A/N: Hi.. It's me again. Couldn't get Edward out of my mind tonight either.. so sorry! More snow coming up.. Flames don't stand a chance…



Flashback////

Remus hurtled down the stairs, his cloak billowing behind him. Curiosity was overpowering… He tumbled over snow-covered roots and rocks, nearly toppling over once or twice. His eyes strained towards the forest, barely making out Severus' silhouette against the blinding whiteness that seemed to encircle him. He entered the Forbidden Forest after him. After half an hour's walk, Remus was tiring of the pursuit. Why had he even been following Severus? After all, what business did he have in where the Potions Master was headed?

[Be honest with yourself at least, Remus. You wonder because you LIKE him. Like? Yes, like. How can you like that man? He's mean and petty and sarcastic and… Oh shut up. He's like me. Alone. ] The silver-haired teacher flinched internally at this confession. Alone. He would have been hard put to deny it. Having to lie to the whole staff as to his nature didn't make for friendship. And amongst the people who knew… Harry and his friends were too young, Minerva and Dumbledore too imposing, having been his teachers, as to Snape…

He'd lost him. "Now where has the damn git got to?" he muttered under his breath. Looking around to check no one could see him, Remus closed his eyes and sniffed the air around him slightly. There. To the right. He opened his eyes again. Being a werewolf had its advantages. He walked a few more meters and stopped abruptly at the sight that met him.

He had stumbled upon a rather large clearing in the woods, thickly carpeted with snow, which glinted faintly despite the lack of sunshine. Yet there was something twinkling yet more intensely, sheening the clearing with droplets of rainbow-light… Remus gaped in front of a collection of pure, transparent ice-carvings. He was so taken with the beauty of them that it was several minutes before he located Severus, a dark spot hovering between the fantastic shapes. He stood with his back to Remus, his wand aimed at a precise spot to the left of what was rapidly becoming a howling wolf.

Remus' mind registered all this as he silently crept forward to get a better look. He had no idea… whatever. His mind plainly refused to analyse any of this, discarding it as hallucination. Yet the statues were there… And this wolf…Surely there was no connection with him, was there? His eyes narrowed as he examined it, creeping closer and closer, not noticing he had come within inches from the sculptor.

Severus inhaled sharply as he saw the wolf's eyes glow a dull amber. Ice shouldn't do that. Only reflections… He turned on his heels and found himself staring into the original and considerably warmer amber eyes of Remus Lupin. His own eyes darkened with anger, then embarrassment as he noticed Remus' questioning eyes hovering to the wolf behind him. He got stuck between a grin and a scowl, shuddered, then settled for a safe neutral expression.

"How did you get here Lupin ?"

The words were spoken harshly, yet with a trace of resignation. Severus KNEW how his colleague had reached his clearing, so the question was a means to convey his displeasure rather than gaining information.

"Why, these are beautiful carvings, Severus, Lupin commented, seemingly unaware of the hostility in Snape's voice. How do you make them? How long…. Gods, it's Hogwarts over there, isn't it? And Big Ben! And…"

Severus couldn't help smiling lightly at his companion's juvenile enthusiasm, and surveying his work with pride. He had great difficulty in sounding utterly displeased when he cut Remus off.

"Yes, and you are the first person to see it. May I remind you that this is a PRIVATE place? Where am I going to get some peace now that you've found my hideout?"

Remus looked downcast, and immediately regained his composure and manners.

"Of course, Snape. I am sorry for having intruded. Be assured that it will not happen again."

He looked at the Potions Master with such honesty and understanding that Severus felt a sudden urge to ask him to stay, but his face remained blank and emotionless until the other man's silhouette had become a blurred dot between the trees. He could still hear the disappointment in Remus' voice as he checked his enthusiasm and admiration, remembering how his amber in his eyes had lit up upon discovering the carvings. The clearing seemed very cold and empty, all of a sudden.

Severus slowly swivelled to stare in the wolf's liquid eyes. "Don't be sorry…"

A/N : Soooooo.. I have SOME idea where this fic is going, if you were wondering. And yes, Gilles, this will end tragically. Tears, snowflakes, all that. *grins* Question is… will this be slash or not ? Why was Severus carving a wolf ? (any ideas ? I have a few, but not all that original..)

Review, people, please ! (and help me out, eventually..)