Chapter 18 – Unwilling Alliances (Part I)
"It's Alanze! Alanze's gone and tried to kill herself! And it's all because of Severus Snape!"
And Severus could've killed himself as he sat in the hall, as every person murderously turned his way to stare at him.
He felt his blood run cold… was this attempt at suicide Alanze's way of showing how she wanted things to end between them? His face went fuchsia and then chalky white… once again he had made a decision that left Alanze hurt… and this time, nearly dead.
The words stung about the Great Hall as Alanze's friend, the girl that Severus supposed to be the one named 'Sara', pointed boldly from across the hall. And slowly, the person that Severus actually feared at that moment silently began to rise to his feet.
Remus stood, shaking silently with anger. James Potter and Sirius Black, on his left and Lily Evans on his right all put their hands on his forearms as a quick restraint. Destined, Severus' eyes locked with those of the enraged werewolf, and for the first time in his life… Severus was clueless. He had no idea what to neither say nor do, and he knew that his word would be useless if Dumbledore believed what Sara had yelled.
"You will both sit down." Dumbledore ordered Sara and Remus at once. Sara sat obediently, but there was such a different stare that issued from the 7th year Gryffindor. There was no mercy in such a glare, as Severus often saw a look similar to Remus' given off by his father. There was only one thing on the young werewolf's mind… and it was to get revenge on the Slytherin at ALL costs.
"There will be no such accusations until actual proof is found," spoke the headmaster in his commanding voice. "Tonight's dinner is over. You all will be excused to your common rooms now. Have a good night."
It took a few minutes for everyone to realize the finality in Dumbledore's voice, and to actually get to their feet. Perplexed and wanting to know more on the reason why the kooky Ravenclaw girl had accused a Slytherin seventh year, a lot of people strayed as long as they dared, trying to hear more of the spreading gossip of Alanze Daniels' suicide. Severus sat, dazed and staring at the golden plate in front of him, unmoving. He did not know how long he sat, and scarcely noticed someone walking up to him when the popularity of the Hall diminished.
"Severus," spoke the same voice that the young man heard give the speech only a few minutes beforehand.
Dimly, Severus felt himself being helped to his feet. Someone had a rather strong grip on his shoulder and was easing him out, slowly, from the Hall he just wanted to remain sitting in. Shapes and lights flickered in and out of his eyesight as he watched his surroundings by jaded eyesight. Nothing mattered to him right now, but the health of Alanze. The health of a near-dead young woman and the child that they conceived together. That was all that mattered now.
"You will control yourself!"
Severus heard Dumbledore speaking to someone who seemed undaunted to get to him. Still being ushered, Severus could barely use a reflex for his protection; he was still too caught up in the bulletin…
"I want him DEAD, professor Dumbledore!" retched a voice that was familiar to Severus. "He deserves to SUFFER for all that he caused Alanze to endure!"
"MISTER LUPIN," snapped the Headmaster, causing the enraged Gryffindor to come quickly to his senses. "Go back to your common room, on the grounds of losing twenty-five points for Gryffindor on purposes of being beyond yourself."
"C'mon, mate." Severus heard another voice speak. "It's not worth it. Let's just go back and we'll find out if Alanze's okay in the morning."
"Remus, be sensible," begged a female's voice.
"You need rest. Let's go," said a third.
Footsteps followed an enraged yell of fury, and before Severus knew what was happening yet again he was being dragged in a direction unknown. A light triggered his thoughts, and made him voice what was nagging in his brain.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked degradedly, feeling too weak to support his own weight. Dumbledore was a much stronger man for someone who was over a century.
"Abroad." Dumbledore responded amusingly, chuckling as he continued to lead Severus about darkened corridors that were Hogwarts.
"Evidently," Severus snapped, eyes focusing now. He was in a place he did not recognize. "Am I to be expelled? Will you tell my father?"
Dumbledore pursed his lips, and then sighed. He then stopped suddenly, causing Severus to trip a little over the headmaster's large feet.
"Ultimately, no. There is no proof that you had anything to do with the sudden wanting of suicide in the case of Alanze Daniels." Dumbledore reported.
"Then why am I being escorted into a place of the Hogwarts unknown?" sarcastically replied the Slytherin, looking at his surroundings once more. "I have never been in this corridor before."
"If you had, I would have been concerned. Of course you haven't. This is the main hallway leading off to the staff's sleeping quarters," told Dumbledore. "Students are never allowed back here."
"Oh." Grunted the Slytherin softly, gazing around the elongated hallway. "I thought the teachers slept in a room right off their offices."
"Unless they would like to, that is not the case. These are miniscule housing complexes… the kind with one bedroom, a full working bath, and a small kitchen and recreation room. They are open to each staff member who undoubtedly wants to live in an environment perceivable enough to be called 'home'."
"Ah." Severus remarked, still not understanding. "But why am I down here?"
"Simple. I cannot have you wandering the school, Severus. It is not safe, especially since Miss Conner's accusations towards you on the recent suicide. I do not believe that you had anything to do with the matter, of course-" the headmaster inferred, gazing at the scoff on Severus' face, "- but I do think that it would be best if we kept you out of the populations of the main castle for a short amount of time."
Severus sighed, taking this information in. Obviously, Dumbledore did not want him to tolerate the suffering that countless numbers of people were just planning to spring on him as he roamed the entirety of the castle on a daily basis.
Too nice of a man, that Dumbledore… Severus thought idly, gritting his teeth. If a luxury suite in the staff dormitories had been presented to the Slytherin in any time but the situation present, Severus would've thought he was dreaming. Now, he did not want to accept the notion of the Headmaster. For all he put Alanze through, just a little pain would be rightly prescribed.
"I will give you dormitory 15. It is out of the way from that of the other Professors, and you will not draw attention to yourself by being at this end of the hallway." Dumbledore advanced to the very end of the cul-de-sac of a corridor and gave the Slytherin a fat, bronzed key. Severus looked at the key distantly, and watched as Dumbledore opened the locked chamber in a silent gesture of a spell, and then led the younger boy inside.
The complex was very comfortable at first glance. There was a small library, armchair, loveseat, and a fireplace that snapped to life at their arrival. Severus watched as a pretty woman to the left of the mantle of the fire winked at him. Undisturbed, Severus turned his head and found a small kitchen directly across from the den. Walking further under Dumbledore's silent supervision, Severus observed a bedroom in the back, parallel to a small washroom. It was nearly everything he needed in a very confined space. Defeated, he turned back to his headmaster and voiced his concerns.
"I'm assuming that I'll finish my homework in these quarters."
"Correct."
"And I'm also assuming that I'll be remaining down here until you summon for me."
"Correct."
"How am I getting my meals?"
"House elves will deliver what you want daily if you write down your menu the day before so that the foods can be prepared." Dumbledore corrected, stroking his beard, chin twitching. "Make sure you give the list to the elves or you just won't be fed."
"Funny," remarked the young man, sighing. "Will I be able to send owls?"
"If you give your sealed letter to an elf, yes."
"Will people be able to contact me?" Severus urged suddenly, not knowing whom in their damned minds would want to contact him…
"All owls addressed to you shall be forwarded to me where I shall then forward them to the elves who will be delivering them to you." Dumbledore told him, amusingly. "Any more questions?"
