13. The Whomping Willow (Sirius)
Sirius' hand moved slowly along the cold railing as he walked down the spiral staircase down to the Common Room. James and Peter, bent over the same table he'd left them at about an hour ago, slipped in and out of view as he descended in small circles around the stairs' middle pillar.
The Common Room was quite empty by now. A lot of people had retreated back to their dormitories, taking their annoyingly high cheerful voices with them. The buzz which now filled the room could hardly be heard over the crackling fire.
Smoothly Sirius made his way over the wooden floor. James and Peter were sitting by the high windows. On top of the open books flooding their table, Peter was hastily scribbling over his already messy parchment, looking distressed with a wrinkled forehead. James had leaned back in his armchair, lazily studying Peter as he worked.
They had a big assignment in Defence Against the Dark Arts on Monday, and Peter had literally not written a single word when he begged for James' help earlier that evening.
"How's it going, Pete?" Sirius wondered when he stopped in front of them.
Peter shrugged but then proceeded to go onto a detailed account of the many different reasons his essay was a pain in the ass. Sirius hummed sympathetically.
"Will you be done soon?" Sirius asked. They should have wrapped it up way sooner.
"No," said James dismissively while Peter miserably shook his head.
Sirius' eyes narrowed as he stared at James who in return didn't bother to look at him. Not because of James cool tone - he had been expecting that - but was James actually going to let this get out over Remus?
"We're kind of in a hurry," said Sirius with faux patience.
Remus had gone to the Shrieking Shack alone this time, like he always did when they meant to let him out. Those months they waited a couple of hours before going down to the Shack to make sure everyone else were sound asleep. Tonight it had suited James and Peter perfectly. But now they needed to be with Remus.
"We're not done," said James, actually dignifying Sirius with a look this time. "You can go ahead. We'll be right there."
"We only have one cloak," Sirius informed him.
"We'll take the cloak," said James. "We're two."
Peter had stopped concentrating on his essay and looked awkwardly between Sirius and James.
"And how do you suppose I'd get there?"
"It's not that late, I'm sure you'll manage to sneak out." James waved a hand dismissively.
Sirius looked at James with gritted teeth. Sure, it was true it wasn't curfew yet, but it would be difficult getting out of the castle without being seen.
Sirius threw a look at the high windows behind James and Peter. A blurry reflection of the common room stared back at him; James and Peter sitting in their fancy armchairs with Sirius standing in front of them like a disobedient child. It reminded him too much of all the times he'd been scolded by his parents. Above the red and orange reflection of the common room the dark sky spread out, twinkling with stars and a perfect circular moon.
Sirius gave a firm nod. "Okay," he said angrily, looking back at James. "Be that way."
Frustrated, Sirius turned around and left the two of them and began to make his way through the castle.
It had been a weird week. James and Remus had barely spoken to him, and he had the creeping feeling they were talking behind his back. Multiple times he'd walked into a room to find them close together, their conversation ending abruptly when laying eyes on him. They had probably had enough of his secrecy, and him disappearing on Halloween had been the last straw.
The four of them had been excited for the feast on the 31th of October, but then Regulus had ruined everything. Well, that wasn't true. But he could have picked a better moment. They had been standing in the Entrance hall, waiting for their turn to enter the Great Hall when Regulus showed up out of nowhere, pulling Sirius aside.
'Bella sent me a letter," he'd said a little breathlessly, trying to hold back his excitement. 'She's arranged for me to meet some... friends of hers.'
It had taken a second before Sirius realised what Regulus ment. "I thought you didn't believe me," he'd said coldly.
Regulus had explained how he'd decided Sirius wasn't messing around after all. He was probably desperate to share his aspiration with his older brother, prepared to overlook all signs pointing in the opposite direction. But that suited Sirius perfectly. Of course he'd had to ditch his friends for an opportunity like that. That was what he had worked for.
Since Bella was one of Voldemort top-players Sirius had thought the meeting to be important. But he had been completely wrong. It had only been a social gathering to 'get to know the new blood', as one of the wizards had said, a friendly grin stretched across his stupid face. It had been entirely pointless. Sirius had spent the night sipping butterbeer and listening as Regulus and the Death Eaters discussed the insult of muggleborns at Hogwarts. Delightful.
All Sirius had accomplished was a dull night, angering his friends, and making Bella suspicious. She had not been happy to see him there, sceptically eying him the whole night. Sirius felt a jab of fear when he thought about it. What if she told his parents? They would tear him to pieces, not being as gullible as Regulus. On top of that, he had been forced to show Regulus one of the secret passageways to Hogsmeade. It had been necessary to get out of the sealed school, but all the secrets he and his friends had learned about the castle was something they wanted to keep to themselves. He had picked his least favorite way; a huge, but claustrophobic, tunnel system. If he was going to waste one of the passageways on Regulus it was going to be that one, but it had not been a fun hike. Sirius had almost got lost a couple of times, and he and Reglus, stressed and uncomfortable, had spent the entire time at each other's throats.
Sirius returned to the present as he left the castle and stepped outside into the cold November air. He swept his cloak tighter around him and shuttered. A pale, almost undestiguable ray of vapour left his mouth when he breathed out. He set of over the broad grounds; beginning a slow descent down gentle slopes and steep hills. It didn't take long before his robes were damped with melted frost from the grass caressing his legs. It was difficult to see where to put his feet, making him stumble over and over again on small rocks and irregularities in the soil he knew so well in daylight.
The Whomping Willow was far across the grounds. It stood alone on a meadow filled with knee-high grass waving softly in the chilly wind. The enormous black silhouette loomed over Sirius, its long, slender claw-like branches reaching out into the air. Right now the tree was still, but the moment Sirius stepped too close those branches would swoop right down in an attempt to slash him into pieces.
