Disclaimer: see chapter one
Learn to know the Moon
9 The Pub
'Harry wasn't very specific about what we are supposed to find or to do in that pub, was he?' Remus asked while he and Severus were walking in a narrow London back street.
'I thought he was quite clear about it. Just sit and watch and note who comes in and meets whom, I guess. Anyway, if you go spying, you have to be inventive, use your instinct an imagination, you know,' the former spy explained.
'Oh, just stop that, Severus, will you? You don't have to show off and give me a lecture, only because you are the expert in these matters.'
'Merlin! You are in a bad mood. I was just giving my opinion about the situation we'll probably have to deal with.'
'You with your teacher's attitude', Remus snapped.
'Pardon me, but if I remember correctly, you have also been a teacher once. And you have enjoyed it. I didn't even like the job. So don't accuse me of having a teacher's attitude. Anyway. If you are not fit for this task tonight, you shouldn't have come, you know.'
'I am feeling perfectly well. Thank you,' the irritable werewolf retorted.
'You don't look it.'
Severus' last remark had obviously been one too much. He realized that, when he suddenly found himself pinned to a house wall by a furious looking Remus Lupin who had unexpectedly swung around and pushed him hard against it.
'You may not be aware of it, Severus, but your know-it-all attitude is insufferable at times. Just leave me alone, will you? If I decide to go into a pub to observe some strange muggles or wizards, that's solely my choice. Do you understand?'
Taken by surprise, Severus was at a loss for words for a second or two. When part of a definition from 'Magical Maladies and Cures' sprung to his mind, his sense even told him not to answer to this accusation in a way he would normally have done:
#Lycanthrophy: ... affected persons may show unusual behaviour at times, are depressed or irritable, sometimes even violent shortly before or after the full moon. Most often they are not aware of their mood shifts which can be quite disturbing for their environment.'#
Indeed, Remus did look a bit off colour and his foul mood was surely due to the fact that he hadn't recovered fully from the last full moon. The former Potions master was a bit unsure what to do. Usually he was the one who was irritable and others had to suffer from his mood changes. When he came across that characteristic in others, he found it difficult to deal with.
Generally, he wasn't somebody who would tolerate that kind of behaviour and at another time, a confrontation like that would definitely have lead to a duel. Magical duelling was out of the question of course, but he finally did react. Although more out of instinct, not rational thinking, because regarding physical strength, Severus knew that he wouldn't be a match for Remus.
'Who do you think you are?' he thundered at the werewolf, throwing his arms up and pushing Remus back with all the force he could muster. 'Are you completely out of your mind? I thought we would be doing this out of fun, for distraction. If it is too hard for you to control your temper in my presence, than get out of my way, ... will you!' He had shouted the last sentences. If Severus had have any hope to stop the wizard in his trait of behaviour, he had been wrong. His response fuelled the werewolf's anger even more.
'ME? I am only Remus Lupin, the one everybody has pity with because of his condition, but who is feared and despised behind his back at the same time. DO YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS IS?' he yelled back. 'To deal with people who expect you to jump at them and tear their throats any minute? AND YOU! YOU ARE THE WORST OF ALL!'
He had got worked up so much in his rage that his voice sounded shrill by now. 'Do you think I don't notice the fear that is building up inside you every time we meet?'
They were standing a foot apart now, but fortunately Remus had refrained from pushing Severus again, so that the confrontation continued only verbally. Severus was only glad that up to now, nobody seemed to have noticed their exchange. They were in a dark narrow back street with high walls and hardly any windows, certainly a place where normal people wouldn't chose to stay.
And Remus was still far away from having finished his tirade. He had stopped shouting but was otherwise very enraged and spat his sentences in Severus' face who had come to the conclusion that it would be best not to interfere for the time being. He thought that the werewolf would cool down out of his own accord, once he had got rid of all he had to say to the former Potions master. And Severus, who had crossed his arms and tried to keep a neutral expression on his face, believed he knew what else was going to come.
