A/N: Welcome to this Harry Potter AU fanfic! For starters, I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! All characters (minus OCs) belong to J.K. Rowling. For seconds, I am happy to finally bring you my OC story that has been floating around as a plot bunny inside my head for a while which has finally been able to be written down on (digital) paper. Also a huge thank you to Arekusandorachan for helping with ideas. Hope you enjoy and happy reading :)


Elaine sat in the Potions classroom, idly taking notes as the potion brewed in front of her. She sighed in frustration. It was one of the forced Slytherin and Gryffindor classes, which meant annoyances all around.

The loudest came from behind where James Potter and Sirius Black were sitting, lounging in their seats, not bothering to do much with their cauldron. They only scribbled on parchment and had hushed laughs that Slughorn—the Potions professor—hardly paid attention to nowadays. Five years and anyone hardly paid attention at all. The hissed whispers and jokes were what really drew Elaine's ear back to them every other minute or so.

If it wasn't Potter and Black that kept annoying her, then it was the other Gryffindor who hung around them. That one was smaller and less talented than Potter or Black—which wasn't saying much despite how often they liked to boast that they were the "absolute best" at every single spell. However, he still kept trying to sneak looks over at her cauldron or tried to copy what she was doing every chance he got. Elaine shot him a threatening glare, smirking as he went scurrying off toward the supplies in fear. At least a look could still get him to leave her alone.

Most of all though were the two students in the row in front. One was a Gryffindor girl with long, red hair and pretty green eyes. Elaine thought she looked rather plain, though she had to admit that the girl had remarkable talent in potions class for being a muggleborn. Somehow Potter thought the redhead was the most beautiful witch he had ever laid eyes on given the hushed arguments regarding how he should ask Lily Evans out on a date despite never having done so as far as Elaine knew. The other was a Slytherin boy. He had long dark hair and darker eyes. He wasn't the most attractive boy ever, but he was still her friend, and that's all Elaine really cared to know about Severus Snape. He was smart, resourceful, and a little bit cunning, which she had pointed out numerous times in their arguments over him being more like a Ravenclaw than a Slytherin. He was also one of the few Slytherins who was a half-blood because of a pureblood marrying a muggle and didn't come from any money at all. Elaine still had yet to find another wizard like him in all five of her years at Hogwarts.

"Very good, Miss Johnson!" Slughorn praised once they were all finished. "An excellent result as always. Five points to Slytherin,"

"Thank you, professor." Elaine blushed as Slughorn continued on, doing her best to hide a smile as she overheard his disappointment in both Potter's and Black's cauldrons.

She grabbed her things and stepped out of the room, waiting at the door for the other students to leave.

"Evans?" Elaine called out, tugging on the girl's sleeve to get her attention. "Here. The notes for Lupin."

"Thanks." She smiled and took the parchment. "I'll be sure to pass it along to him. Good work on your potion, by the way. I still have no idea how you manage it!"

"Maybe because she doesn't have Snivellus weighing her down like always," Potter called out as he left the room, high-fiving Black as they vanished down the hall.

"Sorry," Lily muttered in apology. "If it helps, they're just as bad in the common room as they are here."

"Just...give those to Lupin for me, would you?" Elaine swallowed and gripped her bag as she saw Severus approaching. "Thanks," she called out over her shoulder, quickly walking away.

The last thing she needed to hear was Severus and Lily talking to each other about the lecture. Elaine sighed, not knowing why she couldn't stand to be around the two of them even when Lily was alright. But there was something about seeing the two of them together, about seeing how much attention Severus paid to Lily and how little attention he paid to Elaine as a result….

"Wait up!"

Elaine grunted, nearly being run over by the Gryffindor who had been trying to copy her potion as he scurried to catch up with his friends.

"Wormtail!" Potter greeted. "There you are!"

"Come on, mate," Black added as they continued walking, their backs to her, "you almost made us late for tonight! We've got to go meet Moony, remember?"

"Of course he remembers, Padfoot. How could he not?"

"Merlin! I was only joking, Prongs! Lighten up, would you?"

Elaine sighed and quickened her step, intending to get past them as fast as possible.

