That night the two Animagus crept out of the bush and went to look for their brother. They went up to every cage and the prisoners inside begged for help. It took so much effort for James to keep moving when he heard their pleads for help. He wasn't even sure if they realized they were pleading to animals. One look at Padfoot's face and James knew he was thinking the same thing, as soon as they got Remus out they would make sure everyone else got out. They couldn't leave them here. One sad fact about werewolves is they are uneducated, and most had never held a wand or knew a spell. Most of them were Muggles too, confused and their normal life destroyed.
Where is he? James thought as they walked. Was he put in a special place, did they fear since he knew magic he would try to escape?
Finally they came to a cage where a man was curled up in a ball and fast asleep. He was shivering and was pale. Padfoot took one sniff and then transformed, they had found their brother. James followed by transforming and they both went up to the cage. They put their hands on the bars of the cage.
They both jumped back quickly and James swore. He looked at his hands, the bars had burned them. A line went the length of his hand, it was red and burning. James looked at Sirius and both took a deep breathe.
"Remus," Sirius said ignoring his hands. There was no response. "Moony. Remus."
This time they saw their brothers small brown eyes open and look up at them. He tried to speak but no words came out, he barely lifted his head, he was so weak.
"We are getting you out buddy," Sirius promised.
"Who's there?" they heard a deep voice near by.
Sirius whispered a swear. He took out his wand, "Alhoroma." Nothing happened.
"Who's there?" the voice said again and this time closer.
Sirius fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small knife.
"Hurry," James whispered.
"I am," Sirius muttered back. He fumbled with the lock and then the lock clicked and the door opened a second later.
They could hear two pairs of footsteps coming. Sirius opened the door with his foot ignoring the burning feeling that was going through his boot. He went in, picked up his brother and got outside the cage. James took someone out of his pocket and in a second the three of them were gone. A second later two men with their wands out came up to the cage and raised the alarm, one of the werewolves escaped.
They appeared in the Potter Mansion, right in James' room. With a scream Lily woke and her wand was in front of her pointing at the Marauders.
"Lily, its us," James whispered trying not to wake Harry.
"Why did you come in here?"
"Only the master of the Potter Mansion can make a Portkey that would bring them into the house. If it was anyone else, no matter if the portkey was taken from them they would end up at the gates. We are home Lily."
Lily got out of bed and put on a robe as Sirius carried Remus to his room. "He's so light." He muttered to James as they entered his room. Sirius placed him on the bed and striped him on the clothes he had on. They put clean clothes on him and put him under the covers.
Lily came in with Rosy who had a few bottles in her hands, "Madam Pomfrey is coming. You two get out of those clothes."
They didn't need to be told twice. They hadn't changed at all in their search for Remus and their clothes were just as wet and dirty as his. They both patted Remus on the shoulder and left to take showers and change.
When they got back a half an hour later Madam Pomfrey had just arrived. She told Sirius and James to leave and get something to eat. They hadn't had much to eat while looking for him, all their food got wet and soggy. They went down to the dining room and ate. Lily asked them about what happened and they told her without too many details about the snakes, spiders and the cages. They knew the cages would upset her so they made it seem like they walked up to them and there was Remus. When he finished eating James talked to the portrait of Jonathon Potter and told Dumbledore the situation. He went back to the dining room and sat down heavily.
Madam Pomfrey came down after being with Remus for a half an hour. "He hasn't eaten in a week, he has a fever, he's dehydrated, and very weak. I gave him a potion to get rid of anything they might have given him that could be harmful to him and a sleeping potion. I left fever reducing potion at his bedside, he didn't take that, I didn't want to give him too many potions at once. He should be fine in a few days." She gave her report and then came over to them, "And now you two." She put a hand to his forehead. She gasped and did the same to Sirius, "To bed, both of you! You have fevers just like Mr. Lupin."
"One thing, got any bandages or something?" James showed her his hands.
Madam Pomfrey didn't ask any questions but muttered a few words and they were healed. "Bed." She pointed upstairs.
