Disclaimer: The usual, Rowling is queen and I am just privileged enough to borrow her amazing characters to write stupid stories.
Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates, life hasn't been the greatest. Better late than never, right?
Chapter 14: Meetings
Severus felt the burning pain on his forearm even in his deepest sleep, and roused himself quickly. It didn't take long before he was standing beside his so-called friends, eyes downcast, avoiding the eyes of any other Death Eaters. His mind worked rapidly, readying his defences and chaining recent memories into the farthest corners of his mind, the untouchable corner of his mind. It was the first Death Eater meeting since Potter had come to stay with him, and he couldn't afford any slip-ups.
The Dark Lord walked into the room, and Severus dropped to his knees with the others, bowing to their master.
"Severus," he breathed. "How are you?"
"I am fine, Master," he said, nodding his head respectfully. "Recovering from another year of teaching whiny brats."
The Dark Lord laughed, and Severus bit back the bile that rose in his throat.
"And how is young Draco? I daresay you are taking good care of him for Lucius?"
Severus forced a pleasant expression onto his face and projected memories of him and Draco making potions and laughing at first years' scores together. "He is very attentive in the art of Potion Making, my Lord."
He nodded. Severus felt him probe his mind for a few seconds, and then, seeming satisfied, he turned to the rest of his followers.
"Greyback. You had complications with the task I gave you. Why?"
Greyback growled in the back of his throat. "The werewolf freak disappeared! Even half mangled, he managed to Disapparate, my Lord. It was highly unbelievable, and you have my deepest apologies. I should have finished him off right off, but I was hoping to get information from him."
The Dark Lord did not look pleased. "It was not your decision to make. Very well, you will be punished later. So you are sure that the werewolf is alive?"
Werewolf? Severus wondered. Did they mean Lupin? It would make sense, as he had already deducted that only another werewolf could inflict the wounds that Remus had had,
Greyback glared at Severus. "Maybe you should ask your favourite, my Lord," he hissed. "After all, the werewolf is a valued member of his little Order."
"Crucio!" The Dark Lord spat, and Greyback writhed on the floor, moaning painfully for a few seconds. He was released and flew backwards into the wall, his head crunching into the hard cement of the dungeon walls.
"I will not tolerate disrespect, especially from you filth," the Dark Lord seethed. "Severus, have you any information at all on the whereabouts of Remus Lupin?"
Severus inclined his head respectfully. "The werewolf lives. The Order is actively searching for his attacker, and he has been placed in a safe house, presumably the same place where the Potter brat is staying. I fear that the only person who knows the exact whereabouts is Dumbledore himself, and maybe Minevra McGonagall."
"Hmm." The Dark Lord didn't look entirely satisfied, but he didn't comment further. "What about the redheads? They must have some sort of news from the boy."
"We should raid their home," said another Death Eater from the shadows. "If they're hiding information, we can find it."
"Interesting idea," the Dark Lord mused. "It is worth looking into. I will inform you the moment I make a decision."
The Dark Lord vanished, and Severus took his leave within a few minutes, muttering about potions.
Once he was back in the safety of his bed, he let out a deep sigh and wrapped himself in as many blankets as he could. Each meeting was a risk for him. One wrong answer, and he could expose himself, endangering Potter and Lupin and even Draco. Severus shivered and grabbed a text from the side of his bed, knowing there was no way he would get to sleep for a long, long time.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
"Lupin."
Remus jolted awake from where he must have dozed off on the couch. He'd been doing that for the last week, much to his annoyance. He knew that he needed the rest, but it was annoying to fall asleep everywhere, especially in Severus's house.
"Severus," he said, meeting the eyes of his former colleague. He was still slightly bitter about the role he'd played in getting him fired, but he'd had a lot of time over the last few years to think about it and let it go.
"Do you feel well enough to accompany me to Hogwarts tomorrow? I need to collect Weasley and Granger, as well as some supplies, and I know it would help Minerva sleep easier at night if she can see for herself that you are healing and that I have yet to poison you."
His voice was devoid of emotion as always, and Remus wanted to snap at him. He didn't trust the man, despite his crucial role in the Order. He was a guarded person, someone who relied heavily on his abilities to read people, something that was easier with the help of the wolf in him, but he had never been able to read Severus Snape. The only emotion he ever radiated when Remus was around was dislike, and when he wasn't quick enough to mask it, fear.
Remus sighed. Fear was something he was used to, with his condition. Sirius and James had been the only ones who hadn't feared him, even in the days when there was no Wolfsbane to control the wolf.
"I'm surprised Ron and Hermoine are still coming here," he said. "I figured with all the extra security, plans would have changed."
