Once again, cause is good to repeat, I own a few characters, spells, and other stuff, but everything else you recognize from the Harry Potter books 1-4 belongs to J.K. Rowling. The lyrics are form the song "You'll be in my heart" form Phill Collins. No profit is coming out of this but my own amusement.

Author's note: This fiction turned out to be focused more on other characters than on Harry Potter, and for that I apologize. It was not my intention. Harry has a very important role in the story but I guess he is not the actual center of it and if readers wanted to be that way…sorry…it might not happen. Anyway, I am really enjoying writing it and I hope you are too.

Warning: This story is rated PG 13 and this chapter shows why. Be warned of some suggestive scenes. They are really rather un-naughty, but just in case there are very young readers out there, I want you to be warned beforehand.

Chapter Eight

Moony's Trouble

"We are not finished" Snape said in a low but firm voice, as he caught step with Moira and led her by her arm into an empty classroom.

"Take your hands off me" she said and he roughly pushed her inside the room and closed the door behind him. They stood facing each other in silence. Her breathing was still heavy and her eyes showed how much he had hurt her. He saw it again, in the depths of her brown eyes: fear.

"I trusted you" she whispered to him.

Snape walked away from her. Voldemort's request echoing in his mind.

"You have become a target for the Dark Side. It was the only way I had to show you this" he raised his head, still holding his back to her "Why did you come back?" he asked in a low voice.

Moira took in the question.

"I'm tired of hiding" she whispered.

"You were safe, Crane. He couldn't touch you if he couldn't find you" he said, not meeting her eyes.

Moira walked over to Snape, detecting the tone of worry in his voice.

"He took everything from me, Snape. The lives of my friends, my mother, got me away from my father" and away from you, she added to herself "I am not letting him take away my freedom. Not for one more second"

"If you had married him, this wouldn't have happened" he said.

Her heart compressed as his words stabbed it. She raised her head, trying to hide the fact that the one man she had truly loved, that she still loved, reprimanded her for not marring someone else.

"Yes it would, but by my own hands" she said, turning her back on him "I'm not running away anymore".

"You know somebody else depends on your life, Crane" he said. Irritation in his tone of voice.

"And I will fight for him and beside him" she said firmly "Changing sides is not an option for me. It never was."

Snape put his handkerchief to his face again.

"He'll hunt you down" he said, looking at his own blood on the white cloth.

"I know" she turned to face Snape again and this time their eyes met. Moira's face was pale and her eyes glittered "You met him didn't you?" she whispered "You met him today"

Snape didn't move. Voldemort told him she would know that they had met, but how did she?

"Is that why you did what you did?" she asked sounding both hurt and angry. "Answer me" she demanded, raising her voice.

"The events of last night had nothing to do with it" his voice was deep "In fact, he knows nothing about them"

"I was right then. You told him about my powers getting stronger?" she asked. Her voice dripping with disgust for what he had done. Snape didn't say a word "What did he ask of you this time? Did he send Lucius? Did he...did he send you?" she whispered the last question.

"Lucius went after you by himself" Snape answered "He sent somebody else to watch you, not me"

Moira sat down on an armchair and slowly rested her head on her hands. This couldn't be happening. Not so soon. Not now.

It was his time to regard her with doubt.

"He told me you would ask if I had met him" his voice was threatening "How did you know?"

Moira stood up but turned her head away from Snape. His steps got louder as he came in her direction. Before she could react, Snape grasped her left wrist and pulled her sleeve up, exposing her white and clear forearm. He expected her to react but she didn't move.

Snape and Moira faced each other. He didn't let go of her wrist.

"He wants you back...badly" Snape said. The way Voldemort's voice repeated the word "my" made his blood boil. He stood there, holding Moira's wrist when he wanted to have her in his arms.

"That is so romantic of him" she said scoffing. Snape let go of her wrist slowly and pulled down her sleeve "I'll remember that" she said as she walked to the door. When she opened it, Snape's hand pushed the door closed.

"How did you know?" he whispered behind her.

She stood facing the door, feeling his body close to her. She knew he wouldn't let her out before he got his questions answered, but she didn't say a single word.

"He told me you were his and his alone" he hissed by her ear, trying to anger her enough so she would talk back to him.

"I don't carry his mark as you do, Snape" she spat, turning to face him "I don't belong to him" Moira walked past Snape, away from the door.

"But you can feel him, can't you?" he cornered Moira against a high closet. The wood of the furniture cracked when her back made contact with it. "When he called you his, you felt him, didn't you?" Snape asked, anger and jealousy mingled in his question.

"Yes" she spat at him "I have felt him all my life" she said, eyes angry and not blinking "and believe me, it hasn't been pleasant".

Snape put a few steps of distance between them. The line between his eyes was visible as his dark frown took hold of his face.

"How? Why?" he asked.

"I don't know" she lied, still with her back against the closet. Her eyes were looking at the tips of her boots.

Then without warning, the door of the classroom broke open and an enraged Sirius came through holding his wand in front of him and pointing it at Snape.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU" he yelled, eyes set on Snape. Sirius had a mad expression on his face, very much like the one he had when he met Peter Pettigrew a couple of years ago.

"WHAT are you DOING?" Moira asked as she stood in front of him.

