A/N: Yes, I know I haven't updated in a while. I'm not incredibly happy with this chapter either, but I'm just waiting impatiently for the real fireworks to begin.
x x x
"James, what happened?"
James did not answer Sirius's question. He shook his head, ebony hair falling over the hands that covered his eyes, swaying slightly where he stood. Placing a hand on his arm to steady him, Peter realized that James was trembling.
"What happened?" Sirius repeated, sounding almost panicked now. James was never like this. Not ever. Is he sick? Peter thought frantically. Did the Slytherins get him? But even those explanations didn't make sense, because the Marauders had been through all that. This - this had never happened before.
James swallowed, letting out a small, choked noise. "He's dead," he croaked, dropping his head against the stone wall with an undoubtably painful crack. "He's dead-"
Sirius's face lost all emotion, concern and fear melting away into an inscrutable mask. "The hospital wing," he breathed, hands tightening on James's shoulders.
Full moon last night. The knowledge hit Peter like a ton of bricks, bashing any other thoughts from his mind. "Dead?" He squeaked, terrified that James would say that it was true. "Remus - Remus isn't-"
James shook his head again, pulling his hands away from his red-swathed face. The word seemed to drain him of any energy he had, whispered as he stared hollowly at the floor.
"Snape."
x x x
Minerva McGonagall considered herself a fair and honest woman. She carried out justice as well she could in the minor kingdoms she ruled - or she would like to think so, anyway. She hadn't yet come upon a problem to which there was no good answer.
That was before this disaster.
"Horace, do not think that we don't take the death of a student in your house seriously," she said, trying to stay calm, trying not to lose her temper. "We're all devastated by this tragedy. But the punishment of an innocent child-"
"Innocent child!" His mustache quivered as he scowled. Why was Horace being so unreasonable? She didn't understand it - she had always thought that Horace Slughorn was, while not one of her favourite people, a relatively good person. Perhaps there was a reason why Riddle had been one of his favourite students. "I do not consider a murder innocent."
Before Minerva could hex him into oblivion, Albus's hoarse voice cut in. "I understand your frustration, Horace," he said, and when Albus said it, for some reason, Horace nodded. As if he accepted Albus's offer of peace. Before Minerva could wonder why the same words coming from Albus instead of her were more effective (and come to the conclusion that it was because Albus was the Headmaster, and older, and with more calming a voice), he continued, "I think we all know that Remus Lupin is in no way guilty of killing Severus Snape. His condition is not within his control, and so punishing him serves no purpose. In fact, it would be inhuman to add to the pain I am certain that he feeling already."
"The Ministry won't share your views," Filius pointed out. He was on their side, Minerva noted, as cheerfully as she could. Though, she had to admit that he had a fair obstacle.
Albus leaned forward slightly on his desk - a position that made him look even stronger and more capable than usual. "That is why I propose not telling the Ministry."
She could hear all five hearts beating rapidly in the sharp silence. What Albus suggested was illegal; the kind of illegal that resulted in Azkaban sentences. But Minerva had only to recall Lupin's contorted, agonized face to remember that this was a child of whom they discussed - a very mature one, but a child nonetheless.
"What will we tell Snape's family?" Pomona said at last, speaking for the first time, shattering the silence. "Their son is dead - they deserve the truth."
Albus's piercing blue eyes were steady, like stone. "But Remus Lupin does not."
No one had anything to say to that, so it was almost a relief to hear banging at the door. "Come in," Albus said quietly, tearing his gaze from the Heads of House to glance toward the disturbance.
"Professor Dumbledore, it isn't his fault, it isn't!" The staccato syllables of Sirius Black echoed harshly around the room. "Remus couldn't stop it - you can't let them kill him-"
"Mr. Lupin is not in any danger of death, Mr. Black. We fully understand the nature of his condition."
"They can't kill him, Professor, they just can't-" The boy was almost in tears now, as if he had not heard Albus's assurance. "Please, Professor - it isn't Moony's fault - it isn't-"
Moony - a name obviously affectionate - sliced at Minerva like a dagger. Why, she asked the ceiling angrily, did this have to happen to them? She knew the Marauders (as they called themselves) well enough, being their head of house and assigning detentions at least twice a week, and it wasn't fair. None of this was fair.
"What did you say?" asked Pomona sharply, and Minerva jerked her attention back to the problem at hand. Her companions were focused tightly on Black, who choked out, "I told Snape how to get in. I didn't think he'd actually do it."
The room was suddenly frigid, the air thick and dragging at Minerva's lungs. "This is your doing?" Filius said, voice completely and utterly devoid of emotion.
To his eternal Gryffindor credit, Black did not deny what he had done. "Yes." His breath was hard, hacking, but it was difficult to feel sympathy whilst at the same time remembering that he had effectively caused a murder.
"Horace, don't," Albus said quietly. Fury was beginning to lick at the edges of Minerva's shock, and she forced herself to think rationally.
Looking at Albus, she didn't think that she had ever seen him appear so old before, so tired. Not lifting his head from where it was pensively inclined toward the desk, he murmured, "Please return to the Hospital Wing, Mr. Black. Your friends are undoubtably wondering where you are."
Minerva did not look back as the door shut. The new revelation complicated the mess, as if it hadn't been muddled enough already. Filius shook his head, looking at the ceiling - how could they have known that Black was capable of something like this?
In a voice as empty of life as the former Potions extraordinaire, Albus said, "We have only one option."
x x x
A/N: Sorry, evil clyffie. Even though you can kinda figure it out from earlier in the scene. Review! Reviews are my lifeblood!