Misguided Mistake Chapter 16, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: Let me just remind you that I do not own Harry Potter or anything that you recognize in this story, the wonderful, fantastic, magnificent, marvelous, amazing, brilliant, beautiful blonde called J.K. Rowling does….love her :) And if you did not know this you need to get out from under that rock you're living under.

Chapter 16

Snape glared at the willow which was thrashing around so much he was worried a branch would fling off and stab him. He nervously glared at the trunk. It stood solidly under the wildly moving branches and he hated Sirius.

How on Earth was anyone supposed to touch any knot on this stupid tree? Furious that Black was such an arse and he'd actually wasted his time in listening to him Snape picked up a stick and thrust his arm back to toss it at the tree.

He froze and lowered his arm. Snape stared at the stick for a few moments before setting it on the lawn and taking out his wand. "Wingardrium Leviosa." Snape said the charm and watched the stick rise in the air and slowly move towards the trunk. It hit its mark and to Snape's utter amazement the tree froze.

So this is where they would go. Snape clamored toward the trunk cautiously, in case the tree started moving again and he circled its base. At last he came to a small hole at the base of the trunk and he could see that it was narrow but traversable. Snape smirked as he slowly backed away from the tree and made his way back to the castle.

Come the next full moon, I'll finally have proof that Potter and his friends are nothing but a bunch of liars and criminals.

Hermione walked across the freshly fallen snow toward Greenhouse 3. After the Slug Club Ball, the first snow had finally graced the castle and the weather had taken a turn for the worst. But now it was sunny and Hermione could hardly believe how happy she was.

Kissing Remus had turned out to be the best thing that had happened to her since coming here.

Of course they couldn't tell anyone. Remus thought that Sirius would react poorly considering how she'd rejected him only last week because she would be leaving soon, but it didn't really matter. Hermione was just happy that he felt the same way.

She ducked through the door and was pleased to find Remus washing his hands. She didn't even get a chance to call out before he'd turned around and was smiling in such a way that it filled her chest with warmth. "Hermione." He sighed and Hermione blushed.

"Hey."

"Hey." He copied and after drying his hands he held his arms out. "Well get over here!"

She laughed and ran to him. He wore an apron that was covered in dirt but she could care less as she buried her nose in his chest and hugged him as tightly as she could. She was happy her face was hidden when he kissed the top of her head and a blush crept over her entire face. It was moments like these that made Hermione feel like she might not be doing such a bad thing. She had decided to ignore the fact that this wouldn't last forever the first time they'd kissed and the second and third and fourth and so on until now.

Hermione swallowed and she could feel Remus' grip tighten. "Are you okay?"

Reluctantly, Hermione looked up and sighed. "No. Everything's fine."

He reached down and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. For a split second she felt their souls melding as one, but then he pulled away and gave her a slow smile.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

She laughed and reached her hands up behind his neck. She loved the way he sighed as her hands trailed over his skin. "You've gotten much better." She teased and laughed again when he quirked an eyebrow at her. "Oh alright, you're amazing."

He chuckled as he released her and grabbed her hand. "So are you ready to help me?"

"What is it we're doing exactly? You didn't really give me much of an explanation." His hand felt warm around hers.

"Professor Sprout has enlisted my help in harvesting dittany."

"What? She has dittany? Let me see it?" Hermione was so excited she started to turn in circles to get a view of the whole room, to Remus' amusement.

"So I'm guessing you've seen it before?"

"Seen it? Of course not they're incredibly rare!" Hermione tugged on his sleeve. "Stop teasing me and just show me the plant."

Remus shook his head at Hermione's desire to learn and pulled her toward a rack filled with gloves, aprons, earmuffs and cans of flesh-eating slug repellent. "You'll need this." He pulled down a pair of gloves and an apron. When she reached for them he shook his head. He reached around her and pulled the apron on himself, his hands lingered around her neck before he spun her and tied the apron strings.

"I can do it myself." She grumbled halfheartedly. She tried to turn around and face him but he grabbed her hips.

