AUTHOR'S NOTE: Right, this is the longest chapter yet, so I hope you like it.
Two things
ONE: beta's – yeah, I screwed up this time, I'll do it differently next time, I'll e-mail you all and let you know.
TWO: I did not lie before, I'm still taking it slowly.
Oh, was planning on being evil and saying 'no update until x reviews received' but I won't. Review anyway though!
That said, here's chapter twenty, a day early or a week late, depending on how you see it.
Chapter Twenty: I Was Having A Really Bad Day
The staff meetings at Hogwarts were always interesting. The half-joking rivalry between Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall which accelerated as each term neared its end was enough entertainment on its own, watching how they progressed around the table throughout the year until they were sitting as far away from each other as possible. Just as entertaining as this, of course, was Dumbledore's 'innocent' mentions of how well one house was doing, or 'absent' comments about how he really should try and give Gryffindor's a few points for something this week, or how Slytherin really deserved some extra points for the ingenious way they set up so and so last night. The majority of the staff were able to indulge in a quiet chuckle while Snape and McGonagall fumed at how little care he gave to so important a subject.
Another most unexpected form of entertainment came with the appointment of Remus Lupin as Defence Against the Dark Arts tutor four years ago. It was generally acknowledged that Severus craved the position himself, and he had usually scored several points against whichever incompetent Dumbledore had appointed by the end of the first staff meeting of the year - memorably, he had left Lockheart a virtual gibbering wreck to the delight of the entire staff, all painfully aware he was appointed solely because Dumbledore couldn't stand the thought of yet another book by the man being released, especially after he was asked to comment on the last one by an over enthusiastic publisher who thought that the praise of the Headmaster of Hogwarts would be an excellent publicity stunt.
Contrary to popular belief, the staff of Hogwarts is not made up of ex-pupils. Severus Snape, and later Remus Lupin, were very much in the minority as far as that went. Many of the older teachers had received private tuition, either singularly or shared between several of the old pureblood families - because wizarding society really did mirror muggle society in the eighteenth century in many ways - and several of the teachers came from schools on the continent, these having been far more numerous before Voldemort unleashed his war on the wizarding world.
So, when Remus Lupin was appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher the staff shared rumours of Snape's feud with James Potter and friends with the enthusiasm of gossiping teenagers and eagerly anticipated the clash between the two. The first staff meeting came as something of a shock, providing not the entertainment they had expected but something that was in many ways so much better. It was then that they discovered Severus Snape was human in the most real of ways: he was flappable.
Snape was neither late nor early to the first staff meeting of the year, so they could tell nothing from that. Remus Lupin was late, however, coming from the infirmary - some trouble with Harry Potter already - and they watched eagerly. Would Snape comment oh so innocently on his time keeping skills? Maybe he would ask for a quick discussion about the impact of dementors on teenagers - and he hadn't been adverse to embarrassing previous teachers with their lack of knowledge, sneering as they bluffed their way through. Or maybe he would start a fight, for it was rumoured his fights with Lupin's friends were legendary.
So they were somewhat disconcerted when Snape did not even raise his head, staring at the parchment before him like it was the most important thing in the world.
Lupin had muttered a quick apology, a slightly longer hello to his new colleagues and a nod to Snape.
"Severus," he smiled slightly.
Nothing.
Lupin just smiled amicably and gave his attention to an overly twinkling Dumbledore.
And this was not an anomaly either, Snape simply would not interact with Lupin at all, they were rarely in the staff room at the same time and for the entirety of the first week they only ever appeared together at breakfast.
They also noted that Lupin was persistently pleasant to the unfriendly potions master, and more that one attempt to deter him from a friendliness that was just begging for a hexing failed, Remus just smiling serenely and ignoring the advice.
The first clue came when the staff began talking about Sirius Black's escape. It was well known that Black and Lupin had been friends and when the Muggle Studies professor, Professor Cleese wondered what Lupin made of it all, wondered if maybe he was as trustworthy as his predecessors, Snape had visibly started, stood as if to say something before storming out, shooting Cleese his most venomous look.
"Well, that was...odd," Professor Vector looked at the door, still shaking from the slamming it received.
"Indeed, it was almost as if he was contemplating defending Lupin," Professor Sinestra agreed, to which comment McGonagall smiled slightly. "What do you know Minerva?"
"Nothing at all," she smiled again, it was nice to know that even Severus had a breaking point, but if they didn't work it out soon he was likely to hex someone, which was really most unprofessional.
Lupin didn't appear for the rest of the night but Snape still looked like he was a word away from attacking anyone who spoke ill of him a week later.
