Chapter 23- Shattered Friendship

John sat in the Gryffindor common room alone that night. He had decided to keep an eye out for the creature. John had brought the book of Abaron with him and he read it quietly. He listened to the crackle of the fire and time passed slowly. Soon it was late and John yawned. Gotta stay up, he thought sleepily, but I guess it wouldn't hurt if I closed my eyes. As John sat there with his eyes closed he drifted off to sleep.
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Anaka woke up late that night and looked around. She had been having bad dreams about the creature all night and she couldn't take it anymore. She got out of bed and went into the common room. The rooms had been fixed and cleaned of blood. As she looked around the common room she couldn't see any sign that Milata had been killed there the other night. She walked towards the dying fire and smiled as she found John sleeping in a chair with the open book on his lap. Anaka quietly took the book off his lap and sat in a nearby chair. She flipped through some of the pages. Then she decided to wake John. He would feel horrible if he knew he slept the whole night when he was supposed to be watching, Anaka thought. She got up and gently kissed John on the forehead. He stirred and opened his eyes slightly.
"What are you doing up?" he asked as he sat up and stretched.
"I couldn't sleep." Anaka shrugged.
"Bad dreams?" he asked. Anaka nodded.
"I don't believe I feel asleep…" John started but Anaka put a finger to his lips.
"Don't." she whispered. Then she leaned down and kissed him.
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Remus stared at the clock next to his bed. It was late and Remus had not slept all night. He kept on worrying about Anaka and Leslie and the others. He knew John was watching them but he didn't think John could stop whatever this creature was. Eventually Remus got out of bed and dressed. He looked outside at the moon. It was getting closer to full every night and that meant closer to the battle. Remus shook his head and headed out the door.
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John and Anaka were kissing when Remus entered and they drew apart quickly.
"Hi dad." Said Anaka surprised, "What are you doing here?"
Remus smiled.
"Just checking up on you guys I guess." He replied.
"We're fine Professor Lupin." John reassured him. Remus laughed.
"You can call me by my first name you know. It will make things less tense."
"Yes sir." John said.
Then he blushed and Anaka and Remus laughed. Remus's eyes wandered to the girl's dormitory. He walked towards it.
"I'm going to check on Leslie." He said quickly.
Before Anaka could respond he was gone.
"You can not stop him." John shrugged.
"I guess." Anaka grumbled.
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Leslie woke up to the sound of her door closing. She thought of the creature and stayed silent. She looked towards the door and saw nothing. Leslie closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep. Then a hand gently brushed the hair off her forehead. She sat up quickly and would have screamed but a hand was put over her mouth.
"It's only me. Remus." The person whispered.
Leslie recognized his voice and nodded. He handed Leslie her glasses and Leslie sighed when she saw Remus.
"What are you doing her?" she asked him, "Isn't this a a girl's dormitory?"
Remus smiled.
"I just wanted to check up on you."
"Really?" Leslie said with a laugh, "Well don't worry. I'm fine."
"But if anything happened to you…" Remus said softly putting a hand on her cheek. Leslie gently touched his hand.
"You be careful too." She told him.
He smiled then leaned in and kissed her. They pulled away quickly and stared at each other. Remus smiled again and then leaned in to kiss her. They sat there kissing for a while when an image of Severus suddenly popped into Leslie's mind. She jumped off the bed and rubbed her forehead.
"What is it?" Remus asked concerned. He got up.
"Did I do something wrong? I thought you and I…"
"It wasn't you Remus." Leslie said, "It's just that Severus and I…"
"Oh." replied Remus. His eyes darkened.
"I didn't realize you two were a couple."
He started to leave but Leslie stopped him.
"We are not a couple." She said sternly, "What gave you that idea?! We are just friends. The thing is we had a talk a while ago about spying and the first rule of a spy is to not get involved with anyone. My feelings could get in the way of my work. Frankly they already have." She said with a smile.
Lupin nodded.
"I understand." He said quietly.
Leslie watched him leave and sighed. She had to concentrate on her work and not worry about Remus. He and Anaka would be fine. She got into bed and closed her eyes. She tried to sleep but something was bothering her. Who had given Remus the idea that there was something between her and Severus?
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The next day Leslie walked into Severus's classroom quietly. He was reading a bunch of papers on his desk. He looked up as she closed the door.
"What now?" he growled.
"Not happy to see me?" Leslie teased.
Severus grunted and looked down at his papers. Leslie took a step closer, then stopped. She shifted her weight nervously. Severus's eyes wandered to where she stood. He sighed and sat back in his chair.
"What is it?" he asked again in a calmer tone.
"What would have given Remus the idea that there was something between us?" she blurted. Severus stood up surprised and looked at Leslie.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
Leslie quickly told Severus about the other night. When she mentioned the kiss she noticed he blushed a little.
