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Ties of Friendship, Bonds of Fate	By : KusanoSaku Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 5675 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter francise does not belong to me. I own only the plot and I make no money off of this.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Title: Ties of Friendship, bonds of Fate

Pairings: Future JamesxLily and RemusxSeverus

Rating: K to start but future M. Currently probably a T.

Notes: Bound to you Pre-quel. Pre-Harry Potter Era Hogwarts, Marauder era AR/AU.

Chapter 9- Of secrets and lies

Sirius fumed, Severus and Remus were so besotted it boggled the mind. Yet one moon had come and gone, clearly Severus knew nothing.

Surely someone out of Slytherin would find it distasteful to see a werewolf. Of all people why did Remus have to be attracted to Snivellius?

"My my Sirius, why are you out of sorts? Have you gotten into an argument with your friends?"

Sirius looked up startled, "Oh. Pardon professor I didn't notice your approach."

Dumbledore stood there, "What's wrong Sirius my boy?"

Sirius grumbled, "It's that good for nothing Snape boy. He's wheedled his way into my friends' company. He has Remus so befuddled…"

"I protested strongly against appointing Severus as prefect. However the Malfoys were completely for it and of course Horace is a good friend of Abraxus. What has Severus done now?"

Sirius made a fist, "He's got James mad at me! My own cousin! Peter spends most of his time in Evans and Snivellius' study group. How that stinking Slytherin managed to hoodwink someone as smart as Evans I don't know." His eyes narrowed, "I'll find out." He was lonely and lost without his friends. He was hurt that James was angry with him and when angry he had a tendency to lash out. Evans was so pretty and so smart, why did she have to be a Muggleborn? Why did he have to have been engaged to Narcissa? The girl was so shy and incapable of an opinion. Ha! She had to be spoon-fed them from Bella and Annie. Now Annie had ran off with that Hufflepuff and they had their first child.

"Why don't you do something? Surely there is something you can do? To help Remus see that Severus is no match for him. Or to show Severus that Remus is more distasteful then just a Gryffindor?"

Sirius had a plot coming together; Remus had made it so easy.

XoooooX

Severus was on his way to the library when Sirius stepped in front of him, he glared "I'm already late Black. What do you want?"

"To tell you that Remus isn't being completely honest with you. I think it's a shame because I think you actually like him. Pity, I never would have pegged Remus for the type to play with someone's heart." Sirius said quietly.

Severus clutched his book bag tightly; Remus was playing with him? Why? Why now? He was after all a stinking Slytherin, a useless freak, and a worthless poofter. This was all a game?

"I see you guessed as much. Surely you've noticed Remus' behaviour over the last few years? The secretiveness, the excuses and melancholy he suffers from."

Severus glared, "What are you talking about?"

Sirius leaned closer, "That if Remus really cared for you he wouldn't keep his nocturnal wanderings from you. Remus has a secret we know but clearly he hasn't felt you deserve to know."

Severus shook his head, "I don't believe you. Remus isn't the type to play with me. We're friends. We've been friends for going on five years. We're prefects together."

"Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. If you don't believe me, follow him out of the castle tomorrow. Or just ask him who Moony is. See if he's got the nerve to answer."

All of Severus' insecurities rose up to plague him, secrets? Who was Moony? Why would Remus believe he had to keep a secret from him? Did Remus have someone else? Another lover? He felt as if all life, love and laughter had been torn from him, Severus felt as empty and broke as he had before Lily and Remus came to take him from Spinner's End.

What was that line by the Muggle Ben Johnson? 'Love no man, trust no man, speak ill of no man to his face, nor of any man behind his back. ' What a fool he was to believe someone like him deserved to be loved. He made his way to his classes, deciding against going to the library to meet with his 'friends'. Remus and Lily were probably laughing about finding him in that state. They probably planned for him to overhear that conversation about Remus liking him. He was better off alone, then no one could get close enough to really hurt him.

XoooooX

Severus hated himself for both trusting Remus at all and also for not trusting him at all. He traded rounds with a Ravenclaw prefect claiming he didn't feel well. He was wearing a disillusion charm and waiting to see if Sirius was right and Remus would try to leave the castle.

