Note: Implied SB/RL slash.
"Not another word out of any of you!" Dumbledore's voice carried raw power. That he had actually raised his voice was an indication of the depths of his anger. It was more than enough to quell the four teens standing in front of him. They were soon joined by Professors McGonagall and Faustus, the heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses.
Conjuring several additional chairs out of thin air, Dumbledore bade them all sit, the boys in a semi-circle in front of his desk and the Professors behind them.
The Headmaster's icy expression seemed to lower the temperature in the entire room. "This is a very grave incident and I wanted the heads of your houses to be present. Professors, I will relay the bare bones of this story. Then I will question the boys to clear up any loose ends. Understood?"
Every head in the room nodded.
"Very well. Earlier this evening, Mr. Black, in a fit of anger, decided to inform Mr. Snape how to get past the Whomping Willow."
"What!?" snapped Professor Faustus in alarm. Dumbledore raised his hand to silence any more outbursts.
"Mr. Snape entered the tunnel and headed towards the Shrieking Shack. In the meantime, Mr. Black informed his friends here of what he had done. They immediately grasped the danger of the situation, so Mr. Pettigrew ran to inform me and Mr. Potter followed Mr. Snape. I arrived at the Willow in time to see Mr. Snape and Mr. Potter climbing out of the tunnel and a very agitated Mr. Black waiting for them."
Dumbledore turned to Sirius. "Mr. Black, *did* you show Mr. Snape how to enter the tunnel?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why?"
Sirius fidgeted in his chair, anger and anxiety clearly at war in his body. "I was furious with him. He's been trailing after Remus for months, always needling him, taunting him. And, the last few days, every time I turned around I seemed to be running into Snape, like he was lurking around waiting for me. He'd drop these hints about Remus and me, our relationship, like it's any of his business. He would spew out all sorts of derogatory things. About Remus. It made me so angry that I wanted to-" Sirius closed his eyes, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. He heaved a calming sigh. "I finally decided it was time to put him in his place. I thought that he probably wouldn't have the nerve to go into the tunnel. But if he did, he 'd hear Remus howling before he got to the Shack, and turn around and come back."
Professor Faustus cleared his throat. "Did I interpret you correctly, Mr. Black? Are you saying that you and Mr. Lupin have a romantic relationship?"
Sirius turned in his chair to look the Potions Professor straight in the eye. "Yes, sir." Eyes gleaming like fire through ice stared at Faustus, waiting for further questions. There were none.
Dumbledore continued his questioning. "So, Mr. Snape, the only reason you went into the tunnel was because Mr. Black challenged you?"
Snape glared, his posture stiff with ill-concealed rage. "Yes, sir. He as good as called me a coward. I wasn't going to take that from anyone, especially from some poof Gryffindor!"
"Stick to the story, Mr. Snape." Leaning back in his chair Dumbledore glanced at the Professors. "What happened when you got to the end of the tunnel and found yourself at the Shrieking Shack?"
Snape, his eyes burning with fury, glowered fiercely at Sirius. He scowled right back. "I found the real Remus Lupin. The werewolf Lupin!"
If he expected to shock anyone into speech, he was unsuccessful. "Continue, please," said Dumbledore. "Was the wolf in the tunnel?"
"No. I found a trap door. I started opening it slowly, but then I heard someone yelling from back inside the tunnel. It was Potter, telling me to get away from the door. I ignored him and pushed the door again." He paused, and his pale skin went even whiter. "It was there. Right on the other side. Waiting. Waiting to attack me. I pushed the door open a bit and suddenly it was there, a huge wolf, snarling and slavering. It lunged at me, but Potter sent a sunburst spell at it, blinding it for a second. It jerked back a bit, so only its head was through the door. The beast struggled, trying to get its shoulders past the door. But, it was still close enough for its jaws to clamp onto my shoulder. It started pulling me through the door. Potter yanked back on my robes and I twisted free. I heard its fangs snap closed. It ripped through my sleeve-"
"He!" Sirius suddenly jumped to his feet. "He! Not 'it!'"
"Mr. Black!" Dumbledore warned loudly. Sirius sank back onto his chair, staring daggers at Snape.
Severus leaned forward to look fully into Sirius' face. "You," he breathed in trembling fury. "You sent me to be murdered by your pet werewolf!"
"Mr. Snape." Dumbledore firmly pushed Snape back to his narrative. "Why did you not attempt to stun or hex the werewolf?"
After an odd pause Snape said, "My wand was in my pocket."
"Rather a blasé way to approach a werewolf, surely?"
Snape looked affronted. "I had no idea Lupin was a werewolf! Not until he attacked me. I used my wand to light my way through the tunnel. Then, when I was ready to open the trap door, I slipped it into my pocket for just a second, so I'd have both hands free."
Dumbledore raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Really? Or was your wand in your pocket because you now had a camera in your hand to take a picture of the wolfish Mr. Lupin?" He pulled something from the pocket of his robe and laid it on the desk. It was a camera. Snape blanched. Dumbledore said gently, "You dropped it when you and Mr. Potter came out of the tunnel. Why did you have your camera with you?"
