Author's Note: This is my take on the Whomping Willow Prank and the aftermath. Enjoy!

Falling Star

Chapter 1 – Chain Reaction

Named after the brightest star in the sky, Sirius Black, heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, was always destined for greatness. But even the brightest of stars may one day fall.

Falling from grace should have not been in the boy's cards, but destiny had other plans. This would be the year. The year of secrets betrayed. The year of lines crossed. The year family loyalty would be defined, once and for all.

Fifteen-year-old Sirius entered Hogwarts expecting a year like any other. There was the usual pressure from his family as heir to excel. Over the summer his parents reminded Sirius daily what a disappointment he was. In turn, in true rebellious fashion, Sirius had spent the summer flouting his differences from the Black family legacy – his favorite act had been covering the walls in his room with Gryffindor colors and Muggle posters. Sirius was pretty sure his parents were happy to be rid of him until next summer.

The O.W.L.s they were to take later that year to not faze Sirius either. He was naturally clever enough to receive above average marks, and if he decided to apply himself, he could actually surpass the Black's exceedingly high expectations for their eldest son.

The Black family might have held Sirius in disdain, but at Hogwarts Sirius was popular and well-liked. Sirius, and his best friend, James Potter were considered the height of cool by their peers. It would be an understatement to say James and Sirius let popularity get to their heads. Neither boy had grown up in an environment that cultivated modesty – James an indulged only child and Sirius brought up to believe the Blacks were practically royalty, so it was not unexpected that they got carried away. There was not a student in the school that did not know who they were, and the they included Sirius's two other good mates, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Remus was appointed prefect over the sumer, which had caused a lot of chatter among the students. No one envied the position he was in. How would he juggle between being a prefect and close friends with two biggest trouble makers in the school? Only time would tell.

Despite their popularity, the boys mainly hung out among themselves, keeping membership to their inner circle highly exclusive. The need for such exclusivity centered on Remus's secret; he was a werewolf. After witnessing how painful Remus's transformations were, the boys came up with a plan to join their friend as Animagi in their second year. Two weeks into their fifth year– three years after they'd first decided on the endeavor- Sirius, James, and Peter successfully transformed into animals at will. High on their success, they'd fashioned nicknames for each other. Sirius who turned into a dog was nicknamed Padfoot; James as a stag was called Prongs, and Peter, Wormtail, as he transformed into a rat. Lastly Remus was referred to Moony. They also began referring to their group as 'The Marauders'.

The first few months of fifth year passed very quickly. The boys attended classes, pulled pranks, and explored the Hogwarts grounds as animals on full moon nights with a werewolf in tow. There were high and low points for them all, and through it all they had each other – no longer just friends, but brothers. They threw a party in the common rom after James scored the winning goal in Gryffindors' first Quidditch match, listened quietly as Sirius ranted and raved after an altercation with younger brother, Regulus, and tutored Peter for hours so that he wouldn't fail Transfiguration.

On the surface Sirius's life at Hogwarts was perfect. And most of the time Sirius could fully immerse himself in that role – carefree, brash, the center of attention. He could ignore his family problems. He could forget about loyalty and destiny. Pretending was sometimes easier than facing the problem head on. Every so often though it crept into his mind, and he'd become moody and distant. Only his friends witnessed this and only James knew how to deal with him when this happened.

As December approached it was getting more and more difficult to pretend. How could he continue to ignore family responsibility? He was the heir and once he turned sixteen his parents would begin expecting he step into his role fully. How could he ignore the fact that Voldemort was after his support? Voldemort had not spoken to him personally, but used Lucius Malfoy and Sirius's cousin, Bellatrix to extend the offer. Three times Sirius had told them to leave him alone (never quite saying no, but certainly not giving any indication he would fold any time soon). It was Bellatrix who had not so subtly threatened James's life. It was Malfoy who owled him articles about the price blood traitors paid for denying Voldemort what he sought. Still despite his protests, Sirius was pursued. As a Gryffindor and a friend to blood-traitors, his allegiance was too good to pass up.

