To my relief, I spotted Remus two days later in the Transfiguration corridor. He must've just been discharged from the hospital wing for he wore fresh bandages and still limped a little. As I passed him, I glimpsed a silver chain peeking out from under his clothes. He was with James and Peter and seemed not to be on speaking terms with Sirius. Actually, all three of them seemed not to be on good terms with Sirius, meaning that for the first time since anyone could remember, James Potter and Sirius Black were not on good terms. They had a shouting match in the common room and a blazing row after Potions class.

While heading to the Owlery to send my parents a letter, I accidentally saw them arguing in an isolated corridor. I quickly hid myself behind the stone archway that signified the staircases at the end of the long hallways and then found myself trapped, unable to made a dash for the stairs without their seeing me flit by.

"I know how much you hate Snape, trust me, so do I, but what you did was reckless and stupid. You could have killed him, Sirius. Killed. That's not a prank anymore, Sirius, that's calculated murder."

"But you know that's not what I meant to do, James!"

"Well, then what the hell did you think would happen, if not that? What else happens when a human meets a werewolf?"

I barely stifled my gasp. So that had been a werewolf? That frightening, horrible creature… But it was a person, I realized. It was a human. No wonder it's whimpers were so sad.

Sirius had gone silent and James sighed heavily and said, "I hope you realize- this isn't about Snape. This is about me looking at you and realizing that you're not the person I thought you were. The Sirius Black I know, the Sirius Black who's like my brother, would never, ever be so obviously cruel and reckless. Not just to Snape, but to Remus, who already can't face his own reflection in the mirror because he's afraid he'll see a murderer. Imagine if Snape had died and people heard- who wouldn't be prejudiced against werewolves?" And James must've turned away for his footsteps slowly faded away, thankfully not in my direction. I sneaked a glimpse at Sirius, whose jaw was taunt and whose eyes were burning in what could I recognized as self-hatred. I pressed my back flat to the wall again, not moving until his footsteps had also faded away.

What did Remus have to do with werewolves? Why had he been down there, anyways?


Lily and Marlene had not made up yet either. The first few times Lily had attempted to apologize and speak to Marlene, Marlene had rejected her and refused to speak to her, and finally, Lily burst, shouting at Marlene that if she wasn't even going to give her a chance to talk and if all she was going to be angry about was Lily defending a Slytherin, Marlene didn't deserve her friendship after all. Lily was spending a lot of time with Severus lately, whose eyes narrowed into fierce slits every time he saw Sirius or James. To cap it all off, O.W.L.s were approaching us quite rapidly and steadily and we were all beginning to crumble under the stress.

Marlene and Sirius were coming down the Great Hall together, and it seemed as though they were arguing.

"Why can't you just tell me why you and James are fighting?" Marlene was saying. "Maybe I could go talk to him, make him understand-"

"It's not something I can tell you, Marlene," Sirius said shortly. "I've already told you that."

"Just tell me what happened-"

"James saved Snape's life, down by the Whomping Willow, all right? That's all you need to know."

Marlene huffed impatiently as she and Sirius approached myself, Dorcas, and Alice eating dinner at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

I almost spat out my pumpkin juice when Sirius addressed me in a flat, uncaring voice, "Kingsley. I want a word."

I got up nervously, feeling Alice's and Dorcas' eyes on me.

Marlene's eyes flashed and she spoke in a fierce undertone (that I heard anyway) to Sirius, "But you can talk about it with her?"

Sirius sighed impatiently and said shortly, "No, this isn't about that, Marlene. Stop making everything a big deal."

Marlene tried to brush past me without meeting my eyes, but I put my hand on her shoulder, stopping her from walking past me, and said straightforwardly, "Marlene, if you don't want us to talk, we won't. But there's nothing going on, you know that, right?"

Her eyes were still hard in her anger, but her jaw softened. "No, no, it's not about you. I'm sorry, Ray. I didn't meant anything against you." She tried her best to give me a small smile, but failing miserably, simply turned away and sat next to Dorcas.

