A/N: Welcome Ponie. Thanks for adding a review. Sorry to leave you hanging. (author smiles innocently)

Welcome Evil spapple pie. Thanks also for the review. Who says no one likes Snape? I let Lorien kiss him back.

Welcome to WW&S Ctina. It looks like everyone is split as to whether they want Lorien with Remus or Severus.

So, tell me all of you, why is it the two chapters that have elicited the biggest and most lively responses are chapter 8 (Remus kisses Lorien) and the last one(Severus kisses Lorien)? Harue, I hope you didn't scream at a public computer this time.(Nytd looks greatly amused.)

And what about poor Lorien? Think how confused she must be if you guys are. (Merlin's wand! I'm even confused!)

Thanks again to everyone for their input. I always love it.

Secrets From the Dungeon ~*~

"WHAT?!" exclaimed both Harry and Ron at the same time. Neither could accept what she had just told them.

"You must be mistaken. It must have been someone else." Ron was faintly hopeful.

"No. I could see everything from the doorway," Hermione said.

"Maybe he was thanking her for something. You know a friendly little smooch?" Harry was grasping at straws.

"NO! I'm TELLING you what I SAW." He GRABBED her and PINNED her against the TABLE and then HE KISSED HER ON THE MOUTH." Hermione was distraught.

Ron looked like he was going to be ill and he leaned against a sink.

Harry had the fingers of both hands pressed to his temples, trying to process what he'd just heard. The three students had been to visit Sirius in Lupin's rooms several times, and there was no longer any doubt about the relationship between Lupin and the blonde witch.

"Someone has to tell Remus." Harry was angry now. He felt protective of his new mentor, and he knew that Remus would know best how to deal with Snape.

"Harry, I don't know..." Began Hermione.

"Harry's right. Remus has a right to know." Ron was in agreement.

" Come on, you can tell him what you told us," Harry said.

"Now?" she asked.

"Now," said Harry.

Hermione was shaking her head. "Oh, please don't make me."

"Hermione....." Ron began.

"You tell him! At least you didn't have to see it!" She was almost in tears again at the thought of Lorien being trapped against the table.

Harry looked at Ron, and then back at Hermione. "Ok, but come with us."

She nodded.

They crept down the hallway to Lupin's door.

"Maybe he's asleep," Hermione said hopefully.

The sound of Lupin and Black laughing dashed her hopes.

"Ok, let's just get this over with," said Ron. "We just go right in, and you tell him what happened." He was looking at Harry.

"Me? What about you?" Harry asked.

"It'd be better coming from you," Ron said.

"Well, I think you should tell him, Ron," Harry argued.

Hermione was growing impatient. "Decide, already," she said through clenched teeth.

"Ok," said Ron. "There's only one way to settle this." He drew his wand.

Harry nodded and drew his as Hermione looked on. "On the count of three. One....two...three!"

Both boys spoke a single word and waved their wands. A large pair of scissors shot out of the end of Harry's wand at the same time Ron conjured a large rock. Harry groaned as the rock hovered for a moment and then smashed his scissors into tiny pieces.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come on, Harry."

Harry reluctantly knocked on the door. The room suddenly grew quiet. "It's Harry," he called through the door.

The door opened a crack and Remus peered out at them, "What are you guys doing up so late?" he was whispering.

"We need to talk to you," Harry replied.

Remus opened the door and let them in.

"Harry!" Sirius was jubilant. "And Ron and Hermione too!"

"To what do we owe the honor?" Lupin asked with mock solemnity, bowing to Harry.

The three friends looked at one another with disbelief. "You're drunk!" Hermione spoke first.

"Nah! Not really. Should'veseenusanhourago." Black's manner of speaking did nothing to help his cause.

Lupin joined in, pointing at Black. "He's drunk. Iammerely slightly intoxicated."

Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't know whether to be appalled or amused at seeing the condition Remus and Sirius were in. Hermione picked up the empty bottle on the table.

"Is this what you've been drinking?" she asked eyeing the bottle distastefully.

Black answered her. "Yup. Good stuff, that. Used to drink it wiz your father, Harry." He frowned. "Bit of a lightweight, your dad."

Lupin nodded in agreement. "Sirius could always drink both of us under the table." He put his arm around his friend proudly. "Now, what is it you wanted?"

Ron shot a warning glance at Harry, who understood right away. "It's nothing. We'll come back another time."

"Nonsense! Out with it." Lupin waved his arm dramatically.

Harry felt a sense of trepidation at telling the two intoxicated men what had happened. He had no idea how they would react, especially of they'd been drinking. Hermione came to his rescue.

"Sirius, is there a chance we can talk to Remus alone?" she asked sweetly.

"Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." Sirius walked to the door.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked.

"Out." He grinned and went through the door, pulling it shut behind him.

"Ron, make sure he's not seen!" Hermione directed. Ron went after Sirius.

"Um, Remus," began Harry, "come sit down."

"OK." He dropped onto the couch and looked up expectantly. "Yes?"

"Um, Remus, Hermione saw something tonight that we think you should know about."

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes, um, this is going to be a bit of a shock," Harry began tentatively.

