Chapter 5- Attack on the monster!
It seemed a long time since the Valentines day fiasco. It had in fact been 2 months. The main things being, Andi and Remus' break up. Luckily it had been on mutual terms and neither party had been hurt.
The other was Crystal and Peter had started dating. It was a little funny as neither was that confident around the other. They found it hard to express their feelings to each other. Lily however, seemed to have been accepted as another Marauder.
James was gone so often, the others told him to just bring her along with them. They didn't mind, they all got on with her and she helped with their pranks.
Lily being very good at her charms and thinking up new ideas was always an asset. The only problem with Lily spending so much time with the boys, was she noticed their monthly disappearances and was constantly questioning James about them.
So at the beginning of the Easter holidays, James resolved in asking Remus to tell her. He reassured him that she would be ok with it. Oh how he could be so wrong! Remus, you wanted to see me?" Lily asked entering the empty Griffindor common room. She noted he looked a little peaky.
"Yes, I needed a word with you. You'd best sit down."
"What's wrong? Is it James?"
"No...well sort of. He asked me to tell you. He said you've been noticing our disappearances recently. And that your curious, suspicious even. Well I'm afraid there my fault."
"Why?"
"Well you see, when I was younger, I was bitten by a werewolf." Lily's face grew horror stricken, "So consequently, I am a werewolf." It still hadn't sunk in, what Remus had just said. He reached out and put a hand on her arm for comfort.
"Stay away from me, Werewolf!" She spat harshly and ran off. Remus buried his head in his hands, yet another bad reaction, he thought.
"Don't worry Moony, I'll go talk to her." James had been watching from under his invisibility cloak and had saw what had happened. He scouted the castle for Lily and finally found her in the library. He watched her rock back and forth, her tongue poking out a little. That meant she was thinking.
"Hey." James said. Lily jumped.
"Stay away from me!" She whispered coldly.
"Why?" James asked puzzled.
"You're a werewolf!"
"No I'm not!"
"Why do YOU disappear on a full moon then? See you must be one!"
"I disappear once a month so I can HELP Remus!"
How?"
"Err... we decided that when Remus was gone it was the perfect time to find information on his condition. Anyway you're telling me that if I was a werewolf, you wouldn't go out with me anymore? And now you don't want to be friends with Remus?" She hesitated a little then answered,
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because werewolf's are nasty, evil creatures!"
"And how do you know that?" She sat there in silence, How did she know that? "Let me tell you something, Remus is one of the nicest people I know.
He would never harm anyone intentially, he is smart and can't help the way he is once a month, he was bitten because his parents were irresponsible in letting a four year old gather fire wood, in the forest, late at night!
He didn't know any magic, or even to run. And now he has to pay for it for the rest of his life. When I asked him to help you last year, he didn't judge you because you were a Ravenclaw, or because you were a girl, or because you were Muggle born. All those things you couldn't help, just like he can't help that he is a fully fledged monster once a month. He trusted you enough to tell you, s I suggest you tell him you're ok with it!"
"But James It scares me."
"He has been my friend for 6 years now and I found out in our first year of friendship. I would then and I would still now, trust him with my life."
"I feel so bad, what do I say?"
"Just tell him you're sorry and that you still trust him. That will be the best he can hear."
"James, I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry." He put his arm around her, leading her out of the library. "Allot of people are scared of what they don't understand."
He let her go into the Griffindor common room alone, where she found Remus sitting in the same place, his head still in his hands. She had done this to him. He had trusted her enough to tell her his darkest secret and she had thrown it back in his face. James was right, he wasn't dangerous to her.
"Remus?" She said timidly. He lifted his head, his eyes were bloodshot. "Remus, I'm sorry for the way I acted. I... it's just you shocked me. I know your the same person as I knew before, can you ever forgive me?" He smiled.
"Course I can!" He held out his arms and embraced her in a brotherly hug. James had once again witnessed the whole scene from afar.
"Hey moony, can I have my girlfriend back now?"
"Aww does Prongs want a hug too?"
