Chapter 34: The Killing Curse

During the day of May 12th, the time on Remus's old watch seemed to tick as fast as rocks are eroded by the sea. Remus anxiously awaited nightfall. After what seemed like an eternity of schoolwork, teachers, laughing with friends, studying, and eating, it was finally 10:30 and it was time to go. Remus carefully pulled the invisibility cloak and the marauder's map from James's trunk at the end of his bed. Remus managed to add a few faculty's names to the map like Mcgonagall, Dumbledore, Malfoy, and Argus Filch so his plan wouldn't be ruined by being caught.

He walked to the secret tunnel that his friends showed him yesterday silently. He walked through the damp tunnel until he came to the end. He lifted up the hatch and found himself in a basement. He found the stairs and discovered he was in Honeydukes. He tiptoed through the store and walked out on the silent street.

Where would they be? Remus asked himself as he looked around. He walked around the empty streets for a while without any luck. This is stupid. I don't even know where I'm going. I should just go back to Hogwarts.

Remus turned around but heard a man's voice saying something in Portuguese.

Remus turned to the voice and surely enough, it was Leonardo. Professor Estrella approached the door of the small house and whispered "Alohomora", and the door opened and the two men entered. Remus's heart pounded and he walked to outside the now closed door and listened.

"Wake up, Greyback!" He heard Estrella say.

"Bloody hell, what are you doing in my house? I'm calling the cops." Remus heard a frail old lady's voice say. Remus was confused.

"Give it up, Greyback! We know it's you." Estrella said angrily.

"It was worth a try." Remus heard the familiar raspy voice say. "And who are you?"

"Hands in the air! Good. You don't remember me, bastard?" Estrella asked.

"Nope. I don't remember a Mexican ever." Greyback said.

"Really?" Leonardo asked sarcastically.

"Wait, wait a minute. You're that teacher that I bite at Hogwarts, right? How'd that full moon go?" Greyback laughed.

"Shut up right now!" Leonardo screamed.

"Yep now I can smell you both are werewolves. You already found a pack for yourself, Pedro? Good for you!" Greyback cunningly said.

"I said shut up!" Leonardo screamed again.

"And you, Pablo, where's your wand?" Greyback asked. There was silence. "Oh, I see, he's a muggle werewolf. Never seen that before."

"Be quiet, and hands in the air." Estrella said.

"You really should have come in with more than one armed man to try to take me down." Greyback said.

"Sit down!" Estrella screamed.

"No I don't think I will." Greyback said calmly.

"He said sit down!" Leonardo yelled and Remus heard he took a couple steps closer. Suddenly he heard a struggle and glass breaking and he heard Professor Estrella yell "Petrificus Tot-" but was interrupted by Greyback screaming "Expelliarmus!"

Remus heard the sound of a wand hitting the ground. And a gasp from Leonardo.

"Let Leonardo go, please. We'll go home and not tell anyone you're here. Just don't hurt him." Remus heard Estrella plead.

"Who is this guy to you, Professor, anyway?" Greyback asked. There was silence. "I mean you can't be brothers, a bit too touchy-feely for friends - you're queer!"

"Help me, Esteban!" Leonardo squeaked.

"Please, it doesn't matter. We're the only ones who know you're here. We'll go home and you'll never see us again." Estrella said.

"Now that's a lie." Greyback said.

"What do you -" Estrella asked

"LIES! Remus, come inside!" Greyback shouted.

Remus's heart stopped. He was petrified with fear. He grasped his wand hard and thought to himself. What do I do? What do I do?!

"No, he can't be here!" Estrella said in disbelief.

"He's here alright. I can smell the sweet boy right outside the door." Greyback growled. "Remus if you don't come inside, I'll kill Leonardo. 3. 2. -"

Remus barged in the door and pointed his wand at Greyback. Remus gulped and his whole body shook before the large man who pointed his wand at Leonardo's head in a chokehold.

"Now, now, my dear boy. Put down your wand." Frederick Greyback said sinisterly as he dug his wand in deeper into Leonardo's temple.

"Listen to him, Remus. There's nothing we can do. You shouldn't even be here." Professor Estrella

"No more!" Remus said.

"No more what, Remus?" Greyback asked

"No more will die for me. Let him go. Aim your wand at me." Remus said determinedly.

"Remus, stop it!" Professor Estrella said.

"Yes, Remus don't do this!" Leonardo screamed.

"No. Let him speak. This is compelling." Greyback ordered.

"You murderer will kill no more. It ends tonight. Duel me." Remus said his hand began to shake.

"My boy, you can't even hold a wand steady." Greyback laughed as he squeezed Leonardo's neck tighter. Remus held his two hands together. "But if you insist. . ." Greyback said and he released Leonardo.

"No! Remus, don't!" Estrella said.

"I have to." Remus said with tears in his eyes.

"Listen to us, Remus, don't do this. You are so young. You have so much to live for still." Leonardo said.

"It ends tonight." Remus said.

"I know my brother wanted me to save you for him, but I want to end your life tonight, little twat. Now, bow my boy." Greyback said. Remus stood on the other side of the living room and bowed.

"You can even have the first swing, Remus. Show me what they taught you in school." Frederick said.

Remus prepared himself and screamed "Petrificus Totalus" and a line of blue light shot out of his wand.

"Protego" Greyback simply said and the blue light disappeared. "My turn" He sang. "Crucio!"

Remus crumbled to the floor in pain. He screamed and dug his fingernails into his palms. You can get through this, it's just like a transformation. Remus said to himself. He took a deep breath and stopped screaming. He looked Greyback in his eye and screamed "Stupefy!" and a bright red ball of light shot at Greyback.

Though it didn't cause Greyback to lose consciousness as he hoped, it caused him to stumble back and interrupted the crucio curse. Remus quickly got to his feet and screamed

"Relashio"

"Stingumonous Maxima!"

"Incarcerous!"

But Frederick Greyback blocked each one easily and became red with anger. Remus, petrified with fear, sat on his knees and watched Frederick grow as he stood tall. Remus's wand slipped from his fingers and rolled forward. Frederick aimed his wand at the small boy acrossed the room and said calmly "Goodbye Remus Lupin. Avada Kedavra!"

Remus closed his eyes, awaiting the impact of the green light. but he heard someone shout "No!" and a thud hit the floor in front of him. He opened his eyes and saw Leonardo's stiff body lying in front of him.

"Leonardo!" Professor Estrella screamed as he knelt beside his body.

"Don't worry you'll all see your gay muggle soon." Frederick Greyback chuckled. He raised his wand again and said "Avada-"

But The Professor quickly picked up Remus's wand that was lying next to him and screamed "Avada Kedavra!"

Remus flinched as the green light from the professor's wand shot through the air and hit Frederick Greyback in the chest. Frederick Greyback's body went limp and he fell to the floor. His now lifeless crystal blue eyes were still open, staring directly into Remus's brown eyes. He's dead. I can't believe it, he's actually dead.