The door flew open, as Sirius and Remus lay in each others arms, beneath the covers of Sirius' bed.
"What...?" Sirius began, cutting off as he saw Severus stood in the doorway, disgust etched across his face. Flushing, Remus sat up, pulling the covers with him.
"I assume this isn't purely a social call, Severus?" Remus asked, trying to sound casual as he broke the tense silence, in which Sirius and Severus were glaring at each other.
"You assume correctly. Has Potter attempted to contact you in any way?" Severus asked, getting straight to the point.
Sirius frowned, "Harry? No. Why, what's happened? What have you done Snivel-"
"He believes you to be in the Department of Mysteries, currently being tortured by the Dark Lord, for the prophecy. Although he doesn't know what it is you are being tortured for..." Severus explained.
"Watch out Rem," Sirius said, pushing the covers aside, "I'm going to get the mirror. You know the one James and I used in detention," Sirius said to Remus, who nodded in reply.
"It's too late for that," Severus said, ignoring Sirius' lack of clothes.
"He's gone to the Ministry?" Remus said with a sigh, reaching for his own clothes. Sirius too, upon hearing this, began pulling on his clothes.
"Kreacher," Sirius called. With a crack, the elf appeared.
Seeing Severus, the elf began, "Mistress would be happy. More Dark Slytherins in the Noble House of Black." Severus looked merely disgusted at being addressed by this, but was saved from commenting by Sirius.
"Has Harry sent a message here? In any way at all?" He asked, fastening his trousers.
"The Potter boy's head appeared in fire. Kreacher saw him. Kreacher didn't think he should disturb Master Sirius, with the Potter boy's news."
Sirius' face grew angrier, he reached out to the elf, but was stopped, as Remus lay a restraining hand on him.
"Don't," he said quietly. Without a word, Sirius looked up at Severus, "I thought all the fires were blocked off, by the Umbridge woman?" He pointed out, before looking for his shirt as he waited for Severus' reply.
"It appears, using your dear friend's old cloak, that Potter sneaked into the headmistress' office, to use her fire, in his desperate attempt to locate his," Severus sneered, "Godfather."
His anger getting the better of him, Sirius shouted; "Where's my God forsaken shirt?"
With a pointed look at the floor beside the door, Severus gave a small nod. Without a word of thanks, Sirius walked over and picked off his shirt from the floor, turning the sleeves outward in a hurry.
Remus rose, fully dressed, "Have you alerted the Order, Severus?" Remus asked, heading for the door.
Severus nodded, awaiting the door to be opened, "And Albus, too. Although he did suggest you remain behind, Black, to make it less likely for Potter to be hurt or something," he finished, a now expectant look across his once blank, face.
"It's my fault he's there, I'm not leaving him," Sirius said, pushing the door further than it should have been able to go, marching out. Remus followed, as did Severus, avoiding looking at the elf as it stood there watching the three of them.
"Sirius I really do think..." Remus began carefully, but Sirius shook his head.
"I have to go," he said, sounding pained, but as he looked up at Remus, another emotion lit his paled face, "And if you think I'm letting you go alone, too, you can think again," he said, with a small meaningful smile.
Behind Sirius, in Remus' view, Severus opened his mouth slightly, as though to say something, but instead, with a tiny nod, he turned on the spot and disapparated. Looking back at Sirius, Remus smiled slightly.
"It'll be fine, there may not be many Death Eaters there yet, anyway," Remus said, trying to cheer up Sirius, but also give him a reason to stay behind.
"I know what you're trying to do, Rem," he said as they made their way to the door, "But it won't work."
Giving in, Remus nodded, "Fine, but you had better be there to prove me wrong, at the end then."
Sirius chuckled, "I may not have your extra senses, my furry little friend, but I can hex very well," he finished, smirking.
Instead of giving Sirius a response, Remus put another restraining arm on Sirius' hand as he went to open the door.
"Rem, we have to-"
"I know," he whispered, pressing his lips to Sirius' once more.
After less than a minute, they broke apart, "Let's go," Sirius said, keeping hold of Remus' hand as they turned on the spot.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry demanded, clutching the prophecy in his hand tightly, as the group emerged before them.
A high, almost cackled laugh came from behind the blonde Death Eater, as a woman slowly stepped forward, "He knows how to play. Itty bitty, baby Potter."
"Bellatrix LeStrange," Neville said, sounding slightly surprised.
"Neville Longbottom, is it? How are mum and dad?" She asked with a sneer.
"Better, now they're about to be avenged," he said raising his wand. Simultaneously, Harry and Lucius stepped forward, in the way.
"Let's all...keep...very...calm," Lucius said, not taking his eyes from the prophecy.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry asked again. Lucius rolled his eyes.
"You know, you ought to tell, by now, the difference between dreams and reality," he said.
Harry then, realised he had been played. Harry shrugged, "So, what's this?" he asked, motioning to the prophecy, "And why did Voldemort need to get me to come and get it?"
At this, the unhinged looking witch gasped, shouting, "You filthy half blood. You dare speak his name!"
Lucius, as the obvious leader, raised his hands, keeping them calm again, "That's not right, he's just a curious little boy, aren't you?"
Satisfied that they had calmed down, Lucius lowered his hands, turning back to Harry, "The prophecy can only be claimed by those of which they are made."
Idly, Harry wondered why Voldemort hadn't come and claimed it himself.
"Now," Lucius went on, "Just hand it to me," he held out his hand, "And you can just go," he finished, motioning with his finger for Harry to come forward. If he hadn't been concentrating on the prophecy so much, he may have noticed Harry's whispered command.
"...Three. NOW!" Harry shouted, as the DA members cast spells before running.
"Ready to go?" Mad-Eye clarified, to which they all nodded.
"Sirius, I thought you were to remain behind?" Kingsley asked as the gathering broke apart, after discussing strategy.
"It's impossible to keep him away from places he shouldn't be," Severus added, with a smirk.
"Snivellus..." Sirius began, reaching for his wand. Remus shook his head, it took just one word, to make Sirius forget about Severus, and disapparate.
"Harry." Was all Remus said.
Now, just Tonks, Remus and Severus remained, "Well..." Severus began awkwardly.
"We'll be back. Come on Nymph...Tonks," Remus corrected himself, avoiding looking at the younger woman before him.
"Aren't you coming, Snape?" She asked, after tutting at Remus.
"It wouldn't be...prudent," Severus replied without looking at her. "Goodbye," he added with a nod to Remus, and left.
"Let's go," Tonks said excited, before disapparating. Taking a deep breath, Remus followed.