Sirius spent nights tossing and turning trying to think of the best way to deal with this all. The different paths he could take would go round and round in his head until Sirius felt like he would scream. He needed an outlet and found getting into trouble the best one. He'd be disruptive in class or forget to complete a homework assignment. He'd hex a student in the hallway or pull a prank. There was a thrill in it that never failed to make him feel better. The chance of getting caught made him feel alive (and even if he did get caught it did not diminish the feeling of the moment); it helped him forget.

By December the teachers were so exasperated with the amount of detentions he'd accumulated, they'd begun assigning him three detentions for an infraction that only warranted one. More than half the time, James was right there with him. The only time James would not join in on the mischief was the two week time period before a Quidditch game. James had been warned by the current Quidditch Captain that if he missed practice that close to the game because of a detention, he'd be benched – star player or not.

The event that started it all occurred on a Wednesday, ten days before Christmas break. It was early evening; the Great Hall was almost empty with just a spattering of students. The ceiling reflected the clear, crisp sky outside, stars twinkling. Most of the plates and silverware had been cleared with a few half-empty dessert platters scattered about.

Sirius, James, and Peter were some of the few students that were left. Remus was in the Hospital Wing. He'd been feeling ill all day as consequence of a full moon that very night.

"Don't you have to meet Professor Keenan?" Peter asked.

"Oh – right," Sirius stated glancing at the time. His black hair fell into his eyes with casual elegance; just a bit longer in length than his mother approved. James raised his eyebrows; he'd been unaware of this recent development.

"Why'd he want to speak to you anyway?" Peter said, taking a large gulp of pumpkin juice.

"Who knows? I cause enough general trouble so it really could be anything." Sirius jumped to his feet. He didn't appear concerned about that fact. Peter was frowning perhaps wishing he could be so cavalier about this sort of thing. "See you later."

Sirius was a bit down the hall from the Great Hall entrance when he heard James calling. "Hey! Padfoot! Wait up!"

"Yes?"

"Look – just try not to get detention tonight-" James ran a hand through his messy dark hair. He could never get it lie flat. He was the same height as Sirius, brown eyes instead of blue-grey.

"Me? Get detention?" Sirius asked mockingly. "I perish the thought."

"I'm not joking. Maybe you've been right about Keenan springing to discipline you faster than other students – but don't forget what tonight is – if we want to join-" James stopped mid-sentence noticing a change in his best friend.

Severus Snape had followed James out of the Great Hall unnoticed. Sirius bristled as Snape crossed their path. The bad blood between them had started the first time they met on the Hogwarts Express and had escalated through the years. This year Snape had made a habit of following the group around hoping to uncover one of their secrets.

Sirius and James shared a worried glance. How much had Snape overheard? At least they had stopped speaking candidly before they said something that they did not want Snape to overhear. Still the way Snape sneered at them, nagged Sirius especially, as if he knew something more. Sirius convinced himself it was only Snape trying to ruffle their feathers.

"Got a problem, Snivellus?" James called out.

"Just walking by. I didn't realize that was a crime," Snape answered nastily.

"Maybe you wouldn't be so bloody interested in our lives if you actually had friends to speak of," Sirius said.

Three Hufflepufff fourth year girls leaving the Great Hall heard Sirius's comment and tittered. Snape was rather unpopular.

Snape turned a deep red. "At least Evans can stand my company. Last I heard, Potter, she rejected your invitation to Hogsmeade."

James curled his first. He looked ready to launch a spell at Snape. Sirius put a hand on James's shoulder. "Remember, Prongs. Tonight," Sirius mumbled under his breath.

Snape smirked. Sirius could see Snape felt he'd won the round; hitting James as hard as possible with the comment about Lily Evans. James had grown smitten for the vivacious redhead this year, but she didn't seem particularly taken with his romantic interest. It was certainly a sore spot for James.

"Problem here?" an authoritative voice asked. Finn, Headboy from Ravenclaw had been strolling by.

Sirius rolled his eyes. This wasn't the first time this year they'd had a run-in with the Headboy. The power had gotten a bit to his head, and Finn was known to throw students in detention without any real cause. James, aware of this as well, launched into an answer that would minimize the chance of that happening this evening.

Sirius didn't bother to listen; instead glared after Snape who had taken the moment to skulk away. Whatever James had said seemed to do the trick. The Headboy told them to stop loitering in the hallway and went on his way.

