Chapter 5

Unexpected Turns

The air in the room was thick with tension. Severus was breathing long, deep breaths to quell his rage. Slamming his palm on a desk, he cursed himself for his inability to keep his emotions in check. Goddamn it. He sighed. More trouble. Severus straightened his robes and bent to pick up his wand from where it had fallen during the struggle. A few sparks flew from it, and Severus noticed the Ravenclaw prefect - Amelia - flinch. He raised an eyebrow. She scowled.

Severus folded his arms and waited for the arrival of the Transfiguration professor.

"Let go, Remy!"

Sirius Black had ceased struggling in Remus' hold and brusquely shrugged off the boy whose hold had loosened but had not let go. Sirius brushed at his clothes. Remus was whispering harshly to Black. The bruised Gryffindor seemed to be ignoring his friend and busied himself with half-heartedly kicking at the furniture. A loud clang echoed in the Charms classroom when one of the wooden chairs fell over.

"Sirius..." began Amelia, in warning.

"Whatever," he said.

Remus picked up the chair and gave the prefect an apologetic smile. Black coughed drily. He used his hand to wipe his lip and threw a dark look at the Slytherin. Severus looked away.

The soft boom of the wooden doors alerted the occupants of the room to the arrival of Professor McGonagall. Severus dropped his arms to his sides and licked his lips in nervousness.

"Professor!" cried the Ravenclaw, running up to the woman.

Taking the professor aside, the prefect quietly gave her report. Severus watched the professor as she listened, stoney-faced, to the tale. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. She said something to the Ravenclaw who straightened. The Transfiguration professor dismissed the prefect and turned her attention to the fifth year boys.

Professor McGonagall was furious. Strands of her hair had come loose from the usually tight bun and hung around her face like drooping leaves. Her robes were mud-spattered and wrinkled. Breathing heavily from the long journey from the dungeons, she might have had the appearance of someone weary, but the scorching glare she bestowed upon the three boys before her indicated otherwise. She walked to the teacher's desk and stood behind it. Despite her appearance, the Transfiguration professor looked as intimidating as ever.

"Come here," she ordered. "Up front, now."

The two Gryffindors glanced nervously at each other before walking the few steps up to the desk. Severus followed and stood to the right of Remus. He held his hands behind his back. "At ease" was the stance, but Severus was far from being at ease. The adrenaline that had fueled his rage was receeding, leaving him feeling shaky and light-headed. His hands hurt from striking Black. Severus flexed them a bit.

"Fighting. In detention," Professor McGonagall stated simply, crossing her arms and inclining her head a bit. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Her eyes studied each boy in turn. Severus swallowed thickly.

He glanced at the two Gryffindors next to him. Sirius Black, face purpling, was doing his best to play the part of wronged innocent. His face was scrunched up - whether he was going for a "grimacing in pain" look or attempting to induce tears was unknown to Severus - and he was clutching the upper part of his left arm as if it would fall off if he let go. Severus had to admit that between the strained face and the muddied robes, the boy did seem quite pathetic. Stupid dog.

Then there was Lupin. Poor wimpy mousy Lupin. Severus sniffed at bit. Lupin's head was lowered. His remorse might have been true, but who could really tell?

"Well, go on then," McGonagall said, narrowing her eyes. "Answer me."

Severus pursed his lips and allowed his hair to fall forward. He was not going to say anything. They had seen the prefect talking to the Professor. What else would they have spoken about if not what the prefect had seen? Severus was not going to simply remark, "I punched him 'cause he called me names." He would sound like a child. How was he to get across the the fact that it was not just the names, but also the vehemence and spitefulness behind them? Professor McGonagall would not understand. She would not.

"Snape started it."

Typical.

"Is that so?" Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

Severus stared at the dirty Gryffindor, waiting for him to continue. Severus was interested in hearing the yarn that Sirius was most likely going to spin. Returning Severus' stare for a moment, the boy opened his mouth and closed it. He huffed and started rubbing his arm, looking sheepish.

"Hmm..." Professor McGonagall took her eyes off Sirius and turned to the accused Slytherin. "Severus?"

"Professor?"

"You may go."