{1} The Marauders and the Whomping Willow ✔️

Chapter 9: Posh Wank-Stain

The pain flared across his arms legs and torso. Remus groaned and opened his eyes slightly. He wasn't at home that was for sure.

"Remus can you hear me?" Said a voice. It was not his mother.

"Yes..." he managed to croak out.

"It's me Poppy."

Remus turned his head to look at the source of the voice and was soon looking at Madame Pomfrey. He was at Hogwarts, he remembered that now. And this was Poppy who was looking after him. In his nervousness yesterday he didn't realise she had freckles or that her eyes were a  mixture of blue and green. But he noticed them now and was soon a little enamoured by her.

"How are you feeling Remus?" She asked. 

"Sore." He admitted. "I think I might have a few scars from last night."

"The transformation must have been pretty terrible." She stated.

"Not as bad as my first one." He told her not wanting to look weak.

"Well you are mostly patched up some of the scars have healed." She told him. "Though I am afraid some will be permanent. How do you feel about walking?"

"In a few minutes yeah." He felt tired beyond measure but he didn't want to burden her anymore.

"I'll get you some potion to soothe your nerves. Is there anything else you want?"

"Chocolate?"

———

James, Peter and Sirius were already up by sunrise. There was still an empty bed in the middle. Remus it seems had not returned. Kingsley Shacklebolt had left the dorm. He and the four boys had become acquainted but Kingsley preferred to spend his time with friends from Ravenclaw.

"Where do you think Remus ended up?" Asked James. It was the question on everyone's mind.

"No idea." Replied Sirius.

"What if he's hurt?" speculated Peter.

At that moment the door creaked open and entered a rather tired Remus Lupin.

"Where have you been?" Demanded James.

"Yeah we were worried sick!" piped in Sirius.

"I forgot the password." Answered Remus. "I slept outside last night."

"You could have at least owled us or something." Said James. 

"Alright mum." Replied Remus slyly.

Peter and Sirius burst out laughing and James turned a deep shade of red.

"I'm starved." Mumbled Peter. "Should we go down for breakfast?"

The other boys agreed and no more was said about Remus's strange disappearance.

"Race you there!" Cried James with that he bounded out of the room.

"Hey! Not fair you cheated!" Shrieked Sirius after him.

Peter gave Remus a concerned look.

"Go ahead." said Remus. "I'll catch up."

Peter nodded and walked out of the room. Remus could hear his steps quicken as he called after James and Sirius. He quickly went to his dresser and pulled another set of clothes. Hastily putting them on he rushed after downstairs, hoping to at least catch up with Peter. 

Meanwhile Siirus and James were rushing down the hall. Trying their best to find an edge on the rather evenly matched race. Suddenly up ahead James caught a sight of flaming red hair and greasy black hair.

A malicious feeling built up within him as he remembered the spiteful look Snivellus had given Sirius. James ploughed ahead and charged straight into Severus who tripped slightly but managed to regain his balance. James turned to him and laughed.

"Hey Snivelly! Heard that you brought along the fleas that caused the itching yesterday.

"Ignore him." said Lily grabbing Severus's arm.

By the Sirius had also arrived.

"Ooooh!" Sirius crooned. "You gonna let your girlfriend save your sorry butt?"

Severus was fuming his slim fingers clenched in a fist.

"Go away." he hissed, his anger thinly veiled.

"Or what?" challenged James.

"Or I'll tel everyone you started the Itching Prank."

The two boy stopped in their tracks. How did he know?

"No one will believe you." said another voice. It was Remus, was followed closley by Peter.

Severus was further angered by this.

"You filthy half-blood!" he cried.

"Half-blood, pure-blood, muggleborn. Who cares!" snapped Remus. "I know more magic that you, you posh wank-stain."

"Sev, let it go..." pleaded Lily. But Severus stayed put.

"Oh yeah which is why Black is practically disowned by his parents. For being a blood traitor. I hope your parents beat you for it Black."

"Don't talk about Sirius like that!" shouted James, his wand pointed, a promised threat.

Severus raised his own as their eyes met in a tense standoff.

"Potter, Snape!" a voice broke through the tension. McGonagall was standing behind Severus. "Wands down now!"

They complied. James opened his mouth to speak.

"Not a word." the professor warned.

"But..." started Severus.

"10 points from Slytherin and Gryffindor." came her second warning. "Both of you to my office."

James and Severus followed her sullenly.

-----

"A weeks worth of detention with Snivellus!" exclaimed James sitting next Sirius with a thud.

His shouting jolted Remus awake, he had almost fallen asleep on his buttered toast.

"Cheerful..." mumbled Remus scowling. "But I guess you deserved it. You shouldn't have raised your wand."

"He shouldn't have insulted you or Sirius." came James's reply.

Remus warmed slightly at this and decided he didn't want to lose James, Sirius or Peter by sayng the wrong thing. So he nodded and went back to his toast.

"Though..." continued James. "Posh wank-stain was the best thing I've heard all day."

Guffawing Sirius almost choked on his pumpkin juice while Peter gave a hearty laugh. 

"Say Remus where did you get those scars?" said Sirius changing the subject as Marlene, Dorcas and Lily sat down at the table.

For a moment Remus panicked. Had his scars some how revealed themselves from under his clothes.

"He was scratched by a dog as a kid." replied Peter.

Remus then realised they were talking about the old three diagonal scars on his face.

"Yeah." he affirmed. "You know how soft baby skin can be, it's a scar for life."

"They look real cool." said Marlene, who it seemed had been eavesdropping into their conversation.

Remus felt his cheeks flare up and and averted his eyes only to find Lily scowling at him. He then diverted his eyes to his toast and pumpking juice. It felt weird, a good and giddy sort of weird to have a girl compliment him. Though he found Lily's scowl much easier to digest than the compliment.

James leaned forward and gestured for the other three to do the same. He whispred so only the four of them could hear:

"After the detentions. I'm gonna teach Snivelly a lesson."

"You'll get into deeper trouble if you're caught..." warned Peter.

"Who said I was going to get caught?" said James with a smile the befitted the devil.