First things, a happy Imbolc to you all or if you aren't my way inclined simply a happy day of your choosing! Bad weather too, this is good...

WARNING, CUSTARD...

A longer one (chapter not custard) with a smattering of drama, oo er. To make up for the chatter filled shortness of yesterday!

Same disclaimer.

Dear Whitehound, I have been really thorough! I aim for a chapter with no list! (And a small flying pig...)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

........" You do realise what an absolute waste of time these meetings are don't you?"

"Shush. Its only an hour or so…"

"Only! Imagine the brewing that could be done in an hour or so! There are half of yesterday's papers to grade, and I'm sure I shall have to spend considerable time attempting to make head or tail out of half of them…"

"Relax. You have all weekend."

"Not if you have your way."

Lupin frowned and glanced at the man sat in the arm chair opposite him feeling a blush work its way across his face;

"What do you mean?"

"Weren't you pestering about trips to Hogsmeade or some other disturbingly outside activity?"

"I thought you'd refuse! Great! Yes! Hogsmeade it is!"

"You mean…"

"I had no hope of you actually agreeing!"

"Damn. If I were to change my mind?"

"Not a chance." He glanced around the room and up at the clock; "Where is everyone?"

"We are early."

"Evidently. Why?"

"Have you not noticed in all the years you have been in and out of this room that there are never enough chairs for teachers and the transfigured ones are never comfy. If I have to be here I insist on being here in comfort."

"You're getting soft Severus."

Snape snorted and crossed his arms. Glaring he snarled;

"Are you going to make a pot of tea or not?"

Sarcastically Lupin replied;

"How about a cup of tea Severus!?! Shall I make one?!?"

"That's better."

Lupin attempted a glare but it failed miserably and he was glad it couldn't be seen, he had been practising along with the sarcasm, finding Snape easier to deal with if treated with a little of his own medicine. However he was finding he didn't have the natural aptitude for spite, faked or otherwise, like the other man seemed to. Instead he stood and with a slight chuckle stated charming water just as the door opened and a rabble of teachers came in, some clutching books and parchments, others empty handed. Quickly the seats filled and as predicted by the time Lupin had equipped the table in the centre with several steaming pots and numerous mugs the only spare seat was at the head of the group, and obviously left for the only member of staff not present, the headmaster.

"Shall I be mother?" Lupin asked the group whilst ignoring the snort and muttered comment from Snape and began pouring drinks. As he passed the potions master his he noticed that he had sat a little straighter and the frown line between his eyes was deeper than what was now normal. He remembered from the year spent teaching Defence that Snape would be in the corner at these meetings, eyes scanning the room constantly and never drinking tea. Standing he lifted his mug and stood just behind the other man, leaning down to whisper a comment on Trelawney's outfit and the irate manner McGonagall was discussing something obviously of great importance with Madam Hooch in.

"Probably the next house match." Replied Snape, visibly relaxing just a little, glad that the other was next to him.

The hubbub stopped as Dumbledore walked in, all eyes focusing on the head.

In turn he acknowledged each of them, some with a nod and smile and others by name.

As he sat down he said;

"Good evening my friends! Before we begin I would like to bring to your attention to, and thank, Poppy. For the quick and efficient way in which she dealt with the sudden rash of sickness we had yesterday, I assure you I have found the culprits and will hand the names over to their Head of House shortly, Minerva would you kindly wait behind after,"

Lupin clipped Snape's shoulder as he snickered,

"and secondly we all owe our thanks to Severus," Snape gulped and, much to Lupins delight, turned brilliant red;

"Albus…" He warned, but was waved of with a flick of a hand,

"who instructed the kitchen elves in how to produce real custard for Wednesday's tea. Even the lumps were delightful! I certainly appreciated them."

Snape's face looked like thunder, his secret out, and a small chorus of;

"Thank you." And "very delicious!" Filled the room. Lupin for his part had to lean on the bony shoulder in front of him as giggles overcame him.

-0o0o0-

........Later that evening as the two men were companionably sipping yet more tea in Snape's quarters, Lupin gave a small laugh as the events of the meeting came back to him.

"What?" Snapped Snape, frown firmly back in place.