Sirius led me to a quiet corner of the Great Hall before turning to me and demanding, "Tell me why you were down at the Whomping Willow the other night. How did you know Remus was in the Shrieking Shack?"

"That's none of your business," I retorted in the same, but crossing my arms as a way of feeling less vulnerable to him. "I can't believe you left him there and ran."

"I didn't," Sirius said impatiently. "But I want to know how you know that Remus is a- a-"

He broke off when three figures approached behind me. I whirled around to see Nott, Jugson, and Avery.

"Oh look, a blood traitor and a Mudblood," Jugson grinned. "Realized she's a pureblood, have you?" he taunted Sirius, jerking his head in Marlene's direction.

"Shut up," Sirius snarled and the tense edge in his voice made me shiver. "I'm not in the mood for you scum today."

"If we're scum, then what's this thing you're hanging out with?" Nott spat on the ground in front of me. "You didn't hear about her pathetic, worthless, Mudblood brother, did-?"

I don't remember how it happened. All I know is that my fist collided hard with his nose and blood immediately began to pour out of his nostril. Nott cried out in pain.

A jet of purple light flew out of Avery's wand at me and though Sirius rapidly cast an efficient Shielding Charm, he was too late. The jet slashed across my arm and I hissed in pain as something extremely hot and heavy lashed across my arm. But even as I registered the pain, I realized McGonagall was making her way here. Though I still couldn't make sense of the whirlwind of events at the tunnel under the Whomping Willow, I had gotten the gist that Sirius must already be in precarious standing.

"Get out of here," I muttered as I shoved Sirius aside.

"Just don't tell anyone," he murmured back.

Though I didn't have an inkling of what he was talking about, I nodded. Thankfully, at that moment, James arrived to pull Sirius away. Even though they were fighting, James was too loyal to allow Sirius to be in any real trouble.

Unfortunately, that short interaction with Sirius cost me another Stinging Hex from Jugson in the exact same place Nott's hex had hit. It felt like someone was pressed a burning flame against my left arm.

"Enough!" Professor McGonagall was livid when she reached us. "Forty points from Gryffindor and Slytherin for this abominable behavior!"

"Mr. Nott, if the bleeding has stopped, kindly go straight to class! And the same goes for you, Jugson, Avery! As for you, Ms. Kingsley, to the hospital wing!"

"I don't need to go the hospital wing, Professor," I replied, though my voice was stiff with the effort of trying not to cry. "Their spells were too weak to do any damage."

Nott's lip curled in hatred at me, and Avery and Jugson glared at me.

"That will do, Ms. Kingsley! Up to the hospital wing."

I didn't move.

"NOW! Or I will take a hundred points from Gryffindor!" Professor McGonagall roared.

At the sudden uproar at the Gryffindor table, Alice, Dorcas, Lily, and Marlene sprinted up from their seats and physically dragged me up to the Hospital Wing.

Stone-faced, I didn't say a word even when Madam Pomfrey lifted my scarred sleeve to see the wound, though it felt like she was ripping nails out of my skin.

She clucked her tongue at the seared flesh caused by the purple jet before going to the medicine storage room.

Alice shuddered when she saw the wound and Dorcas was indignant. "That's Dark Magic!" Dorcas said. "There's no way that's a normal hex!"

Marlene seemed frightened for a split second, but then her eyes narrowed and her voice took on a hard, bitter edge. "Well, of course it's Dark Magic. That's all they live for." She shot a glance at Lily, and I knew Marlene was referencing Severus. But Lily seemed completely oblivious to this as she worried over my arm and asked me, "But why did you do it? Ray, you never fight. Is it because Potter came over? Did he open his big mouth again?"

"No," I replied, avoiding the first part of he question. "It wasn't because of James. He didn't say anything. And James is actually the one who saved Snape."

"Saved Sev?" Lily said, astonished. "Saved him from what?"

"I'm not sure of the details," I lied. "But it was down by the Whomping Willow, I think."

"That's what Sirius said, too," Marlene said.

Lily opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off, "You guys need to go to class. Professor Sylvian won't excuse you just because your friend's in the hospital and I really don't want to lose Gryffindor any more house points today."

