14. Into the Shack (James)
James rushed as fast as he could through the damp grass, the invisibility cloak beating around his ankles. He could barely see where he put his feet but couldn't afford to slow down. Grey clouds filled the sky, shielding most of the full moon from view. The Hogwarts grounds seemed to bathe in darkness. The small cirkel of light his lumos spell casted on the ground wobbled around viciously, not offering much help.
When he reached a hill offering a clear view out over the Whomping Willow James stopped, trying to collect his thoughts. His breathing, quick and shallow, matched the rapid rhythm of his heart. He gulped down some cool air. The tree was standing tall on the meadow far below, its disturbingly long, thin branches swaying slightly in the wind. There was no sign of either Sirius or Snape. With stiff fingers James digged out the Marauder's Map inside of his robes and unfolded it. In the bright light of his wand he could easily spot the black dot labeled Sirius Black, still standing by the Whomping Willow.
Snape's dot wasn't there anymore.
James had checked the map just as he and Peter was about to leave the Gryffindor Tower. Discovering Sirius and Snape together by the Whomping Willow he had told Peter to stay behind, setting off on his own to see what was going on.
James changed position, frantically searching the area on the map close by the meadow. Snape hadn't left, he was sure of it. There had not been a coincidence he'd been at the Whomping Willow tonight, and he wouldn't pass on an opportunity like this. James tried calming down. There was no real danger as long as Snape didn't figure out how to get past the tree. Without that he had no proof, and Remus was out of harm's way. James' gaze drifted over the map, mindlessly following the dotted line marking the secret passageway to the Shrieking Shack. He stopped abruptly when he layed eyes on Snape's name at the beginning of the tunnel. James lowered the map, casting another look out over the meadow below.
"Sirius!" he screamed desperately.
How could Snape possible be in the tunnel? Why was Sirius still just standing there? Maybe Snape had attacked him and left him unconscious? They had to go after Snape, stop him before he reached Remus.
A fait cry sounding something like his name soared up from the meadow. James fumbled with the map as he hurriedly tried to squeeze it back inside his pocket. He continued his race down the mountains, jumping down the last feet of the precipice facing the meadow. The high grass gave way under his weight. There was a dark figure standing further away. It made a sudden turn at the sound of James' fall.
"Sirius?" James asked hesitantly.
"James?" Sirius head turned from side to side. "Where are you?"
James lowered his hood, making his head visible, as he stepped closer. "Snape," he said hurriedly. "He's in the tunnel!"
"I know," Sirius voice sounded faint. "James, just let him…"
"He's gonna die!"
James began moving towards the Whomping Willow with rushed steppes. He could hear Sirius follow him. He speeded up. They had no time to lose. He was just about to ask Sirius what had happened when Sirus shot out a hand, grabbing James firmly by the arm. He swung him around so they faced each other. James could barely distinguish Sirius' face in the dark.
"No, James. Don't."
James stared at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about?" He tugged at his arm to get free.
Sirius tightened his grip. "Let him go."
There was a moment of silence. James' heartbeat had picked up. "What did you do?"
Sirius didn't answer.
"Did you send him down there?"
Sirius harrowed face was as good as a confession. Then his gaze seemed to harden. "I had to," he said firmly. "He had figured it out… He was going to tell on Remus."
It took a moment before James managed to process what Sirius was telling him. Snape disgusted James too, sure, but he had never considered to murder him. This was taking it too far.
"So you decided to murder him?!" James exclaimed.
Remus sprung to James' mind. Remus, terrified of hurting someone. Terrified of becoming the killer everyone accused werewolves to be.
Sirius was not going to kill Snape. Remus was.
"No, I take that back," James snarled. "You decided to let Remus murder him for you?"
Sirius looked like James had hit him. Like he hadn't even considered that.
"Didn't have the guts to do it yourself?"
"I didn't-"
"You didn't what?" James snapped fiercely.
Something like tears glimmer in Sirius' eyes. "I'm doing this for Remus."
James gave him a cold look. "I need to go."
With a sharp jerk he loosened himself from Sirius, the force making James reel a few steps backwards. He spun around and began running over the meadow. The high grass rustled as he rushed by, slapping at his legs.
Out of nowhere a sharp blow hit James in the side of the head, making his glasses fall of. Crying out in pain he staggered to the side, one hand instinctively covering his temple. Something warm and thick slipped through his fingers and began trickling down his face. A second blow came from the left, knocking him to the ground. With aching ribs James stared up through the high grass, getting a blurry view of the enormous trunk towering over him. Like a wild animal in agony, aimlessly attacking its surroundings, James half expected it to cry out in rage. It felt almost surreal everything was still quiet.