"U huh!" James nodded eyeing Lily hopefully.
"Ok buddy!" Remus let go of Lily and instead embraced James.
Just then a group of girls came down the stairs from their dormitories.
"Oh my God! It's true! Potter's hugging Lupin!" Both boys jumped apart. Lily was rolling on the floor laughing. Remus had just dug himself and James a very deep hole to lie in. James turned to them.
"Listen I know what you are thinking and I'm not Gay!" The girls looked at him suspiciously. "Why were you hugging him then?" "Cause we were playing truth or dare and I dared him too!" Lily stepped forwards.
"Ow is that so? I'm still not convinced. If your not gay then you wouldn't mind kissing any girl in this room!" "Yes I would be ok!"
"Go on then!" James looked at Lily who did not look too pleased, then at the girls standing before him looking hopeful. He did the only thing he could think of, he kissed Lily, who kissed him back. He pulled away from her, a giant grin on his face.
"Are you two going out?" the ring leader of the girls asked. "So you believe I'm not gay now! And no we're not!" he replied coldly.
"Well you looked pretty cosy!" Another stated. "She's going out with me!" Remus butted in. "WHAT!?" The 3 Griffindor girls, Lily and James said at once.
"I said, Lily is my partner." He signalled to James and Lily to play along. "James isn't with anyone at the moment, because he has a really big crush on this girl, who he can't seem to pluck up the courage to tell!"
"Remus!" James said playing along, "Don't tell them that! It was a secret!" "Ow who is it?" The blonde asked.
"Ah that's for me to know and you to find out! Any way's I have to go now, tell your friends I'm not gay! Remus, Lily come!" Remus and Lily linked hands, waved and followed James through the portrait hole.
Once outside James scowled at his mate, who hastily let go of Lily's hand and James' replaced it. Then let go, realising it was too public a place to show that kind of affection.
But whatever happened, seemed to have convinced the Griffindor seventh years because in next to no time, it had been spread around the school that James wasn't gay and Fancied someone. So naturally all the girls in Hogwarts went out of their ways to look nice and impress him!
So for James life was once again perfect... well almost. He was with Lily, sneaking round was at a minimum now their friends knew, he was away from his father, his sister was safe and happy.
Although, James wasn't happy that she had started dating Timothy Friar, a 7th year Ravenclaw. The only thing Really bothering him, was that since Valentines day he had been getting at least one note a week, from someone who knew about him and Lily.
He had his obvious suspicions but no proof. Sirius was also a little restless about James' notes, no one messed with his best mate! He was truly angry, and you didn't want to see Sirius angry!
So when Sirius was on his way up to the owlery one day, mailing his father, and "Accidentally" knocked Snape down, who was passing, and his letter "Accidentally" fell to the floor. Sirius had to help him pick them up. Co incidentally he found one in similar red ink to the ones used in James' letters. Naturally he was not best impressed.
"What you got here Snapey?" Sirius said surveying The pile of letters which had fallen from Snape's hand. "Ow one to dear old mumsie..."
"Give them back Black!" Snape growled aggressively. "Ow and what's this..." Sirius' face hardened, a look of sheer hate on his face. "Dear Mudblood lover, you disgust me. When your father finds out..." Sirius ripped the letter to shreds, apparently in revoltion.
He looked at the next letter, "Lupin, your up to something, I know you are! I will find out where u disappear to every now and then, you and your little friends.
You will go down I promise!" Sirius looked up from the parchment, his eyes narrowed menacingly. He looked down at the letter then back up at Snape for the first time realising there was something else in his hand.
A potion- which Sirius Snatched away. He examined the labeless bottle, he sniffed the contents. "So you thought that not only would you send my friend threatening notes, but you would also send them an extra little surprise... Undiluted buboter(SP) pus. Which if I am not mistaken can be very harmful to the skin!"
"I err..." Snape stuttered, backing away as Sirius was walking slowly, but very menacingly towards him, fingering his wand.
"You want to know where Remus goes then do you? Your so curious, well maybe I should tell you? Do you think that we deserve that, for you to know? What will you do when you find out? Will you find some sort of way to get us expelled? No doubt you would try.
