Chapter Five: An Unexpected Saviour

Snape was sat outside in the grounds, reading through some notes unnecessarily. His greasy forehead was screwed up in a frown as he tried to concentrate on what he had previously written and his hair was once again flopping limply around his pallid face. He couldn't concentrate for a very good reason; he still had that fabulous memory of nearly causing that stupid little Peter Pettigrew's torso to disappear. The look on his fat face had been priceless. Snape knew he wouldn't have had the nerve to tell any of his 'big friends', but he knew secretly that Pettigrew was the only person out of the four that he could have got away with nearly dissolving. Instead, he settled for the fantasy of pouring a totally undiluted burning potion all over that arrogant James Potter's head, and this helped him to read a little more clearly.

Inside the castle, James marched down the staircase through the Great Hall, his heart hammering loudly in his chest and an odd ringing in his ears.

'How dare he . . . how DARE he? What makes that slime-ball think he has the right to pick on MY friends just to get at me?' thought James. 'Because that's what this is really all about.'

James passed many people on the way to the grounds where he knew the little oddball would be hiding, poring over some stupid useless exam paper again. Younger pupils took one look at James's face and decided it was best to get out of the way. James Potter was largely known as a joker and a fun person to swoon over and generally be around, but there often appeared a fire in his deep hazel eyes that made people unnerved when he was angry. That fire was there now and everyone had the sense to get out of his way as he strode with a purpose, wand gripped tightly in his hand.

"PRONGS!" shouted Lupin from behind him. James ignored him. "PRONGS! Come on, now, don't be so rash! Maybe it was an accident!"

James stopped in his tracks and rounded on Lupin. "An ACCIDENT? How thick are you, Moony? This is just to get back at us for the hexes at the lake! Don't you see? Snape doesn't know the meaning of the word 'accident!'" and he resumed his intentional striding.

"But. . . James. . . this is exactly what he wants! Why do you think he did it? So we'd get angry! To provoke YOU! See sense, for Merlin's sake!"

But James ignored him. He knew perfectly well that Lupin was probably right, but the anger had not yet subsided. In fact, it was still boiling in his blood with a vengeance. If anything, Lupin's tirade was only making him walk faster.

"Padfoot! Back me up, here!" cried Lupin to Sirius who was hurrying along next to James.

"Don't be ridiculous, Moony! You think I'm going to pass out on an excuse to ridicule Snivellus?" Snape chucked.

James spoke, still walking. "It's not an excuse! It's a reason! He could have seriously damaged Wormtail."

"And what if he had? What would you do then? Kill him?" spat Lupin. James stopped suddenly and looked him in the eyes.

"I'm not like him, Moony," he said quietly, slightly offended at the suggestion that was being made. "I would never do something like that."

"No? Well, you're beginning to act like it, James. Because this isn't a joke anymore, it's getting out of hand." And he turned on his heel and left them both standing there.

After a few seconds, Sirius touched James's arm and said, "Come on."

BAM. The door out on to the grounds flew open with such force that it banged back against the doorway making a loud bang. People jumped in surprise and scuttled out of the way of two people advancing towards someone under a tree, wands raised.

Snape got to his knees; in truth, he had not expected Wormtail to say anything to James or Sirius. He always thought Peter would have been made to look weak and stupid had he said anything about the Potions lesson, but apparently, judging by the look on James Potter's face, the stupid little rat had over looked the embarrassment of nearly being dissolved by him. Snape felt in his pocket for a wand and tightened his fingers around it.

Over by the lake again, cooling their feet, taking full advantage of a well-deserved break and the sunshine, Lily and her friends were basking in the warmth when the noise of the great door banging jerked them out of their trance.

"Oh, my. . ." said one of Lily's friends. "What. . . they're going towards Severus again!"

Lily frowned, yet for some reason she held back this time. James looked madder than she had ever seen him.

"Oooh, they look really angry!" said Marietta.

"Oh, Potter looks soooo fine when he's mad, don't you think?" said another girl nearby.

"They both do," muttered Arabella under her breath. Lily glared at her.

"They both look like they're spoiling for a fight to me," said Lily. "What a pair of egotistical trouble-makers."

"Well, making trouble or not, I'd keep away this time, if I were you, Lily. I, amongst anyone with a brain wouldn't want to get in the way of James Potter's wand."

The other girls nodded in agreement, but Lily stared over in resentment.

Snape was on his feet by the time that Sirius and James were in a few feet of him. They both glared at each other, an equal amount of loathing in their eyes.

James turned to Sirius, but still glared at Snape. "Interesting Potions lesson, wasn't it, Padfoot?" he said loudly and sarcastically. Once again, as they had done before, people came over to watch. But this time, there wasn't an air of amusement lingering, there was tension. People were watching apprehensively, some with their hands over their mouths.

"Yeah, I thought so too. There was just one hiccup though," said Sirius, also looking to Snape.

"That wouldn't be the hiccup I'm thinking of where one of our best friends was nearly burnt into little pieces, would it?" snarled James.

"Yeah, yeah I think that's what happened. Maybe we should ask someone about that."

James took one step towards Snape. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you now, Snivelly?" said James in a malicious tone.

Snape blinked. "What if I do?" he asked defensively.

James looked to his right, appearing to be contemplating something. "Well," he said, deliberate to the point. "I'm not sure really. Maybe this?"

There was a flash of light and, for the third time that week, Snape was hung upside down, again trying to cover up his underpants, which were no longer grey. This caused many people to laugh as they remembered from before when they looked dirty. Snape had obviously washed them as a result of the taunting. He now began swearing non-stop at them.

"I thought I told you once before to wash out your mouth? SCOURGIFY!" James bellowed.

