Five Scenes of Hogwarts: A Prologue
by Lady Beatrice
Scene Two: Transfiguration
Sixth Year. 1977.
Last full moon of the school year.
In an empty classroom at Hogwarts School, a tall boy with dark hair was sitting on the window ledge and looking despondently out the window. He was very good looking, but at the moment his handsome features were marred by a brooding look on his face that was made all the more darker as the sun set, casting shadow over where he sat.
"I'm bored," he declared.
Remus Lupin, who was sitting at a desk nearby trying to finish an essay, appeared so used to this proclamation that he didn't even look up.
"Where's James?" he asked, scratching away.
"Quidditch," came the gloomy reply.
"What about Peter?"
"Remedial Charms." Sirius said with a roll of his eyes. Then he sighed. "I want to do something."
"Well, if you're bored you can help me with this essay, I have to get it done before I go to the Shrieking Shack tonight." Remus pushed his book towards Sirius who snorted.
"Something exciting, not that rubbish."
Remus looked at him nonplussed. "It's full moon tonight, how much more excitement do you need?"
Sirius shrugged and resumed staring out the window. Remus glanced at his friend a moment longer, then asked –
"Are you going straight to the Potters' this summer?"
"Yeah," said Sirius, a scowl appearing on his face. "Not that my parents are likely to notice…they've got their other, perfect son to dote on…" His scowl deepened.
"Regulus still a pure-blood aficionado then?" Remus asked.
"Yep," Sirius confirmed. "Tool," he added idly.
There was a short silence, in which Remus continued scratching away at his essay while Sirius tapped his fingers on the windowpane absentmindedly.
"I was thinking," he said. "You and Wormtail should come at stay at James' as well. It'd be cool, we could have another full moon together and - "
"No!" said Remus sharply, looking up. "We've had too many close calls already, and James lives near Muggles! If we get seen, it'd be straight to Azkaban – "
"Alright, alright," said Sirius, a most ugly look on his face. "It was just an idea, that's all. You didn't have to fly off the handle at me."
"I wasn't flying off anything; I just don't want you lot getting caught!" Remus cast Sirius a wary look, then turned back to his essay. "And incidentally, you need to be more careful."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "It's not as though I go around advertising that I'm an Animagus or anything – "
"I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about Snape."
Sirius frowned. "What about Snape?"
"He's been sneaking around listening to our conversations. James and I busted him trying to eavesdrop this afternoon."
"Did he hear anything?" Sirius demanded.
Remus shrugged. "Don't think so, we were talking about something completely different. He was hiding behind that tapestry of the Drunken Dame and James got him – Curse of the Bogies - it wasn't pretty."
Sirius snorted. "Serves the git right."
"Just be careful where you talk, that's all," Remus said warningly. He finished his essay at last and began rolling up his parchment. "I'm going to get some dinner. Coming?"
"Can't, I've got detention with Filch." Sirius stood up and stretched. "See you tonight then?"
"See you."
Sirius left Remus packing up his things and began heading for the dungeons, wondering vaguely what Filch would have in store for him. The caretaker was becoming vastly unoriginal – he'd already gotten Sirius to clean the Trophy Room twice that month, an obvious sign that he was running out of ideas for punishments. Sirius had just decided he was likely to be cleaning bedpans – one of Filch's pet penalties – when he heard someone call behind him.
"Hey – Padfoot!"
Sirius turned around. Puffing up to him was Peter Pettigrew, laden with books, round face pink and anxious.
"Remus around?" he asked as they set off together.
"No, he's already gone down to dinner,' said Sirius.
"Oh, no!" Peter wailed in a high-pitched voice. "I wanted to copy his Charms essay!"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "How thick are you, Wormtail?" he began impatiently, but then stopped; he'd just seen someone dart behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. Someone who looked an awful lot like…
Peter didn't even notice, he was still wailing.
"…incantations, and wand movements, I mean, how do you remember them all…"
It was the nose that confirmed it; Sirius saw the tip of it gleaming from behind the stone. Struck by a sudden idea, he moved slightly to the right so he was partially hidden behind a suit of armour and pulled out pen and parchment.