Lupin and Harry got to the room moments later. Lupin held his arm close to his chest.

"Calm down, Sirius" Lupin said urgently "Let him explain first".

"There is no explanation for what he did" he hissed not taking his eyes from Snape, who stood tall behind Moira "Move aside, Moira" Sirius demanded.

"I will not" she said challengingly "I won't let you ruin your life again"

"Listen to her, Sirius, please" Lupin pleaded.

"You hurt your best friend?" Snape asked amused as he observed Lupin holding his left shoulder "I knew I was right about you. You'll always be an animal".

"Shut your mouth" hissed Lupin "What do you know about friendship?"

Snape's grin faded but he stood his ground.

"How dare you?" Snape hissed, taking a step forward but was stopped by Moira's hand on his chest.

"You touch him and I'll kill you myself" Moira said firmly, her eyes set on Snape's.

He saw she wasn't kidding. Since he was outnumbered in the room, Snape decided it was time to be quiet and let the lady of the house settle things, as she had always done.

"Stand aside, Moira" Sirius hissed.

"Don't do this. Don't let him have the satisfaction of being right" Moira said softly, moving closer to Sirius "Let this go".

Sirius lowered down his wand but still held it tightly in his hand. In one swift motion, he pulled Moira to stand behind him.

"Get out before I change my mind" Sirius said, turning to Snape.

Snape walked pass them with his posture and morale untouched. His eyes narrowed when he passed by Harry, but the boy was too much in shock with everything that was going on to notice it. As the door closed behind him, Moira turned to Sirius.

"Did you lose your mind completely?"

"I think you did. Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"Because it didn't concern you" she said "How did you find..." her eyes narrowed when they met Harry's, "You were there, weren't you?" her voice menacing.

Harry nodded, hiding the cold he was feeling down his spine.

"Do you realize what could have happened?" she asked Harry "You could have gotten your godfather back in Azkaban for a stupid reason"

"It wasn't stupid" Lupin said, calmly.

"And what happened to him, Sirius? Oh...let me guess. He was trying to talk you out of this insanity and you pushed him out of your way, correct?"

Harry nodded sadly.

"I stayed behind to help him" the boy said.

Moira came toward Lupin and caught his other arm.

"Let's take care of this" she whispered to him "I'll deal with you two later" she hissed at Sirius and Harry, her eyes showing that she was not kidding.

In Moira's office, she helped Lupin sat down on the couch. She got a few supplies from her cabinets and came back to him.

Moira took off his shirt carefully and put it aside. Not as broad shouldered as Sirius, Lupin was still in shape. Clear skin, a few freckles on his shoulders and back and quite strapping arms. She stood behind him, her hands on his shoulder and on his arm.

"This is going to hurt a little" she whispered and he nodded.

With one movement, Moira put Lupin's shoulder back in place. The young werewolf growled.

"Sorry" she whispered back as she put her wand to his shoulder and murmured a healing spell. After that, Moira started to bandage his shoulder "This will fade away when you're healed. It shouldn't take long"

Lupin observed her every move, noticing that her eyes were on him, but her thoughts were some place else. Her touch was soft and to Lupin's surprise, it made his heart accelerate a bit every time she unthinkingly brushed her hand against his skin. By her gaze, he knew she was doing some fast thinking, he also noticed that the outline of her eyes were darker than ever before. He was looking at them when their eyes met and her movements stopped.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked.

Moira picked up his shirt and help him put it on, carefully.

"I couldn't" she whispered as she pulled his good arm into the shirt "I was trying to avoid all of this".

"Has it happened before?"

Moira shook her head no as she pulled his shirt over the bandaged arm, not being able to button it.

"I can't believe he hurt you like that" she said "What an example to Harry"

Lupin blinked as the first name of Sirius godson was spoken for the first time by Moira.

"He didn't mean to" Lupin said as he sat back on the couch "I can't say I blame him" his eyes met hers again. Lupin gestured for Moira to sit by him and she did.

She let out a sigh as his hand found hers. Lupin was so much easier to talk to than Sirius. He would listen and weigh all the sides of the matter before making a decision. Sirius would just blow everything out of proportion.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" he asked.

"Not really" she replied looking down at their hands "Besides, I think Potter told you everything already"

"Not everything" he tossed at her and their eyes found each other again "I know you, Moira. It is not anger you're feeling, is betrayal" he said and her eyes traveled from his to her lap, where her other hand fiddled unconsciously with a piece of lint " If I ask you something, will you be honest with me?"

Moira nodded quite reluctantly, still not meeting his eyes.

"Do you have feelings for Severus?" he whispered.

Moira's head snapped in his direction. She looked into his eyes as her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't lie to him but she had to. Admitting that to him would be like admitting it to herself, and loving Snape without return again was something she might not be able to bear.

"I did once" she whispered, not taking her eyes away from Lupins "but I don't anymore" she lied, looking at their hands.

"Does he know?"

Moira shook her head no.

"When?" Lupin whispered.

"A long time ago" Moira said, her eyes lost in thought "It doesn't matter now" she muttered.

Lupin regarded her. Yes, it did matter and a lot or else she wouldn't have said the things she did. Or else she wouldn't be whispering lies. Was he the one that she was in love with when engaged to Voldemort?

