Chapter Text
A blood curdling scream rang out filling the empty silence, shortly followed by a sharp slap then silence again. A loose hand silenced her, yet she could not tear her eyes away from the scene. Arms held her tightly, too tightly to be of any comfort.
Heavy breathing caught in the captor’s throat. The two pairs of eyes were wide; their shared shallow breath hung still in the wordless night. Her throat was tight, the cool breeze making her hairs stand to attention.
He was just hanging there. Strung up like some sort of puppet… He looked small, it wasn’t right he isn’t small, he just isn’t. This wasn’t fair. What had they done so wrong!? They were just teenagers!
The gouges of where his eyes once were stared at her. No. Stared Through her. Thick, dark blood oozed out the gaping holes. The lack of blood brought her slight comfort… He hadn’t experienced it when he was alive… She stared into the gaping, dark cavities, where eyes she’d stared into for hours used to be… The eyes she’d once thought were the most captivating eyes in the world. She’d never see those eyes again.
He looked agonisingly beautiful, a man with an ego the size of a mountain reduced to nothing… His arms hung outstretched light pouring through the crippling leaves behind him, illuminating his dangling body. He looked practically ethereal. He deserved so much better in life… They all did.
Her heart broke inside knowing he'd died all alone, he hated being alone… but she knew if she’d been there with him she would've died too. Not by death. By watching the fear twist his expression as he realised the fate thrust upon him. The light faded from his eyes to soon.
The persistent scent of a smoky campfire permeated the air. A stark constant reminder of the relaxation they’d taken for granted ours earlier. She’d never feel like that again… Not with all the guilt that pooled in her gut. She’d never be the same.
They’d all grown wings on the same day.
Days earlier
“Barty- oh for fucks sake!” Marlene's voice flooded the room, The door swung shut with a thud just as hastily as it'd swung opened. She stood clinging the doorknob, staring at the door as if it would somehow erase the scene she’d just had to unfortunates to witness. Which obviously did not work. Her eyebrows scrunched together, the palms of her hands pressed into her eyes. That was not what she’d been expecting to see this morning.
“Never learn how to knock McKinnon?!” Barty's raspy voice slipped through the cracks of the tall rustic door that loomed over her. The hint of hostility in his tone pulled her out her head, she rolled her eyes in ignorance and pushed opened the door again. Just in time to see Barty hastily pulling up the decrepit jeans he’d worn for most of camp. had he even washed those things?
She shook the uncomfortable thought from her mind and raised her head, eyes meeting bartys instantly. She couldn't stop the smirk from slipping onto her lips and the snicker that escaped her, “Having fun, were you?” His scowl grew ten-fold as the venomous words dripped from her mouth. He was in no mood for their little back and forth right now.
Marlene coughed, noticing Barty seemed to be in a shitty mood. “Lily sent me to fetch you. They’ve figured out groups for cleaning.” She explained, watching as Barty haphazardly fixed his shirt. He nodded, pushing past her into the rest of the cabin. “Tosser…” she murmured under her breath, following after Barty who had already exited the cabin. At least he was nice enough to leave the door open for her.
When she finally caught up she slowed, matching his pace. “Do you even know where you’re going?” She said, a curious glint in her eyes matching the grin her lips were pulled into, “You didn’t give me enough time to tell you where we’re cleaning.” He stopped abruptly, she was quite right. He was just walking for the sake of walking.
“Yeah.” he admitted, shifting uncomfortably on his feet, he was overjoyed to admit he'd had no idea where they were going. Not. “You’re right, so which way are we going?” The admission astonished Marlene, her grin cracking wider. “Well definitely not this way, we’re cleaning the archery range, but hey look at you Barty, I had no clue you could actually admit you're wrong.”
The two finally made their way to the archery range, to find a very unamused Lily and a bored Dorcas.
“Took your sweet time didn’t you?” she scolded, shoving quills into their hands before they had a chance to respond. The last day of camp had gotten a bit hectic and they had a lot of work to do. No time like the present.
“Hey! don’t blame me. Barty started walking off in the opposite direction, didn’t enjoy me interrupting him.” Marlene **protested, yelping when Barty's boney elbow dug into her side. “What exactly does that mean?” Lily queried, eyes scrutinising them both. How Barty glared down at Marlene and how Marlene obviously avoided his eyes, a grin happily settled on her face.
