"YOU WHAT!?" James screamed at Sirius.

"I told Snivillus that if he was really curious about where Remus went every night to press the knot of the willow and check it out himself. Serves him right too, sneaking around like that," Sirius said, mumbling the last part even laughing a little.

James hardly heard him, however. Hoping against hope that he wasn't too late, he grabbed the map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," James said tapping the map.

"What are you doing?" asked Sirius following James.

"I can't… just, shut up right now!"

Snape was already heading down. James had to get there before Snape. Wearing the invisibility cloak, he ran out onto the grounds with the full moon shinning above foreshadowing horrible events to take place. James saw him, pulled off the cloak and yelled at him to stop, all he got in return was a sneer. No, stupid idiot, listen James pleaded, to no avail. He ran as fast as he could, afraid he was going to be too late. No, he told himself, being late was not an option.

Snape already pressed the knot. James ran even faster and entered the willow soon after. He kept running inside the passageway finally caught up with his enemy. Snape had stopped dead in his tracks, staring in frozen horror at the werewolf. Wasting no time, James grabbed Snape and pushed him out of the way just as Remus lunged to Snape. Knowing the movements of his friend after so many years of spending fulls moons with him, James knew when to dodge and when to run. Of course, James usually was in the form of a stag. This time, he was human. The werewolf made another strike this time at James. He was just fast enough to move out of the way. James, dodging the strikes and distracting Remus, threw the invisibility cloak at Snape.

"It's an invisibility cloak, put it on and run. Don't look back," James told him.

Snape asked no questions and did as he was told. Just as Snape disappeared James transformed into his stag form to take control.

It was a long night. Keeping Remus under control had been very difficult since he had smelled human flesh. They both ended up in the hospital wing that morning. Sirius had come in to visit them, but James only pretended to be asleep. They had yet to tell Remus what happened, and James didn't even want to think how upset Remus would be with himself.

James was cleared that afternoon, the spells and potions had worked their magic. Sirius had cornered James in their room.

"Would you quit your moping? I don't know why you are taking this seriously, mate, it was just a joke, a prank!"

James rounded on him, "No, it wasn't just a joke. HOW COULD YOU!? YOU PUT SOMEONE'S LIFE IN DANGER! DO YOU EVEN REALIZE THAT? HE COULD HAVE BEEN BITTEN!"

"AND IT WOULD HAVE SERVED HIM RIGHT!" Sirius yelled back.

"HOW CAN YOU EVEN SAY THAT!? We see each and every full moon what happens to Moony. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, how can you?"

"Some people don't deserve it, like Moony, but others, I'm not so sure. It would have taught him a lesson nonetheless,"

"I don't even know if I can call you my friend right now. You are such a heartless bastard. What if Remus would have gotten out of the shack? More than just Snape would have been hurt. Remus would have gotten expelled from school. And all because of an idiot! YOU DON'T THINK DO YOU? All you think about is yourself, and you don't stop to think about the consequences your actions cause! Remus is going to hate himself when he finds out what almost happened! Do you only think of yourself? You are so selfish! Maybe… maybe you do deserve the last name of Black."

It was the worst thing James could have said to his best friend. He gave Sirius a cold stare as Sirius looked at James open mouthed in shock.

"Fine," and with that Sirius got up and left.

James only said that to Sirius in anger, and he knew that in time Sirius would realize that too. But, regardless, Sirius needed to know how his action could affect people in more ways than just his immediate thoughts, and James didn't think he got it yet.

Dumbledore called James up to his office to talk about the incident that occurred. James told him everything he knew in the greatest detail he could manage leaving out the part about him becoming a stag. His anger and frustration leaking managing to weave its way into the story.

"I am glad to hear that you understand the severity of the situation. You were very brave last night, Mr. Potter. Standing up to your friends and risking your life for a mutual enemy in front of dangerous odds is no easy task. And yet you did it. Gryffindor house is awarded 75 points. I know you feel as though you had no choice to save Severus Snape, but you did, and you were a hero last night."

Surprised, James looked into those wise blue eyes feeling them seemingly looking through him to his core. He quickly looked down, afraid of the intensity.

"I have already spoken to Mr. Snape, Mr. Lupin's secret will remain secret. Before you leave there is one more thing I wish to say. Mr. Snape now owes you his life, and even though you wish him not to, you may find it will come in handy in years to come. Dangerous times, I fear, are approaching. Do not take this lightly, he can still cause you pain, and he can still raise a wand your direction. That is all."

James headed back to the Gryfindore common room looking defeated even though he had just won Gryffindor 75 house points. He wished last night hadn't even happened. And even though he knew Sirius and him would make up eventually, it was going to be a while, and the thought that the group was going to be split for even a small amount of time was very upsetting. This was the first true fight that him and his best friend had gotten into, and it hurt, but James was so mad at Sirius right now that even if he tried to apologize to his best friend only angry words would spill out of his mouth. So, there James sat, on the couch of the Gryffindor common room, alone while everyone else ate dinner.

After dinner, all the students traveled back up to the common room. News of last nights' event had traveled around Hogwarts spreading rumors about the castle. As student filed past, James heard snippets of conversations.

"Did you hear that James Potter saved Snape from a Troll?"

"No, it wasn't a troll, silly, it was ghosts!"

"James Potter got his leg cut off, and he magically grew it back!"

Of course, like most rumors there was only a hint of truth being spread from person to person. And James, who usually loved the attention, had to shove it off. Right now, he just wanted to be left alone. As Sirius walk past his eyes found James' looking for an apology, and he received a glare. So, Sirius traveled up to the dormitory, leaving James to wallow in his thoughts.

"Hey," greeted Lily. "You seem a bit down."

"Yeah," responded James.

"Would you like to join me in a game of chess?"

"Why?" James asked curious.

Lily shrugged, "You seem different, and miserable. I see that you and friends are fighting. Maybe you would like one right now."

She knew what it was like to loose a best friend. And even though Sirius and James would make up eventually, as a friendship like theirs could never die, she saw how morose he was. There was no boosting of his deeds and no showing off. This was simply James.

James nodded his agreement to play. They set up the game and played silently for a while. Before they went off to bed, Lily addressed James.

"I know he won't say this to you, so I am going to say it for him. Thank you, for saving Severus' life."

And from there a tentative and slow friendship began between the two of them. Remus found out the next day after he got out of the hospital. The group was torn, most of the anger thrown at Sirius and Peter for not stopping the prank. However, through time the rift between the group was sown together with sorrys, I didn't mean it's, and understanding.

Please review. Good or bad, I don't care. It helps me to improve!