"I know." He said in her ear and she felt a shiver run up her spine. "But this is more fun." Remus chuckled at her blush and let her put the gloves on herself.

When he let her go, Remus moved across the room to a wooden table that stood in a corner of the long room. Hermione followed right behind him.

A small ceramic pot sat in the center of the desk with nothing around it. The plant wasn't moving or emitting loud sounds or particularly threatening-looking but Remus was approaching it with great caution.

"It's so small." Hermione said. "I didn't expect it to be so tiny."

Remus smirked as he looked down at Hermione, whose curly head barely came to the middle of his forearm. He didn't remark on her own lack of height. "We should probably leave our wands at a different table."

Hermione followed his lead as they set their wands aside and Hermione frowned at the plant. It was short, maybe a hand's breadth in height. Its blossoms were golden in color and were clustered together tightly into beehive shapes.

"So how are we supposed to harvest it without it bursting into flames?" Hermione had never seen dittany, but that didn't mean she hadn't read every book on it. It was known as the Burning Bush because of the flammable vapors it was capable of releasing. But its healing properties were very useful in various potions such as Essence of Dittany and Wiggenweld Potion.

"It might not release any vapors." Remus reminded and Hermione shrugged.

"It will if it thinks we're going to pull it out by its roots."

Remus chuckled and held up his hand. His waggled his fingers in the thick gloves. "Good thing we have these." He beckoned for Hermione to follow his lead as he approached the plant. "Now stroke its leaves."

"What?" Hermione squeaked.

"You're going to sooth it while I remove some of the buds. Then maybe it won't catch on fire."

"Maybe?" But she reached forward and with a single finger, stroked the velvety smooth leaf of the temperamental plant.

"That's it." Remus whispered and, quicker than Hermione could see, he plucked three of the flowers before she could blink.

Hermione withdrew her hand and they both stepped away hastily. The plant didn't move.

"Well that was anticlimactic." Remus laughed and held up the beehive shaped buds of the plant. Hermione stared at them curiously before he closed his fingers around them gently. He shuffled to a different table and began shredding the petals and putting them in separate vials.

"So how come you're the one doing this Remus?" Hermione asked as she stoppered the vials with fresh Dittany in them.

Remus finished the last vial before answering. "Well Alice likes to help me sometimes so it's all not by myself but I do it because I'm the one using up all of Madam Pomfrey's stores of Essence of Dittany." Hermione noticed his face darken for a moment before he shook it off and gave her a small smile. "I guess I just feel guilty about it. So I help out."

Hermione wanted to sooth Remus somehow. Clearly he was thinking about how he would sometimes injure himself on full moons and he'd have to use the Dittany. None of which was his fault. This curse just seemed to plague every aspect of his life. Hermione nervously closed the space between them and touched his arm soothingly.

"I understand."

Remus could feel his body relaxing of its own accord at Hermione's touch. She must have sensed that he was feeling horrible. Normally he wouldn't have liked to be comforted like this. He knew he couldn't handle his 'furry little problem' on his own, but he liked to imagine sometimes that he was strong enough to. But any reason for Hermione to touch him was okay.

He still couldn't believe what had happened between them. He, like Hermione, wanted to ignore the fact that she couldn't stay with him and one day she would leave, but in this moment, he was very very happy.

"It can be hard trying to prove yourself all the time." Hermione continued and Remus looked at her in surprise. He couldn't believe that that was what she had gotten out of what he'd said. But she was right. "I've felt the same way since first year. I was so worried because my parents weren't magical that I would be so behind and would have to work twice as hard as the other kids-"

"Hermione-"

"I know it's silly. But I was only eleven… I worked so hard that I pushed a lot of people away but Harry and Ron got through." Hermione blushed. What was making her confess her feelings like this? "I don't know what I'd do without them."

Remus laughed. "We are one and the same Hermione." Remus stared down at her in admiration. "I thought that I needed to work twice as hard as everyone else because they would hate me if they knew what I really was. My first three years were a flurry of studying and late nights until my friends finally found out. They accepted me." Remus sighed. "I don't know if I could have gone all seven years without anyone not knowing I'm a werewolf." Remus shuddered.

