The Snake Within

Chapter Four: Sweet Revenge

Plans do not always go as intended, just as the saying goes: The best laid plans of mice and men. I had done my own reconnaissance work on Black. I knew that before each lunch break he went to boys lavatory, and fifteen seconds later (but only on Thursdays) a charm would go off that would explode a toilet. It was rather tedious and I was about to give it up when the last day of the month became slightly more interesting.

Early in the evening all of the Four left their Gryffindor table, and huddled off towards their tower. I slipped away from a boring and rather drawn out story that Malfoy was telling in his sleek twang. I found it easy to follow them as they stumbled up the stairs. Pettigrew nearly missed the trick step going up, but like clockwork, Black and Potter pulled him up. I noticed something very peculiar, and it was Lupin stooped over and looking even weaker than he generally did. When Pettigrew was back in step with the rest of them, Black and Potter took Lupins' arms and seemed to be helping him walk upright and faster. They took a sharp turn and then were gone. I pressed on forward, assuring myself that my distance behind them was safe. I sneaked forward until I reached the corner where they were.

Roughly I was grabbed by my cloak. "What are you looking for here, Snake?"

I couldn't think of anything fast enough, but my eyes narrowed quickly onto Black. He was the only one there, the others had left, and I removed his hand from my shoulder with shrewd elegance.

"I wonder if Professor Dumbledore would like to know what you four Gryffindors are up to. I was on my way to tell him." I let my lips curl into the most unsavory sneer I could muster. Black was unconvinced nevertheless.

"You are bluffing. Rather terribly too, but if you want something to use against us," he seemed to ruminate it over in his mind and nodded to himself in agreement, "come to the Whomping Willow later this evening, use a twig to press a knot on it, it will freeze the tree in place. A door will open; enter it. Then you will have all the information you need." He turned his back and ran after where he must have known the rest went.

I was left standing in the hallway just above the staircase as a filtering of younger Gryffindor passed me, whispering about this odd Slytherin. I knew it must have been a trick, and even if it were, I would learn something more about these people that insisted on ruining my quiet existence at Hogwarts. Perhaps I could use it against them; perhaps just knowing their dirty little secrets would be enough. I weighed the risks carefully on my decline back to the dungeons. It seemed to be progressively worth it.

The evening grew darker as I watched out of a minute window from my dorm room. Anxiety swelled in my stomach, and after being ill in a sink, I made my way back up to the Great Hall. I dodged little Professor Flitwick with effortlessness, and then ran for the front door and slipped out of it silently. My eyes darted around for the Whomping Willow; the throbbing of my heart was vociferous. I had to repeat to myself that it would be over soon, that it was probably just another practical joke to lessen me even more in their eyes. I would show them, without doubt. I checked for my wand, and gripped it steadfastly as I replaced it to my cloak pocket.

I shuffled towards the willow and was thrashed roughly by a branch. A cut above my eyelid began to sting, and the steady trickle of blood made it hard to spot the crooked twig that was placed in a secure and reasonably noticeable position. I couldn't find it in me to snarl in irritation, as a branch was making my abdomen into tenderized beef. I grabbed for the branch, letting my wand drop back down into the pocket safely, and poked at any knob I saw on the tree. My eyes were squeezed firmly and I was ready to make my withdrawal back into the castle when everything became still and silent. The tree began to situate erect once more, and an entryway slid open before me.

I slid down the constricted, and rather rank passageway. In the distance I could hear dim howling and things crashing. I passed it off again (imprudently) as sounds made by the Four to scare me off. The scuttle of a mouse running past my feet and towards the Whomping Willows entrance made me pause for an instant. The sounds became louder, and more suggestive of two dogs fighting each other. A glow became visible at the end of the hallway, and I chastised myself for causing unwarranted tension by not performing a simple Lumos spell. The growling, and snarling became relentless. Something was beating alongside the walls roughly; dust came down on me from the ceiling above. I knew I must have found an entrance into a house. It hadn't been far, as I hadn't been walking too much, it had to be in the vicinity of Hogsmeade.

This in itself would be enough to get those cretins off my back. I would just explain to the Headmaster how they tricked me into following them into a secret passage that led into Hogsmeade. I shook my head, that wasn't good enough, I had to have proof, and I had to make it good enough for them to be expelled. I didn't want to have to go any further. The house had become dissonantly silent. Then I heard voices, HUMAN voices.

"Sirius, wake up! PADFOOT, GET UP! He's escaping, we've got to stop him!" It was Potter. There was no response from Black, who I assumed had caused all this noise. But WHO had escaped? There was heavy panting in the hall, the scant light only casted pale shadows on the wall in front of me. I checked my own breathing; it was rapid, but not so deep.

There was a low snarl, and then a growl, and I felt something fly towards me.

"STUPEFY!" The thing was hit and it fell to my side with an intense THUD and I stared at it. Muttering a quiet "Lumos" as I took my wand out, I saw what it was in fact. A werewolf. With shining yellow eyes staring straight up at me hungrily. Potter stepped over him carefully, and pushed me away.

"Hurry! There isn't much time; he doesn't stay stunned for long! Severus, get YOURSELF OUT!"

I pointed my wand at the creature; I couldn't help my hand from quivering with the current surprise. Nothing came to mind on what to do. My legs refused to move with Potters commands.

"This is a Dark Creature. It MUST be killed, WE must kill it, Potter!"

"NO! You can't kill him, you can't! Get out of here, save yourself, I know how to deal with him!"

Still my legs refused to move, there was a murmur in the room by the door, a painful whimper called to Potter. "James? Is Moony gone?"

"No Padfoot! I'm getting Severus out!", he called back and he shoved me down the hallway, physically. For someone that seemed to lack a strong musculature, such as James Potter, he was very powerful when he appeared to be alarmed. As we reached the entrance back to the outer surface, we heard the padding of paws running after us, and irate growling.

Potter shoved me out of the opening and I landed face first into the dirt above. If I hadn't seen the werewolf, and heard the growling or the fight proceeding Potters' lifesaving ability, I wouldn't have believed what I heard next. I heard the hoof beats that reminded me of a horse, or goat. Something big, at least. I did not, however, hear growling again and I swiftly made a run back into the castle and down into my subterranean hideaway. I was shaking as I dressed for bed, I could hardly tie my hair back. It was all too much, I knew now that Potter and Black were in serious trouble if they were simply taking care of a Dark Creature, and the worst of them all (save for Vampires) a Werewolf.

Slipping into the green and silver sheets, as habitual in Slytherin dorms, I wondered to myself. Where were Lupin and Pettigrew in all these dramas? Why did I hear TWO distinct canine sounds? Where were HOOF BEATS coming from? It all too easily came crashing together, like a train wreck.

Animagi. And illegal ones at that.