"Nope."
"Good. Then allow me to leave? I believe that if you need anything, a house elf will be about to serve you and get your menu for tomorrow at about quarter to nine."
"Fine." Severus snapped, throwing himself into the armchair in front of the fire. The chair was very squishy; he sunk down a few inches as his weight settled about the cushions. He turned his back to Dumbledore, who he heard shuffling a bit to the door. There was a creak of wood that indicated a door opening, but Severus didn't hear it shut again.
"Oh, and Severus… for your safety, I cannot allow you to visit Miss Daniels in the Hospital Wing." Dumbledore added sadly.
"WHAT?" Severus roared, leaping to his feet. His face turned an instant pink, as his stared at the older man defiantly. "WHY THE BLOOMING NOT?"
"Because it is not safe," the Headmaster replied gently, "Miss Daniels will have other visitors too, and all of which that I'm assuming will want to cause you lasting harm. I will not allow a feud to start in my school over false accusations. You would do best to just settle down to sleep, Mister Snape. I will have your supplies and trunk shipped down to you by morning."
Severus glared at Dumbledore, loathing anything to do with the ancient man. Seething, he returned back to the unused, stiff, armchair and gazed deeply at the melancholy fire. As the door clicked in Dumbledore's departure, Severus chewed his lip in torture. He knew that these upcoming days… weeks… he didn't even want to think about that… were going to be horrid.
All because of something he had said.
-x-
"You will control yourself!"
Control? What the hell was that?
Remus was beside himself! It was bad enough that Dumbledore announced someone tried to commit suicide… but finding out it was Alanze? He felt terror. And then finding out that the suicide could possibly the fault of a certain Severus Snape?
He was livid!
Not finding the bastard in the crowd, Remus dimly heard his friends as he hurried over to the herding Slytherins… wanting to find that Snape and harass the hell out of him until he found out all he knew. Weirdly, Severus had not come out with the rest of the group, which only meant that he was lagging behind and hoping not to be discovered…
Blindly, Remus trudged on, though he felt Sirius, James, and Peter all trying to restrain him. His canine instincts took over his common sense; all he wanted to do now is rip and torture that Severus Snape. Torture him for all the suffering he put Alanze through in just one year…
The Slytherin was with Headmaster Dumbledore. No matter, Remus thought acidly, Dumbledore'll give me justice.
"I want him DEAD, professor Dumbledore!" retched a voice that was familiar to Severus. "He deserves to SUFFER for all that he caused Alanze to endure!"
"MISTER LUPIN," snapped the Headmaster, causing the enraged Gryffindor to come quickly to his senses. Remus, like many other wizards of their time, was afraid of Dumbledore when he got in his true aura. "Go back to your common room, on the grounds of losing twenty-five points for Gryffindor on purposes of being beyond yourself."
"C'mon, mate." Sirius urged him, "It's not worth it. Let's just go back and we'll find out if Alanze's okay in the morning."
"Remus, be sensible," begged Lily, who looked horrified at the current news she just learned.
"You need rest. Let's go," commented James, steering Remus away from Dumbledore and Snape by his shoulder. "Alanze'll be fine, mate."
"She better be fine… or that damned Snape will be kipping in a rectangle for the rest of his young years." Remus growled, shrugging off all the hands that held onto him as they entered the second floor stairway. "Thanks."
"To think, you didn't look like a short-tempered psychopath when you first came to the school." Sirius joked as they climbed the steps.
Remus choked back a laugh between his furrowed brows. "Nah. When I was eleven I had no idea about hormones, didn't care two Knuts about Severus Snape, and Alanze was still a little Muggle girl."
"What's so special about her, anyway?" Peter asked quietly, "I mean, she's just a girl… and yet, you and Severus duel over her…"
Remus stopped walking so suddenly, that Lily crashed into him from behind.
"Ouch, Remus! A forewarning next time?" she snapped, smoothing out her robes.
"What'd you mean she's just a girl?" Remus questioned, "What kind of bloody question is that? Would you tell Prongs that Lily is just a girl?"
"N…no." Peter murmured, turning pink. "Of… of course I wouldn't."
"Because he's horribly terrified of Prongs." Sirius teased in a singsong voice. "And besides, when'd you start calling the twit by his first name?"
Peter blushed pink once again. "It… it slipped my mind completely."
James raised his eyebrows curiously at Peter, but didn't raise his suspicions. He quietly slipped his arm about Lily as they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she questioned.
"Dragon Heartstring." Sirius chimed, grinning toothily at the guardian of the common room, who gave him a very flirtatious wink and allowed them all to enter.
Seeing that there were scarcely no one left in the common room, the quintet clambered about the fireplace, contemplating.
"I damn would get worked up if someone else had sights on the woman I loved." James teased, squeezing Lily's shoulder suggestively. Lily blushed, and fell into his embrace, leaning against his chest.
"Who ever said…" Remus started, staring into the fire.
"It's obvious, don't deny what the rest of the world already knows," teased Sirius gently. He tossed a pillow at Remus, who felt the impact, but didn't react.
"I think I'm going to bed," he announced out of the blue after a few moments of silence. "Goodnight. Thank you all for helping me fight the urge to beat the shite out of Severus."
"Remus!" Lily scolded sleepily, "Watch your language!"
"Ahhh… let him skive off." Sirius murmured. "I'll be joining him in a moment. I don't want to be the third bludger while Prongs and Ragweed are down here snogging."
"Hey!" James and Lily both blushed, and looked guiltily at each other.
Remus chuckled a bit, stretching and heading towards the dorm. "Night, all."
"Night." The remaining Marauders called back.
And no one even noticed that Peter was missing, as usual.
-x-
"Bullocks!" Remus complained, leaving his shabby kitchen to go outside the house. "You won't have to worry about me attacking anyone here, anyway! It's no one out here except Muggles who never come near our house and we've been here for a month already!"
"Remus John Lupin, you will watch your language and lower your voice!" his mother jeered hotly as his retreating back.
Remus slammed the door instead of replying. With the neighborhood so new to him, he knew of nowhere to go to rid himself of his mother's constant worrying. Huffily, he sat on the steps of his stoop, glowering around his new neighborhood and at all the children who played merrily in the streets before him. None of them never looked his way, even though they passed right in front of him a half-dozen times, simply just ignoring his presence.
A sudden whack of the gate door closing in his unkempt yard alerted him out of his brooding. He glanced around the shabby path that led from the fence to the stoop quite eagerly; expecting one of the boys had decided to finally give him a chance. His hopes diminished when his eyes locked on the weirdest child he had ever saw in his entire young life.
"What?" he snarled at it.
"What, what?" asked the child, gawking at him. The high pitch of the person's voice made Remus' ears twitch.
"Why are you staring at me?" Remus growled, folding his arms. "Why are you in my yard?"
"Can we start over?" the child, who Remus found to be a girl, replied. She wrung her hands nervously, and Remus glowered at her.
"Sure."
"Hallo," the girl greeted in a soft voice. Remus gazed at the little girl, and realized that she couldn't have been any older than six or seven. She had a low, waist-length braid with a beaded headband that indicated an Arabic origin, and wide, childish dark jade eyes that were hardly seen because they were behind very thick, jet black spectacles.
