Ok, I'm carrying on because I don't think people want to read incomplete stories… Is it just me or is that true? Thanks for reading!
So that evening while the rest of the Gryffindors were heading down to dinner, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter slipped down the marbles staircase and instead of turning left into the Great Hall, the proceeded to the door in the entrance hall. It creaked open and the four of them strode out into the night sky. It was a slightly chilly night but clear. The moon shone down on them, Remus glanced up at it fearfully.
"C'mon Moony! It's only a moon!" James grinned as they past the Gamekeeper Hagrid's hut.
At last they reached the entrance to the forest. James secretly thought it would have appeared less daunting in the daylight but Sirius had already pulled out his wand and strode in. James followed him, and Remus close behind too. "Er… Snuffles!" Peter called nervously. "Is it… I mean can… I stay and keep watch for you?"
James looked at Sirius who looked both exasperated and amused. "Are you a Gryffindor or what!" Peter's eyes fell to the muddy grass. "Fine, fine. Just don't blame me if McGonnagal finds you." Peter hovered by the first tree for a moment then settled himself by Hagrid's pumpkin patch.
James, Sirius and Remus proceeded without him. "Maybe its better anyway." Sirius said knowledgeably. "I mean, he's not likely to help matters is he!"
"Peter's just taking a while to… settle in." Remus said.
"Hey Snuffs, What exactly are we supposed to be looking for?" James asked, peering around curiously.
"Dunno, strange things… Like creatures or plants or… Oh I dunno!" Sirius laughed striding on further and deeper into the forest.
"Do spiders count?" Remus asked as several scuttled past them.
"Yeah ok." Sirius said vaguely. James couldn't help noticing that Remus' eyes were darting round nervously and for some reason kept looking up at the sky.
Then suddenly there was a distinct sound of movement. "What's going on?" James asked, staring around him but there was no sign of anything. There was a rustle of leaves. It was getting closer but there was nothing to be seen…
"Ignore it… Probably a deer or something…" Sirius said though slightly nervously. There was a definite sound of feet then a voice…
"What are you doing here humans?" A voice screeched from nowhere. It was impossible to say whether it was human or not or whether it was male or female. Whatever it was its cries send owls flying from the branches they were perched on.
There was nothing to be seen but the voice had seemed so close… No one spoke. All three of them remained rooted to the ground.
"I asked you what you were doing here," The voice screeched again like an out of tune violin. "You are trespassing into my forest. I do not like trespassers. This forest is mine!"
Then they saw it, creeping out from behind a tree, a bandy legged, tall green… well it was hard to describe it but it had razor sharp teeth, big bulging eyes and webbed hands.
"Er… Hi." James said nervously.
"You have not answered my question." The thing pressed.
"We…" James continued in an unnaturally high voice. "Well it's hard to explain… We… Er… we sort of got lost."
"How very sad." The thing screeched again. "I don't suppose you know who I am?"
All three of them shook their heads. The green thing looked enraged. "Well I am master of the forest, kingdom of the grounds of the learning area! I am working for my master… I am feeding him information on the one he fears above all others! My name is Nuptio. King of the forests."
"I… It's very… Nice to meet you." James said.
Nuptio the 'green thing' was spared answering by another rustle of leaves. Severus Snape arrived panting at the scene. He stood, clutching a stitch in his side; pointing accusingly at them and glaring fit to burst. "Wh-what are you doing here!" He glowered having not yet seen Nuptio.
"Another human! I will not have this!" Nuptio bellowed in the same screechy tones. "I am giving you one more chance! I do not like interfering and prying! I wish to remain alone with my master! Out! And if I ever see you again…" He left his sentence hanging and disappeared.
"Well, that was nice. Better go…" Sirius said still staring after the thing.
"You going Snuffs?" James asked. "I thought you were staying to see what else was here!"
"I don't think that's a good idea." Snape drawled.
"Oh bog off Snivelly!" Sirius snapped. Snape glared at him.
"What are you doing here anyway?" James asked him accusingly.
"Your mind's not hard to read Potter. One look at you this morning and I knew where to find you. It appears you knew of my thoughts so you left that oaf to guard. D'you really think he would stop me Potter?" Snape laughed. "Isn't the Forbidden forest out of bounds? Or did I mishear Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yeah you misheard him." Sirius said bluntly. "Well, I dunno, maybe your ears were all greased up because of your hair."
