A/N: The idea for this chapter was Reggies', but I couldn't resist when she told me to write it.

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"Potter," Snape growled, stopping in front of Sirius and James.

"Snape," James sighed. Did the git have to ruin a perfectly good morning?

"Snivellus," Sirius's glare was cold.

"I need a word, alone." Snape turned and began walking away, as though completely confident that James could and would do nothing other than obey and follow.

James stood stubbornly, watching the Slytherin's retreating back. Snape made it about half way down the hall before he seemed to notice that no one was following. When he turned, James smirked.

"Now, Potter," Snape hissed.

"Make me," James shook his head and walked toward the Great Hall, Sirius chuckling beside him.

Snape's angry footsteps stopped both boys. They turned to find themselves face to face with the Slytherin again. "As much enjoyment as it would bring me to 'make you,' that would, unfortunately, cause Black to follow. As I said before, I need a word in private."

James sighed, curiosity was a curse. Now he was simply too curious as to what Snape could possibly want this bad, he just had to follow the slimy git.

"Alright," James turned to Sirius, "See you in class then; sneak me a muffin or something."

Sirius glared and James hoped that he hadn't just undone this morning's work of patching their friendship. After a moment's hesitation, Sirius nodded and entered the Great Hall alone. James looked back at Snape.

"This had better be worth it."

Snape said nothing, merely led the way down the hall and to an empty classroom. James looked around, remembering his last visit to an empty classroom. He amused himself for a moment with the image of Snape confessing his love for James and kissing the Gryffindor on the cheek. Actually, that last thought was a bit too revolting to be amusing.

"I'm not sure if Regulus has made you aware," Snape began, glaring at James from across the room, "and I know you are too dense to discover for yourself, but he has rather deep feelings for you."

James felt his eyes widen, "What makes you think that?" Could Snape be right?

"He told me," Snape folded his arms across his chess. "That is, however, not the issue here. The issue is…" Snape faded off as he realized that James wasn't paying attention.

James leaned against the wall, a huge grin on his face. Regulus fancied him back? Regulus really wanted to be with him? James nearly ran to find the Slytherin right then, but Snape's voice stopped him.

"You realize this could easily get Regulus killed?"

James froze. Snape was right. Regulus was a pure blood Slytherin and had his own commitments. Just because Regulus felt something for him, didn't lessen any of their problems. Actually, it probably doubled them.

"Why are you telling me this?" James snapped at Snape. He had to take his frustration out on someone, and Snape was an easy target.

"Because, against my better judgment, I have encouraged him to follow through with those feelings," Snape pinched the bridge of his nose as though he had a headache.

"Why?" James asked before he could stop himself. It was no secret that Snape hated him, and the feeling had been mutual right up until this point. Why would Snape tell his only friend to date the person who had tormented him for years?

"Not pursuing a relationship would have gotten him killed," Snape growled. "He was being far too obvious with his emotions, and should someone report him he would be dead."

"So…you're suggesting we have a secret relationship?" James was still too shocked by Snape helping him to process anything quickly.

"Yes," Snape said simply. "Your relationship will be secret. In public, nothing is to change. I will do everything in my power to protect said secret. But…"

James knew there had to be a but. "Yes?"

"You will follow a few rules. If you refuse, I shall take back my advice and assistance and I will make sure that Regulus never so much as thinks about you again. Understood?"

"What rules," James asked, suspicious.

"The first, is that you will keep this secret. You will not tell anybody, even your friends, about the relationship."

"You know I can't do that. I will agree that no one else knows, but I can't keep secrets from my friends," James sighed. He really hoped that all of Snape's rules weren't so impossible.

"Even for the chance to be with someone you love?" Snape glared at James. James closed his eyes. As much as he would hate that, he could do it for Regulus. "Fine," Snape growled, "You can tell your so-called friends only if Regulus approves of it."

James nodded, he could handle that.

"Second: You will not sleep with Regulus for at least a month."

James laughed, "Did you give him that rule too?"

"No."

"I'll try," James snickered. How did Snape come up with these?

"You won't try. You will either give your word, or you will not have Regulus at all." Snape was furious now, James could tell by the light flush to his cheeks. Like it or not, they needed Snape's help, and the rule wasn't that far fetched anyway. He wanted a relationship before sex, so this rule simply insured that he would have it.

"Alright," James nodded. "Anything else?"

"You will not break up with him. I don't care what you feel; if your relationship ends it will be only because Regulus has decided to end it."

"That's easy to promise," James smiled. He had always known that Snape and Regulus were friends, but he had never known that it went this deep. It amused James to note that Snape was so similar to Sirius when Sirius was in big brother mode. Though, James hadn't seen Sirius in big brother mode for years.

"You will never lie to him."

James nodded. He didn't have anything to hide from Regulus anyway.

"Last: you will support any decision Regulus makes. Even if that decision is to get the Dark Mark."

James frowned. He could tell by the tone of Snape's voice that this was the most important of the rules, which made James realize just how much Regulus must be debating his future.

"I promise that I will support him, but I also promise that I will try and talk him out of it before he gets it. That is the best I can do," James closed his eyes.

"Good." Snape hesitated for only a moment, before stalking out of the room.

James stared after Snape for a moment. He suddenly wished that he could take back every insulting thing he had ever said to Snape. Closing his eyes, James realized that this would be harder than he thought. He had never really treated Regulus that bad…that was mostly Sirius's area. He had, however, been horrible to Snape, and that would be a hard habit to fall back into when he suddenly respected the Slytherin so much.

He had never expected this. Never expected to fall in love with a Slytherin and have another Slytherin accept it better than James's own friends. Even offer to help. James opened his eyes and smirked, wondering just what other surprises Slytherins had in store for him.