James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 14: sixth year

James had never felt this bad in his whole life. Sirius, his best friend, had told Snape how to allow entrance to the Whomping Willow and see Remus. What he was thinking at the time, James had no idea, but the very thought of Sirius being responsible for his death made his insides twist together like tangled knots.

Dumbledore peered through his moon-shaped spectacles at the three boys in front of him. "You do know the seriousness of the situation, don't you, boys?"

"Yes, sir," they chorused. Sirius had not even bothered to make another joke about his name being used.

"Mr. Black, I don't know what you were thinking for allowing Mr. Snape to have a full view of Mr. Lupin as a werewolf. But I do assure you if Mr. Potter was not there to save Mr. Snape, then there would have been severe consequences. You would have been expelled, along with your friends, and Mr. Snape would have been bitten. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Professor," he mumbled in reply.

"I expected better of you, Sirius." The boy looked up in surprise. It was the first time Dumbledore had actually used his given name before. "Even though I knew you as a boy who took risks, I did expect you to at least know that you were almost the cause of a student's death."

"Sir, I'm sorry," said Sirius solemnly, "I really am."

Snape made a noise that sounded oddly like a snort but didn't say anything.

"I do believe you are," said Dumbledore, with a glance at Snape. "You will be happy to know that no points will be taken from Gryffindor, because of the courage Mr. Potter showed tonight in rescuing Mr. Snape."

"Thank you, sir," muttered Sirius, looking close to tears.

"There will be no punishment for me, will there, Professor?" asked Snape anxiously.

"No, Mr. Snape, there will not, for tonight. But I must warn you, do not try any more risky dares in the future, for it will land you in trouble and danger."

Snape nodded, glaring at James and Sirius.

"And now, Mr. Black, if you would please leave. I wish to speak to Messrs. Potter and Snape alone."

Sirius left, with a sympathetic and apologetic smile to his best friend.

"Mr. Snape," began Dumbledore, "I am to say that you are, from this day, in debt to Mr. James Potter, for saving your life."

"I'm what?" said Snape, staring at James.

"In debt to James. For he saved your life, though it was in rather different situations. However, he did prevent you from dying or becoming a werewolf, so you must still be thankful."

Snape was now mouthing wordlessly, his hatred for James inflating all the more.

"I'm glad we understand." Dumbledore looked rather amused. "You two may go."

James and Snape left the office, thanking the Headmaster.

"I can't believe I'm in debt to you, Potter," spat Snape. "Whatever the Headmaster says, I'm still not thankful. I'd rather die or become a werewolf than be in debt to YOU."

"The feeling is mutual, Severus," said James calmly.

"You—" Snape glared. "You planned all this! You bas—"

"Now, now, Snivellus, there's no calling names," chided James pleasantly. "I do hate you, of course, but now that you owe me a favor..." He grinned wickedly.

"You haven't changed a bit, Potter."

"Thank, you, Snivelly. I'm guessing that you were about to say that I'm still the 'arrogant berk and prat who doesn't deserve the attention he gets.'"

Snape silently seethed and stalked up to his common room, not looking back.

James chuckled slightly and headed for Gryffindor Tower. When he got through the portrait hole, he found the Marauders (excluding Remus) and girls all wide-awake and nagging him with anticipation.

"Well, what happened?"

"What did Dumbledore say?"

"Is Remus all right?"

"Is Snape expelled?"

James snorted at the last question, whose owner happened to be Sirius. "Dumbledore just told us that Snape was in debt to me, since I saved his life."

"You saved his life?" repeated Lily doubtfully. "What exactly happened?"

"I told Snivellus how to get to Remus," said Sirius dully, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"YOU DID WHAT?" hollered Arabella, causing everyone to jump with a start.

"Do you want to wake up the whole Tower?" hissed Jennifer angrily.

"Sorry."

"Sirius, you didn't," said Violet, wide-eyed. "You told Snape how to get to Remus? At the night of the full moon? How thick can you get?"

"It was a joke," said Sirius timidly. "I was just getting fed up with Snape following us around, his wand pointed upwards, always trying to get us in trouble for something. I was sick of it! So I told him since he called Lily a Mud—Mud—a you-know-what. He also insulted all of you, so I couldn't stand it any longer. And then Prongs saved Snape just in time when he heard what I had done." He hung his head down in shame.