Chapter Forty-Nine: A Prize for the Winner and a Curse for the Loser

Remus still felt really hurt by Sirius' action, though he wasn't sure he knew why he felt quite so hurt. It's not like Sirius' actions didn't make sense, not like he particularly blamed him. Still, something about Sirius not trusting him, which again made sense, bothered Remus in a way it hadn't before. He felt really scared by how much closer all his friends had gotten to him.

It was because they knew, he realized, and that was why what Sirius had done had bothered him so much! Because if Sirius just assumed he was acting in Remus' best interests by doing something like this, how many more times of seeing Remus hurt would he take before he assumed he was acting in Remus' best interest again and tell someone.

He knew it was silly, that both things were entirely different but ever since Peter and James had found out about both his past and Sirius' he had grown increasingly worried. Because he would keep seeming hurt and ill, not because he was being beaten every time he "went home every month", like his friends currently thought, but because of his transformations. Not only was he worried they'd tell because of this but he also felt terrible because of how much he was worrying them.

He had never considered more seriously telling them the whole truth about him than he had been these past few weeks. Wouldn't it be easier for them to hate him rather than keep worrying about him? Wouldn't it be better for them not to be driven sick with worry like he had done to his mom? What if he ended up killing them too! Tears filled his eyes and the field swam in his vision before him. He could hear the laughter as the Gryffindor students all kept trying to catch what he realized after a few minutes in was a snitch.

An older year bumped into him apologizing immediately and he quickly wound his way around the chaos as skillfully as he could without being able to see much through the tears clouding his eyes. He managed to reach the stands again, this time the ones on the opposite side of the field.

He hardly noticed the dark green banner labeling it as the Slytherin section as he ducked inside planning to take the stairs leading up behind the stand which would keep him hidden from the crowd below. He realized this might be causing Sirius and his friends more grief but he rationalized it would take a while for them to notice he was gone with everyone trying to catch the snitch, especially with the reward of some mystery prize promised by one of the older students.

Remus fantasized rushing back outside, simply enjoying the moment, catching the snitch, and receiving a big pile of Honeyduke's chocolates as a reward. It was so tempting he really was going to walk back outside but the tears kept falling down his cheeks, helped along by the fact that spring break was just around the corner.

He had been doing a good job of pretending not to care about going home when he was with his friends, much like Sirius was doing a good job at the same thing. But he was getting more worried by the day. He honestly didn't know what his uncle had in store for him, to put him in his place, and he didn't want to find out.

"Ouch careful Severus you nearly stepped on my foot."

"It's hard to see in these hoods."

"Yes well, do you WANT to get in trouble?" Remus froze the worry building into a panic, now sinking into irritation. Slytherins. Why couldn't they leave things alone? Surely they weren't planning to ruin James' party? But as much as he knew Sev tolerated him, he knew he loathed James.

He quickly wiped his eyes knowing he had to stop Severus before he did something stupid and caused Lily to get mad at him again. He was about to call out to Severus not particularly intimidated by either him or the other first-year Slytherin boy whose name he couldn't recall. But before he could a third voice joined in and he felt himself go cold, a deep fear rising in him again although he wasn't altogether sure why. Maybe his fear was simply because a first-year was one thing but taking on the sixth year by himself was another thing altogether.

"Will you two both shut up or us as well as the others will be in trouble." Others? Remus took a deep breath and tiptoed forward keeping himself close to the massive support that would keep him hidden. He finally caught a glimpse of six, six Slytherins climbing the stairs of the tower to the top of the stands. Six! Remus turned around ready to run out onto the field to at least warn everyone but found himself in the shadow of a very large Slytherin, Vance Moore, a six-year with nearly the build of a professional sumo wrestler.

He dodged quickly as thick muscled arms reached out for him, and scrambled out of the way of the hulking boy.

"Lucius." He called in his deep naturally booming voice.

"Oh do let me. I quite like playing with this little mouse." He also knew that voice and it brought even more fear into him than Lucius. Bellatrix, a young woman who should have been graduated, a young woman who had made his school year far more difficult with her presence than it was supposed to be.

