Disclaimer: Same as last time

Author's note: I know, I know, this took for ever. Don't bug me I'm in the middle of final projects and cramming for final exams don't get on my case about writing. I DON'T HAVE TIME! So be satisfied with this till I'm done school. Please? I'll get more stuff done after my first few exams promise. Also if there are any terms you don't understand review and tell me. I'm a lifeguard so some of the terms I used in this chapter are commonly used in Lifeguarding but are not familiar to other people. If there are some terms you don't understand, tell me and I'll include a list with definitions in the next chapter.

Chapter 7: Danger in the night and a new path of study

James tossed and turned in his bed. Even though he felt as though he couldn't keep his eyes open when he was taking his shower James couldn't sleep. He knew something was wrong. He had an awful sense of foreboding. He just knew something was wrong. He got up and went to the window and was shocked to see Severus Snape, a sixth year Slythering whom he didn't get along with sneaking towards the Whomping Willow.

Now James definitely knew that there was something up that shouldn't be. His mind searched for possibilities. He only came up with one, and if Snape somehow knew how to get past the Willow he would meet a full grown werewolf at the other end.

Without thinking James grabbed his invisibility cloak and rushed down the stairs. He was glad that Lily had gone to bed. She would have noticed something invisibility cloak or not. James left the common room and took the shortest root he knew to the Entrance Hall. It took him a total of ten minutes to reach to willow.

He prayed he wasn't too late, but he feared he was for Snape was no where to be seen. James found a long stick on the ground obviously Snape had used it to get past the Willow. James did the same by touching the knot on the trees trunk. He slipped down the hole into the tunnel taking off the invisibility clock as he went. Once in the passage way he saw Snape half way up it, obviously it had taken him awhile to get in. James ran towards him.

"Snape, stop for you life, stop." James screamed barreling down the passage.

"Why Potter? Don't want to share your fun?" sneered Snape over his shoulder as he continued to walk.

"Snape, nothing but death awaits you at the end of this passage way. I know there is much animosity between us but please for this once listens to me. Go back." James was frantic but Snape kept walking. They were underneath to Shrieking Shack at this point. Out of the gloom shone a pair of yellow eyes. A deep growl could be heard.

James thought frantically for a solution. He didn't have his wand so he couldn't take care of Snape and Remus that ways so doing the next best thing James knocked Snape unconscious with a blow to the head. After Snape feel unconscious James transformed into a white stag and stood between Snape's limp body and the growling werewolf.

I'm sorry Remus my friend but there is no other ways. Thought James as Prongs charged at the werewolf knocking the beast backwards into the Shrieking Shack. The werewolf got back and was enraged he wanted the human that lay just outside. The werewolf launched himself at Prongs sinking his teeth into Prong's shoulder. Prongs reared throwing the werewolf off against a wall. When the werewolf hit the wall he fell unconscious.

Quickly James transformed back into his human form and got Remus' wand from the place were he always kept it while he was in transformation. He used it to levitate Snape out of the tunnel. He was losing a lot of blood and by the time he reached the entrance of the tunnel he had lost most of his strength as well

He managed to get Snape and himself out of the reach of the Whomping Willows branches before he fell unconscious. Blackness took over his world and he knew no more.

Lily's P.O.V.------------

Lily was sitting curled up in her dorm window seat when she saw Snape walking across the grounds towards the Whomping Willow. She knew the passage to the Shrieking Shack lay under the tree but why Snape would want to go down there she had no idea especially tonight. Did he have a death wish? As he reached the tree he began to look for something that was just out of reach of the tree's branches.

Lily knew what had to be done. Getting up quietly, so not to disturb her room mates, she walked quickly down to the Common Room. Once out of the common room she ran. She took the quickest route she knew to Dumbledore's office (both Dumbledore and the marauders could have told her it wasn't the quickest but it was pretty quick for navigating her way through Hogwarts). She was sprinting up the last hall way when she met a stormy faced Dumbledore and an ashamed face Sirius Black.

"Miss Evans, why are you out of bed at this time of night," he asked. Lily was out of breath and having trouble talking as well as keeping up with Dumbledore's long stride pass down the hall way.

"SNAPE......WILLOW.......REMUS" she managed to get out while trying to keep up.

"Thank you Lily but I already know. I won't question how you know about Remus; I suggest you come with me. I fear I may need your help before the night is out. We will consider this you detention for being out of bed after hours." By this point they had reached the Entrance Hall and the front door of the school. Just outside the reach of the Whomping Willow they found James Potter and Severus Snape lying unconscious.

