Severus was screaming.
Sirius was collapsed against the far wall, in animagus form.
Remus had his mouth latched around Snape's shoulder, blood pouring from the wound and the broken, bloody tatters of Severus' arm, still clutched in Moony's claws.
And James just froze there in complete and utter horror.
But the sight of Severus' terror, agony, and- was that relief?- filled face spurred James to action.
He whipped our his wand and- with a speed and power he didn't know he possessed- shot a powerful hex at Moony. He didn't even know which hex he sent, all he knew was that is blasted Remus across the room, unconscious, and away from Severus.
James bolted to Snape, heart in his throat, terror coursing through his veins.
He collapsed to his knees beside Severus' bloody, convulsing frame. His teeth were clenched tightly together, containing his screams, and unshed tears swam in those ebony eyes.
Padfood shifted back to Sirius and limped over, favoring his left leg and clutching his side.
"J-James?" Sirius stopped just behind James, worry and guilt coloring his voice. "How… how bad is it?"
James exploded. "How bad is it? How bad is it? Dammit Sirius! How bad do you think it is? Assuming you think at all!"
James continued ranting even as he waved his wand over Severus' arm, mending the bone with a mumbled episkey and a sickening crack and knitting together the skin, leaving ugly, harsh scars.
He tried doing the same for the massive bite, but nothing happened. And James knew he was too late.
"He's been scared out of his wits, his arm's been crushed by Moony's claws, and…" Here, James faltered, nearly whispering. Sirius had to strain to hear him as he continued. "… he's been bitten. The venom's already running its course. It's too late. Too fucking late."
James buried his face in his hands as Sirius stood there, stricken, frozen in horror.
Suddenly Severus let out a harsh, broken sob and convulsed violently. James grabbed him, trying to save Severus from further damage, tears running down his face.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry…" James sobbed brokenly.
Severus pain and panic filled eyes focused on James' face for a few, endless seconds.
James watched as first recognition, then confusion, then resignation and- Yes, it was definitely relief. How could this be a relief for him?- and finally irony chased each other across Snape's face, all masks gone, crumbled in the wake of this latest betrayal, that somehow seemed to cut the deepest.
The moment was gone however, when Severus laughed- a harsh, hysterical, broken sound that ended just as suddenly as blood and green, thick venom expelled itself violently from Severus' lungs.
Severus grunted, still refusing to allow them the satisfaction of one more scream. Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he lost consciousness.
Just then the first pale rays of dawn peeked through the broken glass. And Remus moaned from his sprawled position against the far wall, beginning to awaken now that the full moon was gone.
And there, in a room of tragic artistry and silvery-pink dust motes swirling in the pre-dawn air, with one stirring, self-deprecating werewolf; stupid, childish, vindictive and cruel Grim; and broken, bleeding, transforming Slytherin that lived through hell every day clutched in his arms; James, for the first time in his life, didn't know what to do.
So, as Remus sat up and took in the scene before him in dawning realization and horror, and yelled, "OH SHIT!" James settled for punching Sirius in the face.
Great. Make that a stupid, childish, vindictive, cruel, and unconscious Grim.