Moira slipped into the Potions room where Snape was waiting for her. He was supposed to show her how to prepare the Wolfsbane Potion for Remus in case his unofficial duties made his preparation of the potion impossible. He showed her where each of the ingredients were kept, then went over the potion with her before they began creating a batch for Remus to take that evening. No detail was left out as he explained exactly how to cut and add each ingredient, exactly what shade the potion should turn after each was added, and the scents that would be released. The work nearly finished, they sat at a table and waited for it to boil.
"How is Lupin these days?" Snape asked.
Moira was taken aback by the question.
"I thought you didn't like Remus."
"I don't. I was simply being polite."
"He's doing well, I guess." Moira smiled mischievously. "Are you going to ask how Sirius is too?"
"Is he suffering from a hex?"
"No."
"Then, no."
Moira laughed softly.
"Severus, why do you hate them so much? You weren't this bad in school."
"Surely, you know."
"No, I don't."
"Moira," Snape said, leaning forward and clasping his hands on the table. "When did you find out what Lupin was?"
"During our seventh year. Why?"
"Because I found out the year prior. It was Potter and Black's idea of a joke for me to stumble into Lupin after he had transformed. It nearly got me killed."
"You're kidding!" Moira was stunned. She'd never heard about this. "Why would they do that?"
"Jealousy."
Moira tried hard not to laugh.
"No offense, Severus, but now I know you're kidding."
"I assure you, I'm not. Black thought- well- he thought I had a thing for you."
"A thing? For me?"
"Don't flatter yourself, O'Shaughnessy. I assure you, I did not. I respected your intelligence, something far too lacking in the Gryffindors, but I was not attracted to you." He crossed his arms across his chest. "Be that as it may, Black approached me about it. He did not like what I had to say."
"Which was?"
"Which was that he should look to his own friends for that."
"What was that supposed to mean?"
Snape moved to stir the cauldron, then went into his office and retrieved a tea kettle and two tea cups. He offered one to Moira, then caused the kettle to whistle with a wave of his wand. Pouring the hot liquid into her cup, he asked a question, ignoring the one she had just posed.
"Are the two of you seeing each other again?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I've seen the way he looks at you in Dumbledore's office. I was simply curious for your own welfare."
"I assure you, my welfare is fine."
"You never answered my question."
"You never answered mine. Why should he have looked to his friends?"
"Your interrogation skills have not left you. Brava." Snape sipped his tea. "I told him one of his own friends was guilty of that which he accused me."
"Was it a lie?"
"Perhaps." A thin smile spread across Snape's lips. She couldn't tell whether or not he was telling the truth. This all seemed a game to him. "Now answer my question. Are the two of you seeing each other again?"
"Yes and no."
"How dubious."
"Don't worry about me, Severus."
"I don't. I was just curious how Lupin is."
"I've already answered that question."
Snape's smile was interrupted by a sharp intake of breath as he gripped his left forearm.
"What is it?"
"I am being summoned. I'm afraid our lesson will have to continue at a later time." He rose quickly to leave but paused at the door. "I will knock on your door when I return. Come to Dumbledore's office." He disappeared from the room.
In the few hours that Snape was gone, their conversation replayed several times through her mind. No conversation with Snape was idle chitchat. Certainly not one regarding Remus and Sirius. He asked how Remus was. She asked why he hated Remus and Sirius. He told about the prank, hinting that one of Sirius' friends- gods, then he asked about Remus again. Was he implying-?
The knock at her door told her Snape had returned. Already dressed, she slipped a sweatshirt over her head and made her way to Dumbledore's office.
"Something is happening," Snape was saying when she entered the room. "Something serious."
"What?" Moira asked.
"I don't know. I have not yet been told, but there is some dissension in the Death Eaters. It seems some feel Voldemort has gone too far, which is saying much, considering who they are."
"I agree." Dumbledore leaned against his desk. "Severus, you must find out what is going on. If even Voldemort's own followers are unwilling-"
"They are not unwilling. They are scared. Whatever it is, they are scared."
"Alright, scared, though that word does not make me feel any better. You must find out what is going on."