Chapter 10: An Unwanted Visitor.
Lily and James were bombarded with questions from the Marauder's when they returned to the common room. They explained what Dumbledore had told them and they were left slightly confused.
"It seems as if History is repeating itself, except with a few changes," Remus commented when they had finished telling them about the prophecy.
"But I seriously doubt You-Know-Who is going to fall in love! He's just to evil to love anything." Sirius said shivering at the thought of Voldemort in love.
"Yeah, I just hope that the last bit of the prophecy is true, that the 'being' will overcome Voldemort," Lily sighed. James stretched and yawned.
"I'm tired, see you in the morning." He said. He pecked Lily on the cheek and then headed to his dorm. The others soon followed. Peter remained silent during the whole conversation.
The next morning, Lily walked over to the Great Hall for breakfast, and spotted James. She sat down next to him and served herself breakfast.
"Morning," she greeted.
"Hey Lil," James acknowledged and smiled as he read the paper. He was happy to hear that his favourite Quidditch team was in the lead of the premiere league. A few moments later Remus and Sirius joined them at the table.
"Hey Remus," Lily greeted.
"Morning," Remus grunted moodily and sat down.
"What's wrong with you?" James asked, eyebrows raised. As he was about to answer, Sirius interrupted.
"Oh take no notice of him. He's just PMSing, it's his time of month," Sirius joked and nudged him.
"Shut up!" Remus snapped and hit him on the back oh his head and messing up his ponytail.
"Oh? Since when did Lupin start menstruating?" they heard a cold sneer behind them. Snape stood there, looking at them with cold eyes.
"I haven't been menstruating Snape so piss off!" Remus said glaring daggers at him.
"Oh really? Then where have you been going these past few months? I've seen you, sneaking out after dark with Madam Pomfrey, and you seem to disappear in school for the next few days," Snape said smirking. Remus sat silent for awhile.
"You've found me out Snappie, I'm in love with Madam Pomfrey and we have the best sex at the tree every month." Remus said sarcastically. The rest of them stared wide-eyed at him and burst out laughing. Snape didn't look amused.
"I'll find out where you disappear to each night if it's the last thing I do." Snape snapped at them.
"Whatever Snape," Remus spat.
Lily brought out her wand and silently whispered an Engorgement charm and aimed for his nose. As he turned away from the table, his nose grew larger by the second.
"What the?" Snape said. His nose grew longer and heavier. It grew too heavy that he now dragged it on the floor.
"Damn you!" he yelled raising his middle finger at the group of friends and walking out of the hall with great difficulty. They all laughed louder.
"Nice one Lil!" Remus said through laughter.
"No problem, he's an ass who sticks his nose into other people's business way too much," she said grinning.
The day went as usual. The Marauder's and Lily headed towards Potions with Hufflepuff's. Just as they walked down to the dungeons, they heard the Ravenclaw and Slytherin's head out of Potions. Sirius saw Snape and grinned to himself. He let the other's walk on ahead and then turned to talk to Snape who was just passing by him.
"So Snape, you want to know where my ol' pal Remus goes to every month?" Sirius asked grinning from ear to ear. Snape just glared at him.
"I thought you did. I know a way you could find out what he does, but you have to do something for me," Sirius said.
"I don't trust you Black," he spat.
"I'm hurt, but if you seriously don't want to know, I'll just be off," Sirius stated and started to walk away.
"Wait! Fine tell me what to do and I'll do anything," he said nearly choking out the words, he couldn't believe he was at the mercy of his enemy. Sirius grinned inwardly to himself.
"Ok…before I let you know, you'll be my little 'experiment' for all my pranks." Sirius said. Sape glared daggers at him but agreed.
"Tonight, when everybody is asleep, go to the Whomping Willow. At the base of the tree is a small knot. Prod it with a stick and go through the tunnel," Sirius said patting him on the back.
"Fine." Was all Snape said.
Sirius snickered to himself, all through the explaining, he had managed to give Snape multi-coloured dreadlocks, stick a sign on his back saying 'hex me!' and given him a fluffy pink tail that curled like a pigs. Sirius hurried to catch up with the rest of the group.
"Where've you been?" James asked, eyebrows raised.
"Oh, no where, just had to tie my shoe lace back there," Sirius said innocently.
"Yeah right!" they heard Remus mutter.
That evening, Remus before sunset, Remus headed to Hospital Wing. The Marauder's sat in the common room playing games while Lily read her books. Gradually, the students headed to the dorms until only the Marauder's and Lily were left. James had hid his invisibility cloak in a huge pocket inside his robes; he then peered out the window as Sirius challenged Peter to a game of chess. He frowned as a he saw a figure running across the grounds, it was Snape. What was he doing out? He was a rule-abiding student!
"Sirius? Did you talk to Snape today?" James asked turning to face the boy.
"Yeah, it's amazing how unaware he is of the things around when you're talking to him!" Sirius laughed, remembering the pranks he had played on the boy.
"What exactly did you talk about?" James asked again as Snape kept running.
