A/N: Thank you all so much for your patience and quality reviews! I'll have
a quick go at answering a few questions, or I'll feel guilty.
Merryfurry - Hamsters are such innocent things aren't they? Not - I was certain mine was evil! I was just making a point about how little we as readers know about Snape. (Maybe JKR's Snape keeps hamsters for a hobby. Heh, who knows but JKR?)
Ronandchicken - Snape's desk didn't hit Harry because he was near the door, and Snape threw the desk across the classroom. Well, in the classroom plan in my head anyway! I hope you like the next chapter.
Sherdelune - Heh, who knows what Snape did but Snape? The man's giving me enough grief trying to write him. But I can say all might not be as straightforward (?) as it seems. And don't worry about Harry, I have that section of the plot sorted out. More intrigue? Oh yes.
BekaJWP - Let's hope for the sake of the hamster it did die of natural causes. And yes - Snape's annoying like that, isn't he?
And finally, here is my next offering. Please continue to review or comment! (
******
When Lupin returned to the dining room shortly afterwards, he couldn't help but feel surprised that his surly guest was still there. So much so, that failing to get even a simple nod of acknowledgement from the dark wizard didn't bother him in the slightest. Lupin went on to pour himself another glass of wine, before sitting down and reopening his book without speaking a word.
Snape meanwhile, had reverted to staring stonily at the wall.
'Well, Snape paying a visit - that must be an improvement of sorts,' thought Lupin. As ever, he caught himself trying to think positive. He had to - it was how he managed life. Without the smile, his whole world would have easily crashed down long ago, wrapping him in a cloak of depression and drear evenings, whispering words of hate in his ear.
And then his days and nights would meld into one, and trap him into listening to the clock tick relentlessly in the same old tone. Day in, day out. Dawn to dusk to dawn to dusk.
Moon to moon.
No, it would not reach that. He had people to care for, people who cared. And people who relied on seeing Moony smile. Because if Moony smiled the world couldn't be lost.
He took a small sip of his wine, and tilted his head slightly back to stare at the mould-speckled ceiling, his eyelids falling lower, as tiredness weighed on him.
Moony, the mild-mannered, calm and pleasant soul. If he hadn't had this duty, this "Moony" personality to hold up for people, there would likely be two depressed, miserable-git wizards sat at the Black family dining table.
And not to forget of course, the creature too. His other side.
Which frightened people. And terrified him.
Moony the animal.
Lupin closed his eyes. He missed teaching so much - the constant everyday chatter of the school kids had helped to keep his mind off of darker things. It had given him a purpose.
But now, weary, and sat in awkward, miserable silence with Hogwarts' hated Potions' Master, it was difficult to act like the pleasant old Moony everyone was used to.
Twenty lonely years down the line for both of them. Had wearing a Gryffindor badge and a trademark smile really been the only difference between Snape's outcome and his?
******
Snape followed the pattern of the wallpaper with unusually dull eyes, as if not seeming to really notice it was there. He blinked, and scowled once again as his eyes slid back into focus. He hated the way he kept on finding himself slipping into deep thought, and so each time he realised, he would snap himself back into reality by digging his nails into his palms.
And then there was that other thing bothering him. A sense that something had changed about the house since last year. And it wasn't the result of the Spring-cleaning or any of the damn Order's attempts at home- improvement.
Snape narrowed his eyes, and flared out his nostrils slightly. It was a smell. A certain smell, which had been always in evidence all last year, but not this. Some 'thing' was amiss, definitely. Or missing.
'Lupin, where is that rabid House Elf of the Blacks?
'Ah,' muttered Lupin quietly, before pulling in his bottom lip, and running a hand awkwardly through his greying hair. 'He moved out. Last summer. Nobody has seen him since.'
Snape snorted. 'As gullible as certain Gryffindors might be to believe that, it won't wash with me. I can also tell when one is lying.' Snape paused to smirk at his private joke. 'Yet it is not only the lack of subtlety. I could also tell by your heart rate that you were highly uncomfortable with the question.'
'Ah - about as uncomfortable - perhaps - as you were a moment ago, Severus?' Lupin asked mysteriously, raising one eyebrow, and trying hard to stop his small smile from growing any wider. 'When I awaited your answer, I was positive my senses could smell fear. And it wasn't my own,' he added.
