War Games
by Llama



Challenge: Written for the arth_hp Brushstrokes and Broomsticks ficathon, for the painting 'Children's Games' by Pieter Breughel - http://www.abcgallery.com/B/bruegel/bruegel13.html.
Warnings: AU - Muggle Marauders
Notes: Thanks to skuf for betaing under difficult circumstances!


*****


Sirius Black dived over the makeshift barricade as if the devil himself was after him, and crash-landed in a heap on the other side.

"That was a close one," he panted, but behind the sweaty strands of black hair, his eyes were shining with excitement and mischief.

Peter moved his leg out of the way quickly as Sirius scrabbled to get next to Remus. He'd already been trampled on twice today by Sirius in his boundless enthusiasm, and that was more than enough.

There was very little Sirius enjoyed more than an attack on enemy territory, which was why it happened so often. Peter couldn't see why they couldn't do something else for a change, but it was rare they were bored enough to follow any of his suggestions. As far as he was concerned there were plenty of interesting things they could do in the village or in their own houses, and not out here in the woods where there were insects and dirt, and roots to trip over every time James decided they were going 'out on manoeuvres'. Maybe things that wouldn't scrape his knees and make his clothes filthy so that his mother shouted at him.

All the same, he went, because… well, it was James, wasn't it? Then it dawned on him that Sirius had come back alone.

"Where's James?"

Sirius grinned, a manic pleasure lighting up his dirty face. "Oh, he's just going to finish off the trap. He'll be here any second."

Sure enough there was a scrabbling sound from above not a moment later, and a lanky, scruffy-haired boy landed on Peter's foot.

"Ow!"

"Bloody hell, Pete, I nearly broke my neck there! Watch where you put those great clunking feet of yours."

Remus rolled his eyes at Peter, who gave him a rather watery smile in return, and moved his legs yet again.

"Did you do it?" Sirius grabbed James by the arm and dragged him over to the spyhole in the barricade. "Where is it, I can't see it?"

"Of course you can't see it. That's the idea, you thick bastard."

"Fuck off, Potter."

Sirius aimed a punch at James, who promptly grabbed Sirius round the neck and dragged him to the floor, pulling his jumper over his head. The pair of them staggered backwards blindly towards Remus, who jumped to his feet and didn't quite manage to pull Peter away from the scene of the struggling pile-up in time.

"Sorry, Peter." Remus was clearly trying not to laugh, but Peter wasn't finding any of it very funny underneath the dead weight of their two friends, who had very sharp elbows and weren't fussy about where they put them.

"I'm bored with this game. I'm going home." Peter struggled to his feet, wincing at the bruises he could feel coming up on his leg.

"You want me to come with you?"

Remus at least was a little sympathetic; although Peter had no doubt that he'd rather stay than leave the others.

"You can't go now! You'll give the game away, and this is the best trick ever!" Sirius pushed Remus and Peter towards the spy hole. "It won't take long, but we need to watch."

Peter had no idea what the trap was he was looking for, but he couldn't see anything… and then, coming through the trees, he could. A girl of their age with striking red hair, wearing a slightly grubby dress.

"Sirius?" Remus' voice in his ear was puzzled. "What's that Evans girl doing here?"

"What?" James landed next to them heavily, and pushed forward to peer through the gap in the planks and boxes.

"She's not part of the plan." Sirius pressed his face into the crush as well. "She's going to ruin it all."

"Bloody girls," James muttered and pulled himself back up and over the barrier.

They watched as James dashed over no-man's-land and grabbed the girl by the arm.

"Oh, that was a mistake." Remus groaned.

Sirius swore. "She's going to be difficult, I just know it."

"When isn't she?" Peter watched James drag the girl gradually towards them. "Oh no, he's bringing her here."

"Get off my arm, Potter!"

"Not until you're out of the way, Evans, now get in there."

She landed with a thud behind the barrier and straightened up.

"The usual suspects, then?" She grimaced at the dirty hideout, sniffing and brushing her skirts down.

Sirius folded his arms. "You can either wait quietly until we're done, or you can go back out there and take your chances with our trap. It's up to you, Evans, but if I miss the trick because of you…"

James pushed them both towards the gap, and Evans glared at him. She leaned down and peered through the hole all the same, however.

"I still can't see a thing," she said, standing up again. "Even for one of your stupid games, this is a bit crap, Potter."

"Shut up and watch."

She nudged Peter over and squeezed into the gap. They all stared at the clearing for a few moments. There was silence, apart from the occasional rustle of the treetops above them and a bird fluttering in the bushes.

"What are we actually watching for?" Evans seemed to be intrigued despite her objections, squinting from side to side.

The boys exchanged disbelieving glances, and Peter sniggered. Honestly, did she know nothing?

"Well, you see, Evans," Sirius spoke as if explaining things to a very small child. "Over there," and he pointed to a large tree surrounded by undergrowth at the far end of the clearing, "is my cousins' treehouse."