"Heh! I told him how to make the Whomping Willow still. But he wouldn't dare go near that thing! He follows rules too much!" He said and moved his queen so that he won the game.
"Please tell me you didn't!" James pleaded. Sirius just nodded. James headed towards the portrait hole and ran.
"Where're you going?" Sirius asked confused, his head popping out the portrait hole.
James didn't answer and continued to run. He knew the door would be locked so he used an old passageway that lead to the Hogwarts ground. He crawled through the old tunnel; it had been full of cobwebs and dust. He reached the end and dusted off his robes, he was just outside the Quidditch pitch. He ran through the pitch and looked up at the sky. Clouds partially covered the moon. Good, he hadn't transformed yet! James ran faster, heading towards the wild tree. As he reached it his fears had been confirmed. It had been frozen still and the passageway was open. James peered at the sky again, the clouds had started to move away from the moon. 'Shit!' James thought. He headed through the tunnel, running as fast and quietly as he could. He could've gone faster in his animagus form but he couldn't risk Snape seeing him as a stag. He ran faster and faster and saw Snape ahead and just a few yards in front of him was the door that lead to the Shrieking Shack.
"Snape! Stop!" James called. Snape turned around.
"And just why should I listen to you Potter?" Snape spat, looking at the out of breath boy who he loathed. Who he was envious of because of his Quidditch skills.
"Because your life depends on it!" James managed to say through his gasps for breath. The sound of howling pain could now be heard. It sounded similar to Remus' voice but soon turned into growls of pain. The door opened a few inches, and Snape caught a glimpse of the large creature with black and red eyes, and spiked brown fur.
"Oh…my…god!" Snape whispered. The colour had drained from his face and he seemed rooted to the spot, paralysed in fear. James grabbed his wrist and tugged hard on it.
"Let's go," he whispered angrily and he started to run and drag Snape away. All through out this time, the howls of the werewolf could be heard haunting the place. As they reached the tree, it had already started to swing furiously. 'Sirius and Peter must be out there' James thought. Snape had remained gob-smacked the whole run. The tree froze all of a sudden and James took the opportunity to get out. James silently warned Wormtail and Padfoot to remain in their animagus forms and hide. They hid in nearby bushes.
"I hope you're happy now Snape!" James spat at the boy he had just saved.
"He's a…a…a…" Snape stuttered.
"Yes that's right! A god damned werewolf!" James snarled.
"Holy shit!" Snape cursed in shock, he then grinned.
"I can get that freak out of here, one less bastard in the school!" he started. Anger flashed all over James, he walked up to him and punched him hard on the nose, Snape fell backwards.
"Like hell you will! You're going to keep this all a secret, you asshole! Dumbledore is probably the only wizard that would let him in this school; he won't get in any other school if he's kicked out! And don't you forget that I just saved your poor excuse for a life, and you're in my debt right now! Think of what would have happened if I had not come and dragged you out here! You'd be werewolf bait! You're just an ignorant fucking bastard!!" James yelled at the boy with the bleeding nose. He then dragged him up.
"And if you do tell anyone, I'll make sure your life will be a living hell!" James whispered dangerously to the boy. He then threw him to one side.
"Now leave now, before I kill you right here," James warned pointing his wand at him. Snape got to his feet and ran to the school, once he was out of sight he turned into his animagus form. Wormtail pressed the knot, and the three animagus headed down the tunnel.
The next morning, James was NOT in a good mood, he was a little angry at Sirius for telling Snape about the willow, but he was even angrier at Snape for being stupid enough to actually go down there. He couldn't believe someone could be that thick! Everyone knew well enough to stay away from the Whomping Willow, but Snape just had to know what was happening and be nosy. Dumbledore had spoken to Snape, and he had warned him not to tell anyone. Snape agreed and kept to himself.
That evening, James lay on his bed. He had been exhausted. After the previous night's antics and a day of making sure Snape didn't tell anyone of the incident, he had just collapsed on to his bed. He fell into light sleep, and started dreaming.
He saw himself, it was peaceful night, and quiet, the moon was out and stars littered the sky beautifully. But something troubled him. He looked around and saw the red haired girl he loved so much talking to a stranger. The cloaked stranger held out its hands. Lily looked slightly disgusted at it and shook her head; she started to walk away. The hand now was pointed at her chest, a green light forming at the tip. He felt his eyes widen in shock. He started to run, changing into a stag, running as fast as he could and as silently as he could. He saw how Lily froze in horror, he ran faster and with his antlers, heaved her up onto is back. He started to run as fast as he could, away from the hooded figure that hovered in the air. He saw the green jets of light try to hit him. He ran faster and faster away from it all. He felt his legs getting heavier as he ran, it took a lot of effort to lift his legs, but the school was so near! He had to reach the school; it was safe there! With a last effort, his legs reached the school, as a blinding green light reached them.
James woke up in a cold sweat. What was all that about? He ran a hand through his hair and looked at the clock. It was blurry so he reached for his glasses, it was 3.30am, -'Why are you up? Go back to sleep!' the clock had said- James washed his face and pondered about the dream. But he thought it was more or a premonition.