"Hi." Remus heard himself speak back, brushing his filthy hands on the sides of his slacks. In the sun, he himself had rather long sandy-blonde hair and almost-amber eyes. A few hardly-noticeable freckles splashed along his nose as he squinted in the blazing sunlight. "So… what's your name?"
"My name is Alanze Haru-Daniels, and I live across the street… two houses down, just there," the girl, now known to be Alanze, smiled widely, and pointed to her house. Remus gazed at her weakly for a few seconds, then looked in the general direction of where the girl was pointing. He could tell from then on that it was going to be one spectacle of a summer…
-x-
Remus woke up in a cold sweat.
After constant reprimanding, his waiting was over. It was officially two days and according to both Madams Phompry and Jaccobs allowed Remus to go and visit Alanze. According to them, she was in a poorer state than she had looked; and she needed to be tended to medically before she had any visitors. Anxiously, Remus sat outside on the bench until he was summoned, like both matrons had promised to do when they were finished treating Alanze.
"Please be careful and not raise your voice. Remember, Mister Lupin, that Miss Daniels is in a comatose." Madam Phompry whispered, ushering the young man inside.
"Right." Remus murmured determinedly, looking towards the back of the ward. The area was roped off with a graying curtain, and it looked ominously unfriendly.
"I don't see the point in trying to talk to her anyway," the matron ushered Remus to the roped-off area, and drew up a chair for him to sit in with her wand. "She probably can't hear a word that you're saying."
"This is fine, thank you." Remus murmured yet again, dragging his chair over to Alanze's right hand side. He settled it right aside the bed, and clasped Alanze's limp hand in his own. "I'm still staying, regardless if she can hear me or not."
"Suit yourself." Madam Phompry shrugged, and walked back towards her office.
Remus took a breath before he could even begin to take in Alanze's horrible condition. She was bruised in so many different places, and there were several casts about her whole body as she lay quite disheveled in the bed. Her hair was askew about the pillow, and her glasses… a trademark, which Remus actually had gotten attached to, were broken on her nightstand nearby. It was a dreadfully depressing thing to see, the small girl just lying there in the bed. And that's when something struck Remus.
"You're not a little girl anymore, are you?" he marveled, watching Alanze's face shift a little to the left as she adjusted her position. The girl was an incredibly light sleeper. It was almost as if she had heard him.
"I'm sorry I haven't noticed it before. You must think I'm awfully daft." Remus commented, smirking despite himself. "What year are you in? Fifth? I haven't even considered it until now… you've grown quite a bit since you were seven and I nine. Amazing how time changes things… especially when people specifically aren't paying attention to it."
Alanze made no further motions of recognizing that Remus was talking to her. Remus didn't care. He gazed at the puffy hand of Alanze that he was caressing with his thumb, and continued talking.
"Who would've know that us… two poor, gritty, and supposedly Muggle kids would end up both as wizards?" the boy wondered, smiling a bit. He brought Alanze's hand up to his face and cupped it against his cheek. The hand was bitterly cold, but Remus ignored the chill and continued. "We were inseparable back then. You were the only friend I had back at Mainland… and I yours. I took up for you when boys threw rocks and called you names."
Shuffling slightly from laughter, Remus regained his composure.
"You threw me a surprise party the day I turned eleven. I remember that we had the first of many upcoming arguments on that day… a squabble about Hogwarts itself, ironically. And then… you began having problems at home. My mom took you into our house… and then… you received your Hogwarts letter. I remember that day… I never felt anything like that before."
Remus paused slightly. "You see, I while I was away at school for the two years when I left Mainland, I met the most wonderful people and learned a new world of things… I began to shun the fact that I was on friendly terms with a Muggle. There's nothing wrong with befriending Muggles, of course, but in school… there's this hype of a purity-of-blood type thing… and I had people belittling me. My guy mates used to tease me for being friends with a little Muggle girl. Perhaps I lied on my behalf, too. I began to think to myself that you were what I told them… a weird little child that was obsessed with me. I began ignoring you. And then, on Christmas break, I invited my three best friends over to Mainland for a quiet and simple holiday. And you turned up. I panicked; I didn't know what to do! The girl that I had been denying all those years abroad at school suddenly appeared before my very eyes. I couldn't be on sensitive terms with you… not about my friends. I upset you that day… and for that, now I apologize. What I said that Christmas was utterly wrong of me, and if I hadn't said it… then we wouldn't be in this predicament right now."
Switching his own position, Remus snapped back to reality and realized that Alanze's fingers were a bit moist on his cheek. Idly, he wiped his face and her hand on the side of his shirt, and continued to brood.
"You ran away, and no one heard nothing of you that day in Diagon Alley. I still have the letter my mum sent me that day, when the Aurors couldn't find you. And then, you ended up on the other side. Everyone knew there was no hope for you… and yet, somehow you survived. I don't know how you had that run-in with Severus Snape but that year when you came into school, tagging about with him… I knew it was you, only from the colour of your eyes. I knew you came back to haunt me of punishment for mistreating you three years before."
Remus' brow furrowed as he mentioned Severus' name. "I don't like that Severus Snape. Truthfully, I never did."
Alanze's brow furrowed slightly, then released and her expressionless composure appeared as swift as it come. Remus smirked, despite himself.
"You never did like me criticizing your dear 'Sevvie'," he teased, rolling his eyes. "Sometimes I though you were using him to get back at me. That bastard had us both confounded right under his eyes. He was using you to get back at me. He used Peter to get back at Padfoot a couple years ago. I don't think he's tried to ruin Prongs and Lily."
Remus sighed. "Everyone always feared Prongs. I wish I had that much respect that people give him. The ladies all love Prongs because he's a superb chaser; just as they all love Padfoot because he plays as beater. No thanks, I was never a Quidditch jock… but a little attention from the ladies wouldn't be so bad."
Alanze twitched again. Remus smiled, and dabbed his face on his shirt again.
"Yes, I know… you always gave me attention. I don't know why it took me until I was sixteen to finally realize that what I wanted in the perfect woman… was standing right in front of my face in the form of girl I've known since primary school." Remus told her, going up and smoothing the knots of her thick, curly bangs out of her face. Alanze's brow furrowed softly as Remus tucked the strands behind her ears. His own brows shot up as he looked deep into the bruised face of the woman he loved so much…
"Yes… bloody hell, you've changed on me. Without that blasted hair in your face, you look completely different. I wouldn't notice you in passing on the street if I didn't know who you were. You're older now, mature. A bit dazed, bruised and puffy, but… still beautiful. I don't know how to plead with you into forgiving me for all the stupid shite I've put you through. And now, because of all my ignorance, you end up in this damn Hospital Ward as a result of the damned Severus Snape."
Remus smirked, as he mentioned Snape's name, and Alanze moved again.
"So I was right. You can hear me!" he grinned, and sat on the small cot with to Alanze. It sagged under their combined weight, but Remus paid it no mind. "Since I know you're still in a right state of mind… answer me this. Snape… did you truly love him?"
A weird expression crossed Alanze's features as he watched, and Remus took his gentle time until the girl wired down before he asked another question that was constantly on his mind.