If this confused the staff, his continued iciness towards Lupin was even more baffling, but it was iciness, not hostility or rage or envy.
Things became clearer to those who didn't know the night after the full moon when Snape entered the staff room to see a very weary Lupin marking books. He moved quietly across the staff room to sit beside the werewolf, taking the books out of his hand.
"For God's sake Lupin, I'm not making the damn potion just to let you work yourself into the ground for a bunch of students."
"It was just some marking Severus," he said, leaning forward to pick the books up from the table Severus had set them on.
"You even think about picking them up and I'll incendio the lot of them," Snape said even more quietly, but by now the entire staff room was watching over casually placed newspapers or exercise books.
"Overreacting again Severus?"
"Not at all."
Their eyes met for a moment before Lupin visibly backed down. Standing up he looked around the room, fully aware of the starts of everyone as they tried to appear otherwise engaged.
"Well, goodnight all," he left, wishing he could be there as Severus dealt with their enquiring colleagues.
Snape, however, knew when he was beaten, and left the staff room moments after his mate, not looking at anyone, a slight flush attesting to his embarrassment.
As soon as he had left Minerva McGonagall answered all their questions by releasing a peal of laughter, clapping her hands, "Albus will be so annoyed he missed that," she exclaimed when she recovered control of herself sufficiently to talk. "He said Severus was going to crack soon."
"So are they..." Professor Vector trailed off, no one quite having the mental capacity to envisage Snape in a relationship with anyone, especially the serene, friendly werewolf they all liked.
"Most definitely. For...well, must be 15 years now, at least," she informed the startled staff. "Severus is Remus' mate."
The staff room fell silent as they processed this really quite amazing news. Logically they knew that Severus must have a life outside of Hogwarts, and he rarely remained there over holidays and would often disappear over weekends, sneeringly refusing to comment on his whereabouts should anyone care to ask. But practically, well this was Snape, cool, unpleasant, unfeeling and Slytherin. He didn't fit with the friendly, gentle, Gryffindor Lupin. Only they soon realised that he did.
Snape was all too aware that he had given himself away, and for the next week could not meet Lupin's eye without flushing, just a tint of red added to the pale complexion but it was enough.
The staff watched eagerly, thoroughly enjoying the chance to see Snape embarrassed and humanised by Remus. The story of Longbottom's boggart was legendary in the staff room as it was throughout the school, and while previous Defence teachers would have been reduced to a puddle over the incident, Remus just received a vague scowling glance and the staff were forced to wish they had been a fly on the wall when the two were alone, then forced to try desperately to convince themselves they hadn't just thought that.
The final explosion came after the second Hogwarts visit, however. A furious Severus stormed into the staff room not even bothering to see who else was around.
"He's got your precious map Remus, Potter is running around with yet another carte blanche to do whatever he fucking wants."
"I took it off him Severus, it is not the crisis you envisage."
"He got away with it! The boy already gets to do whatever he wants and now this! There will be no stopping his ego. They boy is totally insufferable, just like his precious father and Black."
At this Remus' eyes flashed dangerously and as one the staff began to look for a way to extract themselves from the situation without getting caught. Slowly they began to edge towards the door but unfortunately it was like a car crash: you didn't want to look, couldn't look away.
"Harry is nothing like Black, and there is as much of Lily in him as James, if not more. He is a kind, friendly boy who would go through hell for his friends, and, I dare say, his enemies, a quality his father also possessed if you recall."
"Don't you dare throw that in my face Remus," Severus snarled and Remus looked semi-contrite and his whole demeanor changed. Stepping towards the other man he looked at him in silence for a moment before bringing his hand up to rest on his cheek.
"Sorry Sev," he said quietly, "I shouldn't have...the mere thought of that night."
Now Severus too was contrite and he pulled the other man into his embrace. "Don't think about it Re. You wouldn't have hurt me even if Potter hadn't...I know you well enough to know that."
Remus didn't say anything, wondering if that could ever be true. Sighing slightly he shifted further into the embrace, closing his eyes. Everything was tiring, seeing Harry everyday without being able to tell him anything, having to live the reality of the idea that Sirius had not only betrayed James and Lily before but now looked to kill Harry.
Too soon they were recalled to reality by the slamming of the door as the staff finally left.
"Well, I've done it now," Severus smiled slightly.
"So they know you've got a heart, big deal. They still won't believe it," Remus smiled, "you do dark and evil so well."
"You say it like its a bad thing."
"Actually I'm kind of liking the fact that only I know who you really are," Remus pulled him closer, a different glint in his eye now.
