CHAPTER 3

As Severus made his way back to Lily away from Black and his dumb little friend, he thought to himself how great it would be to finally bust those idiots that put so much effort into making his life a living hell. And he had always wondered where Remus went so often. No one got sick that much. Maybe he would find out tonight.

"Hey Sev. I'm getting a little tired and I still have a Care of Magical Creatures assignment to do. Do you care if we head on back to the castle?" Lily waited for a reply but Severus was still lost in his own thoughts. "Hey Sev…Severus!"

"What? Oh sorry Lily. What were you saying?" Severus said while shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

"Just wondering if you were ready to go back to the castle? What are you thinking about so hard over there?"

"Oh nothing important."

On their walk back to the castle, Severus slipped his hand around Lily's tiny one and she didn't move away. Maybe it was because Severus couldn't stop thinking about how James and his little gang would finally get what they deserved, but for someone reason he felt emboldened. He still doubted that someone as caring and beautiful as Lily could ever really feel that way about him, but just holding her hand as they walked back to the castle was enough. Today was shaping up to be one of the best Severus could ever remember.

……

"Come on Remus. We're almost there." James said as he and Sirius helped Remus across the Hogwart's grounds out to the Whomping Willow. The full moon would be rising any minute now and they needed to get Remus to the Shrieking Shack as quickly as possible.

"Ok Peter do your thing." James said when they reached the tree.

Peter began to shrink his body folding in on itself and his features becoming even more mousy. Eventually all that appeared to be left on the ground was a pile of robes until a little rat came burrowing out. The rat skipped across the ground to base the mighty tree where it pushed a small knot which settled the tree's thrashing branches at once.

Sirius and James half carried Remus into the opening. After making their way down the tunnel James and Sirius placed Remus on one of the beaten up couches.

"How are you feeling, mate?" asked James.

"Same as always." Remus replied weakly.

"James, I left something at the castle that I think we should go back and get," said Sirius with a smirk.

"We can't just leave Remus here. He's about to change."

"I can stay with Remus," piped up Peter. "He will be fine with me."

"I'll be alright, James. Go ahead and go with Sirius. He seems to have something planned. I have no idea what, but I would like to find out myself," Remus replied with a half smile.

………

Sirius led the way out through the tunnel and back out to the castle grounds. But when they reached the end Sirius didn't head to the castle. He moved toward the forbidden forest.

"Padfoot where the hell are we going? I thought you said there was something in the castle you needed. The full moon is out Remus is probably changing right now. We should be with him."

"He will be all right. And besides I have a surprise for you." Sirius said with another smirk.

When the boys got to the edge of the forest they hid behind some bushes. James protesting all the while and demanding to know what they were waiting for. Before James could get a straight answer from Sirius however, Snape emerged from the castle and was making a bee line for the Whomping Willow.

"Where is Snape going?... Wait is he heading to the Willow? Sirius, what is going on?"

"This is your surprise mate. After the little event in Hogsmeade today, I thought we should give the Slimy git what he deserves."

Snape moved closer to the tree and went through the opening at the base. A look of horror and anger slowly spread across James's face as he realized what Sirius's surprise was. "What the bloody hell is the matter with you? What if he exposes Remus? What if he hurts him? What if Remus bites Snape?!"

"Aww why would it really matter?"

"You git! This is not funny. I have to stop him."

James bust out from the bushes and ran toward the tree leaving a confused and hurt Sirius behind. James ran through the tunnel hoping to catch Snape before he got to the end. As he neared the end, he saw Snape up ahead.

"Snape, stop! You don't know not what you're doing!"

Luckily Snape stopped and turned to face James. "I know perfectly well what I am doing. I am finally going to figure out what illegal activities you lot are taking a part in off grounds. And then I am going to report you to the headmaster. And finally you and your little friends will be expelled."

"Snape… Severus. Listen to me please this is not what you think. I can't explain but you are in a lot of danger. Come back."

"Why would I listen to you? You are just trying to save your own skin." With that Snape tuned and opened the door that lead to the Shrieking Shack. A loud growling filled the air. Snape caught a glimpse of the full grown werewolf on the other side of the door before James's hand grabbed him roughly by the shoulder. James had drawn his wand with the other hand. He stupefied the werewolf, one of his best friends, and then cast a spell to slam the door closed.

James turned to Snape who from the force of his shove had ended up on the tunnel floor. Snape was shaking. Before James could react further. Snape stood and began to run down the tunnel back toward the exit. By the time James was able to make his body move, Snape was far ahead. James raced after him by the time he exited the tunnel however Snape was already entering the castle. Sirius emerged from the forest and sprinted over toward James. James rounded on Sirius.

