When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

chapter 18 *Edited*

James was the first thing Remus was conscious of when he woke up. 

The tall boy was watching him pityingly from the bed on his left side. The second thing Remus was aware of was intense pain. His legs were stiff and cramping, his chest was tight and he had a throbbing headache. He was also covered in a cacophony of bite and scratch wounds.

‘Moony?’

Sirius’ and Orla's absence was the third. ‘Padfoot, Fawkes’ Remus cried, burying his head in his hands. ‘Padfood, Fawkes!’

‘Mr Lupin?’ Madam Pomfrey said, bustling over with a steaming potion. She forced it down his throat, halting his babbling. She patted his arm sadly. ‘You had a hard night.’ Remus nodded. That was an understatement. ‘The first time I’ve had to collect you in almost two years.’ Remus nodded numbly again as she fussed over him.

‘Can-can I go now?’ he asked when it became apparent she was done talking.

‘Are you feeling well enough?’ she asked, fixing him with a look of concern.

No. ‘I’m fine. Thank you,’ he added, throwing his feet over the side of the bed.

‘Can I go too?’ James asked hopefully. Madam Pomfrey scowled at him. James widened his eyes. She sighed retreated back to her office.

‘I’m sorry, Moony,’ James said miserably as soon as they were out of the Hospital Wing. ‘I should have been there last night. Look at you! And I was too busy duelling Malfoy and his git followers! I deserved to be Crucioed for abandoning you! Tell you what, I’ll make it up to you. We’ll go to the kitchens.’

‘No!' Remus said, shaking his head. He took a deep breath. 'I need to see Dumbledore.’

‘Dumbledore?’ James asked curiously. ‘Are you going to tell him I didn’t go with you last night?’

Remus rolled his eyes, and resisted the urge to snap at James. He had no patience at the moment, and Prongs wasn't helping. ‘Before that. In Hogsmeade. There were Death Eaters.’

James stopped walking, his face draining of colour. ‘Death Eaters?’ 

‘I just said that!’ Remus barked. 

‘Rem, calm down,’ James said sounding anything but calm himself. ‘What happened?’

‘We were going to the Shack and Death Eaters came and we ran and they caught us and Sirius’ leg broke and Orla and I carried him and she Banished me and they Apparated,’ Remus said, tripping over his tongue as he tried to explain.

‘But Padfoot nor Fawkes were in the Hospital Wing,’ James said, confused.

‘They were taken,’ Remus said. James gaped at him, but to Remus, the look was full of accusation. Unable to take the condemning look, broke into a run. His legs protested.

‘By Death Eaters?’ James demanded, jogging to keep up. Remus nodded.

‘No,’ James whispered, stumbling. He didn’t seem able to make his legs work and slowed. Reluctantly, Remus slowed too. James’ jaw trembled.

‘Why didn’t you help them?’ he shouted suddenly.

‘I tried,’ Remus whispered. The anger faded from James’ face as suddenly as it had come. ‘I went back for them. I carried him. Then Orla banished me through the gates to save me.’

‘And then you transformed?’ Remus nodded. ‘This was planned,’ James snarled, grabbing Remus’ arm and dragging him down the corridor. ‘Malfoy attacked me and Pete and then you Fawkes and Padfoot get attacked too... If that’s a coincidence then I’m a Flobberworm.’

‘Flobberworm?’ a familiar voice asked. ‘You don’t look much like one, but-’ James ignored Lily and continued down the corridor. ‘Where are you two going?’

‘Dumbledore’s,’ James said shortly.

‘You two keep going,’ Lily called to Alice and Marlene who were waiting for her. She turned back to the Marauders. ‘Why are you going to Dumbledore?’ She placed her hands on her hips, fixing them with a stern look that had James squirming. ‘What have you done?’

‘Death Eaters have Sirius and Orla,’ he croaked.

