Author's Note: WOW--! 55 reviews. Is my story that good..? Lol. Okay well here's chapter 8. And as promised all that have reviewed are listed at the end of the story. Thanks guys..! I'll try to update more for you if my story is that interesting. Lol. Enjoy and please read and review. My review goal is 100 next. Can I do it..? I need your help..! -Please review. Thanks.

Disclaimer: Own nothing Harry Potter . . . J.K. Rowling does (uses her wand and points to her picture of JKR) I own just my characters.

Chapter 8: The Whomping Willow and The Dare

That Saturday Sirius and James got up early to think about what Peter had said last night. About Remus having a mark similar to Sirius' after being hit by the Whomping Willow.

"He couldn't have gone near it and still be standing," Sirius exclaimed in the Common Room as James pet Hershey as she hooted softly.

"Dunno 'bout that," James replied coolly, "You're still standing."

"I was lucky."

"And if Remus was near the tree, apparently he was lucky too."

"James," Sirius said rather dryly, "How could he have even been near the Whomping Willow, if he was visiting his sick mother..?"

James topped at paused. That was a fair point, "Maybe Peter was seeing this you know..? I mean— well this is Peter."

"I say we sneak a peak at that arm of his before we jump to any more conclusions and come up with more crazy solutions of Remus' strange behavior," Sirius finalized, "I say, we just take him some where hot where we have to roll up our sleeves to keep cool."

"Or we could just wait til he wakes up."

"Oh yes," Sirius said sarcastically chuckling, "Because he won't notice us staring at his arm rolling up his sleeve."

"No you git," James grinned, "He where's a tee-shirt to bed. We can glance over when he comes down."

Sirius double blinked, "Beats my idea," he laughed, "I mean where is it hot enough for him to roll up his sleeves..? And who says he'd even roll them..?" he chuckled.

"Yea. But we still have one problem," James said.

"What..?"

"We don't know which arm."

Sirius thought for a moment and then said, "You take right, I'll take left."

James raised an eyebrow.

"No. Like when he comes down to sit near the fire, we can go to each side and look at his arm," Sirius said cleverly.

"I feel like some sort of agent," James laughed uneasily, "I mean all this to see if Remus' is lying."

"Do you really believe what he told us yesterday..?" Sirius asked.

"No."

"Well, he shouldn't lie," Sirius pointed out, "Don't think of it strangely, think of it as the benefit of our friend."

"Who told you that..? Peter..?" James laughed.

Soon when Remus woke up and came down, and he did head for the couch. James sat on his right, and Sirius sat on his left. They acted normal and Remus was talking about his Astronomy homework asking James if he knew the location of one of Saturn's stars. James told him and glanced down at his arm. There was nothing there. But when he looked up he saw Sirius glancing at James pointing to his arm. Remus however took notice.

"What are you doing..?" Remus asked, eyebrow raised.

"Erm . . . nothing . . ." Sirius weakly smiled, "Ummm . . . you had a fly."

"What..?" Remus questioned.

"There was a fly near you," Sirius explained sincerely, "I was trying to swat it."

"Okay . . ." Remus said rather puzzled, "I'll just leave you to that."

Later in the afternoon all four boys went outside to enjoy the fall air. Remus was reading a book and Peter was playing a game of Exploding Snap with a Hufflepuff first year he knew from family. James and Sirius had discussed Remus' odd case of injuries but in the end, decided to drop it and enjoy their day. At the moment they were in an intense game of wizards' chess.

Sirius paused thinking hard, "Knight to D5."

James watched as Sirius' knight came crushing down on his defenseless pawn, "You—"

"No one likes a sore loser Jimbo . . ." Sirius grinned.

"Ah well, you haven't won . . . yet . . ." James said confidently, "Queen to—"

"Well, well, well," said a cold sneering voice of Bellatrix Black, "Four little ducks all in a row."

Remus looked up from his book, his eyes almost glaring at her. James wasn't sure if Remus would actually come out and say he hated Bellatrix, but his glare was enough to show he hated her. Peter had turned around to see her and went to his robe pocket to place his right hand on his wand. He walked over next to Remus. Sirius looked up grimly, "Beat it Bellatrix."

