i don't own them. jkr does.

"You're going to kill me?" the boy choked, his fingers trying to pry the metal ones off of his throat. "After I saved your life? You owe me, Wormtail!"

And he saw James, laughing after a prank, "You owe me, Wormtail!" he said. "I'll accept Sugar Quills or Galloens!" Sirius gave a bark of laughter. Remus rolled his eyes at his friends, smirking to himself. peter looked up at all of them and smiled to himself. He was so lucky.

He saw James, standing up to Snivellus for him, plotting Snape's demise for daring to insult a Marauder.

He saw James, messing up his hair as he strutted down the corridors, eyeing Lily Evans.

He saw James, getting a smack across the face for hitting on Lily Evans.

His fingers slackened. His blue eyes darted from his metalic hand to Harry's green eyes.

And he saw Lily, helping him pick up his books after he had tripped. Until the two dark haired boys turned the corner. Peter recognized them from the train. One of them was James and the other was Sirius. They were talking to another boy with sandy hair, who was walking between them, looking shy.

He saw Lily, leaning against a wall, smiling slightly as James invited her to Hogsmeade.

He saw Lily, causing happiness in his best friend.

He saw Lily, kindly smiling and helping him with his homework.

He saw Lily, who was very pretty, even though she was dating James.

He saw James and Lily, kissing at their wedding ceremony. Sirius standing next to James, the perfect best man. He saw Remus sitting next to him, smiling at his friends. He felt tears of joy streaking down his own face.

"Wormy," wailed Sirius, "If you start, then I'm gonna start and..." Sirius' sentence was lost into a sob.

The metal fingers were leaving Harry's throat.

He saw Harry, so tiny in Lily's arms on the hospital bed. James and Sirius wailing onto eachother's shoulders, smiling. Remus, sitting at Lily's side.

"Want to hold him, Wormy?" she said, looking up at him.

"Oh! Err... okay."

He saw Harry, giggling at the face he had made, gripping the crib bars to keep himself elevated.

He saw Harry, letting him sit amongst the candies.

He saw Harry, shooing that wretched cat away from him.

The fingers closed around his own throat.

And he thought of Peter.

He, Peter, who had not deserved his brilliant, kind friends.

He, Peter, who had betrayed James, Lily, Harry, and Sirius.

He, Peter, who he knew James had thought of the moment he saw the Dark Lord. He hadn't thought that Peter betrayed him, he had mourned internally that he was dead or tortured.

He, Peter, who was now being betrayed by his own hand, given to him by his master.

And he fell.