Dependence

SSJP Fan Fiction

Harry Potter

ObsessiveDevil23

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I am not making any money from this

Chapter 10 - Threats

James leant casually against the wall outside the Defense Against the Dark Art's classroom, trying to get that 'sexy but not really trying' look that Sirius always seemed to achieve with little to no effort. It wasn't to say that James found Sirius as attractive, but girls told him often enough that his best friend was apparently Merlin's gift to all witches. It was a lot to live up to. James reflected that girls seemed to have an annoying habits of telling a dude's best friend that they were crushing on that dude, and just leaving it up to them to deal with. James had a well-polished plan for dealing with those situations:

'He's gay'.

Of course that almost always lead to the girl crying, and Sirius being annoyed at the stain on his reputation, and James hated dealing with crybabies, and Sirius' slightly prissy tendencies, so he would have to go with the back-up:

'Hey, I was only joking, he'd love to go out with you'.

Which would usually end with an insanely happy witch and Sirius cursing him out because he'd been set up with some first year. The Black heir was at least nice enough to take whatever love-struck preteen had asked out on a date before crushing her dreams of marriage and three perfect children.

In any case, James wasn't entirely sure he was getting the nonchalant sex-god look right, but it seemed to be going okay if the looks from passing girls were anything to go by. He'd been waiting for ten minutes, checking out every witch that walked down the corridor in case they might be a Lucinda, and trying not to get increasingly uncomfortable at the idea of being stood-up, when he heard a deep, but distinctively female voice behind him.

"James Potter?"

He spun around to see a pale girl about his age with long blonde hair split into thin pig-tails and tied with dark green bows. She was wearing the standard issue grey uniform skirt that had been shrunk into the mini style, and she'd cut her black robes so they formed more of a jacket, her sleeves cut short to her elbow. Her Slytherin tie was loose and her top three buttons were undone to show the very top of a pink lacy bra. James cringed inwardly, ready to cue the awkward conversation about how he didn't date Slytherins, especially ones that made a habit of dressing like prostitutes.

"Lucinda?" he timidly asked, and the girl nodded. James gave a shaky laugh. She beckoned him into the classroom, and not wishing to embarrass her in front of everyone mulling about in the corridor, he followed.

"Potter." she stated again once they were in the classroom, turning round with hands on her hips. James awkwardly grinned, pushing a hand through his hair. Lucinda didn't smile back. "I know you've been hanging around Snape lately and I'm here to tell you to stop it!"

James rose an eyebrow at her. He hadn't realized anyone had picked up on the bind that kept him to Snape. They met secretly in a room no one but them and Dumbledore knew about, and all orders came through the post. Was this girl super-observant or was Snape telling all his little Slytherin buddies about their deal? Laughing it up that he was ill and entirely at Snape's mercy.

"I don't see how it's any of your business." he replied steadily, despite the need to shout and rave and demand she tell him how she knew. Lucinda huffed indignantly.

"Look, I don't like you, you don't like me. But Snape is a freak! Nobody likes him! It's in your best interest to stay away!" she reasoned. James turned the thoughts over in his head. He didn't like Snape, but he didn't trust Lucinda more then he didn't trust Snape. And that was saying something.

"Not that I have" James started, "But what's it to you if I've decided to let bygones be bygones and start afresh with him?" He asked, sitting down on the desk.

His company sneered. "You're the most popular guy in school, even if you don't deserve the status. And Snape isn't… he's not one of us. If you keep hanging out with him he'll start thinking he's better than he is!"

James couldn't help but feel insulted on the Slytherin's behalf. Sure, Snape made himself an easy target at times, but this woman looked on him as if he was genuinely inferior. James would bet she had no idea he was smart enough to make his own potions, or was the only man alive who knew how to brew the Glacier Elixir. He felt a pang of guilt stab at him – he and the marauders had been the ones to ridicule him before, but James had always assumed he'd had some friends in Slytherin he could go to once they were finished with him. Lucinda had told him Snape wasn't 'one of us' – and James knew that Severus had resisted the blood purity gangs. Was Snape being bullied by his own house for being against he-who-must-not-be-named?

"Maybe he is better than you think he is." He eventually replied, trailing off once he realized he was more talking to himself than he was to Lucinda. The other occupant of the room snarled at him.

