Episode 2
Sirius sprung into action, running over, with Peter and Remus hot on his heel, pulling and flinging that person off of Lily and towards a table. Remus quickly helped her up and wrapped his arm around her as the four of them ran, trying to get out of the hall. It had now erupted into complete chaos, the people infected were attacking the others mindlessly, climbing into the kitchen and causing a fire. The sprinklers detected the fire and started spraying the entire hall with water.
They continued running, pushing and fighting off the groups of people either attacking or being attacked until they all decided to climb onto a table, avoiding the crowd. “Over there!” Sirius pointed to an open window.
Peter nodded at him, “Let’s go.” Sirius and Peter jumped off the table, Peter pushed someone out of their way as Remus jumped down and Sirius helped Lily down.
Once they made it to the window, Peter pushed a table under it and Sirius helped Lily onto the table before boosting her out the window. Remus and Peter both climbed onto the table as Sirius fought off the people infected, kicking them away.
“Sirius! Come on!” Remus shouted from the other side of the wall as he saw another person being bit outside. Sirius helped someone else through before climbing through the window himself. The four of them then ran to the front of the school, where the chaos was different. People were still running in all directions, their faces covered in blood.
A truck came hurtling towards them at full speed, the driver having also been affected and they jumped out of the way. It crashed into the side of the school, Sirius climbed onto the truck and pulled the others on. They climbed through a window onto the second floor, it was still no different from the hall, if not worse with people screaming and fighting and running.
One person got on top of Peter while Sirius was busy fighting another person growling and trying to bite him. Remus tried to pull the one on Peter off of him. Lily decided to grab the fire extinguisher from the wall, spraying it over everything, blurring their vision and causing the infected to stop attacking.
Peter got back up and the four of them ran off again, going back to the classroom they were in earlier. They banged on the door, Frank was guarding it and wanted to let them in but Evan started to fight him, “We don’t know if they’re infected!”
“Don’t let them in!” Bellatrix shouted, panicked, “Go lock the door!” She shouted again, pushing Andromeda in front of her.
“Let go!” Frank fought back.
Andromeda was pushing back against Bellatrix, “What’re you doing, you lock it then, don’t push me!”
Sirius opened the window next to the door, “Hurry up and open the door, damn it!” Frank pushed Evan off of him and opened the door for the four of them.
“Are you guys okay?” Frank asked, quickly closing both the door and window again once they were inside.
“Lily, oh my god!” Mary shouted, coming forward to hug her. “Are you okay?” She asked, pulling away slightly. Lily nodded before hugging her again as tight as she could.
Peter sprawled out onto the floor in exhaustion and Remus sat down on a chair trying to catch his breath. “How are things outside? Is it the same?” Frank asked.
Sirius looked at Frank before walking over to the windows which overlooked the front lawn, where everyone was still running around madly, either being chased or chasing.
Barty came pounding on the door as well, “Let me in! Now!” Evan opened the door for him and he ran in, wiping his eyes. He was covered in a white powdery mix. “Fuck! They’re so aggressive.”
“What the hell happened to you?” Evan asked.
He took a handful of tissues and wiped his face, “Some crazy jerk shot a fire extinguisher at me.” Lily had sat down in a chair, with Mary wrapping her arms around her from behind, she looked up at Barty guiltily.
“A fire extinguisher?” Frank asked.
“Yes.” Barty wiped all of the powder off his face and sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall, “What is going on out there?” He cried.
“Who knows.” Andromeda responded quietly.
“Aren’t they zombies?” Sirius asked, turning to address the group.
“Why are they at school? They should be in movies.” Evan responded.
“Come and look. I’m serious.” Sirius said, pointing out the window.
“I know who you are.” Evan mumbled in response.
Sirius snorted before rolling his eyes and dragging him towards the window. “Frank! The door!” Peter warned as Frank tried to follow them to the window.
Barty got up off the floor and also walked over to see, the three of them peered out, watching with concern before suddenly jumping back in shock when a hand pressed up against the window. The hand opened the window and Barty panically rushed to close it but Evan held him back, “It’s James!”
“Oh my god, it’s James.” Sirius said, pulling him in. Once James made it inside the classroom, he immediately leaned out the window again.
“Regulus! Hurry!” He reached his hand out and Regulus climbed in the window too, the four of them helped him in before Barty and Evan closed the window. James grabbed Regulus by the shoulders and looked at him, eye level, lowering his head, “Are you okay?” He asked, out of breath.
Regulus nodded, also out of breath. James nodded back before collapsing onto the floor. Bellatrix hid behind Andromeda again as they watched him turn on his back on the floor. “It’s them, isn’t it?” He asked. “Zombies.” Everyone around the room all shared looks of fear or panic.
* * *
“Okay! Want to hear what happens when you keep shooting like that?” Professor Hooch called out, the archery teacher, to everyone on the bus. “Dorcas Meadowes, stand up.”
“Yes ma’am.” She said quietly, standing up. Pandora Rosier, who was sitting next to her, patted her leg gently for encouragement.