"Just thinking. About custard."

"Please don't. I can't believe he mentioned it."

"Why not? It was a nice thing you did. Surprising yes, but nice. People appreciate it you know, we all cringe at some of the culinary attempts of the elves."

"I assure you it was self preservation."

"Oh?"

Snape sighed and put his book down.

"You recall me spending several holidays here as a pupil?"

"Yes…Your parents were on business trips I remember?"

"What? Oh, was that what was said? I forget. Anyway. The reasons are unimportant. The elves, on the other hand, were instructed by a certain interfering head master to supply me with whatever homely food I asked for in an attempt to cheer me up, although I do not recall being nor can I think why I would have been, upset at being here. My request was custard. Simple. Cold, lumpy custard with a skin on it."

"Eugh! That's wrong!"

"Each to their own. Anyway, they never managed it. I forgot about it, lost my sweet tooth. Last week I had my first bowl of Hogwarts custard for years. It was terrible. So, I decided enough was enough. A brief talk with the elves…"

"You are a miracle worker. I did wander why yours was cold, and now I think it was the first time I have ever seen you have seconds of anything!"

"Indeed. Now. It is late…I have bared enough soul for one night…"

"Of course." Lupin rose and put on his jacket from across the back of the chair.

"See you tomorrow morning Severus."

"Good night Remus."

-0O0O0-

........Severus realised he had a problem on the last day of the May half term break. Lupin had gone away for longer than his normal monthly absence, the first time since Snape had been blinded, and Snape was horrified to find that not only did he miss the man, he was practically miserable because of it. As he sat in his quarters, fingers drumming on the arm of his chair as he tried to decide what to do, he found his thoughts drifting time and time again to Lupin, and the fact that it would be two more days before he returned. When Lupin had informed Snape he was going on a trip to see his Aunt, Snape had, naturally, told him not to hurry back on his account and, rather forcedly, to 'have a pleasant time'. Now it was all he could do to stop himself reaching for the Floo powder, yelling the man's name into the flames and practically begging him to return. Or enquiring as to when he was returning at any rate.

It annoyed him immensly that he should be so reliant on Lupin, annoying even that he had not realised until now that he was. It annoyed him even more that he wasn't as reliant on Lupin as he was through need, but more through choice. Want, even.

Their walks in the forest were, baring several minor incidents, pleasant, and though Dumbledore had stopped by several times to tempt Snape into a stroll, he found the idea to be less inviting with the Headmaster and had politely declined. Which was silly, as he had repeatedly told himself, as not only did he trust the Head implicitly, he was perhaps the person he cared most for still in this living world.

Perhaps.

The 'perhaps' annoyed him as much as the fact that he was having this conversation with himself at all.

The 'perhaps' worried him.

Perhaps Lupin meant more to him than Dumbledore.

Perhaps he wasn't just missing the walking in the forests.

Perhaps it wasn't that he ate alone in his rooms, not wanting to sit at the high table without the oddly reassuring presence of the man next to him.

Perhaps he hadn't spent the past week miserably counting the days until his companion was home again.

Companion. Another word which, now he had thought it, worried him equally.

Companion was not a word you used for your once hated adversary, nor for the man whose constant mothering and good humour annoyed you incessantly. It was, worryingly, the word for some one whose company you not only enjoyed, but one whom you chose to be with. This worried Snape also.

He sighed, his rooms had grown cold, and he found he could not be bothered to light a fire, settling instead further back into the inexplicably comfy chair which Lupin-damn him!-had brought to the room, claiming Snape's to be too hard and formal for their long conversations about this and that.

And Snape hadn't even thought to argue when it appeared. That would annoy him also if he let it, so he pushed it from his mind as he settled back. It really was very comfy. He dared not think what it looked like, it felt rather frayed and thread bare and there were probably large roses involved but he found he didn't mind that either. How annoying.

He closed his eyes, listening to the almost silent magic of the castle, feeling the slight hum of the many wards placed around his rooms, wards to alert and identify, wards to which he had told the counters to only one other person. Lupin. Damn him again! He couldn't quite understand just how he had come to view him as anything other than an annoyance. His eyes shot open and he rose, putting on his coat, glad for its heavy warmth he muttered the counters and scowl fixed firmly in place in case he came across any errant students he made his way up out of the dungeons into the light and life of the castle.