"Ohhh cranky today aren't we..?" Bellatrix sneered, "The Whomping Willow make you moody..?"

James felt a surge of hate run through his veins and he stood up. But Sirius put his hand out as James started to walk forward. He had stood up fiercely, wand ready to curse her with everything, "YOU—!"

"Yes me," Bellatrix laughed coolly, her Slytherin gang chuckling along with her, "I am a sight aren't I..?"

Sirius grinned. James smiled. If Sirius was thinking what he was thinking . . . Bellatrix wouldn't be as confidant, "Oh you're a sight cousin," Sirius barked with a grin, "Quite a sight."

Bellatrix smirked, "Glad you see it my way."

"Ohhh . . . well," Sirius grinned, "I wouldn't say I see it quite your way . . ."

"I think you," James said pointing his wand at Bellatrix, "Should see it our way."

"And what is your way..?"

Sirius grinned broadly, "Care to duel..?"

"Please . . ." she laughed, "I could defeat you easily."

"You wish," Sirius growled, eyes glaring, "Well prove it. Duel me."

Bellatrix let out a high pitched laughed and her Slytherin group chuckled behind her, their eyes glaring too, "I didn't think you were up for a second hospital trip cousin, but if it's what you want . . ."

Sirius clenched his fists and wand tightly. James attention however had moved to Bellatrix's friends laughing behind her.

James was looking at the members of Bellatrix's 'gang' now. Mostly girls and a few boys who probably thought she was cute. James had heard rumors that boys thought she was attractive. James felt sick at the thought. She was a slime ball to him . . . but that was beside the point. Looking on ward at them James eyes lit up with an idea when he saw a certain someone.

"Hey Sirius," he called over to Sirius whose head turned to his direction, "Look who I found."

James pointed his wand at a pale, greasy black-haired Slytherin who started to back up a tad, "Old Snape," Sirius chuckled, "OY..! You..!"

Bellatrix, who seemed angry at the lack of Sirius' attention now turned around to look at Severus Snape, "You know him..?" she asked in a disgusting tone.

"Yes," he answered angrily, "But that doesn't mean I enjoy his company. Bunch of gits if you ask me."

"Makes two of us . . ." Bellatrix said grimily.

"ARE YOU GONING TO DUEL OR NOT..?!" Sirius roared.

Bellatrix placed one hand on her hip and the other near her chin, "Hmmm . . ." she pondered, "Why get myself all in a sweat when we could do a challenge."

"What kind..?" James demanded as Sirius' eyes narrowed on his cousin.

"A wizard's dare," she explained.

"What afraid to risk your worthless neck..?" James laughed.

"Probably is," Remus said looking up from his book, 'She's nothing but a low coward."

Bellatrix's eyes narrowed on Remus. Remus glared back and Bellatrix then glared at James. James felt most uncomfortable when they did, as if they could see right through to his soul, "Risk my neck..? For my cousin..? He's not worth it."

"Worth more then you'll ever be . . ." James said coldly.

Sirius turned his head over to James and smiled at him. James smiled back. He meant what he said. Bellatrix however was not happy, "Maybe to you. I'm sure worthless trash is valuable to you. After, one man's trash is another's treasure."

"You would know all about that," Remus replied coolly, "Judging by the slime you hang out with."

Peter chuckled, "Guess you follow your own saying."

Bellatrix gritted his teeth, "Shut up..!" she looked at Sirius and grinned, "Having your buddies stick up for you, you worthless piece of filth..?"

James lunged forward, full of rage. She would pay for that. He was but a foot away when he felt stopped. Remus and Peter had grabbed the back of his robes to stop him, "State the wizard's dare..!" James roared.

Bellatrix nodded, grinning, "It's simple. One that involves my favorite tree . . . Hogwarts one and only Whomping Willow."

