Chapter 7

for your capability and high marks in this and all your classes.

Hurriedly, Rebecca spread books and papers across the table in the Gryffindor common room. She wanted to make it look like she was studying, in case anyone was watching her.

As she had passed Severus in the hall, he had slipped a piece of paper into her hand. She had hidden it in her sleeve. She now drew it out and unfolded it. It read:

Becca,

Meet me after dinner tonight at the top of the astronomy tower.

Severus

She smiled and nonchalantly brushed the paper into the fire. Since last year, when Dumbledore had told her to stay out of the Slytherin common room, she and Severus had been meeting all over the castle. In the library, the Great Hall, even on the roof. And now, the Astronomy tower.

The portrait hole swung open then, and Minerva McGonagall stepped in. she had graduated a few years previously, and was back as a teacher. Most of the older students were still having trouble calling her "Professor McGonagall," rather than "Minerva."

"End of term reports," she announced, handing out sheets of paper. Rebecca hardly glanced at hers. She knew she had good marks. She laid it on the corner of the table and opened her Potions book.

As soon as McGonagall was gone, Peter grabbed Rebecca's paper and read it. "Ooh, almost perfect, Slytherin Girl," he taunted. "Third in the class. Shame, you can do better." Rebecca did not even flinch. She had learned long ago the best way to deal with Peter was to ignore him.

"Maybe you should be switched to Ravenclaw, then. Oh, wait, you're already a Slytherin."

Lily cried, "Peter, shut up!" but he ignored her.

"So let's see," Peter continued, "You have the grades of a Ravenclaw, the beater skills of a Gryffindor, and the Turncoatedness of a Slytherin."

"Is 'turncoatedness' even a word?" asked Sirius, trying to break Peter's train of thought, but Peter continued as if he had not heard.

"Why don't you just rotate houses every week so you can be more well rounded?" Peter sneered. Rebecca tapped her index finger on the cover of her book. This was the signal she and Remus had worked out.

Remus walked over and asked, "What are you reading, Becca?"

"It's really very interesting," she replied coolly. "It's about slow-acting venoms. This one, here? It's completely tasteless, so if I were to, say, sprinkle it on someone's food, he wouldn't even know until a few days later when he was dead."

Pettigrew paled. Remus continued their little conversation. "It looks awfully hard to make, though."

"Oh, I could manage it easily. After all, I have unrestricted access to the Potions Master's supplies, and Severus would help me, no doubt."

Peter turned and, mumbling something about needing to see someone, left the room. Sirius burst out laughing. "That was great, you two!" he exclaimed. "I feel sorry for Peter though. He is our friend."

"He's not a friend," snapped Rebecca. "He's a parasite!" She returned to her Potions book, ignoring the shocked silence that now filled the common room.

After dinner, Rebecca hurried out of the Great Hall and up to the Astronomy tower. Severus was already there. "How," she gasped, "how did you get up here so fast?"

"Catch your breath," he ordered her. "I want to show you something." He was standing looking across the castle grounds. She moved beside him. He slid his arm around his waist, pulling her close to him. "See that tree?" he asked, pointing at the whomping willow that had been planted six years ago.

"Yes."

"You would never think, would you, that there is a tunnel under it." She glanced at his face. He wore a strange expression. It was a mixture of fury and pain. Her heart ached for him.

"How do you know?" she asked.

He looked sadly at her. "I had an interesting mishap with your friend Lupin last night." To anyone else, it would seem that he had changed the subject, but Rebecca knew better.

"What happened?"

"There's a tunnel under that tree. It leads to a boarded up house over in Hogsmeade. Your Gryffindor friends were there last night." His voice was dripping with bitterness. He asked abruptly, "did you know Lupin was a werewolf?"

She sighed. A slight breeze ruffled her hair. "Yes. He asked me not to tell anyone."
"So he's the reason you wanted to make a wolfsbane potion in fourth year."

"Yes."
They stood together silently for a minute, then, "I finished it."

Her head came up sharply. "What? You finished it?"

His eyes gleamed. "Yes. I think it will work now."

"We've got to tell Dumbledore!" she cried, excited. He caught the back of her robes.

"You're not going anywhere," he growled in her ear, pulling her close.

"What-" she started.

He pressed his mouth against her ear. "Listen to me. Your friend almost killed me yesterday. James Potter saved me. Do you know how angry I am to be in his debt? We are not going to Dumbledore with the potion. Lupin can be a miserable, hunted werewolf for the rest of his life as far as I'm concerned.

Rebecca was shocked. She knew Severus hated Remus, but she had no idea that it was this intense. His arms were around her waist, holding her tightly with her back pressed against him. Suddenly, his head dropped onto her shoulder. "Oh, God," he moaned.

They stood there for a long time, gazing out across the grounds. She reached into her pocked and pulled out a small phial, which she wordlessly handed to him. He gazed at it. "Cheering solution," he murmured, and downed half the bottle. She drank the other half.

Instantly, a lightness spread over her. She pulled out her wand and pointed it in the direction of the broomshed. "Accio brooms!" she called. A few seconds later, two brooms shot up towards the tower and clattered into their hands. Rebecca clambered onto hers, calling "catch me if you can!"

It was a wonderful night for flying. The cool air whipped their robes and hair about them. Stars were starting to come out. Severus caught up with Rebecca as she flew towards the edge of the forbidden forest. He leaned towards her and pushed her off her broom. They both toppled to the ground. Severus put his hands on her shoulders, pinning her to the ground.

She struggled, laughing, to get up, but he was strong. "Call me 'Master,'" he demanded.

"Never," she gasped. They fought for a few seconds, then she gave up and lay, heart pounding, gasping for breath. "All right, you have me under your power. What are you going to do with me?"

"First, I'm going to make you call me 'Master!'"

She laughed. "In your dreams, Sev."

"Say it!"
"No!"

"Say it!"

She shook her head. He leaned down so his face was only inches from hers. "Say it!"

"Make me."

"Do you really want me to?" He leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips. As he drew back his head, she mumbled something. "What?" he asked, leaning close again.

"I said 'okay, you win this time, Master.'" He released her shoulders and she sat up. They brushed themselves off and took their brooms back to the broomshed.

As they walked, the effects of Rebecca's cheering solution wore off. Severus turned to look at her. "I'm sorry about that kiss," he told her softly.

"Don't be," she murmured.