Summary: Snape and Remus start on the potion…and some confessions are made. Erm…how about some confessions are written really badly and corny? LoL.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything…except myself and my plot. And I love myself. Which makes me conceited. LoL.

A/N: Yeah….this is kind of short and crappy, but it's good enough. Hopefully the next one will be better! Sorry about the 'confessions'. I was suffering form writers block and I couldn't think of an 'elegant' way for them to 'come clean'. So deal. LOL.

Thanks again, amura. Don't worry, I'll keep going! (winks).

Thanks Anne, hipa (yes, this is definitely getting into the RemusxSeverus bit now, and will be even more so soon. Just that, well, considering they aren't the 'best of friends' so to speak, they first have to build a work relationship through the potion, then a friendly relationship, then more then platonic feelings, and finally, the relationship everyone is waiting for. THE BIG ONE!! LOL. Trust me, it wont take as long as it seems it will!), and meema (thanks for the comment about my characterization of Snape, he's such a hard character to write! How J.K. Rowling does it, I'll never know…(winks)).

On with the story!

Chapter Five: A Begrudgingly Good Day.

"Oh stop moaning and groaning!" Remus snapped at Snape, whom had been complaining for the hundredth time about having to work with "The Werewolf Pestilence".

Dumbledore had explained everything, and Remus really had no choice but to acquiesce. However, that did not necessarily mean that he had to like working with Snape, no matter how good the cause. And by the sounds issuing unrelentingly from Snape's mouth, the feeling was mutual.

"But it's not fair!" Snape spat out between ground jaws, fists clenched. "Why couldn't he get me another Werewolf?"

Remus shot him a cold glare. "Because," He growled, the wolf in him becoming evident, "Who's to say that we can trust another Werewolf?"

Snape stopped abruptly and smacked into Remus, causing him to lose his balance. Snape reached out quickly and steadied him, but kept his hands on Remus' arms as he looked into his yellow-gray eyes. Remus felt uncomfortable under that gaze and the feelings shooting up his arms from the dark man's grip. Snape scanned him for a moment more before releasing him and sighing. "Alright." He said simply in acceptance and turned and headed to where they were going; The Dungeons.

Remus, glad that Snape had let go and had also agreed to shut-up and stop complaining, followed, still feeling the faint touch on his arms.

"Merlin, Snape! Why is it so bloody cold in here?!" Remus snapped, eyes wide as he rubbed his hands up and down his arms, shivering.

Snape scowled but ignored the other man's chattering teeth and walked over to the blue liquid on the other side of his Lab. He extinguished the flames beneath the cauldron and set it aside. He reached above the table to a black painted, oak cupboard and extracted seven long-necked bottles. He filled them up and waved his wand. Remus watched, only mildly impressed, as labels reading Cooling Draught in arching, formidable script appeared on each bottle as they flew off to be stacked in a near by armoire filled to the brim with other assorted blue coloured liquids. So his Lab is colour sorted. Interesting, Remus thought, amused.

Snape turned to what was left in the cauldron and the small mess of ingredients in the surrounding area. "Evanesco." The contents and pieces of mint and other plants vanished. He set the cauldron back up onto the grate that would later hold a fire. He walked over to the fireplace and gratefully lifted up his wand. "Incendio." A fire burst to life in the empty cold, and both Snape and Remus shuddered at the sudden warmth.

"It's so 'bloody cold', as you so eloquently put it, in here because I was making a cooling draught." Snape answered his earlier question then rounded on him, "So…where do we start then?"

Remus looked at him in disbelief. "Why are you asking me?! You're the 'great and powerful' Potions Master!"

Snape narrowed his eyes and straightened his shoulders, looking around his room as if it would give him inspiration. His eyes landed on the cauldron he had recently placed upon the grate. He turned back to the flabbergasted man in patched, gray robes. "I suppose we should start off by making a batch of Wolfsbane and see what alterations we can make and such. If it can half cure it, then maybe some kind of alteration of the potion can cure it completely. It's worth a shot. We might also want to experiment around with different types of brews containing the Wolfsbane flower."

Remus cocked an eyebrow, "Oh yes, and how about next we test different concoctions with silver?!" He said sarcastically. Snape glared and Remus rolled his eyes. "C'mon then. Let's get this potion started."

Remus smiled at his own joke: A play-off of a muggle song Hermione had once played. Snape, however, missed the pun.

Pure-bloods, Remus thought in disdain.