"…anyway, what's the point of learning non-verbal spell for Charms, it's not useful like in Defense Against the Dark Arks…"
Crouching awkwardly, Sirius managed to inconspicuously write the following note:
Prongs,
Hogsmeade tonight – meeting Moony for usual business. Use secret passage under Whomping Willow (don't forget to hit the knot!). Bring the Invisibility Cloak. See you there!
- Padfoot
Peter had finally realized something was amiss.
"What are you doing?" he demanded.
"Tying my shoelace," Sirius lied, folding up the parchment as Peter tried to read it upside-down. "Let's go."
As they continued walking, Peter resumed complaining and, glancing around, Sirius took the opportunity to drop the folded message right beside the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. From the corner of his eye, he saw a dark figure dart out and snatch it up. Sirius grinned.
"…there's nothing even wrong with my wrist movement, and Charms is a stupid subject anyway." Peter finished his tirade in a satisfied note. Then he noticed Sirius smirking. "What's so funny?" he asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," said Sirius loftily. Then he burst out laughing. "Well, not nothing, listen to this…" And he told Peter what he had done.
To Sirius' annoyance, Peter seemed more troubled than amused at his description of the prank.
"I suppose you think I shouldn't have done it?" asked Sirius, irritated.
"Well…" Peter hesitated for a moment. "If he gets to the end of the passage, he'll meet Remus."
Sirius sighed impatiently. "Well, you see, Wormtail, that was actually the point…"
"But Remus won't have us to hold him back…what if he gets badly hurt?" Peter looked anxious.
"Course he won't," said Sirius indifferently. "Snape's not stupid; he knows enough magic to escape. It'll give him a fright that's all."
"Oh," said Peter, his expression clearing. "I didn't think of that."
"The git deserves it anyway," said Sirius, beginning to smirk. "James and Remus busted him trying eavesdrop yesterday."
"And," Peter added, "I know he was the one what made my toenails grow in Herbology that time." He pounded his fist into his hand in anger; evidently the memory of this still rankled.
"I hope I get out of detention in time to see the look on his face." Sirius chucked. "It'll be hilarious."
They stopped in front of the stairs going to the dungeons.
"Until tonight, then, Messer Wormtail," said Sirius with a mock salute.
"Bye, Padfoot," said Wormtail, tailing of miserably to go to the library.
Sirius went down to his detention to find that, indeed, Filch wanted him to go and clean the bedpans in the hospital wing. Swearing a little, Sirius pulled up his sleeves and began scrubbing, the thought of Snape momentarily driven from his mind.
Peter made his way back to Gryffindor Tower at ten o'clock that evening, cursing Flitwick and his essay. He knew he'd done poor job (he'd had to made up a few incantations), but was too excited about the evening's impending adventure to give it much thought; he spotted James in the corner of the common room doing homework and hurried over.
"Hullo, Wormtail," James greeted, tilting his chair backward and absentmindedly rumpling his hair. "How were the Charms?"
"Vile," Peter said grumpily. "D'you know that's the third time Flitwick's made me re-do that essay?"
"Ah, well," said James, letting his chair fall back on four legs, "at least you've finished in time for tonight, unlike Sirius." He picked up his quill and refilled it. "Where is he, anyway?"
"Detention with Filch," said Peter, and suddenly remembering the prank, began grinning. "Hey – wait till you hear about what he did to Snape!"
He launched into the story about the dropped parchment expecting James to laugh out loud, but on the contrary, his face grew steadily darker.
"Let me get this straight," James interrupted. "Sirius actually told Snape we would be at the Whomping Willow tonight?"
"Yes," said Peter, his smile faltering a little.
"But he didn't actually say how to get through the passage, right?" said James, frowning.
"Well – yeah, he did," said Peter uncomfortably. "He told me he wrote it on the note – "
"He what?" James yelped. "Of all the treacherous – "
He stopped and swore loudly. Snatching his bag up off the floor and emptying it onto his desk, he began rifling frantically through the papers.
