Great Tuna Sandwiches

Chapter Three: Whomping Willow Fun and Rabid Slytherin Monkeys

James found Lily sitting in the Common Room.

"Lily? I need to talk to you. We have the Quidditch game tomorrow and we can't argue during the game-"
"We ALWAYS get along during Quidditch. Don't you remember? Oh, I think your newest bimbo is waiting for you," Lily said, coldly, as Julie Short approached them, looking curiously at James. James just glared at Lily and joined Julie.

*
"This is the most important game of the year! Whoever wins this, wins the Quidditch Cup, so no pressure," Remus joked from the announcers box. "Here comes the teams, Gryffindor vs Slytherin! The Quaffle is out and there they go! Slytherin Chaser Avery in posession, passes to Karkaroff, he passes to Malfoy, he throws...JOHNSON BLOCKS IT! WAY TO GO, ANDY! Johnson throws to Fandley, he throws it to Potter, Potter throws to Evans, she gives it back to Fandley, HE SCORES!"

The game continued for about an hour and the score was 120-30, Gryffindor. Remus' voice was hoarse by now and he was very glad to announce that Wood had finally caught the Snitch. Dumbledore presented the Gryffindor team with the Quidditch Cup and Shannon, who loved to take pictures, insisted on getting a picture of them holding the Cup. Unfortunately, Lily and James ended up standing next to each other.

"C'mon, you two, cheer up, we just won!" Sirius said and turned the Slytherins into monkeys.

**

When all of the group was back (Peter had turned up and was, unfortunately, hanging out with the Marauders again) in the Common room, safe from the rabid Slytherin monkeys that had chased them around the castle for an hour, Marie and Remus made Lily and James sit down.

"What is going on?" Marie asked.

"Potter is an idiot," Lily said.

Remus rolled his eyes. "You two were friends just a couple days ago."
Lily shrugged. "Things change."
"I said something about her parents and she freaked. I don't know why, but that's all I did."
Every Marauder plus Marie and Shannon looked expectantly at Lily.

Lily fidgeted, but sighed and began to explain. "My mother died about five years ago in a bank robbery. Then, in that owl I got, Petunia was telling me that-" Lily bit her lip "-that my dad had just died of cancer."
James blinked and looked over at her. He then proceeded to hit himself on the head many times. Lily grabbed his hand. "Stop," she said, "You're giving me a headache."
"I'm so sorry, I had no idea!" James said.

Lily shrugged. "You can't not do anything if you don't know what's wrong."
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "What?" he asked, confused.

"See now, that wasn't so hard," Shannon said. "Good as new."
Lily shook her head. "No, I still hate him," she said, poking James, "but I'll deal with it."
"STOP POKING ME!" James cried, laughing.

"He's ticklish," Remus supplied.

Lily grinned and continued to tickle him, saying she really did hate him and that she was just torturing him.

Nobody believed her.

*
"I'm really craving a banana! I hated being a monkey! When I find out who did that..."
"Severus, do shut up."
"Sorry. I still can't believe we were beaten by Gryffindor!"
Lily paused, hearing Snape and Malfoy behind her, Jack, James, Marie and Sirius.

Malfoy snorted. "They're just Muggle loving fools."
"Especially with that Mudblood Evans on the team," Snape added.

Each member of the group abruptly stopped, turned around and marched back to Snape and Malfoy.

"What did you say?" Lily asked, her voice dangerously quiet.

Snape sneered at her. "I called you a Mudblood. Did you hear me this time? Mud-blood," he said slowly. He and Malfoy smirked at them. Jack, who had a terrible temper, let loose and punched Snape on the nose. Sirius and James joined in, Sirius punched Malfoy on the jaw and James punched both in their stomachs. Marie, who heard a teacher coming, reluctantly pulled them off Snape and Malfoy, warned them not to tell or they'd come back and then they left quickly.

"What happened here?" McGonagall cried, seeing the two boys laying on the floor.
"Nothing," Snape muttered as he slowly got to his feet.

*
Sirius stood by himself outside the Great Hall. Dinner would be finishing soon and then Remus would leave to go to the Whomping Willow. Then his plan could go into action.

