AN: Any French is from google translate. Any sentence(s) in French is followed by the English translation immediately after the paragraph in (parenthesis).

Chapter 11

O.W.L.'s were over. Summer was approaching; the air was crisp and welcoming even if there was still a bit of a chill in the air. Aquila's pace slowed, a frown etched on his otherwise handsome face. Regulus walked towards him from the direction of the quidditch pitch sans Severus. The two had been growing closer - or so Aquila had thought - and if he was right, where was Severus?

Laughter caught his attention. Not because laughter was so unusual, but because of the nature of the laughter. It wasn't something light and playful, it was spiteful and cruel. Aquila knew the difference from personal experience, as any Black would.

Unfortunately, he saw Severus at the same time Regulus spotted him. Most likely, Regulus heard the same cackle from Peter along with the cacophony from Sirius and James. The screeching panic was courtesy of Lily, the female counterpart Gryffindor fifth year prefect, and Lupin who stared wide eyed hemming and hawing as to his next course of action.

There was no question in Aquila's mind what the two prefects should be doing, and for the life of him he couldn't understand why they didn't react accordingly. Severus was hanging upside down from an ankle, school robes draped over his head and the humiliation only began from there. Aquila ran, wand out, anger tamped down so he didn't permanently damage anyone.

"Sirius let him go!" Regulus spouted off before Aquila could stop him. An unaware foe is easier to take down. Regulus had a different approach apparently, thinking he could convince his idiot brother into doing the right thing, as if that were even a plausible action that Sirius would consider.

Remus spotted Aquila and had his hand out, palm forward trying to… Aquila wasn't sure what Remus thought he was going to accomplish with that gesture. Whatever he thought, Remus was wrong because Aquila had no intention of stopping until the situation was neutralized.

Aquila assessed the situation. First priority was to stop Sirius; even if it meant Severus would fall, landing most likely on his head. Second priority was to contain James, third priority was to keep Severus from retaliating and the last was to pacify Remus if necessary. Neither Peter nor Lily was a threat and with this in mind, he began carrying out his plan. "Impedimenta!"

The bindings were immediate, springing out of nowhere to wrap and coil around Sirius as he was thrown back three feet. Severus dropped to the ground with a crunch, causing a yelp of fear from Lily. Aquila wasn't done; no, he had just begun. A stinging hex came from Regulus with perfect aim caused James to cry out and fumble with his wand, the perfect distraction buying Aquila time. "Silencio!"

The rage on Severus' face as he staggered to his feet was something Aquila wouldn't forget, along with the look of concern and anguish from Lily. Aquila had a reason for everything he did and, perhaps with luck, Severus would forgive him some day. "Impedimenta!" James went flying much the same as Sirius and landed with a groan close to his best friend.

By this time both Aquila and Regulus had reached them. Peter squeaked and pulled his wand, looking to a spitting mad Sirius for guidance. Remus and Lily both had their wands out, but both hesitated much to Aquila's relief. Remus remembered he was a prefect and tried to take control of the situation, "Regulus, Aquila, that's enough."

"I will agree to a cease fire, if Pettigrew puts his wand away." Aquila watched as Peter's wand trembled in his hand and stepped closer until the tip touched his chest.

"S-S-Sirius?" Peter's voice faltered and whined.

"Curse him!" Sirius yelled while he struggled against his binds. "Hex him, do something!"

The short squirrelly teen flinched when Aquila leaned closer, putting pressure on Peter's wand pressed against his chest. "J-James?"

Regulus put his wand away and sighed heavily, "You should have stupified Sirius to shut him up."

"No. I want him awake to hear this." Aquila never took his eyes off Peter. "Your call, Pettigrew. Put it away or I finish this."

"Peter, put down your wand." Remus grabbed Peter's shoulder and hauled him back. Peter deflated, his wand hand dropping to his side, shoulders slumped as he practically curled in on himself. While Lily fussed over a silently raging Severus, Regulus moved her out of the way and whispered in Severus' ear. Severus closed his eyes and nodded. Aquila lowered his wand, yet he refused to put it away. Remus continued, "Now tell me why I shouldn't report you."

Aquila snorted at Remus' empty threat. His words purred with the hint of his French accent, showing Aquila's amusement. "Simply put, you cannot report me without conveying the details of the situation wherein your two compatriots were tormenting a fellow student. I merely did your job and stopped them."

"You're friendly with most Slytherins. Why would you silence Snape?" Remus looked at the teen in question, noting the murderous glare from his obsidian eyes before turning back to Aquila and his calmer demeanor.

