petesake (![]() ![]() @ 2010-08-26 07:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | [1980-08] august, lily potter (nee evans), peter pettigrew |
WHO: Peter Pettigrew & Lily Potter (with guest appearance by Harry Potter)
WHAT: Peter stops by to drop off a book and have a little chat only to find that James has rubbed off on Lily a little too much.
WHEN: 26 August; Mid-afternoon
WHERE: The Potter Place; Godric's Hallow
RATING: G
STATUS: Log; COMPLETE
Arsenius Jigger’s new book was in a limited release at the moment, and while Peter knew that it likely wouldn’t be sold out by the afternoon tomorrow, he had still grabbed a copy before leaving the store for the afternoon. Better safe than sorry, and considering Lily was probably dying for something to read other than baby books, Peter figured that sooner was better than later. Apparating at the end of their drive, Peter walked up to the house, feeling the familiar wash of the wards as he passed through them. Raising a hand to knock, he shifted anxiously on his heels. Even when everyone said that he was more than welcome anytime, Peter still felt awkward arriving unannounced as though he were intruding on situations that he shouldn’t be. Silly, perhaps, but it was still how he felt. Even if it might have been impossible to explain in a way that it sounded at all sane. Lily was currently enjoying some mother-son time while James was out with Sirius, and her Mother-In-Law had gone home to rest for the day. The wireless was on, blasting some of her favourite Muggle rock, and Lily was dance-cleaning and making faces at Harry as she moved about the living room. He seemed to get a kick out of it, so she even let herself sing along sometimes, then he’d squeal and respond to her voice in a way that seemed to make the sleepless nights completely worth it. She was just laughing at the uncoordinated flail of his arms as he watched her propped up in his baby-carrier on the couch, when Lily heard the knock as an advert came on and she lowered her wand, blush flushing in her cheeks at the idea of someone nearly walking in on this very moment. Tucking her wand in the pocket of her blouse, she knew it was someone familiar for them to reach the door without asking ahead for the wards to be adjusted. “C’mon, little man,” she told Harry as she moved to his seat and carefully lifted him up and out, smoothing the Cannons onesie over his backside and tucking him over her chest so his head rest easily on her shoulder. “Let’s go see who’s at the door.” One thing Lily hadn’t minded about being a new parent is having someone, even a little baby, to talk aloud to made the house less empty. She was so used to four boys mucking about that when they were all elsewhere it could feel eerie. Or fantastic. But sometimes eerie. Flicking down the volume of the radio as Lily made her way to the door, she tapped her wand on the wood so the peephole would appear, and with one last precaution in glancing through to see that it was only Peter, she smiled and stowed her wand for good. “Peter!” she greeted warmly, opening the door widely and stepping aside to let him in. “James didn’t tell me you were stopping by,” she told him, although it was apparent she didn’t at all mind. It was just usually Sirius bursting in unannounced of any of them. “Probably because he didn’t know,” Peter said with a laugh as he leaned forward to peck Lily on the cheek as a greeting since hugging her with her arms full of baby wasn’t the best idea. “Spur of the moment decision.” Peter said as he beamed, tapping Harry on the nose playfully, “How’s the little guy doing today?” He asked, addressing Harry as if he could actually reply before turning his attention back to Lily, stepping farther in so that the door could close behind him. “We got the new Jigger book in today. Thought I’d bring you a copy so you didn’t have to brave the rush,” Peter said, producing the book from behind his back. “Maybe check in to see how my favorite little man was adjusting to life in the big bad world. If you’ll put up with me for an hour or two, that is.” Lily brightened with that, completely surprised. “Aw, Peter!” she exclaimed and managed to give him a one-armed hug even when encumbered with child. “That’s so sweet! Thank you!” she continued, looking down at the book and taking it from him, then eagerly flipping it in her hand so she could read the back. “Oh brilliant, I’ve been looking forward to this one for months!” She grinned up at her friend and shifted Harry around. “Here, why don’t you take him, and I’ll get you something to drink? Have you had lunch?” she asked and Harry gurgled as he was moved about. He’d become familiar with the other boys, and while he still preferred Mum & Dad’s arms over anyone’s, his ‘uncles’ constant presence had gotten him used to being shuffled from person to person, as long as they were