A/N: Hi! This is just a silly little story, my first HP fic in years, and first in this fandom that i have actually posted. Cross-posted from ao3, as usual. English is not my first language etc. so feel free to point out my mistakes. I know some sentences may sound funny...

- If you're here after subscribing to my reylo series, do not worry: the final story of "whoesoe" will be published somewhen this summer. I already have most of first chapter written, so...
- And if you're here as a regular Potterhead, but you also don't mind some time-travel and/or crack reylo fics, check out my other works!

Don't hesitate to tell me what you think :)

No one would say that Remus Lupin was mean.

He was no saint nor angel, he wasn't even the mildest-tempered Marauder (that was the dubious honour of poor Wormtail)... He wasn't mean though.

Remus Lupin was nice .

But even nice people had their moments. Especially after one of their colleagues had just tried to reveal their dangerous, shameful secret to the entire student population.

So this is why he said it.

"... but there isn't much I could tell you about her childhood better than Severus..."

"Snape?!" Harry gasped, green eyes wide with disbelief.

"Professor Snape, Harry," Remus corrected with a little smile, but then they were both distracted by the patrolling Dementor, floating in the distance.

The tiny joy of mischief managed faded out and the chill was creeping in.

It was his terf, his dungeons, and the brat was doing it again instead of brewing. It's been two weeks since the Prince of Gryffindor wasn't let out of the castle to conquer Hogsmeade and since Severus started to feel like someone travelled back in time.

Just like the first few days of September '91, Potter was looking at him from behind those ridiculous glasses... with curiosity. The same one that died during his first Potions class, replaced with suspicion and then hatred, that curiosity was back. During meals in the Great Hall, during classes in his dungeons, the brat just kept on staring.

Sometimes he almost looked like a cat, green eyes round with fake innocence, no doubt after managing some mischief that was soon to be discovered.

Well, curiosity killed the cat, didn't it?

He crept closer to Potter's cauldron, staring down at the boy in return, none of them blinking.

It would be so easy to slip inside his mind and just see what it is that he's hiding, what ridiculous plans to take down Black are being made, thoughts that would lead to detention or risking his life like every. Single. Year!

... but no.

Legilimency isn't something Severus uses carelessly or often, and not even when it comes to Potter.

Brat ignored Granger's frantic whispers, despite the potion clearly dark blue instead of opaque purple and Severus pursed his lips triumphantly. Another failure of the great House of Gryffindor...

Time passes, detentions are served, the boy keeps staring, Albus laughs at him, Severus knew Lupin was evil all along, for once the brat doesn't stare, he wakes up near the Lake, the mutt is unconscious, the boy... not moving.

He can't see a single Dementor.

.

.

.

The brat lives.

Of course the boy lives. Like anyone would doubt it, well, definitely not him.

One Incarcerous and two vials later Severus gets everyone to the castle.

Later the portraits will gossip of seeing him smile all the way to the Hospital Wing, but no one will believe, not even Poppy Pomfrey.

(Snape, smiling!)

It's that least he can do to avenge Lily, with Black soon to be Kissed and her son safe for a little while more - everything looks up for Severus...

So of course an hour later Black is gone, Fudge is sick, Albus is twinkling, Dementors are moping, Potter and Granger are oh-so-tired and Poppy is doing her best mother hen impression.

But that's not even the worst part.

The worst part is next day, when he still tries to deliver Lupin's Wolfsbane at breakfast and get back at least at one Marauder , and Potter is right there with his staring and he asks Severus,

"Were you really friends with my mom?" in a voice so alien and so not Potter and so quiet that only Filius and the werewolf can hear them...

It's when Filius sighs happily (as if to say: 'Finally, no more secrets'), when Lupin takes over the steaming vial with a mean smile (as if to say: 'And the Marauders win again'), when Potter's eyes turn calculating and hungry (as if to say: 'Now you will tell me everything'), this is when Severus Snape knows in his heart of hearts.

(Severus knew Lupin was evil all along)