AN: I have some great pranking suggestions from people, thanks! I am working on that chapter now, so any more suggestions get them to me quick!
In this chapter I really wanted to compare/contrast Snape to Sirius and show how much Snape has changed in response to Harry. And not changed, as well, as you will see. :)
Sirius had never felt so bad in his life. His bones felt tired and sore, and he found he could barely move his muscles. He clenched his hand experimentally, and found he could barely make a fist. He turned his head carefully, and saw the dozing figure of Severus Snape in the chair beside him. Slowly, he remembered the events of the day before - Peter the rat, the herd of snakes, and then that sickening squishy feel of stepping on that odd striped snake that turned and struck him on the ankle. After that things got pretty fuzzy, but he remembered Snape giving him foul tasting potions, Madame Pomfrey was there too. He hazily remembered Peter in a big cage being interrogated by Moony and Snape, and then the cage being gone again. He remembered Madame Pomfrey being there, but then he remembered the solid, hated presence of Snape being there.
He had cursed the man as his body had convulsions and painful cramps from the snakebite, but he remembered the man being professional and kind, cleaning up the vomit and then rubbing his back to help ease the cramping and convulsions. Had his worst enemy actually been caring for him like that? Would he have cared for Snape with such kindness if the roles were reversed?
"You're awake," he heard Snape announce. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was hit by a hundred bludgers," Sirius answered truthfully.
"Any more cramps or nausea?"
"No," he answered truthfully. "Just weak."
"Hmm," Snape answered, noncommittally. He was at Sirius' bedside, inspecting his eyes and his face, and then had Sirius grip his hands as hard as he could. "You are recuperating adequately," he told Sirius. "We can move you back to Spinner's End today. You will be weak and stiff for a day or two, but should be completely restored after that."
"What happened?" Sirius asked, holding his head.
"In the melee you stepped on one of the snakes; unfortunately you chose to step on a Blue Krait, which is a highly venomous snake from Indonesia," Snape explained. "Fortunately, we were able to brew an effective antivenom."
"Thank you," Sirius told him quietly. "I know it was you who saved me."
"Hmmph," Snape answered him. "Poppy helped."
"I don't understand," Sirius said, his voice small. He felt completely vulnerable and defenseless, and to his horror he found tears prickling his eyes. "I don't understand you. We are enemies, we hate each other. But you took care of James' son, and I'm not blind, I see how much you care for the boy. And you're friends with Remus, how did that happen? And now you save me. I don't understand."
"People are not black and white," Snape answered him, sighing. He felt like he was talking to Harry, and then he realized that with all of the trauma he's had, SIrius might be not much more developed emotionally than Harry was. Maybe it would be easier to just treat the man like he was the same age as Harry. "And we don't stay the same. Yes, we hated each other in school. But it's also true that we have all matured, and have been able to see past our childish squabbles. I took Harry initially out of duty, but now he's my son and I love him. In loving him it has also made me softer to his father's other friends. Remus is a good man and I respect him."
"He thinks the same of you," Sirius replied.
Snape nodded, not surprised. He enjoyed the werewolf's company, he had been the first real friend he'd had as an adult.
"And what do you want, Black?" he asked him seriously. "Do you want to continue to torture me? To hate and mock me? What chance would you have with a relationship with Harry if you hate his father?"
"I don't hate you," Sirius said quietly. "And I know I need to apologize to you."
"Don't do it on Harry's account," Snape told him.
"No, I need to do it for me. And for you," Sirius sighed heavily, and then shook himself as if setting himself to a difficult task. "Severus Snape, I am very sorry for how I have treated you in school. I know it was mostly me and James that made your life hell in school, and we ganged up on you. It wasn't fair. But the worst time is when I set Moony on you. If James hadn't wised up and prevented it, you could have been killed or turned. I am very . . . grateful that he did, and I am sorry for what almost happened."
Severus didn't know what to say. "I do not forgive easily," he told Sirius. "But, for Harry's sake, I would be willing to try. But that also means that you have to truly be a new man, Black."
"I will try," Sirius told him ruefully. "I am not perfect, but I shall try to be better."
"You had better succeed," Snape sneered at him. "If you want to have anything to do with Harry."
"I will!" Sirius assured him.
"I suppose you would like to hear an account of the evening," Snape told him. "I mean, after you were bitten by a highly venomous snake."
"Was it like a cobra?"
"A Blue Krait is fifteen times as venomous as a cobra," Snape explained.
"How do you have the antivenom?"
