Chapter 20 – The fight

Remus left the dorm at 11:45 pm. hidden under James' invisibility cloak.

James had graciously allowed him to borrow his precious cloak "Padfoot might spare my life if he knows that I've at least helped you" he'd said. Remus was quite sure that it also had something to do with him talking to Lily for James, but didn't mention it.

Remus wasn't sure whether or not it was a bad thing that it was just around his transformation. On the bright side he usually got stronger around that time, but he also got exhausted easier and was more likely to loose his mind. He didn't really have a choice though. This was his chance, if he was ever going to fight one of the Slytherins it had to be without Sirius' knowledge.

Remus reached the astronomytower without being discovered. He quickly hid James' invisibility cloak in a hole in the wall beside the door and drew a deep, calming breath of the cool night air before opening the door that led to the astronomytower itself.

Just as he'd suspected they would, all six Slytherins were present. They formed an almost perfectly semicircle. If Remus hadn't been so focused on Mulcriber he would've noticed how magnificent they looked against the black-blue night sky in their black and green robes whipping around them in the wind.

The thing on Remus' mind, however, was that Mulcriber wasn't taking this serious. The robes would interfere with any movement he tried to make and Remus would easily be able to grab the robe and, with any luck, be able to throw him to the floor.

"Well, well, well we almost began to fear that you wouldn't turn up" Mulcriber said, clicking his tongue.

"But you had to, didn't you? To protect your pathetic Gryffindor-bravery," Snape drawled.

Mulcriber ignored Snape's remark and addressed Remus: "The rules: No wands. No interference from others. We fight 'till the first drop of blood, understood?"

"That's not what we agreed upon" Snape snapped.

Mulcriber was clearly loosing his patience with the guy. He whipped around and stared angrily at Snape "Will you shut up? I don't care. Who do you think you are? The leader or something?" he yelled, stepping forward to grab Snape, who was moving backwards so quickly that it was a wonder he didn't fall over, by the collar. Rodolphus quickly stepped forward, shooting Mulcriber a warning look.

Mulcriber turned angrily to Remus "What about it?"

Remus felt his jaw tighten; he hadn't expected the blood-part "Yes, that seems fair" he replied.

Remus had to take an awkward sideways step to avoid Mulcriber's immediate lunge towards him. Mulcriber was a Slytherin after all, so what had made Remus think he would play fair? He could hear someone mumble "What a looser" and Bellatrix broke in to a manical laughter.

Mulcriber stumbled graceless past Remus. In about a second before he was going to fall over he whipped around and glared at Remus.

Mulcriber hit Remus on the side of the head that made Remus go dizzy. Mulcriber was stronger than he'd expected.

Bellatrix' laughter of glee blended with the ringing from the blow.

Remus adjusted the position of his feet to distribute the weight properly.

Mulcriber tried again to hit him, but Remus moved swiftly to the right.

It soon developed into a dance. Lunge. Step. Lunge. Step. Lunge. Dodge. Lunge. Step.

Mulcriber became more and more frustrated that he couldn't deliver a proper blow.

"What's the matter Gryffindor, are you too afraid to fight back?" Mulcriber sneered and kicked towards Remus.

Remus allowed the night air to cool him down, Remus didn't answer, he just stepped out of Mulcriber's range.

Remus was starting to get tired and he could feel the rage threatening to take over. He had to focus on it to hold it back.

Mulcriber took advantage of Remus' moment of distraction and kicked him hard on the shin. Remus was preoccupied with holding back.

"I think you are frightened. Just like your shitty little friend. How is he by the way?" Mulcriber continued, directing another kick at Remus' stomach.

Remus felt the white-hot anger threating to drown his mind. He braced himself for the blow and allowed Mulcriber to hit him. Mulcriber's kick was more powerful than expected, Remus felt a jolt of pain that threatened to beat the air out of Remus' lungs. Remus pulled himself together, then he grabbed Mulcriber's foot and pulled. A cry of surprise escaped Mulcriber's lips as he landed flat on his back, tangled into his robes.

Remus moved quickly and while Mulcriber was still disorientated and gasped for breath he placed himself on the boy's chest, pinning his arms to his sites.

"Give up?" Remus asked slightly out of breath.

"Afraid to spill my blood, Gryffindor?" Mulcriber hissed and spat Remus in the face.

Truth to be told, Remus was, he was afraid that he would loose control, but he had to end this. He considered simply scratching Mulcriber, but he was afraid that he would somehow infect Mulcriber with werewolf. Besides he wanted to avenge Sirius and prove that he wasn't a pussy.

He lifted his hand and with one swift downwards jab, he hit Mulcriber on the nose bone with the side of his hand. He heard a crushing noise and Mulcriber let out a shout of agony as the blood smattered his face.

Remus felt his mind go clouded, the scent of warm blood was awakening the wolf in him. He stared hypnotised at the blood, seriously considering licking it off.

The throbbing of his head brought him back to reality. Remus quickly got to his feet, for a short terrifying moment he thought that his leg wasn't going to hold his weight. Remus moved fast away from Mulcriber.

The Slytherins had gone completely silent and the only sound was the whimpers Mulcriber made and the wind.

"First drop of blood, remember?" Remus said, steadying his voice.

The Slytherins stared at him in disbelief. Mulcriber slowly got to his feet wiping the blood off his face.

"Why you little…" he hissed walking alarmingly slow towards Remus as he drew his wand.

"Mulcriber, enough. He won, fair and square. Leave him be" Rosier said, the displeasure audible.

"I did" Remus said, "Now leave Sirius and me alone" he whipped around and went for the door, trying to disguise his limp and hoping that the Slytherins would for once keep their word and wouldn't curse him from behind.

He needed to see Sirius; that was the only thought occupying his clouded mind. He absentmindedly grabbed James' cloak on his way out. Remus started to walk down the stairs.

In that moment his leg gave in to the pressure and suddenly Remus was stumbling down the stairs.

He hit something hard. Not stone-hard as he'd expected, but a soft kind of hard. His fall abruptly came to an end as hands grabbed him, rough at first, but once they'd gotten a proper hold of him, gentle. He was lifted from the ground.

Sirius' face greeted him.

Oh Remus :3

I'm beginning to wonder what Remus would do without Sirius o.o he would probably die or something o.o

Please review I appreciate it ^^ and thanks to those who have reviewed, I love you :3 sorry I didn't answer you all o.o I'm just terribly busy for the moment so I put writing the story first ^^