The Marauders

Chapter 9

Fatal Ingredient

Severus took out three flakes of toad skin and reread the scribbled note in his potions book.

Wait 30 seconds between each flake.

The potion boiled too quickly if you didn't wait, and evaporated if you waited too long. The directions in the book weren't the best, but Severus was a natural at Potions. The book was more for moral support than anything else.

1^st flake. Wait. 1, 2, 3...

2^nd flake. Wait. 1, 2, 3...

3^rd flake. Wait. Stir slowly. Increase the flame and stir more rapidly. It was a meticulous process, and he had skipped most of his morning classes to work on it. He wouldn't be missed.

Bulbous bubbles formed at the top of the concoction and burst with a dull 'bwop.' As he stirred, the bubbles increased, filling the dungeon closet where he was hiding with a putrid odor.

Without warning the boiling ceased and the smell dissipated. The potion turned a livid yellow. Severus stopped stirring and pulled a small vile from his robes.

"Now for the last ingredient."

It had to be fresh, so he turned the flame down and went in search of the source for his final ingredient. Remus Lupin.

Remus paced restlessly. Most of his free time had been spent wandering aimlessly through the castle.

He had to admit it. He was lost. Six years at the school, and he was lost. He stopped pacing and leaned against the wall. Tawny eyes blinked back tears of frustration. His conscience flipped back and forth, warring against itself.

To forgive, or not to forgive? That is the question.

Remus slid to the floor and stretched out his legs. He felt so vulnerable. He'd opened his heart to Enna, and despite his shortcomings, she loved him. She knew what he was, and her only reaction was a desire to know him better. But it was her blind naivety now had endangered his life and the lives of Merlin knows how many.

Deliberate footsteps echoed down the hallway. Remus wished he'd taken the invisibility cloak. He didn't want to see anyone.

Least of all, Severus Snape.

He leapt to his feet as soon as the demon stepped from the shadows.

"Ah, Remus. There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

His voice was mockingly concerned. The hair rose on the back of Remus's neck. He barely had time to reach for his wand when the spell exploded from Snape's wand. White hot pain seared from his shoulder. He collapsed to his knees, his vision blurring.

Snape loomed over him with a malicious smirk.

"You look a little ill," he murmured, his voice dripping with cruelty, "Maybe you should get some sleep."

The last comment was cold and Remus reached again for his wand.

"Stupefy!"

Remus collapsed to the cold stone beneath him.

"That was easier than I expected," Snape mused, nearly whistling as he let the dark warm blood fill the vial. With a swish of his wand, the wound healed and the crimson pool at his feet evaporated.

A doubt crept weakly into Snape's mind. What if Lupin wasn't a werewolf? Would the potion still work? He perused the specifications once again. It said nothing about the effects on different species. He shrugged and figured if anything, Remus would at least attempt an attack on his friends.

One potion and his problems would begin to disappear. With Remus framed and the others out of commission, he'd have nothing to stop him from getting Kira. He wondered whether he could blackmail her, or if he'd need to use the Imperius spell.

You are one diabolical genius, you sick son-of-a-bitch he thought to himself and grinned.

Sirius collapsed onto his bed. He was exhausted. The past weeks emotional roller coaster had left him drained. He needed to rest.

He laid there, eyes closed, utterly still. He had a fleeting thought of hunting down Kira, but sleep tugged at his consciousness and he willingly complied.

He was in the same dank, dark room. His wand tip glowed weakly, revealing a familiar gory scene. A rustle from his left startled him and he lifted his wand. The dim circle of light expanded. Blood rushed from his face and his skin grew cold and clammy. He doubled over with the sudden urge to retch and heaved the contents of his stomach to mingle with the blood at his feet. He lifted his head and stared incredulously at the carnage before him. The wolf lay surrounded by ravaged carcasses. Sirius stared, dumbstruck. The monster's teeth still remained clamped tightly around her neck. Sirius pleaded with the powers that be, hoping it was a trick of the dim lighting. But those bright, tawny eyes were unmistakable. Moony. He stared long and hard into the cold recessed of the werewolf's eyes, searching for some hint of Remus.

A low growl rumbled from the werewolf's throat, its eyes focused on a spot directly behind him. Smack. Kira's pitiful whimper echoed in the chamber, tearing through his heart. Tears pricked at his eyes.

He forced himself to remain motionless, staring straight ahead. Amidst chewed, half eaten carcasses lay a pale figure. Her dark brown hair that once held a lively sheen was now dull and dingy. The life was drained from her rosy cheeks. Scarlet splotches obscured the fatal wound on her neck. He focused his gaze on the deathly motionless form of Enna and prayed it wasn't too late.

Sirius's eyes snapped open. He had to find Remus, fast! He threw open James' trunk and dug through the contents until he found the map.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Spidery lines raced outward from the wand tip. He poured over each segment of the map, hunting for Remus's name.

He was close to giving it up when he spotted it. Fourth floor, east corridor. The name hovered, unmoving. His stomach twisted into a knot and he snatched up his wand.

Sirius's feet barely touched the ground as he flew down the stairs and out the portrait hole. He rounded a corner and slowed slightly. It was deserted. He shifted quickly into Padfoot and the black canine raced through the castle.

Remus lay unmoving. Sirius skidded to a stop and his side and changed back. He lifted Remus's head and gently patted his cheek.

"Remus, mate, wake up. C'mon, Moony, snap out of it!"

Remus's body remained limp.

"Ennervate!" Sirius muttered and breath rushed into Remus's lungs. His eyes popped open and he bolted forward. His hand clapped to his arm, the sleeve was torn and still damp with blood. The wound was healed, but the evidence remained.

"That fucking bastard attacked me. Came out of nowhere and threw a curse before I could react."

"He knows," Sirius said darkly.

"He's guessing," Remus prayed.

"Whether he knows or not, he can't be trusted. No matter what happens, Moony- don't drink that potion! It'd be too simple for him to tamper with it."

Remus pushed himself to his feet and smiled grimly.

"There'll be no danger of that, I assure you."