Omg. "Wait until my father hears of this" is the same as "I'm telling Severus". Harry, no. What have I done to you?

-/+

"He's a werewolf," Neville parroted back, seemingly testing the words on his tongue. He almost asked the boy if he was sure. He's heard stories about werewolves before and they did not paint the gentle, kind Professor that he knew. Neville rubbed at his throat, maybe not too kind and gentle. He looked to the smaller boy to see that he hadn't lowered his wand yet and still had that smile on his face. It was not a goodwill smile and Neville was extremely grateful that he was on this side of the room.

"It will need to be stirred in fifteen minutes," Severus announced in the quiet air. He gestured for the man to sit.

"There is no need for that, Mr. Potter," Lupin slowly, carefully moved towards the chair. He wrinkled his nose as the potion's fumes pressed down on all of his senses. It was actually a great relief as it almost made him feel like a normal wizard but it still stank to the high heavens and tasted like a rotting corpse. Made correctly. Lupin couldn't help his brows from furrowing. Although it was only half done, it looked and smelled completely different than the concoction Peter made. Lily would be proud to have birthed such a little genius. Now if she would approve of his extracurricular activities… Lupin smiled balefully, maybe she would. Lily wasn't friends with Snape for no reason after all, there was a vicious streak in that woman.

"Give Longbottom your wand," Severus demanded in response.

"M-me?" Neville almost clinched out of his skin.

"Yes, you. If he snatches you again, I've an excellent spell that feels like a punch. It'll hit him in the throat and collapse his Adam's apple," Severus assured the boy though it was mostly directed as a warning to the man. He needed him to understand that Severus's patience was thin at the moment, thin enough that that punch was likely to feel like a sledgehammer. His threat seemed to work as the man made no sudden moves and simply allowed his wand to be taken by the nervous boy. Neville immediately scampered back to Severus's side.

"You use a spell to plug your nose during class." Severus started with something that he knew was a fact. How else could the man smell a student out of bed but not a fire right behind him?

"Yes."

"This potion allows you to maintain control while in your transformed wolf form." He waited for the man to lie.

"Yes."

"You knew Lil… my mum and dad."

"Yes."

"You're a werewolf."

"Yes."

"You're a Death Eater."

"No!" The man denied immediately. He jerked suddenly, hands snatching at his sleeves. Before Severus could make up his mind to hit the man with a binding spell two hairy forearms were held out for his gaze. They were littered with silver scars and red welts from the most recent incident. Other than that they were boring forearms. Severus stepped closer to touch the flesh, just to make sure that there wasn't some sort of muggle solution being used. "Death Eaters are marked with a skull and snake. It is a brand of sorts, completely permanent and impossible to hide. I have never nor would I ever be a Death Eater."

"Then what of your friend, Pettigrew?" Severus tilted his head, well aware of dark marks. Snape was his godfather after all. Actually, he was sure that the man should never be around children; the things he told him were quite horrifying indeed. To top it off they were mostly things Snape himself has done while under the Dark Lord's command. Yes, he knew of the man's slip into evil but he highly doubted that the same reformation could be said for Pettigrew—if he was a Death Eater.

"Harry was attacked by two. I concluded that it was you and the rat."

"How did you know his animagus?" Remus frowned. Severus rolled his eyes. If he hadn't already assumed it to be fact, Remus definitely just let him know. But the confirmation was helpful, now he knew to slit any rat that approached him from groin to throat. Why was the man spying on him? He hadn't seen him recently… so what was he doing now?

"Is he a Death Eater?" Severus countered but he knew the question was useless. Remus Lupin was a kind man, one who wore his heart on his sleeve. He was haggard and tired from transforming every month but Severus saw the warmth he had for each student, even the Slytherins, even the ones who hated him and called him names behind his back but in his vicinity. Some students were brave enough to abuse him to his face. A man that kind would never suspect or turn on a friend.

"No, Peter would never do that," Lupin denied vehemently. Predictable. Severus sighed and his wand slipped back up his sleeve. This was over. Although he solved the (rather boring) mystery of Lupin, he was sure the man hadn't attacked Harry. In fact, the intense stare and slightly moving lips was likely the man reciting a counter curse. Fat load of good it had done. Harry nearly died. Severus glared at the man for being the useless sack of beast he was but that didn't mean that the potion had to suffer. The fifteen minutes were up. Lupin made a distressed noise in his throat akin to a dog's whine. It embarrassed him enough to make him clear his throat and try human words.