He felt his heart twist when Remus came down the Grand Staircase to meet Madam Pomfrey.

What? Why? Sirius hadn't said anything about that!

He stayed close enough to watch them but not to see them.

XoooooX

James knew something was wrong when Sirius spent the entire day snickering. He had planned on trying out his animagus form. If Sirius weren't being such a wanker he would have asked him to learn with him. Peter would have needed two persons to help him learn so he hadn't bothered, it was a private thing. If he felt Remus wouldn't be angry he would have tried to get Lily to learn with him. He really, really hoped Remus told Severus. It wasn't his place to tell either Lily or Severus so he merely hissed at Remus to at least tell his boyfriend.

He was starting to worry now, Sirius was too pleased with himself.

James sat on his bed, he whispered tapping the Maruader's Map that he and Remus created as a joke, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

He saw Severus Snape following Madam Pomfrey and Remus. He cursed, grabbing his invisibility cloak, he opened Sirius' bed curtains, "If Severus gets hurt I'll never forgive you cousin or no." he cast the body binding curse on his cousin and ran out of their dormitory. He nearly ran into Lily on her way into the Tower.

"James? Where are you going? It's just past cerfew."

James swallowed, "You've got help me! Sirius is going to get Severus killed. You've got to promise no matter what you can't tell. Swear!"

Lily blinked, "Severus? Killed?"

James grabbed her arm and covered them with the cloak, "Oh hang it all we've got no time. If I say stay you've got to stay. If I say run, RUN." He led her to the great Hall by way of the shortest route. He opened the castle's front doors and tugged on her hand, "Run with me!"

Lily did as he said only because he said Severus was in trouble, "Severus please be okay." She whispered.

"And keep quiet."

They loped around Madam Pomfrey who paid them no mind.

James pulled out the map when they reached the Whomping Willow, "Bloody Merlin! He's inside the tunnel already."

Lily stared at him, "What tunnel?"

James blinked at her, "The tunnel entrance is under the Willow." He picked up a rock and threw it at the knot, grabbing her hand again, "Come on. Remember what I said. If I say stop, stop. If I say run, run and don't look back."

They hurried into the tunnel.

Lily whispered, "it's dark, how can you see? Can't we use a light spell?"

"What and announce we're here? Rather not love. If Severus weren't so important to you I wouldn't have brought you. If Severus won't listen to me maybe he'll listen to you. Come on hurry!"

XoooooX

Severus had kept up with Remus and Madam Pomfrey; the Whomping Willow moving and revealing a secret passage was surprising. He hurried to keep up with them because he wasn't sure he could hit the knot just right. What was going on? Why was the nurse escorting Remus out of the castle? He followed them close but not too close.

The way was long and winding.

Severus saw them emerge ahead into a crumbling, house that seemed like the interior of some place like the Shrieking shack. He hurried to catch up.

Remus stopped and undressed, folding his clothes and handed them along with Remus' wand to the school nurse.

His boyfriend just sat, on the dirty floor naked.

Why?

Nurse Pomfrey turned her back on Remus and just left him.

Why leave a student naked in a falling apart old house? Was Remus being forced to do something against his will? He wanted to talk to him…

Caution kept him not to close.

He heard the vague sound of the entrance opening.

Remus hid his face in his hands, "I'm sorry. I know mother told me to tell him but I can't. He'll hate me. Merlin I hate me. Every time I look in the mirror I'm reminded of what I am, a monster. He deserves better than a coward…"

Severus was stunned; Remus thought he was a coward and a monster? He admitted to keeping a secret aloud. He felt his heart shatter, Sirius was right. Merlin he was about to turn and leave barely aware the Whomping willow had opened again.

As he was turning he heard a cry of pain…

Before his eyes Remus changed…

XoooooX

James heard Remus' cry of pain, "We're too late!" he transformed, "Climb on." He said willing himself to speak.

Lily stared at him before climbing onto the back on James' stag.

James went off at a pace he would have considered a canter.

Suddenly Severus was standing in front of them but he wasn't facing them.

