Chapter Two

A/N: Okay, this is the second part of what we wrote last night. I was too tired to edit it all last night, so here's the rest. Please let us know how it is!

Sirius' dark eyes were usually warm with life and humor, but as he turned his gaze on Snape they were icy and almost murderous. "I swear to you, if you say anything to anybody, I will kill you."

Snape looked almost shaken by this. So he was right. It was Lupin. "It's so blaringly obvious," he stammered. "He's gone every month... once a month without fail. For as long as he's been at Hogwarts... The whole school should know by now or their all dimmer than I thought!"

A dark grin spread over Sirius' face. "And you're right there with them." He lunged forward. "Now run!"

Snape felt himself stumble forward and being dragged along with the slightly taller Sirius. His eyes fell on the werewolf coming at them and he began to keep up. "Why on earth are we heading further into the woods?" he demanded at last.

"Because we can't lead him back to the school, and guess what, oh ingenious one, he doesn't turn back until morning!"

"Why not lead him back to the school? They'll do something about it!"

"Are you a complete moron? They can't do anything because there's nothing to be done! There is no cure for this! "

"There's something that cures everything," Snape sneered.

"Well, I could kill you and cure your idiocy."

"Death is the cure for everything," the Slytherin hissed.

Sirius opened his mouth to retort when he stopped short, causing the other boy to run into him.

"Thinking about taking me up on my idea?"

"Shut up!" he whispered harshly, turning in a half circle. He couldn't see anything, and he couldn't hear anything. That bothered him.

"Lose your pathetic-" Severus Snape's snide remark was cut off as one huge werewolf paw smashed into him, sending him flying. He hit a tree with a sickening thud and slid down it. His vision swam.

"I almost wish I could feel sorry for you." Sirius murmured. He turned to face the beast -his friend- that had surprised him. "Now, Remus, that wasn't very nice."

The creature before him might have been Remus earlier that evening, but it's golden eyes held none of the gentle humour that his best friend's did. These were out for blood.

"Mmmm. Okay then. Running." Sirius turned and fled towards the shack. He knew Remus would follow him, because his scent would stand out to the werewolf more than Snape's would.

Follow Remus did. He was hot on Sirius' heels by the time the formerly-taller boy dove into the entrance to the Shrieking Shack.

Sirius slammed the door shut as claws ripped through it a second later. He staggered backwards and half climbed half fell up the stairs. He stopped at the top to wonder what the hell he was doing. He didn't even know if the potion would work post transformation, and even if it could, how in the world was he supposed to get Remus to take it?

He shook his head in frustration. He'd find out when he got to it. That was that and Remus broke through the door and caused the other Marauder to all but fly up the stairs.

He grabbed the vial and stood there. He had nowhere to run, so the only choice was to face Remus' demons for him.

The werewolf in question appeared before him, snarling in all of his fury. Sirius steadied himself as his friend rushed him. It was the last possible second when he leapt into the air, landing so that he was straddling the werewolf's back, potion in hand.

Remus was fairly uncooperative. He thrashed and clawed at the prey /Sirius/ on his back. Sirius saw his opening, and shoved the vial into Remus' mouth, just as one of the werewolf's paws caught him in the side.

Remus sunk to the ground, his body beginning to shrink into its wolf-form. Just as it began, the room filled with a strong light and he was thrown into the far wall, a yelp of pain escaping him.

Sirius looked up, his eyes hazy as he clutched his side. "Don't..." he gasped.

Snape stood with his head held high, obviously pleased with himself and the injured Remus that lay perfectly still on the other side. "He was about to kill you," he said as if it excused everything.

"He...wouldn't...damn you," Sirius struggled to stand and make his way to his fallen friend.

The rising sun's light shifted so that it shown through the window. Had they spent the entire night in the chase? It certainly hadn't felt like it... Remus let out a painful moan as his body shifted and formed back into a human. His eyes blinked open and he curled into a ball, pain searing every rational thought. "Sirius," he gasped, reaching a hand out. His fingers opened and closed almost convulsively as he managed to get his friend's name through clenched teeth once more.

Sirius made it to him and collapsed at his side, taking his fingers in his own. "I'm right here. You made it though." he murmured.

"You're hurt!" Remus gasped, forcing his own pain aside. "Oh, Sirius... Did I...?"

The rugged teen grinned. "Naw. Some nasty trees out there."

"Trees don't do that," the small boy said, his voice shaking. "I'm so sorry, Sirius... I..." He looked up. "Snape!"

The Slytherin crossed his arms. "Aren't you perceptive."

"Then you know...? You can't tell! Please, Severus! You can't tell anyone what you've seen tonight!"

"And why shouldn't I? Not only are you an unregistered werewolf, you've attacked two students tonight."

Fear welled up within the young teen. "Please, Severus! You know how werewolves are looked on! They'll throw me out of Hogwarts... I'll never have a place to go!" He stood up, unsteady on his feet and stumbling, but made his way over to Snape and collapsed before him. "Please..." he murmured softly, his strength leaving him with the blood that was pooling beneath him. How had he gotten that wound anyway?

"Don't beg him for anything." Sirius snarled. "I already warned you what would happen if you told anyone what you saw."

"And you think I believe you?" Snape scoffed. "That'd make you a murderer. Even you wouldn't go that far. They'd throw you in Azkaban."

Sirius stood with surprising ease and the grin of a predator crossed his face. "Only if I got caught."

Snape glared, but then his face changed. A twisted smirk crossed his twisted face. He put his wand against Remus' bowed head. "Don't move, Black, or he'll get more than a small wound."