MEETING THE PARENTS
It was harder to say goodbye to his friends than Peter had thought.
They had spent the entire year together - all four of them staying over the Christmas holidays to spend time with each other.
They spent the trip on the Hogwarts Express casting random jinxes at each other, making up challenges and games to play.
Sirius seemed to get sadder and sadder the closer they got to their destination - and it didn't go unnoticed by his friends, who tired their hardest to distract him.
As the train pulled into the station and slowed to a stop - Sirius stared wide eyed out of the window, looking pale and sickly.
"... what are they going to say when they see me? They... they didn't send me a letter about me being in Gryffindor... they said I had to be in Slytherin..."
Remus frowned, "I... I'm sure you'll be fine- I mean- it's only a Hogwarts House" he tried, though he didn't sound like he fully believed his own words.
Sirius managed a weak smile.
"Yeah... just a Hogwarts House" he agreed, nodding, though he was still shaking and visibly didn't want to leave the train.
They had to leave the train eventually, however, and Sirius was coaxed from the compartment and out of the train, standing on the packed station.
Sirius was clutching to James' hand tightly.
"Mum! Dad! Tuny!" Lily's voice chirped brightly as she burst from the train, her crimson hair flowing behind her as she dove towards three Muggles, looking very nervous about being on the station.
The older man - who Peter realised must be Lily's father, with the same bright hair and green eyes as his daughter - smiled brightly and managed to catch the over excited Gryffindor in his arms as she laughed brightly.
"Peter!"
Peter jolted in surprise, turning to face his tearful mother as she rushed towards him with a bright smile on her face.
"Oh Peter! How are you? Did you have a good journey? How was school? Are these your friends? Oh I have so many questions, sweetheart!"
Peter grinned at his mother, who pulled him into a bone crushing hug when she reached them, her questions pouring from her mouth in a hard to decipher jumble.
James' laugh made Peter flush.
"Mum- you're choking me-"
She let him go, apologising.
Peter sighed, smiling.
"Yes I had a good journey, yes school was good, yes I'm fine, and yes these are my friends"
His mum squealed slightly.
"Oh it's so good to finally meet you! Peter writes about you three all the time-!"
"Mum-!"
"He adores you! Lets see.. You must be Remus," she pointed to the sandy haired boy, who nodded, a slight flush to his cheeks, "And you two... James and Sirius?" she asked, pointing to each in turn.
James grinned brightly, nodding, "Yep! Pete's mentioned you too- those cookies you sent were amazing, by the way!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed them- and I'm glad I sent them - you three are so small! You two especially!" she said, pointing to Remus and Sirius, once more ignoring the embarrassed whine that came from Peter.
Sirius grinned, shrugging, "Everyone I'm related to are thin - s'normal, Remus forgets to eat sometimes, though - too much knowledge in that head of his"
"Shut up" Remus sighed, rolling his eyes.
"You know I'm right"
Peter, covering his face in embarrassment, didn't notice as James' parents made their way over until they'd wrapped their son in a tight hug, his mother trying to smooth out his messy hair, asking if he was using the products she'd sent him to try and tame it.
"Yes, mum- didn't work- please stop you're embarrassing me!"
Sirius was laughing uncontrollably by now, struggling to breathe as he watched his friends.
"Aw! Wittle James is embawessed!"
"Shut up!" James shoved him, making Sirius stumble, "Jerk."
Sirius, mature as ever, stuck his tongue out at his friend.
Remus was barely able to keep his laughter quiet, muffling his giggles behind his hand.
"Remus!"
His giggles ceased almost immediately, replaced by a smile as his gaze landed on his father.
"Dad! Dad, come- come meet my friends!"
His dad rushed over, looking at the three of them, a bright smile broke out on his face.
"Oh, nice to meet you, boys!" he greeted, "Remus has written about you"
Remus didn't seem embarrassed - in fact he seemed rather excited to show them off to his father.
"Guys, this is my dad"
A round of excited greetings came from the three friends, and Remus grinned even brighter - almost happier than they'd ever seen him.
It was nice to see him smiling so much - it was so rare.
The group spent half an hour chatting among themselves, regaling the most exciting stories they could think of to their parents, including their duel with the Slytherin boys at the start of the year.
Finally - and upsettingly - their time came to an end, and Peter found himself in a tight group hug, trying not to cry, before he slowly pulled away from his friends - giving them a weak smile as he watched Remus begin to be lead away.
James looked as though he would rather throw himself onto the tracks than let go of any of his friends, but eventually he, too, was lead away by his parents.
Sirius looked sick.
His pale skin now ghostly, his grey eyes wide and slightly unfocused - but he forced a weak smile onto his face as he said goodbye to Peter.
Peter stared at the couple staring at them.
They were tall, and pale, with narrow features - ink blank hair falling down their faces.
They glared towards them, looking disgusted with their son-
Peter looked at the third person standing with them - and for a second, he wondered if Sirius had learned how to teleport-
Only for him to realise that the boy standing there was, in fact, not Sirius.
His hair was shorter, his gaze flickering from the ground up towards Sirius almost hopefully.
That must be his brother- Peter couldn't remember his name.
Sirius looked worse and worse as the seconds passed- Peter smiled at his friend.
"I'll see you soon- I'll send you a bunch of letters!"
Sirius smiled slightly, nodding, "O-Okay- see you soon, Petey"
Sirius hesitated, before slowly walking towards his family.
Peter frowned, watching them worriedly, before the family of four disappeared with an incredibly loud snapping noise - startling a large amount of people on the platform.
His mother sighed, shaking her head, "Apparition. They're much too young to be Apparating that much- it is not a nice way to travel.
Come on, Pete, I wanna hear all about your adventures when we get home!"
Peter hesitated, frowning at the empty spot they had once been standing, before nodding.
"Okay-"