Summary: James Potter has seen only the dark side of life since he discovered a secret when he was thirteen, and since then, he has been becoming increasingly cynical until he has reached the point he could be described as misanthropic. He begins his search for the answer to questions that will change his life, and along the way he encounters a bright patch of light in his dark world, namely Lily Evans.

Author's Note: WDBTN has met a speed bump named The Haphazard Ruse, my new love.

Disclaimer: I unfortunately don't own the concept of Harry Potter, of Muggles and Magicals, and all that great stuff. I'm fifteen and jobless, so if you file charges, my life will be ruined and I'll only know poverty for the rest of my existence. Have a heart.

When Dawn Breaks The Night

Part One-Meeting the Dawn

*

Chapter Four-Revenge Terminated

*

"Are you sure you don't want to come tonight, Prongs?" Peter asked James for about the fifteen time.

"No, Wormtail, nothing's changed since five minutes ago."

"Back off, Pete, James wants to visit our resident redhead at the library again." Sirius said, nudging James and Peter as they made their way to the first floor.

"No, I don't. She is the last person I want to see. She can't keep a secret for the life of her! Look what happened to me; the whole school knows that I am looking for my dad now."

"Actually, only the Marauders and her, but if you want to think that, we'll let you."

"You are such a pain."

"I know."

"Are you coming to Quidditch practice with us?" James asked, tightening his shin guard as he tried to walk, miraculously not falling until Sirius gave him a push. "I officially revoke that invitation."

"I officially decline the revoked invite. I have some last minute stuff to do before we go tonight."

*~*~*

"Is the humming necessary? We have three months until Christmas?"

"Only seventy days." Lily corrected, and resumed her humming of 'Winter Wonderland' as she scanned articles.

"You are ridiculous."

"But I'm happy, which is more than I can say for certain other parties occupying this table."

"Are you saying I'm not happy?"

"Is anyone else sitting here?" Lily looked up as if she were searching for missing people. She got up and walked to the window to look at the stars and the glowing moon. "I think we have werewolves other than Remus."

"Why?" James asked, snapping to the window, hoping Lily hadn't spotted Sirius or Peter going to the Whomping Willow to accompany Remus in his transformations in their dog and rat animagus forms, perfected a couple years ago, effectively blocking her view.

"Hey!"

"I'm just trying to get a good look. Can you tell who it us?"

"Sure. It's Snape."

"What?"

"Severus Snape."

"I know him." James opened the window and leaned out for a better look. "Blessed Hell! It is Snape! What is that blockhead doing?"

"Going for a moonlit stroll?"

"This is not funny."

"I figured you would think it was."

"Not hardly." James spun around and started sprinting to the library exit, Lily chasing him.

"Are you going to get Dumbledore?"

James didn't answer, only picked up his pace. When he reached the doors to the castle, he purposely prevented her from exiting also. "I need to go alone."

"It would be safer if two went."

"No, it wouldn't. Stay here, Lily."

"But-"

"You can follow in ten minutes, not a second before."

"I-"

"Have no choice. Stay here."

"Can I get Dumbledore?"

"If you walk, don't run. I need ten minutes."

"James, I really don't think that's wise."

"It is, trust me."

Lily chewed on her lip for a few seconds. "Okay. Ten minutes."

"Thank you." James rushed out the door, into the blackness of the Hogwarts grounds.

Lily began staring at the great grandfather clock in the entrance hall, her eyes only darting to glance at the stairs or the door.

*~*~*

James ran down the stairs, leaping over the last three, and ran full speed toward The Dark Forest. Taking a chance he would never normally take, he transformed in the wide-open Hogwarts grounds, four hooves meeting the cold ground in a comforting rhythm in place of two feet. The tall teenager altered into a great stag, the dark brown coat so dark it looked black in the pitch dark interrupted only by the full moon. Giving his antlers a traditional shake, he charged on, his breath freezing in the air. As he came in sight of Severus Snape trying to maneuver around the Whomping Willow, the stag changed back into James.

"STOP!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs, hurling himself at the Slytherin in an American footbal worthy tackle, had he known what American footbal was.

"Get off me, Potter." Snape growled in a menacing sort of way, trying to fling James off, succeeding in a moment of weakness. He crawled on his stomach under the tree, somehow knowing to press the knot.

"No! Don't!" James panted, grabbing his ankle and pulling, but only succeeding in making the other boy's dragon hide shoe come off.

