Ch. 6: Turned Around

I'm so tired and turned around and scared
I'm lying in empty beds again
Away from you

-Anywhere but Here by Rise Against

Four boys, one of them soaking wet, sat in Professor McGonagall's office. "Once again, Potter and Black, you have ashamed me. Mr. Aubrey is currently in the Hospital Wing, his head twice it's normal size"

"That's what I was trying to do!"

"Excuse me?"

Regulus, who was dripping from head to toe, blushed and said, "Nothing. Carry on."

"I have two witnesses claim you're to blame for Mr. Aubrey's predicament. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"Sorry, Professor," Snape and James chorused.

"I should hope so. And you two," she said, rounding on Sirius and Regulus. You have almost caused more trouble than is believable. Why, you've outdone Potter and Black!" James scowled at this, and Regulus grinned proudly. "It's not funny, Mr. Black."

"I'm not laughing," Snape replied.

"I was addressing your brother and I believe you were aware of that, Sirius Sadalmelik Black."

Snape smirked. "Yes ma'am."

"Double detention for all four of you," Professor McGonagall continued. "Black and Snape I will be informing Slughorn of your behavior."

"Yes ma'am," chorused Regulus and Sirius.

"Good, you may go."

The four boys got up and quickly scattered. James headed up to the Gryffindor dormitory, Regulus down to Slytherin, and Sirius and Snape wandered off in no particular direction. Sirius found himself in a random corridor in the dungeons when he heard a giggle. Turning around he was shocked to find it was Snape. Was it possible for Snape to laugh, let alone giggle, without another person's pain being involved? "What's got you in such a good mood?" Sirius growled.

Snape shrugged. "Life."

Sirius stared. "You sound like an optimist."

For a moment Snape looked horrified. "No, I'm not!"

"Whatever."

"So how was your day?"

"Okay, are you on drugs or something? You're acting like you're my friend or something. Anyway, my day was going fine until my brother kissed me!"

Snape stopped walking and stood stunned in the middle of the hallway. Then a disgusted look slowly began to creep across his face. "What did you do?"

"I told him to jump in the lake," Sirius said, stopping and turning around to face Snape.

"Ah. I was wondering why he was so wet."

"I didn't even think he could swim."

"He can't."

"Oh. I hate him."

"Me too. With the white hot intensity of a thousand suns."

"A passion bright enough to burn down the world."

"And put Hell out of business."

"I hate you to. More than him."

"My hate for you could move mountains," Snape said.

"Sure, sure, grand. So how was your day?" Sirius asked like somebody's mother.

"Oh, not bad, not bad at all."

"What was all that with Bertram Aubrey?"

"A simple inflation charm on his head. I don't know how your brother messed that up so badly."

"He's Regulus. Does he need an excuse?"

"No. But guess what."

"What?" Sirius asked in mock excitement.

"Since I'm you, there's one thing I haven't done that I should."

Sirius looked at him suspiciously. "What's that?"

Snape grinned ruthlessly. "Torture Snivellus."

Sirius' eyes widened. "No."

"Yes."

"No," Sirius said, trying to back away but finding his back pressed against the wall.

"Oh yes," Snape said smiling evilly and pulling out his wand. "Crucio."

Sirius' scream echoed through the empty halls. Snape walked away as Sirius moaned on the cold hard floor, rolling around in pain. When the effects of the spell wore off, Sirius sat up against the wall and moaned. After a while his moans became sobs and in no time at all he was crying outright. Snape had been giggling and acting all around like he was on drugs and Sirius was sitting on the dungeon floor and crying his heart out. He was so turned around and hurt and frightened he found himself speaking a word he hadn't used since he was three. "Mommy."

A/n: Okay, this was a filler chapter, so I know it was short and not that good, but I have a lack of inspiration at the moment, and I need a lot for all the writing I've signed myself up for-figuratively you know.

Review Response:

Thnku4thevenom: Thank you so much for being my faithful reviewer. With my inspiration dwindling, you're pretty much what keeps me writing this. I know that sounds overly sentimental, but oh well.