Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! I deleted chapter 23, "The Best Summer Ever", because it wasn't very important. It had Sirius running away and moving in with James but that's not supposed to happen until the summer of sixth year and I wanted to leave that until later. So, that chapter wasn't vital at all and now it's gone. Just wanted you to know. Because of this, chapters 23 onward have the wrong chapter number in their title. I don't think I should go back to every chapter and change that though, because it's not really a big deal.

PS. I know James is supposed to be a Chaser but I used to think he was a Seeker, so that's what I said he was at the beginning of the story. Since I started it like that, I'm keeping him as a Seeker here.

Chapter 35: Sirius' Mistake

The warm weather seemed to have been a temporary gift as the days soon turned cold once again. Students walked on the grounds wrapped warmly in scarves and cloaks. However, this cold weather had nothing to do with Sirius' gloomy mood. He couldn't keep his mind off Andrea and no matter how hard he tried to look forward to his date with Amanda he couldn't seem to muster up any excitement. It was very reluctantly that he got out of bed on Saturday and began preparing for the Hogsmeade trip. The two other boys with whom the Marauders shared their room had already left. Remus had vanished but Sirius didn't pay any attention anymore – this was a usual occurrence by now.

When Sirius came back out of the bathroom after his shower he discovered that he was the only one left in the room.

"Figures," he muttered. Peter was still seeing Janice and it was James' first official date with Lily. He didn't blame them for being excited about it but he also felt a bit of resentment that he couldn't be as happy. With a sigh he left Gryffindor Tower and headed down to the Entrance Hall. There were many people standing alone, waiting for the dates that were in other Houses. Sirius joined them. Before long he saw Amanda appear at the top of the stairs, laughing with a friend. She smiled at him, said something to her friend, and came to greet him.

"Hey!" she said brightly.

"Hi," Sirius replied, trying not to show how unhappy he was. "Ready to go?"

Apparently Amanda was oblivious to his somber mood as she nodded and, with another happy smile, began walking outside. Sirius walked beside her and couldn't help thinking how Andrea had been calmer and more collected and how, when she smiled, it seemed like it was only for Sirius whereas Amanda was letting the whole world know who she was smiling at and why.

Sirius shook these thoughts out of his head as he climbed into a carriage with Amanda. They were the only two occupants and it was a rather silent ride. When they got out at Hogsmeade Amanda took his hand.

"Where do you want to go?" she asked.

"Dunno," Sirius said, scanning the area for his friends.

"How about Madam Puddifoot's?" Amanda suggested, smiling coyly at him.

"Uh, I dunno," he said taking his hand away as if to scratch his head. "How about the Three Broomsticks?" He could see her face fall but she nodded.

"Sure," she said.

The bar was almost empty today. Most people were at Madam Puddifoot's, the tea shop that contained many private tables just for couples looking to be alone. Amanda led Sirius to a small table for two in the corner of the room.

"I'm really glad I'm here with you, Sirius," she said after they had ordered. Their hands were both lying on the table top and she inched hers slightly closer to his.

"Yeah, me too," Sirius said distractedly. He wished there were someone else who he knew in here. He was already regretting his decision to go on a date with Amanda, even more so as she began stroking his thumb with her own.

"You know, I've watched you play Quidditch. You're really, really good. I love watching you swing that bat…" Amanda giggled as Sirius worked to keep from grimacing. For a while he just let her talk without listening to a word she said. Occasionally he would take a sip of his Butterbeer; sometimes their knees touched under the table and he would hastily pull away.

He finished three Butterbeers and finally couldn't bear to sit there any longer. He took his hand away from Amanda's and stood up, swinging on his cloak.

"Thanks, Amanda, this has been…yeah," he said and started to leave.

"Wait!" she called. He turned around. She was sitting at the table with a confused look on her face. "Where are you going?"

"I don't think I'm ready to date yet, actually. I'm sorry but maybe some other time." Without another word he left the pub quickly shivering at the cold that met him. A light snow had fallen and he almost slipped in his haste to get away. He now had the problem, however, of being left with nothing to do. James and Lily, he knew, were probably enjoying a romantic tea at Madam Puddifoot's. This was probably true of Ylan and Matthew as well. Peter didn't seem like the tea shop type but, wherever he was, Sirius knew he'd be with Janice. He wasn't sure if Remus or Jenna had dates for the day so he decided to try and find them. He'd start, he decided, at Dervish and Banges, a favorite of Remus' and then maybe move on to Zonko's.

He started carefully down the slippery street. All around him, couples were walking with their arms around each other, whispering in each other's ears. He soon reached his destination and entered the shop, brushing snow off his cloak. However, he was in for a disappointment. The store was quite empty except for the shopkeeper who greeted him with a nod. Sirius left, hoping that maybe they were in Zonko's. The place was almost empty as well and not even the various pranking items on the shelves managed to attract his attention.

