Sirius had exploded when Lupin had told him where Harry had gone, and it had taken a good hour or so to calm him down. Sirius had called Snape every name he could think of, and Lupin had been forced to sit and listen to his rants.

"He did it on purpose. He did. Everyone else is Harry's favorite person, so why not Severus too?"

"Sirius."

"There is no telling what he's got Harry believing right now, Remus, no telling. Harry hates me now anyway, and Merlin knows if Snivellus has anything to do with it he'll be throwing curses at me when he gets back."

"Sirius…"

"Can you believe it? Can you? Did you ever think that Harry would turn on me so easily? Did you ever believe that he would choose to go with Severus Snape instead of me, and not even say goodbye?"

"Sirius, please…"

"What next? Will the Order decide that I'm not fun enough for them? Will I be cast outside like the cat at night? Or even exiled to Grimmauld Place again, so I can sit there and waste away while Harry finds comfort with his new family…"

"SIRIUS, SHUT UP!"

Sirius looked at Lupin, frozen in shock. His normally quiet friend had bellowed so harshly that his ears were ringing. Sirius sank to a chair, suddenly feeling small under Remus's cold stare.

Remus stood, looking down at him. "I have had enough of this. I really have. It's been the same since we were ten. You are prideful, and immature, and belligerent, and you have no concern for others. All you care about is you. Even Harry can't push aside your selfish nature. You want to be the center of his universe, when you very well know that you can't be right now. He's stepping away, Sirius, because it's his duty. It has nothing to do with you. And you know what?" He leaned towards him. "I think you want it to be you. I think you want it to center around you. That way, you have a say in it. You still have some thread of meaning. But when it comes down to it, Sirius, you are nothing but a childish prat who is so desperate to have meaning to his life he will sacrifice the safety of others to get it."

Sirius was looking so shocked that a soft gust of wind could have probably knocked him over. He opened his mouth. "Remus, I… you've never spoken like this…"

"Well, it's damn near time I had." He stood straight, giving Sirius a stern look. "I've been so scared of being alone my whole life, and letting you run over me- I should have stood up to you a long time ago, and things might have been different. If I had stood up to you and James all those times that I felt I should have, then maybe we wouldn't be where we are now. If I had made an effort to keep you two from hunting others- and I don't think I have to call names- down like sport and humiliating them, maybe this whole situation would never have come about. I'm sick of this, Sirius. We're in the middle of a war, and you're worried about your pride."

Sirius looked defensive. "I most certainly am not..."

"It's your pride, Sirius, and nothing else. It's not Harry, it's not Quinn, it's not Severus, and it's not Evie- it's your pride you're so upset about. Evie's here, the only person who ever turned your head, and you're having to look at her every day, knowing she's with Quinn, and here's Harry, who's warming up to Quinn too, and that takes away from you. Quinn's been good to you, and you can't find anything wrong with him, and it's driving you insane. I know you. I've known you for almost thirty years. And even though you've changed, you haven't changed the fact that you will always want what Sirius wants, not what's good for everyone else."

Sirius gulped. He wanted to say something in his own defense, but really couldn't think of anything.

"You've let this thing between you and Evie upset you so badly that you've pushed Harry away. I don't blame him for turning to someone else. You're being so selfish and childish that I can't see why anyone has anything to do with you. Including me." He held out his hands. "But that's me, isn't it? That's dear Remus, who will let you run right over him, just because he's Remus Lupin and you're Sirius Black. That's the way it always was, why change it now? Well, guess what, Sirius?" He leaned towards him, lowering his voice. "It just changed."

Sirius watched him walk to the door, then stop and turn to him again. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll stop this charade and tell Evie that she can move on. She has her own life now, Sirius. You shouldn't come between that. Severus seems to think you are still quite the threat to her happiness, and I've taken it upon myself to stand between the two of you. But I have to leave in just a few minutes, and you're on your own. I won't be your peacemaker anymore. If you can't do things like an adult, then it's your own fault."

Sirius couldn't quite place the feeling that fell on him as Remus walked out, but it was heavy, and unpleasant, and definitely wasn't happy.


If there were personal hells, Harry thought for sure this would be his.

Cold, shivering, and wet, wrapped in tight armor and a cloak, following the speedy steps of Severus Snape down a dark, foreign alleyway, seeing figures duck in and out of shadows, watching their every move. All alone, here in the seediest of all places, with a person he clearly held a sharp dislike for.