‘Are you trying to tell me Peter is a Death Eater?’ Lily asked, her green eyes narrowing as they flicked between the boys. ‘Because that’s not funny, James.’

‘Peter?’ Remus asked confused.

‘Honestly!’ Lily said throwing her hands up. She didn’t seem able to decide whether to be exasperated or amused. ‘What is wrong with you two this morning? Yes. Peter. Sirius, Orla and Peter are in the Common Room, doing their Potions homework, like they have been all morning.’ 

Sirius and Remus looked at each other, eyes as big as Quaffles, and sprinted down another corridor toward the Common Room. ‘I suppose I’ll see you later?’ Lily called behind them.

Five minutes later, the two of them panted the password and fought their way through the portrait hole. Both tumbled into the Common Room, landing in a heap on the rug.

‘What are you two doing?’ Peter asked, bemused, as the two of them leapt to their feet and rushed at Sirus and Orla, hugging them. ‘Prongs? Moony?’
Remus and James stepped away from Sirus and Orla who was looking disgruntled. 

‘I thought you said they-’ James began but Remus silenced him with a glare. He knew what he’d seen last night. He hadn’t imagined it. He stared at Sirus. He did look pale, and he had a long scratch on his left cheek. 

‘Padfoot?’ Remus said. Sirus nodded slowly. ‘How in Merlin’s name did you get away?!’

‘I still had my wand,’ Sirius said proudly, waving it at them, ‘so I hexed the gits holding me and Disapparated with Orla as soon as they let go. It was a long walk from the gates, let me tell you! McGonagall found us in the Great Hall and took me up to the Hospital Wing to get my leg healed.’

‘I didn’t see you come in,’ James said.

‘You were still unconscious. Wormtail and I left together.’

‘You were all right, then?’ James asked Peter.

Peter nodded. ‘Just Stunned.’ 

All five of them were silent for a moment and then Remus glanced at Sirus. ‘I thought you guys were dead,’ he said in a quiet voice.

‘Nah, I’m fine,’ Sirus said, ruffling his messy hair. ‘Just- just no more late night Hogsmeade trips.’

‘Agreed,’ Remus said, sinking into an armchair. 

James mimicked him, frowning slightly. ‘I'd have thought the risk would make it fun.'

Sirus snorted. 'That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.'

James' frown deepened. He stared at Sirus and then his eyes flicked to Peter. 'Are you sure you're all right, Pete? You look annoyed.’

‘Hmm? No, I’m fine,’ Peter said absently. ‘I just can’t get this Potions essay right.’ 

Sirus smiled sympathetically and glanced at the parchment. ‘It might help if you read the textbook, Peter,’ Sirius said with a grin. ‘We don’t even use Salamander Blood in a Decongestion Draught.’ Peter made a face and crossed out a whole paragraph. ‘Just start again,’ Sirius said with a sigh. ‘You can copy mine...’

Sirius sucked on the end of his quill as he re-read his essay, and then, with a pleased smile, slid it over to Peter. Next to Remus, James huffed loudly.

‘What?’ Sirius asked, looking up. Remus shrugged. Sirius smiled, fingering his hair again. 'Something bothering you, Prongs?'

'No,' James mumbled. It was obviously a lie.

'Good,' Sirius said with a satisfied grin. Remus glanced at Sirius, wondering what he was playing at; if Remus could tell there was something wrong with James, surely Sirius should be able to? 'Pass me that book, would you?' James gave a wordless grunt and stalked out of the Common Room. Remus, Peter, Orla and Sirius stared after him, puzzled. After a moment, Sirius shrugged. 'Pass me the book, Remus?'

Remus stood up, staring at Sirius. 'I think I need to check on Prongs,' he said slowly.

"Great, I'll come with you" Orla said getting up off the couch.

'Give me the book before you go, then,' Sirius said impatiently.

'Here,' Remus said mechanically, wondering why he didn't just Summon it, or get it himself. He forced a smile and ducked out of the Common Room Orla at his tail.