James returned back into the Great Hall, and Sirius continued on to Keenan's office alone. Only now did he take a few moments to ponder what Professor Keenan wanted. He'd clashed with Professor Keenan since the first week of classes. After losing points for rudely answering a question that first day and then ending up with detention in the next class for misusing magic (ie cursing Snape when Keenan's back had been turned only to be snitched on by a Slytherin prefect who had seen him), Professor Keenan had kept a close eye on Sirius.

Professor Keenan was a young teacher, around twenty-three years of age. Tall, dark, and good-looking; many of the girls had crushes and he'd become a favorite teacher of many in his first few months of teaching. Sirius couldn't understand Keenan's popularity. His mates thought he was paranoid, but Sirius was convinced Keenan had a particular interest in him. None of his friends ever found themselves in conversation with Keenan about family and responsibility. At first Sirius suspected his teacher knew his family and was keeping tabs on Sirius for them. After uncovering Keenan was Muggleborn, he had put the thought to rest. His parents might associate with a Half-blood to reign in their son, but not a Mudblood.

Sirius headed up the stairs towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He turned the corner and the figure down the corridor caused him to come to a full stop. A haughty looking women in a long winter cloak lined with fur, stood where he was headed. Her stance was familiar and there was no hiding her anger and impatience.

"Sirius!"

The voice caused all the hairs on his arm to rise. "M-m-mother?" Sirius approached her cautiously.

"Your teacher demanded to speak with me and doesn't even have the courtesy to be on time!"

Sirius gaped at her. A teacher had called his mother here?

"Mrs. Black," a cordial voice said from behind Sirius, "terribly sorry to keep you waiting. Ran into two students hexing each other." Professor Keenan paused. "I sometimes feel like I discipline more than I teach, and I believe Sirius knows something about that."

The unease that started at the sight of his mother only increased, and he almost considered running.

"Let's speak in my office, shall we?" Professor Keenan opened the door. Sirius could feel his mother's angry eyes upon him. As Sirius walked past him, Professor Keenan gave him a smile and a pat on the shoulder that did not reassure him in the least.

"Please sit."

"I'd rather not," his mother stated sharply. "I don't see why this couldn't be handled over letters."

"Mrs. Black, I would hope you care enough about your son's well-being to give me a few moments of your time." Keenan gestured to the seats again.

Sirius's mother stared Keenan down and then perched herself on the seat, her back as stiff as a rod. Sirius noticed Keenan's office was tidier than usual. The papers on his desk were all neatly stacked in piles. The bookshelves were more organized.

"I am fully committed to my son's future," Mrs. Black said darkly with no trace of motherly affection in her tone.

Professor Keenan did not speak immediately, but considered the mother and son in front of him for a moment. "I am concerned about Sirius. As I stated in the letter, Sirius has a lot of potential. He's clever and bright. He's top of his year in my class."

"He's hardly exceeding his father and my expectations with his marks," Mrs. Black countered coldly. She was hardly going to praise Sirius in front of Keenan for an acceptable grade performance.

"There's always room for improvement," Professor Keenan answered lightly.

"If this isn't about his grades then why am I here?"

"It's about his uncontrollable behavior. He's constantly acting out." Keenan looked suddenly at him and Sirius shrunk back in his seat. "In the past month he's been in detention more nights than not."

"I am aware. I receive the letters of his transgressions." Sirius sat frozen in his seat not sure if interrupting would help or make things worse. "Discipline is what he needs."

"In my experience such behavior is rarely without cause. Rather than discipline I believe the better course of action is to get to the root of his actions. It is no secret that Sirius has chosen a different path than expected of him, and his actions have caused a strain on your relationship."

Sirius heart was now racing and he could feel his face heating up in embarrassment.

"How dare you!" Mrs. Black was becoming enraged and the color of her face mirrored her son's, though for a different reason.

"Mrs. Black, please, I am trying to help. If you'd just listen."

"So he's fed you some sob story about his sorting, has he? Sirius is a spoiled, ungrateful brat. Brought up in a life of privilege, and he's out of my sight for less than twenty-four hours, and he chooses Gryffindor, breaking generations of tradition in spite." Mrs. Black's stared straight at Sirius. "We both know you'd have done well in Slytherin."

