A/N: A thousand apologies for this being - what? - a month after I posted the last chapter. I'm terrible sorry. I've been horribly busy. Besides, this is a long chapter. ENJOY!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own the HPverse, adn even if I did, James would belong to Lily, Sirius would belong to Icilyn, I wouldn't want to own Peter, and Remus would probably be owned by some pretty werewolf chick.... It's depressing, I know.... ;)
Even Angels Fall
Chapter Ten
Forgiven
Back at Hogwarts, things seemed to be on loose threads between the Marauders. James was in the hospital wing for malnutrition and some cuts and bruises he had gotten over the three months at his stay in the Dark House. Remus and Peter (once the situation was explained to him) seemed rather nervous to be around their friend, but they were ecstatic that he had come back and was all in one piece. James seemed somewhat awkward too, especially towards Lily and Sirius, and he was very quiet one afternoon after Peter and Remus had left the wing to go to their dormitories for curfew (Sirius and Lily had been able to stay with James in the hospital wing).
"I want you guys to know that I - I'm sorry," he said ineptly.
"For what?" Lily asked, sitting up in her bed and looking at James.
"Well, I - I was such a jerk to you two," he said, uneasy yet again. "All you were trying to do was save my life and look out for me."
"You did what you had to," Sirius said simply. "It wasn't a big deal. Besides, I would have dragged you out kicking and screaming." He gave James a grin.
"And I - I really appreciate it. I really do. I mean, I can't believe what an asshole I was to be like that to you two. You were the only things that kept me sane - well, at least you were, Sirius - being away from Lily almost drove me insane."
Lily smiled brightly. James stared at her beautiful face in the moonlight that was coming in through the window and he smiled back. He couldn't believe that she had done this for him. And he couldn't help thinking, for the millionth time, that he was so lucky to have her, and he would always feel lucky.
"That's so sweet of you, Love," Lily replied. "But I'd rather you be sane, because I don't think I could deal with an lovesick insane James Potter. Then I don't have any clue what desperate measures I'd have to take to bring you back."
"I know what they could be," James said slyly.
"Look at you, back not even one week and you're already sexually harassing me," Lily chortled.
"Ah, good times," Sirius sighed. "I'm sure as hell glad you're back, mate, 'cause we lost to Slytherin last Quidditch match and we're out of the running for the Cup - all because of you."
"Well, thanks for putting that on my shoulders, buddy."
"No problem, mate," Sirius relied, clapping James on the back. "So, what's the story that's going around as to why you're in the infirmary?"
"If anybody asks, I'll make something up. Maybe I'll even tell them the truth - I mean, who's going to believe a story like that? The Dark Lord captured me and I was there for three months while a Death Eater took my place and then Lily and Sirius rescued me. I don't think that's a very believable theory."
"Well, you know, sometimes reality is stranger than dreams," Sirius said. "But I think you should tell the truth, and then we'll see how far it goes."
"No, don't fool the people's minds," Lily said. "Just tell them that you fell off your broom."
"Or that you have an abusive girlfriend." Sirius touched his purple-greenish cheek from where Lily slapped him, and he smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"How many times are you going to make me apologize for that, Siri? I said I was sorry, what more do you want?"
"A million more apologies."
"What'd you smack him for?" James asked.
"Never you mind, dear," Lily replied, getting up and crossing to James' bed and kissing him on the cheek. "I'm going to go shower, love. I'll be back within an hour." And she left the room, leaving James and Sirius staring after her.
"Amazing woman, that one is," Sirius said, still looking at the door. "She put together this whole plan to get you back - I had no part whatsoever in making any of it up. And she did feel horrible when she found out that Malfoy wasn't you. She said she was sick to her stomach for hours because you weren't there and it had been him all along."
"I know she was upset. She has asked for forgiveness so many times since I've gotten back that I wish she would just forget it."
"But she can't," Sirius said, the torchlight glistening in his eyes. "She can't forget that you said that she didn't care because she couldn't tell that it was Lucius Malfoy and not you."
"Well, how about we forget it at the moment," James said, looking at his watch. "Because we've got more important things to think about."
"Like what?"
"Midnight, January seventeenth." He pulled a brightly wrapped package out from behind his pillow. "Happy birthday, mate."
"What's this?"
"Open it and see," James urged.
Sirius tore off the paper happily and opened the medium-sized velvet box (all the while hoping that James hadn't gotten him a piece of jewelry), but looked up at his best friend when he found that the box was empty. "Is this one of your jokes?" he asked.
"No, not at all, my friend," James replied. "Inside that very box is something so special that I could give it to none other than my best friend and brother. Take a close look."
Sirius lowered his face into the box and his eye widened and he gasped. He couldn't see anything, but he could feel such a strong emotion that his eyes welled and his cheeks flushed. He looked back up at James.
"Don't get all emotional on me now," James said. "While I was with Voldemort, he taught me some smashing magic. One of them was the Feltavoire Charm. The way the charm works is you capture an emotion you have and you can give it to something else. I captured all the love I have for you and made a replica of it and placed it into the box so you could know how much you mean to me." His cheeks flushed at showing another male his emotions. "Thank you for being there in my life, Sirius. I love you, man."
"I love you too, mate," Sirius replied, getting up and hugging James tightly. "You are the best friend anyone could ask for and a better brother."
James clapped him on the back. "You're stuck with me for life, you know."
"I know, I know."
They pulled away from each other and Sirius shut the box and set it aside. There was a moment of peaceful silence, and Sirius watched the torchlight and moonlight combine on the stone floor.
"What was it like?" Sirius asked.
"Huh?"
"What was it like, being the Dark Lord's son? I mean, was it scary or was it cool?"
"Well, it...was different," James replied. "I mean, I don't know how to explain it. He...he would tell me stories about his childhood, and his days after Hogwarts, and he even told me about how he came about being Lord Voldemort. After a while, he started showing affection in his own way, and giving me advice on things. Some of the things he gave me advice on was the best advice anyone's ever given me. And I thought to myself, if Voldemort is giving me this kind of good advice and sharing secrets about himself that no one else knows about, then he really must care." He looked away from his best friend. "And, by god, Sirius, I had the worst turn of emotions I've ever had in my life.... You have no idea. I started caring for him, as well. He was my father - but it was more of the father-son relationships that have been bitter. I was still bitter, but I loved this man, and he loved me...." He paused, thinking. Sirius could have sworn there was a welled tear in his eye. "And after a while, the relationship became wonderful. We'd share stories - well, more often than not, he knew everything about me. I was the son he never had, and he was the father I never had. Sirius, do you realize that I know more about this so-called stranger than I do about my own flesh and blood father?"
Sirius was silent. The information was running through his head like a river. And he knew that James still loved this feared man known as the Dark Lord.
"He will always be a father to me, whether I like it or not. But I can't help but think that I let him down by not being his heir - Lord Mordred. I can't help but think that I've ruined him for life. I - I just have mixed emotions about it, and I don't know why - I can't even comprehend why he turned the way he did. He would have been a wonderful father, he could have remained a wonderful husband, but his ambitions and search for vengeance got in the way. But I'll tell you one thing, Sirius," he sighed, looking back up at his dark-haired friend. "I'll tell you one thing I've learned from him, and that one thing is, even angels fall."
No more was said. No explanations were needed. They sat in silence, staring off into the darkness of the infirmary. Sirius contemplated the things James had told him. Even angels fall. Innocent people are victimized by society, and it changes their lives forever. It was hard for Sirius to think of the Dark Lord as a good man, only victimized and searching for revenge, but, by the trust he had in James, he knew it was true, nothing more, nothing less. Voldemort didn't want universal power because he wanted the control - he wanted it because he felt he had to show all the people that he could do it, despite all the things he's been through. That was all there was to it.
After a few more minutes of silence, Lily came back into the room, looking both tired and refreshed. He auburn hair was darkened to almost black from dampness, and she smelled of soap and cookies.
"How was your shower, sweetie?" James asked.
"Lovely," she replied, sitting down on the edge of James' bed. He sat up and laced his fingers through his.
"I think I'm going to take a shower now," Sirius said. He patted James on the back, kissed Lily's cheek, and exited the wing.
"You know," Lily said. "I'm glad you're back. Things were really at an all time low without you here. I mean, you were here, but it wasn't you, so things just got...." She saw the look on James' face. "Oh, god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up again. I just - I-"
"He's not better than I am, is he?" James asked.
"What?" Lily asked sharply, wondering how James could think of such a thing. "If you're going to make me apologize for this again, James, I've already said I was sorry and I already feel guilty enough about all that has happened. Why don't you just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it while you're at it?"
