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Chapter 15: Wanted, Dead or Alive.
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Remus and Peter walked quickly through the deserted corridors, most people were still in the Great Hall eating lunch. They were running late meeting Hermione due to Sirius and James prattling on about a new prank idea (so much for the headboy responsibilities).
"I still don't understand," moaned Peter.
Remus sighed and looked sadly at his friend. "That's why we're going to the library, Hermione's even better than me at defense; I'm sure between us we'll be able to help."
"Thanks Moony, it's just out NEWT year….." Peter started but was silenced by Remus' hand covering his mouth. He glanced up at the werewolf who was presently cocking his head as if to hear something better.
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Hermione stared in fear at the icy glare of the blonde in front of her.
"Petrificus," Malfoy muttered binding her legs. "Won't have a repeat of last time will we?"
Movement behind Malfoy caught Hermione's eye, Crabbe and Goyle were standing off to the side waiting to prevent any unwanted intrusion.
"I think you owe me an apology mudblood, your actions before were highly inappropriate," he sneered.
"Sod off Malfoy," she spat with as much courage as possible, her punishment was the back of Malfoy's hand across her face, the action splitting her lip.
"Stupid Mudblood whore."
Hermione knew then she was in big trouble and opened her mouth to scream, Malfoys hands already groping her tastelessly, her scream got caught in her throat however as Malfoy covered her lips with his own cold, slimy ones. She panicked, wide eyed and instinctively bit down, tasting the metallic tang of blood. Malfoy yelped and glared at her, it happened so fast she didn't see his fist until if collided with the side of her head. Black dots appeared in front of her eyes and the next thing she knew she was on the floor, the blonde Slytherin on top of her, ripping open her robes.
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Remus and Peter ran around the corner to see Malfoy punch Hermione in the head, and proceed to straddle her as she fell to the floor. Remus thinking quickly grabbed his wand and started towards the scene of the attack.
"James and Sirius NOW!" He shouted to Peter who scurried off to the Great Hall where they had left their friends.
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"REMUS!" Hermione screamed as she saw him running down the long corridor.
Malfoy sneered. "Your little friend has no chance against two Slytherins. Remind me to thank Severus later for his helpful little spell."
Remus raised his wand to take down Crabbe but dropped it suddenly as it scorched his hand. This only slowed him for a few seconds however and he charged at the two boys. As he neared Crabbe the bigger boy swung and ape-like fist at Remus' head, Remus expertly ducked and swung a skilled punch, felling Crabbe with one swing.
Goyle looked between his knocked out housemate and the furious Gryffindor, the smaller boys gold eyes flashing menacingly.
He ran at Goyle and threw a punch. The larger boy staggered but had been ready for the onslaught.
Hermione struggled in vain as Malfoy continued his assault, he seemed to get a sick joy out of violence and backhanded her across the face again, almost causing her to lose conciseness altogether.
"MALFOY, GET YOUR DIRTY HANDS OFF HER!"
Hermione had never welcomed the sound of Sirius' voice more than now, she vaguely felt Malfoy get up and stand to face the wrath that was Sirius Black.
James went to help Remus, but Goyle was shoved across the corridor and knocked out cold before he could reach his friend. Sirius advanced on the now pale Malfoy and sent a punch into the blonde's nose with a sickening crack. James following suit, with a kick in the ribs when Malfoy fell to the floor.
Remus rushed to Hermione and took the charm off her legs.
"Thank you," she whispered weakly.
"Sirius," Remus called. "She needs to go to the hospital wing."
Sirius left the now unconscious Malfoy and rushed to Hermione side.
"Sirius," she whispered clinging to his robes as he bundled her up into his arms, the last thing she saw when she blacked out were his soft grey eyes, filled with worry.
"I suggest you accompany Mister Black to the hospital wing Mister Lupin," came the voice of Professor Dumbledore, Peter standing wide eyed next to him, Remus gingerly touched his split knuckles and could already feel the bruise forming around his eye. "Mister Potter and Mister Pettigrew can assist me with the others."
Remus nodded and followed Sirius to the hospital wing.
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Sirius rushed the frail Hermione into the infirmary. "MADAME POMFREY!" he yelled. The Medi-witch ran forward, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the girl in Sirius' arms.
"Bring her over here," she said, leading Sirius to one of the beds, where he gently lowered the unconscious Gryffindor.
