Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.

A/N: thanks again for the reviews! :D Also, I indicated a flashback this time by actually writing the word "flashback". I hope its not to confusing!!!

Clea and Lily lingered in front of the Great Hall, using every last second before it was time to return to their dorms to talk. Clea sat on the ground, her legs stretched out in front of her, as Lily paced back and forth.

"So, I accepted James' proposal to go to that Ball." She stated in a business like tone. "I'll...we'll have to buy dress robes when we go to Hogsmeade tomorrow." She frowned as she glanced down at Clea.

"What was I supposed to do?" Clea shouted up to her. "I was heart broken, on the brink of disaster. I didn't want to afflict that same feeling on someone else." Clea sighed deeply; the look on Lily's face convinced Clea that she wasn't buying it. "Snape means well Lily, he really does. He just....he's just misunderstood. Someone has to give him a break."

"Clea, what did Remus say to you? You never really told me." Lily flopped down on the ground in front of Clea and she rested her elbows on her knees, and her chin on her hands; ready to hear a story. "I can't imagine," she continued talking to Clea's blank face. "I can't imagine Remus not having a really good reason for breaking your heart. He is the nicest boy in this entire school and he obviously thinks the world of you,"

Clea rolled her eyes at this statement. She tilted her head to the side and caught Lily's glance. She never did tell her the entire story. In fact she didn't tell her much of anything.

"Lily," Clea said slowly. "How do you even know that Remus said anything to me? I don't remember really telling you anything about it. I just told you that Remus wasn't going to the Ball, and that Snape asked me; I didn't even explain to you how anything actually happened."

Lily's eyes widened. "You didn't tell me." Lily's voice was shaky, as if she never intended on bringing anything like this up. "Remus told me; during breakfast this morning." Clea put her hands over her mouth like she was muffling a silent scream. Lily bent forward. "Clea...he told me to make sure you're all right. And that you weren't too upset. He made me promise to make sure that you didn't hate him." Lily rattled this off to Clea like she was reading it off a piece of parchment. Clea was hanging off every word. Lily's mouth opened and than closed. Finally she spoke again. "Clea tell me what happened last night, everything."

Clea scanned the large corridor, there was no one else there; but she started out in a whisper anyways.

flashback:

Clea walked out of her Potions Class with Lily staggering after her. "We could have gotten into so much trouble!" Lily spat out in between her fits of laughter. "I almost had to use magic to stop myself from laughing out loud."

Clea giggled at herself. During class she kept passing notes to Lily, detailing what it would be like to go to the Ball with Peter. For some reason they both found this highly amusing; which was quite mean, but they didn't care at the moment.

"We have the usual three hours before we have to go to our dorms." Clea told Lily as they climbed the stairs to the front corridor. "What should we do?"

"I have to go to the library," Lily said crushing Clea's spirits. "I need to edit and re-write my Arithmancy paper. Go find someone else to hang out with tonight if you don't want to come."

"I don't want to come, and I will find a new best friend to gossip with." Clea exclaimed in a high pitched, arrogant tone; accompanied by a wide smile.

Lily laughed and started up the stairs. "I'll see you tomorrow morning at breakfast Clea." Clea waved obnoxiously at Lily and started walking backwards. She found herself stepping on someone's shoes and she turned around fast to apologize, but when she saw that it was her lovely Remus she almost lost the ability to speak.

"I, er, I'm so sorry Remus."

"That's all right," Remus said smiling; but his smile slowly faded. "Clea, do you have a moment to talk?"

"Of course," Clea said brightly.

Remus walked Clea outside into the cold December air. Clea started sticking her hands in her pockets, hoping her scarf was in one of them. Remus noticed this and immediately un-wrapped his own scarf and draped it around Clea's neck. They both blushed profusely; which actually helped to fight against the icy wind.

