The first time Severus saw evidence of Sirius' third side of the war was on the Spring Equinox. It started at dinner, and Severus might have missed, had he not been sitting next to seventh year Daniel Greengrass.
I would like to remind you," Dumbledore had announced near the end of dinner, "that the Forbidden Forest is, as the name suggests, forbidden. Any student caught in the forest, or out after curfew will be punished accordingly. Thank you, and now enjoy dessert!"
"Damn meddler," Daniel had sworn under his breath.
"What was that about?" Severus had asked, looking over at the seventh year.
"Oh right, you're a half-blood, you wouldn't know," he commented. But unlike most of the Slytherins, the statement was not said with malice, just fact.
"Know what?"
"Tonight is the Spring Equinox. It is an important date to traditionalists, but Dumbledore is very anti-tradition." Daniel paused, as a seventh year Ravenclaw came over.
"One hour, 32B. Invite whoever you want, but remember the rules."
"Of course. I'll spread the word. Thank you for updating me regarding the prefect schedule," Daniel finished raising his voice so everyone around them could hear. "You interested?"
"In what?" Severus asked, though in truth, he was.
"The Equinox Ceremony. You don't have to know already. If you want to come, meet outside the common room in fifty minutes. Just remember, we leave house and real world politics behind tonight."
Severus nodded. He would go.
Fifty minutes later, Severus stepped outside the common room to find a fair crowd of Slytherins, perhaps twenty or so. All he noted, were not Death Eaters, although many shared some sympathies.
"Good crowd we have here," Daniel announced, joining the group. "Alright, who doesn't have appropriate robes? I know Snape and Alston do not."
"I outgrew mine and forgot to check," a gangly third year added. "I brought them in case someone else can use them," he added.
"Alright, only three. That's no problem. Right then, follow me. And if anyone asks, we are going to…"
"Chess club with McGonagall!" the group responded.
"Excellent, off we go!"
They arrived outside a classroom just as a smaller group of Hufflepuffs did.
"Large group you've got," Anderson, one of the Hufflepuff prefects remarked.
"Twenty-two this year, two are newbies."
"Cool, I've got nine, Abbot has twelve."
"Black?"
"I don't know, they are already inside. Let's see."
As they entered the classroom, Severus caught Sirius chatting with McGonagall while a small group of Gryffindors, only five, sat in the corner. They were all above fourth year, and Lily was one.
"Anderson, Greengrass!" Sirius greeted, "You are on time! Abbott should be her any moment. How many need robes?"
"Two from my group. Three from Greengrass'," Anderson replied. I think only one from Abbotts'."
"Excellent. Right, if you need a robe step forward."
Snape stepped forward with the gangly third year from his group and a smaller boy who must have been Alston. Lily from the Gryffindors and two other girls from Hufflepuff joined them.
Sirius pulled out a bag, "Tonight we celebrate the Equinox and the start of spring. It is a ceremony of rebirth, purity, and reconnection with magic. As such, we all wear simple, white, cotton robes. Nothing else. You will leave everything else, including your wand, outside the clearing during the ceremony. Professor McGonagall will collect all the wands and secure them in a trunk. If you have a problem with this, please leave now, and tell nobody what we are doing tonight."
Severus blanched for a moment at the thought of leaving his wand unguarded, but nobody else did, so he said nothing.
"Right then, Nott, you have old robes, correct?"
The gangly third year pulled a set of white robes out of his bag and handed them to Sirius, who examined them carefully. "You took good care of them," he said, earning a smile from the boy.
"Yah, I just grew about six inches this year. That is why I didn't think to get new ones. I figured they would be good for another year."
Sirius nodded. "Alston, these look like they will fit you. Try them on," he said handing over the robes.
Alston shrugged off his outer robe and tried them on as Sirius pulled several more robes out of a bag and handed them around. A few minutes later, everyone had robes and were seated silently, with only Sirius and McGonagall standing.
"Most of you know the drill," McGonagall began. "But I'll still go over it. I am a professor until the ritual starts and immediately afterwards. You will listen to what I, Professor Flitwick, Professor Saylain, or the prefects say to and from the forest. You will be silent and move quickly. Most of the professors are aware of what we are doing and will not say anything, but others might Who is on prefect patrol tonight?"
"Lupin. He will not say anything," Sirius announced.
"Avery is trouble," Greengrass added, "but he is in the dungeons. Brown won't if she sees a professor with us, Edgecomb might depending on who it is."
"Very well, we shall leave through the east entrance then. Sirius, are sure about Lupin?"