“I think she means he was having a wank. Can we start now?”Dorcas spoke up, finally standing from where she’d been sat waiting, an unimpressed look on her face. They had been waiting for a while. The other groups had already finished their first location. Whilst they'd barely started, bear in mind they had much smaller areas to clean.
Lily rolled her eyes but nodded, “Me and Dorcas will clean up the rubbish, you two collect up all the arrows, remember to go behind the targets.” She declared, picking up a trash bag she'd discarded on the bench.
Barty groaned inwardly, arrow clean up was by far one of the jobs he hated most. It took forever because god-knows those kids cannot aim for the life of them. Sometimes it was enjoyable, if he was doing the job with Evan or Regulus. But alas he was stuck with Marlene. They got along well enough but he wouldn't consider them close friends.
“Barty, stop slacking and get over here!” Marlene hollered, Barty hadn't even registered that she’d moved from standing next to him. His eyes danced over to where she was hunched by one of the targets, yanking arrows off whilst staring back at him. Begrudgingly he pulled himself over to her.
“So, you and Evan?” Marlene questioned, eyeing Barty quizzically. Noticing the way he faltered as she mentioned Evan. “What about me and Evan?” He huffed, voice tight but there was this hint of genuine confusion. Marlene wasn't an idiot, no one at camp was. Well- debatable. Sirius exists. Either way she’s seen the way Barty looks at Evan. The way Barty latches onto every word that leaves Evans mouth, his eyes practically screaming kiss me every time they talk. He stared at Evan like he’s the most captivating person he’s ever met.
“Come on, you know what I'm talking about. You look at the dude like he's the most interesting person on the planet.” Marlene scoffed, looking at Barty knowingly. “I don’t get what you're getting at.” He retorted, a hint of hesitance pulling at his words. Marlene raised her eyebrows looking at him. “Right…” The silence dragged out over a few minutes, “Do you not, like, like him?”
“What, ew no.” Barty seemed genuinely revolted by her suggestion, expression contorting into a grimace. “I mean- not ew. Just- I’m not gay Marlene.” He seemed to realise how his original words sounded and had noticed the incredibly offended look on Marlene's face. His face tensed, a groan slipping through his lips.
—
“Nova! Nova!” Remus’ voice echoed through the forest, reverberating off every branch, every leaf. Yet the dog still didn’t return to him. “Where’s that blasted dog got to…” He murmured under his breath, bending down to swipe up mess left by campers. The dog was always causing him trouble, much like another dog at camp.
“Lookin’ good Remus.” Sirius whistled, strolling behind Remus, his eyes trailing over- well I think you know what. His arms snaked around Remus’ waist as he straightened up. “Have you even done any cleaning?” Remus queried, chucking down the trash bag he’d been dragging around as he turned to face Sirius. “Are you asking me, Sirius Orion Black, to get on my hands and knees and pick up litter.” He griped in that pompous French accent that drove Remus crazy, a disgusted expression taking over his face. Remus rolled his eyes, his own hands digging Sirius’ out his back pockets. This man was never satisfied.
“Can you go 10 minutes without trying to get in my pants? and yes, I am asking you, Sirius, to clean up teenagers litter.” Remus huffed, holding Sirius’ hands tightly as the other pouted, trying too hard to hide that underlying grimace. “You just don't appreciate my libido Remus.” Sirius whinged, he pulled his hands from remus’ tight grip. “I’m going to find James. Who truly appreciates me for all of me.” He said in a huff, stalking away from Remus, who obviously didn’t miss the mischievous grin on his face.
“Hey, before you go!” Remus called after him, “You seen Nova, I can't find the rascal anywhere.” Sirius turned to look at Remus, walking backwards unable to cover his smug look, “No clue, Thomas probably took her.” Remus nodded and bent down picking up his litter bag again. When he looked back at Sirius he was busy in conversation with James.
He bit his tongue, he could've sworn Thomas had asked him to look after Nova while he went home for this ‘family emergency’. Eh whatever, one less thing to worry about. The sooner he was done cleaning the better. Then maybe he could satiate Sirius’ constant need for attention. Probably not. But he could try.
Sirius only came to camp for Remus, he didn’t get any satisfaction of helping out with ‘dirty, irritating children’. Sirius’ words of course. But he also could not stand the idea of not seeing remus for a whole 3 months. It was either settle for getting some life experience outside going to posh parties, or going without sex for months. I think we all know what he chose.