vaguely recognisable. “And of course we’ll put up with you,” Lily added with a smile as they made their way from the front hall to the living room. “We’re happy to.” Peter, who had been rather distressed at the idea of having to handle something (rather, someone) as breakable as a baby, had been extremely surprised to find he’d settled into it rather easily. Taking Harry and gently propping the small child against his shoulder, Peter rubbed his back almost unconsciously as he followed Lily. “I had a bagel on break, but that was about it.” Peter seldom actually got away for a lunch break. Usually when he had time for one, he wasn’t hungry, and often, he ended up forgetting to even go until it was far too late. Not that it mattered in the scheme of things since he could always pick something up on the way home and make it back to his flat before it got cold even without the aid of apparation. One of the perks of living and working in the same general area. But right now, an option other than picking up Chinese and eating it alone sounded brilliant. “Well, let’s see what I’ve got in the icebox then,” Lily said as she gestured for Peter to have a seat on the couch or make himself at home while she made her way through the arch of the wall that connected to their adjoining kitchen and dining area. She opened the pantry and then the icebox, and while she normally wasn’t much of a hostess to the Marauders (they were there too often to denote ‘house guest’ status anymore) she didn’t mind putting something together quickly if Peter didn’t mind occupying Harry in the meantime. It was getting to be an almost unspoken routine for when the boys were over, as domestic as it made Lily feel when she thought on it. Becoming a Mum, she supposed. “Ummm... well... James hasn’t left much, but I’ve got left over roast chicken from last night I could make into a sandwich if you’d like? And what do you want to drink, Pete?” She moved back over to lean against the frame of the large arch. “If you can’t tell, James isn’t around at the moment. He and Sirius went flying and then who knows - looking for parts for his motorbike maybe?” Smirking and shrugging. “Wasn’t much listening.” “Let’s just hope that they don’t get themselves in trouble,” Peter said as he smiled at Lily. “And whatever you have will be fine. You know I’m not picky, Lils,” He said, his attention being pulled down to Harry as the boy cooed, reaching down and tickling the boy’s side gently. So small and innocent, it was amazing how much just being around Harry for a few minutes could make the world seem much more bearable. “It’s hard to tell what might happen with those two out without anyone to keep them in check.” Lily stayed there for a moment longer, arms crossing, just watching Peter with Harry for a moment and smiling before finally snapping out of it and nodding. “I figure they’ve gone this long so far,” she joked, as they both knew that the blokes were well aware of what real trouble lie out in public these days. “Besides, James promised he’d be back by dinner so I can get a nap in... though now I might be tempted to just read instead.” With that she went to putting together his sandwich, and getting them both glasses of water before finally returning, happy to see Harry hadn’t made much of a fuss while she’d been gone. She moved Harry’s carrier to the floor so she’d have room for herself and placed Peter’s plate and glass on the end table next to wear he sat. “I can take him again, if you need?” she offered, sitting down next to them and reaching over to let Harry see her and grab onto a finger with his tiny and strangely vice-like hands. “There’s no rush,” Peter said, a quiet fondness in his voice as he watched the two of them. It was several minutes before Peter actually passed Harry back to Lily, just appreciating the quiet moment in a world where so few of them seemed to exist anymore, and picked up the plate that Lily had sat on the table next to him. “Is the sleep thing getting better?” Peter asked after taking a bite of the sandwich. “You’re looking better than you have.” Peter paused, realizing exactly how that must have sounded and backpeddling. “Not that you’ve looked bad necessarily,” He said. “Just... tired, you know.” Lily gave Peter a weary sort of smile in response, laughing softly at his recovery. “You don’t have to tell me twice,” she said with a nod, cradling Harry in her lap, his back and head propped up by her less pregnant-looking belly and hands gripped firmly around her fingers - painted purple today. “It’s been getting better and better though, it really has.” She glanced down at her son and bounced him gently. “He’s starting to sleep a bit more at night, a bit less in the day, and while he still needs to be fed more often than is convenient, I’ve been able to actually sleep when I get a chance to now... I was waking