Chapter Six: Wild Thing

James lay in bed, streams of light from the dying sun filtering through onto his bed sheets creating sinister patterns from the swaying trees outside. Again, he could not sleep. This was due to two things; one, he hurt like never before from that abominable curse Snape had subjected him to, and also, he was thinking about Lupin, all alone in the Shrieking Shack, no fun to be had at all. As animals, they were able to keep him company as a werewolf is only a danger to humans. And now, thanks once again to Snivellus, he would be alone. He cursed Snape mentally on both accounts. But now, as he thought about it, Lily had saved him. She had gone out of her way to save him from being hurt. What did that mean? Did she like him now? No, she had made that perfectly clear enough. But it had to mean something, didn't it?

He glanced outside again; it was dark now, but the moon had not yet appeared. This meant that Lupin would still be in human form. James shifted restlessly, still unable to be comfortable. His ribs were badly bruised and however he lay, they throbbed painfully. He heard a snore from Sirius, but it sounded oddly fake. He had heard Sirius snore enough times to know when they weren't genuine.

"Still awake, Padfoot?" he said softly through the shadows.

The snoring stopped. "How could you tell?" came the voice of his best friend.

"You snore too often."

Sirius chuckled quietly, but it was forced. James knew instantly that something was up. He knew Sirius almost better than he knew himself. He sat up and squinted over at the bed next to him.

"What is it?"

Sirius sat up also, out looked away. "I'm worried," he said quietly.

"What about? Moony?"

Sirius paused. "Well, yes and no. I mean, yes in the sense he's alone, but no in the sense that it's something else."

James was wide-awake now. "What do you mean?" he asked, forcing Sirius to turn around and look him in the eyes.

Sirius suddenly looked scared. This unnerved James, as these expressions were reserved for each other only, yet still, they were rare. "I think I've done something stupid."

"What?" James said urgently.

There was a pause as Sirius chose his words. "I told Snape how to find Moony."

James's mouth fell open. "YOU DID WHAT?" he shouted, forgetting that there was a room full of sleeping people surrounding him. They stirred but did not wake.

"Keep your voice down!"

"When? W - why?" said James desperately, throwing his legs over the side of the bed.

"Today! By the lake, just because . . . because of what he did to you! And Wormtail. I couldn't let him get away with that, Prongs! I saw how much that hurt, and you can't fool me," he said, willing his best friend to understand.

"Sirius, you idiot!" James hissed. "Remus will rip him to shreds!"

"No, he won't, he'll just . . . shake him up a bit. He deserves it anyway! Sneaking about all the time, trying to find out what we're up to. He probably won't even go anyway!" But even as he said the words, he knew they were not true.

"That's bull, and you know it. Sirius, do you know what will happen? Snape will die, and your life will be ruined with a life sentence in Azkaban!"

Sirius frowned and tried to shrug it off. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Do you know what that place does to you? It sucks out all your insides. All your emotions, everything is gone when the Dementors get to you."

Sirius looked sceptically at him. "That would never happen."

But James was already pulling on trousers and a white vest top.

"Prongs, what are you going to do?" breathed Sirius almost fearfully. But James had already dashed out of the dormitory, Sirius debating whether or not to follow and see how the situation unfolded.

In the common room downstairs, Lily rubbed her eyes furiously, willing them to stay open. The notes held in her hands were simply blurring into one whole mass of jumbled text, which made about as much sense as blotted ink on toilet paper. She knew it must be really late; the embers in the fire were dying and she couldn't be bothered to light it again. Just as she felt ready to pack it all in and go up to a soft bed lined with fluffy pillows, a crashing noise behind her made her jump to her feet. Someone was hurtling down from the boys' dormitories.

"Potter! What are you doing?" she hissed at him. "I thought there was an elephant behind me. You'll wake everyone up!"

James really did not know what to do. Here was Lily, standing alone in the common room, illuminated stunningly in firelight, hands on hips, talking to him. And he was going off to save Snape. Life did not make sense.

"Urm . . . Evans . . . I need to . . . I need to go and help someone."

"Help someone?" she repeated doubtfully. "You?"

"Yeah." James looked at her, and contemplated for a second what he was doing. Why was he going to save Snape? Sirius was right; it WOULD serve him right. He was constantly trying to get them all into trouble just because he was jealous. It would serve him right if he was hurt . . . but a part of him knew he wouldn't just be hurt. And Sirius would have to take the consequences of that. There was nothing for it.

