Disclaimer: All characters belong solely to JK Rowling. If you recognize a scene or a name, it is hers.

Chapter Two: The Outcome

Remus could barely breathe. Severus Snape had no reason to allow himself and Sirius to stay at Hogwarts. They had done nothing but torture and humiliate the Slytherin since their first year. But the cold look in the boy's face had been covered by his uncertainty. Remus looked in the other boy's eyes, and saw quite vivid memories floating to the surface of the dark eyes…

Three boys sit together, first years on the Hogwarts Express, two of which were already verbally harassing the greasy-haired boy who had been in the compartment when the three had entered… Four boys, all in their second year, are by the lake, one sitting with a book and pretending to read, pretending to ignore the other three taunting Snape. The Slytherin was cornered, trapped between the lake and his nemeses. They were telling the boy of the Giant Squid, and the boy looked terrified… The four third year boys were seated together around a single cauldron, which was simmering. Sirius stood and meandered over to the cauldron at which Snape sat alone, and dropped something inside as he passed. By the time the explosion occurred, Sirius was back with the other three, lounging in his chair. Laughter echoed through the classroom as the potion hit Snape, and his entire body turned light green… Fourth year Severus Snape walked past the tree under which the four Gryffindor friends sat. James looked up at the boy, and a second later, the Slytherin hung in midair by his feet, his robes hanging down over his head, revealing a pair of graying underpants. There was a crowd growing, and all of them were laughing and jeering at the upside-down boy. Remus stood and flicked his wand toward Snape, who fell to the ground immediately. "James, enough. Let's just go." Every one of his friends, as well as most of the crowd stared at the werewolf in surprise. After Snape had disentangled himself from his robes and stood up, Sirius lazily waved his wand at him and he fell over once more. His sullen cheeks reddened. "Siri, Jamie, let's just go. Um… McGonagall's probably coming by now. Come on!" James and Sirius gave a final look at their victim and lowered their wands, stalking toward the castle. Remus held his hand out to Severus, but the boy stood on his own and glared at Remus. The lycanthrope nodded to Snape, and then led Peter away from the boy and the crowd, leaving Snape standing, stunned by the gesture…

Remus broke the connection between himself and Snape once more. But the boy still had an uncertainty in his dark eyes.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Severus? What is your decision?" Snape's eyes met Remus' once more, but the latter could not read the expression he was receiving, and looked away once more.

The werewolf felt his heart stop as Snape opened his mouth. "They… They can… They can stay, Professor. It wasn't… He… He didn't… It wasn't his fault." Snape gestured at Remus, who could barely believe what he was hearing. Remus tried to meet the Slytherin's eyes, but Snape had looked away from them all and was staring at the wall.

"You realize, Severus, this means you can never tell anyone about what happened tonight?"

"Yes, sir," Snape muttered softly.

Remus tore his eyes away from Snape and stole a glance toward James and Sirius. It was clear from their astonished faces that they expected anything but what had just been said.

"I will not, however, let you get away with this completely, Mr. Black. You will serve detention every night for the next month with Mr. Filch. Fifty points will also be taken from Gryffindor. Anything more than this and questions would be asked about what had happened to cause such drastic punishments. I will make sure, however, that these detentions will not be easy. Mr. Potter, you will receive a week's detention for your failure to report the possible incident. However, ten points will be rewarded to Gryffindor for your other actions last night. Had you not gone to stop Severus, and then gone in after him, there is no doubt that he would no longer be with us today. The two of you," Dumbledore gestured to Sirius and James, "get up to your dormitory immediately, and I do not wish to see either of you out of Gryffindor tower until tomorrow. Remus and Severus, both of you need medical attention at the moment, and you will remain here tonight. I will see each of you in the morning."

And with that, Dumbledore rose and left the Hospital Wing, ushering James and Sirius out ahead of himself. Remus tried to meet Snape's eyes, but as the latter was still staring at the wall, he could not. Madame Pomfrey came over to the boys and touched the Slytherin's arm. Remus saw the boy flinch away, yet follow the woman to another bed near Remus' own. The curtain was pulled, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of breathing.

The curtain eventually opened once more, and Madame Pomfrey came over to Remus, handing him a pair of pajamas. She pulled the curtain, and Remus changed into the new clothes. He had scratched his own leg rather badly, but his injuries had been much worse in the past, and this took only a quick spell to cure. The Mediwitch opened the curtain, saying loudly to both boys, "No talking. No fighting. If I have to separate you, you will not be happy." She looked at both of them and, after being certain they had acknowledged her remark, left for her own room. Remus looked at the Slytherin in the bed beside him, and the other met his gaze. But immediately, as if afraid, Snape turned his back on Remus and pulled the blanket up over himself. Remus felt the tears filling his eyes, but only pulled the blanket back up, allowing the tears to fall silently. He owed the Slytherin so much now. There was no way he would allow his idiot friends to harass the boy any more. This time had gone much too far.

It was only then that he realized that he was now alone. His best friends had betrayed him. Granted, he still had Peter, but the fourth boy was more of… Well, he was closer to James and Sirius than he had ever been to Wormtail. Peter had only joined the group in their second year, whereas the other three boys had been friends since their first train ride to Hogwarts. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs… The Marauders were supposed to be best friends. Everyone wanted a friendship like they had. And he, Remus, had been betrayed by two of the group. He knew he had lost them.

Maybe he had never even had them. Maybe this was the plan all along. He had known it was too good to be true. Who in their right mind would knowingly befriend a werewolf? But he had believed Sirius when he had said he couldn't care less that Remus changed every month. And then they all had decided to accompany Remus as animals, and the astonished Remus had been ecstatic. His friends would never leave him. And now they had. And it was with this realization that Remus sobbed himself to sleep, never knowing that the other boy less than five feet from him was silently doing the same.

What will happen in the next chapter? Read on and find out. Please review!