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of two more teenagers. If I haven't turned Potter in to the Death Eaters, I highly doubt I'll turn in Granger and Weasley," Severus replied stiffly, and Remus slapped himself mentally. Of course he'd be insulted. Stupid man.
"I didn't mean it like that," he said, but he was clearly being ignored now.
Remus turned and headed into the kitchen. If he wanted to talk, he could come into the kitchen as well. He was hungry. He frowned for a second as he realized Severus hadn't asked for anything in return of him staying here - Remus was going to have to leave him some Galleons, somewhere, somehow. Knowing Severus, he would refuse to take any money from him, but Remus didn't accept charity, either. He had refused to go begging, even at his lowest point, and he'd managed to put enough money away that he could offer Severus something.
It didn't even take two minutes before he followed.
"I know what you meant, Lupin," he said abruptly. He heard the worry buried deep under the monotone of his voice, and Remus felt sorry for him. Severus Snape was a person who'd suppressed his emotions for so long that he didn't even know how to show concern for another human being. The only emotions he knew was indifference, anger, and distrust.
"I think Molly is worried that there is going to be an attack on The Burrow sometime soon," he continued. "She's arranged for the twins and the youngest child to stay with Tonks under the pretense of helping her with an assignment. She doesn't want to worry them."
"Oh," Remus said flatly, because he didn't know what else to say. The Weasley's had become very good friends over the last few years and he didn't even want to think about an attack on their home.
"Granger and Weasley have been told that you are here and warned that they may need to stay here longer because Potter needs the moral support. Obviously a summer spend with his two greatest enemies can't be easy on him," the black haired professor snorted, fixing himself a cup of tea.
Remus frowned at that. "You can't honestly think Harry considers you an enemy?"
He knew that Harry had seen some very unsavoury things when he'd accidentally dived into Severus's memories. Things that showed that Severus as a vulnerable person, things that showed James, Sirius, and Remus himself in a different light. And he'd found out that Snape had, at one point in time, cared deeply for his mother. Remus had wanted to talk to Harry about it, but he hadn't been able to yet.
"I don't particularly care what Potter thinks," he said, but Remus didn't believe it.
"What time do we need to leave in the morning?" he asked coolly, changing the subject before he strangled the stupid, stubborn man standing in front of him.
"Be ready for 8," he said, and swept past him down the hall.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
"Remus!" Minerva launced herself at Remus the second he stumbled through the Floo. She hugged him gently, as if afraid he would break.
"I'm fine, Minnie," Remus assured her lightly.
Severus stepped out a second later, and much to Remus's surprise, she launched herself at him too, wrapping him in her arms before he had a chance to step away. He stiffened, but then hugged her back gently for brief second before moving back gently.
"You're overwhelmed, Minerva," he said softly. "Have you been taking the Calming Draughts I left you?"
She nodded. "I'm just so happy to see you both. Remus, you look so much better. Severus has really done a great job."
Remus nodded, and stared at Severus, who actually flushed slightly.
"Actually, Potter and Draco have been doing a lot of the work. Changing the bandages and cleaning the wounds and -"
"And none of that would been necessary if I hadn't woken up," Remus cut in. "Which I only did because of your potions. Take credit when it's due, Severus, it won't kill you."
He just glared at him and didn't say another word but Remus was satisfied.
"Minevra, I'm afraid I have bad news," Severus said suddenly. "Last night, at the meeting - they confirmed a list of places that the Death Eaters will be attacking in the next week. Most are Muggle places, places that will inflict panic in both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds, but there are also a few wizarding places and The Burrow is indeed one of them."
Minerva looked almost distraught for a second but composed herself rather quickly. "Very well, we expected as much. I will Floo to The Burrow now to collect the children and I will warn Molly and Arthur."
She disappeared into the flames, leaving Remus and Severus alone.
"I didn't even realize you'd been summoned recently," Remus said absently, imagining the burning pain of the Dark Mark. He wondered how bad the pain was, compared to that of the change. Although the pain of the change was lessened considerably with the Wolfsbane... it was still hell on the body and he felt older than he was. With the way he felt, he'd be lucky to make it another decade before his body gave out on him. Especially since he'd yet to find his mate ...
Severus had said something and was looking at him. He shook himself out of those deep, dark corners of his mind that he usually avoided, and stared at the other man apologetically.
Severus just sighed, looking distracted. "As of late, the meetings take place in the dead of the night. That is when he is strongest, and it is also easier to remain above suspicion. With Lucius and Bellatrix locked up, he is hesitant to put his other servants at risk right now. He still needs them too badly."
