Heyyy do you mind if I make a request? If you don't wanna write this that's obvs totally fine I just wanted to ask and see ๐
Could I ask for peter pettigrew x reader where reader is a little bit apprehensive of him because in thier younger years at hogwarts she fell victim to some of thier pranks and general silliness. Now in the last year of school she's in a class with peter and they have to share a book and so she has meet with him in the common room for working together for this class and she begins to realize that the marauders aren't that bad and somehow squeeze in some mutual pining between pete and reader and maybe the other marauders somehow set them up
(Yes I am aware of the cheesey-ness of this, if you could somehow find a way to squeeze in some angst that would be sublime because I love cute cheesy fics but I also love angst so I'm kind of torn on what I want really just anything with peter would be great if you can ๐๐ฅฐ )
๐ช๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ โฐโบ PETER PETTIGREW
SUMMARY โ Sharing a book leads to a lot of things with the boy you thought you hated.
PETER PETTIGREW, an unassuming figure among the flamboyant constellation known as the Marauders, seemed to carry a perpetual aura of being overshadowed.
In a group where Remus held the enigmatic allure, Sirius radiated a bad-boy magnetism, and James exuded charisma that could light up the entire room, Peter was the quiet comet trailing slightly behind.
He lacked the rebel spirit that made Sirius captivating, the athletic prowess that drew attention to James, or the layered complexity that shrouded Remus.
Instead, he was just Peter โ an unremarkable blonde boy with a penchant for sugary treats, indifferent to the allure of books or the thrill of sports.
His life was the epitome of normalcy, from his home routine to his uneventful days. Amid the cacophony of his more vibrant friends, he occupied the role of an exception rather than the rule.
Yet, against all expectations, his gaze started to drift toward a certain girl who possessed an uncanny ability to captivate him, even when her actions seemed trivial to others.
Whether engrossed in her books during class, fiercely competitive on the Quidditch field, quietly rebelling against authority, or simply navigating an ordinary day, she never failed to seize his attention.
For better or worse, she had woven herself into the fabric of his thoughts, casting a spell on his mundane existence and revealing the unexplored shades of Peter Pettigrew.
And there she was, nestled in the warm embrace of the common room, surrounded by the familiar faces of her friends. Her attention was drawn to their lively banter, laughter harmonizing like a soothing melody. Unbeknownst to her, a pair of intense blue eyes were fixated on her from a distance, tracing her every movement.
Meanwhile, those very eyes were the subject of another's scrutiny. Sirius, the audacious one of the bunch, leaned in with an impish grin, his raven-black hair adding to his aura of mischief. "Who yaโ looking at, Wormy?" he chimed, his voice laced with teasing curiosity.
Peter's heart raced, his gaze quickly veering away, panic dancing in his eyes. His efforts to evade Remus and James's knowing looks proved futile, and he was caught in their playful trap. "No one, just theโuh... window, yeah," Peter stumbled over his words, attempting to sound casual, but his furtive glances in her direction betrayed his faรงade.
James seized the opportunity with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, his voice carrying a singsong quality. "Ooโฆ" he cooed, delighting in Peter's discomfort. Unsurprisingly, the attempt to downplay his interest had failed. Peter's vehement denial only fueled their amusement.
Quickly shaking his head, Peter fervently dismissed their assumptions. "No, no 'oo'," he protested, his voice slightly too high-pitched in his nervousness. The length of his blond hair shifted as he moved, and in that seemingly trivial detail, his awkwardness was encapsulated.
"Wormtail likes a girl," James teased, his voice playfully sing-song as his round glasses slipped down his nose.
Remus raised his head from his book, a subtle yet teasing smirk gracing his lips.
"Which one is it? The one with the black hair? Oo, maybe the blonde!" James speculated, his excitement palpable.
โMaybe the (H/C) one?" Sirius chimed in, his gray eyes dancing with mischief. As the blush painted Peter's cheeks, Sirius erupted in laughter, raising his hands in mock celebration.
"It is!" Sirius declared triumphantly, elbowing Remus and pointing in the direction of the (H/C) girl. He turned to Remus with an eager grin. "Who is it, Remus? You're like our walking encyclopaedia."
Remus paused, humming in thought for a moment. "Y/N, sheโs in our Potions class," he replied, his gaze shifting to Peter along with an arched eyebrow. "And Peter sits right next to her," he added with a playful edge, knowing well where this was leading.
James laughed heartily as Sirius erupted in cheers, earning a few odd glances from those around them. "Finally! Peter's getting a lady, lads," he proclaimed, mixing teasing with a mock serious tone.
However, the enthusiasm was short-lived as Remus interjected. "I donโt think she likes us," he admitted, dampening their spirits.
The realization weighed heavily, but it was no news to Peter, who had already experienced the brunt of Y/N's indifference firsthand, feeling her pointed glances and cool reception whenever he tried to initiate a conversation.
"Why do you say that?" Sirius inquired, reclining on the couch with his legs spread out and his arms casually draped behind him.