"I won't tell a soul" he whispered to her "I promise".

Moira didn't look up at him. She sighed as relief washed over her. When Lupin promised something, he really meant it.

"Come here" Lupin whispered pulling her close to him until her head was resting below his chin.

She closed her eyes as she felt him stroking her hair. His even breathing calmed her down a bit. Her hand found the one that was tied in the bandages and held it. He kissed the top of her head and laid his face against it.

"What is it with me and Slytherin men?" she whispered, closing her eyes.

"Maybe you haven't found the right Gryffindor yet" he murmured back.

"I did, but you're taken" she said with a weak smile.

Lupin smiled back. He knew that she was kidding but he couldn't deny the way he felt when she said those words. He had been over her for a long time now and was in love with her cousin. But then, why did her words have so much power over him? He had never lost his temper with anyone before today and he would have pulled his wand at Snape if it came to that. That thought frightened him a bit. What made things even worse for him was what Moira had told Snape. If you touch him, I'll kill you myself. She was protective of him as he was of her. Suddenly, he felt something he had never felt before: envy. He envied Severus for having Moira's heart and hated him for breaking it.

The bandage faded away, releasing his left arm and Moira moved a bit, falling asleep. He held her against him and managed to put his arm into the other sleeve without waking her up. The door creaked open and, instinctively, Lupin held Moira tighter, now with both arms. Sirius appeared from behind it. He looked at Sirius, relaxing a bit, waiting to hear what he wanted but instead, he just smiled and left.

"Looks like we've been saved Harry. At least for now" Sirius said as he closed the door to Moira's office "Let's go eat" he added in a cheerier mood "All of this worked up my appetite".

The Great Hall didn't have many students and only a hand full of teachers so Sirius sat by Harry at the Gryffindor table. Hermione was there and so was Julie.

"Hello" Sirius said as he sat down.

Julie giggled and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Where's Ron" Harry asked Hermione.

"I don't know" Hermione said dryly.

"Yes you do" Julie replied "We just saw him. He was talking to the Ravenclaw twins" Julie told Harry.

Hermione looked at her plate, blushing with anger.

When Harry was about to say something, Ron entered the hall, moving directly to them and sitting in front of Hermione.

"Finally" he sighed as he sat down "I thought I could never lose them"

Hermione didn't look up.

"What's the matter, Ron?" Sirius asked "I thought you were enjoying the attention"

"I was. They are very nice, but when we were talking, they didn't even know the other name of mandrake"

"Mandragora" Hermione whispered without thinking.

"Exactly" Ron whispered back.

Hermione looked up at him and the red head was smiling embarrassingly at her.

"Good. No more arguing then" Julie whispered to Harry, who smiled.

They turned when they heard a very good and deep laughter. Megan Malfoy was talking to Neville as they entered the Hall.

"Dressed like your grandmother" she laughed again as she reached the Gryffindor table "Neville was telling me about how the Boggart turned into Professor Snape dressed in his grandmother's clothes" Megan said.

It was Sirius' turn to laugh.

"When did this happen?" he asked Neville.

"It was on third year. Professor Lupin was our Defense teacher"

"Oh, that was when you had escaped Azkaban, right Professor?" asked Julie and Sirius nodded "I'm glad you are free" she said smiling.

"Thank you, but I bet some people don't feel that way" he said, looking at the teacher's table where Snape whispered something in Dumbledore's ear and left.

"Professor Snape knows how to hold a grudge, doesn't he?" asked Julie.

"Grudge is his middle name" Sirius whispered back "But as Professor Lupin says, I shouldn't be saying stuff like this about a fellow teacher, sorry" he said clearly without meaning it.

"It's ok. Professor Snape can be a lot of things, but he is a good teacher" Julie said "Not very fair when it comes to punishments, but very good in Potions".

Harry, Ron and Hermione shrugged. They knew they were right, but admitting that Snape was good at something made them sick to their stomachs. Sirius couldn't bring himself to compliment Snape in any way, so he just took a sip of his pumpkin juice, trying not to run to Dumbledore and tell him everything that had happened between his daughter and the "former" Death Eater.

"Was everything cleared up? Did you tell Sirius?" Hermione whispered to Harry.

"You have no idea. I'll tell you all about it when we go back to the common room"

The sun had set about a half hour when Moira opened her eyes. She was lying face down on the couch in her office. There were pillows under her head and a blanket carrying the Gryffindor colors over her. She moved to a sitting position and looked around.

"Remus?" she called softly.

The door to her office opened and Lupin appeared.

"How's your shoulder?" she asked in a sleepy voice as she passed her hand through her hair, taking it away from her face.

"Better, thank you" he said as he came closer "And how are you?"

"Still mad at those two" she stretched her arms "God, this couch is uncomfortable"

Lupin smiled as he watched her raise her arms way above her head. Looking more like a cat than a snake, Moira's body, shaped like a violin, twisted and cracked back in place.

"That had to hurt" he said, making a face at the cracking sounds.

"I am an invertebrate Animagus. I can handle" she smiled at him "What time is it?" she asked, looking at the darkening sky outside the window.

"Sevenish I think" he answered.

