A poster of Andrew Sedgewick was disinterestedly placed onto a wall in the dungeons by Ian Mulciber. This was his punishment for getting into a fight with Sirius Black earlier on in the week. He still had half a stack of posters left to place onto the wall, and after that, another stack waited for him in Filch's office.

He put another poster on the dungeon wall and sighed in frustration, the menial task at hand was getting to him.

"Ian."

Mulciber turned his head round to where his name was called. "Hello? Who's that?"

Nothing. Perhaps it was just the wind.

He turned back to the wall and saw that the poster had turned from Andrew Sedgewick's face to his own.

"What the fuck?" The picture was of him his mother had taken of him. Only the visage of his face had rotted away.

"Hahahaha."

Mulciber turned around to the figure of Andrew Sedgewick running down the hallway.

"Hey!" Mulciber dropped the pile of posters and went off after him. "Sedgewick! You little fink! Get back here!"

The 5th Year Slytherin ran after the firstie, following him through the dungeons. The hallways growing dimmer, and darker. Candlelight growing fainter and fainter. Ian Mulciber turned another corner before stopping right in front of a hole in the wall.

The hole was rather big, it looked like it could fit a few people. Mulciber took a closer look and saw that the hole led down into a chasm deeper into the castle.

"What the hell is this?" Mulciber called into the hole. "SEDGEWICK!"

There was no response.

"SEDGEWICK! YOU LITTLE BASTARD! GET BACK HERE NOW!" The Slytherin then caught himself, "Wait why do I care? He's only a little mudblood!"

As he turned to leave, he froze when he spotted a rat sitting on the edge of the wall.

"Egh!" He recoiled in fear as he saw that grotesque thing. He pulled out his wand and hexed the little rat dead. "Filthy little thing." Mulciber turned around to see another rat on the ledge.

"What the ever-loving fuck? Merlin, you things must breed like…oh yeah." He shrugged and simply lopped off the rat's head using his magic.

Then out of the corner of his eye. Another rat appeared. And another. And another. And another.

Mucliber silently panicked as he was surrounded by a horde of rats, diseased, hungry-looking, rats.

Suddenly a rat launched itself onto Mulciber's back, taking a bite out of him. He yelped, threw the rat onto the floor, and stomped the rat until he could feel every single bone break underneath his foot.

This in part must have really pissed off the other rats as they all leaped on Ian Mulciber and began to take large chunks out of the fledgling dark wizard.

"AARRRGGGHHH!" Mulciber screamed in horror as he tried in vain to pull the rats off his body, but for every rat, he pulled off, two more would take its place.

Mulciber fell to his knees as the rat bites were becoming too much for him. The rats now dragging him down into the hole in the wall. He tried in vain to stop them but it was too much. It felt as though the rats were turning into strong arms, pulling him into the wall.

Mulciber in a last ditch effort decided to do what was necessary to survive. He pointed his wand at the group of rats, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A green light found its target hitting the mass of rats, and they all fell over dead as a doornail. Mulciber caught his breath as he began to get up on his feet but then was quickly taken off his feet once more. He looked over to see a clown protruding out of the hole in the wall.

"Knock knock, float o'clock!" The clown laughed as with one great pull, Ian Mulciber was dragged into the hole in the wall. Bricks covered the hole in the wall, leaving no trace of the misdeeds that have happened.

Severus first heard about Mulciber's disappearance that afternoon. He was putting up posters of Andrew Sedgewick in the dungeon and ended up missing himself.

Severus was sitting in the hallway upon the steps leading to the Grand Staircase. Lily didn't know what to say. She never liked Mulciber, and Mulciber in turn, did not like her. But he was a close friend of Severus'.

"I'm sorry, Sev."

He looked at her and nodded, "Thanks, Lily."

The two were waiting for Remus and Peter to get out of their class to meet up and strategize on what to do next.

"Oy Snivellus!"

Severus sighed as he rubbed his brow, this was the last thing he needed today.

Sirius Black and James Potter walked over with bad intentions. Lily knew that her best friend was in no mood moved to intercept them.

"Potter, not now." Lily stopped him, and Sirius.

James looked taken aback that Lily was taking such a stance to stand up for Snivellus. "Having your friends fight your battles, Snivellus?"

"Just like the slimy snake you are!" Sirius added in for good measure.

Severus stood up and was about to confront the two when Remus and Peter came down the stairs from the Great Hall.

Remus, sensing the tension in the air, quickly acted to dissolve it. "Knock it off, guys."

Sirius and James looked shocked. "What's with you Moony?"

"Severus and Lily are helping Peter and me with a…problem."

Sirius squinted his eyes, "A…furry little problem?"

"No, no something different…and…evil."

Sirius looked a bit concerned. "What evil? What's going on?" He looked over towards Severus. "What are you doing with my mate Snivelly?!"

"It's Severus."

"What?"

Severus Snape stood tall in front of both his tormentors, no longer afraid, no longer intimidated. "My name is Severus, and what I'm doing with Remus is none of your concern."

He walked over with Lily to where Remus and Peter were standing. James snarled, "Since when did you decide to grow a backbone?!"

"Since I figured out you weren't on the top of the pecking order anymore," His eyes sleekly met James'. "I know this might sound weird, but I sincerely hope you never have to face what we have."

"Oh yeah? And what exactly have you faced?" James challenged Severus. "You-Know-Who's moldy bum?!"

Sirius and he cracked a bellowing laugh.

"Well, the Dark Lord's backside might be an easier challenge. Now if you'll excuse me." Severus went to leave but was stopped by Sirius brandishing his wand. "Hold it Snivelly!"

Remus growled. "Enough!" He yelled at his best friend. "Lower your wand Sirius, or so help me I'll give you so much detention your hands will fall off with the amount of lines you have to write!"

Sirius appeared wounded and lowered his wand. "Moony, I…"

"Don't Moony me, Sirius! Just leave him and Lily alone. Peter and I must go with them to deal with something. And until we deal with it you are to leave them alone! And that's final!"

And before James could respond Remus led Lily, Peter, and Severus away to the Library. Leaving Sirius and James in the dust.

"What the hell just happened?" Sirius asked out loud.