The steep hillsides from whence he came shielded the night's faint moonlight, keeping all but the far edge of the meadow in shadow. Glimpses of golden light from the castle windows far and high above seeked their way through naked branches and lush spruce trees growing on the mountains towering over him. Past the meadow, where the silvery light did reach, the dark wall of the Forbidden Forest spread out wide and thick.
A sudden movement by the mountainside on Sirius' right caught his eye. For a moment Sirius stood frozen with a racing heart, as a figure broke away from the shielding darkness and began to move across the meadow towards Sirius.
"Hello!" the figure called out, making Sirius jerk.
Sirius mouth gaped open in a silent protest. Then he clenched his jaw and straightened up, immediately reaching for his wand under his cloak.
He would recognise that voice anywhere.
The figure stopped a few feet away, still nothing more than a dark silhouette.
"Are you lost?" Sirius spoke eventually in a clear voice.
Snivellus huffed. "Black," he said, like he had expected nothing less.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius demanded.
"I could ask you the same," said Snivellus, the smirk in his voice impossible to miss. "It's nice out, isn't it," he continued in a casual voice, gesturing a hand at the scenery around them. "Perfect for a stroll in the moonlight."
Sirius froze.
No.
"Great," he snapped when he regained the ability to speak. "Go and stroll somewhere else."
"You know," said Snivellus silkily. "I had this interesting Defence Against the Dark Arts class the other week." He made a slight pause. "Professor Prequan taught us all about werewolves."
Sirius stared at Snivellus in silence for a moment. "So?" he said, even though he knew the battle was already lost.
Snivellus laughed maliciously. "Where's Lupin?"
"I don't know," Sirius sneered. His heart hammered persistent in his chest. "Asleep?"
"No he isn't."
"Well where is he then? Do enlighten me. "
Snivellus ignored him. "What's under the tree? A secret room?"
It felt like all words had left him. Sirius stared at Snivellus, trying to make sense of the thoughts racing through his head.
It was over. It was all over.
Snivellus took a few steps forward. He was now so close Sirius could make out his features. He had one hand down his robes, undoubtedly grabbing at his wand. The lips on his ugly face curled into a victorious smile. His eyes, glittering with excitement, seemed to lack any white. They gaped like black bottomless holes.
Sirius felt sick.
Snivellus was not going to let this slide. He would make sure everyone knew there was a werewolf at Hogwarts.
Remus' life would be ruined.
"Is it where they take Lupin?" Snivellus pressed on. "So he can turn?"
Sirius bit down hard, staring Snivellus down with sharp eyes.
"I can't believe I'm even surprised at this," Snivellus sneered. "I guess I thought even you couldn't sink this low."
Sirius swallowed the response he wanted to throw back in Snivellus' face.
He couldn't focus. Scattered thought ran through his head. There was only one thing he was certain of: He couldn't let Snivellus walk away from this.
How the hell would he be able to stop him? A memory charm ought to do it, but it was tricky to begin with. Sirius would need to do something more advanced than to erase Snivellus' memory of the last hours. He would need to take away the lesson with Professor Prequan, that moment a couple of months back when Snivellus caught Remus bleeding. Actually he'd need to erase every single time Snivellus had noted Remus' absence during their six years at Hogwarts. Suspicion had led Snivellus here, and if Sirius didn't take it away Snivellus would inevitably reach the same conclusion all over again and they would end up back at this exact moment.
He needed to look for a more permanent solution…
Sirius glanced at the Whomping Willow.
If he got rid of Snivellus…
The thought scared him. But… Snivellus was an awful person. His twisted interest for the dark arts should speak for itself. On top of that he wanted to be a Death Eater - to help ruin people's lives. The world would be better off without him.
He would really be doing everyone a favour.
"A tunnel," Sirius answered clearly, his voice breaking the tense silence. "There is a tunnel under the tree."
Snivellus' thick eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"To the Shrieking Shack," Sirius continued a little breathlessly. "There's nothing there. Remus isn't there, believe me."
Sirius heart was beating like crazy.
Snivellus stared at him with narrowed eyes. He obviously didn't believe him when he said it was empty.
"There's no way to get past the tree," he said eventually.
"There's a knot on the trunk," said Sirius. It shocked him he could sound so calm with the storm racing inside. "If you press it the tree will freeze."
Snivellus didn't move.
"Fine," Sirius sighed with faked casualty. "I'll show you."
Hurriedly Sirius enchanted a twig to levitate and press the button at the trunk of the tree.
Snivellus glanced at him suspiciously. He took a few careful steps towards the Whomping Willow. Then a couple more. He began inching closer to the tree, keeping a wary eye on all its branches.
Sirius watched him go. A cold wind from the lake swept by. It took a hold of Sirius' clothes and hair, searching its way onto his naked skin. Snivellus was already far across the meadow, closing in on the Whomping Willow. His robes flapped around him, making it look like the wind might take him with it. The tall grass ruffled violently and a muffled sound of distant branches smacking against each other filled the silence of the night.
Sirius took a big gulp of the chilly air, trying to calm himself down. His whole body was vibrating.
It was not pretty, what he had done, but there had been no other way out. Now Snivellus would never bother anyone ever again.
Remus was safe.
It was not like Snivellus didn't deserve it. He had gone out of his was trying to ruin Remus' life. If Sirius hadn't stopped him he would have. Werewolves were dangerous things, but he had been so keen to go looking for one. Leaving him to his fate was poetic in a way.
Sirius watched as the last of Snivellus' black robes disappear beneath the tree.
If you play with fire, you get burned.
Isn't that how the saying goes?
