Well it's been a pretty long time… a very long time… -_-;

Anyhow I am back, and I feel that the first thing that should be accomplished is actually finishing this story, so here we go.

Chapter Nine:

It Happened One Night

He really needed to stop promising favors. It always got him in trouble. Like right now; he was sitting in front of Professor Jeck's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class all because he had been rescued from the laundry once more by Professor Dumbledore. His request had been for him to sit on the desk and answer any stupid questions the students might throw at him, take attendance, play a film, and make sure someone didn't set the school on fire accidentally. That shouldn't be too hard. The Sorting Hat looked at the schedule and was dismayed to see that the sixth year students were on the schedule today. That meant he would have to deal with the Marauders.

Now he was impressed by all the schemes they got away with. The Sorting Hat had gotten some good chuckles in upon seeing Filch's cat dyed the same shade of purple as the Headmaster's robes, and the time that chubby little Delores Umbridge found that dungbomb in her candy wrapper instead of her favorite pink chocolate, and the time when Lucius Malfoy grew cat ears after making fun of a muggleborn's Christmas sweater. Some things, however, he felt were crossing the line, especially in the case of one Severus Snape. Sure, Snape was the sallow, slimy, sneaky, snarky, all around bitter person, but the Sorting Hat knew the cause of his bitterness. He would never share the secrets from Snape's past with anybody, for that was against his principles. But still he worried. He worried about the kinds of people Snape now hung out with and the kinds of spells he saw them practicing in abandoned classrooms at night. There was something different in the air now. Before the wizarding war had been contained outside of Hogwart's ancient halls. Now it seemed to be slowly creeping inside.

The Sorting Hat felt that he should tell the Headmaster about this, but Dumbledore was often not around. The Headmaster would disappear for days at a time, and when he did come back he was barraged with an endless list of meetings with staff and students. The Sorting Hat soon found he was spending more time worrying about Albus Dumbledore than young Master Gryffindor and his brother.

Randolph had practically disappeared upon his graduation from Hogwarts. From what the Sorting Hat could tell from the snippets of Dumbledore's conversations he overheard it seemed as if the Headmaster had sent Randolph out to spy for the Order of the Phoenix. Being the most vulnerable object in the room was not a plus for the Sorting Hat. It meant that he was left out of the loop by the portraits lining the walls of Dumbledore's office, so he spent most of his days sleeping or grumbling to himself. He'd never admit that he was lonely. Then again, he had always been lonely. Ever since he'd taken up permanent residence in this castle he had not had a constant friend, someone who he could talk to if he so desired.

The bell tolled signaling the hour had come. The Marauders would be here. Unfortunately, Severus Snape was the first to walk into the classroom and after sending him a scathing look the boy sat down in the front of the classroom. The Sorting Hat got the vibe that Severus still did not forgive him for sorting his ex best friend into Slytherin's rival house. This also meant it was going to be an unpleasant class. He could not figure out why Slytherins and Gryffindors were even allowed to have classes together. The rest of the class began filing in: McNair, Lily Evans, Nott, Mary MacDonald, and finally one, two, three… only three Marauders?

The Sorting Hat counted again. He could see Sirius Black clearly in the back row flicking pieces of paper at the back of Orsina Greengrass' head. Peter Pettigrew had settled down frantically copying Remus Lupin's homework. Lupin looked exhausted to say the least. He seemed relieved to see that Professor Jeck was not in class today. Thinking back to the calendar hanging on the wall in Dumbledore's office, the Sorting Hat remembered that tonight would be the full moon. This was more likely than not Remus' last class for the day, so he felt that he should go easy on him. He then turned his attention back to the door.

He had heard horror stories from other teachers about what happens when James Potter is late to class. The Sorting Hat was desperately wishing for the boy to show up, but just before the bell rang he saw that young Master Gryffindor would be the last student to grace the Sorting Hat with his timely presence. He felt that it would be best to move on and take role. As he reached Potter's name young Master Gryffindor raised his hand. "James told me to tell you that he could not come to class today," he said. Students looked around at each other and began whispering. Sirius Black appeared to also genuinely be shocked.

