Under the Sapphire Moon
By Rayven Darkheart
Chapter Three
Ebony walked into the DADA classroom just in time to see Peter sit in Remus's usual seat and Remus sit next to Severus Snape. Sighing sadly, she sat down beside Peter and stared straight ahead at the blackboard. Peter tapped her arm softly, and she slowly turned her cerulean eyes to him. "Did you hear that we're dueling today?"
Ebony spared a glance toward Remus and saw him with his nose buried in a book. 'So like him, the ever charming bookworm.' She turned her attention back to the person beside her. "No, where'd you hear that?"
Peter opened his mouth to answer when their teacher walked in. "Well, I see Mr. Pettigrew has already told half of the class today. Yes, today we are dueling with each other. However, since this is the first time for a new tradition for your year, it will not be Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Quite the contrary, Gryffindors pair up with Gryffindors. Slytherins with Slytherins. Now."
The next few minutes were full of the shuffling of feet as everyone rushed to grab a partner. When all was said and done, much to their dismay, Remus and Ebony were paired together. Sighing softly, Ebony moved over beside Remus. The person who stood beside Remus started chuckling. "I knew you were a bookworm Lupin, but I thought you at least knew enough about women that you wouldn't blush when one was next to you."
Ebony's eyes narrowed with rage and before Remus could stop her, she pushed passed both Remus and Severus and stood in front of a tall blonde boy. From her diminutive stature, she had to look up to glare at him properly. Cerulean orbs met steel grey ones. "Hold your tongue before I remove it for you."
The blonde boy chuckled and grabbed Ebony's hand before kissing it. "Such a fiery temper for a Gryffindor. Perhaps that old hat was wrong. You should be in Slytherin." He grinned as she yanked her hand out of his grasp. "I'm Lucius Malfoy. And you are?"
Remus found his voice and though his answer was quiet, the threat was less than well concealed. "She's way out of your league, Malfoy." He grabbed Ebony's hand softly and guided her back to his side, the one farthest away from the now glowering Lucius. Before letting go, Ebony gazed into Remus's warm eyes and gave him a thankful smile with a small squeeze of the hand.
The students filed into the Great Hall and told to line up by one of the tables that had been transfigured into a dueling platform. Some other students including James, Lily, and Sirius filed in to watch the duels.
The students waited for their turn, some cheering on their friends. Finally it was Remus and Ebony. James and Sirius weren't sure who they were supposed to cheer for so James settled for Remus and Sirius cheered for his "new girl."
Remus and Ebony got into a dueling position. Waiting for their DADA professor to give them the signal, they both threw their charms. Ebony's charm hit first. "Confundus!"
Remus looked around, very confused about what he was doing there on top of a table at the same time that Ebony's wand flew from her hand because of Remus's banishing curse. As the DADA professor unconfused Remus, Ebony muttered "Accio wand." She gave Sirius a wink and smiled before looking with sympathy at her opponent.
"Very good, Miss Masters. Best two out of three will win if Mr. Lupin agrees to another duel?" Remus nodded slowly and beamed at her.
They got into position again. Just as Remus shouted his expelliarmus charm and Ebony gave her stupefy charm, someone said one word that changed the tone of the day, "Crucio."
Ebony dropped to her knees, screaming in pain. She felt as if every muscle in her body was on fire. Sirius, James, and Lily ran forward and kneeled by her, trying to find out just what was wrong with her. Professor Dumbledore hurried to the trembling girl's side and looked into her teary eyes. "Someone summon Madam Pomfrey immediately." He pointed at a wide eyed Lucius Malfoy. "You, go, now."
The blonde boy nodded dumbly and took off at a dead run toward the hospital wing. Dumbledore picked the girl up and started off after him just as the girl passed out from the pain. Remus, now having been relieved from Ebony's curse ran after Dumbledore, along with Sirius. Everyone else stood there, dumbstruck until the professors made them all go back to their common rooms.
Sirius entered the common room silently and looked around at his fellow Gryffindors grimly. James stood ready to help Sirius to the sofa, but a raised hand stopped him. Lily scooted over and Sirius sat down heavily. "She was cursed during the duel. It wasn't Remus, but he blames himself. He's just sitting there, holding her hand, talking to her."
James glanced at the floor as he began to question his best friend. "Does Dumbledore know who did it?" His answer was a shake of the head. "Will she be okay?" This time he got a nod. "Better question mate: how are we going to get Moony away from her for his howling good time?"
Sirius gazed up at him. His usually cheerful eyes were solemn, cold. "I don't know James. Pray for the answer to come to us.
A fireplace suddenly glowed an unearthly green as a head popped out of the flames. "My Lord, I have news for you about the fleabag, Lupin."
A dark haired man turned in his chair and stared into the fire, petting a hissing snake. "Easy Nagini, we'll feed you soon. What news is there?" The snake turned its beady eyes on the intruder, and the dark man laughed with glee at the fear in his eyes.
"My Lord, Lupin is still not letting himself be drawn onto our side. He even has a love interest." The person shuddered at the look of boredom that crossed Voldemort's face. "I have a plan to use her, my Lord. Just today I put the torturing curse upon her. Have faith. Remus Lupin will be coming to our side soon enough."
Voldemort seemed to accept this for a moment, speaking to Nagini in that hissing language that almost no one understood. "Very well, I shall give you some time. You know what the penalty for failing me is. Don't screw up." Voldemort watched the head disappear before speaking to Nagini again. "Soon my pet, soon we shall have the lycan under our control.