'So - I will tell you where the elf has gone, only, if-'
'Okay Lupin! Okay!' snapped Severus irritably. He glared darkly at the wall for a short while before beginning to mutter. 'I was upset on the train, because I had to leave my mother alone in the house, with - ' he paused, scowling.
'Yes?' whispered Lupin.
'I feared for her! And it was the first time I had ever been away from home!' was the quick reply. The Potions Master snapped his head round to glower at his questioner. 'Now, where's the damned Elf? What has Dumbledore done with him?'
'Kreacher?' Lupin took in a shaky breath. 'Kreacher. Kreacher-'
'Yes. We know the Elf's name! Very good. Now what-'
'Kreacher's dead.'
There was a brief silence.
'Dead? How the hell can he be dead?!' spat Snape suddenly, going red. 'House Elves just don't die without someone bloody noticing! '
Lupin bit his lip and swallowed. 'In this house, the morning after Sirius' death. 'I think - I am fairly certain.' He drew a long breath. 'I think he was eaten by the werewolf.'
Snape raised his eyebrows sourly. 'Indeed? I presume by 'the werewolf,' you mean yourself? Why, didn't you trouble to take the Wolfsbane I've been tirelessly slaving over for three years?'
'Of course I did Severus,' was the calm reply.
'Then - are you insinuating that I made a mistake in my brewing?!'
Lupin shook his head sadly, watching Snape's pale fingers curl claw-like into the chair arms. 'No.' he whispered.
'No. Not at all.'
'Then how, by Merlin, did a drugged werewolf end up devouring a bloody house elf?!'
Lupin felt himself pale. He took a gulp of his wine and shuddered rather violently before daring to meet Snape's eyes. 'It can't be your potion. No error of yours. I had no need to take it that night, because it was a-'
'New moon?' finished Snape, also paling slightly.
Lupin trembled and looked away. His voice came softly, full of dread. 'Yes. I - I have no memory of the incident. All I remember is getting back exhausted the morning after the Ministry. The house was so empty and I suppose I was in some sort of shock. And then, I must have transformed soon after, because the next thing I remember is waking up in the hallway slumped on the floor, with Mrs Black screaming at me. After dealing with her I discovered my clothes were badly ripped. Dreading the worst, I inspected the house. I began upstairs. But finally I had to go down into the kitchens -'
He trailed off.
'You saw a body?' muttered Snape.
'And blood - On the floor. Over the worktops. Everywhere,' whispered Lupin miserably. He downed the rest of his glass and closed his eyes.
'It was - horrific. Absolutely horrific. The way it spreads. Settles. Dries to that black -'
Blood.
Everywhere.
Snape shuddered involuntary, and was so glad Lupin had shut his eyes. If he had begun to lose his strong grip on such emotions he rather no one knew.
'You are terrified of me, Severus. I can smell it,' said Lupin calmly.
Snape snarled. Damn! He had forgotten he couldn't conceal such things from a werewolf. Was this why the creature always used to watch and never do? 'Are you surprised, Lupin? As far as I can see, you could start drooling at any moment!'
'No - I don't think I will now,' was the thought out reply. 'You see Severus, I think not getting angry is the key to controlling this.'
'So you believe I will trust you simply because you THINK you have a solution?' he snorted incredulously.
'No.' was the simple reply. 'I have transformed three more times in this house. Luckily I was on my own each time, and managed to prepare before I transformed.'
'And were you angry beforehand?'
'Yes. Once with myself, once with Harry. And - once, I'm afraid, with you.'
Snape's expression soured. 'Well, that is simply MARVELLOUS!'
Lupin paled as Snape suddenly stood up, tipping the chair over in his haste. 'But where are you-'
'Isn't it obvious, wolf? Out of this blasted house before you feel like growing fur!'
'No, please!' Lupin hurried to block Snape. 'Please listen to me!'
'Get out of my way, Lupin, or I will make you!'
Lupin held out his arms, which only served to make the other wizard glower more. 'Please - I have been practising meditation. I feel no anger toward you-'
Snapes eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. 'If you think that our truce involves me spending more quality time with you, you can think again! And now I have heard this pathetic confession I think the Order should-'
'The Order will have nothing to do with this, Severus, and I suggest you keep it that way,' warned Lupin, also narrowing his eyes.
'Are you threatening me, wolf?' hissed Snape.
'This matter is between you and me - only.'
