This is officially the quickest update I've ever done!
BrennQt: You're right, she probably wouldn't gape, per say...more just stare openly. Haha, don't worry, he'll be up and at 'em in the next chapter. He is just good like that.
Maraudering-siriusly: oh, dear. I didn't mean to make him seem nosy. He's just concerned. But yes, Phineas kicks ass anyways. He cracks me up!
Jojo: Kicks major butt Yoda does. About Remus...
Jo: AHH! There you are! I was worried about you. I do love your simile of McGonagall. And about Remus...hehe. Oh I'm so proud of you. You've created another Potterhead. Haha my aunt used to think that Harry Potter promoted satan worship or something until we all sat her down and would let her up until she read SS. Now she's obsessed. I swear that's all it takes, just read em! Hoorah!
EsScaper: Goodness, every one is so concerned about Remus...hehe...Oh, btw, I totally had forgotten abt the Slytherins! Can you believe it? Silly, silly, me! Well, I had to go back and rearrange events in ch. 11 and 12. So cookies galore for you, and the sections with the Slytherins is ALL for you: D
Katharina-B: Wow, you're the only person who's considered Remus's silence thus far as tactful. :) Everyone else just wants him to be told the truth. Well, it shall unfold...
Llailin: Snape can't really be evil...I stand by this as firmly as I stand by that Sirius isn't dead. And I stand FIRMLY beside that. I know I don't want Ron to go either! He's just too...Ronish! I love Ron! And this is making me sad...you're right...I must not think of it lest the sadness increase. Abt Remus, wait and see!
EverKitsune: Why thank you muy mucho! Ummm, although this isn't before Friday, it is Friday...I hope that's ok. Btw: cause you asked is the only reason this got out so fast. See I do really love all yall! Ugh, school...speaking of: I leave for college in...four days now. Eep! A new adventure awaits!
Ok, every one get this puppy read, send me some reviews, and then you'll get some stuff on Remus! Since I know thats what most of yall want to know.
Chapter 11
As both James and Sirius expected, rumors spread like mad about the former Black Heir–not that anyone (other than the Blacks) knew that part. A few people said that Sirius had been in a Muggle car crash. Most dismissed that assumption by saying that magical healing would have made short work of such injuries.
Others believed that he had been clumsy while playing Quidditch. Most people thought that was ridiculous. Sirius knew how to fly, that much was obvious. And Madam Pomfrey could fix up Quidditch injuries like no one's business.
A number of people though he had been attacked by some type of magical beast, whose fangs and claws prevented magical healing methods from working properly. It wasn't a common occurrence, but it had been known to happen.
The most wide-spread and controversial rumor was that Sirius had been involved in an attack by Dark wizards. Some said that Sirius had fought against them. Everyone knew how much Sirius hated the Dark arts. Regarding the Dark arts, Sirius was to hate as Snape was to love. It was a simple fact, and everyone knew it. However, some people insisted that a Black was a Black was a Black. There was no way around it. The whole lot of them were Dark and always would be. Apples don't fall from the tree.
As the rumors flew, people who were brave or stupid enough pestered Sirius for answers. Sirius offered those people no more than a cold glare and a good view of his back. It was amazing that he did not attack them. Naturally, when Sirius gave nothing away, people turned to James. James, being in quite a protective mood over his friend, tended to be very nasty to those poor souls. The Hospital Wing was seeing quite a few extra visitors, and Lily Evans's notorious temper was reaching its boiling point.
The more insistent and the less brave had decided to go to Remus and Peter for information. Of course having no clue as to what had really happened, despite their suspicions, the other two Marauders were forced to turn the curious students away. Peter was at quite a loss at what to do with so many people crowding around him constantly, and Remus was soon fed up with the attention. On numerous occasions, he snidely suggested that the students of Hogwarts get their own lives.