But maybe little Snivellus would be to so fwitened when he finds out that he has to wun all the way home to mumsie?" "At least I have a mother, Black! Yours fortunately is gone, The world is a much better place with out her if you ask me!" Snape sneered.
This did it for Sirius, it pushed him over the edge. No one criticised his mother and got away with it. Sirius was so mad at Snape he wanted to hurt him, he wanted Snape to wish he had never been born!
"You think you're so smart don't you! Well why don't you follow Remus on the night of the next full moon, he goes under the whomping willow to our secret hide out." He put on a singsong type voice. "All you have to do is prod the knot at the base." He smirked as he walked away, Snape wouldn't be bothering them any longer!
On the night of the full moon, Remus was heading off to the Shrieking shack with Madame Pomfrey, as he always did. Sirius had informed him that the other 3 would be joining him later than usual, as they had some business to attend to before hand. When Remus had left James turned to Sirius,
"What do we have to attend to?" Sirius once again took on the menacing look which had occupied his face so often since the incident he had, had with Snape.
"Well... let's just say, that Mr Moony will get a well deserved meal tonight. And you and Remus will not be getting any more of those nasty notes!" James didn't like the sound of that sentence.
"Meal... Sirius you didn't? No, not even you would be that cruel? Sirius please tell me you didn't send some person, however evil they may be to the shrieking shack tonight?" James pleaded to God that Sirius wouldn't have. But to all the good that did!
"Come on Prongs, you're not telling me you don't think Snape deserves it?" He replied smugly. "Sirius! I can't believe you! No one deserves to be treated like that! Not even Snape, and especially not Remus! What if he attacks Snape? Dumbledore will have to expel him! Oh My Gosh! Sirius, what have you done?"
James went flying out of the common room, down out of Griffindor, through the entrance hall, out into the starry night where a full moon shone brightly. He ran across the grounds to the whomping willow. A long branch was laying at the base. Snape must of already been there. James hoped to God that he was ok. He prodded the knot, effectively freezing the tree and practically dived down the tunnel leading to the shack. Although he was so tall and had to virtually crawl, he still mad it to the end in record speed. And just in the nick of time.
"NO! Snape don't open that door!" He screamed. Snape turned round, nothing but pure hatred stood on his face.
"Ah so it's son of Sir Robert Potter, not only shaming the family by dating the filthy mudblood but also hiding something in an illegal residence. Let's open the trap door shall we? What will we find? Perhaps stolen potion ingredients for making merciful amounts of juvenile prank concoctions, or maybe you use this place to get in to Hogsmeade..."
"Shut up!" James whispered dangerously. If he grew any louder Moony would hear him.
"Hmm.. it seems that I'm on to something, am I then Potter? Where's Black? I wanted to thank him for letting it slip about this place!" Yes James would definitely have to get Sirius for this later, having to beg with Snape did not to be prove fun.
"Snape... Severus, please don't go in there? It's not full of anything which could possibly get anyone expelled, just killed, which I assure you, you will be if you go in there!" But no amount of begging could get Snape to retreat. It seemed a sense of victory and need to get one over on James had taken over.
He flung the trap door open, only to find himself faced with the giant werewolf. He froze standing there as still as the whomping willow had been barely half an hour ago.. James had to grab Snape and run with all the speed he could muster.
Luckily for them Moony was allot bigger and had allot of difficulty fitting down the passage. But that still didn't prevent him from being hungry. James pulled Snape along all the while, hitting both their heads on the very low ceiling numerous times, all the while the growls getting louder. He prodded the tree's knot once more.
Escaping out of the tree a now limp body of a fainted Slytherin behind him. His body now realising it was safe collapsed, barely 5 foot from the willow's branches. And that's where Sirius, Peter and Dumbledore found them, 10 minutes later.
James awoke to a bright light. He blinked a few times and the hazy outline of the hospital wing could be made out. He reached to the side knocking a bowl of fruit flying.