"Getting close to the full moon again dear?" Snape teased, "the things I do for love."
"You know you love it," he kissed him. Hard. Demanding. "Bed."
Yup, it was going to be one of those nights, and Snape loved it.
It wasn't the easiest of years, what with one thing and another. The staff took great delight in teasing him about Remus, until he hexed Professor Cleese, transforming the man into a lettuce and threatening to feed him to Hagrid's Flobberworms if he didn't shut up. Unsurprisingly he left at the end of the year.
The final act of the year, when he entered the Shrieking Shack to find Remus, Potter, Weasley and Granger in the Shrieking Shack with Black put a decided strain on things. Relations between Black and himself had never been the greatest, and nothing Remus could have said would have abated the surge of anger and jealously he felt when he saw them all. It was that jealousy that caused him to attack first, ask questions later - much later as it turned out, as he had a lot of apologising to do after threatening to turn his mate over to the dementors.
Equally, it was an almost 100% genuine slip that led to him telling his house about Lupin's status as a werewolf. Draco Malfoy, naturally concerned by his wearier than usual expression and the remnants of bruising on his face, had asked what was wrong.
"Bloody full moon's," he'd answered without thinking.
"Sorry Sir?"
"Running around school after Lupin with his potion, bloody ingrate." He'd stopped then, realising that Draco had actually assisted him in the making of the potion more than once that term and the boy was quickly putting two and two together.
"Lupin's a werewolf," he announced and that was that. And in some ways he was really rather relived. He didn't want Remus wondering around the school if it was going to be attacked every two seconds, and the dementors really took too much out of his already weak health.
"Sorry," he'd said yet again when he explained what he'd done.
"It wasn't deliberate was it?" Snape shook his head at the semi-rhetorical question. "Then there's no problem. I've got another job lined up in the muggle world anyway, so we'll just go back to how we were before."
"I'll miss you."
"Ditto, but I'm more worried about the next person to take the Defence job. Will you torment them for not being me or will you back off?"
"Depends if they're competent enough," he had the decency to be embarrassed. He hadn't realised that Remus had known the real reason he disliked Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers, having in one of his more fanciful days decided that his mate would be perfect in the position. Each year he'd dislike the appointed teacher for not being his mate, happy to cultivate the idea that he craved the position as long as it allowed him to indulge in his dislike. "They'll have quite the act to follow."
"You're getting positively sappy, Sev. But it looks like Harry is coming this way so..."
"Better leave?"
"Indeed. See you at home."
"Of course."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the staff paid attention, some pulling their thoughts back from places far more interesting that the regular briefing.
"Well I'm afraid we will be deviating from the usual topics this week," Dumbledore began, "because I think it is time we talked about the state of play between the Gryffindors and Slytherins. Comments, observations."
"Potter and Malfoy are worse than ever," Professor Sinsenatra observed, "I think I preferred it when they had the odd physical fight, I'd forgotten how irritating the constant sniping could be."
"Potter seems to be infuriated by Granger's friendship with the Slytherins," Professor Sprout mused, "but he's still forging his own with Parkinson."
"I'd say both Potter Malfoy are finally following their friend's example and growing up, except that their refusal to even contemplate civil interaction seems to prove the lie. Ron Weasley, however, is regretfully behind with this, which isn't helping," Professor Walker agreed.
"Well it is clear that you have all noticed a change," Dumbledore interupted the observations, "what you don't know is where this stemmed from. A week into the first time, while doing detention from Severus Mr's Potter, Malfoy, Finnegan and Zabini, along with Miss Granger and Miss Parkinson had quite the experience. Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy took a deaging potion and their five year old selves refused to take the antidote." As he told them the story and discoveries of the weekend the staff listened eagerly, amazed at how much they hadn't been told.
"I am aware I was absent for the weekend in question," McGonagall began when Dubledore finished, "but why, exactly, did no one consider it fit to inform me of the circumstances."
"Remus was Head of House in your place and handled the situation. We could not risk the truth getting back to either boy, so there was little discussion. I myself was only officially informed by Severus a few days later, though the portraits kept me up to date at the time. I managed to convince them to be silent, however. Anyway, I am telling everyone now because allowing the students to handle this on there own is not proving to be a very successful measure, if anything the gap between Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy is becoming wider. I would ask everyone to observe the seventh years and by next week's meeting I hope to have devised a workable plan. As a rule we do try not to interfere in the student's lives unduly," at this Severus snorted and several teachers smiled their agreement, "but these are exceptional circumstances. Now let us return to our planned topics. However are the OWL preparations looking."