Remus nodded slowly. It made sense. "Severus ... if ever you want to talk afterward, you can come to me, you know? We are on the same side, after all."
He expected a nasty reply, but Severus just nodded and looked distracted. Remus realized he was looking at a calendar on the desk.
"The full moon is in four days," the werewolf realized out loud. "Severus, I'm sure Minevra or Albus can make arrangements if you don't feel comfortable -"
He cut Remus off abruptly. "I have complete confidence in my potions, Lupin. And furthermore, it's not like it would not be the first I've seen you in your wolf form. Without a potion, I might add."
Remus didn't know which time he was referring to, but he burned with shame from both. He turned away and stared at the window at the Hogwarts grounds'. His eyes found the Whomping Willow quickly, and he made his mind go blank before it could dwell on memories from those times.
Severus moved to stand beside him. "I know it wasn't your fault, Lupin," he said slowly. "I've always known, but I didn't have it in to accept what you were saying."
"They didn't want to kill you, you know," Remus said softly. "They just wanted to scare you. They knew you were fascinated with the Dark Arts and figured they'd show you just how dark they could be."
"And instead, they drove me right into the arms of people like Lucius Malfoy," he sneered bitterly. "I know your little friends didn't want to kill me, Lupin. But that doesn't mean I ever forgave them for almost killing me anyway."
"And me?" He needed to know.
Black eyes found brown ones, and for the first time in a long time, Remus sensed another emotion fighting to surface from under the mask: vulnerability. "I don't know, Lupin. I just don't know how to feel about you."
"We've both made mistakes, Sev."
He bristled. "Don't call me that. And don't remind me of my mistakes."
He stalked to the other side of the room and pretended to be interested in something on the windowsill.
Remus ran a hand through his hair and glared at the grounds. He would never be able to trust Severus because he'd never be able to get him to open up to him at all. He would take screaming and yelling and painful accustations and reliving painful memories over the silence that the damnable man preferred. There were so many half truths and unfinished parts of history hanging over their heads. He wanted to make peace with this man, the way that Sirius and James had never had the chance to do.
But he couldn't even call him by his first name, damn him!
The fire roared to life and Ron Weasley stumbled out first, followed a second later by Hermione Granger.
Remus hugged them both, ignoring Severus completely.
"Professor McGonagall will be back in a minute," Hermione said as she hugged him tightly. "Order business. How ARE you, Remus?"
"Better now," he mused. "I'm lucky to be alive."
"How's Harry?" Ron asked. "It must have been hard on him to see you like that."
"He's okay," Remus assured him. "You'll see when you see him."
Severus had came back to our side of the room by then. "Potter is anxious to see the two of you," he sneered. Even that simple sentence was cold and unfeeling, and Remus shook his head in frustration. Would a tiny bit of warmth really kill him?
"You're going to have a great time," Remus said cheerily, and was met with twin looks of disbelief. "Professor Snape lives near the cliffs and Harry and Draco spend a lot of time exploring -"
"You mean he actually spends time with Malfoy?!" Ron gasped. He turned to glare at his Potions' Professor. "Are you making him?"
"I assure you I am not making Potter do anything he doesn't want to," he drawled. "You can ask him yourself."
Ron crossed him arms and glared, but didn't say anything. He probably assumed that Severus would send them back to The Burrow if he didn't bite his lip. Remus swallowed a wave of sadness at the thought that he might not be going back to The Burrow at all. Hermione just stood protectively with a hand on Ron's arm and avoided staring at her professor at all costs.
Remus shook his head at the obvious tension between Severus and his students. Merlin, it was summer! Couldn't they leave the classroom problems behind?
"So, what did you get Harry for his birthday?" he quipped, trying to change the subject and dispel the tension that was building. It worked, and Hermione rattled on about books and Ron talked about quidditch equipment and sweets and products from the joke shop that Fred and George were in the process of opening.
The minutes dragged on and finally Minerva came back through the Floo, holding a shrunken box and a broom.
"Miss Granger, if you be so kind as to take this box? It's the rest of 's presents from the Order Members and other friends. And , this is yours, I believe."
Ron looked at his broom in disbelief. "Why would I need this?"
Severus spoke up. "There is a patch of land roughly the size of a Quidditch pitch in which you are permitted to fly. Respect the perimeters, and you have my permission to do whatever you wish as long as you don't injure yourself or anyone else."
Surprise coloured the redhead's face. "Oh. Um, thanks."
Severus nodded and turned to Remus. "Ready, Lupin?"
He said his goodbyes to Minnie quickly and motioned to Hermione. "Ladies first," he said, and then with a quick toss of powder, they were on their way back to what he'd taken to fondly calling 'the cliffs'.