Okay, now I'm obssessed. You *must* see Ian McKellen's new boyfriend. Apparently, they've gotten back together again. He is absolutely *gorgeous* : lookit! here just scroll down the page and in green, you'll see the name 'Nick'. click on it... oh he looks so sweet! He's gorgeous, he's... Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. He's IAN MCKELLEN'S *sniff* (lol) I'm obssessed, I know. ; )

*breathes*

Dammit.

Oh yes, and frizzy (and to everyone else who is curious)? I am *really* sorry, but you're going to have to wait some time before Remus finds out. Otherwise everything else will just lag behind and I'll be forced to make them catch up with the story and I can't really do that without the story sucking big-time. *sighs* Besides, everything is already planned out. And I...must...not...deviate...from...plot.... or..else..I'll...*gasps*... Well, not quite that dramatic, but I have to make the damn flashbacks catch up.

dovielr: yes, it IS from the Potions Mistress. Actually, if you read my 'The Potions Master's Apprentice' I left an eensy note for you about that. I have the tendency to be a) highly unimaginative and b) very lazy.

*

Chapter 19: Maestro

To be honest, Snape didn't know whether this was something he would ever feel ashamed of, or even proud of. He was barely feeling anything now, as he stirred the bubbling contents of the over-sized cauldron. All he knew was that when the time came, the unwitting victim would die very horribly.

It might even be fun to watch.

Lucius looked at it, eyebrow raised. He trusted Snape, in his way, of course. The man had done more research into the Dark Arts, including the magic of voodoo, which many Dark wizards left be, than any of them would ever would.

If this worked, it would be a magnificent leap ahead for the Death Eaters; they all knew that.

Luckily for them, if it didn't work, it wouldn't be a setback of any sort. Rather, a trial that they should overcome to succeed at their fullest the next time.

As the potion brewed, Severus sat in a chair, idly letting a rat crawl over and through his fingers. He would occasionally stroke her back and it sent a chill down Lucius spine to see it: it was as if they had a bizarre communication between them to which only they were privy.

"Severus," he started, breaking away from a conversation with Avery. "Why don't you come over here rather than play with your pet?"

Severus slowly looked up at him, gaze unreadable, an eyebrow slightly arched.

"She's not a pet, Lucius," he said in a tone which Lucius had never heard before from Snape, especially not directed at him. "She's a rat."

"What's her name?" Avery grinned, eyes cold. "Rosemary?"

Ignoring the quiet sniggers, Snape actually seemed to be looking at the rat in his palm as if wondering what to call her. Or perhaps he was asking her for her name.

"No," he said at last, getting up. "It's not Rosemary."

"Well, what is it then?" Lucius asked, sounding rather impatient.

Severus said nothing, only bent over the potion and stirred. The minute he did so, a definite hush fell over the few Death Eaters present. Truth be told, they clung to a small and secret fear of Severus; one of the reasons he so appealed to the Master was because although so young, he was adventurous in the ways of Dark magic, intelligent and powerful with herbs. He was immune to many poisons and could make far more.

"You can go and tell our Lord and Master that his potion is ready," Severus said quietly. His rat squeaked. He gently shushed her.

-I dunno abou' yer boss rat- she was sniffing -I don' think 'e cares too much fer you boys-

Lately, Brighteyes little comments had begun to strike a chord within Severus's mind. In rat society, yes, the boss rat could tell the underlings what to do, but it made sure that they treated one another properly and treated their underlings properly as well. Brighteyes wasn't sure if she approved of Voldemort's - or 'Human Boss's - methods of rule. She thought one shouldn't make a claim to such power, be he rat or human, if he wasn't prepared to be (by her standards) acceptable.

-'E wants ter eat the world, 'e does- she cackled. -run fer it, boy-

"Brighteyes," he murmured to her, as the other DeathEaters filed out, leaving him with the bubbling brew, "I don't want to right now."

-Ah, but yer will. Fer whatever reason, I dunno. Bu' any good rat 'ud do th'same: if the Boss es gettin' too fat, yer eat 'im an' share 'im ou' between yer- she sniffed again, partly out of amusement at her own little joke and also just to see who was nearby. -or yer run fer it an' go solo-

Severus stroked her back.

