Disclaimer:  Everything recognizable from the Harry Potter universe belongs to J K Rowling, no infringement is intended to any copyright holder

Beloved on this Earth

~ 0 ~

Lois woke the next morning hollow eyed but resolute.  After fleeing Severus's chambers following his confession last night, she had barely made it back to her room before being violently sick.  Thank goodness she hadn't eaten dinner, or she doubted she would have been able to hold back the rising nausea as long as she had.  Stark images of any one of the millions of ways Severus could be discovered to be a spy had raced through her mind, each more plausible than the last. Worse still were the thoughts that followed of the possible punishments he would have to endure from Voldemort once his secret was out.  

Deep down after Elena had told her he was a Death Eater, she had clung to the belief that it was all some horrible mistake and it had been like a punch to the stomach when he had actually admitted it.  After hearing his story however she simply couldn't hate him.  He had made his decisions as a boy and what was more, a boy who was very much alone and without guidance.  His actions after becoming a Death Eater had been carried out in the middle of a war and as much as she abhorred violence, there came a point when it was simply unavoidable.  He'd chosen the wrong side to fight for of course - dear lord had he chosen the wrong side - but once he'd realised that, he had done what he could to make amends. 

What she couldn't accept however, was the danger he had so casually placed himself in on becoming a spy.  While the bitter recrimination in his voice assured her he deeply regretted what he'd done, it was obvious he was far from finished paying for his mistake - his foolish choice as a seventeen year old had stalked him determinedly into adulthood.  The risks of spying against Voldemort were immense and she wasn't sure that she could stand waiting day in day out for him to be discovered.  Sitting alone and shivering in the darkness of her room, she had genuinely considered distancing herself from him as far as possible.  If she pursued a relationship with him, she had no doubt her emotions would become even more involved than they already were and frankly, the risks of him dying where a hell of a lot higher than average.   The thought of losing him now was horrifying enough, how much worse would it be a few months down the line?  

When she had finally fallen into a fitful sleep however, she had been tormented by nightmares of David and her father abandoning her despite her pleas, only for the dream to change suddenly to an image of Severus lying still and silent on the dungeon floor plainly dead.  She had rushed towards him only to be held back by Poppy the older woman shaking her head, her face filled with disappointment as she stared at Lois saying sadly,  "I warned you - now you'll never know."   When she awoke, heart thumping, her decision was made.  Whatever these feeling were she had for Severus, she was not going to cowardly deny they existed – operation seduce Severus was underway. 

**

Leaving the Infirmary later that day, Lois froze in puzzlement on seeing the solid form of Elena Roupe looking strangely lost a few steps away from the door. 

'Ah Lois good!  I was hoping to find you here – I wanted to talk to you privately.'  She said with a look of relief on spotting her.  'I have been worried about you since our little chat yesterday and at breakfast this morning I noticed you did not look well.  Have you managed to speak to Professor Snape about …' She trailed off, a watchful expression on her face as she lifted an eyebrow significantly.

'Oh yes, yes I did and it's fine Elena, there's no need for you to worry.'  Lois replied slightly stiffly.  She didn't exactly blame Elena for her telling her about Severus's past, providing it had been done for purely altruistic reasons.  She had a sneaking suspicion though that Elena's dislike for Snape had played a larger role in volunteering the information than her concern for Lois had.

'I see.'  Elena said slowly.  'I did wonder when I saw that the two of you were still speaking.   If he denied that he is a Death Eater Lois then he was lying.  If it evidence that you need the Dark Mark I told you about cannot be removed.  Ask him to show you his arm, that will prove I am not wrong about this.'  She pressed.

'No, I believe you Elena.'  Lois said quickly, really not wanting to discuss this with the other woman.  'We've spoken about it.  Everything's okay now.'

'It is?  How?'  Roupe asked disbelieving.  'I realise the magical world is new to you Lois, so you are probably not aware of exactly what happened during the war with Voldemort, what the Death Eaters did to muggles and wizards alike.  Whatever story he has told you…'

Lois battled the urge to rub her nose in exactly what Severus had done for "muggles and wizards alike" before stopping herself in the nick of time.  Nice idea Lois, announce to all and sundry that Severus is a spy; he manages to keep it secret for fifteen years and you're hard pressed to manage fifteen hours.  She reigned in the impulse and instead held out a hand to halt Elena's words.  'He didn't lie to me and I don't mean to be rude Elena, but our discussion was private.'  She softened when she saw the look of concern in the older woman's eyes.  'I'm not a fool you know.'  She chided.  'I really am perfectly capable of making sensible decisions.  It just so happens that I agree with Professor Dumbledore on this one; whatever he did or was back then I trust him now.'