They stared at each other for a few moments before the Greenhouse door suddenly opened and their gazes dropped in embarrassment. Hermione thrust her hand to her side and tried to hide her red face as Professor Sprout entered and greeted them sweetly.

"Hello dears. Oh good you've finished!" She came to inspect their work and praised them on a job well done. "You can go on to dinner. I'll just get these to Horace and Poppy." She gathered up the vials and bustled to the door. "I haven't got all night dears. I have to lock the door behind you."

"Sorry Professor!" Remus and Hermione said in unison as they dashed to the door, they had to turn back around when they realized they'd left their wands and so they were late to dinner.

"Oi. What's wrong with your face?"

"There is nothing wrong with my face."

"No. You're all smiling. It's creepy. Stop it."

"What the hell Padfoot? There's nothing wrong with my face!"

"Okay good. Now you've stopped."

James glanced up from his dinner to frown at Remus and Sirius who were bickering. "What's the matter Moony?"

Remus growled and pointed an accusing finger at Sirius. "This idiot thinks something's wrong with my face!"

"I didn't say that! I said your smile was creeping me out. You won't stop. It's weird." Sirius was studying Remus face with a furrowed brow. "Why are you smiling so much?"

It took all of Remus' willpower to not look over at Hermione who was sitting with Lily, Alice and Frank on the other side of the Gryffindor's table. "I did well on a test."

"But the full moon is this week. Aren't you usually all brooding and a git for a couple days beforehand?" Sirius half whispered. James looked around to make sure no one was listening before agreeing with Sirius.

"Yeah. What's up? It can't just be a test."

Suddenly a smirk landed on Sirius' face and he almost broke the bench he was jumping up and down so much with excitement. He pointed a finger at Remus who tried to smack it away. "Moony you sly dog you! I know why you're acting so strange!"

"What? No you don't. And I'm not acting strange so stop saying that!" Remus defended but this only seemed to make Sirius happier.

Sirius punched Remus' arm. "What did you and Doriana do after the Slug Club Ball eh?"

Remus flushed in embarrassment as James sat up straighter and looked at Moony with a new found respect.

"Oi! Look at him blush!" Peter shouted and they burst into hearty guffaws at Remus' expense.

"Shut it you lot." Remus snorted as he tried to calm down and ignored their laughter.

"Alright, don't tell your best friends." James pouted. Remus laughed and flicked mashed potatoes at him with his spoon. The glob of food landed in his hair and James frantically shook it out. "Nice Moony. Real mature."

Remus and Peter chuckled until Sirius sent another glob of unidentified meal flying at Remus' head. At the last moment Remus turned away but it still landed across his left cheek and in his eye.

"What on earth are you doing?"

The four boys jumped as the familiar yell of Professor McGonagall stopped their games short. "Stop acting like children, honestly, throwing food? At the Gryffindor table? Do I have to give you detention?" McGonagall became harsher by the moment and the boys hung their heads in false regret.

"We're sorry Professor." Sirius said sweetly.

Remus elbowed Peter who was on the verge of bursting into hysterics and was hiccupping into his glass of pumpkin juice.

"Yes well, if I ever see such childish behavior from you sixth years again, don't think I won't put you in detention!" Then she was gone and the boys counted to ten before bursting into more laughter.

"Sooo?" Alice stressed the 'o' out and Hermione pretended to not know what she was talking about.

"So what?"

"What do you mean 'so what'? I want to hear all about your date with Sirius!"

"We danced and talked and then it was over. End of story."

Lily rolled her eyes and pointed a fork, rather rudely, at Hermione. "Don't forget you skipped out at least an hour early. Where were you anyway? Sirius wouldn't stop bugging Sev and I."

"I've been meaning to ask you about that too." Alice turned her accusatory look from Hermione (to her immense relief) to Lily. "I thought you said you didn't have a date."

Frank was looking very much like he wanted to skip out at this point. "Listen, Alice…I'll see you later okay?" Alice waved a dismissive hand at him and never took her eyes off Lily. Frank ran out before he got dragged into another round of girl talk.

