Chapter 1
Peter Pettigrew was no stranger to love. He loved plenty of things, including his friends, plants, and family, but one thing Peter never seemed to love was school. He hated everything from reading and writing the essays, all the way to the lectures. That's why the Marauders were surprised to find out he wrote stories, but more importantly, that he was damn good at it too.
“I’m never letting you copy another essay, wormy.” Remus said as he read over the newest of Peters's short stories.
“Our Wormtail is going to be famous!” James' lopsided grin shone brightly as he talked animatedly about the future of Peter Pettigrew. “A best-selling author, I can see you in the Prophet now.”
“I am not! And Moony, I can’t write essays. We all know this! You’re all idiots.” Peter rolled his eyes and grabbed the parchment out of Remus’ hands.
Peter wasn’t good at much, in his humble opinion. That’s why when he discovered his love for writing stories he never told his friends. He didn’t want to be a failure at the one thing he enjoyed the most. Of course, he was funny and good enough at pranks, you can’t be friends with James and Sirius without having certain qualities. But writing was his. Something he could be good and bad at and nobody would have to know if he failed or succeeded until he accidentally handed his new story to Remus instead of his Defence Against the Dark Arts essay to be proofread.
“Wormtail, you brilliant man, you must write a story about me.” Sirius spoke confidently with a hint of ego and sarcasm in his tone, flicking his long black curls as he jumped off of Prong's bed.
“Yes! That is brilliant, Padfoot!” James suddenly yelled as he jumped out of the bathroom he was in.
“Pete, mate, you must write a book about The Marauders, the greatest pranksters to ever live!”
“No.” Peter said simply, he wasn’t going to even allow his writing to fail him, especially not when James and Sirius would one hundred percent tell the whole school about the book.
“Besides, it's almost October and we have O.W.L’s this year and a full moon coming up. No time.”
Peter checked out of the conversation after that, busying himself with packing his bag and fixing his tie. Peter knew he wasn’t everyone's cup of tea. He was short, stubby, and awkward. He relied on the Marauders to keep him from tripping over anything and everything. He loved herbology and the care of magical creatures. He desperately wanted to fit in and clung to his friends for dear life. So yes, Peter was not everyone's cup of tea, and yes, sometimes he felt left out but, it was nice. Peter never wanted to be great, he just wanted to be known. His writing was how he was known. The irony of it is not lost on him, wanting to be known but not showing anyone what makes him known. Humans are curious creatures, and Peter is no less human than the next person.
The walk to the great hall for breakfast was uneventful, just Padfoot and Prongs flirting, Moony staring at Sirius thinking he was not being noticed. The thing is, Peter always notices. He noticed that James wasn’t pining after Lily anymore, Remus’ hip was hurting more and more, and Sirius was growing angrier, more restless. He makes a note to bring it up to James later/
The ginger hair is seen first, “Remus!” Lily shouts from the table, her prefect pin shining brightly on her robes.
“Morning, Evans.” Remus replied, he did well to hide the wince that follows from the smell of the silver. His pin has already been transfigured into tin. His furry problem, as the group likes to call it, is still a problem despite it being better now that they are animagi. Peter shares a look with Sirius, they'll find a way to transfigure Lily's pin, anything for their Moony.
Much to Sirius’ dismay, despite him not knowing why he is upset about it, Moony goes off with Lily to talk about prefect things. The group sits at the table, Sirius, on a dare, is no longer allowed to date for the rest of the year. The reason for the dare is that James and Peter got tired of Remus’ foul moods due to his jealousy. It hasn’t stopped his flirting, but it has stopped the hookups.
“Hey Pete, can you look over my herbology essay?” Peter looks up at Mary. She has flowers in her tight coils today, her dark skin is clear and beautiful as always.
“Course, Mare.” She smiles brightly. In Peters, once again, humble opinion, Mary is the prettiest girl in the school. He’d be an idiot to deny her anything. While Peter can’t write an essay, he is the best at herbology. He fact-checks, and then Mary will have Lily check the grammar. It works, and Peter gets to talk about plants and talk to Mary who smells like lavender and cinnamon. Peter reads the essay of course, while James and Marlene talk in the background.
“Potter, I’ve been thinking about some new quidditch techniques I want to run by you.”
That was Peter's sign to zone out while eating his breakfast. The man was observant so thats what he did, he observed. James’ had started wearing gold jewelry, a necklace with a star. It complimented the rich color of his skin, something about warm undertones as described by Mary. Speaking of Mary, she was bickering with Marlene, something about accidentally wearing her socks. Marlene keeps looking over at the Slytherin table, more particularly, looking at Dorcas Meadowes. She thinks her crush is a secret, but everyone in their group knows. Even Sirius, who can’t pick up on a clue to save his life, knows about the crush. Marlene needs to re-dye her hair, the pink is fading.
“Sirius, I think you should get a tattoo.” Peter looked over at Lily, who had returned with Remus at some point. This was weird for a few reasons. One Lily hates Sirius for being friends with Prongs. Two, why would she have an opinion on it? And three, how the fuck would Sirius even get a tattoo. Peter looked at Lily with an eyebrow raised, she just winked at him and looked at Remus.
Oh?
Oh.
Remus wants Sirius to get a tattoo. Or rather Remus thinks Sirius would look hot with a tattoo, confessed to Lily, and the fiery redhead is just as fed up with those two as the rest of them. Thank Merlin for Lily Evans.
“Oh, maybe I should get a tattoo.” Marlene cuts into her conversation with Mary.
“I reckon you’d look like a rock star.”
“What would you get?” Peter interjects, not in a rude way he hopes, but in an “I think that is a great idea and I want to know more” way.
“Not sure yet, Pettigrew. Something sick that's for sure.”
“You could ask Dorcas to draw something for you. She’s great at art.”
“And how would you know that, James?” Lily says, jumping into the conversation.
“I- uh- I just saw her one day. Drawing I mean.”
James has always been a horrible liar, to Peter at least. But for some reason known only to the gods above, the group believes it. Well, maybe Remus doesn’t.
That night, in the common room, Peter sat by the fire with the girls, gossip flowing easily. Peter mainly listens, as always, jumping in when he can. He’s currently painting Marlene's nails a dark cherry red. His hands are steady, unlike her own.
“So, when do you think Sirius and Remus will end up together?” Peters's eyes look up at Mary. It’s not surprising that they know the two are pining for each other but still, to hear it brought up by someone other than James was surprising.
“Hopefully soon, I can’t handle this anymore.” Marlene groans out the last syllable.
“You can’t be talking Mrs. Meadowes.” Peter chimes in with a sassy tone.
“Pete-!” Marlene throws a pillow at him, Mary’s laugh rings through the air mingling with Lily’s giggles.
“But- I agree with Marlene, they need to get together already.” Mary says while Lily shoves her over to sit on her bed with her.
“That would be a great book honestly,” Peter’s words immediately make Lily scoff.
“The most boring book ever more like it.” Lily and Peter have a stare-down. Honestly, it's quite awkward and uncomfortable for the other two girls in the room.
“Let’s make it a bet then. You write it into a book, when it ends up being boring, you have to go on a date with someone of my choosing.”
“And what do I get?”
“I’ll tell you what cologne Gilderoy wears”
“Deal. I’ll write them into a book. Let's see if it's good or not.” Peter and Lily shake on it and it's decided.
Peter is going to write his friend's hopeless love story into a book.