Lily's eyes widened as she realized I was right. She leapt and immediately began to race out, promising to come see me later if I was still in here. Dorcas also left in a hurry, promising to take good notes for me. Alice took my good hand and gently squeezed it before leaving with Marlene.

Madam Pomfrey scolded me as she dabbed potion on my arm. The potion felt cool on my skin and slowly drained the pain away.

I was adamant that I wouldn't miss any classes leading up to the O.W.L. testing days, and therefore I essentially shouted down Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing to let me go just a few hours later.

She finally conceded, but kept up a good string of scornful remarks as she signed my release and packed some glowing blue paste for my arm in a bottle.

"Now, you make sure you dab that on every morning and every night. That's a nasty hex you've got there," Madam Pomfrey glared down at me and it felt like she almost had a third eye squinting specifically at my bandaged arm, which I shook my robes over.

"Thanks, Poppy," I said gratefully. "You're wonderful. My arm feels better already."

She muttered irately to herself, feeling pleased from the compliment, but angry because I was escaping her clutches early.

It must have been lunch time as all the students were heading towards the Great Hall. I scanned for my friends amongst the crowd and finally found Dorcas and Alice coming down from the Arithmancy Tower.

"You're out already? But your arm-" Alice began. I shrugged and said, "I'm all better now, don't worry. Where are Lily and Marlene?"

"Alice and I finally", Dorcas put an elephant of emphasis on that word, "got them to agree to talk. They're in the main courtyard."

"Oh," I said, "well, that's a relief."

"I don't actually know," Dorcas said, grimacing. "Honestly, the only reason Alice and I aren't there with them is because Lily's a little angry at me for looking like I'm on Marlene's side and Marlene is slightly upset at Alice for always being with Lily."

"Maybe you could go down? To make sure they stay... civil," Alice suggested to me, "that is, if you feel better."

"Yeah, of course," I replied. "Main courtyard?"

Alice nodded and I took off, identifying Lily's brilliant sheen of red hair shimmering down her back in seconds.

I could hear Lily arguing with Marlene as I approached them from behind. I stopped a little ways behind them, out of their line of vision, hoping they would just sort it out themselves.

"Listen," Lily was saying, "I know you think he's great, but they're so arrogant. They think they can do whatever they want! They're always making fun of Severus and hexing him. It gives all Gryffindors a bad name. And I feel really bad for Severus because Marlene, as much as you are my best friend, I care about Sev, too. More than those Gryffindor prats. I mean, Sev's never hurt anyone and-"

"Lily," Marlene broke in in a frustrated tone, "I hate to break it to you, but your friend Severus isn't just some innocent victim."

"I'm not saying James and Sirius are innocent, Marlene quickly added, seeing Lily about to protest, "but listen, James saved Snape's life down at the Whomping Willow the other night, while the most good Snape has ever showed them is to hex Sirius after hours in the corridor when Sirius wasn't even doing anything but walking. I'm just saying Severus isn't as perfect or helpless as you think he is. "

"I know he's not perfect, I never said he was," Lily retorted. "But he's not this Dark Arts bully that you make him out to be!"

"Yeah, what about that brawl in the entrance hall?" Marlene challenged. "That curse I had to deflect-"

"We don't even know what that spell was," Lily interjected, "you're just assuming, like you always do, that the spell was some- I don't know, cutthroat, ruthless spell. Besides, Sirius' spell was Dark stuff, Marlene and you don't think he's-"

"This isn't about Sirius, Lily," Marlene said angrily. "This is about Snape and how you're so naïve that just because he doesn't curse everyone in front of your eyes every day, you think he's completely innocent."

"You don't even know what you're talking about, Marlene. I don't know why you're so against Severus, but you're wrong. Sev isn't like that."

"Fine, believe whatever you want. But you'll excuse me if I start placing bets on how long your friendship with that slimy git will last!" Marlene finally snapped back, fed up.

"Marlene, stop. That's out of line," I finally said, joining them.

"Oh please, don't you stick up for him too," Marlene scoffed at me.

