a/n: I know well enough that everyone is busy with their noses in the final installment... I finished the book the same day I bought it and figured I had no excuses left to leave this story neglected. Please enjoy.

---

Sirius and Remus celebrated the success of the day in the den with a large bowl of chocolate ice cream. Remus had idly curled and uncurled his fingers nonstop for the first hour. Now, it was as though nothing had happened at all.

"I wonder what Severus is doing?" Remus whistled, licking ice cream off of the back of his spoon.

"Who cares?" Sirius blurted. He looked abashed as Remus glared, "I imagine he does whatever he usually does when he's alone. Reading and brooding."

The lycanthrope sighed heavily and took a large bite of ice cream. "Probably."

Tonks and Kingsley had popped in on Order business and stayed for some badly made stir-fry a la Sirius Black. It had been edible and both visitors were nearly starving. They ate the slop quickly enough to negate all the awful things they said about Sirius' cooking.

Earlier in the day, during Remus' trial, Tonks had been nervously worried in the kitchen the whole time. Sirius had secretly hoped she would come upstairs and try to comfort his friend, to prove to Remus that he was wanted, but the woman was too flighty. In the end, the pixie faced woman had only blushed and stuttered a hello when Remus came downstairs.

Now, the two of them were alone enjoying their ice cream and the silence of the evening. Only the crackling of the fire of the den and the tap of their spoons broke it.

Remus' ears perked at a faint strain of music. He cocked his head and paused, spoon hanging haphazardly from his lips. "Sirius, do you hear something?"

The animagus shook his head, "Nope."

Shrugging, Remus returned to his dessert. After a few minutes he found himself humming lightly to a vaguely familiar tune. It got so stuck into his head that he could swear he heard the music.

"What is that?" Sirius paused, spoon dropping to the bottom of his empty bowl.

"Hmm?" Remus stopped humming and the sound of music grew a bit sharper. It still was not very loud, but it was certainly distinguishable in the silence. "Do you have a phonograph Sirius?"

"A what?" The animagus stood sticking his head into the hallway. His eyes were wide, "It's coming from upstairs," he pointed with his bowl.

"Really?" Remus was immensely curious. He set his bowl on the floor and followed Sirius into the hall. The other wizard had been right, the music was a bit louder here and seemed to be coming down the stairwell. "You don't supposed Severus brought a phonograph with him?"

"Something muggle? Snape?" Sirius made a rude noise with his mouth and rolled his eyes.

"It's a thought," Remus mumbled, a little grumpy.

The music skipped, soured, and then stopped altogether. The two Gryffindors looked at each other and climbed the stairs as quietly as they could.

Severus' door was shut, a light shining under the door crack. Sirius and Remus stood facing each other in the dim light of the hall. They made fervent hand gestures at each other, trying to communicate like two wayward students trying not to get caught after hours.

"Bend damn you," Snape swore from the inside. His shadow moved underneath the door and both Remus and Sirius startled. The man mumbled to himself for another moment before the music began again, sketchy and stuttering. It stopped abruptly, "Dammit!"

"What's going on in there?" Remus whispered. Sirius shrugged and edged his way closer to the door.

The animagus touched the doorknob, curling his fingers carefully around it when Remus slapped him smartly on the shoulder. 'Ow!' He mouthed with a glare.

"What are you doing?" Remus hissed.

"Taking a look," Sirius grinned, turning the knob in his hand.

Before Remus could snag a hold of him, Sirius pushed the door open an inch and put a finger to his lips to keep Remus silent. The werewolf scowled, crossing his arms over his chest as though trying to prove he was the bigger man. It only took Sirius looking surprised to make the wolf press his face over Sirius' shoulder to see.

Severus was back to them, a violin and bow held in his right hand. He was carefully flexing his left. The fingers were stiff and jerky. From the distance, they could just see a small crimson spot in the palm of his bandages where his wound was pulling open.

They watched in wonder as Snape put the violin under his chin and curled his unwilling fingers around the neck. After a rather painful looking moment when he forced his fingers to the strings with his right hand, he set the bow to the strings and played a slow chord.