"Just heed my warning Potter." she said, threateningly. "Both you and Snape, and all you're little Gryffindork buddies! One day you'll regret not going to His side. And you can tell Severus that he can't class himself as a Slytherin anymore! If he shows his face in our common room again he'll regret it!" She finished, stalking out of the room in a huff. James felt anger blaze in him at her words. He rushed out the classroom after her.

"Your threats are out dated Bitch!" He shouted, unheeding of the other students walking down the corridor. A few stopped to see what was happening. "Snape doesn't need you're stupid common room anyway!" he defended, but Lucy only turned with an ugly smirk on her pale lips.

"That's right, he can always bed with you right? You two are such a disgustingly adorable couple of faggots!" she screamed back, lashing her body away again and storming off down the hallway. James blushed at her back. He'd meant the Snape could always bunk in his workroom. He had forgotten she wouldn't have a clue he even had a workroom. He childishly stuck his tongue out at her back, and gave a worried look at the students who had stopped because of the commotion. Would they believe her? They wouldn't possibly think there was actually something happening between him and Snape would they? What did he care if Snape was chucked out by his own house anyway? Even if it was kind of sad that he was being isolated for resisting blood purity gangs. He shook his head determinedly, turning the corner and bumping into Pete.

"Wormtail!" He shouted in shock, then bit his lip nervously. Sure, he'd told the marauders why he was hanging around more with Snape, but he'd obviously not mentioned his conflicting thoughts on whether the Slytherin was actually a decent guy or not. He didn't really want to be caught defending the boy and being accused of sleeping with him by one of the marauders. "Did you… did you hear any of that?" He asked nervously. Pete shook his head.

"No what's up?" He asked, and then didn't wait for an answer before he said: "Here, come on! Remy's got a plan!" and started dragging the boy off down the corridor. James grinned, letting the thoughts of Snape slip from his mind. If Remus had a plan, that meant a lot of fun for the Marauders.

- X -

"Alright." said Remus, later on in the evening once they'd gone to their afternoon classes and were chilling out before dinner. The four boys were sat in a circle on the floor of their dorm room, hunched over the map. Remus had filled them in on the main parts of the plan that lunchtime, and now it was time to go over specifics and get things in order. "She should be walking around here about that time as it's on the prefects rounds, so that's the best place to put it." he said, under his breath, despite the fact they were the only people in the room. Sirius nodded understandingly.

"But Sex-Muffin, where will be get that… super… glue… stuff?" he asked, crawling over to Remus to get a better look at the place he was pointing to on the Marauders map. Remus coughed a little at the pet name, as Sirius put his hand on the werewolf's knee to get a better look, he reached over the Black heir to the trunk beside his bed, awkwardly pushing his chest up against the other boy's cheek. Upon pulling out the superglue he winked.

"It's all good, Angel-Cake!" He replied, smirking, making the other marauders roll their eyes at the play-flirting.

"Okay." said James, studying the map as well, and trying to ignore his best friends need to one up each other on awful pet names. "But where are we going to get a cow?"

"Way ahead of you." replied Pete, "There's a farm over in the fields by Hogsmead. We'll use the passage under the old witch, and bring it back the night before."

Remus nodded along.

"The cow can stay in the passage overnight, and then it's just a case of leading it up a couple of staircases without anyone noticing. But we have the invisibility cloak for that right?" Said the Werewolf. "Besides, we've got plenty of time to prepare. The exam isn't until a month or so away, which gives Pete and I time to make the Poly-juice potion."

James cringed lightly, starting to have second thoughts. If all went to plan, this could seriously screw up Lily's education. She'd HATE him. Still, he figured, glancing around at his friends, it was the most monumental prank Remus had thought up for quite a while, and he was simply glad he had his friends back and wasn't sparking with them anymore. He grinned around at them as a young boy came crashing through their dormitory door.

"Sirius! Please, you have to help!" Gasped Regulus, panting. His robes were ripped and he had a long gash along the side of his face; that made all four marauders stand up protectively, ready to fight for the younger Black.

"Who did this?" asked Sirius, seething. Regulus caught his breath back, and glanced quickly at James.