A blurry Somebody dangled his glasses in front of him, knowing him to well to need to ask. He put them on and Sirius stood looking over him, grinning weakly. He sat up.
"What happened?" James asked, his head spinning trying to recall why he was here.
"You don't remember? Oh no, you haven't lost your memory mate have you?"
"Sirius, shut up!" He grinned.
"Phew! err... you went after Snape... ring any bells?" James looked around, Snape was in the bed next to him, he had quite a few minor cuts and bruises, and Remus was in the bed opposite both were asleep.
Peter was also on the foot of James' bed, sitting on a chair asleep. Sirius had awoken by the fruit bowl hitting the floor and had automatically reached for James' glasses and handed them to him. He did this almost everyday.
"Moony didn't bite you or him did he?" Sirius asked worriedly.
"Do I look like I've been bitten?" James replied testily. Sirius looked nauseous.
"Well, not now, but when we brought you in you had loads of cut's and bruises and were beat up pretty bad. Neither Dumbledore or that nurse would tell us anything. James, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for you to get hurt!"
"Sirius, I will be the least of your worries. First there's the fact that Snape now knows about Moony and there's now a very big risk of the school knowing by tomorrow. Secondly, I would be surprised if your not now expelled for almost murdering Snape. But thirdly, the worst thing is that you defied Remus.
You used him to get back at Snape. If he had hurt either Snape or myself, do you know how hard he would've taken it? You know how touchy he is about the whole situation! Sirius... he may not forgive you." James finished.
"Prongs man, you know I didn't mean to get carried away?"
"Yeah, I know." They shared a brotherly hug, just as Remus woke up.
"Hey guys what's up?" Remus yawned. He was used to waking up with his friends surrounding his bed after the full moon. It took him a second however to register the fact that James and indeed Snape were lying in beds also.
"What have I done?" Remus asked quite upset, his worst nightmare about to become a reality. James and Sirius exchanged nervous glances. The Sirius told him the whole story.
"...And James went in after Snape just about managing to pull Snape out the willow. After I had found Dumbledore we went running to the Shack but they were both unconscious on the floor." At this point in the conversation Remus looked horror stricken.
"Look Moony, I know I've been a complete and utter Flobber worm. I didn't think before I acted, and now I'm going to have to pay the consequences. I really really really don't want to loose your friendship. Please please forgive me, I know I should never have used you the way I did.
Please Moony?" Sirius was pleading and begging at the side of Remus' bed. Remus however did not look to impressed.
"Sirius, I... I can't believe you sold me out like that.
When you found out about my problem, I trusted you beyond belief not to tell another soul. But you defied me and I don't know if I can trust you anymore? Sorry." Sirius wished Remus was angry with him and had hit him, or something.
But no this was allot worse. The disappointment in Remus' voice was a punishment far worse and more severe than Sirius had ever received (And that is allot).
"Ok, I understand. I had better leave then." Sirius said and left the hospital wing.
James was silent as he watched Remus begin to rock back and forth talking quietly to himself. Then he started to bang his head carelessly against the head rest, making a sickening thudding noise. It was surprising really how Peter and Snape were still asleep.
James got up quickly, ignoring the dizziness of getting up to quickly, and jumped onto Remus' bed, grabbing hold of his shoulders to prevent him from causing himself further damage.
"Rem... What are you doing?" James asked softly.
"I don't deserve to be here... I don't deserve to be in this school with you...I.. you.. I could have killed you! I don't deserve to live! I'm a disgusting, monster who should be put down!..."
"REMUS! SHUT UP! NEVER EVER TALK LIKE THAT! IT IS NOT TRUE! YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER!" James shouted, his voice softened, "You are smart, kind, funny and deserve every chance anybody else does. Please Remus, don't do this to your self.
Sirius admittedly was a prat, he made a mistake... a hell of a mistake. And yes he does deserve punishment. But he started it in the first place to defend both of us. Snape is such a git he would've found out anyway. Please Remus you deserve more then what you give yourself credit for. Don't do anything stupid." Remus put his head in his hands, once again thinking.
