Disclaimer on first page (first chapter).

Oh Dreaded Night!
Chapter Nine

"Ah, so you're not dead, after all." Lupin looked up, although he'd rather not, to see Snape looking down at him. The boy had his arms wrapped under five rather large texts. He slammed the books down on the table before Lupin had the chance to read them. Lupin lifted his quill from the parchment just in time to escape a sloppy line across his essay. Snape turned the books, spine facing away as if he had something to hide. Lupin pretended not to notice this move, and continued writing.

"No, I'm not. Does that upset you?"

The other boy laughed as he sat down. Lupin looked around to see if anyone had noticed this move, but no one seemed to be paying attention. At this time of evening, there were students older than himself and Snape. What would they care if two boys such as themselves sat together? Was Snape even planning to stay here? Or was it just a place to rest his books for now?

"I'm rather relieved, actually. But don't tell your friends that. There was a rumour circulating around that you had been found murdered. We weren't quite certain who the murderer or murderers were, but there was speculation it might be one or all of your friends."

"Is that why you felt the need to follow them the other day?"

Snape looked surprised at the question asked, although he really shouldn't have been. He made it no secret that he followed the boys, and the probability that the three others wouldn't tell Lupin about it was very slim.

"If you must know, yes. I was after their guilt, nothing more."

"Heard you served detention when you were caught. Serves you right." Lupin raised his quill again, as if to write, but this conversation was too interesting to pay attention to anything else.

Snape slammed one of the more heavy books open in front of him. He opened to the middle of the book, with no care to what page it opened to. He skimmed the page before speaking again, "It was just lines with McGonagall. Well worth the punishment."

"What did you have to write? 'I will not be a sneaky git'?" Lupin looked angered. He wondered why Snape was here in the first place. So, he thought that Lupin was dead. He was right here, wasn't he? He had been in classes all day with him, hadn't he? Why couldn't he just leave it be?

Snape caught on to Lupin's caustic attitude. "I'm not the sneaky git, in this case, Lupin. Seems like you and your friends were the ones doing the sneaking."

"As much as I appreciate your concern, Snape, I'll have you know it is none of your business what goes on in my life. Particularly when my illness is concerned."

"So, you are ill?" There was more than a hint of concern in his voice. "I asked Potter where you were and he told me to fuck off. Instead of being an arse, he could have just said that you were ill. It leads to suspicion, you know. You might want to pass that on to your friend."

"I can't help if my friends are protective of me."

"Ah, right. Gryffindor… I should have taken that into consideration. Explains a lot of the stupidity that goes on with your housemates. Never understood why you were sorted into that house, but I suppose the 'hat' knows more than I. That or time could reveal some interesting things. You could turn out to be as horrid as your friends are."

"What is your problem? Do you think I want to listen to you going on about how much you hate my friends? Is that why you came here? If it is… I suggest you leave."

Snape frowned. "I wouldn't go on about it so much if I didn't have a reason."

"What reason do you have, now?"

"You haven't heard? Hum… I'm sure you would have by now, as they like to brag about their attempts, and I use the word 'attempts' strongly…" Lupin sighed and sunk back into his seat as Snape told him about "Potters' attempt at Transfiguration" It turned out that James had cast out a hex to change Snape into a bag of candy corn. Instead, James' wand shot out candy corn at such an extreme rate that it covered the entire classroom floor, an inch thick. "He had to spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the candy from the floor, without magic. I was able to stop in to watch after next class for a moment, before McGonagall shooed me off. But watching him was quite satisfying. You must ask Potter about his fixation on candy corn. It must be rather distracting for him." The boy smirked and let out a small laugh. If Lupin wasn't so mad he would have laughed at Snape's comment as well.

"He's sore about that party favour incident, you know."

"As am I. Potter wasn't the only one mistreated."

"I know." He whispered, feeling very ashamed.

"You don't have to feel ashamed. I know you didn't have anything to do with it." Snape leaned in. "However, you shouldn't have let that arse sign your name on his letter."

"I can't change their view on you, Severus." He blushed at saying the boy's first name. He hadn't meant to. Snape flinched as well, but did not mention the slip. "As far as I'm concerned, you give them reason to make them want to do things to you."

"How so? By existing? That's the only thing I can think of that I've done. They started it, you know."

"Maybe you could ignore them from now on?"

"Are you asking me to 'turn the other cheek'?"

Yes! And no. He really didn't know what to tell Snape. How could you tell Snape to be less… Snapish? And what was so horrible about being Snape anyway? The other three could get along with him as Lupin was getting along with him right now. Well, trying to get along with him, anyway.

"Of course you have to defend yourself, but…" He admitted.

"Well, that's all that I'm doing."

"I know."

"You'd like for all of us to get along, wouldn't you?" Snape sighed. "Wouldn't that be lovely? Remus Lupin, the dreamer. Because that's all it really is, Lupin, a dream."