As the meeting took a more regular form, the teachers were unaware that events were fast overtaking them.
***
Ron Weasley was having a bad day. Well, actually he was having a bad week. Hell, if he was being totally honest he was having a bad month.
He had thought he'd handled the whole Hermione going over to the dark side thing fairly well, considering. Apart from the odd upset like the day she went out in next to nothing. Muggle clothes or not this was the wizarding world and he did not want everyone perving on his girlfriend, thank you very much! Plus there was the nagging question at the back of his mind: why hadn't she ever dressed like that for me? Though to be honest, he'd probably have had a coronary if she did.
But really it was beyond the pail. His girlfriend was happily running around with people who'd spent the last six years being horrible to her - well, Parkinson had, Zabini barely registered really. And she was keeping secrets from him. He wasn't totally thick, he saw the little tête-à-tête's with Seamus, saw the half-gooey way she looked at Harry sometimes, like she was remembering something particularly sweet. 'I mean, is she shagging the entire school,' he'd fumed to himself in one of his more self pitying moments. And Harry Bloody Potter didn't seem to give a shit that one of his best friends was making nice with the enemy. Hell, as long as he could fight with Malfoy it seemed that Harry would continue on his merry way.
At least Harry had been on his side then, though. It was like the whole house was possessed, Slytherins could do no wrong and he was the one continually upsetting things. It was that stupid fight he'd had with Hermione that started it, suddenly Harry started talking to Parkinson, making friends. And then he tried to get Ron to do it too. 'It's important to 'Mione,' he'd insisted, 'she's quite nice really.' He didn't give a fuck if she was Miss Congeniality, it was the principal of the thing. Did people have principals anymore?
Still, for some reason the friendlier Harry became with Parkinson and Zabini, the more he fought with Malfoy. The little Death Eater was obviously upset about his friend's betrayal too. Ack, now he was having something in common with Malfoy.
All of this, though, was merely the prelude, the building blocks of his Really Bad Day.
It was the last day before the Christmas Holidays. A Friday - and Friday's are meant to be the best day of the week, aren't they? Not this one.
It started off OK, a Care of Magical Creatures lesson with unicorns, revision, Hagrid called it. Whatever, it was a nice cop out. The major advantage being that the Care of Magical Creatures NEWT class was so small that all four houses shared it.
Herbology was the same and in both he partnered Ernie MacMillan of Hufflepuff, who had the decency to share his opinions about the really rather bizarre happenings in Gryffindor.
The morning had gone fairly well, with everyone looking forward to Christmas and the free periods spent watching Flitwick decorate the tree.
After lunch he had a meeting with Snape about the Polyjuice essay, which was where things really began looking down.
'Snape,' he mused as he trekked down to the dungeons, 'is really the perfect advertisement for why one should stay away from Slytherins. The man was unpleasant, unfriendly and unkind and he had to spend an hour with him. Great.'
Snape was in an inexplicably foul mood when he arrived - exactly on time because late or early earned you criticism from him.
"Sit down and shut up," he barked without even looking at Ron. "Well get on with it. Got your essay plan? Read it."
Chaffing under the unfair attitude but reluctant to rebel because of said attitude Ron began reading his essay plan, feeling rather stupid just dictating to his unpleasant tutor.
"Stop, for Gods sake stop," Snape cut him off half way. "You've spent the first half of the essay discussing where the ingredients can be found and how we use them. Tell me why they are used. Why they are used in a certain manner and in a certain order. The ingredients are the basics of the potion but it is what you do with said ingredients that makes or breaks a potions. You substitute one ingredient for another and it will alter the potion, maybe it will make something totally different, but adding an ingredient at the wrong time, or in the wrong order is disastrous. It is rare that something good ever comes of that."
Scribbling frantically Ron could see that the advice was useful but the manner in which Snape gave the instructions was not one to endear anyone to him. After an hour of criticism on his essay plan, his thought process and even his note making Ron was fuming.
Gathering together his papers he incautiously slammed the door on the potions master and unleashed hell on his head.
"Wealsey, get back in here this instant," Snape bellowed from behind the door.
"Sir?"
"You are a seventh year now. This startling lack of maturity when things do not go quite as you would wish would be pitiable if it were not so insolent. As it is I expect you in here for a days detention tomorrow."
"But sir..."
"I wouldn't bring up Christmas Weasley or you'll be in here on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Eve."
Ron left, fuming at the unfairness of it all.
What the hell had happened to infuriate Snape?