"Well? I'm waiting."

Lily sighed. "It was just as friends." Hermione studied Lily for a moment to see if she was telling the truth. Lily shrugged and her face remained clear of a blush so Hermione assumed she was. "He was acting all weird and kept saying he had to ask me a question all last week. When he finally got around to asking me to go with him, I was going to say yes. But before I could say anything he said, 'Just as friends of course.'" Lily dropped her fork and threw her hands in the air. "He's so confusing sometimes."

"Are you…disappointed he didn't ask you?" Hermione barely said above a whisper. Doubt creeped into her stomach and despite herself she glanced down the table to see James. The idiot had mashed potatoes in his hair. Hermione blocked Lily's view so she wouldn't see James acting like a complete moron.

When I get my hands on those-

But Lily wasn't even interested in James at the moment. "No I don't think so. But it would've been nice to be asked by someone. Not James." She added when she saw the look on Hermione's face.

"What's wrong with James?"

"Well…he doesn't really count, he always asks me." Lily rolled her eyes and Hermione couldn't help the confused expression that crossed her face. "I have to say no to him…on principle."

"Why? It takes courage for a guy to ask you to something. Why can't you say yes?" Hermione shrugged and once again, Lily felt confused by Hermione's answer.

"But he expects me to say no."

"That would make it even harder to ask you."

Lily blushed and tried to look down the table at James but Hermione was blocking her view. "Maybe next time you should say yes?"

Lily contemplated that for a moment before nodding. "I guess it couldn't hurt."

A few days later Hermione was skimming a book on memory modification in the library during her lunch break. She should've been down in the Great Hall eating before her next class but she was too wound up. She'd had horrible dreams about her parents all night and she was eager to find some way of restoring her botched job at saving them.

"Granger."

Hermione almost dropped the book she was so startled. She spun to see who had called her name and was surprised to see Regulus standing behind her. He had the Horcrux book in his hand. Hermione glanced at it before meeting his gaze.

"I can't read any more of this." He held it out to her. "But I see the point you're trying to make and I'll take it into consideration."

Hermione sighed but took the volume from him. "Thanks for bringing it back."

Regulus turned to walk away and made it half way down the aisle before stopping. He looked back over his shoulder at her and he spoke so quietly Hermione almost missed his question. "How did you know that I wouldn't use that book to make my own Horcrux Granger?"

Hermione stared at him for a few moments before she decided what to say. "Something just told me that deep down you know what is right and what is wrong."

Regulus didn't respond to this or even acknowledge what she'd said. Instead he stormed out of the library and Hermione glared down at the book he'd left with her.

She'd just barely put it back into her bag when another figure came around the corner and called her name again.

"Hermione!"

"Hey Remus."

"Where have you been? You missed lunch." While they had been speaking, Remus had walked down the aisle until he stood almost right in front of her.

"Sorry you had to come looking for me." She muttered as she shelved the memory book and gave Remus her full attention.

"It's alright." He glanced at the shelf behind her and saw the topics of books. "Whose memory are you trying to modify?"

"Well I already modified my parent's."

Remus raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on her downtrodden expression. Even with her eyes looking so sad and her hair in a messy ponytail, she was as beautiful as the night he'd first gotten to kiss her. It felt like a dream come true really. Remus felt the desire to brush some of that hair out of her face and when the realization came that it would be received positively from her, Remus eager reached out to run the back of his hand across her cheek. It felt warm and when he removed his hand he saw she was blushing.

Hermione was watching Remus' eyes change from blue to gold and back to blue in very quick succession. He was obviously struggling with some emotion but she was too distracted by his hand touching her face to ask what was wrong.

Remus was smiling down at her wickedly. "What? What is it?" She asked as his smile became bigger.

"Haven't you always wanted to snog in a library?" He beamed down at her as her eyebrows disappeared into her hair and her mouth dropped open.

