Half a Life Without You

Chapter 10 - "Caution: Werewolf has not been fed"

Severus POV

I lay there struggling to inhale, to exhale, to move, to do anything. The impact of my body hitting the ground literally knocking the wind right out of me, gasping loudly I fight desperately to re-inflate my lungs. Spots pop into the corners of my vision, a buzzing ringing noise fills my ears and I taste coppery blood pooling in my mouth.

Potter's face suddenly appears directly overhead, I can tell he's trying to say something, his face frantic and mouth opening wide as he gestures widely behind us. It was like I was stuck underwater everything was slow and distorted. I shake my head and Potter's voice finally registers, "Snape! Get up! The door won't hold much longer." At my lack of response his voice takes a more panicked tone "GET UP!"

"What?" my voice comes out hoarse and strained. A sharp piercing howl and loud banging pulls everything sharply into focus and I remember the events resulting with me currently laying on the cold ground less than 5 feet from a fucking werewolf who obviously has not been fed.

Damn my curiosity; I think with bitter regret.

~ Earlier that day ~

My stomach flutters with nervous anticipation as I briskly walk down the torch lite hallway, each step closing the distance between myself and Everly. For the first time in a long time, I allow the warm feelings of optimism and hopefulness to fill me. There have been so many times when I felt the world was slowing disappearing in front of me; or maybe it was me who was disappearing from the world. But I didn't feel invisible now, it was different with her somehow. She saw me, and I saw her. I let a smile ghost over my lips, wishing I could trust my happiness to show, but I'm hesitant and hold back despite what I'm currently feeling. Love only left me alone in my experiences, but here I was stepping closer to either something wonderfully beautiful or crushingly devastating. I haven't really had much interaction with her to fully trust what I was feeling, but I decide she's worth learning more about and continue walking towards the infirmary.

My confident stride halts abruptly when I see Lupin and Madam Pomfrey hurriedly exit the infirmary. The normally poised Madam Pomfrey had seemingly lost her composure, her white nurses bonnet sat slightly askew on her head, wisps of hair escaping her once tidy coiffure. Apprehension etched on her pale pinched face as she tugged determinedly on Lupin's robe.

Old suspicions flare when I remember tonight is the full moon. I decide to seize the moment rushing to follow them. I only hesitate for a moment when I dart past the open infirmary doors, easily spotting Everly flipping through what looks to be the book I brought her from the library. I hesitate for a minute feeling torn, but I just can't let it go and with regret I turn away from her and rush to follow Lupin and Madam Pomfrey before they disappear into the night. I'll just be a little late, she'll understand…I hope…

I round the corner of the corridor to see Lupin and Madam Pomfrey hastily dash through the castle doors. I quickly rush to head out the same door to catch a glimpse of them sprinting across the castle grounds. Lupin suddenly freezes and whizzes his head around to glance behind him. I barely see his head begin to turn before I leap headfirst into the bushes next to the castle, narrowly missing detection. I continue hiding in the bush, watching Madam Pomfrey anxiously yank on Lupin's arm trying to draw him away from the castle.

Lupin doesn't acknowledge her at first, his eyes too busy scanning the bush I'm hiding in. He takes a single step towards the bush, sniffing the air as he approaches, I swear his eyes glow a bright amber for a moment. He looks intent on investigating, but Madam Pomfrey's cries finally cut through his hypnotic gaze, "Please! We haven't much time now. You must hurry child!"

They continue their mad dash across the castle grounds, disappearing as they race past the castle walls. I'm still considering how to stay concealed and continue pursuing them, when suddenly Madam Pomfrey is briskly walking back into the castle, only now she's alone. What in the fuck? I scan the grassy field for any sign of where Lupin disappeared to, but I see no sign of him anywhere. Suddenly feeling ridiculous hiding in the bushes when I could be with Everly at this very moment. I sigh heavily and step out of the bush, little twigs and leaves clinging to my robes. I brush them off as I head back inside.

I'm nearing the infirmary again, when the sound of a voice drifts through the corridor to where I'm standing. I recognize the voice instantly; it's grating and triggers an irrational anger. "I can't believe they left without us!" Black whines kicking the wall. "We know where he is, we can just go…" "Don't be stupid Wormtail!", Black says angrily cutting off Pettigrew while tugging on his robe. "Come on, let's go find Prongs!"

