Slugging It Out

Chapter 11 - The Prank

The fifth year flew by, with every day bringing the spectre of exams closer. Severus lived by the phases of the moon, observing Lupin's absences. The Gryffindors, still arrogant and revolting as ever, had become a little more wary of Severus' snooping. Nevertheless with the help of his eavesdropping enhancement spell, which he'd finally got round to inventing, he was often able to pick up surprising amounts of their conversations.

In fact his eavesdropping on Potter's gang wasn't a lot different to his relationship with the older Slytherins. Rosier and his group were in the seventh year now, and Severus hung around on their periphery, tolerated but not welcomed, listening but rarely listened to. His only slight kudos came from his reputation as an expert on dark magic, which he carefully cultivated, aware of the status it gave him.

His determination to get to the bottom of what Potter's gang were up to was unchanged. The snatches of their conversation that he managed to pick up hinted at some tantalising secret which he couldn't quite work out. Lupin was a werewolf, that much he knew as surely as he knew his own name, but there was something else. He heard mutterings about preparations, something they were getting ready, working on, something that had to be kept secret.

The last Quidditch match of the season was between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The timing was bad, having been postponed due to late snow, so it took place the first weekend after Easter and only two weeks before the exams. It was also the day before full moon. The Great Hall at breakfast was decked out like a scene from Severus' nightmares, with huge banners of Potter leering from every wall.

Potter himself entered the hall shortly after Severus had taken his place on the Slytherin table. He was accompanied by an entourage of hangers on, his arrogant face bearing a smirk like a Cheshire cat. A half cheer went up as he entered and some girls began a chant of 'Potter, Potter, Gryffs love Potter, no other Chaser could be hotter.' Potter preened and ruffled his hair, before sitting down to a mountain of cooked breakfast.

A noise of disgust from the other side of the table provided a welcome distraction, and Severus looked round to see Regulus Black. He was dressed in green robes, having joined the Slytherin team that year, and looking almost as green in the face. A single piece of dry toast lay uneaten before him. 'Stupid arrogant tosser, thinks he's so great. I wish I was a Beater, I'd send a Bludger right into his big smug face.'

'You'd have to join a queue,' replied Severus, adding, 'Drink water with honey and sugar in, that's what Lucius used to do. He could never bear to eat before a game.' He reached out and poured a glass of water, measuring out just the right amount of sugar and stirring in some sticky honey.

'Thanks,' said Regulus, taking the concoction and sipping uncertainly. 'Hey, it's not bad!' He returned his gaze to Potter. 'I hate all the Gryffindunces, but with Potter it's personal.'

This interested Severus, though he took care not to look too eager. 'Really? How come?'

'He split my family up,' announced Regulus, melodramatically. 'Led my brother astray, got him Sorted into Gryffindor, then poisoned his mind with all this Muggle-loving crap. Sirius had a huge row with Mater and Pater at Easter, going on about how mudbloods are our equals, and then stormed off. Next thing we know, he's moved in with those Potters. Playing happy families with the blood traitorous pondslime. So he's been disinherited, blasted off the family tree. Officially he's not even my brother anymore. Good riddance,' he added. 'Anyway, as if there wasn't enough pressure, Father's coming to watch me play.' He gulped and put down his glass.

Severus kept an eye out for Mr Black at the game, and identified him soon enough up in the top box with the teachers. He was a very wealthy looking man, his dark hair dotted with grey, his gloved hands holding a pair of jewelled binoculars. Further round the stands, he spotted Lily, sitting with her friends. She'd painted her face red and gold and was waving a Gryffindor pennant. At least it wasn't a Potter banner. Behind her, Remus Lupin, looking like a reanimated corpse, was huddled in his cloak next to Pettigrew, whose chubby face was animated with excitement.