'I can see I will not be able to convince you otherwise.'  Elena said huffily, her accent deepening.  'But you are right of course - you are not a fool.  I am sorry if I gave you the impression that I thought you were; I merely felt that you deserved to be in full possession of the facts so that you could make your own decision.  Which you obviously have done.'  She said her lips pursing with disapproval.

'I have.'  Lois replied firmly wanting there to be no room for confusion. 

Elena rolled her eyes at her words. 'Moody is right about you – you are too soft-hearted for your own good.'

'Now you sound like Severus.'  Lois teased, liking the gruff Dark Arts Professor almost in spite of herself. 'Maybe the two of you have more in common than you realise?'

Roupe gave her a withering look.  'I will be watching him Lois.  You cannot convince me he is not dangerous, whatever he may have made you believe.'  She promised with another frowning glower before marching down the hallway and out of sight.

Lois sighed deeply.  It looked as though her pursuit of Severus was going to have to be carried out under Elena's watchful eye - perfect.  She sighed again and followed on slowly behind her.

**

A week later and Severus was in something of a quandary.  Since their little… discussion, Lois had begun acting rather oddly.  She had become unusually solicitous and the normal quick touches and pats that were all part of a routine conversation with her, had now turned into almost lingering caresses, which was having a highly disturbing effect on his equilibrium.  But strangest and most unsettling of all, she had stopped arguing with him.  At first he had thought he was mistaken, but when she said nothing about a direct slur he had made about Potter in her hearing, he had quickly realised something was not right.  To test his theory he had purposely tried being more unpleasant than normal just to provoke a reaction, but although her eyes flashed fire for a second, her anger was always quickly banked behind soft appeasing smiles. 

After giving it much consideration, he had reached the conclusion that she had decided the risks he was taking were dangerously high and she plainly expected news of demise any second now.  While he had initially enjoyed the upturn in affection, he was becoming increasingly disgruntled at what was obviously only pity-induced concern.  He was starting to feel like a condemned man around her.  Even worse her escalating attentiveness had been noticed by the rest of the staff.  For the main that merely resulted in amused looks and knowing smiles, especially from Poppy, but there were also a steadily growing number of accusing glares being directed his way.  Normally he couldn't care less what anyone thought about him, but even he was starting to get a little sick of being treated like some black-hearted despoiler of innocents.  He doubted he could receive any darker looks if he were suspected of seducing one of the students.  While he could just about tolerate their disapproval, he definitely didn't like the strangely appraising glances Lois was now getting, as though her closeness with him had suddenly turned her into a creature from another planet.  If she had noticed the looks at all, she certainly seemed unworried, but his temper was becoming more irascible with every passing day.

**

Not in the mood to chat after yet another near argument with Severus, Lois made her way down to the staff room ready to turn back the way she had come if it was full.  Ducking her head around the door she was pleased to find only Hugo Quade and Professor Moody in occupation.  Better still Moody was fast asleep by the fireplace, his wandering magical eye motionless for once.

'Hello stranger.'  Hugo said quietly, as she sat down next to him apparently as keen as Lois to let the other man sleep.  'I haven't seen much of you for the last few days.  Where have you been?'

'I haven't been much in the mood for company I suppose.'  She said tiredly. 

Her work in the Infirmary was growing steadily harder and that along with rest of her classes, resulted in a feeling of almost constant weariness.   Her attempts to subtly convey to Snape her growing attraction were also not going especially well at the minute and his recent inexplicably foul temper was really beginning to get her down.  A change of tactics was definitely needed she was beginning to realise, because she couldn't keep turning the other cheek for much longer.  She was so wound-up from backing away from his increasingly confrontational moods, she was about to explode herself.  She was also not more that a little worried that Poppy had been mistaken and Severus's bad temper was his way of telling her he'd finally had enough of her.   She pushed that depressing thought aside.

'Ahh I see.  This sudden need to be alone wouldn't have anything to do our very volatile Potions Master would it?'  He asked archly.

'No.'  She said almost sharply, definitely not in the mood to talk about Snape at the moment.  He had been especially evil at breakfast this morning and sitting next to Lois, Hugo had obviously noticed it.

'Sorry.  Didn't realise it was such a touchy subject.'  He said turning uncomplainingly back to his book and making Lois feel guilty.

