Sorry this has taken so long. I've had some personal problems, but things are settling down now so I should, hopefully, be able to get back to my stories.


When Sirius got to Severus' room, he saw that the other boy was kneeling in front of his school trunk, taking out one of his textbooks and writing materials. "Summer homework," he said shortly. "My father is out of the house, meaning I can do my homework without worrying that he will come in and try to burn everything related to magic." It wouldn't be the first time.

Sirius shook his head, going to sit on Severus' bed while watching him rummage for what he needed. "You wouldn't have to worry about that if you came with me," he said, although he didn't think that would convince Severus. "James' parents would be happy that you're doing your homework now instead of waiting until the end of summer." Like he and James did. They usually spent most of the summer goofing around, doing their homework during the last week of vacation and only because it was necessary. They got good marks, they weren't idiots after all, but that didn't mean that they liked doing their homework when there were more interesting things to be doing.

"I am perfectly capable of managing as I am," Severus said, not even looking away from the trunk. Black would leave soon, thankfully. He had sent Potter's owl back with a message that he would need the elder Potter's help apparating, so Severus had given him the name of the nearby park, describing it adequately so that there would be no trouble with either of them locating it.

"Severus, you can't tell me that you don't want to get out of here," Sirius said, leaning back on the bed and folding his arms behind his head. "It's not a trap or a prank. I promise. You can trust me." You couldn't before but you can now, paranoid suspicious git, Sirius thought. There was a lot less venom implied in his thoughts. It was almost like how he thought of James sometimes, and he was his best mate.

"Do I wish to get out of here? Yes, of course I do," Severus said, rolling his eyes and shutting his trunk once he had what he needed out of it. "Do I have a way to get out of here that I trust? No, I do not. Black, Sirius," he corrected. "I have little reason to trust you. Perhaps as little reason as you have to trust me. I do not trust Potter further than I could throw him, and you are similar." Not the same, he did trust the other boy a little after spending time with him without incident, but not enough. Not for something like this. "I have next year, and the year after, and then I never have to return here again. I will, hopefully, be able to get a scholarship to get my Potions Mastery. I have been planning for this for longer than I have known you."

"But what if it doesn't work out?" Sirius asked, sitting up and staring at Severus. "What if you don't get a scholarship?" What if your father pushes you too far and makes you do something you'll regret? What if he goes too far and Severus Snape is dead by the time school starts again? "There are a lot of flaws in your plan Severus."

"And there are flaws in your plan too," Severus sighed, flipping through the book to the appropriate page and beginning to work. "I believe there are fewer flaws in my plan than there are in yours. I know of every eventuality, for the most part, of my plan. Your plan, however, I have no idea if it would work. I have no reason to believe that James Potter would change his opinion of me. Why would I risk being turned on the street?" He didn't trust Potter any more than the other boy trusted him. "When the time comes, you can go meet Potter Sr. and leave me be."

Sirius sighed, but he wasn't sure what else he could say to change Severus' mind. The Slytherin was stubborn, he had always known that, and he was determined to keep to his plan and ignore Sirius'. The Gryffindor wasn't going to give up so easily however. He was just as stubborn as Severus, may even more so, and he wasn't going to let the other boy suffer if he could help, no matter what their past was. Fighting further wasn't a good idea at the moment, however, so Sirius just got out his own summer homework. Might as well get some of it done if he couldn't do anything else.

Instead of concentrating on his Potions essay, however, he was thinking of how he could convince Severus that there was less risk in leaving with Sirius to go to the Potter's than there was in staying there and continuing with his plan. He worked his way through the essay, occasionally tossing advice to Severus on his Transfiguration essay and accepting Severus' help with his Potion's essay. The other boy really was a genius with Potions, he hadn't had much cause to appreciate it before.

Soon enough, both of their essays were done and it was time for Sirius to leave to go to the park. He packed his homework back in his trunk, shrinking it and putting it in his pocket. He had driven his motorcycle around to the alley behind Severus' house earlier, and he shrunk it as well. Everything was packed away and Severus actually shook his hand when he was ready to leave, giving him directions to the park once more before closing the door behind him.

Sirius walked to the park, hands in the pockets of his muggle jeans. He saw James' dad sitting on one of the benches, mostly out of sight. Sirius looked at the elder Auror, an idea coming to mind as he approached him. "Hey Mr. Potter. Before we go, I have something to ask you…"