FIC: The Only Things That Counts
Title: The Only Thing That Counts
Author: Lee West westwardlee
Characters: Peter, Sirius, Remus and James
Summary: For Peter, survival is the only thing that counts.
Prompt: "When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts." -- Michael Ende at hp_darkfest, here
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
HUGE thanks to my beta, iamisaac, who went way beyond the call of duty with this story. It really wouldn't have happened without her.
***
1. Prologue
Peter
He wasn't the smartest of them all, but Peter had an advantage over his friends: he didn't trust people.
They did, though. They trusted each other - and him - blindly. James, because he had been brought up like that. Sirius because he would trust anyone who didn't share his family's values. And Remus probably out of gratitude.
None of them could imagine that Peter would ever be able to betray them.
***
2. The Sorting
Sirius
Peter watched the students being sorted before him. He had no House preferences, although he knew he probably wouldn't get into Ravenclaw. He was clever, but not as much as the kind that usually got sorted there.
At eleven he didn't have a good grasp of his own character, but he recalled his parents telling him he was an ambitious young wizard and he would go places if he dedicated himself to the task. Ambition was a Slytherin quality, and he wondered if he would be sorted there, and what it would be like. He might fit there.
He didn't consider himself to be way too courageous - he was deathly afraid of dragons, for instance, but he suspected that every eleven-year old was afraid of dragons. So there was a chance he could go to Gryffindor, he reckoned.
And what about Hufflepuff? They were supposed to be loyal, weren't they? And he was loyal to his friends, he was sure of that, although they called him a telltale once in a while. Well, you were loyal to a certain point - if the choice was between telling on his friends and getting grounded, he would, of course, choose the first.
But everyone would do the same, right? It was a matter of survival.
He came back from his reverie when he heard a gasp and some tuts of disapproval, those echoing from the Slytherin table. He saw a black-haired boy coming off the stool; he placed the hat on it and walked with a triumphant smile towards the Gryffindor table. Peter didn't know what the matter was until he heard another black-haired boy, who was right behind him in the sorting line, give a little "Whoop!" and comment that it was probably the first time a Black didn't get sorted into Slytherin.
Peter knew all about the Blacks. So the grinning boy who had just sat at the Gryffindor table was a Black. Why was he so happy? If Peter was a Black and had not got sorted into Slytherin, he would probably be crying now.
***
The Hat took quite a long time to decide where to sort Peter, and it kept asking him the same questions he'd asked himself already - was he clever? Was he very courageous? Was he ambitious enough to go to Slytherin? Was he loyal?
Peter was sure the Hat would decide on loyalty, because, at that moment, he was not feeling very clever or brave or ambitious, so he was surprised when he heard it shout, "GRYFFINDOR!" A little reticently, he stepped down and had not even got to his seat when the other black-haired boy took a seat on the stool and the word "GRYFFINDOR!" was heard before the boy even had the chance of putting the Hat on his head.
***
That night, in their dorm room, the Black boy, whose name was Sirius, announced proudly that he was very happy being in Gryffindor. He hated his family and he didn't trust anyone in Slytherin.
Peter decided it was not a good time to let his new friends know that the Hat had considered putting him in Slytherin.
***
3. Animagi
Remus
At first Peter was very excited with the idea of becoming an Animagus, but, as the plan took shape and it really looked like they would indeed succeed, he started getting cold feet. It was against the law, to start with. And even the fact that a professor might catch them in the act was reason enough not to do it - they could get expelled just for trying.
But the truth was that Peter would never face James or Sirius with his concerns. They would certainly dismiss his opinions as they did so often. So he tried to slow down the process, making sure that it took him longer than necessary to follow each step.
He sensed James's frustration with him and Sirius's increasing sarcasm whenever Peter claimed to need just a little more time. But Peter didn't care - he'd rather be called slow than let his friends know that he was, in a way, sabotaging the whole process. They would understand the first, especially because they knew that they were on a league of their own in terms of intelligence, but they would never forgive the latter.
***
Peter was a bit disappointed that his Animagus was a rat. He expected something a little grander, but Remus, who was beaming with pleasure when he saw the three Animagi, told him that the rat would be a very special part of the process. It was small enough that it could scurry and hide in places where it could eavesdrop on the "enemy," (usually Snape). And the rat would be able to hit the knob on the Whomping Willow so that all the four friends could be together when Remus transformed.
Peter nodded reluctantly, a bit more uncomfortable about the little detail he had forgotten: he would be face to face with a werewolf. What would be the animal's reaction? If he bit the rat, that would be the end of Peter, too, wouldn't it? But he took some solace on the fact that he could indeed scurry and hide in a hole, while the stag and the dog wouldn't. The werewolf would have bigger prey, if he so desired. He smiled more happily at Remus, who declared that he had the best mates anyone could have. He was very grateful for what they had done for him. It was something he would never forget and they could count on him forever.
