It's all good! My fingers are as well as intact! You see, I wrote chapter 4 without stopping once, and updated it without even reading it through first. I'm a big moron, obviously. But it turned out okay I think. Reviewers! Love you!

Bosquoito – ew, ew, ew!!! Leave Pomfrey out of this! *hehe* Anyway, yes I'm quite aware of the fact that auburn describes both brown and red, I guess I just imagine Remus' eyes to have a reddish glow about them. Oh well.

Chess – yey! It's nice to know you'll read it either way, I'm terrified to make lots of readers disappointed when I decide about the slash.

Fuminshoshojo – Oh, *blushes violently* I know they're supposed to be fifteen, but let's pretend all their birthdays were early in the year! ;) I'll try and work on the details; I'm just an amateur writer with no patience actually… But I'll do my best! And hey, we all love gay men don't we? It's a mystery… they're simply just so… hot.

Emily – Well, I totally see your point. But that's exactly what I picture Severus being like as a teen. I guess not all readers can be satisfied with the same story, so don't go thinking I hate you because you give criticism, I never said I didn't need it. And another thing, I've not decided whether they're gay or not. If they are, they will not have figured it out yet anyway so… I'll keep typing yes, and trying.

Mg08 – Thank you very, very much! I'm glad you don't think my story's OOC.

Isis – hehehe… cool down, dear. I promise you I'll finish it.

Mizzlw – Ha ha, okay, should I change it into "I don't need some stupid half-breed to save my arse"?? I'd do that for you, just for the simple fun of it! *beams* And HEY, why does everyone who write long reviews end it with saying I must be bored reading it? I LOVE READING THEM! Take good care, hun.

A SIMPLE PROPOSITION

Severus pulled out a book from his school bag lying next to his bed and placed it in his lap, breaking eye contact with Remus at the door. He came to the conclusion he would be better off pretending as if he hadn't heard a word of what Remus had said to Pettigrew.

His beloved book was a think leather-bound volume filled with documents of the most rare potion-ingredients through time; something Severus could easily find interest in and at the same time be able to ignore the golden-haired boy who seemed to be closing in on his bed.

Remus stopped uncomfortably at the foot of his bed and bit his lip. He had seen Severus read that same book so many times he was sure the boy was staring at texts he already knew by heart. This only made it clear about how Severus was feeling about having a little chat at the moment, enemy to enemy. Great… But Remus was convinced he had little time before James or Sirius would turn up again dragging him out of there and setting Severus' bandages on fire on their way…

But as he opened his mouth to speak, Severus (who seemed to have studied him in the corner of his eye), cut him off.

"And what makes you think would I want to talk to you about anything?" Remus shut his mouth and lowered his eyes. Severus briskly returned to his book acting as if Remus had left the room.

The silence was getting thicker by every second, and Severus began to feel irritation boiling up inside him. He had obviously dismissed the brat! Why did he not leave? But Remus stayed put, as if waiting him out, fingering the footboard of the bed and occasionally blowing a strand of shining hair out of his eyes. Severus bit his jaw together hard enough to make his teeth crack, turned another page, and then shut the book with a snap that made the Gryffindor boy jump high.

"What is it that you want exactly?" He snarled, putting the book away and folding his arms over his chest (grimacing a bit over the pain in his hand while doing so).

"Um…" Remus made a small move to sit down on the foot of the bed, but Severus instantly sent him a deadly glare telling him not to even consider it. The Gryffindor shifted his feet a little and then scratched his neck, leaving his hair messy in the back, looking quite childish. Severus took a little pleasure in watching the other boy's apprehension.

"Well… I thought, since I kind of… saved your ass again, you could - "

"Just hold on right there!" Severus interrupted, his face quickly turning flushed with anger. "I have never asked for any favours of yours! You may have saved your little inattentive friend Black of getting more than a month's detention, but as I see it you're not exactly taking on the job of a fucking guardian angel are you?!" Remus stared at him with wide eyes. Severus growled something under his breath to finish off, and then quickly reclaimed his book, wishing very much for the other boy to leave the room before he might start blushing over babbling his mind.

Remus raised his eyebrows and sighed, his shoulders slumping.

"Now Snape, I'm not arguing with you." Snape sunk deeper behind his book, cursing himself for being the first one to loose his temper. "You see, despite what you're willing to call my actions towards you lately, I was actually planning on asking you for a favour… in return."

Severus dropped the book in his lap and stared unkindly at him from under his dark brows.

"And what, if I may ask, would that favour be?" He snapped the word 'what' in a very Snape-like way that made the corner of Remus' much twitch slightly. He sat down on the bed, this time ignoring Snape's warning glare that instantly turned into the look of an axe-murderer.

"You know the potion-exam is at Monday, and I have to pass." He made a slight pause, as if waiting to see if Severus understood where this was headed. "I have only this weekend to study, and knowing our… dear… professor of potions, she won't let me off this easily. I need your help." Severus was now staring at Remus' hand that was lying dangerously close to his leg, as if still trying to understand the fact that this brat was actually sitting on his bed.

But this was, believe it or not, beginning to catch Severus' interest. So the werewolf was asking him for help in potions… how utterly amusing. He leaned back on his pillow and let his lips curl upwards in an intimidating smile that made Remus twitch on his bed.

"You need my help for what…?" Remus pressed his lips together, making it perfectly clear he was not quite as amused by this situation as Severus.

"To study, I need you to go through with me everything we've been taught in potions this year."

The Slytherin suppressed a chuckle.

"I don't know about that, that's quite a bit of work. Why would I sacrifice an entire weekend to sit in some dusty classroom with you to make sure that you pass the exam?" Remus didn't let his eyes move away from Severus' very superior gaze, but they both knew right now Severus was on top of the conversation. "I mean, the way I see it I owe you shit, and there's nothing saying I have to do this for you." But Remus wouldn't let him stay on top for long.

"Well, the question is not whether you have to do it or not, but will you do it or not."

Soft spot… indicating that a honourable man returns help if he is given it. Severus glared at him for another moment, then ripped the covers off his body and stood up.

"Fine," he snapped, while making it to a small table by the window, on which there was a vessel containing some ice water.

"I'll teach you." He poured himself a glass of the water, practically feeling the tickle of Remus' stunned look in his neck. He turned around to face the boy still sitting on his bed and nonchalantly took a sip of the cool water, blissfully letting it soothe his throat and take his mind off his burning hand. "I'll give you a lesson both Saturday and Sunday night, on the condition that you never ask anything of me again, and that the next time you see Black you tell him to sod off and jinx his hair purple." Remus gave a snort-like laugh and said:

"You know I won't do that."

Severus shrugged and put the glass down on the windowsill he was leaning against.

"A man can dream right?"  Remus got up and straightened his robes.

"So the deal's on then? If you teach me enough to pass the exam I might just give you something that'll help healing that hand of yours…" Severus arched an eyebrow and watched Remus reach the door of the infirmary and slide through it with admirable ease.

Severus let out a snort, followed by a chuckle, and grabbed the ice water vessel on his way back to bed. He laid down it with some difficulty caused by the soreness his back suffered from being thrown onto the desk by Sirius, and then, while letting a groan of heavenly pleasure, he stuffed his bandaged hand into the vessel. This weekend seemed to be bringing a whole new meaning to the word 'Hell'…

A/n: Oki doki guys, now I need you all to VOTE. Slash? Not slash? You don't need to give me reasons, just put the word "slash" or "not slash" at the end of your review. Thank you. Cheerios!