Chapter 1
Peter hadn't known how it happened, but it happened and he hasn't felt this happy in years.
If this is what it felt like to be friends with someone who actually cares and respects him, he'd have befriended Severus the first time he saw him.
Their first conversation that held no malice or was part of an evil plot was in their 5th year. Peter had took notice that one day James and Remus had stopped talking to Sirius. Now he hadn't known why and despite his questioning he didn't exactly get a specific answer. Usually anytime he asked it resulted in Remus ranting about Sirius being a horrible friend and James trying to calm down Remus.
Peter also noticed the guilty and worried looks Remus sends Snape so he guessed that maybe he knew what was going on, especially since Snape seemed afraid to be near them, Remus specifically, which confused him greatly. Snape afraid of them? Please if anything they should be afraid of Snape, what with his knowledge on potions and the dark arts. The fact he hasn't used that knowledge against them confused him greatly.
One day Peter had stayed behind during a hogsmeade trip, he didn't want to deal with his friends hostile silence. He had come across Snape in an empty hallway and before he knew what was happening he found himself walking towards Snape and calling out his name. Their interaction was a bit heated at start but after Peter explained that he only wanted to ask a question did things cool down a bit.
Snape, who seemed unconvinced, simply nodded but kept his wand pointed at Peter.
Peter paid no attention to the wand pointed at him "I need to know what happened between you and my friends, things have changed between them and I'm certain it's involved you somehow, so please tell me what's happened" Half way through his speech Peter had dropped to his knees. He didn’t care how pathetic he looked, hopefully his appearance would make Snape asnwer him.
The silence that filled the hall made Peter uncomfortable, but when he looked up to see why he saw something he thought he would never see. Snape had a look of pure fear etched on his face and his skin seemed more pale then usual. Peter felt more uncomfortable at the sight and wondered just what it was happened.
After what felt like an eternity, Snape finally spoke.
"It's my story to tell but sadly I'm forced into silence"
Peter was filled with a mix of emotions, confusion being one of the main ones. Since that day Peter has tried to figure out what happened and when he heard James going around talking about how he saved Snape, well he wasn't convinced that what James said was true, well atleast not fully true.
So he had gone and went looking for Snape and told him about what James was telling everyone. He hoped Snape would get angry and reveal the true events but instead he walked off with a look of anger. Peter was glad he didn't get hexed but also disappointed that his plan hadn't worked.
Peter's obsession with wanting to learn of what happened slowly faded, his friends had seemed to move on from what happened and acted as if nothing had happened. Despite still being curious Peter never brought it up again and sorta forgot about it.
It wasn't until the summer after their 6th year that Peter learned about what happened. Somehow during their 6th year Lily had joined their group of friends, much to James's pleasure. At some point during the summer James had thrown a party and of course alcohol was involved. Sirius had drank far more then everyone else and for whatever reason he pulled Peter outside.
"Hey pete, guess what" Sirius said while giggling.
Peter wasn't drunk but he wasn't sober either "What?"
"I almost *hiccup* killed Snivellus~"
Peter went pale at Sirius statement and Sirius simply laughed before making a noise of annoyance. "But Jamie ruined it by saving himmmmm" Sirius spoke while frowning before taking a sip of his drink and heading back inside. Peter was practically stunned and he wasn't sure what to do. So he downed the rest of his drink and told himself that what Sirius said was a joke, there was no way his friend could commit or even attempt murder.
He found himself talking to Lily and he brought up what Sirius told him. "Ya know Pads told me he's mad that Prongs saved Snape" He stated, tho he made sure to leave out the part where Sirius claimed to have almost killed Snape.
Lily, who was a bit drunk herself, scoffed at his words before bursting out in giggles "Not shocking at all, hehe, ya know Sev tried to convince me that what happened was connected to his silly little theory about Remus" She couldn't help but laugh "It was so ridiculous, I don't recall what it was but it had something to do with the moon" She added before declaring she needed to use the restroom.