"He thought we were a couple!" Leslie exclaimed.
"You're getting involved with the wrong crowd." He growled, "You should stay away from people like him."
"What happened that you hate him so much?" Leslie asked.
"Just stay away from him."
"What are you my brother?"
"Ha!"
They stayed silent for a moment.
"How can you hate such a nice, caring person? You like Anaka but you don't like her father?" Leslie asked. Severus looked at her.
"Anaka's just as bad as her father." He growled.
"You know you have a soft spot for her." Leslie said with a smile.
Severus grunted. His eyes fell on the door and he held back a gasp when he saw it was partly open. A dark shadow was just beyond his line of vision. He nodded his head towards the door slightly.
Someone's listening, he mouthed. Leslie nodded.
"You are being such a baby Severus." Leslie said, continuing the fight. Severus walked slowly towards the door.
"Maybe you should leave." He growled.
"Not till we get it straight that you and me are not a couple!"
"Why would I go out with you?" Severus sneered. Leslie opened her mouth to answer but closed it firmly as Severus reached the door.
"That was low, even for a slimy snake eating rat faced loser with greasy hair like you!"
Severus had his hand on the doorknob and was about to open it but he looked up at her in surprise. She rolled her eyes and mouthed that she was sorry. He almost smiled but stopped himself and just nodded. He then flung open the door and stared into open space. He blinked in surprise but looked down when he heard a bark of surprise.
"Sirius!" he growled.
The black dog bared his teeth and walked inside the classroom slowly. Severus closed the door.
"I had a feeling it was you super dog." Leslie said shaking her head. Sirius quickly transformed and he smiled faintly at Leslie.
"Well you did say you and me were going to be doing some detective work today."
"Why were you listening?" Severus snarled.
"I needed to know what you and your little friend here were talking about." He growled back. He stared at Leslie.
"I needed to make sure you weren't going to hurt Remus." He pointed a finger at Severus, "Especially over him."
"But there's nothing between us!" Leslie said throwing up her arms in frustration.
"Why can't we just be friends?"
"I was wondering what you saw in him." Sirius said. He smiled when Severus growled.
"Down boy." He said with a laugh. Leslie gasped as Severus lunged at Black.
They tumbled on the floor.
"Stop this!" Leslie cried, "Please! What are you?! Children!?"
To Leslie's pleasant but confused surprise, Remus entered the room.
"What's going on? I was walking by when I heard noises…" he said but then he saw the tumbling figures on the floor.
"Sirius!" he cried, "Severus! Stop!"
He lunged into the pair and got between them. They stopped, panting. They were both bruised and stared at each other. Leslie could almost feel the hate in the room.
"What children you are!" she cried, "What did you think you were doing?!"
The pair stayed silent but their gasps filled the air. She walked towards Severus and grabbed his head in her hands, forcing him to look her in the eyes. They glared at each other for while.
"What got into you?" she growled. Severus glared at her and shook his head free. He ran a hand through his black hair.
"Leave." He mumbled.
"Gladly." Sirius jeered. He walked out of the room. Remus followed. He didn't look happy either. They closed the door and Leslie gripped Severus's shoulders.
"Why did you do that?" Leslie pleaded.
"Leave me alone." He cried, "What do you care? Go back to Remus and your friends!"
He stalked towards his desk and looked through some papers.
"You should really get someone to look at your bruises…" Leslie started but Severus blew.
"GET OUT!!!!!!" he roared, "DON'T COME BACK!! EVER!"
Leslie turned white and ran out of the room. She closed the door. And stood there for a minute. She played the scene over and over in her head. What had gone wrong? What had she done to him?
She swayed and leaned on the door for support. She heard Severus slam his bedroom door inside the classroom. Tears stun her eyes. Suddenly a reassuring hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned around to see Remus. Sirius was nowhere in sight.
"Let me walk you to my quarters. We can get a cup of tea." He said softly. Leslie nodded. The tears fell down her cheeks and Remus held her close as they walked towards his quarters.
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Severus sat on his bed holding his head in his hands. He'd known Leslie for years and he never thought he would lose her friendship to them. They always had everything he wanted. Families to grow up with, friends to go to school with, and wives to have kids with. Their lives were as perfect as a fairy tale while his was a total disaster. He hated everyone and everything. He stared at the papers in his hands. They were letters he had kept through the years. Letters from Dumbledore about becoming a teacher, and letters from his spying jobs. He sighed as he came to a set of different letters. His stomach cringed as he took out the slip of paper and read it. He read it over and over. The letter about his parent's death. It wasn't like he had loved his parents. After all they had been as cruel and mean, if not more, as he was.
