The feeble light in the Gryffindor common room was beginning to fade as the open fire slowly turned in to a faint glow. Students were leaving for their dorms, but the Marauders was still sitting gathered close to the fireplace, surrounded by homework. Sirius had given up a long time ago, and was lying on his back upon the blood-red carpet inspecting a fly sitting on his sleeve with great disgust on his face. Remus had finished his essay homework and was once again absorbed in his thick volume of "Special conditions between wizards and magical creatures". Peter seemed to have dozed off staring into the fire curled up in his armchair. James, on the other hand, was scribbling on a parchment like crazy, his brows furrowed while quietly mouthing some of the words he wrote.

"What are you writing any way that seems to crave such concentration, a love-letter for Lily Evans?" Sirius snapped from the floor while trying to hex the fly as it fled from this dangerously bored marauder. James shook his head and scribbled even more forcefully.

"It's to Ollivander, I can't believe my new wand backfired on such an easy spell, I'm getting my money back!"

"Oh come on," said Sirius, sitting up. "It's not like you need them. You're rich in case you haven't noticed." Remus snorted a bit from behind his book and Sirius grinned.

"Thank you for reminding me." James drawled. "It's just the fact that gets to me, he told me this was extra quality!"

"It's strange though, when a spell backfires it should be visually obvious, but it really looked as if it was working properly..." Sirius examined James' wand lying on the floor, also noticing Remus was sinking further down in his chair so that you could barely catch a glance of his golden auburn hair behind his book.

"Maybe I said something wrong, you know, maybe I pronounced it wrongly." James sighed while rolling up his letter and walking off to find his owl.

James announcement seemed to have set off a line of thoughts in Sirius head; he straightened up, screwing up his eyes as if trying to remember something.

Remus peaked out from behind his book, and froze in horror as he met Sirius' gaze. Sirius' frown grew deeper as his stared into Remus' eyes.

"Are you sure you told us the right spell, Moony?" Remus quickly snapped his book shut after placing his bookmark and shrugged.

"Don't know, that's what I thought it was." He got up and ruffled his hair a bit.

"I'm... going out for a while, 'night."

"Out?" Sirius asked, looking almost irritated. "It's passed midnight, what fun can you have on your own at this time?"

Remus stopped at the portrait hole, looking troubled.

"Well – I... fullmoon in closing in, and I'm feeling a bit restless."

"Do you want us to come?" Asked James, closing the window after sending his owl off into the night.

"Nah, I'm fine, I'll be back soon." Remus assured him, and disappeared through the portrait.

Sirius turned and stared at James, looking taken aback.

"It's not even halfmoon yet!"

Severus was sitting completely still, listening and gazing through the brisk night air.

His hair was constantly blowing over his face, but he made no move to pull it back.

He caught eye of something golden fluttering far beneath him; he made a quick turn on his broom and dove off. The Snitch jerked and took off along the empty benches of the Quidditch stadium.

It zoomed in and out of the goal rings, and Snape followed closely on its tail, stretching his body to the fullest over his broom. The chase lowered towards the ground, Severus had edged himself to the absolute front of his broom, stretching his fingers around the struggling ball and eventually landing elegantly on his feet, making deep breaking-marks in the sand as he came to an halt, catching his broom in his other hand as he had jumped off it.

The metallic wings fluttered furiously between his fingers as he allowed himself a slight smile.

Seconds later he turned his head to the opposite row of benches, and felt his heart skip a beat. The werewolf was sitting at the end of the highest bench; leaning elbows on his knees and watching him... silence seemed thick as the two stared at each other from across the pitch.

Eventually, Severus pocketed the Snitch and started walking across the pitch towards his observer. Remus made no move to acknowledge this.

Severus flung out his arms questionably.

"What's a busy thick-headed snob like you doing alone outside this time of day?" He called, slowly closing in on the benches.

Remus closed his hands together against his chin, watching the Slytherin climb the first bench.

"Killing time, how about you?" He called back, his soft voice echoing on the empty stadium.

"Training while no ego-minded Gryffindors are taking up the field, and what are you doing on the pitch?"

Remus crooked an eyebrow.

"Watching you, obviously."

Severus was at the middle bench now, advancing faster until he was standing in front of Remus upon the bench in front of his one.  Remus looked up at him daringly.

"What, you don't fly yourself?" Severus mocked him. He had seen Remus in flying-lessons; the pathetic boy was suffering a serious fear of heights. "Lack of self-control, right?"

Remus' eyes narrowed and he resembled a wolf folding his ears backwards before striking an enemy.

"Don't get yourself excited, Snivellus, I'll be leaving before your head blows." He got up and turned to leave, but Severus gave him a sharp push on the shoulder that made him stop.

"You'd think you'd enjoy watching your friends embarrassing me when you obviously seem to share their despise for anyone who doesn't worship them, but still you trick Potter into ripping his own boxers apart? What's up with the split personality, is there a full moon coming?"

Remus' eyes widened slightly; he had stopped worrying about Snape finding out about his special conditions long ago.

But he retained his usual grace in matter of seconds and gave Severus an arrogant look.

"And I'd think you would show a bit more appreciation considering you would have looked quite foolish without my help." He snarled and started walking off again.

Seconds later Snape pounced him from behind, making his fall forwards.

Snape turned him over with surprising ease and pinned him against the bench.

"I don't need some stupid half-breed to save my ass!" He growled dangerously, pressing Remus against the cool wooden surface. Remus, knowing there was no way he could overcome this much taller and much stronger Slytherin, kept his nonchalant look of arrogance as he stared back up into Snape's flaming dark eyes.

"I believe I saved you from showing off a bit more than just your ass."

A second's silence passed, and then Severus spit him straight in his face.

Remus managed to hit Severus' side with his fist and made him fall off him. Both crawled onto their knees, Remus growling and wiping the spit off his face.

"Fine." He snapped, pushing himself up on his feet. "Be like that. No wonder no-one likes hanging around you." And with that he took off towards the castle, angrily shaking the hair out of his eyes.

Severus stood crouched, grasping his side where Remus had hit him, staring after the Gryffindor with frustration burning inside.

A/n: Does any of you guys want an email every time I update? Sign your email address in your review, and you'll be notified! So what will happen? I've got a vague idea, but do feel free to request!