It was James' turn to be sharp. "I don't ever want you to be sorry. It wasn't your fault, Lily, and I want you to know that. Never be sorry. Never." Lily looked into James' eyes and nodded. His voice softened. "Besides, I meant, was is he better than I am in some ways?"
"You mean, what did I like about the not-you? Well, he had a lot of patience, and that was all his good qualities. That was it."
"He wasn't better at anything else?" James asked, placing enough emphasis on the words that Lily knew what he meant right away, and she shook her head, smiling, thinking about how he had to protect his manhood.
"Are you crazy? There was nothing good about being so sore the next day that I couldn't even sit down without wincing. Besides, he didn't do the cute little things you obliviously do."
"Like what?" he asked, coloring slightly.
"You always finger my hair and hum an ancient love tune before you fall asleep. I probably shouldn't have told you that, because you won't do it so obliviously anymore...."
"I never knew I hummed," James said, knitting his eyebrows.
"Usually Greensleeves." She smiled, and he leaned in and kissed her, happy once again, that he had her back. Nothing else would have mattered to him if she weren't around.
They kissed, or rather snogged, trying to control their emotions - since it was a hospital wing, Lily had to remind him, when she smacked his hand away when he tried to place it on her breast. He reminded her that he had been celibate for three months, but chuckled anyway and kept his mouth on hers. Besides, he thought, he didn't want to be with her for the first time in months in a place like the infirmary. He kissed even deeper when a plan formed in his brain of a romantic evening they could have sometime in the near future....
"I love you," he whispered in her ear. "My own personal saint - my own personal goddess."
Lily smiled, her emerald eyes illuminated in the torchlight. "I love you, James Potter. I always have and I always will. I love you." She planted a kiss on his left cheek. "I love you." Right cheek. "I love you." On his nose. "I love you." His mouth.
James laid back down and pulled Lily with him. She sighed contentedly and closed her eyes, falling into a deeper and more peaceful sleep than she had ever been in before, enveloped in the warmth of her lover's arms.
* * *
Sirius looked at the raven-haired woman standing before him. She had her hands on her shapely hips and a scowl on her face. At the moment, he was reminded greatly of the way Lily scolded him. He thought that maybe the two women should get together more often - they'd find they had a lot in common.
"Icilyn, my love, it wasn't a matter of keeping a secret from you specifically, it was a secret to everyone else. You cannot accuse me of lying to you."
"But you did."
"I did not! Icilyn, if you're going to fight with me, then I'm going to leave right now, because I thought you should know. I didn't have to come here and tell you all this."
The Head Girl looked down at her bare feet. "I know," she sighed. "I'm sorry, but I do get rather jealous, as you already know. It's just - well - "
"Well, what?"
"Well, it just that Lily is so beautiful, that I sometimes wonder if there is something going on between the two of you - or three of you, for that matter..."
Sirius sighed heavily, trying to calm himself. "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say in your entire life." Icilyn looked back up at him. "Icy, it's you that I love, not Lily, and certainly not James. I love them like no one could ever explain. We are bound together forever. But you" - he cupped her cheek - "are the love of my life, Icilyn, and I'm scared out of my wits. I've never felt this way about anyone else, and I don't know how to handle these feelings. I'm so scared that all I can do is live each day, pleading with Fate that all will go well. I imagine that this feeling is something like James would call free falling - going so fast into the unknown and I have nothing to grab onto and nothing will stand in the way. Icilyn, don't get jealous if I talk to other women, because I want you to know that it's you that I love, not the other woman. I -"
Sirius would have finished his monologue, but he couldn't, for the Ravenclaw had stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. They kissed for quite some time, until Icilyn pulled away and looked at him, a thought crossing her mind.
"Sirius, what are we going to do next year? I'll be leaving Hogwarts, and you'll be in your last year."
"Are you worried?" he asked softly.
"Well, not exactly. What will happen to us? Will we go on with our relationship or be friends again, or what?"
"Icy, do you even remember how we met? I mean, do you remember how we came about in this relationship?"
"Well, I met you at your mother's party. I didn't know what I was doing there in Ireland with all those people in one gigantic castle. Now I believe in fate. Your mum didn't even know my mum, but she invited us to her party, and I thought it ridiculous that we were going, but then I saw you standing there by one of the smaller ponds on your grounds. I knew who you were, and I knew about your history with women, but I went over and talked to you anyway, even though I was afraid of how you would be. I thought you would be cocky and self-absorbed. But you weren't. And we talked a bit about Hogwarts and the professors and tedious things like that. After I went back home to Northumberland, I couldn't get my mind off of you. So I owled you, and that's how our contact started. Then we started meeting up in places. I never told anyone and I told you not to tell because I didn't want to be labeled because I was with you. Now, don't get me wrong - any girl would have been jealous out of their minds, but I didn't want to be labeled as someone you were using or someone that was using you. But then I found out how you really were and I fell head-over-heels, and here I am today. Feeling just like you are: scared out of my wits."
Sirius smiled. He couldn't imagine living without this woman. "I love you," he whispered softly. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Icy, and I hope you feel the same way too."
"I do feel the same, Siri."
"No matter what you want to do after graduation, I'll wait for you to finish it. No matter where you go, I'll find you. Nothing could keep me from you. Nothing."
Icilyn kissed her handsome lover again and then they laid down together in her bed, talking of their plans for the future with snog sessions in between.
* * *
The night of the full moon, James planned to take Lily on their romantic night. Although he terribly missed running around in his stag form with his friends, wrecking havoc and mayhem, he really wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend. So, he told Moony, Wormtail, and Padfoot he wouldn't be joining them that night. Sirius was very disappointed, saying he had something special planned that they'd all get a kick out of, but James said he'd rather hear the details later.
James and Lily strolled around the lake, watching the giant squid wave it's tentacles in the moonlight. They were hand-in-hand, discussing upcoming birthdays. Sirius' was two days ago - January the seventeenth; James' was on February twenty-ninth, and since that only came every four years, they had always celebrated it from eleven pm on February twenty-eighth until one am on March first. Peter's came next with April fourth and then Lily's on May sixteenth.
James spread a blanket out on the sandy shore of the lake and sat down, pulling Lily with him. He conjured two mugs of steaming hot chocolate, as it was rather cold outside. They sipped hot chocolate, listening to the waters move in the gentle breeze, holding hands.
Lily sighed in content. She looked at James and smiled. He was watching the trees - or one tree in particular.
"James, love, if you want to go, go ahead," she said softly, her eye also on the Whomping Willow, knowing what he was thinking.
"No, that's not it at all, love," whispered. "Look."
He pointed to a spot just left of the flailing tree. Lily squinted to see what it was James was pointing at. The light of the moon was bright enough to show that there was a figure, cloaked in black, holding a long stick.
"Who is that? That's not Sirius or Peter is it?" she asked.
"No, not one of them, they haven't gone out yet - they usually go at midnight. Whoever it is, they must know that Remus is down there and they're trying to get a glimpse of him."
"Who knows, beside the four of us and necessary teachers?"
"No one...I don't know who it could be..." James' eyes widened. "Voldemort!" he gasped. "Voldemort knows about Remus, maybe he's trying to get him." He set down him half-empty mug and stood up hurriedly. Lily followed suit. "Lily, I want you to get back inside the castle and go straight to Dumbledore."
"I can't leave you here to get kidnapped again!" Lily argued.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Get inside the castle right now and go get Dumbledore, then tell Peter and Sirius not to come down."
"But, James, I -"
"Promise me you'll go inside the castle and get Dumbledore. Don't do something stupid. Promise me!"
Lily looked at James' determined face and nodded in resignation. "I'll go get Dumbledore and tell Sirius and Peter not to come out."
James swept Lily into a hug and kissed her cheek. "Godspeed, and stay away from trouble."
Lily nodded and watched as James took off running after the figure, which had now long disappeared into the tunnel that Lily had heard the Marauders talk about that lead to the Shrieking Shack. She then turned and walked quickly up to the castle, wondering who or what the figure could be. Upon reaching the great oak doors, she pried them open and almost ran head-on in to a grinning Sirius.
"Sirius!" she exclaimed, slightly breathless. "Don't go out there! There's someone or something out there, they just got into the tunnel. James went after him. He told me to go straight to Dumbledore. You guys better come along too."
"Uh, Lily," Sirius said slowly. "Firstly, how are we going to explain to Dumbledore about how we knew someone would be going to see Remus? How would we explain about why we were on the grounds? Huh?"
Lily gaped at how calm Sirius was.
"Does it matter how you explain to the Headmaster how you knew your best friends were in grave danger?" Lily queried back angrily. "Tell him some bullshit story - I don't care, but I don't want two of my best friends to get hurt because you've suddenly become the logical one!"