Suddenly, hardly without thinking he whipped out his wand. But he was to slow, a twelve-year-old again a twenty-year-old was hardly fair.

"Exp...

"Dolor Fluctus." Remus's knees wobbled a bit at the pain that suddenly hit him but he was honestly surprised by how little it bothered him, expecting something worse from her.

"Expelliarmus!" He shouted and Bellatrix looked surprised then livid as her wand flew out of her hand toward his. He caught it truly surprised it worked so well. She let out a snarl and Remus had enough sense to shout loudly for help, but before he could he was rendered unable to by a Silencio spell cast by Vance.

"MMMMMMM" He felt himself seize in fear as Vance's strong arms locked his small ones behind his back and he forced him to his knees. He never should have left, he should have run back immediately. But he didn't think, never would have thought in a million years this many Slytherins would come just to take down James' party.

"Why is it always this little snoop? Don't you learn your lesson boy." Lucius drawled, now down on the ground level regarding Remus with disdain.

"It's like he's asking to be killed."

"OOOOOO That spell should have sent him crumbling. Then we also know he broke through a body bind. It makes me really really want to see my traitorous cousin's friend writhe on the ground in agony~."

"Dumbledore would expel you. He's not worth it." Severus cut in nervously and Remus watched as Bellatrix slapped him across the face with as much viciousness as Remus suspected Sirius' mom slapped him. Severus stumbled back and ducked his head but not before shooting Remus an irritated and scared look. Luckily he wasn't the only one that thought Bellatrix was taking things too far.

"Severus is right the filthy little mudblood isn't worth it." Remus had been silencio'd enough to know it would wear out, as long as the Slytherins could be distracted by themselves long enough to make it work.

"Well, we may already be, since he'll undoubtedly tell. I say we have a little fun and try out the unforgivables before we go. The Dark Lord will protect us after all." Since Remus was too afraid to look at the older students he kept his eyes on Severus who looked uncomfortable, and now very scared.

"He won't tell. He didn't tell about last time." Severus cut in again, his voice sounding remarkably like Lucius as he took on an uncaring drawl. Bellatrix turned her eyes on him then sneered.

"That's right he didn't. You won't tell will you Remus?" He looked up at Lucius and shook his head quickly, he would like to get out of this with as little pain as possible.

Bellatrix's eyes suddenly filled with delight, she looked at Remus as if he was a freshly wrapped present she now knew the contents of.

"Oh, now I see! That letter was about you wasn't it!" Bellatrix grabbed his chin, her manicured nails digging sharply into his skin, forcing him to meet her cruel amused eyes. He knew it was dumb but he just kept thinking about her torturing Sirius, who admitted she used crucio on him once, which gave him the strength to glare back at her.

"Your uncle and daddy beat you don't they icky whittle Remus!" She cooed mockingly, sounding utterly delighted by the realization.

"Bellatrix if we don't hurry we'll miss our window. Or someone will come looking for him." Narcissa, the sixth and last Slytherin, pointed out. Her tone that of someone used to calming down her eccentric sister.

"Silence Sissy! This boy is the mudblood our cousin associates with. Doesn't that anger you? Who does he think he is hanging out with a Black!" She slapped him across his face and she seemed to expect him to be afraid, but he wasn't, not of her, he'd face worse much worse.

"Come on just hex him or beat him up and leave him." Narcissa continued sounding nervous.

"Let's just do what we came here to do." Lucius urged his voice both commanding and unsure at the same time. Bellatrix finally looked away from Remus to shoot Lucius what must have been a dirty look.

"Do you think the Dark Lord would stand for this? Do you think he'd let this mudblood look at me with such disdain? That he'd stand there while he took my wand!" Oh, so that's what she was so pissed about. Would she feel better or worse knowing it was most likely a fluke? Knowing that Remus had read about the spell but never practiced it.

"No, he wouldn't. But we are at Hogwarts right now Bella. And you were the one who told me the Dark Lord honors the importance of time and place." Narcissa pointed out sharply, seemingly the only one who could get away with speaking in such a manner to her sister.

