A/N: Yay! I actually got some reviews! To tell you all the truth I really didn't expect any, so I'm thrilled that people are actually reading my stuff. Also, I have some honorable mentions because I'm so happy that I made it to the second chapter that I wanna thank some people for encouraging me to continue at the end of this chapter. My writing was further inspired by The Cure and Evanescence (not a big fan of Evanescence, but I happened to have the CD on me, so I decided to pop it in and Lo and Behold, it inspired me! I'm still not a fan, though) So, this I proclaim the second chapter! Just so ChichiX() won't hit me with a stick....

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (Except for Professor Erminia Lysistrata... but she was based on a particular character that I do not own) in this story. They are the property of a certain Miss J.K. Rowling. This was not written for profit. If it were I'd be rolling in it.

THE DETENTION

"However far away, I will always love you. However long I stay, I will always love you."
-"Love Song"
The Cure

My first approach was during a detention Severus and I had had the pleasure of sharing together. It was the only detention I'd had that year. And it was Peter's fault to boot. No, no, wait. That's just my bitterness talking.

It occurred during a rather tedious Potions class that the Slytherins and Gryffindors just happened to share together. Grueling double Potions. I don't suppose our Potions teacher is quite as well known now. I do know, however, that her name was Erminia Lysistrata, and I do know for a fact that she, at the time, was one of Hogwarts' Most hated Teachers (Referring to The Marauders' Handbook, Chapter 23, Page 706, paragraph 5, sentence 4). Although, I did harbor a sort of respect for our dear Erminia, as I do so many of my elders and authority figures. Sirius does (or did) warn me about how my respect would cause the downfall Of Remus someday. Perhaps it already has.

As the old saying goes, I suppose, there is always the possible existence of a silver lining on each cloud.

Despite our stony Professor Lysistrata, it was a congregation of Slytherins and Gryffindors. We were brewing up a potion for memory loss. I paired up with Peter. Well, you know, since Sirius and James were always together. How could such a thing as double Potions class keep them apart? Forgive me if I sound bitter. That is not my usual state of mind.

Anyhow, Peter and I were working on our Memory Sharpening potion. It was glowing an unusual shade of yellow, as opposed to the correct tint of orange, which was the exact color and hue as James and Sirius' potion, I scornfully examined.

Turns out it was partly Peter's fault for not adding enough powdered wormwood mixed with chopped aconite and partly my fault for not watching as carefully as I should have. You can easily guess what I was doing. It's not that hard. If you've already given up, I was too busy staring at Severus from across the room.

Severus was paired with a rather sickly looking Slytherin boy with long blonde hair. His name was Luscious Malfoy, who was not at all talented in the method of potion making, I could easily observe, because he'd added what looked to be too much essence of sage, which turned their project a rather putrid looking shade of olive green.

Near the end of class our dear Professor Lysistrata marched stiffly around the room, looking down her crooked nose at the contents of every cauldron. My palms began to sweat as she drew near Peter's project and mine.

"I see that you've added less powdered wormwood and aconite than directed, Pettigrew." She threw an ice-cold glare at Peter. "Lupin," her glare was a little less severe. "Honestly, Lupin, I had much higher expectations. This is an effortless potion. That's a week's detention for the both of you. And I DO hope that our next chat will be somewhat more pleasant." The blood drained away from my face as she walked to James and Sirius' cauldron and looked down at their potion skeptically.

"Well done," She said softly, her jaw beginning to go rigid. "Well done, Black... Potter. You receive full marks for today's lesson."

I glanced over at Sirius and James as they exchanged looks of pity with Peter and I. Sirius suddenly turned to me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. His eyes were wide and sympathetic. Damn that dog. Sorry, mate. Lewd Lysistrata's got you this time."

I smiled weakly. "No bother. The time had to come."

"Don't be like that, Moony. You sound like a grave digger."

