[Name]: bookhater

[House]: Gryffindor

[Subject/Task No.]:~ Cosmology: Cosmic Inflation ~ Task #3: Write a What If? fic (in which one canonical event has been changed, with some surrounding results of that change)

[Title/Link]: Snape's Revenge

[Summary]:What If; Snape had tried to get revenge on the Marauders in school after Sirius's cruel prank?

For the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) Event

An idea I'm honestly surprised never did seem to play out in the books, Snape really doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who just let the whole thing go and still attended school with Remus for the next two years without trying to do something about it.

Word Count: 3,389

Peter got his detention first, Professor Sinestra wouldn't believe it hadn't been Wormtail to fuse twelve telescopes together on purpose since he had been the one to accidentally do it during the last class.

James had been next, he was as surprised as anyone when McGonagall hounded him during dinner and gave him a week of detentions for the stands in the Quidditch pitch now rotting and delaying the Slytherin vs Ravenclaw game, but he'd somehow had the blame pinned on him no matter his insistent innocence he would never provoke the sport.

It didn't occur to them what was happening until Sirius was held back in Care of Magical Creatures class the day of the full moon, Remus falling asleep on a tree only supported by Lily waiting patiently with him in the shade as they watched from a distance why he'd been held back. It was easy to tell a dressing down was going on and Sirius started firing up his hands, burning energy starting to make the lake boil they'd swear as the two gesticulated. They all loved Kettleburn, so whatever had happened and Sirius was getting blame for actually had Moony straightening up in surprise and concern, only Lily's restraining hand on his arm and a cautioned, "let it play out, I don't think we can help this," stopped him from going back. Being a Prefect made it worse when he tried to vouch for his friends to the teachers.

Kettleburn just kept shaking his head in defeat and finally crossed his arms as well as he could. The cane dangling from one hand thumped against the knee of his missing leg, the stump of his arm more visible than usual as Sirius flipped him off before departing.

Sirius stormed over to them already shouting for all of Hogwarts to hear, "I've got detention for a month for somebody leaving firecrackers out in the Forest! Nearly burned the place down apparently! Some student swore they saw me doing it and, and-"

He froze, and went white as he looked at Remus, off in the distance to the Shrieking Shack, then the school. "I'd never- not this week- I'd never dream of- especially not this week- Moony you-"

"I know you didn't," Sirius wouldn't dare ever, not of their spot, and not the days preceding a full moon where he was always on his best behavior. "I'll be fine," he whispered the lie. "It's one night."

Maybe, if the other two had been there for him he could have talked Sirius into suffering the unjust punishment, but even Lily shook her head at his absurdity as Padfoot glowered at him now.

"Don't Remus-" she crooked her nails into his arm with concern.

"Not a chance love." The term of endearment from his boyfriend shook him, they only called each other that in private, but there wasn't a trace of regret on his face.

"You could get caught," he attempted whatever caution he could. "If you skip, your illegal ass Padfoot-"

"They'll triple my detention for skipping," he waved his hand carelessly. Always so reckless. "Even if, if, I do, Dumbledore won't expel me! Not when I tell him why I did it! He won't tell the Ministry and the teacher's can give me hell every night of the month except this one! I'm not leaving you to go through that alone Remus, final!"

"But Prongs won't be there to-" he tried one last time even knowing it was a lost cause. That fearlessness would be the death of him some day.

"It's Prongs's decision if he'll gamble getting caught too," Sirius reminded, unwavering. He crossed his arms across his chest, something only James ever did to enforce his point on the pitch. "You willing to bet those odds?" So loyal, stubborn, brave.

"Of course not," he bit back a sob of relief just as the sun dappled through the trees down on them. The twinkling faded scars across his face only shimmered for just a moment, to the untrained eye it was nothing; but Sirius reached up and touched the last time he'd gone it alone, fingers brushing his remorse across his nose and lids as Remus closed his eyes and leaned into him. Padfoot had been the reason the Marauders were forced to abandon him on that one, rescuing Snape and all. A slip of the tongue had almost ended it all. Sirius had always been so protective, save for the one night his temper had gotten the better of him...

Sirius had sworn and repented to never be so impulsive again and learn to temper his anger. Remus had made a promise in return to Sirius upon their dating continuing that he would work through his self-deprecating ways, the self-pity and low-self esteem and they'd both really been working on it. The anxiety still lingered from time to time as he remembered again why he liked his stake rare and flinched for not being able to use a silver peg in potions class like was required, but he was raising his hand in class and answering questions voluntarily now instead of whispering the answers to his friends. He walked beside the Marauders and not behind them anymore. Sirius took his hand in the hall ways and smiled rather than reaching for his wand and a hex.

It was natural for people to mimic those closest to them, they'd always brought out the worst in each other, and the best.

All three of his friends were waiting for him in the roots of the tree. He hugged each of them and wished he had some way to do anything more to show his gratitude no matter they didn't need it.

The actual werewolf curse was not the crux of the problem, Snape wasn't going to risk getting himself killed for this to play out. What happened that night, at least, was not intentional on the part of Severus Snape. While framing Sirius, he had no knowledge of the illegal animagus's monthly plans and their dangerous adventures while spreading his scent all over the edge of the werewolves forest.

