Chapter 5
Albus Dumbledore paced the stone floor of his office. Small clicks of his many clocks, detectors and shiny things he just had to have adorned his office and mingled with the low murmurs from some of the portaits that decorated his walls. It was a full moon, so he naturally couldn't sleep. Not since he had taken Remus Lupin into his care. It had been running smoothly since his first year but Albus couldn't help but worry for the boy each time. He had made a promise to his parents. Nothing could happen to him, or anyone else for that matter. He was the headmaster but also in the fourth year of a shadow war, that was threatening to spill over into the mainstream. It was lurking in the corners of the students lives, and had been mainly fought in the background, but the morale was all on his shoulders. He couldn't afford to slip up. He sighed before stirring his wand absent-mindedly in his pensieve. Fawkes sighed behind him too. "Indeed," he replied softly. A small cough from behind him made the wizard turn around, his dark puple robes swishing with the motion. "Something wicked this way comes Dumbledore." The bored figure of Phineas Nigellus leaned against his frame on the stone wall of Dumbledore's office, his signature Black features, angular cheekbones, strong jaw, smirking slightly. "There's a student outside your office. Will he or will he not knock..." Dumbledore smiled stiffly. At this time of hour. Of course. "Who is it?" Phineas gave a dramatic sigh.
"Phineas..."
"It's Pettigrew. He looks like he's about to have a conniption." Dumbledore felt a small twinge of mild concern. He knew Peter was friends with Remus and sweeped over to the door, allowing the griffin statue to allow the boy in. The boy looked absolutely petrified. "Peter? Shouldn't you be in bed?" The plump boy looked up at him with large scared eyes. "Pro-pro-professor Dumbledore..." Dumbledore stood patiently. "Yes Peter?" Peter looked around, rubbing his hands together nervously before suddenly speaking, the words coming out in a jumble -
"siriustoldsnapehowtogetpasthewillownandnowheandjamesareindanger!"
"Slower Peter, my ears aren't as young as yours..."
"Sirius told Snape how to get past the Willow now he and James are in danger." Dumbledore heard some tutting from the portraits who were pretending to sleep and a low "good grief" coming from Phineas' portrait. Dumbledore's blue eyes bored down into Peters as he mulled over Pettigrew's words. Sirius told Snape how to get past the Willow. The implications that Sirius already knew how to do that was apparent and troubling. Peter's words also implied he knew also. And if he did so must James. Which meant... "Why do you believe they are in danger. Peter? The Willow is aggressive but can't kill..."
"Because...Remus...we know...we've known for a while, we're his friends. But Snape..." Tears began to well in Pettigrew's eyes. "Sirius said it was just supposed to be a prank." A snort of derision sounded from behind Dumbledore and he turned and began to instruct the portraits to awake Madam Pomfrey, McGonagall and possibly Sprout. His mind moved methodically despite the panic rising within him. So they knew. They knew about Remus' lycanthropy. A small part of him wasn't that suprised. To his relief, Remus had made friends easily and quickly and it was a good thing that he could trust them...his eyes narrowed. Or not. He would be dealing with Sirius Black. The boy was one of the brightest of the 1971 intake but he had kept a steady eye on him for a while. For starters, he knew his family. The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. Known for their...'spirited' enthusiam in the darker aspects of wizarding life, such as blood supremacy and the dark arts. He had once had the ultimate displeasure of meeting Sirius' mother Walburga, who's rather wide and disconcerting smile had wavered after Albus had referenced his muggle mother. Sirius, had been brooding but eased himself into Hogwarts life with apparently little effort, haughty and mischevious. But Albus had noticed immediately the boy's almost violent aversion to anything that Dumbledore had also noted reminded Sirius of...well...home. He had contempt for all Slytherins his family's favoured house, and had been told by the Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher about an incident that had landed him in detention after quarrelling with Slytherin Severus Snape. The argument had started after Sirius had apparently made an unsavoury comment during class after the students had been asked to write down anything they knew about the subject and the Slytherin boy had come in first, his parchment covered in a barely legible scrawl. Dumbledore still had it in his desk drawer. Much too dark for an eleven year old. And clearly inspired by an impromptu visit to Borgin and Burkes' book section. What kind of adult would let a child in there anyway? Sirius had openly expressed disgust at a particular spell and Snape's knowledge of it, branding him a 'freak.' The other boy had apparently fired back, asking him what would that make him then, regarding Sirius' immediate recognition of the spell. Naturally, a fight broke out Sirius had gotten the shock of his life after beginning to cast a spell and being cut off by the Slytherin launching himself at him and physically fighting him. Which brought him to Severus Snape. He had an eye on him too. He hadn't integrated properly into Hogwarts and seemed to be alone for the most part whenever he saw him, either hovering around a gang of Slytherins, the redheaded girl from Gryffindor (which he thought slightly quelled his despondency regarding inter-House friendships) or on his lonesome. He had the distinct air of resentment, neglect and bitterness about him. He clearly hadn't been getting along with the rest of the Gryffindors, especially Sirius and his friends. James and Peter apparently were the only ones who had made the right decision here. Peter had told Dumbledore of his friend's serious lack of judgement and on the way down to the Willow, mentioned that James had practically flown into the Willow to get Snape. Dumbledore felt a headache coming on.