The game was a good one, although it featured far too much of Potter scoring and getting cheered for Severus' liking. Regulus was flying well despite his nerves, almost getting the Snitch early on, until he got knocked off course by a Bludger and lost it again. The teams matched each other goal for goal, the Slytherins putting up a good fight despite being a weaker team. Two hours in, there was an incident between the Black no-longer-brothers.

Regulus was near the centre of the pitch, low for a Seeker, scanning the pitch. The knot of players around the Quaffle was moving up the left side. His eyes on Regulus, Severus saw a Bludger hurtle towards him. Reg, intent on his search for the Snitch, didn't see it coming. The back of his neck as he leant forwards on his broom looked impossibly vulnerable, right in the Bludger's path. Then a red robed figure shot up from the left, Beater's bat extended, and thumped the ball away just in time. Severus caught a glimpse of long black hair before Sirius dived back into the fray, leaving Reg looking dizzy and shocked, spiralling upwards out of harm's way.

By three hours, the crowd were starting to get hoarse and the players slower. There was a tussle between Potter and Ramirez for the Quaffle, which the powerfully built Slytherin managed to win. The Slytherin crowd went wild. If Ramirez would score it would put them forty points ahead, enough to win the cup. As he sped away down the pitch, two blurs of red hot on his tail, it seemed like they might be in with a chance.

But a player rose up to meet them, between the goal keeper and the fast approaching chasers, dressed in red. Severus' heart sank as he saw it was Black, and he was Bludger-baiting - keeping the Bludger close, controlling it until he was in striking distance. Ramirez saw him and tried a swerve, but Black was ideally placed whichever goalhoop Ramirez went for. It was likely watching a scene in slow motion, Ramirez hurtling forwards, unable to slow up without being caught by Potter, and Black hovering, jabbing at the ball to keep it in the air, waiting like a spider in its web.

Then, just as Black drew back his bat to strike, he was struck by a green object that dropped from the sky above to hit him squarely on the back. The bat flew out of his hand with the shock of the collision, and the force with which the Slytherin player hit him pushed both down out of the line of play. Seconds later Ramirez, sensing an opportunity, had hurled the Quaffle through the goalhoop, just before Hooch's shrill whistle.

The two players who'd collided were on the ground, arguing with Madam Hooch. The Slytherin who'd divebombed Sirius was, as Severus had suspected, Regulus. The two no-longer-brothers were apparently in the midst of a vicious argument. Loud boos from the Gryffindor end of the stadium spoiled the earlier party atmosphere, and even the commentator - a Ravenclaw - was ranting about 'blatant blatching from the Slytherin Seeker.' Eventually the game restarted, with Gryffindor given a free pass, and shortly afterwards the Gryffindor Seeker grabbed the Snitch, which Regulus didn't seem to have even seen.

Dinner that night was insufferable, with Potter showboating loudly to all around. Severus went to bed early in disgust. He spent the following day mooching sullenly around the castle, trying to locate Potter's gang. He knew they'd be planning something for that night. Whatever it was, they favoured full moon. He'd begun to wonder if they were up to something similar to him, smuggling contraband in and out of school. Moonlight certainly made it easier to sneak around outside, and perhaps Lupin the werewolf provided a way for them to access the wider world. Maybe one of them accompanied him to the containment centre, collecting or dropping off on the way.

But Potter's gang kept a low profile, and eventually he gave up and finished off the DADA essay due on Tuesday. He sat hunched over his shepherd's pie at dinner, covertly watching Lily with her friends across the hall. He knew and loved every movement she made, every little gesture, each smile and frown and touch. He saw her leave the hall with Mary and Morgana in tow, apparently heading outside. He pushed aside the rest of his jam roly-poly and followed them.

It was a warm evening, with a golden light. He could see Lily across the grounds, heading towards the owlery. She stopped to skip a stone across the flat waters of the lake, which was promptly caught by the giant squid. Smiling at her shriek, which carried all across the grounds, he watched until she disappeared from view. Turning away, another pair of figures caught his eye, and he stopped and stared.