In front of Severus was Remus but he'd transformed.

James yelled leaping in front of Severus, "Lily! Get him out of here! RUN!"

Lily pulled on Severus' arm, "Come on it's not safe. What were you thinking?"

"That he loved me…" Severus was stiff as a board.

Lily pulled harder, "Severus please…"

Remus growled and tried to rush them.

James stayed between them, "Remus, it's me James. Merlin Moony you want him safe! If you go to him now you'll hurt him! Lily is mine like Severus is yours. Lily knows she's mine. Severus is like her brother. We want him safe. If you hurt him I don't think he'll forgive you."

Remus was out of his mind, because he was all instinct.

James yelled both of you get out of here." Keeping his large rack of antlers between them and Moony.

Severus stammered, "Remus is Moony? He's a werewolf?"

Lily cried out, "He's fainted!"

"You're the smartest witch I know! Take him and the cloak. Go please." James turned his attention back to Remus completely. He tried to use his antlers to throw Remus when that didn't work he cursed under his breath and kicked his friends forelegs with his own. He winced as he heard the crack, "I'm sorry." He told the werewolf, "It's for your own good." He turned flinging up a few times spells he'd looked up to hold a werewolf until morning.

Knowing they'd be safe from being followed, James ran as a stag after his friends. He leaped over their heads and stopped in front of them. "Get on. We'll be back quicker." Bending his forelegs so it would be easier for Lily to place the unconscious Slytherin on his back.

Lily lifted her oldest friend onto her crush's back and then jumped on after him. She had one arm around Severus and her right hand around James' neck. "let's get back to the castle. We'll put him in Remus' bed."

James hurried out of the tunnel and back to the castle. He stopped in a patch of shadow, whispering, "Get off."

Lily slid off and then lifted her friend off as well.

James placed one of Severus' arms around his neck and covered them with the cloak. "slow steps. Together. Don't talk." He said out of the side of his mouth as they entered the castle and retraced their steps to the tower, hissing the password to a disgruntled Fat Lady.

James glanced at Lily, "I know it's late and you shouldn't come up to the dormitory with me."

Lily set her shoulders, "I'd be insulted if you didn't ask."

They carried Severus up the stairs to the Fifth Year boys' dormitory.

Ignoring Sirius who was no doubt still under the full body binding curse.

James flicked his wrist and Remus' bed unmade itself. He summoned one of Remus' nightshirts and used a switching charm to exchange his friend's dusty clothes for it.

Lily brushed her oldest friend's forehead with her lips, "I'm so sorry…"

James collapsed heavily on his bed, "For what it's worth I know Remus never meant to hurt him. He's ashamed of what he is. As much as he desires to be with Severus he's afraid. Remus doesn't believe he deserves friends much less love. After all, he thinks he's a monster." He said under a privacy charm when Lily sat beside him.

Lily shook her head, "He's so shy and sweet. I should have guessed he's ill at full moons." She closed her eyes, "I didn't want to know." Her eyes flew open, "Mate…that's what he meant. Severus isn't just his boyfriend. He's his mate. That's why Moony was so eager to get to him." Her eyes narrowed, "How did you stop him?"

James winced, "I broke his legs. I had no choice; Madam Pomfrey will fix him up in the morning. Or I could talk my house elf into taking the Skele-grow from the infirmary and feeding it to him when the moon sets. His bones should reknit quickly. It was a clean break I was careful. I didn't want to but it was his arms or his skull and I worried I'd kill him."

Lily nodded, "I can see why you'd be upset. Tell me how did you know he was going there?"

James pulled out the Marauder's map; it had the outline of the entire known castle. "I made it. Merlin knows it's supposed to be impossible to map an unplottable place. I'm not finished with it yet. So I haven't told Sirius, Peter or Remus yet. I thought Siri was asking odd. I checked the map and Severus was following Remus and Pomfrey. I guessed what would happen. I cast the Full Body Bind curse on Sirius and then found you."

"You're an animagus." Lily accused.