'No I'm sorry for being so snappish.  I'm just a bit tense.'

'I can see that.'  He said with a sympathetic glance at her taut features, before sitting slightly more upright in his chair. 'Do you think you can handle a bit of friendly advice Lois?'

Please don't tell me he's a Death Eater.  Lois prayed quickly.

Apparently taking her silence for agreement he hurried on.  'Look I barely know Snape so perhaps I shouldn't say this, but I can't help but notice the two of you don't seem to be getting along very well just lately and from what I've seen, if you have had a falling out, perhaps it's for the best in the long run.  He doesn't seem to treat you very well.'  He continued carefully watching her closely as she began to shake her head instinctively at his words.  'Lois the first time I met the pair of you he embarrassed you horribly and I have to say, he didn't appear particularly sorry about it either.'

'He was.'  Lois defended.  'He just never looks sorry.'  She groaned at her own words, realising she sounded like some battered wife forever protecting her abuser.  'Hugo, really I know he's been worse than usual recently but he truly isn't as bad as he seems; normally he's very kind and considerate - in his own way.  I think he's just got something on his mind.' She assured him, compelled to defend Severus even though she knew full well he neither needed nor wanted it.

'Like I said, I don't know the man.'  Hugo admitted doubtfully. 'But even on our short acquaintance, it strikes me you could do a lot better.'

Lois looked at him a little warily at that. Did he mean him?  She had thought he was as happy with their comfortable friendship as she was but now…

'No, no.'  He said emphatically, correctly reading her cautious expression. 'I didn't mean me!'  He laughed so obviously amused by the absurdity of the idea that Lois would have been insulted if she hadn't been so relieved. 

'Look thanks for your concern Hugo, but it's not necessary.  We'll sort it out one way or the other.' She assured him with a confidence she was far from feeling.

'Well you know him best I suppose.'  He agreed.  'But if he starts making a nuisance of himself, let me know okay?'  He said with a concerned gleam in his eyes.

'He won't.'  Lois smiled.  'But thanks anyway.'

Hugo examined her closely for a second before quickly looking at his watch, swearing softly when he saw the time. 'I've got to go.'  He said standing abruptly, 'or I'll be late.'  He hurried from the room shooting Lois a last encouraging smile as he did.

'He's right girlie.'  Came a gruff voice from her left sending her head swinging round to face Alastor Moody's wide-open eyes.  'You could do better and unlike Quade, I do know Snape of old.'

'Thank you but I really don't need your opinion.'  Lois said coolly still remembering that Snape had told her Moody was one of the wizards who would be happy to see him imprisoned.  Or dead.  'And if you're about to tell me he was a Death Eater don't bother - I already know.'

'Told you did he?'  The ex-Auror asked surprised.  'Smart man.'  He muttered his face twisting.  'Must've decided to beat everyone else to the punch, make himself look more trustworthy that way.'

Lois didn't bother to reply.  His hatred was too ingrained to be swayed by anything she might say anyway. 

'And as a matter of fact child that wasn't what I was going to say.'  He said in a suddenly hard voice.  'Just wanted to tell you know in case no one else has, that Love Potions do exist and I'm talking about real ones, not the kiddy variety that'll just get you a kiss on the cheek if you're lucky.  True Love Potions might be illegal, but Snape wouldn't be the first unscrupulous wizard to use one on an unsuspecting female and it'd be easy enough for him as well.  Wouldn't have to go traipsing down Knockturn Alley after one that's for sure - he's a skilled potions master, I'll give him that.'  He said with grudging respect.

'Well that's where you're wrong.'  Lois said hotly, tired of being treated like she was just left of insane for liking Snape.  'Because I'm not in love with him, not that it's any of your business, and if you're about to suggest a Lust Potion then you're still barking up the wrong tree - I was attracted to him the first time I met him, so my feelings for Severus have got nothing to do with a potion of any type.' She finished triumphantly.

'Suit yourself.'  He said indifferently at her mutinous expression.  'Don't say I didn't try to warn you though.'  He growled before closing his eyes once more.

Giving the relaxed figure a filthy glare Lois stomped towards the door so angry she could spit.  In fact she was so angry, she didn't notice his eye winking open, his wand drawn in a flash as he sent a spell hurtling after her departing figure, his grizzled face creasing in surprise when the Altered Emotion Spell was negative.