Wind slapped the greasy scent into the silvery muzzle before the knot of the murderous tree had even been released by the rat for their freedom; but for any other night Padfoot might have been able to get their favorite game of chase going, to nip and run before the hunt could settle in which Moony fell for every time rather than fully turning his attention to the school of magic and human flesh on the distance.

This though was the first human scent he'd ever had seared into his senses, was the perfume that had tormented Moony lingering in his own den alone and anxious for the hatch to open, only for it to do so and causing the very anguish of him trying to rip his own muzzle off for the pain of deprived hunger an entire night as his companions abandoned him.

The werewolf threw his head back and howled in triumph as he made a predatory lunge for the nearest glittering window. Padfoot's sharp teeth sank into his side, using his immense strength to gain a pathetic swat of frustration, the beast undeterred. The black mass kept snapping though, and kept biting at those large silver paws without fear while Prongs kept shoulder checking and jutting without hesitation of where that saliva flung across them as his powerful jaws ached or those claws swiped.

Wormtail dared not interfere in those snapping maws, tail or nose in danger of falling down a pink gullet those fangs were everywhere, so he clung to the fuzzy tips on his friends head and tried to squeak high enough in warning of where he was leaning next.

The three an immense mess as their friend was finally put at his limit, they had no true power to hurt the unstoppable creature except for one singular talent. Padfoot got his wish, he'd finally posed himself as more annoying than the tantalizing meal as he made a nip at the tufted tail, but not quite close enough to earn a chase.

Those silver teeth flashed right for his throat.

Prongs moved on instinct, his antlers meant to pierce the side of a normal wolf only buffeted the werewolf enough he snapped a hunk of black fur in his gums, but no flesh, as Wormtail added in by finally managing from that angle to snap where the fur did not cover, the fleshly inside of an ear.

It was a prick of pain and a bruise at best on Remus's ribs later, but this was taken personally for as highly angered as he was now. Moony whirled with maddening speed, the deer skittered back from those amber eyes on instinct and bowed his head in apology while the rat tumbled to the ground as the creature reared up on his hind legs, an arm that had felled trees aimed for one powerful killing blow right for his skull. Padfoot struck, and finally snapped down so hard on the vulnerable swish of silver tail he won his reward for the next murderous howl meant for him.

The dog howled back as he took off to be the pray. This body was the only time his boyfriend was faster, but the animagus still had intelligence on his side as those massive feet propelled him to follow, but not anticipate. The agile pooch dodged, lunged, and swerved around too fast for Moony not to crash along as he kept up, whole trees exploding chips of wood over the pair as it turned into a game deeper in the forest where no students dared encroach.

Remus woke up in the Shrieking Shack, feeling warm and alive and breathing deeply for the sensation of the magical creature lingering in his bones but too exhausted to move as usual from their run in the forest, very much like a good bout of private time he'd have with Sirius. Truly it was no wonder Greyback had yearned to crave this feeling at all hours, addictive, the power of feeling high and alive and never wanting to come back down that would linger for days afterwards. The twisted means he'd sought to do it by becoming more wolf like than man in his attempts was the line Remus could never cross.

Snape tested that theory by creeping in as the sun came through the cracks in the old magical house, a silver chain in hand.

At first he thought it was Madam Pomfrey coming for him. James and Peter had sprinted off to the school to find out the damage control they'd have to suffer, but Sirius risked it all just like always, he wouldn't leave the shack until the matron came for his boyfriend, hiding upstairs quietly as Padfoot but always there until he had to leave at the last second no matter the consequences. The school nurse would kindly mend whatever light marks were there and dress him while he yawned and smiled as a black form crept behind her up the tunnel as close as he could sneakily get away with, magically appearing in the Hospital wing at Remus's bed the second her back was turned and she'd always tut him aside and shoo him to classes as Moony sleepily whispered just for them their light bickering while his eyes closed for the rest of the day.

That is, if she somehow hadn't been locked in her ward overnight.

Remus shifted under the blanket on the floor, head woozy with confusion for why those footsteps sounded different in the creaking floorboards, what that odd glint of light was reflecting on, fighting the urge to rub at himself all over for the newly repaired bones and skin for how sore he was in the best kind of way. The slap of silver seared across his cheek and trailed just on the curve of his neck, trying to slither around his throat, sending him jolting upright with a howl of pain and reaching instinctively for his wand that was up in the school- it was all drowned out by Padfoot barreling down the stairs faster than the flickering shadows could cast his form as he lunged at Severus.

Snape screamed in surprise, a truly terrifying noise that was meant to be final, life ending. He had seen the werewolf for only a moment and knew nothing of the Animagus's of course, the detentions had been to keep the kamikaze students who knew of this beast away as long as he could. Likely this giant black monster was his worst nightmare; some fearsome daylight werewolf shaped creature here to take him straight to hell, and Padfoot almost did. His teeth sunk into his outstretched arm trying to block his throat, some primal animal instinct rearing in him to go straight for the kill.

