Much as he might have hoped that the act of washing dishes would somehow speed the time until the meeting actually commenced, Severus emerged from the kitchen and into a sitting room only to find that no one had seemed to even make an effort towards assembling the forces. In fact, it seemed that half of them were still missing, unlikely a prospect as that was, given the volume of dishes he'd just finished washing. A glance around the room, however, showed him no Tonks and no Moody. The six newest inductees were also suspiciously absent, though Severus knew that they, at least, were in the house somewhere.

Leaning against the door jam, Severus folded his arms across his chest. "Is there any likelihood that we will have this underway some time before sunset?" he asked, his usual sarcasm dripping into his voice.

There were a few appreciative chuckles, but, perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Lupin who responded. "A vague chance," he replied. "In the mean time, care for a game of chess?"

Severus snorted softly. "You think it will be that long?" he asked dryly. "If so, I'll be going back to Hogwarts. Unlike some people, I have other things to do besides attend these meetings."

"I don't know how long it will be. Tonks and Alastor were delayed, something to do with the Ministry, apparently."

"Severus," it was Dumbledore's voice that brought his gaze around. "I would prefer you stay. It is best that we are able to begin as promptly as possible when Alastor and Tonks do arrive." Had the Headmaster left it at that, Severus would have likely found a chair and entertained himself with watching everyone else's antics, but of course the blue-eyed wizard had to continue. "Besides, I believe you will benefit more from the company of others than the solitude of the dungeons."

With a scowl, the potions master rounded on Dumbledore. "Thank you, Headmaster," he sneered. "You will be sure to send me a memo when you have decided I am capable of managing my own life once more…?"

Anyone else might have been offended, but Dumbledore simply nodded. "As you wish, my boy." Infuriatingly calm. Did nothing perturb the elder wizard?

With a sigh, Severus turned back to Lupin. "Very well," he replied, sounding slightly patronizing. "A game of chess then?"

For a moment, Remus looked so surprised that Severus wondered if he even had a chess board, or if it had been an attempt to bait him. Luckily, though, he exited the room, and a moment later returned with a box. Severus had only a moment to admire the craftsmanship of the board, which appeared to be inlaid with abalone and mother-of-pearl, before Remus lifted the top off to reveal the pieces nestled into their velvet-lined box. Picking one up curiously, Severus lifted an eyebrow to Lupin. "Not Wizard's Chess, I take it?"

Remus shrugged and grinned. "I never did like the senseless barbarism of Wizard's Chess. And I didn't like the pieces berating me for my bad choices. I'm afraid I won't be much competition, Severus."

Severus snorted softly, but seated himself, and Remus handed over the the pouch containing the white pieces, which, as far as Severus could tell without studying them extensively, were carved of alabastor, and exquisitely formed. The black pieces appeared to be of soapstone, and once again, Severus admired the board before setting his pieces. Having the white, Severus went first and placed a pawn, and Lupin followed suit.

"I have been meaning to speak with you about something, Severus," came Dumbledore's voice when they were three moves into the game.

"Yes?" he replied absently, deftly capturing one of Lupin's pawns.

"I would like you to continue Harry's occlumency lessons."

Severus' mouth twitched slightly, and he nodded jerkily, not wishing to discuss it here. "Very well," he muttered, knowing that arguing would not do much good.

Lupin made another move, sacrificing a third pawn when Severus had left a path to one of his knights. Two moves would have seen the knight captured, and most players would have fallen into that easily, which gave Severus reason to study the board for a moment, trying to figure out what ulterior motive Lupin had for giving up half his pawns in five moves. He could see none, so, from curiosity as much as anything, he took the pawn with a bishop, leaving the bishop open to attack from Lupin's queen, just to see what he'd do. Lupin moved his own bishop, putting it directly in danger from Severus' knight, but once again, he could see no motive to the sacrifice. He studied the board carefully for a minute, looking for a trap, but, seeing none, took the bishop. Only to have Lupin move a knight in what was, as far as he could tell, a pointless move.

"What are you doing, Remus?" he asked pointedly, earning a few chuckles from within the room.

"I told you, I'm really not much of a chess player." Remus shrugged apologetically.

"Obviously," Severus muttered. He looked the board over for a moment, then pointed at the knight. "Put that back where it was and do something more useful," he commanded. "And at least try to keep from checkmate."

