Chapter 7
Dumbledore turned to the Gryffindor boys. "Peter, you may go, but 10 points to Gryffindor for bravely standing up to your friend and alerting me to danger." He could feel, rather than see, Phineas' eye roll. Peter flushed and disappeared from the room, quick as a mouse. "James." James stepped forward nervously. "70 points to Gryffindor for your show of bravery. You saved young Severus' life tonight," he glanced at the Slytherin boy; he had gone almost gone green as his robes at this, "whether or not he wants to admit it. Not to mention saved Remus from a lot of strife. Or how you put yourself in danger also. A selfless act. A true mark of what it means to be a Gryffindor." Dumbledore gave him a small smile. But James did not return it. Being a brave and true Gryffindor wasn't exactly what he had thought it would be. Being brave was scary. He had done the right thing. And it had come at the cost of Lupin. He looked towards Snape, frowning. "He's not gonna talk is he?" Severus glared at him and Dumbledore told him not to worry and James stood back, waiting to be dismissed. Lastly, Dumbledore beckoned forth Sirius, and he slowly moved forward, dragging his feet. "Fifty points from Gryffindor" whispered Dumbledore, "and three months detention." Severus stood up abruptly, almost knocking over the armchair. "Is that it?" He splittered."
"Yes Severus " said Dumbledore, staring down into Sirius' defiant eyes. "No one got hurt luckily and it is best Sirius not get too harsh a punishment lest people ask questions. Our main priority is Remus remember. He is the innocent party in all of this."
"What about ME?" Severus exploded. Sirius cast a filthy look towards him. Severus pointed the accusatory finger again at him, "what the hell did I do to deserve this?" Sirius couldn't help himself. "Shouldn't have been spying Snivellus." Severus looked at him incredulously. "I wasn't spying! I was coming from the library!" James gave Sirius a warning glance but Sirius continued. "Saw you coming from Slughorn towards us. You're always poking your nose in." Severus stared. How had he known he had stopped by his head of house on his way back from the library? "How did you know I'd seen Professor Slughorn?" James clicked his tongue in irritation. Dammit Sirius. Sirius' face coloured and he shook his head in attempt to look like he hadn't almost accidentally revealed the existence of their map that enscribed the movements belonging to the inhabitants of the castle. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly but he was too tired to dig into it and sighed. "Your squabbling is not going to change what happened today." Severus suddenly stood. "It's not petty," he hissed, "Sirius deserves a harsher punishment than just detention and docking house points!" Dumbledore looked at him. "I cannot do too much, I do not wish to raise any suspicion. Remus is my top priority here."
Severus stared at the Headmaster then Sirius. Cold rage was beginning to seep to the surface. He suddenly felt very far away. "Headmaster..." Severus said quietly. "I could have died."
"What would you propose instead Severus?"
"Expulsion."
Sirius started, "wait now hold on -"
"Silence Sirius. I'm not going to expell you."
"Why not?" Snape suddenly exploded.
"IF ALMOST GETTING ME MAULED TO DEATH ISN'T A GOOD ENOUGH REASON WHAT IS?!"
"Lower your voice Severus." Dumbledore warned. He had enough yelling for one evening.
"So...what?" Severus said bitterly. "I'm just supposed to go back to my life as normal am I? Go to my classes with him like everyone's fine?"
"Yes Severus."
"Why?! It's not fair."
"For Remus."
"How do you know he wasn't in on it? They're all friends aren't they?"
"He wasn't," said Sirius, "it was all me."
"I. Don't. Believe you," Severus suddenly snarled, "why should I believe a word you say?"
Sirius opened his mouth before Phineas Nigellus spoke for him. "There is nothing he can say. Tonight his actions were quite foolish. And Slytherins are not fools, which is why the Gryffindor took him."
Sirius blushed in embarassment and anger and Dumbledore frowned at the portrait, "enough Phineas. Go with Madam Pomfrey Severus, you are still shaken, I can see that. We will speak tomorrow. But please. Please keep the secret. It is all I ask. And get some rest."
Severus stared at the Headmaster, his dark eyes meeting light blue as the Headmaster stared right back. The Headmaster registered a horrible and complete blankness cover the boys eyes and face before Severus allowed himself to be led away by Madam Pompfrey. On his way out, Severus glanced back at Sirius again and Sirius scowled back. There it was again, that piercing stare from Snivellus. Loathe he were to admit it, there was something about his expression that made him feel as if he were shrinking. Severus stood stiffly, but stately, straightening his posture, his black eyes boring into him before sweeping over James Potter and Severus couldn't see his eyes, the lights from the fireplace flames turning his glasses silver. James watched him stalk out of the room, his robes sweeping after him. "Did you see that branch of magic Albus? Impressive..." mused Phineus. Sirius whirled to the portrait seething with annoyance and more humiliatingly, jealousy. He was he was his bloody relative! Not Snivellus! And what magic? Dumbledore turned to him. "Have you anything to say for yourself?" Sirius stood in cold silence. "I notice that you did not offer a word of apology to Severus." Sirius flushed before looking away and James ruffled his hair. "At the very least," Dumbledore sighed, "I hope you have one for your friend Remus. You are both dismissed."