"James . . ." Sirius began, "She's baiting you. Ignore that—" he called her a name that would have made Professor McGonagall shout in anger, "I'll deal with her."

James ignored Sirius. He was going to make sure Bellatrix suffered after what she said.

"All you have to do is see who can get the closest to the Whomping Willow with out any magic."

"Then it's not a wizard's dare," James pointed our rudely, "Wizard's dares involve magic."

"Not going Muggle are we Bellatrix..?" Remus laughed out. It was a proven fact that the Black's despised any sort of Muggle activity.

Bellatrix glared at Remus again and ignored James comment earlier and continued talking, "I, and whoever from your loser group over there, will go against each other. Who ever gets hits first loses and . . . oh lets make this interesting . . . the winner shall receive . . . well . . . they get to do three jinxes to the loser with out the loser fighting back."

"So the winner gets a blind duel..?" James asked.

"Correct," Bellatrix sneered, "So, which one of you babies is going to go through with it..?"

Sirius was about to step forward when James stuck his hand out stopping him. Sirius looked taken back, "James no. She's my problem not yours."

"Sirius, with a face like that she's everybody's problem," James sniggered. Bellatrix glared at him but quickly came back with a come back.

"So Potter . . . going to defend my wittle baby cousin..?" she mocked in a baby voice.

James gritted his teeth.

"How sweet . . ." Bellatrix mocked.

"Just shut up," James hissed. Bellatrix nodded and started to head towards the tree. James followed her. Sirius looked fearful, "James don't," he pleaded, but James wasn't about to let Bellatrix talk about his best friend that way.

Bellatrix stopped a distance away from the tree so if the branches happen to swing they would not reach her. James topped and stood next to her. Bellatrix's Slytherin gang came up on her right, and Peter, Remus and Sirius came up on James' left.

"Ready baby Potter..?" Bellatrix laughed. The tree obviously sensed someone's presence and began to slam its branches but the two were far enough for now not to get hit, "Place your wand on the ground so we don't get tempted to do magic."

James placed his wand down next to his left shoe and Bellatrix placed hers down by her right shoe.

"Well..?" Bellatrix sneered, "Ready..?" she laughed since James had no answered before.

James was about to open his mouth when he felt someone push him forward. James went stumbling forward, and in an effort to keep his balance, but in doing sent him further towards the Whomping Willow.

"YOU SLAG—!" Sirius cried grabbing Bellatrix by the shirt collar, "YOU PUSHED HIM ON PURPOSE..!"

"Not me dear cousin . . ." she flicked her head towards Severus Snape who was grinning mercilessly behind her.

Sirius' eyes opened wide.

James was now battling the Whomping Willow to stay alive and not get crushed. He began to back up as fast as he could only to stop from getting crushed from a slamming back branch. He almost felt as if he were dancing. He tripped and fell backwards and inched back as quickly as possible as more branches came thundering down. Then . . . out of nowhere a huge branch smacked James clear upside the head and knocked James in the midst . . . until he skidded in the Earth. He got up rubbing his whole right side in pain when he saw it. A huge hurtling branch head straight for him. James placed his hands out in front of him as natural instinct when—

"REMUS..?!" Peter howled.

Out of nowhere Remus had jumped in front of James, muttered something, his wand up and ready and the spell to the blow for both of them. But the force was great. Remus slammed back into James.

"REMUS..?! REMUS ARE YOU ALRIGHT..?!" James called out frantically to Remus whose eyes were wearily opening.

He nodded and smiled weakly. James smiled back and looked up. The Whomping Willow was razing its branches back and was going to shoot back all it's branches forward like a giant sling shot. James quickly scurried onto his feet and helped Remus onto his feet.

James was almost dragging Remus as the braches started to shoot forward, "Don't get hit . . . don't get hit . . . don't get hit . . . don't get hit . . . DON'T GET IT—!!!" James shouted as he ran.

The branches slammed to the ground missing James and Remus by inches. Both fell to their knees when the braches hit the ground. Peter rushed over, wand out, "ARE YOU GUYS ALL RIGHT..?!"

