The Shrieking Shack || The Marauders (Book 1)

SIRIUS

"Why aren't you going home for Christmas?" James askes Sirius as they made their way out of the portrait hole. Not wanting to lie, Sirius shrugged and changed the topic.

"Did you see Remus at all this morning?"

"Nah," said Peter. "I bet he's in the Library again."

But they found Remus waiting for them at the Gryffindor table for breakfast in the Great Hall. He looked quite anxious.

"Hey," he said nervously as they all sat down on the table around him.

"Morning," said James and started loading his plate with eggs and beacons.

"Is it true Black?" Came a sneering voice from behind Sirius and he saw James's face, who was sitting in front of him, contract with dislike before he turned around to find Severus Snape smirking down at him.

"I heard you are staying here for Christmas," he continued, "and I thought Lucius was kidding me. Your mother seriously disowned you, didn't she?"

"Why don't you stick that large ugly nose of yours somewhere else, Snivellus. And wash your hair while you're at it. You see, our breakfast already has enough oil," Sirius said calmly.

His smirk vanished for a moment and then returned just as fast as it had disappeared. "Pity, isn't it? Ickle Sirius, spending his Christmas alone, all by himself." His voice was dipped in false sympathy and he tutted shaking his head.

Sirius felt the heat rising in his face as he swung his wrist at Snape who jumped back looking thoroughly scared. Heads all around the Hall turned toward them as Peter caught Sirius around the waist, pulling him back and Sirius fought his hold. He had had enough. He was going to teach Snape a lesson today. He wanted to launch himself at him and then- and then-

His anger subsided and he calmed down enough to notice that the entire hall had gone silent but as he turned around and sat back on his seat everyone resumed their breakfast and the usual chatter around the Hall continued.

However, Snape hadn't had enough for as soon as Sirius sat down he broke into a guffaw. "Scared, Black?"

Sirius turned around to watch the grin on Snape's face turn into a sneer as James stood up furiously.

"You're a brave little prat, aren't you?" James said fiercely, drawing his wand. "Confronting us in the middle of the Great Hall."

"Oh I could take you anywhere-anytime Potter," Snape spat.

"Uh- guys, seriously we should-" Remus began but Sirius stood up snorting.

"Was that a challenge, Snivellus?" he said, still smirking as Snape's dark eyes narrowed at the pair of them.

"How about tonight then, Black?" Snape said in a silky whisper, "or do you need time to prepare?"

"See you at midnight above the Astronomy Tower then," Sirius said, is hands closing around his wand in his pocket.

"That is if you don't get too cold-feet and actually turn up." James added lowering his wand a little. Then as if on a whim he said- "I'll be his second. Who's yours?"

Snape's dark black gaze seized them up and down and his lips curled into an evil smile. "I highly doubt I'll need one."

"What's going on?" said Professor Mcgonagall who had just entered the Great Hall and was making her way to the Gryffindor table.

"Mr. Potter," she said as she reached them, "put that wand away, and Mr. Snape," she turned to him curtly, "I believe the Slytherin table's at the other end of the Hall."