There was a slight pause as Severus hissed in pain as he adjusted his fingers, and then he played another. Though they were short and sometimes abrupt, the notes he played and the melody were beautiful.

Remus smiled softly to himself and settled his chin on Sirius' shoulder. "Wow," he breathed.

Sirius nodded, daring to push the door open another couple of inches. The hinges squealed and both eavesdroppers stiffened as the bow fell nerveless from Snape's fingers.

The darker wizard spun harshly on his heel. He hugged the violin to his chest as he turned, his face filling with color and ebony eyes wide in near panic. After a shaky moment, Severus blinked and he lowered the instrument to the bed behind him. "What do you want?" He growled.

"We heard you playing," Remus spoke carefully, his eyes searching for something on Severus' face. The potions master looked different when he realized he was being spied on... as though he were caught at something vile.

"What's the matter, Snape, you look like you've taken one of your own potions?" Sirius smirked half-heartedly. He had seen the panic on Severus' face as well.

Snape seemed to ignore Sirius' comment altogether. He bent and quickly snatched up the bow, stowing it quickly in the violin case that sat open on his desk. He put the instrument away and quickly hid the whole thing under his bed.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," Severus mumbled, busying himself with texts and vials.

"It was very good, actually," Sirius admitted readily.

The text in Snape's hands fell to the floor with a bang. Severus fell to the floor on his hands and knees and shooed them away without looking up. "Please leave."

Remus took a step in, sharing a worried look with Sirius. "Severus are you--"

"Now." Snape spat as he gathered the text up in the folds of his robe. He hadn't stood up from the floor, just remained bent in on himself with the book held tightly to his stomach.

The werewolf took another step in but Sirius snagged hold of his robe and tugged him back. The animagus shook his head and pulled Remus back out of the doorway. "Right. Um, we'll be... somewhere if you need us."

Severus waved his wand at the door and it slammed soundly in their faces.

"That was strange," Sirius mumbled at the wood. He looked over at Remus, the wolf had a saddened and determined look on his face. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Did you notice how he clutched at that violin?" Remus intoned mildly. He walked down the hall to his room, waving Sirius after him. It would be very rude and very stupid to have this conversation right outside Severus' room.

"Yea..." Sirius scratched at his head and dropped onto Lupin's bed.

"It was like he expected us to take it from him." Remus narrowed his eyes as he thought and idly tugged at a strand of his hair.

"Do you think someone used to take it?" Sirius tried valiantly to pick up on his friend's thought. "I mean it's obvious if he tried to protect it that it has some kind of value."

"Yes," Lupin nodded. "The actual violin looked a bit beat up too, now that I think about it."

"I didn't notice," Sirius shrugged.

"It looks old. Sort of like Harry's glasses," Remus smiled sadly.

"How do you mean?" The animagus was struggling to connect anything of Harry's to anything of Snape's.

"Like they've been fixed numerous times," the wolf frowned. "Fixed by an amateur hand."

Sirius suddenly frowned and his eyebrows furrowed deeply in anger. "You're saying someone broke it... repeatedly."

"That's what it looks like," Remus nodded.

"You know," Sirius was suddenly vehement, "I found a scar on Snape's back. It was shaped like a belt buckle."

Remus shook his head, sickened by the news and silently sympathetic. Sirius had a drawn and distant look in his eyes and Lupin knew he had lost his friend to memories for the time being.

"When I was a kid," Sirius spoke eerily quiet, "I used to sit in my closet and imagine what it was like to live in a home. An actual home, not just a house with other people in it. I used to flinch at the sound of a belt clearing belt-loops. I swore over and over that I wouldn't wish that kind of abuse on my worst enemy."

Sirius blue eyes were pained when he looked up at Remus. "Snape might have been my enemy then, but he was not the worst one. At least I never got scars... not like his."

"You couldn't have prevented it, Sirius. For god's sake you didn't even know Severus when it happened."

"How do you know?" Sirius fumed. "I made his life Hell in school. He might have had a sanctuary at Hogwart's if I hadn't been there."