Remus narrowed his eyes. "Why are you…"

"Because," Severus sneered, "If I'm going to sit here and play chess as though I have nothing better to do, I would at least appreciate a challenge. And, given that your game doesn't seem to be a challenge, perhaps teaching you to play will be. Now look at the board, and if it isn't a hopeless endeavour, think about the possible moves."

Remus did, at least, look at the board, and this time his hand went to a rook.

"Why are you touching that castle?" Severus asked in the same tone he might ask a student why he was adding water to a potion that called for no water.

Lupin grinned boyishly. "Because you made me put the knight back."

Severus leaned forward and pointed to the rook on his right. "Where can you move that piece, Lupin?"

Remus glanced at the other occupants of the room, as though looking for help from one of them, but, Severus was amused to discover, everyone seemed to have found sudden and deep interests in other things. After a brief sigh, Lupin shook his head. "I can't," he replied.

"What about that bishop?"

One by one, Severus pointed to each black piece on the board, and Lupin obediently cited where it could possibly go, if it could move. That done, Severus went over them again, asking for each piece that Lupin had said he could move, "And what moves will I have available if you put that piece there?"" After a painstakingly slow analysis, the werewold had settled on a move that was much more satisfactory to Severus. The game was progressing much slower, now, but after another five moves, the game was, at least, still in progress and Lupin had even captured one of Severus' knights. Four moves later, Severus placed a bishop. "Check."

Lupin was studying the board carefully when the door opened, and Severus looked up to see Ron and Harry wander in. After a moment of assuring Molly that they hadn't left a mess anywhere (to which Severus snorted doubtfully), they drifted over to the chess game and Ron peered at the board, grimacing. The Weasley boy looked to Lupin and frowned. "Please tell me you're not black…"

Severus snorted softly again, and Lupin only grinned. "Hey," he said, "this game has lasted three times as long as any I've ever played. I think I'm doing well enough."

Ron's eyes widened, and he nodded, but Severus didn't think he was sold. Lupin returned his attention to the board, as did Ron, and after a moment, Ron's finger pointed to Remus' remaining castle, then to another square midway up the board. Remus reached for the piece, b ut Severus stopped him, putting his hand over Lupin's. "Why?" he asked simply, and Lupin sighed.

"You know, you're not much fun, Severus."

Severus snorted. "If you actually learn to play the game properly, you might change your mind. Don't just blindly do what Ron tells you. Why did he point out that move?"

"Because I can't win without his help?" Lupin suggested, and Ron laughed.

"You can't win anyway," the redhead said. "Not unless Professor Snape does something really dumb."

"Then why are we still playing?!" Lupin divided his stare between Severus and Ron, and for the second time that day and in the years he'd known the boy, Severus exchanged a conspirational look with the red-head.

"Bill taught me to play," Ron told Lupin, pulling up a chair and settling into it, his long legs straddling the back. "And he used to tell me that if I couldn't win, delay losing as long as I could, because at least I was learning to think. If you can avoid losing in under twenty moves this time, try to make it thirty next time. If you know you've lost, try to prolong it for another five. At least it teaches you to look at the board."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like solid advice to me. Now, what do you gain from moving your rook?"

Lupin studied the board for a long moment before shaking his head. "I don't have the slightest idea."

Ron folded his arms atop the chair and leaned his chin on his wrists. "How's Professor Snape going to checkmate you?" he asked.

Lupin frowned, his eyes scanning the board, then he pointed. "The bishop," he said at last.

"And, if you put your castle there," Severus pointed at the square Ron had indicated, "what does that do?"

Slow understanding dawned in Lupin's eyes. "It blocks you from using the bishop to checkmate."

Severus nodded and took his hand away from the board, and Lupin moved the castle. True to Ron's predictions, Severus won the game after three more moves, leaving Lupin to shake his head slightly. "I'd tell you it was a good game, Severus, but I don't know that it would be a fair estimation."

Severus snorted. "Like a deaf man praising a symphony," he replied evenly.

"Perhaps you and Ron should play a game," Lupin suggested. "I daresay he'd be more of a challenge for your skills."

