A/N: Nightdweller - A resounding welcome to the madness amiga!

Ctina - Do you honestly think I would let Remus greet Lorien, but not Severus? My dear, you know me better than that. ;)

Nytd realizes that Remus and Sirius appeared horrified as she emerges from her office. "What?" she asks.

"Um, Nytd? We couldn't help but overhear that Snape was going to thank you," Remus ventures.

"So?" she asks, not appearing very concerned.

"Are you really going to....going to...." Sirius couldn't bring himself to put the frightening image in his head into words.

"What?" Nytd asks, looking puzzled at the looks the two men are wearing. "Let him take me to dinner? I don't see anything wrong with that."

"Dinner?" Remus and Sirius ask together, obviously thinking along different lines.

"Yes." She frowns. "Wait a minute...don't tell me you two thought..."

"Well, we didn't actually hear what he suggested," offered Remus. "And this is Snape we're talking about."

Nytd shakes her head. "Honestly! All he said was that he'd like to take me out to celebrate Malfoy going to Azkaban."

"Oh, well, sorry Nytd," Sirius apologizes for them.

Nytd walks off, not understanding where Remus and Sirius get their ideas. ;)

--

Unconventional Methods ~*~

--

Hermione Granger did a double take as she was walking down the hall. She could have sworn she had just seen Lorien heading for the medical wing. Normally she would have worried about being late for class, but her curiosity got the better of her and she detoured down the hall that led to the infirmary and living quarters of the two Hogwarts healers.

Lorien was just reaching her door at the end of the hallway and Hermione found herself calling to the older woman in surprise. "Mistress Lorien?"

Lorien turned to see Hermione walking toward her. "Hello, Hermione. How are you?"

"Fine, and you?" Hermione asked politely.

"Just fine, thank you," Lorien replied, pleased to see the bright young woman.

"Are you, um, back?" Hermione asked her.

"More or less," Lorien chuckled.

Hermione ventured further. "Have you seen Remus yet?"

Lorien smiled at the teenager. "Yesterday." She wondered how much the teenager knew.

"Are you.....oh, I'm sorry, I'm prying." Hermione was suddenly embarrassed.

"Am I what?" Lorien asked kindly as the girl looked uncomfortable. "Hermione, it's ok. Here, step inside with me for a minute."

Hermione couldn't have cared less about missing history of magic at that point. She was too curious to see the older witch's quarters and possibly find out what was happening with Remus to mind.

Lorien watched as Hermione tried to get a look around without seeming too obvious. "It's ok. Go ahead and look. I was always curious about my teachers when I was at school. It's funny how you don't think of them as being real people outside of class sometimes."

Hermione looked like she felt more at ease and made straight for Lorien's bookshelf. "There are so many books here! Oh, you have muggle writings too." Hermione felt even more comfortable with the older woman. She spotted the worn purple binding and picked it up off the shelf. "This must be your favorite."

Lorien smiled as Hermione picked her favorite Kipling novel off the shelf. "Yes, it is," she replied as the girl carefully placed it back.

"Hermione, you were going to ask me about Remus, weren't you?" asked Lorien.

"Yes," Hermione replied. "I was just concerned ....about you both. I didn't mean to be rude."

Lorien indicated that the two women should sit down, and Hermione joined her on the couch.

"Hermione, I'm not upset with you. I assumed that you and Ron and Harry must know some of what's been happening. You spent enough time visiting Sirius. I just hope you haven't told many people?"

"No one. Only the three of us know," Hermione said.

"Thank you. Remus and I haven't figured out what we're going to do yet," replied Lorien.

Hermione started to speak. "So that means that you haven't..." She stopped short.

"Haven't what, Hermione?" It was Lorien's turn to be curious.

Hermione looked uncomfortable again. "Decided," was all she whispered.

Lorien realized just how much the girl knew and sighed. "No, I haven't. I know it's probably very difficult for a young Gryffindor like you to understand, but ....."

"No. That's just it. I think I do understand," said Hermione. "The guys are having a much harder time with it, but I...I don't know. It's like you said, sometimes you don't really think of professors as being real people outside of class. You don't think of them as being different, in different circumstances or with different people."