Remus Lupin was walking across the grounds, his tatty cloak around him, accompanied by Madam Pomfrey. But he wasn't heading for Hogsmeade, rather towards the Forbidden Forest. Surely they didn't just let it roam wild out there? Or maybe they did. Perhaps that was it. The Forest was full of rare magical creatures, or so they said. Acromantulas and unicorns, bicorns and bugbears. Dangerous or elusive creatures, and rich sources of very valuable potions ingredients. Humans approaching them in order to harvest their spoils would have a hard time, but a werewolf... maybe a werewolf could do it.

The more he thought about it, the more he thought that that must be it. Lupin attacked the creatures, then Potter and company harvested what they needed once the werewolf had moved on. It was easy enough to hide contraband in Hogwarts, if you were careful enough - he ought to know. The thought that Potter's gang might be playing his own game made his blood run cold. The deception that had made him feel so powerful could just be added to the list of things Potter had ruined for him.

Some sixth sense made him turn, to find Sirius Black behind him, folding up a large and slightly dog-eared piece of parchment. Severus looked instinctively for Potter, but to his amazement Black was alone. The aristocratic Gryffindor gave him a disparaging look. 'Snivelly,' he said, sounding more bored than mocking.

'I've just seen your weird friend off on an assignation with Madam Pomfrey,' replied Severus without preamble. He glanced up at the sky, 'I hope Pomfrey makes it back before the moon rises.'

Black's face tensed - for once he looked really rattled. 'You miserable little git, don't you ever get tired of sneaking round trying to ruin everyone else's fun?'

'I won't be tired until you and your friends have got what's coming to you.'

Trying to affect his usual casual manner, Black said, 'Are you trying to threaten me, Snivelly?'

'No, I'm succeeding in threatening you. I know all about what you're up to, Black; you and Potter and the werewolf.' He enjoyed the way Black's eyes widened when he said the word. 'I know everything.'

'Why don't you just run to Dumbledore and tell him then? You might find he's not surprised.'

'Oh, I will, when the time's right. And whilst I assume the whole werewolf thing is done with his blessing, we both know there's more to it than that. I very much doubt he knows about your illegal activities.'

'I don't know what you're talking about,' said Black, but he looked and sounded wrong-footed. Severus revelled in this unusual state of affairs.

'We both know that you do. I could go at any moment, tell him what's been going on. Then it's back home to Mummy - oh, except Mummy's thrown you out, hasn't she? Perhaps Mr and Mrs Potter will let you and Potter carry on living with them indefinitely - you won't be able to get a job, after all. Or perhaps they'll be so upset about you leading precious little Jamesy astray that they'll boot you out of their lives for good.'

'You evil little bastard,' whispered Black. 'Why d'you have to be here, messing everything up? You're the worst sort of person, bitter and twisted and just plain nasty. You just can't stand it because we've got friends when you've got no one. And because your little pretend-girlfriend likes Potter better than you.'

'She does not!' shouted Severus, before he could stop himself.

Black snorted derisively. 'Take a look at her when she's next around him. You'll see. You've already seen. You just can't take it. She's never going to fancy a nasty greaseball like you, even if she's too kind to tell you to shove off. She's way out of your league.'

Seeing red, he launched himself at Black, forgetting even his wand, grabbing for the throat. The two boys fell to the ground, grappling with each other. Severus, with the advantage of surprise, managed to get a good grip around Black's neck. The boy choked, going red in the face. He spluttered incoherent words, real panic coming into his eyes. 'Listen, listen,' he rasped.

Severus ignored him. He was in a kind of blind ecstasy. He was quite prepared to see this through, to squeeze and squeeze... Then Black kneed him painfully between the legs, snapping out of his reverie and causing him to loosen his grip. Just about managing to pin the weakened Black down, he grabbed the boy's wand out of his pocket and held it up along with his own. Black, helpless, stared up at him. 'Listen,' Black said again, his voice hoarse. 'You want to know the big secret? You want to find it all out? Let me go, and I'll tell you.'

