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When Remus awoke after the full moon, the first thing he noticed was the smell of blood followed by the sound of quiet stuttered breathing. After a moment where he realized that wasn't what he normally woke up to, he jolted upright and he looked wildly around before his eyes landed on a bed several over from his. The privacy curtain wasn't pulled all the way closed - most likely forgotten by Madam Pomfrey - and his heart stopped as he saw the person in the bed. There was a giant bandage across the chest, claw scratches on the neck and one long scratch on the side of the face. As he looked at the face, he realized it was Snape.
Horror filled him, his worst nightmare was staring right back at him. He knew he was the one to do it, he just didn't know how - unless the whomping willow hadn't actually protected anyone from himself.
He felt a hand on his shoulder gently shaking him and he focused on the hand and then on the person connected to it. It was James and he finally noticed that Sirius was also there but looking away from him.
"What - what happened?" he croaked.
James handed him a cup of water, which he drank numbly.
James ran his hand through his hair, face more serious than Remus had ever seen, and with a cold voice ordered, "Sirius, answer him."
That was a voice that James had never used before and it made him look at Sirius, who was now turned toward him but wasn't looking at him in the eyes. Remus suddenly didn't want him to open his mouth because he just knew that if he did, his heart, his soul, would shatter. But he didn't stop him, he couldn't. He had to know how he hurt someone with the multiple protections on the Shack and the calming presence of the other animagus.
"I - I told Snape how to enter the tunnel," Sirius said quickly. ""He was getting too curious and he deserved a good scare."
"You, what?" Remus said barely above a whisper, his heart shattering at the betrayal.
Sirius continued on, "I didn't think it through and now he knows what you are. Please forgive me, I didn't mean to spill your secret."
Usually, Remus didn't have a lot of strength after a full moon but the rage growing in him fueled him. With werewolf reflexes that neither James or Sirius could match, he shoved Sirius against the wall, a hand wrapping around his neck, and a snarl emitting from his mouth that was showing his teeth.
"You think that's what I'd be upset over?" he growled. "You attempted to murder or turn a student by using me! Do you even understand what you have done?!"
For a moment, there was only harsh breathing between them and then Sirius hoarsely said, "I'm sorry I used you like that. Forgive me, please, Moony."
Remus barked out a humorless laugh, "This isn't only about me, Sirius. This is about Snape. You attempted to harm him through me, which could have resulted in his death or him turning.
He took a moment to study Sirius, there was remorse but it wasn't directed at what he had done to Snape but at him. The hand around Sirius' neck tightened until he was gasping.
"Remus, enough!" shouted James.
Remus shoved Sirius against the wall and released his hold on his neck. He turned away from them and said coldly, "Get out, Black."
He heard James help Black up and move toward the door. Once the infirmary door closed, Remus made his way over to Snape who was still out. He saw the wounds up close, they would stay as scars and it broke something in him even more. He tried to blink back the tears beginning to blur his eyes but a few slipped down his face.
"I'm so sorry, Severus. What I've done is unforgivable. No one deserves this," he said, voice cracking. After a moment, he closed Snape's privacy curtain all the way and returned to his bed where he stared numbly at the ceiling, tears spilling in full down his cheeks silently.
On the other side of the infirmary, Severus allowed himself to open his eyes.