Chapter Fifty: The Aftermath

…

Remus was let go after Severus ruined the Slytherins surprise. He heard shouted spells and saw blasts on both sides. He hoped the Gryffindors hit the Slytherins as much as they hit them.

As soon as he was released, his captor rushing off with a grumbled threat, 'you better keep your mouth shut', he struggled to his feet. It took a while and it was only thanks to the support structures that he was able to.

Once he had his balance it was harder to ignore his pain, but he was used to pain, so he dusted himself off wincing and inhaling sharply as his hand brushed his rib cage. Realizing this wasn't working well he used magic instead pleased with the results, and that the Slytherins had actually given his wand back unharmed. He knew he'd have to go to Madam Pomfrey, the trick was not letting his friends know.

He braced himself scolding himself again for getting into such ridiculous positions. But in some terrible way this had been a good thing because he was now certain that it was the Slytherins that caused his tumble off the tower, he just wasn't sure how.

Peeking through the flap, where he had glimpsed poor Lily being forced by her friend towards James who looked both abashed and pleased, he saw the aftermath of the attack. It was over pretty quickly and he hoped that Sirius would never let James let down the kiss, and they could just forget and get over what the Slytherins did. He sighed heavily, a mistake on his part, and walked into the blazing sun.

"Remus!"

"Peter are you alright?" His friend jogged over to him from where he'd been hiding behind one of the goalposts. His hair was ruffled, robes disheveled, and he was a bit dirty from when he had fallen during his hasty retreat, but otherwise he was unharmed.

James, oh poor James was a different story.

"That's him up there isn't it?" He asked trying to see but the bright sunlight making his head and eyes throb in protest, so he quickly looked away.

"Yeah one of the blasted Slytherins did it and no one can figure out how to get him down. Where were you hiding?" He asked innocently enough scanning the field as if trying to find Remus' brilliant hiding spot. He no doubt looked better than most as he had 'Scourgify-ed' his robes, finding out quickly how useful that spell was to him.

Remus wanted to say he wasn't hiding, that he never would have hidden, but knew that would make his friend who had hid feel bad. It's not like Peter was the only one who hid. A few of the younger students had come out of the ordeal unscathed but were pink-faced at their natural reaction to perceived danger. However they, unlike Peter, didn't look proud of the fact.

"Peter…." He was going to explain to him, gently as possible that he shouldn't point out he hid. That it was ok he did but that the older students might be upset if they knew. But before he could get a word out Sirius rushed over to him looking ready to launch himself at Remus. Not at all wanting this, he quickly sidestepped using Peter as a human shield.

"I'm not mad honest. Just glad you didn't get hexed." Sirius encouraged, his hands raised as if Remus may try to run. Glad Sirius mistook his gesture, but didn't seem offended, he nodded slightly.

"You aren't hurt either? Who is hurt?"

"Well James's Pride was hurt and he might be hurt if we don't get him down soon."

"All the blood will rush to his head. Has someone gone to fetch Madam Pomfrey?"

"Yeah, Lily and Dorcas they should be back any minute."

"Those Slytherins are...are just terrible!" Peter exclaimed, both him and Sirius gazing up at James with nearly identical scowls of worry.

"You two stay here I'm going to fly back up to James and let him know I found Remus."

"And me," Peter said quietly but Sirius was already rushing off. Remus could tell Peter felt hurt, his lip quivering slightly, so he quickly changed the subject.

"What does he mean 'again'?" Peter looked up at him with a look that suggested he knew what Remus was doing. For a second he thought Peter was going to confront him, demanding why the other two were only worried about Remus getting hurt. Then the boy sighed and looked back up at James with his flexible neck that was currently functioning right, unlike Remus'.

"Well, he was hanging upside down so his ...well his robes were hanging over his head and…well it was humiliating so Sirius flew up and did something so his robes didn't fall."

"Please tell me he was at least wearing underwear." He groaned with mock horror glad that Peter laughed at his comment, looking like he was feeling better now.

"Yeah bet he's really glad he didn't go commando today considering he didn't know we'd be playing Quidditch." Peter laughed, Remus, smiled in return but didn't dare laugh, knowing the pain it would undoubtedly cause him.

Finally, Madam Pomfrey bustled into the Quidditch pitch, took one look at James, then called for the Headmaster loudly.

Before Remus realized what he was doing he was getting closer, he hadn't seen Dumbledore in a while and he still was worried he was mad at him.

