Chapter Six
Sirius Black stood frozen, his hand up at the Study door, as he was going to push it open, a moment sooner. Instead, he marched into the Main Room, and turned to face Mundungus Fletcher, "Find. That. Greasy. Slime. Ball. And. Get. Him. Back. Here. Now." Sirius growled, to a terrified Mundungus, who, clearly understanding the instructions, disapparated a moment later. Sirius marched up and down angrily awaiting his return. "Sirius, is everything alright?" Kingsley Shacklebolt questioned, frowning as he watched Sirius patrol the doorway. Sirius appeared to be muttering to himself, very few of the words were perceptible, 'kill that greasy kit', 'make him pay'.
Kingsley, realising he wasn't going to get an answer, headed out of the room, leaving Sirius alone with a confused looking Tonks, a watchful Mad-Eye and an uninterested Professor McGonagall. Crack! Mundungus reappeared clutching hold of an anxious looking Severus. "Get off me!" Severus said, annoyed as he pulled away from Mundungus' grasp, and turned to face a heavy breathing, furious looking Sirius. The look on Sirius' face alerted Severus immediately as to what was going on. "Oh," was all that came from Severus' lips, before everything went black (in all senses of the phrase).
As Sirius withdrew his fist, Professor McGonagall, very interested all of a sudden, jumped out of her chair, clasping a hand to her mouth, "Sirius, what are you..." as Severus' lids began to flicker, Sirius marched over to the kitchen, and came back brandishing his wand, "Sirius I'm sure there isn't any need for..." Tonks interjected, placing a steady hand on her cousin's arm. In the meantime, Severus began to rise slowly from the floor. Seeing this, Sirius shrugged off Tonks' arm, and stepped over to Severus, pointing his wand directly at the face of the confused man on the floor.
As consciousness began to make its way through Severus' mind, he became aware that he was laying on the floor, with a wand pointing in his face. "Sirius," he mumbled, slurring slightly. "Sirius," he said again, clearer, "please..." Severus said, not caring that he appeared to be begging for mercy for the first time in his life, where the Marauders were involved. Sirius sneered, raising his wand, " 'please,'" he copied, "Keep. Your. Greasy. Hands. Off. My. Remus," Sirius growled, before thinking 'Levicorpus, Silencio'. He didn't watch as Severus was lifted into the air, nor as Severus tried to talk, but no sound came out. Instead, Sirius pushed aside Charlie Weasley – who had just come into the kitchen after having consoled Remus – and marched up the stairs, out of sight.
A moment later, as Charlie looked around at the bewildered faces around him, he noticed Severus hanging up on the ceiling. Charlie muttered the counter curse and stepped aside as Severus fell to the floor, "Nice of you to drop in," Charlie chuckled. With a glare from Professor McGonagall, he fell silent.
"What in the name of Merlin was that all about?" asked an astounded Tonks. Charlie bit his lip, deciding to keep his promise to Remus, and not to mention it. Severus walked over to the corner of the room and poured himself a drink, looking immensely embarrassed as he avoided everyone's concerned eyes. "What did he mean by, 'My Remus'?" Professor McGonagall asked, as the others nodded in agreement with their aligned confusion, "He couldn't have meant...?" she continued, glancing at everyone. When she glanced at Charlie, he nodded, confirming her question, "Really?" asked Tonks, looking mildly disappointed. "But, what then does this have to do with you, Snape?" Severus' hand shook as he drank from his cup and the others understood his current frustration, and left him alone. Gradually, people broke off into their own conversations.
A moment later, Remus came out of the Study, looking relieved after his discussion with Charlie. The room fell silent. Frowning, Remus began to ask what was wrong, but then he noticed a red faced Severus, who had turned around as he heard Remus approach, stood in the corner. The spectators looked from Remus to Severus, and back again. Remus' eyes must have conveyed some sort of question, as Severus nodded, still unable to talk. Remus groaned, and covered his head with his hands. Charlie placed a comforting arm on Remus' shoulder, like before, "what is it?" he asked, although he had his vague suspicions; unconfirmed, as he still hadn't gotten the full story from anyone.
Remus swallowed and said, "He knows," before turning and heading up the stairs.