Chapter TWO

Severus woke up feeling stiff. His neck hurt. He tried to remember what happened. When he opened his eyes, he realized that he was in the Infirmary.

"Well, well, Mr. Snape," Poppy said. "I'm glad to see you awake."

Severus looked up at the matron. His side still hurt, so he said nothing.

"You were extremely beat up," Poppy said, putting some phials on the side table. "What in Merlin's name were you doing?"

Poppy propped Severus up so that he was leaning on pillows. Severus hissed at the movement. Poppy handed the Slytherin a pain reliever. Severus took it in one gulp. Instantly, his side began to ease.

"I'm waiting for an answer," Poppy said, looking at Severus.

_000_000_000

Albus walked in his chambers and sat behind his desk. James stood in front with his head held high. Sirius slowly walked in, standing next to James.

Never had Sirius seen James so angry with him. There was a hint of disgust that Sirius saw in James' face.

"Well," Albus said, leaning back in his chair. "It's been an eventful evening."

Both boys said nothing.

"Would someone like to tell me how Severus Snape became injured?" Albus asked.

James looked over at Sirius.

"Yeah, Sirius," James said. There was contempt in his tone. "How did Severus become injured?"

Albus looked between the two Gryffindors. Usually these boys were thick as thieves. Now, it seems there is a dissension in the ranks.

"It was just a harmless prank," Sirius said.

"I think Mr. Snape being in the Infirmary begs to differ that fact," Albus said, smoothly.

"Snivellus was always following us," Sirius said. "So, I showed him where we go."

"I will say this one time," Albus said, coolly. "You will respect Severus."

Sirius gulped at the tone of the Headmaster.

"And where is it you go that you lure Mr. Snape to?" Albus asked, looking over his half-moon glasses.

James was staring at Sirius. His anger was palpable. James turned away from Sirius and closed his eyes.

_000_000_000

"I was looking for some potions ingredients and I was attacked," Severus lied easily.

"Why would you go into the Forbidden Forest?" Poppy asked, putting her hands on her hips. "You know you're not allowed. And then you sneak out at night."

"It only blooms in the full moon," Severus said.

"Well," Poppy sighed. "It will take a little bit of time before you can leave the Infirmary. You side needs care and your ribs need to heal. So, get comfortable Mr. Snape."

Poppy walked away from Severus. The Slytherin sighed as he laid down on the cot, looking up at the ceiling. He had more on his mind that being cooped up in the Infirmary. He thought about what he witnessed.

_000_000_000

"Do you not see what you prank has caused?" Albus asked Sirius. "Severus Snape is injured. He was injured by your friend, Remus. What do you think will happened when it gets out that Remus Lupin is a werewolf?"

"Remus wouldn't hurt anybody," Sirius said, definitively.

"Oh, he wouldn't," Albus challenged.

"No," Sirius said. "He's never attacked us."

James closed his eyes and lowered his head. Couldn't Sirius just shut his mouth? James looked over at Sirius and shook his head.

"Mr. Lupin had never attacked you?" Albus said. "When have you been with Mr. Lupin during his changing? And how is it that he didn't attack you?"

James looked over at Sirius. He couldn't believe what Sirius was telling the Headmaster.

"Uh," Sirius stuttered. "I mean…it he knew…"

"I think you need to explain this to me," Albus said.

James looked down and sighed. He knew it would be a surprise if they had any free time before they graduated.

_000_000_000

It's been four days since the late-night incident. James refused to talk to Sirius. When Remus came back to the Common Room, James pulled him to the side and told him what happened and what Sirius confessed to the Headmaster.

Remus grabbed Sirius' arm and dragged him out of the Common Room and to an old unused classroom.

"Why?" Remus asked.

"It just got out of hand," Sirius said. "It was only to scare the Slytherin."

"Scare him?" Remus said. "Scare him? Did you even think of the ramifications of your so-called 'prank?'"

"It just got a little out of hand," Sirius said, defending his actions.

"A little," Remus said. "A little. Do you realize that if I killed Severus, that I would be killed? I thought you were my friend."

Remus turned heading for the door of the classroom.