"James – what's wrong?" asked Peter unnerved, but James ignored him.
"Found it!" James said, pulling out a piece of tattered parchment and prodded it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." He scanned it and slapped a palm to his head. "Damn it! He's already at the Whomping Willow!"
"James, I don't under – " began Peter, bewildered, but James cut him off.
"Wait here!" he snarled, and dashed up the stairs to their dormitory. He returned a moment later carrying his Invisibility Cloak.
"I'm going after him," he said breathlessly, thrusting the map at Peter. Peter goggled.
"Who? Snape? But – "
"If I'm not back in an hour, tell Dumbledore."
"Tell – what? " Peter spluttered. "But – we can't – what about – Sirius said – "
"Don't you understand?" James spat out. "If I don't go, Remus will be expelled and Snape will be dead. If I don't come back, tell Dumbledore."
James dashed out of the portrait hole, pulling on his Invisibility Cloak as he went and sprinted down the passage. Taking a shortcut, he dodged Peeves, Stunned Mrs. Norris, and put the Leg-locker curse on Filch as he was about to lock the doors leading outside. He ran across the lawn to the sound of Filch's howl of rage, and smirked to himself despite the crucial hour. Well, as it's Filch…
Panting, he reached the Whomping Willow, prodded the knot with a stick and took the passage at run, clutching the stitch in his side. The Cloak had come off as he'd dashed across the grounds…he hoped Hagrid would find it and bring it back…
Hurtling around a corner, he swore, there was still no sign of Snape.
"You idiot, Sirius," he cursed savagely as he continued running…he had never been more angry at his best friend…he'd put Remus, Snape's and now his own life in jeopardy…and if he didn't pull back Snape in time they'd be expelled…or worse… Azkaban…
Finally, he saw it, a dim light moving ahead of him, held aloft by –
"SNAPE!" James yelled, putting forth an extra burst of speed. "SNAPE! STOP!"
The figure turned around. Snape's black eyes narrowed as James skidded to a halt in front of him, panting.
"Potter," he sneered. "I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here."
"Snape," James gasped. "We need to go back – it's not safe – "
"Not safe?" Snape's sneer became more pronounced. "What are you afraid of…expulsion perhaps?"
"Look," said James angrily. "Just – just come back up to the castle. I'll explain there but we need to get out of here. Now!"
"Do not give me orders, Potter," Snape hissed. "I know you're up to something, and I will find out what it is, if it's the last thing I do."
"Don't you understand?" said James savagely. "This is all just a stupid prank of Sirius'! He dropped that parchment on purpose to lure you in here because if you reach the end of this tunnel you'll meet – "
He stopped. Snape's eyes were narrowed to slits.
"Meet what?"
"N-nothing," James gasped. Snape's eyes glittered. He turned around and began striding towards the Shrieking Shack again.
"Snape – NO!" James yelled desperately, brandishing his wand. "Incarcer – "
But Snape was too fast for him – a flash of light and James was thrown onto the ground winded; another flash of light and his wand flew out of his hand, into the surrounding blackness.
"How I hoped," said Snape, breathing heavily, his sallow face illuminated by the dim wand light, "that I would be the one to catch you. Now we shall see…"
"It isn't what you think, Snape," James breathed, still on the floor and hating every inch of the being who put him there. "We need to turn back, you'll regret it if you don't…"
Snape sneered.
"I've been waiting too long, Potter..."
He turned, intending to walk back up the tunnel when James yelled out –
"Remus is a werewolf!"
Snape stopped dead.
"Yeah, that's the big secret," James spat out. "Haven't you noticed he's always gone on the full moon? This tunnel leads to the Shrieking Shack, that's where they take him every month so he can Transform. If you reach the end, he'll attack you! Now come on, we need to go – "
"Liar," said Snape quietly, turning slowly around to face him.
"What do you mean liar?" James snarled. "That's the truth, isn't it?"
