The Marauders Unite (III)

Dark Magic Rising

January 26, 1976

The end-of-class bell rings, signifying the end of the school day. Many students depart their classrooms and spill into the corridors. From the Potions room, SEVERUS walks out accompanied by MULCIBER and AVERY.

AVERY: What have you been up to, Sev?

SEVERUS: Nothing much. Just dealing with those- idiots in Gryffindor-

AVERY: I hear you.

MULCIBER: Speak of the devil.

As they round a corner, they spot MARY, REMUS and PETER walking together.

MULCIBER: (smirking) Shall we have a little fun?

SEVERUS: Don't- it's not worth it-

AVERY: Oh, come on, Severus.

MULCIBER: (taking out his wand) How about Severus' new incantation? Care to see how it works on a live victim?

SEVERUS: Don't! You'll get in trouble-

MULCIBER continues to grin maliciously and points his wand towards the Gryffindors.

MULCIBER: Sectumsempra!

The curse hits MARY on the arm, cutting through her robes. She shrieks and drops her bag, nursing her bleeding arm.

REMUS: What the- are you okay?

MARY: It just came out of nowhere!

Aside, MULCIBER and AVERY laugh hysterically.

AVERY: One more, I think. Just for good measure.

SEVERUS: Please- I'm warning you-

MULCIBER: Crucio!

The Unforgivable Curse hits MARY, but it does not work to its full potential due to its casting by an underage wizard. MARY lets out another shriek and falls to her knees, beginning to cry.

REMUS: Who's doing that? Mulciber, I swear to Merlin-

MULCIBER: What are you gonna do, Lupin? Give me detention?

REMUS: I could if you don't watch your back!

Slowly, a crowd begins to form around them. REMUS stands forward with PETER by his side, while MULCIBER and AVERY still hold their wands out.

SEVERUS: All right, all right. Let's all just calm down.

REMUS: Stay out of this, Snape.

SEVERUS: I can do what I want, Lupin. (He holds out his Prefect badge)

REMUS: You're not the only Prefect here. It's a good thing your little friends here aren't in my House. Why don't you punish them, instead?

MULCIBER: Are you threatening me, Lupin?

REMUS: Yeah, maybe I am!

EMMA: Hold it!

Suddenly, the crowd moves apart to let EMMA through, holding out her wand and looking angry.

EMMA: What's going on here?

REMUS: They attacked my friend-

SEVERUS: It was just a joke, Emma-

REMUS: Shut it, Snape-

EMMA: Enough! You- (she points to REMUS) take her to the hospital wing, now. You three come with me- (she shepherds MULCIBER, AVERY, and SEVERUS away) The rest of you, get to class! That would mean now!

The crowd quickly disperses at EMMA'S order. The Slytherins make their way out of the scene, while JAMES, SIRIUS, LILY, and MARLENE run forward.

JAMES: What happened?

REMUS: Snape and his friends being nitwits, as usual.

MARLENE: (kneeling before MARY) Oh, Merlin, Mary, are you okay?

MARY: It's just a cut- they were using curses- awful-

SIRIUS: We'll get them for this.

LILY: Help her up, come on-

Together, the Gryffindors help MARY to her feet.

REMUS: Let's go to the hospital wing.

MARY: I'm fine, honestly-

LILY: You're not fine, Mary. That's a pretty deep cut-

MARY: Madame Pomfrey can fix anything. She's done worse than this before-

JAMES: I can't believe Snape and his cronies are up to this nonsense again.

SIRIUS: Yeah, and he was stalking us the other night, too.

MARLENE: He's a creepy bloke. I've told you before.

LILY: (sighing) It's okay. We'll get through this, we always do. Come on.

They arrive at the hospital wing, helping MARY onto a bed while a concerned MADAME POMFREY approaches them.