**

Snape rose wrathfully from the chair in the staff room that he had occupied pleasantly enough for most of the afternoon. Pleasantly enough, that was, until half an hour ago when Sibyll Trelawney had made one of her rare excursions from her divination room to venture into Hogwarts main building.  She had descended on Snape with flowing scarves and dreamy, innuendo-ridden prophecies, involving an unidentified Hogwarts Professor who, she claimed, would betray them all by returning to Voldemort's fold.  That was if in fact, they had ever really left it.  When that topic had been met with bored indifference by Snape, she had swiftly moved on to the inevitable corruption of their new trainee at the hands of an unknown, duplicitous scoundrel, which the runes had clearly predicted that very morning. 

Although Snape had managed to successfully ignore the rest of her drivel, his temper finally snapped at this.  With a terse nod to Trelawney, he stormed out of the staff room and headed down to the dungeon to teach his second and final class of the day – Fourth year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.  Tuesday's were always quiet for him with just two classes, the first and final periods of the day.  As his afternoon was free, he had chosen to spend it in the staff room; a decision that he bitterly regretted now and wondered what on earth had possessed him to think it a good idea in the first place. Of course that was a lie he mocked himself.  He knew perfectly well why he'd done it.  Since Lois's arrival, he had taken to spending his non-teaching hours marking homework and making lesson plans in the staff room in the hopes she would appear at some stage. 

Unfortunately today she had not and after being forced to endure Trelawney's nonsense, he was consequently in an absolutely foul mood as he descended the steps to the gloomy dungeon.  His already poor disposition was not improved by the cluster of Slytherins he ran into heading upstairs from their common room.  They all had slyly amused grins on their faces and two of the girls giggled nastily as he passed.  He looked down at his robes irritated, wondering what had amused them, only to be further annoyed by another Slytherin boy dashing up the stairway, whistling a happy tune.  The dungeons were rarely a place of frivolity and he levelled a cold glare on the surprised sixth year who fell quickly silent, walking more soberly until he was out of Snape's sight, when the cheerful whistling began again.

Muttering angrily under his breath, Snape turned the corner to the sounds of more muffled laughter.  His class was already outside his room, but instead of their normal gloomy expressions and miserable silence, they were all gathered tightly around the large wooden door, peering over each others shoulders in an attempt to get a better look through the small gap at whatever was going on inside.  He hurried forward his angry face stilling their excited whispers and scattering them quickly away from him.  Pushing the door open fully he stepped inside ready to annihilate whoever it was that had had the nerve to enter his classroom without permission.  The angry words froze on his lips as his stunned glance took in the spectacle that confronted him.

Lois stood amid the wreckage of his ruined room bent over one of the stone sinks at the end of the class, unaware of his presence over the noise of her singing as she scrubbed away furiously at some object.  He had no idea what the song was, probably muggle music; something about "night breezes seem to whisper I love you." With angry realisation Snape suddenly recognised the song as the chirpy tune the Slytherin boy had been whistling, that was why they had all been cackling, they had seen this and had been mocking him.  He must have made some sound in his rage because Lois turned suddenly a huge smile on her face as she saw him.

'Oh Severus!  Darn it I wanted to be finished before you arrived.  Time must have gotten away from me I guess - you see, I had to do some of it the muggle way because I didn't know the spells.'  She chattered on blithely unaware of his simmering anger. 'What do you think?'  She said brightly looking around proudly.

What did he think? He thought he was going to be a laughing stock as soon as the rest of the students heard about this, that's what he thought and if the other Professors had been suspicious before, this would remove any last lingering doubt as to the closeness of their relationship.  Looking around the room again, he gazed in horror at the once dreary and slime covered grey stone walls of his classroom that had now been enchanted to glow a bright, sunshiny yellow.  Spaced along the shelves, the numerous jars and bottles of pickled animals had been scrubbed till they sparkled and the glass in them frosted so that the disturbing items within couldn't be clearly seen.  The familiar smell of sulphur and damp had been replaced by a sweet, flowery fragrance that he couldn't quite place, but worst of all, the normally dank and gloomy room shone with weak light from small gleaming windows perched high in the walls, which had previously been so grimy and covered with untold years worth of filth, even he had forgotten they were there.

'What possessed you…?' He managed between gritted teeth.

Still unaware of his displeasure Lois cheerfully continued. 'Well last week Poppy asked me to update all the staff and student medical records, poor thing's been so busy she hasn't had chance to do it for simply ages.  Anyway, when I got to yours I noticed today was your birthday so I thought as a surprise…' She opened her arms wide indicating the room, 'Tadaa!' She finished grinning widely.