"Why do you call me boy?"

-You may be bigger 'n' me- she began in the beginnings of a rat snarl -but if I were a 'uman, I'd be old enough ter be yer Great-grandrat. You'm remain a boy, until yer ge' as old as I am-

"Thanks," he muttered in an acid tone. She gently nipped his earlobe.

-You'm be a good underling- she teased -but mind yer meddles-

*

Sirius was still rather quiet when he came down to breakfast. He took a goblet from Snape with nothing more than a weary nod. He sat and barely ate his breakfast. At his left, he had Lira looking concerned and murmuring soft words in his ear.

Remus was sitting next to Snape. When the man returned to his seat, he leaned over to him. "Is everything going to be alright?"

Snape nodded. "It's just shock. He wasn't there long enough for any real effect to kick in. He's just had a long journey." Despite the fact that conversation came easier between the two men, Remus couldn't help but notice that Snape still seemed not to trust - if not dislike - Sirius and showed this feeling as much as he would dare to. At the moment, he wore an expression of mild irritation, obviously due to the fact that he had had to actually help the man.

"Surely you don't still dislike him?" Remus ventured.

"Go away, Lupin. Not all of us are as perfect as you are." He replied bitingly.

"I'm sorry," The werewolf gave a subdued smile.

"Hm." Snape began to poke at the fried eggs on his plate and made a face.

"You being Jewish.... arem't there all sorts of rules about what you can eat and can't...?" Lupin started, eyes still on the flat eggs that now had been horribly punctured by a four spiked fork.

"Hmm. Why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering if that's why you don't eat much..."

Snape gave a small sigh and put his fork down, still leaving the tips resting against the egde of the plate. "All food here, unless obviously not, like pork sausages, are kosher. You needn't worry. I've survived over quarter of a century without your fussing over my religious, dietry needs, and I'm sure I'll survive another..."

Lupin grinned. "What about after that?"

Snape grimaced. "I have a total of nine nieces and nephews who I'm sure will be none too hesitant to remind me."

"You must be so proud."

"Be quiet."

Remus let a soft chuckle escape from him, then looked away as he saw Snape's eyes clam up in their preparation for a glare. "Bastard." He heard him mutter. The chuckle, lodged within Remus' throat, refused to budge. He was almost gigling.

-I agree with him. Stop that. You're going to hurt yourself soon-

"I know... I know...." the laugh subsided, though a rather foolish grin took it's place.

"Oh dear," Snape shook his head.

-Honestly, moon-dog. Can't you control yourself for a few minutes?-

"It was too good to miss," Remus answered quietly. "Where are you?"

-That is for him and I to know and you to find out-

"Is he always like this?" Remus turned to Snape, who shrugged.

"He's a rat. What else do you expect?" Snape rolled his shoulders. "I have to go and get my lessons ready. I think it's best if you go and have a word with Sirius; I know he's tired, but he'd be glad of your company, I think."

"Alright," Lupin nodded. "How busy are you today?"

Snape had gotten up and was pushing his chair back in. "Very. I have lessons and lectures alike for the whole day. Rat should be around, so if you need me, just ask him. He'll show you."

-That depends-

"Tch." Shaking his robes loose, Professor Snape exited the Hall.

*

He'd been able to avoid Dumbledore so far.

In his spare time, he spent more of it in the secret rooms that Coldfur had found in his own leisure. However, when it came to Dumbledore asking other teachers to send for Severus, he had just been plain lucky.

He only hoped that Dumbledore wouldn't take off any points away from Slytherin for it, but, from what Snape had seen at dinner, Dumbledore had no scars on his face to show to the world.

-Why you shiver so?- Coldfur sniffed in his slow way. That was the difference, Severus had noticed, between female rats and male rats: females were more jumpy, more active. The males, on the other hand, were far more leisurely. Coldfur then laughed -You have no fur. That your problem, no?-

"Yes," Snape replied and, being the endearing little rat he was, Coldfur snuggled in Severus' neck. Being a pure, mahogany brown rat, he was a lot larger than quite a few others Snape had had, so could fit quite nicely around his neck. Sort of. Coldfur's nose was distracting him. "Your nose is too wet," Severus whispered, smiling.