"What! No!" But she blushed so brightly that Remus knew she was lying. Before she could protest he raised her chin with his fingers and lightly brushed his lips over hers. Already he could feel her melting into him. He could feel her heart speeding up beneath his hand and her eyes were fluttering closed so he also closed his eyes.

He felt her hands running up his back and she was sighing into his gentle kiss. So he deepened it. He accidentally pushed her so far into the bookshelf that it began to teeter and he had to reach over her head and grab the shelf before it toppled on them.

He didn't stop kissing her even as she started pushing against his chest.

"Remus." Her voice was so soft and it always unhinged him when she said his name but she turned her head away. "Remus someone might see."

He moved down to kiss her neck before pulling away. She was right of course. "Sorry." He sighed.

Hermione blushed. "Don't apologize!"

"Remus?"

Remus blinked several times before he could truly see what was going on. Above him were three faces, they were still sort of blurry so he couldn't make them out but that wasn't what was bothering him.

He groaned and reached for his arm. It felt similar to when he'd been young and had growing pains, but his was much worse and it was a pain he usually associated with the Change. He rubbed his arm for relief but the pain was everywhere and so he couldn't ignore it for much longer.

"Remus can you answer me?"

Remus turned slightly to see the person speaking and could now make out that it was Professor McGonagall in front of him. Her normal strict demeanor was cracking and she was looking down at him in concern. Now that he looked around he could see that he was in the hospital wing and the other two witches in front of him were Doriana and Madam Pomfrey.

"What happened?" Remus groaned and a wave of nausea over-powered him.

"You fainted while we were patrolling. Don't you remember?" Doriana asked from his left and Remus tried to shut out her high pitched voice. It hurt his ears to listen to it.

Remus groaned and turned over so his back was to the girl. "I'm going to be sick."

"I think it's time for you to go Ms. Trout."

Remus was relieved when she left without protest and there was silence once again.

"Now how are you feeling Remus?" Madam Pomfrey gently prodded him into a sitting position so he could drink a glass of cool water she shoved into his hands.

"Everything…is so bright." It was true, the colors in Professor McGonagall's robes were hurting his eyes. But he could also catch every pitch and variation in their voices, and they smelled like they had just come from dinner. "My senses…they hurt."

He didn't see McGonagall raise an eyebrow at this but Madam Pomfrey asked her to respectfully leave as well so she could take care of her patient.

"I think you're just stressed. Your senses are….well…sensitive at the moment and their overworked. You need bed rest."

Remus didn't protest as he turned on his side. That water she'd given him must have some kind of potion because he was very….

Remus woke to find Hermione by his side.

The lights were still bright, but not unbearably so. He could tell because the insides of his eyes were still dark rather than red. He could feel her fingers as they brushed hair from his forehead and they were cool to the touch, it was soothing to his burning fever.

He smiled and was disappointed when she withdrew her hand.

"You're awake." She barely whispered.

Remus opened his eyes to get a better look at her but a wave of strawberries attacked his nose and he felt instantly awake. "You smell like strawberries." He muttered, almost incoherently but was rewarded with a smile.

"Do you like strawberries?"

"They're my favorite." He sighed.

"Mine too." Hermione shuffled around and he had to close his eyes again. He was so tired. But Remus noticed one of Hermione's curls was half in her face and reached out to move it. Rather than withdrawing his hand again he fingered the long strand of hair and appreciated the flush of Hermione's cheeks. He closed his eyes in contentment and released her hair. "I brought you something." Remus forced his eyes open and was glad he did when she handed him a bar of chocolate.

"Yes! The food they bring me is crap."

"You know that's a pack of lies." Sirius laughed as he brushed aside the curtain surrounding the bed. James and Peter were right behind him.

"Remus! I heard you fainted!" Peter laughed as he sat by Remus' feet.

Remus rolled his eyes at Hermione. "Thanks for the support guys."

"Anytime." James laughed.

Remus glanced around at his friends and warmth filled his chest. These were the most important people to him.

"I love you guys." He muttered. He missed Hermione's blush as he drifted off to sleep.

James, Sirius and Peter burst into laughter. "What's Madam Pomfrey giving him?" Sirius snorted.