Snape glanced back at him. "Keeping up, Potter?"

Harry was sweating despite the chill, and it was causing his glasses to fog over. He wiped them clumsily. "Yes."

Snape tightened his lips, and suddenly raised his wand to Harry's face. The boy froze in shock, but relaxed as a spark hit his lenses and cleared them of the fog.

He swallowed. "Thanks."

Snape didn't answer, just turned and continued down the street. Harry noticed that it seemed larger and more sinister at night, and regretted his decision to accompany Snape. His feeling of triumph after confronting him about Sirius had obviously clouded his thinking, and now he was coming to his senses and wishing very much that he had kept his mouth shut. They had already gotten lost several times, and Snape seemed to be growing more and more impatient. Three hours had passed before Harry recognized the fork in the alley. They had reached it, and Harry pointed to the left. "It's down there. Almost to the curve and on the right." He shifted. "I suppose they've fixed the window by now."

Snape lifted his chin. "Lead the way, Potter."

He felt very uncomfortable, walking in front of Snape like this, but managed to guide him to the shop. A CLOSED sign hung on the door, and the window had indeed been repaired.

"Very good. Now, step aside."

Snape rapped his wand on the door handle, and Harry watched as the latches whined and a blue light ran around its frame. Snape made a face. "Naturally." He pointed his wand at the lock and glanced at Harry. "Move away. I wouldn't want you harmed. Your godfather seems to be ready to defend you with every fiber of his being."

Harry gave him a dirty look, but obeyed. Snape uttered something long and syllabic and a red swirl of light emitted from his wand, coating the door. The blue light from the frame grew green, then grey, then finally darkened. Snape lowered his wand, and the latches popped open. He gave Harry a glance.

"Are you coming?"

Harry followed him, biting his tongue to keep from retorting, and as soon as they stepped across the threshold a jet of green fire came whizzing at them from the back of the shop.

"I knew you'd be back!" Narkus was shouting. "I knew you'd come back! But now, I have reinforcements!"

The lanterns were suddenly alight, and Harry squinted against the sudden brightness. He could see that at least ten goblins were stationed at different intervals around the shop, and pulled his wand.

A yellow ball of light hit him in the chest, and he felt himself crash painfully into the wall. He didn't have time to block the next shot, and grunted as it hit him directly in the face. His entire head exploded with pain, and he felt himself being hauled up by a strong hand.

His vision cleared enough for him to see that Snape had pulled him close, and was flicking his wand so fast Harry could barely see it. Hexes were flying at the goblins so fast that many of them had ducked into hiding, and the others were already stupefied.

"In the back, go!" Snape shoved him through a doorway that was veiled with beads, and Harry fell to his knees into a shelf of boxes. A cloud of dust rose from the plants inside, and he suddenly felt very happy.

Snape backed in to the room, still firing at the goblins, and turned a bookshelf over to block the door. He turned to Harry. "Are you alright, Potter?"

Harry looked at him, and for some reason found him funny. He let out a dopey chuckle.

Snape looked into the boxes, and his face tightened in frustration. "Merrymoss," he muttered, and snatched Harry by the collar and lifted him. He tapped him on the forehead with his wand, muttering something Harry found hilarious, but just as soon as the laughter hit him the feeling died. He straightened, looking at Snape with a frown.

"What was that?"

"Never mind, Potter. Come, we have to find this Narkus." He was ducking into a storeroom that had obviously been charmed to hold more than it normally would have, for the shelves went two or three stories up. Harry followed him through an isle of jars containing what appeared to be human teeth, and then another that held boxes of hair- blonde, red, black, brown- bundles of it were piled so high that Harry thought for sure it was actually some creature, a giant cat of some sorts, that would surely hear them and wake from its slumber…

He ran smack into Snape, and the man turned and glared at him.

"Pay attention, Potter!" he hissed, and Harry swallowed guiltily. Snape turned back, and was peering around the corner. Harry stood on tiptoe and peeked through the shelves, and saw that they had come to the back of the shop, and he could see that there at the front of the storage room was a parlor, and the parlor wall had a giant ragged hole in it, surely from the removal of the safe earlier…

"I know where we are," he whispered, and Snape looked over his shoulder at him, his eyebrows raised. Harry pointed. "That's where Kingsley took out the safe. So the door to the front must be to the left- we just can't see it- and that's where the counter is."