“Now, take a good look.” Hooch said, “She’s your future, the best archer in the team and yet she hasn’t won a single gold medal. Forget making the national team, she can’t even make the reserve team. She couldn’t even qualify for regionals today. What will you grow up to be?” Hooch asked, tone sharp. “You can’t get into college. You can’t get onto a corporate team. You haven't been studying, so there's no shot at the civil service exam either.”
Dorcas glared at the teacher as subtly as she could.
“Listen up.” She continued, “Do you know how cruel this field is? All kids who study that score in the top one hundred can get into a top university. But even if you guys get into the top one hundred, you won't get anywhere near the Olympics... You’re just garbage. Your life is screwed. Got it?”
The bus pulled to a stop at school, crashing into someone who ran headfirst into the bus, breaking the glass. “That crazy bastard.” The driver swore.
That boy got back up as if nothing had happened and ran off in the opposite direction, blood all over his face. Hooch stepped off of the bus and looked at everyone as they ran around as though they had gone rabid, “What are they doing?” She whispered to herself.
* * *
“Can you see if there’s one over there?”
“I’m telling you. They can’t open doors.” Frank said, peering curiously through the little glass part of the door at the zombies.
“Just hold it closed to be safe okay?” Peter said, also leaning on the door, helping to keep it shut.
“Did you find one?”
Everyone else in the classroom was searching all the desks, hoping to find a phone. Sirius looked in one desk before getting up and walking towards Remus, stopping him. “Are you okay?” He asked quietly. Remus nodded before ducking down to look in another desk. Sirius sighed before walking off to look somewhere else.
“Here! I found one!” Mary called out. Everyone but Regulus immediately ran over to her and formed a circle.
“Whose is it?” Lily asked.
“This is Chris’ desk.” Mary answered, “But we need the passcode.” Half of the group groaned and walked off to try and find another one.
Bellatrix grabbed her arm and shook it desperately, “Do something.”
“I just said we need the passcode!” Mary snapped at her.
“Maybe it’s his birthday!” Alice suggested.
“When’s his birthday?”
“I don’t know.” She mumbled.
Sirius looked out the door, “He’s right there!” He pointed towards Chris, who was already a zombie with blood all over his face. “Give it to me.”
He took the phone from Mary and walked over to the door, holding the phone against his face, hoping for the Face ID to work, which of course it didn’t.
“Hold it closer!” James said. Sirius glared at him before moving a little closer towards the door.
“You don’t need to unlock it to make emergency calls.” Lily called out, Sirius looked at her and slowly dialled 000 on the emergency calls page.
“Police. What’s your emergency?”
“Hello? I’m at Hogwarts High School. Zombies showed up and everybody’s turning into zombies.”
“You can’t say ‘zombies’.” Lily whispered.
“Then what?”
“They won’t believe you.”
Sirius could’ve sworn he heard the operator sigh, “Well they’re not exactly zombies, but they’re something like that.”
“Okay. Hogwarts High, zombies. Please state your name and number. You know there’s a fine for making false reports, right?”
“This isn’t a prank.” Sirius said angrily. “Everyone’s… just come quick. My name is Sirius Black.”
“Okay. Sirius Black. Your number is…” He heard the operator type something, “Stay somewhere safe so you don’t get bit. We’ll head out right away.”
“Get away from me!” They heard a voice screaming outside the classroom. It caused all the zombies outside their door and window to go running towards the noise.
“Where are they going?” Barty asked, getting up and looking out the windows into the corridor. Evan, James and Peter all got up to look too.
Peter opened the door slightly to stick his head out and peer outside but James quickly pulled him back in, “What are you doing, Pete! Close it! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Okay, okay… sorry.” Peter mumbled.
“Are they coming?” Remus asked as Sirius hung up the phone.
“He said they’ll come.” Sirius answered with a shrug.
“Did they believe you?” Peter asked. “What if they think it’s a prank call and don’t come?”
Bellatrix stood up, “Call again.” She ordered. “Tell them to come quick!”
“Stop yelling.” Andromeda said angrily, “What if the zombies come back?”
“Give me that.” Lily said, snatching the phone from Sirius. She dialled in a number and walked over to the window so they wouldn’t hear her.
“You’ve reached the fire department.”
“Hi. Do you know Captain Harold Evans from Rescue Team One?”
“No. We have many firefighters. I don’t know all of them. What is this about?”
“Oh. Captain Harold Evans is my dad. Please tell him to hurry over to my school.”
“This is the call centre, you need to call his station if you want to reach him.”
Lily sighed in frustration before her face lit up, “There’s a fire!”
“Fire?”
“Hogwarts High School. The fire is huge.” Lily nodded before hanging up the phone.
“Is that gonna work?” Sirius asked.
Lily shrugged, “Probably, why wouldn’t they come and put out a fire.” She sat back down next to Mary.
Sirius continued to stare out the window and after about ten minutes of waiting, James came over to join him, “No one’s coming, are they?”
“Something’s going on at the gate.” Sirius answered, where a bus was blocking the entryway.
Bellatrix stood up again, “Let's call the cops again, they’re not coming.”
Lily had the phone against her ear, “I’m trying but they won’t pick up.”