"Mrs. Black, this is exactly what I was speaking about," Keenan interrupted. "It's time to let that go. Sirius's sorting happened, years ago-"

"Perhaps I could have let that go, but it hardly stopped there. Gryffindor was the perfect fuel for his rebellion. Every holiday break after that there was more arguing and more backtalk. I hardly recognized my own son! Detention after detention for hexing students, clogging the toilets, flooding the Great Hall – and always with that Potter! I tried to discipline him while he was in my possession, but then he was whisked straight back into the environment that started it all. That sort of behavior would have never been tolerated in Slytherin. It would have long been taken care of." Mrs. Black's eyes swept Keenan's office contemptuously. Her eyes found the picture of Keenan and his brother; the picture was not moving. "You're a Muggleborn, aren't you?"

"I am," Keenan answered cautiously.

Mrs. Black turned to Sirius and her gaze was so intense it was as if an icy shower had just doused him. "A mudblood, Sirius? Was that the plan? Find a sympathetic ear in a mudblood that can hardly understand matters of blood and family?"

"No! I never –" Sirius managed, but his mother had already dismissed him. She had resumed her fierce gaze on Keenan.

"I ask you do not use such language in my office," Keenan stated forcefully. "I do not need centuries of magical blood in my veins to understand family expectations and the fallout for those who do not meet them."

"And you have overstepped." Mrs. Black stood; a tall and imposing figure. "The audacity you have shown – demanding I come here, then lecturing and judging my decisions about something you know so little." Mrs. Black then smiled grimly, glancing down at Sirius, still frozen to his seat. "And yet you are still at a loss of how to control, Sirius, are you not?"

Professor Keenan got to his feet as well. "Mrs. Black, I meant no-"

"Bring back the old punishments."

"Sorry?" Keenan asked cautiously.

"Whips and chains. A night hanging from his ankles will do him good! That's how discipline used to work at Hogwarts before the Muggle-lover Dumbledore took over. Students feared repercussions. None of these soft consequences – lines and scrubbing floors. I give you permission to use any of these methods." Mrs. Black started toward the door, and then turned back. "Be sure he's returned with no permanent damage; he may still be of use to the family."

The door behind Mrs. Black clicked closed. A deafening silence engulfed the room as Professor and student regarded each other warily.

"Mr. Black, perhaps-"

A rush of emotion engulfed Sirius and he shouted, "Are you mad?"

Keenan was trying to reassure him, but Sirius was hardly listening. He felt his breath coming in and out more quickly. His mother was livid, and he knew she'd not let this go.

Sirius's desperation grew and he threw his arms up in the air. "Are you mental? Calling my mother in! You've only made things worse!"

"Please, Sirius-"

The use of his first name by his teacher only aggravated him more. Sirius felt shaken and the office was becoming more cramped as the seconds ticked on by. "You've made things worse! Do you understand?!"

"I only wanted-"

"Let it alone!" Sirius yelled and he could no longer stand to even look at his Professor. He was out the door. He could hear Keenan still calling for him having reverted back to using his last name.

Sirius tore through the hallways. Who did Keenan think he was? And why was his mother suddenly on about whips and chains? Corporal punishment was rare in the Black household. Punishments were generally long, harsh lectures, lines, recitation or revoking of precious few privileges Sirius and Regulus received. Sirius was controlled during the summer by having limited freedom. He was given very little chance to rebel.

If Sirius had been able to think clearly, he might have grasped his mother's motivation. She was trying to shock Professor Keenan to the point he would not bother the Black's again and rattle Sirius enough that he would be sure to think twice before acting out. Mrs. Black's school of thought had always been that a child should fear their parents. This fear would then turn into respect. She was too proud to admit that this form of parenting had not worked on Sirius as well as it had other children.

The farther he walked the emptier the halls got. He stopped. His breathing was erratic and he leaned his forehead on the cool stone wall and banged his fist in frustration. He'd pay for this. His mother would find a way through his brother or even if she had to wait until he came home in the summer. His mother did not forget things easily. Talking to an outsider about any family issue was one rule you did not break and Keenan had made it appear as if they spoke about it weekly.

"Are you crying?"

Sirius whipped around and his mood darkened as Snivellus stepped out of the shadows. He was shaken, but he'd hardly starting crying. His state was still not one he'd want a friend let alone an enemy see him in.

