1976
It was past midnight and Isaac, who was in his seventh year, was the only person in the Hufflepuff common room. He was standing at a wooden table, trimming a plant that he had taken off the window sill. The room felt like summer, with its hazy atmosphere and multiple green plants scattered around. There were black and yellow couches and arm chairs, study tables, and plant trimming areas scattered across the dirt room. However, it had been enchanted to keep the students clean.
Snow was falling, heavily, outside. All of the students, who could, would be going home for Christmas soon.
Isaac felt a constant rush through his body, but it wasn't because he was excited. He had this feeling stuck in the back of his head that something was wrong. So, he was up, fully clothed, trimming a plant, telling himself he could sleep on the train. He also tried to repress a lingering question, Where's Severus?
Severus was in his sixth year at Hogwarts and Ashley was in her fifth. Like Ashle always would, Isaac and Severus usually looked healthy. Isaac's hair was decently cut and obviously got washed enough. He also didn't have dark circles under his eyes. His skin didn't look vampire-like either, just a little pale.
Isaac knew his sister was either sleeping soundly in Ravenclaw tower or she was up worrying, like he was, but he couldn't picture Severus being safe. It was too late to go look for him, since he would be in the Slytherin dormitory. It felt like time was pausing every five minutes to make the night longer.
Then, Argus Filch burst into the room. He was in long khaki pants, a long sleeved white button down, and purple sweater vest. If he hadn't turned out to be a squib, he would have been in the same year as Severus. Argus was only at the school as somewhat of an apprentice, for the current care taker. So, he could get into every common room.
Argus looked alarmed, he was out of breath, and his glasses were a little crooked. He gasped for air and said, "Isaac, it's Severus! Sirius Black told him to go to the Whomping Willow and he did!"
Isaac felt an undeniable urge to cry, like something was pressing hot tears on the back of his eyes and pinching his heart. He kept his face dry, somehow, and grabbed Argus's fore arm. He led him out of the room and said, "Sorry, but I need you to come with me."
They ducked out of the entrance and ran out of the kitchen. Argus bumped into a stool, but Isaac grabbed it before it could hit the floor.
While they ran up the stairs to the entrance hall, Argus grabbed onto the back of Isaac's cloak and whispered, "Wait! James Potter and Sirius Black were in the main hall. That's how I found out about it. Black was bragging to Potter-"
"I don't care!" Isaac decided. "Severus could be dead."
That last part made Argus feel like icy slime was oozing down his insides, into his stomach. Somehow, the idea of Severus dying just hadn't felt real until Isaac said it.
When they got up to the entrance hall, no one was there.
Argus whispered, "Potter wanted to go looking for him-"
"What?" Isaac whispered, a little surprised. "He hates him."
"Yeah, but he kept yelling at Black because he thought sending Severus to the Whomping Willow-"
On their way out of the school, running, Isaac reminded him, "Black must have told him he knew where a secret passage was."
"Yeah," Argus agreed. "Black must have figured out that Severus has been following them-"
"Or Severus told him."
"Well, anyway, Severus was right," Argus continued, "Black and his friends really do know where some secret passage way is."
"Argus," Isaac said, hesitantly, "I think it's for Lupin."
"Why-" Argus went pale, "It's a full moon tonight…"
"And Lupin always leaves the castle, every full moon." Isaac pointed out. "He's a werewolf."
"Isaac, I'm sorry. I should have made Potter and Black tell me-"
"They probably would have hexed you." Isaac told him. Argus fell silent. Isaac glanced over at him and said, "Not because you're a squib, because you're our friend!"
"But if I was a wizard-"
"It still would have been two against one." Isaac said.
Then, talking became too hard and they focused on sprinting towards the Whomping Willow.
As they made their way up the last hill, Isaac and Argus had this image of Severus being killed by the tree's moving branches. There would be a deep wound, blood spilling out, across his stomach and onto the grass. He would have been swung back from the tree itself.
When they were close enough, Isaac pointed his wand at it and screamed, "Sino Immobulus!"
The tree, to Argus's surprise, stopped moving. He asked, "Where did you learn that spell?"
"I made it." Isaac explained, simply. Then, he told Argus, "Get the headmaster or whoever you can find. I'm going in as an owl."
As he headed towards the tree, Argus pulled him back and said, "You only just learned-"
"It doesn't matter." Isaac decided. "Severus and possibly Black and Potter are in there. And, if we're right about Lupin being a werewolf, second year spells are not going to cut it."
Argus was trembling, so, Isaac through his arms around him and Argus, immediately, hugged him back. Isaac pulled away shortly after. He leapt towards the tree and changed into a barn owl. He swooped low and, as Argus saw it, disappeared by the ground. Then, Argus ran back to the school.