The Whomping Willow had come to life.
"James!" Sirius voice called out from far away.
A branch right above James rushed towards the ground. He kicked back into motion, rolling to the side. With a loud crack the branch hit the ground just where he'd been moments earlier, squishing the grass flat. The sharp claw digged into the soil like a knife through butter. Gasping for breath, James scrambled to his feet. He tried untangling his wand from inside his robes, instinctively stumbling backwards.
Behind James, Sirius rushed steps came closer. Something small shot by James, crashing against the Whomping Willow. The tree froze. Breathing heavily, James stared blankly at the still silhouette, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Thanks," James breathed out.
"Are you okay?"
James nodded, even though it wasn't the truth. He quickly summoned his glasses, mended them, and let the invisibility cloak slip to the ground. He didn't want Snape to find out he had one, and it would be no use against Remus anyway. He would be able to smell him.
"It's too late, James."
James let out another shaky breath, his eyes still glued to the Whomping Willow. "Take the cloak," he instructed Sirius.
Without wasting another second he bolted towards the tree. Sirius call out his name in protest as he slipped down the hole between the roots.
The tunnel James landed in was narrow, forcing him into a hunched, almost crawling position. He began stumbling his way forward. His feet didn't get a good grip in the porous earth. The passageway stretched on for what felt like hours. James heavy breathing eventually turned weak and shallow as he felt all energy draining. His ribs and head still hurt. The coagulated blood had formed stickly lumps in his hair.
A faint howling eventually searched its way into the tunnel. When the ground began to rise in a soft slope James regained some strength. The tunnel was higher here, allowing him to stand up straight. He hurried his steps. The tunnel twisted sharply to the left. James followed. The tunnel ended there, with an opening in the wall leading straight into one of the rooms of the Shrieking Shack. James froze when he layed eyes on the dark figure standing in the way. The releaf to find Snape unharmed deluged James. Thankfully he hadn't stepped into the Shack. The damp dirt in the tunnel offered a good cover. The scent was hopefully strong enough to hide theirs.
"Snape!" James whispered.
The figure spun around on the spot.
"Potter!" Snape's hushed voice was filled with shock.
James inched closer. "We need to go."
Snape didn't listen. "You're hiding a werewolf at the school?"
Even though James knew the extreme hatred wizards held for werewolves the utter disgust took him aback. Spending so much time with Sirius, Remus, Peter and had made him accustomed to acceptance, playing down the shock werewolves gave anyone else.
"We can talk later," said James impatiently. "Right now we need to go."
Snape huffed arrogantly. "I don't wanna talk to you."
"Fine, then don't! Just come with me."
"Admit it," Snape pressed on. "Lupin is a werewolf."
James didn't answer. He knew it was no point denying it. Snape had already heard enough.
"You knew," said Snape harshly. He sounded upset, almost betrayed. "And you did nothing."
"Let's go!"
"No," said Snape simply. "I want proof."
Without hesitating Snape stepped through the opening and into the Shrieking Shack.
"No!" James called out, rushing after him.
Snape had stopped a couple of feet into the grey room. It was a living room, armchairs, sofa table and cabinets all covered in a thick layer of dust. Almost all the stuffing from the armchairs where torn up, the wooden furniture covered in claw marks. A sharp howling filled the air. The ceiling above them creaked loudly, as if something heavy was moving upstairs.
James grabbed at Snape's arm, moving towards the tunnel. "We need to go!"
Snape tore away. "Don't touch me!"
"I don't think you understand." said James angrily. "He's gonna kill us!"
"Some friend you got."
A loud growl interrupted them. James' head to shot up, laying eyes on the enormous wolf standing in the door opening to the next room. It didn't charge immediately; its big eyes studied them carefully, the open mouth showing off sharp teeth. James gulped down som air, his heart pumping furiously. He was so exposed. Remus could tear him to pieces within seconds. In front of him, Snape gasped.
"Alarte reciproco!" James shouted, sending the charm right at Remus' chest. The wolf lurched backwards, colliding with the wall of the hallway. In a roar of anger, he got back on his paws and leaped forward. A second beam of light shot out from Snape's wand, creating deep cuts in Remus' flank. Thick blood emerged from the wounds, colouring his fur red as in dripped down onto the floorboards. The wolf halted, crying out in pain.