Remus bent over and clutched his stomach. The Change was burning in his bones and he felt lightheaded.

"Are you alright?" Madam Pomfrey gently touched his back and her cool touch calmed him.

No matter how many times she'd seen his wolf-side, no matter how dangerous any other person might have viewed him, Madam Pomfrey had always been kind and ever patient with him. He would be in her debt for eternity for her understanding and support these last six years.

He stood up as straight as he could and nodded. The witch clutched his arm and pulled him across the grounds. "We're almost there." She half whispered. Remus could see the Whomping Willow in the distance and the long shadows that the sinking sun created. The sky was a bright orange with shades of purple and pink mixed in. Soon the moon would rise and Remus would relive his monthly nightmares.

Remus' shoes crunched through the thin layer of snow as he made his way to his prison.

The chilly air reminded him of the many hours he had spent with Hermione hidden in cold castle hallways until he had become sick three days ago.

No matter how many times he replayed the scene in his head Remus felt as if the last week had been a dream. The ghost of Hermione's fingers caressing his neck and her sweet lips brushing against his had his face burning a bright red and his hands shaking.

Madam Pomfrey felt him quaking and she patted his hand. "It's alright dear. I know this week has been hard but it'll be over soon."

Remus smiled behind his hand as the kind witch sent a stick flying at the Willow's trunk and gabbed the knot. She led him to the entrance of the well hidden hole and together they entered the familiar passageway. She lit her wand tip as the light disappeared and they made their way to the Shrieking Shack.

They entered the quiet building and she began arranging the reinforcements on the house and foregoing the silencing charms. Remus helped by kicking broken bits of furniture out of her way and reminding her of spells she might have forgotten.

"That should do it." She nodded and turned to face Remus. "Goodbye dear." She patted his hand again before leaving out the way they'd come in. She put a charm on the door so he couldn't move it and only someone with a wand could come in and get him in the morning.

"Goodbye Madam Pomfrey." He said the usual pleasantries without a second thought and began preparing himself for the Change. He could feel the wolf within him stirring and already jumping to come out. To calm himself he pulled a bar of chocolate from his pants pocket and nibbled on it while he waited.

This was one of the worst parts, the waiting. Madam Pomfrey, Headmaster Dumbledore and himself had agreed that he needed to leave at least an hour before the moon was scheduled to make an appearance and although he knew it was for safety's sake the boredom was almost unbearable.

Sirius hid under the Invisibility Cloak and cursed Snape from dusk til dawn.

If that little toad isn't out here in the next five seconds I'm going to-

But his thoughts were cut off as a dark figure ducked out of the front entrance and glanced around the grounds before running toward him.

I knew you wouldn't disappoint me Snivellus.

Sirius sniggered as the greasy-haired boy dashed past him without a sideways glance.

Have fun with the big bad wolf. Sirius snorted internally. As if Moony would hurt a fly.

Sirius made sure the figure reached the willow and had picked a good stick before he began heading to the castle's entrance. Before he actually entered, Sirius removed the cloak and shoved it into his robe pocket.

The doors creaked as he silently ducked inside the warm castle. The moment he turned to the main staircase he was overjoyed to see James, Lily and Hermione leaving the Great Hall. It was lucky he'd caught James; he wanted to brag about the success of his prank as soon as possible.

"Oi! Prongs! Red! Love!" Sirius yelled as loud as he could across the large hall and was even more amused when they actually looked up at their silly nicknames. Could this day get any better?

The crowd parted for him and he reached his friends without a hitch.

"How was dinner?" He asked when he was able to catch his breath.

"Alright." James shrugged. "Where have you been?"

James looked at his best friend in horror. "What are you saying Sirius?"

Sirius rolled his eyes and handed James the Invisibility Cloak. "Like I said, Snivellus is about to get a nasty shock at the end of that tunnel and he'll think twice about bothering you or any of us Marauders again." Sirius smirked at the idea and rolled his shoulders. "He's just gone down the hole so it'll be only a matter of time before he comes running in here screaming like a baby." Sirius chuckled.