"So I'd love to stay and chat, believe me I really would, but, yeah. I have to go." He made for the portrait hole reluctantly, but she silenced him with a warning tone.

"I don't think so, Potter. I'm a Prefect and I absolutely forbid you to leave now. It's midnight for Merlin's Sake!"

James grimaced and frowned. Why now? "Listen, Evans . . . I mean Lily," (her eyebrows raised even more) "this is really important and I have to go. And you're not going to stop me. So, if you want to manhandle me, please. Feel free." He held his arms open.

Her mouth hung open. How dare he speak to her like that? More than once! How dare he stand there with his black hair all messy, sticking up yet looking handsomely ruffled, with his mischievously hazel eyes glinting in the dying light, with his muscles now more obvious protruding from that white vest . . .

Lily shook her head. "No," she said. "You're not going. You cannot just . . ." But he ignored her and ran, full pelt down the staircase. Unknowingly, Professor McGonnagal had been woken by the noise of someone clattering about and jerked awake. Lily followed him, but there was no way on wizard's earth she could keep up; he ran like the wind.

Snape edged his way along the slimy passageway with a horrible sense of foreboding. He knew how foolish it must make him seem to take advice from someone like Sirius Black, which would no doubt be bad, yet for some reason, he had to follow it up. He had said it with so much hatred, so much sarcasm-like mocking, that he had almost dared him to do it. Snape had to show them all, especially Potter, how willing he was to have them all expelled.

He had prodded the knot, like Sirius had said, and was astonished when the Willow stopped Whomping. Seeing it as a sign, he had continued down the passageway. It was sloping upwards and he could feel cold air meeting the warmer, feted humidity of the tunnel, it had to be close . . . yes, light was coming from up ahead. Now he would finally find out what all the fuss was about. Ahead, he saw an old door and sped up to get there faster . . .

Not far behind him, James sprinted down to the Willow. He had no idea how much of a head start Snape had, but felt sure that he had come. Snivellus never missed out a potential chance to get him into trouble. And now, he was going to save his life. What a loser he was.

Lily was also running as fast as she could. She thought she had seen James disappear into the Whomping Willow, but that was impossible! That tree whacked anyone who got within twenty feet of it! She had no idea how to freeze the branches, and so had no choice but to settle herself down on the patch of grass, wrap her hands around her knees and wait for the arrogant pest, James Potter, for whom she was risking a detention for while up over her head, the black clouds cleared to reveal a very large, white shining moon.

Back in the tunnel, Snape's hand was on the door as he pushed it open with apprehension. A scuffle behind him made him stop in his tracks. Potter was hurtling towards him. Snape got out his wand quickly and pointed it at James.

"SNAPE! What are you doing here, you great prat?" James shouted, his voice echoing off the wet walls.

Snape sneered. "Come to stop me from seeing the great secret, have you, Potter? Well you should have saved your legs. Your so called friend told me how to find out!" His breath was ragged and harsh from excitement.

"You don't understand, you great greasy idiot! He did it on purpose! You'll get us both killed, just don't open that door!" he shouted, willing Snape's oily head to comprehend.

But that was obviously the wrong thing to say. "What, you mean this door?"

Snape pushed it with his free hand, and it creaked open. The sight that met their eyes was seemingly normal. For about three seconds.

Lupin was curled up on the table, in human form. He turned sharply at the noise and came face to face with them both.

When he saw it was James and Snape standing there, all the blood seemed to drain from his face and he looked horrified.

"What in the name of Merlin are you doing here? What's HE doing here, James?" he said hurriedly, his voice shaking.

"Never mind, Snape, get . . . out . . . of . . . here!" James said trying to grab hold of SNape and haul him away.

But Snape was watching Lupin. He was cut off in mid sentence as his body became rigid. He began to shake and curled up once more, an astonishing transformation taking place. When he unfolded himself, James and Snape were standing in front of a large, very real werewolf.

"AHA!" yelled Snape, momentarily distracted by his own triumph than to let the appearance of a werewolf startle him immediately. "I KNEW YOU WERE UPTO SOMETHING!"

"SHUT UP! MOVE!" James yelled, but Snape was rooted to the spot. James did not know whether it was because he was frozen out of fear, or whether he was a brain-dead weirdo; he didn't much care. He threw them both backwards, dragging Snape as he went, shutting the door behind them. He knew they only had a few seconds before the door broke, and grabbed a struggling Snape by the neck of the robes.

