if someone troubles her again.
Troubling Regulus = Troubling Pandora
And Remus would like to make sure that the two won't cause a scene himself. However, Professor McGonagall needed him. Thus, he gave the quest of making sure James and Sirius wouldn't trouble Regulus to Peter. Poor lad, Peter is.
"How about we go to Hogsmeade and drink some butterbeer instead?" Peter tried talking to James and Sirius. However, the two won't budge; they are dead serious to talk to Regulus right now.
James looked at Peter, poor lad, he had dark bags under his eyes, "Maybe later, Wormtail, after we talk to Regulus." he said, as he knew that he needed a lot of drinks after talking to Regulus to ease the pain he would feel, "If you want to rest you could go our dorm first and rest, we'll call you afterward, right Padfoot?"
Sirius, who was busy looking for Regulus, nodded, "Yeah, sure mate, go and have some fun somewhere else." He wasn't really paying attention to what James and Peter were talking about.
"And disappoint Remus? I'd rather jump off the Astronomy tower." Peter mumbles under his breath. Disappointing Remus would be at the last of Peter's list. Remus is nice, and if he asks you to do something, it means that he trusts you, and breaking that trust is not an option, especially since he failed his job the last time.
"What's that wormy?" James asked his friend; he heard him say disappointed.
Peter shook his head, "Nothing. What are we actually looking for? Are we looking for Lily and the others? Because I'm sure they won't be here in Slytherin dorm." Peter suddenly stopped when he realized something, "Come on guys, are we stalking Regulus again?" Peter asked. His voice sounds like he's so tired, and he wants to cry because he does really want to cry.
They have been stalking Regulus for over a month now, and the last thing that Peter wants is to get caught stalking a Slytherin.
Peter doesn't really have a good relationship with the Slytherins. Actually, none of them does. First, they have Snape, who stalks Lily around, making him a creep, and then they have Mulciber, who is a jerk and a devil incarnate; he would always bully Peter back then. And lastly, Peter is somewhat afraid of Regulus Black despite being Sirius' younger brother. Regulus has a different air around him. Every time he catches Peter accidentally looking at him, Regulus would give him a look like he pities Peter for being born lower than them. And that doesn't sit right with Peter, plus Regulus' friends are crazy, crazier than them, especially Pandora Rosier.
Sirius stopped and looked at Peter, "It isn't talking, Peter, I just want to talk to my brother." He tried to defend what they were doing.
"Yeah, that was what Snape told us years ago when we caught him following Lily around, yet we called him a stalker and a creep," Peter muttered under his breath, yet James still heard him, disbelief was written on his face.
"You can't compare to that man Peter; he drools every time he sees Lily, and he's also disgusting." James sounded offended. He and Snape are nowhere near each other.
And Peter just rolled his eyes, "You also drool every time you see Regulus, James. And if I am a stranger and I catch you staring and following Regulus around, I'll think you're also a creep."
Before James could defend himself, Sirius raised his hand, "Can you two stop talking? Peter, James is not like Snape, and James, stop staring at my brother like a fucking creep." He told them off.
"Isn't that the same thing?" Peter asked.
But Sirius didn't mind him, "Shush! There's Dorcas! Let's talk to her and ask where Regulus is."
And so the three of them went to talk to Dorcas, erm safe to say that she is nice since Marlene likes her.
"Hello, Dorcas. Fancy meeting you here." Sirius approached her; he was smiling.
But Dorcas just gave them a weird look, "Yeah? You're saying that when you are in front of the Slytherin's dorm? Really?" She asked them.
"Yeah, how good to see you in front of the Slytherin's dorm," James said, and Sirius nodded his head while Peter just facepalm.
"Yeah, it's good that you see me accidentally in front of our dorm because I am a Slytherin, and you are Gryffindors." She said sarcastically, "Just tell me what you want so that you can get the hell out of here."
"Straight as always, I see," Sirius commented.
"In case you're not aware, Sirius, I bend to Marlene, so I am not straight." She answered, which made Sirius shut up, "What do you really want? I know that you're not here accidentally."
James beats Sirius into asking, "Do you mind telling us where Regulus is, that is, if you know where he is."
And it seems that Regulus is a sensitive topic since Dorcas frowned and looked at them sharply, "Why are you looking for him?"
Sirius raised his hands, "Just wanna talk to my brother Meadowes."
And Dorcas nodded, "Can't help you with that one, Black. As you know, Pandora is so strict about not letting you talk to Reggie, and I love my life." She said, "But what did you even do to Regulus that made Pandora hate you so much?"
And they all looked at her with surprise written on their face, "Pandora didn't tell you?" Peter asked, and Dorcas nodded her head.
"Yeah, me, Evan, and Barty had no idea on what you did."
So that is why Dorcas is talking to them and the reason why Evan and Barty are not killing James and Sirius because they didn't know.