up at every tiny little sound for a couple weeks there. Every thought of what sort of thing could go wrong.” She glanced back over at Peter as he ate. “It’s exhausting, but it’s getting better, definitely.” “I’m amazed,” Peter said, finally voicing a thought that he’d had for awhile yet, “and definitely impressed with you guys managing this so young,” Peter said with a quiet smile. “I think I’ll still be terrified of the idea of having a family when I’m thirty,” He said, laughing slightly at himself. Not that it would probably matter. The thought of him actually getting a girl was almost as ridiculous of him actually managing to take care of a child on his own without doing something horribly wrong. Lily’s ginger brows raised in bemusement and she gave Peter a knowing sort of look. “You’ve never given yourself enough credit, Peter,” she told him for what she felt like was the thousandth time. While he’d driven Lily a bit batty in school, following James Potter around everywhere, she’d never had much against him alone, so when she’d begun to befriend the likes of Potter and Black, she easily shifted her perception of Peter as well. Since then, she’d felt he was almost a younger brother figure, someone she probably nagged a bit more than he liked, but she cared, and today was just another example of the surprises Peter brought to the table. No, Peter never did give himself enough credit, Lily thought, but rather than harp on that point, she moved on. “It’s not so scary though, when you’ve got someone or a whole lot to share it with. I mean, it’s still ruddy terrifying and you all know that James and I didn’t exactly... um... plan it...” she said with a bit of an embarrassed swallow. “But I mean, it’d have been just as terrifying at thirty as it is now, I think. I don’t know...” Lily looked down at Harry and laughed lightly at him trying to pull her finger into his mouth or... something like that. “We’re young, but... twenty’s not that unusual... and if we’d waited any longer we may not have had this, specific Harry, so I’m okay struggling through,” she told him thoughtfully as she bent over to kiss the top of her son’s head. “And he’ll be good practice for the planned brothers and sisters that come along later,” Peter said with a teasing smile, not even addressing the fact that she thought he didn’t give himself enough credit. He’d heard it more than enough, and Peter had finally stopped saying that he thought she gave him more credit than he deserved sometime last year. It really wasn’t worth the effort anymore since eventually, one of them would prove to be right. Peter only hoped that it would be Lily that won out in the end. “Once this sorted thing is all over and down with.” Which Peter hoped would be sooner rather than later. Lily’s look of exasperation was an expert one. “Don’t tell me James is still on about that. I’ll have you know that when I was giving birth he promised me he’d never ask me to do this again if I didn’t want,” she said flatly before rolling her eyes. “It’ll be quite awhile before I do this again,” she replied with her smile returning, although it was a bit more wistful. “And yeah, waiting until some things blow over might be smart...” With that the young woman paused and pressed her lips together before turning to Peter. “Do you think it was stupid of me to write that letter to the paper?” Peter frowned, the question taking him momentarily off guard. He hadn’t really been prepared to talk about that when he’d stopped over, but Lily’s expression was telling him that she wanted honesty and not comfort so, “Stupid isn’t the word that I would have used,” Peter said carefully. “It didn’t show a great deal of forethought,” He said, “given that there are a lot of people that simply want to kill muggleborns on principle, people that aren’t even Death Eaters, who wouldn’t know your status offhand that do now. But I can understand why you did it, Lils. It’s frustrating, sitting by and watching people be moronic and prejudice about things that they don’t even understand without being able to voice your outrage. But it wasn’t a letter to Warlocks At War. At least?” Lily sighed in response, knowing he had a point, but still unable to feel like she’d done something wrong in writing that letter. She shrugged and let out a dry sort of chuckle. “Like that piece of rubbish would print anything I had to say anyway,” she retorted a bit bitterly. “I know it may not have been the smartest way to handle it, but it’s better than rioting like half the Muggleborn population’s decided to do, isn’t it?” She set her jaw and held Harry a bit closer. “I’m not going to let them scare me into hiding who I am, is all. They’re closer to winning if I do.” Peter finished his sandwich, taking a sip of the drink before setting everything back on the end table and turning back to Lily and Harry with a