"Out taking pictures of the full moon?" Sirius asked sarcastically.
"Mr. Black, keep your thoughts to yourself! You are already up to your neck in trouble."
"Yes, Black, just shut up!" Snape's fragile control finally snapped. "Alright, I knew! I figured it out! And I was going to get a picture of your monster! To show everyone and to get him thrown out! He's a...no, *it's* a beast! A filthy, dangerous beast!"
"Silence!" Dumbledore commanded. No one present could remember him ever looking so wrathful. Snape hunched over in his seat, mumbling under his breath. Dumbledore's gaze slowly swept down the row of boys. He looked each teen in the eye for a long moment. Finally, he spoke in quiet but grim tones. "Mr. Pettigrew, you may return to your dorm room. You did nothing wrong tonight. Mr. Potter, neither did you. In fact, in all probability, you saved Mr. Snape's life."
Dumbledore looked sternly at the Slytherin. "Mr. Snape, I have no doubt that you yourself could have used several spells to temporarily stun or distract the wolf and make your escape, had you not been so intent on exposing Mr. Lupin's lycanthropy. The decision to admit Mr. Lupin to Hogwarts was made long ago along with arrangements to protect both him and his fellow students during the full moon. And, until tonight, Mr. Lupin has not endangered anyone. Mr. Snape, I believe your actions were driven in part by your dislike of Mr. Lupin and Mr. Black, and the desire to harm both of them in some way."
The old wizard stared at Snape, who sat unmoving. "I will not punish you for your actions tonight." Snape started, as if the idea of punishment came as a complete surprise. "However, I will do whatever I must to protect Mr. Lupin. He is the unwitting victim of tonight's events and I will not allow the animosity between you and Mr. Black to endanger him. Take heed, Mr. Snape. I know that Mr. Lupin's friends will never betray his secret because they realize what dire consequences would befall him. Therefore, if I discover even the trace of a rumor in this school that says Mr. Lupin is a werewolf, I will know it came from you. If that happens, I will expel you."
"Expel me! On what grounds?"
"I will not stand aside and permit you to ruin Mr. Lupin. I will not have you dictate school policy. I will not allow you to maliciously pry into the private affairs of other students. You are not the arbiter of the rules and regulations here, Mr. Snape. That position is already filled."
His face red, Snape stared down at his feet. His heart lifted and the hint of a smile appeared on his face at the Headmaster's next words.
"As for you, Mr. Black, my first inclination is to call for your expulsion from Hogwarts." James and Peter shot upright in their chairs, their eyes darting anxiously back and forth between Dumbledore's grave face and Sirius' expressionless mask. "However, I wish to discuss your case further with the Professors. Return here tomorrow at 8:00 A.M. and I will inform you of my decision."
After the boys left in sullen silence, the three adults sat quietly, each pondering the evening's events. The Headmaster was the first to break the silence. "Ernst, do you think I've treated Severus unfairly?"
Faustus frowned, which only served to increase the number and depth of his wrinkles. "I'd like to reserve the right to answer that question until you decide what punishment Mr. Black will receive. I certainly agree that Potter and Pettigrew acted correctly tonight and Mr. Lupin was the unknowing victim."
Professor McGonagall spoke up. "Albus, I know I run the risk of being accused of House bias, but I don't think expulsion is the proper sentence for Mr. Black. Certainly he should be severely punished, but I think expulsion would be a dangerous path to take."
"Why is that, Minerva?" Faustus asked, curious about her line of thought.
"If anyone here thinks that expelling Sirius Black, breaking his wand and sending him home will cut short his magical career, then I'd have to believe you've been living in a cave for the past five and a half years. Mr. Black is a very determined young man, with more than his share of deviousness. He will certainly get his hands on a wand somehow, and will continue to use magic. We all know how bright he is, and he possesses power beyond his years. But, he also displays a dangerous impulsiveness that the school, unfortunately, has not always been able to restrain. He still needs guidance and training to handle his talents. I fear that there are very dark days ahead, and I would hate for us to lose someone with his undoubted, if somewhat uncontrolled attributes."
"Yes, Minerva," Dumbledore replied. "I also would hate to lose Sirius. And, indeed, if we cast him out, I agree, he would find a way to obtain a wand. Would he be welcomed by the dark forces that exist out there? Yes, certainly he would. Would he be tempted to join them? I don't think so, but if we make him an outcast."
The Headmaster's ice blue eyes hardened. "However, he has committed a grievously dangerous act. He sent Mr. Snape into that tunnel, knowing full well that a werewolf waited at the end of it. Not only did he put Severus in danger, he also inadvertently risked Mr. Potter as well. And, how do you think Mr. Lupin will feel about this tomorrow? He will discover that he could have been responsible for the injury or death of two people. And he will find out that Sirius was the one who placed those people in danger."