"I slept that long? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You needed the rest"

Moira stood up, moving closer to him, reaching for his shoulder.

"You healed fine. All ready for the next one" she said as she finished buttoning his shirt. It was kind of a difficult task since her finger and fingernails were quite long and the buttons quite small. Since her ponytail had been undone, her long hair fell on the sides of her face, almost eating away her pale features.

"I think I'll pass that" he said smiling as he watched the concentration she was in trying to grasp a button "What about you? Are you ready for the next one?" his smile faded.

"Oh, I'm going after Sirius and his godson as soon as I have showered and changed" she said, fixing his collar.

"I didn't mean that" he whispered.

Moira's hands stopped and she looked into his eyes. She took her hands away from his collar and her posture toughened.

"If you mean Snape, than the answer is no. I was young and stupid, that's all" she said firmly, but Lupin caught the sadness in her tone of voice.

"You are still young, Moira"

"But not stupid. Snape is no prince charming that is going to rescue me from the Dark Lord on a stallion" she said "I'm not going through that lie with him or anyone else again and please, Remus, drop the subject".

He nodded.

"I'll see you at dinner" she said and left the room.

Lupin watched her leave. Really, he had never thought of it like that. Moira wanted to be saved but no one was up for the job so she simply did it herself. The princess had fought the dragon and fled the tower all by herself.

"It was not supposed to be like this" Lupin whispered as his heart filled with promises of what might have been.

Moira walked to her room in silence, thinking of what she was going to say to Sirius and Harry. In truth she already knew what to say to them; that they had been careless, and that what happened to her wasn't their business. She understood why they acted the way they did. Sirius was protective and Harry felt bad for not being able to do something. But the situation was delicate for Sirius. He couldn't go around threatening teachers like that, especially teachers like Snape. But there was one thing that haunted her thoughts; her conversation with Remus. She hated having to lie to him, but that was her only option. She just couldn't admit she was still in love with that ill-tempered greasy haired git. That man whose voice was more powerful than Imperio. Moira blinked and shrugged, trying to get rid of those thoughts.

Some students walked pass her and rushed their footsteps. Clearly, the events of last night were still quite present in their minds. She would hear whispering as she walked and felt their eyes on her, watching her movements. It felt like she was a student again. Some students, on the other hand would pass her and greet her with broad smiles.

"I'm glad you are all right Professor Crane" a fifth year Hufflepuff said to her.

She thanked the girl and heard her whisper to the boy next to her "See...I told you she was nice". Moira smiled at that comment.

After taking a long shower, Moira put on a comfortable canoe cut, long sleeved black dress. Her clothes were always well fitted, shaping her small waist and full bosom, but never revealed more skin than from her collarbone up, she made sure of that. She pulled her hair up into a casual bun and put on her usual pitch black well fitted robes and ruby earrings.

Lupin was leaving his office when he found Sirius by his door. He smiled at him.

"It is not what you think" Lupin said.

"I didn't say anything" Sirius replied, hiding a smile.

"But you thought" Lupin said as he closed the door behind him "Nothing happened. She just needed a rest"

"And she found rest in your arms" Sirius walked beside him to the Great Hall.

"Yes" Lupin said quite dryly "Do you have a problem with that?"

"I don't but apparently you do" Sirius said as they stopped "Remus...do you have feelings for her?"

Lupin lowered his head as he thought of what to say. He looked up at Sirius. His big blues eyes filled with doubt.

"I don't know anymore" he whispered.

Sirius watched Lupin and realized this was not a time for games.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he said it in an awkward manner. He was never really good when the subject was love, especially when it involved people close to him. He was good with teasing but not with serious talks.

"Talk about what? About how I'm in love with Abby but every time Moira walks into a room I forget how to breathe?" Lupin leaned against a wall, closed his eyes and passed his hands through his ash blond hair "How could this happen?"

"Crane women are like that, Remus" Sirius said smiling.

"Abby is coming over, Sirius. What am I going to do?"

"Nothing while you don't make a decision" he looked at his friend "Did you say something to her?"

"No" he said simply.

"Maybe you should talk to her. What if she feels the same way? You know Moira doesn't let her feelings show"

He knew that as well as she knew she was still in love with Severus. As tough as she might seem, Moira was a person very easy to fall in love with. She only needed to smile at you and it was done, but he had to stop thinking about her and about how she fell asleep in his arms and about how good it felt to just hold her close while he heard her breathe. It was just an infatuation, just the moment. He knew that deep down the one he loved was Abby. Yes, Abigail Crane Dumbledore was the woman he loved, he was certain of it.

"Sirius Black, you have some real explaining to do" said a voice behind them.

Moira came walking toward the two; her white skin in contrast with the black of her dress. Her lips were a very light tone of rose. Lupin's certainty was gone.

"I only protected my family" Sirius said to her, raising his hands.

"And hurt your best friend in the process" Moira said as she reached them "You know the Ministry is watching you closely. Remus is on your side but if Snape had been hurt, you could have been sent away again, do you realize that?"

"Yes but..."

"And what about Potter? What an example are you setting for him?"

"Wait a minute, lady. He had nothing to do with this. I already told him that what I did to Moony was wrong and already reprimanded him for breaking curfew" Sirius said.