Sirius sat in between Lily and James as the group studied in the library. Sirius had almost finished all his makeup homework. He was thankful he had only been gone a week. Any more and he might have been forced to rip his hair out.
On his left, James was constantly stretching back to get a look at Lily. The red head either had not noticed or was bluntly ignoring the bespectacled boy. After nearly an hour, Sirius frowned deeply and turned to glare at him. "I sat between you two for a reason, you know," he hissed.
"To keep her from her destiny," James tried.
Lily finally looked up. "I do hope you aren't referring to you and I as a couple," she said.
Sirius sighed. Here they go...
"Well, of course, Lily, my dear," James said leaning his elbows on the table and pushing past Sirius.
Lily's eyes flashed dangerously. Sirius looked up to see Madame Prince giving them a very stern look. Sirius decided to end the argument before it could escalade into a particularly nasty barney. "James," he said, "the pressure you seem to be exerting on my chest and ribs is a bit uncomfortable."
James jumped back faster than either had seen him move in quite a while. Lily smirked. "Sirius, I might just carry you about with me from now on."
"You know," he said in a bored voice, "I'd prefer to not be taken advantage of." Lily smiled, knowing that he was only kidding with her. James slumped down in his chair and crossed his arms in irritation.
Lily began to organize a stack of parchment. "Have you completed your Astronomy chart yet, Sirius?" Sirius thumbed through a pile in front of him. He handed a sheet to Lily. Her green eyes skimmed it for a second before she handed it back. "You've forgotten to mark the moon. It'll be full next week."
Sirius's hand froze in midair from reaching for the parchment. His eyes widened and jaw dropped. He blinked in surprise for several seconds. Lily furrowed her brows in concern. "Sirius?"
The former Black heir whipped his head around to face James. "Full moon," he mouthed in panic. James raised a brow and looked at Sirius oddly. He shrugged. Sirius pointed at himself. James still did not seem to understand, even as Sirius began to make frantic arm motions. Finally Sirius dropped his shoulders and reached out to grab the neck of James's robes. He jerked the other forward and whispered, "I can't go out with you all on the full moon." He let James go, and the other sat back with a look of comprehension on his face.
"Craps," he said disappointedly. Lily had her arms folded over her chest. She didn't look too happy to be left out of the conversation.
"What's going on," she demanded.
James took over. "Oh nothing, Lily dear, just Marauder business."
This was not what Lily wanted to hear. "Don't you 'dear' me! And any business that involves the word Marauder is bad business. I don't trust either of you as far as I can throw you."
James and Sirius blinked, not knowing the Muggle phrase. "But Lily," James said with true innocence, "you could throw us clear across the lake with a flick of your wand." Lily let out a tiny shriek of frustration.
With that, Madame Prince came over roaring. "What in the name of Merlin are you three doing? No loud noises in the library." For once Sirius and James resisted the urge to point out the older woman's hypocrisy. "Out! To your common room if you must make such commotion!" The Gryffindors quickly gathered up their books and quills and raced from the room.
A week later, Sirius sat on his bed, arms folded over his chest and doing the perfect imitation of an angry child . "Padfoot," James said, "cut it out." Sirius's frown only deepened. "Come off it," James said a little more sharply.
"I want to go out," Sirius said.
"You can't," James snapped. "You're still healing. You go transforming, and you could mess up the bones even more. Is that what you want?" Sirius snorted indignantly. "Even if it didn't mess them up, you've got a cast on. It's plaster. We can't take it off. And even if we could, you can't go running about after a werewolf with a broken leg. I highly doubt Remus wants you to hurt yourself more for his sake."
"It's not fair," Sirius said.
James sighed. "Oh, come on. You're missing out on–what?–two, three full moons?"
Sirius dropped his arms. He turned his dark eyes from James to study a particularly interesting thread on his comforter. "It's not that," he said softly. "It's not fair that I can't be there for Remus. I want to be there for him, not for the sake of running about breaking rules left and right. Isn't that why we did this?" He looked back up at James.