Having another free period he had no distraction to lift him out of the bad mood he allowed to descend and he was still angry when he went to meet Hermione after her Arithmancy class, hoping to make up with her and be soothed into a better mood.
Walking up the stairs he could hear laughter coming from the corridor above him. Hermione!
He ran up the last few steps and rounded the corner to see Hermione standing laughing with Draco Malfoy.
Standing right next to him, his hand on her waist, her hand in his hair.
"What the FUCK is going on," he yelled, causing everyone in the corridor to jump, turning to watch as he angrily neared his girlfriend.
***
Draco Malfoy wasn't having a bad day really. Actually it was quite a good day. He'd had a little fight with Potter first thing, then his meeting with Snape over his Polyjuice essay. Spending much of yesterday evening trying to convince Blaise that it was why you used certain ingredients that the essay should dwell on had helped bring the facts into the forefront of his brain and Snape, in a surprisingly good mood, had allowed him to ply him with fairly pointless questions dwelling on the consequences of adding chopped skin of boomslang as opposed to the required shredded skin and speculations as to how to prolong the effects of the potion past the one hour barrier.
He'd come out of the meeting with an even greater enthusiasm for potions than before, which was down mostly to Snape's mood. 'Whatever had put him in this mood,' he mused as he headed to the library to amend his essay plan, 'I like it. I may be his Godson but I certainly don't get any favours no matter what some people say.'
He spent a productive hour in the library, only remembering to go to his charms tutorial at the last minute.
'Bloody switching spell,' he muttered as he gathered his books together, 'extra tuition because of one spell.' And it was genuinely frustrating for him, the one block in his knowledge, the one thing he couldn't do. As a rule he was able to force the charms to work through repetition, but somehow he simply couldn't get a hold of the point of the charm, the access which would allow it to work for him.
By the end of the tutorial he nearly had it and had the satisfaction of being told that after one more tutorial he would have it, thus clearing another space in his too full timetable.
Lunch flew by - he had hoped for another altercation with Potter to work off some of his anger at the stupid switching spell but the boy was nowhere to be seen, at which point he consciously forced his thoughts into another vein before they betrayed him yet again.
The extended Arithmancy class was still his favourite, especially now he was on better terms with Granger. Another small class, Draco was the only Slytherin, Hermione the only Gryffindor. The majority of the students were Ravenclaws, the final two of the twelve being Hufflepuffs.
The structure of the lesson had changed ever since Draco and Hermione started working together and Professor Vector was glowing with the force and intellect of the discussions between her two best students, discussion which had, on more that one occasion, left Ravenclaws reaching for their books in an attempt to follow the twists of their thought process.
This week was no exception, and Hermione and Draco quickly hijacked the lesson in their own debates over the effect of substituting one symbol in the equation for another. As always she allowed the debate to range for half an hour before cutting across them and reclaiming her lesson.
"As interesting as these debates always are," she smiled at the two students, "I think that you will have to take this debate into the private arena. If you are really interested in pursuing this further, I suggest you contact Professor Logan Summers who is currently lecturing at the French Wizarding University. Now I think we should return to the original equation. Justin, tell me your thoughts."
Both Hermione and Draco scribbled the Professor's name on a spare piece of parchment, exchanges glances as they did so.
"We are so sad," she grinned at him when they were let out of class a few minutes early.
"Not sad, intellectual," he returned, smiling slightly. "Though I sometimes think she preferd it when were refused to talk to each other."
"You could be right." She looked up at him, pushing her hair away from her face. "I don't, though."
"I suppose this is where I say, 'me too' and we have some deep heart-to-heart." It wasn't said in a sneering manner, or a dismissive one, and she had the distinct feeling that sometimes Draco Malfoy wasn't as composed as everyone thought.
"Heaven forbid. But I will say that under the arrogance and the vanity and the misguided belief that you know more about Arithmancy than me, I suspect you are quite a nice person really."
"Well just don't tell anyone. And in return I will confess that despite your frankly scary level of knowledge and your refusal to admit you are wrong I quite like you Hermione Granger."
Maybe sensing that they were in danger of actually talking, Peeves flew by, dropping something pink and sticky onto Draco's head.
"Hello, Head Boy here," he shouted after the poltergeist who flew on, not realising he had inadvertently dropped some of his loot on the boy. "Stop laughing Granger and help me for pity's sake. This is pink stuff. Pink! In my hair."
"Oh come here and don't be such a baby," she pulled him closer and he rested a hand on her waist as he bent down to allow her to remove the offending object from his precious locks.
"What is it, Granger?"
