Chapter 18 – A challenge

"Go back to bed or I'm going to tie you down" Madam Pomfrey ordered Remus in a strict voice for the eighth time in about an hour.

Remus walked sulkily back to his bed. He really wanted to check on Sirius, and he didn't want to wait.

The others had gone back to the commonroom around an hour ago. Lily had started yelling of James, something about how it was his fault, all of it. She didn't get to the part about what exactly was James' fault or why it was his fault before Madam Pomfrey had kicked them out.

Madam Pomfrey had looked surprised when she noticed that the cuts on Sirius' body were much better. She hadn't questioned it, though, Madam Pomfrey never did, she just patched you up. She immediately began applying Dittany, "It's dittany. To avoid scaring. Now go back to bed" she'd told Remus when he kept asking what she was doing and why she was doing it.

Remus had actually recognised the brown liquid immediately, but he just needed to hear it from someone who knew what they were doing.

Remus wanted to help, but he knew that he couldn't do anything. He sank his head back in the pillow and looked at the bedside-table. Suddenly he noticed that there was lying something on it. It was some of Sirius' chocolate, the same as the last time Remus had been in The Hospital Wing.

Remus couldn't help but wonder how Snape was capable of inventing spells that dangerous. He knew that Snape experimented with spells, but 'till this point it had been harmless ones nothing this serious before. He'd recognised the cuts on Sirius' body the second he saw them. They were caused by the same spell that Snape had used on Remus Saturday, the one that had made the scratch in Remus' cheek.

He was pulled back to reality by a voice, "You can go now, Mr Lupin" Madam Pomfrey said.

Remus looked pleadingly at her, he didn't want to leave Sirius "Can't I stay? Just for the night?" She sighed and looked like she was about to decline, but then she nodded.

xXxXxXxXx

It was in the middle of the night and The Hospital Wing was deserted when Sirius began to stir. Remus noticed at once and in a matter of seconds he was by Sirius' side.

Sirius opened his eyes and smiled faintly at Remus "I guess I'm the one with blood all over now," he said with a little laughter.

Remus flung his arms around Sirius. Remus loosened his grip a bit, when he saw that Sirius flinched from the pain as Remus touched his barely healed wounds.

"Don't do that again, ever," Remus said looking into Sirius' eyes.

"Do what?" Sirius asked innocently.

"Get in a fight with the slytherins" Remus said seriously.

"But I had to, you see, the little slime insulted you" Sirius said, suddenly serious.

"I don't care if he murders me, don't do it" Remus snapped.

"You're adorable when you're concerned" Sirius said softly, stroking Remus' frown.

"Don't 'you're adorable' me" Remus hissed, "You almost died"

Sirius gave a little laughter "I doubt that was the case"

"All the blood was drained from your face" Remus said in a mix between a hiss and a soft voice.

"Well, then you know how it is to be me" Sirius teased "I'm always concerned for you" he added softly.

"You don't have to be" Remus said, the hiss had returned. He grabbed the chocolate bar and broke it into pieces.

"Here" Remus said and reached his hand forward with a piece for Sirius to take.

"No, it's for you" Sirius said, closing Remus' hand around the piece of chocolate.

"You need it more than me" Remus insisted, thrusting his hand forward.

When Sirius showed no signs of planning to take it Remus put the chocolate in his mouth.

Sirius made a smug sound that immediately was muted but Remus' lips. Sirius opened his mouth to allow Remus' tongue entry. He felt the chocolate slip into his mouth, then Remus pulled back.

Now Remus was the one with the smug look.

"Why, you little" Sirius started in an outraged tone. Remus stuck his tongue out at him. Sirius reached forward and pulled Remus back down to him.

In the end they had no idea who had the piece, but none of them cared anymore.

xXxXxXxXx

Remus sat at the breakfast table, missing Sirius.

Sirius had to stay in The Hospital Wing for at least another day, Madam Pomfrey had said. Remus was in a way happy for that, because it meant another day before Sirius would get involved in something else, but on the other hand he didn't want Sirius to be away for a whole day.

"Oh Lily, please. They started it," James' almost begging voice rang through the great hall.

"Don't 'Lily' me, Potter. They wouldn't have if you and Black wasn't so nasty to Severus" Lily said, walking fast towards a seat among her girlfriends.

James sulkily sat down.

"She's got a point you know" Remus said.

"Oh, shut up you little know-it-all. She'll come around eventually," James said, staring at Lily who glared angrily back at him before refusing to acknowledge his presence anymore.

"I'm not hungry" James suddenly stated and got up.

"I'll go with you," Remus said and got up as well. He didn't feel like eating anyway. "Just eat your breakfast, Wormtail, we'll meet you in the classroom" he added. He knew that Peter was going to be in a terrible mood for the rest of the day if he didn't get his breakfast.

xXxXxXxXx

None of the two boys noticed that they were being followed before they stood in an empty corridor, it was one of the corridors where no one ever came, but no one could explain why.

A voice made both of them whip around "How are your friend?" it was Mulcriber, his voice as silky as ever. Behind him stood the rest of the gang.

"Up and around already, I see," James cheered at him.

"Bugger off, Potter. It's not you we want to talk to," Avery said sourly.

"A bit pricky today, aren't we?" James said.

Mulcriber ignored him and turned to Remus "It's you we want to talk to,"

Remus interrupted him: "I want you to leave Sirius alone".

The entire slytherin gang screamed with laughter.

"Want to force us? Lupin" Bellatrix mocked, as always drawling on the L.

"Shut up, Bella" Mulcriber snapped.

Bellatrix made a motion towards him, as if she was going to tear him apart, but Rodolphus' hand on her arm stopped her.

"Lupin, I have a suggestion to make" Mulcriber said sweetly "Meet us in the astronomytower at midnight. We'll have a little duel. If I win you'll help us get your little friend Black down. If you win we'll leave you alone"

"Both of us?" Remus asked.

"Both of you" Mulcriber said.

Snape started to protest, "That wasn't what we agreed" he hissed, but Mulcriber ignored him.

"What kind of duel?" Remus asked.

"Moony, you're not seriously considering it, are you?" James said shocked. Remus ignored him.

"No wands. The muggle way" Mulcriber replied much to Remus' surprise.

Usually slytherins didn't want to do anything the muggle way. Suddenly Remus realised what they were trying to do. They thought that Remus was a wimp, but they knew that he was smart enough to beat them in a wand-fight.

"Deal," Remus replied with a wolf-like grin. Holding out his hand for Mulcriber to take.

"You're mad, Moony. Totally bonkers" James said resignedly.

Mulcriber shook Remus' hand.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter ^^

None of you have mentioned it, but I feel like explaining it anyway:

Concerning The slytherins' names. I call them what I think Remus would've called them. Most of them I just call by their surname, but a person as Bellatrix, I mean, can you picture Remus calling her Black?

As always I adore reviews :3

The holiday is almost over o.o which means that I probably wont get to update as often as I'd like to o.o but don't worry, I'll try my best to avoid too big holes in the updating ^^ (I am the most impatient person in the universe myself o.o I hate waiting for stories to get updated...)