"Sirius, stop," Remus snapped, literally taking hold of the animagus and shaking him. "Stop. You didn't know. I can't deal with your self-pity."

The man flinched at what Remus said. "I know. I'm sorry. It just... Merlin things like that make me so angry."

"Good. That means your human," Lupin smiled sadly. "I just hope Severus doesn't shut down again. I was actually hoping to get to know him a little while he's here."

Sirius grinned, "Oh really? And here I've been trying to push Tonks on you. I guess I've been barking up the wrong tree."

Remus colored slightly and sputtered indignantly. "Sirius that's not what I--"

"Relax, Moony," Sirius laughed. "I was just joking."

"Right," Remus grinned weakly.

"I'm not saying I wouldn't help if you did... go that way," Sirius scratched the back of his neck. "Do you, uh..."

"Go that way?" Remus finished. "I don't know anymore," he admitted, color flooding his face even as he willed it not to. "It's been a very lonely life for me, Sirius, you know that."

"I know," Sirius nodded, feeling ashamed for bringing it up. He did know that Remus had very few friends. He had been so adamant about keeping people away from him, for their own 'protection', that he didn't try to make a relationship. As Remus so often put it, 'Who would want a werewolf lover anyway?'

"Never mind that," Remus said sternly, pushing the depressing thoughts from his head. "We should find a way to help Severus. Maybe we can convince him to play again, so long as we show we don't mind that he does."

"Sure," Sirius nodded. "I don't know if he can though, Remy. His hand is still banged up pretty badly. Maybe he was only playing now to prove he still could once he healed."

"Maybe," Lupin frowned. He had rather hoped that Snape would play again. If Severus was doing so much work to help him with his problems, maybe he could help Severus in return.

Sirius stood and stretched, "Think about it in the morning, Remus. It's too late for philosophical stuff tonight."

The wolf nodded in agreement. It was likely that things would be clearer after he got some sleep. That was if he could sleep.

"Right, goodnight then, Sirius." Remus smiled and went to his bathroom, preparing for bed.

It was difficult to brush his teeth, he had to be conscious of the pressure he used. Needless, he managed well enough having had practice with it the last two days. He tugged his robe off and hung it on the back of his bathroom door, then carefully pulled his shirt off. The crescent scar was still open and red. It hadn't yet begun to pull together.

With a frown, Remus prodded at it. The medication that Severus had applied to it was still working. It did not hurt and did not bleed but it was certainly still fresh-looking.

The reflection of his hand in the mirror made him smile a little. He curled his hand into a fist and then stretched each finger open again. The sight of it reminded him of the soft face that Severus had shared with him only moments after the reversion. It would be phenomenal to see that look again.

"And I will," Remus affirmed with his reflection. It was his personal mission from this night on to make Severus comfortable with him. Comfortable enough to smile, to play his secret violin and maybe even share something else...

Lupin blinked at himself in surprise. He wanted to show Snape that someone could care for him, that he was worthy of being cared for. In his mind he aligned Sirius and Severus, then shook his head. He wanted them both, in whatever manner of want they would accept from him.

...oOo...

Severus heard the two of them talking to each other as they went down the hallway. The rush of blood in his ears prevented him from knowing exactly what they said, but he knew that they were speaking of him.

He picked himself up from the floor, still clutching the tome. His hands were shaking when he returned it to the table and he cursed himself for his weakness. There had been no reason to panic as he did.

The violin case slid out from beneath his bed. Severus returned it to the desk and popped the latch. Reverently, he pulled the instrument from the velvet lining and turned it over in his hands. It had been years since he had played. He wasn't even sure why he had packed the thing to take with him.

Remembering to silence his room this time, Severus propped the violin under his chin and ran his fingers across the strings. His mother had bought him his first violin with the promise to keep it safe and hidden from his father.

As a child, Severus didn't know why to keep it so private, but he understood that his mother was serious and had made a child's promise. He had been taking short lessons once a month for five years. His mother was with him every time, smiling as he played and reaffirming his promise as they returned home.