Lorien was amazed at the girl's understanding and open-mindedness. "I'm surprised that you don't have more of a problem with Professor Snape being involved."

Hermione was quiet for a minute, and then spoke. "He's different with you, isn't he?"

"A bit. He's still Snape." Lorien laughed a little and Hermione smiled. "You look like you were going to ask something else," Lorien said to her.

Hermione bit her lip and looked at the older woman while she hesitated. Finally she smiled again and spoke. "Do you call him .....Severus?"

Lorien laughed and nodded. "Of course."

Hermione wrinkled her nose up at the idea although she remained smiling. "I don't think I could imagine ever....."

Lorien grinned. "Try it and see sometime when you feel the need to wipe the board clean of Gryffindor points."

It was Hermione's turn to laugh.

Professor Snape was walking quickly down the hallway, making his way through the throng of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students that had just got out of their last class of the afternoon. He was impatiently trying to get around a pair of girls that were busy talking and hadn't noticed the head of Slytherin house coming up behind them in a hurry.

Susan Bones had her head bent toward her classmate as the girls continued to converse, and Snape was just about to snap at the pair to move along when he overheard what they were saying.

"So, did you hear that Mistress Lorien is back?" Susan asked her companion.

Snape held his tongue.

"Really? How'd you find out?" the other girl asked.

"I was talking to Hermione earlier this afternoon and she said that she had run into her in the hospital wing. Evidently she's going to be working with Madame Pomfrey."

Snape didn't need to hear any more of the conversation, and he quickened his steps toward the medical ward, which was already his destination. He already had in his hand the perfect excuse to be there - the week's passwords to the controlled substances in the potions storeroom.

No one was in the hospital ward and Snape went to the open office door.

Poppy looked up at him from her desk. "Good afternoon, Severus."

"Poppy," Snape said. "Here you are." He handed her the small sealed parchment.

"Thank you. I hope you weren't too difficult for Lorien while I was away," she scolded. She waited for a snide comment in return, but the answer he gave her was puzzling.

"That remains to be seen." Snape turned and strode out of the room.

'Now what?' he wondered. She hadn't been in the office, and he hesitated in the hall as he looked in the direction of her door. He wrestled with whether he should or shouldn't go to see if she were there. Maybe he would. After all, he was here anyway. He took a step in that direction and then hesitated. She hadn't come to find him. How long had she been back? It must have been last night. Well, let her come to the dungeon if she wanted to see him. He turned back to find Lorien standing behind him with her arms crossed and an amused look on her face.

"Hello, Severus. Made up your mind?" she asked sweetly as she uncrossed her arms and walked past him toward her rooms.

The words 'no and how about you?' sprang to mind but Snape thought better of voicing them. He saw Lorien glance back at him once over her shoulder and he decided that he would follow.

Once inside her sitting room, Lorien turned to him and indicated the couch. "There, where I can keep an eye on you," she said.

Snape gazed at her as he moved toward the couch. "Now, where would be the fun in that?"

She gave an exasperated sigh and sat down in the nearby chair.

Snape gave her a concerned look. "You trust me that little?" he said, indicating the empty cushion on the couch next to him.

Lorien eyed him for a moment and then got up to change seats. "It's just that I know you that well." She sat down next to him.

"Better," he said as he sat at an angle and laid his arm casually along the back of the couch behind her. He was amused to see her tense for a second until she knew where he was putting his arm.

"A bit jumpy, aren't we?" he chided her.

"You don't have a good track record," she scolded him, beginning to smile.

His hand toyed with her hair a little. "And what are you accusing me of?" he asked smoothly.

She bit her lip for a minute. "See, there. You're doing it again."

"What, this?" He ran his fingers under a large handful of the blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders and let it cascade through them as he leaned very close.

"Now, stop that." She looked flustered. "What happened to not interfering?" she scolded gently. "I believe you're cheating, Severus."

"You are speaking to the Head of Slytherin," he said in an amused way. "I believe it's what we call using unconventional methods to gain the advantage."

"Yes, well I believe it's what we Ravenclaws call cheating." Lorien started to laugh and then saw the serious way he was looking at her. "What?" she asked.

