Marauders - Always - Part One

Aperta Faucium

Wonder Woman burst through the door of the Flat in East London, followed closely by Superman. Their capes flew out behind them as they took in the scene and rushed to the kitchen, where Spencer Stewart had fallen from his chair and was kneeling on the floor of the kitchen, a horridly pale shade, his lips darkening from the natural rosy shade to something more akin to purple-blue.

"Oh gods James!" Lily cried, throwing herself to the floor and looking around - two tea cups lay shattered on the floor, two chairs knocked over, and the sound of Spencer gasping, choking for air desperately, clutching his chest with a wince of pain...

James drew his wand quickly and knelt, grabbing onto Spencer Stewart and tilting his head up. "Aperta faucium," James declared, and Spencer drew a deep breath, though still wincing and his eyes grew far off and he passed out, flopping limply against Superman's chest. James looked wildly at Lily.

"What happened?" Lily asked.

"Aconite," Remus stammered, trembling, "I - I mixed up the cups by - by accident, I --"

"We need to get him to St. Mungo's," James said, "Immediately."

Lily nodded and rushed to the floor, pushing the fallen chairs out of the way as James scooped Spencer up from the floor in his arms, holding onto the limp boy and carrying him hurriedly across the room.

Remus followed, eyes wide with panic, breathless, "I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to, I --"

"We know, Moony," James said.

Lily nodded, "It's going to be alright, sweetheart." Her hands were shaking as she opened the jar that held the powder and threw it into the fireplace.

James stepped through carrying Spencer without a moment's hesitation. "St. Mungo's!" he declared.

Remus started to reach for the powder and Lily yanked the jar away. "Oh no, no you can't come."

"What?" Remus looked perplexed, "Why?"

"Because we'll have a hard enough time explaining why there was aconite anywhere near the tea cup, the last thing we need is an actual werewolf on site. It's way too dangerous for you. You could be found out."

"Perhaps after THIS I deserve to be found out!" Remus said. "I can't just -- just leave him to - to d- what if he d --" Remus couldn't say the word.

Lily touched his shoulder gently. "You have to stay here. I'll let you know what's on as soon as we know anything. Stay. Here." She turned, throwing the floo powder into the hearth. "I don't need to be worrying about you being hauled off to God knows where by the Ministry every month. It's going to be alright, Remus. Deep breaths." She stepped into the flames, "St. Mungo's!"

And just like that she was gone.

Just like that, Remus was alone in the flat and his hands trembled all the more as he stood before the fireplace, dumbfounded, staring at the darkening hearth.

He stepped back, stumbling, and sat on the couch, his heart racing as those last few moments passed through his mind.

He couldn't believe what had just happened, what he'd done in switching the cups up, what a mistake he made... And Stewie! Stewie liked him? Liked Remus? His head spun as the noise and colors of the last few moments seemed to spin around him like a dizzying cloud. Had he, Remus, seriously just poisoned some poor bloke seconds after he'd confessed to liking him? And what the hell? Why? Why would Stewie do that? Not only like him (for that was confusing too) but confessing it - when he knew there wasn't a shot in hell with Remus, when he knew Remus was married? And it wasn't just Spencer but also Lula? Remus bent forward and clutched his head in his hands, trying to remind himself how breathing worked.