"I am your friend," Sirius said, reaching out for Remus' arm.

Remus snatched his arm away from Sirius.

"If you were my friend, you wouldn't have done this," Remus said, shaking his head. "You used to tell me what your family was like and how they would torture people. What you did makes you no better than them."

Sirius heart broke. Never did he wanted to be classified the same as his parents. He didn't like his family. He always told James and Remus that he wanted to leave them.

Remus walked out of the classroom leaving Sirius in the room.

_000_000_000

Severus was in his dorm, sitting on the bed. He was upset that Black wasn't going to be expelled for his attempt on his life, but it didn't surprise him. Black and Potter always gotten away with things.

He couldn't get what he witnessed out of his head. He never cared for Lupin but hearing the howling and screaming from the boy when he was transforming in that wolf. Something had to help him through his changes. Severus pulled his personal journal out from under his pillow. He had the notes he made while he was under the matron's watchful eye.

Putting his journal and potion book in his pockets, Severus headed for the library. He was glad that he didn't run into anyone. He went in and got to the Library he went to the section that had the study between the different potion ingredients.

Remus was sitting on the other side of the library when he saw Severus walk in. He wanted to talk to him so bad, but he didn't know how it would be received. Remus swallowed his fear and walked over to the table.

Severus looked up when he heard someone walking closer to him. A part of him tensed up seeing the Gryffindor, but a small part needed some information.

"I know I'm the last person you want to talk to," Remus said. "But I wanted to apologize."

Severus said nothing.

"I had no idea that Sirius was going to do that," Remus said. "You have to believe me. I would never willingly hurt you like that."

Severus said nothing.

Remus looked at the Slytherin. His shoulders sagged and turned away.

"Have someone ever tried to make the transformation easier?" Severus asked.

Remus turned around and looked at Severus. Severus looked up at Remus. He kicked the chair out. Remus took the invitation and sat down.

"There's nothing out there to make the changes easier," Remus said.

"It has to be something to make it better," Severus said. "I'm sure that Madam Pomfrey knows about this?"

Remus nodded.

"So, what does she give you when you come back to school?" Severus asked. "I'm sure that you are still in pain when you come back. You're always missing for six days a month."

"When I get back to the Infirmary," Remus said. "She gives me a pain reliever."

"Does it help?" Severus asked.

"Not really," Remus said, shrugging his shoulders. "Why are you asking me this?"

"There has to be a way that would make your transformations a little bit bearable."

"You don't like me," Remus said. "Why would you do this?"

"Because nobody," Severus said, "should be in that much pain."

"Thank you," Remus said.

Severus nodded and lowered his head to go back to studying.

Sirius walked in the library and saw that Remus and Severus was sitting at the same table, talking.

_000_000_000

Sirius walked into the Common Room. Again, James was sitting on the sofa. He looked up at his friend.

"Why are you looking someone kicked you?" James asked, looking back at the book on his lap.

Sirius plopped down on the chair next to James.

"You speaking to me again?" Sirius asked. "I thought you hated me."

It had been a few days that neither James nor Remus talked to Sirius. Sirius didn't like the solitude. It broke his heart. Yes, he was just joking, but he didn't realize how much James and Remus would hate him over it.

"I don't hate you," James said, closing the book on his lap. "You did something stupid. Yes, we play pranks, but we don't make it so that someone would get that hurt. Do you understand that you could have gotten someone killed?"

Sirius nodded.

"I heard what Remus said to you the other day," James said.

Sirius turned to look at his friend. James could see the tears pooling in Sirius' eyes.

"I know that hurt," James continued. "But if I didn't get Severus in time or if Severus let loose Remus' ailment, it would have been bad. Not only did you hurt Severus but it could have hurt Remus, or worse they both could have been killed."

"I'm sorry," Sirius said.

"I hope you are," James said. "Now, why are you looking like that?"

"Moony is sitting with Snivellus," Sirius said.

"Are you jealous?" James asked, smirking.

"Shut up," Sirius said.

"Leave it," James said. "Moony will come around and he'll forgive you. Right now, give him some space."

Sirius nodded.

TBC