"Don't!" James hissed. He raised his wand, sending Remus flying backwards again. He grabbed Snape by the arm, forcefully dragging him backwards. "Let's go."
Snape didn't seem as eager to object this time. After a few hesitating steps backwards he spun around and began running side by side with James. The floorboards behind them creaked as Remus rushed towards them. They were at the opening to the tunnel when something heavy landed on James' leg. Sharp pain pierced through him as claws digged into his flesh. He was jerked down to the ground, dragged backwards on the dusty floor. Falling out of his hand, his wand skittered across the room. Crying out in fear, James' nails scratched at the floor as he helplessly tried to get a grip. He turned his gaze towards the tunnel, hoping to see a spell flying the wolf's way. Snape was standing inside the tunnel, his wide black eyes meeting James'. James opened his mouth, forming the word help, as Snape's face suddenly hardened. He spun around on the spot, the black robes swaying, as he disappeared into the darkness.
The wolf's claws digged into James' back, dragging him further into the Shack. James twisted in its grip, his legs kicking desperately as he tried free himself. It was no use. The wolf was so strong. A deep growl escaped it as it tore at James, leaving deep cuts all over his body. Tears formed in his eyes. The image of his ragged corpse on the floor flashed through his head.
Or if he got bitten...
Please no.
"Stupefy!"
James stopped struggling when he heard the cry from inside the tunnel. He gazed upwards, trying to spot something inside the darkness. A black, hugh figure bolted out of it, landing on top of the wolf. The wolf growled, letting go of James as it turned to face its attacker. James dragged himself over the floor. Behind him teeth clattered against teeth, and awful ripping sounds were followed by cries of pain. James rolled around and steadied himself to a sitting position, eying the two enormous creatures on their hind legs, tearing at each other with jaws and claws.
James placed a hand on the cool floor, steading himself as he stood up. His leg shaked in protest. Desperately he turned his head from side to side, searching for his lost wand. Sirius wouldn't be able to hold off the wolf forever. The wolf growled loudly. Automatically James snapped his head. The wolf and the dog, locked together, reeled to the side and collided against a cabinet. It shook violently, its glass doors opening, chinaware raining down upon them and smashing into a million pieces. James spun back around, frantically searching for his wand. He found the it in a dark corner of the room. Snatching it up, he weighed it in his hand for a moment. He didn't want to hurt Remus, but he had no choice.
"Sirius!" James shouted. "Get away from him now!"
With a sharp tug the black dog loosen himself from the wolf, rolling down onto the floor. Jumping up, the wolf growled, leaping after Sirius. Sirius rushed away into the hallway on the other side of the room.
James pointed his wand at the ceiling above the wolf. "Bombarda Maxima!"
With a deafening sound, most of the ceiling exploded, thick chunks of wood collapsing to the floor everywhere in front of James, burying the wolf under it. James instinctively stepped backwards, bumping against the wall. His legs gave way under him and James sank down on the floor. His ears ringed. A huge pile of debris was covering most of the floor in the room. Through the hole in the ceiling James could see the room upstairs. The wolf had gone completely silent.
Sirius emerged from the hallway, now in human form. Numbly James watched as he remove the debris with his wand, uncovering the wolf's lifeless body.
"Is he breathing?" James voice was hoarse.
"Yes."
James breathed out.
Sirius made his way over the pile of rubble, a few smaller pieces rolling down onto the floor. He sunk down on his knees in front of James. A deep cut ran along Sirius' chest, dripping blood onto the floor. He seemed on the verge of tears as he eyed James' ragged body up and down.
"Did he bite you?" His tone was gentle.
James swallowed. "No."
"Are you sure-"
"I'm sure."
"You're bleeding..." Sirius reached out a hand, as if he wanted to touch James.
"We'll go to Madam Pomfrey. We'll tell Dumbledore what happened."
Sirius made a slight movement.
"Almost what happened," said James, his eyes locked with Sirius'. "Snape found his way here alone."
Sirius lowered his gaze, biting his lip.
James let his head fall back against the wall, his eyelids closing on their own. The last energy left him as the pain came creeping; the deep cuts on his legs, arms, and torso throbbing and burning. Images of the night flashed before his eyes. Remus who Sirius almost made a murderer… Snape leaving James to die… Scars on his body that would never disappear… Remus buried under the fallen-in ceiling… Snape who would tear up heaven and earth to end Remus...
"Sirius," James breathed out weakly. He opened his eyes to meet Sirius' gaze, seeing his own fear reflected there. "What did you do?"