'How intimate.'
'Please, Severus. A few more minutes of your time?'
Snape was agitated. He wanted to leave. To be alone. But something had collapsed inside him that day. He had allowed Harry Potter to get to him. And suddenly he was quite afraid of being alone.
The snake and the lion had each other squeezed in a death grip.
'Our Hogwarts is in danger, from external deadly foes. And we must unite inside her, or we will crumble from within.'
Lupin watched Snape's eyes darken, and his face harden into its usual stony mask of superior indifference. It was a wasted effort, though - as even the most skilled Occlumens were rendered quite powerless against a wolf's powerful sense of smell. Something was very wrong with him tonight. He hadn't smelt fear about him since they were teenagers. Snape the adult had built a fortress of disdain around himself to keep it in.
But something had happened, a wall had fallen. Very recently. And now Snape was afraid again. Afraid to be alone, maybe - just like he was? Severus Snape never made social calls; especially not to Remus 'Werewolf' Lupin.
'Why did you come to London?' was the barely audible whisper.
'Exactly the question I have been repeating to myself since I got here,' came the bitter drawl. 'Damn Muggle traffic. Viciously insane wolves-'
Lupin closed his eyes. 'I suppose the action alone must speak for itself, then. Even if I have to chain myself to something to reassure you, will you please stay for a while longer?'
'Why?'
The response was a resolute one, made deceptively simple by the sandy haired wizard's ever-pleasant smile. 'We are going to talk.'
'WHAT?!'
'Rather, you are going to talk, and I am going to listen.'
Snape moistened his lips as they hovered between a sneer and twisting into an aghast expression. 'And why in hell, would you want me to do that?!'
'Because I can tell you want to talk. And if you want to talk, I want to listen.'
The professor flushed an ugly colour. 'Do not make assumptions about what I want, Werewolf!'
'Well, someone has to, because you certainly don't.'
'What are you playing at, Lupin?' Snape hissed, sliding a hand toward the pocket where he kept his wand.
'I'm not playing at anything. I am being serious, and I think I can help.'
'I don't need help from anyone, especially not from a Marauder!' snarled Snap, marching forward.
Lupin blocked him. Enraged, Snape went to shove him out of the way, but Lupin was much stronger than he looked, and stood firm, damming the doorway.
Snape took a step backwards and drew his wand. 'Don't make me hex you!'
'By all means hex me, Severus - I deserve it.'
What colour Snape had had all but disappeared. A wand tip was quivering with its owner's rage.
'Don't you dare make fun of me Marauder! he seethed. 'Don't you dare do this!'
'I am not doing anything to you, Severus,' replied Lupin quietly. 'Just like I never did anything - except for watch. And the Marauders died sixteen years ago. They died, and you-'
'THEY NEVER DIED FOR ME, YOU SPINELESS BASTARD!' Snape shrieked out suddenly, white sparks crackling up and over his wand hand like lightening. 'FILTHY CUR! SON OF A BITCH! How DARE you stand there, in front of ME and say that!? You know what I mean, so don't say otherwise. Vile, lowlife scum! Mongrel.bloody HALF-breed-' His jaw stiffened and snapped shut as he uttered the last words. Snape's tirade of oaths had died off as quickly as they had begun.
They stared at one another in an ominous silence. A silence, Lupin feared; that would prove to be merely the eye of the storm.
Then, an old and chillingly familiar gleam appeared in Snape's eyes. His words were quiet, but charged with vicious intent. 'So move.Lupin. damn you, or I swear I'll use Vulnero viscus.'
Lupin tensed as he recognised the gleam as desperation.
The desperation that came from years of driving an awkward little Slytherin into defending himself. A Slytherin, who for years kept to himself, never really caring about casting a single hex on the Marauders - till most of his gang left.
The Slytherin who initially preferred peace and quiet, to hexing others in corridors, but who had been forced to find protection in a gang, just like Lupin. And when his older peers left Hogwarts, he had been driven to insanity by the rest of the school.
The other houses wanted their revenge on his Deatheater housemates. And they got it. For every person his old gang went on to kill, Severus Snape had felt the consequences.
The day they had turned Snape upside down at the lake, was the day after Evan Rosier had tortured his first Muggle family to death.
