Prongs {Book One}

Chapter Seventeen - Rumours and Skepticism

SEV.

"Hey, Snape! Did you hear? Sirius Black's in the hospital wing!"

"What?" I turned around to see Avery grinning broadly at me, Mulciber at his side.

"Yeah. Got bitten by some sort of dog, apparently,  but there's a rumour he went into the forest and a werewolf got him."

"No way," I muttered, "There aren't werewolves in the forest."

"It was a full moon, though! Oh, and Lupin was sick again. Now we just need Potter and Pettigrew to get injured..." but I tuned out of Avery's speech. Part of me was guiltily remembering that I told Lily I wouldn't talk to them anymore, and the other half was thinking.

Something wasn't adding up. It was like there was one thing I was missing, one think that I needed to figure something out. But I wasn't even sure what I was figuring out.

I sighed and scratched my head.

"... Quidditch, then we'll be really-"

"Catch you later," I interrupted Avery, and turned to walk off.

"Oi, Snape! Wait!"

But I was already heading to the library.

"Lily!" I hissed, panting and slumping in the chair next to her.

"Sev? What-"

"Black is in the hospital wing. And Lupin was sick last night."

"So?"

"What?"

"Why do you care?" Lily whispered, squinting at me.

"I... I don't know. Don't you think something's fishy?"

"Uh..."

"Black was bitten by a dog but some people were saying it's a werewolf."

"There aren't werewolves in the castle, Sev," Lily looked slightly amused.

"But... last night was a full moon. And... and..."

"You're just stating random unrelated facts."

"Lupin is sick a lot. At least once a month. Isn't that suspicious? Something isn't adding up!"

"Keep your voice down," she muttered, "Sev, don't you think... don't you think you're trying to get them in trouble?"

I blinked at her. "Are you defending them?"

She snorted. "Don't be thick. I just think you're grasping at straws."

"There's something up," I stage whispered forcefully.

"Whatever," Lily sighed, "and you complain that I'm stubborn."

I gave her a death glare and sunk into my thoughts.

"Lupin sick. Black bitten. Possibly werewolf. What else did Avery say?"

"Avery!?" Lily snapped as quietly as she could, "you've been talking to him!?"

I ignored her. "He said... It was a full moon! He's a werewolf!"

Lily didn't say anything. Then she snorted with laughter. "Are you serious? Lupin is a- a werewolf? Wow, Sev. Wow."

"What? It all adds up! He's sick every month, on the full moon. Black gets bitten by a werewolf on the full moon when Lupin is sick. It sounds like them to do something stupid and try and accompany him."

"Sev... you're being ridiculous. I mean- come on. A werewolf? Really?" She looked halfway between sympathetic and ridiculing.

"I'm going to go do more research," I snapped, and left her sitting with her homework.