-0o0o0-

........Dumbledore's office was the anti-dungeons. The opposite. If things were dark, still and lurking down there, they were bright, bouncing and rather, 'in your face', up here. It worried Snape, who sat perched on the edge of an equally garish thread bare chair as the one inhabiting a corner of his fire place. At first he was merely going for a wander, terrify a couple of first years if he was lucky, maybe drop in on McGonagall as he had found that if he dropped in on her it stopped her dropping in on him. However she had been out, and so he had wound his way up the stone stairs, accepted a seat on said chair, a large mug of tea, and was currently listening to Dumbledore prattle on about absolutely nothing. How annoying.

"Albus, I have a headache. I assure you I do not need to know about the Sixth years love lives, so just a little less…chatter?"

Dumbledore smiled and gently shook his head, knowing his Potions Master too long to take any offence at the words. Diplomacy was not Severus's strongest point.

"So what can I do you for my boy?"

"Nothing, actually."

"Really? Just a little lonely?"

"Most certainly not. I have plenty to occupy my mind until…" He stopped, aware of what he had been about to say. He scowled and mentally kicked himself.

"Ah." Said Dumbledore, knowingly.

"No! No 'ah' anything! I know exactly what you are 'ah'-ing and I am not lonely, nor am I missing that fussing molly coddling lump of a Werewolf!"

"I never said anything."

"Good." The silence returned, Dumbledore knowing that the grin spread over his face would send the other into a tizzy, thought back to a conversation he had been having only days earlier with a certain currently absent werewolf;

"He's so proud, stubborn even. I never know whether he wants my help or merely accepts it as a necessity…"

"Remus, be assured, if he didn't welcome it he would let you know in no uncertain words."

"I guess. It's so hard! I really want to get to know him more, we have come so far, he is such an interesting person, did you know he has the driest sense of humour ever? Now I get it, I see the jokes he makes and he is …" Lupin had stopped, turning red at the look on the head's face.

"I know, I have been telling people for years…" Said Dumbledore, not without a trace of sadness to his voice.

"I know. I am sorry, I'm just so…"

"Excited?"

"Yes! At the chance of friendship…"

"And more?"

The silence was not an awkward one, but Lupin still felt the earlier blush intensify.

"You, you don't think… am I mad?"

Dumbledore chuckled;

"Mad? No, not at all my boy, not at all. Brave? I hope so… He is quite the mysterious dark stranger…I have wanted someone to see it for so long…I admit I was thinking of some nice witch or other, but …he has needed someone to see it, someone in his confidence. If that were to be you, well, I could think of no better. I fear I am rather the old man he does not like to upset by telling things to."

"What should I do?"

"Do? Only what you are doing. But Remus, I warn you," his voice took on a serious note that made Lupin's eyes widen, "do not make promises to him that you will not keep. He does not take well to being left; it is how he ended up where he is. He is as a son to me, I do not, will not, see him being hurt again."

"I won't headmaster. I promise."

Dumbledore sighed and lent forward, Snape's eyes, feeling the proximity, went wide and a little worried, and said quietly;

"It would be no crime, you know. Remus is a fine friend and a good man."

Snape sputtered, then, realising that he was rumbled, lent back in he chair with a sigh. His scowl deepened.

Dumbledore added gently;

"He will not knowingly hurt you…"

"How can you be so sure? It worries me. I have never wanted anything from any one, and to want his company, is…worrying."

"I don't agree. On either part. There is nothing worrying about it; humans are gregarious creatures, Severus. In this day, if you have the chance at even a little happiness with anyone, grab it. And as for you not wanting anything from anyone, I have known you too long and too well my child."

"I don't follow." Snape replied angrily and a little too quickly.

"I distinctly remember a certain eleven year old, so desperate for acceptance and praise, that he would happily hex anyone who got in the way, or even curse his headmaster purely to get some attention."

"I was not desperate…"

"Yes you were Severus. You were one of the saddest little boys I had ever met."

