Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.
A/N: Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed! Sorry Bethje and everyone for all the cliffhangers. I honestly didn't notice that I kept doing that until I read your review! This chapter doesn't have one though :D. And I know msj, the dance with Snape, ick! But I imagined him as Alan Rickman (who I love!) while I wrote the scene so it wasn't that bad...for me, at least. Heehee! Enjoy!-Nikki
Clea and Lily walked as closely together as they possibly could. The air was absolutely freezing and without any coats, the two girls couldn't stop shivering. They made their way down the path that led away from the Hogwarts castle and towards the Forbidden Forest. Carefully walking on the ice that was laid on the ground like a rug, Clea could feel her heart pumping loudly in her chest. She was scared. Why did the boys come out here?
"I don't see anyone, do you?" Lily stopped at the end of the path and peered though the darkness. The only source of light given to them was the bright full moon that hung over head.
"Where did they go?" Clea shouted.
"Well," Lily said turning around to face Clea. "They either went unto the Quiddich field, or into the forest,"—Clea shivered even more thinking about what was in the Forbidden Forest,--"they wouldn't have gone near the Whomping Willow!"
The Whomping Willow was a large tree that was planted on the Hogwarts grounds only seven years ago. The tree was a violent mess of massive branches. Anything that touched the tree, from a large bird to a feather, was instantaneously destroyed. Even getting close to the Whomping Willow was dangerous; the tree would unpredictably thrash its fist like branches around hoping to kill anything in its path.
But something was unusual about the Whomping Willow tonight; it wasn't moving. It was perfectly still, even when a gust of wind blew through all the other tree tops.
"Lily," Clea said slowly peering at the tree. "Do you see that?" Clea pointed at a large hole that was at the foot of the Whomping Willow's trunk.
"I've never noticed that before," Lily said, truly puzzled. They stood their staring, neither one wanting to be the one that suggested they go into the hole.
"Weird," Clea said. "Let's go back inside Lily. Merlin knows where they went."
Lily and Clea started back up towards the castle when a loud scream turned their attention back to the Whomping Willow. The scream was followed by a howl-like growl. Clea felt the blood drain from her face.
Another scream rung out and sounded like it was getting even closer. Then everything seemed to go into a slow motion. Clea saw a tall figure that resembled James pulling another figure out of the hole and forcing him to run away from the tree. The second figure was limping as he ran. Then seconds later two more people flew out of the hole; one short and fat, barely fitting out of the hole, and the other short but slender. Clea knew immediately that the second figure was Sirius. As soon as Sirius's foot left the hole, a hairy clawed arm tried desperately to grab him. He was growling and howling loudly. But before the animal could get out, Clea saw Sirius grab a branch from the tree and duck as the Whomping Willow sprang to life and swatted at any movement it felt. The Willow hit the door where they climbed out of dead on, just as it closed, trapping the monster inside.
Without a moment to think, Clea and Lily ran as fast they could in dress shoes back to the castle. When they were safely inside the entrance hall, Lily collapsed on the floor breathing heavily and Clea leaned against a suit of armor clutching her side.
When she regained the ability to breath, Clea walked over to Lily and helped her up. The doors of the castle flew open and Snape stormed in, limping and leaving a trail of blood behind him.
"Your brother," he spat at Clea. He stood inches from her face. "He tried to kill me!" Clea's eyes widened as she looked at Sirius. Sirius was running his fingers through his hair and staring at the floor.
"See," Snape continued, turning to look at Sirius. "He knows he tried to kill me. He led me to where Lupin was and they tried to kill me."
"It was a just a joke Snape," Sirius shouted. "I wasn't going to let him kill you."
"Wait!" Clea threw her hands onto Snape's shoulders and spun him around to face her. "Where is Remus?" Clea screamed at him. "And what was that thing coming out of the Willow?" Clea turned her shouts to her brother, who shot a confused glance at James.
"You were there?" James asked her calmly.