Snape gave a nod. "Very good." He straightened, and they hurried quietly towards the wall, and Snape saw that indeed there was a door, and there, on the other side, was Narkus, standing on the counter.

His eyes were wide as Snape burst through, and he clutched his warty face. "Oh dear! Whatever will I do? You've caught me!"

Harry found this odd, and apparently Snape did too, because he pushed Harry down and fired over his head just as a dart of green came from the storeroom door. Harry rolled over, gripping his wand, and pointed it at Narkus.

"STUPEFY!"

Narkus giggled gleefully, and flicked the hex aside. He sent a jet of blue light towards Harry, and Harry mustered all his might and used a Shield Charm, and to his pride and delight he saw Narkus stumble back.

Harry scrambled to his feet, and saw that Snape was taking on nine of the goblins himself, and rushed to his side. He managed to stupefy three of them before they realized he had joined the fight, and they soon began plaguing him with curses. Snape had obviously weakened them, though, and soon the last two were scuttling off for the cover of the storeroom shelves.

Snape seemed almost bored, and as Narkus tried to fire from behind Snape merely flicked his wand at him, and Narkus was flipped into the air and landed across the room in a heap. Harry straightened, and couldn't help smiling at the man.

"That was… impressive."

Snape didn't answer. He walked into the storeroom, blasting the last two goblins from their hiding places, and leaving them both motionless on the floor. He rolled his shoulders, and walked back to the front of the shop. "Come along, Potter. We have a few questions for the jumpy little fellow." He wobbled his head a bit as he walked past Harry, and the boy shook his head, grinning.

Snape was actually enjoying himself.

"Ennervate." Snape already had the little creature on the counter, and its tiny eyes opened on him, then he gave a shriek and scuttled across the glass.

"You… you're…"

Snape braced himself on his hands, facing Narkus without a hint of interest. "Hello, Narkus," he said crisply, his lips accenting every syllable, "I believe you came into the wrong with a business transaction earlier today."

Narkus was clearly alarmed, and Harry watched entertained as Snape played off of it very well.

"Where is the locket, Narkus? You don't want the reputation of someone who doesn't give his customers what they want, do you?"

Narkus shook his head frantically, and Snape gave him a very evil grin. "Then tell me where it is. I will reward you by letting you continue to live your pathetic little life."

Narkus shifted. "I… it's difficult, you see- I can't just… hand it over to you. It's… there's something wrong with it! It's cursed! We managed to open it, and just look what it did to my hand!"

It seemed he was pulling off his skin, but Harry saw it was a glove the same color as his flesh. What it revealed made Harry's breath catch in his chest.

Narkus's hand was black and shriveled, almost as if it had been burned. He'd only seen one other wound like that, and it hadn't been that long ago…

Snape straightened, his face tightening, then took a breath and grabbed Narkus's throat, lifting him off the counter.

"Where is it?" he asked dangerously.

Narkus's legs were flailing. "In… the back… in… the chest…" His words were forced through the chokehold, and Snape dropped him as he made a beeline for the back room.

Narkus rose, holding his throat. "Go ahead. Get yourselves cursed. I don't care." He gave Harry a dirty look, and the boy took a step towards him.

"How did that happen?" he asked, indicating the hand.

Narkus made a face. "I told you, daft boy, we managed to open it. My hand was practically melted, and poor Mangus was… well, he's not with us anymore."

Harry swallowed, and decided not to tell the goblin his own days were numbered. Instead, he lifted his wand. "Come on. You're helping us look."

By the time they had made it to the storeroom, Snape was carrying a small golden chest with rubies adorning it, making his way towards them.

"That's it," Narkus said. "That's the one." He held his blackened hand, backing away. "Don't expect me to help you with anything else." He pointed at Snape. "Nothing this monster can do can compare to what happened to Mangus."

Snape frowned. "Who is Mangus?"

Harry looked at him. "He helped him open the locket. He was killed."

Snape's face registered the concern he bore, and he placed the chest on the counter. Narkus snorted. "Killed- that's a nice way of putting it. Screamed like a banshee, he did, and just fell, writhing around and fighting against something only he could see. There was a sound, too, like wind, only it growled. After it all stopped, after Mangus was quiet, the locket closed again." He shuddered. "It's been in there ever since."

