Chapter Eighteen: The Bravery of a True Gryffindor

May flew by, with the normal monthly Marauder prank. This time it was just as simple as Dungbombs in Malfoy's and Snape's cups, so when they tried to kiss someone they would have horrid breath.

Later, on the eve of June first, was a full moon. James approached Sirius before they left for their 'fun' with Moony.

"Snape knows?" came a voice, Peter's.

"WHAT?!" said James, a bit loud from the corner.

"I told Snape just to prod the knot on the tree! He's going to get himself killed!" said Sirius happily.

"Yeah, and we all want that, but then we'll be expelled! Not to mention if he even gets a GLIMPSE of Moony it'll be all over the school by tomorrow! When is he going?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he's already been hit by the Willow," said Sirius, realising James' point.

"Let's go, we need to get him out of there, or at least STOP HIM from going there," said James, deciding almost immediately what he had to to—they had to stop him.

When James' got outside the school, he saw the Willow attacking someone—and that greasy hair only belonged to one person.

"IMMOBILUS!" shouted James, aiming his wand at the tree. The tree froze as James went over to it, and found Snape with several gushes of blood on his robes etc.

"Lupin is a—a werewolf!" said Snape, trying to hide how frightened he was.

"Yeah, he has been since he was six, now let's get you up to the hospital wing," said James. "Petrificus Totalus!" said James, and Snape fell to the ground in a full-body bind. "Fethartreiw!" he added, and Snape suddenly became the weight of a feather. James grabbed Snape's hand ('Does he ever wash it? This is gross, why am I doing this, I hate Snape, why did I save him?' running through his head), and brought him to Dumbledore's office.

"Butterbeer?" said James hopefully. Having been in Professor Dumbledore's office quite often, he knew where it was and the shortcuts to get there. He just hoped he had the password correct.

But the entrance did not open.

"Fizzing whizbees! Acid pops! Sherbert lemon! Lemon drop! Ice mice! Bertie Bott's Beans! No, he doesn't like them…er…Chocolate Frog!" said James, and suddenly the entrance opened.

"Really? I wasn't serious," said James, walking up the stairs.

"Professor Dumbledore, there's been a bit of a problem," said James. Dumbledore smiled.

"So I see. What happened here?"

"Snape must have seen Mo—Remus going towards the Whomping Willow sometime and wanted to try it himself," said James, conveniently leaving out how Sirius had told him what to do.

"Well, obviously, he wasn't successful. Up you go, Mr. Snape," said Dumbledore, lifting Snape up and magiking a stretcher.

"Madam Pomfrey will take care of him," said Dumbledore. "As for you, Mr. Potter, have a good night's rest." And with that, Dumbledore was back to his work.

"Oh, and Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, sir?"

"You showed true Gryffindor bravery back there saving Mr. Snape. I award Gryffindor house forty points."

"Thank you, Professor. Oh, and—"

But Dumbledore cut him off. "I will inform Mr. Snape of the night's happenings when he wakes. He will be forbidden from telling Mr. Lupin's secret or he will be expelled."

"Thank you, Professor."

"Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, Professor?"

"Care for a lemon drop?"

James chuckled, he had thought for a minute he'd be in trouble.

"No thanks Professor," he said, descending down the stairs.

Chapter Nineteen: The Reactions

James went into the Great Hall for breakfast the following morning

Vanessa and Lily were there. He caught their glances, but once he'd seen their glace they'd turned away.

"Damn it, I was really hoping for something there," said James, smiling.

Later on that evening he caught Lily staring again. 'Why does she keep looking at me?' he wondered.

When Lily had left (looking at James again before leaving), James went over to Vanessa.

"Hey—what's up with Lily? I keep catching her looking at me."

"Dumbledore told everyone at the feast about your bravery, pulling Snape out of that tree. Lily was, to say the least, shocked that you would do such a thing. She keeps looking at you to make sure you don't cause any problems—she may just be thinking about you the way you think about her."

"How did you know—I mean, what would give you that idea?"

"The fact that ever since she blew up in your face last year you've stopped asking her out. Oh, and also the fact that it's painfully obvious—the expression you get when you're around her and all. Also, allow me to quote: 'How did you know?' I'm surprised she hasn't gotten it through her head yet how you feel about her."

"How do you think I could win her over?"

"You really like her don't you?"

"More than I've ever liked a girl before," he said truthfully.

"Well, the year is almost over. Maybe if you matured a bit over the summer," said Vanessa, but James got the drift.

"If I matured and quit being an arrogant toerag?"

"Yeah."

"Is there a chance you'd go out with me over the summer? I could use some help with this maturing thing, and I have liked you a bit…it'll make Sirius jealous of me and Lily jealous of you. Maybe then she'll realize how she likes me."

Vanessa was stunned. She always had had a thing for James, but for Sirius more—and this was definitely a way to make Sirius jealous…and make Lily see how much she liked him.

"Sure. One condition though."

"What is that?"

"No one-night-stand and no sex. Sorry, but I'm not that kinda girl—and nor is Lily."

"Done."

Vanessa smiled and left the room.

'Why does he care so much for Lily?' she wondered.

'Well,' came another voice from the back of her head, 'he loves her. He'll do anything to get her, and if this is how, he'll do it.'

'I'm only doing this to make Sirius jealous and Lily realize how much she likes him underneath her pathetic coverup.'

'No, you like him. You're wasting time. Go back and tell him 'no', you can do better than him.'

'I'm doing this for all four of us—Lily, James, Sirius, and me.'

'Rubbish. You know it.'

"Great, now I'm fighting in my head. I'm going schizofrenic. AAH!" said Vanessa, and then realized who had been beside her the whole time.

"I heard everything downstairs," said Lily.

"Everything?"

"Well, prettymuch everything. You are going out with Potter now, and that you are doing it to get Black jealous. That's all I heard or found important in that conversation."

"Sure, Lils. I'm sleeping. Night."