Redemption For A Monster (Marauder fanfic) Book Three

35- Trying To Break Up A Fight

After Christmas, Sara and Sirius adopted very different tactics, with dealing with the fact that Harry would be returning to school soon.
Sirius became very grumpy and unhappy because he knew what was coming, while Sara chose to be happy and live in the present, doing her best to forget that Harry would be leaving soon.
Sara's tactic worked very well, until the last day of the holiday's, when Snape turned up out of the blue, wanting to talk to Harry.
Snape wanted to speak to Harry alone, but Sirius was not going to allow that in his house, so he decided to remain in the room. And since Sara didn't want Sirius to do anything he would regret, she ended up being in the room as well, to ensure that everything went smoothly.
Even though she didn't like Snape, since he was making her potion for her every month, she didn't want to get on his bad side.

When Harry entered the kitchen, he found Sirius and Sara, sitting opposite Snape, on the long kitchen table.
"Sit down Potter" instructed Snape.
"You know, I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see" replied Sirius loudly, as he glared daggers at Snape.
Harry sat down on Sirius' other side, so that he was also as far away from Snape as physically possible.
"I was supposed to see you alone Potter, but Black and-" started Snape
"We're his godparents, so we..." interupted Sirius, who faltered as Sara placed her hand onto his arm, shaking her head, warning him not to lose his temper.
"I am here on Dumbledore's orders, but by all means stay, Black, I know how you like to feel... involved" sneered Snape.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Merely that I am sure you just feel- ah- frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful for the Order".

Sirius' cheeks turned red, but he kept his mouth shut, as Sara's hand was still on him, keeping him calm.
"The headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term" continued Snape.
"Study what?" Quizzed Harry.
"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one. You will recieve private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. Do you understand?" Questioned Snape.
"Yes. Who's going to be teaching me?"
"I am".
"Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?" Asked Sirius aggressively.
"I expect he is too busy, Sirius. He is the headmaster afterall" replied Sara softly.
"She is right. It is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks. And I assure you, that I did not beg for the job... I will expect you at 6oclock on Monday evening, Potter, my office. If anybody asks, you are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny that you need them" admitted Snape.

Snape stood up and began heading towards the door, but Sirius stopped him.
"Wait a moment" insisted Sirius.
"I am in rather a hurry Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time" sneered Snape.
"I'll get to the point then. If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you will have me to answer to" replied Sirius, as he stood to his feet.
"How touching. But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father"
"I have"
"Well then, you'll know that he's so arrogant, that criticism simply bounces off him".
Sirius pushed his chair away, and removed his wand, as Snape did the same.
Sara quickly jumped out of her own chair, and placed herself inbetween the two.
"Sirius! No!" She warned.

Sirius hadn't seemed to notice Sara, as he continued to glare at Snape.
"I've warned you Snivellus. I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed I know better" spat Sirius.
"Oh, but why don't you tell him that? Or are you afraid that he might not take very seriously, the advice of a man who's been hiding inside his mother's house for 6 months" mocked Snape.
"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog is working at Hogwarts-"
"Sirus, stop" interupted Sara.
"Speaking of dogs. Did you know that Lucius recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform. Gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it? Questioned Snape, with a cruel smile on his face.

Sirius raised his wand threateningly, and Harry ran towards him, trying to pull him away from Snape.
"Are you calling me a coward?" Roared Sirius, as he tried to shake Harry off.
"Why yes, I suppose I am" answered Snape.
"Harry, get off!" Snarled Sirius, pushing Harry away with his free hand.
Although Sara hated Snape in that moment, she knew that she had to stop Sirius from starting a fight that she knew he would not win.
Even at school, Snape had been more powerful than the Marauders individually, and he had been practicing a lot since then, whereas Sirius had only just got his own wand after 14 years.
"Sirius! Calm down. You know he's only saying these things to wind you up" she said, as she placed her hands onto Sirius' face, and tried to get his attention onto her, instead of Snape.

"So what? I'm just supposed to let the git get away with it?" Questioned Sirius angrily.
"Yes. For once, be the bigger person. Don't let yourself stoop to his level" begged Sara.
"Backing out of a fight isn't very Gryffindor of you though, is it?" Mocked Snape.
"Severus, keep your mouth shut" hissed Sara.
"Let me do this Sara" insisted Sirius.
"No. I won't let you-".
"All cured".
Sara was interupted by the sudden arrival or Arthur, who entered the kitchen, followed by the rest of the Weasleys.
"Merlin's beard. What's going on here?" He gasped.
Sirius and Snape both lowered their wands, and Sara sighed in relief.
"6oclock, Monday evening, Potter" muttered Snape as he pocketed his wand, before exiting the kitchen, without saying a word to the Weasleys.

"What's been going on?" Asked Arthur.
"Nothing. Just a friendly little chat between some old school friends" answered Sirius, who still hadn't pocketed his own wand.
"Nothing you need to worry about Arthur, I promise. So, you're all cured?" Sara asked, trying to quickly change the topic.
"Yep. Healer Smethwyck worked his magic in the end, found an antidote to whatever that snake's got in its fangs" replied Arthur.
"Yes, and Arthur's learned his lesson about dabbling in Muggle medicine, haven't you dear?" Quizzed Molly, menacingly.
"Yes Molly" mumbled Arthur, meekly.
"Well this is certainly something worth celebrating. I'll fetch something from the wine cellar, to make this evening's meal more exciting" admitted Sara.
"I'll come with you, to help you choose" offered Sirius.

Once they were alone, Sirius turned on Sara, with an angry look on his face.
"Why did you stop me from ripping him apart?" Demanded Sirius.
"Because, I didn't want you to get into trouble. You promised Dumbledore that you wouldn't be hostile towards him. Besides, I didn't want you fighting in front of our godson, what kind of message would that have show him. Violence can't solve everything, you know" replied Sara calmly.
"But you heard the things he was saying. We should have stood up to him. He shouldn't have gotten away with that"
"No, we shouldn't've. Snape could whip our arses blindfolded, without using much effort, and you know it. He's been getting better, while you were in jail, and I was a dragon. So getting into a fight with him, would not have been a good idea. I was trying to keep you safe".

"It's more than that. You seemed to actually be trying to defend him, as if you didn't want him to get hurt either" admitted Sirius.
"I didn't-"
"I know what I saw" Sirius interupted.
"Fine. I'll tell you... You were bound to find out sooner or later anyway... Snape has been making my potion for me, for months now, because I ran out. And I didn't want you hurting the man who keeps me human" revealed Sara.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were running out? I would have found a way to get you some more"
"How? We're in hiding remember. And I didn't tell you I was running out, because I didn't want you to worry about me".

"So, Snivellus has been helping you then?" Questioned Sirius.
"Yes. But he didn't want anyone to know. So you can't tell anybody. I can't risk him pulling out, and stop making it for me. I need to stay human" begged Sara.
"I thought our love, was the thing that keeps you human"
"Your love keeps my mind human, that's true, but I need that potion to stop my body from changing. And without Snape, I would be a dragon right now. So please don't kill him, because I need him alive"
"You know that I'd do anything for you. So if you need him in one piece, then I will do my best to keep my temper around him"
"Thank you".
Sara picked up the nearest bottle of wine, before returning to the kitchen, with Sirius behind her, so that they could all celebrate Arthur's recovery.
But Sirius and Sara's minds were on Snape for the rest of the day, so neither of them could really enjoy their evening meal, since their minds kept wandering.