Hermione felt sick. "But Sirius…what if he doesn't make it out of that tunnel?" Hermione could feel the tears burning behind her eyes. How could she have forgotten about this? Sirius' prank was very damaging to the future and Hermione could only watch now that the events had been put in motion. She glanced at James' face and was relieved slightly to see the horror of the situation reflected in them.

"It's the full moon." Hermione was shocked to hear Lily murmur. "Do you mean to say Sev has gone after a werewolf?"

"How do you-" James was staring at Lily with wide eyes and she cut him off.

"I've known since second year."

"Second!" Sirius gasped. "We've only known since third and we're his best friends!"

"That's not important." Hermione interrupted and glared at Sirius. "Someone has to go after Snape." She stared at James pointedly and he raised his eyebrows at her but nodded. "Let's go." They moved toward the front doors and ducked out before anyone could notice.

Sirius followed at a slower pace and rolled his eyes. "Snape will run the moment he catches sight of Moony. You guys are being dramatic."

Hermione wanted to turn and yell furiously at his idiocy but swallowed back her anger for the moment.

"I'll be right back." James said bravely and glanced at Lily's scared expression. James changed right before their eyes into a stag and dashed for the willow. He was as beautiful as Harry's Patronus. He had large antlers and a sleek muscular body. He made it across the grounds in no time at all.

"He'll need someone to stop the tree." Peter said and followed behind the magnificent stag and transformed into a rat.

"They're Animagus!" Lily gasped.

"Do you realize what you've done Sirius?" Hermione asked. She looked at the handsome boy in concern.

Sirius had the decency to look sheepish. "I didn't think he'd actually have it in him to go down the tunnel, to be honest."

"You're an idiot! Why did you have to do it huh?" Hermione snapped. This was the last straw. "Why don't you ever think?" Hermione cried as she shoved Sirius. Her hands hit his chest and he staggered away from her in shock.

"Hermione I-"

"Snape could try to get you, James and Remus expelled! That's why he listened to you! Now Remus could seriously hurt or even kill him? Is that what you want to happen? How do you think Remus would feel if he hurt Snape?" Sirius looked completely stunned as Hermione advanced on him. Her hair was flying around her face; she'd taken her wand out and was pointing it at his chest. She looked quite scary.

There was a sob behind her and Hermione stopped yelling at Sirius and turned to see Lily sobbing into her hands.

"I didn't mean it Lily. I'm sure James will find him." Hermione stuffed her wand away before going to comfort Lily. As Hermione hugged her, Hermione glared at Sirius over her shoulder.

Sirius rubbed the back of his neck and stared at the ground, contemplating what Hermione had said. He honestly hadn't thought of those things, he'd just thought that Snape would get scared witless and stop bothering them and Lily. Now that he was thinking clearly he could see that not only had he put Snape in grave danger but Remus as well.

And despite what any might think, he did feel sorry about that. Sirius went to open his mouth to apologize to Hermione, and Lily too, but her glare froze him and Sirius looked in the direction of the Whomping Willow.

I guess I really am an idiot.

No one saw Peter appear until he changed back into a human. He explained that James had gotten past the Willow successfully and was after Snape. The four of them all sat in a frightened silence.

Snape could feel the dirt crunching beneath his feet and his wand light danced on the walls. He could hear screaming and animalistic yelps coming from ahead of him and he was scared witless.

I should go back.

This was the one thought pounding in his head and yet he couldn't bring himself to turn back. After all those years of the Marauders tormenting him, maybe this would be worth it. Maybe they would finally leave the school. Just so long as someone knew what was beyond that final curve of the tunnel.

Snape stopped and held his breath as a particularly loud scream filled his ears.

Imagine Potter gone.

This actually made him take a few more steps forward until he was picturing Sirius, Remus and Pettigrew gone as well.

Lily will finally believe me.

