From Out of the Past Is the Future Born

Chapter Six

Peter followed James through the portrait hole, clutching the bag full of bottles of alcohol.

"We have drinks!" James announced to the common room.

Peter grinned as students swarmed him and James as they set the bags down onto a table. He grabbed himself a butterbeer and followed James over to the fireplace with Lily, Mae, Sirius, and Remus.

He watched happily as Sirius opened a bottle of Firewhiskey and began pouring six glasses. Sirius passed out the glasses and wrapped his free arm around Mae's waist. Peter watched curiously as he noticed Mae pull away slightly. She'd been acting strange lately...

He tore his attention away from the two of them as Remus cleared his throat.

"Here's to having made it through these past seven years with five of the best friends a guy could ask for," Remus said, raising his glass.

"Here's to," Sirius added, "having survived together seven years of screwed-up potions, backfired hexes, jinxed armchairs, and Binns' monotone drones."

They all looked to Peter next. He cleared his throat before saying, "Here's to you guys, having taken me under your wing. One day, I shall be the one saving your skins." Everyone laughed, then looked to Lily and Mae.

Lily blushed and said, "Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but you all have made life interesting, and introduced me to mischief... I do appreciate that!"

Peter scuffed his toe along the floor and grinned as everyone turned their attention to Mae, who looked nervous--completely unlike her, he noted.

Mae cleared her throat, "Well, I'll just make this short and sweet. I love you all. You're the greatest friends ever..." Peter noticed she ended with a glance up at Sirius.

Something's definitely not right with her, he thought.

James moved to stand in front of the fire, across from Lily. He cleared his throat, ran his free hand through his hair, and said, "Here is to those of you who have shown me what my life is meant for. You've all given me something to fight for. I thank you for that."

He smiled around at his friends. "Cheers."

Peter drained his glass and watched discreetly as Mae only pretended to take a sip.

He shrugged it off and watched his friends. They were all so bold and brave. James and Sirius were to start Auror training shortly after leaving Hogwarts. Remus was trying to find a job. Lily was going to spend her time working with the Order, at least until she could figure out what she wanted to do. Even Mae was throwing around the idea of being an Auror. He wondered what she would end up doing.

But he, Peter Pettigrew, had landed a boring, parchment-pushing job in Fudge's office. How brave did you have to be for that? Not very.

I'll figure something out, he thought. Dumbledore did ask me to be in the Order as well. And I am a Gryffindor. That must mean something.

I will be the one saving their skins someday.

*****

Mister Pettigrew,

I am pleased to say that your service to me of the last ten years has been extraordinary. With my new position as Minister of Magic, I feel it only appropriate that I give you compensation for your hard work and dedication. You will receive a bonus of 100 galleons and then a raise of 75 galleons.

Your new title will be Chief Administrator to the Minister of Magic.

Congratulations,

Sincerely,

Cornelius O. Fudge

Minister of Magic

Peter set the letter down on his desk with a sigh. After ten years and only two minute raises, he was finally receiving some recognition.

But I'm still stuck. Stuck here in the dead-end job. Still pushing-parchment. Still kissing people's asses.

Peter cleared off his desk and blew out the lamp. Fudge's congratulatory letter had been accompanied by the request of a fifty-two inch proposal on the regulation of cauldron bottoms. He sighed, gathered up his briefcase, and left his office, locking the door behind him.

The Ministry halls were dark; nearly everybody had gone home already. He made his way to the Atrium and Apparated home.

He turned around to stare up at his little cottage. It was nice and comfortable. When he bought it seven years before, though, he had hoped that within a year or two he would have a wife and children to fill it with. Like James. Like Sirius... sort of...

He sighed, pushed open the gate wearily and walked inside. He set his briefcase down heavily onto the desk in the sitting room, kicked off his shoes, and tossed his cloak across the armchair. He stepped into the kitchen and glanced at the post lying on the kitchen table. Grabbing himself a butterbeer from the pantry, he grabbed the post and went back to the sitting room, flopping himself onto the sofa.

One letter caught his eye. The address was written in dark purple ink and curly handwriting. It was from Lily.

He slit it open and read.

Dear Peter,

James and I are hoping you'll be able to join us for supper tomorrow night. Sirius will be here as well. We haven't seen you much lately. We miss you!

Hope you're able to join us,

Love,

Lily and James

Peter rubbed his forehead and studied the letter. Tomorrow night. He planned on working on that damn proposal first thing tomorrow morning. It would probably take all day. As well as most of Sunday.