"Oh." Evans sounded less than excited by this news. "Should I care?"

"It's enemy territory!" James was incredulous. "They come and attack our hut at least once a week—"

"It was earwigs last week," said Sirius, and Evans blanched.

Peter hid a grin behind his hand. They all knew she didn't like creepy-crawlies.

"Yeah. So they've asked for this." Sirius turned back to the peephole.

"That could have just been, y'know, nature?" Remus sounded uncomfortable questioning his friends, as always. "It does happen."

Sirius gave him a pitying look. "It was them, Remus, I know it was."

"Oh, really, do grow up." Evans sounded annoyed, but Peter noticed she was still careful to keep looking out of the spy hole all the same.

"Here we go!" Sirius' voice dropped to a whisper, and he nodded towards the far end of the clearing.

They all tried to cram at once into the tiny space affording a good view, the barricade rocking dangerously and almost toppling over.

"It's Snivellus!" Sirius pumped his fist in the air. "Yes!"

"I bet they're sending him to the sweet shop again." Peter just managed to squint at the shabby black-clad figure before he was shoved aside once more. "Yes, look, he's counting something."

"I don't care where he's going, just where he's going to end up," Sirius breathed, his eyes fixed on the skinny figure dropping coins back into his pocket.

"I don't think I want to look." Evans turned away, and everyone but Remus crowded closer to fill the gap.

"That's it Snivellus, just a bit further this way…"

There was a yell and a whoosh from the clearing, and a tinkle of coins bouncing off stones and ricocheting into the trees. Peter just caught a glimpse of something black flying up into the air before he was almost knocked over by Sirius and James jumping up to celebrate the success of their plan.

"Got him!" Sirius shouted, tumbling out from behind the barricade after James. "Ha! Look at him!"

Peter ran after them, breathing heavily. The figure in black was struggling wildly to free himself from the noose that dangled him upside down by his ankle from the treetops. The more he struggled, the more he swung round in circles, and his baggy t-shirt was already almost off, hanging from his pale skinny arms and showing off his thin chest. He was clutching desperately at his pockets, trying to save some of the coins from flying out.

"How do you like our trap then, Snivellus?"

James grabbed a stick from the undergrowth and poked the boy in the side.

"You know, I think we've caught our very own earwig, Sirius. Look at the ugly great thing flapping about—"

He broke off as something hard bounced off the side of his head, and Peter turned to see Evans marching towards them.

"Let him down, Potter! That's not funny, you… animal."

A flailing foot caught her elbow, and she jumped out of the way. James gave the dangling boy a vicious poke with the stick.

"Now, now, Snivellus, there's no need to get like that. Ungrateful little wretch, aren't you? She was the only one on your side."

Evans just rubbed her elbow and scowled at every one of them.

"You're all as bad as—", she started, but was interrupted by a peal of unpleasant laughter.

"Potter, and my dear snotty little cousin – I might have known."

A tall girl with straight black hair stood at the head of a scruffy rabble of boys. Bellatrix Black was not only Sirius' eldest cousin, but one of the toughest and dirtiest fighters in the village. Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange were covertly fighting over something one of them had clasped in one fist, presumably trying not to attract their leader's attention. Behind them there was a shorter boy jumping up to get a look at what was going on. Peter peered out from behind Remus trying to see… was that--?

"Regulus?" Sirius' voice was incredulous. "What are you doing with that lot? You treacherous little shit!"

The boy just gave a sly smile and slipped his hand into Bellatrix's.

"Regulus knows winners when he sees them, little cousin." She smirked around at them all. "What a pity you don't have the brains of your baby brother."

"If you've quite finished with the family reunion." The dangling figure of Severus Snape was still thrashing upside down, and spitting mad by the sound of it, "I'd like to get down so I can wring Potter's scrawny little neck!"

Bella nodded at her henchmen to cut Severus down, and James gestured his gang and Evans to fall back out of the way.

"In your dreams, Snivellus!" Sirius shouted, and Evans slapped him on the arm.

"Can't any of you just leave it alone?"

"When they do."

Severus lunged at Sirius, but Bellatrix pulled him back sharply.

"They're not worth the effort, Severus", she said. "But they'll get what's coming to them, don't you worry."

The group backed off into the trees, and Peter let out his breath at last.

James seemed almost disappointed. "Now what are we going to do?"

Peter opened his mouth to speak, but Sirius beat him to it.

"I've got something we can do," said Sirius, and Peter slumped back down again. Nobody was going to listen to him if Sirius had a plan.

"There's this house," he said, lowering his voice, "where this Master Criminal lived--"

"Huh." Evans was still scowling, although Peter couldn't think what she was still doing there. It wasn't like they allowed girls in their gang.

"Problem, Evans?" James tapped the stick against his shoulder, fidgeting as usual.

