one. you lost me there in the open road

[rattusinfidus]

[accidental video]
[Peter is not panicking.]

[Really, he's not, because panic was over about five minutes ago when he Apparated into this strange place and he immediately scrambled to hide. He was supposed to be in a suburb. This is clearly not a suburb. This is--somewhere else, and he can't quite tell what the dominant accent is but if he's managed to accidentally get himself to another country he knows James is going to laugh at him forever.]

[He hopes it isn't Australia. If it has to be anywhere that's not the UK, he hopes it's not Australia. They have deadly jellyfish and dingoes and Australians in Australia.]

[No, Peter isn't panicked. Peter is so horrified he's giddy; he keeps suppressing the insane urge to laugh, because what else could go wrong?]

You are an idiot, Peter.

[He presses his hands over his face and then--curls up in a ball, his wand clutched tightly in his hand as he huddles miserably over his knees. Hello, City. There is a short blond young wizard, by the name of Pettigrew, of twenty years age and an evident unawareness of the camera at his feet.]

Comments

[aperfectthird]

[There's a warmth in his eyes at Ginny's name as he smiles faintly, then nods.]

I take it you've spoken to her.

[So proud of her, just by virtue of her being his sister. And what's not to be proud of? Any big brother would be happy to have a sister like her.]

[rattusinfidus]

[Peter smiles back--not quite as warm, but how could he be? He's only basking in other people's happiness.]

I guessed.

[If Peter had a little sister, he'd want one like that.]

She's brilliant. I'm sorry I didn't know her already--but, well, that'd be inconvenient, I suppose.

We built a bridge, you and me. Dunno if you remember.

[aperfectthird]

No, she wouldn't even be born for another year or so.

[Merlin, that's a weird thought. His memories of a world without Ginny are faint, but -

- wait. He does remember ... Bill and Charlie were allowed to sit with Dad and Mr. Potter, because they were big enough - and Mum was taking care of the twins and Ron - and Percy had built a bridge with a nice man who'd asked what he was doing.]

You asked if I was building a bridge across the Channel, and I - I think I said I didn't have enough blocks.

[Embarrassingly literal, even then.]

[rattusinfidus]

And--I conjured more.

[Peter's crooked smile hides a lot of things, like how he felt stupidly pleased to help Percy bridge the channel. It can't matter now, can it? He's blushing all the same.]

Knew you'd end up brilliant, you know. I mean, mostly I never guessed--but you were always brighter than everyone.

[aperfectthird]

Yes, you did. We managed to bridge the corner of the living room, if I recall. I was so excited to have more blocks.

[And Percy's smiling, a little less faintly now, looking almost surprised at these pleasant memories from the war. Most of his memories from that time are frightening, of being told to hush and mind the twins, of watching Mummy look out the window again and again and cry every time Dad came home. Amongst all that trauma, memories of making a bridge across the living room can be buried so easily.]

I suppose you knew because of my architectural bent?

[rattusinfidus]

[He lets himself laugh a little, not even half because it's so good to see these children survive, let alone be brilliant.]

Mostly because you were so organized. You whipped even me into shape, and I was awful at the time.

This is so odd, isn't it?

[aperfectthird]

It's extremely odd. But then, if nothing else, I've learned that 'odd' is what the City deals in on a regular basis. At least this is a good kind of odd.

[rattusinfidus]

Could be worse, yeah? I mean, if you need more blocks...

[Peter grins.]

[aperfectthird]

I suppose we could try to build a bridge back to England.