Moonage daydreaming of you

Peter Pettigrew

Peter has never been the center of attention, a part of the group sure, but never the spotlight, he's not the one with the best grades, not the one with the best sense of humor, and not the best looking.

But for some reason, a group of boys have seemed to take a liking in him, considered him a friend, a best friend even, joked with him, laughed with him, complained with him.
And those three boys are James Remus and Sirius. Peter never thought hed have a group of friends. He's always been friends with James Potter, always going around for holidays.

He's found comfort in the boy, knows he can tell James anything, and he won't even make a frown. But since the two have gotten to Hogwarts James has grown distant, he won't stay up late laughing with me, or talking. Instead, he spends every living moment with Sirius Black. But Peter can't be mad at Sirius, he deserves a good friend like James, everyone does, but Peter has built up to a point, that he is envious of the two. He can't seem to grasp the fact, the fact that he's not James' only friend anymore, his best friend, why can't he show him the same attention now as he did before.

I know Sirius has issues at home, but James has to know peter does as well, right? He knows his father left Peter at the ripe age of six, and his mother blames him for it, but for some reason, that doesn't seem to matter, he knows James still cares, and Peter knows there is only so much a twelve-year-old can handle, he's not going to put that kind of pressure on him, or make him feel like he needs to pay more attention. But it still hurts Peter to a core, he doesn't open up very much to people. and James used to know Peter down to the last minute detail.

Now he doesn’t even know that Peter gets pushed around in the halls and called names, all because he's bigger than the average person. And the bullying down by none other than Severus Snape and his delinquent friends, But Peter will show him one day, he's counting on it, one day when he can shove Snape right back, one day when he's brave enough, and It will happen.

“James! James! , you will not guess what I just found out” Sirius says rushing into the great hall, a big grin on his face.

James looks up from his breakfast adjusting his glasses and furrowing his brows, “What?” James questions, curiosity coating his voice.

“We’re learning how to fly today!” Sirius claps his hands together.

James jumps up from his seat, and Remus widens his eyes. “Wait! Like, broomstick flying?” James exclaims, eyes wide open and his glasses tipping down his nose from the sudden movement.

“Yes!” Sirius grins wider. “How do you know?” James questions. “Frank told me, isn't that right frank?” Sirius loos to frank whos sitting down at the table.

Frank stops his spoon full of cereal at his mouth and hums ”Hm?”

“We are learning how to fly on a broom today, correct?” Sirius wiggles his eyebrows, already knowing the answer.

Frank nods swallowing his cereal, “Yep” He reassures.

“Oh my Godric, I'm going to have a heart attack.” James puts his hand to his heart.

“Breath James,” Peter says taking a bite of his oatmeal.

“I have to prepare!! I'll be back in time for class!” James says grabbing his bag and slinging it over his head rushing out. Sirius quickly followed behind him.

Peter scooches closer to Remus, and nudges his side “Don't you want to go prepare with them?” Peter giggles lightly.

“Nah, id rather finish my breakfast, do you want to go ‘prepare’ with them?” Remus asks placing another piece of toast on his plate.

“No, I think those two are the only ones that want to do quidditch next year, out of our lot. I on the other hand want to live next year” Peter jokes, and Remus laughs “Second that” Remus agrees.

***

After breakfast, Peter can't help but feel his stomach all knotted up in a bunch, worried he’ll flunk at flying. All four boys are walking down the corridor, James and Sirius are both filled head to toe with excitement.

We get outside and Madam Hooch is standing in the middle of the field, and Peter feels as though he's about to throw up.

“Alright?” Remus asks placing a hand on Peter's shoulders, Peter gulps a breath and nods hastily

Not soon after Slytherins come out into the field and the group of boys all groan.

“Alright, everyone! stand next to a broom, Gryffindors on this side, Slytherins on this side” She points to the left of her where brooms lie on the ground for Gryffindors, and to her right for Slytherins.

Peter looks over to James whos standing next to him, and he's got a bright smile on his face and his cheeks are a slight shade of crimson over his dark skin.

“Excited Pete?” James smirks nudging peter with his elbow.

“Nervous” peter responds.

“Oh you'll do great mate”

“You think” Peters's face lights up.

“I know” James assures.

Peter smiles in return. Looking down at his broom breathing in the April air.

“Are you excited? Peter quizzes.

“You bet! I've been wanting to fly a broom since I could call” James laughs lightly, his white teeth glistening in the spring sunshine. “Remember when my Mum got me that broom when I was small? and she framed it” James recalls.

“Oh yeah!” Peter laughs, “It's the smallest broom I've ever seen”

“Right! “ James says joyfully.

“Okay, everyone! Hold out your hand above the broom and say ‘up’ “ Madam hooch directs.

Everyone collectively says up and James Potter's broom immediately lifts to his hand, and Sirius gasps.

“Wicked” James says, smiling to himself, with pride.

Everyone continues saying up, Sirius is the next to get his to fly up into his hand. And next a coupe more Gryffindors and Slytherins.

“C’mon you got this Pete” James whispers net to him. peter can feel his chest tighten up more.

“Up!” The broom whips up to his hand.

“Nice job Pete” James cheers.

Peter lets out a breath of relief and beams with a smile.

The last of the group to get it is Remus . “Up !” Remus shouts, nothing. “Up” nothing. “ ast wirion ” he mumbles under his breath. “Up!” Remus yells in frustration. the broom finally reaches his hand and he widens his eyes.

“Now, Hop onto your broom, make sure to grip it tightly, “ She says walking up and down the row of children “and when I blow my whistle I want you to kick off the ground, lean forward, then float back down” Madam Hooch announces holding her whistle to her mouth.

