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Chapter 40:

The marauders made their way towards Hagrid's hut. It was raining heavily. The last of the sun had gone and they were left with heavy rain and a terrible wind. The students had pulled out their scarves and gloves in an attempt to keep warm. The castle was slightly cold but the house-elves were working hard; lighting all the fires to keep the students warm. The marauders had arranged to spend the evening with Hagrid, the grounds keeper. "I hope he doesn't offer us any cake!" Sirius laughed.

"Me too," James replied, "It leaves my mouth glued shut every time."

Remus and Peter laughed as James imitated himself trying to wrench open his cake-glued mouth. When they knocked on the door, they heard Fang barking from within. "Shurt up, you bloody dog." The half-giant opened the door, "alrigh, hows me favourite troublemakers?"

"Very good, Hagrid," James replied.

"Gert in here," Hagrid gruffed, "it ain't harf pouring, ain't ert."

"Yeah, we got completely drenched," Sirius replied, wringing his hair with his hands.

"Ah, sit down, sit down!"

"How are you Hagrid?" Remus asked kindly.

"Not bad. You?" Hagrid asked, concern etched across his face.

"We're good," Remus answered, not meeting his eye. Remus looked out the window at the moon, two days.

"I see. Did yers read the prophet today?" Hagrid asked.

"Yep. Absolute shame about those hit wizards who were killed over the weekend," Sirius answered, grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl that sat on the table. He began throwing it into the air and catching it before taking a bite.

"It was no one any of us know though," Peter continued.

"Do you know anything about them, Hagrid?" James asked.

"Muggle-borns, of course," Hagrid replied.

"I thought that would be the case," Remus nodded.

"The ministry seem ter be trying to keep blood statuses out of the paper," Hagrid explained.

"I don't get it. Are they trying to stop people worrying?" Sirius asked between bites of his apple.

"Nope," James replied, "the minister wants to keep face."

"Surely not," Remus exclaimed.

"It makes sense. He'll be up for re-election soon," James explained. "The last thing he wants is to loose the muggle-born vote."

"I don't get it," Peter stated.

"Look at it this way," James continued, "the half-bloods usually protect the muggle-borns and there are several high ranking pure-blood families who will take their side too."

"I still don't get it," Peter frowned.

"If the ministry isn't seen to be doing everything it can to help the muggle-borns then he's not going to get re-elected. It's as simple as that. At least at the moment. If the public's view of muggle-born changes then so will his chance of re-election."

"Oh," Peter replied.

"At the moment their leaning towards Barty Crouch," Hagrid said.

"The head of the department of magical law enforcement? My dad's boss?" James asked. "I guess that makes sense." James nodded.

Some hours later the marauders began to make their way back up to the castle. The rain had died off and so they weren't soaked to the skin by the time they reached the entrance hall. They began to make their way up the stairs towards the common room. They were especially quiet as it was after curfew and the last thing they wanted was a run in with Filch. Half way there they ran into the several Slytherins. "Look who's out of bed boys," Malfoy said to his fellow house members.

"Alright cousin," Narcissa smiled menacingly.

"Gryffindors out of bed! What will we do with them?" Rosier laughed.

Snape and Avery were with the older students, "lets curse them," Snape suggested.

"Something painful," Avery added.

James and the other marauders had their wands out ready. James called, "expelliarmus!" pointing his wand at the elder Slytherins.

The seventh year, Rosier laughed, "don't be stupid Potter," silently blocking the spell.

Soon spells were flying around the disserted corridor. "Stupefy," Sirius shouted, aiming for his cousin. She deflected it before shouting "tentaclifors!"

Sirius blocked her spell, shivering slightly at the idea of having a tentacle for a head.

Remus was duelling Malfoy, "avis oppugno!" Birds flew out of Remus' wand and attacked Malfoy. He tried to deflect them but nothing he could do would get rid of them. Remus turned to face the two second years that had stunned Peter, "Flipendo!" Avery was knocked back against the wall.

Snape called out a spell he'd yet to try – one of his own – "Langlock!" Remus' tongue glued to the top of his mouth so he couldn't cast another spell, bloody bastard, Remus thought to himself as Snape towered over him, "crucio!"

Remus was withering in pain, except he couldn't scream or shout out for help because his tongue was still stuck to the top of his mouth. James was momentarily distracted by the sight of Remus withering on the floor and took his eyes off of Rosier. Evan Rosier took advantage of James' momentary distraction and cast a dark curse. A streak of purple flames leapt from his wand, striking James. It was a curse that he had learnt from Voldemort. He still hadn't perfected it. It was supposed to kill its victim. However, Potter was slowly getting to his feet, much to Rosier's surprise.

"Stupefy," Sirius shouted, pointing his wand at his cousin. He felt incredibly guilty fighting his cousin but she had started it. "Stupefy!" His spells just seemed to wash off her, completely not effecting her.

"Transmogrifia!" Narcissa pointed her wand at her cousin. Sirius began to scream at the top of his lungs. It felt like he was being burnt alive. The Slytherins heard a noise coming up the corridor and so quickly made their escape, leaving the marauders incapacitated on the floor. Harry watched as his father struggled to his feet, before collapsing back on to the floor.

"What is going on down here?" Filch asked loudly. When he saw the marauders on the floor, he sighed, "nothing ever changes." He quickly ran to get a few teachers to help him take the boys to the hospital wing.

Harry watched as the teachers carried the unconscious boys to the hospital wing. Professor McGonagall looked incredibly concerned. "Poppy, what's wrong with them?"

"I'm not sure, Minerva," Madame Pomfrey replied. "Pettigrew has been stunned by the looks of things. I think the other three have been attacked with dark magic."

"Dark magic?" Minerva frowned, "how dark?"

"Lupin looks like he's been hit with the cruciatus curse," Poppy replied, "Potter is covered in burns – but I don't know the spell that caused them and Black, well he's been tortured."

"Tortured?" Minerva stuttered.

"Similar to the cruciatus curse. It's called the transmogrifian torture," Poppy explained, "I think I'm out of my depth. We need to call St Mungo's."

"Ok," McGonagall nodded, "I'll get a healer at once." McGonagall left the hospital wing as the headmaster made his way in.

"Poppy, could you tell me what has happened?" Albus smiled at the hospital wing matron.

"The boys have been attacked. It's serious Albus. I don't know what to do. I can't help them." Poppy began to cry. Albus hugged her as she sobbed, "I suppose Minnie has gone to fetch the healers?"

"Yes Albus," Poppy nodded.

"Very good," Dumbledore patted her on the back, "what can we do in the mean time?" Dumbledore pulled up his sleaves to get to work. He looked at the teachers around him, "One of you arrange for the prefects to patrol the corridors – except Slytherin. Professor Slughorn, can you go and speak to your house. I want to know who is responsible for this."

Next Chapter...

The marauders are in the hospital wing...

Sirius becomes more suspicious of Remus...

The full moon...