The Annoying Snape

Family and justice are of utmost importance, and everyone has a different understanding of this.

Sirius, who felt out of place in the family, had little affection for the Black House after witnessing his close relatives being expelled. To him, James was far more important than his family.

When it came to his post-graduation choices, Sirius joined the Order of the Phoenix less for the sake of justice and more for the sake of James.

Justice, or rather, his friendship with James, is what Sirius values most.

Harry and his friends, however, all felt that family was also very important.

In the brief awkward moment, Sirius explained why he had been causing trouble for Slytherin and what kind of person Peter really was.

Harry, meanwhile, was reading the newspaper. He didn't agree with Sirius's words; having always been the one getting into trouble, he found it hard to understand why anyone would provoke others for no reason. Draco, on the other hand, understood Sirius much better.

"Is what Rita Skeeter said about Professor Snape true? That you often cause him trouble? Isn't he my mother's friend?" Harry asked doubtfully after checking the newspaper.

"Me? To be honest, it's more for James."

"Just because he's your mother's friend, and he's Slytherin, and not only that, he's also associated with a bunch of bad guys in Slytherin —they all became Death Eaters later, including Snape, but according to Dumbledore Snape was a spy."

"James fell in love with your mother at first sight, but your mother maintained her friendship with Snape, and their relationship remained unaffected even after Snape's friends played some creepy pranks on your mother's friends."

"So James felt threatened. He liked Lily and didn't want Lily to be with bad guys. So his pranks on Snape became increasingly outrageous." Sirius paused, looking at Harry and Professor McGonagall's puzzled expressions. "Don't look at me like that, Professor. You should understand. Snape wasn't a victim. He also fought back. It took four of us to deal with him. He knew a lot about Dark Magic."

"Oh, so you can't fight back when you're being bullied?" Harry said coldly.

"It seems Lupin still can't control you all," Professor McGonagall sighed.

"Professor, this has nothing to do with Lupin. Back then, we were all arrogant and conceited little fools."

"Harry, we were kids back then. We didn't do that after we turned 15," Sirius said, but seeing Harry's disbelieving look, he couldn't bear to lie to Harry, who had James's face. "Well, it's because Snape and Lily had a falling out, and James felt he needed to maintain a good image—for Lily."

"Before the age of 15, without boasting, James and I were the best in every aspect. Everyone thought we were the best. We just sometimes lacked self-control."

"But Lily didn't care about any of that. She hated us for a little monster who was obsessed with Dark Magic! You know, James could do anything Snape wanted to do—he was very popular, he was good at Quidditch, he was good at almost anything."

"This is the main reason why James often teases Snape and the other students."

"How could she marry him?" Harry said sadly. "She hates him!"

"Didn't I say that James became less arrogant afterward, and even stopped playing pranks on people?" Sirius said.

"Including Professor Snape?" Harry asked incredulously.

"That's all because of Snape himself. He never misses an opportunity to curse James, and James can't just sit idly by."

"And later, whenever James was in front of your mother, he wouldn't even resist. James kept doing this until 7th grade, when Lily finally agreed to go on a date with James."

"We may have all misunderstood Snape. After all, he was Dumbledore's spy, but to be honest, he was a really annoying guy. The conflicts between us and him all started when Snape mocked James for wanting to go to Gryffindor, saying, 'If you'd rather have muscles than brains—'" Sirius said, frowning.

Harry turned to Professor McGonagall.

"Well, James Potter did have a lot fewer disciplinary records James Potter Year 5, like he went from Fred and George to Percy. If you're interested, I can show you his disciplinary record," Professor McGonagall said, Harry finally believed her.

"I'll be going now, Harry. I need to try and get something done." Sirius took a deep breath, his face showing trepidation. "We've talked so much, and I know you don't approve of my past behavior, and I did so many stupid things today. Maybe you don't want to... but I still need to try and get a chance. Of course, if you're willing to continue living with your aunt and uncle, I'll understand. But... um... think about it. If you want... a different home..."

"What—live with you?" Harry said, trembling.

"I understand, then I won't go—" Sirius misunderstood Harry's words as a refusal.

"You're so foolish!"

"I swear on Harry's best friend's name—he's happy!"

"I don't think Mr. Potter meant that," Draco, Ron, and Professor McGonagall said in turn.

"Is it true... Harry?" Sirius squatted down and stared straight at Harry.

"Are you crazy? Has Azkaban gotten you all confused?" Harry said, his voice suddenly hoarse, just like Black Family's. "Of course I'd like to! Do you have a house? When can I move in?"

"I'm going to find Dumbledore!" Sirius suddenly stood up, turned around, and his choked voice revealed tears in his eyes. "You can ask Draco; I inherited the entire Black House fortune, and I'm going to give you a 'princely life'."

Soon after, Sirius disappeared, and the sound of his cheerful footsteps gradually faded until it was completely gone.

At 3 o'clock, on his way to the castle, Harry kept thinking about Sirius's words.

"I finally figured it out! That last line from Sirius Black came from!" Ron suddenly jumped up and, in a high-pitched voice, said in the voice he imagined Rita Skeeter to be, "'In the eyes of everyone in the wizarding world, his childhood should have been like that of a prince.'"

"Come on, Ron, you always have a good memory in weird places!"

"If you put all that effort into your studies, would you still be worrying about your grades and letting that You-Know-Who fool your parents?" Draco scoffed, then mimicked Ron's tone, saying, "Mom and Dad, my Potions and Charmcraft grades are all because of that You-Know-Who! Harry and I are going to stop him from taking the Philosopher's Stone!"