"Hey, I've got an idea!" Potter shouted. "Why don't we get Snivellus to go see the Shrieking Shack, huh? Think the idiot would be brave enough to see the Whomping Willow?"

She slowed her step, keeping enough distance between her and the boys so that they wouldn't notice her, yet so she could still overhear the conversation. What were they planning on doing this time around?

"Please!" Black barked a laugh. "I'd bet you ten galleons that Snivelly will just run off at the first sight of danger!"

"Twenty galleons and the bet's on."

"Deal."

They turned around and Elaine kept her head lowered, quickening her pace to push past them as Potter called out toward Severus.

"Hey, Snivellus! Mind helping me and Padfoot settle a bet?"


Elaine rolled over on the couch in the Slytherin common room, eyes closed, one ear listening for footsteps. She wouldn't put it past Severus to sneak out to fulfill his side of the "bet" given the chance to prove Potter wrong. Still, the Whomping Willow was dangerous and well deserving of its name. She couldn't help but worry about how badly Severus was going to end up this time around. At least he had somehow managed to escape without landing in the hospital wing.

Something made a noise and she did her best to look asleep, curling up under the blanket she had brought down with her. There was a pause before the sound continued on followed by the slight creaking as the portrait swung open. Elaine stood and went toward the entrance, peering out into the dimly lit hall. She silently cursed as she recognized Severus's familiar form vanishing around a corner. Elaine groaned and sprinted after him, knowing she would regret it later.

She turned down another hall, making it to the Whomping Willow before Severus and without being seen by him. Elaine went over to the forest line, kneeling down in the shadows as she saw Potter and Black peering over an old piece of parchment. Black hurriedly stuffed the parchment away and out of sight before Severus came into view.

"Well, well, well," Potter called out. "Didn't think you'd come out, Snivelly."

"And miss the chance to prove you wrong?" Severus challenged, puffing out his chest as he approached. "Never. So what's this all about then, huh?"

"Just a little thing." Potter grabbed one of Severus's arms while Black went to grab the other. "Just going to see if the Whomping Willow prefers Slytherins to Gryffindors!"

Severus let out a shout as the boys began to drag him toward the tree. The branches quivered and one came slamming down inches in front of them. He gasped and let out a half-strangled scream. The boys laughed and shoved him forward. Severus ran back toward them as another branch came slamming down.

"Come on! You're not a coward, are you, Snivellus?" Black taunted, shoving him back. "What do you think, Prongs? Should we tell Evans that we were right? That Snivellus really will run at the first sign of trouble?"

Go, Elaine thought to Severus. Run. It's not worth it. Merlin, just get out of there!

"Or haven't you heard that there's this really cool and super-awesome thing inside there?" Potter added. "One that's supposed to make girls fall desperately in love with you! Why else would they guard the entrance with the Whomping Willow?"

"Like I'd ever believe anything you'd say!" Severus spat at him. "Can't believe I was even dumb enough to come out here!"

"Where are you going, Snivelly?" Potter called out, stopping Severus from leaving. "We aren't finished yet!"

He gave him a hard shove and Severus let out a yell as he tripped and fell backward. Elaine gasped, grabbing her wand as the Whomping Willow went to strike.

"Immobulus!" she shouted, aiming the spell at the tree.

The Whomping Willow froze almost instantly, giving Severus enough time to scramble out to safety, the branches scraping against his robes as he moved back. Potter and Black grinned as Elaine stepped out from the shadows, pointing her wand at them.

"Well look who it is!" Potter called out. "Can't go anywhere without your little bodyguard, can you, Snivellus?"

"What are you doing here?" Severus hissed, annoyance clear in his tone.

"Saving your life," she pointed out. "And trying to decide which hex to use first."

"You're really going to hex me, Johnson?" Black asked, flashing her a smile. "You're so cute when you're mad. Besides, it was only a stupid joke. Not like Snivelly here was in any real danger, right, Prongs?"

"The name is Severus," Elaine argued. "And it didn't just look like a 'stupid joke' from where I was standing."

"Wow. Can't even defend yourself, can you?" Potter smirked. "Maybe you shouldn't go anywhere without her helping you after all!" He took out his wand. "In fact…. Expelliarmus!"