"Lils, relax," Sirius cooed.
"Oh, no! I'm not relaxing here! I can't believe you'd say such a thing - I -"
"Severus Snape is harmless to even a goat - he's not going to hurt a werewolf," Sirius interrupted.
"Severus Snape?" Lily asked. "What in god's name is he doing out here, going into the tunnel?" Sirius just smirked. "What in the holy hell did you do, Sirius?"
"Nothing at all, love," Sirius said simply. "I'm just getting our revenge."
"Our revenge?"
"You should be thankful, Lils. He needs to be taught a lesson, and this was the only way to let him see that he shouldn't mess with the Marauders or you. So, when he asked where we went after we put him in the broom shed, and I told him that if you press the knot on the Whomping Willow with a stick it will open to a tunnel that leads to a room full of the stuff we keep horded. But I told him that it could only be reached on the nights of a full moon, otherwise the tunnel leads to a gruesome death."
"Sirius Black" - he noted she was too angry to use his full name for the second time in his life - "you did WHAT?" she shrieked. Her fists were balled in her seething rage and Sirius could swear her eyes glowed red. He took a step back, shadowed by her rage, afraid she'd resort to violent actions again. She only took a step forward. "You, Sirius Black, are going straight to Dumbledore - before I do. I'm going to find Peter to tell him not to come down." She took a ragged breath and pointed in the direction of the Headmaster's office. "Go."
Sirius turned on his heel and stalked off towards the direction she was pointing, his shoulders hunched in anger. Lily made sure he reached the stone gargoyle and made sure he murmured the password - since he and the rest of the Marauders made it a point to memorize all the passwords that the Marauder's Map would show. She watched the gargoyle spring to life and move aside. He took one last anger-filled look at her, and disappeared, the gargoyle moving back into its position.
She waited a minute to make sure Sirius wasn't going to just come back out, then turned towards the marble staircase and raced up, two at a time, to get to Peter.
* * *
James reached the Whomping Willow and looked over his shoulder to make sure Lily went back up to the castle. Seeing that she was gone, he picked up the branch that the culprit had used to get into the tunnel and ducked around the wildly whipping branches to press the knot at the base of the trunk. The branches froze and he had approximately thirty seconds to crawl in the hole.
Once in the hole, he slid down the smooth-charmed rock and stood in the long tunnel. Up ahead, he could see a light from the wand of the intruder, who was now far ahead. If James didn't stop him quick, he'd get Remus, and there was no doubt that he was trying to get to Remus. But why they would want to, especially in his wolf form, he knew not.
He raced down the tunnel, staying on his toes and trying to be quiet. The figure, still cloaked, was walking slowly, about twenty feet away from James, who had caught up to him. The figure was muttering something, which James caught a few words like 'trickery' and 'bastard'. The figure reached one pale hand and pulled off the hood of the black cloak. Instantly, James knew who the greasy-looking black hair belonged to.
"Severus Snape," James growled, loud enough for the other wizard to hear.
Snape whipped around and glared at James.
"Nice meeting you here, Potter," he sneered, his usual ugly smirk appearing on his sallow face.
"What are you doing here? Don't you know you're in grave danger?"
"Ha! I'm in grave danger you say? Like I'm going to believe that. You just don't want me to see your treasures you've been hiding here."
"What treasures? Who sent you here?"
"Black did - I had to blackmail it out of him. Did you know he's been shagging your woman behind your back? I figured it out. And for my silence, he told me about this tunnel that led to all your possessions. He said I could have a look, and if I wanted anything, I could have it, as long as I kept my mouth shut."
"Goddamn it, Sirius!" James cursed to the dirt ceiling. "Snape, it's a trap. Go back, right now, or you'll surely be killed."
"I'll be killed?" Snape sneered. "I think you just don't want me to go through that door up there."
"Snape, don't do it! Listen to me. There is something in there that will surely take your life or curse it greatly. Come back with me."
"No. Why should I listen to you? You just don't want me to be in the limelight for anything."
Snape turned and James grabbed the back of his cloak, forcing him Snape to face him once again. Snape glared at James, his black eyes glittering maliciously. He bared his yellow teeth, swung back his arm, and punched James on his right cheek. In retaliation, James hit Snape back, punching him in the eye.
The battle went on, James being punched, kicked, and even scratched by Snape, and Snape having several livid bruises rising around his face. The two stepped back and regarded one another, both breathing heavily, fists still clenched in anger. Suddenly, Snape turned on his heel and raced to the door and yanked it open. James yelled for him to stop from entering, but the Slytherin didn't listen. He walked right into the room, there was a low growl sounding from something inhuman, and Snape screamed in an ear piercing pitch.
James sprung forward, running as fast as he could towards the door. He went into the dark, dusty room to see Snape, unconscious on the floor with a brownish-gray, wolf-like animal sniffing at him, looking as if he was particularly interested in this morsel as his midnight snack.
An alarm bell went off in James' head.
"Remus, no!" he yelled hoarsely.
The wolf looked up at him and growled. Oh, god, was the only thought that crossed James' mind as the wolf started to advance upon him. Instantly, he turned into a stag right as the wolf leapt on his chest.
Down on the ground in his stag form, he kicked the wolf off with his powerful hind legs and scurried up. The wolf rebounded and sprung at him again, only to get kicked. James wished he had other useful weapons, like teeth and claws; his only weapon was his legs, which were only good for running away from a predator. James didn't give up, though, all the while thinking that he needed Sirius here to keep Remus in check - as that was his usual job when things got out of hand. But then again, he remembered as he received a blow on the back by a powerful swiping paw, Sirius was the one who got him into this mess.
The wolf sprung up again, and, this time, James was ready for it. He met the attack with a counterblow at the same time, sending the wolf hurtling into the dirty, scratched up wall. He hit his head and lay motionless on the dust-covered ground.
The first thing that crossed James' mind was panic. He thought that the blow had killed Remus, and he quickly changed out of his stag form and rushed over to Remus. To his relief, the wolf was breathing. He stroked the soft fuzz on the top of his head and Remus opened his wolf amber eyes. James saw recognition in the yellow eyes and the owner whimpered, as if apologizing.
"It's all okay, mate," James said softly. He got up, pulled out his wand, and levitated Snape. "I'll see you in the morning."
And out the conscious and unconscious went.
* * *
Sirius was shaking with fear as he stood on the moving staircase to go up to the Headmaster's quarters. He reached the large door and was about to knock, but was surprised when the Headmaster himself opened it, looking not surprised to see his pupil at all.
"Mr. Black, to what do I owe this visit in the middle of the night?" he said benignly.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, there is something I've done - something horrible, and who knows what might result of it."
Dumbledore's expression changed. "Do come in, Sirius." He stepped back and let Sirius into the circular office room with portraits of past Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts, all of which were sleeping in their frames, as usual.
"Sit," Dumbledore commanded, pointing at a leather armchair in front of his desk. He took his own chair behind his desk. "It must be something rather...crucial" - he put enough emphasis on the word that Sirius could tell he was avoiding a common pun - "if you are here at this time at night - wondering around the castle. Might I ask what it is, or should I assume that I have to wait for it?"
"No, sir," Sirius said. "I'm not going to play games with you right now, but I am afraid that this is rather difficult to get out. Well, here goes." He took a deep breath and let it out loudly. "As you know, there has always been a large battle between Severus Snape and the group of people I hang around with."
"Ah yes," the elder wizard said, nodding his head. "Slytherins against Gryffindors. Mister Snape's group against the Marauders, yes, I know."
"Yeah, well, he'd been on our case for quite some time, and the last time I had an encounter with him, I falsely admitted to his suspicions of my being with Lily behind James' back and I told him to keep his mouth shut. He said he'd only keep his mouth shut for a price. Well, I wanted to get my revenge on that greasy-haired slimy git - excuse my description, Professor. I mean, there were numerous things he had done to make our lives hell and to hack us off. So I told him that during the full moon, if you pressed the knot on the Whomping Willow with a stick, the tree will stop moving and a tunnel will appear. If you follow that tunnel, there will be a room full of precious things we keep in there, and I told him he could have anything he wanted, as long as he kept his mouth shut about the relationship between Lily and me."
"There is no relationship between you and Miss Evans, is there?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, sir," Sirius said. "But what I've told you isn't the worst of it." Another deep breath, another loud exhale. "Sir, I witnessed Snape go out on the grounds a half hour ago. He's inside the tunnel, and from what I hear, James has gone after him."
Sirius looked at Dumbledore with nervousness. The Headmaster's eyes were filled with anger, and the corners of his mouth twitched.