I'm just about to step out from behind my newest hiding spot, when I see Pettigrew stumble into Black cause him to trip and fall, he slams to the ground hard, "For fuck's sake Wormtail! I swear you could trip over your own shadow!" Pettigrew tries pulling on Black's arm to help him up, but his hand is just swatted away. I can't stop the small snicker that escapes as I watch them flounder around. Black swiftly turns his head in my direction, his eyes trying to pierce through the darkened hall. I curse my foolishness and press my body as far into the wall as I can get, hoping I didn't give myself away.

Black, now back on his feet and eyes still staring down my way, speaks over his shoulder, "Peter, I think you're right!" Pettigrew's eyes round with shock, "um, you do?" Black smiles, "sure, we can just go to the Whomping Willow, and push the wooden knot to open the door. We just need to go get Prongs first." Black says as he continues staring down the dark hall, he suddenly turns away pushing against Pettigrew who takes a clumsy step back before lumbering to keep up with him.

I know it's stupid, but I can't seem to stop myself. I head out the castle doors, across the grassy fields to find myself standing in front of the Whomping Willow tree. Taking my wand out I point it at the swaying branches, "IMMOBILUS!" I shout, watching the branches immediately cease their dangerous swinging. I approach it tentatively, spotting the wooden knot I overheard Black talking about. I grab a stick from the ground pressing it against the wooden knot. To my surprise a hidden passage is uncovered as part of the tree moves to the side leading into a short dark tunnel. "Luminous!", shining my wand into the tunnel to reveal a shut door at the very end. This is a bad idea; I think as I continue to walk down the narrow path leading to the strange little door. I reach for the doorknob, inching it open to look inside the tiny room behind it. I only saw fangs glimmering off the light from my wand, which of course I stupidly drop in my astonishment. Now staring into a pitch-black room, fear crashes over me, I hear screaming coming from somewhere behind me, "RUN! RUN! GET OUT OF THERE!".

The shouting cries to run, jolt me out of my shock and I finally grab my wand and slam the door shut. As soon as the door closes, something big collides with it causing it to bend out. A hand appears out of nowhere roughly grabbing me from behind, my feet dragging along the ground causes them to tangle in a tree root. I crash hard to the unforgiving ground; my head bounces a little as it makes contact.

~ Present ~

"I cannot believe you brought him in here!" "Shut up Sirus! You've gone too far this time!" I groan over Potter's yelling, my head aching. I cradle my head in my hands trying to will the throbbing away.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, "it'll be okay, it will." Potter's voice breaks through the pounding in my head.

I whirl around causing black spots to momentarily fill my vision. It does not stop me from flinging his hand off my shoulder, "Do not." I breath out angrily, "touch me!".

"It serves him right," Black scoffs. "Sneaking around, trying to find out what we were up to …hoping to get us expelled…" I see red listening to him speak, and before anyone can think to stop me, I stand up and pull my arm back punching Black in his smug, infuriating, pure blood piece of shit face. I hear a satisfying crack as my fist finds his nose. I feel my arm pull back to punch him again, "STOP!" Dumbledore's commanding voice causes my swinging arm to suspend mid-air and drop back to my side. I sway slightly more black spots filtering in before I shake them away and sit hard on the plush red couch in the middle of the Gryffindor common room.

Black is hunched over on the other side of the room with his hands covering his now bleeding nose. Potter and Pettigrew just stare at me with a look of shock before rushing over to help their friend. Black straightens glaring daggers in my direction, "you broke my fucking nose!"

"You're lucky a broken nose is the worst thing that happened tonight! I can't believe you could be so stupid!" Potter furiously screeches at his bleeding friend, while pushing a wash cloth into his chest. "Put this on your nose twit!"

"Can someone explain to me exactly what's going on here?" Dumbledore's somber voice pulls all our attention. When no one says anything, he points at me, "Mr. Snape let's begin with you, please explain to me what happened."

I sigh heavily and lean forward, "well sir, their werewolf tried to eat me..."