Elaine's wand shot out of her hand and landed on the ground behind them, rolling to a stop at the base of the Whomping Willow. She glared at him in frustration, only to gasp as he shot another spell at her, knocking her back down by the Whomping Willow.

"Have fun down there!" Potter sang out, a stupid grin on his face. "Since it's so obvious that Snivelly can't do a thing on his own!"

She stood and went to yell a retort at him only for Severus to drag her out of the way. The Whomping Willow hit right where she had been standing, making a small indent in the dirt from the sheer force.

"In there!" She shouted, pointing at a small tunnel near the roots.

They ran toward the tunnel and Severus dove in before her. Elaine turned and reached for her wand, grabbing it just in time to dive after him, the Whomping Willow slamming down at the entrance, the impact sending her tumbling into him.


"Are you nuts?" Sirius asked as they vanished into the tree. "You do realize that it's a full moon tonight, right?"

"Yep." James smirked. "And that puts Snivellus right with Moony."

"And Elaine!"

"Relax!" He laughed and twirled his wand. "I've got it all planned out!" James looped an arm around Sirius's shoulders. "They'll have to go to the Shrieking Shack, which means they'll run into Moony tonight, right? So we give them a minute or two, let Snivelly scream like a girl, and then you go rushing in and save them both! Elaine will be so grateful to her knight in shining armor that she'll just have to throw herself into your arms!" He made a show of fainting into Sirius's arms as he raised his voice to a higher pitch, imitating Elaine. " 'Oh, Sirius! You're so brave and strong! How could I ever dream of any man other than you'?"

Sirius rolled his eyes and dropped his friend. "You're mental, you know that, right?"

"But a genius!" James smiled and looked up at him. "You'll see! Everything will go exactly as I planned it. Just promise to make me the best man at your wedding."

"Deal." He reached down and helped him up.


"Ow," Severus muttered, shoving her off of him. "You okay?"

"Fine." Elaine sighed and got to her feet, dusting off her clothes. "You?"

"I'm good." He stood and looked around, groaning in despair as the Whomping Willow branches lowered over the entrance, casting them in complete darkness.

"Lumos." A light flickered from Elaine's wand. "Guess that means we're not getting out the way we came," she muttered.

"You would want to go back out through those branches?" Severus argued. "Be my guest."

"Wow. You're such a Ravenclaw, Sev." She walked over and reached out to touch the branches, frowning as they didn't move. "We could try blasting them, but that might bring the entire tree down here…. On the other hand, there is a tunnel, and tunnels have to lead someplace."

"I vote tunnel." He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets as he followed her.

"No wand?"

"Didn't think I'd need it."

"Merlin! You didn't think to bring a wand with you when you went to meet Potter after school hours? I take it back. So not a Ravenclaw."

"Well at least I wasn't following someone and sticking my nose into their business! Merlin, why do you have to make everything that I do your bloody concern?"

"Then next time I'll stay out and let you get smashed by a tree. Or better yet, why don't you ask Lily to come with you next time? I'm sure she'd love to rescue you from Potter."

"I would if she wasn't like the rest of them! Everyone just loves Potter. They think he's so perfect just because he can fly around on a broom. They don't know who he really is. The sort of pranks he pulls…." He sighed and glanced over at her, shoving a mess of hair out of his face. "Sorry. I forget that you're just about the only one who thinks the same about Potter as I do. You know…. If you stopped hanging around with me, you'd stop getting into these messes. I bet even Potter might leave you alone. That'd be something, huh?"

She stopped and turned to look at him. "You think I want to stop being friends with you, Sev?" she asked in a small voice.

"No!" He held his hands up, color reddening his cheeks. "I just—I mean I was just thinking that—why do you have to be such a...a...Slytherin?"

Elaine smiled at his flustered expression. "Because that's the house I was sorted into? And because we both know you wouldn't survive a single day without me!"

"But we'll never figure that out because you won't leave me a day to survive without you," he pointed out, placing his hands behind his back as he followed her. "So maybe you should just stop following me around."