James nodded, "I found out about Remus' condition by accident. I kept it to myself and then I asked him about it. He was so upset he thought I was going to abandon him or tell. I did nether. I read that werewolves were only dangerous to humans so I trained. Finally over the summer I managed it. It was like reading a book and suddenly the ending is clear. Now," he said glaring at Sirius' still body, "I want to know how he found out and why he sent Severus there." He hand clenching and unclenching the wand.

Lily's eyes narrowed, "That's something I'd like to know as well."

James stood, held out an arm, "Well my dear, shall we?"

Lily accepted his arm.

They walked over to Sirius' bed.

James merely released his idiot cousin's mouth from the curse, "Talk! How did you find out about Remus?"

Sirius laughed, "Same as you. Followed him. You started brooding, muttering to yourself. I figured it out. Why would a third year be trying to attempt to be an animagus? I read the books behind you. Who would have thought our shy bookish Remus was a werewolf? I can't believe he went after a Slytherin. If he had to be gay couldn't he want someone who wasn't a dirty snake?"

Lily slapped him, "You almost got him killed. Severus would have let him do it. Do you think if Remus turned Sevy or killed him that he'd forgive you? You're crazy. If James hadn't been able to keep him back Remus would have hated himself for hurting Severus. You don't know the first thing about him! You're a coward; you're lower then a flobberworm Black. Remus was a friend and you betrayed him. Yes he had a secret one that in time he should have shared with Sev. Now he can't. If they don't move past this I'll never forgive you. If you had…" she swallowed, "No. I promised. He's got a rotten home life. I've heard whispers of yours but his is worse. He nearly died over summer. If it weren't for Remus and I he would have. That's why I didn't visit James. I was trying to help Severus recover…"

"He was probably faking it."

Lily slapped him, "You wouldn't have been able to say that if you'd seen him. Now you're going to apologize to them or I swear I'll find a way to make you receive Trolls for the entire year. I'll get you kicked off the House Quidditch Team. I'll find a way to get Bellatrix to torment you just as cruelly as you both have treated Severus." Her eyes narrowed, "I'll tell her you're chasing a Muggle. I'll tell her you hate any wizard who gets close to me. That you've offered to do exactly what her sister did, convince me to run away with you so you break your contract to Narcissa."

James let out a painful exhale, "Lily you can't. She'd kill him."

Lily glared, "And he didn't try to get Remus to kill Severus? Face it James Sirius is just a coward. He's jealous because you and Remus found love with a disgusting Mudblood and a dirty Halfblood." She spat in anger, "He has no idea what true love or friendship is. He'd betray his best friend to get revenge on someone who never hurt him in anyway except his pride. I'm sure anyone who sleeps with him is in it for the sex because he's emotionally as bankrupt as a Muggle third world country. He couldn't love anyone. He and Narcissa deserve each other, she can't have an opinion that isn't spoon-fed to her and he can't feel or understand love or friendship. He's nothing but a backstabbing coward."

James watched as she shut the curtains to Remus' bed and weaved some charms.

"There we'll be alerted when he wakes. He can't leave without my releasing him. I'm going back to my down. You better for Sev's sake make sure Remus comes back in one piece." Lily said as she stalked out.

James resubmitted Sirius to the full body bind curse. "You'll stay that way until the four of us decide how to deal with you. You've angered Lily, the sweetest girl in all of Hogwarts." He locked Sirius in his own bed behind the thick velvet curtains.

XoooooX

Severus woke, he heard vaguely a bell-like sound. He winced, a ward or a charm most likely. He looked around him and saw himself surrounded by red. He groaned, Gryffindor. Merlin help him he was in the Lion's Den. As if his own betrayal wasn't enough he was in the lair of those who'd laughed at him. He must be in Remus' bed, this was not what he pictured when he'd considered the possibility. Remus, his protector, his boyfriend was a werewolf and had kept that a secret from him.

Why? He'd been raised out of the Wizarding World, what he hadn't learned through his mother's forgotten books of magic buried in the dusty basement of Spinner's End, he'd learned later through books from Diagon Alley or the library here at Hogwarts.