Dumbledore fell silent. The only sound in the room was a slight rustling from the phoenix, Fawkes, shifting on his perch. Professor Faustus finally spoke. "Albus, I'm inclined to agree with Minerva. I believe that expulsion is not the proper punishment for the reasons she's outlined and also for this. Expulsion sends Mr. Black away, effectively removing him from any fall-out from his fellow students over his actions. I'd say keep him here, but levy a heavy punishment on him. I'm sorry, Minerva, but his House has to pay. Then Mr. Black will not only have to deal with the knowledge of what he's done, but will also have to deal with his housemates, who, I'm sure, will be very angry with him."
Dumbledore had been watching this exchange with keen interest. "Minerva, did you know that Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin were.ah.an item?"
She shook her head, her surprise at Sirius' admission still evident.
Dumbledore nodded. "Well, that puts another wrinkle in this situation and gives me one other reason for keeping Sirius here. Lycanthropes mate for life. If Mr. Lupin is in love and not merely in the throes of teenage hormones, then that means he has chosen his life-mate. And if that's the case, sending Sirius away would be a terrible burden for Remus."
The Headmaster rose and paced over to look out his window. The Professors exchanged glances, sensing that Dumbledore was about to render his decision.
"Very well." The Headmaster said briskly, turning to face them. "This is the punishment for Mr. Black. Loss of 500 house points. Dismissal from the Gryffindor Quidditch team for the rest of his tenure here." McGonagall swallowed audibly. "I will simply announce that Mr. Black played a prank on a fellow student that went way beyond the bounds of appropriate behavior. He must remain silent on the matter and offer no further explanations. He must also go to Remus Lupin tomorrow and admit to his actions. Remus can decide for himself how he wants to treat Mr. Black."
"Albus," Faustus interrupted with a worried tone. "I'm concerned by your use of the word 'prank.' The connotation is much too innocent, too child- like. Mr. Black knew the risks when he showed Severus how to enter the tunnel. If we look at this from Severus' point of view, calling it a prank trivializes the danger he was in and totally ignores his feelings in this matter."
Dumbledore thought for a moment, one hand stroking his beard. "I fear, Ernst, that if we give any more weight to our description of these events, it will only cause greater uproar among the student body. I'd prefer that this die down as quickly as possible, for Mr. Lupin's sake. I will have Mr. Black apologize to Mr. Snape.
Faustus snorted. "I doubt that Severus will believe him."
Dumbledore sighed. "Probably not."
"What will you tell Sirius' parents?" Minerva asked.
"I will tell them that his actions placed two students in grave danger. I will also tell them that a third student was unknowingly involved in this, and, as this student needs some protection, no more information will be forthcoming. Sirius can deal with his parents as he sees fit, but, again, with the condition that he must keep Mr. Lupin's condition secret."
Now that he had made his decision, Dumbledore looked much more like his normal self. His tone almost genial, he asked, "Is there anything else either of you would like to add?"
"Let me answer your original question, Albus," said Faustus. "In view of the punishment you're giving Mr. Black, I don't think Mr. Snape has been treated unfairly. He suffers no punishment unless he opens his mouth about Mr. Lupin. However, I doubt he will see it that way right now. Perhaps when some time has passed, he'll realize that Mr. Black's intention was to scare him, not do him physical harm. But, I have my doubts. Severus is not one to let go of a grudge easily. I'm afraid the relationship between him and Mr. Black is nothing short of toxic at this point, and I don't foresee any change for the better."
"We'll have to keep our eyes on both of them." Dumbledore came forward to escort his guests to the door. "Let's call it a night."
~*~*~*~*~*~
His entire body thrummed with pain. Remus opened his eyes in the cold dawn light. He smelled blood. Moving slightly, he felt a ripping sensation along his body where it touched the floor. He realized it was his skin peeling away from the puddles of dried blood beneath him. He barely had the strength to cover himself with his robes before blackness engulfed him.
When he woke again, he was in the comfortable confines of the Hospital. He ached all over. Without the presence of the three Animagi, his transformation had been brutal. Moony had been confused by the loss of his pack. The confusion had rapidly turned to thwarted fury because he had been unable to attack the humans he smelled. He had seen them, had seen humans at the trap door. In his frenzy, he had almost succeeded in capturing one. His prey had been in his jaws, only to wriggle away. He had shrieked his fury as the door banged down, keeping him captive. The preys' yells and shouts had only served to fire his bloodlust. He had hurled himself against barriers. Against doors and walls. And, finally, in manic frustration, he had bitten himself.
Remus squeezed his eyes shut, determined to push away the nausea at what had almost happened. James and Snape should never have been that close. His greatest fears almost came true last night.
"Remus?" asked a soft voice.
Opening his eyes, he saw Sirius sitting on a chair next to the bed. His eyes were as cloudy as a stormy sea. The skin under them was dark with sleeplessness. His smile was sickly and he was pale as death. "We did it. You're safe."
"What's wrong?" Remus rasped. Even his throat hurt. Focusing again on the pale face near him he could see that Sirius didn't look at all well. "What happened? Why did Snape almost get through the trap door?"