"Did he truly love you?"
There was a sharp intake of breath from the unmoving girl, but no immediate response. Remus ran a nervous hand through his hair as he shot up from the cot, pacing the length of the curtains surrounding Alanze's bed at the end of the wing.
"I give you my word, Alanze… you have to wake up. When you do, I'll see to it that you get through this whole situation with Snape… and if you want something better for you then… well…" the young boy blushed, even though Alanze could not see him. "I'm leaving Hogwarts this year… and I wanted you to know that if you wanted a place to stay… maybe… you could come back to Mainland and live with my parents and I for a bit… until I find a job and a place of my own?"
Before the sleeping girl could respond, Remus quickly continued, "I've been thinking about this for a while. I know that it's going to take me a while to find a proper job… being what I am and all… but Dumbledore's offered me a paid internship for being an understudy for Defense Against the Dark Arts and for Charms here at Hogwarts. And… and if things go well, I could be employed here with steady wages and everything. I could afford a decent living for us, I promise you. That is… if you'll have me."
Quietly, Remus plopped back into his chair and scooted as close to Alanze's ear as possible. A tear escaped his eye, and landed softly on her earlobe. Smiling to himself, Remus kissed it away, caressing the side of Alanze's cheek with his nose. He inhaled the scent of potions, herbs, and grass from her hair. Not wanting to think about her condition, Remus ignored the scent of blood that his keen sense of smell also picked up with him being so close to her.
"I swear to you that from now on… if you want Snape out of the picture and just want a relationship between me and you… then you'll have it. You don't have to try any longer, Alanze." Remus whispered into her ear softly, "I'm right here for you, now… and I'm not going anywhere."
The young man took a deep breath, as he kissed Alanze's cheek softly and grabbed his hand in her own once again. He rested his head on the bit of Alanze's pillow that was sagging off the edge of the cot, and made himself comfortable in his chair.
And in that position, cheek-to-cheek, Remus quietly fell asleep next to the unlikely, neglected, and ignored woman that was always in the background, waiting for him, and the woman that he had unknowingly wanted for so long.
-x-
It was a late Saturday, and Severus was brooding over a volume of Ancient Greek Muggle mythology. It was kind-of interesting how Muggles always invented stories to explain what they did not know. Severus was just reading, quite amused, about the founding of Rome and the tale of Romulus and Remus… when there was a swift knock at the door. Hastily, Severus stuffed his book into the armchair cushion and rushed to the door. Without even bothering to preview his entrant through the small porthole on the door, Severus unlocked the brass knob with his large key, wrenched the handle to the left, and then flung the door open.
The shock of seeing a pale, portly, and pimply boy stunned Severus slightly. Taken aback, he showed in his visitor and stepped back to listen to the reason why the person suddenly entered his apartment.
"S…Severus," the boy twitched.
"How'd you find me?" Severus asked, quite astonished. "Dumbledore made sure no one knew where I was."
"I threatened an elf to tell me all your details. I offered clothes if it had refused to tell me." Peter remarked, smirking.
"Obviously you've got more smarts than what I thought, Pettigrew. Are you sure you weren't meant to be a Slytherin?" Severus teased, smirking too, "Nice job." There was a moment's paused before he continued. "Is that my mail?" he indicated to a few letters in Peter's hands.
"Y…yes." Peter shoved the parchments quickly into Severus' hands. "I took them from the elf as well. They'll be bringing your dinner soon, I expect also. The school just got finished eating."
Severus counted his mail briefly. Only two rolls of parchment. Sneering, he opened the first and found it was a fine for an overdue library book. Uncaringly, he laid Madam Pince's warning on the table nearby his armchair. The second letter was addressed to him in large, loopy handwriting. Assuming it was from Dumbledore, Severus placed the rolled parchment on the island table leading from the hallway into the kitchen. He'd read it later, when the bumbling Pettigrew wasn't around.
Watching him silently, Peter blinked and clambered to follow Severus awkwardly. He followed the Slytherin as he returned back to his armchair, obviously brooding once again.
"So… what do you know?" Severus questioned after a pause. "You wouldn't be so eager to find me unless you knew something and wanted a favor in return."
Peter chuckled nervously, and then polled a rather large Sickle from his pocket. "Lucius Malfoy sent me this. He says it's the only token that will allow entrance into the inauguration parties."
Severus paused, back still to Peter as he sighed and then too reached into his own robe pocket and removed his own token, nearly identical to Peter's own. He knew that he, Regulus, Peter, and a few others were all invited to a ceremony for their devotion to an uprising Dark Lord. Severus knew there was no opposing this new terror. Many Slytherins who had already left Hogwarts joined with this Lord immediately. Severus knew it was a fact that Rodolphus and Bellatrix both hopped onwards as soon as the chance was presented to them.
"Who're you taking as your fiancé to the whole ordeal?" Severus asked the pimply Gryffindor. "According to Lucius, the Dark Lord requests a pureblood woman or man to accompany each… Death Eater did he call his workers?… yeah… a pureblood woman needed to become your wife is required to also be at the inauguration. That way, when you get… the mark, the pain won't be so unbearable if it's shared between two. It's a life-binding deal."
"I… I haven't really decided." Peter blushed, stroking his hair nervously as usual. "What couples d'you know already divvied up?"
"Obviously, Rod and Bellatrix… Regulus' got his eye on one of his easy harlots…" Severus put in thoughtfully, "And as soon as Narcissa leaves with us this year, Lucius is being inducted with her. That's all I know."
"I thought about asking Deirdre to join… but I doubt she'd want to become a Death Eater's assistant just for me. She told me she loved me before she left last year, but I'd doubt she'd join. She scarcely even owls me anymore, with her new job at the Ministry… which would also be on the line if she agreed." Peter replied incredulously.
"How about a nice Slytherin girl? Our sixth and seventh year girls are pretty ambitious," teased Severus at his own offering.
"They'd hate me, I'm a Gryffindor!" moped Peter in return, wringing his hands nervously. "And I'm not even good looking or anything!"
"A Gryffindor gone rebel," grinned Severus half-wittedly. "They'd adore you. Either that, or a dame'll just tag along for a bit of power and protection from the Dark Lord. Don't fret, you're a shoo-in for a girl."
Peter blushed. "Lying gets you nowhere, Severus," he grumbled, laughing nervously. "And yes, that's fine and good and all… but what about you still? You need a wife as well."
Severus shrugged, "Who the bloody knows, Pettigrew? I was never too good in the female department, either. I still say ask Regulus… he'd be sure to get us each a good one. He runs all the girls in Slytherin."
"Were you queuing to ask Alanze?" Peter asked, as if he almost didn't want to tread on the subject.
There was a very tense silence between the two young men. A nasty shock filled Severus' veins as he thought of the aspect of asking Alanze to join him eternally as a Death Eater and as his wife.
"Not specifically, no." Severus murmured, trying to keep his composure. "What makes you ask?"
"The rumors?" the smaller boy continued, "What about them… are they true? The one where you got Alanze in bed and she committed suicide because you weren't a loyal mate to her?"
And if Severus' silence wasn't enough, the stupid boy just had to add a phrase that made Severus' skin turn to ice.