"You and I get along." Lupin pouted.

"That's because you aren't James Potter or Sirius Black. Two spoiled brats. Spoiled rotten."

"I wouldn't trust him. Not one bit. Especially if you're not one of his pureblood friends. Even then, I wouldn't trust him."

"He doesn't really have any friends." Lupin said sadly.

"No, I don't imagine he does. He would only associate with a pureblood, though. I've heard him talking in class with one of his fellow Slytherins. He was commenting on Lily being muggle-born. He didn't look too happy about it. Actually, he seemed quite repulsed."

"Yes, but they're pureblood. I thought that was your type."

"I don't have a type. I happen to think that purebloods are superior wizards as compared to others…"

"Hum. I see. So, you are superior to say… Lily Evans?"

"Where are you going with this, Lupin?"

"Well, you say that they don't have a reason to do anything to you. Well, just look at the way you carry yourself. First off, you have no respect for your fellow classmates whatsoever… especially not purebloods. Second, you think you're better than everyone else. Third…"

"Hmph. Well, I imagine they should go after the entire Slytherin house, then. That seems to be a popular attitude in our house, you know. Or don't you? Just because I don't put my friends before myself like a Gryffindor doesn't mean that I'm an evil person."

"If you say so, Snape. But it seems like you're not so popular in your own house, either."

Snape frowned at Lupin's observation. Lupin felt horrible, at once, for mentioning the fact that Snape had no friends. In fact, if he had opened his mouth he would have told him that he would be his friend if he wasn't so… caustic. "Right. I see you're one up on me."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"You did. You can admit it. I won't hate you any more."

Lupin thought that Snape might have left the table after that comment, but the boy sitting in front of him remained calm. He flipped through the pages of the book as if nothing fazed him. Lupin, on the other hand, was growing angry at Snape's calmness. You can't just make a comment like that and remain so calm, he thought. But he was proven wrong.

The two boys sat in silence, as neither one wanted to let the other know that they had been affected. Getting up from the table would be a sign of defeat and neither boy wanted that either. They did not move from their places until it was announced that the library would be closing. Lupin gathered his essay (which was only a few inches longer from where he left off when Snape joined him) and Potions book and despite what had happened, wished Snape a good evening.

"You don't have to be nice to me, Lupin. It's obvious where your loyalties lie." Snape said, after being surprised.

"No, I suppose I don't have to be. But whether you like it or not, I'm going to continue to be nice to you. And for some reason I think you might hate that more than the things James and Sirius do to you!"

Snape opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't know how to react. Lupin stayed for a moment, thinking that some sort of sarcastic response would follow. But it didn't.

"Good night, Remus." And with that, Lupin left the library.

The next evening in the library seemed to go by rather slowly for Lupin. He was able to finish his Potion's essay in a short amount of time, due to the quiet and the absence of distractions (namely, Snape) and found himself looking out at the room but at nothing in particular. He had on his mind James Potter's "attack" on Snape. He could imagine it as clearly as if he had actually been in the room himself. James had not yet mentioned it to him, which made him believe that it might have been some sort of way to get back at Snape for following them that night… but he was curious to know why he had chosen candy corn as a source for the hex. Lupin giggled at Snape's comment on Potter's "fixation", the only time it was safe for him to giggle about it, as he was not in the company of his friends or Snape.

He did regain focus, however, as soon as he saw Lily Evans enter the library. She had a word with the librarian, and from behind the counter, the librarian took out a book and handed it to Lily, most likely a book that was put on reserve. He could not see her initial reaction, but once she turned around, the smile on her face softened and she poked around the room a bit to try to find a seat. When she noticed Lupin, she smiled when she recognized the familiar face and walked quickly over to his table.

"Mind if I take a seat?" She stood behind the chair until she heard a yes or no.

"Go ahead. I was just finishing up my Potion's essay."

She placed the book on the table and then sat down. "Finished that yesterday." She smiled. She picked the book up with both hands and stared down at the cover. "I've been waiting for this to come. I had it put on reserve so I'd be the first one here to read it."

"What book is that?" Lupin asked, curiously (if it was not obvious that she wanted him to ask).

"Muggles who Notice." She smiled and held up the book for Lupin to see. "By Bleinheim Stalk. The Muggle Studies professor mentioned it for suggested reading for the course. I'm not in the course yet, of course, but it's so interesting to see what wizards think of Muggle culture."

"Sounds interesting."

"And it was just published! Some of the older texts on Muggle living are way outdated. In this book, it goes on about modern people and modern cases from the Ministry of Magic. I can't wait to dig into it! I thought I'd come here to read at least the first chapter. Forget about trying to read anything in the common room. I suppose that's why you're here, then, Remus?"

"Yes. Gryffindor house is particularly noisy tonight."