Severus opened his mouth to protest, but was beaten by the Weasley in question. "If anyone else said that I might take it as a compliment," Ron muttered, an assessment that brought forth another snort, this one suspiciously like a laugh, from the potions master.

"RONALD WEASLEY!" Molly's stern admonition prompted Severus to decide he was suddenly quite thirsty and he stepped over to the sideboard to pour himself a cup of tea.

"Ah, don't scold him, Molly," Remus was saying good-naturedly. "He's right, after all."

Lupin was suddenly at Severus' side, fixing his own cup of tea, and Severus carefully avoided looking at him, afraid he'd burst into laughter if he did. Cup and saucer in hand, he turned away from the sideboard and glanced at the clock on the wall with a sigh. It was nearly noon, and the 'urgent' meeting still hadn't gotten underway.

"Why don't you and Ron have a game?" Lupin suggested again. "Seriously. I'm told he's very good at chess."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "And who told you this? Ron?" The silence affirmed his guess, and Severus simply shook his head. He glanced at the student, though, momentarily considering it. It had been years since he'd played chess with anyone competent, and, he had also heard of Ron's affinity, through word of mouth (usually Minerva's mouth), though he'd never witnessed it. Ron, however, looked rather uneasy about the idea, and, after a moment, Severus shook his head. "I doubt that Mr. Weasley has any desire to play chess on an afternoon when he could be busily getting into mischief," he commented dismissively.

"I bet he'd enjoy it too, wouldn't you Ron?" Remus persisted. "He was complaining just the other day that no one ever wanted to play against him."

"That's because Ron's ruthless," Ginny announced, having walked into the room in time to hear the last of the discussion, anyway. A couple of snickers led Severus to believe that the appraisal was not entirely inaccurate.

Severus glanced at Ron once more, then at the clock. He should really be getting back to Hogwarts. Or at least, he should go back to the castle and retrieve some of the grading he needed to do and bring it here with him. After a lengthy pause, though, he shrugged noncommittally. "Well, Mr. Weasley?" he asked, "I must say that my curiosity is sufficiently piqued. Perhaps we can manage to pass another half hour or so."

Ron grinned suddenly, something Severus didn't often see from the boy. "If you think it's only going to take you half an hour to lose, why bother setting up?"

In spite of himself, Severus laughed a harsh laugh. "I do believe that sounds like a challenge," he commented dryly, walking back to the table with the chess board. Settling himself, he placed his teacup aside, deftly picking up the pieces piled loosely in front of him, settling the black pieces onto their squares. "Do you need someone to help you set your pieces?" he asked sarcastically.

Ron looked uncertain for a moment, then sat, looking rather nervous, as though wondering just what he'd gotten himself into. His adam's apple bobbed in his throat, and then he shrugged and reached for the white pieces. "Naw," he replied, "I think I can figure it out if I copy from you."

Severus snorted softly again, but noticed that Ron was placing the pieces without giving them much thought. He had lifted one leg, his foot perched on the edge of his chair, elbow resting on his knee, half-eaten apple hanging from his fingertips as he placed the last of his pieces and then opened with a pawn. Severus responded in kind, and Lupin settled into the chair Ron had been sitting in, watching. Without much more than a pause, Ron moved a knight into play, and, after a moment's consideration, Severus did the same, content for the moment to let the younger wizard set the pace.

"It isn't much fun to watch, is it?" Remus commented as Ron moved a pawn, which Severus captured.

"It can be," the potions master replied as Ron moved another pawn into play. "If you understand the game." Severus moved a pawn as well, which Ron immediately captured. After a quick visual sweep of the board, Severus took the pawn with his queen.

Briefly, Ron's eyes narrowed in focus and the apple hung from his fingertips, forgotten, as he studied the board. No, Ronald, you may not have my queen, Severus thought, and, after a moment the Weasley boy seemed to reach the same conclusion and settled for a pawn. Severus moved a bishop, and, as Ron followed suit, the game shifted slightly, and Severus was setting the pace.

"So, what's going on?" Severus glanced up to see that Fred and George had just entered the room, but after seeing who had spoken, he went back to studying the board. After the initial few moves, it was not quite so easy to see the entire board in a glance.

"Your brother and Professor Snape are playing chess," Lupin replied, somewhat unnecessarily in Severus' opinion, but he didn't comment as he considered three options. "How goes the work on the map?"