-Ha... ha-

"Oh God..." he muttered, as James Potter and his equally wonderful Lily Potter came into view. He felt ever so slightly queasy at the sight of their hands holding and the two of them walking so close to each other. They were discreet, as wizarding etiquette seemed to command, but not so as to cause Snape no discomfort. He didn't think he would ever be able to let someone else touch him, or even come near him. It reminded him too much of the feel of Dumbledore's gnarled fingers touching his skin...

-STOP THAT!-

Severus nearly jumped, but hid it by hugging his shoulders tightly and releasing them quickly.

"Thank you..."

-You must stop this-

"I know," Snape whispered. Lily and her no doubt soon-to-be husband went past him. Usually, the rest of the Golden boys would be nearby, but he realised that of course, it was the full moon, and Mr. Remus Lupin was *always* 'ill' on the first moon.

"I wonder if anyone else has discovered his secret," the boy murmured rather nastily.

-Leave the moon-dog be. He has pain to deal with tonight. And madness- Coldfur shuddered.

Of course, Dumbledore would make sure no one else knew... he hardly had to do anything. But he *tried*

Snape closed his eyes.

~"None of this will get out, now, will it Severus?" "No..." "Good.... the boy has more than enough already to deal with" "I know..." "I can tell it's a shock..." Silence. He'd shifted closer, hadn't he? And Snape could see that the scars hadn't been completely eradicated by magic. Only to be seen at such close quarters. Laid his hand on his knee... started groping. Get up.... get up... and Severus had... he'd given him the look Eleni had given him all that time before... the look his father had given those pictures of murdered Arabs... "Severus?" He'd reached again.. he'd whispered... he'd had that look in his eye.... to let the boy know that he knew what he wanted... what he *didn't* want more like... Oh, God... those blue eyes... eurgh...always glittering... get away from me... The door... "I understand, Professor Dumbledore... now if you please... let go of my thigh..." And he'd left after that... leaving that ... that *man* there...~

Coldeyes nipped Severus lightly. -You are scaring me-

"I'm sorry." Now in the present world, Snape could feel his heart pumping ferociously against his rib cage and heavy breathing. "I won't think about it any more I swear..."

-Hush. You need your own kind. You do-

"I don't." Snape replied from between gritted teeth. "They've done enough already."

Golden Boys.

Sirius.

*

"Severus? Not busy now?"

Snape was at a desk, shuffling papers and arranging them in orderly bundles in his arms. He gave Remus a look. "Not so busy. Here. Take a few. Before I hurt my back. I'll let you share my pain." Bending slightly, he tipped his arms so that two of the five bundles slid into Remus' arms.

"Thank you ever so much--"

"Oh, shut up."

**Well, that was a first**

They went up stairs within the thick walls, which Lupin never knew even existed, and ended up in the Potions Master's office.

"Leave them there." Snape gestured towards a table. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Remus let his eyes glitter. "Do I get a kiss?"

"Tch." Snape began to scowl. "Hmm.... come here and see." When the werewolf was about to put his arms around him, Snape pushed him away. "No, no ... hugging... let's keep things simple, yes?" And he gently laid his lips on Remus', more of a prolonged peck than anything.

Smiling - with butterflies in his stomach - he returned a kiss on Snape's cheek and was surprised to see him blush *very* slightly, in the darkness.

"Night, night." He whispered, lightly nuzzling Snape's neck. Snape seemed to both freeze and relax at the same time.

"Please stop," he finally said.

Remus did and looked at him. "Will I be able to see you tomorrow?"

There was an awkward silence.

"No... and don't even think of looking for me," the man replied rather stiffly, though his fingers continually toyed with the black material of his robes. "Rat will be coming too, anyway."

"Where?" Remus frowned. Snape gave him a very dark scowl indeed.

"I can't tell you. Now go to bed. Lira will worry, won't she?"

~

I've just heard that Nick Cuthell, the above mentione boyfriend to Ian, and he are no longer together. I don't really care. Nick's pretty (say he's pretty. Go on. Nod. Agree with me).

And I still haven't learnt how to spell. No spelling comments about Chapter 17. Please. I can't take it any more... *laughs*