Crack

Then Dumbledore was there about to ask Madam Pomfrey what the matter was when James let out a strangled shout clearly getting really dizzy.

"Oh my! Well, you do seem to be in quite a pickle, Mr. Potter. Don't worry we'll get you down in a jiffy. Oh and Happy Birthday Mr. Potter. " Dumbledore responded mildly and cheerfully, giving James a little wave.

"Get me down!" James called swinging himself around though his feet remained unmoving. Remus watched as Dumbledore pondered the situation, rolled up his sleeves, and waved his wand once, causing James to plummet with a high pitch scream, and twice to slow his descent.

"I assure you all that this will be looked into. All those who aren't injured or helping someone who is should return to the common room. Run along now, pip pip." Remus watched Dumbledore look at all the students, except for him. He was sure he wasn't crazy, that the headmaster wasn't meeting his eye!

He swallowed his disappointment knowing he had no right to expect anything more. Dumbledore was letting him stay, that was enough for Remus, it had to be.

Dumbledore turned his attention to James winking at the boy whose face was rather red.

"Quite the birthday eh Mr. Potter? Your bravery at staying calm in a potentially dire situation will no doubt be the talk of the school." James went from looking miserable to looking delighted. Dumbledoresure sure knew how to spin situations, and was able to successfully save the day for James.

"Are you alright?" He heard Madam Pomfrey ask and turned his attention to her, forcing himself to stay standing. Though now that he knew everyone was safe was much more difficult to do so.

Madam Pomfrey was slowly making her rounds of those who hadn't made a move to leave. She sent students, that were fine but stayed to help carry those who weren't, up to the hospital wing with the injured students. She stopped briefly by Remus scrutinizing him closely as he hadn't made to leave either. With all eyes on Dumbledore and James, she stepped closer.

"You alright dear?" Remus wanted to say no but Peter was right by his side, and thinking Pomfrey was talking to him he shook his head.

"I got all scraped and hit my head."

"Then up you go Mr. Pettigrew, Remus dear why don't you take him." Remus nodded slightly giving Madam Pomfrey a relieved look. He wasn't sure how she knew he was hurt, maybe in the way he was standing, but she knew and was being subtle as always. He appreciated her so much and slowly started walking with Peter who was showing him a scrape on his arm speaking loudly how a spell nearly nicked him.

"Nicked you? I saw you run off as soon as it started." Scoffed Sirius rushing towards them with James at his side, still a bit embarrassed but otherwise fine.

"So did Remus!" Peter protested going red in the face. "I wasn't the only one!"

"Well, Remus was gone beforehand. I didn't run and I stayed calm despite dangling so high in the air." James bragged a cocky gleam in his eye.

Sirius scoffed no doubt about to point out James didn't get a chance to run but Remus shot him a look and thankfully he closed his mouth. It was James' birthday tomorrow after all.

"Yeah, you sure were," Peter responded instead, eyes gleaming with admiration.

"I would have been screaming but you hardly did."

"Oh please, you would have pissed yourself, Pettigrew."

"Like you wouldn't be screaming Black." James retorted coming to Peter's defense who looked most pleased by this. Sirius blushed slightly and shrugged shooting a look at Remus.

"Well, I bet Remus would have stayed calmer than you did."

"Not if I was dangling from my feet like that in front of everyone." He responded quickly and James laughed, beaming in his victory.

Sirius didn't want to ruin James' mood but Remus could tell he wanted to ask where he went, could see him practically vibrate with curiosity at the matter. But he wasn't the only one. After bragging all the way to the castle James finally stopped and looked at Remus.

"Where did you go? I thought you'd stay the whole time, I mean we're mates." He whined giving Remus an accusing look that Sirius quickly mirrored.

"I just needed to use the loo." He muttered embarrassed and they all laughed at him, a friendly relieved sort of laughter that made him realize just how worried they had been. He swallowed down his guilt. If he told them what had happened, he had no doubt Sirius would stalk off to confront his cousin, and Severus would no doubt suffer the consequences his cousin couldn't use on them.

"You could have said something!"

"And have one of you follow me there not a chance," He teased. Sirius looked worried and sad for a second wondering if Remus was still upset at him, then he realized Remus was grinning mischievously and rolled his eyes grinning.

"Well, you missed the best part of the day mate." Sirius laughed giving James a grin that made him go red.

"Oi, shut it Black."

"Make me Potter!" Then the two rambunctious boys were running through the hall, James chasing Sirius with mock outrage.

