Chapter Three

The Arena

When I exited Greyback's quarters, him leading me firmly by my shoulders, I saw there was more to the enormous underground than I anticipated. By more I mean there was what looked like a muggle sport's field, sans the corny advertisements. I stared up at it in horrified wonder. The large stadium lights stood within those walls too. The arena. My pace slowed, I only noticed because Greyback's grip tightened and I was thrusted forward.

We arrived at an archway that led into the arena where two men stood. One large with a shaved head and a single scar down the side of his neck, the other short and stocky with beady eyes. They stood resolutely as Greyback approached.

"Master," they greeted in unison.

"Gentlemen, this is tonight's surprise contestant Josephine. Please show her in," Greyback ordered.

He turned me around roughly, so we faced one another. His hands gripped me tighter and he pulled me close to his face.

"I wish you luck, Josephine. Truly. I hope we meet again."

He planted a gruff kiss on my forehead and shoved me backward, then walked away. Probably to find a front row seat. With numb feet I walked past the two men down a dimly lit hall. Voices became louder and louder. Timid and small voices. Weak and broken. Terrified.

I rounded the corner and froze. Those quiet and feeble voices belonged to children. Very, very young children. Most of them around eight, the oldest probably ten or eleven. I blinked, my breath catching in my chest. These were my competition? Children. The majority not even old enough to know how to use a wand?

Some turned to face me, eyes wide in confusion and horror. I couldn't meet their eyes. Instead I looked away. Then I remembered what I was truly after. Revenge.

I looked back up, avoiding the gazes of the kids who stared at me hopefully. Perhaps thinking I was here to rescue them.

My eyes searched the crowd for a participant my age. I inwardly pleaded that it was Blane. If there was anyone I more wanted to seek revenge on it would be that sorry, son of a bitch. In my hunt for one of the attackers I caught sight of more children pressed up against what appeared to be a gate. An almost medieval one that would be drawn up to allow entrance into some sort of fortress. Loud voices could be heard beyond it.

An audience.

My eyes flickered back to the huddle of bodies. My competition.

Then I saw him.

It was not Blane…but the next best thing.

Corin.

His broad shoulders were hunched and he stared straight forward, looking blankly at the gates leading into the arena. My teeth clenched and I waded through the crowd of children, shaking with anger. I could no longer feel my limbs. My body was busy flooding with rage. All I could think was that I wanted Corin dead.

I would avoid the fight with the children and kill Corin now. Strangle the life out of him. I neared him, my footsteps heavy. Yes, he was bigger and stronger…but I was far angrier. As I neared him, I could make out that his brows were furrowed in concern. I didn't care. I had no feelings of sympathy.

'His fault… His fault…'

The thought played in my mind on repeat, like a broken record.

I finally reached Corin's side.

"Hey," I said in low voice.

His eyes widened as he looked down at me. My fist reared back then collided with his nose. He stumbled back against a wall, clutching his nose.

"You son of a bitch!" I cried running towards him, jumping and landing on his torso, knees first.

He let out an 'oomph' of pain. Again and again I punched him. My ears were ringing and I could only just make out the sounds of children crying out in confusion. I punched him again and again in the nose, screaming indecipherably. My brain could only process my fury. Nothing else. My hands then gathered around his thick neck and I squeezed, my thumbs pressing down in the middle.

Blood poured out of his nose and his large hands swung up gripping my forearms, desperately trying to pry me off. It was no use of course. Though smaller, I was less injured and had far more inspiration to end his life.

His eyelids began to droop and I felt his hold on my arms loosen. This was it.

My breathing hastened as I realized what I was doing. I was murdering him. I was killing him. I was a killer. I let go abruptly, not even thinking about the repercussions. Corin coughed and choked for air, then I was hoisted up by my arms and dragged to the other side of the room. The two men from outside the gate straightened me up, the larger bending slightly to meet my eye level.

"Pull shite like that again and you're done. Understand?" he said in stern tone.

I panted and looked from the slowly recovering Corin back to the man. He raised his brows, waiting impatiently for my answer. I placed my hands on my hips and nodded, still regaining my breath. Then the two men were gone, returning to their posts.

Regret washed over me. I had my chance to kill Corin, die in the arena and forget this new, damning life I so desperately wanted out of…and I'd let it slip away. That moment of guilt that stopped me from ending Corin's life had cost me the two things I wanted most. Revenge and my death. What were my options now?

'Go into the arena, disappoint Greyback, kill no one and be killed yourself,' the voice of mercy cried out to me.

Then my thoughts darkened.

'Go into the arena, murder Corin and then let yourself be killed,' urged my evil side.

I shot a glare at Corin who was wiping blood from his face with the back of his hand. He returned my stare, then looked back out the gates.

I continued to neglect the imploring stares of the children who for some reason saw a savior in me. I was anything but. How on earth could they expect me to save their lives? What was I supposed to do? Make them an army and sick them on Greyback. Their fate was out of my hands. I could only control mine.

"Attention!"

I jumped at the booming voice that sounded from within the arena. It was lively and sinister. Full of sick intensity.