Remus thought he was a monster? A monster was someone like his father, who certainly didn't deserve the honour of that title. Severus only didn't stand up to him because he couldn't without magic and he wasn't sure if he did use it if he'd stay out of trouble for one wasn't supposed to use magic on Muggles unless it was something like a memory charm. Remus said he loved him and kept this secret from him? What other secrets might the Gryffindor who claimed to be his boyfriend be keeping from him.

Since when had James become an Animagus and how? They'd not learned about Animagi until this year but he'd been vaguely aware of the stag that spoke with James Potter's voice and stood between them and Remus. Only that thing hadn't been his Remus, James had treated him like a different person entirely. Moony that's who the werewolf was to James. Moony. James called Remus that, Moony had wanted Lily to stop touch him because he, Severus was Moony's. James told Moony that Lily belonged to him and he to Lily that they had no designs on Severus or something like that.

His musing was interrupted by the curtains being drawn.

A familiar auburn girl threw herself at him, "Sev! You're awake. You're not to cocoon. You are going to talk to him about it and then we're going to decide how to punish Sirius without any of us getting it trouble. Remus will be here soon…"

Severus forced himself to speak, "I don't want to see him."

"Yes you do and you'll let him explain why he didn't tell you. He loves you, you git. I'm not going to let you turn your back on him because you think he betrayed you. Do you know how angry he would have been if you'd kept your family life a secret? I know you would, you tried not to let me know, I had to learn to read between the lines."

Severus hadn't to admit that Lily was right, "Fine!"

Lily helped him sit up before turning to James, "You did send your house elf to run that errand did you not?"

James looked peeved, "Of course I did. I'm not cruel. Nita told me he'd fallen asleep and had to put it in his stomach. I don't understand how he did it. House elves' magic is so different."

Severus turned James, "What is she talking about?"

James winced, "Nothing all that important. Everything will be alright. The four of us are going to talk rationally, no accusations."

Lily seemed to glare at James, "I don't approve to this keeping secrets right now and you know it."

James sighed, "I wanted to get you both back the castle as quickly as possible. I had to temporarily render Remus in some manner incapable of following us, or I should say Moony because when Moony is around Remus is not conscious. Moony is always hovering on the edge of Remus during the rest of the month but last night it was all Moony and no Remus. He was all instinct and not capable of higher conscious thought."

Severus leaned menacingly towards him, "What did you do to him?"

James pressed his palms to his eyes, "I kicked at him in my animagus form. It was his front legs or his head. I worried I'd kill him if I kicked him in the head so I chose his legs as the safer target. I heard them break I cast some wards to keep him there but they were to dissipate when the moon set and leave no trace."

Severus deflated, "you broke his legs?"

James waved a hand, "He's been fed Skele-grow and he'll wake up with some soreness. I doubt unless we told him he'd have any idea that technically I broke his arms. I had to get you out of there. If I had known anyone else you might have listened to I wouldn't have brought Lily. Do you have any idea how dangerous and nerve-wracking it was to bring the person I love most in the world into the den of a werewolf about the time of their transformation? That's when they are the most out of control. Their nerves are still oversensitive and their bones ache from being reformed. Had we been able to wait two or three hours he would have been more docile. The stronger the pull of the moon the less human a werewolf is. I've read every book on the subject since I figured it out. Mother always said I was too curious for my own good. I'm always eager to test the boundaries of my magic when I can. Mapping an unplottable place? Or forcing myself to become an animagus. I read that werewolves are only truly dangerous to humans and not animals. Which is why they prefer to send Animagi against rogue werewolves."

Severus was a bit intrigued, "I thought becoming an animagus was supposed to be difficult."

James shrugged, "Transfiguration is easy for me. Just like charms is for Remus and Lily and Potions is for you or Defense for the idiot who spent the night under the body bind curse."

Severus looked at James quizzically.

Lily smirked, "He figured out what Sirius had done and placed him under the full body bind curse. We released only his mouth the cad. He's suffered a sleepless night locked in his mind and body no doubt. Perhaps, he'll think twice before doing something so utterly foolish."

Somehow Severus doubted that Sirius Black was capable of such introspection.

The Dormitory door opened.

Remus stumbled in looking far worse for the wear. Thankfully it was a Saturday so he might take a nap before focusing on his schoolwork.

