Author's rant: Yes, I'm ranting. Well, not really ranting; but anyway. This story will also contain Sirius and Remus, which I have already stated in the first chapter, for those who paid attention. And yes, they're gay. But, in my opinion, it's the *person* that you fall in love with, not the sex. And if you'd just hear me out, I can explain why S/R are adorable together. First of all, their animal forms are so close in nature that it just seems right that they should understand and be close to one another. Secondly, the way Remus acted whenever Sirius was made mention of in PoA. Third they're just such a cute couple^-^. Okay, so maybe that's not a good reason. But you are entitled to your opinions and I to mine, and let's not be mean. Thanx for hearing me out, and on with the story! –Lady Evenstar

Disclaimer: To the demise of myself and advantage of Ms. Rowling, Harry Potter (and all characters not as important) do not belong to me.

James' leg throbbed and his breath rasped in his throat as he sped through Hogwarts' winding hallways. Even though Madam Pomfrey had fully healed his injury, it still needed rest before it would stop hurting. /Hurry…Hurry/ he chanted in his mind as he plunged recklessly onward, knocking over students and tripping on statues. All else was forgotten…his near-obsession with Lily… the agony of the past few weeks… his anger over Snape… in the race to save another student's life. It didn't matter that it was Snape. It didn't matter that he was Lily's boyfriend. He was going to die, be ripped apart by one of James' best friends, if James didn't get there soon.

The exit to the grounds loomed ahead, and fed more adrenaline to James' already accelerated system. /Almost there…/

"James Potter!" cried out Madam Pomfrey's voice from behind him. "What do you think you're doing?!"

But he couldn't stop… not even if Madam Pomfrey did command him to… every second that fled by was crucial…

He was out now, on the grounds, the light of the full moon guiding his way through the grass. The Whomping Willow was there, in front of him…now closer…now closer… Snape was just entering the passage, only inches away…

THWACK! In his haste he forgot to be cautious around the tree. His glasses flew from his face, knocked to the ground by one of the willow's vicious branches. He quickly brought his hands up to his head, and in the process his wand dropped to the ground.

James stumbled backward as another branch thrashed at him, cutting his face. He dropped to his knees, feeling about the ground…his glasses…where were his glasses? And his wand…

The door to the tunnel that led to the Shrieking Shack snapped shut. /There's no time…I'll just forget the glasses, and the wand./

James picked up a stick and aimed as best he could through the blur at the knot of the tree. The branches above his head froze. /At least luck is with me tonight!/

He got up and slipped through the entrance… straight into Snape.

"Snape!" he gasped, grabbing ahold of his arm and tugging "Let's go! Get out of here!"

But Snape was staring, transfixed, at a blurry shape down near the end of the tunnel, at the entrance to the shack. A shape that could only be Remus.

"COME ON!" urged James, tugging ever the harder. A fully transformed werewolf now stood at the end of the passage- and it had caught scent of them.

"Get off me, Potter," mumbled Snape, moving toward the shack as if in a daze.

A terrible snarl shook the passageway, echoing off the cavernous walls. There was deathly silence for a moment, then the sound of four clawed feet pounding down the passage.

Both boys went still and pale for a moment. Then James awoke from his fear and began tugging at Snape again, who was now frozen in not awe but panic.

The feet came ever closer.

"DAMMIT, SNAPE YOU GREAT PRAT! MOVE!!!"

James threw all his weight into pulling, and Snape began to stumble backward.

"That's it…c'mon…"

He pushed and pulled and strained, all the while screaming at Snape to awake from his stupor and *move*.

"Faster, FASTER!" he chanted. He didn't want to think what would happen when the Remus-wolf got ahold of them.

The werewolf was almost upon them now- there wasn't any time left. James felt desperation and regret sneak up on him. He shouldn't have come. He should have just left Snape to his fate…now Snape's fate was James'. They were going to die…

He looked up and rejoiced. The entrance was right there, the ticket to freedom. Just a few more inches…

A chilling howl reverberated in the tunnel, much louder and closer this time than the snarl had been. In fact, right behind them.

James leapt into action. He shoved Snape with all his might through the opening and jumped after him. But not quite fast enough. A pair of terrifyingly powerful jaws seized the leg of his pants. "No!" he gasped, clawing at the ground outside as he was dragged against his will back into the passage. In his blind flailing his hand came upon something slender and smooth. His wand! He turned and cried out with all the power in his soul "STUPEFY!" The spell did not knock the werewolf unconscious, but it did stun him for a moment… and that moment was all James needed. He yanked his pant leg from Remus' mouth, tearing the fabric, and slammed shut the door.

