A/N: OMG. Deeps here. I'm SO sorry. I'm updating after ages, and I feel all mean. But I suppose since my internet went wonky for quite a bit of time, I can be forgiven. LOL. Anyway, this chapter was initially bigger, but I split it into two parts. The first part is this chapter; the second shall be posted as the next. I hope you guys like it, and that you're still around to read this story after all this time. Steph says hi, LOL. Since she's not the one who does the updating, the author's notes are solely mine. Anyway, see ya'll next chapter (which I sincerely hope to update soon, but I have exams coming up, so I can't promise anything…sorry!).

To Our Reviewers:

Kikilapele: Ooh, you liked it? Goody. LOL yes Prongs Junior is awesome. It seems like something Remus and Sirius WOULD fight about somehow, even if it is only to irritate Jamesie.

Poor Siri though, he keeps getting himself into messes, doesn't he? Hehe. Anyway, hope you like this chapter.

insanechildfanfic: Let's see if what you predict we're going to do comes true.

Calistar Heir: Thank you SO much. And we didn't think Sirius would've spilled the beans unless he was given a good enough reason to either.

LilJbg: LOL. Don't fall off that seat! Though after how long we're updating, you probably have. Maybe if we feel kind, sometime, Harry shall finally have his little father-son moments with James.

rosiegirl: Thank you.

Akanksha: The love triangle is pretty cute, but kind of scary. Imagine your mom or dad liking you…totally weird. And yup, Sirius has been stupid, and he's not going to like the consequences of his actions much. Thanks for reviewing!

Freak In Corner: Merci. Hope you like the new chapter.

Pleione: When this chapter was written, we honestly didn't think it was so good. But since we've kind of figured you don't give out praise very easily, we'll accept that. Thanks.

MoonyIsAwesome: I think we picked up Almighty Prefect from another fanfic we read a while back, can't remember which, but complete thanks to whoever came up with that. LOL at Snape's hair, maybe you should buy him a few hair care products. Ooh yes; James and Sirius were rather close in the last chapter, weren't they? They're not going to be that way for a while now though - at least not until the Whomping Willow issue is sorted out. And yippee, everyone seems to like the Sirius telling Snape part a lot.

Band Nerd Potter: I'm not telling you, LOL. Thanks though, keep reviewing!

charmedtomeetyouNice name, and thanks.

james4eva: We haven't thought about including a Quidditch match in the fic, but since you ask, we'll try to introduce it somewhere if possible. Thanks.

Somewhere I Belong

Chapter 11: Rescue Operations

James had never felt like killing Sirius as much as he did in that moment. Pushing through a portrait, he ran into a secret passage he'd used innumerable times, which led him straight to the ground floor. After glancing to see if there were any patrolling teachers, he dashed quickly out the school doors, and towards the Whomping Willow. The tree was still, which meant Snape had probably entered a second or two back.

It occurred to him then that he wouldn't be running crazily across the Hogwarts grounds trying to save his enemy from a werewolf, if Sirius hadn't said anything. Snape just had to be stupid enough to take Sirius up on his suggestion to go see what Remus got up to every month when he disappeared, didn't he? Who listened to anything Sirius said anyway? But then again, who wouldn't have listened to him on this account? Curiosity was human nature, wasn't it? And Remus' periodic disappearances, if you noticed them, were quite jarringly out of place.

Sirius was going to get it from him, if he got out of this alive.

Finally skidding to a stop near the Willow, he picked up a twig hurriedly and jabbed at the root near the entrance, gasping for breath all the while. He was shit scared - but if he stopped to think about it, he'd probably just chicken out. For the first time, he would be entering the Willow without the protection of his Animagus form, because he didn't think Prongs could help with getting Snape out of there alive. He'd seen how Moony got when there were humans around. Those times, however, the humans had been fairly far away, so that Padfoot and Prongs were able to control him. Snape was probably much closer than any of those people, and once James went in there, there was no saying what the werewolf could do to them.

He ducked down and rushed through the tunnel as fast as he could while being bent double. He could hear Snape's footsteps echoing faintly ahead of him, but softly enough to figure that the other boy wouldn't hear him if he yelled out. Thoughts were running through his head faster than he could register them. Steeling his nerves, he moved on, finally dashing into the house, towards the room Moony usually inhabited. He could now see Snape standing at the entrance to the room, his posture rigid, as if he were in shock. He looked beyond the black-haired boy's shoulder, and saw the werewolf turn suddenly, as if it had suddenly registered the presence of humans there.

Oh Merlin, this was not good. What was he supposed to do?

Moony roared, and rushed forward. James' heart rushed into overdrive. It was all he could do to raise his wand over Snape's shoulder and yell.

"Impedimenta!"

It worked.

Moony stopped in his tracks, and James rushed forward, thinking fast. Grabbing Snape, he pulled him backwards toward the tunnel, hoping to get out of there or at least a relatively safe distance away before the spell's effect was lost. Snape stumbled, but started moving finally, and they both rushed into the tunnel - Snape first, James second.