"Thank you," Clea whispered. She stood there looking up at him in her Slytherin uniform and his Gryffindor scarf. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Remus sat down on one of the benches that weren't covered with much snow and Clea sat down next to him. Remus sighed and looked up at the sky. It was a midnight blue with a rim of orangey-pink where the sun was setting. A few sparkly stars littered the sky, but Clea noticed that Remus was focused on the bright half moon that was almost directly above them.

"Clea," Remus began, dragging his stare away from the sky and sinking them into Clea's dark brown eyes. "Clea, I, I think I'm leading you on."

Clea's heart stopped. She swallowed hard, and managed to twist her face into a confused innocent look.

"I...I...I don't want to make you think, that I, er, that I," Remus sighed. "That I like you, more than, you would like a friend."

Remus blinked and folded his hands together. Clea saw them shaking; she was shaking too; from trying to stop herself from breaking into a loud weeping fit.

"I can't ask you to the Ball. I won't be going. I have to go...go, er...away. Sirius thought it best I didn't tell you anything, but I think you should at least know....something."

Clea opened her mouth to try to attempt to say something, anything. "Away?" It was all she could manage.

"I just," Remus began but Clea stopped him. She finally found her voice.

"You don't like me? Then...why all the blushing whenever I'm around? Why the sweet smile every time I look at you? Huh? You don't do that to Lily; or anyone! Why? I don't understand. Where could you possibly be going? You're lying!" Clea just kept yelling she couldn't stop herself. Tears welled up in her eyes. "You love me Remus Lupin! You do! It's all right because I love you too!"

Remus's eyes filled with tears. "No Clea. I don't," Remus stated, like he was trying to convince himself more than her. "I don't."

Clea shook her head. "It's Sirius, right? He told you not to ask me to the ball. For some unknown reason he doesn't want us to be together. He made you do this, right?"

Remus looked deeply at Clea. Her heart was broken, and he could see it in her eyes. "Yes," he said, half sighing. "Sirius told me to never think about going out with his little sister." Tears fell down Clea's face. "And," Remus began, standing up. "Sirius's friendship means more to me than you."

end flashback:

As Clea finished reliving the moment her heart shattered, her eyes swelled up with fresh tears. She could see that Lily's was doing the same thing.

"It doesn't make sense," Lily said, dabbing the corners of her eyes with her sleeves. "Sirius told us that he didn't tell Remus anything; that Remus acted on his own will. Which one is lying?"

Clea shrugged. She hoped that her own brother wouldn't lie to her, but she also wished that Remus wouldn't be the one lying either. "But where is he going? I know occasionally he's missing from school....where does he go?"

Lily and Clea stood up. It was time for students to return to their dorms. Lily sighed and hugged her best friend. "We'll figure it out," she said. "Don't worry. We'll have fun picking out dresses tomorrow."

Clea let a smile slip through her tear stained face. Both girls turned towards their dorms and dashed off.

By the time Clea got to the Slytherin dorm, she was hoping no one would be in the common room and that she would be able to slip in un-noticed. As she predicted, however, Snape was seated in one of the chairs closest to the fire.

"Do you always come back to this dorm in tears?" He said to her, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Clea stared at him. Last night after her meeting with Remus, she busted into the empty Common Room in tears and Snape was there. He stroked her hair. He said he had feelings for her. He asked her to the Ball. He told her he wasn't like that Lupin. Well he was right; he's nothing like Lupin.

"I'm sorry," Clea spitted out for some reason. "I'm going to buy some dress robes tomorrow," she continued.

Snape raised his eyebrows in an approving matter. "Good Night, Cleopatra." He then turned on his heels and drifted off towards his room.

When she got to her dorm room, Clea sank into her bed. How could Severus have feelings for me? She thought to herself. He sure doesn't act like he does.

Clea turned onto her side and reached under her pillow. She pulled out a long piece of red and gold fabric. Embossed on the end were the initials R and L. She clasped the scarf close to her, and closed her eyes.