A/N: Indigo! Lorien and Sirius flags? Really! (are you a good witch, or a bad witch?)

Tinne - here's dose of Draco for you.

Birdluvr - I love Sirius's fun side, but he has a darker side later too.

Krew - If only it was that simple!

Remus and Sirius look at each other with concern as they hear the conversation in the next room becoming more heated.

"You didn't really think it through, did you Nytd?" Severus was sneering at her.

"No, I admit I didn't, but there's no need to get so worked up,"she replies tersely.

"Worked up? You sent Malfoy to Azkaban on a whim, and now I have to deal with the mess you created with Draco," he muses bitterly.

"WE, have to deal with Draco, Severus. And tell me you didn't enjoy sending Lucius to prison," she counters.

Severus pauses before continuing his lecture. "Well, I suppose I might have enjoyed it a bit."

"Liar," she says with a smile. "I'm sure you enjoyed it greatly."

"Liar? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?" Severus asks the lady author.

"I'm sure you've been called worse," she teases.

"Perhaps," he says wryly. "I will admit that I did find a certain satisfaction at the thought of Lucius rotting in Azkaban. I suppose I'm indebted to you for giving me the opportunity."

"And what do we do if we're indebted to the author?" Nytd asks, expecting Snape to at least voice a simple 'thank you.'

Severus leans over and whispers something in her ear.

Nytd suddenly smiles, decides that Snape's version of 'thank you' sounds a lot more interesting, and quickly shuts down her computer for the evening after saving chapter 4.

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Return to Hogwarts ~*~

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It was a rare thing to see Draco Malfoy walking in the hallway without being flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, and the afternoon Snape saw him on the way to the Slytherin dormitories by himself, he groaned inwardly. He didn't really know what he would say to the younger Malfoy, but an opportunity like this was too unusual to pass up. Besides, he could have waited another year and still not known what to say.

"Mr. Malfoy," Snape called sternly to the teenager in the hall.

Draco turned and eyed him coldly.

"A word in my office, if you please." Snape's tone gave the impression that it didn't really matter if Draco was pleased or not.

Draco followed the Head of Slytherin house to his office and stood just inside the door, as Snape seated himself in the chair behind his desk. "Sit."

Malfoy stared at him for a long moment and then sat in the chair Snape indicated.

"Shall we get right to it, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked.

Draco glared at the older wizard. "Fine."

"I know you hate me and I don't blame you." Draco looked the tiniest bit surprised and Snape kept going. "I'd hate me too if I were you, because I was a lot like you at that age."

"You're nothing like me!" Draco said angrily. "You're a traitor."

"I'm less like you now, and as for traitor...." Snape shrugged.

"You're the reason my father is in Azkaban! He was your friend. How could you do that? How could you DO THAT?" Malfoy shouted at him now.

Snape remained calm in the face of the boy's outburst and continued his explanation. "I know that's how you see things, but it's all part of a terrible illusion. Your father and I have know each other a very long time, and have spent a lot of time together in the past, but as for truly being friends? No, Draco. Did your father ever completely trust me as far back as you can remember? Do you completely trust Crabbe or Goyle?"

He saw the angry look on the boy's face but he pushed it further. "Don't answer me, answer yourself. Do you trust your friends? Do you truly care about them? Or do you watch your back, Draco? Do you seek their company because you like them, or because you know you can intimidate them, have power over them?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Malfoy was furious.

"Ah, but I do. I never betrayed a friend, Draco. As for the fact that I do not stand on the same side of things as your father, that came about long ago. You need to reconsider your thinking." Snape's tone was more insistent now. "Is this what you truly want?"

Snape shoved the left sleeve of his robe up his arm to reveal the black Mark.

Malfoy was angry, but he sputtered and struggled for a moment, trying to find exactly what he wanted to say. Snape didn't give him the chance.

"You think this is an honor? It's enslavement, Draco. Is that what you want? To never truly be able to make your own decisions? Never have your own life? Do you want to end up dead?"

Snape wouldn't relent. "How about in Azkaban like your father? What about like me, Malfoy, with years of your life wasted doing someone else's bidding, and the rest of it spent desperately trying to find some way to make up for it? You think it can't happen to you?" Snape snarled. "Until a short time ago it never occurred to you that it could have happened to me....or to your father." Snape's black eyes were locked in an intense gaze with the boy in front of him until Draco jumped from his chair.

"You don't know anything! You're pathetic!" he cried.

Snape shrugged. He didn't necessarily disagree.

"I do hate you for what you did. The time will come when you'll pay for it, then we'll see who needs to reconsider their thinking!" The younger Malfoy snarled words that the older one likely would have hurled at Snape and stormed out of the room.

Snape watched the boy go and then fell back in his chair, running a hand back through his hair. He hadn't expected to convince the boy to give up his way of thinking. Not with one conversation. But he hoped he had planted a tiny seed of doubt in the boy's mind.

As Lorien neared the castle she was reminded of the day she first walked this same way months ago when she came to work at Hogwarts. Her musings were interrupted as she noticed someone walking toward her, and she frowned slightly as she recognized the tall animagus, even from a distance. Sirius had obviously spotted her and walked toward her as she neared the castle.