He put the letter away and looked at the next set. These were nicely written on colored paper. He took out the first one and smiled to himself as he read it. It was the letter from Leslie when she had first been assigned to work with him. He had dismissed the letter and hadn't really cared about Leslie but then he met her. He remembered that day. She had looked so different. When he realized it was a disguise he really felt respect for her. He had also thought she was only a child. Soon he learned otherwise. He looked through the rest of his letters. Over the years Leslie had kept in touch with him. Sending him a letter every month to catch up on him. He had written a letter back to her every once in a while. He realized now that she was probably the only real friend he had ever had. But he was cruel and cold and mean and had ruined that friendship. It had been fragile since the beginning especially when Leslie had told Severus the one thing that made his stomach churn. Severus wondered how anyone could feel that way about him. He had totally stopped talking to her then but she still reached out to him and he had eventually started to speak to her. Severus grew sadder when he thought of that time. Of course now her feelings were different. Remus had showed his bright handsome face and Leslie had totally forgotten about him. He wondered if she had still felt for him when she came to Hogwarts. Probably not, he thought. The idea though made him want to apologize. Leslie had done everything to be his friend and he had repaid her by throwing her out.
"Damn it!" he cried throwing the letters across the room.
Severus Snape, the heartless, cold-blooded professor was feeling guilty. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. What was done was done and he didn't know how to change it. He didn't even know if he ever could.
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Leslie was sitting on her bed staring at her hands. Remus had walked her all the way to his quarters when Leslie thought of what Severus had said. Go back to Remus and your friends, he had said. She had quietly told Remus she had to go and ran to her room. Leslie sighed now, wondering what she should do. Severus had been her first friend in England and she had always kept in touch with him. She got up and walked to her dresser. She took out a packet of letters and sat on her bed. She looked through them, discarding the letters from America and her family and friends from there. Leslie felt like someone had squeezed her heart when she stared at the next letters. The letters were black and had fancy white writing on them. She took out the letter and read it. The tears streamed down her face when she realized she had just lost her best friend.
"I won't let him shut me out." She murmured. She read through the letters sobbing.
Why should I care about him?! Why do I care? The stupid bastard just dumped me out of his life! Leslie threw the letters on the floor and gripped her head in her hands.
"Why do I care?!" she cried. She flung herself onto her bed and grabbed her pillow close.
"Damn you Severus." She whispered.
The door opened slowly and Anaka stepped in. She set Sunfire on the floor.
"I thought I heard you…" she started but stopped when she saw Leslie.
"What happened?" she asked as she sat on her bed. Leslie sat up and looked at her.
Anaka cringed as she saw her tear streaked face. Leslie's face was a mix of despair and loss.
"He…he doesn't care…why should I??" she sobbed.
Anaka couldn't understand her but handed Sunfire to her. Leslie nodded and hugged Sunfire close.
"Who?" she asked. Leslie looked at her defiantly.
"Severus Snape." she spat.
Anaka looked at her shocked. Then she excused herself and left.
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Anaka walked into the dungeon classroom. Severus wasn't anywhere in sight. She quickly walked to his bedroom door and knocked.
"Go away." A voice drawled.
"Professor?" Anaka asked nervously.
The door opened slowly and Snape walked out. Anaka stepped back and found that the same look of despair and loss was on Severus's face. Only it had a touch of guilt on it.
"Leslie's in her room crying her eyes out because of you I take it!" Anaka growled, "What happened?"
"Do you think I care?" Severus asked.
But Anaka saw that he did. He gripped his shaking hands and shook his head. He sat down.
"I can't change what's done Ms. Lupin. She hates me now. I totally threw her out of my life."
"Why?"
Severus looked away.
"I had to." He whispered.
Anaka grew uncomfortable as his eyes glittered. Snape can cry? She thought.
"No." she whispered.
"No what?" he snapped, "Why are you here? Leave before I take points away from Gryffindor!"
Anaka nodded and hurried out of the room. When she reached the Gryffindor common room she found Remus and Leslie sitting by the fire. Leslie was stroking Sunfire and talking to Remus at the same time.
"He was my best friend Remus! How do I stop caring about the greasy haired slime ball? I haven't been in England without contacting him." Leslie said quietly.
"I'm sorry if I caused this." Remus said shaking his head, "I should've known better then to think you and Severus were a couple!"
"It's not your fault. I've seen this coming. We're just changing I guess, growing up in a way. I just wish it didn't mean hating each other."
"Don't worry." Remus said softly.
He drew Leslie into a hug. Anaka sighed. They quickly drew apart and looked at Anaka. Remus blushed slightly. Anaka smiled. It was funny seeing her father look like he had been caught doing something wrong.
"It's ok dad." Anaka teased walking towards them.