'A likely story,' he spat.

'You have my wand. There's no one about. You've got the upper hand. Let me up, and I'll tell you.'

Knowing he couldn't keep Black down much longer, he jumped back, holding both wands as far from the other boy as possible. 'Go on then. Tell me.'

'The Whomping Willow. Go to the Whomping Willow tonight. There's a knot at the base of the trunk - look, and you'll see it. Poke it with a long branch, it will freeze the tree. You'll find a passage at the base. Follow it, and you'll find out all you need to know.'

'Why should I trust you?'

Black was red eyed and panting, he had a slightly manic look about him. 'You either want to know or you don't. Of course, if you're too cowardly...'

'You'd sell out your friends just like that?'

'You know what I have to lose.' Black backed away now. 'Give me my wand back, Snivelly.'

Severus took his own wand and levitated Black's high into the air, twitching his gently until it alighted on a window ledge about six storeys high. 'Go fetch,' he said. Black hesitated, then disappeared into the castle.

Severus didn't hang around for Black to find his wand. He made his way down to the Whomping Willow, hiding in some shrubbery with a good view of the tree. He was in two minds about what to do. Should he believe Black and go in? What if it was a trap? He glanced at the sky - the silvery globe of the moon was now clearly visible. No doubt somewhere in the forest Lupin would be rampaging.

Finally, he made up his mind. He wasn't a coward. Black wanted him to be scared, to be too afraid to go. It was a bluff. He knew it was just some illegally obtained potions supplies. He'd go in, find the evidence, then go straight to Dumbledore. Then Black, Potter, and hopefully the werewolf would be out of school and out of his life forever. Smiling at the thought, he approached the tree. Its branches twitched as though sensing his presence, then began a violent whirling.

Taking care to stay out of reach, he found a particularly long fallen branch, and by the light of the moon poked at the base of the trunk. To his surprise the flailing immediately stopped. Black had told the truth about that much, then. He crept forwards, half expecting the branches to move again, but they didn't. He reached the trunk and there was the hole, a deep dark recess between two of the gnarled roots.

Keeping his wand lit, he lowered himself into the hole, and found himself in a passageway. His heart was beating very fast now, the adrenaline making him quite dizzy. There was a lump in his throat and his limbs twitched with pent up tension. He edged along the passage, which seemed to go on forever. After a couple of minutes, he began to wonder if Black had simply sent him into a dead end. But he was committed now, and kept going.

Then he heard something, not in front of him, but behind. Footsteps, and breathing. Damn! Black or Potter was after him. He began to run, determined to reach the end and find out the truth. He had been tormented by this secret for years now, he had to know! They weren't going to stop him now. 'Snape!' yelled someone from behind him, and he sprinted harder. Now the tunnel was sloping upwards, and he could see something at the other end, a wooden hatch.

'Stop! Snape, stop! You'll be killed!' He was sure that was Potter's voice.

He allowed himself a breathless laugh at this blatant lie. There must be something worth hiding there after all, if they were that worried about stopping him. He pulled open the hatchway.

A dimly lit wooden room faced him and there, in the centre, looking right at him, was a werewolf. It was long and rangy, standing on its hindlegs, naked. It opened its mouth, revealing very sharp teeth. Something grabbed Severus, and his bladder released a small amount of pee. He began to yell, even as the door was slammed shut. 'Run!' shouted a voice next to his ear, and he realised it was Potter, dragging insistently on his arm. He heard a howl and a thud as the body of the wolf hit the door.

He needed no second bidding, and he and Potter set off back down the tunnel as fast as they could go. Behind them he heard the crashes as the wolf tried to free itself. They scrambled out from between the Whomping Willow's roots, and out into the grounds. Seconds later, the tree began to move again.