"But if I do that, then who is going to be your friend, Sev? I mean, all the other Slytherins are fine and all, but with O.W.L.s approaching…. You're going to need someone to tutor you in Potions since we both know you could use the help."

"Well maybe I should just get Lily to help me instead of you! At least she'll be nicer and won't try to dump a cauldron all over my head!"

"That cauldron thing only happened one time! And Lily will probably be worse since you can barely even say two words to her without tripping over your own tongue."

His eyes narrowed. "That doesn't matter. And why would you even care about that? Thought you were friends with her."

"I…. Does it really matter?" She waved the wand, pointing it at Severus, thankful that he couldn't see the look in her eyes. "Maybe I'll tell her to tutor you then. Gives you more alone time with her, and we all know how much you'd like that."

"You'd help me? With Lily?"

"Why not?" She turned around. "Not like there are any other good Gryffindors to choose from." She sighed and pointed the wand toward the exit, trying to see if she could see an end to the tunnel.

Elaine grunted as she felt something collide into her back, only to relax as she felt Severus hugging her from behind.

"Thank you!" he cheered. "You are absolutely the best friend anyone could ask for, you know that, right?"

"Yeah." She sighed, almost regretting how much she liked having him this close. Elaine closed her eyes and forced herself away from him, much to her dislike. "Come on. The sooner we find an end to this thing the sooner we can get out of here."

He nodded and fell into step beside her. She sighed, knowing that the hint of a smile and tiny spring in his step were all because he was going to see Lily as soon as they were out. It was nice to see, but she still couldn't help wishing that smile was for her and not Evans.

Something made a noise up ahead and she paused. Severus did the same and Elaine motioned for him to wait.

"Nox."

The light on her wand went out as she crept forward, ears straining to hear what the noise was. She got on her hands and knees, peering into the room through the crack between the end of the tunnel and the heavy wooden board. She could see an old room that looked as if it had been abandoned for awhile now. The strange part about it though was that she could see a set of Butterbeer bottles that looked as if they had been left there only recently.

Elaine grunted and moved the board aside just enough so she could squeeze through. Severus followed and tugged on her sleeve, nodding toward an old door. She paused though, hearing the same noise coming from above them. It sounded like pacing, or scratching, or sniffing…. She couldn't tell which.

"Elaine," Severus hissed. "Let's go. We can get out through here."

She sucked in a breath as the noise stopped. She held onto his arm, forcing him to stay still while she waited. The noises resumed, only they seemed to be travelling now. Something creaked on the stairs, slowly descending down toward them. They backed up toward the door as paws showed followed by a furry snout and a strange creature….

"Werewolf," Severus whispered, hand clutching onto her arm, voice squeaking in fright. "Merlin, that's a werewolf. Elaine? The door? Now?"

She nodded, backing up, following his lead as she kept her eyes on the creature, wand at the ready in case they needed to defend themselves. She felt Severus move toward the door, leaning to open it so they could escape.

The werewolf growled and sprung toward them. Elaine gasped and threw up her wand.

"Protego!"

The creature collided into them, its claws and teeth just barely being stopped from touching them. She and Severus grunted, being split across the room from each other. Elaine got to her feet, eyes going wide as the werewolf turned its attention to Severus.

"Stupefy!"

The spell harmlessly glanced off the creature. It turned around, growling, eyes narrowing as it saw the larger threat. She took a step back, trying to think a spell to use.

"Impedimenta!"

The werewolf froze for a second and she ran around to get back to Severus, firing another spell over her shoulder for good measure.

"Door!" Severus squeaked out, pointing.

She nodded and they ran over toward the door as the spell was beginning to wear off. Severus yanked the door open and they ran outside, firmly closing it behind them. Elaine waved her wand to lock the door only for it to burst open as the werewolf emerged, knocking them to the ground. It growled at them and she scrambled back, trying to get out of its way. The werewolf reared up and went to attack.

"Elaine!"

Severus ran over and shoved her out of the way, receiving the attack himself. Elaine's eyes went wide as the werewolf leaned toward him, intending to bite him this time.

"No! Reducto!"

The spell hit the werewolf, sending it flying. The creature whimpered and scrambled to its paws, hurrying off toward the forest. Elaine ran over to where Severus was, wincing at the sight of his arm and shoulder, seeing the bleeding gashes there.