James sat down on the foot of the bed. After a few seconds, he reached over and placed a comforting hand on Sirius's shoulder. "Look, mate," he said, "Remus isn't going to be mad at you for missing out. He knows you can't do it. He's probably the least prickish of us all, you know." Sirius nodded, a small smile forming on his face, but it disappeared quickly.
James bit his bottom lip, his eyes darting to the side. "Padfoot–er–do you want me to sit this one out, too?"
Sirius looked up at him, eyes blazing. "Are you mad?" he yelled. "Remus needs more than Peter out there." His eyes flickered over to the clock. "It's already almost eight. Get your arse out there."
James jumped up from the bed, mock saluting as he rushed for the door to avoid the pillows being chucked at his head. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Sirius smirked after him as the door shut. After a moment he rubbed his hand over his chin. This wasn't cricket. He couldn't just sit here and do nothing while Remus was going through his monthly torture. Sirius dragged himself to the foot of the bed. He leaned over and threw open his trunk. After a bit of searching, he snorted and slammed it shut. His dark eyes traveled over the room until spotting James's owl. With a smirk, he grabbed a quill and called the bird over.
The next morning, three of the four Marauders came into the Hospital Wing, James pushing Sirius in and Peter yawning loudly. Madame Pomfrey looked up at them and nodded. She was far too used to them being in here, either from their own injuries or to visit the werewolf. The three boys went around a curtain to find Remus sitting in bed staring out the window. "Hi, Moony," Peter said. Remus turned to them and smiled.
Sirius frowned at a particularly nasty scratch on the pale boy's face. James immediately began to laugh about something they had done last night. Peter sat on the other side of the bed listening intently as though he had no idea what would happen next. Remus smiled as James talked.
After the tale had been told, Remus turned his amber eyes to Sirius. "You're being awfully quiet, Padfoot. Something up," he asked.
James raised a dark brow at him, and Peter looked over quizzically. Sirius drew in a deep breath. "I feel a bit bad that I couldn't be out there last night."
Remus frowned. "Why," he asked. "You're out of commission for a bit. No harm, no foul." James nodded.
Sirius scratched the back of his head. "I still feel wrong about it." He suddenly looked quite sheepish. "And I really am sorry."
Remus looked as though he were about to say something, but James began to laugh loudly. The other three turned to stare oddly at him. Through his laughter, James said, "Well, I'll be stuffed! Sirius Black–although it was completely unnecessary–just apologized for something."
This brought about roaring laughter from Peter and Remus. Sirius tried to frown at James, but the effect was lost as a smile formed on his face. "Don't get used to it," he said. "And here," he said producing a paper bag. Remus immediately stopped laughing and stared at the bag with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I brought an offering of peace that should make up for anything I ever have or will do to upset Moony." He threw the bag at Remus, who snatched it greedily from the air.
James smirked. "Behold the almighty werewolf's one weakness."
Remus held the bag close to his chest as he ripped it open. "I knew I smelled chocolate," he said licking his lips. He began to stuff the sweet candy into his mouth. "I officially love you, Padfoot. In fact, when I get out of this bed, I might just kiss you."
Sirius pushed his chair a few inches away from the bed. "No, a simple 'Thank you, Padfoot. All glory and honor is yours forever and ever' will suffice." As the other boys began to laugh, Madame Pomfrey smiled. It was good that the boy had such dear friends.
The next day, as usual, Remus was out of the Hospital Wing. While he was in the common room making up his work, James and Sirius were wondering the halls. They had just visited the kitchens to satisfy James's black hole of a stomach and were now quite bored.
"We could go outside," James suggested.
Sirius shook his head. "All this crap will make me feel hot and itchy," he said gesturing to his chest and leg.
James blinked behind him. "But it's January," he insisted.