At this Peter felt like he was drenched with a bucket of ice cold water. Suddenly all the pieces came together and Peter realized what had happened to cause his friends to drift apart in their 5th year. He managed to apparate outside of Lily's house, despite his drunken state, he learned that her and Snape grew up together so Snape must live near by. Peter didn't want to go knocking house to house insearch for Snape, and luckily for him he didn't have to.
He caught sight of Lily's sister walking towards the house, he only met her a few times and her presence was not a joyful one. He managed to bring himself to ask her about Snape and after a while of arguing, cause for whatever reason Petunia refused to tell him where Snape lived, she relented and told him what he wanted to know only to get rid of him. Tho Peter could hear the guilt in her voice as she spoke, despite the look of disbain on her face. Peter shook his head and concentrated hard on apparating to Snape's neighborhood.
He was successful.
He was unsure if this was the right place but he went about looking for Snape’s home. He walked up to Snape's house after asking one of the residents of the neighborhood where the Snape family lived. He knocked on the door and quickly came to a startling realization.
What if Snape wasn't home?
Peter became filled with dread and prayed to whoever listened that Snape was home or that no one was home. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the door open and he let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw Snape's face peeking from the door, that was just slightly opened. Snape's face went from shock to anger to fear to annoyance in just under a second and before he could say a word Peter beat him to it.
"I know what happened!!" He shouted out "I know what they did to-" Before he could finish his sentence, Snape had opened the door and pressed his hand over Peter's mouth.
"Quiet you imbecile, do you want the whole neighborhood to hear you!" He whisper shouted. Peter shivered at the coldness of Snape's hand and shook his head. Snape moved his hand after Peter confirmed that he would be quiet. "Stay here" He muttered out before entering his house and leaving Peter to stand outside alone.
After awhile Snape returned with an old worn out jacket on and a bottle of water along with a vial containing some liquid that looked like the morning sky. Snape made a gesture for Peter to follow him and Peter did just that. Snape led him towards a park that connected his neighborhood with Lily's. The park was rather empty considering that it was night and very few people were still present taking a stroll.
Snape sat down at one of the empty benches and Peter dropped down next to him, he felt rather dizzy with all the walking he had done and he wanted nothing more but to throw up. Snape pushed the vial into his hand and ordered him to drink it. Peter did as told without a second thought and just as quickly as he drank it he felt the affects of the alcohol he drank earlier fade away.
Snape then handed him the bottle of water which Peter accepted greatfully. The two boys sat in silence for several minutes before it was broken.
"So you know?" Snape had whispered with his head down.
Peter wanted to nod but Snape wasn't looking at him so he wouldn't know "I do" he answered quietly.
Snape looked up at him, his eyes seemed voided of emotions and Peter felt uncomfortable at the sight even more so when Snape began telling him what happened in full detail.
Peter went home that night with unpleasant thoughts and questions he feared the answers too.
Like where did the bruise decorating Snape's left cheek come from? What happened to Snape's right hand that made him cover it with bandages? Was the bruise he saw on Snape's left arm earlier in the shape of a hand? And why did Snape wince in pain when his back hit the back of the bench?
After that night Peter found himself writing to Snape, which then led to him visiting him. Snape, of course, wasn't fond of this development but after Peter gave his wand to Snape to hold for a full day in an effort to prove he won't tell his friends where he lived did Snape accept Peter's presence.
Peter found himself visiting Severus that summer more than he visited his own friends. Hell he had even stopped writing to them and focused on writing to Severus instead. By the end of the summer he learned a lot about Severus and it seemed that they had more incommon then he had with his own friends.
During their 7th year Peter was bummed out that he couldn't seek out Severus’s presence without his friends finding out. Tho they may not hangout together they still wrote to eachother, Peter simply told his friend it was his parents writing to him and that kept them from questioning him every morning.
During winter break Peter stayed at Hogwarts which raised some questions from his friends.
"I want to pick up my grades" was the only thing Peter said to them when they tried to talk him out of staying at Hogwarts for Christmas.
