“I’m nearly finished,” he offered to the sound of retreating footsteps, passing his hand over his head for stray soap as he settled himself under the flow of the water once more. He gave himself a few more minutes to rinse off, to linger under the hot spray, and when he emerged, towel around his waist, he moved towards the lockers, a nod for Peter in greeting. Another moment later found Amycus in sweats, a t-shirt slung over his shoulder as he took a seat near Peter, filching the cigarette from between the boy’s fingers to steal a drag from, his own pack stashed away in the locker he’d just walked away from. “Still raining, I take it? What’s up?”
Up until this year Peter had always loved the liveliness of the Gryffindor common room. When it was noisy and busy his mind did not have time to dwell on his fears and insecurities, and he could just be happy. However, for a while now the noise had started to make him feel worse. He’d been sneaking out to smoke more and more (alone more often than not) which was something he was sure Remus was going to figure out eventually and probably ask him about. For now though it had been the perfect way to just slip out of conversations, giving him an excuse not to keep up his smile. He didn’t really want Amycus Carrow to come join him in conversation, if he knew anything about the other it was that he made him feel nervous, but years of being friendly to whoever approached him meant he was nothing if not amicable.
Peter didn’t even blink as the other took the cigarette from his lips, although actions like that were normally only shared with the comfortable familiarity of his close friends. He just let it go, pulling out another and lighting it with no hesitation as he looked over at him curiously. “Yeah, it’s been pretty relentless.” Peter shrugged, taking a drag of his cigarette. “The sky, thestrals, Quidditch players. Take your pick.” He smirked at his bad joke, turning to look back at the ceiling, which really needed repainting. “What’s up with you?”
isn’t that PETER PETTIGREW? yeah that is HIM, sitting there at the GRYFFINDOR table with those other SIXTH years and i think i heard sybill saying they look like JEREMY ALLEN WHITE… whoever that is! when she looks into her crystal ball she sees bitter coffee on restless nights, hand me down shirts that smell like other people, using old beer bottles as ashtrays, homework lying forgotten, cigarette burnt fingertips, putting in effort to cheat at tests, buying extra chocolate to hide in others backpacks, dancing to the radio like everyone’s watching but fuck them, sacrificing your knight to take the king. anyway i’ve heard they’re pretty FRIENDLY, STRATEGIC, and FEARFUL. apparently they’re a PUREBLOOD but i’m sure that’s not related.
Basics:
Character’s Name → Peter Pettigrew
Character’s Nickname(s) → Petey, Wormtail
Age → 16
Birthdate → 19th of March
Ethnicity → British
Gender → Male, he/him
Sexual Orientation → Bisexual
Wizarding World:
Blood Status → Pureblood
School House → Gryffindor
War Alliance → Order of the Pheonix (Death Eaters)
Wand → 9 Inches, Dragon Heartstring, Dogwood.
Patronus → Incorporeal
Boggart → Lord Voldemort
Amortentia → The smell of fireworks, hot chocolate and hair gel.
Mirror Of Erised → He seems himself, incredibly successful with the Marauders all standing around and cheering for him.
History:
Born an only child into a fairly well known Pureblood family, Peter should have been brought up in a life of luxury, however from an early age that life was denied to him. Only a few years after his birth there was a huge scandal regarding the Pettigrew name, one which the family never recovered from.
His father was caught embezzling money from the company he worked at in order to pay back some immense gambling debts he had wracked up over the years. He’d already lost the majority of the Pettigrew fortune, but when he was caught he was requested to repay everything he owed in order to avoid sentencing to Azkaban. This meant that the family were forced to sell their estate and almost all of their possessions.
The family moved into a very small flat in Wizarding London, as they couldn’t afford much else. His father was fired from his job after the scandal, and with the Wizarding community being as small as it is, most people were reluctant to hire him or Peter’s mother.
The family got by, but through a lot of hard work and part time jobs from both his parents. Peter always got the impression that he was more of a nuisance than anything. When his parents were around he was made to feel like a disappointment, and when they weren’t he was just alone. His mother made it quite clear that he was the reason she couldn’t leave his father and return to her parents home. His father was angry all the time, and he had far too much Gryffindor pride to accept money from her family, which only made the two resent each other more.