*****************

Lily kept up with James as best she could, but the farther they went she found herself falling more and more behind. She was not as fast as he was, nor as in shape from years of playing Quidditch. But she continued doggedly onward, unwilling to abandon him to danger, especially when he had just recently been wounded.

Lily made it to the exit to the grounds, and slumped against the arch, panting for breath. Her mind wandered over the past few weeks. She knew that James had been completely miserable; but for her it had been ten times worse. Not only did she ache for James with all her heart, but she was made to put up with Snape doting on her, too. 'Sit at my table, my dear,' or 'I hope you had a good time?'. But the worst was: 'Why don't we go up to my room…it's empty…' She shuddered in revulsion.

And during those times, how she had yearned to be back, safe and warm, in James' arms. The yearning had festered and become a fierce ache inside of her, especially when she was around him. But being the strong person that she was, she buried it deep inside of her soul and let it out only to cry at night.

Lily took in a deep breath and pushed the thoughts from her mind, steeling herself for the rest of the journey down to the willow.

The sight that met her made her heart catch in her throat. Snape was lying, pale and shocked, on the ground and James… was being dragged by a wolf into a tunnel. Lily tried to scream, but couldn't find her voice. No, this couldn't be happening… she couldn't lose him! She had so much to tell him… so much to make up for. Even as she prepared for the worst, James flipped over and cursed the wolf. It stumbled, and he slammed a door in its face. As she watched him slump to the ground, she felt her knees go weak, too. /Thank God… he's made it!/

She hurried over to the willow and knelt beside James. "Are you alright?" she murmured, stroking a hand across his forehead and brushing away his sweaty bangs from his eyes. As she looked down upon his face, she swore to herself that she would never, ever be with anyone besides him again.

He blinked up at her "Lily?"

She nodded.

"Oh. I'm fine… just a little exhausted."

She picked his glasses up off the ground and slid them over his eyes. "James…" she sighed. "I love you, you daft, daft man. Giving me heart attacks. Why are you always so righteous?"

He chuckled. "Part of my nature, I guess." He hesitated. "Did you just say you loved me?"

She smiled gently and nodded. "I do, and I'm so sorry James," her eyes began to sting. "I'm sorry, for putting you through all of this. I should have just said no. I should have said no…"

He gathered her into his arms. "It's alright…it'll be fine, Lily. You did what you thought was right, and I can't be upset at you for that. But from now on, we'll be together, and I'll take care of you Lily. I'll take care of you."

"You!" cried Snape, finally waking up enough from his stupor to fully comprehend what had happened, "You did this! You and your little friends almost got me killed, Potter!"

"What?" said James, spinning around to face Snape "I just saved you!"

"Only because you wanted to save your own ass," spat Snape. "I suppose you thought it would be so funny… let's trick Severus into getting himself killed! That'll be a laugh! And then take his girl!"

Lily was fuming. "Didn't you just see what happened? Or are you blind?"

Snape looked at her, shocked. "What?"

"He almost ! He was almost eaten alive! Apparently saving you!"

"He…I…" sputtered Snape.

"You could at least have the decency to thank him!" she cried, on a roll.

"Thank him!" yelled Snape, finally finding his voice "Why should I thank him! If his *best friend* hadn't tricked me into it in the first place, this never would have happened!"

"He didn't have to save you!" she yelled.

"Why are you *so* concerned for him anyway! In case you've forgotten, *I'm* your boyfriend!"

"Not anymore," she hissed.

"What?" growled Snape.

"I SAID NOT ANYMORE! I've had it! I've. Had. It. I am *not* your girlfriend… oh no… in fact, in fact…I HATE YOU! I am not your girl, and I NEVER will be… no matter what you hold against me."

"Lily…" cooed Snape, edging closer to her.

"Don't come near me!"

"You're just upset… let's talk…"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M UPSET ABOUT? YOU INCONSIDERATE JERK! WE'RE PAST TALKING! I am not some prize to be won, Severus… James knows that. And he LOVES me, truly loves me. He treats me as a PERSON. He would never threaten me and hold me against my will."

"She obviously doesn't like you, Snake, so why don't you do us all a favor and get lost?" said James in a wry voice behind her.

Snape was visibly fuming. "SHUT UP POTTER! No one asked *you*. And do you know what? I'm glad that werewolf almost caught you! What a fate for James Potter… to be torn apart by one of his own cronies!"

This was the last straw for Lily. Burning with rage, she dashed from her spot beside James and slapped Snape, hard, across the face.

"Well, Ms. Evans, I couldn't say that I would ever expect this kind of behavior from you." said an amused voice from behind them.

"Dumbledore!" gasped Lily, her face turning bright red.

