CHAPTER 6
Sirius Black and James Potter had created a habit of jinxing and cursing Servious Snape and even began to move on to other Slytherin students. Every time, to James misfortune, Lilly Evans was there either to stop it, or hit him for doing it in the first place.
Now, it was March. Sirius Black had been watching his friend, Remus Lupin. He had been suspicious of him for months now. Praying to Merlyn he had been wrong, Sirius was watching him to see if he had the symptoms of a werewolf. So far, he was right. Remus had been getting sick on the day and a few days after a full moon, EVERY MONTH. It now being March, he felt that he should inform his other friends, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew, of what he had discovered.
But that was for a later time…
"Look." James pointed to a short, oily haired boy clutching his back pack.
He wore all black, and seemed to keep to himself a lot. The only time he actually associated with people was either when he was complaining to other Slytherins about the bothersome moodbloods and how someone should do something about them, OR when Potter and Black decided to torment him. At least then he got in a conversation, even if it was to insult one another.
Sirius smirked, "Do you really want to? We have a History Test today, we need to study." He turned to Remus and smiled as innocently as he could.
"Yes Sirius, you do want to study." Remus said sarcastically, his eyebrows were raised.
"Yeah, I'm kind of tense 'bout the test. BUT," James at first sounded as if he was going to actually study, "I think we need to relax a bit. Sirius, shall we?" a familiar look fell over James' face. Remus, unfortunately, knew what that look meant. James was encouraging Sirius to basically humiliate Servious Snape. The 'attacks' were getting worse with every one. Last time Snape ended up hanging by his ankles on a picture frame wearing bright pink makeup (Remus still had no idea how this was achieved) he could only guess what would happen this time.
James and Sirius both got up from the table in the Fifth Floor corridor they were sitting at. Walking over to the Slytherin, they both smiled widely: Lilly Evans was ill in the Hospital Wing today; she wouldn't be here to stop them from doing what they wished. And they DID make a point to emphasize this to Snape.
"Well, well, well," Sirius tried to look threatening, "it looks like Evans isn't here. You DO know what that means, Right Snape?" he smirked devilishly.
"No, what does that mean Black?" Snape glared at his rivals.
"THAT, my unlucky Slytherin, means that no one will be here to save you." James crossed his arms and smiled wildly.
"Sucks to be you…" Sirius said quickly, looking at the terrified Servious Snape.
The two Gryffindor boys whipped out their wands and both yelled out curse and jinx over and over. (Half of them were made up, but still worked)
Before one could count to 30, Snape was hanging by his feet (which appeared to be a favorite spell of Sirius) with gigantic, puss-filled bumps popping up freely on his face, and amazingly, his hair still stayed flat on his head.
"Just out of curiosity, do you EVER wash your hair?" James looked both curious and disgusted. He, being very conscious of people's looks, found it repulsive to see Servious' hair so oily.
"It's not good to was your hair every day." Servious said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Says who? Your mother?" Sirius raised his eyebrows.
"Actually, yes." Snape said uneasily.
Sirius and James looked at each other and began laughing wildly.
"Stop it! STOP IT! Stop laughing at me! STOP!" Servious' face was red and full of frustration. He hated it when he was laughed at.
"Potter! Black!" a young woman's voice rang through the corridor. This voice belonged to, no other than, Professor Hollingsworth. "What do you think you're doing? Mr. Snape? Why would you participate in such activities like this? Obviously it went wrong."
"Bu-"
"No buts about it Mr. Snape, you and these two are to be in detention with me, tonight!" she looked annoyed. But inside, she felt pleased with herself for taking appropriate action. Oh how she hated Sirius Black and James Potter. Nowadays she was noticing the two have been being nuisances, especially towards Slytherin Students.
"That was productive." Remus rolled his eyes.
"But it was fun! How long 'd ya think Snape will stay that way?" James smiled.
"Maybe the rest of the day, but those pimples? James, that was genius! That probably won't heal completely till into next week!" Sirius began to laugh.
"Boys, that was cruel! There is no reason you should do that just when you see him!" Remus said, "You shouldn't even do that when he bothers you. Come on. I think Lilly Evans is right. You are Gryffindors, you should behave like them."
"Damn, when Evans is gone you take her place, huh?" James seemed to dismiss the outburst.
"We should get going. That History test won't fail it's self." Peter said. He was now very comfortable with James, Remus and Sirius. He felt as if he could say almost anything to them. They still laughed at him sometimes, though.
"What did you think of the test?" James asked at dinner.
"I don't know, it wasn't as hard as I thought. But still, I think I didn't get a good grade." Sirius shrugged.
"Why? You said earlier that you knew the answers to all the questions." Remus said.
"Yes, I did. But that's not what I'm concerned with. I think that Professor Hollingsworth will purposely fail me. I hope that bitch gets fired!" Sirius said loudly.