Snape scoffed;

"I think you are mad."

"I know you do, it doesn't worry me, many people share that opinion! All I am saying is this; you have been a very lonely person, more through your choosing than others doing. I understand you have your reasons, but please, if something good has come out of all this…Let it happen. Remus is a good friend to have, Severus, a very good friend."

There was a silent pause as Snape thought. When he spoke it was in a very quiet voice, so soft that Dumbledore had to lean in again to hear him;

"What if I am not good enough in return?" The thought had only just come to him, but it seemed the single most important thing in the world at the moment.

Chuckling, Dumbledore laid a hand on his shoulder, and, making Snape feel like the lost eleven year old again, tucked the dark hair hiding his face behind his ear.

"Why don't you let Remus make that choice? He is not a fool and I think he would not have stayed around so long if he had not wanted to."

Snape sighed, frowned, and then nodded. The hair falling back into place, letting him hide again in peace.

-0o0o0-

.......Snape stood outside the Great Hall, growing more and more irritable by the second. Lupin was late, ten minutes to be exact, and Snape was in no mood to be kept waiting. It was the first Saturday of the schools summer term, and he had taken advantage of the pleasant weather and arranged a visit to Hogsmeade with Lupin to order the supplies that he had noticed were being used faster than expected. He was not keen on hanging around the school when pupils were milling about, half of them were more scared of him than ever, and the other half seemed to avoid him like the plague as if he were catching.

He didn't have to see their faces to know the looks he was getting.

So as they started coming, as it were, out of the woodwork, he felt the need to leave and decided to go and rouse the Werewolf from his rooms. Lupin, being kept on at the school in a now official manner, had been assigned staff quarters, a fact which had annoyed Snape at first as they were in another part of the school he was entirely un familiar with, because Lupin had rejected his argument that he should be in the dungeons in close proximity to the classrooms, saying that he would prefer it to live above ground, with non-magical windows. Snape, however, found that as he and Lupin grew to spend more time together working on various school projects and things for the Headmaster, he had grown more confident in negotiating the unfamiliar halls. Now, he practically billowed down the corridors be they above ground or below with the occasional student hurrying out of his way, fearing being caught up in what ever bad mood the Professor seemed to be in. On reaching the correct door, he slammed his fist onto it and shouted; "Lupin!" at the top of his voice. The silence which answered it was complete, and caused Snape to frown. He tried again;

"Lupin! Answer this door immediately!" Still nothing.

He muttered a curse under his breath, and feeling for the door handle, went to rattle it. The door swung open. Snape frowned, his anger turning to concern. Absent minded as Lupin was, he was nether the less a creature with almost as many enemies as a Death Eater, and like Snape, kept his door heavily warded. He entered the room cautiously, heart pounding, wand drawn. He felt immensely vulnerable, even considering leaving and going to get the headmaster, but only for a moment before he called himself every name under the sun and took a deep breath then whispered; "Lupin?" willing the other man to respond.

Silence.

Snape took several halting steps forward, trying to recall the layout of the room as best he could with his heart beat thudding in his ears, and he suddenly realised with mounting horror, a tingle on his left arm that he had not felt for quite some time. He stopped at about the middle and felt eyes upon him burning into the back of his head. He turned slowly to face them, certain that they were not friendly. As he raised his wand, hoping to all deities he could think of that he was pointing it directly at whoever, or whatever, was in front of him, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and a cloaked figure swept past him, brushing close enough to unbalance him. He spun about to where the retreating figure had headed, and frowned, levelling his wand once again.

A chuckle came from in front of him, and he hissed "Impedimenta!" at the space but before he was half way through the incantation he felt it dispelled by a block. 'So it is a wizard' he decided, all vulnerability gone as the experience of many night attacks with his old Lord came to his rescue; 'or at least something which can do wand magic.'