With a raised eyebrow, Aquila looked from Remus to Severus. Aquila resisted the urge to put his hand on Severus' shoulder and thrust the teen's angry glare at the prefect. How could Remus think silencing Severus was a bad decision and not in the best interest of them all? "As angry as Severus is, do you honestly believe he would not retaliate once he was upright? Since I am indulging you with a bit of Q&A, perhaps you can answer a question for me." Aquila waited until he had their undivided attention before he would continue, "What I want to know is why two prefects stood idly by while a student, regardless of House, was tortured?"

"It wasn't torture." James growled and, much like Sirius, struggled against the binds, "Let us go."

"No. I am awaiting a response from our two prefects here." Aquila looked at Remus who had the decency to drop his gaze in shame. The tears in Lily's eyes told him another story, an interesting one that Aquila wasn't sure he understood. "Mademoiselle Evans, you appear distraught."

Her voice wavered growing ever high pitched with distress. Lily stomped her foot for effect, but the desired affect missed its mark causing her to look like an irritable child pointing fingers. "I asked them to stop but-" Lily's words were cut off by Aquila's outburst as Severus glared angrily at her.

"You are a prefect." Lily turned wide-eyed to Aquila and nodded dumbly as if answering an unasked question. He bit back his sigh of annoyance; his words came out more clipped than intended as his French accent became more predominant. "Then perhaps instead of simply asking them to do your bidding, you could react. I suggest a disarming charm. You do know how to disarm, I would hope."

"I…" Lily's emerald green eyes sparkled with unshed tears. She suddenly blinked as the words clicked into place like puzzle pieces. Lily clutched Severus' arm as the severity of the recent events sunk in, especially her own inaction and how that could have been interpreted by Severus. "I'm so sorry, Sev. I panicked. Next time-"

"There had better not be a next time." Aquila spoke slowly and moved to stand over James and Sirius. Regulus grabbed Severus by the upper arm and led him back to his book bag. The two silently picked up his belongings and for the moment Severus stopped glaring at Aquila, knowing full well he wouldn't get his voice back until they were away from the other five.

"Aquila," Regulus waited and Aquila waved him off. "Okay, we'll wait-"

"No, I want you and Severus to wait for me at the Entrance Hall." Aquila looked over his shoulder at the two hesitating Slytherins. "Go. S'il vous plaît, Severus."

Sirius spouted more threats and spewed more anger. Everyone ignored Sirius' outburst. Regulus tugged on Severus' sleeve and the two made their way towards the castle. James laid on the grass, waiting for his freedom that he knew was forthcoming. "Sirius, shut it."

"James, how can you-"

"Langlock!" Sirius' rant was interrupted. Aquila wanted away from these five as soon as physically possible, but what he had to say was currently more important than distance. "I have no idea why you hate Severus, be it House rivalry or because he appears weak in your feeble minds. With the five of you against one, what chance did he have? Cinq contre un, vous êtes tous des lâches." Aquila stood over them and eyed both Sirius and James with disdain. "Let us make one thing perfectly clear. Severus is far from weak. My silencing Severus was for your protection, not his. I will leave you with this warning, one you should not dismiss too lightly out of pride and misguided chivalry: do not upset him, do not hex him, do not curse him, do not even think about him; for if I find out you have…" Aquila glanced at Lily before continuing. "The presence of a lady will not deter my wrath and I will not save you from his." (Five against one, you're all cowards.)

Turning his back on the two on the ground Aquila paused beside Remus. "I thought better of you, Lupin. We both know I have little to no trust in the people in this school. I had thought you…" Aquila dropped the subject to address the situation at hand. His voice was low, edged with suppressed emotions while his wandless hand had briefly found its way to rest on Remus' chest, over his racing heart. "While you weren't actively tormenting Severus, you allowed it to proceed, not lifting a finger in protest. I see I misjudged you. I had believed you to be a decent person, un bon coeur."

Aquila didn't wait for a response; he turned back to the two impatiently waiting on the ground, ignoring Lily and Peter as they were insignificant to him. "Finite Incantatem."

James groaned, sat up and rubbed his bruised body. Lily backed away from the boys, her movements were noted by all, but not commented on. Sirius growled and scrambled for his wand.

The charm was screamed with such force and conviction, "Expelliarmus!"

Before he walked back to the castle, Aquila gave Lily a pat on the shoulder. "Perhaps there is hope for you, Mademoiselle Evans."