"Or does it have to do with jealousy like everyone also says? You know, Remus has been living endlessly in the Hospital Wing ever since they allowed him to go visit Alanze."
Severus felt his mouth turn dry, and his tongue flickered across his lips. It was rather like licking a cotton ball. "Rumors are rumors, Pettigrew. Think nothing more of them," he warded carefully.
"Yes, but…"
"Just DON'T think on it, too much, alright?" Severus snapped. Even though Peter was out of his range of vision, he could tell that the smaller boy had jumped at his yells.
Another awkward silence passed, and Severus paled suddenly, thinking about his unborn child, too. Would he have no choice but to marry Alanze? Surely, if he didn't, it probably would be no doubt that Alanze would raise the child as a little…
"Bastard!" swore Peter suddenly.
"What?" asked Severus, alarmed. He veered around in his seat quickly. Had Peter known?
"That damn Dumbledore for keeping you locked up like some bloody animal!" the smaller boy changed the subject. "Are you even able to communicate outside these four walls?"
Severus cooled, sneering slightly as his blood pressure returned to normal. "My mail is screened directly by Dumbledore," he responded, glancing at the one letter Peter had given him and that he laid on the island table. "I couldn't contact Lucius if I wanted to."
"I'll relay a message to him. Are you still willing to go through the inauguration and all?" Peter questioned, heading about to the door. "Do you want me to lie for you and say that you've got a girl and everything?"
"Tell Lucius to put me down for the inauguration on this year's Christmas Eve." Severus thought quickly, considering his options. "And for the woman…" he paused, "Tell him I'm still undecided… but I'll have a girl by the end of this year."
"Yes, of course." Peter agreed quickly, seeing himself out.
"Oh, and wait – Pettigrew?" Severus called for him quickly. The blonde boy turned and looked eager for whatever Severus was going to tell him.
"Yes?"
"While you're doing favors, return this book back to Madam Pince for me. And here's the five Knuts I owe her for it being two weeks overdue." Severus handed Peter his borrowed copy of 'Advanced Potions of our Age' and five small, bronze coins.
"And what do I get for relaying your messages, delivering your mail, and taking your overdue book back to the library?" Peter smirked, as Severus ushered him back to the exit.
"I don't know, but I'm not discussing it now. I'll tell you later, perhaps when I find something appropriate to do for you in return. Who knows, perhaps I'll ask Regulus a favor… and you may just find yourself lucky on the last Hogsmeade visit of this year." Severus bargained dully.
Peter looked pleased with himself, and within seconds Severus shut the door on his departure. Blankly, the Slytherin floated back towards his kitchen table, still wondering about the aspect of Alanze as his wife.
"She's not pureblood!" marveled Severus to himself, reaching across the table and retrieving Dumbledore's letter. "She could never be your wife if being a Death Eater is what you really want, Severus!"
Wasting time, Severus broke the seal on the parchment and rolled it open slowly. As he read the words, however, Severus quickly regretted not having opened the letter sooner.
'Severus - ' it read,
'The Hospital Wing will be "closed" this evening only after dinner. All visitors will be averted to make plans for another coinciding day to visit their companions in the Sick Ward. In this time of vacancy, it would be most ideal for you to visit Ms. Alanze Daniels at this time. Due to your patience and hidden anticipation on the out comings of Ms. Daniels' condition, both Madam Phompry and I have granted you special admission to travel to the Hospital Wing at this exact time. Please use your time during this visit accordingly. It will be unknown when the next date for another corresponding trip to check in on Ms. Daniels will be.
-Headmaster Albus Dumbledore'
Severus' heart jammed up in his throat, pounding with the rhythm of a heavy-handed conga player. He could FINALLY visit Alanze!
Deciding that things were finally looking up for him, Severus rapidly checked his watch for the time. Finding it to be nearly nine in the evening, Severus hurried out the basement and headed toward the fourth-floor Hospital Wing. The crisp outside air blew through the open castle windows, stinting Severus' face as he ran through the silent building. When was the last time Severus was above ground? Rashly, Severus bolted to the nearest window and stuck his head out. A flurry of fresh air filled his underground musk-ridden lungs. Severus felt himself grinning.
He wound his hands outside the window, wanting more of the freedom Dumbledore had taken away from him. Moonlight flooded in the windowsill and Severus felt himself gazing up at the sky. The smile on his face diminished slowly as he gazed upon the celestial body.
There was a full moon.
Seconds later, Severus knew why this night was so different. He understood why Dumbledore had suddenly lifted his restriction and was allowing him to go visit Alanze. It was a full moon. Remus Lupin would be transformed by now and wouldn't be in the Hospital Wing. Severus suddenly heard Peter's annoying voice ringing through his head, "You know… Remus has been living endlessly in the Hospital Wing ever since they allowed him to go visit Alanze."
Solemnly, Severus took his time to get the rest of his trek finished. He wrapped on the door of the Ward, and then allowed himself in. Madam Phompry looked up from writing in her office and nodded. Severus only looked at her briefly, and then gazed about the elongated rows of cots that made up the Sick Ward. Unsurprisingly, Severus knew Alanze had to be behind the white curtains. Madam Phompry always pulled out the white curtains for special medical cases. The last time Severus saw those curtains were when Regulus had an affair with a chaser of the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team, and his Slytherin girlfriend found out and turned his ears into poles resembling goal posts. Laughing a bit, Severus hollowly walked to the back of the Ward, and peered about the curtains, holding his breath.
The first thing Severus noticed was how humble Alanze's living quarters seemed to be. Fresh flowers were in a vase on her nightstand, surrounded by tokens from friends and dozens of get-well-soon card from well-wishers. Severus' eyes then scraped over to a comfortable looking chair to the right of Alanze's actual cot, which looked like an upright bed. He assumed that spot was the one Remus constantly took shelter in, "living endlessly" next to his best friend. Depressed already, Severus raised his wand and cast his own chair for sitting to the left of Alanze's bedside. It was then, he observed the woman he felt like he betrayed.
"Alanze."
His voice choked, his eyes clouded over and he couldn't even bring himself to realize that he was about to burst into emotions into a public place.
She seemed to sense he was there. Her hand flung up lifelessly, and Severus jolted to his feet.
"Madam Phompry!" he nearly screamed, voice flying up two octaves. "She moved! She heard me!"
The matron tussled into the ward and appeared next to the confused Slytherin's elbow in a matter of seconds. She put her hands on her hips, and looked very skeptical.
"Another cock-and-bull account of her reacting to outside responses moment, I assume? Like I have been repeating to Mr. Lupin on a daily basis, Mr. Snape… Ms. Daniels is in a comatose. It would be very unlikely for her to move, respond, or even hear anything that you boys may say to her." The older woman scolded.
"Yes, but…" Severus pleaded, eyes widening. "She just jumped! She knows I'm here… she probably can sense it!"
Madam Phompry shook her head, and began murmuring to herself as she headed back towards her office. "And also, Mr. Snape – Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to speak with you. Stay in place… he told me to say he'll meet you by Ms. Daniels' bedside at ten-thirty."