"Alright," the Sorting Hat replied. "Did Mr. Potter tell you why?"

Young Master Gryffindor shifted uncomfortably in his seat, seeing all eyes on him. "He's in the Hospital Wing, sir."

"Oh," responded the Sorting Hat. He left it at that and called Lily Evans up to help him working the magical projector. The lights dimmed and the classroom for the most part fell silent except for the drone of the voice of the wizard on the projector. He noticed, though, that Sirius Black appeared to be talking to young Master Gryffindor in the back. No matter how good the latest spells were they were of no effect on him, seeing as he was indeed a hat.

"What happened?" Sirius asked.

"A seventh year Slytherin hexed him in the hallway," whispered young Master Gryffindor.

"What? Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine."

"Serves him right."

"Shut up Snivellus!"

"It was only a matter of time before someone tried to deflate that big head of his."

"I said shut up!"

"Sirius, I don't think this is getting you anywhere."

"I don't need your help with this 'Ric."

"Him running off to the Hospital Wing just shows how scared and weak he really is."

"I swear, Snivellus, I'll hex your nose right off."

"Bet he's looking like Lupin right now. Peeves is right to call him loopy-"

"He's ill! At least he has a reason to look like that, unlike you!" hissed Sirius with a fierce glare on his face. The Sorting Hat had never seen this look on his face before, but he recognized it. Whenever the Black family wanted someone to regret something they did then they got that look on their faces. Normally something awful was bound to happen to whomever received this look.

"Oh, so there is a reason."

"It's none of your business, Snivellus."

"Whatever could it be? Dragon pox? The plague? I bet it's something ghastly. I've seen him going out to hide under that tree. Something he probably got from his mudblood mother-"

"You think you're much better? If you went through what he does all the time you'd be wetting your trousers daily, Snivellus! Bet they've got 'Coward!' embroidered on the back-"

"I am NOT a coward!" snarled Snape.

"Then prove it!" sneered Sirius. "You think you're so brave? Then follow him out tonight! All you need is to prod the knot under the willow with a twig. We'll see who's scared."

"Fine!"

The bell rang and the students left the classroom, but the Sorting Hat was frozen in his seat. Sirius had just told Snape how to get under the Whomping Willow. If Snape were to go under there…

He had to do something. He didn't know what, but someone had to stop Snape. "Mr. Black!" he called out.

Sirius came up to the table. "Yes?" he asked.

"I really think that you should tell Mr. Snape not to go out tonight," he said.

Sirius barked out a laugh. "I don't have to," he stated while shaking his hair out of his eyes. "There's no way he'll actually go out there, and if he does, then Madam Pomfrey will catch him before he even gets close."

The Sorting Hat was not so sure of that.

OoO

It had taken over an hour, but he managed to escape the Headmaster's office. He glanced about before creeping along the floor. There was no way he'd be able to find Snape before going outside, but he may be early enough to run into Madam Pomfrey on her way down with Lupin…

"Hey!" someone shouted. Beards and bungled up spells! He had been caught. The Sorting Hat turned around to face Lily Evans.

"Er… hello, Miss Evans… how are you this lovely evening?" he stuttered.

She seemed a bit embarrassed to see that she had not called out a student. "Oh, sorry. Thought you were a student out of bed. I thought I heard something fall."

"Nevermind about that," he said. He decided it would be best not to mention the mess he had made in the Headmaster's office. "Have you seen Madam Pomfrey? I needed to ask her something."

"She just closed up for the night," replied Lily. She must have noticed the look of horror on his fabric face, for she continued to speak. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh… um… oh, blast! I need to talk to someone about… an issue… otherwise someone will be in mortal peril!" he blurted out. She seemed confused, but also very worried. "Is there anyone I could talk to?"

"Well I'm here-"

"No, no… could you take me to Gryffindor Tower?" he inquired.

"Of course," she said while picking him up. "I don't see how this will help, though." He could feel the nervous energy pulsing through his fabric, just like in the old days when Master Gryffindor would take him gallivanting about towards any sense of danger or adventure. But this time it was not his life at stake. It was not Master Gryffindor intentionally putting his life at stake either, but rather someone who had no idea what he was getting himself into. The Sorting Hat needed to talk to someone who could do something about this; someone who could come up with ideas quickly and not be afraid to do whatever it would take to stop Severus Snape.