For a minute neither boy could do more than pant, doubled up. Through the spots dancing before his eyes he stared at Potter with an intense hatred. As soon as he could speak he snarled, 'You tried to kill me! You and Black!' at the same moment as Potter shouted, 'You idiot! You nearly got us both killed!'

'Me! It was your friend who told me to do it! Thought he'd get me out of the way, didn't he!'

'He didn't think you'd be stupid enough to actually do it! Just as well I knew better and was able to save your life!'

'You did not save my life!' screeched Severus, flinging himself at Potter. He managed to land a couple of punches, before the two boys were forced apart by a spell. Professor McGonagall was standing in front of them, looking incandescent with anger, and lurking behind her was Sirius Black.

'Inside. Now,' was all she said, before grabbing both Severus and Potter by their robes at the neck and hustling them before her across the grounds. 'And you, Black,' she barked over her shoulder.

Struggling against the indignity, Severus tried to protest. 'Professor, listen, you don't understand! Potter and Black just tried to kill me! There's a werewolf, Lupin, Lupin's a werewolf! Black sent me down there to die!'

'Save your breath for Professor Dumbledore,' was McGonagall's short reply.

That silenced all three boys, as McGonagall frogmarched them to the Headmaster's office. She did not release her grip on Severus' and Potter's robes until they had ascended the spiral staircase and were through the door. Professor Dumbledore was standing behind his desk, looking very grave. 'Are the boys uninjured?' he asked.

'Entirely, although I'm not sure we shouldn't be checking all three for brain malfunction,' sniffed McGonagall.

'And Lupin?'

'Is still within the Shrieking Shack, unharmed.'

'He's a werewolf!' shouted Severus. 'Of course he's unharmed, what about me, I'm the one...' He was unable to finish because a silencing charm descended on him like a fog. Furious, he continued to shout the words silently.

'That will do, Mr Snape,' said Dumbledore, and there was no sign of the twinkly old man who made comedy speeches. He waved his wand lazily and three rather uncomfortable looking chairs appeared in front of his desk. 'Sit,' he commanded.

The three boys sat, Potter and Black drawing close together. Severus was aware of the dampness in his pants. Dumbledore stared very hard at him, then at Potter, and lastly at Black. Finally he spoke. 'I have only a rather garbled account of events, so perhaps you would enlighten me.' He held up a hand as Severus drew breath. 'Mr Black, first.'

Black looked uncomfortable. Even he seemed subdued by Dumbledore. 'I got in an argument with Sniv... with Snape. He was going on about how he knew Lupin's secret. We fought. He had me round the throat,' he paused to indicate his neck, where red marks unfortunately corroborated his story, 'and I thought he was going to kill me. So to get him off me... I told him if he wanted to know our secret, he should go through the secret passage. And I told him how to get there.' He shut his eyes tightly for a moment.

'I'm really sorry, Professor, I know it was stupid. I just didn't think... and then I went to get my wand back - Snape had levitated it up high, and by then I'd started to worry, so I told Pr... I told James, and he guessed Snape would do it, so he ran to stop him and I went to tell Professor McGonagall. It was my fault, Professor, please don't punish James. He didn't do anything wrong.'

'Thank you, Mr Black. I appreciate your candour.' He ignored the explosive noise from Severus that managed to break even the silencing charm. 'Mr Potter, your turn please.'

'Well, Sirius came in and told me, like he said. He didn't think Snape would do it, since he knew the secret, but I had a feeling he would anyway. Snape's been following us round for years now, trying to get us into trouble - especially poor Remus. He wouldn't miss an opportunity like that. So I ran down to the tunnel, and Snape was right at the end. He'd opened the door into the Shack -' here McGonagall made a faint noise of horror - 'but I managed to shut it, and we both ran for it.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'Very well.'

'Professor Dumbledore sir?' James hesitated until Dumbledore indicated he could continue. 'Professor, I know Sirius was stupid, but you don't know what Snape's like. He gets inside your head. I know Sirius better than anyone, and whilst he's an idiot sometimes, he would never have meant to kill anyone. Not even Snape, honestly.'