"James... thank you." He simply stated.
It seemed a long time since the Valentines day fiasco. It had in fact been 2 months. The main things being, Andi and Remus' break up. Luckily it had been on mutual terms and neither party had been hurt.
The other was Crystal and Peter had started dating. It was a little funny as neither was that confident around the other. They found it hard to express their feelings to each other. Lily however, seemed to have been accepted as another Marauder.
James was gone so often, the others told him to just bring her along with them. They didn't mind, they all got on with her and she helped with their pranks.
Lily being very good at her charms and thinking up new ideas was always an asset. The only problem with Lily spending so much time with the boys, was she noticed their monthly disappearances and was constantly questioning James about them.
So at the beginning of the Easter holidays, James resolved in asking Remus to tell her. He reassured him that she would be ok with it. Oh how he could be so wrong! Remus, you wanted to see me?" Lily asked entering the empty Griffindor common room. She noted he looked a little peaky.
"Yes, I needed a word with you. You'd best sit down."
"What's wrong? Is it James?"
"No...well sort of. He asked me to tell you. He said you've been noticing our disappearances recently. And that your curious, suspicious even. Well I'm afraid there my fault."
"Why?"
"Well you see, when I was younger, I was bitten by a werewolf." Lily's face grew horror stricken, "So consequently, I am a werewolf." It still hadn't sunk in, what Remus had just said. He reached out and put a hand on her arm for comfort.
"Stay away from me, Werewolf!" She spat harshly and ran off. Remus buried his head in his hands, yet another bad reaction, he thought.
"Don't worry Moony, I'll go talk to her." James had been watching from under his invisibility cloak and had saw what had happened. He scouted the castle for Lily and finally found her in the library. He watched her rock back and forth, her tongue poking out a little. That meant she was thinking.
"Hey." James said. Lily jumped.
"Stay away from me!" She whispered coldly.
"Why?" James asked puzzled.
"You're a werewolf!"
"No I'm not!"
"Why do YOU disappear on a full moon then? See you must be one!"
"I disappear once a month so I can HELP Remus!"
How?"
"Err... we decided that when Remus was gone it was the perfect time to find information on his condition. Anyway you're telling me that if I was a werewolf, you wouldn't go out with me anymore? And now you don't want to be friends with Remus?" She hesitated a little then answered,
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because werewolf's are nasty, evil creatures!"
"And how do you know that?" She sat there in silence, How did she know that? "Let me tell you something, Remus is one of the nicest people I know.
He would never harm anyone intentially, he is smart and can't help the way he is once a month, he was bitten because his parents were irresponsible in letting a four year old gather fire wood, in the forest, late at night!
He didn't know any magic, or even to run. And now he has to pay for it for the rest of his life. When I asked him to help you last year, he didn't judge you because you were a Ravenclaw, or because you were a girl, or because you were Muggle born. All those things you couldn't help, just like he can't help that he is a fully fledged monster once a month. He trusted you enough to tell you, s I suggest you tell him you're ok with it!"
"But James It scares me."
"He has been my friend for 6 years now and I found out in our first year of friendship. I would then and I would still now, trust him with my life."
"I feel so bad, what do I say?"
"Just tell him you're sorry and that you still trust him. That will be the best he can hear."
"James, I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry." He put his arm around her, leading her out of the library. "Allot of people are scared of what they don't understand."
He let her go into the Griffindor common room alone, where she found Remus sitting in the same place, his head still in his hands. She had done this to him. He had trusted her enough to tell her his darkest secret and she had thrown it back in his face. James was right, he wasn't dangerous to her.
"Remus?" She said timidly. He lifted his head, his eyes were bloodshot. "Remus, I'm sorry for the way I acted. I... it's just you shocked me. I know your the same person as I knew before, can you ever forgive me?" He smiled.
"Course I can!" He held out his arms and embraced her in a brotherly hug. James had once again witnessed the whole scene from afar.
"Hey moony, can I have my girlfriend back now?"
"Aww does Prongs want a hug too?"
"U huh!" James nodded eyeing Lily hopefully.