Dumbledore was standing by the willow, along with Madam Pomfrey, Mundungus, Arabella, and a chagrined looking Sirius.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd all come with me. We need to have a talk."

*****************

A few hours later, Madam Pomfrey, Sirius, James and Snape were the only few left in Dumbledore's office. Sirius glanced around curiously. It was the first time he had been there, surprisingly, in all seven years he had attended Hogwarts.

"You are not to tell anyone of what you saw tonight, understood?"

Dumbledore was now staring pointedly at Snape. Sirius watched as Snape reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Sirius reviewed the last few hours in his mind. As soon as James and Lily had left, the rest also planned and leapt into action. Sirius had run to Dumbledore, to turn himself in, and get him to come down and help. Arabella went to fetch Madam Pomfrey, and Mundungus had rushed outside to give a hand in case something happened (but by the time he got there it was all over). The two also now knew about Remus' condition, but Sirius decided that there weren't finer people to be allowed in on the secret.

"As for you, Mr.Black," said Dumbledore, turning twinkling blue eyes to Sirius, "I trust that you have learned your lesson?"

Sirius nodded his assent, too.

"Being as it may, you'll still have to serve some hefty detention."

Sirius sighed. Another day of helping Filch clean. Great.

He deserved it, however. Though it would have been funny to see Snape get punished for his nosiness, he hadn't thought the whole thing through. He hadn't realized how many of his friends it would have hurt. Having James sacrifice himself had been a major reality check for him, and made him turn himself in after James left that night. Now Sirius was truly sorry.

"However, there is still one thing that I am curious about, if you wouldn't mind answering a question?"

Sirius felt his breath hitch. What was it Dumbledore was going to ask?

"I'd like to know how you ever figured out the way to get past the willow, yourself."

Oh no. He couldn't tell Dumbledore that Remus had told him. Remus would be expelled, for sure… and everything that Remus had come to love would be ripped away from him. Remus had been talking with Sirius, once, during their third year, about how he had never been treated so kindly anywhere as in Hogwarts, and how lucky he was to have friends like them. Yeah, some friend he was.

Dumbledore must have spotted the look in his eye just then, because he relented.

"We'll talk about this later, with Remus present, then."

Remus. How could he ever face him again?

*****************

Remus moaned and opened his eyes, crying out as the bright morning sun furthered the splitting pain in his head. He groaned and sat up, inspecting the wounds he had inflicted on himself the night before. It was pretty bad. Blood seeped through numerous bites on his arms, legs and torso. A particularly large gash made a line from his right shoulder to his left side.

He remembered being in a particular rage last night… the reason he was in such a bad state. But why? Remus frowned in concentration, probing his memory and forcing the wolf to cooperate. Humans. There had been humans, here, last night. However, they had gotten away. But who? The wolf could come up with no answers to that question, since it did not have the ability to identify faces. All he remembered was being terribly disappointed when they had managed to get away.

Remus heard Madam Pomfrey's heels clicking on the wooden floor of the downstairs of the shack. He struggled in vain to make himself look more decent.

"Oh my, dear, it was a bad one last night, wasn't it?" she asked as she entered. Her tone, though, was strangely guarded and tense, which made Remus wonder.

"Do you know what happened… last night, I mean?"

She eyed him suspiciously for a moment, before kneeling beside him. "Nothing for you to worry about," she quipped, dressing his wounds.

Remus was now sure that something was up, something that involved him. He wanted to press Pomfrey further, but found his eyelids were becoming strangely heavy, and his thoughts were deteriorating toward a dreamlike state.

"Well, then," said Madam Pomfrey, standing again, "let's get you back to the hospital wing, shall we?"

Remus struggled to his feet, but his knees gave out beneath him. He shut his eyes and braced himself for the fall, but it never came. "Sirius!" he sighed.

Sirius' strong, warm arms were encircling him, bracing him and holding him up. Madam Pomfrey was staring daggers.

"You're already in enough trouble, Mr. Black- what are you doing here?"

Sirius stared sheepishly up at her. "I thought you might need some help- taking care of him, you know. I thought maybe I could redeem myself a little?"

Her gaze softened a bit. "I suppose you could help him back to the hospital wing, if you would."

Sirius shifted Remus, so that one of his arms was about Remus' waist, and Remus' arm was thrown across his shoulders.

"Redeem yourself for what?" murmured Remus.

"Don't worry about it just now," said Sirius, squeezing his waist for a second.

Sirius helped Remus the rest of the way back to the hospital wing, and laid him gently down onto a bed.

The last thing Remus remembered before dropping off to sleep was Sirius' voice, muffled in his hair.

"I'm sorry."

To be continued…