Prongs {Book One}

Chapter Twenty-Seven - An Unexpected Saviour

JAMES.

"I think we should go out again," Sirius said as we were walking to Charms.

"Go out where?" I asked, stifling a yawn.

"You know," he lowered his voice, "The full moon."

"No," I said in unison with Remus, who had spoken so loudly a couple of people stared.

"Why not?" Sirius asked, looking exasperatedly at me.

"Mate, last time... you ended up in the hospital wing. You want to risk that again?"

"That was just because there was someone out of bed in Hogsmeade," Sirius grinned, "we'll go straight out the village, no human involvement."

"I'm not letting you come with me," Remus said, his voice quiet but angry, "I don't want to hurt any of you - or anyone else - ever again."

"You won't," Sirius tried, but Remus cut him off.

"I'll tell Dumbledore about you three. I will. I'll make sure he stops you from coming to see me."

Sirius fell silent, then he looked up at Remus. "Just thought you'd want some company in there, Moon-"

"Shut up," I snapped quickly, staring behind Sirius's shoulder.

"What-"

"Snape."

Snape was walking a few paces ahead of us, listening.

"I'll deal with it," Sirius said quietly.

"Just leave it," Remus grabbed Sirius's arm. Sirius shool him off.

"I said I'll deal with it. See you at Charms."

He walked forwards to Snape, and pulled him into an empty classroom.

"Let's go," Remus said quickly, speeding up.

-

SEV.

"What did you hear?" Black snarled, blocking the door so I couldn't get out.

"Nothing," I lied easily, but I couldn't help a smile creep onto my face.

Black pulled out his wand and pointed it at me. Mine was out in a flash too.

"Expelliarmus."

"Protego!" I countered, and Black's spell rebounded off the blue shield I cast. He scowled.

"What did you hear?"

I smiled again, "Lupin's a werewolf, isn't he?"

Black's fave twisted into a look of pure hatred.

"You really want to find out?" He said quietly, "tonight, go to the Whomping Willow. Use a stick to press the knot in the trunk, and go down the secret passageway."

He left the room.

-

JAMES.

"He won't tell anyone," Sirius announced in the common room. Remus had already left, and it was getting dark. We'd decided to pull an all-nighter waiting for him.

I raised an eyebrow at him. 

"I made sure."

"How?" Peter asked.

"I just did."

"Mate, what did you do?" I asked warily.

"Gave him a scare, that's all."

"You didn't... show him Padfoot?" I whispered, eyes wide.

"Course not. But he'll see Moony."

"What!?" I hissed, leaning forwards, abandoning my Transfiguration essay, heart pounding.

"Don't stress," Sirius said, but he was avoiding my eyes, and I knew immediately what he'd done.

I didn't even get the cloak. I just ran.

Almost tripping over Mrs Norris, I was panting by the time a got outside. I sprinted straight across the grounds to the Willow. Its branches moved threateningly.

The branch we used to touch the knot was lying next to the knot.

I swore under my breath, and then transformed into Prongs.

Darting through the branches as best I could, I still felt some of them hit me, and warm blood was mixed into my fur. I reached the knot and pressed it hard with my foot. The branches froze instantaneously.

Back in human form, I slid down the passage.

Crawling as fast as I could, I heard the branches start thrashing above me, and yells from Sirius and Peter. I vaguely heard, "James, get out of there!"

I knew I should transform, but Snape couldn't know about us being animagi. He already knew about Remus.

"Snape?" I called along the passage. No answer. Cursing Sirius under my breath, I continued.

As I got near the end of the passage, I saw a silhouette in the exit. Snape.

"Snape! Get out of there!"

He looked around at me.

"I know your secret, Potter," he smirked, but as he opened his mouth to speak again, there was a howl, and Snape was snatched by Remus.

"No!" I shouted, and followed him into the shack.

They were wrestling in a corner. The wolf had him pressed against a wall, and Snape was using all his strength to push him away. He looked petrified.

"Help me!"

I moved forwards and got out my wand.

"Remus," I tried. The wolf didn't respond.

"I'm sorry," I said, and just as the wolf was about to bite Snape, I said, "Petrificus Totalus!"

The wolf froze like a board and fell.

"Come on, quickly! Spells don't last on werewolves!" I grabbed Snape's arm and pulled him out of the room, pushing him into the passage. I heard the wolf growling, and knew the spell was already wearing off.

As I got into the passage, I felt claws rake into my back.

Pain. The place where the claws had broken my skin was white hot and burning. I just managed to yell, "Impedimenta!" And crawled after Snape, wincing with every movement.

"Go! Turn around!" I heard Snape yell to Sirius and Peter, and they were moving ahead of us.

I heard the wolf howling behind us.

When we got out of passage and out of the Willow's danger zone, I rounded on Sirius. Andrenaline had numbed the pain in my back.

"You idiot! He could have died! What were you thinking, that Moony would recognise him and not kill him!? Or worse, turn him? We know that when Remus turns into that, he isn't Remus. That in there is a monster, and you just sent him in there!"

There was a light on in the entrance hall now, and shadows started moving out the castle.

Sirius didn't reply.

My breathing slowing, I felt pain inch back into the gashes on my back, and the grounds seemed to swim for a second before they faded to black.

-

So Sirius is also an asshole now? Who isn't an asshole here is the real question.

Anyway sorry I took so long... hope you enjoyed ;)