Quietly Sirius told him. "Snape *ran* through the tunnel, he was so eager to get proof about you. He had a camera. He dropped it when James hauled him out of the tunnel. Peter saw it and handed it over to Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore brought us all to his office. I told him I never expected Snape to actually go into the tunnel, and that, if he did, he'd run right back out once he heard Moony. Snape was beyond livid. He insisted that I was trying to use you to murder him. You should have seen him, Remus. He was practically foaming at the mouth, raging at me like a crazy person." Sirius smiled without a trace of amusement. He looked defeated in spite of their victory.
"Dumbledore told him that, although he was out of bounds and seeking to ruin you, he wouldn't be punished. However, if your secret is revealed, Dumbledore will assume that either Snape blabbed or he fed enough information to someone else so that they could spill the beans. In either case, Snape will be expelled."
Remus felt a flood of relief. Snape would never risk expulsion. "And you, Sirius? What did Dumbledore do to you?"
"I just came from his office. He said last night that he wanted to think about what to do with me but that he was seriously considering expulsion." Remus started in shock.
Sirius shrugged. "I don't know what changed his mind, but he's letting me stay. He's taking 500 points from Gryffindor. I'm off the Quidditch team. And, he's going to give only a bare minimum explanation about what I did to deserve this. I'll have to face everyone in Gryffindor without saying a word about it. I'll just have to take their anger. And, he also decided I'd have to tell you face-to-face what I did last night. I'm sure he thought that would be the worst punishment, having to sit here and tell you I betrayed you."
Sirius' eyes dropped to the floor, as if he was incapable of meeting Remus' gaze. "He's right. If you hadn't known about this, and it happened anyway, I don't know how I would have been able to tell you. And, somehow, even though we were all in on it, I still feel that I betrayed you."
Remus realized that Sirius would have a hard time facing the Gryffindors' anger day after day. And his parents would be deeply troubled by this event. But Remus still had that niggling unease in the pit of his stomach. Something of it showed on his face.
"Remus, are you angry with me? It was worth it, wasn't it? To get Snape to back off?"
"No, I'm not angry. And yes, I guess it was worth it. But.I'm upset over how close...Moony wanted them so much.You know how much that scares me." His eyes squeezed shut and a shudder rippled through his body.
"Remus, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't think Snape would go tearing through the tunnel so quickly."
Remus lay silently, eyes still closed. He whispered, " I could have killed them or."
"But you didn't! No one got hurt, except you. That's my fault, and I'm sorry.Not just for the physical hurt, but for the emotional one, too." Worried at the lack of response, Sirius reached out and grabbed Remus' limp hand. The weary hazel eyes opened to pin Sirius with a look full of such heartbreaking reproach that he got a sudden, horrible vertigo, fearing that he had replaced Snape as Remus' destroyer.
"Remus, you're not at fault. You're innocent. I'm the one to blame."
He received no response. In mounting desperation, Sirius dropped to his knees next to the bed, clutching Remus' hand tight to his chest. "Blame it on me. Get angry with me, yell at me, hit me.but, please, love, don't shut me out. Don't force me away.Please forgive me."
Remus drew in a deep breath, all the while wondering how they had arrived in this barren, desolate wasteland. "This whole plan.It revealed a part of you that.There was something frightening about you, Sirius. When you pulled this plan together, you showed a.a ruthlessness that I've never seen before. The way you outlined everyone's task and set this up was so.cold and calculating. Something bothered me about it and now I realize it was as if you weren't dealing with people. With your friends, your lover. You used us like inanimate tools. I almost believe that designing the perfect plot against Snape became more important than shielding me. That hurts, Sirius. "
The wounded confusion that flooded Sirius' face tore at Remus' heart. "I didn't do this for my own amusement! I did it for you, Remus! I did it to protect you!"
Remus couldn't deal with much more. He knew he wasn't being completely fair, but his feelings were still too raw, as if his skin had been ripped back, exposing all his nerves to the elements. "I know. It's just something that I have to think about. It.surprised me, that's all." Remus closed his eyes once more, not wanting to face his lover's pain. Eventually, he felt Sirius let go of his hand, and hear the rustle of his robes as he stood up.
"My, my, my. Things don't always come out like you plan, do they?" Sirius said softly, hating himself for hurting Remus in his efforts to protect him. "You know, maybe I shouldn't have argued with the Sorting Hat."
Remus looked up at that, puzzled. Sirius smiled bitterly. "The Hat originally wanted to sort me into Slytherin. I guess there's more than a little ruthlessness in me."
Remus' shifted uncomfortably, knowing in his heart that their understanding of each other had changed irrevocably.
Sirius looked down at him, struggling to hide his emotions. "I should let you get some rest." But, then, uncertainly, against his better judgment, his heart compelled him to add, "Unless you want me to stay."
And, Sirius felt it crack when Remus replied, "No, it's best if you leave now."
He walked away, tall and lithe and graceful, but with a defeated droop to his shoulders. Remus watched him go.