Their silence made Dorcas mutter, "Oh shit." before grabbing Sirius' uniform, "Listen to me, Sirius, once I learn what you did to Regulus, I'll hunt you down. I am being nice right now because you are Marlene's friend, but fuck that when I find out the reason why Pandora hates you." After saying that, she let go of Sirius and looked at James, "You better watch your front, Potter, Evan, and Barty will kill you." And Peter thought she was done because she was about to walk away, but she looked at Peter, "Keep your friends close, Pettigrew. You don't want to attend their funeral, right?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am." he stuttered. And when Dorcas was gone, Peter looked at his friends, "Let's go, guys, you heard her."
But James seems like he isn't scared of what Dorcas told her, "I don't give a fuck. They're all talk."
"Yeah, they can't stop me from talking to my brother." Sirius agrees, and Peter really wants to cry.
The three were walking towards their dorm when they met Lily in the Hallway, "Oy Sirius, Remus needs you in the field." When Sirius heard that, he just left them without a bye, "And James, I just saw Regulus going to the library. You were looking for him, right?" She said, making James run to the library.
"Fuck." Peter cursed.
"You cursing at me, Peter?" Lily asked in disbelief.
But Peter shook his head, "Nah, thanks for helping me, Lils, kindly ready a black dress." he said before running after James.
"Crazy boys," Lily muttered under her breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter watched as Regulus pushed James away from him. "Potter?! And you?!" he asked Peter in disbelief.
"Yeah, I actually don't want to be here right now, but I can't leave James alone, so forgive me for being here." Peter feels like he shouldn't be there. I mean, the to was about to have closure, and that should be private, yet he was here.
"Pettigrew, open that damn door right now," Regulus told him, completely ignoring James. Like he wasn't there. And Peter nearly followed him.
"Don't listen to him, mate." James stopped him.
And now Peter really regrets following James.
"Reg, love, we need to talk," James begged Regulus. He is really begging. He had been following Regulus for a month now, and now that he can talk to him, Regulus is treating him like he wasn't there. "Reg," James called, and he tried to hold Regulus' hands, but Regulus stepped back, away from him, which pained him.
"Stay away from me, Potter. You disgust me." Regulus spitted out. "Why are you even doing this, Potter? We're done." He was stopping himself from crying, but his heart broke again when James teared up. The pain was visible in his eyes.
"I-I just want to talk Reg. Let us fix this. Please." He begged.
But Regulus shook his head, "We have nothing to fix, James; we're done. You said it yourself, and you're the one who decided it yourself." This time, he couldn't stop himself from crying.
James fell to his knees, "I am sorry, Regulus, please." he reached out Regulus' hands, and he cried, "I didn't mean to break your heart, love, I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice back then, Regulus. I am really sorry. I still love you."
Regulus knelt, he touched James' face, and he smiled a broken smile, "And I didn't dream of you breaking my heart, James. I didn't expect you to hurt me yet you did. And don't say that you didn't have a choice, because you did, James, and you chose to break my heart. You chose Sirius over me, James, and I understand that, so please let me go." Regulus is now crying messily. It hurts him to see James crying and begging, but what breaks him is that even if James broke his heart, he still loves him.
And Regulus really understands why James chose Sirius. His mother told him.
'You're an idiot if you think he loves you.'
'He loves Sirius more than you, Regulus.'
'No one would choose you, Regulus, because you're a Black and a disappointment.'
That's what his mother told him over the summer, and Regulus understands if James loves Sirius more than him, but why can't James let him go?
James shook his head, "I can't let you go, Regulus. I love you. And I already talked to Sirius Love, he finally accepted us. We can be together again. We can be happy again, Regulus."
"But I am happy, James. I am happy now," Regulus said.
"With Pandora?" James asked, and he shook his head harder when Regulus nodded his head. "No! I don't accept it. You don't love her, Reg, and you knew that she's in love with Lovegood." he reasoned out.
"But she chose me, James. She loves Lovegood, but she chose me." Regulus' voice cracked, "You told me you love me, but you chose Sirius over me. It was so easy for you to turn your back on me. You didn't even look at me before you left that night, James. You tell me you love me, but you broke my heart." Regulus cried harder. His heart is hurting, and so thus his head, "Pandora chose me, James, and she promised me that she would choose me over and over."
"I made a mistake, Reg."
Regulus shook his head, "Don't say that, James. Choosing Sirius over me will never be a mistake, James. And that goes the same for Sirius. So don't say sorry, James."
"I beg you, Regulus, just one more chance."
But Regulus shook his head, "And I beg you, James, let me go. Let me be happy with Pandora. Please." Regulus can't give James another chance because he's afraid that once he gives James another chance and he breaks it again, Regulus will go crazy, and he knows that he won't survive a second heartbreak from James.
It's better to end it this way. Maybe he won't love another man like how he loves James, but at least he won't go through this pain twice. It's for the best.
They spent five minutes crying before Regulus stood up, letting James' hands go. He looked at Peter, who was shocked in the corner of the room, "Take care of James for me, Peter. Comfort him." He then unlocked the door and left.
Peter ran towards James, and he hugged him, "You'll be alright, mate."
But James shook his head, and he cried harder, "I'll never be alright, Pete. I love him. I need him, Peter. Why can't he give me another chance?" He asked, and Peter had no answer for that.
Peter just hugged James tighter. It's the only thing he can do.