"Candyfloss, I think," she marvelled, examining the wad of pink fluff in her hand. She licked a finger and pressed it into the fluff, which melted slightly, turning a darker shade of pink. "Yes, definitely candyfloss.
"What is it," he demanded, "and why isn't it that colour always. It would look a lot better in my hair that colour."
"It's spun sugar, I think. Sugar and food colouring," he looked at her blankly, "it's a muggle sweet. Quite nice, really. I wonder where he got it."
"Never mind that, what about my hair?"
She laughed at his distressed vanity, banishing what was on her hand and reaching up again, running a hand through his hair.
"I think its all gone."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course," she lifted her hand for one last check, at which point an angry voice cut across them.
"What the FUCK is going on?"
It was Weasley and he looked furious.
Suddenly Draco felt that his day was about to get a lot worse.
***
Contrary to expectations, Harry felt no strange feeling of foreboding when he woke, nothing in his gut told him that this day was going to be different to any other.
Pity really.
The morning had been fairly unremarkable, the usual round of lessons, including an extra Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with Lupin to go over ideas for his final project. He was toying between an analysis of the severity of the two lesser Unforgivables and an investigation into methods of highlighting people using Polyjuice and other potions to spy. With this in mind he decided to brave the dungeons at lunch time to see if there would be any possibility of Snape even contemplating providing him with assistance.
That was where things started to fall apart.
He could hear voices coming from the classroom, causing him to slow in an attempt to discover who Snape was talking to, to gauge whether an interruption would be acceptable or not.
"It is ridiculous that we are still fighting about this," the speaker sounded exasperated.
"You know how I feel about him," that was Snape and he sounded pissed.
"Look, it has to be done at some point. I can't just ignore him over this, and the longer he hangs around the more danger he will be in," it sounded like Remus, Harry took a step closer, curiosity overriding common sense.
"He could leave," Snape sounded sulky.
"Now you're just being silly," Remus' - and it was definitely him - voice changed, tone becoming more playful. "Are you jealous?"
"Maybe I am. What would you do about it?"
"Well I would be forced to reassure you, I'm afraid."
"That sounds...terrible," Snape sounded positively pleasant, Harry realised with no small horror, creeping ever closer to the carelessly open door. What he saw made him stop dead in shock.
Both men were standing up, Remus pressing Snape against his desk, arms around him in a possessive manner. Snape was trying, and failing, to look displeased as Remus placed teasing kisses on his nose, cheeks and lips before finally pulling him in for a proper kiss, a slight sigh emitting from the wereworlf.
Dragging his eyes away and shakins with anger Harry found he could move again, and did.
"You bastard, you fucking, lying bastard," he seethed, causing the two to pull apart, though it was all too clear that Harry knew exactly what was going on. "You bastard," he repeated, fists clenching, the only obvious sign that he was actually fighting to keep his temper.
"Harry, please," Remus began, taking a step towards the boy.
"We trusted you, we loved you and you betray it, betray us for, for him," Harry showed no sign of having heard Remus, in truth he hadn't heard him, he was trying so hard not to explode. "Love and trust, did they mean that little to you? Sirius, he's alone out there, has been for so long and you joke about going to see him with HIM," the venom in his face and voice when he dwelled on Snape caused Remus to recoil, fighting the urge to attack to protect the threat to his mate. "How long have you been betraying him then? What price a werewolf's loyalty?"
Snape watched the battle of wills with mounting unease. It was clear to him at least that both his mate and the student he so disliked were going to great pains not to rip each other apart and he couldn't help being impressed.
And worried.
He had seen Remus' temper on more than one occasion, and the battle with Sirius after the Shrieking Shack incident had made all present vow never to so much look at Snape oddly if he was anywhere near. Equally, the display of power when the child Harry lost his temper and his control led him to be both curious and fearful of the results should the seventeen year old boy loose control.
His Slytherin sense of self preservation kept him back from the fight for the moment, but he knew he would have to step in soon and he didn't look forward to the consequences.
Harry, on the other hand, could feel himself cracking, something he hadn't been close to in years, since he had began to have an inkling of what had been happening as a child. As such he knew he had to remove himself from the situation before it was too late.
"You bastard," he repeated, disappointed disgust lacing his words, "you fucking bastard." That said, he left.
***
Shaking with hurt and anger, Remus relaxed as he felt Severus' arms around him. Leaning back into the embrace he sighed quietly.
"He shouldn't have said that," Snape was angry now, "it is only two days after the full moon, you are already weak."
"We should have been more careful, I should have told him. I knew, Hermione told me that he though Sirius and I were...but I never thought he'd take it so hard. I should find him."