His birthday.  He'd forgotten all about it until she had just mentioned it and now that he did remember, he was even more angry.  This was her idea of a present?  His dungeon turned into what could now pass quite happily for a bloody tearoom it was so clean and cosy. 

Lois's face slowly fell as she finally realised that his response to her gift was not all she had hoped.  'Severus.'  She said carefully.  'Don't you like it?'

'No I do not bloody well like it!'  He bellowed, slamming the dungeon door shut as he did so, noticing out of the corner of his eye the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students peering curiously in.

'But…'

'But nothing.  When did I ever give you the impression that I needed or wanted your assistance in my classroom, let alone your constant interference in my personal life!'  He raged filled with an irrational anger that part of him even now recognised was over the top. Once he'd started however, he simply couldn't stop.  He was overwhelmed by the feelings of futility that had been building over the last confusing week and had finally come to a head following his encounter with Trelawney.  She was right.  They were all right.  He would corrupt Lois - in the eyes of most people she would be guilty simply by association.  It might be a cliché, but it was true nonetheless.  And she just wouldn't see it.  Despite knowing about his past she persisted in seeking him out, spending time with him, trying to draw him out of his lonely isolation with her damned unwavering optimism.  But this hellish, close and no closer relationship they had, was only making him painfully aware of what he was missing.

Suddenly it was all just too much and he wanted nothing more than for her to feel as dreadful as he did.  A black, blistering rage engulfed him, caused in no small way by his mounting frustration at her recent refusal to respond to his anger.  He was sick of her casually accepting attitude, if the only reason for it was that she simply didn't care enough about him for what he had done to matter.  He knew how easy that was; he had spent most of his life not giving a second thought to anyone or anything – the very attitude that had led him into trouble in the first place. 

His attention was drawn back to her at the quiet sound of surprise she made, her look of dazed incomprehension instead of cooling his rage, succeeding only in raising it a notch further.

'Do you realise what everyone one will assume from this?  From the way you've been acting?'  He said stalking forward to glower over at her.  'They'll think we're sleeping together, do you want that?  Do you want them laughing and sniggering at you behind your back, because I certainly don't.  By the gods, they'll have an absolute field day with this!'  She dropped her eyes from his at that, staring instead at the cold stone floor, but his anger was such he barely even noticed.  'What on earth makes you believe you are in any position to preach to me anyway?  Good lord woman, you've been here four months and you still get lost on the way to lunch!  You don't even know enough magic to clean a room and yet you think you're equipped to tell me how to teach my class?  I assume that is the real reason behind this gift - providing pleasanter surroundings in the hope it will transform me into the spineless paragon of scholastic virtue you're always bleating on about.  Well it won't!'

He breathed in deeply, his fury beginning to burn itself out and awareness gradually returning, as he realised she hadn't spoken a single word in her defence since his tirade had begun.  He looked down at her small frame and bowed head, and felt a sharp jolt of shame that succeeded in cooling the last remnants of his rage.  He pushed his fingers wearily through his hair and sank down onto the edge of a nearby desk, sighing heavily.  With the slow return of sanity came the realisation that he had overreacted.  Badly.  He should have just thanked her for her thoughtfulness and explained why it was best to put it all back before people began to talk.  He sighed again and said in a softer tone.

'Achelois. I apologise – I shouldn't have said that.  It was just…'

'Oh don't worry, I know what it was just.' Lois interrupted, looking up to impale him with wounded eyes.  'You don't want me interfering in your life? Well fine I won't!'

'I didn't mean…'

'Yes you did!  You must have already have already been thinking all those things subconsciously for it to spew out so easily just then.  I know I can be a bit annoying and pushy sometimes, but I thought we were friends. I had hoped that….  Well it doesn't matter now.  I can see I was wrong.'  She said her voice trembling with anger, her cheeks flushed.

Standing, Snape watched warily as she dashed away the angry tears that had formed before walking stiffly towards the door, swinging back round almost immediately to fix him with a hard glare.

'You know I honestly don't know what the hell it is you want Severus, but it obviously isn't me.  If you were fed up with having me constantly around you could have just told me – you don't have to beat me over the head with it, I'm not quite that stupid.'  She said her eyes flashing fire for a second before dulling again. 'I apologise for the inconvenience Professor Snape and for interrupting your class like this.' She continued in a frigid tone.  'I'll make sure it doesn't happen again.'

