Author Notes:

To Rana an Shanaan: I still promise a happy ending. I'm sorry...but your going to have to wait for my companion piece," The Pupil Who went away", to be finished before you'll know what happened to Harry. I promise you'll never guess who hurt him, though.

To Murielmodel: Would youbelieve me if I told you this fic wasn't supposed to go past six chapters? First my mind threw me the vampire thing, and I was soaring to the end after that until everyone wanted them cured, and all the other plot twists just sort of happened from there.

To Busaikko: (laughter) Such a nice creative comment.

Disclaimer: Pretend i've gotten the message 'I don't own Harry Potter' through in a comedic way.

Chapter 18

The tapping at the window roused him from his half sleep. He got up, walked past Harry's bed where small snores could be heard, and over to it. There was only one window in the room, and after running his hands across the wall, he found and opened it. Moving aside when he felt something fluffy brush past him, he then reached his hand out trying to find the owl.

000

Curiously, he sat down in one of the armchairs and ran his fingers around the envelope hoping that the writer had used an engraving sp-. They had.

From Severus Snape,

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Excitement and happiness bubbled inside of him as he hastily tore it open. Quickly he put his forefinger to the first line.

Mr. Lupin,

You pathetic lonely beast. How could you possibly get it into your small little mind that I would ever love you, let alone that you could tell people I loved you? Do you realize that you have caused me embarrassment beyond end? I'm done with you Lupin, surely you must realize that I have my life back now, a life that will never include you or that brat. You could both be dead on the street before I would ever think about permitting either of you to room with me. Have I made myself clear Lupin? Perhaps I haven't, you've already shown me how moronic you can be, so I will reiterate. Stay away from me you bloodthirsty; dim witted, idiotic, monster.

Why are you still living at all Lupin? Nobody would care if you died.

Professor S. Snape

In shock, he read it over and over again completely unaware that he was being watched from the doorway by Tonks in an invisibility cloak she'd 'borrowed' from Moody, who was waiting for her cue to stop a suicide and comfort Remus. She'd then tell Dumbledore that Remus was suicidal and needed to be watched by more than just Harry, before she'd volunteer herself for the job. She and Remus would spend every minute of every day together, she'd make him forget about Snape, and when the time was right, she'd profess her love of him, he'd profess his own, and they'd be married. That was the plan anyway. She watched the paper flutter to the ground.

It didn't make sense. Everything Severus had done while around him suggested he cared about him. It just didn't make sense…unless there was another reason he'd cared for him when he was ill, visited him in the infirmary, responded happily to his kisses…had he really? What if he'd forced himself on the poor man? I know he was scared to be alone, but what if he only kissed me back because he thought I'd leave him if he didn't? No, that didn't fit. He'd sometimes started the kisses whenever he was…scared. Maybe they didn't mean the same thing to him. Maybe he'd misinterpreted everything. That meant Sever-Professor Snape was right. He was moronic. He felt a few tears slip past.

He'd wanted this to be real. He'd needed this to be real. He'd thought that he and Professor Snape could happily spend the rest of their existence together. To think that he, who had been the top of his class for 7 years, could have been so idiotic was enough to make him physically sick. He brought his legs up to his chest burying his face into them, just as what the Professor had called him sunk in. He must really hate me. "Bloodthirsty, dim witted, idiotic, monster", could all of this been avoided if I wasn't lycanthropic? No, it couldn't. He'll never forgive me for my friends, just like he'll never forgive Harry for being the child of James. He'll never love me. He couldn't care less if I died, but I can't die Harry needs me.

A hand on his shoulder made him lift his head. "Yes?" his voice sounded choked. "Remus what's wrong?" asked Harry's sleepy voice. He didn't answer. He couldn't say anything; otherwise he'd start crying. His breathing was already irregular, and he knew he felt he'd begin uncontrollably sobbing if he even thought about talking more. "Your crying, Remus what is it?" They burst forth, and he put his head on his knees. They were so loud that he didn't hear the footsteps coming.

She watched Harry comforting him, something she planned on doing, and decided she needed to make herself known a bit earlier than planned. She walked foreword, noticing Harry's eyes snap towards her, as she picked up the letter. Pretending to read it, she lowered it and put her hands on Remus' shoulders tapping Harry's so that he moved it. "Remus I'm so sorry. That mans a bastard."

He lifted his head up off of his legs," Do-on't c-cal-l –hiccup- him-m a bas-star-rd!"

"But Remus he said all those horrible things about you."

"N-not his-s f-faul-lt! I-it's-s n-not!"

"Remus I-"

"L-lea-ave –hiccup- me-e a-a-hiccup- alo-one."

"Remus I care about you. I could never leave you when-"

"G-go –hiccup- aw-wa-ay"

"Re-"

"GO AWAY", he screamed making Harry scramble for cover; she removed her hands utterly shocked. Who would have thought her mild mannered love would ever scream at her like that? "Go away", he repeated softly before dissolving completely into his sobs.

He flinched when she touched his shoulders again making her realize she was only worsening this by forcing herself upon him. "Remus, if you want to talk. If you need anything, let me know. I care about you", she backed away from him walked out the door, and watched invisible as Remus sobbed it out. She watched as Harry grew bold and snack past Remus to pick up the letter, watched his face contort in anger, then fear as Remus lifted his head a little.

He wiped his face on his sleeve hearing the sound of hurried footfalls. It took a minute before it struck him," Harry?"

"Yes?" he sounded far away and his voice had a hint of fear in it.

"I'm not angry with you. Why don't you come sit down?" he felt a soft thump as the chair in front of him became occupied, and was relieved to know he hadn't scared Harry totally away so that he'd remain fearful for hours just like…him.

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He walked down a hall half an hour after a successful class, because of the after effects of the cruciatus curse it had only barely bothered him that he'd felt humiliated in sixth year when Remus had gotten a higher score than him on the potion they'd done today. Remus, he's free from me now, and I suppose that all I can do is keep it that way. I just wish that I could repay-I could make him the Wolfsbane potion. He looked at his surroundings realizing he wasn't far from the Headmasters office. Already envisioning that stupid twinkle, and knowing the answer, he strode confidently towards both. The next day with a recently renewed headache, he'd begin work on a Wolfsbane potion for Remus, and devote his left over free time to figure out a way to eradicate the foul taste.

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Two Weeks Later

The past two weeks had revealed to Tonks that Remus was no where near suicidal, but although on the outside he was a cheerful Piano teacher, she knew he must still be hurting. Which was why she spent every minute of her time with him trying to get him to open up. She'd surprise him by bringing Harry and his lunch up to them, she'd play games with them both, taking Remus' small smiles as encouragement. She was playing chess with Remus, with Harry to play winner, when a tap on the window drew their attention.

"I'll get it Remus", she volunteered immediently, and walked over to take the package from the owl. It was a small brown box, and when she read the return address she felt her blood run cold.

Severus Snape,

Hogwarts School

"Tonks who's it for", he sounded as if he were half hoping, half dreading for it to be from him.

"It's for me", she thought quickly," from Dumbledore. Remus, I need to go."

"Alright."

"I'll be back later", and with that she hurried off.