"So," Sirius said indignantly. He shook his head. "Besides, what good is it for me to go out in the snow if I can't run about or anything." James winced and opened his mouth to apologize, but Sirius said, "Don't." James smiled. Perhaps they really could read each other's minds, as many Hogwarts professors proclaimed.
They turned a corner and nearly ran head long into a group of Slytherins. A low growl emitted from the back of James's throat. Sirius merely stared at them. It was an odd group consisting of several years, but all were high class. From the center of the group, Regulus stared back at him.
Sirius's heart suddenly felt very heavy, and the sense of dread he felt around his parents washed over him, although not so intense.
"Well, well, well," said a smirking Rabastan Lestrange. "What do we have here?" Sirius merely held his nose up at the older boy. "Little Sirius Black. How are things, kinsman?" Sirius snorted. Rabastan was merely his cousin's husband's brother. Besides, if they were going to talk like that, Sirius was probably related to all the Slytherins.
"What do you want, Lestrange," James snapped.
Rabastan turned his steely eyes to James with a sneer. "I do not believe that I addressed you, Potter. Kindly keep to your own business."
James did not back down. He moved to stand beside Sirius. "You mess with my friends and it becomes my business."
"Unlikely, Potter," Nott said. He snapped his fingers, and the Gryffindors found several wands pointing at them. Sirius and James were quick to draw their own. Nott laughed. "The odds are not in your favor, I must admit," he said smoothly. A fifth year girl squealed in laughter.
James and Sirius sized the Slytherins up. The odds were indeed not in their favor. It was at least ten against two, and Sirius was in a wheelchair.
"Makes for an interesting twist doesn't it," Crabbe said. "Some having the upper hand on you. No teachers or prefects who care around."
"You know what else would be an interesting twist," James asked sarcastically. "If I walked over and shoved this up your arse." He held up his wand and smiled nastily. "But you lot are probably used to things going up there, aren't you?"
Three of the Slytherins threw curses towards them. James jumped out of the way, barely catching the tail end of a Jelly Legs jinx. A Disarming Spell flew at Sirius, and he was barely able to set up a shield in time. He quickly sent the counter-curse at James. Rabastan sent a nasty sneer at them. "It would seem play time is over." The Slytherin raised his wand and sent a Densaugeo towards James.
This was the signal for chaos to erupt. Sirius cursed his immobile state. He seemed to be producing more shield spells that anything, which was certainly not his normal method of dueling. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see James practically rolling around on the ground to avoid spells. Sirius threw an Immobulus charm at a forth year just as a great wave of fire came rushing at him. Not having time to think, Sirius hurled himself to the floor.
There was a great smash as the flame hit his wheelchair, and from the floor, Sirius grunted as he attempted to pull himself up. His body screamed in protest. Two or three of the Slytherins had stopped throwing spells at him to watch his struggle. Sirius straightened up to see Snape's wand aimed at him. Regulus was standing next to the greasy boy.
Regulus blinked twice before muttering something to Snape from the corner of his mouth. In quick succession, Snape disarmed Sirius and sent a Leg Locker. Sirius's legs slammed together causing both to send pain signals to his brain. Regulus lifted his own wand and flicked it. Sirius felt as though a rather large an heavy animal had just crashed into his torso. He flew to the ground, failing to keep in a sharp cry of pain.
James cried out for him and sent a particularly nasty wave of Bat-Bogey Hexes towards four opponents. Just as he turned to run for Sirius, a shrill voice screamed, "WHAT is going on here?"
Sirius looked up from where he was crouched on his hands and knees, one hand gingerly holding his ribs. Narcissa was standing at the junction of the hallways, her dark eyes in nearly perfect circles. Her eyes trailed over the scene before her from the scattered Slytherins, to Snape and Regulus with their wands still raised, to James kneeling by Sirius. Her eyes widened even more and then darted back to Regulus.