Madame Pomfrey immediately set to work, evaluating the extent of Hermione's injuries.
Sirius glanced up at Remus as the boy sat on another bed cradling his hand, his knuckles bleeding. Sirius wandered over and sat next to his friend.
"You did good Moony."
"I didn't even know my own strength, but I was just…just so angry, and they'd done something to my wand, there wasn't anything else I could do."
"I'm glad it was you Remus, I don't think James or I would have been able to take down Crabbe and Goyle on our own."
"Thank you Sirius, I'm glad I was there too." he said quietly, both boys looking at the beaten girl in front of them.
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An hour later Hermione was sleeping peacefully, Remus' hand was bandaged and the three Slytherins were all conscious and supporting numerous pieces of first aid.
The Marauders and Lily were sitting with Hermione when Professor Dumbledore entered the room, he addressed the Slytherins first.
"Please go to my office, Professor Sabbath is waiting for you there." His eyes were uncharacteristically cold and held no room for argument.
Once the Slytherins had exited the headmaster turned to the Gryffindors.
"I need you boys to accompany me also, it shouldn't take too long, and then I'm sure you can come back."
Sirius was about to protest when Lily lay a hand on his arm. "Go, I'll stay."
Sirius nodded and followed the others with one glance back at Hermione on the bed.
When they entered the Headmasters office they saw the three Slytherins seated on one side with Professor Sabbath. Madame Pomfrey was sitting opposite Dumbledore's desk with Professor McGonagall.
The boys all sat in the spare chairs and waited for Dumbledore to speak. He sat down at his desk and surveyed the room.
"Madame Pomfrey, what is the extent of Miss Thomas' injuries?"
"When she arrived her left cheekbone was broken along with her jaw, I was able to heal those injuries." Said the medi-witch.
The Gryffindor boys stared wide eyed at the school nurse, then turned in unison to glare at the blonde Slytherin who attempted to sneer back but was unable to due to the large amount of tape across his nose.
The medi-witch continued. "She will wake with a split lip, a cut on her cheek and above her eyebrow, along with supporting a nasty black eye."
"And the condition of her robes?" asked Dumbledore.
"They were badly ripped, like someone had torn them, it looked to me like an attempt at rape."
Professor Sabbath and Professor McGonagalls eyes widened at this and they both let out loud gasps, shocked that something like this had happened at Hogwarts.
"You have no proof," Malfoy snapped at the Medi-witch.
The Marauders were about to launch a verbal assault but were stopped when Dumbledore raised his hand. "Mister Malfoy, we have four eye-witness accounts of the incident, along with Miss Thomas' account when she recovers."
"It wasn't rape," sneered Malfoy. "The little Gryffindor slut wasn't getting enough from her own house so she came to me."
Malfoy actually recoiled at the look Sirius was sending his way, his eyes were uncharacteristically dark, if looks could kill Malfoy would have died one hundred times over.
It was Remus who spoke up next. "Can you explain why you stripped her of her wand, bound her legs and put two of your little friends on guard duty?" he asked his voice was quiet but the message was heard.
"Mister Malfoy," said Professor Dumbledore, when Malfoy couldn't argue Remus' point. "Two hundred points will be removed from Slytherin along with a four week suspension. The only times you will leave your common room will be for meals, never in my long years here at Hogwarts have I seen a such a display of vile behaviour most commonly habituated down dark muggle alleys." Malfoy froze, it was an insult from Dumbledore to compare his actions to those associated with muggles, and the whole room knew it. Dumbledore was very angry to go to such lengths as to insult a student.
"Seventy points each for your part in the incident will be taken from Slytherin," he continued, addressing Crabbe and Goyle. "Including preventing a fellow student from helping the victim."
Dumbledore then turned to the Marauders and gave them a small smile, to which none really felt in the mood to return.
"I award Mister Pettigrew fifty points for alerting the right people, Mister Potter and Mister Black also receive fifty points for assisting Miss Thomas." The headmaster then turned to Remus and looked on him proudly. "Mister Lupin, it was very brave of you to take on two boys twice your size, and without your wand, to help a friend in need. I award one hundred points to Gryffindor."
The Marauders, though happy about the points they had earned, were not really in the celebrating kind of mood and made their way solemnly back to the hospital wing.
