Fic: These Four Kings (Year Six 3/9)

[fox_confessor]

Title: These Four Kings (Year Six 3/9)
Author: Dani (escribo)
Word Count: 2014
Rating: PG-13
(Pairings: in the future will be Remus/Sirius, Lily/James)

Timeline: Early November 1976
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended. I've not made nor seek any profit.

Year 1: one/ two/ three/ four/ five/ six/ seven

Year 2: one/ two/ three/ four
Year 3: one/ two/three/four
Year 4 (coming in the future when work quits eating my brains! Sorry for the out-of-order-ness)
Year 5 one/ two/ three/ four/ five/ six/ seven/ eight
Year 6 one/ two




When Remus' Muggle alarm clock went off, Peter had been having a really brilliant dream about flying over the forest and sharing his broom with Christine Whitcher, a lovely Hufflepuff in their same year.  Her breasts had been pressed against his back, her hands clutching at his waist, while she whispered in a low and beguilingly voice to go faster and higher.  In real life, Christine was given to fits of giggles and spent a lot of time fixing Sirius with a look not terribly unlike the one James often gave Lily, not that Sirius ever noticed Christine even though she was twice as pretty as Sirius’ girlfriend.  Peter had noticed, however, and had begun chatting her up in his own way.  At first, he’d spent a lot of time talking about Sirius, a very favorite topic of hers, but lately he'd been broaching other topics, like divination, which she also really liked and put tremendous store by.  It was a tip he’d picked up from an article in a Muggle magazine he'd found in the common room but was now hidden beneath his mattress.  It'd been titled Make him want you! How to win the man of your dreams but Peter figured it was close enough and besides that, he thought it was working.
 
In his warm bed with his curtain shut tightly against the weak morning light, Peter tried desperately to swim back toward his dreams but he could hear Remus fumbling about to turn off his alarm and James grumbling over the noise and Sirius rattling back his own curtains.  He knew it was hopeless.  They had class--Transfiguration--and if he got up now, he could be the first in the showers and, more importantly, the first out.  Today was especially important because not only was it waffle day, his favorite breakfast, and if they didn't get down there quickly, the sausages would be greasy.  Also, one of the tips in the article was to "walk in front of your heartthrob when going to or from class."  He had no idea what the point of that was but he meant to try it and knew that Christine would be going out to the greenhouses after breakfast, which didn't give him much time to both walk in front of her and get to his own class without earning a detention. 

By the time he was dressed and looking under his bed for his shoes and socks, only James was actually up and showering.  Remus was still curled around his pillows, which was odd, and Sirius was sitting on the edge of Remus' mattress, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he murmured something to Remus that Peter couldn't hear.  Usually it was the other way around, with Remus hurling dire threats at Sirius to get him up and moving before they were all late to breakfast. 
 
"What's with him?" Peter asked Sirius as he stood, one blue sock and one brown in hand.
 
"He's being a prat," Sirius answered, gesturing with his chin toward Remus.
 
"Am not."
 
"You wouldn't be like this if you'd just woke me last night."
 
"That would be brilliant, wouldn't it," Remus bit out as he propped himself up against his headboard and cradled his head in his hands. "Then we could both be miserable, and you're so much better at it than I am."
 
"I could have gone to Madame Pomfrey for a sleeping draught."
 
"I wouldn't have stopped you. She's always up for an opportunity to knock you or James under, and I can't say that I blame her."

"You are being a idiot. I'd have gone for you."

"Didn't want one."

"Stubborn."
 
"Arse."
 
"Well, you can just stay in bed now."
 
"I can't.  Besides, it's just Transfiguration and Arithmancy.  I'll be fine."
 
"I wish you’d quit saying that, especially when you're anything but."
 
Peter hopped on each foot in turn as he pulled his socks on, listening to Remus and Sirius continue to argue but not bothering to get in between.  It was the day of the full moon and only Sirius would even attempt to reason with Remus, and Peter wasn't sure why even he bothered except for the Thing Which Was Never Mentioned, or rather the Thing about Which Peter Was Forbidden to Speak. As he bent on first one knee and then the other to tie his shoes, he could see it though.  Christine and James weren't the only ones who gave Looks and no matter what anyone said, Peter knew why Sirius never saw Christine or any of the other girls who fell all over him and why he never talked about what he did with his girlfriend unless James pressed for details when he was more than willing to brag about everything else from his Quidditch game to his marks to his better pranks and fights. 
 
Shouldering his bag, Peter stood by the door as James came in to grab his clothes, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair standing in all directions, and a toothbrush dangling from his mouth.  He wondered if James saw it, too, Sirius and Remus; like now when Remus was sat up, leaning into Sirius as Sirius cupped Remus' head in his hands, his long fingers massaging his scalp.  Peter didn't do that for James or James for Sirius, and it wasn't like Remus was sick, not like sick, only just tired and sore and in a mood, a particularly foul one at that if the twist of his lips was any measure.  Peter suspected that Remus secretly liked the attention that Sirius gave him, especially since Peter had only just recently discovered that Sirius wasn't the only boy who Remus had let touch him in a way that Peter most certainly wouldn't with another bloke.
 