"I keep a small amount of the venom on-hand for certain potions," Snape explained. "It also seems to be a snake that gets called forth with the Serpensortia spell on occasion, so you are not the first I've had to brew an antivenom for."
"My fault," SIrius said. "I stepped on the beast."
"We were able to secure Pettigrew in a cage that could hold him as both a rat and a man," Snape explained. "And we interrogated him again. Apparently he is impervious to most kinds of magical containment, which is why he's able to slip away so easily. It is some sort of wandless, naturally occuring magic for him. It's probably also how he was able to escape the time he killed the muggles and framed you."
SIrius nodded. "Where did you take him?"
"We took him to Senior Auror Bones, and she interviewed him while he was still under the effects of the veritaserum. He was interviewed by her and several other aurors, and answered all of their questions to their satisfaction. There was enough evidence for an official inquiry to be opened, and a full hearing to be heard. We may not need your pensieve memories or to even reveal that you are with us to do this."
"Will Peter have to testify?" Sirius asked.
Snape looked Black over critically. How much to tell the man? Once he had learned that Peter was impervious to magical confinement, he swiftly came to the conclusion that Peter must not be allowed to go to Azkaban. Snape viewed Peter as a threat to Harry, both because he was a ruthless killer of muggles and because he planned to help the Dark Lord defeat Harry. So, a threat to Harry that was unable to be magically constrained was one that needed to be eliminated.
"Unfortunately Peter will not be allowed to testify," Snape carefully told Sirius. "Sadly, at the end of his interrogation by Auror Bones yesterday he suffered an allergic reaction to the veritaserum. This is a rare complication, but it does happen on occasion. I had an antidote potion ready for him, but it was ineffective. Peter Pettigrew expired before he even was able to be transported to St. Mungo's Hospital."
"Peter is dead?" SIrius asked incredulously.
"He is," Snape confirmed. "But he was able to give a complete account of the crimes you were accused of before his death, and the fact that he was being interrogated by the Auror department, well, I think you should be able to be exonerated."
"Was it you?" Sirius croaked.
"I have no idea what you're asking," Snape told him coolly. "I had no idea that Mr. Pettigrew was allergic to veritaserum, and I worked hard to save his life once I realized what was happening."
"Okay," Sirius replied, not convinced. "Just checking."
"I am a respected educator and wizard," Snape sniffed. "I'm not sure why you would suggest I could have something to do with the death of a man that was a threat to my family. I would of course always go through official channels."
"He was more of a threat to me than to Harry," Sirius told him, understanding what Snape was telling him.
"And I think in your case the old adage of, 'You can't pick your family' is appropriate. I certainly would never have chosen you and Lupin, but I have a feeling that we are going to become family. For Harry's sake."
"For Harry's sake," Sirius repeated. He felt strangely comforted that Snape had basically taken him under his protection.
"I would also like to let you know that almost everything I do is for that boy's sake," Snape told him seriously. "And I of course would . . . eliminate any threats to his well-being. I hope that you are a helpful thing to have in his life, because if you ever become an unhelpful thing in his life, then you will be eliminated as well."
Sirius nodded, gulping.
"I'm glad we had this little chat," Snape told him briskly. "I believe we can work together."
"I didn't think you liked me," Sirius tried to smile.
"I don't like you, Black," Snape told him firmly. "You are arrogant, foolhardy, and have at times been very cruel. But I will also allow that a person can change, and I am willing to give you that chance. Do not mistake that with me liking you."
"I understand," Black nodded. He was still feeling a little intimidated by Snape killing Pettigrew in such a manner, and right in front of a group of Aurors too!
"Excellent. We will be leaving later today to go back to Spinner's end to celebrate the holidays there together. I wanted you to know that Harry and I have somewhat of a tradition of pranking during the Christmas holidays that you are invited to participate in. However, if I feel that a punishment is called for by the prank, then all of the miscreants suffer the same punishment."
"Punishment?" Sirius repeated, his eyes wide.
"So unless you want to be writing lines or standing in the corner I would suggest you keep the pranks harmless and that you don't get caught. Do we have an understanding?"
"Of course, Sni - Snape. Of course."
"If you call me Snivellus again I will not be accountable for my actions," Snape glared at him.
"I won't," Sirius promised. "I won't."
"Excellent," Snape replied. "I will have some breakfast brought up, I'm sure you are hungry. I will check on Harry and Remus, and begin to make preparations to return. Let me know if there's anything you need."
Snape glided out of the room, his robes billowing.
SIrius blinked and sank back into the bed, feeling twelve again. How did Snape do that to him?