'How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't my fault back at Hogwarts? I have apologized, haven't I? More than once, I believe. It was Sirius' fault alone. Maybe I should have worked harder to influence him in any way, but I don't think it would have worked, he was just so obsessed with his private war with you. By the way, your behaviour didn't help much to change that either, did it? Anyway, it was his doing and you should just know how hard it was for me to accept him as a friend after that. I never really forgave him, you know. But the Marauders were my only friends at that time, the only ones who knew my secret and guarded it. I simply had no choice. You may call me a coward for that, or whatever, but stop looking at me like that every time we meet, okay?'
Severus wondered if Harry was aware of the tension which was still existing between him and the werewolf. Probably not, or he wouldn't have sent them together on a mission, or had he done that on purpose?
He finally cleared his throat to give Remus an answer and to end this highly uncomfortable situation. When he spoke, he forced his voice to be calm and soft to prevent any further provocation against the angry wizard.
'I know that it wasn't your fault, Remus. I've always known. But back there at school, well, as you were part of the Marauder gang, I projected my hatred against you as well, of course. I must admit, after all this time ... it seems quite ridiculous, especially after what we all have been through. But ... you see ...' he hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should really tell Remus, but if not now, when should he ever do so? His voice became even softer and he looked slightly away when he went on. 'This traumatic event is still haunting me. One should think I have experienced more terrible things in the run of time, with the Dark Lord and all, but ... every full moon, you see ... well, I've got nightmares about you. Now you know.'
That last remark had done the trick. Remus stood speechless, looking slightly ashamed at the other man.
'Nightmares? Every full moon?' He finally asked disbelievingly.
'Every single one.'
'Oh, I'm so sorry, Severus. I shouldn't have said all these things. I was beyond myself. You know, I think, I haven't recovered fully yet from the transformation. Sorry.'
He seemed to be his old self again. The kind, forgiving Remus Lupin, who'd sooner apologize for things he wasn't responsible for than hurt anyone's feelings.
'No no. You were quite right, Remus. I do act a bit, well lets say irrational at times. But don't you think we should drop that subject now? We might even continue with our mission, the very reason we are here for in the first place, don't you think? Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having a bit of dinner, too,' Severus suggested.
'Yes. Good idea. It would look a bit awkward, too, if we'd have to tell Harry tomorrow that we weren't able to accomplish his task because we quarrelled like schoolboys, wouldn't it?'
'Yes. Quite embarrassing, I'd say,' Severus agreed.
For the rest of the way they walked in silence. After a few minutes they stopped in front of a house which seemed to be the only one with life in it. All the sourrounding buildings were empty shops and run down warehouses.
'That must be it. 'The green stag', as Harry told us,' Severus broke the silence.
'Hm. Looks like it,' Remus sighed. He sounded tired, their encounter seemed to have taken all energy out of him. 'Not very inviting, if you ask me.'
'I only hope they have some decent food there.'
'Well, I'm not very hungry,' Remus said.
'But we can't go in there and not eat anything. Surely, you know that muggles usually drink something with alcohol in it when they visit a place like this. As we don't want to rise any attraction, we'll have to act as them, and we'll hardly survive that with empty stomachs,' Severus pointed out.
'Yes., sure. I didn't say I won't eat anything, I just said that I wasn't hungry. But that's the normal thing in my condition. I often eat although I'm not hungry. Just to prevent me from starving myself.'
They were still standig in front of the pub, but Severus was about to grip the door handle when Remus suddenly added:
'Am I mistaken, or do you have some obsession with getting me to eat something? I wouldn't wonder if Harry had talked to you about that.'
'And there I thought that you weren't able to do Legilimency, especially not from behind people without direct eye-contact,' Severus said, not knowing if he should be embarrassed or amused.
But the werewolf only laughed. 'Oh, it doesn't take Legilimency to know about that. Harry's always so concerned about me. If you listen to him you'd think I was his godson and not the other way round.'
After Sirius death, Remus had taken over that role quite naturally and the two had become kind of a family. They had lived to together at Grimmauld place during school holidays and as far as Severus knew, they had even gone on holiday trips together.
'If it sets your mind at ease, Severus, and for Harry's sake, I promise I will eat anything you wish tonight. How about that?' Remus said goodnaturedly.
'Quite daring, I'd say,' Severus answered. 'Or maybe not. As this place is run by muggles, there shouldn't be any weird things on the menu, but what if it were a wizard's pub? How can you be so sure that I wouldn't order ... hm, let me think... fried slugs, for example?' He gave Remus a wicked grin.
