Snape heard Hermione scream echoes from the dungeons, he ran out to see what happened outside there. As he stopped in the corridor and saw the Whomping Willow branches swept Hermione up to the sky.

His eyes in fear and panic to see her like that. What is happening to her?

Down the ground, Snape sees Harry looking for something that didn't help her much. Perhaps looking for his glasses.. maybe.

Snape ran to get them. "Good evening, Professor Snape...?"

"Not now, ghost...!"

Back to present in Shrieking shack. Hermione protects Harry behind her. Black snickering.

"Only one died tonight".

"Then it'll be you!"

Just then, footsteps sound. Black wheels toward the door, edgy. Harry eyes Black, wand hand shaking violently. As Black turns back, he stops, regards Harry cautiously.

"Are you going to kill me, Harry?"

Harry raises his wand. The door crashes open Lupin on view. "Expelliarmus!" Eying Black intensely. "Well, well, Sirius. Looking rather ragged, aren't we? Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within".

"Well, you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you?"

The two regard each other, the moment taut with tension, then Lupin steps forward and... embraces Black like a brother.

Hermione gasps unbelievably, she steps forwards a bit. "I found him".

"I know".

"He's here".

"I understand".

"Let's kill him!"

Hermione screamed. "No! I trusted you! And all this time, you've been his friend. He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes".

Harry and Ron stare, dumbfounded, at Lupin. Black howls then, bitterly amused. Lupin eyes him, then turns back.

"How long have you known?"

"Since Professor Snape set the essay".

"Well, Hermione. You are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met. No wonder Snape is really amusing about you.. I feel him.."

"Enough talk, Remus! Come on, let's kill him!"

"Wait!"

"I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban!"

Lupin eyes Black, then nods. "Very well. Kill him. But wait one more minute. Harry has the right to know why".

"I know why. You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead!"

Harry raises his wand when Lupin wheels and, with a flick of his own, disarms him. Furious, Harry eyes Black murderously. Harry's eyes flash to Black's, glittering with pain.

"No, it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents... somebody who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead!"

"Who was it, then?" ask Harry to Lupin.

"Peter Pettigrew! And he's in this room! Right now!"

Black turns then, to Ron, and croons in a cruel sing-song.

"Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!"

Ron draws back from Black's demented gaze. Harry's eyes shift from Ron's face to his hands, where Scabbers twists violently.

As a curious expression falls Harry, Lupin and Black, as one, raise their wands... when ..

"Expelliarmus!"

The wands fly from their hands. The others turn, find Snape standing in the doorway, smiling smugly. Eyeing Black.

"Vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you".

"Severus..."

"I told Dumbledore you were helping a friend into the castle. Here's the proof".

"Brilliant, Snape. You put your keen mind to the task and come to the wrong conclusion. If you'll excuse us, Remus and I have business... to attend to".

As Black approaches, Snape puts his wand to Black's neck. "Give me a reason. I beg you!"

"Don't be a fool".

"He can't help it. It's a habit".

"Be quiet. Be quiet yourself!"

Snape clicking his tongue. "You two, quarreling like an old married couple".

"Run along and play with your chemistry set!"

"I could do it, you know. But why deny the dementors? They're so longing to see you". as Black reacts. "Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh, yes. A Dementor's Kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best".

"Severus, please".

"After you". Snape's eyes harden. He gestures to the door.

As the others start to go, Harry glances at the table where Lupin has left Harry's wand.

In a flash, it's in his hand. "Expelliarmus!"

Snape soars into the air, hits the wall with a thud, and slides down. Ron and Hermione stare in shock.

"Harry! What did you just do?"

"You attacked a teacher!"

Later. Whomping Willow. Hermione felt guilty to leave Snape behind unconscious back at the shrieking shack, Snape trying to protect them from Black and Lupin and Harry got into a misunderstanding between these men.

Hesitating, Harry attacks Snape.

As Pettigrew emerges from the gap, he prattles desperately. As Ron draws back in disgust, a sleepwalking Snape bumps his head against a low limb. Hermione turns to Harry.

Harry turns, sees Black staring in wonder at the castle, shining radiantly under the bright bowl of the night sky.

Harry looks at Hogwarts. Grins. Sirius does the same. Then, Hermione's voice rises in the air, quivering with fear.