"I know you don't like him…" he said, trailing off, and James quirked an eyebrow. "They got him when he came back after classes… Lucius and Narcissa…"

"Caught who?" Asked Sirius, but Regulus bit his lip, looking all around the room but not at his brother – despite being the one who had come asking for help. He sighed.

"Apparently Lucinda put them up to it." He said, staring straight at James. For his part, James had a sudden flashback to that lunch time and launched himself across the room, pausing slightly to clap Regulus on the shoulder.

"Which way?"

"Down by the dungeons. He was heading for his potions classroom…"

James nodded, signaling for Remus to stay behind and comfort Regulus and for Sirius and Pete to follow him. Usually James would want Remus with him in a fight but the closer to the full moon it got the less in control of his own strength Remus got, and whilst James would want the Slytherin's roughed up a bit, he knew Remus wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he hurt someone too badly. Besides, Regulus and Sirius still weren't really talking, so leaving the two alone might not be the best idea. The last thing he saw was Remus awkwardly examining the gash on the younger Black's cheek before the dormitory door swung closed behind them.

The other three boys rushed down through the castle, and were in the entrance hall, at the door leading down to the dungeons when James stopped.

"Go find Lucius, and Narcissa. Give them a piece of your mind for hurting Reggie. If you see a girl in blonde pigtails…" he trailed off. He wanted to say give her a piece of his mind for hurting Snape, because damn it the marauders were the only ones allowed to hurt Snape, but didn't want his friends to know about their fight earlier, and the things she had insinuated. He pointed them in the direction of where they all knew the Slytherin common room was, and headed into the potions classroom on his own. He found Snape just inside the store cupboard, wounded and panting heavily. James crouched down beside him, and placed a hand shyly on his shoulder. Snape groaned.

"What are you… doing here… Potter?" he panted. James shook his head slowly, trying to quench his anger at the sight he was seeing.

"Be quiet." he said, quietly and deliberately pulling Snape up and trying to balance the extra weight while pulling on the powered unicorn horn. He lost balance on the other side and the two fell to the floor, exciting a groan of pain from Snape. "Sorry." He said, dragging the other back up and beginning to make slow progress down the dark hallway, suddenly very glad no one knew of this place. He opened the door with his foot, using some form of funky ballet move he didn't know he knew how to manage, and dragged Snape inside, depositing him on the sofa. He gave a great sigh and turned to take a look at their surroundings. Then back at the injured Snape.

"Why are you here?" asked the Slytherin again. James felt a small blush taint his cheeks, though he wasn't sure why he was suddenly feeling so hot. Snape looked much older and wiser, laying injured on the sofa. It suddenly struck him just how secluded they were down in the workroom – nobody really knew it existed but them. It was like he was getting to see a very private part of Snape, and he felt an overwhelming gush of pride at the idea.

"Reggie came to us. Looked like crazy, worried over you, you know?" he babbled, "Pads and Pete should be beating up the guys who did this to you." He added.

"Great." said Snape sarcastically, turning over gingerly. "All I needed, another reason for those pureblood bastards to hate me. Why would your little marauder buddies do anything to help me anyway?"

James shrugged. "I didn't tell them it was for you. Sirius and Regulus are brothers after all, he's bound to want to hurt the people who made Reggie so worried."

Severus seethed out a breath through his teeth, clutching at his side. James watched, fascinated, as he pulled off his baggy grey t-shirt to reveal smooth skin underneath – marked by a large purple bruise all down his right ribs. James felt his mouth fall open at the sight – Severus was all long, pale limbs and understated but toned muscles. James watched them flex as he clenched and unclenched his stomach in pain. He didn't even notice he was staring until the other boy spoke.

"If you could drag your eyes away from my hideous form for just a moment, there is a medical box here somewhere."

James turned away in search of the promised medical box, a deep red staining his cheeks. He'd been about to tell Snape he was anything but hideous.

"Your house hate you anyway don't they?" He choked out instead. "Just bunk down here for the rest of the year… it's more private anyway…" he mumbled, distracted as he moved the bedding around looking for the first aid kit. Once he finally found it, he picked it up with a small, victorious sound. He turned with the box in hand, walking back over to Snape and kneeling down beside him. Snape reached out for the box, but James slapped his hand away gently, placing the box next to him on the floor and carefully maneuvering Snape's body so he could see the wounds easier. His clothes were ripped all over, and there was a large amount of bruising to his stomach and arms. It seemed like they'd been avoiding his face. Perhaps the gash on Reggie's face has been an accident when the kid jumped in.

