A/N: C Queen - You had me laughing. Last chapter was the second longest one out of 44 chapters of fiction that I've written! :D

Zephyre - Why do I have the feeling that this wouldn't be the first time Sirius has been slapped for something he said without thinking?

Antinua - Now do you believe me about Alan Rickman? ;)









Lupin's Gift ~*~





Lorien was busy in the medical ward, treating the burned arm of Fred Weasley. He and his brother had been experimenting again with explosive compounds and he had managed to scorch himself when something had gone awry. Of course that's not what he told the medical witch. They had come up with a story that had something to do with a hot cauldron in class.

"You'll have to be more careful, Fred." She admonished him with a meaningful look. It was a nasty burn that took considerable effort to resolve, and the experienced medical witch knew that this was no minor cauldron scorch.

Fred said nothing as he looked at the repaired skin on his arm, sticking to the story he had first offered. "Thank you, Mistress Lorien." He said, hopping down off the exam table.

Lorien shook her head. "Go on now," she said, "and try not to let it happen again."

Fred winked at her and left the hospital wing.

Lorien smiled after he left at the fact that the he was obviously up to something, and that the red headed teenager was such a flirt. She didn't know quite what had caused a burn like that, though, and she thought it might be best to at least warn Minerva that something was possibly in the works.

Lorien walked out of the medical wing to head to McGonagall's office and rounded the corner into the hallway the same time that Remus happened to be walking by. There was no avoiding him since he was heading the same direction as she, and she settled for smiling nervously at him as he neared her. "Hello, Remus."

He gave her a warm smile, but she knew him well enough to know that he was feeling the awkwardness that stood between them still as well. "Hello, Lorien." He said, falling into step next to her. "Where are you off to this morning?" He asked, trying to sound casual.

"I've got to talk to Minerva," she said. "I just treated Fred Weasley for a nasty burn, and I don't think it was from a cauldron like he said." She winced internally at bringing the mention of cauldrons into the conversation with him.

"I'd wager that the twins were up to something." He said, sounding somewhat amused.

"That's what I'm afraid of." She said with a laugh. "So where are you headed?" She asked as he continued to walk along side her.

"I've got to see Minerva, as well." He replied. "I've got to run something by her."

Lorien didn't want to pry, but she couldn't help the puzzled expression that she knew crossed her face.

Remus smiled. "I'm hoping that she'll agree to let Noah stay in the staff room when Marlina is teaching class. I don't think it would be a problem with the staff watching him, but I thought I should clear it with her first."

Lorien nodded. "That's an excellent idea, Remus. I heard that Marlina's not sending him back to Hogsmeade. I would dare say that she won't have to worry about him being sufficiently educated if he spends time with the staff of Hogwarts."

"I hope the staff won't mind a bit of babysitting." Remus said, sounding a bit worried.

Lorien tried to reassure him. "I'm sure that most of them will be happy to help, and it won't be a big deal spread out over so many people."

"You're probably right." Remus replied. "I just hope that Marlina likes the idea."

"This was your idea?" Lorien asked, not surprised that Remus had taken it upon himself to help with the plight of a lady in need of assistance.

He shrugged. "Yes, and now I just need a way to deal with covering his schoolwork."

Lorien thought about it for a moment as they walked along quietly together and then smiled. "What about tutors?" She asked him.

"You mean students?" He asked.

"Yes. I'd bet that you could find a number of them that would enjoy working with a six year old." She said encouragingly.

"I hadn't thought of that." Remus admitted as he considered her idea. "That might be just the thing to do." He seemed to perk up a little. "Excellent idea. I think I know just the ones to ask."

"See, that's why you need us clever Ravenclaws." Lorien teased him, trying to lessen the tension a little.

He smiled at her a little less uneasily than he had been lately as he reached Minerva's office. "You first." He said politely, indicating the door. "Thanks for your help, Lorien."

"You're welcome." She said, turning to enter the office. She turned back to where he was now leaning against the wall to wait his turn to see the deputy headmistress. "Oh, Remus?"

"Yes?" He looked questioningly at her.

"Before you ask every smart Gryffindor you know, keep in mind that Noah might be excited about that, but Marlina will be more impressed if you manage to spread things around a little. She is a Slytherin, after all." Lorien was smiling at him mischievously.

