rarepair_shorts | FICLET: Gryffindor Courage (Remus/Peter) PG

Title: Gryffindor Courage
Character Pairing: Remus Lupin/Peter Pettigrew
Prompt: 3. he didn't look back
Rating: PG
WC: 599
Summary: A chance encounter sets Peter's feet on a downward path.
Author's Notes: Thanks to

severity_softly for inspiring my Lupigrew love and beta-reading. I'm doing the prompts as a series, and this one is setting it all up. This is 3/13.
Link to Prompt Table: http://innerslytherin.livejournal.com/842995.html

Peter had known, from the first time he kissed Remus Lupin, that he would do anything to keep him safe.

No, that wasn't true. He'd known it from the moment he met Remus on the train, a frail boy more timid even than Peter, who had blossomed in the sunlight of James' and Sirius' and Peter's attention. Finding out a few years later that Remus was a werewolf had only solidified that desire--that a sweet, good-natured boy like Remus could be a dangerous monster was just inconceivable.

So on a sultry day towards the end of Summer Term their seventh year, when Severus Snape ambushed Remus and hit him with a curse that dropped him to the ground, writhing in pain, Peter Pettigrew found his mettle.

Not knowing the counter-curse, Peter narrowed his eyes at the way Snape sniggered unpleasantly over them. A moment later Peter lunged for him, the surprise move carrying Snape down onto his back with Peter's wand digging into his throat.

"Do the counter," Peter hissed.

"Won't--" Snape grunted.

"Do it, or I'll kill you, Snape." Peter pushed harder, watching his wandtip denting Snape's soft flesh. Snape gasped out the countercurse and Remus stopped making those pained noises, but Peter and Snape didn't move.

"You wouldn't have done it," Snape said finally, pushing him off.

"Don't count on that." Peter's eyes felt tight as he glared at the other boy. "And don't push me, Snape." He lowered his voice. "He'll never hurt you, which you should know by now, if you weren't such a coward. But for every curse he takes silently, I'll make you pay twice. Whether you cast it or not."

Snape's dark eyes were cold, his chest heaving, as he held Peter's gaze. After a long silence, he left.

Peter knelt over Remus, who had relaxed and was catching his breath.

"All right?" He rested gentle fingers on his boyfriend's chest, watching him.

"How'd you--stop him?" Remus gasped. He didn't open his eyes, but a hand crept up to cover Peter's.

"Lucky, I suppose." If Remus hadn't noticed their exchange, Peter wasn't going to enlighten him. "Can you stand?"

"In a moment." Remus pulled Peter close and kissed him. "You're brave, Pete." He opened his eyes and smiled, his free hand lifting to trace Peter's cheek. "Taking on Snape for my sake."

Peter kissed him and sighed. "You always think the best of me. I'm so lucky to have you."

Remus' laughter was instant and genuine. "I hope you always feel that way."

Later that evening, Peter was walking out alone from dinner when someone hissed at him. Peter turned to look, and Evan Rosier was leaning in a window alcove, smoking a cigarette. Peter frowned and glanced around them, his hand going to his wand.

"Heard what you did to Severus today," Evan said, watching him. There was no emotion on his face.

Peter moved a little closer. "I didn't start it."

"Of course you didn't. You care about your friends, that's all." Evan smiled. It was a supremely insincere expression. "You want to protect that sickly one--Lupin."

Peter held his breath.

"The world's a ugly place just now, Pettigrew. Especially for sickly half-bloods like him." Evan exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Bad things can happen."

"Fuck off, Rosier!" Peter managed. He felt cold. He wished James or Sirius were here.

Evan flicked his cigarette away, ice-blue gaze on Peter's face. "You can protect him. If you're brave enough, little Gryffindor."

Peter didn't speak. It was difficult to breathe.

Evan smiled. "I know Someone you should meet."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

lordhellebore

Ouch. Ouch, you're so evil *sigh* I ike it, loads. But it hurts.

From:

innerslytherin

Thanks! It's a very angsty pairing, isn't it? *hugs*

From:

lordhellebore

Yes, very angsty! Aren't there some AUs with happy endings? *wibbles* I see it coming, I'll have to write one myself...in a gazillion years, when all other plotbunnies are done.