Inside the tunnel, Isaac unintentionally changed back into a human and landed, feet first, on a trunk. He tripped and tumbled in. When he tried to change back, a faint stinging shot through his body and he couldn't get past it. So, he got up, without brushing off his uniform, and ran down the tunnel. He pulled his wand out and muttered, "Lumos," to give him some light.
His upper back and shoulders hurt from when he tumbled in. There was pressure in his stomach and lungs too, but he wouldn't slow down. Even when he would stumble, he would just press his hand against the wall, to steady himself, and keep running.
After a while, he got to the end of the earth part and saw an opening into a shabby looking wooden shack. Isaac went in it and looked up. It was tall and a little crooked, like whoever made it had been in a hurry. He could hear moaning up at the top floor and knew it wasn't from Severus or even a human.
He tightened his grip on his wand and made his way up the stairs. His chest felt tight and he was shaking. Isaac called up, "Severus! Sirius Black! James Potter!" The moaning got louder, but the lack of responses he got from his brother and two of the Marauders scared him the most.
While he ran up the rest of the steps, Isaac swept his eyes over the floor for blood. He saw streaks of dried blood, as he got closer to the top, but they were too old to have been from Severus, James, or Sirius.
He paused in front of the top room, where the door was left open a little, and peered in. Something light brown and furry leapt by. Isaac felt like his heart had plummeted to his feet, but instead of heading back down the stairs, he ran into the room.
The brown, furry thing immediately met his eyes. It was Remus Lupin in werewolf form. Isaac was trembling, tears were stuck in his eyes, and Remus just kept watching him.
Isaac looked over Remus's scratched up body. There were some cuts that had obviously been scratched at a few times, a lot of cuts overlapped, and fresh streaks of blood covered the room.
Isaac felt a sickly chill throughout his body and his legs felt wobbly. He leaned forward, involuntarily, and vomited. After he was done, his chest felt tight and he moved his mouth around, like it would get the after taste out.
Remus howled and Isaac sank to his knees. Then, he closed his eyes, tightly, and got himself to turn into an owl. But, at the same moment, Remus had leapt forward and he scratched Isaac's right wing. Isaac screamed and slipped out the door.
He couldn't get himself to forget the pain, but, since Remus was following him, he made himself fly faster. He dove down the stairwell, but Remus jumped down too. Isaac felt like his heart had skipped two beats and Remus howled in pain.
After Isaac got back into the passage way, he looked back and saw that there was a charm that blocked Remus from leaving the shack. But Isaac stayed in his owl form to fly and glide back to the other end.
Eventually, Isaac got back and staggered away from the tree and fell. He was clutching his bloody hand. He saw Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey with a levitated stretcher rush over, with Argus. The adults had all paled, but Argus was the only one trembling.
"He's alive!" Madam Pomfrey cried out. Her hair was only brown and not as gray as it would be in the nineties, plus her skin was less wrinkled.
McGonagall pointed up, "Albus! The tree!" Her hair was completely black and her skin was younger than Harry and his friends would see it too.
The tree had started to sway, slowly. Dumbledore pointed at it and told Argus, "Hit that knot!"
Argus looked at where he was pointing and dove toward it. He slammed his fists on it and the tree stopped moving. Then, he crawled over to Isaac, held his shoulders, and looked down at his hand.
Argus asked him, "Isaac, what happened? Are you alright? Where's Severus?"
The adults got on their knees in front of Isaac and shooed Argus away.
Madam Pomfrey grabbed Isaac's hand and McGonagall asked, "Will you be able to stop it, Poppy?"
"Stop what?" Argus asked, alarmed.
While Madam Pomfrey assured McGonagall she could help Isaac, Dumbledore told Filch, "Never mind now, Argus. Go back to bed."
"I'm staying with him!" Argus insisted, angrily. "What's going on?"
Dumbledore ignored him and picked up Isaac.
"Careful, Albus," Madam Pomfrey warned him.
Isaac, desperately, looked back towards the tree and cried out, "No! You have to go help him! He's all cut up!"
While the adults tried to calm Isaac down, as they headed to the school, all the color from Argus's face disappeared.
Madam Pomfrey held Isaac's face so he would look at her, while Dumbledore and McGonagall tried to stop him from getting off the stretcher.
Isaac screamed, "You have to help him! Why are you just leaving him down there! Stop! Go get him!"
Madam Pomfrey ordered, "Listen, just calm down! He'll be fine!"
"No!" Isaac cried. "Oh, my gosh! Why are you just leaving him down there! He's so bloody and he jumped-"
"He'll be fine!" Madam Pomfrey told him.
Isaac insisted, "No! Go back! He jumped down from the top floor and he was howling in pain," Argus understood then, who Isaac was talking about, "and he must have broken something. Just go back!"
McGonagall let go of Isaac and Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, "Minerva!"
McGonagall pulled out her wand and made Isaac pass out. Argus opened his mouth in horror.
