Sirius was one of his worst enemies, but Snape could not help telling him what had happened.

"Erm, you don't know about a trio of animals – a rat, a dog and a stag, that have been sighted in these parts, do you?"

"Yes I do, in fact," said Sirius. "They've been scaring a number of students, that's how Gordon Bruckley got that huge welt on his arm the other day."

Actually, the truth was that Gordon Bruckley had overdone the Incendio spell during his Charms exam and instead of creating a ring of flames, he had set his arm on fire. Since Snape hadn't been there however, he wasn't to know that.

"Any idea how to fend off those animals?" Snape asked Sirius, but instantly regretted his decision, for Sirius was likely to give an answer that made no sense whatsoever.

Sirius raised his eyebrows.

"You're asking me for help?" he said, as though it was completely new to him. "Well, I'm sorry Snivellus, but fending off wild animals is beyond my expertise. That's why I can't get rid of you."

He began to walk away, but then Snape called out,

"Where does Lupin go every month? Why does he go into the Whomping Willow?"

Sirius stopped dead. With his face turned away from Sirius, an evil grin spread across his face. He turned back to Snape, trying to keep a straight face.

"You think I'd tell you that?" he said.

"I thought not," Snape scowled.

"You thought wrong," said Sirius. "I'll show you where he goes. Come over to the Willow."

Snape couldn't believe his luck – he was starting to think he had accidentally cast a Confundus Charm while they had been talking. Sirius meandered over to where the Whomping Willow with Snape following behind.

Sirius picked up a long branch and held it out.

"Levitate this," he said. "Move it over to that knot on the trunk there and the tree will freeze. Then you can go in and see for yourself where my friend Remus goes."

Snape greedily waved his wand and said,

"Wingardium Leviosa."

Just like when Remus had entered the Willow, the branch flew forwards and prodded the knot. The tree stopped and its branches relaxed.

"On you go then," said Sirius.

If it had been any other person, Snape may have said 'thank you.' Instead, he merely nodded, walked forwards and disappeared into the opening. Sirius barked with laughter and returned to the front doors where James and Peter were waiting for him, James's cloak clutched in his hand.

"Hah! That was a right old scare for old Snivellus, ambushing him as animals like that!" James laughed. "Where's old grease-face now?"

Sirius indicated the Willow, which was starting to move again.

"When he meets Remus, he'll be sorry he ever stuck his enormous nose into our business."

He expected James to cheer and roar with laughter, but on the contrary he gasped with a shocked expression.

"What the hell were you thinking? Remus could rip him to shreds!"

"Exactly," said Sirius, surprised at James's reaction. "Don't you see –"

But James had already dashed past him, speeding towards the Willow. He froze the tree and disappeared into it, nearly knocking his head in his panic.

Sirius turned to Peter.

"What's got into him?" he asked.

Peter shrugged.

--

James tore down the passage, frantically searching for Snape and hoping with all his heart that he had not met Remus yet. He hated Snape, they all did, but he never dreamed that Sirius – his own best friend – would try to get anybody killed, even someone like Snape. It was as though Sirius – though James refused to believe it – was a murderer. Up ahead, he heard growling – Snape couldn't have reached the end of the passage yet…

He darted round a corner and saw Snape several yards ahead with his wand out, inching down the passage.

"Snape, don't go any further! Get back here!" he cried out.

Snape turned round, saw James, gave him a sneering look and turned back round.

"Why should I listen to you, Potter?" he said, disdainfully. "It was your mate Sirius who suggested I came down here! Don't tell me you're opposing your own friend!"

"For once, I am!" James said. "There's a carnivorous, fully-fledged monster at the end!"

"Are you calling your friend Remus a monster?" asked Snape. "Or has he got some other magical form that nobody knows about?"

"That's exactly it!" James said. "You'll be ripped limb from limb, now GET BACK HERE!"

Snape ignored him.

They had almost reached the end of the passage and James knew what waited ahead. Fed up with trying to talk Snape out of coming back, he raised his wand.

"Mobilicorpus!"

Snape rose off the ground like a puppet, narrowly avoiding bumping his head on the low ceiling.

"Put me down, Potter! Let me go or I'll –"

Snape stopped abruptly, his black eyes widening. He had just caught sight of the end of the tunnel. There, crouching on the floor of the Shrieking Shack beyond the tunnel opening was a dark, hairy creature with a long, bushy tail. It was looking straight ahead through glistening eyes and its chest was heaving slightly. It was visible only for a split second. As James pulled Snape towards him, the werewolf slipped away.

James strolled back up the tunnel, holding up Snape with his wand. Snape seemed to have difficulty speaking. They emerged into the cool night air and returned to the castle where Sirius and Peter sat on the steps.

"How could you?" James said to Sirius. "We may not like him, but how could you think of killing him?"

"I…" Sirius stopped. He looked at Snape and realisation spread across his face. "You're right, I suppose I was just a little too overenthusiastic."

James nodded, appreciatively.

"Sorry about that," Sirius said to Snape who did not reply.

"I think he's in shock," Peter said. "You managed to save him from death! He owes you!"

"Yep," said James. "C'mon, let's get him to the hospital wing."