"Ok buddy!" Remus let go of Lily and instead embraced James.
Just then a group of girls came down the stairs from their dormitories.
"Oh my God! It's true! Potter's hugging Lupin!" Both boys jumped apart. Lily was rolling on the floor laughing. Remus had just dug himself and James a very deep hole to lie in. James turned to them.
"Listen I know what you are thinking and I'm not Gay!" The girls looked at him suspiciously. "Why were you hugging him then?" "Cause we were playing truth or dare and I dared him too!" Lily stepped forwards.
"Ow is that so? I'm still not convinced. If your not gay then you wouldn't mind kissing any girl in this room!" "Yes I would be ok!"
"Go on then!" James looked at Lily who did not look too pleased, then at the girls standing before him looking hopeful. He did the only thing he could think of, he kissed Lily, who kissed him back. He pulled away from her, a giant grin on his face.
"Are you two going out?" the ring leader of the girls asked. "So you believe I'm not gay now! And no we're not!" he replied coldly.
"Well you looked pretty cosy!" Another stated. "She's going out with me!" Remus butted in. "WHAT!?" The 3 Griffindor girls, Lily and James said at once.
"I said, Lily is my partner." He signalled to James and Lily to play along. "James isn't with anyone at the moment, because he has a really big crush on this girl, who he can't seem to pluck up the courage to tell!"
"Remus!" James said playing along, "Don't tell them that! It was a secret!" "Ow who is it?" The blonde asked.
"Ah that's for me to know and you to find out! Any way's I have to go now, tell your friends I'm not gay! Remus, Lily come!" Remus and Lily linked hands, waved and followed James through the portrait hole.
Once outside James scowled at his mate, who hastily let go of Lily's hand and James' replaced it. Then let go, realising it was too public a place to show that kind of affection.
But whatever happened, seemed to have convinced the Griffindor seventh years because in next to no time, it had been spread around the school that James wasn't gay and Fancied someone. So naturally all the girls in Hogwarts went out of their ways to look nice and impress him!
So for James life was once again perfect... well almost. He was with Lily, sneaking round was at a minimum now their friends knew, he was away from his father, his sister was safe and happy.
Although, James wasn't happy that she had started dating Timothy Friar, a 7th year Ravenclaw. The only thing Really bothering him, was that since Valentines day he had been getting at least one note a week, from someone who knew about him and Lily.
He had his obvious suspicions but no proof. Sirius was also a little restless about James' notes, no one messed with his best mate! He was truly angry, and you didn't want to see Sirius angry!
So when Sirius was on his way up to the owlery one day, mailing his father, and "Accidentally" knocked Snape down, who was passing, and his letter "Accidentally" fell to the floor. Sirius had to help him pick them up. Co incidentally he found one in similar red ink to the ones used in James' letters. Naturally he was not best impressed.
"What you got here Snapey?" Sirius said surveying The pile of letters which had fallen from Snape's hand. "Ow one to dear old mumsie..."
"Give them back Black!" Snape growled aggressively. "Ow and what's this..." Sirius' face hardened, a look of sheer hate on his face. "Dear Mudblood lover, you disgust me. When your father finds out..." Sirius ripped the letter to shreds, apparently in revoltion.
He looked at the next letter, "Lupin, your up to something, I know you are! I will find out where u disappear to every now and then, you and your little friends.
You will go down I promise!" Sirius looked up from the parchment, his eyes narrowed menacingly. He looked down at the letter then back up at Snape for the first time realising there was something else in his hand.
A potion- which Sirius Snatched away. He examined the labeless bottle, he sniffed the contents. "So you thought that not only would you send my friend threatening notes, but you would also send them an extra little surprise... Undiluted buboter(SP) pus. Which if I am not mistaken can be very harmful to the skin!"
"I err..." Snape stuttered, backing away as Sirius was walking slowly, but very menacingly towards him, fingering his wand.
"You want to know where Remus goes then do you? Your so curious, well maybe I should tell you? Do you think that we deserve that, for you to know? What will you do when you find out? Will you find some sort of way to get us expelled? No doubt you would try.