"You can't stop me."

"I sure as hell can try." Both wizards were determined to meet their very different goals, so a violent scuffle ensued under the frozen tree. At one point, Snape made the dive down the tunnel, giving James no choice but follow. They both started sprinting, Severus toward a far door, James after Severus.

"Stop it, you ignorant arse!" James again tackled Snape, who landed a rather nasty kick in his opponent's stomach, gaining another lapse of temporary freedom. "There is a fully-developed werewolf behind that door!"

"That's one of your more interesting excuses."

"Seriously, Snape, there is, now get away from that door."

"Make me."

James attempted to do just that, but it wasn't necessary. Remus, the fully-developed werewolf in question, after smelling the scent of humans, leaped on the door from the other side. It fell in on Snape, apparently knocking him unconscious. Remus snapped at Severus's legs a time or two before James jumped in.

Once again changing into stag form, he competently stood over Snape, protecting him from the worst of Remus's claws, and all of his teeth. The big black dog which was Sirius, known as Padfoot, quickly followed, his eyes sad when he saw his deer friend. Prongs and Padfoot soon had Remus back into the Shrieking Shack, in and interior room away from the wounded human.

*~*~*

After eight minutes, Lily ran to get Dumbledore, questioning whether she really should have gave a mere student ten minutes. "Candy apples!" Lily said quickly, and rushed in, shouting, "Professor! Professor! I need your help!"

Dumbledore rose from behind his desk, where he was already wearing nightclothes with orange teddybears. "I am at your service."

"Severus Snape went to the Whomping Willow!"

"Go quickly and wake Madame Pomfrey and Professor Figg. I will see to this." The headmaster waved his wand, changing into warm winter clothes, as he hurried out of his office with Lily, then they parted ways.

Lily followed her instructions, and awakened the sleeping nurse, then the deputy Headmistress. Then she herself stood outside of the entrance to watch for anyone coming from the forest.

*~*~*

After Remus was safely caged, James and Sirius hurried back to the victim.

"Is he dead?" Sirius asked, his face very pale.

"Not hardly. Change back into Padfoot and get in bed. Use the sleeping spell and lie your arse off if you have to."

"What will you do?"

"Take him to the castle. Now go!"

"But, James, they-"

"I'll be fine. Lily was with me."

"Alright, thanks." The large dog reappeared and scampered off while James levitated Snape and hurried out of the tunnel.

They emerged from the underground tunnel about the time Dumbledore arrived, a grievous look on his old face. "Were either of you bitten?"

"No, sir, just scratched up a bit, I dare say we will both live."

"Let's not be too hopeful on that. Give me Severus and go to the hospital wing, and do not leave until I say you can. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell Lily to go with you, Poppy can most likely use her help." James nodded, and jogged lightly up to the castle, trying to keep his mind blank. He found Lily sitting on the castle steps, chin in hand. She immediately stood when she spotted him, and met him halfway.

"Are you alright? Is he alright? What happened? How about Remus?"

"All fine. Dumbledore said to go to the infirmary with me, that Madame Pompfrey could probably use your help."

"Okay. So what happened."

"Nothing. You know, he thinks I'm going to do something stupid. Again?"

Lily stayed silent, afraid she'd do more damage than good at the time.

James kept muttering something for nearly the entire trip until Lily decided to speak again. "He wants to talk to me because I was the one who told him what was happening. After the provisional ten minutes, of course."

"Thanks."

"What's ten minutes between friends?" Lily said lightly, trying to draw a smile.

"Are we friends?"

"I thought so."

"I think so, too."

"Great, we're friends, that was a major decision, glad that's over with."

"You're babbling."

"I'd rather hear myself talk than you mumble."

"Thanks for the kind words." James said dryly.

"No problem." Lily slowed down at the hospital door.

"What?"

"Is it going to, uh, smell in here?"

"Just like it always does. Antiseptic and stuff."

"There won't be blood will there?"

"Not much. Snape's not much worse off than I am."

Lily regarded his cuts and scrapes warily. "I guess that'll be fine." She swallowed, "I hope."

"Don't worry, there are plenty of beds to faint on." James laughed, apparently the thought ammused him, and went in, leaving Lily to either follow or stand in the corridor like a dimwitted hen before dinner.

She entered the ward without enthusiasm, and was hit with an overwhelming sense of nausea. Blood drained from her face, and apparently from her brain as she started swaying. James reached out to steady her, appearing reluctant to make contact. "I was kidding about the bed thing."