"What are we doing today, lads?" James asked around his toothbrush, cutting across Peter's thoughts.
 
"Breakfast," Peter said.
 
"Wait for me, Pete."  Remus grabbed Sirius' wrists to push him away and swung his legs off the bed but didn't get any further before Sirius twisted and began wrestling him to lie back against his pillows.  "Leave me alone, Black.  I don't want to miss classes."
 
"And Pete doesn't want to miss Christine," James said, winking at Peter and Peter grinned back.  "Let him up, Sirius."
 
"I won't," Sirius said, sounding petulant, and though Peter couldn't see Sirius' face, he knew the expression he'd be wearing.  "He didn't sleep last night or the night before and--"
 
"You're not my mother, Black, and I certainly don't need a nursemaid."
 
"C'mon," Sirius whispered, wheedling, and though Peter tried not to hear anymore, he couldn't help it. He knew that Remus would likely give in, no matter his protests.  "I'll stay with you, if you want.  Prongs'll take good notes."   
 
He looked at them again and saw that Remus was dressing just as quickly as James was but Sirius was still in his pajama bottoms, making no move toward his uniform as he stood in front of Remus. Though Remus was doing his best to ignore him, a nearly impossible task, their bodies still swayed toward one another.  How could James not see that and know?
 
"We're going to be late if you’re not careful," Peter said under his breath just to make Remus straighten up and remember that they weren't alone.  They were the same words he'd spoken when he'd found Remus in the stacks with Colin Edwards, a fifth year Ravenclaw no less, and he knew that Remus remembered too when he was rewarded with Remus' blush and the same look of guilt on his face now as then.  As Peter watched, Remus pushed Sirius' hands firmly away before he pushed past Peter to go into the bathroom. 
 
Peter looked away to the ceiling, his bed, James as he jammed his feet into his shoes and struggled with his tie--anywhere except to where Sirius stood still and quiet.  Of course, Peter didn't have to look up to know that Sirius was staring at him with narrowed eyes and he wondered if Sirius would hate to know just how predictable he was. 
 
"Christine's that blonde in Hufflepuff, yeah?" Sirius finally said, his voice low and steady but with the same menace he usually saved for Slytherins or members of his family. He waited until he had Peter’s attention before he turned away, digging out a clean set of trousers and tossed them onto his bed.  "She's cute.  Have you asked her out yet?"
 
"No," Peter answered stiffly.  Of course he hadn't, and Sirius knew that.  It was always this, Sirius leveling his anger at Remus toward Peter or James, and most often Peter because Sirius didn't care if Peter got angry back or stopped talking to him for a week.  Peter doubted Sirius ever even noticed, and wasn't that just a bit galling considering that they were supposed to be all for one and one for all, like in that Muggle book Remus had explained to him. It came to him quick and hard that maybe things would be different if he told Sirius what he'd seen--or at least what he thought he'd seen because Colin and Remus had stepped away from each other too quickly for Peter to be sure--really sure.
 
"You won't mind then if I do, would you?"
 
"Sirius."  It was a warning from James, who took the toothbrush from his mouth and pointed it at Sirius but Sirius only smirked and shrugged his shoulders.  It was as far as James would go, he knew--they all knew--because it was Sirius.  Thankfully it was enough, as it nearly always was.
 
"I'm just taking the piss, yeah Peter?"
 
"Yeah."  Peter let his face go slack and stupid, laughing too loudly as if he was only just getting the joke. 
 
"Why don't you go on?" James suggested when the room had gone quiet again.  "You know Sirius is going to take forever and you could still catch up with Christine."
 
"Yeah," Peter said as he shifted his bag onto his other shoulder.  "Yeah, I'm going to go down.  I'll see you lot in class, then."
 
Peter shut the door behind him with a little more force than was necessary. It wasn't that he cared particularly if Sirius and Remus were having it off, but he hated to think of how it would change things when James finally figured out that his best friend was bent.  Of course, maybe then James would come to Peter for advice and pranks and with his secrets and they could stop worrying about Remus and the full moons and just have fun.

He was halfway down the stairs before his guilt stopped him, and he looked back up toward the room he shared with the other Marauders. He hadn't meant it, not really. He liked Remus, especially since it wasn’t like Remus could help the way he was, and sometimes Peter even liked Sirius, when Sirius wasn't acting like he was Merlin’s gift to the Wizarding world, and while Sirius could help that and didn’t--at all--Peter still found it pretty funny when it wasn’t directed at Peter. It was only just that he didn't like being second best in everything and to everyone, especially when he knew it wasn't even second place but last and had been since first year. Hitching his bag higher onto his shoulder, Peter took the stairs a little more slowly as he headed down to breakfast. Christine was all but forgotten as he tried to think of some prank that would make it up to everyone--something against the Slytherins, or better yet Snape. Even if they didn't know what he was making up for, Peter knew that it would make him feel better if could only feel like they were all still on the same side.

continued

(Note: an Outtake because I initially wrote this backwards but couldn't bear to completely toss it out.)