Severus sat back down, bewildered now. Lost in thoughts, he didn't speak, but simply sat with Alanze, occasionally rubbing her hand. He smoothed the strands of her unruly hair out of her face and off of her neck, and sighed down upon the woman he had so many unknown feelings for. He watched as she slept, as her chest rose and fell…
How her naked body felt against his, together as one as they…
What was he thinking?
Slowly, his hand laid on her stomach, and for the first time he felt the growth that she was nourishing to both of their ignorance. It was obvious that Alanze was not the normal weight she had used to be; and that her stomach was rather tender and swollen. Severus' hand quivered as he could have sworn the bulge in her stomach bounced slightly. And it was then, when footsteps snapped him back into his senses of the real world.
"Mr. Snape."
Severus' hand felt like ice again as he quickly removed it from Alanze's stomach. He was caught in the act!
"Naturally, we know of the whole ordeal," proceeded Dumbledore calmly. "And through basic analysis and through rumors and deduction… Poppy and I both know that Ms. Daniels is pregnant and that you are the father of her unborn child."
"If you have to give out punishments, Professor, sir… please, just expel me for this last month at Hogwarts. Don't expel Alanze… her situation was just a giant mistake and it isn't her fault that I wasn't careful…" Severus rambled nervously, his pulse beating a fast tempo against his Adam's apple. He felt like he would do anything, just as long as Alanze was kept in good terms.
"You are not to be immediately punished, Mr. Snape." Dumbledore paused, traveling about to Remus' well lived in chair and taking a seat. "But seeing as a life is on the line… the baby must be put before other matters. Do you understand?"
"Yes," responded Severus automatically, "Do either you or Madam Phompry know a reason why Alanze… tried… to…" he trailed off, looking up at his Headmaster quite hopefully.
"No, that is under questioning. Did something happen between you both or between her and Mr. Lupin that she ultimately didn't agree with?" Dumbledore questioned wisely.
"She and I had an argument a few days after she told me she was pregnant," the boy commented darkly, "She misunderstood me when I tried to explain to her I wasn't ready for a child."
"If you knew you weren't ready for a child, why did you disobey a school rule and refuse abstinence as it was taught to you in your third, fourth and fifth years by Professor Colby?"
"I-" Severus broke off. He was ashamed. His hands shakily ran through his oily hair, and he made a mental note to himself to actually wash it. Just this once.
"No matter, what is done in the past can't be undone, Mr. Snape." Dumbledore paused, sighing and observing Alanze on the cot. "What do you plan to do with the baby?"
"So it's fine? The baby? And Alanze? They'll both be good?" Severus questioned, with new hope.
"Thankfully, the baby will be fine just as long as Ms. Daniels drinks down her nourishment potions. However, Ms. Daniels herself… she may not wake up."
"What do you mean she 'may not wake up'?" Severus gritted, wishing for the opposite of what Dumbledore just spoke to him.
"She's in a comatose." Dumbledore elaborated, "People can be in a comatose for weeks, months, or even years at a time."
Severus sighed, thinking deeply. The headmaster let him contemplate over his many thoughts, and only spoke when Severus looked up at him once again.
"I want to keep the baby," he grunted, "It's not the baby or Alanze's fault that I made a mistake. Are you going to expel me?"
"No. I'll observe if things in the school have died down within the end of the month. Maybe then, you'll be allowed back into the main castle." Dumbledore deducted going to leave. Severus watched him go up to a certain extent.
"Be sure not to stay longer than daybreak. I'm sure that Mr. Lupin will not appreciate you being here when he returns from his transformation. And… another confrontation between you both would not be recommended right now."
"When am I going to be allowed to see her again?" Severus intertwined his pale fingers into Alanze's limp caramel ones.
"Madam Phompry and I are unsure, but be reconciled that we will keep you informed on her progress on a daily basis."
"I know." Severus whispered, pecking Alanze lightly on her pale cheeks. "Thank you, Professor."
"Not at all," was all Dumbledore said, before dismissing himself.
As Severus sat, still staring down lightly at Alanze, no one noticed an unmoving shadow in the far corner of the room. Quietly, the person standing there grumbled to himself before standing up to his full height.
"That heir will be mine, Severus. Mark what I said," murmured the shadow in the dark.
But Severus, obliviously, never heard the voice. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, because at that exactly moment the person in the shadow disappeared.
-x-
April soon turned into May, and through the month Severus never got to visit Alanze again except that one time. Remus, however, was a local down at the hospital wing. He practically lived behind the white curtains with Alanze in the back of the ward. Today was a Friday, and after Ancient Runes, Remus had an hour break. He said a farewell to his fellow Marauders before heading up towards the fourth floor. The wooden door beckoning into the Hospital Wing was closed, but he rapped lightly and allowed himself inside. By habit, he waved to Madams Phompry and Jaccobs and headed to the back of the ward. When he was there, he was met with an unusual sight. Alanze wasn't in her bed! Heart pummeling, Remus scanned the hospital wing, with high hopes, wondering what the world was going on.
"Madam Phompry…." Remus called, voice nearly jumping an octave, "Where's Alanze?"
"She was being tested by St. Mungo's Healers and getting a bath. She'll be back in bed momentarily. But in the meanwhile, Mr. Lupin, you could tidy up the place and change her bed sheets. They've been looking a bit dingy for the last week." Madam Phompry answered, edges of her mouth twitching a bit. "Trust me, nothing miraculous happened or you would've been informed of it right away."
Remus rolled his eyes, but proceeded into changing the sheets. He took his time fluffing Alanze's pillows with fresh cases when two officials in lime-green robes walked right beside him floating a stretcher with Alanze in it. Remus observed as they transferred her to the cot again. She was wearing fresh nightclothes, and her hair was in a neat knob in the back of her head. Remus marveled how much her bangs grew, as they were once again all over her face as the Healers abruptly tucked the girl in and headed towards the Matron's office on the opposite end of the ward.
Remus flopped down in his usual chair, grinning at Alanze who was sleeping quite undisturbed, as usual. Habitually, he smoothed her bangs behind her ears and then turned his back on her, as if hiding something.
"I've got a surprise for you," he teased, reaching inside of his robes, "You'd never guess – but I've got you a flower. Picked off the grounds m'self… saw it and thought of you… so I brought it up here."
Remus dawdled in smelling the lovely bud, a wide violet, before weaving it into Alanze's bun in her hair. He grinned. Dark colours were always a nice colour for Alanze, as her skin colour was dark.
"Remus?" he suddenly heard Madam Jaccobs call him. "May we have a word with you?"
"Sure." Remus jumped up, pecking Alanze on the cheek lightly as he headed towards the end of the ward. He eyed the faces of the adults wearily, and a feeling of foreboding suddenly hit him in the stomach as one of the Healers closed the door behind him as he entered the office.
"Son," the male Healer addressed Remus, making him scowl, "We have some… bad news to deliver to you."
"Bad news?" Remus echoed, "How bad?"
"For one… Miss Alanze Daniels is five months pregnant." Madam Phompry started, "We just didn't want to tell you until the time was appropriate."
Remus' brow furrowed, but he didn't seem too surprised. He always sensed an extra force about Alanze whenever he was nearby. "So, I'm assuming that the rumors are true. All the business with Snape and all?"
"Yes." Madam Phompry said lightly, "Please don't be angry and overreact. Your temper is the reason why we waited so long to let you know."