When they entered the common room he was thanking the heavens that first off practically everyone was in bed. Only Young Master Gryffindor, his friend Ben, Sirius, and Peter sat up in the common room all (except the last one) reading or working on assignments. He called out to Young Master Gryffindor. "Yo- 'Ric, might I talk to you for a moment?"

The boy put down his book. "Of course." He strode right over and thankfully Lily had enough sense to go off and return to her prefect duties. "Is something wrong?"

"Absolutely," replied the Sorting Hat just about bursting at the seams from anxiety. "That one over there told Severus Snape to go down to the Whomping Willow tonight."

"That's rather immature, Sirius," stated Ben, looking up from an essay. "I really had hoped that you and Snape would have gotten over it by now. He's a git, but that doesn't mean you have to keep butting heads with him."

"He deserves to be scared," grumbled Sirius. He didn't even look up from A Brief History of Magical Creatures of the Scottish Highlands- Unabridged to look at Ben. "Maybe he'll finally learn something besides Dark Magic."

"I don't see why you want me to do anything about this," replied Young Master Gryffindor. "I'm sure Snape's already out there. Filch or one of the prefects will catch him, and he'll be sour tomorrow. Is there something else going on?"

"Tonight is the full moon," the Sorting Hat seethed. He looked scathingly at Sirius Black. Peter gasped and looked at his friend.

"Padfoot! How could you?" he yelped.

"Nothing will happen. Madam Pomfrey will catch him for sure," said Sirius while still reading.

"Madam Pomfrey will catch whom?" asked James, coming into the common room with a towel on his head.

"Snape," stated Ben. "Sirius told him to go out to the Willow tonight."

James ripped the towel off his head. His face behind his askew glasses was now very pale. "YOU DID WHAT?" he bellowed at Sirius.

"I told him to sneak out," Sirius responded. "But he would have to of gotten past several prefects plus many Professors on the grounds and in their offices, not to mention Madam Pomfrey, before even getting close to the Willow. If everything goes as planned then Snivellus should be getting an earful in Dumbledore's office right now."

"But it hasn't!" the Sorting Hat interrupted. "Madam Pomfrey has closed up for the night and Snape is not in the Headmaster's office."

"How would you know?" Sirius shot back.

"Well… let's just say it's going to take people awhile to get inside…" muttered the Sorting Hat while shifting on the end table.

"Do you even realize what this means, Sirius?" hissed James.

"Well I didn't think he'd actually manage to get outside. If he can manage that then even he should see Snivellus."

"Bloody hell! Will someone just explain what the whole significance of the full moon is? I mean, if it's a problem then it should be rising-" stated 'Ric.

"In about seven minutes," Ben said.

James bounded out of the common room. The Fat Lady shrieked as her portrait hit the interior wall (serves her right). Sirius stared at his best mate and seemed to really be taking in the implication of his actions now. His face was turning a ghostly shade and his eyes seemed to hollow out. He just sat there staring at the open portrait hole. Sirius dropped his book. Peter began pacing nervously about, appearing torn about whether he should follow James or run up into the dorm and hide. Ben gave Young Master Gryffindor a confused glance and stood up to follow James, but 'Ric interrupted him.

"I'll go. You stay here and try to figure out from these two what's going on. Also go look for McGonagall of Dumbledore, if Evans will let you," stated 'Ric.

"Are you sure? I mean it looks like whatever is going on outside might be a bit more serious," replied Ben. "If you're planning to go out there then I should really come with you."

"There's no use in both of us getting killed, if that's what may happen. For some reason I feel like it may be a likely outcome," said 'Ric. "Someone has to be left in the end, and it might as well be the better man. And I won't be alone. The Sorting Hat is coming with me."