'Because,' Remus answered in mock earnest, 'because, I think that in general, you are a decent man and that you would never do such an evil thing to a fellow spy.'
'If you say so,' Severus was amused. 'But allow me to add that you are much too credulous. Your are not suspicious enough for a spy. How on earth did you survive all these years?'
'Gryffindor luck?' the werewolf tried.
'Probably,' Severus snorted shaking his head. Amazing, how Remus had been able to change back to his old behaviour after the scene they'd just had back in that street a few minutes ago.
When they entered the pub, they were greeted by a thick mist of cigarette smoke and a range of unidentifiable smells the owner seemed to have been anxious to keep in the small room for days by not opening the windows.
'Well, that way we'll not be in danger of being watched by them. That's certainly an advantage,' Severus commented drily, coughing.
They went over to the bar and ordered beer. While they were waiting Remus looked around discreetly.
'I don't recognize anybody from my former observations, but that doesn't mean anything. We still don't know who else might be in the affair. I guess the table over there, near the door would be best for an overview of the whole place.'
'Yes, I think so, too. Let's go then,' Severus answered.
'Do you want anything to eat?' the landlord called after them. 'We've got homemade chicken pie. It comes with vegetables.'
'Oh yes, thank you. We'll have two then,' Remus said.
Once they had taken their seats at the said table there wasn't really much to do, so they sat in silence for some minutes, sipping at their drinks. But it didn't take very long. The landlord himself brought the food soon after. Severus was just about to put the fork in his pie when he heard a sharp gasp from Remus who dropped his knife and fork as if they were red- hot.
'What's the matter?' Severus asked with concern in his voice.
'Must be silver.' He showed Severus his palms which showed burns where the skin had been in contact with the cutlery. 'I'll go and try to cool that with water. Excuse me,' Remus muttered and left the table to go to the bathroom.
Severus was surprised. It was commonly known, of course, that werewolves were allergic to silver. That was the reason why people had used items of silver to defend themselves against these beasts or to hunt them down for ages, preferably crossbow bolts. But the former Potions master hadn't known that people with lycanthropy would react that sensitive even after only a short skin contact with silver.
'Is anything wrong?' the landlord, who had come to the table when he had seen that Remus was obviously having a problem, asked concerned.
'Well. My friend is highly allergic to everything which is made out of silver. Would you be so kind to provide him with a new knife and fork?'
'Yes, of course. Sorry about that. A silver allery? That's unusual, isn't it? I have never heard of that before,' the landlord said bewildered.
'Yes, but nowadays people have the remotest kinds of allergies. There is hardly a thing people cannot be allergic to, is there?' Severus pointed out. He didn't want to draw too much attention to them. He knew that for muggles, silver was considered to be a pure metal, often used by people who were allergic to other metals, especially where jewellery was concerned. But if they wanted to stay and finish their task and their meal, he had to give some kind of explanation to the man.
'Yes. You're right. I am very sorry about that. If I'd known that beforehand ... ' having said that, the landlord hurried away to get the new cutlery.
When Remus came back he was looking unhappy, but his face lit up when he saw that he had been provided with a new knife and fork. They looked quite old and as if they had served in the kitchen for generations of cooks, but the important fact was that they had wooden handles.
'Oh. Thanks. Your doing, Severus?'
'Yes. I couldn't see you starving in front of a full bowl, you see.' Severus smirked. But it is a bit unusual for muggles to have a silver allergy. Even I didn't know that werewolves are that sensitive to silver. I would have thought it needed a more intense contact with the body. Through a wound, for example, or the like.'
'Well. I remember that I cut myself once with a silver knife at a friend's when I was ten years old. I spent a week in bed after that, with high fever and all. The healers told my parents that it had been quite close. If you get too much of it in your blood it can affect the heart. What is more, it hurts terribly. That's the reason, I guess, why they still shoot us with silver arrows and bolts, where a simple stunning spell would do,' he scowled darkly.
'They still do, don't they? Just for the sake of causing pain? I would have thought ...'