"You don't believe me but please try. I didn't simply know your parents. Lily and James were my best friends. Our best friends. Every step of their lives together, I witnessed and participated in it. When you died… when we thought you were stillborn we all mourned you. When Harry took his first step we all cheered. On and on, milestone after milestone all four of us were together."

"Five." Severus muttered, distracted once again. He didn't need a five minute bleeding heart speech because that's all he was hearing from the man. Lupin made a curious noise, confused. "It was mum, dad, you, Pettigrew and Black. That's five."

Perhaps he should just tie the man down and explore his mind. He glanced at him and gave a shudder upon meeting unnaturally gold eyes. No, he was quite sure he wouldn't enjoy that particular beast. Besides, Severus felt that the man had little to no information he wanted at this moment.

"We don't talk about him," Lupin said, the growl back in his voice.

"Does Longbottom need to restrain you?" Severus cocked his head just barely.

"No," Lupin cleared his throat and repeated himself. "That man did something utterly unforgiv—!"

"He was their secret keeper, wasn't he?" Severus rolled his eyes at the gaping man. Seriously, one did not have to be a genius to guess that. Not that Severus guessed. He had already been told it as fact. 'That mangy mutt turned on his friends like the rabid, murdering psychopath he truly has always been' were Snape's exact words. "Wolves put such gravity on pack but you aren't a wolf. You're a man, a wizard. Open your eyes and see!" Severus resisted the real urge to beat the man with his ladle. But it was silver and would likely leave a permanent, visible mark.

Remus fell silent. He wanted to be angry at the pup—child, he wanted to grip him by the scruff and shake every disrespectful nerve out of the little redhead. Remus was a highly capable, knowledgeable adult. If the position wasn't cursed, he'd be the DADA professor and really be able to show off his skills. But he had a feeling that even in his element, this little brat would still be nasty. Remus wanted to be angry but could he be? He used friendship as a reason why someone wasn't a traitor. What did friendship mean in times of war? Remus rubbed at his face. But they weren't supposed to be at war any more! What war lasted from childhood to adulthood? Would he be fighting when he turned eighty? One hundred?

Stop that. Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. He was just startled. If he were before a fellow adult, this wouldn't be so strange, so hard. Maybe if the boy was larger and not wearing a girl's uniform. A girl's…?

"You're my stalker?" Remus frowned.

"I've no idea what you're talking about. Well, I have gotten your potion back to where it belongs," Severus climbed carefully from the table, leaving his half eaten dinner plate. Lupin could take care of it, Severus had more important things to do.

"Wait!" Lupin reached out but stopped short of actually grabbing the boy. As a werewolf he healed quickly (which is why the dinner attack hadn't resulted in serious injury) but injuries still hurt. And he knew that Severus would try to injure him as much as possible. The boy stopped short, eyebrow raising in question. "You cannot tell anyone what you know."

"Yes, yes," Severus waved him off, "I will keep your secret. Attempt to guard it better because I will need favors from you and that can't happen if you aren't here."

"I will not be blackmailed," Remus snapped, this time managing to keep Moony at bay. Something about this pup (fuck! Child! Child!) made Moony itchy and aggressive. Like Severus was challenging the beast directly.

"I do not plan on blackmailing you." If Severus rolled his eyes once more, they'd fall out of his head. Severus was an eleven year old child. While he could blackmail the wolf, he could guess that it would only last a few months at most. The wolf would get tired or embarrassed or realize he could overpower him and to Hell with the secret. No, no. Severus would keep blackmailing for someone else.

"Our relationship will be mutually beneficial. I will continue to make your potion—Wolfsbane?—every month and you will do things for me that I think is worth my effort. How much do you think your sanity is worth?"

Remus was sure that, somehow, this was worse. But the pup (Remus gave up) had him caught in a tank that was roomy enough to make him think he was free. Wolfsbane had no price, it was priceless. Remus would do almost anything for that relief.

"I'm glad we can agree," Severus leveled him with a bright, pretty smile that almost made Remus forget the boy was a demon. Almost. "Come along, Neville. I have some—oh. I almost forgot." Severus turned on his heel and walked right up to Remus. "In your school days was there anyone who suddenly disappeared? A girl. Perhaps she had ashy blond hair and dark eyes? She would have been a Slytherin."