In the morning, Isaac, Severus, and Ashley's parents were running through the halls.
Genevieve Snape (formerly Genevieve Harrington) had the same black eyes as her sons and was as stunning as her daughter would grow up to be. Her hair was like Ashley's too. Genevieve was a petite woman, but something about her came off as powerful. She had on a dark purple button down, black bell bottoms, and dark purple flats.
Her husband, Donovan Snape, had the same hair color as his boys, but his eyes were as light blue as Ashley's. He also came off as very powerful, but there was tenderness in him too. It was hard to decide between calling him handsome or beautiful. He had on a light blue sweater, gray pants, and nice black shoes.
They pushed the infirmary doors opened, together, and stumbled in. Isaac was in the first bed, in pajamas, his hand tightly bandaged.
Argus was standing close to Isaac, next to Alison. Argus was still in the same clothes from the night before, but Alison was in her full uniform. Her cloak had a Slytherin badge on it.
Ashley was sitting on a little wooden chair, on the parallel side, decked out in everything but her tie, sweater vest, and cloak. Her hair was damp.
There was a black haired girl, her hair pulled back in a loose braid, named Silvia Stone, who was sitting behind Ashley. She was in everything, but her cloak. She had a Ravenclaw tie on under her gray sweater vest that matched her blue eyes.
Frank and Alice, who were Gryffindors, were standing at the end of Isaac's bed. Alice, who had a cute pixie cut, was in full uniform, but Frank was missing his sweater vest and cloak. His hair was a little disheveled, like he hadn't combed it yet.
Lily was standing behind them, her hair pulled back into a long ponytail. She was only missing her cloak.
Severus was over, by the next bed, with Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey. As his parents had come in, they had heard Severus insisting, "He knew what he was doing!"
Severus had on most of his uniform, except for his cloak and sweater vest. Although it didn't look like he was cutting his own hair, yet, it was greasy. He looked the most stressed out of everyone.
Donovan and Genevieve immediately rushed over to Isaac and hugged him. Genevieve kissed him on the cheek and Donovan kissed the top of his head.
The adults left Severus and Madam Pomfrey explained to the parents, "I was just able to stop the infection. So, he won't be becoming a werewolf, but he will have very nasty scars for most likely the rest of his life."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey." Donovan confessed, "My wife and I have been so worried."
Genevieve added, "Not that we don't think you're skilled at healing, Madam Pomfrey, but we were worried that something would go wrong before we got here."
"It really wasn't that bad," Isaac said, "at least not for me. But Remus-"
"Tried to kill him!" Severus decided.
"Shut up!" snapped Lily.
"I won't shut up!" Severus argued. "My brother almost got killed-"
Lily said, "I know and I'm sorry-" Isaac looked a little surprised by Lily's response.
"You don't have to be sorry!" Severus told her, which surprised her into doing a double take. He looked at his parents and said, "James Potter and his gang should be the ones saying sorry. They tried to get me killed!"
"No, they didn't!" Lily shrieked, stamping her foot.
Severus asked her, "Oh, so, you're taking their side now?"
"Well, she's not going to take yours." Ashley told him, darkly.
Severus snapped at his sister, "I wasn't talking to you."
"You were talking around me." she countered.
"Stop arguing." Genevieve ordered. Donovan was staring at his youngest kids, with a heavy frown. Genevieve motioned to Isaac and said, "You're brother should be what you're focusing on."
Severus told her, earnestly, "That is what I'm focusing on. He's only hurt because he went to go and save me. He thought I was still in passage way under the Whomping Willow because Argus told him how Sirius Black had told me about it." Argus looked down and Alison rubbed his shoulder. Severus continued, "I don't understand why they're not getting expelled for this. Black and all of his friends wanted me to get killed-"
"You're mistaken." Dumbledore said. He told the parents, "I've been trying to tell him. I've already talked with Sirius Black and his friends. They weren't trying to kill him. It was only a prank, a horrible one, but still only a prank. Remus Lupin didn't even know-"
"It's not true!" Severus said, desperately. "They just don't want to get in trouble. That's the only reason James Potter came and got me-"
Dumbledore shook his head, "No-"
"Yes!" Severus stated. "They wanted me dead! And, because you let Remus Lupin in this school, Isaac almost…" His lower lip quivered, his voice was high pitched, and he looked down. Then, Severus burst into sobs. Argus looked even guiltier. Donovan and Genevieve rushed over to Severus and tried to hug him, but Severus swatted their hands away and said, unconvincingly, "I'm fine."
Lily felt out of place, Frank and Alice shared a worried look, Alison gave Argus an It's not your fault look, Ashley was looking down, and Silvia stared, sympathetically, at Severus. Isaac was also looking at his brother.
"Sev?" Isaac asked, gently.
Severus, reluctantly, locked eyes with him.