'Well, most people don't think when werewolves are concerned. They just don't act reasonably out of fear. In some cases they may be right, we can be very dangerous, but in others...'
'But there is the department in the Ministry, and you are working there, Remus. Decades ago, they didn't even have social workers, only aurors for hunting werewolves down. Surely, there must have been some changes over the last years? Just think about all the literature on lycanthropy.'
Remus laughed bitterly. 'Well, that would be the academic approach of our condition. Just look at your case. You know more about werewolves than most people, having brewed the wolfsbane potion for me and all. And what good did it? You're still having nightmares, although you should know that I'll be safe in the dungeons every full moon.'
Severus looked down on his plate, his hair comfortably hiding his face.
'What I am doing at the Ministry is simply giving advice to werewolves and their relatives, mostly in legal things, but also in matters of everyday life,' Remus went on. Generally I am trying to give them the confidence to live on in the wizarding society as if lycanthropy was a normal desease, as if I didn't know better. A poor job, if you ask me. When the real problems occur, if a werewolf turns wild, doesn't show up in the dungeons or if the muggles only report a big wild dog running free and attacking people - as soon as that happens, I am out of it and the aurors take over. In many cases that means death for the werewolf in question.'
Severus gulped. He had lost his appetite after that description. But while he was taking only small bits on his fork, chewing without much enthusiasm, Remus, on the other hand, shoveled the food into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten for days - which was probably the case. He didn't seem to notice what he was eating, though.
'Do you think, these two over there could be some of our suspects?' Severus started the conversation anew.
'No. I don't think so. I've told you that I've seen some of them already when they were meeting in other places, but I cannot be sure, of course.'
'This whole thing isn't going to lead us very far, is it?' Severus sighed.
'Well, no. Probably not. At least, not today. As you said yourself, spying needs a lot of patience,' Remus smiled mildly.
'Is the food okay?' They hadn't noticed that the landlord had approached them - or rather had creeped up upon them - again. Severus felt slightly uncomfortable about that. He wondered, if this was the custom in this place, or if the man was only being polite, because they were strangers here and because of Remus' little accident? Maybe they had become the object of observation themselves already.
'Yes. Thank you. Everything is fine.' Remus answered politely. 'This was chicken in the pie, wasn't it?'
'Oh yes. Certainly no vulture. Haha. My wife makes the pies herself. Some of our guests come especially because of them,' he explained proudly.
Severus was sure he had seen Remus' mouth twitch at the word 'vulture'. When the landlord saw that he wasn't needed anymore, he left them.
Severus frowned. 'Remus. Don't you think I didn't see that.'
'See what?' he asked innocently. When Severus didn't answer but started to stare menacingly, Remus gave in.
'Oh come on, Severus. You are not on about that old joke, are you? I remember having apologized for that as well. Anyway, it was meant to be a harmless thing, really. Well, all right. It's not nice to make fun of teacher colleagues. I realized that, but I think it helped Neville a great deal. By the way, I think, making fun of or bullying students isn't nice either. What is more, you've already punished me for that. Remember, when you spilled the beans about ...'
'Oh stop that, Remus, or we'll end up fighting again,' he interrupted the werewolf. 'Yes, I know that I have never been a model teacher. But the other thing was because I didn't know the whole story about you and Black, because I was cold out at that time. I simply wanted to protect the students and ... well, maybe I was a bit blind, perhaps, as well. But coming back to the vulture ...'
'Oh no, really, Severus ...' Remus groaned.
'What I was going to say is, that it was also unfair towards Mrs. Longbottom.'
'Hm. Perhaps. Have you ever met her? I didn't. Maybe I wasn't long enough at Hogwarts.'
'I did, once. But not at Hogwarts. She never came there as other parents did. She thought that it would be better for Neville to handle everything on his own. No, I met her when I was at St. Mungo's. It was shortly after they had stopped giving me the tranquilizing potions and allowed me to wander around a bit. As you, I hadn't met her before.'
'How did you know her then?' Remus wanted to know.
'By her attire, of course. I think she must be the only witch wearing that kind of hat. Can you imagine the shock I got, when I set my eyes upon her?' Now, Severus couldn't help but grin.
'But she knew who you were?'
