Chapter 2
It was a quiet Saturday morning in the Great Hall; breakfast was peaceful until his roommates made their appearance. With a long suffering sigh, Aquila decided it was time to move on with his day. Unfortunately Sirius had other plans. "Hey cousin," Sirius slipped into the seat beside Aquila who was doing his best to ignore him. James, Peter and Remus sat across from them. "Do you play quidditch?"
"If I say no, will you go away?" Aquila set his pumpkin juice down and raised an eyebrow at Sirius' sullen frown. "Also you seem to have forgotten, I am not your cousin."
"Well you're my cousin and you're acting like a right git." James growled across the table, a spoon full of scrambled eggs dumped on his plate as he spoke, not disguising his annoyance as it landed with an audible splat. "Just because Sirius doesn't believe in the blood purity rot that the rest of the Blacks do doesn't mean you have to act like they do and ignore him. You obviously aren't like them or you would be in Slytherin with the rest of them."
Aquila initially ignored James and set his napkin on his plate signifying his impending departure from the table. With only a moment's pause he had decided to address James first, refusing to miss this opportunity to remind Sirius of his failings. "Perhaps, but unlikely. You know nothing of me and contradictory to your friend's actions: I will never turn my back on Regulus, regardless of my beliefs."
He had made it to the Great Hall doors before Remus caught up to him. "Aquila." If it weren't for the hand suddenly on his shoulder, Aquila wouldn't have bothered to stop. "Wait, please."
"Unhand me." Remus dropped his hand and Aquila turned to face the boy. Of the four roommate Marauders, Remus was the only one Aquila would have stopped for. He was a witty, clever teen even if he allowed James and Sirius to influence him to behave otherwise. Besides, Remus had helped him a time or two with classes, especially when he had first arrived. For that reason alone, Aquila gave him the courtesy of listening. "What is it, Lupin?"
Remus frowned and tried to school his own emotions in order to speak with eloquence. "Sirius is my friend. We've been friends since first year and he's had a rough time at home." Remus watched Aquila, trying to read him but the cold gaze gave nothing away. "He just left home and moved in with James and his family. He's been disowned and-"
"I am well aware of Sirius' predicament. It was self-imposed. Walburga is an abomination to nature. The screech of her voice travels up the spine to dig into one's brains and picks at your nerves until you would like nothing more than to pluck her eyes out to shut her up, but that does not excuse him from turning his back on his own brother and leaving him to her mercy." Aquila took a quick breath to school his temper. Memories of the past week prickling in the back of his mind and his hand twitched. Remus wasn't the source of Aquila's anger and hadn't deserved to be treated as if he were. Remus was a loyal friend to someone who didn't deserve his consideration. "Alphard and I are all Regulus has and I will not desert him as Sirius has. Now, unless you intend to follow me to the library, I suggest you go back to your friends." Remus dropped his gaze, hesitating, so Aquila ended the conversation before parting, "You may tell your friends that I no longer play quidditch. I will leave that to my cousins."
Turning on his heel, he left Remus behind. Aquila's rant was justified; he understood Sirius' motivations but they were purely selfish. It wasn't as if Aquila was fond of the Black family. He would quickly pluck Walburga's eyes out if he thought it would do any good, but, unlike Sirius, he refused to leave Regulus to her manipulations. He was too aware of what was at stake.
He was fuming with anger as he continued up the stairs. Sirius even had his friends convinced he was right. The lot of them were blindly led by the stories Sirius weaved but weren't able to see the whole picture. Did they even think of Regulus? Regulus was kind hearted and young. He was so naïve and easily swayed under the constant bombardment of blood purity lies spewed by the vile Walburga and malevolent Pollux.
Aquila looked around at long last and wondered where it was that he wandered off to. With a soft sigh, he knew he was lost. He hadn't rightly cared at the moment, he was still rather annoyed. Sirius had proven to him that his friends and his own pleasure were more important. Family obligations apparently meant nothing to Sirius. Aquila paced back and forth, simply annoyed and needing something to hit, hex, jinx and/or curse. He glanced up at the odd tapestry debating on how much trouble he'd be in if he just jinxed one of the awkwardly dancing trolls in a tutu when the man trying to teach them pointed at something behind Aquila.
With a quirked eyebrow Aquila turned and noted the door that he had managed to miss moments ago. Curiosity got the better of him and he opened the door to find a room like no other within the castle. It wasn't a simple classroom. He knew the arena, he knew it well, and the fact that there was an exact duplicate of it in this castle did not bother him, it was exactly what he wanted, no needed. It had the familiar dank, gray, brick walls of the dungeons sans windows; small torches were scattered throughout the room, casting long shadows; long round stone pillars loomed ever upward; a flag stood directly across the room, patiently waiting; and, as always, centered in the room was his ultimate goal, the raised flag stand lit by four floor torches.
