Third Year

Sirius Black! That traitor had been sneaking around Hogwarts all year trying to finish the job that his Master had begun twelve years prior. I always suspected Black of something but there was never any proof until he betrayed Lily. But now I will have vengeance on at least one person responsible for what happened that night. Severus kept his wand trained on Black while Lupin (another traitor that would have to be dealt with) kept his on Severus. The trio of morons stood by with looks of horror on their faces. Good, they should be afraid. Black honed traits that any Death Eater would be proud to call his own. And then the next thing Severus was aware of was three bright flashes of red light. And then he was aware of nothing.

His head ached like he had overindulged in Ogden's Finest again. Where was Black? Where was Lupin? Oh Circe, the children! Severus lurched to his feet, head pounding and eyes unfocused. Where? They must be close by….oh. MY. GODS. It's a full moon! What was Granger thinking? I know that she knew, she understood what I was trying to tell her! WHERE ARE THEY? He stumbled around, frantically looking for any sign of them. And then he found them by the edge of the lake. They were all unconscious and looked as if they had been dragged through every circle of hell from the bottom up. And that mongrel Black had managed to drag his sorry carcass over to the trio but it appeared that he had passed out from the strain. What had happened here?

After he had taken the children to the infirmary he took Black to a secure room. He wanted some time alone with him before the Minister showed up to take him away. He needed to pay for what he had done to Lily. "Ennervate." Black's eyes opened slowly and he shook his head a few times to get rid of the fog. Then his eyes narrowed once he saw Severus, "What do you want, Snivellus? Come to get your revenge for what James and I did to you in school? You greasy prat, let the past go, there's more important things to be dealt with tonight!" "For once Black you have the right of it. There are more important things to deal with tonight, the first of which is to answer this question for me: why did you betray the Potters? And look right into my eyes when you answer, I will know if you are lying." Black spat at Severus, "I would never betray James and Lily! It was that rat, Peter Pettrigrew who did it! James was like a brother to me, in fact he was closer than my own brother who turned out to be a Death Eater just like you!" Severus drew back, How is this possible? How could we not have known? But he could be lying. The Dark Lord could have taught him, the Blacks were always favored among his ranks. But before Severus could further interrogate Black the door opened to reveal the Minister of Magic. "Ah, Professor Snape, keeping the criminal locked up tight are we? A job well done I'd say, but it's time for him to be fed to the dementors. Come and take a walk with me so that we can talk about your reward." This was a move that Severus had not expected, but who was he to turn down a reward when it was offered by the Minister himself? And if Black's soul was going to be fed to the dementors, well…the truth would come out regardless of whether or not he would tell it. Severus would have justice, on either Black or Pettigrew. But Black would do for now.

"ESCAPED! How could he escape! This is Hogwarts, there were dementors guarding his room? He couldn't just waltz out of here without being apprehended. Unless he had help?" Severus' eyes shone bright with anger, it would be like Dumbledore to let the man go without verifying the truth of what he said. "I told you Severus, I spoke with Sirius and determined that what he told you was the truth. Yes, I am aware of the fact that you were attempting to interrogate him when the Minister arrived and I don't blame you. You, however are quick to blame even when you have no evidence. Sirius is innocent and we will leave it at that for now. I am sorry that the one truly responsible got away, but according to Sybill it was bound to happen anyway." "You're actually listening to that hack? We both know that she's only made one good prophecy before in her life!" "Yes, well, I'd say her record is improving as it is up by one." Dumbledore looked smug, as if he had known that that harebrained batty woman would prove true in the end. "Will you at least allow me to search for Pettigrew this summer?" "No, I have a feeling that he will resurface soon enough."