Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for my own. They are owned by J.K Rowling, and this fan fiction is written solely for entertainment.

Chapter 13: Detention and Willows

Oh yes, my least favorite class: Potions. It wasn't like I was bad at it; it was just kind of like science class. It's there, and you hate it, but get by without difficulty. What's worse is that the class is infested with Slytherinsalong with 6 year Gryffindors of course. I fortunately sat next to Cecily and Alice, who, since they have taken Potions since first year (while I "have", but "haven't") knew the basics, which I should know, but obviously don't. Kelsey sat next to Lily, which solved her own problem of not having a clue what to do.

I would always pray that Professor Fillpot (A/N: hee hee hee) would ask me a question that had been mentioned in the Harry Potter series that I could answer, but to my embarrassment, did not.

That left me standing silent, cheeks burning as everyone waited for me to answer, but I didn't know.

This wasn't a problem in Defense Against the Dark Arts or whatever because they covered PLENTY of "dada" classes in the Harry Potter series.

So there I was again, sitting in Professor Fillpot's class, working on a potion, when she began to ask students questions.

"Two mandrakes' leaves." Alice read aloud, as I dropped two leaves in carefully, hoping it wouldn't explode like last time. (That was my fault, as usual) It turned the right color, so I felt satisfied. 'I think I'm getting used to this," I thought to myself. I looked at the small, magical clock (that I finally was able to understand) on the wall. 20 minutes until class was over. 'Thank god,' I said inwardly.

"Alright, Class," Professor Fillpot said, getting our attention, even though James and Sirius kept talking. This must have been usual, since Professor Fillpot ignored it.

"Remember you homework and before I dismiss you all, I'll ask some of you some questions to make sure you have learned from this potion."

'Oh god.' I thought to myself. 'Please don't pick me.'

"Miss Lefave!" Professor Fillpot said.
'

DAMMIT!' I looked up, cheeks burning, preparing for my embarrassment of the day. WHY, OH WHY DID JAMES, SIRIUS AND REMUS HAVE TO BE IN THE ROOM!

"What is the difference between mandrake powder and monkswood?" she asked. This was obviously supposed to be easy since many students scoffed.

'Oh god.' I thought again. 'Okay. I know monkswood is the same as wolfsbane, but wolfsbane hasn't been discovered yet! What do I say!'

"Miss Lefave?" Professor Fillpot asked. I glanced at Kelsey. She looked confused herself.

"Erm, well, it's-"I attempted, but was cut short when a haughty male voice on the opposite side of the room spoke up.

"The answer to this INSANELY easy question is that mandrake powder is a fatal concoction, much like a mandrake in full form. Monkswood is not poisonous and also has healing powers, Professor." It said in an eerie drawl. 'Who is this bastard!' I thought. The voice sounded awfully familiar.

I turned towards it and it was exactly who I thought it was. Severus Snape. Damn, no wonder the Marauders hated him so much.

Sirius and James had sucked in their breath, much like the way it was when Bellatrix challenged to duel me.

But, Snape was lame, so I raised my eyebrows and turned to look at him. Professor Fillpot was about to say something but Snape continued.

"I don't see why you bothered picking on Lefave, Professor. As it seems that every time you do, she hasn't answered correctly. As for me, Professor, I know every potion in the book," he said, satisfied.

My jaw dropped slightly. Sirius chewed at the inside of his mouth to keep the urge from attacking Snape. James would've too, but took one glance at Lily and held back. 'THE NERVE!' I thought, enraged.

Again, Professor Fillpot was about to say something, but this time, I spoke up.
"Is that so, SNAPE! Well, actually, woo-hoo for you, but I know a potion you wouldn't know about," I said. Snape leaned back in his chair.

"I doubt it. And what's this potion called, EXACTLY? If you can remember a simple name," he said, icily.

"Yeah, I can. It's called SHAMPOO!" I retorted loudly. There was an audible gasp and some of those dissing noises.

James, Sirius and Remus turned around in their chairs looking at me with shock and very much impressed. Lily gasped.

Cecily laughed out loud while the others covered their mouths to keep from laughing.

"ENOUGH! Miss Lefave, detention with McGonagall. Now!" Professor Fillpot yelled sternly. Bellatrix began to snicker uncontrollably. I stood up quickly.

"WHAT! He totally started it, Professor!" I said, angrily. Professor Fillpot crossed his arms.

"And you finished it! To detention, now!" he yelled, pointing towards the door. My jaw dropped farther.

Roughly gathering my stuff, I crammed it into my book bag. I kept my expression motionless. As I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder. I glanced at James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. Their jaws had dropped too.

I glared menacingly at Snape, who cocked an eyebrow at me, as I stormed out the door. Once the door slammed behind me, I groaned loudly as it echoed down the corridor.