"I know you're not going to want to hear this," Isaac admitted, "but I don't think Black meant for you to get killed."
Severus went closer to him and said, "They all hate me! James Potter even said that—that my existing is what makes him hate me." He turned to Lily, desperately, "Lily, you-"
She looked at Isaac and explained, "He did say that, but it was just empty words. He didn't mean-"
"I know." Isaac told her. Then, he told Severus, "Sev, I don't really think that Black and Potter and even Pettigrew are the greatest people in the world, but they're not killers."
Severus reminded him, "But they sent me to Lupin-"
"No, Black sent you-"
"They were all in on it."
"No, I don't think so. I think Black came up with the idea by himself, but he didn't think it out all the way through. He probably just wanted to scare you. I mean Remus isn't anywhere close to being a killer in human form."
"He's not exactly a saint!" Severus argued. "All he ever does when his friends bully me or someone else is just sit there. He probably finds it funny, like the rest of them."
"No, he doesn't." Lily and Isaac said. Then, they, briefly, shared a small smile that didn't reach their eyes.
Isaac told Severus, "Honestly, I think Remus-"
"Why are you talking about him like he's your friend?" Severus asked, his voice full of loathing for Remus.
"I think he's just as much a victim of this as we are-"
"No, he's not!" Severus looked ready to cry. "He could have killed you."
"But I knew what I was getting into." Isaac admitted, surprising everyone in the room. He turned to Dumbledore and said, "I figured out why Remus was leaving the castle every month. I knew, going in the Whomping Willow, that I was going to see him as a werewolf. He knows I know too. He's known for two years now."
"That's why you sounded so sure about it." Argus realized. Everyone turned to him and he said, "When he was telling me, I didn't really think about it." He told Isaac's parents, "I'm sorry. I know it was reckless, but I was so panicked, I just had to find someone-"
"It's not your fault." Donovan assured him.
Genevieve turned to Dumbledore and said, "It's all your fault. You should have made it harder for students to get past that tree."
McGonagall took a step toward Genevieve and told her, firmly, "It most certainly is not the headmaster's fault."
Dumbledore shook his head, "No. She's right, Minerva."
"Albus-"
Severus cut her off, "No, he's right, it is his fault! It's just one more thing that he let happen to me and," he motioned to Isaac, "now my brother!"
Dumbledore stared at Severus, who was seething. The headmaster looked weakened, like he'd just been through the Cruciatus curse, but only McGonagall could tell how much Severus's words had hurt him.
Lily broke the silence and said, "I knew about Remus too." All eyes went on her and she told them, "I figured it out, when Isaac did. But we had thought it was better to keep it a secret. Remus doesn't know that I know about him being a werewolf." She turned to Isaac, "Does he?"
"No." Isaac answered.
Dumbledore said, "Well, I'm going to have to ask you all to keep Remus Lupin's condition a secret-"
"He doesn't deserve it!" Severus decided.
Dumbledore begged him, "Severus, please, do as I ask. If you don't, it will count against you-"
"What!" Severus told him, "They all tried to kill me! And, because of them," Severus's voice started to break, "Isaac almost died trying to save me…" He looked down, so that no one could see his face. When his parents tried to comfort him, he turned away from everyone.
"Sev?" Isaac asked, concerned.
Isaac threw off his covers and swung his legs off the bed. Madam Pomfrey tried to stop him, but Dumbledore shook his head so she would let him go.
Isaac went over and grabbed Severus's shoulders to make his brother face him. Severus was shaking, with tears rolling down his cheeks. He gave Isaac this Please, take my pain away look. Isaac pulled him closer for a tight hug.
Feeling Severus shake so much, because he was crying so hard, made Isaac understand what agony was. It was like something hooked into him that he couldn't pull out. And the way Severus hugged him back was so desperate, like a hungry baby who didn't want his parents to leave the room, even though they would be going to get food.
It was one of those awful reality-hits-you moments that sucks the joy out of a person, like a Dementor. Isaac felt like his mouth had been wired shut into a frown. Since he could make himself talk, he channeled his emotions into kissing Severus, twice, on the cheek.
Silvia got up and rushed over. She threw her arms around them and kissed them both on the cheek, but she kissed Severus twice. She told them, "Guys, don't keep being so reckless."
Severus turned to her and said, honestly, "I'm sorry,"
She stared at him, surprised. Then, she kissed him on the cheek again and they shared a smile.
Frank and Alice went over next, but didn't get as worked up. They also hugged Isaac and Silvia more than Severus.
Alison tugged on Argus's arm and said, "Come on." He gave her a pleading look, but she pulled him along anyway.
When they got to the group, she, lightly, pushed Argus forward and asked, "Well, are any of you mad at him?"
Severus, who was the closest, turned to look at Argus, "You were just trying to help."
Isaac added, with a smile, "And it's very complimentary, that you thought I was the best person to go to."