He hesitated.

"Severus, what?" she asked again.

"Lorien, I hope you know that I wouldn't lay a finger on you if I ever thought you truly didn't want me to," he said softly.

She looked into the intense black eyes. "I know."

"Good, but since apparently we don't have that problem....." He looked at her meaningfully. She threw her hands up slightly in defeat and kissed him back.

"Severus, you don't know why I came back so soon, do you?" she said when he released her.

"I admit I don't," he replied.

She told him about the murders, and she saw something darken in his expression.

"You were right to come back. This is where you'll be the safest." His voice sounded a little strained.

"What is it, Severus?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said.

She touched his arm. "Tell me."

He finally answered her. "I don't like the thought of someone threatening you, Lorien."

"I know," she said softly, thinking back to what had happened to the last person that had threatened her. Snape had made certain that Fincastle would never harm her, and it was an issue that she had very strong mixed emotions about.

Part of her was horrified that he'd killed the man, and used an unforgivable curse no less, but most of her was grateful to him for risking his own life while giving her the chance to escape. It was difficult to condemn the man for his use of the Killing curse when he'd used it to save her life, and besides, did she even feel bad that the Nemorosi Death Eater was dead? She felt a twinge of guilt when she realized the answer was no.

And of course there was more guilt on her conscience concerning Severus, and what she was putting him through as well. She knew that although he might not openly express himself about the situation, there had been little doubt in her mind about his feelings for her the night he came to her bedside in the hospital. She had seen it in his eyes.

He spoke again as he stood. "I must go. There are a number of things I must tend to this afternoon. If you'll excuse me, Lorien?"

"Of course." Lorien rose with him and accompanied him to the door. "It's good to see you, Severus," she said.

"Is it?" he asked her evenly.

"Yes." She looked away a little and he knew that she hadn't decided yet. Which could be good or bad. He thought things over for a moment and placed slender fingers under her chin to make her look at him. His ebony eyes searched hers for a long moment and he spoke only two words before he left. "Be certain."

Lorien knew that he meant either way.

On the weekend before she was supposed to start teaching classes, Marlina Perkins was trying to get organized and unpack all of her things as well as her son's. Noah had been playing quietly by himself for a long time, but now he was getting bored and she decided they would take a break.

"How about if we go outside for a while?" she asked him, as she put on her Aussie style safari hat and tucked in all her wavy red hair.

"Okay," Noah agreed cheerfully.

She took him for a walk on the grounds, and he became very excited as he could see that one of the school teams was practicing quidditch.

"Mom, can we watch?" He was already pulling her by the sleeve toward the quidditch pitch.

"Ok. Let's go see what they're doing," said his mother.

Noah decided that she wasn't walking fast enough and left her to dart on ahead toward the flying broomsticks.

"Slow down, Noah," she called, and then as she noticed the two men standing at the edge of the pitch watching practice, she called to him again. "Don't get in the way!" She saw both of the men look up at the sound of her voice and then look toward the small boy running their way.

She smiled to herself as she was sure that her son had just introduced himself to the two men watching the Gryffindor team work out. She could see the two of them better as she got closer, and they were speaking to the boy and looking where he pointed in her direction. One of them, who had light brown hair had squatted down to the boy's height to talk to him, and the other taller dark haired man was looking her direction and smiling.

"Sorry. I hope he's not bothering you," she said with a smile when she got to the three of them.

"Noah's no bother at all, Marlina Perkins." The black haired man had a winning smile and she thought he looked somewhat familiar. She knew Noah must have announced her to the two men as well.

The other man finished what he was saying to her son and stood back up. "I believe we went to school together, Marlina, although you were a few years behind us. I'm Remus Lupin."

She hadn't recognized him after so many years, and since she didn't know him well at Hogwarts, but she recognized the name of the man with the gray eyes as she shook his hand.

"This is Sirius Black," Lupin said steadily, introducing his companion.

Marlina tried to look less alarmed than she felt when she realized why the man had looked familiar. She forced herself to smile as she steeled herself and shook the man's hand. She never would have imagined the smiling handsome man before her was Azkaban's famous escapee.