He sighed. He did miss them. And he hadn't seen Mae since the last Order meeting. But the letter didn't say she or Remus would be there. But of course, they were at Hogwarts.

I can take a few hours off tomorrow night, he thought. Screw that damned proposal!

He paused and shook his head. Well, I can't screw it. That's stupid. It has to be done...

He laughed at his brief moment of rebelliousness. This is ridiculous. I should get a dog.

This job is going to drive me crazy.

Sirius made his way along the little shops in Diagon Alley. He watched people bustling around, clutching their purchases, dragging tiny children along behind them. He saw a little flower shop and watched as a man about his age paid for a bundle of bright red flowers, smiling.

He paused briefly before making his way over to the shop. He wandered along the rows of flowers, toying with the idea of sending some to Mae.

Turning a corner, he ran into a short, plump woman with bright red hair.

"Oh, Molly! Sorry," he said sheepishly, picking up the tiny bundle of flowers she'd dropped.

"Sirius! That's quite alright," she replied breathlessly. She took the flowers from him and smiled up at him. "How've you been?"

Sirius nodded. "Alright. It's strange not having Gwen around."

Molly nodded knowingly. "Yes, I remember when Bill left for Hogwarts the first time. I was a wreck. But of course, I had Charlie and Percy to keep me occupied."

Sirius grinned. "Of course."

Molly smiled at him curiously. "Flower shopping?"

Sirius smiled and shifted nervously. "Erm--just browsing."

Molly nodded. "Right."

He chuckled and gestured to the flowers she was clutching. "Buying Arthur flowers?"

Molly chuckled, but shook her head. "No," she began, the smile fading from her face. "It's the anniversary of Gideon and Fabian's death." She glanced around the shop uneasily.

Sirius raised his brows. "That's right," he replied softly.

Molly shrugged. "It's just a little something I do every year."

Sirius nodded. "Of course."

They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Molly said, "I should be going, Sirius. But it was good to see you."

Sirius nodded. "You too, Molly. See you around."

Molly smiled. As she walked away, she turned around and whispered, "Daisies are always good." She grinned and left.

Sirius chuckled and looked around. What the hell ones are daisies?

*****

...bright blue eyes...

...curly blonde hair...

...crooked grin...

...vomiting in the loo...

"I love you, Mae-belle..."

...yelling...

"What's going on, Mae?"

...

"...you'll always be my girl."

...blue and pink sparks...

"I'm so sorry, Mae."

"...fought valiantly..."

...bright blue eyes--

Mae woke with a start. She sat up quickly and stared around her room. The fire had died out in the fireplace, and the early morning sun shone through a crack in the curtain.

She lay back down and stared up at the ceiling. What day is it? Saturday... the...

She sat back up abruptly. Ten years ago... ten years ago, today...

She swung her legs off the bed and wandered over to her closet.

I haven't been to his grave in eight years...

She walked slowly up the little path leading to the tiny cemetery. Breathing in the cold morning air, she glanced around, looking for the grave.

Suddenly she spotted it a few steps away. She walked around to the front of the headstone and sighed.

Gideon Prewett

She sat down beside the grave and sighed.

"Sorry I haven't visited in a while."

*****

"Potter! Keep your fingers out of the dough!"

James jumped away from the bowl of cookie dough and looked sheepishly at his wife, who was trying not to smile.

"Sorry, Lil." He grinned.

She smiled and picked up the bowl, placing it beside a new cookie sheet.

"Have you heard back from Peter?" she asked, dropping balls of dough onto the pan.

"Oh, yeah," he replied, walking up behind her and slipping his arms around her waist. "He'll be here tonight."

"Good!" she replied. "I was beginning to think he was avoiding us."

"Nah," he said, kissing her neck. "He's just taking work too seriously. Fudge is overworking him, and now that he's Minister, it'll probably be even worse."

Lily sighed. "I wish there was something we could do for him. He seems so lonely."

Suddenly her eyes grew wide.

"Uh-oh," James said, seeing the look on her face. "I know that look. What are you thinking?"

Lily grinned mischievously, and turned around to face him. Leaning against the counter and wrapping her arms around his neck, she said, "We need to set him up with someone."

James barked a laugh. "Oh no, I don't think so. Remember the last time you tried to play matchmaker--"

"That was different!" she replied indignantly. "I had no idea Susan Crawly was a psychopath--"

"Well, Remus was pissed! He wouldn't speak with me for a week, remember?"

Lily chuckled. "We'll screen our choices more carefully this time, how about that?"