"It smells in here. Like lemon cleaner and alcohol, and…cabbage?"

"Remedial potions are made with ground cabbage many times. Weak stomach?"

"And nose."

"How unfortunate. At least you can rule out medicine as a possible career path."

"Thanks for that mind-blowing declaration, I'm sure I would have never discovered that on my own."

"Sometimes I have my doubts about you." James led her to a bed in quite a professional manner, and left her for a minute, returning with the school nurse. He was apparently briefing her on Lily's 'case'.

"Miss Evans, just relax and I'll bring a scented candle to alleviate the smell."

"It's really not that big of a deal, it just takes a little to get used to it, I imagine, really, don't bother with me, I-"

"Just shut up." James didn't say it meanly, just very bluntly.

"Yes, I can see you'll go far in the medical field, you have got one whopper of a bedside manner. I don't want a scented candle." Lily pushed the candle away. "Doesn't anyone find this utterly ridiculous? There isn't one blessed thing wrong with me, and scented candles are being shoved up my nose, but James who was mauled by a werewolf is standing there helping with the shoving of the said candle?"

"Excellent point." Madame Pomfrey turned expectantly toward James. "Mr. Potter? Please step behind a curtain and change into pajamas and choose a bed."

"What? I don't need to! I'm perfectly fine."

"Now, Potter."

James made a noise of disgust, but stomped behind a curtained partition all the same. Pomfrey was standing over him, healing various cuts and making tutting noises, Lily smiling innocently all the while, when Dumbledore, and Araminta Figg, Deputy Headmistress and head of Slytherin house came in with Severus Snape.

"Oh dear!" Madame Pomfrey flitted over to her new patient and started clucking over him, performing charms. "Students hold no regard for authority these days."

"We should be thankful Mr. Potter was there to save Mr. Snape." Dumbledore said, examining the two boys through his spectacles. Then, he added, "If that indeed was what happened? I would like to hear the story from it's beginning."

Lily and James looked at each other, deciding who would go first, so Snape took the opportunity to jump right in. "Potter and his little cohorts set me up! They left a note for me to find, and they led me in the den of a werewolf! Then Potter gets cold feet and chickened out, just like a Potter would, and tries to save me to look like a hero!"

"My patient shouldn't be that upset. Not at all." Poppy gave disapproving looks all around. "I shall doctor him over there, I wish you wouldn't bother him until he is healed."

"That might be best." Professor Figg agreed, nodding. After Snape was taken away, she turned her penetrating look on the two Gryffindors. "I would like to hear your version, Potter."

Dumbledore nodded, implicating that he agreed with this.

"I was in the library and Lily spotted him outside. I immediately went after him, knowing that Remus was there tonight."

"Why?"

"I wouldn't see any person put through what Remus has been through as a werewolf, not even my worst enemy."

"So you didn't lead him out there in any way tonight?"

"No, not at all."

"Is this true, Miss Evans?"

"To my knowledge. James did act very surprised when I spotted Snape walking outside last night."

"Do either of you know what provoked Mr. Snape into going to the Willow tonight?"

"No." Lily and James answered at the same time.

"I have no reason to distrust either of these students, Araminta." Dumbledore said, nodding at them.

"Neither do I."

"Then Miss Evans may go, and Mr. Potter shall stay here to have his wounds attended to before returning to Gryffindor Tower this night."

"I will see how Mr. Snape is fairing." Figg decided, and no more of her was seen that night.

Dumbledore sat by James's bed, and waited for Lily's departure. "Do you know who did this, James?"

"No, sir." James lied, as he knew Sirius would for him.

"I know you do, James, but I won't push you. There was a wrong done tonight, but also a right. I know you demand loyalty above all other things from your friends, and in return, you give the same to them, so for that reason, I will not question you further on this subject."

"Thank you."

"I will trust that you give me no cause to regret this decision."

"No, sir, I won't. I consider you my father more than the man whose name I share, so I would never betray you in any way that I could prevent."

"And I you. Before I embarrass myself, I shall go. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, sir."

*~*~*

The night was never mentioned among the Marauders. The tense look carried by James, and the guilty look on Sirius's face, and the upset expression that Remus had caused Peter to call for a pact: This incident would be dropped, and never be brought up again by one of them, no matter the argument or situation. And so, it was done. It would be something often to come to the back of their minds, but they all refused to voice it.