It was only when he had turned ten that he realized why he only had his lessons so infrequently. The last Sunday of every month, his father was away with several of his cronies for nearly the entire day. The man left just as the sun rose and returned promptly at one fifteen in the A.M.

He had kept his mother's promise for years. He only played when he knew his father would not hear. In the deep cellars of their house, Severus spent hours during the week playing in the pitch darkness without the use of music sheets. His mother knew where he went and more than once had kept his father's attention when she knew where her son had gone and what he was doing.

The summer before his first year at Hogwart's, Severus had learned to play a very complicated piece. At their Sunday session, the teacher had sat back down and waved a proud hand airily at him.

"I can do no more," the man had said.

Severus saw his mother weeping and he promised he would try harder. She had smiled at him through her tears and hugged him tightly. He was confused and made his child's promise again as they left.

It was unfortunate, then, that he thought his father might be proud of him for once. As the man stumbled in drunk that night, young Severus had brought the instrument forth and began to play the piece he had learned by heart.

The violin was jerked from his hands and he watched in anger and hurt as the man twisted the delicate thing and broke the neck free. His father sneered and threw it toward the fireplace and began to yell and rave. Severus had scooped the instrument from the hot coals and low flickers of flame.

When he looked up he saw his father wrapping the length of his belt around a fist. Severus curled himself around his mother's precious gift and bit his tongue as his father beat him until the man passed out.

His mother found him there, weeping and bleeding, wrapped around what remained of his violin. She didn't say a word about Severus breaking his promise, but took him to his room to treat him quickly.

It took another few years before Severus realized that him mother did not cry as she bound his back, but when she found the blisters and burns on his hands as she took the ruined remains of wire and wood from them, she sobbed.

"Enough," Severus snapped, coming back to himself and putting the violin in his hands away. He would not think of the man. His father was long since dead, and the only way a person lived on was by being remembered. He wanted the man truly dead, and so he would never think of him.

...oOo...

Sirius woke feeling oddly unsatisfied. He was rubbing sleep from his eyes in only his pajama bottoms as he ambled into the kitchen. His dreams were foggy and distant, it was disconcerting.

He came up short by the table and curled his nose. The row of cauldrons had returned to the side board. Each of them were bubbling something else noxious to his nose. "Groh," Sirius grimaced, turning his head toward the entry to catch a fresh breath.

"Black," Severus sounded surprised. Sirius turned back to see the potions master coming from the pantry with a fistful of herbs.

"Merlin, Snape, what are you doing? Washing all of Albus's socks at once?" Sirius clapped a hand over his nose and mouth and dared to come in further.

"You're up earlier than I expected," Snape muttered, depositing the herbs to the sideboard amongst other piles of plants.

The animagus brushed past Severus on the way to the sink and felt the man stiffen. Sirius frowned, "No matter, I'll just eat in the den."

Neither spoke for a time as Snape chopped and Sirius fumbled through the cabinets for breakfast. He came out with a half package of instant oatmeal. Shrugging, Sirius poured one packet into a bowl and took the kettle from the fire.

As Sirius stirred his mush he glanced up to watch Snape work. The man was methodical and precise.

"Are those more things for Remus to take?"

"No," Severus continued stirring and didn't bother to note Sirius' reaction.

"Then what are they for?"

Snape paused, his shoulders were stiff and high. "Various things," he spoke finally.

Sirius rolled his eyes and stalked to the den with his bowl in his hand. He wasn't about to argue with Snape first thing in the morning; especially if he wanted a straight answer. He wasn't even sure if Severus could answer a question bluntly after so many years of spying.

A grumbling werewolf came thumping down the stairs. Sirius grinned as Remus came staggering in and collapsed next to him on the sofa.

"Morning, Moony," he greeted him around a mouthful of oatmeal.

"Where's Severus?" Remus asked during a mouth splitting yawn.

"Follow the smell," Sirius grumbled. "He's back to his potions in the kitchen."

"Really?" Remus had a sleepily worried face.