Everyone mounts their broom Madam Hood blows her whistles and everyone kicks off the ground. Floating a few feet up, Peters holding on for dear life, worryingly looking down to the ground.

“I'm a natural, take that potter” Sirius sneers floating steadily on the right side of James.

“Oh please, I lifted off the ground before you” James taunts.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night Jamsie” Sirius snorts.

Peter feels his stomach tighten more and more by the second. His broom tipping from side to side. Peter feels as though he's going to barf.

And next thing peter knows he's hanging upside down from his broom. “Help!” Peter whelps.

“Pete! Madam Hooch, we have a problem over here!” James shouts. “It's okay peter just stay calm”

Peters hyperventilating at this point.

“Mr. Pettigrew! lean forward to land” She hollers.

“I can't lean forward! I'm upside down!” Peter shrieks in distress. Making students abrupt in laughter, and Peters on the edge of crying, he can feel a lump in his throat make its way up

“Enough with the giggles class! Just relax, I'll get you down” Madam Hooch goes to reach for peters broom, when suddenly he collapses onto the ground—groaning in pain.

And James Potter quickly lands on the ground, not a doubt in his mind he can’t do it.

“Peter!’ He rushed up next to peters, whose face is buried in the grass as he sobs in pain. “Are you okay?” James asks placing a hand on Peter's shoulder.

Which causes Peter to murmur unrecognizable words into the ground.

“Let me help you up,” James says steadily, gently grabbing onto peters arms, slowly lifting Peter and himself from the ground.

“Alright?” James questions.

Peter goes to nod when he abruptly throws up onto James' shoes, Gasps go around the whole room, and some laughs, Sirius and Remus Immediately drop to the ground, running to help Peter.

Peter hiccups his cries, “James” he covers his mouth. “I’m sorry. James I’m sorry”

”no- no, pete. It’s okay. Hey, don’t worry it’s okay” James assures him, brushing the grass from peters hair.

“Ate too much breakfast this morning Pettigrew?” Snape starts “What'd you eat four plates instead of your regular three?” insults, snickering a laugh.

“Shut it snape!” Sirius spits.

“Oh I'm sorry the fat arse can't hold his breakfast” Snape puts his hands up in surrender, still smirking.

“Oh shove off , Snape” shoots Marlene, who’s eyes are glaring right through Snape’s skull.

“Don't you ever get tired of being a twat?” Remus shouts at him.

“Enough! Enough! “ Madam Hooch stops the argument, “Potter, bring Pettigrew to the infirmary, the rest of you down to the ground, now!” she points to the ground.

“Okay, let's go Pete” James slings an arm around peters shoulder holding him up steadily

“Do you want us to come?” Sirius asks referring to him and Remus

“No its okay, I got this” James affirms

***

Now James and Peter are in the infirmary Peters laying in a bed, under the duvet, and had just taken a nausea potion, to get rid of his stomach ache.

“I'm sorry” Peter apologies, looking at James with worry in his eyed

“Don't worry about it Pete, it's alright” James speaks sitting at the end of the hospital bed.

“Are you sure?” Peter questions

“Of course. things happen, and it wasn't your fault” James forms a straight smile.

“I thought something would go wrong, but I didn't think it'd go that bad” Peter brings a hand up to cover his face, and ends the sentence with a small laugh.

James lets out a breath and laughs in response. “Hey I'm sorry about Snape earlier he was being an arse” James utters.

“What about him?” Peter furrows his brows.

“Well he was sorta making fun of your-” James starts awkwardly before peter interrupts.

“-My weight” Peter finishes his sentence. “I know, he always does”

“What do you mean?” James asks unknowingly.

“I mean, anytime he sees me, the corridors, the great hall, class, I mean even on the train here” Peter admits.

“You heard that on the train?” James frowns.

Peter nods.

“I know I should change-” Peter starts before James interrupts this time.

“I don't think you need to change” James starts widening his eyes and adjusting his glasses,“your perfect just the way you are”

“Yeah?’ Peter puzzles.

“Yeah” James reassures “Plus your not the one that needs to change, it's that twat” James chuckles.

And that makes Peter laugh.

After the laugh, James speaks again “Look Pete, It doesn't matter what size you are, you are an amazingly caring, and funny person, and anyone who can't see that's mental”

Tears swell up in peters eyes “But it's not normal to be like this James” Peter days wiping his face and sitting up.

“Who says?” James squints

“Everyone”

“Well then everyone's batshit crazy, to hell with everyone ” James states. “So what if you're bigger, I think to look great! And being bigger shouldn't be a bad thing, there shouldn't be one kind of size for people”

Peter just looks at James with a smile tears still glistening in his eyes.

“Everyone comes in all different shades, shapes, and sizes, and anyone who thinks different is an absolute wanker” James pauses laughing lightly “Like look at me, I've got darker a skin tone than more than half the people in this school, that doesn't stop me, and this shouldn't stop you” James finishes.

A couple of tears have fallen down Peter's cheeks, which have turned a deep crimson color.

“Thank you James this means a lot” Peter sniffs wiping the tears from his face.

“Of course, your my best mate Pete” James smiles.

“Yeah?”

“Yep,” James smiles, his smile.

”I would hug you right now but I did just throw up” Peter sniffles , James snorts a laugh. 

“to hell with that” James protests, wraping his arms around peter. “Your perfect Pete.” He whispers into he hug. “I love you. Y’know that right?”

”I know. “ Peter closes his eyes, hugging James back. Burying his head into his shoulder. “I love you too, James”  he says into his shirt.