"Slow," replied one of the twins, and Severus was vaguely aware that his and Ron's audience had just tripled in size. "Whose turn is it?"

"Professor's," Ron replied, stretching. Severus castled long on the queen side, and then took up his teacup.

"Mr. Weasley's," he countered, sipping his tea. Ron was now leaning over the board again, absorbed in the game largely the same way Severus had been only moments before. As he peered up at the twin who had spoken, the professor determined it was George; Fred was silently looking over the board, which led Severus to wonder just how many of the Weasleys were chess players. "Slow work on the map, then?" he asked, and George nodded.

"We figured out the charm last night," he was saying, "but it's impractical right now. We couldn't even differentiate between the people down here," he gestured at the small gathering in the room, "so I can't imagine what a mess it would be if it were all of the country."

"And that's assuming we can figure out how to make it show the whole country," Fred piped in suddenly. "It was bloody time consuming just plotting the downstairs corridor."

"Hrm," Severus replied thoughtfully. In truth, he didn't know why he was even thinking about it; charms had never been his strength. "Well, I hope you two figure it out," he commented after a moment. "It would be… advantageous to know all the Dark Lord's movements."

Ron snorted softly as he moved his other knight into play.

"Is something funny, Mr. Weasely?" Severus asked as he peered at the board. It was too early to have drawn many conclusions regarding his partner, but he had hoped Ron would make a different move than he had. Not really expected it, but hoped it.

"I was just thinking that was the biggest understatement I've heard in a while," he replied, unfolding his legs and standing.

Fred had fallen back into staring silently at the board, but he suddenly elbowed his twin. "I have an idea, come on."

As the two of them trooped out of the room, Molly called after them, "Don't get too involved, we'll have lunch in about an hour." Severus watched from the corner of his eye as the Weasley matriarch stood and smoothed her apron.

"I'll help you, Molly," Remus offered, standing as he did. He shrugged apologetically to the two chess players, and followed Molly from the room. A moment later, it seemed half the room's occupants had vacated, leaving silence in their wake. Severus eyed the knight that Ron had offered him, but finally decided against it, moving his queen laterally instead.

Almost as though he'd been expecting that, Ron gave the board only a cursory glance before advancing a pawn, once more tempting Severus' queen, though this time the temptation was easy to overcome. After several moments of studying the board, he moved a bishop, taking another pawn. By the time Molly came to announce that lunch was ready, Ron had captured two pawns, a knight and a bishop; Severus had three pawns and a knight, and the other knight in his sights, and he was beginning to consider the unlikely possibility that Ronald Weasley was a fair partner.

As they left the board to head in for lunch, Severus spared it one last look; it was his turn, after all, and he could think as easily from the kitchen table as he could from the drawing room.

A/N

Just trying to set up a dynamic with this chapter. As I said before, I'm looking at the various relationships between characters, and in this and the previous chapter, I'm letting Snape see his students as people for the first time, really. As opposed to kids. (not that kids aren't people).

Lupin's chess game is very redolent of my own-- I know what moves the pieces can make, but I cannot play chess and don't fool myself into thinking I can. The game between Snape and Ron is based on a real championship game between a couple of people in Tel Aviv in the 60s. Except that I'm not sure I understand the notation enough to translate it exactly. I'd originally intended to have this game be very drawn out, but I've almost decided against it unless someone who is good at chess would care to translate the notations of the game... So, anyway, the point to that is-- don't hold me responsible for the chess game!

And thank you so much, all who have reviewed.

Cecelle and Jenilyn (and everyone else, really): So far as Severus and Remus are concerned... do you think I'm keeping it real between them? I didn't want it to be like school rivals one day and best friends the next, but I'm hoping that they'll eventually be able to be friends (though Severus hisses in my ear every time I suggest it...)

And, as far as Snape finding happiness... I suppose it depends on what you mean exactly. Once again, I'm not heading for a "Hollywood" ending here (though I don't intend to end it as abruptly as I did Still Waters... that was a literary technique, and I do intend to keep filling in backstory)

Anyway, you all let me know if the pace is too sluggish. At the moment, I intend to keep this very slow pace so I can relly concentrate on interaction between characters. If it gets boring, though, let me know. I hope I'm infusing enough tension and action to keep it from getting too weighty, though.