Sigh, once again a bit late, but once again fifth year has been extended a bit. Thanks to everyone who's read, alerted, favorited and once again to Black4minister and Love Among The Ruins. You guys rock.

Enjoy.

"What in Merlin was that?!" Sirius' voice greeted Harry and Ron in the next memory, appearing to be isolated in the boy's dorm with James alone.

"What are you on about?" James asked, slightly annoyed.

"You know bloody well what I'm talking about. Why have you been acting strange lately? Paying attention in class? Arriving on time? Where's my James?" Sirius asked.

James appeared to be ruminating on something as he reached for the book they had apparently gone to get in the first place. Harry was so distracted by the look on his father's face, trying to determine if he was about to lie to his friend or legitimately confess something, he did not notice the same thing Ron had. From beneath the book he had picked up, a piece of parchment fell to the floor.

"Maybe I'm keeping a low profile. Just like Remus asked, remember?" James offered in response, moving to exit.

"Bollucks. You never listen to Remus. This is something else, isn't it?"

"I don't know what you're on about but we're late to charms..."

"With Lily!" Sirius suddenly exclaimed.

"What?" James asked, annoyed further.

"You're doing this because of Evans, aren't you?" Sirius said with a chuckle, "Acting like a goody good so you can get her to fancy you?"

"Shut it." James said, leaving the room to raucous laughter from Sirius.

"Oh, come on, mate, I'm just teasing." Sirius tried.

"I never said that's- maybe I just decided to grow up a bit. Unlike some people." James snapped.

"Lighten up, James. I just don't see why we can't still have a little fun. When she's not looking. Best of both worlds." James just groaned in annoyance, "Don't you dare try and say she isn't why-"

Sirius stopped short outside of the portrait hole, just behind James, who had exited before him. Harry stood just just beside his father, following his line of sight. He was distracted for a moment by Ron, who had just appeared, slightly winded, behind Sirius, but continued to look forward to where James was witnessing yet another row between Lily and Severus.

Tones were hushed, barely audible, and the duo hardly seemed aware that others were around. James appeared conflicted for a moment, trying to decide if he should continue walking forward or stop and listen. In his hesitation, he was making himself rather obvious. Still, the pair did not notice. They could only hear snippets of conversation, but Harry could not move. For some reason, he remained at his father's side.

"-On, Sev, this is ridiculous-"

"- Trust me, Lily, I know I'm ri-"

"- Being paranoid-"

"-Like you?...Friends automatically...death...hypocritical?"

It did not take hearing every word to know Lily became upset at what he was saying, and with a huff stormed off. James took one quick glance at Sirius and appeared to have a silent conversation with him before tearing off in the opposite direction as Lily and the contrite Severus, despite having next class with her in a few moments. Sirius followed, as did a surprised Harry and Ron.

Quickly they surmised what was happening, as James suddenly stopped at a random portrait and whispered something. Suddenly it swung out to reveal a passage Harry had never previously seen before. In moments they were in front of charms, watching Lily try to ignore Severus all down the hall. James stood in front of the door, looking foolishly like a person trying to be casual. Lily noticed him up ahead and her eyes flashed with a mix of panic and annoyance.

"This guy bothering you, Evans?" James asked, chest puffed out slightly. Severus paused for a moment, sensing he was outnumbered with Sirius there, he tugged on his sleeve, trying to find his wand.

"Not as much as you, Potter." She said in a huff.

James deflated a bit, somewhat shocked that she wasn't accepting his help to avoid Snape. Even Snape looked a bit surprised, yet mostly pleased, at her slight. More shocked than both was Harry when suddenly, Lily turned to Snape and gave him a quick hug goodbye before entering the class, suggesting they talk later at lunch. It was Snape's turn to puff his chest out a bit as he walked away. Lily did not look at James as she passed by him into the class, but one could not ignore the seething look burning into her from Sirius.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, though not particularly to Ron, but rather himself.

"I'm confused." Ron admitted as well.

Harry rubbed his eyes, frustrated. He was nowhere near seeing any sort of interest in Lily develop for his father. He was beginning to suspect that Sirius was right, too. It was an act he was putting on just for her. She must be seeing right through it.

When he opened his eyes again it was night. He could not recognize which one exactly, but he knew he was in the halls somewhere in Hogwarts. Three silhouettes stood ahead of him. One, judging but the height, was Ron. As he approached he made out the figures of Sirius and Snape.

"Weird pairing, eh?" Ron joked.

"Trust me, they're not about to swap love potions." Harry reassured.

They watched as Snape cornered Sirius far too easily, in Harry's opinion. This opinion was only solidified by the maniacal smile that was plastered on Sirius' face. Behind him Harry noticed they were beside one of the passageways outside. If memory served him correctly it was one he had used before to get very close to the whomping willow.

"Just because one of your insufferable mates is a prefect doesn't mean you can go frolicking about the castle after hours." Snape chastised.

"Oh lay off, you're out late too. Besides," He added rather devilishly, "I wasn't in the castle." Snape's eyes widened slightly.

"What are you talking about?"

"You've been here as long as I have. Don't tell me you haven't learned all the secret passages yet?" Sirius taunted, "Merlin, even a second year would know about them."