"Everyone is getting anxious for the holidays, I suppose. Though, they should be a little more respectful for people who want to get some studying done. Despite what they think, school still goes on even if Christmas is little over three weeks away. Are you going home for the holidays?"

"I am. What about yourself?"

"Yes! I'm particularly glad to be going home, too. A few weeks at home should definitely clear my constant headaches. And by constant headaches, I mean James Potter and Sirius Black."

Lupin laughed. "They seem to be the source of many headaches lately."

"They do, don't they? Well, thank Merlin they're leaving for the holidays as well. I don't know what Hogwarts would do if they were released on the building with no formal schedule. All the freedom might go to their heads." She was focusing on Lupin a little more than he would have liked. He felt a slight heat rush to his cheeks, but that was before he could hide them. She had to have noticed his blush. She blushed herself. "I'm sorry. I'm going on about idiots and we're here in a library supposed to be studying or something."

"Oh. It's all right. If you look around, not many people are studying at all."

"Funny, that. Oh well." She laughed. "How's your Potions essay coming along?"

"Just finished. I tried to get it done last night, but I was interrupted."

"At least you got it done before I interrupted you." At that they both laughed. "Are you heading back soon? All of a sudden I don't feel like starting this book. Not just yet."

Lupin had planned on staying until close, yet again, but since Lily had plainly offered to walk with him back to Gryffindor he had to reconsider. "Yeah. Why don't we head back, then?" He stuffed everything back into his sack and followed Lily out of the library.

"I must admit, the library is much more tolerable at this time. I don't blame you for wanting to come at this hour. I might have to start, as well." Lily was walking at a leisurely pace. She had interrupted the silence that had followed them halfway to their dorm.

"You should." He said, now wanting to cover his mouth to stop things like that from coming out. Looking at the side of her face, he saw a smile start.

"Well, let me know when you go. We can go together. I mean, if you'd like."

"Yes, I'd like that." He admitted.

"If you feel the need to bring your friends, though, you will have to count me out. Well, I'll make an exception for Peter, but not for the other two. If they're going to be there, I might as well stay in the bloody common room."

"All right." And with that, they entered Gryffindor. James was the only one who noticed them enter, of course, and watched as Lily said a friendly goodnight to Lupin and walked to her bedroom without addressing any one else. When Lupin joined his friends, James did not say a word. Lupin tried to read the reaction on his friend's face, but it was difficult. If he read into it too much, he might think that James was jealous for Lupin's interaction with Lily, but it just might be that the boy was tired. Yes, Lupin thought, he's just tired.

Either James did not know about his and Lily's evenings shared in the library or he just didn't say anything about the matter. James had, for the most part, stopped talking about Lily as often as he had been. He could attribute that to James being around Sirius more than anyone else, now. But maybe he did not fancy the girl any longer. It was possible. Lily had grown a bit more vocal about her dislike of James and Sirius (especially James since it seemed she couldn't blame Sirius for his behaviour, "He's just Sirius". But James she was particularly hard on since "He follows Sirius around like a lost pup.") James was not deaf to these comments, but was not too quick on defending himself. Which again, led Lupin to believe that he did still fancy her. Anyone else and they'd get a mouthful of sarcasm, not to mention a hex. He would often catch James sneaking a glance over her way at the Gryffindor table during meals and during class, when seating assignments would allow.

It was because of this that he felt ashamed every time he met Lily. Not only because he didn't tell James about it but because he was beginning to fancy her as well. It wasn't hard to do. She was awfully pretty, maybe not in a conventional sense, but when was Lupin ever conventional? And, as James was known to bring up often, she was the smartest girl in the class and it wasn't difficult to find that attractive, if not admirable.

It was difficult, harbouring these feelings without anyone to share with. Even if he didn't happen to like the same girl as his mate did, whom could he talk to about it without being ridiculed? Liking a girl did not come into casual conversation amongst boys. If he had been a girl, liking a boy, the topic would have been welcome with open arms. Often he wondered if that was all girls talked about at this age. Even when they weren't talking about how much they liked a boy, they were, like Lily, talking about how much they hated a boy --- which at their age could likely mean fancying him just as much. How long would this confusion last? At what point would conversations between girls and boys reach a similar ground?

He did not worry about this with Lily, however. If all girls were able to relate with him as Lily did, perhaps it would be easier to speak with them. Perhaps if boys his age were able to do the same thing it would be easier to speak with them as well. Lily seemed to be the exception out of everyone, and perhaps that was the reason he liked her so much.

Every night they would meet, he would look around for his friends, making sure that they weren't following. They knew that he went to the library, just not who he met while he was there. He didn't know which would be worse, if they found him with Lily or Snape. But they never showed. They were more likely to go to the library during the day to check out books. They were still doing their research on Anamagi, despite Lupin's pleas to drop the idea.