Comments

[eprime.livejournal.com]

I always love reading Peter's point of view, and you know I think your take on him is just about perfect. His mixed emotions at the end are interesting and understandable. I also like how James manages Sirius, even though he is only willing to go so far. And the little bit of Colin and Remus is certainly intriguing. Definitely makes me wonder if that's going to cause big issues later. Of course, I always adore Sirius being over-protective.

Another excellent chapter!

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Peter is fun to write. I sometimes read where people say, "Peter must have been a good guy because the Marauders hung out with him!" I also think, "he caused the murders of his best friend, the love of his best friend's life, and a baby to save himself." I can't make him wholly good as a child/teen and then justify that, even if there is a war. There's a character defect and for me it's jealousy (though not the good, kinky kind) and a sense that the world has wronged him. To me, it seems that Sirius would be the one to pick at those scabs, you know? Constantly reminding Peter that he's not quite good enough and not quite wanted, not in the same way as James or Remus. Remus would be easily dismissed by Peter because he's not competing with Remus for James' friendship, not really--they're more equals in Peter's eyes.

/ramble. ahaha Thanks for reading (this as well).

[amuly.livejournal.com]

I do love the way you write Peter. I mean, I don't like him, because he's kind of a sniveling little pussy, but I think you write it absolutely brilliantly.

Though I want to kind of shake him and just have him be mad at Sirius and Remus, to shout at them everything he's thinking and knows, so then it's all out in the open!
Such a great job. Going off to read the outtake now...

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I enjoy writing Peter. I think he's an interesting character--horribly flawed, yes, but trying to figure out his motivations is interesting to me. I suspect that much like a rat, Peter tends to skulk in the shadows and you only really just see the damage he causes, rather than catching him in the act.

[liebedance.livejournal.com]

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Peter is such a complicated character and I love that you keep him that way. It's fabulous.

I'm kind of in love with this story right now <3

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy it. Peter is a complicated character. He loves James and yet causes his death. How does one go in such extremes?

[lady-luthienne.livejournal.com]

Your insight into Peter is brilliant as ever! Interesting to see him already consciously using his friends' underestimation of him to his own advantage, yet still craving their approval and acceptance.

I think he may understand more about Remus and Sirius' relationship even than they themselves do at this point.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think Peter must have had a tendency toward deception to make his later treachery seem plausible. Also, try as I might (which admittedly isn't very hard), I can't write him as a good character even as a boy.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting :D

[kiltsandlollies.livejournal.com]

Your Peter is indeed great here, but I love the rapport between Sirius and Remus in the beginning, and the immediate menace Sirius throws on when he knows he can get to Peter that way. I like James, too, stepping in so easily there to cut it off, and Peter really sort of coming into his still-awkward own here. These scenes in their room are always very telling. And good.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D Sneaky commenter. Sirius is a bit of an ass and I like to show that on occasion. Kind of like, as kind as he can be to Remus is proportionate to the hell he can give to Peter. Inverse relationship? Something.

[phiso-kun.livejournal.com]

Peter's such a delight to read because he sees them from both an insider's and an outsider's point of view, something that is just so damn valuable when doing a study of these boys.

As usual, the banter is fantastic, Peter's thoughts are true and young and boyish, and everything is just subtle enough. Looooove.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm afraid I've quite bombarded your inbox with my late comments, but I do so appreciate all your comments. Peter, I think, is almost the easiest to write in a way. He's the most "normal" I guess, until he's so totally not.

[wilwa.livejournal.com]

It's always fun to read from Peters point of view 'cause he notice things James and the others don't. Nice chapter as usual.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[myprettycabinet.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I've made this comment earlier, but I'll say it again. I think that your MWPP Peter is the most realistic I've read, because he's a sweet enough kid that you can get why James would be friend with him, but also you can see how some of his weaknesses will turn into who he becomes later.

And this is just a wonderful MWPP story to read, it feel real - very carefully thought out. And I'm so glad you skipped Year Four instead of waiting to do it in order. :-D

[myprettycabinet.livejournal.com]

Also, I have a Kindle, so I made what you've written so far into a PDF, I can send it to you if you'd like. And no worries, I won't share unless you want me to. :)

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I don't have one (a Kindle or a pdf file!) myself but I wouldn't mind it being shared if someone should want it, and would certainly like a copy myself! My email is almaviva at gmail dot com. Thank you again!

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D I like writing Peter and started this whole story in an attempt to figure out for myself how he could possibly have betrayed James and the others. It's just so terrible and yet because they were friends, there must have been something in him that wasn't terrible, you know?

Thank you for reading/commenting. I very nearly skipped year 6, too, because I'm very eager to get to year seven (and to be quite past the prank).