"Come on Peter I'll take you to the hospital wing."

"No that's ok. James and Sirius would laugh if I went now." He mumbled tugging his sleeves back down.

"But you're bleeding."

"I got bandages in my trunk. I can handle it myself." He grinned. "Besides I want to hear what James has to say for himself about getting kissed by Lily! His face got so red it was brilliant! Guess girls really do still have cuties," Peter sounded so relieved that Remus decided not to point out that James' red face might mean the opposite.

"Oh well. I'll hear the story later. I'm going to check on Lily. I'll catch up with you three later." He assured Peter who shrugged and ran off to catch up to the other two.

Remus quickly slipped away making a b-line for the hospital wing.

…..

"Sev please tell me you weren't involved with this!" He heard Lily plead and Remus stopped just short of turning the corner leading to the hall outside the hospital wing.

"I already told you, Lily, I didn't! Don't you believe me?" Severus snapped, sounding really defensive.

"Of course I do I just had to be sure. Oh, Severus, I had to…." She trailed off no doubt remembering having to kiss James' cheek.

"What? What did you have to do?" Severus asked, and knowing he was there Remus could hear the slight edge to his voice.

"Nothing...just never mind! It….it was just a dreadfully boring party." Lily lied quickly, a hint of nervousness in her tone. Remus could just picture Severus seething in jealousy, irritated Lily wasn't telling him the truth. He sighed and rounded the corner just as Severus opened his mouth to say something that probably would have led to an argument between the two.

Bracing himself for Severus' reaction, which was immediate and expected, he stood awkwardly near them. Severus' eyes had widened and he had paled considerably, no doubt wondering the same thing Remus was. Was he going to tell Lily?

He considered it, felt he would be justified too but Severus was looking at him pleadingly again. So, even though Remus was hurting a lot due to the Slytherins' actions, he figured he best listen to what Severus' explanation was, before outing him to Lily, one of the boy's few if not only real friend.

"Oh Remus there you are! Sirius couldn't find you and he was getting all bossy." Lily huffed after a few seconds of awkward silence in which she watched Severus' puzzling expression before she had seen him. As soon as she had turned and realized he was there though she had looked very relieved to see him alright. At least outwardly alright.

"You didn't get hurt did you?" He asked trying to assess himself if she was ok or not. He knew most of the first and second years had been freaked out by the whole thing, none of them with any dueling practice, not formal anyways.

"Of course she didn't!" Severus snapped the sharp edge to his tone and piercing glare making it sound like Remus had just personally accused him of murder. Lily gave Severus a weird look who went pink quickly dropping the harsh look he was shooting at Remus.

"I just...I mean you would have told me if you did...right?" Lily scrutinized the guilty-looking boy a bit longer then turned to Remus with a frown.

"Of course Sev. But no I wasn't hurt, but it certainly was quite a fright. Everyone's saying it's Slytherins, that there's a group of them that serve the terrible person supposedly behind all the muggle killings?"

"Just rumors Lily," Severus responded, this time careful to remain calm. Remus remembered what he had heard about things to come and shuddered.

"Well even if they are, they are simply dreadful ones!" Remus nodded the gesture sending a sharp stab through his neck.

"Well, I need to go check on Frank whose in the hospital wing so I'll see you later?"

"Oh, I'll come too! I want to check on Emma, don't look at me like that Sev she's the nicest third year I know even if she can be a bit wonky." Remus didn't really know Emma nor did he care to. He wanted to groan in frustration at the fact that one of the few times when he was actually going to ask Madam Pomfrey for help it seemed less and less likely he'd be able to.

"You can check on her later Lily. Let's go study." Remus was surprised realizing after a moment that Severus was either trying to save himself from Lily finding out Remus was hurt or help Remus out which seemed much less likely and yet he had a feeling that was indeed what the Slytherin was doing. He watched Lily hesitate then invite him to join them after and head off with Severus.

With no other distractions, Remus made it to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey scolded him severely for getting messed up in this, ignoring his faint protests that all Gryffindor's had been there. She just pierced him with her stare and he suspected she somehow knew that, as was becoming a rather unfortunate pattern, Remus was once again undoubtedly in the middle of this drama.

"Now you lay down for a few hours. That's right young man hours, not minutes. No complaints you've got a fractured rib. Now lay down. That's a good lad." Remus just hoped his friends would be too distracted with exams and spring break to notice his disappearance, but of course, he knew that wasn't going to happen.