A/N: This is what I think likely happened when Sirius tried to get Snape killed by telling him how to get near Lupin under a full moon. Set in Marauder's/MWPP era, in their 6th year. Lily's POV.
I thought this was one piece of history that needed some filling in. I hope I'm accurately representing the characters and their (possible) relationships at this time. Please read and review.
I should also note that I've done a slight tweaking of The Most Ancient and Noble Black Family Tree. So I guess the story now falls under the category of A/U (alternate universe). But it doesn't widely affect the plot, and it is only a minor character (who I'm starting to quite enjoy writing!) that gets tweaked into the story, so I hope I am right in believing that the purists will forgive me? ;-)
btw, I'm moving this weekend so don't expect anything until next week at the very earliest. *hugs* to all the readers!
PS. you know...I think there IS something in chocolate that makes a person feel better. Maybe it's just the sugar and caffiene.
-----------------------------------
He looked pale and grim, and his hair was even more messed up than usual.
A wave of relief swept over Lily. Safe.
All three of them stared at James, expecting him to say something. James, however said nothing, but simply walked over to the couch, and sat down heavily next to Peter.
"Well?" started Tibby. "Aren't you going to tell us what happened?!"
James sighed. "Snape's fine. Close call, though." he said, leaning to rest his head on the sofa's back.
"How close?" asked Peter.
"He was in the tunnel before I reached him." said James, his eyes closed. "Moon -- Remus had already transformed but was at the far end of the tunnel. I grabbed Snape and we got out before Remus sensed us there. If Snape had gone further into the tunnel, it would have been too late, I think." James still sounded as though something was really wrong.
"Well it's all right then, isn't it?" said Lily. "Nobody was hurt."
James eyes opened and he sat up straight to look at Lily. "It's not all right. Snape saw Remus in werewolf form." Bitterness was strong in his voice.
Peter groaned.
"Well, Dumbledore'll make Snape promise not to tell anyone, right? And then it'll be fine." said Tibby.
"You don't understand. You didn't see Snape. He's been trying to figure out where Remus goes every month for ages. Not only will he want to tell everyone about Remus so that he can get revenge on him -- and all of us, in a way -- but he's frurious. He kept calling Sirius a -- a murderer. We were yelling and arguing and not far away from duelling when Dumbledore showed up. He was still trying to calm Snape downstairs when I left them. And -- oh. By the way, Dumbledore wants to see us all in his office after class tomorrow."
"Snivelly's going to go nuts with this information." Said Peter. "It's almost a shame you did rescue him, James."
"How can you say that?!" exclaimed Lily. "Just because you don't get along with him is no reason to want him dead!"
She glanced back at James. At least he had the sense to know that.
"And it seems as though Sirius is almost as good as a murderer, for him to trick Snape like that, knowing he'd go." continued Lily.
"Don't you talk about Sirius like that! He's not a murderer!" snapped James.
Lily was visibly taken aback by this. It's not as though I've never insulted the bunch of them before this. Why is he so upset about it?.
"James," said Tibby admonishingly, "you have to admit, it seems as though Sirius did intend Snape harm. He must have known Snape would try to get past the Whomping Willow."
James leaned back against the sofa again and stared at the ceiling, apparently not wanting to answer her. After a moment he said, "Where is Sirius anyways? Wasn't he in detention with you, Evans?"
"Yes, but McGonagall let Snape and I out earlier. I imagine he's still there, Potter." replied Lily coolly.
Nobody spoke after that, as they sat, apparently all waiting to hear Sirius's side of the story.
Lily sat in one of the armchairs, while James began to pace back and forth in front of the Common Room's big window, occasionally stopping to stare out at the now fully visible moon. The moon looked larger than normal; it was a red-orange colour tonight. A harvest moon. Lily was watching James' dark silhouette against the bright moon when the portrait hole burst open.
"Hello, all!" Sirius strode into the Common Room. "D'you know, James, next time I do something stupid I'm bringing you down with me; that had to be the most boring detention I've ever had." Sirius plunked himself down on the couch beside Peter, and putting his feet on the coffee table, yawned widely.
He then became aware that everyone in the room was staring at him incredulously. "What?" he asked. "Something I said?"