'Well, I think it's time to hear Mr Snape's side of the story. Severus, perhaps you can tell us what happened?'

The silencing charm lifted and Severus made an incoherent spluttering noise. He drew his breath and wits about him again. 'Black told me to go through the tunnel, he said if I went through I'd find out a secret. He knew the werewolf was there. He knew it would attack me! It was murder, cold blooded murder! Him and Potter, they were in it together! And the werewolf too! They tried to kill me - you have to expel them, you have to throw them in Azkaban...'

'Thank you, Severus, let's take this one thing at a time. I have some questions for you, if I may.' He didn't make it sound like a request, and continued almost immediately. 'Firstly, I understand that you and Mr Black here have a longstanding quarrel. So why would you go along with what Sirius suggested?'

Severus stammered for a moment before he managed to get a sentence out. 'I never thought he'd try to kill me! You don't know what they're like. Everyone thinks they're so great, and they're not! Their rulebreaking! Again and again. I couldn't... I had to know.'

James interrupted him. 'He spends all his time sneaking round trying to get us expelled. He's always following us, listening in on us. He guessed about Remus ages ago, and he's been desperate to prove it, so he can ruin Remus' life. And he'd do anything if he thought it would get me and Sirius expelled. That's how I knew he'd do what Sirius said, no matter how mad.'

'That doesn't change the fact he told me! I didn't know the werewolf would be there! I thought it was out in the Forest, killing unicorns so you could steal their hair for your smuggling ring!'

A stunned and rather embarrassed silence followed this outburst, until Black said, 'What smuggling ring?' Potter even made a mirthless noise of laughter.

'The smuggling ring you're running, hiding things in the Whomping Willow. I thought if I went through, I'd find your hoard.' Even as he said it, it sounded crazy. What had he been thinking?

'Potter, Black, is this true?' asked McGonagall. 'Have you been smuggling?'

'I swear on my life Professor, no! I've never smuggled in my life. Why would we want to smuggle - our families have loads of gold. Snape is crazy!' James gave him a contemptuous look.

'Look at me, please,' said Dumbledore quietly, and proceeded to stare into Potter's defiant eyes for several minutes. Eventually he broke his gaze and said, 'I believe you. Now, Mr Black.' He underwent the same procedure, then turned to Severus. 'Mr Snape, look at me.'

The blue eyes seemed to pierce him. He felt an uncomfortable sensation in his brain, and he realised Dumbledore was using mind magic - he couldn't remember the name of the art, but he knew he'd read about it once. He shifted and broke eye contact, hating it. He felt violated, furious. 'Look at me, Severus,' repeated Dumbledore, and he reluctantly raised his eyes again. He tried hard to close his mind, shut down his thoughts. He remembered Lucius telling the Quidditch team to hide distracting thoughts in a box inside their head. He tried hard to do that, especially anything that might indicate his own criminal activities.

Finally Dumbledore looked away, a strange expression on his face. He tidied some papers on his desk, then looked up again to view them all over the tops of his spectacles. 'I have seen all I need to see. Mr Potter, you have acted with great presence of mind and courage. There can be no doubt you saved Severus' life, and also in a more figurative manner, the life of your friend Mr Lupin. That you risked your own to do so, without a second thought, is even greater credit to you, particularly given that you and Mr Snape do not see eye to eye.'

'You can't praise him! He was in on it, in on it all along! You never see him without Black, he knew all about it! He put Black up to it! They did it deliberately so that Potter could act the hero...' Once again a silencing charm prevented his rant continuing.

'Now. That brings me to Mr Black and Mr Snape. Seldom have I been more disappointed in Hogwarts students. Two highly intelligent, gifted students, behaving in a manner so foolhardy it is hard to fathom. Mr Black, you have been recklessly stupid. Whilst I do not believe you intended to kill Severus, your actions very nearly did so - and would also have caused your unwitting and entirely innocent friend Remus Lupin to be forced from this school. Your friend Mr Potter here also very narrowly escaped being bitten and possibly killed. But for a few seconds, Sirius, you nearly had the end or ruination of three lives on your hands.'

