Chapter 1
It was late in the evening when Severus Snape found himself once again alone in the Astronomy Tower. The pain had become unbearable, the bullying from the Marauders relentless and crushing. No matter how hard he tried to push it all away, the mocking laughter, the whispers in the hallways, the stares—it followed him everywhere.
He’d had enough.
There was no reason to keep fighting, no reason to face another day at Hogwarts with the Marauders constantly reminding him how little he mattered. They were right. He was weak. He wasn’t worth saving. The cool night air bit at his skin as he climbed over the edge of the tower. He wasn’t sure why he’d chosen this place—maybe because it felt far enough away from everything, far enough away from the judgment, the taunts, the loneliness. One last breath. One last step.
And then—
“Severus!”
James’ voice cut through the cold air.
But it was too late.
Severus’ feet slipped from the edge, and the world spun as he fell.
The Marauders had spent the evening searching for Severus after noticing his increasingly distant behavior. At first, they’d dismissed it. After all, they were used to him being a constant presence in their lives as their nemesis, the Slytherin they loved to torment. But when Severus failed to show up for dinner and didn’t attend their shared classes, James’ concern grew.
James, with his usual boldness, had led the search. But even as they rushed to the Astronomy Tower, none of them expected what they would find.
They reached the top of the tower just in time to see Severus disappear from their view. His body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
“No!” James shouted, his voice a desperate plea.
Sirius was the first to move, dashing toward the staircase. His usual bravado had vanished, replaced by a look of raw panic. “We have to get to him!”
Remus and Peter followed, all of them racing down the stairs and out into the courtyard.
Severus lay motionless, his body twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood pooled beneath him. James fell to his knees beside him, his hands trembling as he checked for a pulse.
There was a faint heartbeat. Just barely.
“Pomfrey!” James shouted, panic rising in his chest. “Madam Pomfrey, now!”
Madam Pomfrey worked tirelessly to stabilize Severus, her face drawn with concern. The Marauders stood by helplessly, too shaken to speak. Severus’ injuries were extensive—multiple broken bones, a collapsed lung, internal bleeding. She worked quickly, her hands moving with practiced precision, but even she couldn’t mask her worry.
“His body is a mess,” she muttered under her breath. “I don’t know how he survived the fall.”
James stood at the foot of the bed, his hands clenched into fists. His mind raced. This was his fault. He had tormented Severus for years, and now Severus might never wake up. Sirius paced the room restlessly, his face pale and drawn. “What do we do now? How did it get this far?” Remus sat in a chair, his eyes closed as he took deep breaths. “We were cruel to him,” he said quietly, his voice breaking. “We were all cruel. I knew something was wrong, but I never said anything. I let it happen.” Peter stood by the door, his eyes wide, his mouth working to form words that wouldn’t come.
Madam Pomfrey finally stepped back, sweat beading on her forehead. “He’s stable for now. But it will be a long recovery, and I can’t make any promises. He’s not out of the woods yet.” James looked down at Severus, his breathing shallow. “I—I don’t know what to do. I never thought it would get this far.” Sirius slapped his hand against the wall in frustration. “We’re the reason he’s like this. All of us. We were the ones who drove him to this.”
The next few days were a blur for the Marauders. Severus remained unconscious in the Hospital Wing, and the weight of what they had done crushed them. They couldn’t look at each other without seeing the consequences of their actions.
The school’s atmosphere shifted. Whispers filled the halls as word spread about Severus’ attempt. Some students expressed concern, others felt sorry for him, but the Marauders couldn’t escape the growing sense of guilt hanging over them.
It wasn’t long before Professor McGonagall summoned the four of them to her office.
“I’ve been informed about what happened,” McGonagall said, her voice stern but laced with concern. “Your actions over the years have caused immeasurable harm to Severus Snape. And while I can’t condone the way he’s behaved toward you either, there is no excuse for bullying or cruelty, especially to the point where it leads to such a devastating act.”
James opened his mouth to protest, but McGonagall raised her hand. “You will be facing consequences for your actions. Effective immediately, you are all banned from participating in any school events or extracurricular activities for the rest of the term.
“Yes, you heard me correctly,” McGonagall said, her eyes narrowing. “Let this be a reminder that your actions have consequences, and it’s time you all learn what real responsibility is.”
The Marauders exchanged looks, a mixture of guilt, fear, and dread in their eyes. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. The weight of their actions had come crashing down, and they had no choice but to accept the punishment.
Severus remained unconscious for nearly three weeks. His injuries were so severe that Madam Pomfrey was unable to predict a full recovery timeline. The damage to his body was extensive: broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a fractured arm, and multiple internal injuries. Even after the physical injuries were healed, it was clear that Severus was mentally and emotionally scarred by everything that had happened.
When he finally awoke, he was disoriented and in tremendous pain. His body felt as though it had been shattered, the weight of each injury pressing down on him. Madam Pomfrey worked tirelessly to ease his suffering, but Severus remained withdrawn, barely reacting to the presence of others.
When the Marauders came to visit him, they were met with silence. Severus turned his head away from them every time they spoke, his eyes cold and distant. There was no sign of the sharp wit he had once shown. His eyes, empty and dull, only conveyed the depths of his despair. “You should just let me die” he say
James, who had been the closest to him, was the first to speak. “Severus… I’m so sorry. For everything. I can’t undo what we did to you, but I want you to know that we’ll do whatever we can to make it right.”
Severus barely moved, his voice hoarse when he spoke. “Make it right?” he whispered, his voice laced with contempt. “You can’t make it right. You’ve broken me beyond repair.”
James looked at him, devastated. “We didn’t see it. We didn’t understand. But we do now.”
Severus turned his face to the wall, his eyes closing. “I don’t want your pity. I don’t need it. Just… leave me alone.”
But the Marauders didn’t leave. They stayed by his side, apologizing through small, tangible actions—helping him with his recovery, supporting him when he was struggling to get through the days. Every day, they worked harder to show him that they were truly sorry for what they had done.
But Severus wasn’t ready to forgive them, not yet. Maybe he never would be.
Months Later
Severus spent the rest of the school year recovering. He attended classes when he could, though he kept his distance from the Marauders, and often hid in the shadows of the Slytherin common room. The Marauders, meanwhile, continued their punishments Their guilt never left them, but they worked to prove that they were willing to change.
When the term came to a close, James approached Severus one last time, standing by his hospital bed. “I don’t expect you to forgive us, Severus,” James said quietly. “But I want you to know… we’ve learned. We’re not the same people we were.”
Severus didn’t look up, but his voice was barely a whisper. “Then prove it.”
It wasn’t forgiveness, but it was a start. The road ahead would be long, but at least it was a road that they could walk together—if only in silence for now. Severus wasn’t ready to trust them, not yet. But maybe, just maybe, in time, they could make things right.