Chapter 6: Bloodstained

James waited by his father's body until his mother returned. She was being lead back to him by a tearful Rosmerta. Mrs. Potter walked steadily towards James, fell into him, and sobbed. She began to talk in full sentences again and told James a horrible thing.

"James, honey, you need to leave Hogwarts for now." said Mrs. Potter. James stood in shock. Leave Hogwarts? Why? But he couldn't...

"Mum, I can't. I have to learn." said James quietly. Mrs. Potter looked up at him and said, "Honey, I need you at home. You know I wouldn't ask otherwise."

"Mum, I will come home for the funeral and wake. What kind of son would I be if I didn't?" said James steadily. She looked as if se was about to cry some more, but she fought the tears in the back of her eyes. She put on a strained smile and said, "I'm so proud of you, James. I want you to know that I love you and I always will. The ministry is coming to take your father's body, and I'll be here when they do. Behave and I'll see you on Wednesday. Now... you better head back up to school, I don't want Dumbledore on my case."

"I will, Mum, I will. Love you."

James kissed his mum on the cheek and walked towards the castle. Lily, Sirius, and Artemys followed. James was walking at a fast pace, making him difficult to catch up with. Mrs. Potter followed them with her eyes till they were out of sight.

My dad, my only father...gone...forever...he thought to himself. Everyone else was silent, letting him meddle in his own thoughts.

They were walking up the steep path to Hogwarts Castle. The moon was out and the sky was clear. There was a slight frost on the ground and the stars shone with dim light. Suddenly, a wind blew past them and made the hairs on the back of their necks rise. The wind became fiercer, and rain fell once more.

All of a sudden, there was a slight growling sound in the background that made them jump. James sped around and peered into the undefined darkness. Nothing, he thought, just the wind. The four continued the walk up the path until they heard a scream.

This scream was out of fear. A cold, high, blood-curdling scream that pierced through the dark sky.

"Lily, honey, please stay here." said James tensley. Lily looked up at him and said, "Why?"

"Because I'd feel really bad if something happened to you."

Sirius turned and said very quickly, "That goes the same for you too, Artemys." Unfortunately, by the time Sirius finished his sentence, Artemys was already heading off towards the screaming. Sirius chased after her, leaving Lily and James abandoned in the rain.

"Artemys! Don't get too close! He might bite you!" Sirius yelled at the top of his lungs. Artemys spun around and said, "Someone is screaming, Sirius! Can't you hear them?"

"Yes, but I won't let you get hurt! Move! Now!" He yelled.

Sirius rushed over to a pile of rocks where the screams were emitted and transformed into a big black dog. There was a hulking monster with his fangs bared and a young girl cowering against the rock. There was nothing short of blind fear in her eyes. The terror on her face said what no words could say. As the monster was about to strike, a gigantic stag lunged forward onto its chest. The young girl fainted, and Lily and Artemys sprinted towards the fallen figure to help her to safety. James and Sirius were still in battle.

The monster looked to the stag and the black dog and bared its fangs. Sirius bit the monster in the chest and it whimpered. James pushed it to the ground. A cloud covered the moon, and a flash of blue in it's eyes was seen before the monster stood up and began to attack again. All of a sudden, Lily began charging towards them with her wand in her hand. She pointed the wand straight at the monster's heart and said, "Repithomis!" The monster fell to the ground, apparently unconsious. Then, the monster began to fade.

The massive arms and legs shrivelled up to the size of ones belonging to a boy's. The torso slowly turned back to a young man's chest. The face contorted grotesquely back into a human's. The body of Remus Lupin was laying spread-eagled on the ground. Lily was in a state of shock. She almost started to cry. James and Sirius merely shook their heads and picked him up. They carried him off to the castle, leaving Lily, Artemys, and the young girl. They looked to the ground, where they saw that the young girl was stirring.

"Is 'e alright? Where is my Remus? Where did 'e go? One meenute I was walking weeth 'im, ze next 'e turned into zis big, furry, werewolf sing..." the young girl fell back into the dirt. Lily and Artemys picked her up and followed the boys to the castle.

The starlight only paled the color of blood that night...

A/N I had SEVERE writer's block and the only reason the chapter is posted is b/c I had a sudden inspiration. Hope u all enjoy. Plz review.