Yes. I believe you were left on a very nasty cliffhanger weren't you? Well then, be happy everyone. The new chapter is here!
DISCLAIMER: NO.Severus woke up, fear coursing through his veins. His breathing hard. It was dark, and yet it wasn't dreary. He was surprised to note that he felt safety and warmth!
In place of the cold floor and manacles he expected to feel and had felt for the past twenty four hours he felt softness and warmth. He was on a bed, covered in warm blankets. In place of the fear and dreariness he felt comfort and protection.
Curiosity was gnawing at him to find out where he was but he stayed in place, fearing that this was a dream. A dream that would disappear once he moved. Before he could further articulate his thoughts, the door opened and Madam Pomphrey came in.
Upon seeing him awake, her normally stern face broke out into a soft smile. "Oh Severus. Your awake. Your friends will be delighted."
With a flick of her wand Snape saw her send a patronus to somewhere, maybe to Lily and the marauders? They were his friends right?
While Madam Pomphrey ran diagnostic spells on him and he kept repressing the urge to flinch he tried to understand what was going on. He was in Hogwarts. In the hospital wing. But how?
He remembered being in Azkaban, the word instantly sending a chill down his spine, so how in the blasted name of Merlin did he end up here? His musings were once again cut short, annoyingly, by the sudden rushing of footsteps. He didn't even have time to comprehend who it was as he was enveloped in a hug. He felt wetness on his shoulder and knew that whoever it was, though he had an inkling, was crying. On his behalf. It touched him.
The person then pulled back and he was greeted by the bloodshot but still green eyes of Lily Evans. "Sev. I-I thought you wouldn't wake up. And I was so worried."
"Lily, it's alright. I'm fine."
"Like hell you are.", came the unmistakable voice of Remus Lupin accompanied by Regulus' annoyed tone.
"Yeah you've been asleep for days. We were getting worried."
Severus now realizing that Lily wasn't the only one here looked around him seeing that Regulus, Remus, James and Sirius were all next to his bed. How out of sorts was he to not notice that? Not to mention Professor McGonagall, Slughorn and Madam Pomphrey.
"It's good to see you my boy." his head of house stated.
"Mr Snape." McGonagall's stern voice called his attention. "I believe it would be advisable not to remain unconscious for so many days. You almost made your friends go into depression you know." Her lips twitched a little.
He was touched, he truly was but one thing bothered him quite greatly.
"I've been out for days? But how? And how did I come to Hogwarts? I was in-in-", he couldn't say the name.
"Azkaban?" Sirius suggested, his voice solemn.
Severus gulped and meekly nodded. James sat on the bed the rest doing the same. He didn't think his bed was big enough to fit them but, hey, he was wrong. The professors, he noticed were leaving.
"Well Severus. Do we have a story to tell you." And the grins that broke out on everyone's face told Severus that he wouldn't be bored.
"What?", they all yelled simultaneously. Then started talking all at once.
"Why would you do that? Severus helped us. It was because of him we could escape in the first place. Lucius gave Severus the key out of the cell. He knew the insides of the manor and the portkey. We ended up there because of Peter."
"Severus saved my life. Bellatrix hit us with a dagger and it hit me in my stomach. Severus made some potion that healed me instantly."
"You have to believe us. Severus saved us. Without him we would be dead. How could you send someone to Azkaban without even any investigation. Your supposed to be bloody aurors."
"Boys calm down.", both Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Lupin said, trying to quell the noise the three boys were making. This only increased the din.
The sound of a vase crashing stopped all and every noise. Everyone looked towards Mr. Richard Potter who was putting together a broken vase with a Reparo. "Now that everyone's quite.", he handed three vials to each of the kids.
"What is this?", Sirius asked.
"Calming draught."
"I don't need any calming draught.", Sirius denied the concoction.
"If you drink this we'll listen." At that the potion was drunk instantly. What the three didn't expect was the sleep that assaulted them. Slowly they all fell back onto the pillow realizing that it was a Dreamless Sleep instead.
Next time Remus was the first to wake. His head felt heavy but his memory was still sharp. He remembered what Mr. Potter had said. "He's in Azkaban.", Remus whispered to himself the words sending dread throughout his body.
