Author's note: OK, folks! I've post this chapter early to keep all of you from waiting. That cliffhanger at the end of last chapter is quite good, isn't it? Maybe I should use it more often... ((heehee)) perhaps not. Who is the owner of the voice? Who?
I've to apologise for not checking out the meaning of a word and using it before I know it. I'm so sorry! The word is "mused" which I thought is similar to "amused" but I'm wrong. I've already edited the mistake in the last chapter.
This chapter is a bit jumbled up from different pov and it's a very important chapter for Moony! ((winks)) I hope you'd forgive me if you discover any mistakes in the chapter, my dear beta is still away, though I've already checked through throroughly.
And finally, the Half Blood Prince is going to be released in the 16th July 2005! Cheers! Enjoy your holidays and Happy New Year!
Chapter 9
A New Friend
Remus had been observing the pair of Gryffindors, James and Sirius, who had been keeping silent throughout dinner, which was really quite weird. They had finished their meal quite quickly and fled before he could ask anything. He, himself, however took his time and went back to his dormitory to pick up his homework. Both of their four-poster beds were empty, but he was sure he hadn't seen them in the common room just now. He could have missed them, although it was unlikely. In the dormitory, sitting there was Peter Pettigrew, wriggling his fingers, looking quite pale.
"What's wrong?" asked Remus gently. "Don't know how to do your homework?"
"No," answered Peter, "not that. It's just that James and Sirius had gone for ages and they're still not back yet!"
"Oh, that," said Remus calmly, taking a seat beside Peter. "They're one of the best students, so no worries."
"Haven't you heard about Severus Snape?" said Peter.
"I did," said Remus coolly.
"He just sent some first years into the hospital wing some days ago," said Peter. "But he escaped without a detention."
"Into the hospital wing?" said Remus. He was really getting a little worried. Although the two of them wasn't really his good friends and this didn't really have anything to do with him, they were still his fellow Gryffindors and he could avoid a catastrophe from happening.
He didn't say anything. He exited the dormitory, out for the common room. "Hey wait, where are you going?" said Peter frantically, jumping down from his bed, following Remus.
"Shh," said Remus. They had been lucky; they had a close shave from Peeves, the poltergeist, who loved throwing all sorts of things at the students to create mayhem, and had almost run into a prefect, who was patrolling the corridors for students after the curfew, not to mention Filch's sneaky cat, Mrs Norris. Remus finally located them in the charms classroom with Peter, who was looking really pale and scared, by his side.
"Look," said Remus, "you stay here. I'm sure you don't want to be involved in a duel and get hit by spells, do you?" Peter shook his head quickly. "If someone comes by, just yell and we'd think about the consequences later. If the duel really got out of hand, run in as quickly and suddenly as you can and throw any spells at Snape, understand?"
Remus could tell that the boy couldn't really get what he was saying at all. But still, he nodded with a determined look on his face.
"Good," said Remus, he peeked into the classroom and saw an unconscious Sirius lying on the floor and James facing Snape, alone. Two of them were staring at each other with burning hatred. It seemed that he wasn't too late to help his friend yet.
Now how can he enter the battlefield?
"Am I missing some point of fun at here?" a voice said, amused.
James whipped around; a hopeful feeling was down upon him, someone was here to rescue him! He squinted his eyes to take a better look at the new arrival.
It was Remus Lupin.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" he yelled. James flicked his eyes over at Snape, who was about to mutter an incantation, but too late. The spell had struck him; his arms stuck to his body, he became as rigid as a board before falling down.
James broke into a wide grin. He was saved! He quickly rushed over to see Sirius' condition.
"Looks like we've won," said Remus, who was also smiling.
"Yeah," said James. "Thanks."
"What's the 'thanks' for?" said Remus. "We're all Gryffindors, remember? We're supposed to help each other."
"But thanks anyway," said James. "Can you help me?"
The two Gryffindors gave Sirius a great heave and pulled him to his feet. He looked quite OK though except that he didn't seem to be conscious although his eyes were wide opened.
"You don't think he's hurt, do you?" said James.
"Apparently not," said Remus. "What did he do?" he asked, his head jerked towards Snape.
"Said something like stupefy," answered James.
"Just a stunner, I think," said Remus. "We'd be able to revive him in the common room with some help."
"We need to get back to the common room," said James. "What about Snivellus?"
"Snivellus?" said Remus. "You mean Snape?"
"Yeah," said James and the other Gryffindor gave a hearty laugh.
"Where did you get that name from?" said Remus, still laughing.
"Severus and Snivellus sound about the same," said James, giving a toothy grin.
"Great name," praised Remus, almost choked. "We'd leave him just like that."
"What?" said James, not believing that he heard this from Remus Lupin, the famous always-obedient boy.
"You know the password to the Slytherin common room?" asked Remus suspiciously.
"No," said James immediately. "Of course not, I'm a Gryffindor."
