Thank you for the reviews. Thank you for your interest in this story. It's odd, FanFiction has now sorta become such a part of my life, I don't like to think of what will happen when it's all over. And it's *just* FanFiction!

At least, that's what I try to tell myself.

And for some strange reason, it never works...
Chapter 7: The Hermit.
"Remus?"

That would be Sirius. The werewolf groaned. He wanted to sleep and if someone woke him up now, he never would.

"Remus!"

An urgent note sounded in Sirius' voice. Still, Remus didn't get up.

"I know you're in there! Why the hell won't you let me in? You know I wouldn't be a problem and this- this is *urgent*." There was a pause before Sirius said in a quieter voice, "Urgent enough for me to wake you and get you out of that bed."

"Really, Sirius. Leave me alone. *Go-a-way*."

A sigh and then the man was gone.
*
For once, it seemed, the Snape Grandparents and the Cohens had agreed on something.

"George has volunteered to pay for Jona's schooling," Grandmother Snape said, looking at her daughter-in-law over thick rimmed, half-moon spectacles. The hennaed blonde nodded numbly as she bounced a gurgling toddler on her lap. Through the corner of her eye, the old woman noticed the smaller figures, dressed in black, that flanked their mother. It was like something from the Victorian photos of her own mother, whom Eleni was named after. "My husband and I can home Eleni during her holidays, or indeed, whenever she pleases."

"Thank you Grandmother." Eleni said.

Mrs. Snape hadn't said anything yet. Severus seemed to be melting into her, as if supplying some support for the weary woman. Roxanna Snape, Grandmother to Severus Snape, narrowed her black eyes, attempting to gain something else from the younger woman's countenance that she hadn't before. It then struck her: Tessa would die as well, quite soon.

The death of her husband would be too much for her.

The mental loss of her children, even more so.

Roxanna noticed her second son, George, smile at the youngest Snape's in the room. Severus' face remained as sober and solemn as always. Eleni's face showed no change. Truth be told, Roxanna was beginning to feel scared.

**Oh, by the sweet name of Yahweh** she frowned slightly **Let me help them. Let them *live*.**

"Severus can still remain at Hogwarts as was agreed from the first." That was Grandfather Cohen. Like Grandmother Snape, he was concerned for his daughter. Since the funeral, she had seemed to waste away even further. "The children will have every opportunity to mingle with the rest of the family as it was before. Nothing will change for the worst. Hopefully."

"For that, we ask God's blessing," Grandmother Cohen croaked, light green eyes shining intensely. She was blind.

"Thank you Grandparents," Severus and Eleni chorused.

Tessa Snape remained silent, continually jiggling a still Jona on her lap.

*
"For the after-effects," Snape murmured into his ear, laying a sachet of white cloth at his hand. "Pour it all into any drink of yours. Whenever you finish one, ask for me. Wait." He paused and dropped two more onto the table. "There."

He walked away, black cloak habitually swirling behind him.

Fingering the satchets for a while, Remus took a breath and withdrew the folded picture he had taken from Snape what seemed like so many nights ago. He opened it.

Not since that night had he had the opportunity to look at it. He had changed robes frequently since then - the following days meant that wearing the same clothes for longer than six hours ensured itching and a burning sensation - and found the photo whilst searching his pockets for a tissue. Now he was alone in the staff room.

**And I'd prefer not to be in here at all**

So he left for his own quarters.

He didn't meet anyone of particular importance on his way: for some reason, he remained within the shadows as he made his journey through the corridors.

Sirius was in his own room. Silently, Remus went into the opposite chamber.

Suddenly out of breath, he sat back down on the bed and leaned back. The cool of his room was refreshing. The darkness reassuring. He felt safe.

Sitting upright now, on the bed he unfolded the photo. Turning it onto the back, he saw the words 'Last family photo' in black ink. His curiosity now piqued, he turned it over to have a look at the picture itself. It would make sense as to see why Severus would still have this photo.

The photo had been taken in a moderately well-lit room. There were Edwardian armchairs, with leather covered, cushioned seats and tables of gleaming oak. Paintings in elaborate wooden frames hung on the papered walls. In the centre of the picture, were five figures: two adults, two children and a baby in his mother's arms.

Remus took the solemn looking boy to be Severus: there was little resemblance to him as a young boy to how he would have been when he'd enter Hogwarts, much to the werewolf's surprise. In the photo, despite the fact that there was not hint of a smile on his face, his black eyes seemed alight with humour. Next to him, was a slim girl whose skin tone was a bit darker than her brother's stood, beaming cheekily. They did, however, share the same nose and chin. These particular features couldn't quite be identified on the baby, being as round and cuddly as those at that age usually were. It was blonde - unlike it's older siblings - with large, blue eyes.

Behind the two children - who were sitting cross legged on the floor - were their parents: a willowy woman with strawberry blonde hair with the baby in her arms, smiling slightly, her chair next to her husband of whom his children were vague echoes of.

His hair was dark - almost black - and his eyes friendly, full of good character. Like his eldest daughter, he had a darker skin tone than his wife's and a stronger build. Apart from the nose, Remus thought that Snape took after his mother to a greater extent.

How old could Severus have been here? He looked around six.

"Last family photo," he murmured to himself.

**And I don't recall anyone even mentioning an older Mr. Snape** he added mentally.

Remus considered the option of perhaps joining Severus at meal times and in the staff room on occasion, if only to get a greater clue about his family. He also got the feeling that it wouldn't hurt to try and develop a kinship of sorts with the man: no one likes to be truly alone, particularly in times like these.

As much as the werewolf hated to admit it, he was naturally curious, especially when there was the matter of someone's history. This was no exception.

Glancing at the clock on his wall, he saw that it was time to dine in the Great Hall.

"Funny how time seems to speed up when you're doing absolutely nothing," he said to no one.
*

Enjoyed? Sorry the chapter is so short. Took me ages to write, as well...