***
4. The Secret Keeper
James
In retrospect, it had been easier than he had thought. James and Sirius were like brothers, and Peter knew he could never render them asunder. It had also paid in the end to be considered the weakest spot in the group, because nobody could imagine that Peter would have it in himself to betray his friend - after all, during their school days, he had hero-worshipped James.
So the only one left was Remus. In the beginning, both James and Sirius had been appalled at the suggestion that Moony was the traitor. James affirmed that he knew Remus extremely well, and, together with Sirius and Peter, they were like brothers. Peter, with a somber face, mumbled that Regulus was Sirius's brother and they all knew on which side the younger Black was.
It was a little seed, but it worked. The calumny grew in Sirius's mind and, once it had taken hold, it occupied his brain. The only thing that Sirius thought about was to protect James and his family, even at the expense of his own life.
Peter, who had been planning how to convince James, found out that his job was unnecessary. The thing that James and Sirius held most dear, loyalty for their friends, had suffered a severe blow with just a few well-placed words.
Peter managed to bite back a smile when Sirius suggested the Potters used Wormtail as the Secret Keeper. He made a contrite face when James thanked him for his help.
So easy!
***
5. Epilogue
Peter
He may be living as a rat, but the important thing is that he's living. And proud of what he accomplished: he fooled the cleverest students of his class and everyone else who thought he was not of the same caliber. As an added bonus, he had also received the Order of Merlin posthumously and was considered a hero.
And all he lost was a finger, which was not much use to him anyway.
Life as a pet rat is not that bad, Peter muses, as Ron feeds him morsels from the table. He can't do magic, of course, but he doesn't need it. He eats, sleeps and, once in a while, gets his head petted. Maybe one day in the very distant future, he'll run away to a foreign country and resume life as a wizard. He'll choose a place where nobody knows him and anyway by then he'll look older and quite different from his younger self. Maybe by the time this last Weasley boy gets out of school - that should give him enough time.
And, even if he doesn't look too different, who would recognize him? His mother was already very old and apparently the news of his "death" took a huge toll on her. He heard she had been taken to St. Mungo's, but had never heard whether she left or not. James is dead, Sirius is in Azkaban, and Remus will never be running in the same circles as he.
He can afford a few more years as a rat. He's alive. And that is the only thing that counts.
Author: Lee West westwardlee
Characters: Peter, Sirius, Remus and James
Summary: For Peter, survival is the only thing that counts.
Prompt: "When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts." -- Michael Ende at hp_darkfest, here
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
HUGE thanks to my beta, iamisaac, who went way beyond the call of duty with this story. It really wouldn't have happened without her.
***
1. Prologue
Peter
He wasn't the smartest of them all, but Peter had an advantage over his friends: he didn't trust people.
They did, though. They trusted each other - and him - blindly. James, because he had been brought up like that. Sirius because he would trust anyone who didn't share his family's values. And Remus probably out of gratitude.
None of them could imagine that Peter would ever be able to betray them.
***
2. The Sorting
Sirius
Peter watched the students being sorted before him. He had no House preferences, although he knew he probably wouldn't get into Ravenclaw. He was clever, but not as much as the kind that usually got sorted there.
At eleven he didn't have a good grasp of his own character, but he recalled his parents telling him he was an ambitious young wizard and he would go places if he dedicated himself to the task. Ambition was a Slytherin quality, and he wondered if he would be sorted there, and what it would be like. He might fit there.
He didn't consider himself to be way too courageous - he was deathly afraid of dragons, for instance, but he suspected that every eleven-year old was afraid of dragons. So there was a chance he could go to Gryffindor, he reckoned.
And what about Hufflepuff? They were supposed to be loyal, weren't they? And he was loyal to his friends, he was sure of that, although they called him a telltale once in a while. Well, you were loyal to a certain point - if the choice was between telling on his friends and getting grounded, he would, of course, choose the first.
But everyone would do the same, right? It was a matter of survival.
He came back from his reverie when he heard a gasp and some tuts of disapproval, those echoing from the Slytherin table. He saw a black-haired boy coming off the stool; he placed the hat on it and walked with a triumphant smile towards the Gryffindor table. Peter didn't know what the matter was until he heard another black-haired boy, who was right behind him in the sorting line, give a little "Whoop!" and comment that it was probably the first time a Black didn't get sorted into Slytherin.
Peter knew all about the Blacks. So the grinning boy who had just sat at the Gryffindor table was a Black. Why was he so happy? If Peter was a Black and had not got sorted into Slytherin, he would probably be crying now.