Remus felt angry, not at Severus or Alanze, but at the adults for deeming him as hot-tempered. "Fine," he spat, "What else do you have to tell me? I know you didn't beckon me in here just to tell me one thing."
The female healer put her hand on Remus' shoulder. Remus eyed her, and found she was old enough to be his mother.
"Mr. Lupin…" she delayed slowly, "We have found out that through testing that… that…"
"That what?" asked the werewolf acidly, "What?"
"That Ms. Daniels may not wake up. At all." The healer finished.
Remus felt like all his hopes diminished, his soul was sucked out through his ear, and all his belongings and friends were sold to the Dark Lord all at once. It was a horrible feeling of despair. He didn't know how to react.
"Wh..?" he blanched, looking at all of the adult's faces.
"It's just that Alanze hasn't been showing any signs of progress from the treatment that I've been giving her, Remus." Madam Phompry pleaded, wringing her hands nervously, "So they may have to take her to St. Mungo's. They have a special ward over there for those whose brains have been muddled by magic."
"No." Remus repeated, "So you mean she'll still be… alive… but in St. Mungo's… forever sleeping?" he asked, horrified.
"If she doesn't show any progress soon to her treatments, then I have no idea, Mr. Lupin." The matron answered sadly, "We thought you'd ought to know because in order for her to be properly cared for… she needs a guardian that is of legal Wizarding Age and someone to be financially stable throughout her whole diagnosis in the hospital. It isn't free to keep a… magically dependent person at St. Mungo's, Remus."
Remus' head swelled. Silently, he turned his back to the adults and thought to himself. Someone of age? And with finances? His head reeled. His parents had used all of their assets to help get suitable treatment for his lycanthropy… and technically he had no gold to even think about helping Alanze with. Surely, he could ask Padfoot and Prongs to help him… they were his best mates and they had a lot of gold… but would they want to? Why should they, when after all this time Remus have been more devoted to Alanze than to them?
"Son?" the male Healer questioned again. "Did you hear our question?"
Remus looked back towards them, fighting a big urge to bolt away in tears. He kept his composure, and glared at them all instead. "What did you ask?"
"We asked if you would agree to be her backer." The male healer held out a sealed roll of parchments to Remus, which he took abruptly and unrolled. Remus scanned it quickly and found it to be some sort of contract for admittance into St. Mungo's. He glanced back up at the male healer after reading the first sentence over again in his mind.
This contract hereby agrees that the wizard accepting responsibility, guardianship, and finances for the soon-to-be hospitalized wizard in need is over the legal wizarding age…
"I'm not of age." Remus responded dully, wanting now more than ever to burst into tears. "I'm not of legal wizarding age."
"What do you mean?" Madam Jaccobs asked. There were a few tears rolling down her face. "Sure you are, your birthday is in May."
"It's at the end of May." Remus reminded her, kneading his knuckles into his hair. "I won't be of age until then, and the contract calls for me to be of age to make the decision at least twenty-four hours after the parchment's been presented to me."
Madam Jaccobs felt sorry for him, and tried to engross him in an one-armed hug, but Remus shrugged away from her.
"What happens?" he asked the Healers rapidly, "What happens if no one will sign for her treatment?"
"Since Madam Phompry does not have enough materials to keep Ms. Daniels maintained here at Hogwarts…" the female healer started, "Without the proper potions, herbs and treatments, Ms. Daniels will slowly deteriorate within a span of a few weeks."
"Deteriorate?" Remus cried, "As in die?"
And Remus got the worse answer in the world when no one responded. All the adults simply avoided his eyes.
He had had enough. Rashly, Remus turned and ran out of the office. He couldn't take it anymore… he needed justice…
He was going to run to the only people he could trust: his fellow Marauders and Lily, and Professor Dumbledore. Perhaps with them, Remus could maybe find a loophole in the contract.
It was his last hope.
--
"Bully this!"
Severus was fed up with Dumbledore's rules. A month had passed now, and he was still cooped up in an underground room. He heard the bell beckoning students to their final afternoon class… and decided to do something very reckless. Figuring no one would be in the Hospital Wing at this time, Severus sprinted out of his room and up several floors until he was within distance of the Hospital Wing. It had been weeks since he had heard any news about Alanze, and Severus didn't even know what her condition was.
Thinking things were going better than he'd ever thought they would be, and wondering why he hadn't done anything sooner… Severus was grinning ear to ear as he took a few more strides and rounded the corner to the hospital wing. His smile faded as quickly as it had come, when something very heavy rammed into his upper chest and knocked him astray.
"OUCH, DAMNIT!"
Severus watched in amazement as a bawling Remus Lupin collided with him and fell opposite to where he was standing. He scarcely had time to ask why the blooming hell the Gryffindor was crying before he was being threatened by wand-point.
"And it's STILL your fault that Alanze's in the hospital!" Remus yelled bitterly, his voice tangled and no louder than a whisper.
"Wait – what the bloody hell is going on?" Severus responded in return, trying to get Remus to relinquish his grip, "What're you on about, Lupin?"
"ALANZE'S NOT GOING TO LIVE!" Remus yelled rashly, "SHE'S GOING TO DIE BECAUSE I CAN'T HELP HER!"
Severus' blood ran cold, "What? Wait, Lupin. What'd you mean?"
"I CAN'T HELP HER! I CAN'T HELP HER!"
"YOU aren't making any BLOODY sense, Lupin!" Severus yelled, "WHAT'D YOU MEAN?"
Remus looked beyond insanity. Before the werewolf could respond, however, Severus abruptly brought his fist back and crammed it into Remus' face.
Stunned slightly, the werewolf boy fell backwards on his arse, and sat staring up at the Slytherin with his jaw dropped. For a second, the foes continuously glared at each other, unspeaking. Then the Gryffindor opened his mouth.
"Thanks." Remus added lightly, rubbing his jaw. "I lost myself there."
"I noticed." Severus replied coldly, messaging his fist. "I had no idea that I could hit that hard."
Remus actually laughed, still staring up at the Slytherin. "You've been saving that punch just for me, haven't you, Snape?"
"Perhaps." Severus replied shortly. "What was all that business you were yelling about Alanze when you were delusional? What'd you mean you can't help her and she's going to die?"
Remus felt his mouth get dry in less than five seconds. "Madam Phompry presented me with this," he motioned to the paper he had dropped in the scramble, "It's a… wait. Why am I even telling you this? I hate you. Alanze's health should be of no matter of concern-"
"Don't make the mistake in thinking that you are the only man who cares deeply for Alanze, Lupin." Severus glared at Remus in response. "And yes, you hate me… but when it comes to Alanze, we have a common ground now, don't we?"
Remus smirked, glancing up at the Slytherin still from the floor, "I reckon so, but don't let that get to your head."
"Why were you in such a state of hysteria?" Severus questioned again, "Where were you running to?"
"To Dumbledore. I need justice." Remus snapped, finally getting up off of the floor. "They say I can't be in custody of Alanze because I'm not of age and I don't have finances to support her hospital bill."
Severus looked severely concerned as Remus began to trot off in the direction of Dumbledore's office, yet again. "Wait, Lupin!"