Argus smile a little, "Well, you're the oldest."
Isaac grinned, "That's what made you come and get me? My superior ability of one year and two years over Ashley?"
"And you're the best at spells too." Argus confessed.
Isaac told him, "Well, thank you. And you know you can join all of us now. You too, Ali."
Severus pulled Argus towards the group and Alison followed suit.
Alison told Argus, "See, we all love you." Then, she kissed him on the cheek. He smiled, shyly.
Isaac looked over at Lily and Ashley. Ashley met his eyes, apologetically, but Lily avoided looking at him or anyone.
Isaac switched to looking at his parents, who stared back, nostalgically. They glanced over at Lily and Genevieve asked, cautiously, "Lily, dear?"
She turned towards the door and told them, quickly, "I have to go. Bye."
Ashley got up and said, "Wait." Then, Lily leapt out of the room and Ashley ran after her, through a few halls.
"Lily, wait!" Ashley begged.
"Just leave me alone!" Lily told her.
"Well, then, why did you come?" Ashley asked.
Lily stopped and turned around, "I just wanted to make sure Isaac and Severus were ok, alright?"
Ashley reached her and said, "Ok, well, you could still stay. Maybe, you could finally patch things up-"
Lily shook her head, apologetically, "No-"
Ashley bobbed up and down, "Why not?"
"It's all so complicated now." Lily answered.
"It doesn't have to be." Ashley told her. "Just because Severus turned on you-"
"He's your brother." Lily pointed out. "Look what happened in there. You and Sev—Severus—got into an argument over me-"
"Because he's being an idiot," Ashley added, "And he knows it. He tried to apologize-"
"But he still hangs around those Death Eaters-"
"Because he's scared, Lily," Ashley explained, desperately. "He's not exactly as brave as Ali."
"But his friends do awful things-"
"So, does James Potter and most of his friends." She told her, bluntly, "You might notice that again, if you weren't so busy drooling over James Potter."
Lily asked, indignantly, "Is this your way of trying to make me be your friend again?"
"No." she said. "But come on, Lily. You know James Potter and all of his friends, except for Remus Lupin, are bullies." She added, "I mean I don't think they wanted my brother to get killed, but I think Severus is right, they should be expelled."
"Oh, that's nice." Lily remarked, sarcastically.
Ashley glared at her, "Both of my brothers nearly died, Lily. And now Argus feels really guilty and Severus can add this to the list of horrible things that have happened to him at Hogwarts."
Lily took a deep breath. Then, she said, "I'm sorry. I know this must be really hard for you-"
Ashley waved her hand around, like she was clearing smoke out of her way, "It's fine." She asked, "But do you know where Remus Lupin is? I think I should tell him no one's going to tell the whole school about what happened."
"What about heading back to the infirmary?" Lily asked.
"Well," Ashley explained, "it won't look or feel so great for me to walk back in without you."
Lily looked down a moment. Then, she looked at Ashley again and told her, "Remus is usually in the library, now. I heard his friends teasing him about it once, but in a friendly way."
Ashley put her arms up and insisted, "I wasn't going to say anything."
Lily nodded and turned to go. She waited for Ashley to follow and then they headed down the hall.
"So, how's studying for O.W.L.s going?" Lily asked.
"Good." Ashley explained, "Isaac and Severus have been helping me."
"That's good." Lily commented.
They library looked empty, except for Madam Pince sitting at the front desk. She looked up and regarded them coolly. She said, in a low voice, "Remember to be quiet."
The girls nodded and went in. Ashley followed Lily past the front shelves to the back. At first, Ashley didn't see anyone, but then, as they got into an open area full of private, walled in, desks, she saw Remus Lupin scanning the pages of a thick Herbology book.
He was by the window at one of the last desks. He looked up, by chance, and swallowed hard. Ashley's face was blank, so he couldn't tell how she was feeling.
Lily said, "Remus, she's not mad. She just wants to talk."
Lily hung back by the second to last row of desks, while Ashley went over to Remus.
Remus stared up at Ashley, alarmed. Ashley was frowning. She said, "Dumbledore made us all promise not to tell anyone about you. Me, my brothers, Lily, Argus Filch, Alison Knott, Frank Longbottom, Alice Garner, and Silvia Stone."
Remus nodded.
Ashley explained, "So, my parents aren't going to sue or anything like that. Well, when I first went to Isaac, in the infirmary, he told me to tell you he's going to tell people he got hurt because he was trying to get too close to the Whomping Willow."
She waited for Remus to respond, but he just nodded.
Ashley continued, apologetically, "Ok, so, most of us aren't mad at you, but my brother, Severus, thinks that you and all of your friends were in on Sirius Black's prank and that it was meant to get Severus killed."
"No." Remus insisted, immediately. "I-I…No, I wouldn't kill anybody and none of my friends would either."