James was about to protest but then he saw Lily's face and scrambled out of his seat. Sirius followed. They went to their rooms, changed into night clothes and got into bed.
"Night Sirius!" James called.
"Night James!" Sirius called back.
"Go to bed!" Lily yelled up at them.
James fell asleep smiling as he lay on the soft, comfortable bed. That didn't last long though, he started to feel hot, and then cold. He tried to move but his limbs were like bricks. He felt hot again, and then the dreams came.
He was back in the forest by the cages. He looked around, and walked by them. The prisoners called to him, they needed help. He had to find Remus though, he had to find his brother. He found him in the same cage. "Remus! Remus!" He called to him. His brother didn't respond.
"James." He heard his voice, he looked around. In the cage next to Remus was Sirius. "Help me Prongs."
James rushed forward but he heard a pop and he was now a stag. He tried to transform back, he couldn't open the doors as a stag. He looked at Sirius, and then back at Remus, he couldn't help them.
"James." He heard his name again. Peter was in a cage. He begged for help.
"Mr. Potter." Dumbledore was next to Peter.
"James help!" Lily was in a cage. He ran up and down the line of cages, all his friends were in them begging him to help them. He kept trying to transform back so he could help them but he couldn't. He couldn't do anything. He heard a baby's cry, HARRY! He couldn't help him either. He tried harder, he had to help Harry but he couldn't. He was stuck as a stag, he couldn't help anyone.
He woke up suddenly. He felt something cold on his forehead and opened his eyes. He smiled weakly as he felt Lily's hand on his face. He fell back asleep.
When he woke again he opened his eyes to see the sun light trying to get through the curtains in the window. He looked around and someone placed his glasses on his head. He looked up at Lily.
"You had a high fever for some time," she told him and handed him a glass of water. She then handed him a goblet and he looked at it and then her. "It's a fever reducing potion."
He took it and then drank some more water. Lily took the glasses from him and laid down next to him. "Don't want you sick." he muttered still tired.
"Don't worry," she put a hand on his cheek.
"How is Remus?" he asked.
"He's fine," she smiled. Even though he was ill, he always thought of her and his friends first. "All three of you had fevers. Remus is eating slowly and trying to read the whole library. Madam Pomfrey has him on two potions every three hours. Sirius is fine, he woke up three days ago with barely any fever. You have slept for three days straight basically. To be on the safe side though he's confined to bed until the end of the week, just like you."
James nodded and his eyes closed briefly.
"Get some sleep," Lily kissed his cheek. "Its getting lonely sleeping in one of the spare rooms," she whispered in his ear.
Sirius was the first up followed by James and then Remus. Dumbledore visited them the day that James got up. He was smiling and shook their hands warmly, "Thanks to you two a group of Order members went in and got everyone out safety. The security around the cages was a bit more, more wizards and snakes patrolling but they were able to get around them. How is Remus?"
"He's still weak but he's eating more," Lily told him.
"I can't thank you two enough. I hate to think what would have happened if they were there during the full moon," Dumbledore sighed.
They went into Remus' room where he was sitting up in bed reading a book.
"Hey buddy," Sirius said and he grabbed a chair and sat down next to him. James grabbed a chair and sat down on the other side of the bed.
Remus put the book down that he had been reading. He smiled at everyone in the room and then stared at Sirius and then James. Remus gripped Sirius and then James' hands in a brotherly way.
"I owe my life to you two," Remus smiled again. "And to you sir." He looked up at Dumbledore.
"For what Remus?" asked Dumbledore.
"For giving me a chance," Remus sighed. He bit his lip as though considering his words, "the first day, we were all together, 25 Death Eaters were guarding us and a few snakes and everyone was frightened of course. Most of them were uneducated, lost, confused, some of them didn't even know what a wand was. They had no hope, they knew they were going to die. I told them that I had three great friends, and my friends would come and rescue us. I told them that as I speak, they are coming. For most of them, the thought of you two kept them alive.
Sirius and James looked at each other and then each put a hand on Remus' shoulder, "Til death buddy," Sirius muttered.