"Absolutely Ma'am."
"Off we go then."
As the group made their way in silence through the castle, Severus looked around at the group. While a few were either Dumbledore or Dark Lord supporters, the majority were neutral. And most, barring Lily and one or two of the others (including himself) were purebloods or half-bloods raised entirely in the wizarding world. This, he realized, was the third side. The side who believed in, or at least deeply respected, tradition, but did not condone the Dark Lord's actions. Some, such as Sirius, even couched for equal rights for muggleborns and many appreciated muggle things. What surprised him most, although maybe at this point it shouldn't, was that Sirius Black appeared to be the student in charge. And Potter was nowhere to be seen.
As the group reached the ground flood, Severus caught sight of Lupin. The prefect was leaning against a tapestry, watching the hall that lead towards Dumbledore's office. With a small thumbs up, he folded a parchment, and the group moved past him, exiting into the night.
About fifteen minutes into the forest, they reached a circular clearing. There was an inner circle, marked by flowers and candles, and Professor Flitwick and Saylain were finishing lighting the last few as they arrived.
"Greetings!" Flitwick announced cheerfully. "The box is right over there for your wands," he announced pointing to a sturdy looking wooden chest. "I'll be here, standing guard tonight, so no need to worry."
"Time for robes then. I am sure Professor McGonagall would love to transform a curtain for the ladies," Sirius added with a smile.
Professor McGonagall did so, and all around, the guys started to remove their clothes, pulling out their white robes. Everyone was silent, but not awkwardly so. After all, it was hard to make it through boarding school without changing in front of your classmates.
Severus finished donning the simple robe, feeling slightly vulnerable, and folded his clothes as he looked around. Around half the boys were dressed, while many of the younger ones were still changing. When he caught sight of Sirius though, he paused. Sirius' back was bare as he slipped of his trousers, leaning heavily on the cane. His back was covered in scares, some older than others, but some still new looking As he slid off his pants, Severus caught sight of slim braces hugging his legs. So the cane was still necessary. Sirius had done a good job convincing the Hogwarts population he only used it because he thought it make him look distinguished. Severus watched as Sirius conjured a chair with a quick flick of his wand and sat down. Severus looked away, realizing just how much he felt as if he was intruding. Interesting. Mere months ago he would have done anything to see such weakness in Sirius.
A few minutes later, everyone had finished changing. The group slowly made its way into the candlelight circle, Sirius walking with Professor McGonagall, leaning his weight carefully on her arm.
"Thank you Minerva," he smiled as he reached the middle and she helped guide him into a kneeling position. As she left him in the center, taking her spot on the side, everyone fell completely silent.
It was near midnight when the ceremony finished and Severus felt… brighter, lighter somehow. The group stood around in the clearing talking and snacking on the food Flitwick had produced at the end of the ceremony.
Looking around, Severus caught sight of Sirius, standing and chatting with Minerva, as she was for the evening. Slowly, he made his way over.
"I wanted to thank you," Severus began, standing in front of the pair. "For letting me take part in tonight's ceremony. It was…" he paused, unsure of how to describe how he felt.
"Magic," Sirius completed for him. " And no need to thank. It is every witch and wizard's right to feel the magic. So many have simply forgotten, and many more have never been shown."
Severus nodded. He had been one of those who had not known the power of magic.
"Samhaim is even better," Sirius added. "Although I have always enjoyed the Harvest Festival."
Minerva laughed. "Of course you would, a week devoted to food, drink, and merriment."
"Don't pretend you don't love it too. I bet your favorite part as a young woman was fertility"
Minerva laughed, but did not correct Sirius. Severus felt enlightened. This was not the stern, hard woman he had known the professor to be. "I did have a question," Severus asked, suddenly nervous. "Why did you lead the ceremony?" he asked Sirius.
Sirius blanched, looking suddenly very young and awkward. "I…" he stuttered
"The witch or wizard with the closest tie to magic leads the ceremony," Minerva responded. "Sirius had led the group since second year. He would have been able to first year, but Mr. Malfoy still attended that year and refused to let a first year."
Severus raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Thank you, it has been a lovely evening, but I shall let you two talk."
He departed the pair, and walked towards the edge of the circle. The closest tie to magic Did that mean the most powerful? Or simply the most in tune with the natural side of this beautiful force? He was not sure, but he found himself questioning what he knew. This was the third side of the war. And somehow, despite it being the side that was not actually fighting, it felt like the right side. And maybe even the side that would win.