Snape watched as the room reverted to its normal gloomy state in the blink of an eye.  His stomach twisted painfully with regret and he held out his hand to stop her as she slid past him, her face as lacking in warmth and sparkle as his cold, dark dungeon.

'Lois… will you just wait…' He began, but she swept out of the door, head held high not sparing him another glance.

Snape sank boneless onto a nearby stool burying his face wearily in his hands for a second.  What the devil had possessed him to say those things?  He'd be lucky if she ever spoke to him again - four months of hard work down the drain because his stupid pride objected to the thought of pity?  What an idiot!  But on the upside, a sly voice whispered in his head, that certainly wasn't indifference she'd been experiencing just then.  As a matter of fact she had been absolutely furious with him he realised pleased, before immediately feeling guilty for his spurt of pleasure.  He shouldn't have said those things to her.  Underneath the anger there had been genuine hurt in her eyes when she glared at him.  He looked up as he heard a scuffling noise by the door, finally remembered his class was still out there. 

Straightening and feeling a curious mixture of depression and hope, he stood and looked around his room one last time; it was almost completely back to normal. Glancing over to his desk he noticed something on top of the parchments spread there, peering closer he saw that it was Lois's wand.  Puzzled he walked over to pick it up turning its significance over in his mind.  Lois has been nowhere near his desk when they had argued, which meant her wand must have been on his desk for some time.  Yet he had watched with his own eyes when she had reversed all the spells on the room.  Thinking back, he realised abruptly, she hadn't spoken any words either.  That was strange, more than strange actually.  How on earth had she managed that?  

He was suddenly exceedingly grateful for this odd turn of events.  He would have to speak to her about it - once she calmed down - and maybe then he could get her to listen to his apology.  Feeling considerably more optimistic than he had for quite a while he swept to the door finally allowing his class entrance.

**

Avoiding Severus was a lot easier said than done, Lois thought three days later.  Before their little falling out, it had generally been she who sought him out rather than the other way round.  Now suddenly the dratted man was everywhere! 

After a number of lucky misses, she had taken to avoiding the Great Hall altogether for meals and instead visited the kitchens to eat.  She also hadn't been inside the Staff Room since she had run into Severus the very next day after their argument.  Luckily the room had been full and after shooting him an evil glare that had stopped him dead in his tracks, she had made a hurried excuse and returned back to the Infirmary as though the hounds of hell were at her heels.

Lois admitted reluctantly that this couldn't go on; she was going to have to confront Severus and soon, but not today she decided weakly.  She was still too raw from their argument, but was sensible enough to realise the anger and hurt she felt had been caused more by her high hopes being dashed, than by his words.  She would go to his dungeons tomorrow she decided, stomach lurching sickly, and demand to know once and for all exactly where she stood with him

Peering warily down the long corridor that led to the hospital wing, Lois headed off to begin her shift with Poppy.  A tap on her shoulder just as she reached the door, had her swinging round furiously ready to confront the man she had spent all day arguing with in her head.  However, instead of the black haired Potions Master she had expected, she found herself glaring into the surprised warm eyes of Remus Lupin.

'Have I caught you at a bad time?' He asked warily taking in her tense form and angry expression.

'No! No Remus, I'm sorry.' Lois said on a sigh, clasping his arm.  'I thought you were someone else that's all.'

'And that someone else wouldn't be Severus would it by any chance?'  Remus asked amused.

'What makes you say that?'  She said sharply

'As you know the rumours fly thick and fast around Hogwarts and this week you and Professor Snape are at the centre of all of them.  The entire school is completely on your side, with the exception of the Slytherin's of course.  Even being on your side, everyone is still rooting for you to forgive him just to put them out of their misery.'

'Why are they miserable?'  Lois asked warily. 

'Severus's fouler than usual mood.  I think every House is on negative points at the moment and even Slytherin's in single fingers.'  He laughingly exaggerated.

'Don't blame me, he should be filled with joy and giving out points left, right and centre now that I've stopped interfering in his personal and professional life.'  Lois muttered bitterly.

'He said that?'  Remus asked wincing.

'And worse.  You know, it's not my fault I've had to learn magic back to front.'  She suddenly declared.  'Maybe I do get a tiny bit lost sometimes but it's a big castle, and perhaps I don't know all the spells to clean a room, but I can practically diagnose a greenstick fracture at twenty paces - that's nothing to be sniffed at!'