"I know." Ashley admitted. "It's just that the whole thing was kind of sketchy-"
"Ashley." Lily warned.
Ashley glanced over her shoulder at Lily, "I'm just saying." Then, she turned back to Remus, "I don't think you or your friends meant for Severus to get killed and, if you hadn't have been a werewolf, you wouldn't have tried to kill Isaac either."
"Is he ok?" Remus asked, a little pale.
She nodded, "Yeah, just some scars on his right hand. Madam Pomfrey was able to keep him from becoming like you."
Remus took a deep breath, "Ok, that's good."
Ashley blurted out, "You know none of us would have done that to you."
"Ashley." Lily said.
But Ashley continued, "If you were our friend and we knew about your secret, and I know you knew Isaac did, then we would have done everything to make sure no one found out about it. Because that's what friends are supposed to do and that's what we'll all do for you now, even Severus."
Remus said, uncertainly, "Thank you."
Ashley bit her lip and gave him a hesitant look. Eventually, she offered, "If you want to stop being friends with Sirius Black, and James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew, you can be friends with all of us."
"Ashley." Lily said, a little reproachfully.
Ashley looked at her, desperately, and said, "Well, come on, Lily. Would you want friends like that?" She told Remus, "I think it's awful what Sirius Black did and how your friends just bully people. I mean I know my brother, Severus, has done some pretty bad things, like calling Lily a mudblood, and most of us are working on that, but your friends started it and they jinx people just for the fun of it."
Remus looked shocked and a little angry. He asked, "Well, what exactly excuses what your brother did? You're asking me to leave my friends, but you stand by your brother."
"Well, he's related to me. I have to see him." Ashley explained. "And, I mean, he's under a lot of pressure, peer pressure. With your friends, you must know how bad that can be."
Remus looked at Lily, who shrugged, sadly.
Ashley told him, "Look, I'm sorry. I…I mean this whole morning has been really hard," she sounded ready to cry, but kept going, "and I'm just really upset and just angry that Isaac and Severus could have died, but not at you."
"It's alright." Remus assured her. "I know this must be hard for you, for all of you."
Lily suggested, firmly, "Ok, well, Ashley, I think we have to go now."
Ashley turned to go, wordlessly.
Remus watched the girls leaving. Before they turned the corner, Remus got up and rushed over to them. He tapped Ashley on the shoulder. She faced him, with an apologetic look.
He promised her, "I'm going to talk to my friends. I'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again. It can't."
Ashley smiled a little, "The offer always stands to be our friend." Then, she lost her smile, "And you can keep your old ones too."
Remus nodded, "Alright. Thanks."
Ashley added, "Well, Lily's not friends with us anymore." She looked to Lily, then, to Remus, "You guys could be friends." Remus and Lily looked at each other and Ashley added, "You're both prefects."
Lily told Remus, "Well, I'll admit, I do think your friends can be a bit immature and reckless at times, but, Ashley's right, we are prefects and for the same house. We should be friendly."
"Right," Remus nodded, seriously.
Ashley suddenly felt an out of place feeling creep into her. So, she told them, "Ok, so, I should head back to the infirmary, now. You can both come too, but I should definitely go."
"Maybe, I'll go see Isaac later." Remus said, "You can tell him that. I'll tell him what we did at chorus practice."
"Ok," she said. "I'll just go, then."
As Ashley passed by, Lily touched her shoulder and the girls exchanged a quick, humorless smile. Ashley could hear Remus and Lily start talking, awkwardly, about what books they liked best from the library. But, then, she turned the corner, and it was like the three of them hadn't just been talking.
Madam Pince glanced up at her as she walked out and said, "Come again." Ashley nodded.
When Ashley got to the end of the hall, where she would make a turn to head back to the Hospital Wing, a rush shot through her and her hands felt clammy. Every fiber of her body told her to run in the opposite direction, to get outside and sprint past the gate.
But Ashley didn't like the idea of running from her problems, even if it seemed easier. She power walked down the hall, to the infirmary. Her fists and jaw were clenched, under nervous eyes.
Ashley pushed open the infirmary doors and immediately met her mother's sympathetic gaze. She stepped in the room and was startled by the door slamming behind her.
"Where have you been?" Dumbledore asked, like he was expecting the worst.
Ashley turned to him an explained, "Lily and I went to the library, so I could talk to Remus Lupin." Dumbledore stood very still, but relaxed a little, after she said, "I told him that none of us are going to tell the school about him being a werewolf." She added, to Isaac, "And what you've planned on telling everyone about your hand."
Dumbledore nodded, "That was very good of you, but, now, there's something else I must ask you to keep secret."
Ashley gave him a puzzled look, "What?"