END
"Not another word out of any of you!" Dumbledore's voice carried raw power. That he had actually raised his voice was an indication of the depths of his anger. It was more than enough to quell the four teens standing in front of him. They were soon joined by Professors McGonagall and Faustus, the heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses.
Conjuring several additional chairs out of thin air, Dumbledore bade them all sit, the boys in a semi-circle in front of his desk and the Professors behind them.
The Headmaster's icy expression seemed to lower the temperature in the entire room. "This is a very grave incident and I wanted the heads of your houses to be present. Professors, I will relay the bare bones of this story. Then I will question the boys to clear up any loose ends. Understood?"
Every head in the room nodded.
"Very well. Earlier this evening, Mr. Black, in a fit of anger, decided to inform Mr. Snape how to get past the Whomping Willow."
"What!?" snapped Professor Faustus in alarm. Dumbledore raised his hand to silence any more outbursts.
"Mr. Snape entered the tunnel and headed towards the Shrieking Shack. In the meantime, Mr. Black informed his friends here of what he had done. They immediately grasped the danger of the situation, so Mr. Pettigrew ran to inform me and Mr. Potter followed Mr. Snape. I arrived at the Willow in time to see Mr. Snape and Mr. Potter climbing out of the tunnel and a very agitated Mr. Black waiting for them."
Dumbledore turned to Sirius. "Mr. Black, *did* you show Mr. Snape how to enter the tunnel?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why?"
Sirius fidgeted in his chair, anger and anxiety clearly at war in his body. "I was furious with him. He's been trailing after Remus for months, always needling him, taunting him. And, the last few days, every time I turned around I seemed to be running into Snape, like he was lurking around waiting for me. He'd drop these hints about Remus and me, our relationship, like it's any of his business. He would spew out all sorts of derogatory things. About Remus. It made me so angry that I wanted to-" Sirius closed his eyes, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. He heaved a calming sigh. "I finally decided it was time to put him in his place. I thought that he probably wouldn't have the nerve to go into the tunnel. But if he did, he 'd hear Remus howling before he got to the Shack, and turn around and come back."
Professor Faustus cleared his throat. "Did I interpret you correctly, Mr. Black? Are you saying that you and Mr. Lupin have a romantic relationship?"
Sirius turned in his chair to look the Potions Professor straight in the eye. "Yes, sir." Eyes gleaming like fire through ice stared at Faustus, waiting for further questions. There were none.
Dumbledore continued his questioning. "So, Mr. Snape, the only reason you went into the tunnel was because Mr. Black challenged you?"
Snape glared, his posture stiff with ill-concealed rage. "Yes, sir. He as good as called me a coward. I wasn't going to take that from anyone, especially from some poof Gryffindor!"
"Stick to the story, Mr. Snape." Leaning back in his chair Dumbledore glanced at the Professors. "What happened when you got to the end of the tunnel and found yourself at the Shrieking Shack?"
Snape, his eyes burning with fury, glowered fiercely at Sirius. He scowled right back. "I found the real Remus Lupin. The werewolf Lupin!"
If he expected to shock anyone into speech, he was unsuccessful. "Continue, please," said Dumbledore. "Was the wolf in the tunnel?"
"No. I found a trap door. I started opening it slowly, but then I heard someone yelling from back inside the tunnel. It was Potter, telling me to get away from the door. I ignored him and pushed the door again." He paused, and his pale skin went even whiter. "It was there. Right on the other side. Waiting. Waiting to attack me. I pushed the door open a bit and suddenly it was there, a huge wolf, snarling and slavering. It lunged at me, but Potter sent a sunburst spell at it, blinding it for a second. It jerked back a bit, so only its head was through the door. The beast struggled, trying to get its shoulders past the door. But, it was still close enough for its jaws to clamp onto my shoulder. It started pulling me through the door. Potter yanked back on my robes and I twisted free. I heard its fangs snap closed. It ripped through my sleeve-"
"He!" Sirius suddenly jumped to his feet. "He! Not 'it!'"
"Mr. Black!" Dumbledore warned loudly. Sirius sank back onto his chair, staring daggers at Snape.
Severus leaned forward to look fully into Sirius' face. "You," he breathed in trembling fury. "You sent me to be murdered by your pet werewolf!"
"Mr. Snape." Dumbledore firmly pushed Snape back to his narrative. "Why did you not attempt to stun or hex the werewolf?"
After an odd pause Snape said, "My wand was in my pocket."
"Rather a blasé way to approach a werewolf, surely?"
Snape looked affronted. "I had no idea Lupin was a werewolf! Not until he attacked me. I used my wand to light my way through the tunnel. Then, when I was ready to open the trap door, I slipped it into my pocket for just a second, so I'd have both hands free."
Dumbledore raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Really? Or was your wand in your pocket because you now had a camera in your hand to take a picture of the wolfish Mr. Lupin?" He pulled something from the pocket of his robe and laid it on the desk. It was a camera. Snape blanched. Dumbledore said gently, "You dropped it when you and Mr. Potter came out of the tunnel. Why did you have your camera with you?"