"Who are you and where is Lupin?" He called. No response. He narrowed his eyes, and again the figure brushed past him, this time momentarily grabbing his arm, and spinning him. Snape wobbled, briefly losing his bearings, and had to listen very hard to catch even the slightest whisper of breath to pin point his adversary. Just when he thought he had him, and his wand was again levelled, he was spun the other way, and again, and again, back and forth, the beings heavy cloak grabbing at his legs and brushing his hands, disorientating him further. Aware that at any moment he would be sent crashing to the floor, he dropped to one knee of his own accord, and had a surge of hope as he felt the figure, which had been reaching out to spin him again, grabbing at thin air, nearly falling on top of him.

A voice growled, and instead a sharp kick met his wand, sending it spinning across the room, followed by a stinging back handed slap to the face. Snape cursed, but only shortly, concentrating his magic in case the opportunity arose to throw a wandless curse or hex. Suddenly, he shrank back; aware of a face millimetres from his, a face which radiated the feel of a familiar charm caused a sinisterly cold prickle over his. The face was undoubtedly wearing a Death Eater's mask. This thought made him angrier than any of the spinning or the kick. Warm breath stinking of stale wine muttered distorted whispers around his face, causing a stab of panic and a momentary certainty that there was a pair of red eyes in front of him… He forced himself to breathe slowly and stood up, squaring his shoulders.

'Albus will have been alerted, surely…' he thought. Out loud, and sounding far more confident than he felt he said;

"How the hell does a Death Eater get into Hogwarts?" He felt dark magic in his mark, and through years of familiarity, identified it as the mask being removed.

A voice, all silk and elegance, quietly said;

"Death Eater? Where? Maybe you're seeing things Severus," a long, cold finger traced the scar down Snape's cheek, making him have to fight the urge to shrink back, "or," the voice chuckled softly, "maybe not."

Snape kept his voice hard and level;

"What do you want, Lucius?"

"Oh nothing. I was in the building on some…business…and thought I'd drop in on an old friend. How the devil are you, Severus!"

Snape frowned, not sure whether he meant Lupin or himself;

"What have you done with your 'friend' then? I am assuming you have the Werewolf here somewhere…"

"Oh drop the act Snape." Malfoy's voice had taken on a sharp tone. "We know all about you and 'the Werewolf'. Draco says you're quite the best of pals these days, interesting. I thought that out of all the lies you poured out to our Lord, the hatred for that pathetic beast was real. Though I suppose it's not a shame now, I'm sure the knowledge will come in handy. No, its you I came to see, I just happened across the wolf and thought I'd see if the rumours were true. A little diversion in my hectic life."

"Well I hope we have been entertaining."

"Oh yes, seeing you flounder around is quite enjoyable, and knowing I can get to you will please our Lord no end. The wolf was less fun, far too polite and not nearly enough …bite, shall we say? I had expected more from a dark creature. And to think our Lord wanted him on our side…"

"Your Lord, Lucius."

"What? Oh yes, I forget. Are you sure you aren't mad Severus? Under the imperious maybe? I believe you to be a traitorous scum, but spying? To that mad old fool? Really…What can he offer you?"

"More than you would understand."

Malfoy went quiet, studying Snape's face. Snape, feeling this, pushed his shoulders back and stared dead ahead. He knew he was being played with, Malfoy wouldn't dare hurt him now, he would have never taken off his mask if he was going to, and likewise if he had hurt Lupin. A small comfort. Suddenly, a hand clapped his shoulder.

"Well, I'd best be going." Malfoy put on an almost playful voice, "Do look after yourself Severus! Oooops, I forgot…" The chuckle again. "Such a fitting punishment. Truly inspired…" His soft footsteps and the chuckle left the room and grew fainter. Snape waited until he was certain he was alone before urgently Accioing his wand and using it to slam the door shut and lock it.

Casting a 'find me' around the room for Lupin, he dropped to his knees and carefully crept forward in its pointed direction. His hand contacted something solid, warm, and decidedly Lupin shaped. Or he hoped it was Lupin. He growled under his breath, and crept his hand up the completely still body, it felt like a body bind, and a quick check of a pulse confirmed it, but it wasn't until his fingers found the diagonal scars across the others cheek which he realised he could recall in his minds eye (which worried him a bit) that he let out the breath he was holding, and he sagged where he sat.
"Finite Incantum." He said angrily.