"This might make you very proud, so proud that you want to brag about it to anyone who would listen." Dumbledore informed her, "The way Isaac got into the passage way was supposed to have been impossible because of the enchantments I put on the Whomping Willow." Dumbledore admitted, "Isaac made up a spell that was able to undo my enchantment, for a short time."
Ashley nodded, conflicted over feeling worried that a seventh year got past Dumbledore's spell or proud that her brother was so powerful.
"Right. I promise, sir, I won't tell anyone about it, both things." Ashley managed to say.
Dumbledore smiled appreciatively. Then, he turned to the others and bid them farewell. He added to McGonagall, "Minerva, you may stay, of course."
She stepped forward and offered, quickly, "I'll come with you." Then, after she became aware everyone was watching her, she straightened up and said in a businesslike manner, "I wanted to talk to you about time tables for next term."
"Certainly," Dumbledore obliged.
As McGonagall went to go join Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey told the others she had to "go over some things" in the next room. When she, Dumbledore, and McGonagall were gone, the kids eyed each other and started laughing. Genevieve grinned, despite trying to look poised, and Donovan had looked down to hide his amusement.
Alice said, "She just had to make sure they would have a lot of free time to spend together, next term."
Frank told her, seriously, "Wait, you don't know that." Then, he smiled and pressed his palm against his chest, "Whoa, I don't even know how I said that with a straight face."
Everyone chuckled, but Genevieve said, "Kids, no, we shouldn't be laughing about this. Mr. Snape and I especially,"
"It sets a bad example for you." Donovan explained.
Ashley turned to Isaac, proudly, "Ok, well, Isaac, why don't you take our minds off it by telling us, or maybe just me for the first time, how you undid that enchantment on the Whomping Willow."
Isaac told her, humbly, "I sort of went off Immobulus. I got a Latin book from the library and tried out some more words with it and came up with Immobulus Sino. Sino means allow. I don't know if that's the right way in Latin to say the words together, but, well, it worked."
"Yeah, it worked. Isaac, you made a new spell." Ashley stated, excitedly.
Their parents shared a worried look right before Genevieve asked, "Isaac, not that your father and I aren't incredibly proud of you, but why were you trying to make that spell in the first place. You couldn't have known you would need it last night." But, then, she added, "Did you?"
"No, I didn't know if I was going to need it," Isaac explained, "but, back when Davey Gudgeon—he's in Hufflepuff too and he wanted to make a name for himself because he didn't think much of being sorted into Hufflepuff-"
"That's why he tried to get close to the Whomping Willow?" Frank asked, in disbelief. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt, but I've always thought Gudgeon was really thick to do that."
Alison added, "And just because he was sorted into Hufflepuff? It's not bad, being in Hufflepuff."
"I don't think he was being that thick." Severus confessed.
His mother just stared at him, like she didn't want to believe he had just said that. His father told him, firmly, "Severus, he could have been hurt. And you and Isaac took the same incredibly dangerous risk last night."
"Well, Isaac and I are fine." Severus said. "And Gudgeon turned out alright too."
"I heard that he almost lost an eye." Silvia immediately informed him.
Severus turned to her and said, in a small voice, "Oh,"
Isaac pointed to Silvia, "Yeah, you're right. And, he also got hit on the shoulder."
Genevieve decided, "Well, he shouldn't have tried to do it. Just because he was afraid that others wouldn't think that much of him doesn't make it alright to risk his life."
Severus explained, "Well, Sirius Black told me that I was supposed to hit that knot and then I would get to see where the passage way led to."
"You hate each other." Ashley pointed out. "So, why did you think it was ok to trust him?"
Isaac told her, "Ashley, it doesn't matter."
"No," his mother insisted, "it matters." She turned to Severus, "You could have been killed because of what Sirius Black pulled."
Something about the look in his mother's eyes made Severus feel intensely aware of his mortality. He suddenly pictured everyone, dressed in black, standing over his grave as a priest, named Father McKenzie, said something about how they could be sure he had reached eternal life in Heaven.
Severus looked at his parents' worried expressions and told them, honestly, "I'm sorry."
His mother closed her eyes and nodded. Donovan begged him, "Just, please, don't risk your life again."
"I won't." Severus promised.
Isaac glanced at the clock and said, "Guys, if you don't want to be late to your classes-"
"No. I think we need to spend the whole day with you." Frank decided, humorously.
Isaac smiled, "None of you are injured. They're not just going to let you stay here because you don't want to go to your classes."
"No, but we're all really traumatized from almost losing you." Frank gestured to the other kids, "Right, guys." The others nodded, especially Argus and Severus very seriously. Frank asked Genevieve and Donovan, "Don't you think that we need a day off to get over the shock of almost losing a dear friend?"
Donovan replied, "I don't think you should be using our son's near death experience to get out of classes."
Genevieve added, "But I think a day off school would do you good." Donovan turned to her and she explained, "The trauma could set in later." Donovan nodded, understandingly.