"It is?" Lupin sounded a little dazed.

"Remus, I'm really sorry to have to tell you this. It's about Lorien."

"Lorien?" Remus looked puzzled.

"Yes" Harry looked at Hermione who motioned for him to get it over with.

"Um, well, she was in the dungeon tonight with Snape," Harry said awkwardly.

"She was?" Remus looked concerned.

"Yes." Harry saw Lupin hang his head.

"Remus, I'm sorry but Hermione saw him grab her and kiss her. We thought you should know." Harry had blurted it all out.

Hermione shot Harry a worried look. Lupin couldn't even bear to look at them.

"Remus, we're so sorry," she added. " We knew you'd be upset....Remus? Remus?"

Lupin had passed out.

Ron came running back in the door a moment later. "I lost him. He transformed and I couldn't keep up." He was winded.

"Where'd he go?" asked Harry.

"He said something about getting some fresh air and stretching his legs. I think he's headed for the forest," Ron panted.

"Oh no!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Hermione, go get Lorien and have her see to Remus," Harry directed.

"Harry, I don't think....."

"It'll be ok, just go get her," Harry reassured his friend. "Ron and I are going after Sirius."

"Harry, you can't!" she cried.

"If we go now we might be able to catch him before he gets too far. Come on Ron." Harry headed for the door.

Hermione ran once again down the hall. She headed for the rooms that she knew were Lorien's off the medical ward and knocked at the door.

A moment went by before Lorien answered the door in a purple dressing gown.

"Hermione! Are you sick?" she asked worriedly.

"No," panted the younger witch. "It's Remus...he's drunk... he passed out."

Lorien headed for the ward and Hermione followed her.

"Isn't Sirius with him?" she asked.

Hermione explained what had happened.

"They what?" Lorien couldn't believe what she had heard.

"Went to see if they could catch Sirius," Hermione repeated.

Lorien groaned. "Alright, let's see to Remus and then he can help me bring them back." She grabbed a vial off the shelves in the ward and they ran back up the hall together.

The two women found Remus unconscious on the couch. Lorien crossed the room and then knelt by his side. She brushed his hair back and spoke to him. "Remus?" She shook him a little. "Remus?" She shook him harder. She turned to speak to the girl beside her and noticed the concerned way she was looking at her.

"How much did they have to drink?" Lorien looked around the room.

Hermione indicated the empty bottle on the table.

"Great," Lorien said.

Lupin stirred.

"Remus," Lorien spoke his name again.

His eyes fluttered open and it took him a minute to focus on Lorien . "Hi, hon." He smiled at her.

"Remus, sit up! Here help me," Lorien said to Hermione.

Hermione helped her to right the intoxicated professor and he moaned as they yanked him into a sitting position.

"Here, Remus. Drink this." She handed him the vial.

"What is it?" he asked, looking a little green.

"It'll sober you up," Lorien answered.

He groaned again. "I don't think...."

"Drink it , now." She wasn't giving him a choice.

He did as he was instructed and handed her the empty vial. His head sank into his hands and he moaned aloud again.

"Hang on, it'll be over in a minute," Lorien reassured him.

After a minute, Remus looked up.

"Better?" Lorien asked.

"Much. Thank you." He looked around. "Where is everyone?"

Hermione explained what had happened.

Lupin jumped to his feet. "Idiot! Wait until I get my hands on him."

He grabbed his wand and his cloak and headed out the door. Lorien transfigured her dressing gown into day robes. She grabbed an extra cloak.

"Stay here, Hermione, in case any of them come back," Remus called back to her.

Lupin set off at a furious pace and Lorien ran to catch up with him. They reached the edge of the woods quickly and paused to decide which way to go.

"Lumos." Remus lit up the path before them. "This way." He went ahead.

They walked in silence for some time and then Lorien spoke. "What were the kids doing in your room after hours, anyway Remus?"

"I don't really know," he said.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't remember." He frowned. "Wait, they said they had to tell me something important."

"What was so important that it couldn't wait until morning?" Lorien wondered aloud.

"I can't recall." He shrugged. "Hermione saw something in the dungeon....I don't know. It must have been when I passed out."

Lorien's heart rate quickened. She was afraid she knew what Hermione had seen. It would explain the way the young witch had been looking at her earlier. It occurred to her that now she was going to have to tell him herself. It was not a thought she relished, but it would be better coming from her than the kids.

A branch snapped in the woods ahead of them. Then another.

Remus held up his hand to stop her. He put a finger to his lips to indicated they should be quiet and then he whispered. "Nox." The light went out.

Another branch snapped closer, and then another.

"Ow! Watch out!" a voice whispered.

"You watch out!" a second whisper.

"Harry? Ron? Lumos." The light was back but it revealed nothing.

"I thought I heard them too." Lorien looked surprised.

"They're right here." Remus made a good guess and his hand closed on the cloak. He yanked it off the two boys.

"What do you think you're doing out here?" Remus asked sternly.

Harry and Ron recalled only rarely seeing Remus angry, but the professor was obviously mad now.

"What were you thinking? Don't you know it's dangerous out here?" he continued.

"We were trying to stop Sirius," Harry offered.