"Severus, are you alr,"

"Shut up! What the hell were you thinking you idiot man! Letting Lucius Malfoy into your rooms! Do you have any idea how dangerous he is?!"

Lupins voice was indignant as he sat up on the floor;

"He wanted to discuss his son's progress! What was I supposed to say, 'Sorry, I think you're a Death Eater so best not'…"

"Did you not think to make an excuse, or, here's a thought, send him to his son's teacher!"

"He didn't want to disturb you…"

"Oh you are too gullible! Not another word. I want a pot of tea, now. And plenty of sugar!"

Lupin stood still, mouth open, and he shook his head as he looked at the slightly rumpled man sat on the floor before him. He suddenly realised how ridiculous they must look, and coupled with the relief of rescue, he couldn't stop himself bursting out laughing, and as he watched Snape scrub a hand over his face, he felt himself calm. Then dark eyes flashed at him, a slightly shaky finger jabbing in his face;

"Don't you dare laugh you fool!" Snape exploded, "You have no idea how dangerous that man is, if you find this amusing, on your own head be it! There was a time only months ago he would bow before me and do my every bidding. Along with a dozen others. Now I am a thing to be laughed at and ridiculed.

The last time I heard that voice Lupin, it was instructing an apprentice on how to torture me whilst leaving no marks, so don't you dare laugh at me or my warnings of him. You idiot man. He would have tied you up with silver ropes, you know that? A favourite of his as a starter, to weaken you. Then he'd have his real fun. I've seen him do it, and he'd damn well make sure I'd know about them doing it to you. And I don't think I could…"

His eyes still glared, but a little softer and his voice lost its biting edge;

"I don't think I could take that. Before, maybe. Not now. I've become soft, Remus." The silence that stretched out between them was not altogether uncomfortable, but Lupin, acutely aware that this was some sort of confession, for once didn't know where to put himself. Finally, Snape raised his eyes from where they had fallen to the floor, and grumbled;

"Well? What are you looking at?"

"Just thinking."

"Kindly do it whilst putting the kettle on."

Lupin, glad of the diversion, nearly snapped but bit his tongue, sounding slightly pained instead;

"Fine! There is a perfectly good settee you know."

"What? Oh, I know."

As Lupin turned to go to the kitchen, he hesitantly reached out a hand and put it on Snape's shoulder, squeezing gently;

"I'm sorry I scared you Severus."

Before Snape could think of a suitably sarcastic comeback, Lupin released it, rose and went to make the tea. Snape sighed and scowled as he moved to the settee. 'Damn Werewolf.' He thought.

-0o0o0-

........As Lupin re-entered his living room, the realisation of what had just happened dawned on him,

'I've just been captured by a Death Eater,' he thought, 'bloody hell!'

As the hand with the tray of tea on it became a little unsteady he set it down on a table and instead scrunched his hands into fists. He could see the back of Snape's head over the top of the settee, and in the back of his mind could hear his voice; "tied you up with silver ropes…" Lupin couldn't help but shudder, not wanting to know what the 'real fun' would have been, that sounded bad enough. He took a deep breath, picked the tray up again and made his way over. As he rounded the seat, he inwardly cringed as he saw the look on the others face.

Snape looked furious.

He was sat, bolt upright, arms folded tightly across his chest, one foot tapping impatiently on the floor. His dark brows almost met in the middle and his eyes were as hard as flint. Very quietly Lupin said;

"Tea," before losing his nerve as the eyes were flashed in his direction. Deciding against saying anything else, he instead poured two cups and sat down. He silently watched Snape, who had not said a word nor moved a muscle. Time passed. The tea was getting cold. Lupin cast a heating charm on Snape's cup, earning a small growl from the man, and poured himself a second. He took it the Hogsmeade trip was off, and that he could be in for a long wait here whilst Snape figured out whatever was going through his head.

He waited.

As the second cup was finished, Lupin took a deep breath and pushed Snape's a little nearer to him, innocently saying;

"You're tea's getting cold." As he did it.

Bad move.

Snape exploded.

With a turn of speed in stark contrast to the stillness with which he had been sat he flung an arm out, colliding rather neatly and very intentionally with the mug on the table, causing luke warm tea to fly across the room and the mug to smash against a wall. With his arm still raised, he glared in Lupins direction, and very slowly and quietly said;

"I don't want tea."

