Of course he wanted to say something from the beginning, but he waited, watching the boys in class. Draco Malfoy the irreverent, smirking ringleader and Harry standing with him. Not a bodyguard as the other two seemed to be, but a silent, unsmiling shadow. It might have been cowardly of him; but after all, he hadn't known the situation at all, and he and Severus are only barely on speaking terms.
Severus delivers the wolfsbane potion like clockwork, and Remus doesn't know if he's always like this now, or if he thinks that a minute one way or the other will make a difference. He never stays to watch him drink it.
"Will you wait, Severus? I'd like to speak with you."
Snape's scowl deepens. "We have nothing to discuss, Lupin."
"Not about us." Remus focuses his attention on the goblet, though he doubts that that will make the interview any easier. "Harry."
"If Potter's conduct has been unacceptable - and that would not surprise me in the least - you are welcome to take appropriate disciplinary measures."
The werewolf drinks, not bothering to hide his grimace. "It's not that. It's... Draco Malfoy, Severus. How did that happen?" He looks up. "Does he even know about the Malfoys - is he alright?" Severus Snape is as likely to be sympathetic to Remus Lupin's worries about James Potter's son as Voldemort is to be the next Defense Against Dark Arts professor, but he can't help asking. It makes him a little sick, to think of Harry following the son of a prominent and dubiously-reformed Death Eater.
"Potter," Snape spat out the name like poison, "is the worst troublemaker to come though Slytherin in my tenure at Hogwarts. He has no respect for authority, rules, or sense - the very image of his father..."
Lupin misses the last of Severus's rant as he finishes off the potion. "But you agree they ought to be separated?"
"Yes. In theory."
That's the longest string of civil words Snape has addressed to him since their fifth year, Remus notes. He holds out hope that it will be followed by Severus taking a seat and discussing Harry Potter in reasonable tones. "And in practice, Severus?"
He sneers again, instead. "In practice, Lupin, it can't be done. If you want to waste your time, I give you leave to try it."
Interfering in students' relationships is not often done. Interfering in someone else's House is an even stickier business, and Severus as much as said he hadn't been able to do it. If Harry hadn't been James's son, Remus would be glad to leave it there. But Harry is, and Remus wants to help, and to know how he ever ended up in Slytherin, at the side of Draco Malfoy.
"I thank you, Severus." Remus smiles a little, feeling particularly fatalistic as he looks at the smoking chalice again. "It never hurts to try."