Hello my lovelies.
My evening isn't going so well, and I was going to wait until a bit longer before posting this, but I thought maybe this would help brighten things for me a little, maybe. I don't know. I really do hope you enjoy this chapter x
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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.
As always for Sable and Lais xxx
Remus can't breathe, he can't move. His muscles are locked in place by the overwhelming shock—as if his mind can't quite wrap itself around what he is seeing.
This can't be happening, this can't be real.
They'd known, they'd always known. The Death Eaters had known that they were coming, and the Order had played into their hands, blindly dancing to their enticing tune; and how could they not have? The Intel was simply too good not to act on.
Remus should have known the moment he saw how uneasy Ron was this morning before they left. He should have known that they would be walking into a carefully orchestrated trap. He should have known.
Quiet. Too quiet.
A sharp crack splits the air and four figures appear. Wary, wands at the ready, immediately moving into a quick and tight circle with all of their backs facing inwards.
Remus can hear the three other heartbeats, their paces a little erratic. He can't blame them, he can practically taste his own heartbeat racing along.
Their shoes sink slightly into the earth, softened by several days of continuous rainfall—today there is not a drop in sight. The clouds are barely visible as the evening wears into night and it is as if they refuse to let any water fall, it's as if nature is holding its breath. The damp smelling air is stagnant, not a whiff of breeze anywhere to be found, an almost stiff stillness pervades through the area.
"I'll go scout ahead with Michael," Ron whispers just loud enough so that they can all hear.
James firmly shakes his head, gesturing at the ginger that they should all stick together. Ron pauses, face twisted in deep thought, and after a long moment he sighs heavily through his nostrils. He nods curtly.
They had landed amongst some thick foliage (whilst James knew it was a smart tactic, he had still glared at Michael when they arrived—the wizard had come alone to scout out the area that morning, and also so that they would be able to apparate here directly) and it is taking some careful navigation to find their way out of it.
When they finally emerge on the other side of the thickly woven bushes they immediately see an imposing, forsaken looking, two storey building. Any glass in the windows is long since gone—small piles of it litter the outskirts of the structure—massive vines snake in and around the building, scaling it all the way to the top. Some of the brick walls on the ground level are crumbling and falling apart, the floor above appears to still be intact, but Remus wouldn't trust it for a second.
Remus tries to see inside its' interior, but the shadows within are as thick as sludge, which only seems to unsettle him further.
Moony stirs, he is on edge, and Remus can't help the low growl that rumbles in his throat.
The group slowly creeps toward the eerie building, when, suddenly, an invisible wave washes over them and the building is no longer a ruin; it is in pristine condition, almost glowing in the twilight.
Shit, Remus thinks.
Not only is the building in impeccable condition—the outside white and free of any weathering or stains, not a vine or weed in sight, all of the walls intact, bright light pouring out of the large windows—but there are also about a dozen wix staring at them hungrily.
The witch at the front of the pack takes a step towards them and Remus can't help but flinch. He swallows thickly.
Bloodlust. The witch's eyes are swimming with delight and madness, the corners of her mouth keep twitching as her smile gets larger and larger. Her gaze roves over the four of them, and her smile falters for a moment, then dissipates entirely as her mouth puckers into a sour pout of disappointment.
"Sirius isn't with you," Bellatrix says dejectedly. "Ah well, I'm sure I'll have another opportunity to dispose of him."
"What are we going to do?" Michael whispers, his voice shaking and Remus can hear his heartbeat jumping around in terror.
The other Death Eaters look eager, ready to rip into them.
Over my dead body, Remus tells himself, trying not to panic. Panicking won't help anyone.
"When you came earlier it was way too easy keeping ourselves hidden," Bellatrix smirks, staring directly at Michael, raising her wand and jabbing it in his direction. With a contented sigh she continues, "we hoped you'd bring more play things and you most certainly delivered."
Remus can't help but catch the giddy undertone to her voice, and he clutches his wand tighter, trying to think of some way to get them all out of this alive.
Bellatrix takes another step towards them, "so you see boys...you've seen one of our bases...which means I can't let you live. It just wouldn't be right, would it?" She says it in a way that would make you think she had some remorse, her face thoughtful as she looks at them with wide eyes.
She halts.
She frowns deeply.
"Who are you?" Bellatrix breathes so softly that Remus barely catches it. The other Death Eaters are getting antsy, one of them growls loudly and glares at Bellatrix, unsure as to why she hasn't attacked them yet.
Remus follows her train of sight and sees that her eyes have landed on Ron, properly looking at him for the first time and probably realizing that he is not Arthur like she originally suspected.
Ron is just in front of Remus, and he can't see the ginger boy's face, but he does see how relaxed Ron's body language is, not to mention the boy's heart rate is the steadiest of everyone in the clearing.
Remus can hear the smile in Ron's voice as he says, "none of your damn business, Bella."
Bellatrix instantly growls, her brow furrowing further into her face, and her mouth opens to shout a spell, as her wand arm raises.
It all slows, Remus hears more than sees Ron move, but in his peripherals he catches the way Ron fluidly throws a spell at Bellatrix. She dodges, snarling as she throws up a shield. She parries. If he wasn't scared shitless right now, he would've marvelled at the grace in which they are duelling.
Flashes of light, flying back and forth.
The Death Eaters stir, snarling as they begin their assault. One. Two. Three.
A loud bang.
Everything sharply, suddenly, comes back into focus, like a bus had just slammed into him.
Remus can't focus on the others, he barely sees them as he throws up a shield.