"Come on." She helped him to his feet. "I think I see lights over there and you need help."

He nodded and she led him off in the direction of the lights. They were both surprised to see Hogsmeade there, which also meant that they were off Hogwarts grounds, which also meant detention. Though right now, Elaine mostly cared about getting Severus help for his wounds, trying to ignore the lectures they had received on werewolf bites and scrapes.

She led him to the nearest door, awkwardly looping his arm around her shoulders to keep him upright. Those gashes must've been deeper than she had thought as he was starting to look worse than usual. Elaine banged against the wood as hard as she could.

"Hello? Someone in there? Hello? I need help! Please!"

To her relief, the door opened as Madame Rosmerta answered. She took one look at the pair of them and stepped aside.

"In here. Quickly. Set him on one of the chairs."

Elaine nodded and led him over, easing Severus down.

"Here. Drink these. They're on the house." She grabbed two Butterbeers and set them down on the table in front of them. "Now you wait right here while I go and get Dumbledore."

Elaine gave the witch a small nod. She sighed and glanced over Severus, brushing some hair of his face. "Don't worry," she reassured both him and herself. "You'll be okay. You'll be okay, Sev."

Something made a noise outside and Elaine stood. She glanced over toward where Roserta had vanished before going toward the door.

"Elaine…," Severus moaned, reaching out for her.

"I'll be back. I have my wand, see?" She showed it to him. "Just have to go check something out."

She sighed, curiosity leading her out the door. Elaine let a smile slip, happy that he was worried about her. She searched around, frowning as she saw a flash of movement. Elaine crept over, wand at the ready as she saw something in the darkness at the edge of the forest. There was a loud gasp and she moved, casting the spell.

"Stupefy!"

Elaine ran over to where the spell had hit, staring in confusion at the stunned boy in front of her. "Lupin?"

"Elaine." He winced and slowly got to his hands and knees. "Nice spell."

"Merlin! What are you doing here?" She helped him up before shaking her head. "Never mind that. You should come back with us. There's a werewolf in that forest. It got loose somehow!"

"Really?" He jerked his hand back to his side. "Huh. Interesting. Wait. 'We'?"

"Severus and I," she explained. "We got attacked."

"Oh." Lupin's eyes went wide. "I—I'm sorry about that! Are you—are you okay?"

"A bit shaken up, but I'll live. Sev got scratched though. I don't think he got bitten, so he should be fine, but…. Don't worry. We should be getting back, you know."

"You should," he insisted, taking a step back. "I'll just stay out here."

"Lupin?" She eyed him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong!" he quickly argued. "Just...ah...I should probably...you should probably head back. Werewolves are dangerous, you know! Wouldn't want to risk getting bitten by one! They're really, really bad! Everyone should stay away from them!"

Elaine frowned, seeing the look on his face as he said those things. It was almost like he was trying to convince himself what he was saying was true, while also just shouting the best thing he could think of to make her go away.

"Are you one?" she began. "A...a…."

"Werewolf?" he guessed. "Can't even say the name, huh? Figures."

She slowly put her wand away, still trying to process it all. "It's not that. Just that you...you're not the person I would've expected to be one. Would've pegged Black or maybe that other one who always hangs around with you lot. The tiny one?"

"Peter?"

"Yeah. Him."

"Well sorry to disappoint, but this is what a werewolf looks like." He held his arms out for her to see. "Happy?"

She sighed and glanced over her shoulder. "I should probably get back…."

"Yeah. You do that." He stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "Just...Elaine…. Promise me you won't tell anyone? Please? I don't want anyone to know. It's already bad enough I have to skip out on classes."

"Only if you'll get Potter and Black to stop being so mean to Sev. They're the whole reason we ended up like this in the first place! They're the ones who shoved him into the Whomping Willow in the first place."

"I didn't know." His hand fell. "I mean that I had no idea they were going to…." Lupin sighed and bit his lip. "Look, I won't be able to stop them completely, but I'll do my best. And you'll have my word that I won't be a part of any of what they do! I promise! I swear."