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, her face becoming very pink. Shaking, she marched forwards screaming, in a very good impression of Sirius's mother, "Imbeciles! Idiots! Are you all completely mad? Such cowardliness, the like of which I have never seen. The shame Salazar Slytherin would feel if he were to see!"
The Slytherins backed away from her cautiously. No one had ever seen Narcissa Black in such a manner. She was by far the most untemperamental member of her family. "Out!" she screeched. "Out, all of you! To the common room! I will deal with you there!" The Slytherins were quick to obey her. Not only was she a Black, but she would soon be a Malfoy.
Narcissa's hand reached out and snatched the back of Regulus's robes. "You will stay," she hissed. She waited until the others had turned the far corner of the hall before continuing to yell at her cousin. "Shame!" she cried. "Embarrassment!"
Regulus was shrinking away from her loud voice. Sirius was almost amused through the pain. Let the little wanker see how it felt. "Filthy behavior! I am ashamed to call you my cousin! Attacking an adversary when you are fully aware of previous injury! I am shocked with you, Regulus. You have been taught better than that. Where is you sense of pride? Of honor?"
"Who cares, Narcissa," Regulus snapped. "It's not like he matters any more. He's off the Tree." Sirius felt his blood run cold. James's grip on his shoulder tightened.
If anything, this only angered Narcissa further. Her hair was falling from its bow, and her face was redder than Lily's hair. She slapped him. "Blood! He is your blood, tree or not. Blood is everything, Regulus." She grabbed a fistful of his robes and began to drag him down the hall. "Aunt will not correct your disgraceful behavior, but I will see to it." She shoved him in front of her. "We will see if you are still favored after this!"
"Take him to the Hospital Wing," she said over her shoulder. James nodded, although she did not see it. He glared for a second at the charred chair, and then he put one of Sirius's arms around his shoulder and lifted him up.
"This is going to be a bitch," he muttered.
"Tell me about it," Sirius said through his teeth. It took the pair nearly ten minutes to shuffle into the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey nearly screamed at the sight of them. With a rush, she had Sirius placed on the closest bed and ran for pain relieving potions.
Not a minute later, the door opened to reveal the still seething Narcissa, a sulking Regulus, and a rather upset Professor Slughorn. Sirius blinked at the trio through half closed eyes. Slughorn ran a hand over his greying mustache. "Oh dear, oh dear," he said. "I had not wanted to believe such a tale." He turned his beady eyes down to the younger Black. "Detentions! I cannot even begin to name the number! You will be spending many afternoons in the dungeons cleaning cauldrons and jars. Now we go to the headmaster."
Narcissa held up a hand. Slughorn stared down at her oddly. Narcissa's eyes were so narrowed it was a wonder she could see. Her hand, in a flash, struck the back of Regulus's head. It was lucky that she was doing this with her right hand; her engagement ring would have likely sliced his scalp. "Now, Miss Black," Slughorn began.
Narcissa did a very good job of ignoring him. Regulus had turned to glare up at her, rubbing the back of his head. She pointed forcefully to Sirius. Regulus frowned very deeply and muttered something. There was a sharp intake of breath from Narcissa, and her hand twitched. "My apologies," Regulus said, not sounding very sorry at all, before she could strike him again.
Slughorn nodded curtly, although he offered a stern glare at Narcissa. He took Regulus by the shoulder and steered him towards the door. Narcissa remained behind for a few seconds, her eyes locked on Sirius. Then she turned on her heel and swept from the Wing, her robes pillowing behind her.
James ran a hand under his glasses and blew his hair from his eyes. "Merlin, I hate your family," he muttered.
"Me too," Sirius agreed before Madame Pomfrey came over with the potions.
James glared out the door. "I'm going to make the biggest mess Hogwarts has ever seen every potions class until that sentence is over," James proclaimed. "He's going to be down there for three hours on my cauldron alone." Sirius smiled slightly before leaning back into the pillows and closing his eyes. Damn, he thought, he was going to have to get a new chair...