"What's ok?" he asked with a smile. Anaka didn't answer as she sat on the floor.
"I went to see Professor Snape," she said slowly. Leslie looked at her surprised.
"Why did you do that? Oh Anaka you shouldn't have. Don't worry about it ok?" she paused, "How was he?"
"He was distraught." Anaka sighed, "He says he messed everything up and he can't go back on it now."
"He's so stubborn." Leslie scolded.
"What can I do to help?" Anaka asked.
"Nothing." Leslie said handing her Sunfire, "Severus and I are over as friends."
She glanced at Remus.
"I guess Sirius will be happy about that." She said coldly.
Remus watched Leslie get up and leave.
"I think I'll have a talk with Sirius." Remus said narrowing his eyes.
"Watch your temper dad. You don't want to end your friendship with Sirius like Severus and Leslie." Anaka said quickly.
"It's Sirius fault that happened!" he cried as he walked out.
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Sirius was sniffing around the grounds with Harry when Remus walked up to them.
"Hello Professor Lupin." Harry said.
"Hello Harry." Remus said slowly. Harry looked at Remus in surprise. There was a cold tone in his voice. He was glaring at Sirius as Sirius ignored him.
"I think we need to talk Sirius." Remus said quietly.
Sirius looked up at him innocently.
"I guess I should go." Harry said awkwardly. He walked away slowly.
Anaka was waiting for him at the entrance.
"I think we should stay here in case it gets ugly." Anaka said grimly.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, "Sirius told me about getting into an argument with Snape but he didn't mention anything about your dad except that he broke up the fight."
Anaka quickly explained about Leslie and then looked at her father.
"Control your temper dad." She whispered.
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Remus stared at the big black dog looking at him. He transformed into himself and looked at the ground.
"I wonder what Hagrid uses on this lawn. It smells absolutely horrid yet fascinating." Sirius said with awe.
"Do you think I care?" Remus snapped. Sirius shrugged.
"Did your girlfriend send you here?" he asked sarcastically.
Remus clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Leslie is not my girlfriend!" he answered.
"So she did send you." Sirius replied.
Sirius watched as Remus turned red and unconsciously bared his teeth defensively. He had gotten used to seeing it by now but he still got a strange feeling when he saw his human friend do that.
"Watch your blood pressure Remus." Sirius said with a vague smile.
Remus pursed his lips and watched his friend. Remus relaxed visibly.
"You know that gets to me." He said sitting on the ground.
"That's why I said it." Sirius teased, sitting beside his friend.
"I can't help but feel bad about my feelings." Remus sighed.
"No one can ever replace Molly," Sirius said sternly, "but if you closed all your feelings off then you'd be almost like Snape. Heartless and cold. If it wasn't for Anaka I think you might have ended up like that."
Remus nodded. If Anaka hadn't gotten him through that year he didn't know if he would have ever survived. When Sirius mentioned Snape, Remus remembered what he came here for.
"How could you think Severus and Leslie were a couple? If you hadn't planted that in my mind then Severus and Leslie would still be friends."
"What happened?" Sirius said curiously.
Remus quickly informed Sirius.
"She should be happy she got away from him before he killed her or something." Sirius remarked.
"You don't understand!" Remus said getting up, "They were best friends! They wrote letters to each other to keep in touch! She was the only one who he remotely cared about!! Now he'll be colder and even more heartless. Everyday I worry that Severus will be tempted to really join Voldemort because we did something to him. Now I'm even more worried."
"Once again we have something Severus doesn't." Sirius said standing.
"We have? We don't have anything."
"We have Leslie."
"No one has Leslie!" Remus snapped.
"Sure we don't. But you do. You did tell her how you feel right?"
Remus hesitated.
"That's what started everything." He sighed. Remus quickly explained about the time he had kissed Leslie.
"I followed her to see what she and Snape were up to." Sirius confessed, "I needed to know if they were really together or not."
"Well they aren't." Remus said bitterly, "And it doesn't matter. Leslie and I can't be together anyway. I really wish I…well…. oh I don't know."
Sirius smirked.
"Remus Lupin's stuck?"
Remus glared at him and Sirius laughed.
"You have it bad don't you?"
Remus smiled slightly and together they walked to meet Harry and Anaka.
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Leslie ate quietly at dinner listening to Remus talk. She loved the way his voice sounded. She looked down the table and her heart froze. Severus was staring at his food, not touching a bite. The whole day they had avoided each other. She had a feeling that would happen until she left. Leslie couldn't believe their friendship was over but it was. It had always been fragile, as fragile as a china plate. Now it seemed like that plate had been smashed on the floor. There friendship was shattered into a million pieces. Severus looked up suddenly and their eyes met. Leslie shivered and realized the person behind those eyes was a total stranger.