"Hm fine." She turned back to Remus looking a little less crazed but still considerably pissed and leaned close to him whispering angrily.

"You better watch yourself little mudblood the walls of Hogwarts won't always be there to protect you." He wanted to point out that he wasn't a mudblood and that her breath stunk, but he still couldn't speak, and he wouldn't be that stupid to actually say that to her anyway. Though he had to admit it was tempting.

"MoraStimulusa!" She shouted and Remus suddenly felt stinging, as if a bee had stung him over and over, all along his arms. He winced but that must not have been the level of pain she wanted to see because he heard her whisper something to Vance. As the five Slytherins left Vance shoved Remus to the ground and began kicking him, hard, really hard.

He was used to getting hit and beat, but Vance was stronger than any of his other attackers had ever been and he found himself whimpering after only ten well-aimed kicks.

"You really do have a high pain tolerance you filthy mudblood. Well, perhaps you'll enjoy watching your fellow blood traitors and mudblood Gryffidor's get hurt." He laughed sounding positively gleeful at getting the Gryffindor's back. Remus had tried to warn James and Sirius about the Slytherins but they wouldn't listen and just kept on pranking them, and now this was the result.

"SLYTH...MMMRPH….." Vance's large hand clamped tightly around his mouth cutting off his second attempt to shout a warning and the large boy dragged him to the edge of the stands. There the tarp concealed them from the bright field where only a few people were still trying to get the snitch now, and it was peeled back just enough Remus could see.

He struggled against Vance with everything he could but he was thrown to the ground and sat on, the big Slytherin pinning his arms with one hand and muting him with the other. He could feel tears prick his eyes, he didn't want any of them getting hurt, especially Sirius who he had a feeling would be specifically targeted.

"OHHHHHHHH!" He thought for a second the shouts were of pain and in his mind, he could vividly see Sirius writhing on the ground as Bellatrix sneered down at him as she had with Remus. But instead, he realized the shouts were of excitement, that someone had caught the snitch.

…..

Sirius couldn't find Remus, forget the stupid snitch the others had become preoccupied with, he just wanted to find his dumb friend. He was getting really worried when a shout distracted him. Someone had finally caught the bloody thing maybe the others would help him look now, instead of saying Remus is probably just hiding and reading a book.

"James gets to be kissed by the winner." Shouted an older Gryffindor student, sounding a lot like Fabian Prewett, who rumor had it was better at pranks than anyone which is how he never got caught. Now Sirius didn't mean to but the thought of James getting kissed by any of the contestants sounded like a good time. There were shouts and laughter and whoever won seemed to be trying to escape, their protests unable to be heard through the roar of the crowd. Personally he was hoping the winner was Patricia since it would be hilarious to see James go all red, he might even run away rather than face her.

But no it was just stupid Lily Evans, this wouldn't be fun at all. James and Lily both didn't like each other. Although it was a little amusing to see Lily bicker with her roommates clearly not pleased.

"Absolutely not! I am not even kissing the arrogant asshole on his cheek!" She shouted her face all red and blotchy. Maybe this would be entertaining after all. Then he realized James seemed to be putting up less restraint now, though he kept pretending to. This was weird because if there's anyone he expected James to not want to be kissed by it was Lily Evans!

"Potter not in your wildest dreams!" She shouted clearly angry, though Sirius could hear the embarrassment in her voice as well.

"Like I'd ever dream about you Evans. But we can't very well get out of this. A prize was promised and as the birthday boy it's my responsibility." James sounded quite cocky, enjoying irritating LIly, which he realized now was the only logical explanation for why his best mate was going along with it. After all, James couldn't just back down from a challenge in front of his whole house and future teammates. Besides, he certainly seemed to be soaking in the attention his chest puffed out. Sirius laughed, by far not the only one, as James ran a hand through his hair giving LIly what would be a winning smile with nearly anyone else.

"I'd rather get detention." She responded dryly and the laughter increased. Sirius saw Marlene push her towards James who caught the stumbling girl, who nearly slapped him in response.