"No," James replied adamantly.

Lily smiled and slipped her hands down his chest and to his belt. "How about your coworker Lydia? She's sweet--"

"She's married."

Lily smiled and bit her lip, slipping her hands under his shirt.

"The woman from the little shop on the corner of--"

"Lil," James whispered, smiling. He leaned down and kissed her gently.

Lily slipped her fingers along the waistband of his jeans and tugged at his belt.

James pulled away and looked down at her, returning her mischievous grin. "Shall we take a break from baking--"

"I think so," Lily replied quickly, grabbing his hand and pulling him up the stairs.

Mae jumped as a shadow crossed over her.

She looked up from the grave into the curious brown eyes staring back at her.

"Molly?"

"Hello, Mae."

"Dinner was wonderful, Lily," Peter said, sitting down on the back porch with the others.

Sirius nodded in agreement. "Fantastic, Lil."

"Thank you," Lily replied, pulling her sweater on and sitting next to James.

"But, may I ask," Sirius began, perplexed, "what the hell happened to the cookies? They were burnt to a crisp."

Lily blushed and James hid a smile. "I'm sorry. I was upstairs and didn't hear the timer going off. There were some good ones, though, didn't you see those?"

Sirius nodded and took a sip of his Firewhiskey. "Sure did... but they're gone now."

Lily laughed. "Already?"

"I helped," Peter added sheepishly. "They were very good."

Lily just smiled and looked fondly at Peter. "When are you going to find something else to do with your life, Peter?" she asked curiously.

He looked up at her, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"You work ten or eleven hour days, and I'm sure you take your work home with you. You never seem to have much time to spend with us. I can tell Fudge is draining you."

Sirius nodded and said, "Yeah, mate, you're working your ass off for Fudge and getting nothing in return."

Peter flushed. "Well, I did get a bonus, and a raise. And I'm now Chief Administrator to the Minister of Magic, so I'm doing alright," he said indignantly. "And I'm thinking of getting a dog."

James and Sirius laughed.

"Oh, Peter, we're not criticizing you or what you do," Lily replied gently. "We're just worried about you."

Peter forced a grin. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'm working on things."

Lily sighed and smiled at him. "You know you can ask us for anything, right?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah," he replied. "Thanks, Lil."

Suddenly Sirius slapped Peter on the knee and grinned. "I know! We need a night on the town!"

Lily rolled her eyes and James hid a smile. Peter just chuckled as his ears turned red.

"I don't have time--" he began.

"Don't have time, my arse!" Sirius barked. "We'll make time, Wormtail. How about next Saturday? I'll owl Remus and we can all go out, what do you think, James?"

James shrugged. "I--"

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Lily interrupted enthusiastically, causing raised eyebrows from the three men.

"Um, Lil," Sirius began. "I was thinking it would be more of a guy thing--"

Lily laughed. "Of course! You think I want to go pub-hopping with a bunch of men? I think it would be a great idea for the four of you to spend time like that. It's been forever since you have."

Sirius looked curiously at James.

James nodded. "Alright. Sounds great." He leaned forward and looked at Peter. "And you'll be going even if we have to Petrify you," he said with a grin.

Remus sat at his desk, frowning down at the letter he'd just penned to Natalie.

He studied the last three words on the parchment. Repeating them out loud, they sounded ridiculous.

I love you.

He shook his head and growled, picking up the parchment to ball it up, but then he stopped.

Why is it so hard to say?

He scoffed. Well, probably because I don't know if I do love her or not. And why is that? Probably because I've never been in love before.

He balled up the parchment and flung it into the fireplace, sighing.

I wonder where Mae is. I could talk to her about this...

He turned around in his chair and looked out the window, suddenly realizing he hadn't seen Mae all day.

Glancing up at the clock, he determined it was too late to bother Dumbledore.

But not too late to knock on Mae's door...

He blew out the candle and left his office. He stopped to knock on Mae's office door, as it was on the way to her rooms, but the door was locked and no one answered.

From there he went on up to the fourth floor, knocked on her door, and received nothing in return yet again.

With a sigh, he turned around and decided to check the Great Hall. Another ten minutes later he was standing on the front steps of Hogwarts, looking out at the lake.

A few minutes passed before he saw a dark figure striding across the lawn toward him. He studied the figure only briefly before recognizing the person he'd been looking for.

He smiled and took a few steps towards her. "Where have you been all day, Mae?"

Mae looked up at him from under her hood and gave him a small smile. "Reminiscing," she replied softly.