Chapter 16

"Mr. Black, please follow me." Said Professor Driskill, the head of the Gryffindor house.

Sirius gulped and looked at James. They knew that this was going to happen.

Sirius got up and followed the stern Professor out of the Great Hall and up to the Headmaster's office. No doubt he was already up there.

"Sit." Commanded Professor Driskill.

Sirius sat in the seat across from the headmaster Dumbledore, while the Professor stood to the side.

They waited until soon Professor Dowling came in. He was the head of the Slytherin house, and the Professor that taught Care of Magical Creatures. (The Marauders chose not to take that class for that pacific reason.) With him came Severus Snape.

Sirius sank down in his seat and shut his eyes tight for a second. He thought about what he should tell them about why he told Snape about the tree. Lily had told them all that she wanted no one to know about what happened so she would be rather pissed if he told them the real reason.

"Mr. Black." Said Professor Dumbledore, "I think we all know why you are here this morning."

"Headmaster Dumbledore I…" Sirius started.

"It's not his fault!"

Lily and James burst in.

Professor Dumbledore shifted in his seat.

"Oh yes? And just whose fault is it?"

"Sirius was provoked." Said James.

Professor Dowling spoke up.

"However it happened, nothing could be provoking enough to almost kill another person."

"It sure seemed like it at the time." Mumbled Sirius.

"So what did provoke you Mr. Black?" asked Professor Driskill.

Sirius gulped at looked at Lily. Lily looked over at the menacing Snape. He met her eye, and glowered at her. Lily looked back at Sirius and nodded.

"May I go to the restroom Professor Dowling?" asked Snape.

Professor Dowling looked at Dumbledore, and upon receiving a nod, he said, "I suppose, but come right back as soon as your… adventures are over."

Snape hurried out of the room.

"As you were saying?" said Dumbledore.

Sirius closed his eyes tight and then opened them again.

"Snape tried to rape Lily."

Dumbledore looked up at Lily.

"Is this true."

A single tear slipped out of Lily's eye as she nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me this?" asked Dumbledore.

"She was scared that he would hurt her if she did." Explained James.

"Oh poor dear!" Said Professor Driskill as she came over to comfort Lily.

"I see." Said Dumbledore. "Well." He turned back to Sirius, "Under the circumstances then, you won't be expelled Mr. Black."

Snape cautiously snuck back in.

"You will have two months detention." Dumbledore went on, "With Mr. Snape here."

Sirius let out a sigh of relief that he didn't get expelled while Snape scowled.

Professor Dowling and Professor Driskill nodded in agreement, while James stood up.

"What! You mean Snape isn't going to get expelled! He invaded Lily's personal space! Touched her without permission! It's a criminal offence worth of Azkaban!"

"Show up for your first detention tonight at 7:00 at professor Driskill's classroom." Dumbledore addressed Sirius and Snape, "Every night you will have detention wherever a teacher needs help. And if no one needs help, we will find something else for you two to do."

The two doomed students nodded while James fumed, and Lily tried to calm him while trying to keep her own temper down as well.

"That will be all for now. I suggest you all go to your classes. Lily and James went out, and when Sirius and Severus were going out the door, Dumbledore said something that practically made Sirius' heart break.

"I'm very disappointed in both of you."

"I'm so sorry Lily." Sirius told Lily as they were walking to herbology class.

"For what? I bet I'm more sorry than you." Lily put her arms around both of the black haired guys.

"If it weren't for me you wouldn't have even gone near Snape in the first place. And I'm sorry that you had to tell Dumbledore what happened for me."

"Sirius, it's probably better that he knows. All is forgiven." She reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek, and then she turned to James. "But what I want to know, is why did you tell Snape not to go in? I mean I would think of all people, besides me, you would want him to be dead as chopped ham."

"Are you kidding? I want him gone all right. But I do not want my best friend here to be dead because he was." Replied James.

"Thanks guys." Said Sirius, "I just don't think sometimes. I want to, but my brain just doesn't get it."

"It's fine Sirius." Said both Lily and James.