remus lupin is finally at peace. (moonstricken) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2009-06-15 23:32:00 |
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James had just finished eating when he saw Remus's post about heading to Knockturn. Sirius had borrowed his cloak for the day but it wasn't as if that was any reason to put it off. Marlene had a good idea when she said they ought to burn the whole fucking thing down. He promised Lily he'd be careful and then he was off to Remus's to meet up and decide where they'd go. He apparated to the front lawn with no problems since they always warded each other into everything. James was actually excited to get to spend some alone time with Moony considering it had been ages since Remus had seemed to want his help with anything. Time and age and responsibilities were pulling them apart and even if it was just a scouting mission, James was looking forward to it. "Mooooooooooooooony!" he called playfully toward the house. "Are any of these plants gonna eat me?" He looked at the ground for any sneaky vines Marlene might have poised for attack. With a quick kiss goodbye to Marlene, Remus left the house to meet James in the front yard. "No -- those are only in the back," he said, smiling. "Are you ready to head out? I've got the map on me, so we ought to be fine getting in and out quickly. I think that we should side-apparate out, though, so there will be one less apparation pop for someone to overhear when we arrive in the alley. We'll start off near the main shops and then make our way to Knockturne." He was looking forward to their outing, too, but his reasons were entirely different. "Oh, good thinking," James said. "Pads has the cloak so we're gonna have to be more careful than usual." He was still eyeing the plants warily as he stepped over to his friend. Duel Apparating someone through wards could be tricky so it only made sense that Remus would pop them out. He pulled his wand out so if they met trouble when they landed he'd be ready. "Pop away," James said, putting his hand on Remus's arm and winking at him. With a single nod, Remus put his hand over James' hand and took out his own wand with the other -- and then he apparated them both away. Where they arrived, however, was not in Knockturne Alley at all -- it wasn't even anywhere inside Diagon Alley. He needed to get James alone; away from Marlene, away from Lily, away from Sirius... away from everyone. And so Remus had taken them both to a location Remus had grown familiar with over the past year: the field on East Hill, Wandsworth. He did not offer James an explanation for why he had taken him here instead, but merely tightened his grip on his wrist. "Oi, Moony," James said, giving a half-hearted tug at his wrist. "I think we're gonna have to give you some Apparation Refresher Courses or something," he teased. "Don't think this is anywhere near Diagon," he said as he looked around slowly. He tugged at his wrist again. "I know I'm sexy, but usually I reserve the snogging for Lils, anymore. Sure you understand being married and all." Remus still hadn't let go and he pulled harder giving his friend a strange look. "Seriously, Remus--" He jerked his hand hard to free himself. "You need me to pop us back?" "No. We're right where I wanted to take us." With a tight hold on James' wrist, he turned and pointed his wand at him. "Incarcerous!" Ropes shot out from Remus' wand, and at the close proximity, they began to wind themselves around James' body. James had no idea what was going on but with ropes winding themselves around his waist and legs he was close enough to punch Remus hard just below his left eye. It was a reflex more than anything, as what he should have been doing was cast a spell or... something. There wasn't a lot to prepare you for one of your best friends going batshit insane quite suddenly. The ropes reached his arms and he struggled against them. "Finite Incantatum," he cast, just as the ropes reached high enough to bind his hands to his side. The ropes vanished, and James was up on his feet again, wand brandished and aimed at Remus. "Moony, what's wrong with you?" The punch had caused Remus to stagger backwards, a hand moving up to cover the place he'd been hit, a bruise already beginning to form -- but when he saw James was free again, he dropped his hand away from his face and trained his wand back on his friend. "Diffindo" "Fuck," James swore as slashes began to crisscross his body. He hadn't seen that coming, even after the binding spell and as his hand began to bleed and his skin ripped there he dropped his wand all together. He lunged at Remus, trying to knock his friend's wand away from him. He had to be imperiused-- James couldn't fathom anything else. "Accio Remus's wand!" It was a wandless attempt and it failed. He did manage to collide with Remus though, painful as it was. Even though Remus had held onto his wand, he declined against using another spell as the pair of them fell to the ground when James crashed into him. He used his strength to roll them over to gain the higher ground, and he drew his free hand back into a fist, returning the earlier favour and punching James in the face, his knuckles hitting the bone of his nose. James saw nothing but black as Remus's fist collided with his face. He felt his glasses break against his face and darkness tinged the edge of his thoughts. He couldn't let this happen but everything was happening so fast he felt like he couldn't stop it. He grasped for his wand desperately. He might have outweighed Moony, but his friends furry little problem gave him strength that James couldn't match. "Remus, stop," James said urgently. "Please-- fight it-- I'm your best friend--" His fingers grazed the ground seeking the safety of his magic. There was the slightest of hesitations -- was this right? Was he supposed to be doing this to James? But as quickly as the thoughts came, they were pushed into the back of his mind. Remus' eyes darted to James' outstretched arm, and he pushed the tip of his wand against the inside of his elbow and growled: "Ossisverso!" The pain was excruciating. More painful than anything James could fathom and so close to forcing him to pass out that he immediately drew his arm into him and curled his knees up as well, rolling to his side. "Remus please." It was desperation. He had no idea what was coming-- if his friend was going to kill him right now, when he was so close to being a father... so close to a future he'd been waiting his whole life for. "Please." His voice was barely a whisper, blood loss, pain and betrayal shutting down his mind moment by moment. His pleading fell on deaf ears, and Remus knew it was over. James had no fight in him left. He stood up, towering over the bruised and bleeding body of his friend, and he pointed his wand at him one last time. "Stupefy." The red light of the spell struck James in the chest, rendering him unconscious. It was done. Remus knelt down beside his friend's body, a hand on his shoulder, and then he apparated both of them away. He had a meeting with Gaius Travers to get to. |