"Out taking pictures of the full moon?" Sirius asked sarcastically.
"Mr. Black, keep your thoughts to yourself! You are already up to your neck in trouble."
"Yes, Black, just shut up!" Snape's fragile control finally snapped. "Alright, I knew! I figured it out! And I was going to get a picture of your monster! To show everyone and to get him thrown out! He's a...no, *it's* a beast! A filthy, dangerous beast!"
"Silence!" Dumbledore commanded. No one present could remember him ever looking so wrathful. Snape hunched over in his seat, mumbling under his breath. Dumbledore's gaze slowly swept down the row of boys. He looked each teen in the eye for a long moment. Finally, he spoke in quiet but grim tones. "Mr. Pettigrew, you may return to your dorm room. You did nothing wrong tonight. Mr. Potter, neither did you. In fact, in all probability, you saved Mr. Snape's life."
Dumbledore looked sternly at the Slytherin. "Mr. Snape, I have no doubt that you yourself could have used several spells to temporarily stun or distract the wolf and make your escape, had you not been so intent on exposing Mr. Lupin's lycanthropy. The decision to admit Mr. Lupin to Hogwarts was made long ago along with arrangements to protect both him and his fellow students during the full moon. And, until tonight, Mr. Lupin has not endangered anyone. Mr. Snape, I believe your actions were driven in part by your dislike of Mr. Lupin and Mr. Black, and the desire to harm both of them in some way."
The old wizard stared at Snape, who sat unmoving. "I will not punish you for your actions tonight." Snape started, as if the idea of punishment came as a complete surprise. "However, I will do whatever I must to protect Mr. Lupin. He is the unwitting victim of tonight's events and I will not allow the animosity between you and Mr. Black to endanger him. Take heed, Mr. Snape. I know that Mr. Lupin's friends will never betray his secret because they realize what dire consequences would befall him. Therefore, if I discover even the trace of a rumor in this school that says Mr. Lupin is a werewolf, I will know it came from you. If that happens, I will expel you."
"Expel me! On what grounds?"
"I will not stand aside and permit you to ruin Mr. Lupin. I will not have you dictate school policy. I will not allow you to maliciously pry into the private affairs of other students. You are not the arbiter of the rules and regulations here, Mr. Snape. That position is already filled."
His face red, Snape stared down at his feet. His heart lifted and the hint of a smile appeared on his face at the Headmaster's next words.
"As for you, Mr. Black, my first inclination is to call for your expulsion from Hogwarts." James and Peter shot upright in their chairs, their eyes darting anxiously back and forth between Dumbledore's grave face and Sirius' expressionless mask. "However, I wish to discuss your case further with the Professors. Return here tomorrow at 8:00 A.M. and I will inform you of my decision."
After the boys left in sullen silence, the three adults sat quietly, each pondering the evening's events. The Headmaster was the first to break the silence. "Ernst, do you think I've treated Severus unfairly?"
Faustus frowned, which only served to increase the number and depth of his wrinkles. "I'd like to reserve the right to answer that question until you decide what punishment Mr. Black will receive. I certainly agree that Potter and Pettigrew acted correctly tonight and Mr. Lupin was the unknowing victim."
Professor McGonagall spoke up. "Albus, I know I run the risk of being accused of House bias, but I don't think expulsion is the proper sentence for Mr. Black. Certainly he should be severely punished, but I think expulsion would be a dangerous path to take."
"Why is that, Minerva?" Faustus asked, curious about her line of thought.
"If anyone here thinks that expelling Sirius Black, breaking his wand and sending him home will cut short his magical career, then I'd have to believe you've been living in a cave for the past five and a half years. Mr. Black is a very determined young man, with more than his share of deviousness. He will certainly get his hands on a wand somehow, and will continue to use magic. We all know how bright he is, and he possesses power beyond his years. But, he also displays a dangerous impulsiveness that the school, unfortunately, has not always been able to restrain. He still needs guidance and training to handle his talents. I fear that there are very dark days ahead, and I would hate for us to lose someone with his undoubted, if somewhat uncontrolled attributes."
"Yes, Minerva," Dumbledore replied. "I also would hate to lose Sirius. And, indeed, if we cast him out, I agree, he would find a way to obtain a wand. Would he be welcomed by the dark forces that exist out there? Yes, certainly he would. Would he be tempted to join them? I don't think so, but if we make him an outcast."
The Headmaster's ice blue eyes hardened. "However, he has committed a grievously dangerous act. He sent Mr. Snape into that tunnel, knowing full well that a werewolf waited at the end of it. Not only did he put Severus in danger, he also inadvertently risked Mr. Potter as well. And, how do you think Mr. Lupin will feel about this tomorrow? He will discover that he could have been responsible for the injury or death of two people. And he will find out that Sirius was the one who placed those people in danger."