"I don't want you endangering your freedom again, do you hear me?" she demanded and Sirius crossed his arms like a young boy being called by his mother "And what about Remus? Don't you have something to say to him?"

Sirius turned to his unusual quiet friend leaning by the wall and apologized.

"It's ok, Padfoot. Really" Lupin muttered.

"Good" Moira said and Sirius turned to her, following her inside the hall. Lupin walked a few steps behind.

Most of the faculty was present and the students were enjoying their meals. Moira sat down in her place between her father and Snape. They didn't even look at each other and ate their meal quietly. When dinner was almost over, Moira took a look at the Gryffindor table and found Harry looking at her. By the apologetic look he was giving her, she knew he didn't mean for all of that to happen. She managed a small smile in his direction and he smiled back. Snape's eyes narrowed again in the direction of the Boy Who Lived. Having him inside the room while all of that went through was not a good thing and would have to find a way of punish him for that. Lupin didn't touch his food.

After dinner, the students went back to their common rooms and teachers to theirs. Lupin couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned on his bed but the questions and events of the day didn't leave his mind. He got up, put on his pants, shirt and boots and went down to the kitchens. When he was a student in Hogwarts, him, Sirius and James would always steal food from the kitchens in the middle of the night under James' invisibility cloak. Now, Lupin didn't need the cloak anymore. He opened the huge silver refrigerator and smiled. It was a Muggle appliance but he knew Dumbledore liked them. For some odd reason, he liked the light that turned on when the door opens. Albus said that it made him smile. Lupin opened the door and the light coming from inside was the only one in the room. He searched for something to eat but nothing pleased him. A house elf came rubbing his enormous eyes, looking for ways he could help but Lupin thanked him and told the little servant he could go back to bed.

Lupin walked by the classrooms, remembering where he used to sit and which classes he liked the most. Moira had been right when she told him everything was so much simpler. He entered his classroom. No job to do until Monday, nothing to occupy his mind with. He opened the door that connected his classroom with Moira's. It was empty. He walked inside. It was almost like his room, but her office was on the same level as the class, not having stairs like his. He walked closer to the door to her office. It was ajar, and by the light coming through it, Moira was still up. Lupin hesitated for a moment but went closer, peeking through the space opened before him.

She was seated at her desk, writing things down on a piece of parchment. The fickle flame of the candles that burned before her gave the room a gloomy atmosphere. She would eventually raise her hand without looking up and a book would float gently from a shelf to her hand. Moira would read some excerpts out loud and make small comments like "tell me something I don't know" or "this isn't right". Her eyes ran through the words on each book, looking for the information they needed. She had always had very dramatic eyes and now that their outline was darker, her gaze was even more intense. Perfectly trimmed eyebrows that would rise, making one realize they were in deep trouble. Her long and thin fingers were the vessel to her face as she read through one piece of parchment. The long fingernail of her pinky caressed her cheekbone as she thought. Then Moira's nostrils moved slightly and she rose from her chair, making her way to the window. She stood there, motionless for some time until,

"Are you going to spend the night outside my door?" Moira asked. Her back turned to him.

Remus went inside, feeling quite embarrassed about spying on her. Moira turned to him and frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"Lack of sleep, that's all" he said, walking inside, not really sure he should be alone with her.

"Nothing good to eat in the kitchens either?" she asked without looking up.

Lupin smiled. She really knew him well.

"Do you want to help me with these then?" she asked.

Lupin came closer and saw the research she was doing. By what Abby had told her in her letters, Henry, her nephew, was suffering from some sort of Dark curse. It was as if something took hold of him, not allowing him to be the regular almost two-year-old little boy. Moira had tons of books and scrolls over her desk. The scraping sound of her quill on the piece of parchment was hypnotic.

"Any idea of what's wrong?" he asked.

"Some, but to be sure I have to take a look at the boy first" she said, picking up another book "My guess is that is done by someone powerful, but not that much and it was done as a warning"

"What do you mean?"

"My whole family is pure blooded and this is the first member that isn't. Nicholas married a Muggle and by some reason, the person who casted this spell over their baby didn't like it that much. This wizard is someone they know and the spell was cast on the baby so that Nicholas felt guilty about it. Really low move, if you ask me"

Lupin looked at her as she got up from her chair and went to pick up another book behind her. He looked at her in a different way for the first time. She wasn't a child anymore. She wasn't the headmaster's daughter either. She was a pure blooded witch, crafted in the Dark Arts. He could see now why Sirius was so protective and why Moira was so secretive. Moira came back and sat down.

"Pull up a chair, Moony" she asked him, frowning at how oddly he was behaving "I don't bite, you know?" she smiled.

Lupin smiled nervously back as he pulled up a chair and sat beside her.

"So, what have you got?" he asked, trying to ignore the pleasant smell of her perfume.

"By what Abby has told me, her nephew hasn't been eating right, not smiling and there's something wrong with his eyes. As if someone else is looking through them"

"That is creepy" Lupin said "Sounds like Personus to me"

"I thought that at first, but I don't think someone else is acting through him, he's too young. They are just imprisoning him, suspending him" Moira said without looking up "It can't be White Death either. Abby didn't mention anything about his hair turning white and besides that, he's awake"

"Do you think...it could be the Dark Veil curse" Lupin said as he picked up a parchment.

