AU where he doesn't betray the Potters
this is gonna be goooooood
1) Peter has always been self-conscious about whether the Marauders really like him or not, and therefore he often found himself questioning everything they ever said to him. But, there was one day that he really realized how much they gave a shit. It was Lily and James’ wedding month, and the Potter household was ridiculously stressful. Sirius was going about trying to take all responsibilities from Lily (as he should be doing, as best man) and Remus was helping Lily with smaller tasks such as RSVPs and seating arrangements. It was at this time that James approached Peter and asked him to give a speech during the reception. Peter just about fucking lost it. He had no concept of how to give a speech, and he had no idea that James and Lily actually wanted to hear him talk. After all, he was the single worst in their group at talking in public. Or at all.
2) After the wedding, Peter really began to feel like apart of the Marauders for the first time in years. They all went out to the pub weekly, they had Sunday brunches at the Potter household– they would practically take any rhyme or reason to get together and be a unit. Peter assumed that would change when the families came along. He and Amelia got married (much to nobody’s surprise because he asked everyone’s opinion of the moment before he proposed) and had just had their first child, with a second on the way. Nobody expected Pete to fall into parenthood as easily as he did, because he began to prioritize Amelia and their daughter much more than the boys. Of course, they noticed. Since Harry was a little older now, Sunday brunches were moved to the Pettigrew’s for the time being, to make things easier for Amelia.
3) The day that Wolfsbane potion was released was an unbelievable day for the Marauders. Remus was the last one to discover, obviously, because he hated cure searching. He had given up the hunt long ago at this point. This caused for James, Peter, and Sirius all disapparating to his house within ten minutes of each other screaming about this amazing new temporary antidote. Peter knew, however, this meant they would not be spending full moons together anymore. Remus simply shook his head, and told them they were welcome to spend any and every full moon with him– regardless of his state. This was also the day that Remus proposed to his future spouse ((honestly i have zero idea who it would be tbh)) and asked Pete to be his best man. Also known as, the day Pete cried in front of all his mates.
4) Harry was the first one to be sent of to Hogwarts, followed closely after by all the other Marauders’ children. After four years, there was finally a break– all the children were gone at school, and all the Marauders were left alone with each other and their partners. This was when their friendship roared. They fell into a habit of spending five out of seven nights a week together, watching muggle movies or drinking themselves to death, most often reminiscing of old Hogwarts years. This was the point in Peter’s life where he, not once, questioned his friendship to the boys. He knew they loved him no matter what, and he felt the same (if not stronger) feelings towards them.
5) This bond lasted a lifetime, and Peter never felt unloved. However, all good things come to an end. Remus was the first to go. His body gave out early for his age, due to all the stress it had to undergo in his early life. The boys were devastated, wounded. They felt weaker without Remus. He was their heart, the one who brought them back down when they got too worked up– the one who reminded them what it was like to be people. Another decade passes, and Sirius dies in an tragic accident. Nobody sees it coming, but it takes an awful blow the Peter and James. However, in this, they grow closer. They find comfort in each other’s memory– trying so desperately to hold onto the past. It doesn’t work. In just another five years, James falls awfully ill. Peter is almost angry, at this point. He’s angry that his best friend let himself get sick like this, and he’s angry because he can’t remember all their awful shenanigans by himself. Nonetheless, Peter is able to give James a proper goodbye. Peter is the last one standing, the lasting legacy, the only Marauder remaining. Another decade passes before he dies, alone and without his boys. But even when he was alone, he was surrounded by their families. The Marauders by chance, the Marauders by extension– the ones he grew so close to in the absence of his best friends. There was a smile on his face when he died, because he had not felt lonely for decades now– and he died truly happy.
{ @jamesprongster @pxdfxot @sensiblemoony }