Remus shook his head. Then sighed, "Do you have anything else to go off? Perhaps—."

"Thank you," Severus cut him off. Rude pup. "Leave your office unlocked from now on. It took me nearly five minutes to strip your wards."

Stop that, Moony. Remus wanted to punch the wolf for being proud at stalling a pup. But he had it wrong. Moony wasn't proud of stalling a pup—that would be stupid. The wolf was proud of the strong addition to his pack and yes, despite making his hackles rise, Moony accepted this boy as his pack now. Remus would probably be horrified if he learned that Moony liked this human pup but he truly did. There was something dangerous and beast-like about the boy. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Moony settled inside his host.

That pup took a lot out of them.

+/-

Poppy reached back to fluff her pillow before replacing it. Now, Poppy could admit that she had her fair share of pillows and she rather liked being comfy but Minerva? Her dear, best friend since girlhood, Minerva? Oh that woman knew the true meaning of comfort. Spread throughout each of her rooms were a multitude of blankets softer than the softest cashmere and pillows fluffier than a griffin's chick. Minerva also provides soft, fluffy robes and slippers made of pure sin.

So, obviously, during the school year, they had their get-togethers in the professor's rooms. Poppy made sure to provide the whiskey and the tea. They were getting older after all, too much hard liquor before bed would be unwise.

She looked over to her friend to see her grumbling at her pillows and blankets as she got comfortable on an overstuffed armchair.

"It had to be Severus, right?" Poppy was not laughing at her dear friend but the woman was in such a mood. She supposed she would be too if she had been on those stands when they came crumbling down but she wasn't so she had a grand time laughing at her dear friend.

"I have no proof of that," Minerva sniffed her tea before taking a sip. It sent nice warmth into her belly and through all her aching muscles.

She couldn't and wouldn't place the blame at Severus's feet but for the stands to come falling down just as Harry's broom was jinxed… well, it was highly suspicious. Added to the fact that Poppy has allowed the boy to leave his detention. She gave the slightly younger witch a brief glare. "You cannot show him special attention, Poppy. He is no longer Severus Snape."

"I am not an idiot, Minerva," Poppy sniffed. She didn't need to be told the full story because she knew Snape's magical core. It had taken her a second to recognize it in this different casing but a core was a core, it could not be altered into someone else's. "I don't understand what he is planning but I recognize that the Severus Snape I knew is essentially dead."

"I don't understand what that man is thinking either. Albus should have let me have the boy, I would've—." Minerva definitely thought she would have raised a very polished, kind Severus. Oh, the Dursley's did well enough (beyond a few… incidents) but he was still so very… devious. But Minerva was unable to fully paint the Severus she would have raised because Poppy cut off her. It was all very well, she's definitely spewed the same ideas on other tea whiskey nights.

"I'm not talking about Albus. His is a mind I never want to be in," Poppy shuddered, "I'm talking about Snape. I don't know what he is planning."

"What ever do you mean?" Minerva urged her friend to continue.

"You don't think that Severus accidentally made a reverse aging potion do you?" Poppy quirked an eyebrow, ignoring the way her friend nearly choked on her tea. "I am not saying that Severus is perfect but I will say that he is a dangerous, crafty man. This could be a very elaborate scheme."

"That explosion could have killed him," Minerva frowned, patting at her lap blanket. Her hands shook just a bit. When she and Albus had come across the lab, it was barely even a lab anymore. There was chaos everywhere, water running from the broken pipes, rocks still coming down, a small fire in the corner and a tattered black robe poking from underneath. Tears were falling down her cheeks before they even started trying to save the man underneath. But he was okay, he was alive at least.

"Not only that but Severus is a loyal fighter for the light. He never would run from his responsibilities," Minerva continued. Not that it worked if that had been the plan. Albus managed to craft a plan that fell conveniently in place like puzzle pieces and still put Severus to use. Minerva rubbed her aching shoulder, yes the man turned boy certainly lived up to whatever expectation Albus had. He was swift and deadly.

Minerva held up a hand when Poppy started to protest, "No, no more of that. And don't let these conspiracy theories reach anyone's ears."