"Not something you should be saying. Should you, Mr. Black?" a sly, devious voice entered Sirius' ears. He turned and saw Professor Balic, the potions teacher.
He was tall, probably not much over six foot, and this enabled him to peer down at students. This tended to frighten them, a lot. His short, dark hair, black eyes, and bad teeth made him even more frightening to even the older students. (And probably some of the adults too) no one liked this man too much, not even Slytherins. But one could bet that EVERYONE listened to him.
"Professor Hollingsworth wanted me to remind you that you and Mr. Potter," Balic smiled widely at James, "have detention at this very moment."
"No, we have the right to eat first, don't we?" James loved to challenge authority.
"You appear to have eaten already. I suggest you go. You don't want to get detention again, do you?" Balic's voice was slow and deliberate, it allowed the object of his attention to become more intimate and attached to his words.
"Yes sir, we'll go now." Sirius grabbed James by the arm, not losing eye contact with the Potions Professor. They both ran to the fifth floor corridor as fast as they could.
Professor Balic smiled, showing his quite ugly, yellow, uneven teeth. He walked away saying "Enjoy your dinner!" to the remaining boys.
"That bitch made detention during dinner? GOD! I hate her!" Sirius yelled to James while running up the steps of the fourth floor.
"Well, that's not very nice, Sirius!" James smiled, trying to keep the situation light.
They arrived at the Fifth floor corridor and ran into the hallway where they were met my Servious Snape, waiting by the History of Magic classroom door.
"I've been here for an hour. I don't think she's coming out." Servious said.
"Well, there's only one thing to do then!" James said brightly. He and Sirius motioned towards the door.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Snape said.
"If you were me, then you would do this, Snape." Sirius turned back to look at him. "So, if your coming in, then come, if you're a pussy, then don't!" Sirius had learned that word from his father, who called his mother that a lot when he was little.
"Fine!" Servious walked towards them, but kept his distance.
They opened the door and saw a horrifying and disturbing sight:
Bernard Filch, the Castle Caretaker on top of Professor Shrub, the herbology teacher, without clothes on having sex. Filch's body was dark and crusted with matted hair and yellow teeth. James felt as if he would vomit! Get a moisturizer buddy! He thought.
Professor Shrub was a short, fat woman, not much to say there except the fact that she had a lot of hair on her body. (More than a woman should have!)
Snape shrieked with fear and disgust while the other two boys just stood there, amazed and also frightened. All three turned and shielded their eyes from the horror.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Filch screamed while struggling to get cloths on. He grabbed his wand and pointed it at the three. "Why are you here? You should be at dinner!
"Please sir!" Servious began to grovel at the caretaker's feet. Hs eyes grew red and snot began to come out of his long, hooked nose. "We came for detention with Professor Hollingsworth! Honest!"
"Detention?" Filch looked confused. "Professor Hollingsworth never has detention during dinner! You should know that by now, Potter, Black!"
"That's what we thought. But Balic said that we should have been there by now!" Sirius said defensively.
"Balic? That makes sense." Filch murmured. "Why are you still coverin' your eyes? We're decent now!"
"She's not." James pointed to Professor Shrub.
Shrub was still undressed on the desk. She was lying on her side facing the four male persons, exposing all. The rolls of fat on her body made it impossible for her to look attractive or seductive. But she didn't seem to know that.
"Good god Maxine! Put clothes on! There are children in the room!" Filch tried to find something to cover her up, but nothing was big enough.
"They're teen aged boys!" she said cheerfully, then her voice turned seductive (or, she thought it was seductive, that is.) "they can have some if they want…" she moved her body in such a way that made Snape turn around and vomit what little of anything that was in his stomach.
A few minuets later Professor Balic and Professor Hollingsworth walked through the hall to the History of Magic classroom, talking.
"You know," James finally spoke, "This is all way too convenient."
"Of course it is you stupid boy!" Filch said, "Balic set this up!"
"Oooooooh!" James said brightly.
Professor Hollingsworth gasped at the sight that lay before her: a naked Professor Shrub and Bernard Filch standing in front of the three boys who are supposed to be in detention with her.
"What is going on here?" Balic said with unusual calmness.
"We just came in and saw them." James pointed defensively at the two adults before them (filch and sprout)
"In my classroom?" Professor Hollingsworth was still quite shocked at what she was seeing. "What possessed you boys to come up here during dinner? And WHAT do you think you two were doing?"
Sirius wanted to answer that Balic told them to go up here, but the look that was given to him by the Potions Master made him say: "We figured that you'd like us to be here early, that's all."
Professor Hollingsworth shook her head. Then after a moment's silence, she said, "I assume professor Dumbledore would like to hear about this. Boys, go fetch him if you please."
The boys gladly ran to get the headmaster. When they were on the first floor, Sirius began to laugh. "James, you see the way Snape groveled at Filch's feet?"