"I win..!" Bellatrix squeaked.

Sirius turned who had apparently been hexing Bellatrix's gang, turned around to face his cousin, "YOU— the only thing you're winning is—"

"—this..!" Peter shouted sending a hex at Bellatrix.

Sirius stood transfixed at the spot watching his cousin with a sideway grin. His lip began to curl as he watched Peter's hex take effect on Bellatrix.

She looked around then looked down herself, "Figures you'd miss Pettigrew . . ." she laughed icily, "Oh you really are hopeless aren't—"

Bellatrix stopped. She looked at her hands. They were shaking. Shaking. Then something happened that made Sirius burst out into a fit of laughter. Bellatrix's once, smooth small hands turned into thumping hooves. Her shoes ripped open and where her feet once were, were hooves as well. On her backside a long worm-like tail sprung out with collected black hairs at the end. Her little ears, hidden by her hair shot up, then fell down in a droopy state like a donkey's. Her face began to consort and then with a little—POP— she had grown a horse face . . . well to be more exact a—

"DONKEY—!" Sirius howled with laughter, "What do ya know Bellatrix..?! You're a regular jack a—"

"SHUT UP—!" she cried hiding her new face behind her shinning black hooves.

Sirius held his stomach with tears streaming down his face. He looked like he was going to burst. Bellatrix's Slytheirn gang looked on, wondering what they should do. None of them knew the counter curse. Snape looked merciless at Peter then ran over to him, wand raised, "CHANGE HER BACK—!"

"No thank you," Peter replied curtly, "I like this way. Thank you and come again."

Sirius laughed harder at this, "Got a crush on my cousin do ya Snape..?" he laughed out, "Awww . . . even you can do better than that."

Snape looked murderous. Peter was grinning at him still, knowing he wouldn't hex him. Snape retreated back over to Bellatrix, "Let's go to the Hospital Wing," he told her.

Sirius waved good-bye to them with glee.

"Good job Peter..!" he told Peter, "Couldn't have done better myself."

Peter blushed.

"Yea, Pete," James told him grinning helping Remus regain his footing, "That was—"

"—bloody awesome—!" Remus said cheerfully grinning too, "Way to show them..!"

"I say we celebrate," Sirius brought up, "In honor of Peter's defeat of the Wicked Witch of Hogwarts. . . the one . . . the only . . ."

"BELLATRIX—!" Sirius, Remus and James all shouted to a grinning Peter.

Peter smiled, "I got some candy still in my bag still."

"And I'll bring out the mountain load I got in the Hospital Wing," Sirius added as the four boys started to head back to the castle.

Remus who was still a bit shaky from the Whomping Willow incident nodded, "I think I have some candy from my Mum when I went home to visit her."

"Forget candy . . ." James said grinning widely, "He deserves more than that."

"Really..?" Peter asked surprise.

"Yea," Remus said.

"I do agree Jimbo," Sirius added, "But what..?"

James thought for a moment, he couldn't really come up with anything. After all they were only eleven. They didn't really have anything of great value.

"How about a 'Remus Pass'," Remus said smiling.

"A what..?"

Remus grinned, "Well since you all tend to try and copy my homework and notes, I'll let Peter, with out any arguments, copy one assignment of mine."

James was a little taken back (in a good way) by that idea, but liked it nonetheless, "Sounds fair to me."

Peter was reddening, "Oh you guys really don't . . . any of you guys would have done the same."

And the four boys walked into the castle talking and laughing happily when Sirius said, "So Remus, if I hex Bellatrix can I get a 'Remus Pass' too..?"

Remus shook his head grinning.

Author's Note: Look above . . . see that..? The gray line..? I figured out what it does and instead lots of dotted lines and crap to mark dividers in my stories I shall use that wonderful line..! Lol. So what did you guys think of this chapter..? Just a little thing to help make their friendship stronger is all. Well next chapter is a big adventure . . . well please review. Thanks.

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Wow..! Thanks for all those reviews..! I was like WOA--! When I opened my mail box . . . I'll post more chapters up more frequently.