the_debt_of_time

"Your father didn't set much store by rules, either," Snape went on, pressing his
advantage. "Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. His head was so
swollen―"
"SHUT UP!"
"What did you just say to me, Potter?"
"I told you to shut up about my dad!" Harry yelled. "I know the truth, all right? He
saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for my dad!"
Remus winced and covered his face.
"And did the headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my
life?" Snape asked. "Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for precious Potter's
delicate ears? I would hate for you to run away with a false idea of your father, Potter. Have
you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you. Your saintly
father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have resulted in my
death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about
what he did. He was saving his own skin as much as mine. Had their joke succeeded, he
would have been expelled from Hogwarts."
Remus closed his eyes remembering that awful night when Sirius tricked the
Slytherin into sneaking beneath the Whomping Willow on a full moon. It had only
been partially a joke, but Remus had known that a small part of Sirius had wanted Snape
hurt. Snape had threatened Mia, which was something that Sirius would not tolerate. Like
her overprotective nature when it came to the pair of them; in their eyes, she was always
the line people were never to cross.
"Turn out your pockets, Potter! Turn out your pockets, or we go straight to the
headmaster! Pull them out, Potter! And this... What might it be?"
"Spare bit of parchment."
Remus raised a brow and listened closely.
"Reveal your secret! Read it!"
"Mr Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape," Harry read aloud.
Remus's eyes widened at his adolescent nickname being said aloud—something that
he had not heard from another living soul in years. He grinned at the thought, imagining
the look on James's face if he knew that somehow his own son had acquired the map that
they had created and left regretfully in Filch's office after Peter had lost it.