Snape was eyeing the chest thoughtfully. "How did you open it?"

"It took us long enough. But we found this charm, this… hex, I suppose. We were just trying everything we could, and when we spoke this one, the locket…" he swallowed, and his eyes went to Harry, housed with fear.

"What, Narkus? What happened?"

The goblin was trembling. "It spoke back," he whispered.

Snape's eyes shot to him. "What incantation?"

Narkus glanced around, and took a step towards Snape, leaning towards him, his voice barely audible.

"It was Parseltongue," he squeaked. "It was Mangus's idea, see. But when the locket spoke back, and Mangus didn't answer it, that's when... when..."

"What did he speak, Narkus?" Snape's eyes held intuition, and he nodded to the quill on the counter. "Write it down."

Narkus fidgeted, but obeyed, scribbling down something Harry couldn't see.

As he finished, the chest vibrated, and a whisper filled the room. Snape stiffened, and suddenly Harry felt an exploding pain shoot through his forehead.

Snape whirled as he fell, and hauled him up from the floor. "Stay alert, Potter." But his face was pinched with worry.

Harry put a hand over his scar. "Something… something's wrong…"

Narkus suddenly gave a shriek, backing away as he pointed at Harry. "The scar! I know who you are!"

Snape stupefied him again, and helped Harry to his feet, lifting the chest under his arm. He had pulled his hood up, and did the same to Harry's. "We must go, now."

He was leading him back through the store, and Harry frowned. "Why can't we just Disapparate?"

Snape tsked. "Honestly, Potter, I thought for sure you were more intelligent. How convenient would it be for thieves if one could just Apparate in or out? Every shopkeeper disables it. Now hurry, we have to get outside."

Harry suddenly crashed into him again, but it was because Snape had taken a sudden step back. Harry peered past him, and saw hooded figures standing outside.

A bolt of lightning shattered the dark for a few seconds, and Harry saw their masks, six of them staring back as they waited.

Six Death Eaters.

They had to have seen him and Snape, and Snape knew it, for he pushed Harry towards the back, still looking at the group outside. "Go, Harry. Now."

Harry hardly had time to react to Snape's use of his first name before the windows shattered and the six came rushing towards them, jets of light searing the darkness. Snape had practically lifted Harry and was pulling him towards the storeroom, ducking hexes as he ran. He turned as they got through the door, pushing the chest to Harry and shoving him down one of the isles. "Go. run to the alley and take the locket back to the Manor."

Harry hesitated. "I can fight!"

A streak of red zipped through the door, and Snape barely managed to push Harry clear.

"I SAID GO!"

Harry fell back, then turned and ran down the isle. He slowed, finding a niche between two crates and flinging himself into it.

He heard the groan of metal, and peeked over the top of one of the crates to see Snape moving behind a set of beams in the center of the room, three Death Eaters firing on him simultaneously. He ducked down again, breathing hard, and then took another look.

All six were moving towards Snape now, three moving behind him.

Harry looked down at the chest, his mind racing.

He couldn't let him die. Not when he could do something…


Severus Snape had no problem dying.

He was ready for it. It couldn't be much worse than his life, that was for damn sure.

If he could only hold them off long enough for Potter to get back to the Manor, long enough for him to escape, then he had no trouble with removing the hood of his cloak, and letting Bellatrix do him in. He knew it was her on the right, for she always made that pitiful arc with her arm when slinging curses.

Amycus was there, that was obvious, and Donnelli, but the others he couldn't recognize. He didn't hold it against himself, though, seeing as how he was having to fight all five of them…

Wait. There had been six.

He turned, but before he could see the one behind him a curse from Bellatrix launched him over the pile of boxes to his left. He landed hard in the same isle that Potter had disappeared down, and he hoped that the boy had made it outside as another curse knocked him back several feet. He felt a burning pain in his chest, and saw that the armor he wore was gashed, and blood poured from the wound.

His wand was gone, and he tried to stand, but suddenly pain hit him in every part of his body. He felt himself contorting, and knew it was a Cruciatus, for nothing else in the world felt like that. It stopped, and he managed to look up at the hooded figure in front of him, and knew it was a matter of seconds before his own face was revealed, and then...