"NO," the fear in Severus' voice caused Remus to turn in his embrace, shock written across his face. "The boy is holding on by a thread, Re. He left because his control was shattering, like yours was. Another confrontation now and he might not be so strong. Think what they said about what happened when he was a child, then think about the power Potter has now."
"I wouldn't want to be there if he lost it," Remus agreed, "but I need to talk to him."
"Later," Snape insisted.
"Now, Sev. I need to explain." He pulled out of the embrace, "I won't ague about this, I'm going." And he did.
Alone Snape thumped the wall in annoyance.
'Great, now my hand hurts. And here's Weasley, brilliant.'
"Sit down and shut up," he barked without even looking at the boy, "Well get on with it. Got your essay plan? Read it."
***
Harry was fuming as he stormed out of the dungeons. His world had been turned upside-down and he had no idea what to do next. Walking with no real comprehension of where he was going he was thinking furiously. He had constructed this perfect world where he, Sirius and Remus lived together, a nice little family, the thing he had always wanted most. He had taken the obviously joy the two friends took in each other's company and used it as evidence, as the foundation of a relationship that they were shy of mentioning to him. He had even constructed a moving scene where Sirius told him he was taking Harry home, but mentioned, somewhat confusedly, that there was going to be a third person there, his mate, Remus. Harry would laugh, hug Sirius and tell him he'd worked it out ages ago and was thrilled for them and they'd both laugh over Sirius' nerves.
But that wasn't going to happen because Snape, Slytherin, evil, ex-Death Eater Snape decided to play home wrecker, to steal Remus away as yet another example of his hatred of Sirius, and of Harry.
The logical part of him told him that Remus was a werewolf and had Sirius been his mate then there was no way in hell he would have betrayed him, thus, no matter how much he hated the idea, Snape must be Remus' mate. Which meant he had been lying to Harry for the last four years.
Again the logical part of him couldn't help asking when exactly Remus could have bought this up. 'Hey Harry, you know the teacher you hate most? Well he's my mate, ain't it great.' Really, there was no good time for this information.
But he couldn't help but feel a bit of a pillock.
The logical part of him told him to go find Hermione. So he did.
He waited in the corridor near her Arithmancy class, not wanting to wait directly outside – he still had some pride! Finally he saw her, lagging behind the other students, talking to Draco Malfoy. Watching them converse casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world he couldn't help the feeling of contentment that washed over him, almost as if he were basking in the contentment they were experiencing in their friendship. The anger and frustration he had been feeling began to lift slightly and he began to see a way forward, or see that there might be a way forward.
Smiling he began to walk towards them when a shout cut across the virtually empty corridor, causing all there to start.
"What the FUCK is going on?"
***
"What the FUCK is going on?"
Hermione started when Ron's shout rang out in the corridor, turning to see an angry redhead heading towards herself and Draco. To her left she saw Harry at the end of the corridor, his expression changing quickly from smiling welcome to caring concern as he watched Ron bear down upon them.
Behind Ron she could see Pansy, Blaise and Milicient watching the scene wearily, clearly ready to interrupt if things got too out of hand.
Suddenly Ron wasn't heading towards them, he had actually reached them.
"This is it Malfoy," he yelled, pushing the Slytherin roughly back, "I watched while you're slimy Slytherin friends cosied up to Hermione and Seamus, then to Harry, slow worming their way into my house. I didn't say anything, gave them the benefit of the doubt. But not any more," another hard push sent Draco back another few steps. "You trying to steal my girlfriend, hitting on her in the middle of the corridor? Suddenly the girl you've spent six years insulting is worth your notice? I'm telling you now, she's mine so back off!" He shoved Draco again, hard, pushing him into the small wall which was all that separated the corridor from a three storey drop.
Only the wall wasn't there anymore, the staircases had moved when no one was looking and what previously would have been an uncomfortable but not really dangerous push against a wall turned into something much more serious.
It happened in almost slow motion, yet it happened to fast to allow anyone to act. Draco fell backwards, fell down the harsh stone steps, head bouncing, body twisting.
Finally yet suddenly, the constant thuds as yet another part of him hit the unyielding concrete ceased and Draco lay still where he landed, paler than usual, blonde hair and red blood clashing terribly, glaring harshly against the grey stone.
Silence.
Total, harsh, echoing silence that screamed because they couldn't.
Before anyone could react, before they could rush to him, or away from him, to help or hide, to act at all, something else happened.