"Mr. Black, I am fully aware that you and Remus are close friends, am I not correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you must be aware that Remus is a werewolf and that he is occupying that very room you gave directions to."
"I am aware, sir."
"And you are aware that you are placing not only your archenemy's life in danger, but as well as Mr. Potter's and Mr. Lupin's?"
"I - I - didn't mean -"
Dumbledore's voice grew louder and more ominous. "Did you not mean to place your friends in danger? Did you not mean to let Remus become a murderer at the age of seventeen? Or were you merely thinking of yourself and didn't mean for yourself to become the murderer?"
"I didn't realize - "
"What? Didn't realize that other people were involved with this too? Didn't realize what people would have thought if you were sent to Azkaban with the charge of murder in the first degree? Mister Black, you are not the only person in this world, you should have thought of your decisions before you made them. As one of the brightest students to ever come to Hogwarts in my time and many years before that, I am deeply ashamed that you did not think." He paused and regarded his student, who was in shock at hearing Dumbledore raise his voice. "If I knew that the three involved were not fine, I'd have you formally apologize in front of the Ministry of Magic to all three of their parents for being an inconsiderate bastard. But, resources tell me all three are perfectly well, save for cuts and bruises. Therefore you will owe Mr. Snape a formal apology as well as Mr. Potter and Mr. Lupin. You will then serve detention three times a week for the rest of the year and I strongly urge you to resign your position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Black?"
Sirius swallowed extremely hard, unsure he was hearing correctly - he only had to apologize and serve detention? That couldn't be right...could it? What about being expelled? Snapping his wand in half?
Dumbledore seemed to read his mind because he spoke up, answering the unasked question, "Under most circumstances, I would have expelled you in an instant and you'd be off on the Hogwarts express to see the Ministry of Magic to have your wand snapped and to be tried for a sentence in Azkaban. But I believe that the hardships you are going to have with both your friends and enemies is enough for your penance. Now go to the hospital wing and see your friend, as he should be arriving there any minute."
Sirius nodded, and stood up. He would have said something to the Headmaster, but there were no words to say, so he left the office and made the hardest trip he ever had to make up to the infirmary.
* * *
James pounded on the locked door of the infirmary until a irritated-looking Madam Pomfrey came into view and opened up.
"James Potter, of all people, I'd expect you'd have more respect for those who are sick and resting!" She took a good look at James, then at the still-unconscious Snape, who were both bruised and scratched badly. "Oh my Merlin in heaven! What on earth happened?"
She backed away from the door and let James pass through, Snape floating eerily behind him.
"A fight, ma'am," he replied. He then lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper. "He was trying to go into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow." Pomfrey looked taken aback at the fact that James knew about the tunnel, but said nothing. "I told him not to go into the tunnel, but he did anyway, and after a few punches later, he flew off into the tunnel and I followed. He saw" - he lowered his voice more until the matron had to lean her head in to hear him - "he saw Remus Lupin in his wolf form and fainted. I placed a temporary Stunning Spell on Remus and grabbed Snape and ran out of there as fast as I could."
"My dear!" she exclaimed. "You've saved his life. Now let me look at the two of you. I'll see him first, since he still hasn't woke."
She Summoned a bottle of Reviving Potion and poured it down Snape's throat, who immediately woke, spluttering. He seemed disoriented and looked around the room frantically. Madam Pomfrey pushed him back to a lying-down position, but he protested and waved his arms hysterically.
"Mr. Snape!" Pomfrey cried. "You must hold still - I must check your vitals!"
"I'm fine, woman!" he shouted, then realization hit him. "I - I apologize...."
"No apology needed, dear," she said, now checking his vitals, making sure his pulse was up to standard. "Blessed be James Potter, who has saved many lives, now including yours."
"Potter what?"
"Saved you - saved your life from destruction and curse. Also saved Remus Lupin's life."
"Lupin?"
"He's the werewolf," James said softly.
Snape whipped his head to the left and glared at the watching James.
"Werewolf?" he growled. "Lupin the werewolf?"
"And you won't breathe a word about it to anyone, Mr. Snape."
All three heads whipped up this time, to see the Headmaster standing there, tall and an air of anger radiating off of him.
"I will not allow you to tell anyone, and don't argue," he added, stopping Snape's spluttering. "Seven years ago when I became Headmaster, I vowed never to not let anyone into this school, as long as they had magic in them. That won't ever change as long as I'm around, and I'm not going to force anyone to leave because of his or her differences. I suggest, Mr. Snape, that you keep quiet about it. You will receive a Special Services Award to the school for your courage and ability to not begin rumors and such."
James was highly shocked that Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was buying Severus Snape's silence. But then again, Dumbledore had been at Hogwarts for a very long time, and he knew how to deal with Slytherins.... It still didn't seem right to James, but if it would keep the secret behind closed doors, he was happy with it.
Madam Pomfrey gave Snape a Dreamless Sleep potion and Snape fell instantly asleep. She then began working on James.
"You don't seem to have come off worse than he did - more scratches and bruises and - is that a bite mark?"
James looked down at his left wrist and notices a small bite mark there. He searched his memory, then remembered that Remus' teach had sunk into his left foreleg while he was fighting him off. Remus was harm to neither animal nor human in animal form, so the bite wasn't contaminated with the Curse of the Werewolf.
"Oh," James said, thinking quickly. "When Snape and I were fighting in the tunnel, I put my hand on his shoulder and he bit my wrist, that's all."
She arched an eyebrow, looking at the bite mark again, as it didn't look like human teeth, but she nodded her head and gave James a goblet full of the purple Dreamless Sleep potion. And James fell peacefully and deeply to sleep.
* * *
Sirius walked into the dark infirmary. He had walked very slowly through the castle and then sat outside the door for several minutes - inhaling, exhaling, inhaling, and exhaling again. Finally, he opened the door and walked in, walking very slowly to the bed where he spotted a sleeping James instantly.
He pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat, looking at his best friend, the only thought coming to his mind that this brave soul could have died for a stupid grudge he had for a Slytherin. That wasn't worth the life of this man that he loved so dearly that he couldn't stand the thought of losing him without tears coming to his eyes.
He wiped the tears away and gently shook James' shoulder. James slowly opened his eyes and looked around, then his gaze landed on Sirius and Sirius received a tired, half-smile.
"What brings you to this part of the castle, mate?" James asked softly.
"What - what brings me to this part of the castle?" Sirius repeated, looking hard at James. "I - I came here to apologize for - what I did."
"Apologize?" James asked.
"James, are you okay? Have you forgotten what I did to get you in here?"
"Sirius, you didn't do anything to put me in here. That was my own fault. It was my own choice to go in there after Snape and bring him out alive."
"But why?"
"Well, first of all, Remus would have felt horrible, knowing that he cursed or killed anyone - even if it was someone he hated with a passion." He saw the guilt in Sirius' eyes and took his hand in his, unashamed of what it might look like if someone saw them like that. "Sirius, what you did was wrong, I'll admit that. But you did it because you had enough love in your heart for the five of us that you felt that Snape should pay his debts of being a total ass to us. I completely understand your intentions."
"And the second reason?"
James looked at the curtains covering the bed next to his, where Snape was sleeping soundly. Then he stared off at the grey stone of the wall, not exactly seeing it.
"I - well, we all know that he's destined to become a Death Eater," James said slowly, far away like. "And I felt that - well, that since I wasn't to be there with my fa - I mean, with the Dark Lord, then I should send someone just as smart that will actually worship him from the start without all the stories."
"So, in other words, you sent Snape to be your replacement, hoping that Voldemort would forget about you?"
"Well, sort of, I guess. I mean, that man has had so much happen to him, has had his life so torn apart that, just like you, he wants his revenge - only his want of revenge is bigger. Sirius, that man has my total respect, even though I don't agree with what he's doing. He is a good man at heart."
Even angels fall, Sirius thought, remembering what James had said.
"Snape will never replace you, you know that, right?" Sirius asked. James shrugged. "And what if Snape doesn't become a Death Eater like we all think he will?" James shrugged again, then yawned greatly. "You know what, you go to sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning."
"Sleep in that bed, tonight mate. I'll vouch for you if you get yelled at."
Sirius crawled into the bed next to James'. As they were both dozing off, Sirius thought of something.
"So, I'm forgiven, right?" he asked, not opening his eyes.
"You are forgiven, O Sinful One," James replied.
Sirius smiled, then let the tide of sleep carry him far, far away....
A/N: No!!! No, no no!!! The next chapter will be the last chapter! I'm so sad!
I would really like to thank all my reviewers. I love you all. the last chapter will have a tribute to you all, I promise! Thank you for sticking with me, and I'm sorry it took so long!