Bellatrix walked up to where Regulus was sitting, “Do something. Tell Professor McGonagall to come or something.”
Regulus looked up to face her.
“Do something.” Bellatrix said to him again.
“What can he do?” James said.
“He should be doing something.” She answered him before turning to Regulus again, “What have you done as our classroom president?”
Andromeda grabbed Bellatrix's arm, “Stop it.” She whispered, but she flung her hand off.
Regulus stood up to face her. “Should I go out? Go to the teachers’ office? Will that do?” He said calmly, a fire behind his eyes.
“Why are you asking me?” Bellatrix asked in return, jutting her chin out.
“You said to do something. Isn’t that what you meant?”
“Stop it both of you.” Remus called out. “She’s only saying that because you’re our classroom president.”
“Right. You’re the classroom president.” Barty called out, he was standing behind Evan, who was sitting on a table, with his arm wrapped around him.
“So just be patient, okay?” Evan finished.
Regulus turned his head to look at them and Barty immediately turned his head away, using his hand to move Evan’s face as they both avoided eye contact.
“You guys are… funny.” Regulus said.
“What do you mean?” Remus asked. James turned his head to look at him.
Regulus turned around to smile at Remus, the fakest smile anyone had ever seen, “Now that we’re in this mess, I’m your classroom president?”
“We called the police so we just have to wait a little while.” James said to Bellatrix, hoping to defuse the tension.
Bellatrix sighed angrily, “But no one’s coming.” She said, stomping around.
“Stop it! We’re all scared too!” Andromeda stood up and Alice pulled her arm back.
“That’s why I’m telling her to call again!” Bellatrix yelled back.
“You do it, then!”
“Just stop fighting guys!” Peter called out from where he and Frank were still guarding the door.
Bellatrix turned to face him, “Who are you to stop us, you fucker?”
“Fucker?” Peter repeated angrily, getting up. Frank got up to hold his arm back. “Did you just call me a fucker?”
“Stop it.” James said to Peter, who was still glaring at Bellatrix.
Peter muttered angrily to Frank who was pulling him back towards the door. “Just let it go, it’s nothing new.” Frank said, rolling his eyes at Bellatrix.
As Peter and Frank were returning to the door, the history teacher came barging into the classroom, opening and closing the door in a hurry. He turned to face all the students, “Are you guys alright?”
They were all wide-eyed as they nodded and he sighed in relief.
“What about you?” Peter took a few steps forward, “You weren’t bit?”
“No. Of course not. I’m fine.” He answered. “Let’s quickly barricade the door.” The teacher picked up a table and moved it in front of the door. “It’s okay. We’re safe. Let’s move this.”
Everyone got to work as they picked up tables and chairs to move to the door. “Sir,” Bellatrix called out, going up to him, “You've called the cops, right?”
“Yes.” He said, walking towards the door, “What are you doing? Block the front door and stack it.” He ordered. “Stack it high. High.” James and Regulus lifted a desk together onto another one as Frank stacked one next to it. “Push it closer. Much closer.”
Mary suddenly ran up to Lily and grabbed her arm, “Lily, what do we do?” There was fear in her eyes and she was staring at something.
“What?” Lily asked.
“Look.” She motioned slightly with her chin, “His arm.” Lily turned her head to look at the teacher’s arm where there was a red and bloody bite mark.
Her eyes widened, “Sir.” Lily called out, her voice trembling slightly. “Your arm.”
“What are you doing?” He yelled, “Hurry up and block the door.”
“You were bitten on your arm!” Lily yelled out.
Everyone in the room froze and looked at the teacher, taking a few steps away from him.
“This isn’t a bite.” He said stubbornly, he rolled his sleeves down so it covered the mark, “I wasn’t bit.”
“It’s a bite mark.”
“I said it isn’t. Don’t talk back to me.” The teacher snapped.
“Were you really bit?” Mary asked.
“I wasn’t!” He yelled, “How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Then why are you hiding it? Just show it to us!” Mary yelled back, taking a few steps forwards. “Could you leave? Please.”
“What?”
“Get out.”
“You want me to go out there?” He asked in disbelief, “After all I did to get here? You want me to go back out?”
“You were bit. Get out.” She took a deep breath and when the teacher didn’t move, she yelled “Get out!” again.
“How dare you yell at a teacher? You little… Get over here.” He said angrily, “Come here. Come here!” Lily pulled Mary back by her arm. “You won’t come?” He stepped towards her and everyone scrambled to move away from him or to stop him. He froze as he felt the blood drip from his nose, he turned away from the students and tried to wipe it but there was too much.
Remus came forward and smacked the back of his head with a backpack.
He turned around slowly, eyes wide as he glared at Remus and Sirius quickly jumped forward to grab his arm to pull him back. “Are you out of your mind?” The teacher asked, coming towards him. He took a few steps forward before collapsing face-first onto the floor. Everyone watched as the teacher began to transform, his bones cracking in odd places, his limbs all twisting and turning before he started growling.
Once the transformation finished, he stood up and ran straight for the person in front of him; Andromeda. He tackled her to the ground and bit her on the shoulder, Frank ran forward to pick the teacher up off of her and threw him at the wall.
“Andy…” Lily said weakly, Mary held onto her to stop her from getting too close.
Andromeda sat up, tears welling in her eyes, “Shit. What do I do? I don’t want to die.”
The zombie-teacher got back up off the floor and charged for Sirius who dived out of the way, when he turned back around, Sirius punched him in the face, pushing him off him and to the wall again. James picked up a table and charged towards him and trapped him between the table and the wall. Peter ran forward to help James push the table.
Bellatrix got up and scrambled towards the door, she threw all the furniture they had stacked in front of it out of the way. Andromeda got up and walked towards Bellatrix. She turned around when she heard the footsteps and started panicking, “Get away from me!” She yelled, “Get away!”
She kicked her in the chest and Andromeda fell over onto the floor, her bones began to crack. She laid on the floor for a bit before letting out a screech and getting up, running straight at Frank. He picked her up from behind and she struggled in his arms, “Help! Stop it Black!”
“We have to get out.” Sirius said, he ran to the door and helped Bellatrix move the furniture. “Everyone get out! Quick!” Bellatrix immediately ran out first, followed by Alice, Barty, Evan, Mary and Lily hand in hand, Regulus then Remus.
“James! Frank!” Sirius shouted. Frank threw Andromeda behind him into a pile of tables and ran out the door.
“Peter!” James yelled. Peter let go of the table and James used it to push the teacher onto the floor before dropping the table and all three of them ran out the door, Sirius shutting it behind him.
The twelve of them ran down the corridor, Bellatrix in the front until they had to stop when a zombie showed up in front of her. She slid to a stop and James ran forward from the back and jump-kicked him onto the floor. A swarm of zombies came down the stairs towards them and James expertly fought all of them off.
Sirius broke a windowpane from the wall and used it to start pushing the zombies back, Remus, Evan, Barty, Regulus and Frank doing the same.
“Oi! Get out of the way!” Peter shouted at them, he broke off the door of another classroom and ran towards them. They ducked out of the way as he held the door sideways, creating a wall between them and the zombies.
They pushed the zombies down the corridor, the rest of them running up to help until they reached the end where they pushed them down a flight of stairs, “Run upstairs! Go!” Frank shouted.
They all ran up the stairs, James staying behind to fight off a few more. After making it up one flight of stairs, Regulus turned right, wanting to go into the first classroom when a zombie ran out, “No! We have to go higher up!” Evan grabbed his arm, running up another flight of stairs.
“James!” Sirius shouted as one zombie pushed James, causing him to trip on the stairs.
“Just go without me!” James shouted back, “Hurry!” He was still fighting a zombie and Sirius left him reluctantly.
They had run halfway down the hallway before being swarmed by zombies, when they turned back around there were even more zombies. The guys were holding up their windows on one side pushing them back, while Peter with the door was blocking the other side. Alice, Lily and Mary helping him hold the door to push against the zombies.
“It’s locked!” Mary shouted when they had pushed back enough to reach the door to the science lab.
“Go somewhere else!” Alice shouted.
“Where? We’re surrounded!”
Lily crouched down and saw the fire hose reel past the zombies, “Peter! Keep pushing!” She joined them again as they pushed the door further back so she could grab the hose. She hit the lock repeatedly with the hose, trying to break the lock.
“It’s climbing over!” Remus shouted, pointing at a zombie that had jumped over the crowd of zombies. Sirius picked up his window pane and smacked it over the head of it, it fell to the floor and struggled through the legs of the zombies in front of her, managing to bite Mary in the leg.
“It’s open!” Lily shouted, finally breaking the lock, both sides gave one last big shove, pushing all the zombies over before running into the science lab. When Lily looked back out the window of the door, she spotted a phone on the floor. She checked the pocket of her jacket to find it was now empty.
Sirius ran over to where all the windows lined the walls of the corridor, zombies were still pushing against it, trying to get in. “Move the desks!” He shouted, Barty and Evan pushed one table under the windows while Peter and Remus lifted another one onto the first table, making it high enough to cover the window.
They repeated this with the rest of the windows, as Lily picked up a chair, Bellatrix ran up to her, grabbing her arm. “Where’s the phone? I’ll try calling again.”
“I dropped it.” Lily said quietly.
Bellatrix dropped her arms harshly, pushing her back, “How could you lose it?” She yelled.
“Who cares about that right now?” Peter said as he came over, grabbing another desk, “This is more urgent.”
“Who are you to butt in?” Bellatrix said, glaring at him.
“What?”
“It’s because you didn’t hold the door.” Bellatrix said, her eyes ablaze with anger, “If you had, the teacher wouldn’t have gotten in. Andromeda died and we all almost died because of you.”
“Then maybe you should have held the door.”
“You fucking asshole.”
Peter put down the table he was holding and marched over to her, shoving her backwards, “You bitch.”
She flung his arm off her, “How dare you touch me!” She screamed.
“Fight after you move these. This isn’t the time.” Alice scolded angrily.
“She’s right, just stop it.” Frank added.
“Fight after we finish this, Peter.” Barty said. Mary came over and dragged him away from her.
Bellatrix loosened her tie and threw it onto the floor, “This is so fucking annoying.” She said, kicking a chair as she stormed off to another corner of the room.
“Wait.” Regulus said suddenly, “Where’s James?” He looked at Sirius, “You were with him.”
“He was behind me, but…” Sirius said slowly.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.” Sirius answered, looking down, “He told me to go first.”
* * *
Marlene McKinnon was hiding in the bathrooms, sitting on the toilet seat, smoking a cigarette.
“We should stay here a bit longer.” Narcissa Black said, she was in the stall next to her, with Emma Vanity.
“Right, okay.” Emma said, “Do you think they’re gone? Shouldn’t we go out and call the cops?
“We can’t go out now. I’m sure they’re still out there.” Narcissa was leaning against the stall door while Emma sat on the toilet seat. Narcissa took a few sniffs of the air before wrinkling her nose, “Is someone smoking?”
“Yeah, I am. What about it?” Marlene said back.
“Well, it’s bad for you… Who are you?”
Emma put her finger to her lips, shushing Narcissa, “Leave her alone. It’s Marlene.” She said quietly.
“Marlene? Marlene McKinnon?”
Emma nodded. “Hey Narcissa? I’m really dizzy.” She said weakly.
Narcissa crouched down in front of her, “Is it bad? What do we do?”
“I don’t know. It’s weird. Everything sounds muffled, and I’m just really dizzy.” This piqued Marlene’s interest, her eyebrows knit together, stubbing her cigarette and standing up.
“It’s probably just from the shock.” Narcissa said. “We'll go to the hospital once things calm down outside, okay?”
“Okay.” Emma said, softly. Marlene left her stall and banged on the door of Narcissa’s.
“What!” Narcissa yelled, startled, “Who is it?”
“Open up.” Marlene banged on the door again. “Now!”
“Oh, you.” Narcissa said, unlocking the door. Marlene immediately grabbed her by the tie and pulled her out of the stall. When Emma tried to get up, she marched into the stall and pushed her down onto the seat.
“What’s wrong?” Emma asked. Marlene ripped Emma’s collar to the side, revealing the bite mark on her shoulder. She stepped back out of the bathroom and slammed the door shut, holding it in place.
“What are you doing?” Narcissa tried to push Marlene away but Marlene flung her off.
“Marlene.” Emma pleaded from the other side.
“Listen carefully,” Marlene said, glaring at the door, “You know how to play tag, yeah? When everyone hides to get away from the tagger. Well now.. you’re it.”
Blood dripped out of Emma’s nose, she tried more desperately to open the door.
“What are you doing? Hold the door!” Marlene shouted to Narcissa.
“But Emma…” Narcissa started.
Marlene groaned, “I told you, she was bit. Now get over here.” Narcissa sighed and grabbed onto the top of the stall door.
“Marlene, don’t do this.” Emma pleaded again, “I’m okay. Let me out.”
“Be quiet, zombie.”
“Narcissa, don’t do this. Let me out.” Emma tried again, “We came here together. I saved you, remember?” Narcissa looked up sadly.
“If you let her out, we'll all die.” Marlene said warningly, letting go of the door to grab a broom that was leaning against the wall.
Emma grabbed onto the top of the toilet stall and pulled herself up, once her head peaked over the stall, Marlene cursed before jabbing the broom in her face. Causing her to fall backwards and hit her head on the toilet.
“Get it together. Look up.” Marlene scolded.
“What do you want from me?” Narcissa yelled.
“If she turns we have to kill her.”
“Kill Emma?”
Marlene did at least look a little sympathetic, “That's not Emma anymore. She’s a zombie.” Emma’s neck jerked to the side with a crack.
“But still…” Narcissa mumbled.
“Do we have any other option?”
“I don’t know.”
Emma took a few breaths, “I can hear you, Marlene.”
“I know.”
“Well do you have to say it like that if you know?”
Marlene frowned, “You’re going to turn eventually.”
“I know,” Emma was whimpering in pain, her face scrunching up as her neck cracked every time she moved it, “But I’m going to kill you first.” She gasped, “I’ll kill you before I kill anyone else.”
“Psycho.” Marlene muttered.
“Marlene,” Emma bursted into tears, “I’m so scared-“ She mumbled before groaning.
Narcissa looked like she was trying not to cry as she held onto the door which was rattling with (now zombie) Emma’s efforts to open it. Marlene stuck the broom onto the ground at an angle and stepped on it, breaking off the part used for cleaning. She held the handle of it with the jagged edges to the door. She took a deep breath, “Get ready.” Narcissa looked around helplessly. “I said to get ready.”
“For what?” Narcissa asked in fear.
“To kill her.” Marlene stood up straight from her attack pose to deadpan at her. “Are you going to hold it forever?”
Narcissa let go of the door and took a few steps back. The door slowly opened wider, Emma was inside, facing away from them. She turned around to face them and screeched before running straight for Marlene. Marlene yelled as she jammed the broomstick into her mouth, going through her head. Emma was still moving towards her slowly and Marlene was backed up into the wall. “What are you doing?” She yelled. Narcissa was hiding in another stall watching them but she stepped out fearfully and helped Marlene push the stick back.
“Why won’t she die?" Marlene cried.
“I don’t know! Maybe this isn’t the spot!” Narcissa answered, shouting. They pushed her back into the stall but she grabbed onto the outside of the stall and pushed herself forward.
An arrow came flying through the air, shooting her in the neck and she collapsed onto the floor. “What…” Marlene murmured, stepping forwards to look at Emma’s body on the floor. Dorcas came into the bathroom pointing her bow and arrow at them. “Hey!” Marlene said, immediately putting her hands up at her sides. “Don’t. We’re human.” Dorcas only pulled the string tighter, in preparation to shoot. “We’re not zombies, you bitch.”
Pandora peaked in behind her, “I think they’re okay. Zombies don’t swear.”
“Shoot if they turn.” Dorcas said coldly. Pandora nodded once and put her bow up too.
Marlene threw her hands down and stepped closer to Dorcas, “Put your stupid arrow down. We’re not zombies!” She stopped and covered her ears when the speakers came on, the audio feedback ringing painfully.
“Students and teachers of Hogwarts High School.” McGonagall’s voice said shakily, “Something strange is happening throughout the school. Some students are attacking people indiscriminately, so please find a safe place and take shelter.” The zombies were clawing and reaching desperately for the speakers, “If any student or faculty hears this and is able, please call the police and the fire department.”
McGonagall's voice was growing more and more urgent, “Students, hide somewhere safe until help arrives. If you can get out of the school, please get out. I repeat, some students are…” She was gasping shortly, near tears. “Everyone… you’re okay, yes? You’re not hurt? I'm not sure what’s going on or why this is happening. But still, please find a safe place and hide. I’m sorry I can’t be of any help. Don’t get hurt, okay? Let’s stay alive and meet again. Okay?”
* * *
Sirius was sitting on top of a table, swinging his legs slightly as he watched Remus look out the window over the front lawn. Mary came over and sat next to him. “Remus asked you out earlier, didn’t he?”
“So what if he did?” Sirius said defensively.
“Give him your answer.” Mary said, jutting her chin out towards him.
“Leave me alone.”
“Don't snap at me?”
“And don't bother me.”
Mary narrowed her eyes at him, “Forget it.” She said, leaving him and walking over to where Lily was, also looking out the window. “Hey guys.” She sighed.
“Hi Mary.” Lily said in return, Remus smiled at her.
“Sirius is such a pain, Remus. Truly.” She said, closing her eyes. Remus snorted. Lily giggled and linked her hand with Mary’s on the windowsill. “I think he does like you back though.”
“Really?” Lily asked.
Remus raised an eyebrow at her, “Why are you so surprised?”
Lily’s eyes widened, “I- Not in a bad way! Just, he... Doesn’t seem like someone who makes it super obvious who he likes so I’m surprised Mary can tell.”
The three of them all laughed quietly before Mary continued, “He was so annoying when I tried to ask him about you and he was getting red too.”
“Mary, wait. Why are you so cold?” Lily asked suddenly, her voice going quiet.
“What?”
Lily pressed Mary’s hand up to her cheek. “Your hand is so…” Lily stopped, staring at Mary. Remus’ eyes widened as he took a few steps back.
“My hand is so what?” Mary let go of her hand as she felt the blood dripping from her nose, she quickly wiped it away and remembered the bite mark on her leg.
“Mary…” Lily gasped, “What’s wrong? Are you-“
“No!” Mary said quickly, a little louder, “I wasn’t bit. Really.” Lily stared at her fearfully. Remus looked over at Sirius and they made eye contact as Sirius frowned in confusion. “I mean it. I really wasn’t.” She glanced wearily at the others.
Evan hit Barty’s arm to wake him up, “Mary was bit.” He whispered. They were all glancing over at the three of them at the window.
Bellatrix looked up from where she was sitting at a table, “What’s going on?” She stood up once she saw Mary, “Were you bit?” She asked loudly.
“No, I wasn’t!” Mary shouted, running to look in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot, the blood still dripping from her nose.
Peter walked up to her slowly, “You’re okay, aren't you?”
Mary looked over at Lily, her vision had mostly gone, only seeing red and shadows of people. “Lily.” She said softly.
“Mary.” Lily said back.
They walked towards each other and Lily grabbed Mary’s hands. “No, right?” Mary asked. “I’m not like them, right?” Lily nodded, tears in her eyes, as she hugged Mary. Mary pushed Lily off, “I’m not. I’m not one of them.” She looked at Lily’s face searchingly. Lily just nodded again, trying to hug her.
“What are you guys doing?” Bellatrix said fearfully. “Get her out of here!” She yelled, causing all the zombies outside to claw at the windows.
“Shit! They’re trying to climb over.” Barty said, jumping onto a table to hold onto the tables and chairs they had stacked.
“No.” Mary pushed Lily off again, holding onto her arms. “I’m fine!” Remus walked over slowly, grabbing Lily’s arm to pull her away.
Lily struggled against him slightly but there was distance between her and Mary now. “Lily.” Mary said, taking a step towards her and collapsing onto the floor.
“Let go!” Lily cried, she flung Remus’ hand off and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders instead, the two of them moving backwards.
Mary was transforming, her body twitched and cracked on the floor. “Hurry! Do something!” Bellatrix shouted. “Throw her out the window.” Mary’s body started jerking forwards and backwards.
“Don't! Let go of me!” Lily continued crying, Remus still holding her back with effort, tears coming out of his eyes too as he watched. “Not Mary please.”
“Quickly! She’s turning into a zombie!” Bellatrix shouted. Once Mary had transformed, she got up slowly and turned around. After a second, she ran at Remus and Lily. Remus let go of Lily as he pushed Mary away.
Sirius picked up a stool and ran forwards, pushing Mary back with it. Remus grabbed Lily again as she tried to help Mary. “Stop it!” Lily shouted. “Don’t you dare, Sirius Black!”
Mary stopped attacking Sirius and turned her focus to Lily. “Shit.” Remus said, trying to duck out of the way with Lily but she refused to move. Sirius ran forwards and body-slammed her into the window, the glass breaking on impact as she fell through it. She managed to grab onto the frame of the window with one hand, her fingers starting to slip. Lily broke from Remus' grasp and grabbed onto Mary’s arm just as she began to fall. Remus ran forward but Peter stopped him.
“What are you doing? Let go.” Sirius said as he leaned out the window, trying to break Lily’s hands off of Mary’s arm.
“Mary.” She mumbled, crying. Their memories together flashing through her mind as she sobbed.
Bellatrix kicked a stool towards Sirius, it hit his leg and he looked down. He picked up the stool and started hitting Mary’s arms with it.
“Let go, Lily. She’s going to pull you out this window with her.” He hit Mary’s arms a few more times until Lily couldn’t hold on any longer and she dropped her. Lily stood up straight with tears in her eyes. Sirius brought the stool back up with him and he glanced warily at Lily. “I’m sorry.” He said softly.
She glared at him with all the anger she could muster before she crumbled to the floor, covering her face with her arms, crying. Remus and Alice moved Lily to a table and comforted her as she continued to cry. Sirius looked at her sadly and Remus shook his head. He turned around and saw everyone pushing against the furniture on the doors. “We need to get out, we won't last here much longer.”
“Where would we go?” Evan asked. “And how?”
“The hose from earlier.” Sirius answered, “Peter?”
Peter looked over at Sirius, “Yeah?” Sirius continued to look at him. “What is it?”
Sirius walked over to where Peter was in front of the door and pulled him back. “Open it just a little.” They were looking at the tables stacked hazardously. “Enough for the hose to fit.” Trying to convince Peter who looked skeptical.
He huffed, “Isn’t it better to just wait until the rescuers come?”
“We could all die if we wait.”
“This might kill us faster.” Peter’s eyes widened, “If we-“
“Is waiting for someone really the best thing we can do?” Sirius frowned.
“Ah fuck it.” Peter sighed, he moved a few things and Sirius was able to open a crack in the door for his arm to fit through.
The hose Lily had used to break the lock was lying on the floor, in the middle of the corridor. Sirius laid down on the floor and reached as far as he could for the rope but his arm just wasn’t long enough. He shuffled back into the room slowly and closed the door. “Did you get it?” Peter asked when he stood up. Sirius ignored him and opened the supply closet to the science lab. “Where are you going?”
Sirius looked around for something that would help him, before breaking the arm off of the human model. He opened the door and with the extra length added, he was able to grab the hose. He closed the door again and pulled in the rest of the rope. “Frank, hold the door.” Peter said, he moved away from it and helped pull as much of the hose into the room as possible.
“Okay.” Sirius said, “Help me make knots.” Alice left Lily with Remus and went to help Sirius.
“How?” She asked as she moved some of the rope so it was evenly distanced.
“Wrap it and tie it. So a hand or a foot could fit.” Sirius answered.
“Zigzag.” Frank called out, “Tie them in a zigzag. In fifty centimetre increments.”
Peter moved to the other side of the rope and tied a knot there. Soon the three of them had put knots all along the rope. Sirius gathered the rope in his arm and Peter moved a chair under the window, opening it up. He threw the rope out the window and the two of them looked out. “Can we make it?” Peter whispered, looking down.
“I’ll go down and check the empty rooms. Come when I tell you to.” Sirius answered. Alice and Evan walked over to the window, Sirius climbed onto the windowsill but upon catching sight of Remus still consoling Lily he got down again.
“What are you doing?” Peter asked. “Go down.” He smacked Sirius on the back.
Sirius got back down from the windowsill. “You go first.”
“Why!” Peter exclaimed, “Did you see something?”
“No. Just go.”
“What’s down there…” He asked skeptically.
Evan sighed, “Just go, you’ve got this.”
“You go!”
“Just go already!” Alice said.
“Yeah, you've got this.” Evan said, trying to push Peter up onto the chair.
Peter refused, “Then you go, asshole.”
“No. You can do it.”
“For fucks sake.” Peter got onto the chair and shakily stepped onto the windowsill, crouching there. He prepared to grab the rope then hesitated again, “Rock, paper, scissors?” He asked.
“Grab the rope and go.” Alice said.
Evan held his arm as he tried to step into the first loop. “Don’t be a wuss.” He looked down, “Can you reach it?”
“Where the hell is it?” Peter asked, he moved his foot around a bit more before finally stepping into it. “Okay, I got it.” The rope was extremely shaky, Peter muttering curses the entire time but eventually he got to the third floor where a zombie immediately ran up to the window. "Holy shit, okay I'll keep going." He climbed down a bit more, "Fuck you, by the way." He said to the zombie.
Bellatrix pushed through Evan and Sirius who were leaning out the window, watching Peter. “I want to go down first.” They both pushed her back.
“One person at a time. You might fall if it shakes too much.” Sirius said.
“I won’t shake it.” She glanced towards all the zombies at the door, “How long do I have to wait?” She asked. Alice was glaring at her like she wanted to punch her.
“Just a little while.” Sirius muttered.
The nozzle of the hose was repeatedly hitting the window of the second floor, the closer Peter got to it. Professor McGonagall came out of that room upon hearing the noise, “Peter!” She shouted in surprise.
“Professor!” Peter shouted in return, finally stepping onto the windowsill and getting off the rope.
McGonagall opened the window and immediately helped Peter through, “What are you doing, Pettigrew! Are you okay? Quickly, quickly. Be careful.” She kept saying, relief flooding through her.
Once Peter stepped into the classroom, he looked upwards out the window again, “Sirius! McGonagall is here!”
Sirius stood up straight excitedly, “Professor McGonagall is on the second floor!” He said.
“Second floor? The broadcasting room?” Barty asked.
“Are you okay?" McGonagall asked Peter, grabbing his arm. Peter nodded. “Were you with the others?”
“They’re in the science lab. They’ll come down now.” They both looked out the window, “Come down!” Peter shouted to them.
McGonagall stood back up into the classroom and sighed loudly in relief. She smacked Peter’s arm, the tears streaming down her face. “What?” Peter asked quietly. She just sighed again, rubbing her temple.
Slowly, they all began climbing down. First Bellatrix, who despite hating Peter, had very eagerly grabbed his hand and accepted his help climbing into the room before seemingly remembering she hated him and flinging him off. Then Barty, who hugged McGonagall once he was on his two feet again inside the classroom.
“Climb down safely, okay?” Alice said to them, as she got onto the rope. She made it down faster than anyone else and Frank followed her. His leg had cramped on his way down and he fell into the classroom, Barty helped him stretch out his leg which was really just Frank lying on his back with his leg out and Barty pushing down on it causing Frank to scream.
Evan climbed down, muttering to himself the whole time. Since there were so many people downstairs at that point, he was practically carried into the room. Regulus left a pink sticky note on the wall for James which said “James, we’re in the broadcasting room. Regulus.” Which he stuck it to the wall before climbing down the rope.
It was only Remus, Sirius and Lily left, nobody was there blocking the windows or door and the zombies were dangerously close to getting in. Sirius had watched and helped everyone go down before he finally approached Remus and Lily. Lily wasn’t crying anymore, she just sat there expressionless.
“Lils, it’s time to go.” Remus said softly.
Sirius grabbed her arm and pulled her to the window. “Sirius-“
“Go down.” Sirius said strictly.
“Mary-“ She said sadly.
“Get it together. Who here hasn’t lost a friend? Think of all the people who have died. Why are you…”
Remus cut in and smacked Sirius' arm, causing him to let go of Lily. “That’s enough, Sirius.” He turned to Lily, “She would want you to keep going, Lils, you can’t stop here, we have to go.”
“There’s literally no one left I like anyway.” She looked up to avoid more tears, “You two go on without me.”
“Ouch.”
Sirius scoffed, “Don’t be ridiculous. There are plenty of people who like you, and you and Remus are obviously close.” He glanced at Remus slightly. “And your firefighter dad who’s probably coming to save us, you have to live for them.”
Remus smiled at Sirius and grabbed the first loop of the rope, handing it to Lily. “Let’s go.” She nodded slightly and climbed onto the windowsill, finally going down. “Good work.” Remus said softly, the two of them leaning out the window and watching Lily climb.
He laughed slightly, “Least I could do after killing her best friend.” He said, guiltily.
“You did not kill her. You saved the rest of us.” Remus sighed softly, “I just wish it wasn’t Mary. She was the best of us.”
Sirius sighed too, “She was. I’m sorry. I know you two were close too.”
Remus shook his head, “Not nearly as close as those two. But she’ll be okay, she's stronger than anyone else.”
“Yeah.” Sirius smiled. Lily climbed into the room and they both stood back up. “Ladies first.” He grinned. Remus rolled his eyes but got onto the rope anyway. “Be careful.”
“You too.” Remus said, before climbing down and making it to the broadcasting room. Sirius got onto the windowsill as Remus made his way in.
The door to the science lab finally crumbled under the weight of all the zombies, and they all came running in, the glass broke due to the amount of them, the crowd of zombies flying out the window, pushing Sirius with them out the window.