"Nice to meet you both," she said.

Black held onto her hand and looked at Lupin. "Pretty convincing performance, eh?"

Lupin looked at Marlina. "Not bad, not bad. I'd say a seven out of ten."

"What are you talking about?" Marlina slowly withdrew her hand.

"How convinced we are that you're really that calm about meeting my friend here," Lupin said with a wry smile.

She knew her face was red. "I didn't.."

"It's ok, really," Black said reassuringly.

"So, you're teaching Care of Magical Creatures?" Lupin changed the subject to her great relief.

"Yes. Are you both on staff here?" she asked, thankful for a different topic.

"Yes, Sirius is in charge of security, and I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," Remus informed her.

"I see. Noah don't get too close!" Marlina called to her son nearby, and then turned back to the two men.

Sirius looked at where the auburn haired lad kept edging closer to the practicing team and walked the few steps over to the boy.

"So, do you like Quidditch, Noah?" he asked as he knelt on one knee.

Noah nodded enthusiastically. "It's cool."

"You've got that right." Sirius smiled at him and noticed that practice was ending. "Noah, would you like to meet a friend of mine?"

"Sure, Sirius," the boy said.

Sirius stood and flagged down the Gryffindor seeker who looped around once more and came to land next to his godfather.

"I want to introduce you to someone, Harry," Sirius said with a wink.

Harry indulged Sirius for the sake of the small boy and smiled.

Sirius introduced them. "Harry, this is Noah Perkins. Noah, I'd like you to meet Harry Potter."

Noah's eyes went wide and then to Harry's forehead. "Wow! It is you."

Marlina watched with Remus as Sirius introduced her son to the famous Harry Potter.

"Sirius is Harry's godfather," Remus informed her.

Marlina turned to Remus while Sirius was occupied. "I hope that he doesn't think...I mean I know he's been pardoned. It's just..."

"Takes a bit to get used to the idea, that's all. He knows. He's used to dealing with it." Lupin smiled at her.

Sirius and Remus walked back toward the castle together after Marlina and Noah had left them.

"Cute kid," Remus commented.

"Cute witch," Sirius replied.

"Don't even tell me you were checking that boy's mother out!" Remus pretended to be appalled.

"What? All I said was she's cute." Sirius smiled. "You didn't think so?"

"I didn't say that," Remus said slyly.

--

A/N: Subject: Fanfic Challenge!

If you've made it this far in the adventure, then you obviously know by now that I am one for having a bit of fun. (Can you say 'birdcage'?) Well, what could be more fun than getting others involved in the madness? I propose a challenge for any of you willing witches and wizards.

Here's the premise. Remus, Sirius and Severus are the main characters. They get sent on a mission for Dumbledore together to gather intelligence about Death Eater activity and whereabouts. (just get back/about to go ok also as long as the mission plays an important part in the story)

Should be one or two chapters. Rating whatever you like. Not slash, please. Ok to be comedy, angst, romance, drama - you name it. May be year 5 or beyond. May include any other characters that you wish. Sirius may be free or a fugitive in hiding still. Severus may still be a spy or not. (Sorry, Remus is still a werewolf.)

Stipulations: At some time in the story Sirius Black gets kissed by a man. (Yes, that's right, I said not slash.)

Severus gets kissed by no fewer than four different women. (Hard to imagine, I know, but it is a challenge after all.)

Remus must discover a very important piece of information about Snape's past, good or bad.

One of them must have a conversation with the sorting hat.

Someone in the story must say "I'm getting too old for this shit." (Bleep it if you have to for rating)

At least one person must get substantially drunk.

Remus must demonstrate/use his knowledge of Defense in some way.

Severus must make/use a unique potion.

Sirius must save someone's life.

Every character in the story must say the name 'Harry Potter' once.

There. Up to it? We have some very good writers in the group, and from what I hear we have some others that haven't posted anything yet but should. Go for it! If you post a fic, e-mail me when it goes up and I'll include the link in subsequent chapters of AHN so others can read it too!

I can't even begin to tell you of some of the wicked ideas that began to enter my mind as I was writing this. I look forward to seeing if there are any takers!