{1} The Marauders and the Whomping Willow ✔️

Chapter 19: The Duck

The three boys ran out of the shack and climbed out of the passage beneath the willow. Together they ran to Professor McGonagall's office, unable to feel the cuts and scrapes on their body from when they stumbled out of the passage.

The knocked on the door hurriedly, frantically as if they were afraid no one would be able to hear them. It opened to reveal on other than Professor Dumbledore. The three of them noted a rather worried Professor McGonagall and a Madame Pomfrey who sat at the desk.

"Sir..." started Sirius. "Remus is in the Shrieking Shack, there's a passage under the Willow there is a death eater there..."

With that Sirius found he couldn't speak anymore. He started trembling Peter had burst into tears.

"A Death Eater?" Madame Pomfrey stood from the chair she was seated on. "I thought they were only rumours."

Professor McGonagall stood and walked over to Albus who was clearly going to ask more questions.

"We need to get him now!" she reminded him sternly. "Poppy please take these boys to the infirmary and see too it that there wounds are taken care of. As soon as you do that we may need you back at the shack."

She didn't need to say it but they knew she was sorry for doubting them at the beginning. With that the Professors rushed out of the room while Madam Pomfrey led them to the infirmary.

~~~

He couldn't get up. He simply couldn't. He couldn't even let out a whimper of pain. He lay there bleeding bruised and half conscious as the human laughed above him.

He couldn't even feel the craving for human flesh within him.

Two more human scents emerged. A old male and a female. Usually this would have maddened him with hunger. But his senses felt nothing but pain.

"So Ambrosius." the old male said. "You've decided to torture my students for your amusement."

'You should never have let such a monstrosity come to our school." said the younger male.

"Yes I probably shouldn't have accepted you as a teacher."

"Lupin would never would hurt anyone knowingly." the female said coldly. "Whereas you...you serve that man who would rather see the likes of most us enslaved. You disgust me!"

The younger male ignored her. 

"Albus love has blinded you yet again." he sneered. 

"Then you would know that Voldemort's doctrine is madness."

"I wasn't talking about Grindlewald Albus. But what was her name oh yes Ari-"

There was a loud crash. 

"Now Minerva..." came the old male's voice calm as water.

"What does the Dark Lord want?" asked the female, her voice raised to a passionate octave.

"He wants the school." the younger male hissed. "I've told him of this passage and I've been breaking down the shields the whole year. When he's in he will defeat you!"

The old man's blue eyes met the wolf's. The wolf breathed in.

"No..." said the old man, his voice hoarse. "Not if we have those brave enough to stand up, those with hearts of love. Yes there is power in fear but more so in love. And today proved it to us Ambrosius. You an accomplished apprentice of your dark lord bested by four boys who had nothing but bravery love for each other and a love for laughter."