Peter enters the bar and spots Anakin and his soup. Deciding that looks like a good idea, he orders a bowl himself. And hot chocolate. Because hot soup and hot chocolate go together.
Peter doesn't have to be asked twice. He sits down next to Anakin.
"I'm sorry you were worried while I was gone," he says at last. "I didn't want you to be. I just...had to talk to Dumbledore. Like you had to talk to Obi-Wan.
"And have you seen Ron? I haven't. Not since the transfusion last week. I think he's all right--I hope that Bill or Hermione would have come and got me if Ron had needed medical help--but I don't know, you see."
"Good." He lets out a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding. "I hadn't seen Bill, either." He looks up at Anakin. "He's a good man. He doesn't like me or trust me...but he believes me. That I'm changing. That I have changed. And--he refuses to judge." Gratitude shines in Peter's eyes.
"I know you worry. I worry about you and Val, too." And several hundred other people. "I'm flattered that you want to worry. It's just..." He has to think about this. "I don't want to hurt or scare you. Even indirectly. That's the best way I can put it."
"I've told you, Anakin. She and Obi-Wan frighten me. I don't know how to talk to them. I don't know what to say to them. Obi-Wan knows all about me before I even get started. And Padme's a senator and a queen. What in the name of the Force am I supposed to say to an aristocrat?"
The words "queen" and "aristocrat"--especially "aristocrat"--are tinged with terror. Anakin might notice a few images of aristocrats floating through Peter's mind--Bellatrix Black Lestrange smiling cruelly as she curses him with monstrosity; Lucius Malfoy, cursing him with Crucio with a dismissive flick of his wand; Sirius's and Regulus's mother, screeching at Peter and his friends with vituperative hatred.
"Neither of them will judge you. Obi-Wan knows I've taken you as my student, and will base his judgment on that. Padme's the sweetest woman in galaxy, really."
He sends a wave of comfort Peter's way. "Padme wasn't born noble, you know. She was elected Queen, and later Senator. She's no more aristocratic than you and I. Leia's more noble; she was adopted by actual royal."
"Elected?" Peter stares at Anakin. "How did she get elected queen? In my world, there's only two ways to become queen--be born princess and heir to the throne, or marry the king of wherever. In fact, Leia wouldn't be a princess in my world. She could be adopted by a king or a queen--no problem there--but she wouldn't gain a title when they adopted her. And she'd NEVER be considered part of the royal succession. Wrong bloodlines, you see."
He looks thoughtful. "The whole system sounds rather stupid, when I say it out loud."
"Elected." Anakin looks entirely non-plussed. "There are planets that held with hereditery thrones and powers, but most advanced systems made such things either ceremonial or merely titles long ago. The Naboo chose to convert the position to an elected one with a council of advisors."
"I don't think I come from an advanced system," Peter says, after pondering for a bit. "I mean, people from my world have just barely started exploring our moon.
"How did she get elected, by the way? I can't picture her travelling all over Naboo, telling people that she is so much better than her opponent and 'you should vote for me because.' And that's how elections run in my country. Most countries, really. Except that sometimes there's a revolution or a coup after elections."
Peter sighs. "No, I'll forego that, thank you. I mean, it's none of my business. And we'd both know it. She'd be too polite to say so, but it would still be true."
"She's young," Peter says softly. "Younger than me. She hasn't had her own children yet. She may not be comfortable with an immediate, older-than-her adopted son. You've seen. We can't talk to each other.
"Hello, Father," he says, smiling.
Reply
Reply
"I'm sorry you were worried while I was gone," he says at last. "I didn't want you to be. I just...had to talk to Dumbledore. Like you had to talk to Obi-Wan.
"And have you seen Ron? I haven't. Not since the transfusion last week. I think he's all right--I hope that Bill or Hermione would have come and got me if Ron had needed medical help--but I don't know, you see."
Reply
Anakin looks directly at Peter. "I understand. That doesn't mean I don't still worry. It's the priveliege of fathers to worry."
Reply
"I know you worry. I worry about you and Val, too." And several hundred other people. "I'm flattered that you want to worry. It's just..." He has to think about this. "I don't want to hurt or scare you. Even indirectly. That's the best way I can put it."
Then, very softly, "How's Padme?"
Reply
"Padme's well. She's started having a little stomach trouble, but it'll pass."
Anakin looks at him quizzically for a moment. "Why are you so nervous around her?"
Reply
The words "queen" and "aristocrat"--especially "aristocrat"--are tinged with terror. Anakin might notice a few images of aristocrats floating through Peter's mind--Bellatrix Black Lestrange smiling cruelly as she curses him with monstrosity; Lucius Malfoy, cursing him with Crucio with a dismissive flick of his wand; Sirius's and Regulus's mother, screeching at Peter and his friends with vituperative hatred.
Reply
He sends a wave of comfort Peter's way. "Padme wasn't born noble, you know. She was elected Queen, and later Senator. She's no more aristocratic than you and I. Leia's more noble; she was adopted by actual royal."
Reply
He looks thoughtful. "The whole system sounds rather stupid, when I say it out loud."
Reply
Reply
"How did she get elected, by the way? I can't picture her travelling all over Naboo, telling people that she is so much better than her opponent and 'you should vote for me because.' And that's how elections run in my country. Most countries, really. Except that sometimes there's a revolution or a coup after elections."
Reply
Reply
Reply
"She doesn't bite, you know."
Reply
"And I'm not so sure Liz loves me any longer."
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment