Remus sat in the hospital wing being watched by James and Sirius while Madam Pomfrey grabbed a salve. He was never allowed to be alone, the two agreed. This was after having dragged him out of a broom closet after some older Slytherin boys locked him in there after brutally beating him, breaking his arm, twisting his ankle, and then leaving with a Boggart after stealing his wand.
They knew Lupin was not okay and neither were they. The trio promised to forever stay a bundle, but damn did the two of them ache for revenge. A sickening ache like somewhere in their minds gears began working in reverse and all they wanted was to see spilled blood.
Once Madam Pomfrey kicked them out for the night (it was late and she wanted to keep an eye on Remus) the two bid farewell and headed back to the dorm. Madam Pomfry had pushed them out several times that day so instead they’d taken turns finding the boys who hurt their best friend, and locking them in a dusty unused closet like they did Remus. Except this time they didn’t get to suffer with a bogart without a wand… James and Sirius gagged them and tied them to chairs--oh and confiscated their wands.
Those boys were going to beat their fucking asses, and Sirius and James were the only ones qualified to take it. Staff wouldn’t do enough and Remus would let it happen over again because despite being strong in the face of danger he could be timid and vulnerable.
The two grabbed the box containing the supplies needed for the night and slipped on the invisibility cloak. They walked into the hall with the closet with heavy looks of revenge. James looked around for Filch while Sirius dragged each student one by one into the never-used classroom they’d prepared earlier that day. Nice and dirty, dusty, and ready to watch the wooden floorboard soak up brilliant reds.
“You boys fucked up. You hurt our best friend… So now-heh-you get a beating from hell.”
Sirius had stolen from Filch’s toolbox months ago and found perfect uses for his stuff. Gloves on, and one by one they listened to the boys scream as they slowly pulled off each of their fingernails, having to choke down their tongues not to laugh maniacally. The two of them had gone deep end if that was even the right words.
If these men wanted to physically and mentally assault their friend, well they better be able to get served what they dish out.
The two clearly had gone mad, sadistic even, they had muffled laughs and smiles painted across their faces as they watched the tormentors cry and writhe in pain, but they didn’t care. Thoes fuckers didn’t give Remus any fucks when they tortured him, so they were going to send it right back.
Once the green-robed males were crying and panting while recovering from the first step in their punishment, James and Sirius asked if they’d had any remorse. Some did, others didn’t--so they showed the few with a heart a lighter treatment, and well… the opposite to those other bitches. They watched the blood drip steadily and tears cascade with them. They gently wiped the tools off on the student's robes. Can’t show any evidence of it being them.
A broken finger here and there, a nice black eye or two-hah, bruises galore, oh--and some nice fresh cuts to cherry the top of their dessert of pain--and the two were done--or that's what they told the victims.
One by one the two escorted the bound males over to the Grand Staircase with a foul grin. “Au revoir!” Then they pushed them down the locked steps, watching them hurt themselves even more. Each Slytherin, who partook in the event of tormenting Remus Lupin, got a nice roll of extra bloody pain down the Grand Staircase.
James and Remus gently turned to each other and merrily headed to the bathroom, showed off the ruby paint, and dressed in their most comfortable winter pajamas they’d packed. They hummed Christmas melodies with dark twists as they merrily skipped back gently to their dorm-like nothing had happened.
The next morning the crazy scandal shocked the school. Students all around believed that the Slytherin boys had crossed some upperclassmen from the Slytherin house and that’s why they’d been assaulted… but that wasn’t the truth. The truth was far worse in their eyes, and to tell that they’d physically and mentally harmed another student just for that student's friend to find them all and brutally torture them for hours upon hours the prior night was something they’d go to the grave with.
They’d said some bull face story about falling down the stairs after sneaking out at night and refusing to elaborate any further.
Sirius had previously vowed to never be like his family… but to be fair they had some good methods when it came to revenge… And that was only the start. Every time they saw a student suffering at the hands of another in a similar way to Lupin--both would do something about it. Didn’t matter the house, it didn't matter the age… they all saw the same treatment.
The boys had become tyrants and Hogwarts was their palace… Lupin disowned them and that made them go ballistic. Peter was basically a wimpy little nobody who always hid behind them, so they shoved him into the spotlight and blamed everything on him. A useless twerp they called him, and a perfect alibi for them.
“Oh, we tried to stop Peter! He’s crazy! Tortured so many boys and girls! We had to report him to you!”
Delinquents was never a term that fit, and tyrants felt too casual… gods felt too bold, and kings felt too regal… but the name given by the school felt virtuous… The Executioner.
Despite the fabled Executioner being one person in the eyes of the student body and faculty, the two held the title with valor.
That’s why when a letter came inviting them to join a very important organization that usually only held spots for those of the Slytherin variety they didn’t hesitate. The two hopped on the train and never looked back. To the grave, they would go brandishing pain and glory on their victims' poor little fragile bodies.
Now years later as the Order of The Phoenix hunted them, they smiled and grinned towards their newfound friends and family. Silver masks blocking out their placid faces, crazed eyes, and shattered minds. They would ride into battle, wands at the ready, and arms brandishing their loyalty.
“James… Sirius… what happened to you!?” Spoke the saddened and soft voice that fired back spells at them. Their hearts dropped a step but rose when they heard the comforting voice behind them. “They found their true calling… Unlike you.”
“Remus, you could’ve joined us… partaken in our beautiful rituals… performed just as exquisitely as we do.”
The tears that splattered the pavement couldn’t describe how hurt he was, his legs buckled and he fell forward. “How could I ever be like you? You’ve hurt so many people!”
“Let us show you.”
“Don’t you dare touch me!” He yelled back flinging spells like a madman. He still just couldn’t accept his friends had gone this far.
Wands shot back and Remus lay, thrown rather, against a brick wall watching the two kneel before him.
“We’ll make you see the light. Marauder’s forever… right?”