Snape exited the Great Hall alone, much to Sirius' pleasure.
"Snape," he called.

Snape stopped and glared at him. "What do you want now, Black?" he spat. "Come to punch me some more?"

"Unfortunately no. I'm here on business."

"Really?" Snape asked, doubtfully.

"I hear you're interested in where Remus goes every month."

Snape shrugged. "Maybe."
"What would you sayif I could tell you?"
"I'd say you're lying."
Sirius shrugged. "Your choice," he said and began to walk off.

"Wait!" Snape said. "Ok, tell me."
"Just poke the knot on the Whomping Willow when it's dark and follow the tunnel," Sirius said and walked up the stairs toward the Gryffindor Common Room.

Snape stared after him and he walked off. 'He better not be lying.'

**

Sirius watched gleefully as Snape ran outside. It was well past 11:00 and very dark, except for the light of the moon.

"Sirius, what are you doing?" James asked, coming over to him.

Sirius grinned. "I just saw Snapie go off to the Whomping Willow."
James froze. "Why would he do that?" he asked slowly.

Sirius grinned again. "I told him how to get in because of what he said about Lily."
James stared at him in horror. "Sirius, you IDIOT! Get Dumbledore!" he yelled, jumped down the steps and ran after Snape.

Sirius frowned for a moment, then, realizing the stupidity of his actions, he took off for Dumbledore's office.

*
'How could Sirius do something like this?' James thought as he dove into the hole at the base of the Whomping Willow. 'Snape could die!' James then changed into his Animangus form and ran fast toward the Shrieking Shack.

**

Snape placed his hand on the doorknob. This was it. Now he'd find out where Lupin went. He couldn't help but feeli excited. What was that noise? Snape turned around and saw James Potter run up to him.

"Don't open that door!" he said breathlessly.

"Why shouldn't I?" Snape said, sneering. He opened the door. "What the-"

James pulled the door shut just as a wolf leaped at them.

"What was that?" Snape shrieked.

James glared at him. "You wanted to know where Remus goes. Now you know."
Snape stared at him, glaring suspiciously. The door they were standing in front of cracked as the werewolf tried to push its way out of the small hole it had made. Snape screamed as it succeeded and watched him hungrily. Just as the wolf pounced, a great white stag moved in front of him and blocked it. Snape fell over and knew no more.

*
James climbed out of the tunnel at last and dragged Snape's unconcious body out as well. He was very relieved to see Professor Dumbledore waiting.

"Well done, Mr. Potter." he said. "Fifty points have been awarded to Gryffindor for your efforts. Mr. Black has been punished and is very sorry for what he did."

"He should be. He almost killed Snape." James muttered. "I- I mean-"
Dumbledore helf up a hand, smiling slightly. "Let's get Mr. Snape to the Hospital Wing."
"Er- Professor, he saw Remus." James said as they walked through the corridors toward the Hospital Wing.

"He will not tell anyone, Mr. Potter. Don't be too harsh on Mr. Black, he is very sorry. You are dismissed."

James nodded and left for Gryffindor Tower.

**
Sirius was pacing 'round the room, anxiously waiting.
The portrait hole opened and James stepped in.

"James!" Sirius said, rushing over to him.

James glared at him. "I hope you learn to think," he said coldly.

Sirius flinched. "I know, I didn't, it was stupid-"
"Excuse me, I'm going to bed," James interupted and stomped up to the dorm.

Sirius sat down on the floor and miserably stared at his feet. Great. His best friend hated him. He had almost killed his best friend. It was an accident, of course, but it had still almost happened. He was never going to let anything like that happen to James again. Never. James would be safe.
*

Two days later, James still wasn't talking to Sirius. Sirius repeatedly apologized to him and even apologized to Snape (once). James couldn't forgive him, though. He wanted to, but he just...couldn't. It was so tiring being mad at someone. James sighed and continued to pick at his breakfast. He looked up as the owls came in to deliver the post and searched for his owl, Donny. Donny appeared and dropped a letter in front of him. James happily picked it up; he loved to get mail. Unfortunately, it wasn't what he was hoping for.