Without looking back, Aquila made his way to the two Slytherins waiting at the door to the Entrance Hall. Severus eyed him warily and Regulus gave a small grin. Aquila brushed past them and walked straight for the staircase, not waiting to see if the other two would follow. "Not here. Seventh floor."

He heard the footfalls of the other two and didn't slow his pace. It wasn't until they reached the tapestry of a man with the dancing trolls that Aquila remembered the room wasn't always there. Closing his eyes, Aquila sighed and concentrated on what he needed. He knew he needed to release the charm, he knew Severus would be spitting angry and he knew he would have to accept the consequences of his actions.

"Aquila." Regulus waited at the door, holding it open for him as Severus stepped inside.

"Merci." Aquila took a quick bracing breath before he followed them inside. "Finite Incantatem."

"I should curse you until you're writhing in agony and begging me to end your life." Severus rounded on him, wand out and pointed at Aquila's chest. The stillness of his anger and rage that roiled off of his body was unnerving, and the smooth dulcet baritone of his voice dripped with disdain and ice.

Regulus gripped Severus' bag to his chest and took a step backwards.

"You are right, of course." Aquila didn't reach for his wand. He removed his robe and tossed it aside. He walked into the middle of the empty room, turned to Severus and nodded. "I have no excuses, Severus. I did what had to be done. I silenced you because you are too strong. You would have destroyed them."

Severus peered at him from under the fringe of his black hair, his voice deep and deceptively calm, "Defend yourself."

"Non," Aquila didn't move; his hands remained empty and down at his sides. "I deserve your anger. I accept it and your retribution for my actions."

"Potter."

"Before you render me incapable of speech, you should know that Mademoiselle Evans disarmed the Black souillure. The moment he was released from his bindings, he attempted to retaliate."

"So she could protect you, but didn't lift a finger to help me." Severus sent a stinging hex, causing Aquila to flinch, but he refused to cry out.

"It was the thought of you that caused her to finally act."

"Lies." Severus sent another stinging hex; both had landed on his torso.

Aquila hissed. With each hex thrown, Aquila could feel the pain in his left shoulder and right side intensify as the cuts were soon connected to one another across his torso. Aquila schooled his reaction before speaking again, "I do not believe in lies. Omissions work just as well and if I were to do so with you, our friendship would be over. Think, mon beau Severus. What do I have to gain by lying to you?"

Severus circled Aquila. The expressions and emotions flitted across his features as if he were weighing what he knew and what he thought he knew, against what he learned. All the while he tossed stinging hexes. "Lily was a childhood friend. Hogwarts changed that, those four changed that."

"I am sure your own beliefs had nothing to do with the change, hmm? You have changed, no? We all do, Severus. It is called maturing. If she is truly your friend, she will remain so regardless of disagreements or differences of opinion." The growl of anger was followed by a cutting hex, his lower back screamed in pain and Aquila almost lost his balance. A sheen of sweat glistened against his skin. Aquila realized something and wanted to smile. Severus was holding back. He'd been on the receiving side of Severus' hexes before. While the hexes hurt and the welts were numerous, Aquila knew he should have been on his knees by now. "Why?"

Severus stopped and glared. "I couldn't." Another cutting hex flew and met Aquila's chest.

"You could. You should have. They had you by your own spell. Yet you did not even cast the counter-curse." Aquila groaned - the next three cutting hexes exploded with white agony as they hit his chest. His heart raced, his vision blurred. He grimly held onto his consciousness and refused to drop. His voice was raspy, but he would not be silenced so easily. Snape had to answer the hard questions. "Why, Severus?"

"My wand was in my bag, if I had cast anything they would know my strength." Severus lowered his wand momentarily. "I was reading. Lily had come from the castle. I hadn't even noticed the others coming from the lake before they started. I was so stunned that she would set me up for them."

"Are you sure that was her intent?"

"Of course it was!"

"And if I had not silenced you?"

"I would have lashed out on all of them."

"Including your childhood friend?"

"Yes!" Severus snapped at Aquila and threw a cutting hex before he realized what he said he would have done to Lily if he had had the chance. Severus sighed. "Thank you, Aquila."

"De rien, mon ami." Aquila's shoulders drooped and he slumped to the floor, curled in a ball of trembling pain. (You're welcome, my friend.)

"Aquila!" Regulus dropped Severus' bag, ran to his cousin and cradled his head to his chest. "Dammit, Severus. What did you hit him with?"

"Cutting and stinging hexes, I didn't use anything lethal." Severus knelt calmly beside Aquila, his low voice chanted the spell in a melody that caused the injured teen to smile weakly. "Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Sanentur."

