Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The next day, during breakfast, Peter attempted to make himself more distant. He could see out of the corner of his eye some slytherins staring at him, trying to read him. He could also see, however, what great fun his friends were having, chatting and laughing.
Peter felt torn.
Oh how he longed to join in. How he longed to be included in their mindless giggling.
But he couldn't, he knew that. He had a part to play, and he couldn't let anyone down. To think that one day that laughter wouldn't exist if he messed up - no way would he allow that.
So first, he changed his body language, sitting directly facing towards the table, instead of angled towards the gang, inserting himself in.
Then, whenever he was certain the Gryffindor's weren't looking at him, he would glare, as disgustedly as he could, especially when they interacted with muggles.
Before, when James flushed over Lily, he would happily nod along, eager for his approval. But now, he had to target other's approval, thus he would shut his mouth and roll his eyes when out in public.
Peter knew the death eaters wouldn't believe him immediately, much to his dismay, they weren't stupid. Therefore, he continued these acts for over a week before Snape approached him again.
The moment Peter was finally approached was an odd one. Walking along the corridor innocently, Peter was happily humming the tune to his favourite song, at peace to the plague in his mind, when all of a sudden he felt a pair of hands grasp him roughly and shove him into the unknown.
"What the actu-" A hand covered his mouth and he finally looked into the face of his captor - Snape.
"Shut up Pettigrew," the Slytherin hissed then released his grip so harshly that the Gryffindor stumbled slightly.
"Hello to you too I guess," Peter mumbled, straightening his now creased uniform.
"I have a plan."
"Too real, too real," was Peter's immediate thoughts and all he could think to do was run, run away from this nightmare situation and back to safety. But an image of James flooded his mind, the sound of Remus' laughter rang in his ears and the jokes of Sirius coursed through his veins He couldn't lose that, no way.
He shook his head, praying to shake away the bad thoughts, and then raised his head to meet Snape, "What is it?"
"You're going to be honest."
Peter came to the conclusion right there and then that Snape was mental. Of all the ideas he had been thinking of over the week, Peter never ever guessed that would be Snape's ultimate solution.
"Honest? I'm sorry WHAT?"
"Look, I've thought about it"
"Must have been hard for you to think," Peter interrupted. He couldn't stop himself, spending so much time with James and Sirius really rubbed off on him. Snape glowered at him, then continued.
"The Dark Lord isn't stupid, and the death eaters aren't as naiive as you and you're little group like to pretend. There is no way they are going to believe you would betray everyone out of the blue. So, the only way I can think of is for me to
tell the Dark Lord you are a spy. He must know my distaste towards you so it wouldn't be a surprise to him that I would snitch on you. It would especially never occur that I'd want to help you."
"As if I'd ever willingly work with you either dickhead," Peter retorted.
"If you'd stop interrupting me," Snape's annoying voice chimed through the abandoned classroom the boys had entered (Peter less willingly), "I'm going to tell the Dark Lord that you are a spy, and you are going to pretend to be blatantly unaware of the fact that he knows. The Dark Lord will think that he has won a battle against Dumbledore and will gain such heightened arrogance, he won't notice you finding out the things he will try to hide from you, our real tasks, his real plans."
Peter didn't want to admit it, but it was a good plan, great even. However, he had one doubt.
"What makes you so convinced he'll let me in if he knows I'm a spy?"
Snape laughed cynically.
"Oh Pettigrew, you really are stupid aren't you. Haven't you ever heard? The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance."
He didn't go into any more detail, and after a second he departed as quickly as he had arrived - like a phantom with the sole aim to rid Peter of his sanity. And yet again, the seventh year Gryffindor was left in confusion, in stress, in fear.
"Wormtail!" He heard in the distance, like a beacon guiding him out of the dark. The voice shouted again, calling him his birth name this time, and recognition ran through Peter's mind.
It was Remus.
"Oh, here you are Worms. I've been looking everywhere for you," Remus smiled at him as Peter stepped out of the classroom, trying to shake off the shock and look as presentable as possible.
"I'm sure you have been Moony. Is something wrong?"
"No no," Remus reassured him, "I was going to study in the library and wanted to drag you with me. You know it's literally impossible to get Padfoot or Prongs to even step foot in a 50 meter proximity of that place. Merlin you'd think it's cursed by the way they act." Both boys laughed. Peter knew his self-doubt would analyse every word Remus had just said to him at some point, telling him how he was a backup, but at that moment, he felt so relieved to see his friend he didn't even care.
Remus wrapped his arm around Peter's shoulder, and just like that, the two were off on their way.