"Oh, right. Thanks." Remus said, and watched as she entered the office. He stood in the hall thinking about what Lorien had just said. 'Marlina will be more impressed.'

It hit him. She knew that he was trying to help Noah and Marlina, since it was just his nature to be caring and helpful, but she had also suggested that he was trying to impress the boy's mother. Was he? No, it was really more that he wanted to.....alright, maybe he was, just a little. Remus smiled at the fact that Lorien knew, and that she had just helped give him a way to do it. Again.









"So what do you think?" Remus asked Sirius after he told him about the conversation he had with Lorien.

"I think Lorien's on to you." Sirius said with a grin.

"Not that!" Remus said, playfully swatting at Black's head as he ducked. "The idea about the staff room. It's just down the hall from Marlina's classroom." He explained.

"It's Marlina you have to sell the idea to, not me, but I think it's a great idea." Said Sirius.

"And the tutors?" Remus asked.

"Talk to Marlina." Sirius repeated.

"You're right. I'll talk to her after dinner." Remus looked thoughtful for a moment. "Speaking of dinner......you know something strange, Padfoot?"

"What's that, Moony?" Sirius asked.

"I just realized that I haven't seen Snape in the great hall all week. I mean I've been dreading seeing him since....well, since she told him, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of the slimy git."

"She didn't tell him." Said Sirius quietly, not sure how Remus would react.

"What? How do you know?" Remus was taken aback at learning that Lorien hadn't gone to Snape yet with the news.

Sirius told Remus about the conversation he'd had with Lorien.

Like Sirius, Remus was at first amused by the thought of the dark robed Slytherin facing Lorien if she was very upset, but then he realized that Sinistra had indeed created a new problem for her, and he found himself truly angry with the Astronomy Professor.









Marlina loved both ideas. "Do you think we can get the staff to agree?" She asked anxiously, as she directed some of Noah's toys back to where they belonged with her wand.

"Almost all of them. "I've cleared it with Minerva, and I don't think it'll be much of a problem." Remus reassured her.

Marlina closed the lid on the toybox. "Remus, you'll have to decide which students to ask about tutoring Noah. I haven't been here as long as you, and you'll know better who would be appropriate." She said.

"I already have my short list." He smiled, pleased that things were working out so far.

"What's a tutor?" asked Noah from where he sat, playing on the floor.

Remus knelt on one knee to speak to the boy at his own level. "Noah, how would you feel about having your own set of teachers here at Hogwarts?"

"Really? I can go to school here?" The blue eyes were wide with excitement. "Can I get a house now?" The boy asked excitedly.

"I suppose....." Remus looked at Marlina for help.

"Noah, you can pick your own house for now." His mother replied, knowing where this was probably headed.

"Yes!" the little boy shouted.

Marlina heaved a dramatic sigh. "I suppose you'll want to be in Harry Potter's house, Noah?" She asked, rolling her eyes a bit.

Noah's brow furrowed in thought and then he spoke quietly. "I think I want to be in the same house as Remus."

Remus hadn't expected the mix of emotions that would hit him with the small boy's simple declaration, but he smiled broadly and waited for the boy's next question.

"Remus, what house are we in?" Noah asked tentatively.

"Gryffindor." Remus answered softly.

"YES!" The little boy jumped about. "Same house as Harry Potter!"

Remus was pleased when he looked at the boy's mother and saw the way she was smiling as she watched her son celebrate.



Of course most of the staff agreed that they didn't mind looking out for Noah at the times they were in the staff room, and it would work out that there were some days that Noah could still be with Marlina in her classroom. Remus decided that on the upcoming weekend he would find Noah's tutors to further help Marlina. As for tonight, there were two other things he decided he needed to do for another very good friend.









It had been dark for quite a while and Lupin knew that meant that Ariel Sinistra would likely be in her tower. He had checked the schedule in the staff room and he knew that she didn't have any classes at this particular time, and he climbed the long flights of stairs to the observation platform.

She looked completely surprised when she saw exactly who it was that opened the door from the stairwell, and barely managed a greeting. "W-Why, Remus. What a pleasant surprise. Now what would bring you all the way up here tonight?"

Remus eyed her coldly as he walked across the tower to stand closer to where the dark haired witch stood. "We need to talk, Ariel."

"About what, Remus?" She asked innocently, turning away from the wall where she was standing.