She wanted to be glad to see him, but she knew that she was probably not one of his favorite people right now, and it added to her considerable frustration with the situation since she was quite fond of him and had come to count him among her friends. She could see that he was eyeing her intensely as he got close.

"Lorien." He nodded curtly.

"Sirius, how are you?" She kept a cordial tone in her voice.

"Fine, and you?" he asked politely.

"Fine," she answered.

"I don't think anyone was expecting to see you so soon. What are you doing back?" he asked her.

Lorien smiled inside at his familiar and direct manner. "I have to see Dumbledore."

"I see. And do you need to see Remus?" he asked, folding his arms.

"He's not the primary reason that I'm here." She tried to keep her voice neutral as she answered.

Black's eyes narrowed. "And what about Snape? Is he the primary reason?"

Lorien knew this was going to happen. "Sirius, please. My business is with the headmaster."

"So you haven't....decided?" he snarled quietly.

"That's really none of your concern," she said sternly. She was getting angry.

Sirius was obviously getting angry as well. "You don't think Remus is my concern?"

"That's not what I meant," she said, looking him in the eye.

Black pushed her further. "At least one of us is concerned about Remus."

"You think I don't care about Remus? Then you're an idiot," she snapped. "My decision would be easy if I didn't care so much about him."

"I should think your decision would be easy anyway." He glared at her.

"Oh. I see. There it is - you're telling me that things are black and white, aren't you? Good and evil is it, Sirius? Is that how you need to look at it? Just pick Remus because he's good?"

Her intensity caught him a little off guard and she took advantage of his hesitation to continue.

"So, tell me, Sirius. Am I just wrong for caring about Snape? Because you don't? He's evil, right? So I guess that must make me evil for having feelings for the man," she continued bitterly. "A regular dark sorceress for showing compassion to a man that few others ever have, including you." She finished and quickly walked past him, heading for the castle again.

Sirius stood there for a minute, seething, and then finally gritted his teeth and went after her. "Lorien!"

She glared at him quickly but kept walking.

He grabbed her by the arm and she turned on him. "Don't!" she hissed as she pulled her arm back.

"Listen to me," he insisted, and then, "Please."

She stopped and looked at him with anger still in her eyes.

He tried to speak calmly. "Look, I'm sorry. I know this hasn't been easy on you either. It's just that...."

Her expression softened. "I know, Sirius. You're a good friend to him, and I can't tell you how thankful I am for that."

"I've seen you two together. I know how much you care about him. I don't think you'd ever do anything to intentionally hurt him," Sirius confessed.

"I never would," Lorien agreed.

"But Lorien, of all people! Did it have to be Snape?" he asked.

Lorien laughed. "I ask myself the same thing on a regular basis, Sirius." She got the man in front of her to smile just a little.

Sirius finally gave in. "Come here, witch," he said, spreading his arms in welcome.

She accepted the hug he now gave her and then spoke as he released her. "You know that I consider you a friend as well, Sirius."

"I know," he said. "So what is it that does bring you here?" He sounded suddenly concerned.

She became very serious and then he saw that it looked as though she were fighting back tears. "The Death Eaters, Sirius."

He became alarmed. "What about them?"

She could barely answer him. "They're killing the Nemorosi witches."

Sirius went with her quickly as she walked to the headmaster's door and entered.

"Lorien! What a pleasant surprise....what is it, my dear?" Dumbledore saw the looks on each of their faces and became serious in an instant.

She told him about the four other women that were dead and about the Dark Mark on the door of Taber's house.

"Perth was right to send you here. I agree with him that you could be in grave danger even if they weren't specifically targeting you. You'll be safest at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore.

"I can help Poppy since I'll be back for a while," Lorien offered.

Dumbledore nodded. "I suggest you take a few days to get settled back in, but then I'm sure Poppy will welcome the assistance."

Lorien nodded. "Thank you, Albus."

Lorien left the two men to talk and made her way to her rooms just beyond Poppy's. She unlocked the door with a word and stepped inside the familiar surroundings. Most of her things were still here, as she had taken little with her when she left.

Setting her bag down in the bedroom, she hung up her heavy cloak and returned to the sitting room to wait. She figured she had about ten minutes between when Sirius could tell Remus she was here and when Remus knocked on her door. It took him eight.

"Come in," she called as the knock came, and a worried looking Lupin came into her rooms. She looked at the clock and then back. "It took you a full two minutes less than I thought it would."

He smiled. "How are you?"

"Fine Remus. You?" she asked.

"Fine. Lorien, Sirius told me what happened. I'm glad you listened to Taber and came back," he said.

She shrugged. "Yes, everyone seems to agree that this is the safest place."

"Especially now," Remus said.

"Why is that?" Lorien asked.

"Dumbledore has made Sirius head of security," Remus replied.

Lorien snickered.

"Why do you laugh? He's perfect for the job," Lupin said a little defensively.

Lorien smiled apologetically. "I know Remus. It's just that I had this image flash into my mind of a large drunk dog roaming the Forbidden Forest."