Slowly, like a rolling thunder it descended. The air seamed to darken, to cloud over. Lights flickered like lightening flashing. Pictures, statutes, anything not nailed down began to shake, even to lift up from its normal resting place. Had anyone been of the mind or ability to look at that moment they would have seen that all the paintings had fled the portraits in terror.
It was Hermione who spoke first, a quite, whispering, "Harry?"
All attention turned on the Boy Who Lived, standing there, fists clenched, face a mask of panic as the corridor erupted around him. As she spoke he just looked at her, eyes round with confusion behind the round glasses he always wore.
Then in was Ron who acted, concern for Harry the overriding thought in his mind. Stepping closer to his best friend, locking their gazes he reached out.
"Harry mate, you alright?"
Suddenly the chaos both reduced and increased as Harry's attention was drawn by his first real friend. The sky lightened, though nothing else changed, and he began to move.
Slowly he reached into his robes and pulled out his wand, pointing it steadily at his friend with out any hesitation. His voice was clear but harsh with anger as he spoke.
"I suggest you get the fuck out of here before I do something I might regret."
END CHAPTER TWENTY
Well what did you think?
Review responses:
wintermoon2: hey love. Yet another long review. Wonderful. How's things your end? Gotta ask: you aren't British are you? Cus we adore Robbie over here. And Feel is one of those songs you just think 'I wish I could write a fic worthy of that song.' Hell most of his I'd love to use as fics. Except Angels cus it blantantly belongs in a death fic or a Lily/James watch over Harry and bum the readers out fic. So how was this for red-headed twits?
Oh, and, "we're not worthy, we're not worthy" – all bow down to the greatness that was Blast From The Past – more please!
Sapphire Raine: well if the comment was strange, the end of this chapter was more so. At least that's the plan – want everyone going 'huh, but she said slow' cus then I can evil laugh!
Miss Lesley: that is true, but then again my story is about where magic has gone awry and HINT HINT messed about with nature. And yeah, sometimes I'd read back over what I've written and think, right where was the H/D stuff again? Then I'd remember what I was doing and why and go 'oh, right.' Yup, I'm weird!
Amirathis: darling a wonderful long review. Getting a big head *shit eating grin* (actually have NO idea what that means but I want one!) Yeah, I liked my Harry/Pansy scene. Glad I got the Pansy/Draco bit off OK. Draco's bit about Harry stealing his friends was one of two things I've wanted to get in throughout the fic – the other being the last line of this chapter which, sadly enough, is where the whole idea stemmed from!
Honor: well Draco's vulnerable, anyway, so half served!
Slice: well, I think this was fairly close to a bitch slap, and if Ron doesn't leave…*evil grin of my own*
Rachel: well, he didn't TELL him but close enough. Thanks a load for the points about Harry – am going to try and work them in, especially the bit about Harry being mortified about insulting Snape infront of Remus. I honestly didn't think of it like that, but it's a good point, so thanks!
Isis-mystic: yeah, I try to label flashbacks and things, glad it's coherent.
GoldenSunnyGrl: I'm still slowly easing, promise! Acutally, I've read a Draco/Ron that actually kinda did work, and the ending was quite teary. 'Tis by the ever wonderful Blanche Malfoy (The Road Home) – give it a try – I hate Draco/Ron but this worked.
JKH: no, I forbid lurking – reviews are too needed!
Slashstruck: aw thanks, yup think I like Blaise/Hermione – it was either Blaise/Hermione or Ron/Pansy because I love both pairing, but barring incidents I think I've made my choice! Glad you like the fic.
TigerBlak: I'm slow and hopeless! Hope this is suitable compensation.
Ariana Dumbledore: think this answers one of the questions, anyway. As for Ron, keep waching! Or reading…hum.
Goddess JacquesPierre: your review made my draw drop. I have never been so flattered. You compared me to the wonderful, fabulous Unthinkable Thoughts! *faints*
Yeah, the typos irritate me when I go back over it – hence the attempt at getting a beta *finally, everyone cries* Must confess that I am so hopeless on which is lose and which is loose that I actually check the synonyms to confirm it!
Homophones – what are they?
So, in conclusion, thanks for a review which sent me beaming for the rest of the day – and glad you like the fic!
PS I only don't use sex cus I don't think I could write it!
Marishamarish: Seamus? God knows! Not Pansy, I think, cus too many Gryf/Slytherin pairings then. Maybe Lavendar or something.
Also thanks to Lee Malfoy, Jessyka, Ice Goddess, Scorn-Silverstar, ShaeLynn, Last Hope2, Peeves3, Melissa and angel-phobia