Finally he decided to just head back up to the castle. On his way he passed the Three Broomsticks and something made him stop. As he looked through the window he saw a couple at the table he and Amanda had been sitting at previously. Their hands were clasped on the table and they seemed to have eyes only for each other. Suddenly Sirius gasped.

"So that's what you've been doing in the Room of Requirement, you sly dog," he said, grinning, as he watched Remus say something quietly to Jenna. He stood like that, peering into the pub, for several moments until suddenly his eyes met Jenna's. Remus looked up as well. Sirius' eyes widened. He pointed vaguely towards the castle and sped off, his mind racing.

'Remus and Jenna!' he thought as he made his way towards the school. 'I should have known…' He didn't understand why they had been hiding whatever was going on from the rest of the group and continued to ponder it as he went to have lunch in the practically deserted Great Hall.

Several weeks later Remus and Jenna still hadn't said anything to Sirius about what he had witnessed. Everyone else had had a great time, of course, and he had to endure James' and Peter's stories for longer than he could handle. They had finally quieted down eventually and things were going back to normal.

Two and a half months later brought James' favorite day of the school year – the final Quidditch game, which would decide who won the Quidditch Cup. If Gryffindor beat Slytherin, they would take the Cup. If not…well, James would be too embarrassed to face his team again.

As a James Potter tradition, the Gryffindor team sat together at breakfast. None of them touched their food. Some were discussing strategies and others were just too nervous. Fifteen minutes before the game they all headed down to the pit together, to go over their plans one last time.

As everyone was putting on their robes and grabbing their broomsticks they finally heard the sound of feet on the boards above. Excited chattering filled their ears as the students poured into the stadium. Five minutes to go. James, trying to hide how nervous he was from his team, ensured them that they would all do great.

A horn suddenly sounded in the distance. The talk above them died down a little.

"Okay, everyone, you know what that means. Let's go," said James. He led the team out under the bleachers to the exit. They each mounted their brooms and, as another horn sounded, kicked off and flew out. The Slytherin team had flown in directly opposite them. Players from both teams flew around the pitch until Madam Hooch walked onto the grass. Everyone took their positions.

"Let's have a clean game, shall we?" she called up and opened the box to release the Bludgers and the Snitch. James' eyes followed the little golden ball until it disappeared from sight. Madam Hooch picked up the Quaffle and eyed the players warily. Then she threw it up. In a split second, everyone burst into action. A Slytherin Chaser caught the Quaffle and shot towards Gryffindor's hoops. He tried to pass to a teammate but Megan intercepted it and flew towards the other end. James was flying high above the rest, searching for the Snitch.

It was as Sirius was sending a Bludger towards the other team, about twenty minutes in, that he heard a low voice call his name behind him. He turned around and realized he was hovering directly in front of the Slytherin stands, right where Snape was standing.

"All right there, Black?" he said. Sirius scowled at him.

"What do you want, Snape?" he sneered, turning back to the game.

"I just thought I'd offer a suggestion. Aim the Bludger over there," Snape said, pointing at the Hufflepuff section, "there's a big group of Mudbloods standing together."

"Believe me, Snivellus, if I'm going to be aiming it at anyone in the stands, it'll be you."

"It's a pity. Your poor mother had to be cursed with a son like you. You're a disgrace, you know. Your entire family thinks so. What did they ever do to deserve you? A blood traitor, tarnishing their name…"

Sirius whipped around.

"Shut up, Snape!" he roared and flew off to the other side of the stadium. He knew Snape was just trying to get a rise out of him, he knew Snape just wanted to make him mad. But all the same, the words were burned in his mind. He didn't like his family and he knew they didn't like him. But to hear someone else voice his thoughts, to hear someone else confirm that it was true…Sirius couldn't see well, his eyes were swimming in and out of focus. Everything was blurred. It was like the truth had been hovering above him for years, slightly visible, but had now come crashing down on him.

He vaguely saw a Bludger come towards him and beat it automatically, not aiming, not knowing what he was really doing. A high pitched scream brought him back to reality; his vision cleared just in time to see Tina falling off her splintered broom. All around him people were yelling; Gryffindor was being led ninety to thirty and they had just lost a Chaser, hit by Sirius' Bludger…

He flew off, panic now the main element in his mind. He was near the Slytherin hoops and saw a Bludger going towards Megan. He started after it but the other Gryffindor Beater cut him off.

"I'll handle it!" he called back to Sirius, clearly worried. And suddenly deafening cheers filled the stadium, Gryffindors were shouting, ecstatic. Sirius looked down to see James waving the Snitch in the air, a smile across his face. He knew he should be happy but couldn't be. Snape's comment and almost having lost the game for Gryffindor took over in his brain, making him miserable. He touched down to the ground as Gryffindors poured from their seats, rushing toward James. Sirius began walking away, broom in hand, when he saw Snape ahead with a group of Slytherins. Snape noticed him and called to his comrades.