Lupin laughed with her for a moment and then became serious again. "It's good to see you," he said, moving to stand closer. He touched her hand.

"And you." Her fingers automatically twined through his for a moment but then she gently pulled away. "Remus, I haven't..."

"I know. It's still good to see you." He moved closer again and put his arms around her in a warm embrace, and it was only a moment before he was kissing her as both of them were caught up in the emotion of the moment.

Lorien was thankful that he pulled away first.

"I'm sorry about your friend, Dahlia," he said.

"Thank you. She didn't deserve to die like that," Lorien said sadly.

"No one does, Lorien," Remus said.

"Things are going to get worse, aren't they?" she asked him, sounding very concerned.

"I think so. A lot worse," he said quietly. "Well, I should let you get some rest. Let me know if there's anything I can do, Lorien." He kissed her quickly on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

Remus left and Lorien stood alone, thankful that they had managed to get through that without it being too awkward, and without her giving in to the feelings half of her so desperately wanted to give into.

She was definitely happy to see him, but it was difficult to sort out all of the things she felt when he'd walked into the room. It had felt so good to have his arms around her. She felt so protected. So safe. Especially after everything that had been happening.

Part of her wanted to do nothing more than to go after him and have him stay with her, and part of her knew that it didn't quite feel right. She felt guilt about what she'd been putting him through well up inside her, and she knew that she had to wait. She had to be sure before she made her decision, because there was no going back once she did. It would be unfair to all three of them for her to act impulsively, and Lorien had promised herself that once things were clear to her, she'd never give either of them any reason to question what her decision ended up being.

It turned out that Remus was right. Things did get a whole lot worse that very night.

In the history of Azkaban, there had only ever been one successful escape. No one else had ever done what Sirius Black had managed to do, but then again, no one ever had twenty Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort to break them out.

The attack was not a complete surprise, but it was a short struggle nonetheless. The balance was shifted because the dementors sensed the tide was turning and it was not long before they were siding against the guards they had worked for. In the end all of the guards and three aurors were dead or worse, and every prisoner present in addition to the seven incarcerated Death Eaters was released from the island fortress. Voldemort himself personally released the Lestranges.

The five remaining Death Eaters would take a while to recover from their short stay in the wizard prison, but the experience they had gone through only fueled their desire to seek revenge on those that had put them there.

As for the remaining thieves and murderers that Voldemort had released, all of them were given an ultimatum. The choice was simple, join them and swear undying allegiance to the dark lord, or die there on the spot. Very few were foolish enough to defy the dark lord and most of them didn't have the will left to do so even if they wanted to. Voldemort found that by the end of the night the number of his most loyal supporters had doubled.

Not only did he find some with the talent to join the ranks of his Death Eaters in the newly liberated group of thugs, but he had effectively established what would become a group of so called bounty hunters.

Voldemort established that bounties would be given for any auror or ranking Ministry official that should be brought to him, either dead or alive but especially alive. He wanted Cornelius Fudge, and he wanted all of the Moodys, but the greatest rewards he set upon the heads of Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and especially Severus Snape.

As for Lorien, Voldemort was already in her debt. It had been her interference with Fincastle that night that ultimately lead to the wizard's death, but also focused the dark lord's attention on the potential threat posed by the remainder of the Nemorosi group. He had decided to be pro- active and had begun having them systematically executed. He didn't care how long it took, he was going to destroy the remainder of the powerful Nemorosi clan, starting with the witches. Even though the serpent animagus was indirectly responsible, the Nemorosi legend was coming true.

For Harry, Ron, and Hermione, one of the best things about returning to school after the break was getting to see Hagrid. The Hogwarts gamekeeper had been absent for the majority of last term and the three friends missed stopping by his hut to visit with him.

It looked like the traveling he had been doing to act as ambassador to the Giants in the north might pay off in the battle against Voldemort, and Hagrid had been anxious to tell the tales of his travels to the three young Gryffindors when they went to visit him the first Saturday back at school.

"So there yeh have it," Hagrid pronounced, as he finished telling about his recent adventures.

"It sounds like things are promising with the Giants, Hagrid," said Hermione when he finished.

"I hope so," he replied. "So, wha's new with the three of yeh?"

They all looked at each other. It was hard to know where to begin, but eventually Harry, Ron and Hermione were able to convey most of the major events of the previous fall.

"I reckon I'd never thought I'd see that," said Hagrid, when Hermione had filled in her part about the medical witch and Professors Lupin and Snape. "Kinda feel bad fer Lupin."

Ron and Harry looked happy that Hagrid seemed to share the same feelings that they did.

A/N: So there. My token attempt at writing Hagrid. And as far as Draco Malfoy goes, I'm just about as unhappy about dealing with him as Severus is, but you can't send his father to Azkaban and not expect to have issues with Draco at some point. So I guess it's my own fault ( and Snape's) that now I have to contend with ferret-boy. :P

BIG NOTE : Fanfic challenge warning. Just to give all the writers out there warning that next chapter I'll be issuing a fanfic challenge involving Severus, Sirius, and Remus. Get a fresh bottle of ink and your best quills ready.