His hand was lifted from my shoulder. Then and only then did I know I missed the contact of his hand and against any part of my body. Then and only then did I know I missed that night more than I thought I'd missed it. Then and only then... well... I think you know well enough what I mean. At that moment I felt lonelier than I ever did in my life. Even as a werewolf, I'd never felt that alone, that isolated as I did at that exact moment, when the bodily contact that flowed through his hand to my shoulder was broken gently but abruptly. I felt cheated. I felt incomplete.

He turned and he smiled. There was something peculiar about it. My senses picked up something other than pity. I sensed guilt as well. Confusion.

Just as I was about to question the peculiarity of Sirius' grin, there came another burst of conversation from the other side of the room.

"Snape! I honestly did NOT expect something of this nature from a student such as yourself! You should know what mistakes you have made. You receive zero marks for today's lesson. The both of you... that's a week's worth of detention for the both of you." She walked away swiftly, mumbling under her breath.

Severus said not a word, however his partner was quite insulted, opening his mouth in protest but quickly shutting it before he could even begin to speak.

So maybe I wasn't alone.

Supper in the Great Hall later that evening was a bit dismal and upsetting. Everyday things that you ignore become... well... very IRRITATING when you're in a certain... mood.

I ate close to nothing as I listened to Sirius and James chatter over some Quidditch player in Hufflepuff. The noise grew to an alarming rate, a buzzing in my ears, a rattle in my head. I couldn't take it.

I stood up.

James, Sirius, and Peter looked up at me with wide, questioning eyes. "Hey, Moony, where you going so early?" He held his fork in mid lift to his mouth. Sirius looked up over James' head, a small frown forming between his dark brows. My heart shrunk and that lonely feeling returned, uttering curses into my ear. Alone, Moony, you'll always be alone. I silently screamed. I wanted out.

I opened my mouth. "I...." Loneliness echoing in my mind, bouncing off the walls of my skull. I struggled to speak. "I'm not hungry," I mumbled, "I'm going to the common room... get some sleep before I head out to detention."

James lifted his forkful of stew to his mouth. "S'fine with me."

Sirius, however was still looking up at me, that crease between his brows growing all the deeper, his eyes grew darker. But he did not rise to protest as I swiftly walked through the large double doors and into the halls of Hogwarts.

As I walked through the corridors leading to the location of Gryffindor Tower, my luck changed.

For soon I found myself walking alongside Severus Snape. His eyes were downcast, blocked by an oily curtain of charcoal hair, clutching his book bag gingerly to his chest as if someone were about to snatch it away from him. I understood exactly how he felt.

Or, at least.... I thought I did.

I heard the click of his heels against the flagstones and my heart raced.

I thought quickly. And as I thought, I accidentally collided with him at the base of the hall.

The sound of his books clattering to the floor was unsettling.

"I'm so sorry..." I stammered as I dropped down to my knees on the cold, hard floor to collect them for him. I saw one title, which read:

"Merlinda Edgewater's Guide To: Domestic Dragons"

When I handed his bag back to him, he snatched it away from me and clutched it to his small chest possessively. Me glared at me through his curtain of black hair.

"I-I'm sorry," I said.

"No." He said abruptly. He shook his hair out of his face with one toss of his head. "No, I'm sorry. I had no right to be rude to you. His hair crept back into his eyes and he shook it back impatiently once more. "Erm.... Thank you, Lupin." He said lowly.

My heart leapt at the mention of my name. He'd never called me by my name before. I was stunned.

The corner of his mouth twitched into a half smile as he walked off past another corner.

I would like to thank:

Merlinda (For the review she left on Bittersweet Memoir, which inspired me to finish the Dazed And Confused fic I was working on a while back and post the first chapter... I would have mentioned you in chapter one, but I had no time)

The Littlest Dragon (The first reviewer for Dazed and confused)

Marilyn, My Bitterness (Second reviewer and fellow Cure fan! Woo!) And I would like to thank my other reviewers if I've missed any.

P.S.- I've scattered the names of all of my reviewers throughout this story. Go ahead and read it over again to spot it if you reviewed!