She sighed, looking at him. That at least meant one less Gryffindor tormenting Severus, and maybe a chance of him no longer ending up in the hospital wing every night….

"Deal."

"Thank you!" He let out a huge sigh of relief.

There was a moment of hesitation when he took a step, acting as if he was about to hug her, before he quickly decided against it, turning back to run into the forest instead.

Elaine nodded and turned to go back toward the building only to find Dumbledore standing next to Rosmerta.


"You'll be happy to know that Severus Snape is expected to make a full recovery according to Madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore began, eyeing her across the large wooden desk in his chambers back at Hogwarts.

Elaine let out a small sigh of relief, though that did little to ease the tension of her being sat down in the chair as soon as they had returned from Hogsmeade. She glanced up at the old headmaster, finding his piercing blue eyes gazing at her over half-moon spectacles. Normally she would've laughed at the idea of seeing the great and powerful Albus Dumbledore in plum robes decorated with bright gold and silver stars, but this night she decided against anything that would land her in more trouble than she already was.

"The question still remains of why you and him were both out of your beds at this late hour."

"I followed him," she began. "I overheard Potter and Black plotting something to do with Sev, so I followed him. They're the ones who ought to be punished! They shoved us into the Whomping Willow in the first place!" Elaine took a breath before settling down again, knuckles turning white as she gripped the edges of her chair in an effort to keep her voice calm and steady as she continued. "Anyway, we were trying to find a way out and somehow ended up in an old building outside of Hogsmeade."

"The Shrieking Shack?" he guessed.

"Yeah. That one. There was a werewolf in there, professor, and we were attacked. That's how Sev got hurt. Then we managed to make it out and into Hogsmeade…."

"Yes, Miss Johnson?" Dumbledore asked, clearly sensing that there was more.

"Then you were there and now we're back here to me sitting in your office explaining things," she lied, preferring to leave out that little bit about Lupin. Elaine had to admit that she still had suspicions about the old headmaster who kept himself locked up in his office at all hours except when there was a grand feast or holiday in the Great Hall.

"I see." He pressed his fingertips together, looking at her over them. "And what about the part where you wandered off instead of remaining behind with Severus? Especially considering that you knew there was a werewolf somewhere nearby?"

"That's why I left. I thought I had seen something. Turns out it was only my imagination. Nerves and all, I guess." She shrugged, leaving it at that. A half-truth was better than a full lie, she had learned.

Dumbledore regarded her for a moment as if trying to decide if he ought to press further.

"I'll have to take twenty points from Slytherin for each of you as being off school grounds and out of dormitories at night is strictly forbidden," he began. "You'll also be assigned detention with Professor Slughorn as punishment. However…. I suppose that ten points are in order for your bravery and cunningness in evading a werewolf. As well as a good deal of loyalty, I might add."

"Of course, professor. Sev's my friend. Why wouldn't I help him?"

He smiled, and Elaine got the suspicion that Dumbledore knew a bit more than she had told him. "You may leave, Miss Johnson."

She nodded and stood. "Thank you, professor."

"And I would suggest doing a bit more reading," Dumbledore called out after her. "Something tells me Horace is going to need help with a Wolfsbane potion."

She paused and shrugged, walking out of the office, letting out a huge sigh of relief as soon as she crossed the threshold. Elaine ran a hand through her hair as she walked back down the halls, wondering if she ought to go visit Severus or go straight back to the Slytherin dormitory. She paused though, seeing a fidgety Remus Lupin darting down one of the halls. His eyes met hers and he gave a small smile along with a wave before darting off toward his own dormitory.

She stifled a yawn and stretched, her mind made up. Slytherin dormitory it was. They had already had enough trouble for one night, after all. And who knew what sort of detention Slughorn had waiting for her? Not to mention the strange Wolfsbane potion she had never heard of before…. More than likely it was bound to be buried in some ancient text in the library, meaning a long night was waiting for her surrounded by piles of books before detention.

Just once could Potter and Black get in trouble for their stupid pranks? She thought to herself. Just once. Before they actually get someone killed.


A/N: Post-chapter note. This story will be updated on a weekly basis, given that these chapters are very long. So I'll see all of you next week!