Three more days before the bedroom door was unlocked, and Severus was spat out of this hell and into a new one. Three more days before he retured to Hogwarts, where he could at least escape to the library when he needed space. Here, he only had his own room, which had become a personal prison. His father had taken to locking him in there quite often, espacially when he left the house to do something more "worthwhile," or to just run off to the pub with his friends and spend all of the grocery money on anything threre, becoming more and more lienient with his money as the alcohol loosened his wallet.

For now, Severus would survive. He knew how to pick the lock and could leave the room any time he'd like too. It would be much nicer to be able to pull out his wand and open the door with the flick of a wrist, but at sixteen he was just underage, and did not much like the idea of the minestry banging on his door to get on his case about it. He sighed and let himeslf fall back on his bed-- or rather a cheap matress on the floor (his faher had either sold off or burned his bedframe, Snape hadn't bothered to ask which). His mind drifted to his last day at work, after Sirius had kissed him... The look that Remus had on his face, what was it? It wasn°Øt a strong emotion, perhaps a mix of a mild anger, hurt, and discomfort. Honestly, he had looked a bit like a hurt puppy when he walked out of there, but why? Sirius and Remus were friends, and he had never stood up to what Sirius did before, but perhaps...

Snape°Øs mind was instantly cleared of all relevant thought when he heard a loud THUNK from downstairs. He was startled, but not too horribly, if it was burglars, they weren't going to find anything valuble, Severus clutched his wand anyways, and used a screwdriver to unlock his door. Walking quietly down the stairs was a trick, almost all of them creaked, but he managed alright. Holding his breath, Severus turned the corner and peered into the kitchen. Standing there, leaning against the counter and staring into space, was Remus Lupin.

Oh god, what was her doing here? Why was he standing in the Snape's kitchen right now, drumming his fingers on the counter, and only seeming to notice Severus for a second... How did he even find out where he lived?

°∞Uh..°± Snape tried to speak, but he wasnt sure what to ask, °∞Er.. Why are you here?°±

°∞To apologize,°± Remus reliped quietly, calmly. He had an oddly confident voice for somebody so meek, °∞For me and Sirius. Don't worry, I'm not here to do anything stupid.°±

°∞Define 'stupid',°± Severus growled

°∞Pretty much anything Sirius would do," Remus replied, a sheepish half-smile spreading on his face.

Snape almost laughed, but something stopped him.

Why wasn't Remus following at the feet of his friends?

Remus cleared his throat and continued, "Well, Sirius is my best mate, but I know he can get a bit... Out of hand sometimes. I'm sorry he got you fired, or at least I assume you got fired, from the way that guy was looking at you.°±

Snape scoffed, "Well thanks, Lupin, but I'm sure that's not going to change the fact that those morons hate me for exsisting.°±

°∞Remind yourself that those 'morons' are my friends.°±

°∞And why are they your friends? You seem like a decent enough guy, why are you running around with scum like them?°± Snape growled.

°∞That's a rather bold statement coming from a Death Eater wannabe.°± Remus said, without a hint of anger or emotion in his serne and steady voice.

The kitched was quiet for a second, and suddenly a loud beeping noise broke the silence. That marvelous grin returned to Remus' face.

°∞Yeah, sorry,°± Remus said, reaching behind him and opening Snape's microwave. Inside was a small plate piled high with corn chips annd cheese. Nachoes? Did he seriously walk into Snape's house and make himself nachoes?

Remus pulled a chip off, the cheese clinging to it, and popped it into his mouth, speaking to Severus as he chewed, "want some?"

Severus raised and eyebrow and took one of them, then motioned to the next room, "Er.. Would you like to sit down?"