Black bowed his head, pale, and muttered, 'I know. I know. I'm sorry.'

'However, Severus, you cannot claim the moral high ground in this incident. You have behaved in a way that is underhanded and disingenuous. It is clear you went out with the express intention of causing trouble. If you had suspicions about smuggling, or even about Lupin being a werewolf, you could easily have discussed them with a teacher. I believe you have tea with Professor Slughorn on a regular basis. Instead you decided to use what you had guessed about these boys to attempt to get them expelled or worse. Your obsession clouded your judgement so severely that you walked into an extremely dangerous situation. Such behaviour is, in its own way, not better than Mr Black's.'

Such fury was now coursing through Severus that he felt feverish. Unable to make a sound, he mouthed silent words of anger. Sweat beaded his brow and his hands shook. He felt a terrible, violent hatred for Dumbledore, Black and Potter. His heart was beating so hard that it hurt. He had actual pain in his chest. It would serve them all right if he dropped dead right now - except they'd probably dance on his grave.

'Sirius, given the circumstances and the proximity to the exams, you will be permitted to remain in school.' Black sagged with relief and began to gush his thanks. Dumbledore held up a hand and continued, 'But you will serve detention every evening for the remainder of the term, and Professor McGonagall and I will be keeping a close eye on you. I have taken into account the difficult situation I know you have been in with your family and the strain that has placed you under this weekend. Therefore I am giving you a second chance. If you ever again behave in such a reckless manner, I will not be so lenient.'

Now Dumbledore turned to Severus, his blue eyes cold. 'As for you, Severus, you will do well to remember my words. Behaviour born of shabby sentiment will seldom win you friends or sympathy. Nor will it bring you happiness. Indeed, tonight it has almost resulted in your death. Take it from an old man; people who strive to act on good intentions, to spread kindness, will ultimately be far the richer and more satisfied. I would like to you to reflect on this in future. I also have to ask you not to mention this incident, or the fact that Lupin is a werewolf, to anyone else. I am afraid if you do so, I may need to consider your place at this school.'

Unable to speak, Severus contented himself with staring back at Dumbledore with undisguised loathing. The teacher fixed him with that piercing stare again. 'Do I have your word, Mr Snape?'

The silencing charm lifted, but Severus left it as long as he could before the stare of Dumbledore became unbearable. 'Sooner or later, your werewolf will kill someone,' he muttered eventually. 'Then when they find out how you silenced me...'

'Severus, I do not believe Remus will kill anybody. You witnessed the precautions in place to ensure the safety of himself and the other students. Now, I need your word, I am afraid.'

Finally he said, 'If you're threatening to expel me, then I'll have to. Clearly telling people about a werewolf is a far worse crime than trying to kill someone.'

'Good,' said Dumbledore, clapping his hands together. 'Well, now we've got that cleared up, I suggest we all get ourselves to bed. Good night.'

Professor McGonagall ushered the three of them out and down the staircase, Potter and Black exchanging relieved smiles that made Severus so angry he wanted to lash out. However McGonagall carefully kept between them. At the foot of the staircase, they parted company, and Severus found himself alone. He had to stop for a moment and close his eyes, to simply take in what had happened. Black had tried to kill him, and yet he, Severus, was the one who'd been made to feel like a criminal.

Humiliated and sick with rage, standing on the stairs in the dark with the echoing castle around him, he made a vow. Never again would Albus Dumbledore or anyone else invade the private sanctuary that was Severus' mind. They could humiliate and torment him in every other way, but his mind was his own. Furthermore, he would find a way to destroy James Potter and his little gang, no matter how long it took. If he had to wait a hundred years, he would get his vengeance.