Lupin swallowed. He realised he was getting dangerously close to pitying Severus Snape. But hadn't he always pitied him? Hadn't he often wondered himself what would have happened if he had been sorted into Slytherin too? Would they have been friends rather than enemies? The pair to rival James and Sirius perhaps?
Maybe not. But there was more to it than just wearing a badge and a facial expression. Lupin had been cared for, Snape hadn't. THAT was the difference, he was sure.
And saying that, did HE care about Snape?
He sighed, snapping himself out of his reverie. Sirius would have killed him for admitting it, but yes, he did. He cared about Snape.
Opposite him, Snape stood, still quivering in silent rage.
Lupin tightened his hold on the doorframe. He had always cared too much for his own good. Always let people walk over him more than he should, thinking he was being a better friend by letting them have their way. But after Sirius, he now knew this was not always the right thing to do. Caring meant doing too. And Merlin be damned if he was going to give up on the people that were left!
Lupin steeled himself. What he was about to say sounded so ridiculous, almost pathetic. But-
'Severus. Will you stay if I show you the library?'
*******
The dormitory was stifling, the blankets heavy, the sheets constricting like a snake. Finally, the first shades of dawn began to creep over the horizon. It would be enough light to see by.
Edging himself slowly out of bed, so as not to wake his snoring dorm-mates, Harry made sure to cast a quick silencing charm, before picking up his shoes and crossing to the door.
His first thoughts were of the lake, but as he reached the door he paused.
What if he changed his mind? Should he take the invisibility cloak, in case he wanted to go elsewhere?
Elsewhere where?
Subconsciously he knew exactly where, but his conscious mind would have none of it.
It was with this state of mind that he tiptoed down the spiral staircases, out of the portrait and down the dully lit corridors. Alone.
Or maybe not.
As Harry had spoken the password to the portrait, he had neglected to acknowledge it. Failed to notice that although all the surrounding portraits were snoring, the Common Room Entrance portrait was completely silent.
In fact, to most passing viewers the picture would appear empty, save a chair and a drape. Not for the first time along the years, the Fat Lady was gone.
As Harry's cautious footsteps rounded the corner, a low chuckle cut through the corridor.
'Mother's eyes. Ah, a Mother's eyes,' hissed the tone. 'The unnatural lengths taken to protect a blood brood-'
'But we shall see, my friend. We shall see.'
Merryfurry - Hamsters are such innocent things aren't they? Not - I was certain mine was evil! I was just making a point about how little we as readers know about Snape. (Maybe JKR's Snape keeps hamsters for a hobby. Heh, who knows but JKR?)
Ronandchicken - Snape's desk didn't hit Harry because he was near the door, and Snape threw the desk across the classroom. Well, in the classroom plan in my head anyway! I hope you like the next chapter.
Sherdelune - Heh, who knows what Snape did but Snape? The man's giving me enough grief trying to write him. But I can say all might not be as straightforward (?) as it seems. And don't worry about Harry, I have that section of the plot sorted out. More intrigue? Oh yes.
BekaJWP - Let's hope for the sake of the hamster it did die of natural causes. And yes - Snape's annoying like that, isn't he?
And finally, here is my next offering. Please continue to review or comment! (
******
When Lupin returned to the dining room shortly afterwards, he couldn't help but feel surprised that his surly guest was still there. So much so, that failing to get even a simple nod of acknowledgement from the dark wizard didn't bother him in the slightest. Lupin went on to pour himself another glass of wine, before sitting down and reopening his book without speaking a word.
Snape meanwhile, had reverted to staring stonily at the wall.
'Well, Snape paying a visit - that must be an improvement of sorts,' thought Lupin. As ever, he caught himself trying to think positive. He had to - it was how he managed life. Without the smile, his whole world would have easily crashed down long ago, wrapping him in a cloak of depression and drear evenings, whispering words of hate in his ear.
And then his days and nights would meld into one, and trap him into listening to the clock tick relentlessly in the same old tone. Day in, day out. Dawn to dusk to dawn to dusk.
Moon to moon.
No, it would not reach that. He had people to care for, people who cared. And people who relied on seeing Moony smile. Because if Moony smiled the world couldn't be lost.
He took a small sip of his wine, and tilted his head slightly back to stare at the mould-speckled ceiling, his eyelids falling lower, as tiredness weighed on him.
Moony, the mild-mannered, calm and pleasant soul. If he hadn't had this duty, this "Moony" personality to hold up for people, there would likely be two depressed, miserable-git wizards sat at the Black family dining table.