His soft gray eyes hardened and fixed on hers. "Actually, I need to talk. You just listen."

"Ok." She said warily, not liking his tone.

He spoke in a soft steady voice that contained little menace, but left no doubt as to his sincerity. "Ariel, let me make this perfectly clear. If you EVER do anything to hurt Lorien or make things difficult for her again in any way, shape or form, I will see to it personally that you are strung up by your miserable scrawny neck from the highest point in this tower. Do you understand me?" His gaze was intense as he spoke.

She glared at him silently.

"Do you?" He asked again.

"Yes." She hissed.

"Good." He gave her one last meaningful glare, and then turned on his heel and walked out of the tower.

By the time he got to the bottom of the stairs he was laughing at himself.







Remus stopped chuckling as he hesitated at the next flight of stairs. These led to the dungeon.

Other than having to go to the potions classroom during his time as a student, Lupin could not recall more than one or two times that he had ever been down there. He frowned and started down.

He knew where Snape's office was and he tried there first. There was no answer after he knocked three times and Remus realized he was going to have to look further.

He went to the classroom and hoped more than anything Snape would be there, but the classroom was locked and no one answered when he knocked.

Remus stood in the hall, debating between forgetting the whole stupid idea and forging ahead. He thought of Lorien and how much she meant to him, and despite the ache in his heart, found the courage to do what he knew needed to be done. It was going to be agony to do this but he wanted, more than anything, for Lorien to be happy.

He had a pretty good guess as to where the rooms of the potions master were, and he steeled himself and knocked at the door.

"Enter." The muffled voice said sharply.

Lupin blew out the deep breath he had taken and went in.

Snape was walking into the sitting room from the doorway beyond and was quite obviously surprised to see the werewolf at first, but then Lupin saw the dark eyes narrow. Snape had discarded his black robes as he was apparently preparing to retire for the evening and he wore black tailored trousers and a white shirt open at the collar.

Remus waited while the black haired man walked slowly in his direction, eyeing him warily . His voice was ice when he finally came to stand a few feet away and spoke. "Exactly what is it you want?"

"I need to speak with you." Remus answered him firmly, looking the slightly taller man resolutely in the eye. He folded his arms and waited for a response.

"I see." Snape glanced at the time. "And you need to do this now?" He asked, sounding even more irritated.

"Yes. It can't wait." Remus replied. He stood his ground, but watched Snape carefully, not know exactly how the man might react to being disturbed at this hour, or how he might react when he found out what Remus wanted to talk to him about.

Snape's eyes narrowed again for a second, but then he turned toward the fireplace and gestured toward the two chairs silently, indicating that Lupin be seated. He dropped into his own chair as Remus sat across from him and looked at the werewolf expectantly. "Well?" Snape asked impatiently, looking across at Lupin from steepled fingers pressed against his lips.

"It's about Lorien." Remus began.

"Obviously." Snape sneered.

Remus saw that he'd hit a nerve by mentioning her name, and as Snape's expression darkened a bit, he had the faintest idea of what it must be like to be the mongoose that has followed the snake into it's den, only to find itself suddenly with little room to maneuver. He decided the best approach was to be direct. "I know about your argument the other night."

Snape stared at him still but shrugged. "Then you obviously know that I was gravely mistaken." He said softly.

Remus knew Snape well enough to know the potential danger lurking behind the low velvet voice that addressed him now. "Yes. That's why I'm here." He admitted.

"Come to rub it in, have you?" Snape asked sarcastically. "That's not really your style, now is it Lupin?"

Remus hesitated for a moment. Snape's remarks confused him until he realized that the other man was assuming Lorien had chosen him and that he was there to gloat. It would be a natural assumption for a Slytherin to make.

Snape sat back in his chair, letting his arms fall to the armrests and spoke during Lupin's hesitation. "So she's made up her mind, has she?" He asked mockingly.

Remus nodded. "She has." He replied softly, wondering what had ever possessed him to do this.

"I suppose my unacceptable behavior may have pushed her over the edge." Snape mused bitterly, more to himself than to Lupin.

"Your behavior, however unacceptable, had nothing to do with it." Remus said firmly, starting to feel a bit agitated himself.

Snape raised an eyebrow.

Remus chose his words carefully. "She told me the night before your....disagreement."

Snape suddenly sat forward "Ah! There it is. Had to let me know she told you first, didn't you?" Snape asked, his voice indignant and accusing.

