Disclaimer: (Shifty eyes from side to side.) You mean they still need these things? Well let's just put it this way: This you-know-what on you-know-where isn't a you-know-what stolen from you-know-who.

A/N: Do not adjust your browser... this is not a full chapter. Think of it as a preview. A private screening, if you will.

Ahem.
Coming soon:

Sellow-Vitae
Chapter 1: New Moon

September 8th 2007
Reveille Crescent
9:00am
New Moon

Remus Lupin is asleep in his flat. An empty glass on the table is reflecting a soft line of sunlight along his cheek. He is cradled between the arms of his massive reading chair, with his head resting against the tall padded back.

Being a man of organized chaos, Remus has scattered pages of the Daily Prophet along his coffee table in order to sort the biggest stories of the past week. Most of them are the front page of one day or another.

The first picture is of a group of adult witches and wizards in a group photo. The caption reads: "Up and running! The blend of new and old teachers gets ready for the first school semester at Hogwarts in over a year."

Another picture shows an expansive stretch of cobblestone with shops squashed together in the background. ("Memorial Courtyard completed in Diagon Alley")

There were many other front pages: some telling of the death of Voldemort others that declare the new minister or the hunt to gather the roaming dementors… Some were torn sections from wanted ads and job offerings, circled in black ink.

The most recent page added to Remus's collection is currently being used as a make-shift blanket. Remus shifts in his peaceful sleep, pulling the photo of the story across his shoulder. A skeletal, strong featured man wrapped in dark robes glares out of the image. The Headline reads: "Notorious potions Master to teach in the Post-NEWT / Reintegration program."

The antique fireplace, which held burning embers only moments ago, has flared into life. A man's head appears among the flames. His hair is black, gelled into distinct little spikes. His features are smooth and subtle, the only distinguished elements being his sly eyebrows and slightly squared jaw (which aids to sweeten his smile). None of this would be so intricately described, except that some only tolerate him because of his looks. (Remus, of course, not being one of these people.)

Kalai blinks confusedly in the smoke, coughing a little. When he can finally understand what he is seeing, he sighs. He takes a deep breath…

"Remus! Remus!" Kalai calls loudly. "You're supposed to be awake by now. I think I got this thing working so I'm just gonna keep testing it by shouting! Remus! REMUS!"

"Erraghhhh…" Says the voice beneath the newspaper. The image of the potions Master is replaced by Remus's hand as it rubs into dry eyes.

"Hi, sweetheart!" Kalai squeals, a little higher pitched than is humanly reasonable. "Glad to see you're all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed." Remus smirks, bringing his hand away to stare down his friend.

"How would you know if I'm bushy-tailed, Kalai?"

"Experience." He says, winking. "You're a morning person, born and bred… not to mention well trained."

"That makes me sound like an animal…" Remus mutters, which he follows with a wince, realizing that he took the bait.

"You are an animal, honey." Kalai quips in, grinning. Remus spins in his chair, bringing his feet to the floor.

"Do you ever get tired of being so irritating?"

"No. Besides, I know you love me anyway."

"Not that I can help it…" Remus stands, crossing his flat to clear his morning dishes. He turns his head and calls over the clinking of glass: "So congratulations on your first fireplace call! But I assume you did call for a reason?"

"Business… always straight to business. We need to find someone to loosen you up, love. You know, I know this one really sexy-"

"AHEM!" Remus cuts across his friend loudly.

"Okay, okay… I called because I found you a job!"

Remus perks up at this, turning from the sink. "Really? Where?"

"Well," Kalai starts "if you can believe it, I met this woman who works in that street… place…"

"Diagon Alley?"

"That's the one! She's looking for new employees for her apothecary swap store. I told her that I was looking for two open positions and she said she could use the extra help."

"Excellent! Is she going to Owl us with the paperwork?"

Kalai is silent for so long that Remus turns again. The expression on his friend's is exactly the kind you get when you walk up to someone and say: "Five purple banana peels are going to find you."

Remus waves his hand up and down, trying to break the trance.

"Kalai?"

"Remus, what the hell are you on about?" He looks either about to laugh, or question someone's sanity. Remus hits himself in the forehead, shaking his head.

"Do you mean I didn't explain Owls to you?"

"Ah… no. Oh wait, I think I remember… ordinary wizard levels?"

"'Wizarding', actually. But that's not what I meant. The wizarding community uses real owls to send post. You'll get used to it… What was the woman's name?"

"Maggie."

"She didn't give you an address?"

"Oh. Uh… maybe. It was confusing." Remus rolled his eyes. It was fair enough that Kalai was new as a wizard, but that didn't excuse his habit of being professionally helpless.

"You dolt, haven't you been doing your homework? I told you most of the basics are in the package. Not to mention socializing. Weren't you at the Leaky Cauldron last week? How can you have learned next to nothing?"

His voice is light and evasive as he responds: "Well I was at the bar… and I talked to some people… but I got distracted, Poky-"

"KALAI!" Remus shouts.

"What?" He cocks his head innocently. (He knows very well what.)

"What did I tell you about calling me that?"

"But Reeeeeemuuuus! It suits you p-"

"Never mind! What. about. these distractions?"

"Well. There was this guy I was chatting with… but I wasn't really listening to him."

"Why not?"

"I couldn't focus on his voice because he was just so delicious and hot and…"

"Hun, eating people is illegal."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes. Sadly, I do."

"Okay, great! So we're gonna do lunch, right? Then get me into those crash courses?"

Sigh… "Yes."

"Fabulous! See you, Poky."

"Fairy boy."

"Takes one to know one, pet." And with a playful smirk the muggle-born's head disappeared from the hearth.

September 8th 2007
Siita Drive
11:30am
New Moon

His eyes snap open and his gaze darts around frantically. He tries to stop the hyperventilating and remember where he is.
Home. The wizard tells himself. Home.
And on the floor.

His breathing is steadying and he is beginning to feel pain. His shirtsleeves are ripped at the biceps. His own fingernail marks have scraped across his skin.

He slowly sits up… the room spins around him as his hands press down into broken glass.
Steady. Just keep steady and breathe.

He keeps still, trying to let his mind readjust. Slowly his thoughts begin to return to him. He is a wizard. He lives in England. That son of a bitch is dead.

Oh, and eventually, Severus can remember his own name.

A/N: So, think it'd be worth it to see the whole thing?

Ben, repondez-alors! (Then respond.)