'It most certainly isn't!'  Remus agreed firmly having absolutely no idea what she was talking about, but guessing it had to do with Snape.  'Ah Lois, I'm sure he didn't mean it, Severus just isn't used to having people around.  I expect it all got just a bit much for him and he… exploded.  I'm sure he regrets it now.'  He said softly.

'What's this, are you defending him?'  Lois demanded surprised.  'Didn't he get you fired two years ago?'

'Not fired – I resigned.  But you're right he didn't leave me with much choice.  It's just that he looks so damn miserable lately I can't help but feel sorry for him.  And on purely selfish grounds it would be better for all of us if you two made up – it hasn't gone unnoticed how much improved his mood has been since you arrived.'

'It has?'  Lois asked interested in spite of herself.  Although she got the impression from students and teachers alike that Severus was a hard man to be around, she suspected she had never seen him at his absolute worst, even after their argument.  She ignored the warm glow that started in her stomach at the thought of Severus being on his best behaviour for her.  She was angry with him, damn it and she was entitled to stay that way.  At least until tomorrow anyway.

'What time do you finish tonight Lois?'  Remus asked, disturbing the delicious fantasy she was in the middle of, involving Snape on bended knee begging her forgiveness while she laughed cruelly in his face.

'Erm, four.' She answered snapping back to reality with difficulty.  'Why?'

'My last class is at two today and I don't have to be on hall patrol tonight either.  Why don't you and me head over to Hogsmeade and make a night of it, see if that doesn't cheer you up any?'

'I don't know.' Lois said uncertainly, not sure she was fit company for anyone at the moment.

'Come on Lois.'  Remus coaxed. 'We'll go to Zonko's and Honeyduke's and then head on over to the Three Broomstick for a Butterbeer.   I'll even show you the Shrieking Shack.'  He said clinching the deal; Lois has been dying to see it since she first heard about it from the Weasley twins.

'Okay.'  She said and was rewarded with his approving smile.  Arrangements were made for them to meet outside the castle later and Lois headed off to the Infirmary with a spring in her step.  Truthfully though, she wasn't sure whether her good mood was due to the planned night out, or Remus's comments about Snape.

**

Lois woke with a groan and with difficulty prised open her bleary eyes, slamming them shut almost immediately when harsh morning light hit them painfully. 

The first thing she had noticed during her few brief seconds of vision, was that the bed she was in was not her own. The second thing was that a small brass band with an unusually large drum section, seemed to be in the middle of a spirited practice session in her head.  Cautiously risking sneaking her eyes open again, she became aware that the gentle tapping underneath the loud pounding she could hear, was not coming from her own head as she had first thought.  Staggering slightly she rose from the large bed and made her way across the strange room to the door the noise was coming from.  Opening it slowly she raised her head, which felt far too heavy for her neck to support and looked up into the pained eyes of Remus Lupin.

'Good, you're up.'  He managed hoarsely.

Lois nodded and her head nearly exploded from the pain that simple movement caused. 'Remus,' she whispered through dry lips and a tongue that felt the size of ten.  'Where the hell are we?'

'You don't remember?'  He said with a small grin, which disappeared with a pained wince almost a soon as it began. 'The Three Broomsticks?  Firewhisky, Firewhisky and wait let me think, that's right – Firewhisky.' 

'Oh Lord yes.' Lois whispered, everything coming back in an embarrassing flash. 

They had spent a lovely afternoon in Hogsmeade and had headed over to The Three Broomsticks just as it was beginning to grow dark.  Over delicious warm Rum Butterbeers and pumpkin pasties Lois and Remus had happily exchanged life stories, with the firm ground rule that Severus Snape and all old romances were out of bounds.  Everything had been going swimmingly until their pasts had wandered into gloomy territories and they had decided with the addled logic of the semi-inebriated that something with a bit more kick to it would cheer things back up.  By the time the Firewhisky had done its job and they were once again merry, why, what better way to celebrate their improved mood than with more Firewhisky? 

She vaguely remembered at one stage teaching Remus some muggle songs, which he had then joined her in enthusiastically, if not entirely tunefully.  During a rather boisterous rendition of  "It's Not Unusual" Rosmerta had appeared and shepherded them both upstairs to rooms in the pub in order to sleep it off.

Lois groaned again and looked up at Remus with shame.  'I can't believe we did that.  What if it gets back to Hogwarts?'  She asked panicked.

'Don't worry.'  Remus assured, his voice not quite as rough as it had been when he first spoke.  'Rosmerta is the soul of discretion and although I'm guessing you didn't notice, by the time we started getting rowdy we were the only customers left.'