"So you're going to tell Madam Pomfrey you think she should excuse us from classes for today?" Frank asked.
"Yes, Frank." Genevieve told him.
"And tonight's homework?" Frank added, hopefully.
She shook her head, "Don't push your luck."
Everyone but Argus was disappointed, but the prospect of having the whole day off was enough to make them get past it.
Argus motioned to his clothes and said, "Well, I've been wearing this since yesterday. So, I'm going to go change and wash up."
"Take your time," Alice told him, "we'll be here all day." She commented, to everyone, "I like the sound of that."
Genevieve motioned to Donovan and herself, "We can go and tell Madam Pomfrey we she should excuse you from your classes, now."
"But we can't promise that she'll agree with us." Donovan added.
The kids nodded.
Isaac offered, to his parents, "You can see if she'll let you stay the whole day too." He looked around at the other kids, who nodded. Then, he said, "I think it would be ok."
His parents smiled appreciatively, but Genevieve told him, "That's very sweet of you to think of us, Isaac, but, unfortunately, we have to get back home."
Isaac's face fell, so did his siblings' and Argus's.
Ashley asked, alarmed, "What's going on at home?"
Her parents shared a concerned look. Then, Genevieve told Ashley, "There's been a few attacks."
"Who got attacked?" Isaac, Severus, Ashley, and Argus demanded to know.
"Anthony and Margaret Macgregor and Fiona and Shelley Clyde." Genevieve shared.
"But Anthony's only nine!" Argus pointed out.
Donovan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, "The people who attacked him didn't care about his age."
"How is he?" Argus asked, tears shimmering in his eyes.
"All of their memories were modified. Anthony got hit by a spell in the leg. It's broken, but it will heal, Argus."
"Do you know who attacked them?"
Before Donovan could answer, Ashley said, "Death Eaters!" She glared at Severus, "I bet it was some of your friends' parents."
"They're not my friends!" Severus countered.
Genevieve told them, "Don't fight. And, if any of you have actual proof that any of the students here have Death Eaters for parents, you need to speak up, right now."
The kids eyed each other. Only Silvia, Argus, and Silvia met Severus's gaze.
Alison admitted, "Well, a lot of the other kids in Slytherin kind of hint at it."
"Yeah," Severus added, "but they probably just want to sound cool. I mean a lot of them come from families that think being pure blood makes them superior to everyone else."
"Yes, but we didn't raise you like that." his mother snapped.
"I didn't say I agreed with them." Severus argued.
"We know." his father assured him, but Isaac noted that their mother didn't look like she fully agreed.
Genevieve reminded Severus, a little reproachfully, "You called Lily a mudblood, Severus."
Severus screamed, defensively, "It just slipped out!"
"Don't talk to your mother like that." Donavan ordered. Then, he told Genevieve, "It's wrong, but it really could have just slipped out."
"No!" Genevieve decided. She told Severus, "Alison's around the same people you are and she doesn't go around calling people mudbloods!"
Alison looked down, uncomfortably. Ashley glared at Severus, while Isaac observed the conversation, grimly. Frank and Alice didn't look shocked. Silvia stared, sadly, at Severus and so did Argus.
"I don't go around doing that either!" Severus insisted, desperately, "I'm sorry, it just slipped out."
"You called her a mudblood, Severus." Genevieve reminded him. "If you don't think being purblood makes you superior, it shouldn't have slipped out."
Severus looked hurt, "I didn't mean to call her that."
Donovan looked like he wanted to comfort Severus, but Genevieve gave her son a skeptical look.
"I believe him." Argus confessed. Silvia and Isaac smiled appreciatively at Argus. Argus looked Severus dead in the eyes, "You must have been extremely angry and, with what Potter and his friends did, it must have been really awful for you." He added to Genevieve and Donovan, "And Sev has never said anything bad about me, even though I'm Squib."
"It's ok, being a Squib." Severus told him. Argus turned to him and shared a serious look.
Genevieve watched the boys, like everyone else. She remarked, "You have a very loyal friend here, Severus."
Her youngest son turned to her and said, uncertainly, "Well, he's my best friend."
"Yeah," Argus added, a little more strongly.
Donovan was relieved, but Genevieve had to force herself to smile. She told Severus, "Then, maybe, you really did just let it slip. Just be careful about that, then."
"I will." Severus promised. "I have been."
"Ok," she said. "Your father and I will go talk to Madam Pomfrey now."
As Genevieve and Donovan headed into the next room, Argus said, "Yeah, and I'm going to go wash up and change now."
Right before Argus left, he heard Ashley tell Severus, "You know you should have ran after Lily too."
(A/N: I had so much fun writing this chapter. I finally got to give Silvia a voice and show Alice and Frank before they went insane. And then there's Genevieve and Donovan! I love them. Now, I can't wait to write Filch's parents into the story.)