"Hmm, that feels much better than Episkey. It doesn't make my skin itch. What is that?"

"One of my creations." Severus watched as Aquila slowly uncurled and relaxed against Regulus. The cuts beneath his once white shirt were now healed as well as the one that started at his collarbone and ended in his hairline leaving a bright red welt.

"Merci." Aquila struggled to sit up and required Regulus' help to do so. Regulus kept his arms around Aquila, clutching him. Aquila cupped Regulus' cheek, pressed his forehead to his cousin's and tried to smile, "Why are you so worried, mon cher cousin?"

"Why did you let Severus do that?"

"He needed to."

"But you're hurt."

"Severus was hurting. He needed to let go of his anger. Better here with me than on those imbéciles."

"But, Qui-"

"Severus is our friend, no?"

"Yes."

"Then there is no more to discuss."

Clearing his throat, Severus interjected. "It will be time for dinner soon. Can you walk?"

"I have suffered much worse at the hands of family." Aquila simply nodded, though he had no real clue if what he implied was true or not. He wouldn't know if he could walk or stand until he tried. He let Severus help him stand and Regulus helped him slip his robe back on. "Merci."

Severus grabbed his bag and the three departed the room, allowing the door to close behind them and disappear. Regulus refused to release his hold on his cousin as they walked down the corridor, "Can you make it to the tower?"

"Yes, of course, and if I could not, my dignity would not allow you to carry me." Aquila grinned at Regulus, giving him a one armed hug. "Go. You two should clean up before dinner, too."

"Okay, Qui." Regulus gave him a relieved smile before the pair started away.

"Severus." Aquila watched as Severus turned; the pain of the events were still present in his gaze. "When you come to dinner, you hold your head high, hmm? You are a proud, strong young man, my friend."

Aquila ignored the whispers as he walked through the common room. They couldn't see what lay beneath his robes, but his hair was a mess and sweaty, not to mention the obvious welt along his face. Very unlike him and he also figured rumors have already started about the confrontation with the Marauders. "Oh my God, Aquila. Are you okay?"

The voice was only marginally recognizable through the buzzing in his ears and Aquila paused to see who spoke. Lily rushed to his side and helped him up the stairs. "What are you doing, Evans? It is unbecoming for a lady to escort a man to his room."

Lily blushed and shushed him. "That's not what I'm doing. I'm a prefect wondering if I should make you go to the infirmary. What happened?"

Aquila opened the dorm door before responding. "Severus is what happened. I refused to allow him to retaliate against you five so I took the brunt of his anger."

"But he's your friend!" Lily stared up at him horrified by the looks of his beating and was utterly confused when he laughed.

"Yes he is; which is why Severus was gentle with me. Now Mademoiselle, if you will excuse me. I do not think it appropriate for you to enter my sleeping chamber with me. I intend to strip and take a hot bath. Unless you intend to wash my back…" Aquila chuckled when she blushed.

"Hmph, you're not that hurt after all." Lily rolled her eyes trying not to look scandalized and scampered downstairs back to the common room.

Aquila knew the others were listening. It was, after all, why he had opened the door. James had let out a strangled growl when Aquila playfully mentioned the bath to Lily. Aquila grabbed his wand before entering.

Walking straight to his bed, Aquila ignored them. Remus was crossing the room and stopped when Aquila dropped his robe. Aquila must have been some sight to get that type of response. Someone inhaled sharply, another snorted, yet another gasped.

Aquila continued to ignore them. His wand was nearby, but he needed his hands free to undress. He started with his tie, loosening it and dropping it at his feet. Aquila unbuttoned his shirt next, discarding it like yesterday's trash. There was no saving his shirt; what was once a crisp white button down oxford shirt was now brown from the dirt and dust, red from his blood and torn from the cutting hexes.

"Snape did this to you?" Remus stood behind him, closer than Aquila was comfortable with, but he didn't speak, just nodded. Remus didn't quite get the hint to walk away; on the contrary, he moved closer. His warm touch ghosted over the red swollen welts covering Aquila's back, causing the teen to shiver and hiss. He had inhaled sharply and tensed at the warm, gentle contact. "Why would you let him?"

Aquila looked across the room at the other three sitting at the edge of James' bed, waiting for his response. Sirius looked guarded, Peter looked fascinated and James looked thoughtful. Aquila turned and faced the concerned look on Remus, exposing more proof of the severity of Severus' hexes across his torso. "To save him."