Marauders drabbles
For the everything old is new again challenge :
Title : Could have been me
Rating : G
Characters/Pairings : Sirius, Peter and Remus
Length: 3x100 words
Summary: Reasons to hate Snape
People don’t hate what’s alien to them. They hate what hits too close.
He had loathed the skinny boy from his first curse uttered. Stepping from the gathered bystanders, he had, with a few ridiculing words, stolen Snape’s thunder. Dark Arts, regardless what those children thought, was not cool. It was a tool for hurt and power. Sirius knew too well.
Years later, seeing Snape amid the usual sneering faces of the Pure Blood club, he still thought, recoiling with revulsion. This could have been me.
The thought turned bitter when Regulus eagerly joined them, trusting Snape like a brother.
* * *
Peter’s hatred had never been personal. Any laughter, hex or insult was done with the casual logic of childhood’s hierarchical order. After all, Peter knew very well that he could have been that lonely, spiteful, fuming boy backed up against the wall.
Could still be, if ever he forgot his place.
Snape was stupid. After all, Peter was just as intelligent, poor, and ugly as Snape was. But Peter never let his pride stand in the way of his ambitions.
That remained true twenty years later. And Peter hated because, despite this, Snape still thought he was better than him.
* * *
Hatred was a luxury a werewolf couldn’t afford. Remus usually found indirect ways to avenge slights anyway.
He teased out of habit, chatted out of curiosity, acted civil out of respect for the spy. Overall, he would only admit indifference to Snape.
When Snape finally did something worthy of hatred, he was surprised by how betrayed he felt.
Maybe, returning from another spying mission that left him wearied, jaded and wondering why he cared for a world to which he scarcely belonged, he needed the hatred to stir his apathy. This could have been him.
Compassion was a luxury too.
Title : Brothers
Rating : G
Characters/Pairings : Sirius (James, Peter, Remus & Regulus)
Length: 200 words
Summary: Sirius thinks of his friends as brothers
Sirius thinks of his friends as brothers.
James, James is everything he ever wanted in a brother. He’s the wonder-filled fantasies of heroic adventures, ever ready for an escapade thought Hogwarts’ maze-like walkways, to become pirates, knights, rogues, half-gods. James is, Sirius thinks, his friend, his brother, his other self and soul-mate.
He thinks of Peter as a younger brother, though Peter is no younger than him. Maybe it’s the way that Peter always looks for them for protection. Maybe it’s because of his adorable clumsiness. Or simply because Peter is always ready to cheer them on, egging them on to more mischief. There’s something in Peter’s eyes that reminds Sirius of Regulus’ adoration when he was very young.
It’s Remus, though, who’s like Regulus, Sirius thinks. Remus who hoards secrets like magpies keep gold, Remus whose shyness hides surprising wickedness, Remus who bows to authority but follows Sirius nonetheless. Whenever Remus speaks about rules, about what adults say, about being careful, all that Sirius hears is Regulus’ voice parroting back Mother’s rebuke and his throat tightens a little.
Maybe that’s why he never can trust Remus totally.
Sirius had a true brother, once, but blood is a perpetual wound.
Title : Heroes and villains
Rating : G
Characters/Pairings : Peter
Length: 200 words
Summary: Peter always wanted heroes
Peter was as simple boy with simple wants. He’d never wanted to be a hero - you must remember that - but Peter wanted heroes. Spread across the page in full colours, for him to worship and root for. “Gryffindor” roared the Hat and he was led into the House of giants, where valour was ordinary and virtue commonplace. It was bright and blinding, and Peter was utterly happy.
Beyond Seventh year, all colours paled, all figures shrunk. The war was grey and daunting, and full of uncertainties. Former enemies turned allies, and comrades became enemies.
When Voldemort’s scavengers came for him, Peter expected his old friends to save him. James and Sirius were heroes, bright and clever. They’d figure out something was wrong with Peter’s behaviour. He waited and waited but his friends never got a clue, too busy were they with James’ wedding and Lily’s pregnancy and the war’s gloomy clout.
Peter finally realised his heroes had failed him when Sirius asked him to be Secret Keeper. Peter may have betrayed them, but they’d been the first betrayers - you must remember that.
Peter was no hero, but if he was to be a villain, then he’d be a good villain.