"What are you doing?!" Snape screeched. Causing Remus to muck up the perfect cutting job he had done on his Lacewing. Irritated, he looked up at the wide-eyed Snape with furrowed brows.

"What now?" He said tiredly.

"You're supposed to cut them from tip to base not base to tip! Honestly! You were the smartest of our year, Lupin! It's very basic knowledge!"

Remus laughed. "Honestly," He mocked, "I don't think it makes a difference. And I never paid attention to subtle things like that. More often then not I was thinking up pranks to play on you Slytherins with Sirius and James then paying…attention…to…" He trailed off, face darkening, as he was flooded with memories of his two best friends when both were alive.

Snape immediately cut of the scathing comment that had been forming at the tip of his tongue at the look on his companions face. He looked uncertainly at the shadows splayed across the sharp, tired features. "Remus…" Remus looked up in surprise at the sudden use of his first name, "Were you and Black…were you…um…lovers?"

Remus felt his mouth drop. He spluttered incoherently for moment then promptly burst into a fit of hysterical girl-like giggles. "You…thought…me and…Sirius were…lovers?!" He gasped hysterically.

Snape regained his stoic immediately. "Well, it just seemed likely! You two were so close; the last Marauders! And being alone in that dusty old house for so long…" He trailed off and turned back to the Wolfsbane potion he had been stirring.

Remus regarded him curiously, "No. No, we were never like that. Just very close friends. Sirius is definitely straight."

Snape cast a furtive glance sideways to him without turning round, "Are you?"

"No. I'm definitely gay." He gulped and cast his eyes down to the Lacewings he was currently trying to fix.

Snape felt his breath hitch in his throat and he wasn't sure why. This sudden rush of unknown emotions confused him, he decided to stick with something he knew; scathing comments. "So how long as it been since you got any?"

Remus glared at him. "Since I was 22." He grumbled, not even sure why he was telling his long time rival this private information. "And before you ask, it was with Jamieson Horn. You know…that prissy little Hufflepuff boy in our year? Very ordinary looking…blonde hair, blue eyes. Sucked in bed."

Snape snorted in laughter and Remus looked on amusedly. "How did you manage to fall so low as that?"

"Met him in a bar…was still in the closet and very randy. 'Course, it was after that…unusual…experience that I came clean. Too bad Lily and James didn't know…"

They fell into uncomfortable silence again. Snape, on a whim and desperately trying to lighten the mood (as he couldn't concentrate in such an uncomfortable atmosphere), decided to come clean to the first person ever.

"I'm…that way too." He whispered lamely. Remus looked up in shock at the dark, chiseled man beside him, but before he could say anything else, Snape grabbed the Lacewings and huffed them into the cauldron before stomping off and muttering something about, "Needs to simmer, be back here in an hour."

Remus sighed, dazed and confused, before shaking his head and heading back out of the dungeons to leave Snape to brood in peace. If anyone can 'brood in peace', that is.

An hour rolled around and Remus made his way back down to the dungeons. As he walked, he passed by an inconspicuous painting. He paused. Turning around he walked back and stood, staring, at the portrait.

"What?" The man sitting on a high, wing-backed chair in a large room asked.

"Who…are you?" Remus asked in awe. It was a picture of a tall (judging by what you could see when the man was sitting down), dark haired and sallow skinned man.

"Dane Snape, of course! Who else would I be?"

"Umm…"

A cold sneering voice sounded behind him, "I see you've met my father."

Remus whirled around at the sound of Snape's voice. He stood twirling his wand and staring disdainfully at the man in the portrait, who stared right back.

"Hello Severus!" Dane Snape chirped.

Snape cocked an eyebrow, before turning to Lupin. "My father played an important part in the first War with Voldemort. He was a prime Death Eater, and a trusted loyal. He was held privy to information considering the War but never let me, a fellow Death Eater at the time, in on any of it. It was because of him that Peter Pettigrew had gone to the Dark, and in retrospect, because of him Lily and James died. A portrait was made of him by a fellow Slytherin after his untimely Death before the Potters' died, and was sent to the school as a threat. Dumbledore set it up down in the dungeons were not too many people would be offended."

Remus looked utterly confused, "Why would Dumbledore want to respect such a man?"

Dane scowled, "I'm still here you know!"

They both ignored him. "He didn't put it there to show respect, no." Snape continued. "He put it there to show we are not afraid. He also placed a charm on it so that my father couldn't change portraits. He's stuck." This brought a smile to the dark man's face.