A jet of light from somewhere above hit one of the Death Eaters, and he crumpled to the ground. More light came from the same place, and sent another flailing. Another ducked into the far isle, disappearing into the darkness.

Severus watched Bellatrix turn, and took the opportunity to summon his wand. As she turned back to him, she was greeted with a blast that sent her flying backwards into two of her group, sending them to the floor with her.

Severus was on his feet in a second, despite the pain in his chest, bringing down everything that moved in the mass of robes. The five of them were down before he looked up towards the ceiling, and saw one Harry Potter four or so shelves up, meeting his gaze and giving a small smile.

"I couldn't let you have all the fun."

A rustle from behind snapped Snape's attention away, and he blocked the curse before it could make contact, returning with another that missed as the last Death Eater dove behind a mound of graying wood.

Snape looked up at the boy, his face twisted in agony. "Get down from there! Take the locket and get back to the Manor!"

Harry ducked as a curse found its way towards him, but dared not fire back blindly for fear of hitting Snape. That was odd, seeing as how only a few months ago he would have gladly taken a shot at him…

He dropped to the lower level, then to the next, and finally to the floor. He could hear Snape battling it out with the last Death Eater, and the hexes were bouncing off the walls they were coming so fast. Harry darted down the isle and took the chest from the niche between the crates, nestling it under his arm.

Harry ran down the isle towards Snape, readying his wand. He flattened himself against the shelves and peered through the slats.

Snape was weakening, and his entire front was covered in blood. His face was pale, paler than usual, and his hexes were coming slower and slower. Harry waited until the Death Eater had just released a spell, then burst from his hiding place, shoving Snape to the far isle.

His shield charm managed to block the hex, and he fired back, then dove for the isle behind Snape.

The chest slipped from his grasp, and clattered to the floor just as a blue fireball crashed into his last position.

The attack stopped immediately. Snape was nearly unconscious, and Harry grimaced at the blood that spilled onto the floor. He took the man's face in his hands, throwing the hood off,and forced him to meet his eyes.

"Snape! Snape! Listen, you have to try to stand. We have to get out of here."

Snape seemed to be failing fast, and Harry fought to remember something- anything- that might repair some of the damage done to him.

He swallowed nervously, and pointed his wand to the wound. "Immendo," he whispered hopefully.

His heart leapt as the gash in the armor began to seal, and prayed that it went a little deeper than that. Snape still seemed to be out of it, so Harry hoped for another miracle "Ennervate," he whispered.

Snape's eyes quit rolling in his head, and he fought to focus on Harry. He frowned, and blinked several times. "Potter? What are you still doing here?"

Harry couldn't stop his relieved smile. "Come on, we have to go now!"

He helped the man to his feet, and noticed that the strength Snape once had when pulling him to safety was now gone. Snape was weak, but moving, and it was only a matter of time before the Death Eaters were up and after them again.

They were halfway down the isle when a shout of glee came from the front of the storeroom.

"I've got it! I've got it!"

Several ennervates later, there was more celebrating, and Harry and Snape managed to slip out a rusty door into a damp greenhouse. It was there Snape's legs gave out, and Harry fought to support him as they Apparated back to the Manor.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline from the fight, or perhaps the feeling of being seconds from a clean getaway, but Harry found himself curiously hoping that this would not be Severus Snape's last trip into adventure.


Sirius was all alone in the house, with no one to talk to but the house elves, and that proved more boring than watching paint dry. He wandered downstairs, and was feeling very sorry for himself indeed.

Remus had left with the others, and Cyrus had suddenly taken off shortly after them. That left Sirius, and Sirius only, to walk around, surrounded by all the glories of life and unable to enjoy them all.

It was remarkably like Grimmauld Place, all over again.

Remus's words still stung, and even though he was angry and hurt and a whole host of other things, he knew, deep down, that he had been right.

He was a selfish, immature fool.

It sounded odd, coming from Remus. From anyone else, it might have bounced off easily. It had before. Lily had said it many times, but he'd laughed at her, never taking her seriously. From James, well, James hadn't been much different. It would have been like the pot calling the kettle black. From Evie…

Well, it was better not to think of her. She was no longer part of the equation, and he kept reminding himself of that about every fifteen seconds.