The Sorting Hat was stunned. Young Master Gryffindor was taking him along? He had been dreaming about this day since-

Wait. They were probably going to die. He hadn't been dreaming of that. However, looking back on his life, he realized that this wasn't exactly new. Young Master Gryffindor picked him up and ran out of the common room, turning left as they had seen James do moments before. They zipped through twisted corridors that were mercifully empty. Peeves popped out of an adjacent hall on the third floor, but 'Ric hit him with some sort of spell that sent him off silently howling. There only problem came in the Entrance Hall.

Lily Evans was coming out of the Great Hall. She was examining the front doors, which the Sorting Hat could tell had recently been slammed. The sound was still reverberating off the stony ceiling. She looked up at the two of them. "You're out of bed out of hours, 'Ric. Honestly it seems to be one person after the other tonight," she sighed, running a hand through her long red hair. "I'll have to write you up now. Wait… did you put him up to this?"

"I- uh- can explain. R-really," stammered the Sorting Hat.

"Something weird is going on. No one seems to be telling me anything, but from what I can tell it is imperative that we stop Snape from reaching the Whomping Willow, which he may or may not have already done," replied Young Master Gryffindor serenely. He had a much better head on his shoulders that Master Gryffindor, the Sorting Hat noticed. So calm and collected. "Now if you don't mind, I need to be getting outside since James already is out there."

"Potter?" questioned Lily. "He's out too? Oh now Gryffindor House is really going to get it. Just to think of all the house points we'll lose. I better go out there and get him."

"Don't go out there!" ordered the Sorting Hat. She looked back at him. "It's the full moon."

"So what if it's-" she snapped back, but then she stopped. Her emerald eyes grew wide, and the Sorting Hat knew that she understood.

"Honestly, what's up with this whole full moon thing? It's not like there's a wer-" grumbled 'Ric.

Lily flung open the front doors and ran out onto the grounds. "Go after her!" the Sorting Hat yelled at Young Master Gryffindor.

He ran while shouting at him. "Is there a werewolf on the grounds? Why haven't we heard anything before this?"

"It's Mr. Lupin, you-you twat!" the Sorting Hat hollered back at him.

"Remus?" asked 'Ric in complete shock. But as he continued running it seemed to make more sense. "I suppose he does disappear every full moon. This is an awful mess Sirius has created."

Lily was bellowing out into the night. "Potter! Potter! JAMES!" They caught up with her and 'Ric grabbed her to stop her from running. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO! JAMES! PLEASE DON'T-"

A howl broke open the night under the silent, still Willow. Suddenly, the Sorting Hat saw two heads emerge from the hole under the tree. The one figure shoved the other back and launched a spell under the tree. He could hear Lupin yelp in pain. The other figure began running away from the tree as fast as he can, which the Sorting Hat could see was not that fast. Lily Evans had done much better moments before. The first reached down into the hole, pulling out the stick and as a reward received a branch to the side, sending him flying across the grounds. Lily shrieked, but she was drowned out by the sounds of the Willow pounding at the hole where Lupin was still trying to escape to follow his newfound prey.

Snape ran past them without even noticing that they were there. 'Ric let go of Lily who looked like she was going to run forward to help the first figure who was obviously James. Young Master Gryffindor held out an arm to stop her. "I'll go. You make sure Snape gets back into the castle," he said. But before he could step forward they all saw something incredible happen.

Where James had been laying a white stag was now struggling to get up. After gaining steady footing it bounded towards them, hazel eyes drilling into each one of them. The Sorting Hat had not been aware that James Potter was an animagus. As the stag reached them he could see a red mark growing slowly bigger, staining the pure white hide. He transformed back for a moment.

"He's pretty mad," he rasped, holding his side where the branch had made contact. "I don't know if he's strong enough to break through the tree or not, but I'm not taking any chances. We need to get inside now." 'Ric wrapped one of James' arms around his shoulders to hold him up, and Lily did the same on the other side. They ran back towards the castle as howls echoed across the grounds behind them.

oOo

He wasn't surprised that Dumbledore was there to greet them with Snape on their arrival back to the castle (though Snape didn't look happy to see either them or Dumbledore, though for once he didn't appear enraged either). So it was moments later that he found all of them sitting in the Headmaster's (miraculously clean) office. For once he was on the desk rather than on the shelf. Sirius Black joined them a few seconds later

"I am very disappointed in some of you," Dumbledore began. Sirius and Snape seemed to flinch. "Others of you I am very proud of the way you handled yourselves. I must thank you James, for going out there even though you knew Mr. Lupin had transformed by then."