"I'm not a fool," Snape hissed. "Padfoot…Prongs…there's more to this business than what you're telling me."
The colour drained from James' face as he watched Snape turn on his heel and walk away…he would reach the Shrieking Shack in seconds…he might have to Transform to save him…but he couldn't…
Snape turned a corner and light disappeared with him, James was left in pitch blackness. Feeling frantically around for his wand, James banged his head hard on a bit of protruding rock and felt blood dripping into his eye; swearing, he said "Lumos!" and to his infinite relief, his wand tip lit up. Snatching it up, he hurried after Snape.
Rounding the corner, his stomach dropped. Snape was right in front of the door to the Shrieking Shack…he was pulling it open…
"SNAPE – STOP!" James yelled, running forward in panic. "JUST - STOP!"
He could hear Remus' snarls from within; saw the look of horror that crossed Snape's face as the great, wolfish body hurtled across the room towards the open door; Snape stood there, frozen in terror…
"MOVE!" James threw himself forward and shoved Snape out of the way, both of them hit the hard dirt floor, rolling over and over, wands flying from their hands. Gasping, James reached over, and grabbed his wand.
"COLLOPORTUS!" he yelled.
The door to the Shrieking Shack slammed shut just as Remus reached it. James heard his entire body slam against it, the whole wall shook and earth fell from the roof of the tunnel from the impact. There was the sound of scrabbling, then the wolf began to howl.
Relief flooded through him as James shut his eyes, drained and exhausted.
"Get off me, Potter!"
He felt himself being thrown roughly aside. Snape scrambled to his feet, face grazed and bloody, but a look of insurmountable fury and hatred etched on to every feature.
"Coward," he spat, and strode off down the tunnel.
Coward…James felt a rush of anger. "I just saved your life!" he said furiously, running after Snape. "I saved your life!"
Snape turned to face him; he was shaking. "So you think you're a hero now?" he said, his voice a deathly whisper, "You only came after me because you got cold feet – "
"I told you, I didn't know anything about the prank," said James angrily. "I know we don't like each other, but I would never want you dead."
The two boys looked at each other, and for the first time James saw something flicker in Snape's impenetrable black eyes. Something that resembled sadness and loneliness, sorrow…fear…but then he blinked and Snape's eyes were unfathomable once more.
"I'm sorry," James mumbled.
Snape looked for a minute as though he were going to hex him, but then gave a humorless laugh and continued walking. James followed at a distance wondering miserably…what was to become of them all now?
It seemed to take an age for them to reach the Whomping Willow. James' feet dragged as he walked – Peter would have told Dumbledore by now; Sirius would be furious…perhaps that in saving Snape, he had gotten his best friend expelled in the process…
The tunnel ended at last, and James found himself outside beneath a starry sky, a cool summer breeze playing across his face. Snape was walking ahead of him. He looked towards the castle and saw a tall dark figure striding towards them.
Dumbledore.
Snape stopped in his tracks and James stood beside him, watching warily. Dumbledore's blue eyes flashed over their torn robes and bloody faces; Snape was still bleeding badly from the head.
James expected him to yell, almost wanted him to, but after observing the cut simply said, "Hospital wing, Severus. I will see you there."
Snape went off at once without looking back, and Dumbledore's eyes moved to James.
"Perhaps you should go as well – "
"I'm fine, it's only a scratch," said James hastily, wiping blood off his face. "Professor, I – "
But James stopped; he didn't know what to say. He wanted to apologize, though he wasn't sure why, it had not been him who lured Snape into the tunnel after all, and he'd risked his own life going after him, yet he could not help but feel deeply ashamed…
Dumbledore gave him a swift, penetrating look.
"I need to see to Severus first, but I would like to speak to you about what happened tonight. Please wait in my office, I will not be long."
James nodded and quickly strode off.
Dumbledore's office was full of snoring headmasters and headmistresses. James was by no means a stranger to the place, but tonight, he felt as though he were seeing it with somebody else's eyes…
Or else his own eyes had changed.
The door to the office swung open, and Dumbledore walked in.