Peter was so desperate to leave for Hogwarts he hand wrote letters to Dumbledore asking to let him in early, he even once got a reply explaining why this could not happen but stating how incredibly excited he was to have him in the halls of Hogwarts soon (he still keeps this in a shoe-box under his bed). Peter desperately wanted to go and make a name for himself in Hogwarts, but mostly he wanted to make friends. Peter had a very lonely childhood, which meant as soon as he got sorted into Gryffindor (a hatstall situation between that and Slytherin) he very quickly latched onto Remus, Sirius and James. Excitable and enthusiastic, Peter was happy to follow them to the ends of the earth.
Things changed as he got older. For starters, when he found out about Remus’ condition, there was a long moment where Peter didn’t know what to do. His fear almost overtook him, the things his parents had said about werewolves and other such creatures were painfully derogatory, and as such he didn’t know what to believe. Yet, Remus had treated him far kinder in a year of friendship than his parents had his whole life. So, Peter took the time to talk to Remus, to understand him and what had happened, and what it meant. This change in relationship became a turning point for Peter. He began to rely on his friends less as a clutch to follow their every whim, and more as just friends.
With this he began to open up to other students, finding easy friendships with other years, houses and all over. He joined the chess club, which he still goes to to this day, and started to be a much less anxious person. Peter began to grow in confidence and when he suggested that the Marauders do something so they can be with Remus on his hardest nights, he jumped at the idea of being an Animagus, for-fronting the research he usually found so boring.
Things changed again a few years ago, this time for the worst. With the war brimming and talk of sides being picked, Peter was hesitant. He became even more so when he found out about a prank Sirius had conducted which almost cost Snape his life and Remus his freedom. That was the day Peter realised he couldn’t trust even those he cared about more than himself.
Still, he’s good at putting up a front. Now that he’s in sixth year, he’s just trying to keep a grip on the present, terrified of what is about to come and knowing that when it comes he’ll be helpless. For now he just wants to drink, smoke and spend as much time with his friends as possible, any talk of the future isn’t a conversation he wants to be part of, and if his nightmares keep reminding him he can’t trust anyone anymore, then that’s just something he’ll keep to himself.
“You’re just saying that ‘cause I get the best party favors,” Benjy joked, waving his hand a bit dismissively, “Nothing really. Come on, we’ve got a match to get to, yeah? And a party to figure out an in road for.”
“Hardly. Your company is better than any party favors.” He smirked, crossing his arms as he looked over at the other. If Benjy didn’t want to talk about it then he wasn’t going to push him, but before he moved on Peter couldn’t help but give him a sceptical raise of his eyebrow to emphasise the fact that he wasn’t happy with his answer. “Alrighty then, lets get going. I think we won’t really need an in, you know Ben, we’re a dynamic duo. All we have to do is mention that we’ve got a new supply in to like one gossipy fifth year and we’ll both get invites like that.” He clicked his fingers to make his point, an easy smile on his lips. “I have to say, this business of ours really takes the fun out of sneaking into parties.”
If anyone asked him his opinions on Quidditch, Peter would always come out and say he was a big fan of the sport, but in reality he didn’t really care all that much about it. Sure, he’d listen to James talk for hours about his new plays and strategies, and he kept up to date with the scores from the national leagues, but he didn’t really care for the actual game itself. What he did care about was the after parties, and boy were they good for him. Every time there was a Quidditch match there was always at least two parties going on afterwards, and a lot of fun to be had. In his younger years they’d been a way to pull a few pranks and get some laughs, but now he was older they were brilliant way to relax and chat with folks he didn’t get to see in classes. And if he was really lucky, he might score a few new clients for his and Benjy’s smuggling business.