"I'm not saying Lily's right about Snape," I replied honestly, afraid that they were both going to be mad at me after this. "And I'm not saying you're right about Snape either. I just… I don't think that you or any of us having issues with Snape means that Lily has to."

When Marlene looked away from me angrily, I sat beside her and said quietly, "Why are you trying to make her choose? It's only going to hurt our friendship, not theirs." All the while my heart was thumping against my chest. Please don't be mad at me. Please don't be mad at me.

Marlene was quiet for a long moment and then she took a deep breath, turned to Lily and said, "Lily, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I wasn't trying to hurt you, ever."

Lily smiled gently and replied, "I know you're just trying to watch out for me. I'm sorry, too, if I ever made you feel like I didn't care enough about you."

Marlene nodded.

"Listen, I'm starving," Lily said, trying to inject some brightness into the conversation. "Want to go grab some lunch?"

"Sure," Marlene replied and Lily started to make her way to the Great Hall.

But Marlene stayed back, and held me back with her for moment. "It's not good for her to be connected with Snape," Marlene said to me, and her voice was soft and completely honest. "She doesn't see it, but it's dangerous for her."

"Maybe," I responded, "or maybe it's keeping her safer than the rest of us."

Marlene's eyes were thoughtful at my response.

She nodded once and then she, too, began to make her way to the Great Hall.

When I didn't follow, she turned back and asked, "Not coming?"

I shook my head. "I'm not that hungry. See you in Transfiguration."

It was true. The Potion on my arm distorted my sense of smell and food seemed rather unappetizing to me at the moment.

Instead, I made my way down through the last, thin layer of spring snow to the beech tree and hid in its shade again, leaning back with a sigh. Thank Merlin that they're friends again.

My arm throbbed and I winced. But the words Nott had said stung worse in my mind. You didn't hear about her pathetic, worthless, Mudblood brother?

I closed my eyes tightly and burrowed the lower half of my face into my scarf, trying to chase away the painful thoughts of Jamie. He was still alive, but there had been no change. No movement, no flicker, so sign of hope that his warm smile or playful ruffle of my hair would ever happen again…

I heard the panting but too lost in memory, I didn't move until a nose nudged my bandaged arm.

"Ow!" I wrenched my arm back, opening my eyes as I did so.

It was Snuffles again and he leapt back and yelped softly, in surprise, I guessed.

"Sorry," I said, feeling slightly stupid for apologizing to an animal that didn't even understand me, but continuing anyways, "it's just that my arm's hurt, you know?"

Frost covered all four of his paws and stray bits of ice clung to his fur. I hesitated, then pulled my scarf from my neck and crouching down, I wrapped it around his neck. He looked slightly ridiculous, with a huge red scarf wrapped around his neck and up to his ears.

Snuffles just stood there and watched me, his tail still.

"You should go back," I murmured aloud, sitting back down. "I'm not as much fun as Lupin."

The dog barked somewhat strangely, almost as though he were laughing.

I looked out over the water, feeling tears prick my eyes.

The dog made a soft almost-purring noise in its throat, as if trying to comfort me.

I glanced at him and said, smilingly, "I didn't know dogs could purr like that. You're not secretly a cat, are you?"

He growled, offended.

"Okay, okay," I said and patted his head.

But only a few seconds had passed when the light humor failed to keep my eyes from flooding with tears. Come on, Ray, keep it together. Your family is still alive. They're all alive, and you're lucky for that. And you were doing so well, too, not thinking about Jamie.

But to be totally honest, I finally admitted to myself, I wake up every day hoping that he has too. I blinked and I felt a traitorous, single, heavy, drop of wetness fall from my eye to the ground. Snuffles coughed uncomfortably.

A moment later, the school bell rang, indicating the end of lunch.

I hurriedly wiped my tears and got to my feet. "I should go to class," I said to the dog. In an attempt at humor, I added, "I wouldn't want to deprive McGonagall of her daily fireworks show."

Snuffles snorted and then, still wearing my scarf, got to his feet, and ran off behind the castle walls.

I picked up my bookbag and made my way back to the castle in time for Transfiguration class.