"Yes. She told me first." Remus snapped, emotion getting the better of him for a moment. "It was the kindest thing to do."

Snape frowned. "What are you talking about?" He asked, still quite agitated.

"It's the way she is," Remus explained. "She had to do her best not to hurt me."

"Hurt you?" Snape was still frowning. "What are you getting at, Lupin?" He asked impatiently.

Remus sighed with exasperation. "She chose you."



Remus wasn't sure exactly what he expected as a reaction from the man sitting in front of him, but he definitely wasn't prepared for what he thought at first was no reaction. Snape merely stared at the floor in front of Lupin's chair for a long moment, his face expressionless.

It wasn't until he heard the slightest break in the usually controlled voice that Remus knew that there was much more going on below the surface. "And why are you telling me this?" Snape asked, still staring at the same spot on the floor.

Remus was direct again. "Because I want Lorien to be happy, and the way to make her happy is to give her what she wants." He paused and mentally braced himself. "For some unfathomable reason, that seems to be you."

Snape looked up and his black eyes met gray ones as Lupin continued. "I am here, Severus, to tell you to get the hell off your pathetic ass and do something about this mess before it's too late. You've screwed up royally, but I'd be willing to bet that Lorien will forgive even you." Remus said sternly.

"What makes you so sure?" Snape asked him a little more steadily.

Remus sighed and steeled himself once more to meet the potions master's gaze and say what he'd come to say. The words came out not much above a whisper. "She's in love with you."

"What?" Snape had obviously been caught off guard by Lupin's simple declaration.

"You heard me." Remus said abruptly. " Now, are you going to do something with the chance I just gave you or not?" He demanded.

Snape considered things for a long moment and then looked at Remus again. "I believe, Professor Lupin, that I most certainly will." The intensity of his gaze had lessened considerably as he considered what it had taken for Lupin to come to face him directly with news of this nature.

"Good." Remus got up out of his chair, and made as if to leave.

"Lupin?" Snape spoke quietly, holding him back momentarily.

"Yes?" Remus asked.

"Thank you." Snape said, a bit stiffly.

"I'm doing this for her, not for you." Remus said coldly.

"You misunderstand. I know that." Snape said, clarifying what he meant. "I'm thanking you for looking out for her."

"I see." Remus said softly as he turned and put his hand on the door.

"Oh, and Lupin?" Snape called to him. "One more thing." Remus thought he could hear the slightest amusement in the other man's voice even though he could no longer see his face, and he hesitated.

"If you ever call me a pathetic ass again to my face I assure you I will not take it so lightly." Snape said behind him.

Remus smiled just a little and was pretty sure that the potions master did as well.









Sirius waited in his own rooms across the hall from Remus for Harry, Ron and Hermione. Since being appointed head of security and the trouble had begun in Hogsmeade, Sirius had decided that for now he would follow Dumbledore's advice and stay at Hogwarts.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in." He called, looking up from where he sat reading at the desk in his room.

Lupin poked his head in the door and then frowned. "They're not here yet?"

"No, they're not." Sirius rolled his eyes, looking at the clock.

"I thought you said seven." Remus said, sounding a little impatient.

"It's only five past." Sirius informed him. He got up and walked across the room, and then flung himself on the couch, indicating Remus should join him.

Remus closed the door behind him. "All three of them are coming right?"

"Moony, relax." Sirius said, draping his arm casually along the back of the couch.

"Sorry, I just hope she'll do it." Remus sounded a little worried, as he sat down next to Sirius. He was trying to line up the students he thought would make the best possible tutors, and Hermione was top on his list. He was anxious to ask her.

"She'll do it, Remus." Sirius changed the subject while they waited. "Hey, I heard you get back kind of late from talking to Marlina last night." He teased, poking Remus in the arm.

"What, you're spying on me now?" Remus asked, rubbing the spot where Sirius had just jabbed him.

Sirius laughed. " I'm not spying on you. I can't help it if I can hear your door across the hall."

"Actually, I left Marlina and Noah early." Remus said. He was grinning and looked pleased with himself. "I was out late putting Slytherins back in line."

"What are you talking about, Moony?" Sirius asked.

"I had a little talk with Ariel Sinistra in the tower last night. Very brief but very to the point." Remus said cheerfully, now leaning casually back against the couch as well.