"I think this is the closest" Moira said "The problem is to lift the curse. As far as I know, the baby's godmother is suffering some serious side effects and this is one tough curse to break" Moira said "Thank goodness it isn't White Death. I would have much more work to do"

Lupin looked at her and his eyes gave him away.

"To lift this curse you need a huge amount of..."

"Dark Magic" she completed, looking at him "That is why Abby insisted that he'd be treated by me"

"But what if something goes wrong?"

"You'll be there won't you?" she asked, looking at him with her deep brown eyes and long and full eyelashes. Her head rested on the headrest of her chair.

"Always" he confirmed.

"It is all settled then. When they get here, we'll take a look on the boy, lift the curse and save the day" she said closing a book and opening another one "I'll be sleeping for hours after that and there will be lots of time for the two love doves to spend together" she added, continuing to write down notes.

"Who?" he said distractedly.

"You and Abby" Moira said looking at Lupin, whose eyes didn't meet hers "Are you sure everything is all right?"

Lupin couldn't just tell her what he felt. Not when he wasn't sure of it. But she was there, so very close. No... this could ruin their friendship and he wasn't about to let that happen. He treasured it too much.

"Remus ... I know this is none of my business but ... is there someone else?" Moira asked, her voice low.

"Wh...what?" surprise was stamped in his eyes. She couldn't read minds, could she? "What makes you say that?" he asked as he stood up.

"Everything. I would mention Abby before and you would blush, now; you're distant" she said, standing up and moving closer to him "There's someone else isn't there?"

Lupin had his back to her. He shut his eyes tight and nodded. Moira bowed her head.

"Do you love this other woman?"

"I care about her, but I don't know if I love her" he whispered back, still not having the courage to turn around.

"Is she worth hurting Abby for?" Moira asked.

Lupin turned around not sure what to say.

"Remus, I know Abby loves you and I guess it's normal if your feelings for her have faded because of the distance between the two of you, but please... don't hurt her" Moira asked softly "If you decide to leave her, do it easily. She has a fragile heart"

Lupin bowed his head. He knew Moira had been hurt badly in the past and yet, she stood here, asking him not to love her, not to do to her cousin what was done to her. Of course she didn't know she was the other woman in question but that made no difference. Abby loved him. A sweet and talented witch was in love with him. He couldn't throw that away. Not even for the first love of his life.

"I will never hurt her" he said "but please..."

"I won't tell a soul. I promise" she said to him and he looked down at her, smiling as she made the same promise as he had "Leave her, but don't betray her. She couldn't handle that and I certainly would make your life a living hell if you did" she said in a firmer tone of voice as she went back to her desk. Then Moira stopped and turned to him frowning "You haven't..."

"No, no" he widened his blue eyes at her "I haven't cheated on Abby and I don't intend to"

Moira nodded and turned her back on him once more, putting her books back in the shelves. She heard Lupin's footsteps get closer.

"Does the woman know of your affections?"

"She has no clue" Lupin said as he sat down again, observing Moira's movements.

"What will you do?" Moira asked as she sat down behind her desk.

"I don't know. It was all very sudden" he said as he put the books and papers in order "Now, if you don't mind, it's my turn to ask you to drop the subject" he sat back on his chair.

Moira nodded and kept up with her note taking. Lupin leaned his chin on his hand, watching her.

"You are making me nervous" she said as she put the books and rolls of parchment away.

"Liar. No one makes you nervous" he smiled at her "Well, I better go get some sleep. There will be a whole lot of Dumbledores to take care of in the morning" he said.

Moira smiled at his remark and kept putting things back in order. Lupin walked to the door but turned to her before leaving.

"I've been meaning to ask you. When were you going to tell me you are receiving you mother's powers?"

Moira's movements stopped and her back stiffened. She turned and looked up at Lupin, not sure what to say.

"It is tradition, I know, but why didn't you tell me it is happening already?" he asked.

Moira put down the book she was holding without taking her eyes from Lupins. As she walked toward him, the candles that were burning in her office were put out. By the time Moira reached the door, she was surrounded by complete darkness. There was something about her walking in the dark that had always made him shiver.

"I'm sorry, Remus" she said as she came close to him, the dim light of the classroom showing her face "It's just that so much has been going on that I..."

"You were afraid I was going to think ill of you weren't you?" he asked.

Moira looked up at him, and nodded softly.

"You never did, even after the engagement, but now...it's different. I don't know Remus. I guess I was afraid that I was going to lose you" she said softly, her eyes showing honesty.

"You'll never lose me. Never" Lupin said.

Moira smiled at him and gave him a peck on the cheek, before turning to lock her office door. Lupin felt his heart start to beat faster. You have no clue do you? He thought to himself.

"How did you know?" Moira asked as she walked by his side to the door to her classroom.

"Besides the threats you send Snape?" he asked. Moira's eyes didn't meet his as he mentioned Snape's name. Lupin stopped and stood in front of Moira, raising her chin with his hand "The outline of your eyes got darker" he said as he looked into her eyes.