'Yes, of course. And do you want to know what she said to me? "Professor Snape, get a grip on yourself. There are many others who are worse off than you".
'Ouch. That wasn't very tactful, was it?' Remus grimaced. 'What did you say to her?'
'Nothing. But she was right, you know, regarding her family's fate. She must be very strong witch to endure all that. I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd hexed me there right on the spot, given the fact that I had been her grandson's least favourite teacher, but she didn't. Just left me standing there.'
'That's what distinguishes a real lady, Severus.'
'Probably.'
There was a moment of silence while the two finished the rest of their dinner and sipped at their beers. During the time they had been there, only three other customers had come in and sat down at the bar to drink. They didn't talk to each other but to the landlord in turns. It didn't look at all as if some conspiracy was going on in this place.
'Well, what do you think. Shall we call it a day?' Remus yawned, 'I'm quite tired and I don't think anything interesting will happen here in the next hours.'
'Yes. You're right. We'll have to wait for another opportunity, I guess. Harry didn't say how urgent this was, did he?' Severus enquired.
'Uh, no. I don't think so. The problem is, we don't really know what's going on. There have been sightings of wizards meeting muggles, which in itself isn't illegal or rises suspicion, of course. But, as you know, these wizards were known to have been close to Voldemort's lot once, and the muggles could certainly be called criminals. So we're just looking for something, hoping to prevent anything which could endanger our world, or the muggles, or both.'
They got up and went over to the bar to pay for their food, said good bye to the landlord and were out of the pub within a minute.
Severus enjoyed the fresh night air after the smoke-laden atmosphere inside that place. He inhaled deeply while the two men walked silently the same way they had come. They went in direction of the underground station where they had met a few hours earlier. There, their ways would part. Severus would take the next train and Remus would probably disapparate home in a moment when no muggle was near to watch.
'Severus, can you do me a favour?'
'Depends.'
'I won't be in the Ministry tomorrow, because I have an appointment outside London. Would you be so kind to report to Harry what we found out, or rather: did not find out tonight?'
'Yes, sure. I am always glad to have an excuse to leave my office. And maybe Harry will have a new assignment for us.'
'So you wouldn't mind spending some more uneventful nights at dubious London pubs to eat and watch totally harmless people?' asked Remus.
'Well, it's not that I have much to do otherwise,' Severus shook his head. 'We are quite a team, aren't we? Well, at least we managed not to fight seriously at the first argument. If we'll be able to improve our understanding in that way, maybe we can track down some real villains.'
Remus smiled. 'In the meantime, I'll try to find a werewolf in the countryside and talk him or her into spending the full moon at the Ministry dungeons.'
'Is that the job you're going to do tomorrow?' Severus enquired.
'Yes. There have been sightings of a wolf northeast of London the last full moon. Muggles saw it. I have got some addresses of wizards living in that region. I'll have a try if one of them could be a werewolf.'
'Would you recognize one when it is in its human form?'
'Yes, definitely. You know that we have enhanced senses.'
'But it could also be a muggle, couldn't it?'
'Theoretically, yes. But it normally becomes known quite quickly, when a muggle is attacked. That always means a lot of work for the Ministry aurors. All the obliviating charms they have to put on the muggles. It's a lot of work too, to trace all the information the muggles produce and to manipulate them afterwards. Quite an ordeal. But in most cases it's wizards who get bitten. Becauses wizards mostly keep to themselves and have not that much contact to muggles. So do wizard werewolves. Most cases are kind of family affairs. You know, couples who are not careful enough and don't put 'their' werewolf in the cellar if they haven't got access to the wolfsbane. Young children who sneak after the family member who disappears every full moon, or the like,' Remus explained.
'But it's better, if you have a family behind you to support you, I guess?'
'Oh yes, definitely. I wouldn't have known what to do without my parents and my grandmother. I was seven years old, you know, when it happened.'
'Well, good luck then for tomorrow,' Severus said when they had reached the underground station. 'I'll talk to Harry. See you.'