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James and Snivellus burst forth from the Willow, James collapsing on his back, panting and Snivellus stumbled onto the grass, retching up nothing in particular in fear, on his hands and knees. Sirius moved from around the corner to survey the two and briefly wonder where Wormtail had disappeared too. He had been sulking since James had yelled at him and was even angrier at how guilty he felt. It's not that big a deal, it's just a prank! He mulled the thought over and over. It didn't seem like much of an excuse, but it was all he had. He hadn't wanted Snivellus to actually get hurt. So why had he done it? To see the look on his face when he saw a werewolf? Sirius looked at him. It was hard to see his face, his head was bowed but Sirius had no doubt that he had seen Moony. Snape glanced up and around and Sirius' insides twisted as he realised that the look of terror across Snivellus' face wasn't as nearly satisfying as he had hoped. Sirius reluctantly moved closer and almost jumped out of his skin when he felt a gnarled hand fall onto his shoulder. He spun around and came face to face with Argus Filch. Oh no. "What are - Merlin's beard what's wrong with these two?" The man moved his lantern over to James and Snivellus, taking in the way James had screwed his eyes up and was wheezing slightly, and Snivellus who was shivering uncontrollably. He looked to the curiously still tree then down to them. "Bloody hell you killed it. Detention for the lot of you." James began to laugh hysterically on the ground and Sirius spotted yet another figure, huge and unmistakable. Rubeus Hagrid the gameskeeper. "Hey, what're you lot doin here?" Sirius groaned, he didn't want an audience. Hagrid leaned over and picked up James causing him to yelp. "Easy!" He cried before straightened his robes. "Sorry," Hagrid said gruffly.
"HE TRIED TO KILL ME!"
Everyone froze, turning to Snivellus who was shaking and pointing an accusatory finger at Sirius.
"YOU WERE ALL IN ON IT! WEREN'T YOU!"
Filch shuffled away from Sirius to join Hagrid and Sirius took in each and every face. Hagrid and Filch's confused (Filch's looking more suspicious that Hagrid) expressions, then James and Snivellus. James wasn't laughing anymore and had a particularly grim expression that was laced with disappointment that made Sirius feel about 2 feet tall. And most surprisingly, the look on Snivellus' face had felt like someone had stabbed him, right in the gut. It wasn't the hatred, loathing disgust. It was the look of...what was that...? The expression one had once they realised someone could actually sink further than the already low standard they held for them? There was a look in his eye that made Sirius feel very uncomfortable. Despite the fear and humiliation, a distinct expression of sharp odium, like a stern teacher. It reminded him of his father. Stop looking at me like that. "He...tried...to...kill...me..." Snape said, anger drebching his voice, suddenly snatching up his wand. "Don't you dare!" James cautioned.
"Wise words." The group jumped as Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the shadows, accompanied by a shivering Peter Pettigrew who was greatly wishing that he was snuggled up in his four poster in the boys dormitory.