Aquila stepped into the arena, removed his robe, draped it on the stand beside him and allowed the door to close behind him. Cautiously, Aquila grabbed his wand, eyes darting around the room with growing anticipation. His adrenaline was pumping quickly; he steadied his breathing and tapped his head with the tip of his wand as a precaution. "Salvio Hexia."
By the time the door clicked closed behind him the first target became visible and Aquila was ready for it. "Reducto!"
The target in question exploded, throwing splinters backward into the shadows. Aquila moved forward; a stationary target is a dead target. He dodged behind a pillar as red sparks flew his way. A small smirk graced his face. He missed his training. Before today he hadn't realized just how much he had needed this.
Pushing away from the pillar, Aquila moved to the left as another target popped up before him. "Confringo!"
The target burst into flames and flew every which way from the impact. Aquila didn't stop to appreciate his recent destruction, another spell was on its way and he had nothing to hide behind. "Protego!"
The damn room was getting better, smarter, learning his limits and forced Aquila to stay alert. He knew his goal was at the other end but he had no idea what stood between them. His eyes scanned the room and he pointed his wand at the scattered debris, "Erecto."
Another spell, red sparks, was coming straight for him. Aquila dove behind the barrier he created. More sparks scattered against the barrier he erected. Sweat glistened on his skin, his breathing was shallow and his smirk grew to a grin. Pushing up off the floor, Aquila ignored the dirt and debris on his clothes, gripping his wand with determination. He peered out from behind his weakened barrier, noted a nearby pillar and made a run for it getting hit by a stinging hex for his trouble.
This didn't deter Aquila, he grit his teeth and pushed away from the pillar noting another target zooming toward him. "Impedimenta!"
The target stopped its approach, allowing Aquila to grab it and use it as a shield against the red sparks flying his way. Aquila grimaced as the target exploded in his grasp, splinters scrapped his bare skin and if he had looked closely he'd notice a splinter imbedded in his left palm. Aquila had no time to worry about injuries as he limped and dove behind another pillar. More spells came his way, faster and scattered, limiting his choice of direction. The thought of being herded into a specific direction now came to mind and Aquila refused to fall into that trap.
He pushed himself up onto his feet, leaned his back against the pillar to catch his breath. Using the back of his hand, Aquila wiped the sweat from his brow, smudged the dirt and prepared to move to the right this time. Another spell flew past and he moved back behind the pillar. "Merde."
Two more spells came from his right, proving his theory correct which he didn't like. Aquila dashed from the left, circling around the pillar and exposing himself. "Protego!"
Aquila forced his way towards the right, the impact of the next spell slammed against his shield, bruising him, but he managed to get behind a pillar. With his head leaned back against the stone fixture, he glanced around for something, anything, to aid him. All Aquila could see were shadows and pillars, debris scattered around. All Aquila could hear was his own breathing and the pounding of his heart.
Pointing his wand towards the debris, Aquila decided another barrier would come in handy, "Erecto."
Unfortunately the room wasn't cooperating and a spell smashed it immediately. Aquila ducked towards his right and ran for another pillar, but the room wasn't fooled and a spell came flying. He dove with a grimace, "Protego!"
The impact crushed into him and he gasped in pain. "Shit!"
On hands and knees, Aquila scrambled to safety. He hissed and stared at his palm. "Waddiwasi." Aquila closed his eyes in relief, the splinter flying from his skin and he growled as another spell hit the pillar. "Episkey."
The relief in his palm was instant and he breathed a bit easier. The room apparently hadn't appreciated his efforts and another two spells crashed against his pillar, bits of stone scattered from impact.
"Okay!" He yelled at the room, not caring how ridiculous anyone would find his actions. With his back pressed against the pillar, Aquila slid to his feet grimacing as the stone scraped at his skin under his shirt. Aquila knew his first barrier hadn't been broken yet. He could see it across the room. "Duro, Wingardium Leviosa."
Another hex flew towards the barrier as it rose from the ground, it wavered but remained intact. With a flick of his wand, Aquila had it sailing towards the direction he intended to run. The barrier flew past him and he followed, "Protego!"
Another target came at him, "Reducto!" Ignoring the flying debris, Aquila moved forward. The flag was in reach and he had no doubt that his journey to the center was going to be a difficult one.
His steps faltered as the floor was giving way, Aquila quickly stepped back, "Duro." Without looking back, Aquila crossed the hardened ground and grabbed the flag. He was unsure how long his spell would hold out and scrambled across in time to feel the ground crumble with each step. He had to leap to the pillar, ignoring the pain in his ankle as another stinging hex impacted with his tender flesh.
Flag in his off hand, wand in his right, Aquila gasped in agony as he tried to stand. His eyes squeezed shut; Aquila ignored the pain as much as possible and used his uninjured leg to push him upward. The stand stood brilliantly lit in the center of the room, silently beckoning him forward. The only way to end this was to plant the flag into the stand, he knew that and, apparently, the room did as well. A wall of fire swept around the stand and Aquila panicked for the first time since entering. "Shit!"
Pushing away from the pillar, Aquila called out spells as quickly as he could. "Protego! Aguamenti!"
