Madam Pomfrey healed Sirius' arm in about a minute. She had question for the boys about where the injury had come from, but Sirius would only mumble about a potion accident. James backed up his lie with gusto.

"He was trying to stop this large moth from dive-bombing into my potion and ruining it. The potion only called for 2 mothwings so Sirius was heroically trying to save my grade. Unfortunately, his robe got caught on the side of the table, and he fell right over the flame Madam." James lied with wide innocent eyes.

Madam Pomfrey knew that the burn was from a spell, but Sirius was now nodding enthusiastically along with James so she let the two of them go without further questioning. She would have to mention the incident to Albus though. Madam Pomfrey didn't like the idea of students using magic that dark in her school.

"That was bloody brilliant, mate" Sirius said and gave James a high-five once they were in the hall. "I'm a little afraid of you though. It was way to easy for you to come up with that lie"

"Heh, it's not my first time covering up a random accident. Usually if you start blathering about boring details people lose interest." James replied. "Now we just have to figure out what to do about Snivellus."

Sirius had an unpleasant twinge of guilt as James talked about revenge all the way back to the dorms. At least it wasn't like he had picked on someone innocent. Snape was a Slytherin git through and through. He probably deserved whatever James cooked up. He did find himself steering James away from the worst of the revenge plots though. Arguing that he did walk away with all of his limbs so perhaps they shouldn't actually maim the other boy.

"It would send a message." James fought back stubbornly. It was mainly in jest though. Sirius didn't think he was really capable of harming another student. James even got Peter and Remus involved. Remus objected until he heard about the Sirius' burn.

"His whole arm was red and blistered guys, and what's worse, is he seemed scared. He didn't even want to tell me about it. No one can pick on one of us like that." James whispered to the other boys late at night. Sirius was listening through his drawn curtains one bed away. He was beyond touched that the others were coming so strongly to his defense. Sirius rolled over trying to find a cool spot on his cotton pillowcase. He didn't want to think about how the other boys would feel if they knew it hadn't been Snape, but just the filth of his family spreading their hate. When he finally got to sleep that night, his dreams were filled with images of Peter, Remus, and James telling him that they didn't want to be friends with him anymore. They didn't want to associate with a Black.

James heard him whimper softly in his sleep, and his resolve strengthened. They would be taking care of Snape this morning. He quietly crept between the four-poster beds and roused Remus and Peter. They slipped out of the dormitory and left Sirius to sleep.

They returned to the dorm while Sirius was still getting ready for breakfast. Each boy looked exhausted and ever-present rings under Remus' eyes had darkened considerably, but they smiled victoriously at each other all morning. James refused to tell Sirius what they had done. He just kept telling him that they had taken care of some "urgent business".

Sirius knew his friends weren't cruel, but he did begin to worry when Snape still hadn't appeared by their mid-morning class together. Professor Binns barely noticed the boy's absence, his ghostly eyes gliding smoothly over the classroom before he began yet another lecture about the goblin wars of 1763. Or something with goblins in 1763, Sirius really couldn't be sure. If Remus didn't let James and Sirius look at his History of Magic notes, he was reasonably sure that they would fail every test.

When every class was over for the day and Snape still hadn't appeared, Sirius demanded answers from the others. "What did you do to him?!" He said tugging Remus arm to pull him aside in the classroom.

"Don't worry. We took care of it so he knows not to bother you again." Remus replied. Remus was beginning to think that they hadn't done enough if Sirius was this scared.

Snape finally was found right before dinner time. A second-year Hufflepuff kept telling her prefect that one of the knights of armor was watching her. The exasperated prefect had finally waved her wand at the armor to show the girl there was nothing there. To her surprise a greasy-haired Slytherin first year was found petrified in his boxers in the suit.

Snape told the professors that they had attacked him from behind a he made an early morning visit to the library. He hadn't seen their faces. Remus, James, and Peter shared satisfied looks at this. They had not concealed their identity and had just waited outside the general area they believed the Slytherin's dormitory to be until Severus had appeared. Snape liked to spend the early morning hours in the library or getting breakfast before the Great Hall became too crowded so he could avoid the mob of students. The other boys had used this to their advantage, but he would be ready for them next time.

When Snape passed the four boys in the hall the next day, he pushed Remus roughly up against the wall. "Don't think I have forgotten what you did, freak. I prefer to handle my revenge personally" He whispered before shoving the boy roughly and letting him go. Peter helped a grateful Remus off of the ground before turning with concern to Sirius and James.

"We might as well travel in pact for a while, mates. I mean there is no reason to make anyone a target, not that he could do much of anything the big git." James said. For the next few days though, the boys stuck closer together than ever. They could always feel Snape's eyes watching them, waiting patiently for an opening. He was smart enough not take on four at once.