"Harry!"

He turns, sees Hermione staring at the full moon. His eyes shift. Lupin is a rigid silhouette, his fingers twitching.

"Remus, my old friend. Have you taken your potion tonight?"

Lupin, twitching, shakes his head. Pettigrew's eyes dart, taking in the situation, then slowly shift, note the wand trembling in Lupin's lengthening fist.

"Run. All of you. Now".

But none of them do, transfixed, watching as bristles poke through Lupin's skin. Black steps forward, wraps his arms around his friend, presses his mouth to his ear.

"You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! Here! This flesh is only flesh!"

As Lupin's wand drops... Pettigrew leaps. Harry flashing his wand. "Expelliarmus!"

Lupin's wand flies from Pettigrew's hand and he freezes. Then slowly turns. Face blank, eyes closed, he... grins hideously. Transforms. Stunned, Harry watches a rat dart into the night.

"Harry!"

A howl pierces the air and Harry wheels.

"Remus! Remus! Run! Run!"

With a shrug, Lupin tosses Black into the air, then turns. He is no longer human. He's a werewolf. Harry and Hermione begin to edge back.

"Come on".

"Wait. Wait". The werewolf's eyes blaze. Long teeth glitter. "Professor? Professor Lupin?"

"Hermione! Bad idea. Bad idea".

Then... a horrifying growl erupts from its throat. "Nice doggy. Nice doggy!"

Harry and Hermione spin, begin to flee... and run flat into Snape. As they collapse in a great clumsy pile, Snape's eyes flutter open, the spell broken. Seeing Hermione atop him, he sweeps her aside...

"Out of the way! There you are, Potter!"

... and finds the werewolf preparing to pounce. Leaping to his feet, Snape draws his wand and steps forward, shielding Hermione, Harry and Ron.

The werewolf howls, sprints forward, when a giant dog intercepts it in midair. They hit the ground in a fierce tangle of flashing teeth, a single horrible flailing beast.

Again and again, the dog pushes the werewolf back, but the werewolf is too strong...

"Sirius!"

The dog yelps, roars in pain, and the werewolf flings it into the tall grass. As it charges after, Harry pushes past Snape, dashes into the night.

"Come back here, Potter!" Hermione follows, but Snape holds her back. "YOU. You stay here with me!"

"NO! Harry is in trouble!" Hermione pushes Snape away.

"If you go, we're all in trouble!" Snape jerked her. "Listen to me. How many times I've told you.. STOP risking your life on something like this that I don't like to see!"

Hermione stops. Ron bloody doesn't know what happened between Snape and Hermione.

"Help Mr. Weasley to the Hospital wing.. and you? I need to speak with you in person!"

Snape and Hermione help Ron back inside the castle to the Hospital wing.

"Professor? What is going on.. what happened to Mr. Weasley ''. ask Madam Pomfrey to Snape.

"Tends Mr. Weasley first, Pomfrey then later asks for questions".

Snape grabs Hermione's arm, bolt out from the room. He pushed her against the wall, letting out her squeak sound.. Snape trapped her at the corner, so she couldn't run past him.

Her eyes met Snape darker eyes, making her whole body suddenly shivering as she stared at his angry face.

What will Snape do to her?

"How many times..." He whispers. "You never... listen... stubborn... you.. are.. young witch!"

She felt Snape hot breath on her face, he spoke again. "You Miss Granger.. you ask me to do.. this.."

"I didn't ask. Harry is my friend. Ron is my friend. How many times should I tell you, Professor. There was nothing to do with you!"

"I prefer never to hear this from your lips Miss Granger. Or shall I remind you that my eyes are always.. on you!"

Snape gently grabs Hermione's arm back inside the room. Pomfrey on his view.

"Tends Miss Granger, Pomfrey. I do believe she hurt herself.. very much tonight". His eyes to Ron. "As for you Mr. Weasley. You're lucky Black hadn't tried to kill you tonight because.. that wasn't he attending ``.

Snape gives a sharp look to Hermione, his foot turns, his cloak flows behind him as he walks.

"I believe Fudge is here for Black". He stormed out of the room.

Pomfrey, Hermione and Ron watch as Snape leaves. "What bloody is that?" Ron is confused.