"They aren't for you, I've already asked." Sirius grinned as Remus sighed in relief. Remus stood and began to unbutton his shirt as he made his way out of the den. "Uh, Remus, what are you doing?"

"Going to see, Severus."

"Without a shirt?" Sirius asked, both eyebrows nested in his hairline.

Remus colored brightly, "I want him to look at my shoulder." He sounded exasperated as he left the den and crossed to the kitchen.

Snape was where Sirius had left him, chopping ingredients in front of his cauldrons.

"Uh, Severus, could I bother you for a moment," Remus tried to peek past the man to see what he was making but couldn't quite look beyond.

"You already have, do you want another moment?" Snape grumbled.

"Yes," Remus tugged the shirt from his shoulders as Severus turned around. The potions master rose an eyebrow as the lycan stripped. "Would you look at this, please?"

Snape's attention turned to the scar and his business face fell into place. "Have you had any pain or drainage?" He turned Lupin into the sunlight and pressed his fingers into the tissue.

"No, but I was hoping it looked better," Remus tried to look down at it but could only see one edge.

Severus made little grunting noises and fumbled to remove his notebook from his back pocket. He turned to set it down and wrote a few brief notes before turning back. "It appears to be holding steady. Turn around."

Remus obeyed and stared at the kitchen sink. Gooseflesh rose up his arms as Snape's fingertips ghosted around his skin. He felt another blush start in his cheeks and willed it away.

"Hmm," Severus paused, thumb pressed against the bottom curve of scar tissue. The flat of his palm pressed into Remus' lower back and pushed gently. Remus moved easily with him. "I wonder," Snape murmured. His breath passed across the back of Remus' neck. The flush of his cheeks deepened.

"What is it?" Lupin asked a bit breathless. He knew Snape was not touching him to try to get a rise from him, but only a handful of people had ever been that intimately close. It didn't help that he now considered Severus a bit of tempting prey.

"This bit of scar is starting to knit," Severus mumbled. "Not much, but it's started."

Snape drew away and gripped hold of the collar of Remus' shirt, tugging it up in a manner that meant for Lupin to put his clothing back on. Remus shrugged the top on and buttoned it most of the way.

"What does it mean?"

"First guess? That you are beginning to accept who you are." Snape returned to his cauldrons. "I will consult my texts later."

"Thank you," Remus murmured. He had been dismissed. Sulking, he returned to the den and sat down dejectedly near Sirius.

"What did he say?"

Remus sighed, "It looks like things are getting better."

"You don't sound excited, Moony. This is good news," Sirius beamed, wrapping his arm around his friend's shoulders.

The lycan smiled a little, "It is."

"What shall we do today, Moony?" Sirius stretched and set his bowl on the floor. "Anything you want."

Remus settled back and looked pensive. "First, breakfast." He grinned as his stomach growled. "Then, we'll play it by ear."

"Good enough!" Sirius grinned, snatching up his empty bowl. He bowed low at the waist, "What does master want for breakfast?"

Sirius' ebony hair fell in messy waves across his face and showed the man's back and shoulder muscles quite nicely. Remus smirked and thought of something wicked for breakfast but quelled the thought. "Toast and tea."

The animagus made a face and stood erect again. He let out an exasperated noise and rolled his eyes. "Remy, you can't have toast and tea!"

"Why not?"

"It's a big day! Big days require large feasts!"

"Alright then," Remus laughed. "Toast, tea and a peach."

"Oh, Moony," Sirius groaned. "You're killing me." He whined and muttered his entire way into the kitchen. And much to Remus amusement, the animagus whined and muttered the entire way back as well. "Your toast and tea," Sirius stuck out his tongue as he offered the saucer and mug over.

"Thanks, Siri."

Despite his amusement with Remus' choice of victory breakfast, Sirius couldn't have been more elated that his friend was beginning to heal. As Remus chewed on his toast, Sirius had to grudgingly admit that none of it would have been possible without Snape's help.

---

additional: A pitiful request, but I would absoultely love to see Snape playing the violin... if any artists would like to try, I would love to see them.