Moira didn't move as Lupin's eyes locked in hers. Her lips are so close...no...this is wrong.

"I'm sorry" he whispered still looking into her eyes, his hand moved abruptly away from her face "You've always controlled your powers and I have no reason to think otherwise" he said, trying to masquerade his feelings.

"You were the one I thought was about to lose control tonight" Moira said smiling "What do you know about friendship?" she said impersonating his voice "Telling Snape to shut up. That was priceless"

"Oh, you're one to talk. What about the If you touch him I'll kill you myself? Bluffing!" Lupin said smiling, glad that they weren't so close to each other again and that he did keep control when they were.

Moira smiled at him. She could see now why Abby had fallen helplessly in love with him. They continued their walk through the empty hallways of the ancient castle. Their voices were hushed since it was already pretty late, but occasionally Lupin would laugh and some paintings on the wall would complaint and then go back to sleep again.

"But you have to understand something, Moira" Lupin continued his line of thought as he stopped by the door to her room "With Voldemort getting stronger and your powers as well, you will need to be extra careful"

"So I've been told" Moira answered dryly.

"Promise me you'll be careful"

"I promise" she said nonchalantly

"Promise me you won't hide anything else from me"

"That I cannot. You see, you have this tendency to tell Sirius everything and that might put a lot of people in danger, including him"

"You know how he is about you. Especially when Snape is in question"

"I know, Remus, and that is why I can't let what happened today happen again. If it does, I'm not sure I could prevent a disaster" she said as she opened the door to her room. Lupin was turning to leave when she turned to him once more "And Remus…about killing him if he hurt you... I wasn't bluffing" Lupin was at a loss for words as their eyes got lost in each other. Moira smiled weakly "Good night Moony" she said and disappeared into her room.

Lupin stared at her door for a couple of minutes before taking up his walk to his own room.

"She is a nice girl" the Fat Lady said as Lupin passed her "You are a very lucky young man"

"I guess I am" he replied and kept walking "I guess I am" he repeated in the dark, as his thoughts raced in his mind and weighted in his heart.

"Are you serious?" asked Hermione to Harry.

The two were in their pajamas and flannel robes, seated at the Gryffindor common room. Ron was by them and so was Neville.

"I would have loved to see old Snape's face" said Ron with a smile on his face "Beat up by a girl and a Gryffindor one" and he laughed "What about Lupin telling him to shut up? Excellent!"

"I'm glad it's all settled and Professor Lupin is all right" Harry said "I never saw them that way"

"Neither did Draco when you flew at him, defending Hermione" Megan said as she joined them.

They were all still getting accustomed to having a Malfoy in their house and a nice Malfoy. Although they were four years older than Megan, she was mature enough to handle conversations with them. The oldest eleven-year old they had ever met.

"Believe me, he was impressed" Megan said, smiling.

"You two don't get along much do you?" Harry asked.

Megan sat down in a comfortable armchair in the common room and pulled her shoulder length golden locks into a ponytail.

"We never did" she said "I went to live with my uncle last year, only for a couple of months, and, let's say, he favored me every time we had a fight" she said as she sat back.

"Does your uncle get along with your mother?" Hermione asked, waiting for the girl to scream at her for being so nosy, but Megan didn't seem to be bothered by all the questions.

"They get along fine" Megan said, observing the curious faces.

Always curious about their enemy, Malfoy, the young Gryffindors never had the chance to ask things like that. They wanted to know what went on inside the manor of one of the most powerful families in the wizarding world. Megan stood up, and said her good night. It was something to be friends with Gryffindors, but it was something else to spill your family secrets, so before the questions got too deep, the young blonde went to bed.

"She is nice" Neville said "That is so weird. A Malfoy, nice"

"I'm getting used to it myself" said Harry.

"Harry, what about the book? Did you talk to Sirius about Professor Crane sending you your parents' spell book?" asked Hermione.

"I didn't get the chance. I'll talk to him tomorrow"

"So this was why you were doing all of that research " said Ron "Thanks for letting me know, Hermione"

"I tried, but you were too busy being popular" she spat back and left for the girls dormitory.

"I try, Harry, but I don't think I'll ever understand her" Ron said, shaking his head.

Harry went to sleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. A nice voice could be heard in his dreams. A sweet lullaby was in the background. A door appeared in front of him and he reached to open it. Inside, the room was decorated with stuff animals and a cradle. Near a window a feminine figure had a baby in her arms and rocked it slowly as she sang. Come stop your crying, it will be all right. Just take my hand, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry the trembling voice sang. The baby was fast asleep in her arms. Harry smiled at the scene, the baby looked so peaceful and the arms around it held him securely.

Harry's smile faded when he noticed the scar in the baby's forehead; it was just like his own. From the outside, he saw a light and the noise of a motorcycle. When he looked down, the body of a woman was lying on the floor. Harry moved around and found the red hair covering her face.

"Oh, no! James!" came a very familiar voice from the inside of the house.

Harry found out where he was. At his home on the very same night his parents had died. He turned to the bedroom again and saw himself sleeping inside the cradle and the curtain flying according to the wind, getting tangled in a tree branch that was close to it. The feminine figure had vanished. Harry ran to the window but didn't see anyone on the street. He didn't notice the pair of yellow eyes staring down from the top of the tree. Inside the room, the body of the woman on the floor didn't move. The wind got stronger and the hair covering her face moved, revealing his mother's face. Her eyes closed, her lips purple, and her face wet from tears.