I stomped down the corridor towards McGonagall's room, not sure what to expect.

Detention wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I missed dinner but I wasn't hungry.

Professor McGonagall must have liked me because she didn't lecture me at all. She just told me to do my homework until she let me go.

I hurried up to the common room, glad that I had gotten all my homework done so that I had a free evening.

I was still incredibly angry about the whole Snape thing, so I clambered through the portrait, and flung my heavy bag on to the carpeted floor with a heaving groan. No one was in the common room, so I went back through the fat lady to look for Kelsey.

I walked down the corridor, when I came to the main hall.

I saw Snape in the main hall and groaned, looking for another route around to avoid him.

Suddenly, I saw Sirius come up to him. I didn't think much of it, but he was talking in a hushed, harsh voice and I couldn't resist.

Inching behind the stone wall, I managed to get close enough so I was able to hear the last of their brief conversation.

"Just prod with a stick. That's it."

That was all I heard before Sirius jogged off.

"What?" I asked myself. I watched Snape look slickly around him before gliding through the main doors into the dark.

Should I know about this? Did they mention this in one of the Harry Potter books? Wait, in the third book! Sirius played a prank on Snape when they were in their 6th year! I looked out the window and indeed, it was a full moon.

"Oh no."

Why is Sirius so thick!

"What's wrong?" I whirled around to see Lily and Kelsey standing behind me.

"We went to got see you at detention, but I guess you're already out. Man, you really got Snape in Potions! I laughed so hard after class!" Kelsey said, smiling. Lily cocked her head to the side.

"Are you all right?"

"It's Snape."

"What about him?"

I turned toward Kelsey and mouthed Whomping Willow jerking my head towards the outside.

Kelsey and I looked up into the sky through a window at the full moon. Kelsey gasped and turned towards Lily, who looked terribly confused.

"What's going on?"

I glanced at Kelsey. She didn't seem to know what to say.

"Well, I think someone's going to play a prank on Snape. They're sending him down to the Whomping Willow." I articulated.

"I KNEW IT! OF COURSE HE WOULD DO THIS!" Lily exclaimed.

Kelsey and I jerked our heads towards her.

"Who?" we said in unison.

"POTTER! You remember, Kelsey! He and Black started talking about rubbish, like revenge and all that," She said. Kelsey nodded slowly.

"The Willow will kill Snape! You remember what happened the other year! That little boy almost lost his eye! I hate Snape as much as you two do, and I HATE Potter, but murder won't help his record. Come on!" she said, hurrying towards the door.

"No! Lily! Come back!" Kelsey yelled after her. We both sprinted out the doors after her towards the flailing tree.

James and Sirius leaned back on two legs in the chairs in the common room. Peter lay casually on the couch. The Marauder's Map lay on the table. James checked his watch.

"We have a few minutes until it's safe to go down to Moony," he said. Sirius suddenly let out a bark-like laugh.

"Snape doesn't know that," he said, laughing. James turned to him.
"What?" James asked much more harshly then he meant it.

"I told Snivellus how to get into the Shack. What a fright he'll have!" he said, still laughing. Peter sat up and dropped his jaw. So did James.

"You WHAT!" he asked loudly. NOT AS harsh as he meant it to be.

"A fright, Padfoot? Moony could kill the bastard!" James thrust his wand out and tapped the Marauder's Map.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good!" he said. He watched as the map appeared on the once blank sheet of parchment. Sirius was right.

He saw the small little red dot of Severus Snape standing motionless in front of the Whomping Willow.

James groaned. Suddenly, he noticed three new dots appear on the parchment just inside the main doors.

They were standing in a circle, but then suddenly, one of them began moving fast towards the Whomping Willow, the other two paused for a moment before moving after the first. The names suddenly appeared.

Caroline Lefave, Kelsey Jistel, and Lily Evans.

"Bloody Hell." he yelled to the paper. Sirius leaned forward to see what it was.

He gaped, and then looked at James. Peter looked to too. The stood silent for a second, then suddenly, James charged through the Fat Lady portrait, Sirius and Peter behind him.

"LILY! STOP! COME BACK!" Kelsey yelled as we ran towards the Whomping Willow. Shit! I thought to myself, as I pressed myself harder to catch up with Lily.

It had gotten completely dark and now I had no idea where I was going. Kelsey pulled out her wand.

"Lumos!" she yelled. The wand lit up like a flashlight. Why didn't I think of that! I did the same. The grass illuminated with the light. I pointed out in front of me.

I gasped and skidded to a stop before a gigantic tree branch slammed into my skull.

Kelsey screamed in shock as a small twig swatted fiercely at her arms and face.

"LILY! Kelsey! Find the stick, to get into the willow!" I said, searching the ground. Kelsey immediately aimed her wand towards the grass.