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Lily drawing her wand and conjuring bandages as she ran to James' side. Dumbledore was already kneeling at Severus'. Sirius had no idea what to do to help and therefore had sense enough (for once) to stay out of the way. "Professor, this looks like it might be a bite. He's got a whole chunk taken out of his arm." called Lily to Dumbledore.

"Lily, I want you to look for a reason that Severus is unconscious. I'll need to check and see if James has been infected." Dumbledore came over to James. He began to pock his shoulder with his wand and to mutter spells.

Lily went over to Snape and began to check his airway, breathing and circulation. Lily had taken first aid courses during the summer for years. She was a fully trained lifeguard and she knew how to treat someone who was injured. Quickly she found the lump on Snape's head where James had hit him and she told Dumbledore that he had obviously been knocked out by a physical blow. "Other than the bump on his head I don't see any other obvious injuries and I don't think his got a spinal injury." said Lily after completing a full secondary check.

"Good, James isn't infected. (AN: He was bit in animagous form remember). I bandaged his wound. We need to get these two up to the hospital wing. Sirius you can go back to Gryffindor Tower. You will be receiving detention until Christmas Break. I will be speaking to both you and Mr. Snape when he wakes up." Dumbledore said sternly while magicking Severus and James on to stretchers. Sirius began to walk back to the school. Lily and Dumbledore followed at a slower pace with Severus and James.

"I assume that James told you what happened today," said Dumbledore. "I'm I correct?" He asked Lily without even looking at her.

"Yes he did." Lily replied softly remembering what James was dealing with on top of being injured. She added emotional trauma to her list of conditions for James.

"He will need special care for the next couple of days. I believe you have enough skill to help Madame Loeliette in the hospital wing for a time. She is dealing with an over abundance of problems lately. The hospital wing hasn't been this full in thirty years."

I'm not saying I don't want to help its just that I don't want to fall behind either." said Lily thoughtfully.

"Of course, I'll make sure you're teachers know where you are. They'll make sure you receive you notes and homework." With this statement they reached he door of the hospital wing. "Stay here; I must go rouse Madame Loeliette from her bed, the poor woman." Dumbledore left Lily with Snape and James still on stretchers in the hall way.

Lily went over to each of the boys in turn and checked and rechecked their vitals. She knew well enough that an unconscious victim. especially one who had been bleeding like James could deteriorate quickly. Not long after Dumbledore left Madame Loeliette appeared.

"well let's see what se have here. Ah, Miss Evans, Professor Dumbledore said you could give me a decent run down of the condition of these two. He seems to think highly of your first aid skills. So let's see if you are good as he thinks."

"Severus Snape, the boy with the straight black hair has a lump on his crania possibly from a physical blow and is probably the reason for his unconsciousness. There was no fluid leaking out of his eyes, nose, or ears. Nor was there any lumps on his next or any tracheal deviations therefore I do not suspect a spinal. His pupils are equal and reactive therefore I do not suspect any major brain injuries. There were no other signs of physical damage. I gave him a full secondary assessment. Also his vitals have been checked three times. He is breathing in a regular rhythm and his pulse is steady with a regular rate and rhythm as well.

"James Potter, the one with the messy black hair, has a major laceration on his right shoulder which was a source of major bleeding. It appeared to be an animal bite but Professor Dumbledore eliminated the possibility that it is a werewolf bite. His unconsciousness is probably caused by loss of blood, shock, exhaustion, and stress. James last his mother today so his bodies tolerance level to something like this has already been lowered. His breathing was slightly labored when we first found them but it has improved. His pulse has a regular rate and rhythm. Other then his shoulder there is some minor bruising on his left shin." Lily took a big breath as she finished.

Madame Loeliette was putting the two boys into bed as Lily gave her run down on their conditions. She looked impressed at Lily's synopsis. "Dumbledore was right; you know your first aid. I want you to stay in the student's room off the hospital wing while you're training with me. If I'm going to train you I don't want to be running up to Gryffindor Tower every time I need you." Madame Loeliette directed Lily to a small room that contained a small cot, a dresser and a desk. "Dumbledore said you would easily be able to keep up with your other courses as well as this extra training. I hope he is right. I will come and get you as soon as either of those boys awakens." Madame Loeliette left and Lily sat on the cot glumly.

"It's not that I don't want to learn about Magical Medicine, it's just that I'd rather someone had told me I was going to be during the day." said Lily to the air. She was surprised to find a set of her pajamas folded on the pillow. She put them on and climbed into bed and fell immediately to sleep.