All characters in this chapter belong to J. K. Rowling.

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Severus Snape stormed furiously around his rooms in the dungeons of Hogwarts, swearing to himself and throwing things messily into a large suitcase. He absolutely could not believe what was being asked of him. To go to Romania, the country of vampires, werewolves and God only knew what other kinds of disgusting imitative humans, with one of said creatures and an escaped mass-murderer. Insane. And for what? The support of a group of mangy, flea-bitten monsters? Isn't worth the energy it's going to take to Apparate, he thought, slamming some toiletries into his case.

Muttering to himself some more, he gave up on the packing and poured himself a drink, glaring intensely into the fire. He was too agitated to sit down. After pacing about a bit, he decided to do the only thing that could calm him down. Getting out his silver cauldron as an up-yours to the werewolf, he decided to make an anti-fatigue draught. They kept quite well as long as it was cool, and he'd undoubtedly need it, going where he was. Severus fully planned to sit awake every night surrounded by an abundance of sharp silver and wooden objects.

He stomped, still seething, into his store cupboard and emerged with the required ingredients. Slamming them down onto his desk, he took out his wand and lit a fire under the cauldron.

As he chopped, measured, stirred and sifted, he could feel himself relaxing. The physical act of making the potion seemed to force stress out of his body; he could pour his anger and frustration into the cauldron and turn it into something useful. The musty, slightly sweet aroma of the half-complete concoction wafted softly up to his nostrils, and a tiny smile crossed his lips. The feeling of making something from nothing was greatly satisfactory to Severus. It was rather how he felt about his life. That potion, however, was barely past the beginning stages. Rebuilding his life to the point where he could bear to look into the mirror again was only the preparation of the ingredients, he reflected grimly. He hadn't realised it at the time, but when he'd been a Death Eater, he had been slowly poisoning himself and it was to his eternal gratitude that he'd seen what was really happening before he had added the final ingredient. Before he had reached the Point of No Return, so to speak. The Dark Lord had made him feel...alive. Wanted, appreciated. He had been praised for his ability at making poisons, and to a loyal Death Eater the praise of Lord Voldemort was everything. It was their life-force, what they strove for, what they'd do anything for. And Severus had. The poisons he had made were not typical, run-of-the-mill toxic potions. No. They did the most horrific, most terrible things to human beings imaginable. Severus had generally tried to steer clear of violence, preferring instead to supply the means for it. He remembered the first and only time he had witnessed the effects of one of these potions first-hand.

Severus walked into one of the dungeons at Malfoy Manor. His head was held high and his face impassive in a convincing display of confidence. Beneath the stoic mask, however, he felt sick. He could hear terrified shrieks coming from the other dungeons around him. The very walls seemed to be screaming, and he knew that he would rather die than know what was happening on the other side of them. The sickening, metallic tang of blood hung in the cool air.

On a rough-hewn wooden table in the middle of the small room lay a young man, tied down binding spells. He looked up, terrified, when Severus entered the room and began to struggle frantically.

Lord Voldemort came into the dungeon behind him. "Dominic," he said, sounding almost disappointed. Severus looked at him curiously.

"This, my boy, was once one of my best Death Eaters. He would do anything for Lord Voldemort. Wouldn't you, Dominic?"

"My Lord, I still would! Anything! Anything at all...!" shrieked the man desperately. He was barely more than a boy, really, noted Severus.

"Unfortunately, I have proof of quite the contrary. It seems that you have been passing information about Lord Voldemort's plans to his enemies. Tell me, Dominic, was it money or cowardice?" The Dark Lord was beginning to look angry.

"Neither! I didn't, I swear! I would never!"

"Don't lie to me," hissed Voldemort, sounding incredibly snake-like. "Severus, the potion."

Terrified, Severus walked over to Dominic and forced his mouth open. Voldemort watched with a sickeningly satisfied expression on his snake face as the potion dribbled down his throat.

"Stand back, my boy, and watch your beautiful creation at work," said Voldemort.

Obediently, Severus stepped back and watched Dominic. He was silent for a few minutes, staring upward, an expression of confusion on his face. Then he began to scream. They were the most awful, the most insanely terrified screams Severus had heard. He screamed and screamed, and Severus used inordinate amounts of self-restraint to keep from screaming along with him. He didn't know what the potion would do. He was always just given the ingredients and the instructions. It was too difficult to be able to tell from the ingredients what it would do, and he never asked. Voldemort liked the arcane arts.

Dominic's screaming soon began to sound different. He was almost gargling, and his stomach seemed to be sinking in the middle.