And not to forget of course, the creature too. His other side.
Which frightened people. And terrified him.
Moony the animal.
Lupin closed his eyes. He missed teaching so much - the constant everyday chatter of the school kids had helped to keep his mind off of darker things. It had given him a purpose.
But now, weary, and sat in awkward, miserable silence with Hogwarts' hated Potions' Master, it was difficult to act like the pleasant old Moony everyone was used to.
Twenty lonely years down the line for both of them. Had wearing a Gryffindor badge and a trademark smile really been the only difference between Snape's outcome and his?
******
Snape followed the pattern of the wallpaper with unusually dull eyes, as if not seeming to really notice it was there. He blinked, and scowled once again as his eyes slid back into focus. He hated the way he kept on finding himself slipping into deep thought, and so each time he realised, he would snap himself back into reality by digging his nails into his palms.
And then there was that other thing bothering him. A sense that something had changed about the house since last year. And it wasn't the result of the Spring-cleaning or any of the damn Order's attempts at home- improvement.
Snape narrowed his eyes, and flared out his nostrils slightly. It was a smell. A certain smell, which had been always in evidence all last year, but not this. Some 'thing' was amiss, definitely. Or missing.
'Lupin, where is that rabid House Elf of the Blacks?
'Ah,' muttered Lupin quietly, before pulling in his bottom lip, and running a hand awkwardly through his greying hair. 'He moved out. Last summer. Nobody has seen him since.'
Snape snorted. 'As gullible as certain Gryffindors might be to believe that, it won't wash with me. I can also tell when one is lying.' Snape paused to smirk at his private joke. 'Yet it is not only the lack of subtlety. I could also tell by your heart rate that you were highly uncomfortable with the question.'
'Ah - about as uncomfortable - perhaps - as you were a moment ago, Severus?' Lupin asked mysteriously, raising one eyebrow, and trying hard to stop his small smile from growing any wider. 'When I awaited your answer, I was positive my senses could smell fear. And it wasn't my own,' he added.
'So - I will tell you where the elf has gone, only, if-'
'Okay Lupin! Okay!' snapped Severus irritably. He glared darkly at the wall for a short while before beginning to mutter. 'I was upset on the train, because I had to leave my mother alone in the house, with - ' he paused, scowling.
'Yes?' whispered Lupin.
'I feared for her! And it was the first time I had ever been away from home!' was the quick reply. The Potions Master snapped his head round to glower at his questioner. 'Now, where's the damned Elf? What has Dumbledore done with him?'
'Kreacher?' Lupin took in a shaky breath. 'Kreacher. Kreacher-'
'Yes. We know the Elf's name! Very good. Now what-'
'Kreacher's dead.'
There was a brief silence.
'Dead? How the hell can he be dead?!' spat Snape suddenly, going red. 'House Elves just don't die without someone bloody noticing! '
Lupin bit his lip and swallowed. 'In this house, the morning after Sirius' death. 'I think - I am fairly certain.' He drew a long breath. 'I think he was eaten by the werewolf.'
Snape raised his eyebrows sourly. 'Indeed? I presume by 'the werewolf,' you mean yourself? Why, didn't you trouble to take the Wolfsbane I've been tirelessly slaving over for three years?'
'Of course I did Severus,' was the calm reply.
'Then - are you insinuating that I made a mistake in my brewing?!'
Lupin shook his head sadly, watching Snape's pale fingers curl claw-like into the chair arms. 'No.' he whispered.
'No. Not at all.'
'Then how, by Merlin, did a drugged werewolf end up devouring a bloody house elf?!'
Lupin felt himself pale. He took a gulp of his wine and shuddered rather violently before daring to meet Snape's eyes. 'It can't be your potion. No error of yours. I had no need to take it that night, because it was a-'
'New moon?' finished Snape, also paling slightly.
Lupin trembled and looked away. His voice came softly, full of dread. 'Yes. I - I have no memory of the incident. All I remember is getting back exhausted the morning after the Ministry. The house was so empty and I suppose I was in some sort of shock. And then, I must have transformed soon after, because the next thing I remember is waking up in the hallway slumped on the floor, with Mrs Black screaming at me. After dealing with her I discovered my clothes were badly ripped. Dreading the worst, I inspected the house. I began upstairs. But finally I had to go down into the kitchens -'
He trailed off.