"Master criminals don't exist," she said promptly. "And if they did, they wouldn't be hanging out in a poxy little village like this."

"And how would you know? You don't even know where this house of Sirius' is yet, but you're an expert?"

"It's common sense, Potter!" She yelled right in his face, ignoring the others.

"No wonder you have it then!"

They stared at each other, and Peter thought she almost smiled. Girls were weird.

"Anyway," said Sirius, sounding almost subdued after the shouting match, "it's not quite in the village, it's on the other side of the woods."

"Oh well, that makes all the difference," muttered Evans, but she didn't put up any further protest.

"Lead on then, number two," James handed the stick to Sirius, who took it with a lopsided grin and headed off into the trees.

The journey was tense and edgy. The group just didn't feel right with a fifth member tagging along, Peter decided, and Lily Evans was too clever for her own good as well as being a girl. He exchanged a glance with Remus at the back of the group when Sirius led them through a pair of rusted gates and up an overgrown drive. Remus seemed almost as reluctant to go through with this as he was.

"Does this master criminal have a name?" Remus asked as they all picked their way between the nettles and bindweed to the front door.

Sirius leapt up to the top step and swept round with the stick.

"Oh yes. His name strikes fear into the hearts of good men everywhere. There is no bank, no fortress, no place at all secure enough to keep out the evil that is…" he paused for a dramatic flourish, four mouths open and faces agog with suspense below him, "… Doctor V!"

Peter and Remus turned to look at James. Evans gave a low huff behind them.

"That is a cool name," James admitted, smiling in approval, and Sirius' grin widened. Peter and Remus nodded agreement and blatantly ignored Evans' sceptical noises.

"Yeah." Peter still didn't want to go in the place, though. "I'll be lookout, shall I?"

"All right by me," said Sirius, tugging at the door. "Follow me, intrepid adventurers!"

Peter sat down on the step as the others disappeared inside. The sun was fading slowly into early evening, although it would be light for a couple of hours yet.

He'd only been on lookout for a few minutes when there was a low murmur of approaching voices and a thump behind him. He scurried down the steps as fast as he could, and Sirius burst out of the door with a very white-faced Remus leaning heavily on his arm.

"What happened?"

Remus looked a bit sheepish. "It's rather dark in there, couldn't see where I was going." There was a nasty jagged gash in his leg, and blood trickled across the dusty steps with each lurch of his body.

He sat down with some difficulty, wincing at the first clear sight of his injured leg.

Sirius straightened up and grabbed the door handle again. "I'll get the others and we can head back. Keep an eye on him, Pete."

Peter just nodded, and watched as Sirius pulled at the door. It rattled and shook, but refused to budge.

"What the—" Sirius pulled harder, bracing his foot against the door-frame.

There was a blood-curdling scream from inside the house, and Sirius turned as pale as Remus.

"Sirius!"

"Damnit Remus, I'm trying!" Sirius threw himself bodily at the door, but all it did was rattle and groan at him in a wooden imitation of laughter.

Another shriek ripped through the air, a very masculine one this time. Peter cringed. He'd never known James to so much as wince, let alone shout.

A chill shuddered across the exposed steps, as if the sun's warmth passed that spot by, the light receding with it until every tall, spiky weed was a sinister shadow in the dim green glow that flared from behind boarded-up windows.

And then nothing. Peter could feel the silence ring in his ears louder than any sound, shuddering through the long grass and broken railings.

They all seemed to be frozen for a moment, and Peter thought he would remember that moment forever. Remus, his leg stretched out and torn, nose in the air as if he could sniff out trouble; Sirius staring in disbelief at the door, motionless.

And the world swung back into normal motion.

Peter jumped towards the side of the path quickly as Sirius bolted through the weeds towards the gate.

"Going to get help," he panted, "Keep an eye on—"

And he was gone, flashing through the trees in a streak of red and yellow.

"Peter? Are you there?"

Peter could hear Remus' voice calling after him, high and scared, but he slipped out of the gates and along the lane at the edge of the trees.

"You've done well, little Peter." Bellatrix stepped out of the woods in front of him, her shadows behind her.

He glowed in her presence, a shot of pure pleasure running through him at her praise.

"I told you Sirius wouldn't be able to resist taking the credit for finding the place," he smirked. "He probably doesn't even remember it was my idea. None of them would ever do anything I suggested."

"Your insights into my cousin's mind are a valuable asset." She smiled at him and the sun shone a little brighter on his little patch of grass. "And that place is full of traps and holes; it will keep them out of our hair for some time."

Severus fell in beside Peter as they strolled back into the shade of Little Hangleton woods.

"I thought you were going to use the name on those papers you found in the house for the 'master criminal'?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah, I was. But I changed my mind in the end."

He laughed, the sound echoing too loud among the trees.

"After all, who'd believe in a super-villain called 'Lord Voldemort'?"


*****


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