As if to prove his point, he veered out of the way to reveal the passage he had just entered from. He waved at it, as if to tempt Snape to enter. Harry knew what was coming next, he was just a bit surprised to have learned the reason why. By the looks of it, Sirius wasn't trying to have a laugh sending Snape to meet Remus during a full moon, but rather seemed to be doing it for James. Harry was sure he saw the crestfallen look on James when he tried to defend Lily from Snape.

As he listened to Sirius subtlety offer Snape the chance to prove he was right about Remus, 'accidentally' teaching how to pass the whomping willow, Harry was still struck by the motives of both boys. He wasn't sure Severus was motivated by anything other than hate for James and anyone associated with him. Sirius, on the other hand, seemed to be doing this out of concern for his friend, however misguided. He could see now why Lily's fears were not unwarranted about the influence of Snape's Death Eater friends.

"I guess you're right, Sev, I should really head back to my room," Sirius casually offered to the now distracted boy, "Now if only I could find Remus," He pondered, before shrugging it off, "I'm sure he's around here somewhere. It's not like he's at the Shrieking Shack or anything. That would just be silly." He finished, slapping Snape hard on the back and walking off, sure enough information was planted.

Quickly, they moved into the boy's dorm, once again alone with James and Sirius. Judging by the satisfied look on his face, Sirius had just told James what he had done with Snape. Judging by the look on James' face, he was far from pleased.

"Are you insane?!" He asked, shocked.

"What? What's the big deal? We scare the daylights out of Snivellous and he never bothers us again." Sirius explained, slightly put out that James was upset.

"What about what Remus said about leaving the greasy git alone?"

"Now he won't have to worry. No one'll believe him anyway."

"Did you even stop to think about what would happen when Snape runs into Remus?" James asked. Sirius thought for a moment, but then shrugged it off.

"Yeah, he growls a bit, Snape wets himself, we all have a merry good time mocking him about it."

"No, you idiot. He will not just growl at him. He will kill him." James whispered through gritted teeth.

"I think you're being a little extreme. It's Remus-"

"No. It's not Remus It's a feral, dangerous, deadly werewol-" James paused mid outburst, trying to contain himself, "I have to go stop this." He sighed before rushing out, leaving Sirius pondering.

"Wow." Harry muttered.

"What?" Ron asked, still taken aback from what he saw Sirius do.

"Sirius. Doing that for my dad." Harry explained.

"Hardly seems like a favor. Could've gotten them in a lot of trouble." Ron debated.

"But I can see he was just trying to help. Dad was upset about Snape and my mum, I think Sirius was just trying to help get revenge." He reasoned.

"Hmm," Ron thought, "well I can honestly say without a doubt, if it came to it, I would gladly sic a werewolf on Malfoy for you."

"Thanks," Harry chuckled, "You're a true friend."

While he knew he could never see what really happened when his father went out to find Snape that night, Harry was still slightly disappointed to find himself in class the next morning instead of in the action the night before. Instead, he sat beside a bedraggled Remus and James, the occasional person coming up confirm what they had heard about the night before. Neither boy spoke of it, but rather Sirius, apparently not learning any particular lesson from the night, who regaled others with the harrowing tale as James stared at him angrily.

"Should I be concerned?" Remus asked, pulling James aside.

"No, you'll be fine. Snape's too embarrassed to admit I saved him last night. He won't be telling anyone. Besides, he didn't get far enough to see you." James assured Remus, who sighed with relief.

"Is it true?" Lily's voice suddenly lifted from the crowd. James glanced at her frazzled state, eyes narrowing. "I heard Sev was attacked by something" Her eyes involuntarily flickered to Remus, then back to her friend, "and h-he saved him."

"Oi, Evans, you could just ask me yourself." James sneered. She looked at him with a blush creeping onto her cheeks before excusing herself from the room.

The look on James' face for once was one of disgust for the girl Harry had an inkling his father's attempts to be civil towards her would be over now, and he would resume his other methods of attracting her attention.

Sadly, Harry's assumption was correct. Though not fully reverted to his old ways, Harry noticed, James made a point to wreak havoc, but only when Lily was around. It was as if he was trying to contradict himself at every turn just to confuse Harry. While Sirius seemed not to notice, and only enjoy being his partner in crime, there were memories Harry noted as Remus'- usually when Sirius was either not around or busy elsewhere, that Harry watched his father maintain his more mature attitude. Now it just seemed as if he was using bad behavior to anger Lily on purpose.

"This is ridiculous," Harry exclaimed as they shifted, "First he tries to impress her by acting mature and now he's intentionally acting like and arse in front of her." He ranted.

"I don't think he's acting." Ron murmured, slightly cautious because of Harry's tone. His friend did not hear him, though, because the next thing he knew, they were beside a lake. James was playing with a snitch and Severus Snape was walking his way.

Well then, here we are. Again, sorry for the delay. I could say it was because I watched my first Harry Potter film this week (decent, but are they always so feel so rushed, even for two and a half hours?) and because once again I've extended this year but I hate excuses, so my bad.

Anyway- comments? Suggestions? Review!