"We both were," Lily whispered. "We followed you."
James walked over to Lily and pulled her into a deep hug. "You shouldn't have." he sighed.
"But we did," Clea shouted. "And I want to know what's going on!"
Sirius leaned up against the wall. "I just wanted to scare him, Snape, that's all. He bothers me; everything about him. And then I see him in there dancing and touching you....and well it made me sick. So, I decided to play a little trick on him. I didn't think it would upset him that much."
"Sirius you never think!" James said to him, in a serious tone; he still held Lily close to his chest. "You know he's going to go to Dumbledore about this." James continued, speaking about Snape like he wasn't even there.
"Of course I am," Snape snapped. "And I will make sure you're expelled; you and that werewolf."
"Werewolf?" Clea said slowly.
Snape walked up to her and looked her straight in the eyes. "Yes Cleopatra," Snape began, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "I saw him transform with my own eyes. Lupin, he has Lycanthropy. He's a werewolf,"
Clea's heart stopped. She stared at Snape with tearful eyes.
"And he tried to kill me," Snape added looking for pity. But he wasn't going to get any.
"Remus?" Clea swallowed hard. She stumbled past Snape and over towards the front entrance door. "Remus can't be a were..." But she stopped herself. It suddenly hit her. "Wait, of course," Clea started again, speaking quiet and slow. "That's why he's always so tired. That's why he always looks so sick. Why his hands are always bandaged. Why he's missing from school once a month. Why didn't I notice it was always when there was a full moon?" Clea's voice rose in volume. She turned to look at Sirius. "I was too selfish. I've only thought about myself; too blind to see the truth! That's why he was so jumpy yesterday! That's why he almost killed me for touching his head!"
All of a sudden Clea's eyes widened and she bolted for the door leading back outside. Sirius leapt after her and grabbed her around the middle.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "I want to see! I want to see him! Let me go!"
"No Clea!" Sirius struggled to contain his sister. "He won't recognize you! He isn't himself when he's like that. All he thinks about is blood. He'll kill you!"
"I don't care!" Clea screamed. But, she finally gave into Sirius's hold and collapsed in his arms, slightly crying. Sirius sat down on the ground, holding Clea.
"Look what you've done!" Snape shouted at Sirius. "You've made your sister cry. Come on Cleopatra, let's go." Snape reached down for Clea's hand.
"Go away Snape!" Clea swatted his hand away. Snape straightened his back. He felt offended. Clea never called him Snape to his face, she always used Severus. He turned towards the Great Hall and began to walk briskly away.
"Dumbledore will know all about this soon." He said over his shoulder.
"Severus?" Lily sprang towards him. "James saved you. You don't have to blame him too,"—Lily looked down at Snape's bleeding arm,--"Let me fix your cut for you. It's bleeding badly." Lily pulled her wand out of the pocket in her dress robes and grabbed Snape's arm.
"Let go of me, mudblood." Snape pushed her out of the way, and sprinted for the Great Hall, not looking back once.
"Don't pay attention to him, Lily." Sirius said, standing up and helping Clea to her feet.
"James..." Lily walked towards him; her eyes filled with tears. "You saved him. You put yourself at risk to save that horrible boy. I'm so sorry I've been so mean to you!" Lily grabbed James' head and pulled him into a deep kiss.
Sirius raised his eyebrows. He wished this was a normal situation so that he could make a sarcastic remark to Clea about them kissing; but of course, it wasn't a normal situation.
Clea tore her eyes away from the entrance door, where she was staring the whole time. "I'm going to bed." she said quietly. "Sirius," Clea spoke up louder and faced her brother. "I'm not proud or approving in the slightest of what you did. But turn on the charm and please try not to get expelled six months before you graduate." Sirius nodded.
Lily smiled weakly at Clea, who returned the smile as she made her way towards the Slytherin dorms. She was happy for her best friend, but her brain hurt and she didn't feel like talking much.