Happy Reading Wherever Your Little Eyes May Take You!!
~Lavender
Disclaimer: I do not own the HPverse, adn even if I did, James would belong to Lily, Sirius would belong to Icilyn, I wouldn't want to own Peter, and Remus would probably be owned by some pretty werewolf chick.... It's depressing, I know.... ;)
Even Angels Fall
Chapter Ten
Forgiven
Back at Hogwarts, things seemed to be on loose threads between the Marauders. James was in the hospital wing for malnutrition and some cuts and bruises he had gotten over the three months at his stay in the Dark House. Remus and Peter (once the situation was explained to him) seemed rather nervous to be around their friend, but they were ecstatic that he had come back and was all in one piece. James seemed somewhat awkward too, especially towards Lily and Sirius, and he was very quiet one afternoon after Peter and Remus had left the wing to go to their dormitories for curfew (Sirius and Lily had been able to stay with James in the hospital wing).
"I want you guys to know that I - I'm sorry," he said ineptly.
"For what?" Lily asked, sitting up in her bed and looking at James.
"Well, I - I was such a jerk to you two," he said, uneasy yet again. "All you were trying to do was save my life and look out for me."
"You did what you had to," Sirius said simply. "It wasn't a big deal. Besides, I would have dragged you out kicking and screaming." He gave James a grin.
"And I - I really appreciate it. I really do. I mean, I can't believe what an asshole I was to be like that to you two. You were the only things that kept me sane - well, at least you were, Sirius - being away from Lily almost drove me insane."
Lily smiled brightly. James stared at her beautiful face in the moonlight that was coming in through the window and he smiled back. He couldn't believe that she had done this for him. And he couldn't help thinking, for the millionth time, that he was so lucky to have her, and he would always feel lucky.
"That's so sweet of you, Love," Lily replied. "But I'd rather you be sane, because I don't think I could deal with an lovesick insane James Potter. Then I don't have any clue what desperate measures I'd have to take to bring you back."
"I know what they could be," James said slyly.
"Look at you, back not even one week and you're already sexually harassing me," Lily chortled.
"Ah, good times," Sirius sighed. "I'm sure as hell glad you're back, mate, 'cause we lost to Slytherin last Quidditch match and we're out of the running for the Cup - all because of you."
"Well, thanks for putting that on my shoulders, buddy."
"No problem, mate," Sirius relied, clapping James on the back. "So, what's the story that's going around as to why you're in the infirmary?"
"If anybody asks, I'll make something up. Maybe I'll even tell them the truth - I mean, who's going to believe a story like that? The Dark Lord captured me and I was there for three months while a Death Eater took my place and then Lily and Sirius rescued me. I don't think that's a very believable theory."
"Well, you know, sometimes reality is stranger than dreams," Sirius said. "But I think you should tell the truth, and then we'll see how far it goes."
"No, don't fool the people's minds," Lily said. "Just tell them that you fell off your broom."
"Or that you have an abusive girlfriend." Sirius touched his purple-greenish cheek from where Lily slapped him, and he smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"How many times are you going to make me apologize for that, Siri? I said I was sorry, what more do you want?"
"A million more apologies."
"What'd you smack him for?" James asked.
"Never you mind, dear," Lily replied, getting up and crossing to James' bed and kissing him on the cheek. "I'm going to go shower, love. I'll be back within an hour." And she left the room, leaving James and Sirius staring after her.
"Amazing woman, that one is," Sirius said, still looking at the door. "She put together this whole plan to get you back - I had no part whatsoever in making any of it up. And she did feel horrible when she found out that Malfoy wasn't you. She said she was sick to her stomach for hours because you weren't there and it had been him all along."
"I know she was upset. She has asked for forgiveness so many times since I've gotten back that I wish she would just forget it."
"But she can't," Sirius said, the torchlight glistening in his eyes. "She can't forget that you said that she didn't care because she couldn't tell that it was Lucius Malfoy and not you."
"Well, how about we forget it at the moment," James said, looking at his watch. "Because we've got more important things to think about."
"Like what?"
"Midnight, January seventeenth." He pulled a brightly wrapped package out from behind his pillow. "Happy birthday, mate."
"What's this?"
"Open it and see," James urged.
Sirius tore off the paper happily and opened the medium-sized velvet box (all the while hoping that James hadn't gotten him a piece of jewelry), but looked up at his best friend when he found that the box was empty. "Is this one of your jokes?" he asked.
"No, not at all, my friend," James replied. "Inside that very box is something so special that I could give it to none other than my best friend and brother. Take a close look."
Sirius lowered his face into the box and his eye widened and he gasped. He couldn't see anything, but he could feel such a strong emotion that his eyes welled and his cheeks flushed. He looked back up at James.
"Don't get all emotional on me now," James said. "While I was with Voldemort, he taught me some smashing magic. One of them was the Feltavoire Charm. The way the charm works is you capture an emotion you have and you can give it to something else. I captured all the love I have for you and made a replica of it and placed it into the box so you could know how much you mean to me." His cheeks flushed at showing another male his emotions. "Thank you for being there in my life, Sirius. I love you, man."
"I love you too, mate," Sirius replied, getting up and hugging James tightly. "You are the best friend anyone could ask for and a better brother."
James clapped him on the back. "You're stuck with me for life, you know."
"I know, I know."
They pulled away from each other and Sirius shut the box and set it aside. There was a moment of peaceful silence, and Sirius watched the torchlight and moonlight combine on the stone floor.
"What was it like?" Sirius asked.
"Huh?"
"What was it like, being the Dark Lord's son? I mean, was it scary or was it cool?"
"Well, it...was different," James replied. "I mean, I don't know how to explain it. He...he would tell me stories about his childhood, and his days after Hogwarts, and he even told me about how he came about being Lord Voldemort. After a while, he started showing affection in his own way, and giving me advice on things. Some of the things he gave me advice on was the best advice anyone's ever given me. And I thought to myself, if Voldemort is giving me this kind of good advice and sharing secrets about himself that no one else knows about, then he really must care." He looked away from his best friend. "And, by god, Sirius, I had the worst turn of emotions I've ever had in my life.... You have no idea. I started caring for him, as well. He was my father - but it was more of the father-son relationships that have been bitter. I was still bitter, but I loved this man, and he loved me...." He paused, thinking. Sirius could have sworn there was a welled tear in his eye. "And after a while, the relationship became wonderful. We'd share stories - well, more often than not, he knew everything about me. I was the son he never had, and he was the father I never had. Sirius, do you realize that I know more about this so-called stranger than I do about my own flesh and blood father?"
Sirius was silent. The information was running through his head like a river. And he knew that James still loved this feared man known as the Dark Lord.
"He will always be a father to me, whether I like it or not. But I can't help but think that I let him down by not being his heir - Lord Mordred. I can't help but think that I've ruined him for life. I - I just have mixed emotions about it, and I don't know why - I can't even comprehend why he turned the way he did. He would have been a wonderful father, he could have remained a wonderful husband, but his ambitions and search for vengeance got in the way. But I'll tell you one thing, Sirius," he sighed, looking back up at his dark-haired friend. "I'll tell you one thing I've learned from him, and that one thing is, even angels fall."
No more was said. No explanations were needed. They sat in silence, staring off into the darkness of the infirmary. Sirius contemplated the things James had told him. Even angels fall. Innocent people are victimized by society, and it changes their lives forever. It was hard for Sirius to think of the Dark Lord as a good man, only victimized and searching for revenge, but, by the trust he had in James, he knew it was true, nothing more, nothing less. Voldemort didn't want universal power because he wanted the control - he wanted it because he felt he had to show all the people that he could do it, despite all the things he's been through. That was all there was to it.
After a few more minutes of silence, Lily came back into the room, looking both tired and refreshed. He auburn hair was darkened to almost black from dampness, and she smelled of soap and cookies.
"How was your shower, sweetie?" James asked.
"Lovely," she replied, sitting down on the edge of James' bed. He sat up and laced his fingers through his.
"I think I'm going to take a shower now," Sirius said. He patted James on the back, kissed Lily's cheek, and exited the wing.
"You know," Lily said. "I'm glad you're back. Things were really at an all time low without you here. I mean, you were here, but it wasn't you, so things just got...." She saw the look on James' face. "Oh, god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up again. I just - I-"
"He's not better than I am, is he?" James asked.
"What?" Lily asked sharply, wondering how James could think of such a thing. "If you're going to make me apologize for this again, James, I've already said I was sorry and I already feel guilty enough about all that has happened. Why don't you just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it while you're at it?"