"Do you remember that prank we pulled in our third year? The one involving that paint which turned people neon and made them glow like that for a month?" Remus posed the question, tilting his head in recollection.
Sirius nodded, his expression pensive as he pieced the memory together. James mirrored the same contemplative look.
"What about it?" Sirius pressed, a quizzical eyebrow raised. Remus delivered his response with an exasperated eye-roll. "Y/N was the unfortunate victim. We ruined all her homework, papers, her clothesโeverything she was wearing," he recounted, listing the extensive damage they had caused.
As Remus spoke, Peter felt a heavy pang of guilt settle within him, his shoulders slumping in response.
James winced, his lips forming a tight line as he glanced at Peter, sympathy evident in his eyes.
Sirius, on the other hand, hissed through his teeth, his gaze now on Peter. "You certainly picked a challenging one there, Pete," he jested, patting Peter's shoulder with a chuckle.
PETER FELT A sickening sensation gnaw at his stomach, his nerves twisting into tight knots. He sat in the Potions class, a restless heat simmering beneath his cauldron, which signaled one thingโtoday's practical potion session.
Beside him sat Y/N, her expression a picture of boredom as she idly gazed at the flickering flames beneath her cauldron. The professor's words cut through the still air, announcing the day's task: a potion-brewing assignment.
Y/N's attention shifted to her satchel, her brows furrowing as she rifled through its contents. She paused, her searching becoming more frantic as she realized her textbook was nowhere to be found. An inward curse accompanied her reluctance to turn to Peter for help.
With a reluctant sigh, she finally spoke, her tone tinged with ennui. "I donโt have my book." Externally nonchalant, inside she was churning with worry.
What if Peter had shared her eccentricities with the other Marauders, leading to some sort of bizarre hex? She had heard a rumor from a seventh-year Hufflepuff that they were involved in an eerie cult-like activity within the Shrieking Shack.
On the other hand, Peter was grappling with a jumble of thoughts, his mind a swirling vortex of nervousness. Staring at her, his book hung limply in his hand, his words stumbled and tripped in his mind, leaving him tongue-tied.
"We can, uh... share?" he eventually stammered, inwardly cringing at the crack in his voice. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and he felt himself shrink under her scrutiny, his cheeks turning a shade warmer than he'd have liked.
After a brief pause, Y/N nodded in agreement, shifting closer to him. This simple movement sent tremors through Peter's nerves, his palms clammy and his heartbeat resonating in his ears.
He tried to steady his trembling hand as he opened the textbook, attempting to act natural while his mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions.
The professor's voice cut through the air, announcing the next part of the class. "And with your table partners, you will be composing a six-inch essay on the effects of this potion, its consistency, and the brewing processโcovering the standard topics."
Peter's heart felt like it had taken a sudden leap, only to plummet back into his chest. Spending extended time with Y/N was both thrilling and terrifying for him.
Meanwhile, Y/N couldn't help but internally groan at the prospect. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck working closely with a Marauder, especially since their presence seemed to come in a package deal.
Y/N SAT IN the cozy corner of the Gryffindor common room, Peter beside her on the red couch. Books, quills, and scattered sheets of paper were strewn across the table,
Despite the material at their fingertips, Y/N felt the weight of awkwardness settle in the air. Her posture was rigid, and words seemed to evade her.
Despite the material at their fingertips, Y/N felt the weight of awkwardness settle in the air. Her posture was rigid, and words seemed to evade her. She was acutely aware of the eyes of James and Sirius on them, making her heart race uncomfortably.
Across from them, Remus occasionally looked up from his book, his gentle smile a mixture of understanding and encouragement.
"So, is this one of the effects, or is it for a different aspect?" Peter's voice broke the silence, a seemingly innocent question that held the true purpose of engaging in conversation with Y/N.
She glanced at her book, hiding a small smile. "It says 'effects' right here," she replied, her laughter softening the atmosphere and putting Peter at ease.
"Yeah, come on, Pete," Sirius chimed in, appearing behind the couch with a mischievous grin. He rested his arms on their shoulders, pushing them slightly together.
Y/N stiffened initially, suspicion clouding her expression. However, a deep breath later, she allowed herself to relax. Perhaps Sirius wasn't up to his usual pranks this time?
Peter also eased up, mirroring her movements. The unexpected push from Sirius brought them closer, their shoulders touching.
Sirius released them with a satisfied whistle, striding away as if his brief interference had been entirely innocent. James struggled to suppress his laughter behind his hand, amused by Sirius's antics.
Neither Y/N nor Peter moved.
FOUR MONTHS, six days, and two hours had elapsed since that fateful dayโan interval that hadn't gone unnoticed by Sirius, who was meticulously keeping track.
"Peter, it's high time you made a move," Sirius declared, his expression firm as he stared down at the groggy trio seated on the floor, all clutching their pillows.
Groans of protest filled the room, Remus's voice particularly raspy from sleep. His hair was in disarray, and his eyes struggled to focus.