***
The Hat took quite a long time to decide where to sort Peter, and it kept asking him the same questions he'd asked himself already - was he clever? Was he very courageous? Was he ambitious enough to go to Slytherin? Was he loyal?
Peter was sure the Hat would decide on loyalty, because, at that moment, he was not feeling very clever or brave or ambitious, so he was surprised when he heard it shout, "GRYFFINDOR!" A little reticently, he stepped down and had not even got to his seat when the other black-haired boy took a seat on the stool and the word "GRYFFINDOR!" was heard before the boy even had the chance of putting the Hat on his head.
***
That night, in their dorm room, the Black boy, whose name was Sirius, announced proudly that he was very happy being in Gryffindor. He hated his family and he didn't trust anyone in Slytherin.
Peter decided it was not a good time to let his new friends know that the Hat had considered putting him in Slytherin.
***
3. Animagi
Remus
At first Peter was very excited with the idea of becoming an Animagus, but, as the plan took shape and it really looked like they would indeed succeed, he started getting cold feet. It was against the law, to start with. And even the fact that a professor might catch them in the act was reason enough not to do it - they could get expelled just for trying.
But the truth was that Peter would never face James or Sirius with his concerns. They would certainly dismiss his opinions as they did so often. So he tried to slow down the process, making sure that it took him longer than necessary to follow each step.
He sensed James's frustration with him and Sirius's increasing sarcasm whenever Peter claimed to need just a little more time. But Peter didn't care - he'd rather be called slow than let his friends know that he was, in a way, sabotaging the whole process. They would understand the first, especially because they knew that they were on a league of their own in terms of intelligence, but they would never forgive the latter.
***
Peter was a bit disappointed that his Animagus was a rat. He expected something a little grander, but Remus, who was beaming with pleasure when he saw the three Animagi, told him that the rat would be a very special part of the process. It was small enough that it could scurry and hide in places where it could eavesdrop on the "enemy," (usually Snape). And the rat would be able to hit the knob on the Whomping Willow so that all the four friends could be together when Remus transformed.
Peter nodded reluctantly, a bit more uncomfortable about the little detail he had forgotten: he would be face to face with a werewolf. What would be the animal's reaction? If he bit the rat, that would be the end of Peter, too, wouldn't it? But he took some solace on the fact that he could indeed scurry and hide in a hole, while the stag and the dog wouldn't. The werewolf would have bigger prey, if he so desired. He smiled more happily at Remus, who declared that he had the best mates anyone could have. He was very grateful for what they had done for him. It was something he would never forget and they could count on him forever.
***
4. The Secret Keeper
James
In retrospect, it had been easier than he had thought. James and Sirius were like brothers, and Peter knew he could never render them asunder. It had also paid in the end to be considered the weakest spot in the group, because nobody could imagine that Peter would have it in himself to betray his friend - after all, during their school days, he had hero-worshipped James.
So the only one left was Remus. In the beginning, both James and Sirius had been appalled at the suggestion that Moony was the traitor. James affirmed that he knew Remus extremely well, and, together with Sirius and Peter, they were like brothers. Peter, with a somber face, mumbled that Regulus was Sirius's brother and they all knew on which side the younger Black was.
It was a little seed, but it worked. The calumny grew in Sirius's mind and, once it had taken hold, it occupied his brain. The only thing that Sirius thought about was to protect James and his family, even at the expense of his own life.
Peter, who had been planning how to convince James, found out that his job was unnecessary. The thing that James and Sirius held most dear, loyalty for their friends, had suffered a severe blow with just a few well-placed words.
Peter managed to bite back a smile when Sirius suggested the Potters used Wormtail as the Secret Keeper. He made a contrite face when James thanked him for his help.
So easy!
***
5. Epilogue
Peter
He may be living as a rat, but the important thing is that he's living. And proud of what he accomplished: he fooled the cleverest students of his class and everyone else who thought he was not of the same caliber. As an added bonus, he had also received the Order of Merlin posthumously and was considered a hero.
And all he lost was a finger, which was not much use to him anyway.
Life as a pet rat is not that bad, Peter muses, as Ron feeds him morsels from the table. He can't do magic, of course, but he doesn't need it. He eats, sleeps and, once in a while, gets his head petted. Maybe one day in the very distant future, he'll run away to a foreign country and resume life as a wizard. He'll choose a place where nobody knows him and anyway by then he'll look older and quite different from his younger self. Maybe by the time this last Weasley boy gets out of school - that should give him enough time.
And, even if he doesn't look too different, who would recognize him? His mother was already very old and apparently the news of his "death" took a huge toll on her. He heard she had been taken to St. Mungo's, but had never heard whether she left or not. James is dead, Sirius is in Azkaban, and Remus will never be running in the same circles as he.
He can afford a few more years as a rat. He's alive. And that is the only thing that counts.