"Mum?" Harry called but the woman didn't move "Please, wake up" she didn't.

"MUM!" Harry woke up screaming.

Ron fell from his bed with a loud thud on the floor. He got up, hair all over the place and wide eyes.

"What happened?" the red-haired boy asked as he managed to get to Harry's bed.

"I saw her, Ron. I was there, when my parents were killed" Harry said, sweating "There was a woman as well"

"Who?"

"I don't know" Harry put on his glasses "It was dark and she was holding me in her arms, singing"

"Maybe it was your mother, Harry"

"No...she was dead" Harry whispered "I saw her, Ron"

Ron moved to sit by his friend and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Remember what Sirius said? As You-Know-Who gets stronger, you might feel things. Maybe that was just a dream, Harry. Don't think about it"

Harry lay back down and took off his glasses.

"Call me if you need to, ok?" Ron said and moved to his own bed.

Harry turned around and stared into the dark room. No sleep for him tonight, just the image of his mother dead.

Quick and almost inaudible steps made their way to the Dungeons. The door was ajar and Snape was seated by his desk, his robe on the back of his chair. Moira opened the door and he raised his head to meet her.

"The full moon is coming in a week and I was wondering if you could make Remus some Wolfsbane potion" Moira said seriously and yet softly.

"I thought you had taken care of that already" he replied in his dry manner "I'm afraid I might lose my life if I get close to him"

Moira looked at him as she let out a sigh.

"Snape..." she called. Snape looked at her, waiting for her to continue. Moira took in a breath and looked at him "I don't want to fight anymore" she said from across the room.

Snape didn't say anything but came walking slowly toward her, making Moira move further against the wall. His black eyes locked on her brown ones, but his thin lips didn't say a single word.

"I don't think we can ever stop fighting, Crane" his deep voice answered.

"True" she smiled at him "It wouldn't be us if we did"

He examined her eyes, waiting to hear the unspoken question in them, but she didn't say anything.

"You want to ask me something else don't you?" Snape asked.

"What did he ask of you?" she asked a bit too fast and a bit too trembling.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked, teasing her.

"I've always trusted you, Snape and I need to know if that should change" she replied surely.

Snape got closer to Moira, who didn't move away this time. His hand went to her hair and his fingers pulled the clip that held it up. Her long dark brown hair fell to the middle of her back. Moira couldn't move. She just stared at him. He had never done anything like this before. He had never been so close to her or so gentle before.

"He only asked me about you. If you were still beautiful" Snape whispered, his hand touching the strands of hair next to her face.

"And what did you tell him?" she asked softly, raising her head so that their eyes were still locked.

Snape didn't answer. His arm went around her waist and pulled her close to him. Moira gasped in surprise but didn't fight it. He lowered his head so that their foreheads were almost touching.

"Tell me you are not his" he whispered to her.

Moira's arms rested on his and her eyes were lost in his black ones.

"He claimed me but I have never been anyone else's but yours" she whispered back.

He could smell the sweet scent from her lips.

"Tell me again" he whispered, his lips barely touching hers.

"I'm yours, Severus" she purred.

Snape held Moira's body against his as they kissed for the very first time. Her lips were full and soft; the upper lip being slightly thinner than the lower one. The taste of her was just indescribable. For so long he had wanted to taste her, to feel her in his arms, that now that he did, Snape wondered how he survived all these years without her touch. He felt her hands pull him closer and get tangled in his hair. Hearing Moira moaning softly as his hands traveled her back and cupped her hips, Snape kissed her passionately, savoring a desire he had had since the very first time he had argued with her.

As the kisses became more intense and his body ordered to be release from his clothing prison, Snape felt a horrifying pain on his left arm. The Dark Mark burned, as it never did before. Snape let go of Moira, turning his back to her. He rolled up his sleeve and the mark was blood red, looking like it had just been burned on his pale skin. As he turned to face Moira, she was standing with her back against the wall; her eyes gleaming with unshed tears and her lips, formed only two words.

"He knows"

Severus Snape woke up sweating in his bed. He looked around to find himself in his cold room, tangled between his dark green sheets. He sighed loudly and lay back down, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Damn you, Crane" he whispered to the ceiling.

A/N:I hope you have enjoyed this. It is time to review and let me know your thoughts.

To Ruth: You're great! Thanks for keeping with me always!

To Trisha: Thanks for "teaching" me about Snape. I'm still struggling to get him right.

To Kathi: Reading your reviews are great! I really appreciate the time you put into reading and reviewing and your thoughts are really enlightening. Sorry about the Ron and Hermione bits, but I really like them together.

To RivanKnight: Thanks for reading and reviewing for the first time. Do it again!

To Mez: Hey you! I'm glad you are enjoying this and like Moira. Harry will be getting into more trouble, don't worry.

To Laki, Ridley-Roo, Rosekeet, Hanna, and Dev: Many thanks.

In case I forgot someone…sorry, but I thank you all the same. See you all on the next chapter.