"Did you have to wake us for this?" Remus complained, rubbing his eyes and stifling a yawn.
"Yes, because for the past two months, you two have been inseparable. Peter can probably recite her favorite shampoo brand by now. Don't you think it's about time?" Sirius's voice held an air of exasperation, his tongue clicking in annoyance.
James let out a long-suffering sigh, closing his eyes and burying his face into his pillow. "Do we have to go through this? Peter's practically sleepwalking at this point!" he protested, gesturing toward the disheveled figure that appeared half-asleep, barely registering the conversation.
"James, remember last year with Lily? You had us going through this every single night!" Sirius retorted, his hair a wild mess as he shook his head.
"I've even got bets riding on this, James. Marlene bet against me, claiming they won't get together this month. And I've staked my hair on it! My hair!" Sirius's voice reached an incredulous pitch as he emphasized the gravity of the situation.
Peter stirred from his half-asleep state, mouth hanging slightly open with a small trail of drool. "Huh? What's happening...?" he mumbled, his speech slurred and drowsy.
Sirius grinned, his grey eyes shining as he shook the boy back and forth by the shoulders. โWeโre gonna get you a girlfriend, Pete.โ
THEY RELENTLESSLY attempted various schemes to portray Peter as a hero, a selfless gentleman, a smooth talkerโanything to capture the attention of the girl he secretly pined for, the girl whose minutest details he knew by heart.
One strategy involved James hurling a bludger in her direction, supposedly for Peter to heroically intercept before it reached her. The outcome? A bloodied nose, an irritated Y/N, a sheepish James, a rolled-eyed Remus, and a barely-contained laughter from Sirius.
Then there was the attempt to make Peter appear exceptionally intelligent. They covertly provided him with answers to questions the professor posed, but alas, he ended up delivering the wrong responses half the time.
They even tried to coach Peter in the art of flirting, an endeavor that concluded with him crashing headlong into a wall while trying to charm Y/N on their way to class, leaving him with a concussion and Y/N understandably perplexed.
As the week neared its end, the boys found themselves somewhat disheartened. Despite their efforts, Peter seemed to have made little progressโassuming they had missed any subtle signsโand their attempts at pet-sitting for Y/N's cat had resulted in scratches all over them.
The cat was clearly not fond of their company.
Peter's mood was gloomy as he sat alone in the library, his posture guarded and defeated. His gaze was fixed hazily on a romance book titled 'A Guide to Love for Dummies,' which he had already read three times over.
When someone sat down nearby, he quickly tossed the book aside, looking up with a mixture of surprise and trepidation, only to meet Y/N's (E/C) eyes.
Startled, he took a shaky breath, his cheeks taking on a reddish hue. A similar change in color adorned her (S/C) skin, puzzling him even further. He cleared his throat, attempting to appear nonchalant as he rested his head on his hand, his other hand resting on his waistโan intended display of casualness that didn't quite go as planned.
His arm slipped, causing his head to thump against the table. Panicking slightly, he shot up straight, clearing his throat again.
"Y/N!" he attempted to deepen his voice, but it cracked embarrassingly.
"Peter." Her smile was warm, her gaze flickering between his flushed cheeks and his sparkling eyes.
"What were you reading?" Her inquiry was accompanied by a glance toward the book he had discarded. Unbeknownst to Peter, she was quite aware of his reading materialโshe had been discreetly observing him too.
โA- uh..Sports book! Yeah muggle sports book.โ He said hurriedly, eyes widening when her hand made its way to rest in his.
โSo uh- Peter Iโve been thinking about your little stunts with your friends.โ She spoke, her soft voice turning serious.
She had alsways thought the Marauders were stuck up bullies, and that may be true to some extent she had gotten to know them over the time..getting to talk to Remus about things like books, life, walks. Being able to Talk to James, or debate with him about random things, not every getting really mad at eachother. Being able to Talk to Sirius about more Serious things- pun intended- the stars, gossip.
And being able to gaze at Peter when he was doing random things, and feeling a warm feeling in her heart, something that made her head spin , tummy twist and turn and a hard to get rid of smile bloom on her face.
Peter watched her, eyes wide and brows furrowed- lip darting out to wet his dry lips.
โI uh..โ she trailed off, taking a deep breath.
Peter thought of all the words Sirius had said to him, what James had said, and pushed them to the side- there advice sucked. But he could rely on Remusโs advice.
And following Remus he did. His mouth moved before his brain, words spilling out. โI like you! Really like you..i like everything about you, i like how your serious face looks, i like your smile and how your eyes look when you do..โ Peter continues to ramble about her, all while Y/N listens with parted lips, heart beating in her ears.
And in the end, lips jumbled together, expressed feelings and thumping hearts.
Peter was no longer a figure in the background, he was in the main light to the most important person of his life, he was no longer the full character, he had bloomed.
And instead of a dull flashing star in the night sky, he was one of the brightest, shining amongst the ones he was once in the background for. He was no longer the โThe fourth Marauderโ he was โPeter Pettigrewโ