Lupin sat, eyebrows raised, and watched as he sat back, arms crossing again, and the foot resumed tapping. He Scourigfied the debris, and muttered to Snape;

"So I see."

Snape sighed and closed his eyes. Lupin, risking a little more, added;

"That was my favourite mug."

Had it of been anyone else sat opposite, that may have earned a small smile and broken the tension, but not this man. A steely;

"My apologies." was his sole response. Lupin went back to waiting and studying the man before him.

........They sat that way for what seemed like hours to Lupin, he knew it was now late afternoon as his very reliable stomach, which had begun to protest at lunchtime (quieted only when he had summoned an elf with lunch), was now making enquiries as to tea. Snape didn't eat, and Lupin was beginning to wander whether the man was in some sort of trance, as he hadn't responded to any of the things Lupin and said to him all day. If it hadn't of been for the flickering in the dark eyes as he obviously wrestled with some inner conflict, Lupin may have been tempted to summon Poppy.

Even when he attempted to use the normally safe subject of potions and the students he had failed. Now he was just simply getting bored and tired of the rather strange semi temper tantrum/sulk going on opposite him. He still wasn't actually sure which it was. And he sure as hell didn't know how to handle it. The other wizard looked just as furious as when he had first sat down, and with no explanation forthcoming, Lupin tried his last card. If this didn't work he was going to leave him here and have tea in the great hall.

"Do you think we should tell the Headmaster? I'm sure he would want to know."

Nothing. A barely perceivable flicker in the dark eyes. Lupin sighed. He stood up, walked across the room and got his cardigan off the hook, shrugging it on. As he made his way to the door, a strict voice demanded;

"You will be careful."

'Good Lord it talks!' Thought Lupin, but only said "Of course." Out loud. Snape nodded curtly. Lupin waited a moment to see if anything else was forthcoming, but the silent stare had returned and he left.

-0o0o0-

........Alone at last, Snape sagged. He rubbed a hand over his face, and shook his head.

'Damn Lupin! He has no idea!' He thought, 'Damn fool. Going to end up dead…' The thought caused a shudder through his body and a sigh to escape. He stretched, and as he brought his arms back down slammed both hands onto the table hard. He heard the teapot rattle and, clenching his teeth, fought the anger back to a simmer, not wanting to let it boil over. A growl from his stomach made him realise he was hungry.

Summoning an elf, he ordered tea and toast, and he thought briefly about following Lupin up to the Hall to apologise, he was sure that was where he had gone he didn't know anyone as food orientated as Lupin, but the thought passed quickly as he decided he wouldn't know what to say. Just like he hadn't all day, now annoyingly wasted here in silence. 'Goodness only knows what Lupin thinks of me now!' He thought.

He had simply not dared to speak, sure that after yelling some more at the man who, he made himself remember, had just been caught by Lucius Malfoy ('Oh why did it have to be him…') and then bawled out by a friend for letting it happen. ('Letting it happen, Hah!' He thought, 'Because I am so good at not 'letting it happen', had I of been I would not be sat here in the dark now…' He stopped himself, not wanting to slip into self pity), he thought that Lupin probably wouldn't need the second option, Snape explaining why he had been so angry, how scared the thought of Malfoy getting hold of either of them had made him.

Then he remembered. Lupin had known, apologised even for scaring him…Snape almost smiled, remembering also the squeezed hand. And then scowled again, as he told himself to stop being stupid, desperately wanting, almost needing, to stay angry. He had not been angry, properly angry, for so long, and it almost felt good. Malfoy's words had stung, he did feel somewhat useless most of the time, and detested the fact that he needed help from anyone at all. Feeling angry made him feel like he used too when he was spying, alive.

He sat back with a warm mug, not dismissing the cowering elf although he was aware it cringed in front of him, waiting to be hexed or cursed. He had used to like scaring people. He used to scare Malfoy a little. The thought made him smile a bit. Then he sat back to enjoy it a bit more, even if, he realised sadly, all he scared nowadays were house elves and first years.