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Peter Pettigrew is not a good wizard. Hell, he is not even a light one.
Peter Pettigrew is dark and cruel, he is a traitor and a liar. Everyone knows that- James knows that, but he tends to forget.
Peter is James’ shameful secret. Ever since second year, when James wanted to see if he liked boys (He didn’t. He doesn't), Peter is the thing he takes from the shelf when reality becomes too frustrating.
Peter isn’t the victim, James reminds the two of them. Peter enjoys their arrangement just like James does, maybe even more. He uses it to blackmail James, forcing him to invite Peter to the marauders group, for example. Peter does it all on purpose, seducing James and using his guilt for Peter’s own benefits.
Peter is jealous. He is not fundamentally good (James), he is not rich and handsome (Sirius), he is not clever (Snape). Peter isn’t even a pitiful thing (Remus).
Peter is a rat, apparently. James is a beautiful, elegant stag, Sirius is a strong and terrifying dog, Remus is a mythical beast.
And Peter is a rat.
Peter is the group’s ideas man. He is the one with the brilliant idea for their biggest prank ever. He thinks, he planes, Sirius is just executing.
Remus is the weapon, Snape is the victim, James the noble man who stops it all. It means Peter is the backstabber.
Peter is the other girl. Sure, he was there before, but James tried to end it. He REALLY tried. It’s just that Peter, whose burning from a caustic-like bitterness, won’t leave James alone.
Peter is the mistress.
He is not even pretty, James yells. “You are not attractive, you aren’t smart, you are just a manipulative nightmare!” James cries because he is a GOOD man, he loves his wife, he loves his child. He loves his perfect, normal, heteronormative life, and Peter endangers all of it when he allows James in.
Peter is a greedy man. He takes and takes and takes, and he doesn’t care if it belongs to someone else.
Peter is the secret keeper. He is not the obvious choice- in fact, that’s exactly why he is chosen. He is chosen because he is a weak and talentless wizard, and nobody would ever suspect James would hand this thing his life.
Peter being able to visit is just a bonus, something that helps James go through his perfect, domestic, suffocating life.
James’ literal life is given to Peter, but Peter is greedy and he wants more than that.
Peter is a cruel, jealous, bitter backstabber.
He is a selfish shameful secret, not a loyal secret keeper.