Title : Could have been me
Rating : G
Characters/Pairings : Sirius, Peter and Remus
Length: 3x100 words
Summary: Reasons to hate Snape
People don’t hate what’s alien to them. They hate what hits too close.
He had loathed the skinny boy from his first curse uttered. Stepping from the gathered bystanders, he had, with a few ridiculing words, stolen Snape’s thunder. Dark Arts, regardless what those children thought, was not cool. It was a tool for hurt and power. Sirius knew too well.
Years later, seeing Snape amid the usual sneering faces of the Pure Blood club, he still thought, recoiling with revulsion. This could have been me.
The thought turned bitter when Regulus eagerly joined them, trusting Snape like a brother.
* * *
Peter’s hatred had never been personal. Any laughter, hex or insult was done with the casual logic of childhood’s hierarchical order. After all, Peter knew very well that he could have been that lonely, spiteful, fuming boy backed up against the wall.
Could still be, if ever he forgot his place.
Snape was stupid. After all, Peter was just as intelligent, poor, and ugly as Snape was. But Peter never let his pride stand in the way of his ambitions.
That remained true twenty years later. And Peter hated because, despite this, Snape still thought he was better than him.
* * *
Hatred was a luxury a werewolf couldn’t afford. Remus usually found indirect ways to avenge slights anyway.
He teased out of habit, chatted out of curiosity, acted civil out of respect for the spy. Overall, he would only admit indifference to Snape.
When Snape finally did something worthy of hatred, he was surprised by how betrayed he felt.
Maybe, returning from another spying mission that left him wearied, jaded and wondering why he cared for a world to which he scarcely belonged, he needed the hatred to stir his apathy. This could have been him.
Compassion was a luxury too.
Title : Brothers
Rating : G
Characters/Pairings : Sirius (James, Peter, Remus & Regulus)
Length: 200 words
Summary: Sirius thinks of his friends as brothers
Sirius thinks of his friends as brothers.
James, James is everything he ever wanted in a brother. He’s the wonder-filled fantasies of heroic adventures, ever ready for an escapade thought Hogwarts’ maze-like walkways, to become pirates, knights, rogues, half-gods. James is, Sirius thinks, his friend, his brother, his other self and soul-mate.
He thinks of Peter as a younger brother, though Peter is no younger than him. Maybe it’s the way that Peter always looks for them for protection. Maybe it’s because of his adorable clumsiness. Or simply because Peter is always ready to cheer them on, egging them on to more mischief. There’s something in Peter’s eyes that reminds Sirius of Regulus’ adoration when he was very young.
It’s Remus, though, who’s like Regulus, Sirius thinks. Remus who hoards secrets like magpies keep gold, Remus whose shyness hides surprising wickedness, Remus who bows to authority but follows Sirius nonetheless. Whenever Remus speaks about rules, about what adults say, about being careful, all that Sirius hears is Regulus’ voice parroting back Mother’s rebuke and his throat tightens a little.
Maybe that’s why he never can trust Remus totally.
Sirius had a true brother, once, but blood is a perpetual wound.
Title : Heroes and villains
Rating : G
Characters/Pairings : Peter
Length: 200 words
Summary: Peter always wanted heroes
Peter was as simple boy with simple wants. He’d never wanted to be a hero - you must remember that - but Peter wanted heroes. Spread across the page in full colours, for him to worship and root for. “Gryffindor” roared the Hat and he was led into the House of giants, where valour was ordinary and virtue commonplace. It was bright and blinding, and Peter was utterly happy.
Beyond Seventh year, all colours paled, all figures shrunk. The war was grey and daunting, and full of uncertainties. Former enemies turned allies, and comrades became enemies.
When Voldemort’s scavengers came for him, Peter expected his old friends to save him. James and Sirius were heroes, bright and clever. They’d figure out something was wrong with Peter’s behaviour. He waited and waited but his friends never got a clue, too busy were they with James’ wedding and Lily’s pregnancy and the war’s gloomy clout.
Peter finally realised his heroes had failed him when Sirius asked him to be Secret Keeper. Peter may have betrayed them, but they’d been the first betrayers - you must remember that.
Peter was no hero, but if he was to be a villain, then he’d be a good villain.