"Did you find him?" Lorien asked.

"We lost him. The dog was too fast." Ron looked at his feet.

"Well, let's get you back to the school. It's late and you need to get to bed." Lorien spoke before Remus could again.

Harry looked at Remus. "We're sorry. We were just trying to help."

Lupin's expression softened a little. "We'll talk about it in the morning. Now let's go."

"What about Sirius?" asked Ron.

"Sirius can take care of himself, don't worry." Lupin reassured the two boys.

The four of them headed back up to the castle.

Sirius was enjoying his midnight romp immensely. He had been cooped up in Lupin's rooms for days now and it felt good to get outside. He charged through the forest in a loping gait that covered a great distance in a short time.

As he ran on for a while, his head began to clear, and he began to wonder for the first time if it had been wise to venture this far into the forest. He frowned in his mind. It had seemed like a good idea at the time.

It wasn't so much that he was afraid, since most of the denizens of the wood would leave the large dog well enough alone, but he wasn't stupid, and he knew that he didn't want to push his luck.

Sirius was about to double back when his keen canine ears caught the distant sound of human voices from up ahead.

Wondering who on earth could be this deep in the forest at this time of night, Black's curiosity got the better of him and he slunk further into the woods.

Lorien and Remus had seen to it that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were safely off to bed, and then they went to Lorien's chambers and she brewed a pot of tea while they waited for Sirius to return.

"Do you think he'll be ok?" she asked.

"Yeah, he'll be fine. Until I get hold of him, anyway." Lupin smiled at her.

Lorien glanced away quickly and turned back to the tea.

"It's good that the boys weren't hurt," she said with her back to him .

"Tell me. Sirius, Harry, Ron and I would have all been expelled," Remus mused. "Hey, I wonder what Hermione was going to tell me about what she saw in the dungeon?"

Lorien put down the teacups and sighed as she turned to face him.

"I think I know what she saw," she said quietly.

"You do? How would you know?" Remus asked.

"I'm willing to bet she saw me," Lorien continued.

"But she wouldn't come and find me at midnight for that," Remus said, shaking his head a little.

Lorien steeled herself. "She would if she saw him kiss me."

"WHAT?!"

"I thought I should tell you," she spoke very quietly.

"HE WHAT? He didn't hurt you did he?" Remus quickly crossed to where she was and placed his hands on her arms. He was furious.

"No. No, of course not." She couldn't look at him.

Remus started to leave. "I'll kill him."

Lorien became alarmed. "Where are you going?"

"To find Snape," Remus snarled.

"Remus wait. He's not there. Let me explain to you what happened. Here, sit with me." She indicated the couch.

Remus gave her a questioning look, but sat down.

"I assume you know that Severus is...was... a Death Eater?" she inquired.

"Yes," he answered, not feeling any better about the thought of a Death Eater touching Lorien.

"Then you know that he was a spy for Dumbledore?" she continued.

"Yes." Remus wondered what she was getting at.

She told him of Snape's return to Voldemort tonight, and of the great risk he had undertaken.

"Merlin's beard! That's nearly suicide!" exclaimed Lupin.

"That's what I said," replied Lorien. "I tried to talk him out of it, but he said he had to take the chance. There was too much to be gained if he was successful. He said it was the only way he could live with himself."

Remus was amazed at how much Lorien knew about the enigmatic Slytherin. "So that's where he went?" He asked.

"Yes. I'm very worried, Remus," Lorien said.

"So, where does the kissing come in?" Lupin hoped he didn't sound petty after hearing about the danger Snape was placing himself in.

Lorien tried to explain as best she could. "He asked if we were friends before he left and I said yes. I pleaded with him to be careful, and he realized that someone cared about what happened to him. I think it was a little overwhelming and that he was reacting to an emotionally charged situation."

Remus frowned a little. "So, he just ...kissed you?"

"Yes, and then he simply walked away." Mostly the truth.

"What did you do?" Remus was curious.

Lorien was selective about her answer. " It really caught me by surprise, and by the time it was over he was leaving. I didn't know what to do so I just left it." Partly the truth again.

"You didn't say anything?" Remus sounded hurt.

"Remus, the man could well be walking to his death."

Lupin didn't like it, but he was beginning to understand how it could happen. He put himself in Snape's place, about to risk his life and faced with this lovely witch who obviously cared about him. He might have considered the same thing if he thought he might never see her again.

"Well, I can't say that I'm happy about it. I don't like the thought of him touching you." Remus's anger was abating but still simmered under the surface.

"I didn't expect you would." She gave him a small smile.

"But I guess I can understand how it could happen," he admitted reluctantly.

She touched his cheek. "Thank you for understanding, Remus."

He pulled her close to him. "I still don't have to like it. I'll let it go this time, but if he ever lays a hand on you again, Lorien...."

She place a finger to his lips to quiet him, and then she kissed him reassuringly. Whether it was for his benefit or hers, she wasn't sure.

A/N: BTW - You'll notice that I am letting H,R&Hr call Remus by his first name, since they are obviously spending a lot of time with him and Sirius. They do refer to Remus as Professor Lupin whenever they are in class or around other people.