"WHAT IS THAT THING DOING HERE?" hollered Snape. It had been the first time he had spoken since he had been rescued. "THAT MONSTER SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ALLOWED TO GO TO SCHOOL!"

"That 'thing' is your fellow student, Mr. Snape," replied Dumbledore coolly. "I suggest that you respect him. You have no idea what it is like to have to live as he does. He's far braver than any student here at this school."

"Please, Headmaster, don't punish Remus," Lily said. She looked about ready to cry.

"He probably doesn't even know what happened," stated 'Ric.

"He really wasn't involved in this whole thing," Sirius said quietly. His eyes were looking at Dumbledore's desk. "It's really all my fault. If anyone should be punished, it should be me."

"Yes you should be punished," replied the Sorting Hat. "Of all the awful things I've seen at Hogwarts this is by far ranking as one of the worst."

"I will have to punish you, Mr. Black," declared Dumbledore. "Though, I believe you will not be alone in this punishment. You'll have detention for the rest of the year along with Mr. Snape."

Snape looked shocked and appalled. "Me? With him? I didn't even do anything-"

"You went out there, didn't you?" asked James.

"Since when have you listened to anything Mr. Black has told you?" inquired the Sorting Hat. "I was under the impression that you two were enemies. One does not get away with walking into an enemy's trap."

"As the Sorting Hat has said, you should have known better, Mr. Snape," responded Dumbledore. "Now I must ask that all of you take an oath here, right now. None of you are ever to speak to anyone about what happened last night."

"And why shouldn't I?" roared Snape indignantly. "There's a monster in the school!"

"And Mr. Potter saved your life tonight, Mr. Snape. The least you can do to thank him is to respect his friend's secret. If you do mention it to anyone I will have you expelled from the school, understand?" he stated.

Snape remained silent and only gave the tiniest nod to show his agreement. With everything settled, Dumbledore took out a piece of parchment and a quill and had each person sign. Snape stormed out of the room. Sirius went to approach James, but James walked right past him. Lily left the room right after James softly calling, "Potter?" Sirius seemed hurt, but also appeared resigned to the fact that he should expect as much.

Young Master Gryffindor hung about for a bit. "Sir?" he finally inquired.

"Yes?" responded the Headmaster.

"I was wondering if you have heard from my brother," said 'Ric. "I know he left to recruit on the mainland for the Order but-"

"I'm afraid I haven't heard from him either," replied Dumbledore sadly, taking off his glasses. "I shall send for you, though, once I've had word. I have the Prewett brothers out looking for him now."

"Alright," sighed Young Master Gryffindor, but the Sorting Hat could see that this did not sit well with the boy.

"It's not going to be easy, Eric," said Professor Dumbledore. "You saw tonight the hatred that Mr. Snape has for Mr. Lupin. The war, I'm afraid, is invading Hogwarts, but we must do our best not to let it overtake us here. For if it does, then I'm afraid everything is lost."

"I'll do my very best then, sir," stated Young Master Gryffindor. He bid the both of them goodnight, and turned on his heels shutting the door softly behind him.

oOo

The Sorting Hat had not realized how this night affected everyone around him until much later. He didn't realize this would lead to Snape joining with the Dark Lord over the summer. He didn't realize that Peter Pettigrew had shown that he would indeed one day betray the friends he said he loved like brothers. He didn't realize that Sirius would indeed go mad again when his anger once again overflowed. He didn't realize that Remus would never forgive himself for the act that he never truly committed. He didn't realize that James grew up, though he did notice that Snape never antagonized Snape again. He just acted like Snape didn't exist, which due to the circumstances might have been the best move at the time. He didn't realize that Lily Evans was beginning to fall in love with the boy she once loathed. He also didn't realize how the war would come to explode right in everyone's homes, including Hogwarts…