Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Chapter One Hundred-Thirty-Four - Sirius Snaps, Remus Lies

Author's note: CW emetophobia, scratching and biting self, anxiety attack, thinking something feels like knives

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Things on Wednesday started off normally. Remus got up, got ready for the day, studied while he ate breakfast with his friends, and then headed to Potions. That is when things changed slightly. Normally Potions on Wednesdays lasted two hours. Today, however, Slughorn cut their lesson short since he wanted to bring the next class in early to start their exams. Which gave the Gryffindors two hours of freedom before their next lesson.

The Marauders went outside like usual, as did most of the other Gryffindors and some of the Slytherins. Mulciber and Avery eyed the Marauders quite a bit, and Remus had a feeling they were going to start something. Sure enough, they strolled over to the tree and stood nearby, smirking. James demanded to know what they wanted, and Avery said he wanted to know how it felt to lose the cup.

James curled his hands into fists. "Bugger off."

"It's the start of a trend," Mulciber crowed. "We're going to win every year."

"You won't," James said, sticking his chin out. "The only reason you won is because we were sabotaged in our first game. Otherwise... you would have been demolished."

Mulciber and Avery looked at each other, still smirking. "In any case, it seems we didn't even need to try to sabotage you this time. Waste of time, you still lost the cup." Then they turned and started strolling off.

Sirius was on his feet in an instant. "What did you say?"

Avery turned, arching his eyebrows. "Hmm? What was that?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "What. Did. You. Say."

Mulciber's smirk grew and he stuck his hands in his pockets. "I said it was a waste of time to throw that bumbling flobberworm—" his chin jerked towards Peter, "—down in the hole."

Nobody moved for a few long seconds. The Marauders stared in angry shock while the Slytherins' smirks turned to grins. Then they turned and began walking off again, laughing. Almost in unison, James and Sirius got their wands out and sent the Slytherins flying through the air. Mulciber didn't go as far but landed hard on his hip, while Avery was quite a distance.

"YOU PRICKS!" Sirius screamed, racing forward, shooting hexes out. James was on his heels, face a mask of fury as he helped Sirius in hexing Mulciber.

Mulciber screamed, wallowing on the ground as painful boils began bursting out of his skin and his tongue grew to an enormous size. Soon his head began swelling up as well. Avery was on his feet and running with his wand out, trying to hex one of them, but Sirius flipped him through the air again—and again—and then into the lake where he enchanted the lakeweed to grab hold of him; Avery's head was above water but he kept slipping down in, choking a bit on the water.

By now most of the students within viewing distance had either run off or run closer, including some Prefects who began shouting at James and Sirius. They both put their wands away, as both Slytherins were defeated. Avery was struggling to get out of the water while Mulciber sobbed in pain.

"I can't even imagine how many points are going to be removed from Gryffindor for this!" cried one of the Hufflepuff Prefects as she grabbed James by the wrist and started hauling him off. A Slytherin Prefect took hold of Sirius, or tried to; Sirius shook him off, saying he was fine walking. Another Slytherin Prefect was helping Mulciber up.

Peter and Remus stared at each other, both taken aback by the confession and attack.

"Shit," Peter said.