Chapter 2: Pair-up

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3rd of November

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"Potter and Lupin, Black and Black…" Slughorn paused and patted his stomach. "Who remains?"

Severus raised his hand, wishing he could just hex the man into the next week so he wouldn't have to deal with him now. He, in his sixteen, was a better brewer than Slughorn in his Merlin-knows-how-many years. He honestly abhorred this class. He had to suffer the man's presence for hours, and learnt nothing, because he refused to pay attention to the gossip the moron spouted.

"Ah, Snape and Lily!" Of course. He would have to be paired with Evans.

Knowing that it was because they were the best two in this class helped only a little. Slughorn doted on the girl so much it made the entire Slytherin sick. She was nothing special – not nearly as talented as Severus himself – but for some reason she was the star of Slughorn's club of molluscan.

"Who is missing?"

"Pettigrew, sir," Lupin answered from the back of the room.

"Food poisoning. Ate too much for breakfast," supplied a quiet voice just behind him. Someone sniggered. Severus waited for Evans to get over to his desk.

"Lily, what are you doing still alone? Hurry up, Severus."

He suppressed a growl, and heard the pair behind him snigger again, as he stood up.

"Sir!" Narcissa called from the Gryffindor side of the room.

"Yes, Miss Black?"

"Sir, I think I'm going to be sick…" She was holding a lace handkerchief in front of her nose, and trying to stay as far from her cousin as possible, while sitting at the same desk.

"Don't make that face, dear. It will stick," Evans said calmly. Severus almost smiled – just in time he remembered to smirk – because Narcissa went pale, then red, then pale again, scowled at the Gryffindor (which had no effect at all – Evans maintained her earnest expression), then pouted and ran from the room.

Severus shook his head. Who would have thought some Gryffindors had a sense of humour.

x

"Neither of us," Potter whispered with a scowl. Severus continued grinding bat skulls and pretending that he didn't listen.

"Why?" Lupin asked. "I mean, I know it's dangerous, but you didn't mind before."

"You mean Sirius didn't tell you?"

"What was he supposed to tell me?" The steady rhythm of Potter's knife hitting the desk ceded. Severus decided that perhaps there was an up side to having to move and join Evans in the back of the classroom.

"I can't believe you didn't know…" Now Potter sounded angry. This was going to be good. More blackmail. "Dumbledore knows."

"How?"

"Because Sirius is a cretin."

"That's a bit harsh-"

Evans tapped Severus's shoulder and gestured to the cauldron. He had almost missed the time to add the skulls… He nodded at her, wondering why she didn't seem angry at him. He lifted his eyebrow and she shrugged.

"Happens…" she mumbled, and turned her attention to the next ingredient.

"…not here." Potter finished.

They were silent until the class let out, Potter leaving Lupin to take a sample and deliver it to Slughorn. Severus decided that he had behaved gentlemanly enough in moving over to Evans, and she would manage to bottle their potion on her own. He took his things and followed the pair, cheered up by the look of Slughorn when he examined Black's concoction.

Potter and Lupin took a few turns before either of them spoke.

"Sirius told Snape how to get into the passage under Whomping Willow and lead him there on full moon."

Something crashed.

"You're pulling my leg," Lupin sounded thunderstruck and scared.

"No. I wish I was. What did he tell you was the reason I don't talk to him?"

"He said you had had an argument but… oh Merlin… what… how…"

"Calm down, Remus. The Ministry won't find out. Dumbledore knows, and that's why we can't join you anymore. But Snape promised not to tell."

"That's why you and Sirius leave him alone…"

"That's why Sirius leaves him alone. Look, I… I don't think I could continue doing that anyway. I… Since Mum and Dad died I… just can't, you know."

"James…"

"No. It's alright. I'll be alright. You'll be alright. They won't kill you. I promise."

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5th of November

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"Today we start on your end of term project. You'll have a few weeks, so no stress." Severus continued reading the Aconite and Antidotes, charmed to look like Advanced Potion Making from the outside. "I want pairs. As a special treat, you decide them yourselves. Switch – I'll be right back."

Severus didn't bother to look up – there was an odd number of them in this class. He was quite capable of working alone.

"B-but!" Black yelled, and this time the commotion was interesting enough to observe. Black was standing alone with his hand stretched out to the trinity consisting of Potter, Pettigrew and Lupin.

"You need the grade more than I," Potter said glumly and let Pettigrew switch with him. Evans, who had been previously looking at little Prewett, froze in mid-movement and watched the boy survey the room, sigh, and aim to the front. To Severus.

He blanched. This was not happening. There was no way Potter would decide to rather work with him than Black. No.

"No."

Potter just looked at him and set his cauldron on the table.

"No," Severus repeated. "Go back to Black."

Potter shook his head.

"I don't want to brew a dangerous potion with an irresponsible child who lacks regard for human lives." The statement was delivered quietly, but most of the class was watching the proceedings with avid interest, and all the heads turned to Black, who heavily sank down into his chair and hid his face in his hands. There was not a trace of symathy in Potter's expression.

"I don't want to die," he concluded and was about to sit down, when Evans caught his shoulder.

"You can work with me. Alice will manage, and she's a dear. She'll let Black copy her paper."

Potter gave her a brilliant smile that dissolved his former appearance of a wet chicken.

"Thanks…" He looked back over his shoulder. "Sorry, I bothered you, Snape-"

It sounded genuine, and Severus went as far as to nod his head in acceptance. Then Slughorn entered, took in the class, and grinned inanely.

"Wonderful! Since there's one odd, you three can work together."

Severus let his head hit the desk.