Arafel, your comment for chapter 20 was indeed understood and appreciated. Check out Hugo Weaving, isn't he gorgeous? Never mind, I have a thing for the different looking guys. All the girls I know fancy Justin Timberlake, can you believe... God...

I hate Jona too. So yes, the writing will be slightly biased. Sorry... but Eleni isn't too bad, as you will see...

This chapter is short. And weird. Jesus. I like, got writer's block at each line, I swear... By the time I had finished it, I had developed two new crushes... simultaneous, too... The Twins from the Matrix: They are so hillarious in real life! (Rayment twins... duh) One of them always goes into stand by mode whilst the other rabbits on... it's a twin thing...

Chapter 23: Latin Simone.

The door opened and automatically, a hush fell over everyone in the Salon. Remus thought that he would've rushed up to Severus and hugged him tightly, had not Dumbledore reacted first.

The Headmaster got up and murmured a few words into Severus' ear. Severus shook his head. His eyes lay upon Eleni, who was half turned in her chair and playing Cat's Cradle with Lucretia, mouth slightly open, eyes as unstaring and gaze as intense as that of her younger brother's. Jona remained comparitively calm

"There's only one two more to be placed," Snape said. "Of course, you all know that Eleni will take care of the next one."

"Hm..." she replied, fingering the edge of her outer robes. "They do."

There was a silence between the two, to which everyone present in the Salon was sensitive to. Snape kept his eyes locked on Eleni's. Both their gazes were now unreadable.

"When did you arrive?" He asked softly.

"Two days ago."

"And Jona?" Remus noticed Jona bristle at the fact that Severus had mentioned him as if he weren't present.

He was about to say something when Eleni gave the smallest shakes of her head and said, "yesterday."

"Ah." Severus' eyes left his older sister's and planted their gaze onto his nieces and nephew. Martin blushed and began to chew his tongue, looking more nervous than Remus ever thought was possible for the boy to feel. Lucretia pushed back her good manners and stared at her uncle, not bothering to conceal her curiosity. Kela began to tug on Martin's shirt.

"'S that Uncle Severus?" She whispered, casting a shy gaze in the dark man's direction.

"That's Kela, Severus," Jona said, voice rather cold. "The other girl is Lucretia and the boy is Martin."

"How nice."

Remus saw that the aura Snape gave off of a slightly bored, professional doctor-like man, meant that he was furious. Either that or simply not knowing how he felt.

-Hello-

So, everything *was* alright with Rat. The werewolf felt his heart lift. It meant that things with Severus weren't as bad as they seemed.

-He's very tired-

**I thought he would be**

-Yes. Well.... what are these underlings doing here?-

**They're his family**

-Oh?-

**Yes**

Rat gave a very rodent-like snort.

**Where are you?**

-In a pocket. Can't have his underlings knowing he keeps rats now, can we?-

**He said that?**

-No. But it would be prudent not to make my presence too obvious-

**True**

Throughout this little dialogue, Severus continued to exchange quiet words with Dumbledore. Remus felt something like a pang of jealousy at the fact that Severus hadn't even bothered to even look once in his direction.

-Good bye-

**So soon?**

There was no reply as, without a word, Severus left the room.

~

Dinner wasn't uncomfortable, as such. What was uncomfortable was the relationship between the three Snapes. Despite the fact that in a way, Eleni didn't seem to hold Jona in much esteem, either, it was obvious that she considered him to be worth more in value of her time and energy, than Severus. He didn't seem to care, but being so excluded from them made his presence all the more remarkable. It was difficult to explain.

Lira was aware of this too, and wisely spent most of the meal sandwiched between her husband and Remus, occassionally talking to either.

Lucretia, Martin and Kela remained well-behaved, the last two more in particular, with Martin more than a little observant of his strange uncle. For the most part, his uncle appeared oblivious to his attention and remained quiet and in thought.

**Rat?**

-Yes?-

**What is the matter with Severus?**

There was a brief pause, which was ended with Rat's voice taking on a weary tone. - I don't know. He left me alone for a while. I couldn't get through to him-

That surprised Remus. He thought that if anyone could ever get through to Severus when others couldn't, it'd be Rat. The werewolf also began to wonder why Severus had spent so long talking to Dumbledore when he'd first arrived.

-Maybe you can-

Remus gave an inward laugh.

-What is so funny? You are another two-legger. You will be able to talk to him. There are some things that I shall never understand, you know. You would, however...-

**Not Severus**

-Please-

Rat was literally *begging* or at least, as far as rats dare to go.

**Because you think I may be able to get through to him?**

A mental nod.

**You overestimate my powers**

-Don't mock me!- Rat snapped, with such a violent force that Remus nearly jumped, causing Lira to give him an odd look. - I have asked; will you grant my request?-

**If that's what makes you happy**

-It is. Good-

With that, Rat was gone.

~

"Severus?"

He knocked again, then placed his ear against the door in an attempt to hear anything from inside the room. "Severus?"

The door opened, causing Remus to very nearly fall forward. Snape, angered, leaned against the door frame, arms folded. His black eyes smouldered and his lips were drawn tightly. Remus had always known Snape to be cranky, but he really didn't like this sudden temperment.

"Are you alright?" He asked, rather lamely.

"Yes, I'm fine."

The werewolf kept his gaze down. "You didn't seem so at dinner--" Snape rolled his eyes and moved as if about to close the door. "--and you just look... tired..." He went on quickly.

"Well I am."

"Right... yes, of course..."

Snape moved with a very small but speedy motion. He blinked quickly and lifted an arm to lean against the door.

"Are you sure... you're alright..." Remus started again.

This time, there was a strangled note in the man's voice. "I'm *fine*. This can't be all you wanted to ask me, now, can it?"

There was a pause.

"No. It isn't..." The werewolf felt himself stand a bit straighter and raise his face to meet Severus'. "You didn't speak at all to me... when you arrived. I thought you would've... of course," he added quickly as the beginnings of a sneer appeared on the man's face. "I didn't expect you to automatically leap into my arms when you arrived but... you seemed to be completely... oblivious to the fact that I was there."

"I had other things to worry about, Remus." The Potions Master said in a low voice.

"Yeah... yes, you would... I know it *was* rather selfish of me, I guess..." Remus gave a shy smile and he swore that Severus seemed to soften a bit. "There's nothing I can do to help?"

Snape looked down.

"No. There isn't..." he paused. "Remus--"

"Yes?" Remus replied softly, leaning forward. The other man looked up at him and for the first time, Remus saw actual *sadness* in his eyes. Very gently, he put his lips against Snape's and felt his lower lip become trapped between the Potion Master's.

"I'm sorry--"

"What?" The other man's black eyes bore into his. The kiss barely went any further and Snape broke away. However, seemingly unbeknown to both men, the hand that Snape had previously moved and Remus' left, had met and remained holding each other.

"This has to stop..."

Lupin felt himself freeze. "Why?"

Severus began to chew his lips. "It just has to."

"That's not a reason..."

"Lupin, please," that brought Remus to attention. The tone was eeriely reminiscent of Rat's pleading earlier and the way Snape said it... it was as if it were a somehow familiar mantra... "I simply want you to leave me alone... for a while," he added as if in afterthought. "I don't know..."

"You just want me to leave," Lupin repeated.

Snape nodded. Then he closed the door.

*

Huzzah!