He had thrown on a fresh set of clothes, hidden a few bottles of firewhiskey and packets of cigarettes in his bag, and was heading though the Gryffindor common room to be on his way. He wasn’t sure where Remus, Sirius and James had gotten off to as he glanced around, but he did see the shock of familiar red hair in the corner which made him grin. Sidling over to Lily, he took a seat next to her, bowing his head a little in a mock greeting. “My fair lady Lily, would you mind lending your wits for a cause of great importance?” He smiled warmly, unable to manage a smirk at his teasing, too happy to have caught the opportunity to speak with Lily.
“I’m a little busy here, in case you missed the memo,” Amycus said, head ducked under the spray of the locker room shower as he tried to avoid getting suds in his mouth, before adding, “And standing there staring is probably not going to make me move faster.”
“Don’t you worry about rushing, I’m just gonna go smoke in the changing rooms, it’s pretty cold outside so...” Peter spoke loudly as he walked past the showers, only a slight blush on his cheeks at the embarrassment of being caught staring. He knew he probably should have just left, but it really was cold outside, and he didn’t fancy smoking in the rain. Lighting up a cigarette he took a seat in the changing area, laying down on the bench and staring up at the ceiling as he listened to the sound of the shower still going in the adjacent room.
“oh, i know i do.” she replies, glad at least that someone seems to have the right mind about the whole match. his question, however, is a hard one to answer. “the winner, usually. and don’t give me any shit about my house being sticks in the mud - if ravenclaw win today, you’d best believe i’ll have a hand in making it worth anyone’s while to be there. plus yellow is such an awfully garish colour, do you really want to be partying with a bunch of people dressed in yellow?”
“I would never dare call a Ravenclaw a stick in the mud, as far as I’ve found, Ravenclaw’s are often the most fun at parties.” He smirked, thinking about Benjy who he could always rely on for a good time. “Well then, I think I know who I’ll be routing for if that’s the case. I’m sure I can count on you for an invite, Laurel?”
“I’ll do my best but, I wouldn’t say I’m a favorite in their house at the moment,” They were a loyal family in Hufflepuff, not one he felt comfortable around any more, “Being with me’d probably be a bit of a detriment than anything.” Apart from the fact that Benjy had drugs there wasn’t a whole lot that might convince the Hufflepuffs to actually let him in to the party.
“Oh come now Benjy, you’re not a detriment to anything. In fact in my opinion you always make every party ten times more fun.” He nudged his shoulder lightly, tilting his head to the side to get a better look at him. “What happened? You look sad.”
“I mean… If you want my obviously unbiased opinion I think it’s gotta be Ravenclaw.”
“I do always love your unbiased opinion, Benjy dear. But the real question is, will you still help me sneak into the Hufflepuff victory party if the worst happens and you end up losing?”
laurel shrugs. “the sport itself? the sheer good looks of the players?” then her mind drifts a bit, and she grins. “the undeniably brilliant afterparty that’s sure to follow?”
“Now you’ve got me there.” He smirked, his mind drifting off to the bottle of firewhiskey he had smuggled in just for this occasion. “But who throws the best after party? Cause I’ve found each house does something different, and they all have pros and cons.”
“If you don’t feel like cheering for either of them, why should you cheer at all to begin with? It’s a bit fake, don’t you think? I mean… you don’t support either, so… don’t support either.“
“Oh yeah? Well, you make a valid point, but we can’t really skip the thing can we? And it’s way more interesting when you have someone to cheer for.”
“I think it’s obvious, Wormie,“ Sirius smirked knowingly, not quite answering the question itself for the sake of suspense. “When in doubt, you can always cheer on Sirius Black. In fact, I’d love that.”
“Oh of course, Padfoot.” Peter smirked, shoving Sirius in the shoulder lightly before motioning at grabbing his bag. “I better go run back to the castle and bring down my I love Sirius banner right away.” He let out a laugh, rolling his eyes and clutching his heart dramatically. “How could I have forgotten to boost your ego today of all days? Honestly, to think I’m slacking at my responsibilities.”
“Why should I care who you cheer for? Make up your mind.”
“Oh.. kay.” Peter frowned down at Narcissa, feeling a flush of embarrassment wash over him as he looked over at the pitch before turning back to her. “Well, what team are you cheering for?”