That winter break Peter spent his time hanging out with Severus. The pair spent most of their time in the Slytherin common room, seeing as Severus was the only Slytherin that stayed at Hogwarts during Christmas. They played chess, drank hot chocolate while viewing the creatures that reside in the black lake, told stories, and roasted marshmallows.
To see Severus smile and laugh made Peter feel something he couldn't quite explain. It wasn't until Christmas day when Severus opened the gift Peter had gotten him that he saw him cry. Peter hadn't expected it and began to worry.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know what to get you so I thought maybe this would be alright since we're friends and what not" He ranted hoping Severus would calm down.
Severus in turn began to laugh and shook his head "No, no, I like it" He spoke as he wiped away his tears "I just never had anyone make me a matching friendship bracelet before" He confessed with a sad smile, a smile that made Peter's heart ache.
"Not even Lily?"
Severus tensed and Peter mentally cursed himself for mentioning her. Severus shook his head and Peter felt angry at that fact, he was also pleased at being the first to give him a friendship bracelet but it also made him sad. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt Severus pull him into a hug. He quickly hugged back and frowned when Severus pulled away, he hadn't want to let go.
"Can you..."
"Can I?"
Severus looked away nervously and Peter quickly realized what he was asking him to do when he noticed Severus holding out the small box containing the bracelets. Peter flushed in embarrassment and chuckled nervously "Right! Yes, yes" He took one of the bracelet and tied it onto Severus's wrist. Severus inturn tied the other matching bracelet onto Peter's wrist.
The look on Severus's face when he admired the bracelet was a look that Peter would cherish forever.
Winter break came to an end and Peter hated it, he didn't want to have to avoid Severus, nor did he want his friends to bother him again. Peter had hoped that with Lily finally dating James that he would leave Severus alone. It seemed he was hoping for to much, luckily Severus didn't blame him for whatever they did. Severus knew they would never leave him alone and convinced Peter to avoid trying to stop them.
"I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me" was all Severus said and Peter wanted to argue but the look on Severus's face kept him from doing so.
One day James and Sirius entered their shared room and annouced that Filch had taken the map. Peter wanted to cheer with joy but he had to act upset so he glared at his friends. Remus began scolding them and Peter took it upon himself to slip out of their room while they were distracted.
Peter practically ran out of the gryffindor commons when he closed the door. He ran to the library the one place he knew for certain that Severus was at. He slowed his pace once inside in order to avoid getting kicked out by Madam Pince. Peter found Severus at the very back hidden away from everyone else.
He made his way towards him but stopped when he noticed the bracelet on his wrist. Peter didn't know why but seeing Severus wearing it out in public made his face heat up and his heart flutter. He shook his head and reminded himself why he was here. He stepped towards Severus and gently tapped his shoulder.
Severus jumped in surprised but soon relaxed when he saw it was Peter. Just as quickly as Severus relaxed did he tense up because he and Peter couldn't be anywhere near eachother least his friends find out.
Peter, who sensed his mind spiraling out of control, spoke up "Flich took the map, they won't be able to tell that me and you are friends" He stated excitedly "We can sneak off and hangout together, we won't have to wait till we graduate to hangout" He added.
It took Severus a moment to process what Peter had said and once he realized what was happening he pulled Peter into a tight hug. Peter hugged back and when Severus went to let go Peter had tightened his hold on him because not only could they hangout together without worry but now it would be harder for his friends to find Severus.
Which also means that Severus could easily avoid them and the remainder of his 7th year could be spent peacefully.
"Peter are you okay?" Severus asked with worry and Peter realized he was still holding him. Peter flushed in embarrassment and quickly let go "Yeah, no, I'm alright" He stated. Severus gave him a questioning look but decided to let the matter go. The pair spent the rest of the day up in the astronomy tower, they sat side by side together and watched the stars slowly appear in the night sky.
They were so lost in the moment that they both fell asleep up in the tower and if they woke up cuddled up together then that was for Severus to know, and if he stayed in Peter's arms inorder to admire the way he looked while he slept then that was for him to know too. The pair spent their time hiding out in an abandoned classroom down in the dungeons. They had transfigured some of the chairs into bean bags, something Severus had never heard of and Peter had to fix that.