Remus looked back at Dumbledore, "I was a hero to them. The ones that were wizards or witches knew me, they knew I went to Hogwarts. They knew that I was making a difference in the world, and not by being in the Order by just holding a wand. I couldn't have done that without you sir, you gave me a chance when no one would have looked at me twice. I would be like them if it wasn't for you. It was you who gave me the chance to have three great friends, and a life. I can't ever repay you for all you have done, and in this experience I realize that I owe my life to you."
James looked at Dumbledore and was surprised to see a tear in his eye. Dumbledore regained control of himself and looked at Remus, "I have one question for you, do you remember anything about the night you were captured?"
Remus didn't speak for a moment. He fixed the top sheet on the bed and then looked up, "Four Death Eaters came into my room. I was reading in bed and before I could yell or grab my wand they put a Silencing Charm around the room. I struggled of course when they tried to take me, I'm sure you saw my room. There was something familiar about one of the Death Eaters, whoever it was, they kept their distance and let the other Death Eaters do the work. After a struggle of say ten minutes, they got the sense to stun me all at once. It hurt, but I kicked and punched and was able to dodge their spells for awhile. I couldn't dodge four Stunning spells. I woke up in the forest."
There was a squeak by the door and everyone turned to see Peter standing by the door.
"Come in Peter," James motioned to him. "We are having a party, Remus is back."
"I heard... he was... captured," Peter frowned. "Are you alright Remus?"
"Fine now Peter," Remus nodded. "I was at my mother's and I heard from the house elves that you had been taken. Any idea who did it?"
"None at all Peter," Sirius shook his head.
"Well I have to get back to Hogwarts, good bye you four. Remus, it eases my mind to know that you are safe. James and Sirius, I thank you for saving him, even though I thought your actions were a bit harsh, you managed to make it through. Good day Lily."
Lily left behind Dumbledore.
"We need a toast," Sirius said and he called for Rosy. A minute later she came back with drinks for all of them. "To the Marauders." Sirius held his glass up. "Escaping Death Eaters 10 at a time."
"To peace," James held his up.
"To the best friends any man could ever ask for," Remus smiled and held his up.
"To peace," Peter repeated James.
"To the Marauders," Sirius said again and they all hit their glasses against each others.
Where is he? James thought as they walked. Was he put in a special place, did they fear since he knew magic he would try to escape?
Finally they came to a cage where a man was curled up in a ball and fast asleep. He was shivering and was pale. Padfoot took one sniff and then transformed, they had found their brother. James followed by transforming and they both went up to the cage. They put their hands on the bars of the cage.
They both jumped back quickly and James swore. He looked at his hands, the bars had burned them. A line went the length of his hand, it was red and burning. James looked at Sirius and both took a deep breathe.
"Remus," Sirius said ignoring his hands. There was no response. "Moony. Remus."
This time they saw their brothers small brown eyes open and look up at them. He tried to speak but no words came out, he barely lifted his head, he was so weak.
"We are getting you out buddy," Sirius promised.
"Who's there?" they heard a deep voice near by.
Sirius whispered a swear. He took out his wand, "Alhoroma." Nothing happened.
"Who's there?" the voice said again and this time closer.
Sirius fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small knife.
"Hurry," James whispered.
"I am," Sirius muttered back. He fumbled with the lock and then the lock clicked and the door opened a second later.
They could hear two pairs of footsteps coming. Sirius opened the door with his foot ignoring the burning feeling that was going through his boot. He went in, picked up his brother and got outside the cage. James took someone out of his pocket and in a second the three of them were gone. A second later two men with their wands out came up to the cage and raised the alarm, one of the werewolves escaped.
They appeared in the Potter Mansion, right in James' room. With a scream Lily woke and her wand was in front of her pointing at the Marauders.
"Lily, its us," James whispered trying not to wake Harry.
"Why did you come in here?"
"Only the master of the Potter Mansion can make a Portkey that would bring them into the house. If it was anyone else, no matter if the portkey was taken from them they would end up at the gates. We are home Lily."