It was James' turn to be sharp. "I don't ever want you to be sorry. It wasn't your fault, Lily, and I want you to know that. Never be sorry. Never." Lily looked into James' eyes and nodded. His voice softened. "Besides, I meant, was is he better than I am in some ways?"
"You mean, what did I like about the not-you? Well, he had a lot of patience, and that was all his good qualities. That was it."
"He wasn't better at anything else?" James asked, placing enough emphasis on the words that Lily knew what he meant right away, and she shook her head, smiling, thinking about how he had to protect his manhood.
"Are you crazy? There was nothing good about being so sore the next day that I couldn't even sit down without wincing. Besides, he didn't do the cute little things you obliviously do."
"Like what?" he asked, coloring slightly.
"You always finger my hair and hum an ancient love tune before you fall asleep. I probably shouldn't have told you that, because you won't do it so obliviously anymore...."
"I never knew I hummed," James said, knitting his eyebrows.
"Usually Greensleeves." She smiled, and he leaned in and kissed her, happy once again, that he had her back. Nothing else would have mattered to him if she weren't around.
They kissed, or rather snogged, trying to control their emotions - since it was a hospital wing, Lily had to remind him, when she smacked his hand away when he tried to place it on her breast. He reminded her that he had been celibate for three months, but chuckled anyway and kept his mouth on hers. Besides, he thought, he didn't want to be with her for the first time in months in a place like the infirmary. He kissed even deeper when a plan formed in his brain of a romantic evening they could have sometime in the near future....
"I love you," he whispered in her ear. "My own personal saint - my own personal goddess."
Lily smiled, her emerald eyes illuminated in the torchlight. "I love you, James Potter. I always have and I always will. I love you." She planted a kiss on his left cheek. "I love you." Right cheek. "I love you." On his nose. "I love you." His mouth.
James laid back down and pulled Lily with him. She sighed contentedly and closed her eyes, falling into a deeper and more peaceful sleep than she had ever been in before, enveloped in the warmth of her lover's arms.
* * *
Sirius looked at the raven-haired woman standing before him. She had her hands on her shapely hips and a scowl on her face. At the moment, he was reminded greatly of the way Lily scolded him. He thought that maybe the two women should get together more often - they'd find they had a lot in common.
"Icilyn, my love, it wasn't a matter of keeping a secret from you specifically, it was a secret to everyone else. You cannot accuse me of lying to you."
"But you did."
"I did not! Icilyn, if you're going to fight with me, then I'm going to leave right now, because I thought you should know. I didn't have to come here and tell you all this."
The Head Girl looked down at her bare feet. "I know," she sighed. "I'm sorry, but I do get rather jealous, as you already know. It's just - well - "
"Well, what?"
"Well, it just that Lily is so beautiful, that I sometimes wonder if there is something going on between the two of you - or three of you, for that matter..."
Sirius sighed heavily, trying to calm himself. "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say in your entire life." Icilyn looked back up at him. "Icy, it's you that I love, not Lily, and certainly not James. I love them like no one could ever explain. We are bound together forever. But you" - he cupped her cheek - "are the love of my life, Icilyn, and I'm scared out of my wits. I've never felt this way about anyone else, and I don't know how to handle these feelings. I'm so scared that all I can do is live each day, pleading with Fate that all will go well. I imagine that this feeling is something like James would call free falling - going so fast into the unknown and I have nothing to grab onto and nothing will stand in the way. Icilyn, don't get jealous if I talk to other women, because I want you to know that it's you that I love, not the other woman. I -"
Sirius would have finished his monologue, but he couldn't, for the Ravenclaw had stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. They kissed for quite some time, until Icilyn pulled away and looked at him, a thought crossing her mind.
"Sirius, what are we going to do next year? I'll be leaving Hogwarts, and you'll be in your last year."
"Are you worried?" he asked softly.
"Well, not exactly. What will happen to us? Will we go on with our relationship or be friends again, or what?"
"Icy, do you even remember how we met? I mean, do you remember how we came about in this relationship?"
"Well, I met you at your mother's party. I didn't know what I was doing there in Ireland with all those people in one gigantic castle. Now I believe in fate. Your mum didn't even know my mum, but she invited us to her party, and I thought it ridiculous that we were going, but then I saw you standing there by one of the smaller ponds on your grounds. I knew who you were, and I knew about your history with women, but I went over and talked to you anyway, even though I was afraid of how you would be. I thought you would be cocky and self-absorbed. But you weren't. And we talked a bit about Hogwarts and the professors and tedious things like that. After I went back home to Northumberland, I couldn't get my mind off of you. So I owled you, and that's how our contact started. Then we started meeting up in places. I never told anyone and I told you not to tell because I didn't want to be labeled because I was with you. Now, don't get me wrong - any girl would have been jealous out of their minds, but I didn't want to be labeled as someone you were using or someone that was using you. But then I found out how you really were and I fell head-over-heels, and here I am today. Feeling just like you are: scared out of my wits."
Sirius smiled. He couldn't imagine living without this woman. "I love you," he whispered softly. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Icy, and I hope you feel the same way too."
"I do feel the same, Siri."
"No matter what you want to do after graduation, I'll wait for you to finish it. No matter where you go, I'll find you. Nothing could keep me from you. Nothing."
Icilyn kissed her handsome lover again and then they laid down together in her bed, talking of their plans for the future with snog sessions in between.
* * *
The night of the full moon, James planned to take Lily on their romantic night. Although he terribly missed running around in his stag form with his friends, wrecking havoc and mayhem, he really wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend. So, he told Moony, Wormtail, and Padfoot he wouldn't be joining them that night. Sirius was very disappointed, saying he had something special planned that they'd all get a kick out of, but James said he'd rather hear the details later.
James and Lily strolled around the lake, watching the giant squid wave it's tentacles in the moonlight. They were hand-in-hand, discussing upcoming birthdays. Sirius' was two days ago - January the seventeenth; James' was on February twenty-ninth, and since that only came every four years, they had always celebrated it from eleven pm on February twenty-eighth until one am on March first. Peter's came next with April fourth and then Lily's on May sixteenth.
James spread a blanket out on the sandy shore of the lake and sat down, pulling Lily with him. He conjured two mugs of steaming hot chocolate, as it was rather cold outside. They sipped hot chocolate, listening to the waters move in the gentle breeze, holding hands.
Lily sighed in content. She looked at James and smiled. He was watching the trees - or one tree in particular.
"James, love, if you want to go, go ahead," she said softly, her eye also on the Whomping Willow, knowing what he was thinking.
"No, that's not it at all, love," whispered. "Look."
He pointed to a spot just left of the flailing tree. Lily squinted to see what it was James was pointing at. The light of the moon was bright enough to show that there was a figure, cloaked in black, holding a long stick.
"Who is that? That's not Sirius or Peter is it?" she asked.
"No, not one of them, they haven't gone out yet - they usually go at midnight. Whoever it is, they must know that Remus is down there and they're trying to get a glimpse of him."
"Who knows, beside the four of us and necessary teachers?"
"No one...I don't know who it could be..." James' eyes widened. "Voldemort!" he gasped. "Voldemort knows about Remus, maybe he's trying to get him." He set down him half-empty mug and stood up hurriedly. Lily followed suit. "Lily, I want you to get back inside the castle and go straight to Dumbledore."
"I can't leave you here to get kidnapped again!" Lily argued.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Get inside the castle right now and go get Dumbledore, then tell Peter and Sirius not to come down."
"But, James, I -"
"Promise me you'll go inside the castle and get Dumbledore. Don't do something stupid. Promise me!"
Lily looked at James' determined face and nodded in resignation. "I'll go get Dumbledore and tell Sirius and Peter not to come out."
James swept Lily into a hug and kissed her cheek. "Godspeed, and stay away from trouble."
Lily nodded and watched as James took off running after the figure, which had now long disappeared into the tunnel that Lily had heard the Marauders talk about that lead to the Shrieking Shack. She then turned and walked quickly up to the castle, wondering who or what the figure could be. Upon reaching the great oak doors, she pried them open and almost ran head-on in to a grinning Sirius.
"Sirius!" she exclaimed, slightly breathless. "Don't go out there! There's someone or something out there, they just got into the tunnel. James went after him. He told me to go straight to Dumbledore. You guys better come along too."
"Uh, Lily," Sirius said slowly. "Firstly, how are we going to explain to Dumbledore about how we knew someone would be going to see Remus? How would we explain about why we were on the grounds? Huh?"
Lily gaped at how calm Sirius was.
"Does it matter how you explain to the Headmaster how you knew your best friends were in grave danger?" Lily queried back angrily. "Tell him some bullshit story - I don't care, but I don't want two of my best friends to get hurt because you've suddenly become the logical one!"
"Lils, relax," Sirius cooed.