"So we better save a bit of trouble," Remus smirked, "and get him into a bit of trouble."
"Sounds great," commented James, grinning.
"Peter's waiting outside, maybe he can help us," said Remus.
"Peter's here?" said James. He couldn't believe it. Peter, the one always hiding behind people's backs, was here?
"Yeah," said Remus. "Are we wizards or are we not?"
"We are," said James.
"So why are we carrying this idiot?" said Remus. "Locomotor Sirius Black!" with a flick of his wand, Sirius rose to the air, unsupported by the both of them, by Remus' command.
"Cool," said James.
"Thanks," said Remus, giving a little bow for humor, "now all we need is to get back to the common room, unnoticed."
Along with Peter, the four of them got back to the common room. It was a wonder that they hadn't bumped into anybody along the way. The other Gryffindors seemed to be still awake and Sirius got revived by one of the Seventh years.
"Where am I?" said Sirius. "That dolt!" he sat up right, so suddenly aware of his surroundings.
"He stunned you," said the seventh year. "Well, if there's nothing else, I'd go."
"Thanks," said Remus.
"What happened to that Snivellus then?" asked Sirius as the four of them went up the spiral staircase, into their dormitory. Remus shut the door carefully behind them.
"We won," said James, grinning, three of them was sitting at Sirius' bed for a little talk, "with Remus' help," he added, "or else I wouldn't know what might have happened."
"You should be careful," said Remus, sitting down too on his bed. "He used a stunner, that's one, because its something a first year couldn't have achieved so fast."
"Why are you sitting over there?" said Sirius, smiling mischievously. "Come here."
Remus was a little surprised by the invitation but nevertheless came over to Sirius' bed. Although it was a bit crowded, it felt so warm and nice to be involved by something.
"Look," said Sirius, "we're all in this now! You're part of us!"
"Huh?" said Peter.
"Never mind," sighed James, turning to Remus. "Why had you showed up?"
"Er – " said Remus, not knowing what to say, "er – erm – I thought you might be in danger."
"So you thought we'd get killed?" said Sirius, his voice giving the impression that he was offended.
"That's not what I – " Remus replied hastily but Sirius gave a dog-like laugh.
"Look, don't be so nervous," said Sirius. "It's not like I'd bite you or something. I'm not McGonagall."
"OK," said Remus, grinning. "I thought you might be in danger after Peter told me that you're dueling with Snape."
"And so we had," said James. "We could've been in the hospital wing right now if you haven't come."
"Why so much talking about things?" said Sirius. "You're part of us! Now and forever!"
Remus gave a genuine smile. He was really glad that now he wasn't alone anymore.
He had friends.
Read?REVIEW!
Wow! I'd received a lot of reviews for the last chapter! Thanks a lot! Continue reading! I promise that the chapter after this would be better, as in description and stuff, I have already got it done. I hope you'd really forgive me for any grammar mistakes. I'm not an expert in English, nor am I good in it. And my beta is still away. ((Sigh))
brennqt 14: This chapter means a lot to Remus, definitely. You don't get to strangle Snape, which is a pity... owww. At this point of time, they're all first years. Remember what Sirius said in Order of the Phoenix? Snape knew more spells than all the seventh years when he entered Hogwarts and that's making a point there. Of course, more to expect. But the next chapter would be nasty for Remus.
blackwishes: I'm updating (sooner than I expected)! Continue reading too! Cheers!
Tania: First, do you happen to be Nymph-Patronus? nevermind if you aren't. I'm glad you're reading! The owner of the voice... I guess you've already found out after reading this chapter! In my opinion, there's never a perfect Gryffindor and Sirius is one of them.He comes from a dark wizard family and thus he may be influenced, but he didn't. He's rebellious. He's reckless and we'd find out more about him in the next chapters. Yes, Snape is plain evil, a nasty first year Slytherin. He knocked downJames with a disarming spell, so strong that it had sent him flying down thetrain's corridor, during the first time they met. I believe James is from a line of Gryffindors, and Snape is in Slytherin. Naturally, the Potters are the "blood traitors", and so Snape would hex them. I know this explanation is unrealistic. But I don't think any Slytherins would welcome a "blood traitor" with open hands. Well... he hexed James immediately because it's a duel. oh well, it sounds lame. But Slytherins hate the Gryffindors naturally. You don't see the Slytherins talking nicely to the Gryffindors, do you? I hope you get what I mean... if you don't, still continue to read! )
Fornax: OK. I'm updating. You won't get so much of Padfoot at the moment... it all began with Moony. All right, I'm being a little biased here. There would be more of Padfoot during times it's not near to full moon, and when he picked up more and more clues that lead to the state of his dear friend that he is in. More about Moony in the next chapter! It's going to be PG rated, so I think you know what I mean.
Author's Note: That's all for this chapter. Don't forget to review and bookmark this story!