Suddenly there were pounding footsteps heard behind them, accompanied with loud, ferocious growls.

"Shit shit shit! The spell's stopped working. Hurry, Snape," James gasped out, desperately trying to speed up.

For once, Snape listened without arguing. There was no hope of shooting spells at the werewolf, since they couldn't see it, so they ran. The werewolf's footsteps seemed to grow louder and nearer with every passing second.

James was starting to tire, but he pushed himself forward, stopping himself from looking back to see where Moony was, because that would only serve to slow him down.

Yes! He could see the entrance, he could! Now if only they could get there in time to stop from being werewolf chow. Snape fell to his knees as he reached, groping for the root frantically.

"Damn it. Potter, where is this bloody root? We're going to die," Snape said tersely.

"Move over, I'll find it. Keep your wand at the ready, okay?" James gasped, dropping down quickly into Snape's position. He quickly moved his hand around outside, finally managing to get hold of the root.

"Go now!"

Snape didn't need telling. He rushed out quickly, as James tried to duck out while still holding onto the root.

He could hear Moony's footsteps quite loudly now, and knew the werewolf was just a few feet away now. He would have to risk getting out while the tree was moving. He crawled out, letting go of the root, and got to his feet, dragging his right lower leg out of the entrance just in time to miss Moony's paw, which grazed against it lightly before the Willow started moving again, preventing the werewolf from getting out. James ducked, trying to avoid the branches swishing crazily about him. Just as he thought he was going to get out of the tree's reach unharmed, a branch swung towards him, and before he knew it, his feet were in the air and he was flying towards the ground.

He crashed against the ground, and felt his glasses break. He thought he heard a bone snap, but wasn't too sure which one - he was aching all over, and his thoughts were growing increasingly difficult to hold on to. Exhausted, he finally gave in to the blackness invading his mind.

Sirius dragged himself after Dumbledore, to whom he had just narrated the evening's happenings in a desperate, horrified rush. Dumbledore hadn't said anything about what Sirius had done as yet - just that he would deal with it after assuring that Snape, James and Remus were safe. Now they were making their way to the grounds. Sirius had never seen Dumbledore walk so fast before. He almost had to run to keep up.

After James had left to follow Snape, Sirius had sat staring at the wall in a daze for a few minutes, shocked by how cold James had been towards him. He hadn't expected him to react in the way that he had. In fact, he didn't know what he had expected. Now, though, he was just hoping desperately that his best friend was alive. He didn't know what he would do if he knew he was responsible for anything that happened to James. Or Remus, for that matter. Oh Merlin, Remus was going to kill him when he found out about this.

Sirius bit at his nails furiously, feeling increasingly more worried and tense as the minutes went by.

He had met Peter while leaving the Gryffindor common room, and just told him that they weren't to go to the Willow that night, finally leaving the other boy with a hurried promise of explaining everything later. He wasn't sure he wanted to explain the situation to anyone anymore.

They were nearing the Willow. Dumbledore, who was a few paces ahead of him, suddenly came to a stop, kneeling down before a body lying there. Sirius ran ahead, coming to a stop near the old man, who was now turning over the boy lying motionlessly on the ground. It was Snape. He didn't seem to be hurt in any way though – just unconscious. Sirius internally sighed with relief.

"Well, Mr. Black, it appears that Mr. Snape is quite alright, but seems to have lost his consciousness," Dumbledore said, in his usual calm tones, straightening up and starting to look around again. Sirius nodded silently in response, feeling like hitting the headmaster. How could he be so calm even in such situations?

He looked around desperately for James then, who he could not see anywhere nearby. He turned this way and that, his consternation building as he continued to see no sign of his messy-haired, bespectacled friend.

"Damn it! James, where are you?" he muttered under his breath, walking around the Willow. Something crunched under his boots, and he lifted his foot, only to find James' spectacles in quite a broken state. Sirius let out a huge sigh of relief, leaning down to pick them up. That had to mean James was safe. Or so he hoped. Touching his wand to the glasses, he muttered, "Reparo."

Gazing around again with slightly more hope, he saw something that looked rather like James' lanky hand, sticking out from behind a bush. He rushed towards the bush and went around to its other side. James was there, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead and his arm bent in a horridly crooked manner, but otherwise he looked…well…alive, and that was all Sirius wanted. Calling out to Dumbledore, he worked on hauling James up. With James' good arm slung over his shoulder, he moved out towards where Dumbledore was standing.

Dumbledore beckoned to him to follow him, before turning around and walking towards the school, Snape floating by in front of him. Sirius shuffled along behind him, supporting James as he walked.

They entered the hospital wing soon enough, where Snape and James were handed over into Madam Pomfrey's capable hands. Dumbledore quickly gave her a brief summary of what had progressed earlier that evening, during which Sirius tried to avoid the glances Madam Pomfrey threw his way, feeling the guilt over what he had done well up yet again.