But maybe little Snivellus would be to so fwitened when he finds out that he has to wun all the way home to mumsie?" "At least I have a mother, Black! Yours fortunately is gone, The world is a much better place with out her if you ask me!" Snape sneered.
This did it for Sirius, it pushed him over the edge. No one criticised his mother and got away with it. Sirius was so mad at Snape he wanted to hurt him, he wanted Snape to wish he had never been born!
"You think you're so smart don't you! Well why don't you follow Remus on the night of the next full moon, he goes under the whomping willow to our secret hide out." He put on a singsong type voice. "All you have to do is prod the knot at the base." He smirked as he walked away, Snape wouldn't be bothering them any longer!
On the night of the full moon, Remus was heading off to the Shrieking shack with Madame Pomfrey, as he always did. Sirius had informed him that the other 3 would be joining him later than usual, as they had some business to attend to before hand. When Remus had left James turned to Sirius,
"What do we have to attend to?" Sirius once again took on the menacing look which had occupied his face so often since the incident he had, had with Snape.
"Well... let's just say, that Mr Moony will get a well deserved meal tonight. And you and Remus will not be getting any more of those nasty notes!" James didn't like the sound of that sentence.
"Meal... Sirius you didn't? No, not even you would be that cruel? Sirius please tell me you didn't send some person, however evil they may be to the shrieking shack tonight?" James pleaded to God that Sirius wouldn't have. But to all the good that did!
"Come on Prongs, you're not telling me you don't think Snape deserves it?" He replied smugly. "Sirius! I can't believe you! No one deserves to be treated like that! Not even Snape, and especially not Remus! What if he attacks Snape? Dumbledore will have to expel him! Oh My Gosh! Sirius, what have you done?"
James went flying out of the common room, down out of Griffindor, through the entrance hall, out into the starry night where a full moon shone brightly. He ran across the grounds to the whomping willow. A long branch was laying at the base. Snape must of already been there. James hoped to God that he was ok. He prodded the knot, effectively freezing the tree and practically dived down the tunnel leading to the shack. Although he was so tall and had to virtually crawl, he still mad it to the end in record speed. And just in the nick of time.
"NO! Snape don't open that door!" He screamed. Snape turned round, nothing but pure hatred stood on his face.
"Ah so it's son of Sir Robert Potter, not only shaming the family by dating the filthy mudblood but also hiding something in an illegal residence. Let's open the trap door shall we? What will we find? Perhaps stolen potion ingredients for making merciful amounts of juvenile prank concoctions, or maybe you use this place to get in to Hogsmeade..."
"Shut up!" James whispered dangerously. If he grew any louder Moony would hear him.
"Hmm.. it seems that I'm on to something, am I then Potter? Where's Black? I wanted to thank him for letting it slip about this place!" Yes James would definitely have to get Sirius for this later, having to beg with Snape did not to be prove fun.
"Snape... Severus, please don't go in there? It's not full of anything which could possibly get anyone expelled, just killed, which I assure you, you will be if you go in there!" But no amount of begging could get Snape to retreat. It seemed a sense of victory and need to get one over on James had taken over.
He flung the trap door open, only to find himself faced with the giant werewolf. He froze standing there as still as the whomping willow had been barely half an hour ago.. James had to grab Snape and run with all the speed he could muster.
Luckily for them Moony was allot bigger and had allot of difficulty fitting down the passage. But that still didn't prevent him from being hungry. James pulled Snape along all the while, hitting both their heads on the very low ceiling numerous times, all the while the growls getting louder. He prodded the tree's knot once more.
Escaping out of the tree a now limp body of a fainted Slytherin behind him. His body now realising it was safe collapsed, barely 5 foot from the willow's branches. And that's where Sirius, Peter and Dumbledore found them, 10 minutes later.
James awoke to a bright light. He blinked a few times and the hazy outline of the hospital wing could be made out. He reached to the side knocking a bowl of fruit flying.
