Happier with you- Charlie Weasley

POA 18

Hermione screamed as Sirius jumped to his feet.

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

"Severus" Remus 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"

"Idiot" Rory muttered.

"What was that Potter" He said her name with disgust.

"Would you like me to repeat myself, you old grease bat"

"Should of guessed you was just like your father, helping your godfather with it all" She glared at him.

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

"Two more for Azkaban tonight or maybe three" Snape said staring at Rory, Remus moved in front of her covering her from Snapes glare "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this. He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin a tame werewolf"

"You fool," Remus said softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?" BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Remus's mouth, wrists, and ankles; he became overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move.

"Moony" Rory shouted rushing to him as Sirius started toward Snape, but Snape pointed his wand straight between his eyes.

"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will." Sirius stopped dead. It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred. Hermione took an uncertain step toward Snape and said, in a very breathless voice.

"Professor Snape it it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w would it?"

"Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school," Snape spat. "You, Potter, Potter and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue."

"But if if there was a mistake"

"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!" Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" A few sparks shot out of the end of his wand, which was still pointed at Sirius's face. Hermione fell silent. "Vengeance is very sweet," Snape breathed at Sirius. "How I hoped I would be the one to catch you"

"The joke's on you again, Severus," Sirius snarled. "As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle" he jerked his head at Ron "I'll come quietly"

"Up to the castle?" Snape said silkily. "I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... pleased enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay." What little colour there was in Sirius's face left it.

"You -you've got to hear me out," he croaked. "The rat, look at the rat" But there was a mad glint in Snape's eyes that they'd had never seen before. He seemed beyond reason.