"Oh, no! I'm not relaxing here! I can't believe you'd say such a thing - I -"
"Severus Snape is harmless to even a goat - he's not going to hurt a werewolf," Sirius interrupted.
"Severus Snape?" Lily asked. "What in god's name is he doing out here, going into the tunnel?" Sirius just smirked. "What in the holy hell did you do, Sirius?"
"Nothing at all, love," Sirius said simply. "I'm just getting our revenge."
"Our revenge?"
"You should be thankful, Lils. He needs to be taught a lesson, and this was the only way to let him see that he shouldn't mess with the Marauders or you. So, when he asked where we went after we put him in the broom shed, and I told him that if you press the knot on the Whomping Willow with a stick it will open to a tunnel that leads to a room full of the stuff we keep horded. But I told him that it could only be reached on the nights of a full moon, otherwise the tunnel leads to a gruesome death."
"Sirius Black" - he noted she was too angry to use his full name for the second time in his life - "you did WHAT?" she shrieked. Her fists were balled in her seething rage and Sirius could swear her eyes glowed red. He took a step back, shadowed by her rage, afraid she'd resort to violent actions again. She only took a step forward. "You, Sirius Black, are going straight to Dumbledore - before I do. I'm going to find Peter to tell him not to come down." She took a ragged breath and pointed in the direction of the Headmaster's office. "Go."
Sirius turned on his heel and stalked off towards the direction she was pointing, his shoulders hunched in anger. Lily made sure he reached the stone gargoyle and made sure he murmured the password - since he and the rest of the Marauders made it a point to memorize all the passwords that the Marauder's Map would show. She watched the gargoyle spring to life and move aside. He took one last anger-filled look at her, and disappeared, the gargoyle moving back into its position.
She waited a minute to make sure Sirius wasn't going to just come back out, then turned towards the marble staircase and raced up, two at a time, to get to Peter.
* * *
James reached the Whomping Willow and looked over his shoulder to make sure Lily went back up to the castle. Seeing that she was gone, he picked up the branch that the culprit had used to get into the tunnel and ducked around the wildly whipping branches to press the knot at the base of the trunk. The branches froze and he had approximately thirty seconds to crawl in the hole.
Once in the hole, he slid down the smooth-charmed rock and stood in the long tunnel. Up ahead, he could see a light from the wand of the intruder, who was now far ahead. If James didn't stop him quick, he'd get Remus, and there was no doubt that he was trying to get to Remus. But why they would want to, especially in his wolf form, he knew not.
He raced down the tunnel, staying on his toes and trying to be quiet. The figure, still cloaked, was walking slowly, about twenty feet away from James, who had caught up to him. The figure was muttering something, which James caught a few words like 'trickery' and 'bastard'. The figure reached one pale hand and pulled off the hood of the black cloak. Instantly, James knew who the greasy-looking black hair belonged to.
"Severus Snape," James growled, loud enough for the other wizard to hear.
Snape whipped around and glared at James.
"Nice meeting you here, Potter," he sneered, his usual ugly smirk appearing on his sallow face.
"What are you doing here? Don't you know you're in grave danger?"
"Ha! I'm in grave danger you say? Like I'm going to believe that. You just don't want me to see your treasures you've been hiding here."
"What treasures? Who sent you here?"
"Black did - I had to blackmail it out of him. Did you know he's been shagging your woman behind your back? I figured it out. And for my silence, he told me about this tunnel that led to all your possessions. He said I could have a look, and if I wanted anything, I could have it, as long as I kept my mouth shut."
"Goddamn it, Sirius!" James cursed to the dirt ceiling. "Snape, it's a trap. Go back, right now, or you'll surely be killed."
"I'll be killed?" Snape sneered. "I think you just don't want me to go through that door up there."
"Snape, don't do it! Listen to me. There is something in there that will surely take your life or curse it greatly. Come back with me."
"No. Why should I listen to you? You just don't want me to be in the limelight for anything."
Snape turned and James grabbed the back of his cloak, forcing him Snape to face him once again. Snape glared at James, his black eyes glittering maliciously. He bared his yellow teeth, swung back his arm, and punched James on his right cheek. In retaliation, James hit Snape back, punching him in the eye.
The battle went on, James being punched, kicked, and even scratched by Snape, and Snape having several livid bruises rising around his face. The two stepped back and regarded one another, both breathing heavily, fists still clenched in anger. Suddenly, Snape turned on his heel and raced to the door and yanked it open. James yelled for him to stop from entering, but the Slytherin didn't listen. He walked right into the room, there was a low growl sounding from something inhuman, and Snape screamed in an ear piercing pitch.
James sprung forward, running as fast as he could towards the door. He went into the dark, dusty room to see Snape, unconscious on the floor with a brownish-gray, wolf-like animal sniffing at him, looking as if he was particularly interested in this morsel as his midnight snack.
An alarm bell went off in James' head.
"Remus, no!" he yelled hoarsely.
The wolf looked up at him and growled. Oh, god, was the only thought that crossed James' mind as the wolf started to advance upon him. Instantly, he turned into a stag right as the wolf leapt on his chest.
Down on the ground in his stag form, he kicked the wolf off with his powerful hind legs and scurried up. The wolf rebounded and sprung at him again, only to get kicked. James wished he had other useful weapons, like teeth and claws; his only weapon was his legs, which were only good for running away from a predator. James didn't give up, though, all the while thinking that he needed Sirius here to keep Remus in check - as that was his usual job when things got out of hand. But then again, he remembered as he received a blow on the back by a powerful swiping paw, Sirius was the one who got him into this mess.
The wolf sprung up again, and, this time, James was ready for it. He met the attack with a counterblow at the same time, sending the wolf hurtling into the dirty, scratched up wall. He hit his head and lay motionless on the dust-covered ground.
The first thing that crossed James' mind was panic. He thought that the blow had killed Remus, and he quickly changed out of his stag form and rushed over to Remus. To his relief, the wolf was breathing. He stroked the soft fuzz on the top of his head and Remus opened his wolf amber eyes. James saw recognition in the yellow eyes and the owner whimpered, as if apologizing.
"It's all okay, mate," James said softly. He got up, pulled out his wand, and levitated Snape. "I'll see you in the morning."
And out the conscious and unconscious went.
* * *
Sirius was shaking with fear as he stood on the moving staircase to go up to the Headmaster's quarters. He reached the large door and was about to knock, but was surprised when the Headmaster himself opened it, looking not surprised to see his pupil at all.
"Mr. Black, to what do I owe this visit in the middle of the night?" he said benignly.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, there is something I've done - something horrible, and who knows what might result of it."
Dumbledore's expression changed. "Do come in, Sirius." He stepped back and let Sirius into the circular office room with portraits of past Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts, all of which were sleeping in their frames, as usual.
"Sit," Dumbledore commanded, pointing at a leather armchair in front of his desk. He took his own chair behind his desk. "It must be something rather...crucial" - he put enough emphasis on the word that Sirius could tell he was avoiding a common pun - "if you are here at this time at night - wondering around the castle. Might I ask what it is, or should I assume that I have to wait for it?"
"No, sir," Sirius said. "I'm not going to play games with you right now, but I am afraid that this is rather difficult to get out. Well, here goes." He took a deep breath and let it out loudly. "As you know, there has always been a large battle between Severus Snape and the group of people I hang around with."
"Ah yes," the elder wizard said, nodding his head. "Slytherins against Gryffindors. Mister Snape's group against the Marauders, yes, I know."
"Yeah, well, he'd been on our case for quite some time, and the last time I had an encounter with him, I falsely admitted to his suspicions of my being with Lily behind James' back and I told him to keep his mouth shut. He said he'd only keep his mouth shut for a price. Well, I wanted to get my revenge on that greasy-haired slimy git - excuse my description, Professor. I mean, there were numerous things he had done to make our lives hell and to hack us off. So I told him that during the full moon, if you pressed the knot on the Whomping Willow with a stick, the tree will stop moving and a tunnel will appear. If you follow that tunnel, there will be a room full of precious things we keep in there, and I told him he could have anything he wanted, as long as he kept his mouth shut about the relationship between Lily and me."
"There is no relationship between you and Miss Evans, is there?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, sir," Sirius said. "But what I've told you isn't the worst of it." Another deep breath, another loud exhale. "Sir, I witnessed Snape go out on the grounds a half hour ago. He's inside the tunnel, and from what I hear, James has gone after him."
Sirius looked at Dumbledore with nervousness. The Headmaster's eyes were filled with anger, and the corners of his mouth twitched.
"Mr. Black, I am fully aware that you and Remus are close friends, am I not correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you must be aware that Remus is a werewolf and that he is occupying that very room you gave directions to."