Dumbledore fell silent. The only sound in the room was a slight rustling from the phoenix, Fawkes, shifting on his perch. Professor Faustus finally spoke. "Albus, I'm inclined to agree with Minerva. I believe that expulsion is not the proper punishment for the reasons she's outlined and also for this. Expulsion sends Mr. Black away, effectively removing him from any fall-out from his fellow students over his actions. I'd say keep him here, but levy a heavy punishment on him. I'm sorry, Minerva, but his House has to pay. Then Mr. Black will not only have to deal with the knowledge of what he's done, but will also have to deal with his housemates, who, I'm sure, will be very angry with him."
Dumbledore had been watching this exchange with keen interest. "Minerva, did you know that Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin were.ah.an item?"
She shook her head, her surprise at Sirius' admission still evident.
Dumbledore nodded. "Well, that puts another wrinkle in this situation and gives me one other reason for keeping Sirius here. Lycanthropes mate for life. If Mr. Lupin is in love and not merely in the throes of teenage hormones, then that means he has chosen his life-mate. And if that's the case, sending Sirius away would be a terrible burden for Remus."
The Headmaster rose and paced over to look out his window. The Professors exchanged glances, sensing that Dumbledore was about to render his decision.
"Very well." The Headmaster said briskly, turning to face them. "This is the punishment for Mr. Black. Loss of 500 house points. Dismissal from the Gryffindor Quidditch team for the rest of his tenure here." McGonagall swallowed audibly. "I will simply announce that Mr. Black played a prank on a fellow student that went way beyond the bounds of appropriate behavior. He must remain silent on the matter and offer no further explanations. He must also go to Remus Lupin tomorrow and admit to his actions. Remus can decide for himself how he wants to treat Mr. Black."
"Albus," Faustus interrupted with a worried tone. "I'm concerned by your use of the word 'prank.' The connotation is much too innocent, too child- like. Mr. Black knew the risks when he showed Severus how to enter the tunnel. If we look at this from Severus' point of view, calling it a prank trivializes the danger he was in and totally ignores his feelings in this matter."
Dumbledore thought for a moment, one hand stroking his beard. "I fear, Ernst, that if we give any more weight to our description of these events, it will only cause greater uproar among the student body. I'd prefer that this die down as quickly as possible, for Mr. Lupin's sake. I will have Mr. Black apologize to Mr. Snape.
Faustus snorted. "I doubt that Severus will believe him."
Dumbledore sighed. "Probably not."
"What will you tell Sirius' parents?" Minerva asked.
"I will tell them that his actions placed two students in grave danger. I will also tell them that a third student was unknowingly involved in this, and, as this student needs some protection, no more information will be forthcoming. Sirius can deal with his parents as he sees fit, but, again, with the condition that he must keep Mr. Lupin's condition secret."
Now that he had made his decision, Dumbledore looked much more like his normal self. His tone almost genial, he asked, "Is there anything else either of you would like to add?"
"Let me answer your original question, Albus," said Faustus. "In view of the punishment you're giving Mr. Black, I don't think Mr. Snape has been treated unfairly. He suffers no punishment unless he opens his mouth about Mr. Lupin. However, I doubt he will see it that way right now. Perhaps when some time has passed, he'll realize that Mr. Black's intention was to scare him, not do him physical harm. But, I have my doubts. Severus is not one to let go of a grudge easily. I'm afraid the relationship between him and Mr. Black is nothing short of toxic at this point, and I don't foresee any change for the better."
"We'll have to keep our eyes on both of them." Dumbledore came forward to escort his guests to the door. "Let's call it a night."
~*~*~*~*~*~
His entire body thrummed with pain. Remus opened his eyes in the cold dawn light. He smelled blood. Moving slightly, he felt a ripping sensation along his body where it touched the floor. He realized it was his skin peeling away from the puddles of dried blood beneath him. He barely had the strength to cover himself with his robes before blackness engulfed him.
When he woke again, he was in the comfortable confines of the Hospital. He ached all over. Without the presence of the three Animagi, his transformation had been brutal. Moony had been confused by the loss of his pack. The confusion had rapidly turned to thwarted fury because he had been unable to attack the humans he smelled. He had seen them, had seen humans at the trap door. In his frenzy, he had almost succeeded in capturing one. His prey had been in his jaws, only to wriggle away. He had shrieked his fury as the door banged down, keeping him captive. The preys' yells and shouts had only served to fire his bloodlust. He had hurled himself against barriers. Against doors and walls. And, finally, in manic frustration, he had bitten himself.
Remus squeezed his eyes shut, determined to push away the nausea at what had almost happened. James and Snape should never have been that close. His greatest fears almost came true last night.
"Remus?" asked a soft voice.
Opening his eyes, he saw Sirius sitting on a chair next to the bed. His eyes were as cloudy as a stormy sea. The skin under them was dark with sleeplessness. His smile was sickly and he was pale as death. "We did it. You're safe."
"What's wrong?" Remus rasped. Even his throat hurt. Focusing again on the pale face near him he could see that Sirius didn't look at all well. "What happened? Why did Snape almost get through the trap door?"
