AN: I AM SO SORRY! I really meant to update sooner but absolutely nothing has been going my way lately so real life has taken all my energy. To make matters worse this chapter is way to short, but now I'm writing again and I wanted to post something to show you that THIS IS NOT ABANDONED nor will it ever be. I have most of it planned out already I just need the time and energy to write. I've felt bad for everyone I know is waiting for more of this so please accept my apologies, especially for the extremely short chapter.

Your reviews is what keep me going.

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When Remus woke the next morning his body felt like it had been mauled by a steamroller. Every breath hurt and the light filtering in through his curtains made his head scream in agony. For a few seconds he thought about calling Poppy but dismissed it. She would want to know what had happened, and at the moment owing up to getting beaten by Snape wasn't on Remus list of things he wanted to do. He was not going to give the man the pleasure of knowing how much pain he had caused, and Poppy would definitely rip into Snape about it.

If he could just get the migraine to subside Remus figured he would be able to go about with his day, unfortunately that meant that he had to get to the bathroom. Just sitting up made his head throb in protest but Remus gritted his teeth together. Using slow, careful movements to not jostle his head unnecessarily he stood up and began walking, every step sprouting pain up through his body that reached full bloom in his head.

During the minute it took for the pain reliever to work it's magic Remus stood with his forehead pressed against the sweet coolness of the bathroom wall. He felt disappointed when he thoughts about the events that had transpired the previous night, even if he wasn't overly surprised. He had just been trying to help for Merlin's sake, and how had the git thanked him?

.oOo.

Ten to eight Severus closed his door behind him and set off towards the Great Hall for breakfast. An ice cold shower had shocked him back into the real world and he now had a part to play. Ill-tempered and vicious came as naturally to him as breathing these days, but it wouldn't cut it this morning. It was after all supposed to be a joyful day due to the great enlargement of the dark forces. Today he should be pleased by the Death Eaters supremacy for the Slytherin students to see, yet half-heartedly masking it with disdain for them to think he was hiding his real feelings.

It would be a fine balance to make it work properly, seeming to convince both sides that he was with them. While the Death Eater minions needed to be able see both layers of deception the deepest one had to be extremely subtle, otherwise Dumbledore's trust in him might be questioned. He had to make it obvious that he was a Death Eater who was pretending to be a member of the Order. Never ever was it supposed to be the other way around, not even when only order members were in attendance, the light side was a far better enemy to have.

Adjusting his body language Severus let a light spring into his step as he stalked down the corridor. His usual frown was in place but he left some of the minor muscles in his face relaxed to give it a slightly softer look. It was lucky that in general the Slytherins were the observant ones, and as such would pick up on the changes, while the Gryffindor population were easily kept in the dark.

As per usual Severus swept through the large room without a glance to the sides, not letting on that he was paying close attention to the gathered crowd. It was what people would call a nice day, clouds thin as silk softening the sunlight streaming from the enchanted ceiling. Difficult conditions indeed since it would make facial features stand out clearly, every line highlighted with treacherous shadows. But Severus was after all a master, not only of potions but also of deceptions, and he could pull his act off in any conditions. His life depended on it.

Just as Severus took a third bite of his scrambled eggs Lupin walked into the hall. Covertly studying him Severus found his colleague looking distinctly uncomfortable, maybe even vary, when he realised the only free seats were the two directly to the left of Snape. Severus was actually quite surprised the werewolf didn't have Pomfrey tailing him, ready to make a scene about beating up colleagues. Maybe she was held up by something and would come after him later.

However, the absence of matron was quickly explained in a clear and devastating way. The slight stiffing when Lupin's back hit the chair was all Severus needed to know that the man's injuries had been left unattended. Most likely the pain had been dulled down by a regular pain potion but any jarring of his injuries should still cause pain, at least if the werewolf didn't stock any of the stronger stuff. It seemed weird that Remus would leave it like that, but maybe he didn't want to own up to the defeat.

Regardless the reasoning behind Lupin's choice it seemed inconsequential at the moment, what was important was that he was in pain. Severus had done this to him and he felt like screaming at himself for it, or do like Malfoy's house elf and run headfirst into a wall. Or, maybe most of all, he wanted to return to his room where he stocked plenty of bruising salve that would heal the injuries in a matter of seconds.

Internally shaking his head Severus waved away the last thoughts, pretending they had never flown past his mind. Lupin had just got what he was asking for! It had served him right and if he choose to live with the pain that was as it should be.

Lupin was a filthy Gryffindor scumbag, as he had proved time and time again. He was also a werewolf which made him a threat to everyone's safety. Whatever kind of harebrained plan he had going on it was a sure way to disaster and Severus would have no part in it.

Meticulously placing his knife and fork at four o'clock on the plate Severus rose from his chair, the action causing Lupin to whip his head around and look at him. The smile that graced Severus' lips as their eyes met was nothing short of sinister and to his great joy Lupin diverted his eyes.

"Pleasant morning, isn't it Lupin?" The sweetness in Severus voice was so false it was oozing aspartame.

.oOo.

Snape had swept out of the Great Hall well before Remus had managed to come up with an answer. For the first time in his life Remus had finally managed to see the truth for what it was. Snape was a Death Eater. The intimidating persona was more than a show, Snape could - and would - hurt anyone not following his rules. Which team, if any, the spy was playing for didn't matter when it came to personal matters, and this had become way to personal.

It took nearly a week for Remus' wariness around his colleague to subside and for their hateful repartee to start again. A lesser man might have said that Remus was scared during that week but he refused to see it like that, he was not fearing Snivellus. But still, a few days of wariness around the man only seemed sound considering their history.

For weeks they used every chance they got to rip into each other, Remus being as bad as Severus which was unusual. In the end Dumbledore had tried to ask Remus what had happened, why they were so angry with each other all of a sudden, but Remus had curtly informed his boss that nothing of value had transpired and that he wouldn't stop until Snivellus did. The disappointment in the headmaster's eyes would have made Remus feel incredibly guilty if he wasn't so busy being furious with Snape.

Yet during all that time a small voice in the back of Remus' mind whispered that maybe his colleague had just been lashing out, trying to push Remus away before he got to close. Snape wasn't the kind of person who accepted help, nor wanted it if Remus knew anything about him. The world as Snape knew it wouldn't contain such a thing as helping and caring if there weren't an ulterior motive.

However that tiny voice of reason was drenched by the anger that was screaming at him in a voice not unlike those of James and Sirius. Snivellus had hurt him! He had tricked him into starting to care and then used it as an excuse to harm him.

As it were they managed to hold the feud going for almost two months with never decreasing energy. Snape was still providing the Wolvesbane, via house elf delivery, and although being worried at first Remus soon found it free from tampering. Apparently his reputation in his field of mastery mattered more to the potions teacher than injuring his childhood enemy.

It was just over two weeks before Christmas and nine days before the full moon that everything went pear shaped. Remus was taking a Thursday evening meandering through the busy streets of muggle London in pursuit of a Christmas gift. He had already bought most of the few gifts he wished (or felt obligated) to give but he still had to find something for Harry. On a whim he had felt that he wanted something muggle, something that the boy would be allowed to keep during summer, and having lived for several years in the real world Remus had no qualms about dealing with their crowded shops.

Maybe he should have been more careful, but in the throng of unconcerned gift shoppers, under a black sky that showered down light curtains of snowflakes, it was almost impossible to think of war.

.oOo.

TBC

PS: Next chapter will be longer, I promise.