But from Remus, Remus John Lupin, who had been the honest, caring, and sensible one, it had meaning. Remus never spoke out of jealousy, or anger, or even vengeance. Remus spoke the truth and spoke it from his heart, and he was right.

Sirius Black was a selfish, immature fool.

Knowing it his whole life and hearing it with meaning for the first time held an entirely different sensation.

He had decided upon a bottle of firewhiskey, but had it halfway out of the cupboard when he remembered Harry's plea. He was replacing it, and swore he could almost hear the boy's voice.

As he pushed the door closed, he heard it again.

He turned his head. It sounded much too real…

He walked out of the kitchen and into the foyer, and then he heard it, loud and clear.

"CYRUS!"

Sirius almost couldn't move for a second, for the panic in Harry's voice filled him with such fear that he almost didn't want to see what was wrong. But he made himself rush to the study, and halted as he went in.

Harry was holding Severus, and blood had covered the floor around them. Harry's face was white, and he looked at Sirius brokenly. "I don't think he's breathing. I don't think he's breathing, Sirius. Where's Cyrus? BRING CYRUS!"

Sirius was to them in a second, ripping the armor from Snape's chest. He fell back at the sight of the wound. "He's gone. He's been gone for hours. What happened?"

Harry was breathing so fast his words were distorted. "Death Eaters. Six of them. They showed up as we were leaving. He fought all six of them alone, Sirius. He tried to…" he swallowed. "He saved my life."

Sirius looked at Harry, and back to the wound. "I don't know what to do. I can't fix this. This is bad." He put his hand over Snape's mouth, then nodded. "He's breathing. He's still alive." He stood and turned to the door. "Tilly!"

Tilly was there in a second. "Yes, Master Sirius? What can Tilly do?"

Sirius rubbed his face. "I need you to tell me how to find Evie. I need her to come back. Where is she?"

Tilly's ears dropped. She looked completely guilty. "Tilly… she can't Master Sirius, she can't! That's a secret Miss only told Tilly!"

Sirius shook his head. "Tilly, you won't be in any trouble, I swear. Please."

Tilly's lip was trembling. "Master Sirius... I... Tilly can't! She can't!"

Sirius dropped to his knees in front of her. "Tilly, please. She would understand. Severus is dying, Tilly. We need to know where to find Evie. Please, Tilly. For me. For Master Sirius."

Tilly searched his eyes with her oversized ones, and finally gave a nod. "Very well. Tilly willgo for her, right away." Without another word, she Disapparated, and Sirius was left staring at thin air. He turned back to Harry as a groan issued from Severus, who was writhing against some unseen torture. Sirius pulled the robes away from his chest, and Harry saw with a sick twist of his stomach that the gash was spreading, now moving to his neck and down his torso.

"Sirius, we have to do something. We have to do something now."

Sirius nodded, and helped Harry move him to the couch, taking off his shirt and holding it down over the seeping blood. He put a hesitant hand on Severus's head, and spoke gently.

"Hang on, Severus, you can't go out like this. It's too easy, and I never got you back for that Stinging Hex, you crazy bastard."

Harry smiled at him, and Sirius smiled back. They stared at each other for quite some time, and the sound of Apparation moved them from the floor.

Evie's face was colorless, though her eyes were watery and scarlet. She turned to face them, and her features twisted. "Oh, God, no."

Sirius motioned to her. "He's still alive, Evie, he's still here. Tell me what you need me to do. We'll help you."

She was to them in a second, and pulled Sirius's shirt away from the wound. She clamped a hand over her mouth, sucking in a sharp breath, and looked at Harry. "Death Eaters?" Harry nodded, and she looked at Sirius. "We have to move him to the second floor. Everything I need is there. You two will have to help me."

Sirius nodded. "Absolutely."

She asked Tilly to bring a gurney, and smacked her hand on the tabletop. "Where is Cyrus? How could he have left like this? He knows someone has to stay behind in case something like this happens."

Sirius shook his head. "I don't know, Evie. He simply said it was urgent."

She muttered a curse, and Tilly and Amos brought in the gurney, floating easily under a charm. Sirius and Harry lifted Snape gently on to it, and Tilly looked up at Evie guiltily.

Evie forced a smile. "You did well, Tilly. I could never thank you enough."

Tilly smiled in relief, and leaned into her Mistress's hand as she gave her a loving caress.