'Yes. Bye.' And with a silent 'pop', Remus disapparated, leaving Severus behind a bit wistful. Apparating was certainly one of the magical abilities he was missing. Not that he minded travelling by muggle public transport. In fact, he had often travelled for hours through London, just for the fun of it. He had a monthly season ticket, so he had no bother with buying tickets. It was an excellent means to spend time when you had too much of it, to read or watch other people. At least, it gave you a certain feeling of being busy, although you weren't doing anything.
He needed over an hour to reach his flat and had to change trains twice. When he was sitting at his kitchen table a few minutes later, sipping at a freshly brewed tea, he was wondering how Remus living quarters would look like. If he had a kind of 'cage' at home, just in case?
----
A/N:
If Remus and Severus think their little spying job will stay that uneventful, they are much mistaken.
Don't worry about he social worker. She was only meant to be a background illustration for Severus' everyday life.
Thank you for all your reviews!
Learn to know the Moon
9 The Pub
'Harry wasn't very specific about what we are supposed to find or to do in that pub, was he?' Remus asked while he and Severus were walking in a narrow London back street.
'I thought he was quite clear about it. Just sit and watch and note who comes in and meets whom, I guess. Anyway, if you go spying, you have to be inventive, use your instinct an imagination, you know,' the former spy explained.
'Oh, just stop that, Severus, will you? You don't have to show off and give me a lecture, only because you are the expert in these matters.'
'Merlin! You are in a bad mood. I was just giving my opinion about the situation we'll probably have to deal with.'
'You with your teacher's attitude', Remus snapped.
'Pardon me, but if I remember correctly, you have also been a teacher once. And you have enjoyed it. I didn't even like the job. So don't accuse me of having a teacher's attitude. Anyway. If you are not fit for this task tonight, you shouldn't have come, you know.'
'I am feeling perfectly well. Thank you,' the irritable werewolf retorted.
'You don't look it.'
Severus' last remark had obviously been one too much. He realized that, when he suddenly found himself pinned to a house wall by a furious looking Remus Lupin who had unexpectedly swung around and pushed him hard against it.
'You may not be aware of it, Severus, but your know-it-all attitude is insufferable at times. Just leave me alone, will you? If I decide to go into a pub to observe some strange muggles or wizards, that's solely my choice. Do you understand?'
Taken by surprise, Severus was at a loss for words for a second or two. When part of a definition from 'Magical Maladies and Cures' sprung to his mind, his sense even told him not to answer to this accusation in a way he would normally have done:
#Lycanthrophy: ... affected persons may show unusual behaviour at times, are depressed or irritable, sometimes even violent shortly before or after the full moon. Most often they are not aware of their mood shifts which can be quite disturbing for their environment.'#
Indeed, Remus did look a bit off colour and his foul mood was surely due to the fact that he hadn't recovered fully from the last full moon. The former Potions master was a bit unsure what to do. Usually he was the one who was irritable and others had to suffer from his mood changes. When he came across that characteristic in others, he found it difficult to deal with.
Generally, he wasn't somebody who would tolerate that kind of behaviour and at another time, a confrontation like that would definitely have lead to a duel. Magical duelling was out of the question of course, but he finally did react. Although more out of instinct, not rational thinking, because regarding physical strength, Severus knew that he wouldn't be a match for Remus.
'Who do you think you are?' he thundered at the werewolf, throwing his arms up and pushing Remus back with all the force he could muster. 'Are you completely out of your mind? I thought we would be doing this out of fun, for distraction. If it is too hard for you to control your temper in my presence, than get out of my way, ... will you!' He had shouted the last sentences. If Severus had have any hope to stop the wizard in his trait of behaviour, he had been wrong. His response fuelled the werewolf's anger even more.
'ME? I am only Remus Lupin, the one everybody has pity with because of his condition, but who is feared and despised behind his back at the same time. DO YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS IS?' he yelled back. 'To deal with people who expect you to jump at them and tear their throats any minute? AND YOU! YOU ARE THE WORST OF ALL!'
He had got worked up so much in his rage that his voice sounded shrill by now. 'Do you think I don't notice the fear that is building up inside you every time we meet?'
They were standing a foot apart now, but fortunately Remus had refrained from pushing Severus again, so that the confrontation continued only verbally. Severus was only glad that up to now, nobody seemed to have noticed their exchange. They were in a dark narrow back street with high walls and hardly any windows, certainly a place where normal people wouldn't chose to stay.