"What Sirius is trying to say is…" Remus began but James cut across him.
"Hey Snivellus, if its out of bounds for us it is for you too!" James retorted.
Snape smirked and pulled out a slip of parchment. "I think you'll find you're wrong there Potter." He said flashing the parchment at them.
It has Professor Gryllus' clearly distinguishable writing scrawled across it that read : I hear by give Severus Snape permission to be in the forbidden forest on the evening of the 31st October to find me some Bundimun secretions for my class on Monday. Professor G Gryllus
James scowled at Snape. "That's fake. Why would you wand Bundimun secretions anyway? They're deadly! Why did Gryllus ask you anyway?"
"Gryllus wanted to chose someone reliable, who was unafraid of danger." Snape said darkly.
James snorted. "And look who he chose."
Snape pulled out his wand faster than either of the other three had time to react. "Conjunctiva!" He shouted at James who brought a hand to his face, gasping in agony and sunk down to the ground.
"You'll pay for that Snivellus!" Sirius shouted. " Engorgio!" Snape's nose began to swell rapidly until it was longer than a flute.
"Diffindo!" Snape shouted at Sirius who ducked. The spell hit Remus whose robes were splattered in blood instantly from the cut in his left arm.
"Diffindo yourself!" Sirius shouted. The spell hit Snape's nose. James was still sprawled on the ground clutching his right eye and Remus was pressing his robes onto his cut to no affect. "Haha! No Gryllus to save your next now Snivelly!"
It was lucky perhaps that what happened next did happen. There was a rustle from the trees suddenly and though nothing had been in sight before, Professor Gryllus emerged from the trees, silvery cloak draped over his left arm.
"Well!" Sirius said suddenly, hastily stuffing his wand back in his pocket. "Talk of the devil!" He grinned falsely at Gryllus who wasn't fooled.
"Finite Incantatem." He said in powerful tones. James withdrew his hand from his very red and swollen eye and stared up at Gryllus nervously. Snape's nose shrunk and Remus and Snape's cuts stopped spurting blood. All four of them were staring at Gryllus as though transfixed. It was then that James noticed Peter lurking behind Gryllus. "Lucky really, Mr Petigrew told me exactly what's been going on…" He grinned nastily. "I know your reason for being here Severus…" He drawled then raised his eyebrows at the others.
"We're not doing anything wrong!" Sirius said defiantly. "We've as much right to be here as you!"
"Well kindly explain why the forbidden forest is indeed called the forbidden forest then." Gryllus hissed.
"Dumbledore said it wasn't forbidden this year." Sirius argued.
"Dumbledore was not referring to first years." Gryllus said nastily. There was a second rustle and then, emerging from the shadows stood, framed between two trees, Albus Dumbledore. He was by far taller than Professor Gryllus and his appearance, long white beard and hair gave him a powerful look, far more than grimy Gryllus in his frayed robes.
"It's a shame I had to miss the feast really…" Dumbledore said casually. "But really Giles, I am a qualified Legilimens as I reminded you when we spoke about…" Dumbledore glanced quickly at James but said no more.
"What's that got to do with anything Dumbledore?" Gryllus said, but he looked slightly fearful.
"I have told you what I think about these boys and no, I wasn't referring to older students only. Thank you Mr Black, Potter and Lupin and thank you Mr Petigrew, for standing up to Professor Gryllus, that must have taken great daring." Peter looked down at his feet miserably. "I will be awarding Gryffindor house 25 points each. Well done." Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled as he looked at them. "Now, I suggest you all go up to the hospital wing. I am risking more than my life staying here so… you don't mind if I disperse do you Professor Gryllus? I really must return to the feast." With a sweep of his cloak Dumbledore was gone.
"Wish I could do that…" Sirius said. "See you Snivelly!" He called after Snape who had left angrily with an equally livid Gryllus.
"So… What are we supposed to do about old what his name?" James asked thoughtfully.
"Who, Snape?" Peter asked timidly. He had been avoiding their eye during the walk out of the forest.
"No dungbrain! Nuptio!" Sirius said.
"Let's drive him out!" James said firmly.
"How?" Remus asked thoughtfully. He did not appear as anxious as he did earlier. He had also stopped staring at the moon.
"What's the matter Moony?" James asked him as Remus almost looked at the sky, then stared at the ground again.
"Nothing." Remus said quickly. "I'm absolutely fine."