"GET . . . OFF . . . POTTER!" he yelled. "I CAN . . . KILL THE WEREWOLF!"

"You're not killing anything, you moron, now come on!"

"YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXPELLED FOR THIS!" he blabbered at full volume.

James thought he was being rather stupid. He had hoped of slipping out quietly away from Lupin. 'No, this isn't Moony' thought James. 'This is a hungry beast. Moony's gone for the night.'

"Yeah, yeah, sure I am. Move!"

"I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE . . ."

"MOVE!"

James did not know how he got Snape back down the passageway; all he knew was that he was putting up a tremendous fight, and they both heard the door splinter open half way down the passageway. If anything, it made him drag Snape harder, still shouting random insults and threats, which were useless as James had snatched his wand as he snatched his robes, thinking Snape would rather hex him to death than be saved by him.

Back up on higher ground, Lily heard the commotion and got hastily to her feet. What she saw made her stop in her tracks. Potter had Severus Snape by the robes and was dragging him away from the Whomping Willow.

"POTTER! What are you doing? Let him go!"

James saw Lily and panicked. "Lily! What are you doing out of here! It's not safe! Look, take Snape back to the castle, get someone, and. . ."

"James, what . . ."

"Lily, it's not safe here! Please, just go and. . ." But he couldn't finish. The werewolf had burst through the entrance way to the tree with an almighty crash and was advancing on them, a hungry look in his bleak, unfeeling eyes.

"Merlin!" Lily breathed, her form going rigid.

James knew an easy way of controlling the situation would be to transform into a stag, and then he could take Lupin back to the Shack and seal the door. But he couldn't do that in front of all these people; he'd be expelled for sure then. Instead, he threw Snape with all his might away from him and the werewolf, taking out his wand. Lupin, sensing the movement, dived at Snape.

"PANGARAMOUS!" James shouted.

The Stunning spell hit the werewolf squarely in the chest and he staggered. James had never Stunned a werewolf before, and didn't know how it would react. In truth, nothing happened except it was momentarily slowed. Not for long, however, it turned around, sensed Lily on the floor, and went for her instead.

James's heart contracted in fear. If Lily was hurt . . . all because of stupid Snivellus's desire to have him expelled . . .

She seemed frozen to the spot, her eyes wide and bulging, unable to accept the reality that in about a second, a werewolf would be ripping her to shreds. The scene flickered oddly before James's eyes, like a slow motion old Muggle film. He sprinted towards her and jumped, ramming himself into Lily and they both rolled out of the way as the werewolf grazed James's heals; both landing with a thud while the werewolf-Lupin collided with a tree. Lily felt all the air knocked out of her as they were forced to stand quickly, ready for another attack.

James stood in front of Lily, determined to shield and protect her. Snape was still on the ground; James was glad he had finally mustered the sense to remain motionless.

James breathed out shakily. If Lupin was going to attack anyone first, it would have to be him, he could not let Lily be hurt. He held his wand in front of him, like a sword. He stared into the werewolf's eyes, willing the real Lupin to see through, see he was about to attack his friend, see how stupid it was. But Lupin could not see through. All the werewolf could see was a large dinner. James could feel Lily trembling behind him, her hand clutched his shoulder. . .

"SHIELDUSEMPRA!" James shouted and just as the werewolf leaped, an invisible yet air rippling shield appeared in front of Lily and himself.

The werewolf hurled himself at the shield; it rippled dangerously but remained intact. James knew it would not last for long. He looked around for Snape, determined to get them all back up to the castle unscathed . . . but even as he thought this, his shield charm shattered with a loud bang and a force which once again knocked him and Lily off their feet.

The werewolf reared and jumped, teeth gnashing, claws slashing the air. James threw his arms over Lily, 'any second now . . .' he thought, almost feeling the pain of the claws carving his flesh before it happened. He screwed up his eyes tight . . .

"IMPEDIMENTA MAXIMUS!" bellowed another voice.

But it was not from Snape. The werewolf fell in a heap onto the ground, panting, immobilised and unable to rise further. They were saved.

McGonnagal stood, framed in the moonlight above, tartan dressing gown rippling fiercely in the wind. She looked livid; a muscle was twitching in her jaw.

"I hope you all have a very good explanation for this," she said dangerously. But James didn't care if he got a month's worth of detentions. He slumped back onto the grass and let the wonderful feeling of relief flood through him as Lily stared, appalled up at McGonnagal.