Poppy pursed her lips. She didn't understand, not truly understand, what those accusations (she didn't see them as such) could do to the boy. She didn't understand that if Severus planned his de-aging then it would be reasonable to assume that he'd have a contingency plan or a back up or some sort of plan B. Or, worse, someone could think he was faking and that could lead nowhere good. She didn't understand this but she knew that her friend cared for the little Slytherin and wanted the best for him. So she'd keep any of her thoughts to their tea time.

"Did you hear that Harry verbally tore into some upper class men?" Poppy grinned around her cup's rim, smoothly changing the subject. Minerva gasped, shock visible on her face. Poppy nodded and started to recount the insults she heard through the gossip mills.

Severus was fine for now.

He was happy at least.

-/+

Quirinus smiled but the resulting frown made him very aware that the smile was probably not his best. He fidgeted and begged his master to tell him what to say but his master remained silent. The piece of wizard had fallen oddly quiet after the Quidditch game but he was still there, right in the back of his mind. Just so quiet. It should be a relief but now he was pinned by intense green eyes.

"Do you have a twin?" Harry Potter, yes that Harry Potter had cornered him. Well the boy was a child so it wasn't really cornering him but it definitely felt like it.

"I'm uh, n-n-no. W-w-wh-why w-would y-y-y-you ask t-that?" Quirinus tried another smile but this one was shaky and nervous. Wake up you stupid soul! No, he didn't mean stupid but he was scared. His master would know what to do.

"You stutter less in class and sometimes you seem… different," Harry scratched at his scar but it was an idle itch like one he could easily ignore.

Technically there was five minutes until curfew and he was in the dungeons so he didn't have time for this but this man was just too weird for Harry to just walk past. What was the DADA professor even doing in the dungeons? And Harry was sure he'd seen the man staring hard at his brother on multiple occasions. Too hard. Like McGonagall but in a creepier way.

"B-b-being in f-f-front of m-m-mmm-my st-students m-m-makes m-me l-l-l-less n-nerv-nervous," Quirinus could... honestly say that. Or he thought that he could. Sometimes, only sometimes, the wizard thought that maybe he wasn't himself. Maybe the memories he had weren't quite his, maybe the dreams made no sense and sometimes their thoughts weren't two thoughts. Sometimes it was just his master's. And that. When had his thoughts turned from dark lord to master?

But it would be over soon. Christmas break was just around the corner and it would be mostly empty at that point. He planned to find the philosopher's stone and restore his master's body and receive his gift of great power. He just had to make it to Christmas break.

"Harry, there you are." Quirinus nearly jumped from his skin. He whipped around to see the other Potter standing mere feet from him. For a second, the nervous man thought his master stirred but, still, he did not speak. "Good evening professor. Come along, Harry."

"But—!" Harry started to protest even as his brother began to drag him away. Quirinus was so relieved by his good luck that he almost didn't notice that they were heading in the complete opposite direction of the Slytherin dorms.

"He knooowwwsss."

Quirinus jerked then relaxed once more. It was just his master. He looked up as though to meet the eyes of a man taller than him. Thank Merlin he was back. He thought he'd been abandoned. "I-I th-thought—."

"He knnooowwwsss," his master repeated. Heat lapped at his consciousness, promising pain if he didn't answer correctly. But he didn't know the answer. He didn't even know the question. "Cleevveerr bboooyyy."

"I-if he d-d-does kn-kn—ah!" Wrong answer! Wrong answer! Quirinus fell to the ground, trying his best to not flail too wildly as pain consumed his entire being.

"It is noooottt iiiffff. Heeee. Knnoowwwsss."

"W-why hasn't…" Quirinus coughed, iron fresh on his tongue. It hurt to speak, it hurt to blink. But he managed to condense his question in one croaked our word. "Dumbledore."

Voldemort wished he had eyes so that he could roll them. He wished he had hands so he could pluck out this idiot's eyes. Why couldn't he have been discovered by a more competent staff member? Even an idiot like Hagrid could tell that Severus trusted no one much less the Headmaster. It was the only way to live.

Well, he wouldn't have to deal with Quirinus for long. Christmas break was coming and once this idiot brewed his potion and consumed it, Voldemort would consume the rest of his soul and take over this pathetic body. Well, it wouldn't be pathetic once he was finished.

He deserved something much better.

If only he could take over Potter's body. There was something there, inside the boy. Something his, something that he craved.

But no, it was too risky.

Better to kill him and take his Severus.