Sweat is trickling down his brow, he blinks. He inhales and begins to hurl Expelliarmus and Stupefy after Expelliarmus and Stupefy. One. Two. Three.
Soon he is dodging and blocking whilst throwing whatever he can think of on the fly at the enemy.
They are fighting for their lives, but somehow holding their own.
Remus is so intently focused on his own battle that he doesn't see how Ron is battling Bellatrix whilst taking out a couple other death eaters whilst he's at it. They are nowhere near as menacing and powerful as they had originally thought.
They may actually have a chance.
Then, it comes, clear as day, a sound of anguish so guttural it rips into Remus's heart and sends shards of fright into his stomach. He hastily wipes his brow.
Remus disarms and stuns the brown haired Death Eater that is charging towards him, and allows himself to look, to see who had been hit.
Michael.
The boy stumbles forward, clutching his face as he turns purple and begins to bulge. Remus blinks and James is running towards Michael, covering himself and throwing spells as he goes. Remus blinks and Ron is yelling, "NO!"
Remus's heart sinks.
He can't do anything.
There are four Death Eaters not including Bellatrix left standing, and two of them are advancing on him, relentless sending spells his way. The barrage of spells are slamming forcefully into his shield and he grits his teeth as he goes completely on the defensive.
A bead of sweat races down the side of his face and he blinks again.
The other two Death Eaters attacked Michael and are now firing nasty hexes at James.
James has one arm around Michael—whose screams of agony have not lessened, but Remus is drowning it out, attempting to split his attention to the events transpiring not even fifteen feet away from him and the two wix trying to kill him.
Green light smashes against his shield and Remus's concentration almost breaks.
Blink.
Remus takes a risk, he deftly fires a spell at his attackers, the severing hex lands—cleaving straight through one of their legs.
The woman falls, her screams join the others. She drops her wand, and the other is angered by this. Spell after spell.
Then. It happens.
Michael begins to claw at his face, his entire body swollen and bloated, one last agonizing cry spilling from his lips before he goes limp. The sudden shift in weight makes James slip in the dirt as he tries to catch himself. His wand arm partially bent as he falls to the ground.
The Death Eaters see their opportunity and take it.
Remus isn't sure when he starts screaming.
He takes another risk, vibrant tongues of orange slithering and biting out of the tip of his wand before engulfing his opponents. Both of them wholly unprepared as they are set ablaze, their screams blending with his, although theirs are more shrill.
The smell of their burning flesh crawls his skin.
Remus blinks.
Ron shouts, "protego!" just as the dark purple, sinister coloured spell soars through the air, just as it slams straight into James.
Remus's heart is in his ears. All he can think is, not James. Not Prongs. Not James.
He doesn't realise he is sprinting until he's sliding into the dirt, his knees harshly impacting the soil, tiny pebbles digging into his kneecaps.
Michael's body is partially covering James's legs, and Prongs is staring upwards, eyes darting around wildly as if seeing but not seeing.
The tangy metallic smell punches its way into the damp air, slicing through it easily.
The smell of death is potent, the sour smell of piss twisting with the scent blood and smoke.
Remus's eyes round as the thick crimson starts to pour out of James lower abdomen, his shirt shredded into ribbons.
So much blood. Blood. Blood. Blood.
He barely feels it as one of the Death Eater's slicing hexes catches his arm, cutting deep into the muscle but not deep enough to be fatal.
He manages to throw up a Protego, somehow. Somehow.
Rage. Fear. More rage.
The fear almost stops his heart because the blood just won't stop.
The rage takes over, Moony howls inside him. Mine, Moony snarls. Pack.
Bellatrix lets out a shrill laugh, but it stops abruptly as Ron catches her off guard and stuns her. Her mad smile fades as she slumps to the ground, face down in the soft earth.
Ron is about to send another spell at her when one of the Death Eaters sends a hex his way. Ron shakes his head, "tsk, tsk, tsk."
Remus is so lost that he doesn't notice when Ron steps in front of them, aggressively sending spells at the remaining Death Eaters.
Soon they are retreating and with one vociferous cry, Ron breaks through their shields, his severing spell slicing through them like butter.
Remus's hands are pressing into James's wound, applying pressure and the warm sticky substance is covering his fingers.
"It won't stop, it won't stop, it won't stop," Remus says. The darkness is creeping in on the edges of his vision, like he has blinders on and can't see anything else.
"Breathe, Remus," Ron says, kneeling down on the other side of James. His voice is steady, but Remus can feel his fear, his panic.
Ron reaches over and presses two fingers against the side of Michael's swollen neck, sighing heavily when he pulls his hand away.
Remus already knows Michael is dead, his breathing had stopped minutes prior.
Suddenly Remus can't breathe, it's all too much. James's breathing however, is only growing more shallow.
This can't be happening.
"Remus. Remus."
Ron is calling his name, but his tongue feels as heavy as lead, as if it is swelling and filling his mouth. He can't find it in him to say anything.
"Remus," Ron says his name harshly.
Remus's head snaps up violently, his eyes as wide as saucers. His best mate's life is draining out of him and nothing Remus is doing is helping.
The kind blue eyes anchor him in his sea of anxious uncertainty, his mounting fear frozen in its ascension.
Ron tucks his wand in his back pocket and presses his hands on top of Remus's, eyes glancing at James's face as his eyelids flutter shut, and as he loses consciousness.
"Fuck. Okay, I'm going to apparate us. He isn't in the best condition for it…but...but we're going to have to risk it."
Remus can only nod.
Ron closes his eyes, face contorted in concentration, his lips are pressing together in a severe white line; a breath, followed by a staggering crack later, and they're gone.