"Leave Lorien the hell alone or else?" Sirius asked, thinking along the same lines as his friend.

Remus nodded and Sirius laughed.

Remus thought about it for a minute and decided to tell Sirius the rest. "I went to the dungeon after the tower."

"What, are you nuts?" Sirius sat up straight, looking at Remus like he was indeed crazy.

Remus continued, ignoring the comment from Black. "I found Snape in his rooms and....."

"You actually went to his rooms?" Sirius cut Remus off, and looked at him intently.

"Yes." Remus replied.

Sirius got an odd look on his face. "So what are they like?" He asked.

"What?" Remus asked.

"His rooms." Said Sirius.

"Why?" Remus was confused.

"Morbid curiosity." Explained Sirius with a shrug.

"Oh..... Quite nice actually." Remus said. He hadn't really been paying much attention to Snape's decor at the time, but he'd gotten the impression that it wasn't merely a teacher's salary that had furnished his quarters.

"No dead stuff in jars?" Sirius continued.

"No." Said Remus shortly.

"Cauldron?" Asked Sirius.

"No! Look, I can take you down there if you're that interested....." Remus was getting annoyed.

"Sorry, Moony." Sirius apologized. "You were saying?"

Remus related his odd conversation with the Slytherin, and when he was through, Sirius just sat there with his mouth open.

"You didn't." Sirius said, voice full of disbelief.

"Oh, yes." Remus nodded. "I most certainly did."

"Really?" Sirius sounded amazed.

"Absolutely." Remus raised his right hand as if to swear an oath, and then found himself laughing a little.

"Moony, you really marched into the chambers of Severus Snape and called him a pathetic ass? To his face?" Sirius was in awe.

"Yes, Padfoot, I did." Remus stated proudly.

Sirius broke into a wide grin and clapped Remus on the shoulder. "Remus, did you know that you're my hero?"

It was only a moment later that the three Gryffindor students arrived at Sirius's rooms. While Sirius talked to Harry and Ron, Remus spoke to Hermione. "Hermione, could I have a word with you?" He glanced at the door.

"Sure." She followed him across the hall.

He shut the door and turned to speak with her. "I have something to ask you, but first please understand that you are welcome to say no. I know you have a very busy schedule already."

"What is it?" She asked.

He explained the situation with Noah. "So you see we thought one way to work around the problem would be to set up a group of tutors. It shouldn't be too difficult since he's only six. It will involve a few hours each a week, and it would really help with Professor Perkin's hectic schedule."

Hermione smiled. "I'd be happy to do it, Remus."

"You would?" He asked hopefully.

"Sure." She shrugged. "It sounds like fun."

"That's great, Hermione." Remus said with relief. "You'll really like Noah. He's very bright, and extremely outgoing."

"Who else is going to be working with him?" Hermione asked out of curiosity.

"Rachel Davies and Jane Hillyer." Answered Remus.

"Good." She said with apparent approval. "Rachel's really smart, and Jane is pretty nice, for a Slytherin." Hermione said wryly. "I think it's a great idea."

"I can't take all the credit." Remus replied. "Actually it was Lorien's idea."

Hermione got a concerned look. "Speaking of Lorien, Remus, how are....."

She broke off as he smiled and merely shook his head without a word. Hermione understood perfectly and didn't say another thing about it. "Shall we join the others and see what they're up to?" She asked, changing the subject and they headed for the door.

"I believe Sirius is making an attempt to borrow the Marauder's Map back from Harry." Remus said to her on the way back across the hall.

"That shouldn't be a problem." Hermione speculated.

"It might if he wants to give it to one of the aurors." Remus said, a smile creeping across his face.

"But why would Sirius want to do a thing like that?" Hermione asked, sounding appalled at the idea.

Remus said nothing as he smiled to himself, but after seeing the way his best friend had been flirting with the lady auror recently, he knew exactly why Sirius would want to do something like that.









A/N: For all you fans of MWPP - there was a link posted to a fanart site at the WWR recently that had the coolest picture of the young foursome. A bit of a warning - there are a lot of pictures at the site that contain soft slash pairings, (which is not my thing) but this one particular drawing is wonderful. The link is http://www.artdungeon.net/images/marauders_closeup.jpg

Check it out, but be forewarned if you venture into any of the other galleries.