-/+

"Sev, what're you doing? I had that weirdo!" Harry flailed one arm but did nothing else to stop himself from being guided elsewhere. It was always best to go along with Severus and find out along the way or later but that didn't mean he had to be quiet about it… once out of earshot of the formerly mentioned weirdo.

"Don't go near him again," Severus ordered simply. He could not explain the horror he has felt seeing Harry squaring off with the possible enemy. He didn't even have his wand out!

"He's been staring at you all weird!" Harry protested. It's bad enough two freaks are trying to kill him now he had a strong suspicion on which one wanted Severus. But Professor Quirrell didn't look a thing like that monster. Harry shook his head, nope! That was longer a viable reason. Magic did crazy stuff so Professor Quirrell being Voldemort in disguise was on the table.

"He's been doing more than that. He's been following me," Severus spat, face twisted in disgust and anger. They entered the potion's lab with a simple twist of the knob. Good, Lupin wasn't as dumb as he looked. "I have many stalkers it seems and Quirrell is the most likely in cohorts with Pettigrew."

"So you ruled out Professor Lupin," Harry nodded, oddly relieved. Severus told him that the man was a really good friend of their parents and after meeting his dad Harry was itching to talk to their potions professor.

"Yes. He's a werewolf." Severus froze suddenly then looked over his shoulder at Harry, his cheeks pink. "Don't repeat that to anyone. Absolutely no one." Harry wisely held back his amusement, miming zipping his lips and throwing away the key. Severus hadn't meant to let that slip, he never, ever let anything slip and look at that. He trusted Harry so much that it just came out like casual chit chat.

So Professor Lupin was a werewolf. Somehow, he didn't find that very surprising.

"Isn't that a little funny that his name is Remus Lupin? It's kinda like being named Wolfy Wolf," Harry commented. Severus made a choking noise and leveled Harry with a disappearing stare.

"That is not the…" Severus sighed and turned to the wolfsbane instead. He didn't even stop the curious Harry from leaning in close and getting a nice nose full of the disgusting brew. In fact he smiled at the utter disgust and slightly green edges. Served him right.

"I've made a deal with Lupin. He's to do a favor for me that I find worthy of this potion. I suggest you use it to demand he tell you every thing he knows of our parents." It was all the werewolf was good for at the moment. He had planted a seed of doubt in his mind about the rat. With luck it was deep enough to take root and for that to cause action. Severus sighed. When have they ever had luck?

Well it was lucky that the potion had long gaps of simmering so it made it easy for them to go through their various extracurricular activities and biweekly updates (or however long they haven't seen each other).

Harry explained that he tried his damn best to stay away from Professor Pettigrew. After all, anyone Severus deemed creepy enough for them to both observe together had to be bad news. Actually, creepy wasn't even the word. Harry shuddered as he recalled how the man had just… been… there. Just there. Being. Everywhere Harry turned. And always smiling. And never blinking. It was quite horrifying actually so Harry made sure he always had a buddy with him. Maybe if Harry didn't have the suspicion that the man tried to kill him just a little while ago it wouldn't be so bad. He did just seem to want to talk but Harry wasn't stupid.

"I caught him in his rat form a few months back so he must have switched tactics," Severus concluded. Harry nodded, that is the exact thought he had. He rolled his eyes. They were kids but they weren't that naïve. Severus described his conversation with Neville (Harry received a head thump for laughing) which led into the confrontation with Lupin and then Neville revealing his other stalker. Professor Quirrell.

"I'm calling it now. He's Voldemort with a human mask on." There Harry went again. Taunting Lady Luck.

"It would be more likely that he is possessed by Voldemort's hateful exposed soul." Oh and there Severus went joining him.

The red haired boy smiled at his brother's light chuckles then frowned. There were several things wrong with their theory. The first and most obvious is how did the man manage to sneak into Hogwarts? Did Dumbledore not notice? Did Quirrell show no strong changes? The second being just how dangerous and stupid that would be. An exposed soul was, well, exposed. Even weak magic could destroy it unless it was being nourished constantly and protected somehow.

"Wanna bet five galleons?" Harry wiggled his eyebrows.

"How morbid, let's make it ten."

-/+

TBC

I hope it was enjoyed, I know this one was shorter but! We're coming close to the end! Not sure of the title yet but I'm ready to get to second year.

Omg could you imagine turning a corner and Pettigrew is just standing there, trying to smile all casual? And not just that corner but every corner?

See y'all next time!