"Yeah! Dear Merlyn Snape! Don't you have ANY dignity at all? Maybe we should call you Snivilous instead of Servious or something!" James began to laugh along with his friend.
"Hey! I like that, James! Let's call him Snivilous from now on." Sirius laughed at the idea.
"Alright then. Snape, from now on your nickname is Snivilous!"
"Mr. Filch, I'm thoroughly surprised by your actions. And Professor Shrub, I definitely would have expected better of you. The only appropriate action is for me to relieve you of your duties as Professor and Caretaker. After this year, your positions will be held by someone else. I assume you'll be packing soon?" Headmaster Dumbledore looked at the two through his old, half moon spectacles. He didn't appear angry, sad, or even disgusted. He just seemed to be confused. (Or as confused as he could look through all his hair and wrinkles) "As for you three, I expect you not to say anything about the events you witnessed." He turned to the three second year students. "Now run along. It's time for you to be in bed."
They all gladly ran back to their house common rooms. On the way to the Gryffindor common room, though, Sirius said something that James never had expected: "Hey, I think I found out why Remus is sick all the time. Get Peter up and I'll tell you."
They arrived at Peter's bed only to find him hanging out of the side, snoring obnoxiously. "Didn't we put a charm on him to stop that last night?" Sirius said.
"Yes, but we also put one on him the week before. Maybe there's a potion Remus can make. This is really getting annoying. Anyways, Peter! Peter! Wake uuuuup!" James began waking Peter in a singing voice. After much prodding, the small boy began to wake up. "Come on, there's something Sirius has to tell us.
They finally revived Peter and the three walked down to the common room.
"So?" Peter said tiredly.
"Ok, I found out why Remus is sick all the time."
"Really? Why?"
"I think it's because he's a werewolf." Sirius blurted it out.
James began laughing, "What? A werewolf? Right! And I'm a pixy!"
"NO! I'm serious!"
"Yes I know you are. But you have to be kidding!"
"No! I'm not joking! I really think he is!" Sirius crossed his arms.
"How do you know?"
"I've been watching him for the past few months. Every couple days around the full moon, he's sick. It's called Moonshine Madness or something. They get sick around the full moon 'Cause of the effect it has on them. Look, it's the full moon tonight, did you notice Remus in his bed? I didn't think so. That's because he's transforming. I don't know where he goes or how he does it, but I know he's a werewolf!" Sirius looked at his friends in such a way that they understood that he was telling the truth.
James sat down on a couch, "Do you really think Dumbledore would let him go to the school if he was?"
"He 'probly found out a way to get around getting people bitten. Listen, I know it's true." Sirius sat next to James.
"But if he is a werewolf, and people found out, then-"
"We have to keep it to ourselves." Sirius interrupted James. He stood up again, watching James and Peter. Peter himself was leaning against a wall. Sirius walked towards him and put his hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort the little boy.
"But," Peter finally said, "if it is a werewolf, do you really think we should hang around it anymore. It could be dangerous!"
Instantly Sirius cuffed Peter's neck and slammed his head against the wall. "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT? REMUS IS OUR FRIEND! HE IS NOT AN IT, HE'S A REAL PERSON! HIS BEING A WEREWOLF SHOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING! IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT HE'S DANGEROUS. THEN YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE HIS FRIEND!" Sirius began yelling. Peter was whimpering, holding on to Sirius' hand, trying to loosen his grip on his neck.
James sprung up from his seat and ran to the boys. Even after much struggle, he was not able to pry off the furious Sirius. He was forced to take out the little rock from his pocked at throw it at Sirius. The sharp edges cut Sirius' head and distracted him enough for James to push him against the wall, away from Peter, he began talking to him to calm him down.
Sirius made many attempts to jump on Peter, amazingly, every time, James held him down. "Come on Sirius, you don't want to hurt him. He doesn't know what he's saying." James said in a quiet voice in his friend's ear.
"HE DESERVES IT! HE SHOULD DIE!" Sirius was so angry that tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"Calm down! Please! Imagine what would happen to you if you hurt him! You'd probably be expelled! You don't want that! You NEED to be here. For me! For Remus!" James finally got through to Sirius, who instantly stopped struggling and fell to the floor.
Peter was terrified but tried to walk to Sirius to apologize but James turned to him and said in a voice so angry and frustrated that it alone scared Peter off: "Don't come near him! Just go! GO!"
Peter ran back to his bedroom.
"You ok?" James asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. God, why were we even friends with that little rat?" Sirius wiped away the tears on his face.
"I don't know, man. But what do you think we should do about Remus?" James sat next to Sirius on the floor.
"I think we should let him know that we know. Tell him it's ok. Damn, I wonder what it's like to be a… werewolf." Sirius said.
"Tomorrow's Saturday, we can wake up early and see him First thing." James said, "Oh, and by the say, sorry for throwing my rock at you."
Sirius smiled and wiped away the blood that was flowing down from under is hair.