"I got it!" I heard her yell. She prodded the first root knot. Thankfully, the roar of the tree stopped. It had frozen. I aimed my wand towards a small passageway into the tree trunk.

"In there!" I rushed around some frozen branches as I hurried down into the Whomping Willow, Kelsey on my heel.

"LILY! PLEASE! YOU NEED TO COME BACK!" I screamed down an endless passage way. Suddenly, we heard her. We heard Lily's voice!

"LILY! WAIT UP! COME BACK! IT'S NOT JAMES' FAULT!" Kelsey yelled.

"Where are you two!" came Lily's voice fortunately not that far from us.

"Walk back! Please Lily! It's not safe!" I yelled to her. Kelsey pointed down the corridor as we saw Lily's light coming closer. Then we saw her running towards us.

"OH! Thank god! Lily, we need to go back. What's down there is really-"

"I can't find Snape! If we don't find him, then we'll be accused of murdering him or something." She interrupted.

"No, you're not going any farther. We have to get out of here now." I said, seizing Lily by the arm.

Lily began to object, but Kelsey and I were pulling her too quickly towards the passageway we had come.

We emerged into the night just as James came sprinting towards us.

"Potter?"

"All of you. Get back to the castle now."

Lily took a step towards him, her arms crossed.

"How could you do this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"How could you send Snape down there to risk his life?"

"Snape? Snape's still down there?" he demanded. I nodded.

"Because of you." Lily said.

"No, listen. It wasn't me, Lily—Look. All three of you. GO back up to the castle immediately."

He pushed past us and into the trunk before Lily could say another word.

Kelsey and I dragged Lily back up to the castle without saying a word just as Sirius came running out.

"Did you see James?" he panted.

I sighed, nodding towards the Whomping Willow. Sirius cursed before running off.

Lily turned towards me.

"Caroline, what's going on?"

I didn't answer as we all went back into the castle.

"Snape!" James yelled as he jogged down the passageway. He was getting close to the Shack. Hopefully he wasn't too late.

He saw the opening to the Shrieking Shack and hurried inside just barely seeing Snape turn around a corner.

"Snape!" he yelled angrily, turning around the corner coming face to face with his least favorite person.

"Potter," he growled. "You've come to witness your own expulsion."

"And you're here to witness your own death. Get out of here now."

"No, I'm going to see what's down here that has to do with Lupin," he hissed and turned back around.

James grabbed the back of Snape's robe and successfully stopped him, being much stronger than Severus.

Snape whirled around to face him. He sneered, swung his arm back and punched James hard.

James jerked backward and stumbled, tasting his own blood. Snape briskly passed him to reach the end of the corridor but James was too quick for him.

He swung his arm out tripping Snape easily. Snape slammed into the ground.

James stood and took Snape by the shoulders but Snape had gasped.

James glanced down the corridor as something large and covered with fur passed the doorway.

James froze. If Remus saw either of them, they'd be dead.

Gripping Snape's arm gruffly, he kicked him out of the Shack and just as Snape whirled around to face him, James aimed his wand directly at his chest.

"Get out. Now."

Snape shook his head in loathing and disbelief.

"Wait, until Dumbledore hears about this."

"I just saved your bloody life!"

"You think this was a selfless act? You just got cold feet from another one of your ridiculous pranks. You were saving your own bloody life as much as mine. When Dumbledore ears about this, you'll be out of this castle before you can say…werewolf."

James gritted his teeth and jabbed his wand into Snape's chest.

"Move it or both our bloody lives are going to be over."

Snape began to move down the passageway.

"You tried to kill me, you arrogant, cocky…" he trailed off with more unprintable words to call James. James followed quietly, careful not to make Remus aware of how close they were.

Snape had run into the castle to get Dumbledore.

Sirius was in a state when he met James halfway up the passageway.

James had little to say to him right now having risked many lives that night.

He had no problem being mad at Sirius because he knew that it would hardly matter in a course of a few days. All he wanted to do right now was sleep although he knew that would be a hard thing to accomplish.

Would Dumbledore actually expel them? Would he expel Sirius? No. James thought. He would stand up for his best friend. He's rather be expel then see Sirius be sent back to Grimmauld.

He would never admit it to Sirius or Peter but he was damn glad Lily was all right.

She had no idea how much danger she put herself in trying to save Snape's own skin. He wasn't worth it. James spent the rest of the night wondering that if Snape wasn't worth it, then why did he save him?

That night, Kelsey and I lay awake, wondering what had happened after James went after Snape. Lily was already asleep.

"I bet Dumbledore is going to have to talk to all of us tomorrow," I predicted. Kelsey nodded.

"I bet,"

There was quiet silence.

"Poor Remus," Kelsey whispered sadly before going to sleep.

Remus. Man, will he be pissed. What was gonna happen tomorrow?

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