'You saw a body?' muttered Snape.
'And blood - On the floor. Over the worktops. Everywhere,' whispered Lupin miserably. He downed the rest of his glass and closed his eyes.
'It was - horrific. Absolutely horrific. The way it spreads. Settles. Dries to that black -'
Blood.
Everywhere.
Snape shuddered involuntary, and was so glad Lupin had shut his eyes. If he had begun to lose his strong grip on such emotions he rather no one knew.
'You are terrified of me, Severus. I can smell it,' said Lupin calmly.
Snape snarled. Damn! He had forgotten he couldn't conceal such things from a werewolf. Was this why the creature always used to watch and never do? 'Are you surprised, Lupin? As far as I can see, you could start drooling at any moment!'
'No - I don't think I will now,' was the thought out reply. 'You see Severus, I think not getting angry is the key to controlling this.'
'So you believe I will trust you simply because you THINK you have a solution?' he snorted incredulously.
'No.' was the simple reply. 'I have transformed three more times in this house. Luckily I was on my own each time, and managed to prepare before I transformed.'
'And were you angry beforehand?'
'Yes. Once with myself, once with Harry. And - once, I'm afraid, with you.'
Snape's expression soured. 'Well, that is simply MARVELLOUS!'
Lupin paled as Snape suddenly stood up, tipping the chair over in his haste. 'But where are you-'
'Isn't it obvious, wolf? Out of this blasted house before you feel like growing fur!'
'No, please!' Lupin hurried to block Snape. 'Please listen to me!'
'Get out of my way, Lupin, or I will make you!'
Lupin held out his arms, which only served to make the other wizard glower more. 'Please - I have been practising meditation. I feel no anger toward you-'
Snapes eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. 'If you think that our truce involves me spending more quality time with you, you can think again! And now I have heard this pathetic confession I think the Order should-'
'The Order will have nothing to do with this, Severus, and I suggest you keep it that way,' warned Lupin, also narrowing his eyes.
'Are you threatening me, wolf?' hissed Snape.
'This matter is between you and me - only.'
'How intimate.'
'Please, Severus. A few more minutes of your time?'
Snape was agitated. He wanted to leave. To be alone. But something had collapsed inside him that day. He had allowed Harry Potter to get to him. And suddenly he was quite afraid of being alone.
The snake and the lion had each other squeezed in a death grip.
'Our Hogwarts is in danger, from external deadly foes. And we must unite inside her, or we will crumble from within.'
Lupin watched Snape's eyes darken, and his face harden into its usual stony mask of superior indifference. It was a wasted effort, though - as even the most skilled Occlumens were rendered quite powerless against a wolf's powerful sense of smell. Something was very wrong with him tonight. He hadn't smelt fear about him since they were teenagers. Snape the adult had built a fortress of disdain around himself to keep it in.
But something had happened, a wall had fallen. Very recently. And now Snape was afraid again. Afraid to be alone, maybe - just like he was? Severus Snape never made social calls; especially not to Remus 'Werewolf' Lupin.
'Why did you come to London?' was the barely audible whisper.
'Exactly the question I have been repeating to myself since I got here,' came the bitter drawl. 'Damn Muggle traffic. Viciously insane wolves-'
Lupin closed his eyes. 'I suppose the action alone must speak for itself, then. Even if I have to chain myself to something to reassure you, will you please stay for a while longer?'
'Why?'
The response was a resolute one, made deceptively simple by the sandy haired wizard's ever-pleasant smile. 'We are going to talk.'
'WHAT?!'
'Rather, you are going to talk, and I am going to listen.'
Snape moistened his lips as they hovered between a sneer and twisting into an aghast expression. 'And why in hell, would you want me to do that?!'
'Because I can tell you want to talk. And if you want to talk, I want to listen.'
The professor flushed an ugly colour. 'Do not make assumptions about what I want, Werewolf!'
'Well, someone has to, because you certainly don't.'
'What are you playing at, Lupin?' Snape hissed, sliding a hand toward the pocket where he kept his wand.
'I'm not playing at anything. I am being serious, and I think I can help.'
'I don't need help from anyone, especially not from a Marauder!' snarled Snap, marching forward.
Lupin blocked him. Enraged, Snape went to shove him out of the way, but Lupin was much stronger than he looked, and stood firm, damming the doorway.