"The big bad Black crying in the hallway! Wait until everyone hears this!"

"Leave me alone, Snape." Sirius was not looking for an altercation. Running into Snape twice in under an hour was not something he wanted to deal with.

"If you prefer I could go bother Lupin."

Sirius looked at Snape oddly. He wanted to leave. He just wished to be left alone. If only Snape had let him go; if only Snape had not uttered the next words; how different things would have been.

"He was out sick again. Full moon just like last time. Do you know where I could go find him?"

Sirius's mind flashed to a conversation they'd had with Snape last month around the full moon. Funny thing for a wizard to be sick so often. Sirius and James had brushed aside the words; not really concerned that Snape was anywhere close to finding out Remus's secret. "You have no idea what you are talking about."

"Don't I?" Snape's eyes flashed dangerously. "I know what Remus is! I know where he goes!"

"He's ill, Snivellus. Everyone knows that. He's in the Hospital Wing; there's no conspiracy." Sirius was surprised on how calm he sounded, but his mind was racing. Snape was just guessing – grabbing at straws to form loose connections – right? Sirius was ready to walk way. He was turning away, one step and then another when -

"I was betting on the Whomping Willow tree myself."

Sirius stopped dead in his tracks. His mind was rolling. Snape couldn't possibly know of any connection between Remus and the Whomping Willow. There was no way he would have been able to make such a conclusion.

A funny feeling erupted in Sirius's stomach. Was it possible Snape overhead them talking about the full moon? They were usually careful, but sometimes, despite Remus's protests, they spoke in code in front of other students, laughing later in their dorm at the odd looks they received. They never thought anyone would be clever enough to figure it out. Snape was not only clever enough, but he had the motivation.

"You don't know what you are talking about," Sirius repeated as off handedly as he possibly could. He could tell he had failed miserably by the way Snape's smirk grew.

"Oh I think I do. If you think anyone in the school still believes Lupin is visiting his sick mother, than you really are as stupid as you act."

Sirius clenched his fists. He needed to walk away. He couldn't let Snape get to him; not now and not about this. "Get out of my face, Snivellus!"

"I have a theory about Lupin myself– but he's only a small fish. Now my theory about Potter and you –"

"You are delusional. James and I don't disappear each month with Remus – what possible theory could you have about us?"

"Right like Potter and you weren't just talking about meeting Lupin earlier outside the Great Hall?" Snape paused dramatically. Sirius grabbed his wand pointing it right at his enemy. Snape laughed. "Thought so. I happen to know Potter and you sneak out of the castle each month to join Lupin. No one else knows that! I bet whatever illegal activities you lot are up to would get you expelled faster than you can blink."

"Who is going to listen to anything a greasy git like you says!" Sirius stepped forward his wand still trained on Snape.

"I'll find out what you are up to. I found out about Lupin; didn't I? It is only a matter of time. One slip up…one misstep…if not this month, then next one…every full moon so it seems…" Snape stepped toward Sirius – toward the wand.

"Why don't I make finding you proof easier?" Sirius asked. The words were out of his mouth before their meaning registered his brain.

For the first time during their conversation, Snape looked uncertain.

"If you aren't too much of a coward to follow through with my instructions – that is." Snape's eyes narrowed. "Tonight – wait until the moon's out – that is essential – there's a large knot on the Whomping Willow tree."

"And?"

Sirius lowered his wand, though he did not pocket it. "Use a long enough stick to prod the knot. This will freeze the tree. You can figure it out from there."

Snape snorted. "Right, the last thing I'm going to do is poke a tree that doesn't like to be poked. Thanks, but no thanks."

Sirius shrugged, finally feeling an upper hand in the conversation. "Good idea. Too dangerous for someone with such limited magical ability."

Snape's eyes flashed and Sirius grinned at his adversary. With one last meaningful look Sirius walked down the hallway feeling a bit better. Snape was a highly suspicious person, so there was a good chance he wouldn't take the bait. Snape might have an arsenal of dark magic up his sleeve, but he also had fears. If he did chose to walk down that tunnel, the howling and darkness, growling and dampness would surely turn him around before he ever reached Remus. The fear would be humiliating to Snape, and that might just be enough to get Snape off their backs for good.