"Look," Voldemort whispered reverently, like an art critic commenting on a particularly beautiful masterpiece. "Isn't it beautiful?"

And with a horror Severus had never previously experienced, and had never experienced since, he realised what the potion was doing.

It was melting him.

From the inside out.

He stood, frozen, unable to tear his horrified eyes away from the sight before him. Dominic's body was literally melting away, the liquid remains of his insides were pouring from every orifice in his body...

That night, he had gone to Dumbledore.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Got everything, Moony?"

"I think so," replied Remus, trying to force his suitcase on his bed shut.

"And what did Mrs Summers say?"

"She was really good about it. Said that the job's always open for me if I want it." He was now throwing his entire weight onto the stubbornly unzipped suitcase.

"Sounds like a nice lady."

"She is. A very nice lady..." Sirius took pity and went to help. Between the two of them the suitcase grudgingly zipped up.

"Sure you've got enough?" asked Sirius, snickering as he examined the bulging case.

"Nope. We're going to have to go to Diagon Alley and get you some new robes. You can't wear your old ones and I'll need mine."

Sirius felt awful, not to mention embarrassed. His friend was more generous than his income would allow. Always had been. "Moony, you don't have to--"

"I don't have to. I want to. It isn't much, but it's been a while since anyone's done anything nice for you."

Sirius was half touched, half incredulous. "What? You've already let me invade your house, use your things and eat your food. I'd say that's enough."

"We're going. You're about my size so there won't be a problem finding ones that fit."

Sirius reluctantly transformed, growling at the evil gleam in Remus' eyes as he got out the collar again.

**

Two hours later, Remus and Padfoot stumbled out of Remus' living room fire with bags of clothes, potions ingredients (Remus insisted that he wouldn't allow Snape to pay for ingredients for a potion that wasn't even for him) and chocolate. Lots of chocolate. "You can never have too much," Remus explained to the dog, much to the confusion of the shopkeeper, as he bought half the shop.

"You don't think there are going to be any Dementors there, do you?" Sirius asked.

Remus looked at Sirius, seeing right through his feigned calmness. His eyes and the way his knuckles were white on his fisted hands gave away the terror that the mere thought of the creatures caused his friend. "Well...I doubt it," he said truthfully. He certainly hoped there wouldn't be. Remus didn't like Dementors, but he had a strong Patronus. He doubted Sirius would have the strength of mind to come up with a happy memory whilst in a Dementor's presence, despite the fact that Sirius was undoubtedly a powerful wizard. He knew he wouldn't if he had the looming threat of the Dementor's Kiss over him, day and night.

Sirius flopped down onto the sofa. "I hope not. Snape won't think twice about letting them have me..."

Remus shook his head emphatically. "He wouldn't. Dumbledore trusts Severus, and as much as you and he dislike each other, I don't think he'd abuse that trust."

Sirius snorted. "I wonder what it's like...?" he mused, staring into the fire.

"What?"

"The Kiss. I mean, do you think it hurts, or...what?"

"I don't know. And neither of us will ever have to find out," Remus answered determinedly, hoping that Sirius would believe him. He didn't want to ask what Azkaban was like. If Sirius wanted to talk about it, he could. If not, Remus wouldn't push him. He couldn't fail to notice how tense Sirius got at the mention of it, though. He was plainly terrified that he'd be caught again, but Remus knew that he, and Dumbledore for that matter, would never let that happen.

Sirius said nothing. Remus cast around for something that would cheer him up. "Have you spoken to Harry at all?"

Had Sirius been in canine form when Remus asked that, his ears would have pricked up and his tail would have started wagging. "About a week ago. I sent him a letter. I might get to see him tomorrow, though, when we go to Hogwarts to get Snape." The last word dripped with malice.

"I'm sure Albus will let you. It'll be nice to see him again, actually."

Sirius nodded. "He actually asked in one of his letters if we could go visit him when I got here."

Remus smiled. He had liked Harry and his friends, and had been touched at Harry's efforts, futile or not, to persuade him to continue teaching. He had an underlying suspicion, however, that Harry was angry at him for letting Peter escape. The nasty little part of his brain that told him he was a monster was having fun with that niggling little doubt. Remus shook his head and tried not to worry. He supposed he would find out tomorrow.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Well, that was an angsty chapter! Angsty for me, anyway.

Next chapter will be a but more cheerful, though. Sirius and Remus will see Harry again, there will be some verbal sparring between Sirius and Snape (always fun!) and the three men will get to Romania and probably meet the elusive Vlad Comaneci.

Please review!

Thanx

Bobbi xx