Lily got out of bed and put on a robe as Sirius carried Remus to his room. "He's so light." He muttered to James as they entered his room. Sirius placed him on the bed and striped him on the clothes he had on. They put clean clothes on him and put him under the covers.
Lily came in with Rosy who had a few bottles in her hands, "Madam Pomfrey is coming. You two get out of those clothes."
They didn't need to be told twice. They hadn't changed at all in their search for Remus and their clothes were just as wet and dirty as his. They both patted Remus on the shoulder and left to take showers and change.
When they got back a half an hour later Madam Pomfrey had just arrived. She told Sirius and James to leave and get something to eat. They hadn't had much to eat while looking for him, all their food got wet and soggy. They went down to the dining room and ate. Lily asked them about what happened and they told her without too many details about the snakes, spiders and the cages. They knew the cages would upset her so they made it seem like they walked up to them and there was Remus. When he finished eating James talked to the portrait of Jonathon Potter and told Dumbledore the situation. He went back to the dining room and sat down heavily.
Madam Pomfrey came down after being with Remus for a half an hour. "He hasn't eaten in a week, he has a fever, he's dehydrated, and very weak. I gave him a potion to get rid of anything they might have given him that could be harmful to him and a sleeping potion. I left fever reducing potion at his bedside, he didn't take that, I didn't want to give him too many potions at once. He should be fine in a few days." She gave her report and then came over to them, "And now you two." She put a hand to his forehead. She gasped and did the same to Sirius, "To bed, both of you! You have fevers just like Mr. Lupin."
"One thing, got any bandages or something?" James showed her his hands.
Madam Pomfrey didn't ask any questions but muttered a few words and they were healed. "Bed." She pointed upstairs.
James was about to protest but then he saw Lily's face and scrambled out of his seat. Sirius followed. They went to their rooms, changed into night clothes and got into bed.
"Night Sirius!" James called.
"Night James!" Sirius called back.
"Go to bed!" Lily yelled up at them.
James fell asleep smiling as he lay on the soft, comfortable bed. That didn't last long though, he started to feel hot, and then cold. He tried to move but his limbs were like bricks. He felt hot again, and then the dreams came.
He was back in the forest by the cages. He looked around, and walked by them. The prisoners called to him, they needed help. He had to find Remus though, he had to find his brother. He found him in the same cage. "Remus! Remus!" He called to him. His brother didn't respond.
"James." He heard his voice, he looked around. In the cage next to Remus was Sirius. "Help me Prongs."
James rushed forward but he heard a pop and he was now a stag. He tried to transform back, he couldn't open the doors as a stag. He looked at Sirius, and then back at Remus, he couldn't help them.
"James." He heard his name again. Peter was in a cage. He begged for help.
"Mr. Potter." Dumbledore was next to Peter.
"James help!" Lily was in a cage. He ran up and down the line of cages, all his friends were in them begging him to help them. He kept trying to transform back so he could help them but he couldn't. He couldn't do anything. He heard a baby's cry, HARRY! He couldn't help him either. He tried harder, he had to help Harry but he couldn't. He was stuck as a stag, he couldn't help anyone.
He woke up suddenly. He felt something cold on his forehead and opened his eyes. He smiled weakly as he felt Lily's hand on his face. He fell back asleep.
When he woke again he opened his eyes to see the sun light trying to get through the curtains in the window. He looked around and someone placed his glasses on his head. He looked up at Lily.
"You had a high fever for some time," she told him and handed him a glass of water. She then handed him a goblet and he looked at it and then her. "It's a fever reducing potion."
He took it and then drank some more water. Lily took the glasses from him and laid down next to him. "Don't want you sick." he muttered still tired.
"Don't worry," she put a hand on his cheek.
"How is Remus?" he asked.
"He's fine," she smiled. Even though he was ill, he always thought of her and his friends first. "All three of you had fevers. Remus is eating slowly and trying to read the whole library. Madam Pomfrey has him on two potions every three hours. Sirius is fine, he woke up three days ago with barely any fever. You have slept for three days straight basically. To be on the safe side though he's confined to bed until the end of the week, just like you."