"Hands off me Potter! Close your eyes I don't want you looking at me." James seemed a bit put out by this development and Sirius realized he was going to have to have a serious talk with his dumb friend about playing along too well. At this rate, the whole of Hogwarts would think he liked Lily rather than despise her, as Sirius had heard multiple times over and over. In fact, he talked about Lily quite a lot to Sirius, unable to talk to Remus since he was Lily's friend and Peter was, well Peter.

Then Lily leaned forward quickly pecking James' red face, hers nearly as red. There were whistling and egging on by the younger students, while the older ones either seemed bored or faintly amused.

Then the light atmosphere, filled with good company and friendly teasing was shattered by a loud scream filled with hate.

"LEVICORPUS!" Suddenly James who had been egging on the cheers and taking dramatic bows as Lily stormed off looking livid, was high in the air dangling upside down! Sirius rushed towards him immediately, the older students all pointing their wands to the top of the Slytherin stand where the shout had come from. Sirius heard several "Stupify" and "Expelliarmus" spells shouted as sparks flew into the stands. A group of hooded figures darted away, unbeknownst to the Gryffindors their carefully planned sneak attack ruined by the jealousy of a seething boy.

Sirius was slower than the older students to stretch out his wand and he both felt important doing so in the midst of older students and rather dumb as he realized the vast difference in skill between them and him. I mean his older cousins hexed him sometimes, but he really thought he could do the same back to them once he had his own wand. However, though he'd never admit it, in the heat of the moment he stumbled on his words and the spark of the scourgify spell he shouted fizzled before it could even attempt to reach the retreating Slytherins. A shame as he really would have liked to fill their mouths with soap, among other worse things he'd like to do to them. Sirius was sure his cousins were involved, well at least two of them, and he was very irritated when the Slytherins successfully got away, and with it their chance at proving they were the ones behind it.

Sirius honestly hadn't realized the retreating students fired back until he looked around and saw several students clutching their heads or on the ground either covered in boils or bleeding slightly. His vision blurred red and he wanted to chase after his cousins, and any other slimy Slytherins with them. But James' indignant shout, from high in the air still dangling, drew him to his poor friend instead.

"Go get Madam Pomfrey." He heard someone shout and Dorcas took off running with Lily at her side, Frank pointing out no one should go alone. The prefect was hunched over on the grass groaning in pain from the burning boils that kept multiplying across his forearms.

"Oi SOMEONE GET ME DOWN!" James shouted, his knickers revealed as his robes had fallen over his head leaving him blinded and disoriented. Two older students who weren't hit were muttering amongst themselves pondering on how to get him down.

"James I'm right below you mate just hang on!" He called up to his friend who made a joke he was in the danger zone to be thrown-up on, though Sirius could hear the frustration and humiliation in his voice. He knew James well enough to know his mate would rather be on the ground in pain rather than high in the air showing off his undies to anyone who looked up at him. James was struggling desperately with his robes trying to push them back onto his legs, a clearly useless affair.

Then Sirius realized he could do something to help his friend and got on the nearest broom he could find flying up to him. He struggled with James trying to pull him onto his broom but had to resort to simply holding his robes in place since James wasn't budging.

"Who was it?" He demanded, sounding angry, Sirius couldn't blame him, he was angry for him.

"Pretty sure it was Snivellus! I mean he thinks he owns Lily so the evil little toad probably was the one to curse you."

"Is she ok?" James asked a sharp edge of worry in his voice.

"You really are losing your marbles mate. She's fine but ...bloody hell!" He ignored James' questions and scanned the grounds from his broom.

"James I can't find Remus!" He called unable to keep the distress out of his voice.

"You don't reckon the Slytherins did something to him again?" James asked worriedly trying to shoo Sirius away with his hands.

"I thought we agreed it was Professor Blatvnik. But I don't know ...maybe.."

"What are you here for still? Go find him, Sirius!"

"Right. Lacebettotera! There I've practiced the sticking charm loads so that should hold your robe in place. I'll come back once I find him."

"Sirius?"

"Yeah James."

"The Slytherins are going to pay for this!"

"I solemnly swear they will!" He shouted already quickly descending to the ground, trying to ignore the sick twist in his gut that came from worrying something may have happened to Remus.