"Our Master Greyback, promised you entertainment tonight didn't he? Are you ready for it?"

A multitude of voices responded positively. Some of the children began to whimper and cry. I stuck out my jaw, shutting my eyes tight.

"Tonight, not only do we bring you our regularly scheduled battle, but a battle with two very intriguing contestants! Two Hogwarts sixth years will be joining the fight tonight! Both of which are Slytherins! Makes things a bit more interesting doesn't it my brothers and sisters?" the man inquired enthusiastically.

Another roar of agreement sounded and I exhaled, trying to expel the burning fire of anxiety from my chest.

"So for one night only, I bring you our regularly scheduled entertainment with a twist! Bring in the participants!"

A cranking noise came from up ahead, I watched as the iron-gate leading to the arena was slowly lifted. My breathing quickened again as what was happening sank in.

'Oh, no… Oh, no…'

I was frozen behind the pool of fifteen or so children whose faces were suddenly hardened. They were ready for this. They'd been trained for this. I was shoved forward, stumbling into the group. We walked out into the arena and I was blinded. Bright, white lights illuminated the stadium. I squinted, trying to adjust my eyes.

Scattered about the arena were bricks, sharpened sticks and what appeared to be a dull knife. Whoever didn't grab one of those items was either doomed to die or would have to fight with their bare hands. Corin looked bewildered as he observed the multitude of people in the stands above us, behind a chain linked fence. At the very top, though I couldn't exactly make out his features because of the lights, I saw Greyback. My neck became hot as my anger for him hit me.

'Focus on Corin. Corin is who you want dead, Josephine…'

The man who had been announcing walked towards the gates through which all of the contestants had entered.

"Let the competition commence in five-"

The whole crowd began to count down, though the announcer's voice stood out most.

"Four, Three, Two, One!"

I could make out various things being said in the audience before I could no longer hear anything. The one that stood out was:

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Then all I could hear was a ringing in my ears. My eyes took in the sights but for some reason I heard nothing. Children grabbed bricks and began to tackle each other, bludgeoning one another. A larger kid snapped another one's neck. I could feel my eyes widen and my face get hot as all the sights and sounds began to make sense.

I was in an arena. I was in it to kill or be killed. I was going to kill Corin. Then I was going let myself be killed. The word 'kill' had never been used much in my vocabulary, and now it seemed to be the only thing that made sense.

I watched trying to figure out my first move as a boy smashed a girl's face with a large piece of brick.

Suddenly, I was hurled off my feet and thrown backwards. I hit the wall behind me, smacking my head against it. I blinked, bewildered to see Corin charging me. His blood smeared face full of ferocity and anger. Corin had always been a bully. A mean person. However this Corin was neither. He was a deadly monster hell bent on killing me.

I scrambled to my feet as he neared me and leapt to the side. Corin collided with the wall.

The muted buzzing of the arena was gone. I could suddenly hear the fevered cries of the enthusiastic audience, the screams for mercy and death, the brutal snarling and huffing of the more violent participants as they prevailed.

Corin braced his hand on the wall and steadied himself. He looked over at me, breathing heavily. I did the only thing I could think to do. Run.

I dashed off towards the other end of the arena that was for the most part, vacant aside from a small girl's body that had been tossed aside. I could hear the heavy pounding of Corin's feet behind me. However, I was lithe and light on my feet. He wouldn't be able to catch me for some time. I just needed to wear him down, like a toddler.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Corin a few paces behind me. A few paces was all I needed.

'Reach that wall, jump and kick off, then-'

Paying attention to Corin had done me no good. I was suddenly on my back.

I looked up to see one of the sturdier and older boys above me. There was a sharp, sore pain in my gut. I looked to my side to see that the boy had thrown the brick at me and knocked me over. I gaped in horror. This child, not even old enough to be someone I could tutor was about to kill me. How could I fight back?

The boy placed his knees on my chest and gripped my throat.

I let him.

He didn't seemed confused. Just grateful. Breath began to leave my lungs very slowly. Then I remembered something important. In those few seconds that this young child had attacked me, Corin had been hot on my heels.

"She's mine!" a deep voice roared.

The boy was suddenly lifted from me. Corin held him by his shoulders then slammed him to the ground beside me. I gasped as a sickening crack sounded and looked to my left. The boy's glazed and lifeless eyes stared at me. He was gone. Seconds ago he had probably thought he was close to winning, as he had started to take out his toughest competition. Now he was dead.

I heard a loud grunt and turned my attention above me. In his hands, Corin held the brick the boy had thrown at me. He was about to slam it down on me with brutal force. I closed my eyes and quickly rolled out of the way. The brick hit the ground with a thud. I clambered to my feet quickly and resumed my former plan.

I could make out a handful of children still remaining. One girl stood in the corner of the arena crying while four others fought one another. One of which was wielding the dull knife.

I continued to run for the wall ahead of me. Once again, I could hear Corin just behind me. His labored breathing becoming louder as he slowly succumbed to exhaustion. I reached the wall and leapt forward, running up it slightly. My right foot planted and I pushed off firmly, turning myself in the air. Just as I had predicted, Corin was right behind me.

