Harry had braced himself to see Snape provoke James first, the way Malfoy always did with him. Then they would trade barbs until they ended up pointing wands at each other.
But what happened before him was nothing like he had imagined.
Snape seemed not to hear James call out. He kept walking across the grass.
As Snape crossed the lawn, Sirius and James stood up and drew their wands.
"All right, Snivellus?" James called, his voice full of mockery and contempt. Worse, the instant he finished speaking, he swung his wand and attacked without warning.
Harry froze, stunned.
Dumbledore had once told him that James and Snape had been bitter enemies for years, much like Harry and Malfoy. They had hated each other and found fault with everything the other did.
Harry had always pictured their relationship through the lens of his own with Malfoy. He had assumed that gloomy, solitary Snape must have been the one who started each fight.
But this memory shattered that belief. From the beginning, the one who had sought trouble and struck first with his wand had been Harry's father, James.
Snape reacted quickly, but his wand had barely risen before a sharp Disarming Charm struck it. It flew from his hand and landed on the grass nearby.
Snape lunged to recover his only weapon, but Sirius's next spell came at once: Impedimenta!
An invisible force slammed into Snape and sent him sprawling onto the muddy lawn.
Passing Hogwarts students stopped to watch, forming a ring around them. No one stepped forward to stop the blatant bullying.
James and Sirius strolled up to Snape where he lay. The cruel taunts they tossed at him were harsher than Harry had ever imagined.
James sneered. "How did the exam go, Snivellus?"
"I was watching him.