Quietly Sirius told him. "Snape *ran* through the tunnel, he was so eager to get proof about you. He had a camera. He dropped it when James hauled him out of the tunnel. Peter saw it and handed it over to Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore brought us all to his office. I told him I never expected Snape to actually go into the tunnel, and that, if he did, he'd run right back out once he heard Moony. Snape was beyond livid. He insisted that I was trying to use you to murder him. You should have seen him, Remus. He was practically foaming at the mouth, raging at me like a crazy person." Sirius smiled without a trace of amusement. He looked defeated in spite of their victory.
"Dumbledore told him that, although he was out of bounds and seeking to ruin you, he wouldn't be punished. However, if your secret is revealed, Dumbledore will assume that either Snape blabbed or he fed enough information to someone else so that they could spill the beans. In either case, Snape will be expelled."
Remus felt a flood of relief. Snape would never risk expulsion. "And you, Sirius? What did Dumbledore do to you?"
"I just came from his office. He said last night that he wanted to think about what to do with me but that he was seriously considering expulsion." Remus started in shock.
Sirius shrugged. "I don't know what changed his mind, but he's letting me stay. He's taking 500 points from Gryffindor. I'm off the Quidditch team. And, he's going to give only a bare minimum explanation about what I did to deserve this. I'll have to face everyone in Gryffindor without saying a word about it. I'll just have to take their anger. And, he also decided I'd have to tell you face-to-face what I did last night. I'm sure he thought that would be the worst punishment, having to sit here and tell you I betrayed you."
Sirius' eyes dropped to the floor, as if he was incapable of meeting Remus' gaze. "He's right. If you hadn't known about this, and it happened anyway, I don't know how I would have been able to tell you. And, somehow, even though we were all in on it, I still feel that I betrayed you."
Remus realized that Sirius would have a hard time facing the Gryffindors' anger day after day. And his parents would be deeply troubled by this event. But Remus still had that niggling unease in the pit of his stomach. Something of it showed on his face.
"Remus, are you angry with me? It was worth it, wasn't it? To get Snape to back off?"
"No, I'm not angry. And yes, I guess it was worth it. But.I'm upset over how close...Moony wanted them so much.You know how much that scares me." His eyes squeezed shut and a shudder rippled through his body.
"Remus, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't think Snape would go tearing through the tunnel so quickly."
Remus lay silently, eyes still closed. He whispered, " I could have killed them or."
"But you didn't! No one got hurt, except you. That's my fault, and I'm sorry.Not just for the physical hurt, but for the emotional one, too." Worried at the lack of response, Sirius reached out and grabbed Remus' limp hand. The weary hazel eyes opened to pin Sirius with a look full of such heartbreaking reproach that he got a sudden, horrible vertigo, fearing that he had replaced Snape as Remus' destroyer.
"Remus, you're not at fault. You're innocent. I'm the one to blame."
He received no response. In mounting desperation, Sirius dropped to his knees next to the bed, clutching Remus' hand tight to his chest. "Blame it on me. Get angry with me, yell at me, hit me.but, please, love, don't shut me out. Don't force me away.Please forgive me."
Remus drew in a deep breath, all the while wondering how they had arrived in this barren, desolate wasteland. "This whole plan.It revealed a part of you that.There was something frightening about you, Sirius. When you pulled this plan together, you showed a.a ruthlessness that I've never seen before. The way you outlined everyone's task and set this up was so.cold and calculating. Something bothered me about it and now I realize it was as if you weren't dealing with people. With your friends, your lover. You used us like inanimate tools. I almost believe that designing the perfect plot against Snape became more important than shielding me. That hurts, Sirius. "
The wounded confusion that flooded Sirius' face tore at Remus' heart. "I didn't do this for my own amusement! I did it for you, Remus! I did it to protect you!"
Remus couldn't deal with much more. He knew he wasn't being completely fair, but his feelings were still too raw, as if his skin had been ripped back, exposing all his nerves to the elements. "I know. It's just something that I have to think about. It.surprised me, that's all." Remus closed his eyes once more, not wanting to face his lover's pain. Eventually, he felt Sirius let go of his hand, and hear the rustle of his robes as he stood up.
"My, my, my. Things don't always come out like you plan, do they?" Sirius said softly, hating himself for hurting Remus in his efforts to protect him. "You know, maybe I shouldn't have argued with the Sorting Hat."
Remus looked up at that, puzzled. Sirius smiled bitterly. "The Hat originally wanted to sort me into Slytherin. I guess there's more than a little ruthlessness in me."
Remus' shifted uncomfortably, knowing in his heart that their understanding of each other had changed irrevocably.
Sirius looked down at him, struggling to hide his emotions. "I should let you get some rest." But, then, uncertainly, against his better judgment, his heart compelled him to add, "Unless you want me to stay."
And, Sirius felt it crack when Remus replied, "No, it's best if you leave now."
He walked away, tall and lithe and graceful, but with a defeated droop to his shoulders. Remus watched him go.
END