Water sprouted from his wand creating a break in the wall but fire was winning this small battle, blooming once again as he broke through. "Shit, shit, shit!"
Aquila slammed the flag into the stand and slid to the floor in relief. The wall of flames sputtered and died. The room was well lit, leaving Aquila panting, sweating and grinning; one hand still wrapped around the planted flag, while the other grasped his wand.
After catching his breath Aquila sat up and reflected on his performance. At this point, his instructor would have critiqued him, pointing out what he had done wrong, what he could have done better. With a soft sigh, Aquila combed his grimy fingers through his sweaty hair and decided a shower would be a good idea.
The exhausted young man stared at his ankle, debating on its strength to carry him back to the Gryffindor tower, "Episkey."
Pushing himself into a standing position, Aquila gingerly tested his ankle and found the pain bearable. He made his way across the room to the door, slipped his robes over his filthy clothes and stepped from the room. He looked at the tapestry and grinned, the odd sight etched into his memory distracted him from the now non-existent doorway he had just exited.
Aquila pushed away from the wall and made his way to the Gryffindor tower, pleased he wasn't in Slytherin for the first time since coming to Hogwarts. The walk to the tower would be much shorter than making it down nine flights to the dungeons.
As the Fat Lady swung open, Aquila stared at the portal crawl space and figured he had nothing to lose. He took out his wand and tapped the brick, "Andron."
The crawl space immediately shaped into a corridor allowing Aquila to limp through. "Finite."
Aquila decided a bath would benefit him more than a shower to ease the soreness in his muscles. He made it to his bed, stripped out of his filthy clothes and allowed them to drop at his feet. He looked at his body with a soft sigh. His ankle was still swollen from the stinging hex and other than being filthy, Aquila had missed a few deeper scrapes and scratches from flying wood and stone. The bruises he had no idea how to get rid of and chose to concentrate on the rather large cut at his left side. "Episkey."
He dropped his wand on his bed, threw on a robe and grabbed his towel and toiletries but didn't make it to the bathing room before Remus spoke up. "I would ask what you've been up to, but everyone has their secrets."
Aquila looked over at Remus' bed and noticed the boy leaning back against his elbows for the first time since entering the room. How much did he see? From the look on Remus' face… everything. The damage had been done; Aquila hadn't bothered to try and lie or conceal his minor injuries. "You look like I feel."
Remus chuckled, "I probably feel about the same."
His mind went back to that morning, Remus looked well enough: tired, haunted but not ill. Aquila had brushed it off as Remus had just come down for breakfast and probably had only just woken up, but with another look he now noticed Remus looked pale and rather haggard. Odd, but that was not his problem. With nothing further to say, Aquila went to the bathing room, filled the tub and tossed his robe aside with his towel.
With the tub filled with fragrant hot water, Aquila stepped first into a shower, rinsing the filth from his body. He carded his fingers through his hair, grabbed his shampoo and washed it vigorously massaging his scalp as he went. Aquila sighed as the heat of the water soothed his aching body.
Turning off the water, Aquila stepped over to the tub and stepped in, careful of his swollen ankle. He looked up as Remus entered. Ignoring him, Aquila sunk into the hot water and sighed as it enveloped him. He laid his head back, closed his eyes trying to relax and ignored the eyes he knew were on him once again. After a short length of silence, Aquila broke the stalemate. "Speak, Lupin before you hurt yourself."
Remus leaned against the sink, seemingly comfortable in a room with a naked young man. Aquila had found that interesting but didn't comment. He watched him from underneath his long eyelashes. Remus combed his fingers through his own light brown hair, ruffling it more than smoothing it. Aquila clamped down on his grin and waited. The water really was delicious and he had no intention of getting out while Remus contemplated on what he had wanted to say. After long silent deliberation, Remus spoke. "I'm torn."
"Oh?"
"You seem a decent enough bloke."
"Merci."
"You are friends with Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Something most people don't do. Hell, you're even friends with Snape-"
"No, I'm not." Aquila looked at him and chuckled at Remus' confusion. "I'm friendly with these people, polite, civil, but I have only one true friend in this school."
"Okay, but you won't even give Sirius a chance." Aquila closed his eyes and refused to comment. Remus sighed and tried again. "You would be friends with possible death eaters but not your own cou-"
"Lupin," Aquila jerked upright quickly in the tub, water splashed over the edge. "I told you this morning. Sirius is not my cousin. He chose his path."
"It was the right path."
"According to whom? To Sirius? To you? To Regulus?" Aquila grabbed his soap for something to do. He was suddenly uncomfortable with his current position and felt too vulnerable.
"It always comes back to Regulus, doesn't it?" Remus pushed away from the sink, his skin still pale with deep shadows under his eyes. "I get it. I'm glad Regulus has you, just like Sirius has us."
The moment Remus' turned away to head back to the room, Aquila rinsed off and grabbed his towel with trembling hands. Never again would he make the mistake of being caught unarmed. He was lucky this time. He might not be next time.
