She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Blood Is Thicker Than Water…Somewhat

I came back to the castle around dinner time, dying of starvation but also exhausted. I wished I hadn't given the cloak back to James, because now I would have to wait for him, Sirius, Remus or Peter to come and find me.

I sat down near to an entrance of the castle, feeling snow settling on my back.

I enjoyed being a wolf, it was true. Running around like that, howling and being able to jump over things in my way, it was so much fun. But I wanted to get inside, and fall asleep.

I was tired.

Come on guys… I thought. I want to come inside…stupid weather… I glanced up at the sky, and blinked as snow fell into my eyes.

I sighed, and then transformed back into a girl. I had to use the bathroom. If I was quick, and careful, then no one would see me.

I hurried into the castle, watching out for people every which way.

But not that way.

***

I hurried up the stairs toward the girls bathrooms, and went inside, before I realised which one I was in, but by then it was too late.

"Oh, hullo." Said the ghost of the student, staring at me balefully from behind big glasses.

I sighed. "Hullo Myrtle." I said, hoping she would be gone by the time I got out of the stall, but no such luck.

"Not many people come in here." She said sadly, as I washed my hands.

Jeez, I wonder why. I thought, turning from the sinks, and a curse flew past my ear.

Myrtle shrieked, and I felt like shrieking too, because the one who had tried to curse me was none other than Severus Snape.

"Snape!" I hissed angrily, plunging my hand into my robes for my wand on instinct, but Snape was two steps ahead of me.

Perhaps he was angry about the detention I had somehow managed to secure for him, or perhaps he was just suspicious of me. He knew I'd been hanging around James and the others, and James and Snape didn't get along very well now, did they?

"Sectumsempra!" He shouted.

White hot pain slashed across my chest and face, and I screamed, a long drawn out scream that was cut off when I choked on my own blood, and fell to the bathroom floor. I felt like I'd been slashed with a sword. This was Severus Snape's speciality, the very thing that might happen to Draco Malfoy in the future, in this very bathroom.

The earlier curse had hit the sink, and water now covered the floor, as well as my own blood, adding to the familiarity.

But who could save me? Snape had saved Draco…but Snape had attacked me.

It was also confusing.

What had I ever done to Snape?

"S-Snape…you…you…" I was shaking like mad, and I didn't get to finish my sentence, as the door to the girl's bathroom was flung open, and Sirius ran in, looking around and nearly colliding with Snape, who was on his way out.

"What did you do!?" Sirius growled.

"Sirius!" I was alarmed by the panic in my voice – well, of course, I was bleeding to death here.

Sirius turned and saw me, and all colour left his face.

"Sirius!" I cried, as he ran towards me. "Sirius!" He reached me, and took me up in his arms.

Blood covered us both. "It's okay Em, it's okay," He said in a soothing voice that was hardly his own. As he said this, he took out his wand, and James came bursting into the bathroom, saw what was going on, and disarmed Snape. He then grabbed Snape by the throat and slammed him up against the bathroom wall, wand pointed straight at Snape's throat.

The last thing I remember hearing was Sirius' voice, an incantation, that sounded almost like a song, or a lullaby.

"Vulnera Sanentur…" He murmured. I could feel the blood re-entering my body. Sirius must've known this one from having dealt with Snape before. "Vulnera Sanentur…" He said again.

My wounds were healing.

"Sirius…"

"It's okay… Vulnera Sanentur…"

And then I fainted.

***

No One's P.O.V:

Sirius finished healing Emma's wounds, and realised that she had fainted.

Anger trembled within him, he couldn't believe what had just happened. Emma's hands were limp by her sides, her face still deathly pale, but she was breathing and she was alive.

Barely.

Sirius took Emma up in his arms, and he was shaking with anger. He could feel a faint heart beat coming from within her chest. And that was enough.

He turned around.

"Severus!" He said, in a deadly angry voice. His entire body was shaking, he had never been so scared or angry in his whole life. "I swear to God, if you ever attack Emma again, I will kill you! She's never done a thing to hurt you! I'll kill you if you threaten her again! Prongs – take care of him!" And he ran from the bathroom, with Emma in his arms.

He didn't care if this revealed her to the entire school. He was just intent on getting her to the hospital wing.

Three minutes later, Sirius burst into the hospital wing, startling Madam Pomfrey.

"She needs Dittany!" Sirius yelled. "Quickly!"

Madam Pomfrey's face paled at the sight of the limp girl in Sirius' arms.