Severus was torn between fury at his boyfriend keeping such a secret from him and a desire to take care of him as Remus had done for him over the summer.

Remus looked up to see them, his eyes widened in surprise, "Severus? Why are you in my bed and wearing my clothes."

Severus stared at him, "you don't know?" forgetting that James had said that he would have no memory of last night.

Remus blinked, "No, should I?"

James snorted, "No you shouldn't. Come sit. We have much to discuss and a punishment to whet out."

Severus winced at the thought of punishments.

Remus sat beside James most likely because his own bed was crowded with Severus and Lily. "What's wrong?"

James coughed, "The three of us know about your 'furry little problem' that had you escorted to the Whomping Willow last night."

Remus turned paler then Lucius and buried his face in his hand's, "Oh Merlin."

Severus snapped, "How dare you think you could or should keep something like that from me! You know my shameful secret. One I would have sooner died then let any of you know. How could you think I didn't deserve to know?"

Remus groaned, "It wasn't that I didn't think you didn't need to know. I was ashamed. I was afraid you'd all turn away from me if you knew. My parents can't even look at me. They are ashamed of me. They arrange to be out of the house on full moon nights."

Severus wanted to be angry with him, but he somewhat understood. He sometimes thought his mother would have preferred if he'd been born a squib rather than a wizard.

Lily's voice had a sharp edge like a silver knife used in potions, "You should have told him. Neglecting to mention it was cowardly."

Remus flinched.

Lily ignored him, "Now I have no need to spread your secret. I don't see you as a monster; I see it as you have a disease. You can choose to live with it or let it and your fear of it control you. Are you going to let it destroy your relationship with Sev? For if you do I shan't forgive you, you're the best thing to ever happen to him. You know his secret, you saw him at his lowest and you didn't judge him, you didn't hold it against him or think him a coward. You should have told him. Is that why you left that day? To lock yourself up?"

Remus nodded.

Severus turned beat red, damn it Lily had a way with words. Sometimes they were as piercing as arrows.

"Start talking Remus." James said quietly.

Remus sighed, "Mother told me I had to tell you. I was afraid you'd hate me for being a…having a 'furry little problem.'"

Severus huffed, "Like I thought you'll all abandon me for being a coward who let their Muggle father beat and torment his witch wife and wizard son. Slytherin would laugh…."

Lily snorted, "We're not like those snakes, we're lions. We're a great deal more honourable, and we stand by our friends. I don't remember former Head Boy Malfoy or Prefect Black laughing about it either. They seemed furious you didn't believe you could go to them"

"Tell me Sev are you going to break up with Remus over something so trivial? If you do you're not the kind of man I thought you were. Yes Remus made a mistake, but you love him. You can't let a jealous prat break you apart."

Remus stood, moving to take Severus' hand, "I'm sorry. I know I should have told you. Please forgive me."

Severus looked into those amber eyes, "Alright…I forgive you but no more secrets."

Remus rest a hand on Severus' cheek, "I promise. No more secrets."

James clapped his hands to get their attention when they seemed about to kiss, he might agree they belonged together or be grateful his friend was dating Lily's best friend and bringing them closer. Yet he wasn't comfortable with wizards being affectionate in his present, because he was young and immature. He wasn't going to call two wizards or two witches together immoral it just wasn't right for him personally.

Remus' ears twitched as his face hovered over Severus', his lips a hair from his lover's.

Severus shyly pushed him back, "Yes?" he asked turning to James.

"We've got to decide what to do with Sirius."

Remus growled, "What did he do exactly?"

Severus looked extremely uncomfortable, "He said you were keeping secrets. Implied something about Moony so I thought you were seeing someone else. He called last night and others your 'nocturnal wanderings.' He was unspecific as possible yea made me consider unpleasant things."

Remus clenched and unclenched his hands in anger, "He treads so lightly that he's practically silent and attacks you when your back is turned. Nasty backstabbing child."

"He receives little affection at home. He's close to no one except perhaps myself. He distrusts affection because so many of his relations Bond for other reasons; money, political connections and a desire to strengthen the ties between families." James shrugged.