"I am aware, sir."
"And you are aware that you are placing not only your archenemy's life in danger, but as well as Mr. Potter's and Mr. Lupin's?"
"I - I - didn't mean -"
Dumbledore's voice grew louder and more ominous. "Did you not mean to place your friends in danger? Did you not mean to let Remus become a murderer at the age of seventeen? Or were you merely thinking of yourself and didn't mean for yourself to become the murderer?"
"I didn't realize - "
"What? Didn't realize that other people were involved with this too? Didn't realize what people would have thought if you were sent to Azkaban with the charge of murder in the first degree? Mister Black, you are not the only person in this world, you should have thought of your decisions before you made them. As one of the brightest students to ever come to Hogwarts in my time and many years before that, I am deeply ashamed that you did not think." He paused and regarded his student, who was in shock at hearing Dumbledore raise his voice. "If I knew that the three involved were not fine, I'd have you formally apologize in front of the Ministry of Magic to all three of their parents for being an inconsiderate bastard. But, resources tell me all three are perfectly well, save for cuts and bruises. Therefore you will owe Mr. Snape a formal apology as well as Mr. Potter and Mr. Lupin. You will then serve detention three times a week for the rest of the year and I strongly urge you to resign your position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Black?"
Sirius swallowed extremely hard, unsure he was hearing correctly - he only had to apologize and serve detention? That couldn't be right...could it? What about being expelled? Snapping his wand in half?
Dumbledore seemed to read his mind because he spoke up, answering the unasked question, "Under most circumstances, I would have expelled you in an instant and you'd be off on the Hogwarts express to see the Ministry of Magic to have your wand snapped and to be tried for a sentence in Azkaban. But I believe that the hardships you are going to have with both your friends and enemies is enough for your penance. Now go to the hospital wing and see your friend, as he should be arriving there any minute."
Sirius nodded, and stood up. He would have said something to the Headmaster, but there were no words to say, so he left the office and made the hardest trip he ever had to make up to the infirmary.
* * *
James pounded on the locked door of the infirmary until a irritated-looking Madam Pomfrey came into view and opened up.
"James Potter, of all people, I'd expect you'd have more respect for those who are sick and resting!" She took a good look at James, then at the still-unconscious Snape, who were both bruised and scratched badly. "Oh my Merlin in heaven! What on earth happened?"
She backed away from the door and let James pass through, Snape floating eerily behind him.
"A fight, ma'am," he replied. He then lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper. "He was trying to go into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow." Pomfrey looked taken aback at the fact that James knew about the tunnel, but said nothing. "I told him not to go into the tunnel, but he did anyway, and after a few punches later, he flew off into the tunnel and I followed. He saw" - he lowered his voice more until the matron had to lean her head in to hear him - "he saw Remus Lupin in his wolf form and fainted. I placed a temporary Stunning Spell on Remus and grabbed Snape and ran out of there as fast as I could."
"My dear!" she exclaimed. "You've saved his life. Now let me look at the two of you. I'll see him first, since he still hasn't woke."
She Summoned a bottle of Reviving Potion and poured it down Snape's throat, who immediately woke, spluttering. He seemed disoriented and looked around the room frantically. Madam Pomfrey pushed him back to a lying-down position, but he protested and waved his arms hysterically.
"Mr. Snape!" Pomfrey cried. "You must hold still - I must check your vitals!"
"I'm fine, woman!" he shouted, then realization hit him. "I - I apologize...."
"No apology needed, dear," she said, now checking his vitals, making sure his pulse was up to standard. "Blessed be James Potter, who has saved many lives, now including yours."
"Potter what?"
"Saved you - saved your life from destruction and curse. Also saved Remus Lupin's life."
"Lupin?"
"He's the werewolf," James said softly.
Snape whipped his head to the left and glared at the watching James.
"Werewolf?" he growled. "Lupin the werewolf?"
"And you won't breathe a word about it to anyone, Mr. Snape."
All three heads whipped up this time, to see the Headmaster standing there, tall and an air of anger radiating off of him.
"I will not allow you to tell anyone, and don't argue," he added, stopping Snape's spluttering. "Seven years ago when I became Headmaster, I vowed never to not let anyone into this school, as long as they had magic in them. That won't ever change as long as I'm around, and I'm not going to force anyone to leave because of his or her differences. I suggest, Mr. Snape, that you keep quiet about it. You will receive a Special Services Award to the school for your courage and ability to not begin rumors and such."
James was highly shocked that Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was buying Severus Snape's silence. But then again, Dumbledore had been at Hogwarts for a very long time, and he knew how to deal with Slytherins.... It still didn't seem right to James, but if it would keep the secret behind closed doors, he was happy with it.
Madam Pomfrey gave Snape a Dreamless Sleep potion and Snape fell instantly asleep. She then began working on James.
"You don't seem to have come off worse than he did - more scratches and bruises and - is that a bite mark?"
James looked down at his left wrist and notices a small bite mark there. He searched his memory, then remembered that Remus' teach had sunk into his left foreleg while he was fighting him off. Remus was harm to neither animal nor human in animal form, so the bite wasn't contaminated with the Curse of the Werewolf.
"Oh," James said, thinking quickly. "When Snape and I were fighting in the tunnel, I put my hand on his shoulder and he bit my wrist, that's all."
She arched an eyebrow, looking at the bite mark again, as it didn't look like human teeth, but she nodded her head and gave James a goblet full of the purple Dreamless Sleep potion. And James fell peacefully and deeply to sleep.
* * *
Sirius walked into the dark infirmary. He had walked very slowly through the castle and then sat outside the door for several minutes - inhaling, exhaling, inhaling, and exhaling again. Finally, he opened the door and walked in, walking very slowly to the bed where he spotted a sleeping James instantly.
He pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat, looking at his best friend, the only thought coming to his mind that this brave soul could have died for a stupid grudge he had for a Slytherin. That wasn't worth the life of this man that he loved so dearly that he couldn't stand the thought of losing him without tears coming to his eyes.
He wiped the tears away and gently shook James' shoulder. James slowly opened his eyes and looked around, then his gaze landed on Sirius and Sirius received a tired, half-smile.
"What brings you to this part of the castle, mate?" James asked softly.
"What - what brings me to this part of the castle?" Sirius repeated, looking hard at James. "I - I came here to apologize for - what I did."
"Apologize?" James asked.
"James, are you okay? Have you forgotten what I did to get you in here?"
"Sirius, you didn't do anything to put me in here. That was my own fault. It was my own choice to go in there after Snape and bring him out alive."
"But why?"
"Well, first of all, Remus would have felt horrible, knowing that he cursed or killed anyone - even if it was someone he hated with a passion." He saw the guilt in Sirius' eyes and took his hand in his, unashamed of what it might look like if someone saw them like that. "Sirius, what you did was wrong, I'll admit that. But you did it because you had enough love in your heart for the five of us that you felt that Snape should pay his debts of being a total ass to us. I completely understand your intentions."
"And the second reason?"
James looked at the curtains covering the bed next to his, where Snape was sleeping soundly. Then he stared off at the grey stone of the wall, not exactly seeing it.
"I - well, we all know that he's destined to become a Death Eater," James said slowly, far away like. "And I felt that - well, that since I wasn't to be there with my fa - I mean, with the Dark Lord, then I should send someone just as smart that will actually worship him from the start without all the stories."
"So, in other words, you sent Snape to be your replacement, hoping that Voldemort would forget about you?"
"Well, sort of, I guess. I mean, that man has had so much happen to him, has had his life so torn apart that, just like you, he wants his revenge - only his want of revenge is bigger. Sirius, that man has my total respect, even though I don't agree with what he's doing. He is a good man at heart."
Even angels fall, Sirius thought, remembering what James had said.
"Snape will never replace you, you know that, right?" Sirius asked. James shrugged. "And what if Snape doesn't become a Death Eater like we all think he will?" James shrugged again, then yawned greatly. "You know what, you go to sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning."
"Sleep in that bed, tonight mate. I'll vouch for you if you get yelled at."
Sirius crawled into the bed next to James'. As they were both dozing off, Sirius thought of something.
"So, I'm forgiven, right?" he asked, not opening his eyes.
"You are forgiven, O Sinful One," James replied.
Sirius smiled, then let the tide of sleep carry him far, far away....
A/N: No!!! No, no no!!! The next chapter will be the last chapter! I'm so sad!
I would really like to thank all my reviewers. I love you all. the last chapter will have a tribute to you all, I promise! Thank you for sticking with me, and I'm sorry it took so long!
Happy Reading Wherever Your Little Eyes May Take You!!
~Lavender