I reared back my fist and cried out, as my body collided with his, knees first.

Corin fell to the ground as my knees lodged in his gut and my fist came down hard, making impact with his eyes. I wrapped my legs around him tightly and continued to punch his face over and over, loud cries of rage emitting from my mouth with every blow. He eventually fell silent.

I jumped off his body and looked for a weapon.

Another brick just steps away, I dashed for it and returned to Corin's side. He lay beneath me, bloodied and broke. I raised the heavy brick above my head.

'Bring it down. Bring it down and end this!' I thought.

Tears leaked from my eyes as I heard the crowd react to the sudden appearance of my skill set. They wanted me to kill him. I looked at the group where the children had been fighting to see the one girl still standing frozen. The rest of the children who had been fighting were dead. She held one of the sharpened sticks in her hand, a boy lay at her feet.

I was reminded of myself. Would killing Corin really settle the feeling of complete and utter animosity within me, or would it only make it grow and leave me powerless. Defeated.

That brief moment where my moral compass had interrupted was all Corin needed.

REMUS' P.O.V.

Sitting at Greyback's side I found my eyes glued to this girl. This sixth year Slytherin who was, if I may be crude, kicking the ass of the much larger boy her age. She was winning. She straddled the larger boy, a brick held above her head. I waited with baited breath for her to bring it down onto his face. Then she paused. I could see a look of revelation cross her face. A look of remorse and anger.

That was all the young man needed. Just one moment. His hand grabbed her ankle and the brick fell from her hand. It fell onto his chest. I found myself rooting for her. Like James when he watched a Quidditch game, I wanted to shout out and tell her what to do-not that I knew much about combat.

The girl scrambled off of the young man's body and leapt to her feet.

"Who's she?" I asked Greyback, leaning towards him in my seat.

I vaguely recognized her and it wasn't by her face. It was the agile, brisk and fluid movements she made as she fought. Had I seen it during one of The Order's raids? At Hogwarts? In Hogsmeade during a drunken brawl?

"Her name is Josephine. I've grown rather fond of her. Rather hoping she won't die actually," stated Greyback casually.

Josephine. I knew her. About three years younger than me and an amazing duelist. She had been one of the best in her year with her combination of successful spell-casting and physical combat. We'd never spoken but being Captain of the Gryffindor Dueling Club, I knew the top competitors of each house and year.

I focused on the stadium once more. Josephine looked to be contemplating the current situation while the large boy struggled to get to his feet, clutching his chest. She looked up at the stadium lights as though frantically searching for an answer in them. The boy took a knee, his shoulders heaving then Josephine dashed off towards the cluster of lifeless bodies where the variety of dull and useless weapons remained.

She quickly crouched beside a boy's body and snatched something from his hand. Upon narrowing my eyes I saw it was a knife. The large boy lumbered to his feet and chased after her with heavy steps. He was up, angry and on the lam. Exactly what she needed.

Josephine continued to dart towards one of the tall stadium lights. The young man following close behind, a rather sharp stick had made its way into his hands. She glanced over her shoulder and slowed. I couldn't understand why though. She was smart. She obviously had something on her mind. A plan. I couldn't quite make out what it was though. Her gaze was set on the stadium wall, right by one of the towering lights.

My jaw tightened as the young man's fingers gripped her shoulders, then loosened as she tore out of his grasp. She stumbled to the ground and rolled over. Greyback inclined his head interestedly, still spectating. I, on the other hand, was almost standing in intense desperation. I wanted her to win. I can't explain why I wanted this random girl from my rival house to live, but I did.

JOSEPHINE'S P.O.V.

I rolled over until I positioned directly beside the stadium light. Corin was quickly nearing me. As fast as I could I backed up, closer to the wall. Just as I had hoped, he straddled me. I stared up at him, nonchalantly inching my knife wielding hand towards the rope that tethered the light to the wall.

"You stupid, stupid bitch. I'm gonna kill you then I'm gonna go back to Hogwarts and tell them all you died…like a coward…in those damn woods," he panted.

I noticed the sharpened stick in his hand and swallowed, this had to be quick. I quickly sawed away at the rough rope to my right.

He raised the sharpened stick and stared down at me, eyes glinting with fear.

"Any last words, traitor?" he sneered.

I had no words. The deed was already done.

I shuffled to the side and his gaze followed me, an amused smile on his lips. With a grunt I gave the light the shove it needed.

Corin's expression became confused. He followed the stem of the light up as the illumination became darker and darker, falling down. With a groan I shoved him off of me and scrambled out of reach of the falling light.

It came closer and closer to falling on his petrified body that was rooted to the ground. I watched, trying to hide the look of horror and remorse in my eyes. I couldn't stand to appear weak at the moment. My breath hastened and my fists balled at my side. I closed my eyes after one last glance at Corin.

Corin still looked confused as the thick pole of the stadium light fell down and crushed him.

*Keep reading please! Remus Lupin and Josephine to interact in the next chapter.*