"I still don't know why I have to suffer the presence of the man who tried to feed me to a Dementor!" Sirius snapped.
Snape bristled and took a step forward, hands clenching into fists at his side. "You tried to feed me to a werewolf!"
"You tried to feed yourself to a werewolf!" Sirius retorted.
"The werewolf in question would like to point out that he prefers a nice steak." Remus inserted, subtly placing himself beside Harry protectively.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle.
Snape glared at him. "I suppose you think that's funny, Potter?"
"Everyone except you thinks it's funny including the phoenix!" Sirius said, and he was right; Fawkes was amused. Sirius put a protective hand on Harry's shoulder.
"I don't have to stand here and be insulted by you!" Snape snarled, his wand appearing in his hand.
Sirius moved in a blink and his wand was out and pointed at Snape. "Bring it on, Snape. We might as well duel now and get it over with because I don't see you having the self-control to actually treat Harry with decency and civility and I won't stand for you bullying him!"
"You and your little group bullied me for years and you know it!" Snape sneered.
"I don't deny it." Sirius said, taking the wind out of Snape's sails in a major way if the blank look of shock on Snape's face was anything to go by. "Oh yes, Snape. I've been honest with Harry about the mistakes I've made and I've admitted to him that I'm not proud of how we behaved with you. But when we bullied you, Snape, we were all the same age and perhaps it wasn't fair, four on one, but it was a damn sight fairer than a grown man picking on a child who can't even remember the man you hate him for looking like!"
Snape glowered angrily. "I have a role to play, something you would know nothing about."
"Don't try to justify your atrocious behaviour as a teacher because you're a spy!" Sirius snapped. "And I know exactly what it means to play a role with Death Eaters! I was undercover for almost six months with a pack of them on the continent. So don't give me that!"
"Gentlemen!" Dumbledore said loudly, finally rising from his chair to intervene. "Sirius, please; we are all on the same side."
"I'm not too sure about that." Sirius growled, anger turning his grey eyes stormy.
"Severus has my complete trust…" Dumbledore began.
"And no-one else's." But Sirius lowered his wand and Snape put his away with a haughty sniff.
Remus gave a small sigh and Harry looked at him surprised, realising how tense Remus had been about the confrontation.
Sirius gave Snape a glare. "I'm only going to say this once, Professor Snape; I hear of one incident that involves you being less than professional in regards to Harry and I will ruin you. Don't think you can hide behind Albus's robes; not even he will be able to protect you."
Snape's nostrils flared in anger. "You think just because you're Lord Black now you can get away with threatening me?"
"It's not a threat, Professor," Sirius smiled humourlessly, "it's a promise. That, and the fact that I'll be assuming my place on the Board of Governors and will be keeping a close watch on the teaching standards here at Hogwarts."
Snape gave an incoherent snarl of fury and stormed out of the room, his robes billowing behind him.
"I had so hoped a private meeting would have given you an opportunity to put aside your differences and agree to work together." Dumbledore remonstrated.
"Firstly, if that was your intent, you should have forewarned me of a meeting and it certainly didn't look like Snape got the memo on your agenda," Sirius snapped, "and secondly, I'll put aside my differences when he apologises to Harry for being a complete bastard and…" he stopped himself abruptly, "and other things." He held up a hand when Dumbledore went to speak. "Keep your pet spy on a leash or I will do exactly what I promised, Headmaster."
"Well, I never," Phineas Nigellus said from his portrait, "speaking to the Headmaster in such a disrespectful tone and…"
"Your Lord Black commands you to silence!" Sirius turned around and snapped at the portrait which immediately shut up, bound by the Black family magic to follow the order.
Harry shifted uncertainly by Sirius's side, knowing that something in the confrontation with Snape had upset Sirius hugely as had Dumbledore's defence of the Potions Professor. He placed a hand on Sirius's arm comfortingly. "Headmaster, is Professor Babbling waiting in her office for me?"
"The Runes classroom, Harry." Dumbledore smiled at him, evidently appreciative of Harry's attempt to change the subject.
"We'd best be making a move then." Sirius agreed, taking Harry's cue and running with it.
"I'll stay and go over the details of when everyone else is arriving with Albus." Remus promised with a fond smile for Harry. "Good luck!"
All in all Harry was relieved that Snape was down at the other end of the table from Sirius. He appreciated Sirius sticking up for him but he truly didn't think it was going to make any difference to Snape's behaviour. But it felt good to know there was someone who would stand up for him. If he'd told his aunt or uncle about Snape's behaviour they would have just told him he deserved it.
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