James, Wormtail and I stand in the empty Gryffindor common room after breakfast, waiting for Remus. I glance at James, worried.
"Prongs," I said slowly. "Do you....do you reckon that Moony-----Moony might stop being friends with us?" I was aware that I sounded like a child, but at this point I didn't care.
James gives me an annoyed look. "He's probably pretty ticked, mate, you just let Snivelly in on all of our secrets. Especially Moony's. And you know how sensitive Moony is about...it. Why did you have to play that prank anyway, you git? What made you think that was a good idea? If we'd gotten through with it, we would've gotten expelled. " James looked like he might continue, then something flickers in his eyes and he turned away.
"Snivellus deserved it!" I snapped. "And don't act like you didn't go along with it at first."
"Yes, but I stopped it before you took it too far, didn't I?"
I opened my mouth to retort but Peter squealed, "Oh, look, here he comes!"
I turned toward the staircase, where Remus was walking down slowly. His head was down and I couldn't see his face. When he got to the bottom, however, he looked up and us and his expression hardened. Minutes ticked by. Then he stalked straight up to me, eyes blazing, and punched me straight in the jaw.
Pain shot up my face, searing hot. I winced and stumbled back, holding up my hands to shield my face, but Remus pulled his fist back and punched my nose.
"Stop!" I cried, but blows kept landing, in my stomach, my eye. Again and again. I gasped for breath. "Remus, stop, stop!"
More punches. I closed my eyes, remembering the countless slaps, punches, and kicks I'd received at home from my mother. Hogwarts used to be the one place I was safe. I gasped for air and opened my eyes.
"Moony, stop!" shouted James, and grabbed the back of his robes to hold him back.
Remus stopped struggling and glared at me with such loathing that I cowered. His usually warm brown eyes were mad with fury, and he was shaking with anger. "WHY THE BLOODY HELL'D DID YOU PULL THAT PRANK, YOU BLITHERING IDIOT?" Remus yelled. "Severus Snape, of all people, now knows I'm a bloody monster now! You have no idea what it's like, Black, I could get expelled, and do you know the lives werewolves lead among wizards? We're scum, low-down dirt! Not like you, parading down the halls with your nose in the air! You're such a bloody arrogant toerag, you've got such a big head you couldn't see past your own prejudices, and now----," Remus yanked himself out of James's grip. "Now I'm facing expulsion from Hogwarts! Expulsion! I suppose you don't care, do you, you're too busy showing everyone what a big arse you are!"
I froze in shock, but he wasn't finished.
"I never thought you'd do this to me! What on Earth made you think that would be a good idea? I thought we were genuine friends! But you, no, you don't even know what a friend is, you arrogant piece of crap! " snarled Remus. "You know what? I'm better off without you!"
He stomped off, fuming, and left the common room.
My heart almost stopped.
I was dimly aware of blood gushing from my nose, or my eye and jaw swelling up, and tears on my cheeks.
But I couldn't move.
James was talking, but I couldn't hear him. He looked stricken as he helped me up, gesturing, trying to pull me toward the portrait hole. His mouth was moving, but I------no words were coming out.
I was frozen.
What had I done now?
I could feel every punch Remus threw at me, every word he spat at me burning a hole in my chest. A sob escaped my lips. Was I really that arrogant?