A blurry Somebody dangled his glasses in front of him, knowing him to well to need to ask. He put them on and Sirius stood looking over him, grinning weakly. He sat up.
"What happened?" James asked, his head spinning trying to recall why he was here.
"You don't remember? Oh no, you haven't lost your memory mate have you?"
"Sirius, shut up!" He grinned.
"Phew! err... you went after Snape... ring any bells?" James looked around, Snape was in the bed next to him, he had quite a few minor cuts and bruises, and Remus was in the bed opposite both were asleep.
Peter was also on the foot of James' bed, sitting on a chair asleep. Sirius had awoken by the fruit bowl hitting the floor and had automatically reached for James' glasses and handed them to him. He did this almost everyday.
"Moony didn't bite you or him did he?" Sirius asked worriedly.
"Do I look like I've been bitten?" James replied testily. Sirius looked nauseous.
"Well, not now, but when we brought you in you had loads of cut's and bruises and were beat up pretty bad. Neither Dumbledore or that nurse would tell us anything. James, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for you to get hurt!"
"Sirius, I will be the least of your worries. First there's the fact that Snape now knows about Moony and there's now a very big risk of the school knowing by tomorrow. Secondly, I would be surprised if your not now expelled for almost murdering Snape. But thirdly, the worst thing is that you defied Remus.
You used him to get back at Snape. If he had hurt either Snape or myself, do you know how hard he would've taken it? You know how touchy he is about the whole situation! Sirius... he may not forgive you." James finished.
"Prongs man, you know I didn't mean to get carried away?"
"Yeah, I know." They shared a brotherly hug, just as Remus woke up.
"Hey guys what's up?" Remus yawned. He was used to waking up with his friends surrounding his bed after the full moon. It took him a second however to register the fact that James and indeed Snape were lying in beds also.
"What have I done?" Remus asked quite upset, his worst nightmare about to become a reality. James and Sirius exchanged nervous glances. The Sirius told him the whole story.
"...And James went in after Snape just about managing to pull Snape out the willow. After I had found Dumbledore we went running to the Shack but they were both unconscious on the floor." At this point in the conversation Remus looked horror stricken.
"Look Moony, I know I've been a complete and utter Flobber worm. I didn't think before I acted, and now I'm going to have to pay the consequences. I really really really don't want to loose your friendship. Please please forgive me, I know I should never have used you the way I did.
Please Moony?" Sirius was pleading and begging at the side of Remus' bed. Remus however did not look to impressed.
"Sirius, I... I can't believe you sold me out like that.
When you found out about my problem, I trusted you beyond belief not to tell another soul. But you defied me and I don't know if I can trust you anymore? Sorry." Sirius wished Remus was angry with him and had hit him, or something.
But no this was allot worse. The disappointment in Remus' voice was a punishment far worse and more severe than Sirius had ever received (And that is allot).
"Ok, I understand. I had better leave then." Sirius said and left the hospital wing.
James was silent as he watched Remus begin to rock back and forth talking quietly to himself. Then he started to bang his head carelessly against the head rest, making a sickening thudding noise. It was surprising really how Peter and Snape were still asleep.
James got up quickly, ignoring the dizziness of getting up to quickly, and jumped onto Remus' bed, grabbing hold of his shoulders to prevent him from causing himself further damage.
"Rem... What are you doing?" James asked softly.
"I don't deserve to be here... I don't deserve to be in this school with you...I.. you.. I could have killed you! I don't deserve to live! I'm a disgusting, monster who should be put down!..."
"REMUS! SHUT UP! NEVER EVER TALK LIKE THAT! IT IS NOT TRUE! YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER!" James shouted, his voice softened, "You are smart, kind, funny and deserve every chance anybody else does. Please Remus, don't do this to your self.
Sirius admittedly was a prat, he made a mistake... a hell of a mistake. And yes he does deserve punishment. But he started it in the first place to defend both of us. Snape is such a git he would've found out anyway. Please Remus you deserve more then what you give yourself credit for. Don't do anything stupid." Remus put his head in his hands, once again thinking.
"James... thank you." He simply stated.