soft, understanding smile as he reached out to smooth Harry’s hair. It was just a fruitless getting it to sit flat as it was with James’s. “I know, Lily. None of us should have to deny who we are just to be able to live our lives in peace. But with any luck, by the time Harry is at Hogwarts, we won’t have to worry about it anymore.” Grinning at the way Harry’s hair sprang back out of place after Peter attempted to smooth it down Lily took a deep breath and nodded, leaning her head back so her red hair was draping all the way down her back. She thought for a moment about what it would take, and how worth it was before turning to Peter again, head still tipped but facing him. “That’s the plan,” she said, drumming her fingers gently against Harry’s pudgy stomach. “I can only hope that this war will be as much of a ghost for him as the second world war is to us,” Peter said quietly, peering down at Harry for a long moment, a quiet fear running through his mind that maybe, just maybe, the opposite might happen. But he didn’t voice it, keeping that thought touched far in the back of his mind in the hopes that it would never come to be. “And for whatever siblings or little cousins might join him eventually. If Sirius and Remus ever get it in their heads to settle down.” “Sirius?” Lily scoffed. “Not likely. Remus though... or you!” she said realising he’d left himself out and reaching over to swat at him lightly. “Don’t tell me James’s patented ‘annoy-the-living-daylights-out-of-women’ Peter laughed, a heavy blush coloring his cheeks as he raised a hand to rub at the back of his neck, “You know I’m more of the bumbling awkward sputtering not really making sense type,” He said before the question provoked an even deeper blush. “And she is,” He said, not protesting in the least. He worked with a lot of nice people even if the pretty girls were very rare among bookshop employees. “But that would probably be awkward. I mean, what if things ended really badly?” And that’s Peter, always thinking worse case scenario. Lily’s brows furrowed in skepticism. “Peter.” She said, addressing him with a classic Look. “Why don’t you worry about that once you get her to have coffee? Or moreso once you just talk to her for more than a few minutes,” Lily grinned over at him cheekily. “Or even flirt.” She bent down to take Harry’s hands and lift them up and down in a little dance. “We believe in you, Peter, and you’re never going to get a date thinking like that.” Her voice turned silly and she stuck out her lips. “Will he, Harry?” “Now, that’s not fair, Lils,” Peter said with a laugh. “Letting the baby judge my love life or lack there of. How am I supposed to say that I hardly have the sort of confidence to actually try anything like that, hm?” Lily let herself laugh with him and she looked at him with a soft sort of understanding, reaching over to put a hand on his arm. “It’s not my fault it’s even obvious to Harry that you’ve a chance if you just give it to yourself.” She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll go with you - or!” She brightened. “You can take Harry to the shop sometime, women love babiiiiees and you’ll look brilliant as a responsible uncle!” She laughed a bit at herself. “If anything, he’d give you something to talk about.” Peter laughed. He couldn’t help it. That was such a Sirius-y plot that the idea tripping off of Lily’s lips was a surreal experience. “I think we’re rubbing off on you a bit too much, Lils,” Peter said with a broad grin. “Even if I’m sure I’d end up attracting a flock. That seems like misuse of baby, though. Hardly the sort of thing a ‘responsible’ uncle would do.” Giggling and hugging Harry close, Lily nodded. “It’s not like you’d be taking him to a pub and you know I’d be hiding behind some shelf nosing about in your business so I could swoop in if he started to get fussy,” she explained, wiggling her fingers in front of Harry as he gurgled. “And remember he has James as a father. We’re flexible with the word ‘responsible’ around here,” she added. “You’re seriously suggesting this, aren’t you?” Peter was baffled and amused in the same breath as he stared across at Lily. Now Lily looked a little affronted. It wasn’t that awful-sounding was it? “What!” she protested. “What’s wrong with it? It’s not like it’s the only reason you spend time with him!” the ginger said, while letting Harry cling to a finger. “And if you absolutely don’t think you’d be able to think of aaaaanything to talk about with a girl, then, maybe you should consider it!” And there it was. She had him pinned there because she had a point. More often than not he was left floundering, trying to come up with something, anything, to say. And she was right. This would at least give him something to talk about. “All right,” He said after a moment’s hesitation, running a hand through his hair, “maybe I will.” |