Snape took a step backwards and drew his wand. 'Don't make me hex you!'
'By all means hex me, Severus - I deserve it.'
What colour Snape had had all but disappeared. A wand tip was quivering with its owner's rage.
'Don't you dare make fun of me Marauder! he seethed. 'Don't you dare do this!'
'I am not doing anything to you, Severus,' replied Lupin quietly. 'Just like I never did anything - except for watch. And the Marauders died sixteen years ago. They died, and you-'
'THEY NEVER DIED FOR ME, YOU SPINELESS BASTARD!' Snape shrieked out suddenly, white sparks crackling up and over his wand hand like lightening. 'FILTHY CUR! SON OF A BITCH! How DARE you stand there, in front of ME and say that!? You know what I mean, so don't say otherwise. Vile, lowlife scum! Mongrel.bloody HALF-breed-' His jaw stiffened and snapped shut as he uttered the last words. Snape's tirade of oaths had died off as quickly as they had begun.
They stared at one another in an ominous silence. A silence, Lupin feared; that would prove to be merely the eye of the storm.
Then, an old and chillingly familiar gleam appeared in Snape's eyes. His words were quiet, but charged with vicious intent. 'So move.Lupin. damn you, or I swear I'll use Vulnero viscus.'
Lupin tensed as he recognised the gleam as desperation.
The desperation that came from years of driving an awkward little Slytherin into defending himself. A Slytherin, who for years kept to himself, never really caring about casting a single hex on the Marauders - till most of his gang left.
The Slytherin who initially preferred peace and quiet, to hexing others in corridors, but who had been forced to find protection in a gang, just like Lupin. And when his older peers left Hogwarts, he had been driven to insanity by the rest of the school.
The other houses wanted their revenge on his Deatheater housemates. And they got it. For every person his old gang went on to kill, Severus Snape had felt the consequences.
The day they had turned Snape upside down at the lake, was the day after Evan Rosier had tortured his first Muggle family to death.
Lupin swallowed. He realised he was getting dangerously close to pitying Severus Snape. But hadn't he always pitied him? Hadn't he often wondered himself what would have happened if he had been sorted into Slytherin too? Would they have been friends rather than enemies? The pair to rival James and Sirius perhaps?
Maybe not. But there was more to it than just wearing a badge and a facial expression. Lupin had been cared for, Snape hadn't. THAT was the difference, he was sure.
And saying that, did HE care about Snape?
He sighed, snapping himself out of his reverie. Sirius would have killed him for admitting it, but yes, he did. He cared about Snape.
Opposite him, Snape stood, still quivering in silent rage.
Lupin tightened his hold on the doorframe. He had always cared too much for his own good. Always let people walk over him more than he should, thinking he was being a better friend by letting them have their way. But after Sirius, he now knew this was not always the right thing to do. Caring meant doing too. And Merlin be damned if he was going to give up on the people that were left!
Lupin steeled himself. What he was about to say sounded so ridiculous, almost pathetic. But-
'Severus. Will you stay if I show you the library?'
*******
The dormitory was stifling, the blankets heavy, the sheets constricting like a snake. Finally, the first shades of dawn began to creep over the horizon. It would be enough light to see by.
Edging himself slowly out of bed, so as not to wake his snoring dorm-mates, Harry made sure to cast a quick silencing charm, before picking up his shoes and crossing to the door.
His first thoughts were of the lake, but as he reached the door he paused.
What if he changed his mind? Should he take the invisibility cloak, in case he wanted to go elsewhere?
Elsewhere where?
Subconsciously he knew exactly where, but his conscious mind would have none of it.
It was with this state of mind that he tiptoed down the spiral staircases, out of the portrait and down the dully lit corridors. Alone.
Or maybe not.
As Harry had spoken the password to the portrait, he had neglected to acknowledge it. Failed to notice that although all the surrounding portraits were snoring, the Common Room Entrance portrait was completely silent.
In fact, to most passing viewers the picture would appear empty, save a chair and a drape. Not for the first time along the years, the Fat Lady was gone.
As Harry's cautious footsteps rounded the corner, a low chuckle cut through the corridor.
'Mother's eyes. Ah, a Mother's eyes,' hissed the tone. 'The unnatural lengths taken to protect a blood brood-'
'But we shall see, my friend. We shall see.'