Remus actually enjoyed helping out at the camp, he enjoyed working with children. The whole experience had made him consider being a teacher when he finished university. Sirius would take the piss out of him for it but he genuinely enjoyed teaching and working with kids. They’d also made a lot of new friends… Like James. Sirius and James got on like a house on fire, they had practically been inseparable since the first camp meeting. He, James, Sirius and Peter had become a little group, working together for most things.
Everyone else was nice, well. Mostly everyone, Regulus and Sirius had been stewing since first day. Of course they had. Brothers. Barty was a bit weird, but nice enough in Remus’ mind.
Remus’ thrust out his reminiscing when something hit the back of his head, he squeezed his eyes closed. Fuck did it hurt“Okay, which one of you twats was that.” He grinned, snapping his head toward the three haggled together, then down at the pinecone which had been launched towards his head. “James did it.” Peter immediately piped up, ever the snitch.
James was bolting in a second, yelling something or another about Peter being a traitor. Remus despite his bad leg, was on his tail. Eyes stuck to James back with a predatory gaze, like an animal hunting down its prey. James was more muscly than Remus and definitely had more stamina but Remus was taller, he had bigger strides. Making the catch up to James simple.
The two shot past where Lily and Dorcas were cleaning, Remus just about caught Lily going, ‘Hey! you two are-’ before they were out of hearing range. His legs were beginning to ache from the strenuous activity but there was no way James was getting away with this. Wood creaked beneath their feet as James slowed down on the lakes rickety dock. “Okay, Remus, my best mate. I think we should just make a truce?” James huffed, entirely out of breath, a flimsy grin shaping his lips. Sweat dripped down his forehead, he knew Remus was absolutely not one to back down.
“A truce? you know what James, I’m feeling nice today… You’re off the hook.” Remus said, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. His knee was not happy about all the running. James eyebrows raised, looking Remus up and down… Well, the other didn’t look in any position to chase him again.
“Truce.” He stepped forward, putting his hand out towards Remus, for him to shake, hopefully. Remus grabbed his hand, shaking it gently for a moment. Then span James around roughly, wrapping his arms tightly around his middle. He hoisted him up in the air, a wicked grin on his face. “No- No Remus! We can talk about this! Remus!”James shrieked, writhing and kicks his legs as Remus moved ever closer to the dock edge.
Before James could protest again he was submerged beneath the water. He popped up moments later. “Remus you absolute-!” He yelled, shaking in the water. It wasn't actually cold… It was more the shock and adrenaline coursing through him. On the dock stood Remus no longer alone, Sirius and Peter were stood behind him. Absolutely losing their shit laughing, Peter was practically bent over cackling like a madman.
James was absolutely sodden, Soaked from head to toe. “Peter, I will murder you.” James snapped grabbing onto the dock, he attempted to pull himself up. Only to be met with Remus’ shitty shoe pushing him back, completely submerging him again. He bobbed up once again. Taking a deep breath, trying to gather his breath. “You look like a wet dog James.” Sirius cackled, having joined Peter bent over laughing.
What was worse was that Lily and the group she’d been were stood at the end of the dock, watching the scene in utter amusement. He waded through the thick water, pulling himself up without hassle this time. Even getting a hand up from Remus. “Next time don't throw pinecones at me, okay?” He snarked with a grin. “Yeah yeah… bastard.” James grumbled, standing like wet rat, his clothes completely soaked, teeth chattering despite the warm weather. “You’re arseholes. All of you!” He announced, throwing his hands up in the air as he walked back onto land, his words only caused Peter and Sirius to laugh more. So badly Sirius almost toppled into the lake himself.
-
“Who pissed in your cereal mate.” Sirius snorted as he watched James haphazardly pull off his thoroughly drenched clothes. James face was scrunched up into this frustrated grimace. Not a good look. “Your fucking twatty boyfriend!” He snapped, swinging around to glare at Sirius. “He made me look a fool in front of everyone!”
“Everyone really…?” Sirius raised his eyebrows, “You sure you aren't worried about a certain smoking hot redhead?” He challenged with a grin, his brows quirked up as he watched James strip down. James jaw clenched, “Yes everyone.”
“Come on James, you were practically pining for her at the start of camp.” Sirius beamed, launching himself onto the bottom bunk of one of the shitty, practically falling apart bunk beds. “You’re telling me you're now not into her?” Sirius did not believe that for a second. “Sirius. She’s made it abundantly clear she isn’t interested.” James huffed, pulling on a shirt.