At last he reached the end of the tunnel but all he could see was a trapdoor-like piece of wood covering the exit. He could hear clawing and screaming from the other side and despite his terror, Snape had to see for himself. He raised his wand to move it when he heard something behind him. It sounded like the cantering of a horse but when he turned Snape could see nothing. He took his wand and stretched it out far in front of him and controlled the gasp that tried to escape him when James Potter came into view.

"Run Snape!" Potter yelled and ran toward him.

But he had come this far and there was no way Snape would let this opportunity go. After all the horrible things they'd done to him Snape could feel retribution on the horizon. If he could just get past this barrier the scrutiny and bullying would end. Snape ignored Potter's warning and blasted the door from its hinges.

And met the eyes of a wolf so large and grotesque Snape thought he was going to be sick. It had large yellow eyes that stared at him hungrily and its breath was coming in short gasps. Drool dripped from its chin and Snape could only swallow and slowly back away. Now he was scared witless.

Suddenly, a figure leapt past him and stood between the beast and himself. They obscured the wolf's view of him and Snape was able to come to his senses. The person turned and looked over his shoulder and met Snape's eyes. "I said run."

Potter was saving him.

Without another word or thought, Snape turned tail and ran as fast as he could down the narrow tunnel.

Potter saved me. Potter saved me. Potter.

Snape scrambled through the holes exit and was immediately whipped by one of the Willow's branches. It swept across his chest and knocked the air from his lungs. He gasped in pain but the moment it moved to hit him again he made a mad dash for safety and escaped with only a bruised rib and a scratch on his cheek. He didn't stop running until he came to the castle's front stairs and he fell on them gratefully.

Potter saved me.

Snape's breath was ragged and harsh as he leaned against the stairs and looked around him. There were people around him and before he could get a proper look a flash of red blurred his vision and he was being hugged by Lily. She was sobbing into his shoulder and he couldn't comfort her he was in such a state of shock.

"You're alive!" She cried over and over again. Snape could see Hermione walking cautiously to Lily and patting her shoulder uncertainly.

Suddenly Lily pushed him away and was glaring at him with her beautiful green eyes. How those eyes haunted his every waking and dreaming hour and now they were glaring at him. His chest ached.

"How could you?" She shrieked and the group fell silent. "I told you not to worry about them! I told you not to worry about Remus! You've ruined everything." The tears had dried and now Lily was screaming passionately for the whole grounds to hear.

"Lily, please." Hermione hissed and grabbed Lily's shoulder but she wasn't listening.

"Why'd you do it huh? Did you think that it would make up for everything they'd done to you? Well guess what! You're no better than them now! You're lucky James went to save your sorry arse!"

Snape tried to open his mouth to explain but was shut up but Lily pushing him away from her and she slowly backed away. He could barely hear her she was talking so quietly now. "I really did think that we could be friends Sev. But this…" She trailed off and Snape could feel his heart pounding in his ears and more than anything he wanted to stop the words he knew she'd say next. But he could not. "Please…just leave me alone." Snape could feel his heart breaking as she dashed away and the others that were left, stood in a stunned silence.

Snape could feel so many emotions clouding his heart and brain; he wanted to throw a chair or chase after Lily or do something. He felt sick as he made a move to follow Lily but out of the corner of his eye he could see the others staring at him. Sirius was smirking, which didn't bother him so much but Hermione… Hermione's expression had nothing but pity.

And just like that Snape could feel the emotions draining from him. They seemed to seep out through the cracks like vapor and as it disappeared so did the anger and the hurt and the pain. He felt empty but there was no more pain. That part was good at least.

Hermione looked as if she knew what had happened. He could imagine his face going from shock and hurt to a completely blank mask.

This was much better than the pain that had been invading him a few moments ago.

"Severus?" Hermione said his name like a question, her expression still looked pitying and Snape sneered in response.

"Where is Headmaster Dumbledore? I must speak with him." Snape brushed past the girl and bristled when he heard Sirius laugh behind him.

"Stop it Sirius." Hermione snapped. Snape acted as though he hadn't heard her and ascended the staircase to the front doors. Determined to find Dumbledore and remove Remus and Sirius from this school. Then maybe he'd forget Lily's face as she begged him to leave her alone.