Remus stopped and turned abruptly. "What!"
"Maybe it's something I could do?" the Slytherin suggested slowly.
"I already told you I don't want your help!" the Gryffindor snapped.
"And I already told you that I don't want anything to do with you! I just want to help Alanze!" Severus growled back.
"What can you do that I already can't? It's bad enough that I have to go to all this trouble to get Dumbledore and make them see logic-" Remus ranted, running a nervous hand through his hair.
"I'm of age." Severus spoke bluntly. Remus stared at him.
"I'm of age." Severus repeated again, "And I've got enough money to keep Alanze stable."
"And you'd want to do this… why?" asked the Gryffindor in disbelief.
"Because the reason that she tried to kill herself is my fault. I… said some stupid things when I should've been more rational." Severus grumbled lowly.
"You're the father of her baby, am I correct?" Remus added dully. Severus' face turned blood red in a matter of a few seconds. He fumbled with words, but Remus took the subject more maturely than Severus' would've thought him capable of.
"Ye… Yes." Severus admitted, "They told you?"
"Naturally. I've been here with Alanze everyday. I think I'd have a right to know." Remus replied coolly.
"Only because I've been locked up!" Severus growled, "I'd rather face what people are saying than to be stored underground! I couldn't help it that I couldn't visit!"
Remus folded his arms. "They probably didn't want you around here because I'm here daily. They probably thought that we would be involved in a dueling death match or something."
Severus fought back the urge to laugh in his face. "I wonder why."
Remus laughed easily, however. "You know, it's crazy what hormones and an interesting girl can do to two adolescent boys."
"Boys?" Severus gasped sarcastically, looking scandalized. "I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, Lupin. And as an added bonus, I'm of age."
"Funny, aren't you?" Remus replied wittily.
"More like cunning. You Gryffindors are the want-to-be comical type."
There was an awkward pause between the young men. Remus scoffed slightly.
"You know… it's not worth it really." The Gryffindor commented, folding his arms and looking at the Slytherin. He and Severus were inches of each other's heights.
"What's not worth what?" sneered Severus.
"All this grudging between us over Alanze. I've never actually realized until today that all the fighting we've been doing is for one… over a girl, and for two… utterly pointless between us." Remus concocted.
Severus felt himself stricken dumb. For a moment, he had no idea on what to say. "You know, I think you're coming onto something there, Lupin."
"Yeah, it's really idiotic why we were fighting," Remus added smoothly, "By the way, what do you and Alanze have?"
Severus felt himself tense again. "What'd you mean?"
"If she's pregnant with your child and all… it's just… do you… love her?" Remus asked calmly, staring at the Slytherin with penetrating eyes. Severus felt rooted to the spot.
"I-" Severus felt himself saying, "I don't know. I know we shouldn't have done what we did… but it was a spur of the moment type of thing."
"Stop avoiding the question. Do you love her?"
"I-"
"You're making me angry. Don't make me regret all that fighting nonsense I just blurted out before." Remus narrowed his eyes. Severus gulped subconsciously.
"I suppose." Severus admitted, "I do. At least I think I do."
"Well you'd better, if you've got a child on the way." Remus growled, "And in this case, I'll respect all the feelings you have for her."
Severus' jaw dropped as he surveyed the Gryffindor. What he just said was so surreal, Severus didn't even expect to have to react to something like that.
"I… wow," the stunned Slytherin babbled, "I don't know what to say, Lupin."
"Then don't say anything. I have a catch."
"Damn."
Severus knew it was too good to be true.
"I'll respect all your feelings for Alanze, but if she doesn't want anything to do with you, I want you to respect what we have."
"What'd you mean respect what you have? You don't even have anything with her! She was my girlfriend!" sneered the Slytherin.
"I know, but when she wakes up… she's not going to resort to you for comfort. She's going to come back to me. I'm the good guy, her first love. She'll probably be terrified of you." Remus smirked, knowing what he was saying would crawl under the Slytherin's skin.
"What!" Severus snarled, "I don't see your logic! She's having my-"
"Child? I know." Remus replied coolly, "But I'll be fair with you, just as long as you follow the proper guidelines that I have when you're probably visiting us at our home…"
"WHAT!" screeched Severus, "You're thinking ahead quite a lot for a boy who isn't even of age, yet."
"Oh ha." Remus replied, rolling his eyes and folding his arms again. "Witty."
"I-" Severus' face was growing hot from the argument. He stopped suddenly, something in the shadows catching his eye.
Someone was standing there, watching them. His blood ran cold, as he undoubtedly knew who was observing him. His father looked back on the pair, eyes as harsh as the plastered smirk on his lips.
"We… have to get Alanze out of here." Severus murmured to Remus, eyes wide in horror now. "She's not safe."
"She's not safe in school, outside of school, nor in St. Mungo's if you don't have enough galleons." Remus replied sarcastically. His tone changed, when he noticed how scared Severus now looked. "What's… what're you on about, Snape?"
"I can't explain it here… but there's no time… we need Dumbledore." Severus whispered, staring in the shadows and trying to ward off his father. When the man didn't disappear, like usual, it made Severus even more alarmed. "We need Dumbledore… and quick! Something bad can happen to my child… or worse, Alanze… and we have to see Dumbledore!"
"Why're you whispering, what's going on?" Remus goggled in the area that Severus was motionless and staring at. "What do you see?"
It took a few minutes for Remus' eyes to focus in the darker section of the corridor. He became uneasy when he noticed there was a man in the corner, staring at them.
"Friend of the family, Snape?" he asked coolly, "May I ask who the blooming hell is this man?"
"He's my… father. He's… a vampire." Severus responded rushed, "Not an actual Vampire, a Tremare… that's why he's out at this time of day… but it doesn't matter now, I can't explain it here… You have to come with me to get Dumbledore!"
"Vampire? What the hell's a Tremare?" Remus questioned, taking his eyes off the strange man in the corner and focusing back on Severus. "Should we even trust him enough to leave? Alanze's just beyond this wall!" he motioned to the Hospital Ward at Severus' back.
"I know, but somehow we have to get help before something worse happens to Alanze!" Severus whispered alarmed.
"Worse like what?" Remus wondered aloud.
Severus' eyes snapped from his father for a second, "This situation is more dangerous than you seem to realize! He's a bloody vampire, who's gone mad, and wants revenge on me and he's going to try and get it by doing horrible things to Alanze!"
"Then why didn't you say that?" Remus replied, heart racing. "Let's go to Dumbledore then, shall we?"
"Yes…" Severus trailed off. His eyes scraped the entire corridor where his father had been. There was no sign of the elder Snape, anywhere. Severus nearly felt like fainting.
"He's gone." Severus murmured, "He's gone!"
"Then let's hurry." Remus urged, tugging at the Slytherin's shoulder in the direction of the staircase, "If it's as urgent as you think it is, let's go to Dumbledore. I know where his office is. Let's go!"
Severus could vaguely even remember being tugged in the opposite direction by the Gryffindor. He was horrified and now he hadn't a clue of where his father could be lurking. With common sense hitting him, he started to run beside Remus in the direction of Dumbledore's office.
Hopefully, Alanze would be safe until they got back with proper help.
Or Severus would never forgive himself.