Sirius was completely absorbed in it, as were James and Peter. They would often show Lupin their notes. He would skim over their notes and find that they were, in fact, doing a serious amount of research. While he remained cross at them for their continuation, he couldn't help but feel special that the purpose of this research was for his better. Knowing that, he found it difficult to yell at them even more than he had, and eventually he would grow tired at yelling and being cross with them. If anything, it was teaching them something and furthering their wizardry skills and he couldn't argue with that. They were also doing a very good job in disguising their research as studying in front of other students or staff. Although, he wasn't sure how it got past certain staff members as they clearly had to see what books they were taking from the library or reading in class when they should be focusing on the lecture. By now, though, James and Sirius should have been expelled from Hogwarts entirely.

He laughed at this thought, though not at them being expelled… just the fact that they should be because they were horrible. But they were a good kind of horrible, if such a thing existed.

"You look cheerful tonight." Snape had appeared out of nowhere, it seemed.

"Do I? Forgive me." Lupin laughed once more.

"It's quite all right to be cheerful."

"You should try it some time, then."

Snape looked around. "Where's that girl? Is she with you tonight?"

"Lily? No. I'm here alone tonight… that's if you don't decide to join me."

Snape seemed surprised by the invitation. "As long as she isn't expected to come, or any of the others you decide to spend your time with."

"No. I scared them off when I told them you come talk to me here."

"Really?" The boy's eyes widened. He looked as if sitting down was not such a good idea after all.

"No. No." Lupin laughed again. "I'm only joking. If they knew you were here, don't you think they'd be here attempting to catch you?"

"I wouldn't know. They've been quiet lately. I don't know what to expect from them now. They must be planning something grand. Tell me what you know so that I can prepare myself." Snape looked serious.

"I don't know anything. Well, I shouldn't say that. I know that they aren't scheming against you."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Rest assured, they still hate you just the same."

"Oh, great! I wouldn't want them liking me or anything." Snape laughed, for once.

"As I said, you don't have to worry about that. So, what brings you here to the library?"

"What brings me here any night? I can't tolerate to spend my waking hours in the same place as my dorm mates. I can't tolerate to spend my sleeping hours in the same place, either, but unfortunate for me there aren't any beds anywhere else but there and in the hospital wing. And I don't like that place it smells like sick people and medicines."

"You could always beg Dumbledore to switch you into another house. I hear Gryffindor second years have a great set up." He could tell that Snape wanted to be angry at his comment, but instead the boy smirked.

"I'd rather be in Hufflepuff. Wait, did I just say that?"

"I think you did. Severus Snape, Hufflepuff, says the sorting hat."

Snape shivered. "Don't go frightening me like that, Lupin."

"Do nice wizards scare you, then?"

"They do have certain frightening qualities." The two boys laughed.

"I know, being nice is so awful." Lupin faked a frown.

"It doesn't get you anywhere, being nice."

"Says the Slytherin."

"Well, it's true. Where has being nice brought you, Lupin? Alone in the library, speaking to the only person you can be honest with? WHICH happens to be the person you're most supposed to hate? Sounds like a great place to be."

"One can say the same for being mean. I think that we're both in the same predicament."

"Not entirely, but close. I, for one, plan on bettering my situation."

"How's that?"

"Well, by becoming a very powerful wizard, of course. You could too, yourself, if your friends weren't holding you back. And there's the whole being sorted into Gryffindor as well. If anyone should request a change of house, it should be you."

"Where would you have me sorted, Snape? Surely not Slytherin?"

"Maybe not. How about Ravenclaw, though? They hold intelligence up a bit higher than Gryffindor does."

"I happen to like my house."

"If you say so."

"I do say so." Lupin didn't sound so sure of himself and he had the feeling that Snape caught on to that as well. The boy laughed at his comment.

"Very well." Snape shook his head. "Are you going home for the holidays?"

"I am."

"I was thinking of staying. It will be a refreshing change witnessing a quiet Hogwarts."

"You don't wish to go home?"

"Not particularly. Besides, my family isn't that much into the holidays. Christmas is quite like any other day of the year." Snape's expression saddened.

"I'm sorry to hear that. We don't do very much for the holiday either, since we're not very wealthy, but we do what we can to make the day a little more special than the rest. It's up to you, really, how you make the day."

Snape nodded, but already Lupin could see that he would not be taking his advice. He felt really horrible about the way people treated Snape. It seemed like his family life, same as school-life, was unsatisfying as well. But, as he said, it was all up to the person to make things better for himself.

Perhaps he should take his own advice.

Reviewers/Readers: You make me smile. Thank you. I'm thinking about continuing this story up until Christmas (which in the story is a couple of weeks away) and then starting another that will take place three years later, in their fifth year. I'm not certain how that is going to work out, but I feel like there is little else to do with this story and it needs a change of scenery. What do you think?