The Marauders' Future

39 | Severus Runs From Shampoo

Previous Chapter Question was answered by Eira_Blanche and 94bookworm49! Congrats guys!

I'm sorry for the late chapter... I've been having lots of assignments and my exams are very, very close. Sorry...

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[Black (older); Sirius (younger)]

Hermione screamed. Black leaped to his feet. Harry felt as though he'd received a huge electric shock. James took a step forward, still in a daze, his mouth tightened.

"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," said Snape, throwing the cloak aside, careful to keep this wand pointing directly at Lupin's chest. "Very useful, Potter, I thank you. . ."

Something told James that Lupin wasn't talking about him but Harry. Oh, wai-

Snape was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. "You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?" he said, his eyes glittering. "I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did... lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight."

James opened his mouth to object but Snape beat him to it.

"I'm glad you made your peace with Harry, James but I've waited enough," Severus said, his eyes taunting. "Alas, your reunion will have to wait."

"I've waited too, Snivellus," Black said angrily. "Thirteen years of it."

James gripped his wand tighter and sneered. Sirius, who had slithered beside James, nudged him.

"Severus —" Lupin began, but Snape overrode him. "I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout —"

"Severus, you're making a mistake," said Lupin urgently. "You haven't heard everything — I can explain — Sirius is not here to kill Harry —"

"I believe myself," Remus sassed.

A part of James felt relieved at that statement. Though it had taken him a while to realize it, he had believed that Sirius would've been innocent, believed it. His best friend was innocent! Now, seeing Lupin say it out loud, he felt at peace.

James looked at Black, who feeling eyes on him, turned to look back at James. I believe in you, Prongs mouthed at which Black visibly relaxed a bit.

"Two more for Azkaban tonight," said Snape, his eyes now gleaming fanatically. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this. . . . He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin . . . a tame werewolf —"

Remus paled. He, like Sirius, took slow steps towards his friend, James.

"You fool," said Lupin softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?"

No. No, it isn't.

BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists, and ankles; he overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move. With a roar of rage, Black started toward Snape, but Snape pointed his wand straight between Black's eyes.