"What would happen to Regulus?" he heard Snape ask quietly, while James applied generous amounts of a thick gooey paste to his bruises. It fizzled and dissolved and made the black-blue bruises on his stomach and sides already look fainter. James could imagine that the whole process hurt like a bitch, but Snape was incredibly calm and quiet. What would happen to Regulus if Snape stayed down here? James pouted.

"He'll be fine. No one messes with Reggie and gets away with it, remember? Sirius would beat their asses if they tried anything." He assessed, keeping his eyes trained on his work. He felt Snape tense under his hands; probably not used to being looked after. James knew it must have been difficult for the Slytherin to trust him to do it at all. He couldn't deny having those toned muscles clench under his fingers felt curiously awesome. He carried on talking when he realized where that train of thought was going. "You, on the other hand, have no one who cares about you. Other than Reggie, who let's admit, couldn't hurt a fucking fly. And Lily, who is busy with prefect duties. So it makes sense to just stay out of the line of fire." he reasoned, tying a bandage round a particularly nasty looking gash on the Slytherins arm. He looked up in time to see Snape rolled his eyes.

"And how will I get my personal belongings?" he asked, carefully sitting up, and wincing slightly in pain. James gave him a pitying look.

"Me and Sirius will go get them." he said, "We're good at… sneaking around." he let a small grin slip onto his features. Snape snarled.

"Not a chance in hell Potter!" he spat, snapping his head to look away. James had a brief moment of looking uneasy, before he smiled again.

"Alright, Me and Remus will go…" Snape shook his head. "C'mon. Moony's never done anything to hurt you, if we ever bullied you it was me and Sirius, Moony didn't want a thing to do with it. He didn't think you 'deserved' it."

"I didn't."

"… Yeah, sorry about that." James gave a shaky smile. "And hey, my life's on the line right? Like I'd take the chance to mess around. You have my word. I just want to help out."

"Like with the potion?" Snape asked skeptically. James nodded. Snape coughed, and James could see it caused him a great deal of pain.

"Why have you changed your tune?" Snape asked, giving the Gryffindor a searching look. James wanted to tell him he felt guilty for everything he'd put the boy through, that he was beginning to realize that Snape wasn't a bad person, and he almost wanted to tell him that he just wanted to keep the image of a bruised and topless Snape private to himself. But stubbornness won out in the end.

"I just need you alive to keep making the Elixir." He lied.

_X_

Later that evening James padded into the Slytherins workroom quietly; a small amount of clothing slung over his arm, and a bag of other possessions on his back. He let his eyes settle on Snape, who was sleeping soundly on the sofa, knees bent in, one arm swung lazily over his stomach, and the other brought up close to his face; hand making a fist. James couldn't help the small, serene smile that graced his features at the sight. Snape looked peaceful while asleep; without his usual scowl in place. James let his eyes swipe around the room, with the three cauldrons lined up on the far wall, the Slytherin decorations and the creamy rug on the floor.

"You're lucky you've got this place you crazy bastard…" He whispered, glancing back down at the Slytherin's asleep form. As if hearing James statement, the boy turned his head slightly and took a strong intake of breath, making a high pitched whistling sound. James snorted in amusement. Looking like this Snape looked… harmless. James had to remind himself this was the same man who could cut his life force off like it was a piece of thread.

"What did you do to get them to beat you up so bad anyway?" He asked the dreamer, sitting down on the floor beside the sofa. He looked lazily over Snape's sleeping form. He had never put his shirt back on and was covered in bruises; at some points he would move or breathe in the wrong way, and his face would contort in pain, yet between those times he had never looked so at peace and well… stunning. James sighed. What in Merlin's name was going on? He was supposed to hate Snape, so why was he suddenly finding points about the greasy haired, hooked nosed bastard that made him seem… easy on the eye? He rested his head on the edge of the sofa, pulling off his glasses and closing his eyes; trying to rid them of the blurriness that often comes with sleepiness. At ten past midnight, it wasn't surprising that he was feeling a little tired.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.