Before Remus could even open his mouth to reply, Snape was talking again. "I know you came down here to help me finfish the potion, but I already did. We can work on variations tomorrow. Dinner is in…" He pulled a silver pocket watch out of the inside of his robes. It had a silver cover and green snakes were painted over it. He opened it up for a second, then tucked it back away again. "Forty-five minutes. See you then." He turned and strode away, his robes swirling behind him in that dramatic way he loved so much.

Remus watched him go until his dark head and body mingled with the dingy corridor and shadows and was nothing more than a smudge of deeper black on black. He stiffened slightly as a strange, unfamiliar, tangible taste lighted on his tongue. He felt slightly lightheaded as he recalled the moving form and dark, sharp features. He shivered slightly, but not from the cold, before heading up the stairs again and to his rooms to read before he would trudge down to the Great Hall for dinner.

Fifteen more minutes.

Ten more minutes.

Five more minutes.

Thank the Lord!

Snape jumped up and dashed from his chambers and out of the dungeons, slowing down as he neared the Great Hall doors. He strode in of his usual fashion and took his seat between Professors Sinistra and Flitwick. He took a quick survey of the teachers present, and was surprised to find Remus Lupin missing form his usual place beside McGonnagal. He frowned slightly and was just about to knock the notion aside when he got a sudden feeling of being watched. He turned sharply around from his position (looking in Remus' empty seat's general direction) and towards the Great Hall doors.

There stood Remus, looking tired, sick, and disoriented. He cocked an eyebrow at him and watched as he staggered to his seat. Food appeared on Remus' plate and he took one look at it before clutching his stomach and looking away. Dumbledore looked over McGonnagal and said in a slightly worried tone, "Feeling alright, Remus?"

Remus glanced toward the Professor and that's when Snape saw it. Remus's usual soft golden eyes were now an intense yellow. His canines were slightly longer and almost protruded over his lips. He gave a weary smile that showed more of them and comprehension dawned on McGonnagal's (whom had been watching the exchange curiously) face.

"You might have forgotten; I wish I could have, but that's nearly impossible. Tomorrow's Full Moon. It's going to be a bad one; one of the worst. I can tell by the fact it's beginning, albeit slowly, already."

Dumbledore nodded accordingly, a brief flash of sympathy crossing his eyes; he new that Remus hated sympathy towards his 'affliction'.

"I'm not hungry…" Remus mumbled before getting up and walking slowly out of the Great Hall. Snape followed his movements with his eyes, feeling a small tinge of worry and not knowing why.

Remus collapsed onto his bed and didn't even bother to pull the covers up over his body. Try as he might, the pain in his stomach stalled him from sleep, so he reduced himself to trying to count the cracks lining the ancient stone ceiling of his chambers.

Tomorrow was Full Moon.

And he was scared.

He knew he shouldn't be, knew that he had development somewhat of a (small) tolerance to the pain over the last thirty-six years. He knew that he had had ones like this before, where the changes started to happen earlier, much earlier. But he also knew that they had never started this early. Nor had the made him feel this sick before hand.

So, he was scared.

He rolled over on his stomach, giving up on the cracks in the ceiling, and closed his eyes tight, hoping for the lull of sleep to engulf him soon. He hated worrying and he didn't like to think to much on his transformations.

Although, he had to admit to himself, All in all, considering civil conversation with Snape and learning new things; when you didn't think about the early transformation, occasional cold glares, and confusing feelings, it wasn't all that bad of a day.

Not really.

A/N: Erm….right. Well….First things first. When Snape was complaining, he WAS NOT WHINING! He was saying it nastily, not in a high pitched, squeaky whiney voice. Try…threatening growl! LOL. Umm….Yeh, that part that goes, "I'm…that way too." Yeah, I know, it sucked. But hey, it was originally "I'm…gay too." Oh, oh so eloquent. The inspiring speech is just flowing from me in waves, it's amazing! Strange, considering the haven't yet awarded me something….let me check into that. In the mean time however, REVIEW! NO FLAMES! Thanks! PS: Sorry about the shortness…(hides from thrown tomatoes and unwanted meats). PPS: No, i do not like Pink, i cannot stand her music (no offense to people who do like her) but i couldn't help adding it in there. It was the perfect oppourtunity. ("Let's get this potion started."-Remus "Let's get this party started"-Pink.) Even if that song wasn't even written during the actual time this tory takes place in retrospect to the time-set the Harry Potter books are set in....oh dear...