"Oh look, it's our hero. What's the matter, something get in your head, Black? You're lucky, really, that your girlfriend's dead. Wouldn't have wanted her to see that brilliant hit." With a triumphant look on his face, Snape turned away. Fury engulfed Sirius, rage filled his body, and he stalked ahead to pull the Slytherin aside.

"You still want to know, Snivelly?" he hissed. "You still want to know where Remus goes every month? Tomorrow night take a trip to the Whomping Willow, press the biggest knot and find the tunnel at the roots. Go on down there and have a look." He turned on his heel and left. Snape was left with a bewildered look on his face and soon he too hurried off.

James rushed after Sirius. He had heard every word; he wanted to berate him for being so stupid, ask him how he could have done such a thing. But Sirius eluded capture and James didn't see him until classes the next day, by which time he was concentrating on how to stop Snape.

He made his first attempt after lunch, cornering him in the hallway.

"Snape, about what Sirius told you…" he began but Snape cut him off.

"Sorry, Potter," he sneered. "It's not my fault Black blew your little secret. No avoiding it now. Soon I'll find out what you're up to and believe me, I won't keep it quiet."

James had no idea what to do. Even the fact that they had won the Quidditch Cup vanished from his mind as he wondered what he could do. The only thing he could think of was waiting for Snape that night to stop him from going.

In the common room that evening, James claimed that he didn't feel well and that he would join the other Marauders later. He retreated to his room but returned moments later under the Invisibility Cloak. He made his way down to the front doors where he would wait for Snape and do whatever it took to keep him out of the Shrieking Shack.

The sun had set – it was moments before the moon would come up. He knew that Madam Pomfrey had already escorted Remus to the tunnel, had already wished him good luck, like always. He'd seen her come back inside, ringing her hands. He also knew that Sirius and Peter had already sneaked outside, transformed, and joined Remus in the Shack. He had seen them go by as well. The only person he hadn't seen yet was Snape. Ten minutes had passed since Madam Pomfrey came inside and still he hadn't appeared. Maybe he had rethought the whole thing?

James' heart lifted slightly until he saw, out of the corner of his eye, the Whomping Willow go still. His throat was dry as he rushed outside, just in time to see Snape disappear into the tunnel. He had missed him; he must have been waiting outside all along. James broke into a run, throwing off the Cloak. The Whomping Willow began moving again as he was halfway to the tunnel. Branches whipped against his face and he barely dodged a limb, sliding into the tunnel just in time. He dropped to his hands and knees and moved as fast as he could, feeling the rocks and roots cut his skin. He saw a bobbing light up ahead. 'Snape.'

Just then, a howl pierced the night. James knew the moon must be up. He saw the light ahead stop and knew that Snape was frozen to the spot. The end of the tunnel was getting close and James knew he had to move fast. As the light began bobbing again he tried to speed up and finally he could see the outline of Snape's body as well as the end of the tunnel. Another howl and Snape stopped moving. He was at the end, he was peering into the Shack…

James reached out blindly and pulled at the robes that met his fingers. Snape was jerked back just as the snarling face of the wolf appeared at the mouth of the tunnel. James grabbed Snape, pushed him back down the tunnel in front of him and urged him to go. He could feel the wolf's hot breath against his neck and he heard the growl right next to his ear. And then, with a snapping of teeth right beside his head, James and Snape were off. He followed the wand light again as the wolf's cries faded further and further into the distance. The two boys moved quickly towards the end and, with a pound at the knot, ran out under the Whomping Willow's non-moving branches into the night air.

"That – that was – he's, he's a –" Snape was stuttering. A look of horror seemed frozen on his face.

"Yes," James said panting. "Yes, he is. But please don't tell anyone. Not for me, for Remus. You know as well as I do what would happen if anyone found out."

Incredulity formed on Snape's features.

"Not tell anyone? Not tell anyone? He's a werewolf!"

"Please, for Remus. He's never done anything to you, it's always been me and Sirius."

"He's never done anything for me either!" Snape roared. "He's never stopped you two, has he?"

"He's tried! Look, Snape, please. I promise I'll give you anything – anything – if you don't tell. Anything."

"There's nothing you have that I want, Potter," Snape snarled. "Nothing you're at liberty to give away, anyway. Mark my words…I will not keep this silent. In fact, I think I'll go have a nice talk with Dumbledore. Let's see how he feels about this situation." Snape stalked off furiously, before James could say anything else.

After a minute's pause James found his Cloak again. He felt relieved – Dumbledore would convince Snape to stay quiet. He folded up the Cloak and stuffed it in his robes. Making sure Snape was well out of sight, he walked back towards the tree. He levitated a stick into the knot, immobilizing the branches once again. He transformed into the elegant white stag and moved through the tunnel again, much more comfortably this time. He entered the Shack to see the wolf lying in a corner, lazily watching Peter run around. As James came in the animals looked up and he went to join them, steadily avoiding Sirius' eye.