Title: Bending the Rules

Chapter: 'Wizards Duel'

Author: East Side

Warnings: RL/SS (Slash)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything at all from Harry Potter...I'm not that creative!

Bending the Rules

Stumbling down the dark and dreary street in the muggle world was a man dressed in black robes that were quite the sight to those unfortunates who happened to pass him by. Seeing the man grasping the cool brick wall for support as he hobbled along, some muggles felt so inclined as to ask the man if he needed any assistance. They were immediately ignored and forgotten as the man, Severus Snape; a professor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to be exact, went on his way.

Professor Snape leaned against a lamp post, feeling as if he had just taken a vile of Drought of Living Death. His battle with one of Voldemorts followers and his second, had drained him to no end.

He hobbled over towards the Leaky Cauldron, paying no attention whatsoever to the curious looks the muggles were giving him. Upon entering the famous tavern, Severus did a double take. There, seated alone at one of the long wooden tables (with a butterbeer of all things in his hand) was one of his childhood enemies.

The werewolf, Remus Lupin.

Eyeing the potions master, Remus stood and walked over to him. Severus attempted to stand straighter and removed the hand which had been clutching his side, not wanting him to think he was weak.

"Severus! What happened to you!" Remus inquired, placing a concerned hand upon his shoulder. Snape winced from the contact, but recovered and hissed;

"I do not need help from the likes of you, Lycanthrope."

Remus would have laughed except for the urgency of the situation. 'Just like old times.' He thought, thinking back to their days together at Hogwarts. He flashed a smile up at Severus's face, which held its usual scowl.

"I see you're still your usual charming self." Remus said.

"Come, Severus." He said, gesturing towards the fireplace. "I've a bit of floo powder on me. We'll get to Platform Nine and Three Quarters though here. The first years will be leaving later this morning, so we can take the train with them to Hogwarts."

Severus kept refusing to go with Remus until he noticed that he was making a scene.

"Dammit, Severus. It's either this or the Night Bus. Or is it you're afraid I'll bite?" Remus asked, smirking despite his efforts not to.

Snape glared at Lupin and stalked over to the fireplace, ignoring the amused tavern guests. Remus smiled at Severus' back. He knew that of he accused the potions master of being afraid, weather it was something as simple as trying one Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans or something as serious as a wizards duel, he would accept the challenge.

Snape turned and said softly;

"Are you coming or not?"

Remus grasped a small, but efficient, amount of floo power and stood beside Severus. Placing one hand on Snapes back, he said clearly;

"Platform Nine and Three Quarters."

After a dizzying moment they arrived standing beside the steam engine train. It was almost daybreak, but the first years wouldn't arrive for hours, much to Severus' relief.

Snape lumbered up the stairs and towards the last compartment. Remus, after making sure he was alright, went to find the driver to inform him they were on the train. He ended up borrowing his owl to send a letter to Albus Dumbledore about Snapes condition. He went back into the compartment where he found that Severus had fallen asleep leaning against the window.

Taking a seat beside him, Remus used what bit of medi-magic he had learned to heal Professor Snapes wounds.

Knowing full well that when Severus woke up he was going to hex Remus into next week, the werewolf still reached over and undid the clasp of his cloak. (Which was a hard thing for him to do because the damn thing was made out of silver.) After he was certain that Snape was not in any danger of dying from the wounds, he covered him up, using the cloak as a blanket.

Then he leaned back and watched over Severus as he slept.

TBC...

A/N: Please review and tell me what you would like to see in the future chapters!