Peter realized that he was slowly becoming distant with his friends, he no longer made up an excuse inorder to get away and they no longer took notice of his absence. It no longer felt like they were friends and Lily basically took his place amongst them, yet for some reason he didn't feel sad about that.
So when Remus asked him where he was going all the time, he had felt angry about it.
"We hardly see you now a days, is everything alright?" Remus asked Peter one day after potions.
Peter, who had taken to sitting with Severus and had once explained that he did so only to get a higher grade and so Sirius could sit with Remus since Lily now sat next to James, tried not to appear annoyed and forced himself to smile "Everything is fine, I've just been busy with school work. I got to go, I'll see you guys at dinner" He stated and walked away.
After that day Remus seemed to forget about him and focused on what he was gonna do after graduating. Peter was glad Remus didn't try to ask about his whereabouts again but now he wondered just what he'd do after graduating himself.
Peter met up with Severus in the abandoned classroom they claimed as theirs. He sat down next to Severus on the same bean bag and rested his head on his shoulder "Sev, what do you plan on doing after we graduate?"
Severus placed his head ontop of Peter's and thought for a minute before answering "Well I plan on getting my masteries in potions, so I'll try to get a job at an apothecary shop down in diagon alley, and if possible I'll try to make extra money so I could move out of my house" He stated and Peter felt him tense up a bit at the end.
And he knew why, during winter break, Severus had told Peter about his awful situation at home. How much of a druken bastard his father was, and Peter couldn't help but stare at Severus with a horrified expression when he explained why he didn't like anyone touching his back. The explanation had answered questions Peter had when he saw Severus that fateful night during the summer when he learned what Sirius had done.
Peter was right to fear the answers to the questions that kept him up at night. After Severus had explained the issues Peter wanted nothing more but to pull him into a hug but he hesitated. As if sensing his hesitation Severus pulled him into a hug "It's okay, you can hug me" He heard him whisper and Peter did just that. He hugged Severus and apologized over and over again for everything that he and his friends ever did.
He had cried himself to sleep that night but luckily Severus was there to hold him.
"What about you, Pete, what you do you think you'll do after graduation?"
Peter snapped out of his thoughts and smiled softly at the use of the nickname. He wasn't particularly fond of it but when Severus called him that it made him feel special somehow "I don't know, maybe I'll do something with charms, that's one class I've been good at. I could probably get a job at the ice cream palor in diagon alley, I do love ice cream"
Severus couldn’t help but chuckle "Of course you do" Peter simply smiled "I do, and hey if we do get a job in diagon alley we could have lunch together during our breaks, since we'll be working close by, I could even get you some free ice cream" He suggested and Severus simply rolled his eyes.
"Sure Pete, we can have lunch together"
Peter's heart fluttered at the prospect of having lunch with Severus during their work breaks and if he thought of it as a date then that was just for him to know.
"Hey Sev, what if we moved in together?"
Severus’s eyes widen and he felt his face heat up at Peter's suggestion "Really? You- you wanna l-live in with me?"
Peter smiled warmly at Severus "Well, yeah, who wouldn't?"
Severus looked away and muttered something under his breath that Peter didn't catch. Peter began feeling uneasy when Severus stayed silent. He worried he may have pushed to far "W-we don't have to, if um if you d-don't want too..." He stammered out and quickly had his shoulders grabbed by Severus.
"No!"
Peter jumped a bit at Severus’s reaction and Severus felt his face flush in embarrassment. Severus slowly let go and moved back "I...I want to live...together" He spoke quietly as he fiddled with his bracelet. Peter couldn't help but smile and grabbed hold of Severus’s hand "That's great, we'll work close together and live together, do you know what that means?" Peter asked and leaned against Severus.
"What?"
"It means you're stuck with me forever"
Severus couldn’t help but giggle at that and Peter still couldn’t believe that he had some how fallen for Severus Snape.