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“Pettigrew, what the hell is this?” His step father, Rick, came up behind him, slamming his report card down on the table.
Peter gulped, “Um.”
He was shaking his head in disgust. Alright, so Peter hadn’t done amazing this term. But he’d only gotten two C’s. Other than that it was all A’s and B’s. Nothing was ever good enough for fucking Rick though.
“Um um um um,” Rick mocked, slapping the back of his head. Peter ducked out of the way, wincing. His face turned red.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered.
“Oh you’re sorry! Fantastic! Sorry makes everything better! Sorry makes your grades fixed!” Rick jeered.
“What do you want me to say?” Peter muttered, then instantly realized his mistake, as Rick yanked him out of the chair and pushed him into the wall.
“You no good piece of shit! You need to learn respect! You-” he continued screaming in his face. Peter saw his mom walk into the kitchen.
She walked in with her head down, putting something away.
“Mom!” he said, “Are you hearing this?”
His mom gave a long suffering sigh.
“What did he do this time?” she asked Rick.
Of course. Of fucking course she would take Rick’s side immediately. Everything was always Peter’s fault. He was always the fuck up. Always the scapegoat. Always the reason everything went wrong.
Rick let go of him thankfully, to show his mother his report card.
His mother sighed again.
“You know, the Potter’s never seem to have this problem with their son.”
Peter clenched his teeth. Of course, perfect James. Perfect, straight A, football captain James.
“Do not look at your mother that way!” Rick yelled, “I heard your friend, the Black boy, got straight marks this term! After I work seventy hour weeks to send you to this school, you think this is ok?”
Peter snorted, “I promise you would prefer to have me over Sirius. And he is not my friend.” he added venomously, thinking of how Sirius makes relentless fun of him.
“What the hell makes you say that?” Rick growled.
“Because I’m not sucking another boy’s dick in the toilet!” Peter yelled. God if they would just understand how hard Peter tried for them and would stop comparing him.
They went dead silent. Peter was breathing loudly.
“Peter,” his mother said slowly, “Are you saying…that Sirius Black is a…homosexual?”
“Yes,” Peter spat viciously.
His mother gasped.
“I’ll need to call Orion at once,” Rick muttered.
Peter realized his error immediately. Yes, he was angry with Sirius, but he certainly didn’t want his parents to know!
He felt the blood drain from his face, “No, no!” he exclaimed, “No, don’t- There’s no need -”
“Sh,” his mother said reassuringly, giving him a hug. “Oh, pumpkin, you did the right thing telling us.”
And it felt nice, for his mother and Rick to be proud of him, for once.
Rick dialed the phone.
“Yes, Orion,” he said formally, “I have some unfortunate news.”
…
Peter’s parents had banned him from being Sirius or James’ friend. He arrived at Hogwarts to find that the dorm assignments had been changed so he was no longer with the two of them. Neither would speak to him, though he tried to speak with James several times.
Finally, he found his opportunity, as James walked to Chemistry. Sirius and he didn’t have that class together, so he walked alone. Peter ambushed him in the hallway.
“James! Please let me explain!” he pleaded.
James ignored him and continued walking, “Please James! I’m so sorry, it just slipped out! I didn’t even mean to tell them I just…They were laying into me and -”
James cut him off. Peter had never seen him look so angry.
He spoke in hushed, rushed tones.
“Regulus had to drag Sirius’ bloody body to my house alone in the snow! I thought he was dragging his carcass!” James’ eyes bulged at that part. Peter had never seen him look so undone.
“I never meant for that!” Peter gasped, “I tried to stop them! I didn’t want them to tell his parents!”
“You didn’t try hard enough,” James spat. “I would have never done that to you. Sirius would have never done that to you.”
Well Peter hardly believed that last part.
“Never try to speak to me again,” James said, before hurrying away. Leaving Peter standing there all alone.
Completely alone.