Lily scowled, "It doesn't make what he did right."

"I doubt he thought out the consequences, what might happen to Remus if it was discovered."

Lily yelped, "What do you mean?"

Remus pulled Severus to his chest, "If I'd hurt him he'd either hate me, he's be permanently injured, dead or like me. Despite the fact that Severus entered the den of a werewolf unknowingly, at present I would still be blamed for any injury he suffered. I'd be either killed or imprisoned under the current laws. A strict interpretation of the wand law claims non-humans aren't to possess one. I could be in serious trouble for owning a wand…"

Lily was incensed, "but you're a wizard…you're usually a human wizard. You just have a 'furry little problem'."

Remus sighed, "Not all people see it that way. Most purebloods treat us as if we're a disease rather then a person. We're not worthy of much attention. Muggleborns or those who are raised Muggle are tainted with the preconceptions that we're monsters."

"Which you're clearly not." Lily said pleasantly, "Anymore than James is a useless toe-rag or Severus is a greasy git. Not Sirius is an arrogant self-serving bastard." Her eyes narrowing…

James sighed, "The Black family is complex, his mother is the most narrow-minded of persons. Sometimes I think she's mad, crazy. Uncle Orion has little authority in that family, she's blasted Andromeda off the family tree for running away and Bonding to Ted Tonks. She even blasted Lady Weasley off the tree because she decided that that family was full of bloodtraitors yet she didn't expose Cedrella's elder sister Callidora to the same treatment though Lord Septimus Weasley and Lord Harfang Longbottom were best friends from childhood. Mother knew them both well despite being a little younger then her cousins, her father Cygnus and Lady Cedrella's father Arcturus were brothers "

"Weasley? That's the Head Boy's name, Cador Weasley. Didn't his elder brother Bond to Molly Prewett? She was the prefect who greeted me after Sorting." Lily said surprised.

James nodded, "You'll find most pureblood families are related. The Blacks can join blood to any family; they've got ties to the Longbottoms, the Weasleys, the Crouches, the Potters, the Yaxleys, the Flints, Bulstrodes, Rosiers, Prewetts, Macmillians, and the Burkes. That is just in the last one hundred years or so, mother made me study the history of both their families. Her grandfather was once Headmaster, not a successful one because he disliked students and had no patience. He should have stayed a Wizarding Chess Master."

"That's like the Muggle equivalent of like the Spacers…they can marry as high or as low as they choose." Lily said in awe.

Remus snorted, "Especially if you're considering Ted Tonks to be low. I find Healer Andromeda to be the same as she ever was, except perhaps a bit softened. Ted Tonks was a jovial guy, always laughing."

"So what are we going to do with Sirius?" Severus said sighing.

James' eyes narrowed, "He'll have to learn penance. He betrayed a friend, so at least someone he called a friend. He knew darn well that you deserved to hear the truth from Remus' lips and told you in the most damning way though without specifics."

"We can't turn him in without getting Remus in trouble." Lily said seriously.

"He let down the sacred name of Gryffindor. He proved himself unworthy of being a lion." James grumbled, "Perhaps, we should cold shoulder him just as Slytherin did to Andromeda."

Severus snorted, "Our former Queen broke a contract. She didn't even have the common decency to tell Lucius or her parents to their face. She decamped at gone four in the morning most likely Apparating and waited two days before sending letters of explanation. Andromeda was betrothed to the future Lord Malfoy; they were prefects together first and later Head Boy and Head Girl. They went to Scamander. "

Lily blinked, "Is that like going to Greta Green in Scotland where one can get married with little fuss?"

Severus shrugged, "I guess."

