Chapter Text
“Sirius? Are you alright?” Peter. That was Wormtail, grasping him by the wrists. Of course sweet Peter was worrying about him. But Sirius didn’t deserve Peter.
He didn’t deserve any of them. “I shouldn’t be here,” he whispered.
“What, in Hogwarts?”
“In Gryffindor.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not brave. I’m not even good.” He couldn’t help the tears streaming down his face now.
Peter’s face grew impossibly soft. “Of course you’re good, Sirius.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
Sirius gritted his teeth. Trust Peter to be stubborn at a time like this. “You really, really don’t.”
“You helped me with that Transfiguration homework yesterday.” Peter said it so simply, like that really was enough to make Sirius a good person. “You’re a good friend. We’re lucky to have you.”
“Honestly, I think they should all be put down.”
“You can’t just say that, Crouch!” Peter’s voice was incredulous, and Sirius winced at the tone. He tried to signal to his friend to calm down.
“They’re monsters, Pettigrew.”
“They only transform one night a month. If we gave them proper support during that time, they-”
“They’d kill someone,” Barty interrupted. “Merlin, Pettigrew. You sound like you want to be best friends with a werewolf. Are you that loony?”
Sirius grabbed Peter by the arm before he could say anything more incriminating.
“Sirius!” Peter hissed. “We can’t just let him say that stuff-”
“We can and we will. You’re drawing attention to us, Wormtail.”
“He’s right, Black.”
Sirius swung around to face one Lily Evans. “Pardon?”
“Peter’s right to stand up to Barty. Do you know how poorly the wizarding world treats werewolves? They’re treated like they’re not even human. We should all be saying it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Unless you agree with Crouch?”
“Of course not!” Sirius squawked. “I just don’t think there’s any point in arguing with people like him.”
“I think that’s where you’re wrong. Lots of his housemates would say the same stuff about me, you know.” Her tone was light, but Sirius still winced.
“I’d box them in the face for that, Lily,” Peter proclaimed.
Lily offered him a smile for that. Then she turned her accusing gaze on Sirius. For a moment, Sirius almost imagined that he would rather face his mother than an irate Lily Evans. “What about you, Black? Do you think there’s no point arguing that I’m just as human as you are?”
Sirius flushed. “You know I don’t think that, Evans. I just don’t want Peter to get hurt.”
“I still can’t believe Prongs is getting married”, Remus huffed. The cold air of the night was visible in his breath. “And to Lily Evans. Honestly. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“I still can’t believe he didn’t pick me for best man,” Sirius moaned. “I’d pick him!”
“You’d pick him over me?” Remus raised an eyebrow. “Good to know. I suppose I won’t pick you, so.”
I’d much rather be the one marrying you than be your best man, Sirius thought but didn’t say. He was getting good at that. Instead, what he said was this; “At least do me the courtesy of picking Prongs. I can’t lose out to Wormy again.”
“He is a good friend,” Remus mused. “Much better than you.”
Sirius knocked his shoulder lightly into Remus’s. “I never claimed to be better than Peter. We all know he’s an angel. The light in the darkness. Whatever.”
“Well, I’m not sure I’d go that far. This is the same man who dated Mary and her twin sister at the same time.”
Sirius whistled, slow and low. “I still can’t believe that worked. How did he get away with that?”
Remus shrugged. “He’s Peter. What else is there to say?”
Sirius laughed suddenly, a deep, wheezing laugh. “Do you remember - before we became Animagi- how we used to brew Polyjuice potion - and Peter would pretend to be you during the full moon?”
A broad grin overtook Remus’ features. “Yes. It worked brilliantly, really. Except when he took that Charms test for me. That did not end well.”
“What about when he kissed Mary for you?”
Now, Remus looked confused. “When was this? What are you talking about, Sirius?”
“Do you not remember when Mary McDonald was in love with you in third year?” Sirius waited for Remus to nod. “Well, one day, she kissed Peter, thinking he was you. Then she seemed to fall out of love with you very quickly.”
“Well, no wonder. Seeing as this is the first I’ve heard of the whole thing, I imagine she thought I snubbed her.” Remus ran a hand through his hair. “Do you think I ought to apologise to her? God, I can’t believe Peter never told me.” He whacked Sirius. “I can’t believe you never told me!”
In truth, Sirius had been worried that Remus might try his shot with Mary. Or any girl, really. Aged thirteen, he had readily agreed to keep quiet when Peter had begged him not to tell Remus. Six years later, he only wanted his friend to find happiness, seeing as Sirius himself would likely never have it.
“Well, she’s single now.” Sirius waggled his eyebrows.
“I doubt Mary McDonald will ever date a Marauder again in her life,” Remus chuckled.
“Oi, Prongs?”
“Yeah, mate?”
“Can I be godfather?”
James turned to Sirius with a dopey smile on his face. “You do know it’s traditional for the parents to ask?”
Sirius scowled. “Well, I just thought if I wanted to get in ahead of Pete-”
James burst out laughing. “Merlin, Padfoot. As if I’d make Pete godfather of my firstborn. The man hates children. Moony is bigger competition than Pete.”
“Well-” Sirius huffed. “Pick me, you bloody arse.”
James swung an arm around Sirius’ shoulder. “When you put it like that…”
Sirius shoved him off. “Well?”
“Of course you can be godfather, Pads. You’re my best friend, and I know you’ll love baby Severus like your own child.”
“Severus Potter?”
Sirius had noticed a shift in all his friends. James Potter was far removed from the prankster extraordinaire of their youth. He had become serious and pensive, and a downright paranoiac since it had come to light that Voldemort was after his baby boy. Peter was quieter and more skittish. He always looked ready to bolt the second a meeting was over.
But Remus? Remus came alive with war. He took to battle like he had been born to do nothing else. Sirius found himself almost afraid of the man he loved at times.