'Are you sure?' Lois breathed with relief.

'Positive.'

'Thank god for that.  What time is it anyway?'

'Early, but we still have to get back to Hogwarts and cleaned up before classes.'

Lois risked a small nod.  'Okay give me five minutes and we can be off.'  She mumbled, shutting the door and heading for the bathroom in the hope that a quick shower would help make the trek back to the castle bearable.  When she opened the door a little after her promised five minutes, it was to find Remus on the floor outside her room, his back resting against the wall.  He opened bloodshot eyes on hearing her approach and with a groan struggled to his feet.

The cold morning air luckily managed to revive the two of them during their walk back through Hogsmeade and Lois gave a groan of relief as they approached the large wooden door of Hogwarts.

'Well Remus,' she said in a sweet voice 'I had a wonderful time.  Let's never do it again.'

He gave a shout of startled laughter and nudged her playfully with his shoulder in retribution.  Unfortunately her balance was not all it could be at that moment and she would have landed in a crumpled heap on the floor if his quick reflexes hadn't saved her.  They continued up the stone steps and into the castle with Remus's arm still wrapped tight around her waist and laughter on both their lips.  Unfortunately they were in that same position, when the open door revealed Snape and Dumbledore stood stock still staring at them from the entrance hall.  Their laughter stilled immediately and Snape shot such an accusing glance at the arm around her waist that Lois sprang guilty away from Remus before she could stop herself.  Snape jerked to attention and took a step towards them before seeming to reconsider and standing still once more, pinning Lois with a furious glare.

The awkward silence that had fallen was thankfully broken by Dumbledore. 'Ah there you both are.'  He said happily.  'You see Severus, I told you Lois would be quite safe with Remus.'

'So it appears.'  Snape answered tightly.  'Achelois may I have a word with you do you think?'

'Actually Severus.'  She replied politely, aware of their audience.  'As you can see we've only just arrived back and I'd really like to go to my room before…'

'It will only take a minute.'  He said his teeth bared in what she assumed was a smile.

'Ahh, I think I'll head for my room myself, if no one minds?'  Remus butted in his lips twitching.

'Excellent idea.'  Dumbledore agreed walking with the other man to the staircase, both of them ignoring Lois's sharply indrawn breath at their abandonment. 'We'll see you two at breakfast.'  He smiled benignly his blue eyes twinkling behind his glasses. Remus gave Lois a slightly questioning raise of his eyebrows that she nodded to.

'Where the hell have you been!'  Severus snarled the second the others were out of earshot, bending his head until their noses were almost touching his right hand shooting out to grasp her upper arm to prevent her from moving away.

Yesterday's softening attitude towards him flew out the window at his words, her own ire coming to the fore in the face of his blatant double standards

'None of your damned business!'  She stormed back, wrenching her arm out of his hold.  'You didn't want me interfering in your personal life remember, so don't come trying to stick your nose into mine!'

He closed his eyes before counting to ten in attempt to regain control of his temper, quickly realising that this approach was getting him nowhere.  When he felt calm enough to talk once more, he opened his eyes again to find Lois glaring at him angrily. 

'Actually I was worried about you Lois.  I didn't know where…'

'Worried? Oh no, you didn't let anyone see did you?'  She asked sarcastically.  'They might get the wrong impression and think you're sleeping with me and god knows, you wouldn't want that!'

'That wasn't what I …'

'While we're on the subject, I'm curious actually - what exactly is the problem with people thinking you're involved with me?'  She said in an arctic voice.  'Am I not witchy enough for you, is that it?'

'Lois, if you will just let me speak I am attempting to explain…'

'I bet that's it, isn't it?  She asked angrily.  'Would the rest of the purebloods laugh at you if they thought you were sleeping with a muggle like me?'

'No!  Will you kindly shut bloody up and listen for a minute?  All I meant…'

'Oh I know what you meant, you arrogant, ungrateful…'

At that point, all further argument was silenced by the highly effective method of his lips landing forcefully on hers.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A/N    Lois and the Slytherin boy were singing and whistling respectively, 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'- the wonderful Beautiful South version.  Remus and Lois – Tom Jones.  I know, I know but some songs just sound better when you're drunk.

Thank you all so much for the reviews.  When I first started this story I decided that if I actually finished it and I'd gotten more than 30 reviews I'd be happy.  Can you imagine how happy I am now?  No, you're not imagining anywhere near hard enough – make it a hundred times happier and you'd be nearly there.  Thanks again!