James, Sirius, Pettigrew, and even Remus had their wands pointed at Severus's chest. No one messed with anyone in our group of friends. Severus snarled at the, his own wand raised and moving from one person to another.

"You can't take us all." James snarled derisively.

"He's right." I told Severus, looking down.

Severus's eyes, for a split second, moved away from them to me. In that split second, the four of them had each formed a spell on their tongues.

"Expelliarmus!"

James's wand flew out of his hand. I knew he hadn't had a harmless hex ready for Severus. It would have been something bad, something Severus hadn't learned yet. It wouldn't be fatal, but it would have hurt, I was sure.

I aimed my wand at Sirius next, but he just stared at me incredulously. They all did. I hung my head and looked at the ground. The I walked away. Without a second glance, I headed towards the castle, running as tears streamed down my face.

They would disown me. I had defended the person they hated most, even after he had called my best friend one of the worst names in the wizarding world. They'd never talk to me again. And once Lily heard what I'd done, she'd disown me too. My friends were more important to me than anything, but James had been planning to use either Reducto or Diffindo on Severus. I was sure of it. I'd taught him then recently in the summer. They would both have hurt him badly and James could have been expelled and Severus seriously injured so it was really best for everyone in the long run.

That wouldn't matter to any of them, though. They would just see me defending the enemy. So, instead of going to the common room, I headed to an upstairs corridor that usually would make s smile appear on my lips because of who I usually saw there.

He wouldn't be there this time, though. He would see my defending him as making him look weak and my walking away afterwards as betrayal or rejection.

Reaching the blank space of wall, I opened the door that had appeared there. Somewhere to be alone I had thought. I was going to think Somewhere no one can find me but I wasn't sure if I didn't want them to find me.

Inside was a single, very inviting, red armchair. I sat in it, trying to keep my mind blank, very unsuccessfully. The realization that James, Sirius, Remus, and Pettigrew - Prongs, Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail - had the map. They'd know where I was. But they wouldn't know how to get inside. Only Severus knew how, but I was quite sure he wouldn't come for me.

I sat there crying for I don't know how long until I fell asleep in the chair.

I woke up and saw that I had slept for an hour or so. And no one had come, just as I'd known they wouldn't. So, needing to stretch my legs, I got up and walked around the room but, already, I was getting sick of the four walls in this room.

So I walked over to the door and opened it. Not caring who I saw outside, I'd cried all my tears in that room, I headed out to the grounds. It was around 2:00 in the afternoon and so many people were roaming outside. They all glanced at me, the entire school would have heard about today's events by now. But no one ever went into the Forbidden Forest.

It was forbidden to go into the forest unless you were with a teacher or staff member, but I could protect myself. Both my parents were Aurors and I had been taught early how to protect myself. That's why I've always been a year or two ahead of my classes, at least the ones revolved around spells and defence. So I'd taught my friends everything I've been taught to protect them.

It was darker in the Forest then it was out on the grounds, but I didn't mind. There wasn't anything really to worry about during the day, especially if I just stuck to the outskirts, which I planned on doing. Magical creatures had always fascinated me; I loved them. And I loved the Forest.

I kept my eyes open for any creatures, and my mind was taken away from the dreary thoughts that had been occupying it for the past few hours. However, not many creatures were to be found this close to the edge of the Forest. Most lived deeper within the dark woods where fewer people ventured.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a voice. "Hey! Sandy! What are you doing in there?"

It was Ogg. Seeing him, I smiled. I exited the Forest and met him just as I was about to step back into the sunlight.

"You're not supposed to be in there. It's Forbidden." He said sternly.

"I stayed close to the edges, and you know my parents, I'm pretty sure I could handle myself in there." I said.

"Like during your detention?" He asked. And the flashback came.

I didn't want to think about it because I didn't want to get upset again. But Ogg was my friend and I followed him back to his quarters and stated, more than asked, "So you haven't heard then?"

"About the scenario by the tree? Yeah. Most of the school has by now."

I sighed. "Figured," I mumbled.

"Look, Sandy, you did what was right. Snape, there, shouldn't have said what he said but if I know James, what he had planned for Mister Snape wouldn't have been pleasant."

"I know. But you know how much they despise him. They're going to disown me! Do you know what happened after I walked away?" I asked.

"From what I could see from here, Snape got hit with something by Remus, before he could hit James with whatever he'd had in mind."

"Remus?" I was surprised. "Well if Remus was that mad that he'd hit Severus with something, then there's no hope for them talking to me ever again." I said. I was surprised by how indifferent I sounded. Severus's indifference must have rubbed off on you I thought.

"No, I don't think so. I think Remus, there, did it so the rest of 'em didn't get a chance to hit Snape with anything worse."

That put a small portion of hope in my chest.

"Thanks Ogg, I'll come visit you soon," I promised. This made me realize how nice Ogg really was…and he's a lot smarter than one would have thought too.

"No problem, it was nice to see ya!" He said as I left the hut and headed back to the castle.