A curse blasted him off, the dog letting out a cry of pain that only brought his human mind back to the surface, those glittering grey eyes stared his most hated enemy down as he got right back to his feet, and Remus didn't want to know what he would have done next.

"Sirius!"

His boyfriend froze, snarling more violently than he ever had at the creature he became, every hair on end, more terrifying in that moment than Moony had ever been to Remus. This was the animal who both fought and protected a werewolf, this greasy wizard was nothing to what Padfoot could do; but he changed back to a form of higher reasoning at the last second before he would let himself lunge, now flying through the air instead in a somehow more terrifying way.

Snape's next curse went to low, Sirius was midmotion already, on Severus and pulling that silver out of his hands to fling it into the abyss of their window free of this place, the dirt tunnel that was his salvation and prison. Every day of Sirius's hateful upbringing crashing down on him for what he'd wanted to do to his parents, this waste of a human life, every single person who ever treated Remus as something other finally getting an outlet.

His hooked nose was broken, he may have swallowed a few of his teeth, but Sirius stopped when Remus started trying to get up. It was the most painful thing he'd ever done, but he would not be what Remus could not have.

"Look at him!" Sirius snarled, twisting the greasy strands as he forced Snape to look back, but his bottomless black eyes were screwed up with pain and fear instead. The power behind his voice sounded like it should have created a new Unforgivable Curse on the spot as he flung Snivilus towards the hatch. "You walk away from this knowing I love him more than I hate you!"

Maybe Snape had been about to kill him, slowly choke him to death like the uncontrollable animal he would forever see. Maybe he'd only been in here to do exactly as he'd done, this silver mark would not fade like his others but always twinkle, it would stay forever a lasting burn of the creature he carried inside him on display for all to see on his human face, the school would know now. Any half decent wizard would put together what he was, should have for years really with his sickly skin on a timely schedule and the scars he used to give himself.

Snape did not stick around to tell them. He ran, like the coward he was, never facing his own actions nor dare to fight two against one, even if he could have possibly won.

Remus got his trembling limbs under him, the blanket falling away as he tried to go to him. "Sirius?" His grey eyes were scrunched closed himself, black hair falling like an ethereal thing of their own life around his face, breathing so hard to stop himself chasing after and finishing the deed, but he only chased his Moony now, it was the only release he could give. He held his hand out to him, and Remus took it. "Marry me?"

Sirius looked at him, and smiled. "I can not believe you beat me to that." The joke is what really did it, that he could turn around and laugh, his carefree Padfoot who refused to let the world keep them down no matter what got thrown at them. It was a natural flow to kiss, hold each other, Remus's mind didn't care his body was on the brink of what human exhaustion could handle as he pushed Sirius against the wall.

Sirius's hand was broken, and Dumbledore would kindly fix it in his office before he calmly let the Marauders tell their story. This day marked in history a student was finally expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because Snape had broken the terms of his agreement with Dumbledore about not revealing the secret werewolf.

There was fear, there were fights and letters demanding more from terrified parents and students withdrawing themselves from school, but really, after five years, and no nobody having ever come to any harm; most weren't really surprised to learn the guy who vanished every full moon was a werewolf.

November 3rd, 1981

The fireplace in the DADA room lit to life, causing the man at the desk to smile without looking up. "Should have known you'd be impatient for me to come home today."

There was no response. Remus looked up and around from his half-stack of graded homework to see his husband standing blankly, still in the grate, a strange look on his face. "Padfoot? Just because it's your birthday-"

Words died in his throat, he jolted to his feet in concern, sending the whole mess to the floor as a smile began flickering across his face, but it was wrong. Possessed. Remus reached for his wand as he stepped towards him. "Sirius!"

It was the exact wrong thing to do, Moody would have chewed his ear off for not immediately trying to disarm him, but the sharp concern in his voice finally forced those dark gray eyes to look at him.

Remus knew. From that one, solitary, maddening smile on his face.

"Hagrid took Harry," his voice was wrong, too level, steady as the ocean; placid on the surface and a toil of trouble beneath. "You warned me but I didn't listen- I'm going to kill him Moony, I swear to Merlin I will..." he tapered off with a snicker, his face still in that bizarre mask. "You have every right to hate me, I should have listened to you-" he gasped what could have been his last breath, the façade was already crackling around the edges. "Help me."

Sirius was right on the edge of an eruption, something he would not come back from. Even Padfoot didn't seem to know what exactly he was asking for help with, his right fist was twitching, but he hadn't even drawn his wand, eyes utterly void of anything as that deranged smile flickered about.

He'd come here though.

Remus went to him and Sirius moved on instinct to pull him into his arms, the tremors on his face causing his lips to twitch was flowing down, he couldn't seem to properly wrap his arms around Remus no matter he was clearly trying.

"We're going to tell Dumbledore about the switch, right now," he vowed, already trying to get Sirius's stumbling feet to move for that office. "We're going to find out where he took your godson Pads, and we, we'll fix this, I swear, I don't hate you, we're going to find, find Peter and, and we'll-"

Sirius laughed then, a horrible dead noise, but not for any joke as he leaned into him.