'No, that can't be right. They can't just send someone to Azkaban like that. We need to tell them they've got the wrong person.'With that thought he tried to get off the bed but found that he was unable to do so.
James groaned and woke up next to him. "What happened?"
"Prongs Severus." James' eyes widened as he remembered what had happened. He, too tried to get off the bed. "What the-why can't I get off?"
"Keep it down I'm trying to sleep."
"Oi Pads get up. We have to find a way to get out of here and help Severus." Grabbing the jug on his table James threw the water at Sirius.
"What the fuck?" Sirius got up and glared at James. Then his eyes widened. "Severus is in Azkaban. We have to help him."
"We would if we could. But we don't have our wands and we can't even get off this bed." Remus sighed.
"Oh come on there's got to be something we could do." James cried out.
"I can help." a disembodied voice spoke. James recognized this voice. He would always recognize it.
"Lily?"
Lily took off the invisibility cloak, Regulus next to her. She looked them all over, eyes searching. "Hey Evans help us here. Severus is in danger."
Ignoring Sirius Lily continued staring. "You know everyone's saying you've been confunded and that Sev did it."
"What? No that's not true. It was Peter. He planned it with Mulciber and Avery to gain Voldemort's favour or something."
"I believe you."
"Lily look you don't understand -wait you do?"
"I know Sev can't do anything like that. And the fact that your defending him speaks volumes."
Regulus who hadn't spoken up until now decided to talk. "We'll help you get out if here. There are aurors stationed outside, so it'll be a bit hard. But how do you plan of helping Severus?"
"We'll go to Dumbledore's office. You two, bring Peter there. He's still here by what I've gathered. And Remus, you get the Veritaserum. I know you still have some." James ordered.
Lily removed the charm from their beds. She gave them their map and cloak then left from secret passage with Regulus. Where did it even come from? Remus thought to himself but went inside to retrieve the truth potion.
James amd Sirius donned the invisibility cloak, then proceeded to move out the hospital wing, discreetly. Moving through the corridors with the help of the map, they reached Dumbledore's office, the griffin standing proud.
"Hey Pads what do we do when we get in there?"
"Prongs I put all of my faith in you when I came here. Please tell me you have a plan."
"I do. Just hasn't formulated completely. Obviously we're gonna tell them our story. All of it."
After trying countless candy names, out of which Chocolate Frog was the password, the griffin moved. James gulped and gripped his wand tightly. It was one of the strangest moments of his life. He was defending Severus, a Slytherin. But after what he had done, James knew that Severus had found a friend in all three of the marauders.
The office was not like James and Sirius had expected. It was crowded not empty. Remus' parents, James' parents, Professor McGonagall, Professor Slughorn and Madame Pomphrey were arguing. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, Auror Alastor 'Mad-eye' Moody standing besides him. Their point of argument seemed to be Severus Snape.
Slughorn, McGonagall and Pomphrey seemed to be in his favor whereas the parents against. James breathed and looked towards Sirius. Guess this was a good of a time as any. Theu took off their cloak causing all arguments to seize.
"Professor Dumbledore, we need to talk." Sirius addressed the headmaster. His blue eyes were twinkling, even as McGonagall and the rest off them were giving him disapproving glares. Except Mad-eye. Really couldn't tell wuth him as his face was so scarred.
"Sir we have to tell you that you've made a terrible mistake." The twinkling stopped. James continued. "Severus didn't do anything. He's innocent."
"And why Messers Black and Potter do you believe that?", Madam Pomphrey asked.
"No point in asking them Poppy. They've been confunded good."
"And I already told you Alastor that their doesn't seem to be any signs of it or any other kind of menory alterations."
"Why are you so keen on defending that boy?"
"Because he's just that, a boy."
"And we are not even entirely certain wether he was in on the plan or merely a victim."
This caused another argument to start all over again. James couldn't help it he was getting tired of all of this. So he shouted, gaining everyone's attention "Will everyone of you just shut up?"
The next chapter is coming us as well. You'll be glad to know it's ending.