"What the BLOODY HELL were you thinking? How did you ever think this was a good idea!? This was so stupid. Did you not stop to think what an idiotic plan this was? What did you hope would happen from all of this? Where is the joke, Black? Because I am NOT seeing it! Could you explain to me how this is funny? " James was so mad he was shaking and his hands were balled into fists at his side.

"I… I .. I thought that we could give Snape what he deserves."

"What exactly do you think he deserves? To be bitten and suffer like Remus has to suffer every month? No one deserves that." James replied. He then made his way to the castle hoping he could somehow find a way to fix this. And stop Snape from ruining his best friend's life.

James didn't make it very far however. As soon as he stepped in the castle, Headmaster Dumbledore was waiting for him.

"Mr. Potter, could you come with me please?"

James followed Dumbledore to his office. "Sir, I am so sorry, but we need to stop Snape before he tells ever…"

James had just entered Dumbledore's office and saw that Snape was already there still shaking sitting in a chair next to Professor Slughorn.

"Luckily, Mr. Sanpe went to his head of house first," began Dumbledore. "We have explained to him that we were very much aware of the fact of Mr. Lupin's situation. He has sworn that he will tell no one what he saw tonight. Given the circumstances of the situation I have decided to leave it at that and send the both of you back to bed. However, if you are caught out of bed again, I can promise you that you will not get off so easy. Also, James thank you for so bravely saving your classmates, both of them, from potential harm."

There was a heavy silence in the room then finally Professor Slughorn spoke. "Well, you heard the headmaster off to bed both of you."

…..

Lily, Alice, and Mary were relaxing in the Gryffindor common room their school books spread out in front of them. It was getting very late well past midnight, but since tomorrow was a Sunday. It didn't really matter.

"Ok so if you don't like him "like that" then why did you let him hold your hand?" Mary asked Lily. She had seen Lily and Snape walking back to the castle and didn't like what she had seen.

"Honestly, it's a big deal. We are just friends…" Lily listened to the sound of her own words and even she didn't believe them. No she didn't care for Snape in a way other than friendship. But she still wouldn't classify them as just friends. Their relationship was complicated….

"Hmff. Best friends don't hold hands like that."

"So … Alice, I saw Frank and you together did you plan to meet up? If you did I am very hurt that you didn't tell us." Lily said as an attempt to change subjects with an exaggerated frown on her face. Mary shot Lily a look that said clearly the Snape conversation was not over.

"No we didn't plan to and of course I would have told you two! We just ran into each other at Honeydukes and he asked if he could buy me a drink. So of course I said yes…"

At his point in Alice's story the portrait hole banged open and a very disgruntled James stormed thorough the common room.

"Wow, what's wrong with him?" Mary asked.

"Well uhhh, I did pour a butterbeer over him at the Three Broomsticks today." Lily said with a blush.

"Hmmm do you really think he would still be that mad about it?" questioned Alice.

"Yes and you should go check on him and apologize!" Mary said quickly.

"Do you really think so?" Lily asked concerned.

"I don't think it's….."

"Yes! Yes, you definitely should." Mary cut across Alice.

Lily seemed to consider for a moment then got up from her spot on the floor and walked across the common room to where James was slumped in a corner.

"What was that about?" Alice hissed to Mary as soon as Lily was out of earshot.

"I really think she should give him a chance. And I don't like the Snape situation." Mary replied.

"Oh, I get it now. Brilliant idea actually."

"Thank you very much."

……….

As Lily made her way across the common room, she noticed how different James looked. He wasn't strutting. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't surrounded by his gang. He looked sad in every meaning of the word. In a way in was endearing. So James Potter isn't perfect. Lily wasn't really sure what to do. She felt caught off guard. He looked so defeated now she was sure this had nothing to do with the butter beer incident.

"Hey."

James looked up and while he did looked surprised to see her he didn't start with his usual jokes.

"Hey."

"Umm… Are you ok? If this is about the whole butterbeer thing I'm really sorry… I…"

James looked up with a half smile in his face. "That is the least of my worries, Evans."

"Is it anything you can tell me?" Lily asked.

"No. Sorry." And James really did seem sorry that he couldn't explain more.

"I thought that was what you would say. Well, I know this may seem weird but uhh if you need anything just ask." Lily said awkwardly and then began to walk away.

……

James was happy that Lily had come over to talk to him, but he had so much on his mind that he couldn't really enjoy it as much. On the one hand, he wanted to sneak back out and join Remus. On the other hand, if he did that he would see Sirius and would probably have to strangle him. Indecision paralyzed him and long after the last embers of the fire went out, James made his way up to his dormitory and his four poster bed.

In the early morning hours, James heard Sirius and Peter sneak back in. They would have already dropped Remus off at the infirmary. Even though he was still awake, James was not ready to deal with taking to Sirius so he pretended to be asleep. The next morning as soon as he woke up he dressed and headed to breakfast without waking the boys. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to talk to him.