"Sit down," he said, indicating the seat across from his desk, and James took it.
"You will be glad to know," he began, once he, himself, was seated, "that Severus Snape has not suffered any lasting damage. Madame Pomfrey is keeping him over night just in case."
James nodded. "What's going to happen to Sirius?"
"Mr. Black is being dealt with most severely. I have already had words with him. He is with Professor McGonagall."
"He's not – " James' voice stuck, but Dumbledore understood.
"We will not expel him this time, but we must impress the seriousness of what he has done."
There was a silence where James stared down at the desk between them.
"That was a very brave thing you did tonight, James," said Dumbledore gently.
James shook his head. "It wasn't," he said bitterly. "Snape's right, I am a coward…and now he knows about Remus…"
"I have forbidden Snape from telling anybody the truth," said Dumbledore. "I believe he will keep his word."
James looked up. "I just never thought," he said, "that a prank could go this far."
"It is easy to be thoughtless when you're young," said Dumbledore quietly, "but foolish, therefore, to remain so…"
"Remus always said were idiots for letting ourselves get so carried away."
"He was quite right," said Dumbledore. "But there comes a time for Transfiguration…"
James shook his head and Dumbledore's blue eyes flickered over his exhausted face.
"Time for bed, I think," he decided. "You have classes in the morning."
"But sir…" James hesitated. "What about my punishment?"
Dumbledore observed him gravely. "You have learned enough tonight," he said simply, and held the door open for him to leave.
James dragged himself down the corridor towards Gryffindor Tower. His head throbbed dully, he felt as though he would collapse with fatigue…and he knew, somehow, that everything would change with tonight –
Suddenly, someone shoved him roughly into the wall.
"You bastard, James." Sirius rounded on him, white faced and furious. "What did you go running to Dumbledore for?"
"In case you hadn't noticed, I just saved you from a life term in Azkaban," James snarled, shoving him back. Taken by surprise, Sirius stumbled backwards and nearly lost his balance; recovering he spat –
"Thanks to you, I've got detention every day until the end of term and I have to make a formal apology to that git."
"That git nearly died tonight – "
"He would have gotten away if you'd just left it alone! "
" – and I nearly died trying to save him!"
"So play the hero then!" Sirius jeered. "Save Snape and get me expelled – "
"What is wrong with you?" said James angrily. "If you don't care about Snape, than what about Remus? How d'you think he's going to feel when he finds out about all of this? That you used him as some stupid ploy – "
"I would never use Remus, he'd have thought it was funny!"
"You know he wouldn't have," James said. He looked into Sirius' face and added quietly, "I know you've had it tough with your family…but I don't know…you're just so reckless sometimes Sirius…"
Sirius looked for a moment as though he were going to hit James, but all of a sudden resolve left him and his face crumpled.
"Look – you're right, it was stupid - I'm sorry – "
"Just forget it," said James, shaking his head.
"It should have been me that went after Snape – "
"It's over."
"But – "
"Sirius. It's over."
The two boys looked at each other, but Sirius felt he was looking into the face of a stranger; this new, solemn James was like someone he'd never met. In silence, they made their way back to the portrait.
"Dittany," said Sirius, and it swung open. When they entered the common room, they found it in darkness, but for a figure waiting for them near the fire.
It was Peter.
"I – I brought this back," he said hesitantly, holding the Invisibility Cloak up to James. "Thanks," said James tiredly, taking it back.
They stood there in silence, staring at each other.
"Shall … shall we go to bed?" Peter asked timidly.
"You go," said James. "I want to stay out here for a bit."
Peter looked questioningly at Sirius, who shook his head and motioned that they should leave. Peter scurried up before him, but Sirius stopped and looked behind him before he left, realizing, with a pang, that James Potter was no longer the same person he had been yesterday.
END SCENE TWO
A/N –
To all you non-existent readers of this fic,
This, in my opinion, was a little long and boring, but a necessary part of the story. There'll be James and Lily in the next bit. Review!
LADY BEATRICE.