Really hope you enjoy this chapter! Please review and let me know what you think!
Chapter 36:
Harry watched as his father half carried his one of his best friends, Remus towards the hospital wing, "Come on Remus, we're almost there." James turned as he heard voices behind him. Sirius was beside him in a second grabbing Remus' other arm.
"Looks like me and Peter got it easy," Sirius said as he looked over Remus, there was blood everywhere. "What happened?"
"We were ambushed. Snape…" James began. He really wanted to punch something. "I couldn't stop the bleeding. I've never seen magic like it. Repta – Reptasempra or something like that. It was dark magic. Really dark magic. I'm going to kill him."
"Snape did this?" Sirius asked, almost not believing his best friend, "he's only a first year. He shouldn't know how to do this."
"He's in Slytherin," James gruffed.
"Yeah, I guess." Sirius nodded.
"What happened to you guys anyway? You were up on the fourth floor tonight right?"
"Yeah. Avery and Mulciber. Nothing too bad. Nothing like this. They attacked a couple of first year ravenclaws." Sirius answered.
"Emmie?" James worried.
"No. Not Emmie; her friends though." Peter answered.
James nodded, "they ok?"
"Yeah," Peter smiled sadly.
They had finally reached the hospital wing. They rushed in, "Madam Pomfrey!"
"What are you shouting for? It's one in the morning!" She stopped abruptly when she saw Lupin. "Put him in the bed. What happened?"
"Slytherins," Peter squeaked.
"I see. The spell. I don't recognise it." Pomfrey turned to James, her favourite marauder.
"I didn't know it. It sounded like 'reptasempra' it sounded like dark magic. I couldn't get him to stop bleeding."
"Black, fetch Professor Dumbledore please. The password is lemondrops. Pettigrew, get Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn. Get Slughorn first, perhaps he'll know a potion…"
She then turned to Potter, "James sit down. You look grey." She summoned him a bar of chocolate, "eat. It will help, I promise." She then turned to her patient. "Oh dear." She began pulling away his clothes to expose the cuts that covered his skin. Blood was pouring from them. She covered them again, adding pressure the muggle way, "Potter, who did this?"
"Snape," James answered.
"I see. I've never seen anything like it. You're right. This is very dark magic." She tried several spells to qwell the bleeding but nothing seemed to work and Remus was becoming whiter second by second. The bed was a deep red, stained by his blood.
Sirius and Dumbledore came running into the room. Dumbledore walked straight up to the bed, checking the boys wounds, "Black, get Shacklebolt and Winglesmith. The password for the heads dorm is Hockus Pockus." Sirius ran back out of the hospital in search of the head boy and girl.
"I've tried every spell I can think of. I don't know what to do Albus." Pomfrey admitted. Dumbledore drew out his wand and waved it over Remus, muttering several incantations but nothing seemed to work.
"Who did this, Potter?" Dumbledore asked.
"Severus Snape, sir." James answered. Dumbledore merely nodded. The doors opened and in ran Professor McGonagall. Peter and Slughorn following just behind her.
"Professors have you ever seen anything like this?" Dumbledore asked.
Neither Professor had seen magic like it, "it looks like dark magic to me."
"Minerva could you fetch Professor Kilmont? Dark Magic is her expertise after all. Horace, can you think of a potion that might help?" Dumbledore continued.
McGonagall had gone before Slughorn answered, "Erm, no Albus. I'm sorry."
"Very well," Dumbledore turned back to the patient.
"Who is responsible?" Slughorn asked. "Perhaps they would know how to stop it?"
"Severus Snape," Dumbledore answered, just as Kingsley Shacklebolt and Olivia Winglesmith ran into the room.
"Shacklebolt, Winglesmith, first I must ask you to find Mr Snape and bring him here. Once you have done that could you organise a mass patrol. I want every prefect patrolling the corridors tonight." Dumbledore's hand ran through his beard, "Actually on second thought don't tell the Slytherin prefects, please." With that the heads left the room.
"Albus, do you not trust my house now?" Horace asked.
"No, Horace. I trust many people in your house. Sadly, I have been informed that at least two of your years cannot be trusted."
"I don't understand," Slughorn continued.
"I'll explain later. Now really isn't the time Horace."
Moments later Shacklebolt and Winglesmith returned with the first year Slytherin, "Professor Dumbledore, here is Mr Snape."
"Thank you very much." The heads exited to patrol the corridors, "Mr Snape, is there a counter spell or do I need to send you colleague to St Mungo's?"
"T-there is, Professor," Snape answered quietly.
"Well don't let me rush you. Lupin's life is only hanging in the balance." Dumbledore replied harshly.
"It's ellespemra…" Snape whispered.
"Very well," he turned back to the patient, "ellespemra." The wounds began to heal leaving only the faintest hint of a scar. "Madam Pomfrey, he's all yours. Horace, could you please escort your student to my study where I will meet you both shortly, please."
Slughorn nodded before walking towards the door. Snape following just behind him. "I will not ask Potter what you and your friends were doing out of bed. I presume it was honourable?" There was a twinkle in his eyes, that told Harry that Dumbledore already knew all about the marauders' night time espionage.
"Yes sir. Completely honourable." James replied.
"Very well," Dumbledore said before turning back to Madam Pomfrey, "Poppy, I'll return in an hour or so."
"Ok, Albus. Thank you." Poppy smiled.
"Will he be ok, Madam Pomfrey?" James asked.
"Yes Potter. He will. He has a lot of healing to do though. He's lost a lot of blood. I'll cast a few spells but I can't give him the blood potion till he wakes up." She looked at James, "You look much better. None of you were hit by any other spells were you?"
They all shook their heads, "ok. Off to bed then. And Potter…"
"Yes Madam Pomfrey?" James smiled innocently.
"I mean bed. Stay in your dorm, please." She almost pleaded.
McGonagall was stood in complete shock, "I'll escort you three back to the common room before I check on the prefects."
The boys walked with Professor McGonagall in silence through the corridors until she asked them a question, "Do you have anything you need to tell me? You can trust me you know." She said turning to face them.
"Yes, Professor. We know we can trust you but I'm not so sure we can trust these corridors." James answered. McGonagall merely nodded. "I see." The walked the rest of the way in silence. McGonagall was thinking about the night's events. "Please promise me that you will stop risking your lives. You'll have plenty of time after Hogwarts to try and save the world." McGonagall's lips were pursed.
"But Professor, the time has come to choose a side and I want them to know not even to bother asking because I'm 100% against them." James answered.
"We're not at war yet, Potter. Anyway, get some sleep. Mr Lupin will want to see you in the morning." McGonagall replied. "There is a small line between bravery and stupidity, boys."
Over the next few days the marauders spent all their free time in the hospital wing with Remus. They had made notes for him in every lesson and were now telling him about Sirius' new girlfriend Louise and how Dumbledore had threated to expel Snape but had settled for taking one hundred points from him and giving him detention for the rest of the year. Remus was very quiet; he tried to smile but it took a lot of his energy. "Do you mind if I sleep?"
"But Remus, it's your birthday!" Black frowned. "You have presents!"
"The presents can wait, Sirius. Of course you can Remus. We will be here when you wake up." James smiled sadly at his friend.
So? Please review... :)
Coming soon:
The easter holidays...
James' Birthday...
Maybe a party...