Bubbles emitted from Snape's mouth, and his dangling arms attempted to prevent himself from choking. Over by the lake, Lily could not stand it any more. She got to her feet and stood with her hands on her hips.

Sirius whispered in James's ears. "Oi Prongs, she's watching."

James glanced over to his left, most of the anger he had been feeling subsiding now, as the vision of a helpless Snape swam before his eyes. This, combined with Lily Evans striding angrily towards him, made his anger almost leave him completely.

"What am I going to do now?" he asked desperately.

"Well, we can't stop getting our own back just for a girl, can we?" asked Sirius indignantly.

James answered very quickly. "No! Course not!" He turned back to Snape.

"Well, Snivellus, I think this is a perfect opportunity for us to have a little chat."

Snape glared upside-down at James. "Save. . . save your breath, Potter. . ." he panted. "I'll . . . I'll get you later."

James and Sirius guffawed with laughter. "You'll get us later? OK then, we'll give you a minute to compose yourself."

Snape continued to glare. "You . . . t . . . think sl. . . slashing your face is the . . . the only w. . . way to get you?" muttered Snape.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch the meaning of that, Snivs. Maybe my ears need boggling. I'm sure yours do."

There was another bang, and Snape's ears had swelled to three times their normal size. Snape kicked his legs in pain, and didn't stop until they had resumed to normal.

"When I find out. . . where you . . . where you go every month . . . you're going to be expelled," he panted.

Sirius and James glanced at each other with mock confusion.

"And how exactly are you going to find out that, Snivs?" asked Sirius, enjoying the sight of Snape's head swelling due to the pressure of being upside-down for so long.

"Here, Paddy, we'd better turn him up. If he dies, we'll have to fill out loads of forms and it could be very damaging if we ever apply for jobs you know," said James sardonically.

"Oh, alright then, if you insist."

Snape flopped back onto the grass. James turned around and his stomach gave an ungainly back flip. Lily looked livid. He could see her green eyes shining from the distance as she stormed over, her red hair swinging as she marched and catching the dying rays of the setting sun. "Potter! Stop it!" she yelled once again.

"Ah, Evans. I remember telling you I'd have to hex you if you did this little 'stick up for Snivelly' thing again."

Lily took out her wand. Sirius and James blanched at this movement; they had not really been planning on hexing her. "And I remember telling you frequently to leave . . . him . . . alone!" she yelled.

James scratched his head, apparently thinking. "Wasn't there also that offer of going out with me, then I'd leave him alone?"

Lily scowled at him. "I told you, I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you . . ."

"Yeah, yeah, and the giant squid, I know. Personally, I find the squid rather attractive, but it's your call, Evans."

Sirius laughed, and so did a few others.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, my dear," said James, "I have pressing matters with Sniv . . ."

But Snape had already thrown his curse. "AMPIPAIN!" he bellowed. Sirius flew into a tree and James yelled in pain, thrashing violently on the floor. Snape wandered towards him. Sirius made a move, but found himself obstructed by an invisible wall.

"Another turn around, Potter," he said quietly, but loudly enough so that Lily and Sirius could hear. "Did you like that one? Works similarly to the Cruciatus Curse, but it's nowhere near as closely monitored. Not an Azkaban sentence anyway. Can't think why, myself."

He still did not lift the curse and James felt his eyes watering with pain. He hadn't ever felt like this before, never felt pain so harsh it was white hot, like a thousand knives; never had spots appear in front of his eyes. He refused to let himself twitch or shout out again; that would only make Snape happy. He heard Lily's voice distant again.

"Snape! Stop it! Lift the curse!" she cried, looking helplessly down at James.

"Shut up, Mudblood," he cursed spitefully.

James squinted in protest on the floor, Snape's wand still pointed steadily at him.

"You wanted to talk, didn't you Potter? Why don't we have that little chat now?" Snape said maliciously.

Whether Snape had thought Lily wouldn't have the nerve to stop him, or whether it was just his use of the word 'Mudblood' that had touched a nerve, he would never know. Lily lifted her wand.

"IMPEDIMENTA!" she shouted and Snape keeled over sideways. She obviously had a gift with jinxes; Snape was knocked out cold.

Sirius was now able to clamber over, and James gingerly got to his feet. He looked at her, unsure of her reaction. He ached all over, the curse having still not completely worn off.

"Don't think I just did that because I like you," she said quitly. "I just don't like to see another person in pain."

James nodded shakily. "Right. Well . . . thanks anyway."

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips but did not break out. "No problem." And she left to go back to her friends, staring at her in awe.

"You OK, Padfoot?" said James.

"Me? Never mind me! What about you? That was . . . plain evil is what that was!" he snarled, looking at Snape.

"Oh, I'm fine," James lied, trying to shrug off the fact that Snape had come very close to causing a serious scene. He hurt like never before. "C'mon. Let's go apologise to Moony. He means well."

"What about Snape?" Sirius asked, signalling to his unconscious form under the tree with malice in his voice. "He should pay for that."

"Screw him," he said and left. "You coming?"

Sirius looked down at Snape. "Um . . . yeah, in a sec. I just want to go and talk to . . . Arabella."

"Oh really? Well," he chuckled. "Ahem. Good luck, mate. May the force be with you." And he was gone.

Sirius, however, did not go over to Arabella who was eyeing him hopefully. Instead, he bent down over Snape, hatred pulsing through him for what Snape had just subjected his best friend to. "Enerverate," he muttered and Snape's eyes flickered. Sirius knew he could hear him.

"You want to find out where we go every month, you little weasel?" he snapped quietly. "Why don't you go to the Whomping Willow tonight, prod the knot between the branches and find what's at the end of the tunnel?"

Sirius straightened up, turned his back on Snape, who was rising uneasily and followed the path his friend had taken seconds before.