"Scamander, Tasmania is a place the entire polite world- amoung pureblood circles at least knows about. There are some cases where the pre-Bonding customs are too incompatible to negotiate without a long protracted betrothal period so the Heads of the Family turn their heads when the young couple elopes. Sometimes due to pre-anticipating the Bonded state a witch-wizard couple are found to be already expecting the fruit of their union. Thus they quickly decamp to Scamander and then return. It's far easier to bond there legally for one doesn't have to wait for the paperwork to be approved. A bonding can be filed under ministry or Gringotts, most pureblood families do both. Gringotts must be shown a legal receipt of Bonding to acknowledge heirs as legal, or proof of blood adoption in some cases. The Ministry can be slow or fast in approving bonding contracts requests. One does not wish to allow a child to be born a bastard, thus some times one bonds somewhere where the waiting period for bonding contract licenses are shorter. Although one can sometimes request an expedited license." James stood brushing the wrinkles out of red silk sleep trousers.

His friend followed suit.

Lily wrapped her robe tighter around herself.

James spelled open Sirius' curtains and cancelled the body-bind curse but skilfully warded the scarlet velvet curtained four-poster bed so Sirius couldn't leave its confines.

Sirius yawned, stretched and seemed to glance at them in turn. "What?"

Remus growled, "What right do you have to pry into my personal life? Its not your business who I court. What is discussed between Severus and myself is between us. You had not right to send him there."

Sirius scowled, "You're a Slytherin Snivellius. You shouldn't even be seeing a Gryffindor. It's a game to you isn't it? Thinking you can get Remus to like you so you can trample on him?"

Severus was shocked, "What? No. I could never do that. What were you thinking sending me there?"

"I thought you'd figure out what he was. You're Muggle-raised you should hate and fear what he is. You're a stinking snake, you should disapprove letting a diseased person near you." Sirius sneered.

Severus stared at him thinking, Levicorpus.

Sirius was immediately swung up by his left ankle, his nightshirt falling to his shoulders and revealing.

James thought his cousin he thrashed most unseemly, yet he felt no pity for him. His voice what tight, "I've told you how I see Lily, I mean to bond to her when we are of age. She sees Severus like a brother, which makes him nearly my brother. Remus is our friend and he no doubt is thinking along the same lines in regards to Severus as I am with Lily. You are my family; I would stand against your Black relations if you needed it yet you wouldn't support Remus? You've done everything to sabotage our friendship with Lily and Severus. Are you jealous? Are you afraid I'll abandon you? I should only do so if you persist in this reckless, selfish behaviour. You fail to apply yourself to your studies; this is our last year of study before OWLS. You only do your best on the pitch when we fly against Slytherin because you think the more goals you score the less of an impact Regulus' catching the snitch would be. You berate us for having our nose in a book while you rarely study and submit the most ill written essays. You coast, you want to be an Auror and yet you do nothing to strive for marks to make such a career feasible. Family I maybe and I would be loathe to admit in public how much your behaviour pains me."

"I'm not jealous of your Mudblood or Remus' Muggle-raised snake!"

"By Godric's Sword you must be or you wouldn't be so crude to them." James said eyes flashing, "The greatest tenet of all pureblood lines especially ones like the Blacks and the Potters is family. I'm choosing to deal with this betrayal of yours privately. I would hate to air our private scuffles publicly."

Remus moved closer, his left hand resting lightly on Severus' hip. "The question perhaps, shouldn't be how we'll punish him but how he'll make up for his betrayal."

Sirius winced every time they used the word betrayal.

"Ignore him for a few days. If he skips class refuse to give him notes or the homework. Trust me he'll be too ashamed to ask anyone outside our group for fear he'd have to admit he betrayed his Gryffindor honour." Lily said glaring at him

James kissed her cheek, "I'll do my best. With you to keep me in line how could I ever fail?"

Severus though. Librecorpus.

The foolish Lion born to the House of Black landed awkwardly on his bed.

The other four turned their backs on him.

Remus led Severus back to his bed yawning, "Come on. I'd like to rest for a few hours. Will you stay?"

James walked Lily to the door to his dormitory, "Thank you for coming. I'm glad you trusted me."

Lily smirked, "I'll keep you status as an animagus on two conditions. One: you promise to register when you're of age."

James chuckled, "Done."

Lily leaned over to peck his cheek, "Two: You teach Sev and I how to do that. Remus might be able to do it too."

James kissed her hand after bowing over it, "With pleasure darling."

"Then I believe we shall forget this adventure."

What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?
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Ties of Friendship, Bonds of Fate