Part One: September

Chapter 4A

The Potions Master

Severus Snape strode down the halls of the castle, cursing the air, the sunshine and just about everything about life. Why, he wondered, did his first class have to be with the 7th year Slytherins and Gryffindors? Did fate have it in for him?

"Ah, Severus, there you are," a soft voice said.

"Lupin," Snape muttered. "What do you want?"

Remus Lupin gave Snape a friendly smile and said, "Albus wanted me to inform you of a meeting after dinner tonight."

Snape grimaced, and replied, "Thank you for informing me, Lupin. Now if you don't mind, I have a class to teach."

Lupin smiled and said, "7th year Gryffindors and Syltherins? Good luck."

Snape scowled and continued stalking along the corridors to the Potions classroom. He burst into the room, his stark black robes billowing him around him in an angry cloud and barked, "There will be no shenagins this term, or you will answer to me." Snape headed for his desk and continued, "You will have a lab partner, chosen by me, to work with this term, and if even one toe is stepped out of line, there will be consequences."

The seventh years exchanged glances, wondering if Snape had finally lost it. In the back of the classroom, Draco sat silently, trying to pay attention, but he kept being distracted by Ron.

Snape began calling off names and tortured groans filled the classroom as the students moved to their respective seats.

"Mr. Malfoy, why are you not moving?" Snape asked meanly.

Draco blushed and whispered, "I am sorry sir, who is my partner again?"

"Weasley," Snape said shortly.

Draco swallowed, and wondered if Snape had done this just to torture him. His godfather knew how he felt about Ron, and now he would have to spend 4 hours a week sitting next to him and not be able to touch him.

Ron was sitting at a table next to Harry and Blaise, who had been paired together, and Hermione and Goyle, who had also been paired together. Ron sneered as Draco took his seat next to him. He might be lusting after the bastard, but that didn't mean that he had to like the prat.

"Umm, Weasley?" Draco asked.

"What?"

"I just wanted to apologize for this morning. I wasn't watching where I was going." Draco whispered so that Goyle could not hear him. Not that the idiot would know what was going on. He didn't have much of a brain inside his head. One too many Cruciatus Curses as a child, Draco figured.

Ron was shocked. Had Malfoy just apologized to him? What was wrong with Malfoy? Was he sick or something? "Umm, that's ok Malfoy. I, umm, I'm sorry too."

"Mr. Weasley, why are you not paying attention? Five points from Gryffindor and if you do not be quiet right now, I will make it 50!" Snape bellowed.

Ron scowled and glared at Draco. It was his fault. What had he seen in Malfoy again?

Draco blushed under Ron's glare and cursed Snape. Damn the man, he wasn't making it any easier for Draco to win Ron's respect. He should probably just give up now, but he couldn't quite make himself give up just yet. Even if there were probably no chance that Ron would ever want a worthless bastard like himself in his life.

Chapter 4B

The Dinner Meeting

"You ready, Ron?" Harry asked. "The meeting starts in ten minutes."

Ron nodded and together they went down to the common room where Hermione was waiting for them. The three friends had been summoned by Dumbledore earlier that day to a secret meeting in Dumbledore's office.

"Wonder what it's about," Ron said.

Hermione frowned and replied, "Use your brain Ron. It's got to be about the Order. Why else would Dumbledore have asked up sot keep it quiet?"

Ron blushed and said, "Right. My brain has gone on vacation."

Harry was silent. His scar had been quietly throbbing all day, meaning that Voldemort was feeling particularly nasty. He hadn't told Ron or Hermione yet, not wanting to worry them.

The trio arrived at the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office just as Snape did. Snape scowled at them, and they scowled back. They knew they didn't have to worry about point deductions on Order business, because withing the orider, they were all equals.

"Lemon drop," Snape muttered and the door to Dumbledore's office opened.

"Ah, Severus, children, there you are. Come in, come in," Dumbledore said.

Harry looked around and saw that most of the order had arrived already. Arthur Weasley, Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mad Eye Moody, and several others were crowded into the office. Harry looked for his godfather, and was disappointed to note that he hadn't arrived yet.

After greetings had been given, and the latecomers seated, Dumbledore stood up and said, "Thank you for coming. I am sorry this meeting came on such short notice, but something has happened. One of our members has been captured by Death Eaters."

Gasps filled the air and Harry felt his scar throb and knew what was coming next. "It was Sirius, wasn't it Professor?" he asked.

Dumbledore's normally twinkling eyes were grave and he said, "He's in the hospital wing. He was dropped on the grounds late last night."

Harry jumped up from his seat, and would have made it out the door, had a pale hand not restrained him by holding his shoulder.

Harry's eyes met those of Snape's, and Harry was shocked to see the pain filling the almost black orbs. Why was Snape so upset? He hated Sirius, didn't he?

"Harry, calm down. Sirius needs his rest. You can see him first thing tomorrow morning," Dumbledore said.

Harry sat, and was grateful when Hermione and Ron both put a comforting arm around him, and when Remus put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Thanks."

Dumbledore went on to say that they needed to make a plan for action, as Voldemort had been getting more and more daring in the past months. "Arthur, as Minister, you will most likely be on Voldemort's hit list. I want you and Molly to take all the precautions possible, and be careful."

Arthur nodded, and looked calm, but Ron knew his father was afraid. He could see it in the strained lines around his eyes and mouth.

The meeting broke up soon after, and the three Gryffindors made their way back to their dormitory. "It will be all right, Har. I just know it. Padfoot is strong," Ron said reassuringly.

Harry nodded his assent, and they went to bed. But Harry did not go to sleep. When he heard Ron's soft snores, he crept out of bed and grabbed his invisibility cloak, and silently made his way to the infirmary. He needed to see Sirius, to reassure himself that his godfather would be all right.

When he reached the infirmary, he heard a soft voice whispering in the darkness. Harry crept closer and his eyes grew wide when he saw his stodgy poitions professor sitting next to his godfather's bed. But what shocked him most of all was the fact that Snape was holding one of Sirius' hands in his own, and was whispering softly.

Harry crept closer, trying to hear what was being said. He almost fainted when he heard, "You had better not die on me, Sirius Black. Or I will kill you myself." –a pause-"I love you Sirius Black, so you had better come back to me."

WHAT!!! Harry mentally shouted. He felt slightly ill to his stomach and hurriedly rushed back to Gryffindor Tower. He lay on his bed, thinking that his world was about to come crumbling down around him.

To Harry, there were four pillars to his life that defined who he was. The first was that, without fail, Voldemort would try to kill him before the school year was over. The second was that Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard alive. The third was that Draco Malfoy was a right prat. And the fourth was that Severus Snape and Sirius Black hated each other's very being.

Now, two of his foundations were beginning to crumble. Harry had noticed a distinct difference in Malfoy already this year, leading him to believe that Malfoy wasn't so bad after all. And now it seemed like Snape and Sirius were lovers, or at least close to becoming lovers.

Harry felt confused, and partially betrayed. What was his world coming to?