James nodded and his eyes closed briefly.
"Get some sleep," Lily kissed his cheek. "Its getting lonely sleeping in one of the spare rooms," she whispered in his ear.
Sirius was the first up followed by James and then Remus. Dumbledore visited them the day that James got up. He was smiling and shook their hands warmly, "Thanks to you two a group of Order members went in and got everyone out safety. The security around the cages was a bit more, more wizards and snakes patrolling but they were able to get around them. How is Remus?"
"He's still weak but he's eating more," Lily told him.
"I can't thank you two enough. I hate to think what would have happened if they were there during the full moon," Dumbledore sighed.
They went into Remus' room where he was sitting up in bed reading a book.
"Hey buddy," Sirius said and he grabbed a chair and sat down next to him. James grabbed a chair and sat down on the other side of the bed.
Remus put the book down that he had been reading. He smiled at everyone in the room and then stared at Sirius and then James. Remus gripped Sirius and then James' hands in a brotherly way.
"I owe my life to you two," Remus smiled again. "And to you sir." He looked up at Dumbledore.
"For what Remus?" asked Dumbledore.
"For giving me a chance," Remus sighed. He bit his lip as though considering his words, "the first day, we were all together, 25 Death Eaters were guarding us and a few snakes and everyone was frightened of course. Most of them were uneducated, lost, confused, some of them didn't even know what a wand was. They had no hope, they knew they were going to die. I told them that I had three great friends, and my friends would come and rescue us. I told them that as I speak, they are coming. For most of them, the thought of you two kept them alive.
Sirius and James looked at each other and then each put a hand on Remus' shoulder, "Til death buddy," Sirius muttered.
Remus looked back at Dumbledore, "I was a hero to them. The ones that were wizards or witches knew me, they knew I went to Hogwarts. They knew that I was making a difference in the world, and not by being in the Order by just holding a wand. I couldn't have done that without you sir, you gave me a chance when no one would have looked at me twice. I would be like them if it wasn't for you. It was you who gave me the chance to have three great friends, and a life. I can't ever repay you for all you have done, and in this experience I realize that I owe my life to you."
James looked at Dumbledore and was surprised to see a tear in his eye. Dumbledore regained control of himself and looked at Remus, "I have one question for you, do you remember anything about the night you were captured?"
Remus didn't speak for a moment. He fixed the top sheet on the bed and then looked up, "Four Death Eaters came into my room. I was reading in bed and before I could yell or grab my wand they put a Silencing Charm around the room. I struggled of course when they tried to take me, I'm sure you saw my room. There was something familiar about one of the Death Eaters, whoever it was, they kept their distance and let the other Death Eaters do the work. After a struggle of say ten minutes, they got the sense to stun me all at once. It hurt, but I kicked and punched and was able to dodge their spells for awhile. I couldn't dodge four Stunning spells. I woke up in the forest."
There was a squeak by the door and everyone turned to see Peter standing by the door.
"Come in Peter," James motioned to him. "We are having a party, Remus is back."
"I heard... he was... captured," Peter frowned. "Are you alright Remus?"
"Fine now Peter," Remus nodded. "I was at my mother's and I heard from the house elves that you had been taken. Any idea who did it?"
"None at all Peter," Sirius shook his head.
"Well I have to get back to Hogwarts, good bye you four. Remus, it eases my mind to know that you are safe. James and Sirius, I thank you for saving him, even though I thought your actions were a bit harsh, you managed to make it through. Good day Lily."
Lily left behind Dumbledore.
"We need a toast," Sirius said and he called for Rosy. A minute later she came back with drinks for all of them. "To the Marauders." Sirius held his glass up. "Escaping Death Eaters 10 at a time."
"To peace," James held his up.
"To the best friends any man could ever ask for," Remus smiled and held his up.
"To peace," Peter repeated James.
"To the Marauders," Sirius said again and they all hit their glasses against each others.