And Remus was still far away from having finished his tirade. He had stopped shouting but was otherwise very enraged and spat his sentences in Severus' face who had come to the conclusion that it would be best not to interfere for the time being. He thought that the werewolf would cool down out of his own accord, once he had got rid of all he had to say to the former Potions master. And Severus, who had crossed his arms and tried to keep a neutral expression on his face, believed he knew what else was going to come.
'How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't my fault back at Hogwarts? I have apologized, haven't I? More than once, I believe. It was Sirius' fault alone. Maybe I should have worked harder to influence him in any way, but I don't think it would have worked, he was just so obsessed with his private war with you. By the way, your behaviour didn't help much to change that either, did it? Anyway, it was his doing and you should just know how hard it was for me to accept him as a friend after that. I never really forgave him, you know. But the Marauders were my only friends at that time, the only ones who knew my secret and guarded it. I simply had no choice. You may call me a coward for that, or whatever, but stop looking at me like that every time we meet, okay?'
Severus wondered if Harry was aware of the tension which was still existing between him and the werewolf. Probably not, or he wouldn't have sent them together on a mission, or had he done that on purpose?
He finally cleared his throat to give Remus an answer and to end this highly uncomfortable situation. When he spoke, he forced his voice to be calm and soft to prevent any further provocation against the angry wizard.
'I know that it wasn't your fault, Remus. I've always known. But back there at school, well, as you were part of the Marauder gang, I projected my hatred against you as well, of course. I must admit, after all this time ... it seems quite ridiculous, especially after what we all have been through. But ... you see ...' he hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should really tell Remus, but if not now, when should he ever do so? His voice became even softer and he looked slightly away when he went on. 'This traumatic event is still haunting me. One should think I have experienced more terrible things in the run of time, with the Dark Lord and all, but ... every full moon, you see ... well, I've got nightmares about you. Now you know.'
That last remark had done the trick. Remus stood speechless, looking slightly ashamed at the other man.
'Nightmares? Every full moon?' He finally asked disbelievingly.
'Every single one.'
'Oh, I'm so sorry, Severus. I shouldn't have said all these things. I was beyond myself. You know, I think, I haven't recovered fully yet from the transformation. Sorry.'
He seemed to be his old self again. The kind, forgiving Remus Lupin, who'd sooner apologize for things he wasn't responsible for than hurt anyone's feelings.
'No no. You were quite right, Remus. I do act a bit, well lets say irrational at times. But don't you think we should drop that subject now? We might even continue with our mission, the very reason we are here for in the first place, don't you think? Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having a bit of dinner, too,' Severus suggested.
'Yes. Good idea. It would look a bit awkward, too, if we'd have to tell Harry tomorrow that we weren't able to accomplish his task because we quarrelled like schoolboys, wouldn't it?'
'Yes. Quite embarrassing, I'd say,' Severus agreed.
For the rest of the way they walked in silence. After a few minutes they stopped in front of a house which seemed to be the only one with life in it. All the sourrounding buildings were empty shops and run down warehouses.
'That must be it. 'The green stag', as Harry told us,' Severus broke the silence.
'Hm. Looks like it,' Remus sighed. He sounded tired, their encounter seemed to have taken all energy out of him. 'Not very inviting, if you ask me.'
'I only hope they have some decent food there.'
'Well, I'm not very hungry,' Remus said.
'But we can't go in there and not eat anything. Surely, you know that muggles usually drink something with alcohol in it when they visit a place like this. As we don't want to rise any attraction, we'll have to act as them, and we'll hardly survive that with empty stomachs,' Severus pointed out.
'Yes., sure. I didn't say I won't eat anything, I just said that I wasn't hungry. But that's the normal thing in my condition. I often eat although I'm not hungry. Just to prevent me from starving myself.'
They were still standig in front of the pub, but Severus was about to grip the door handle when Remus suddenly added:
'Am I mistaken, or do you have some obsession with getting me to eat something? I wouldn't wonder if Harry had talked to you about that.'
'And there I thought that you weren't able to do Legilimency, especially not from behind people without direct eye-contact,' Severus said, not knowing if he should be embarrassed or amused.
But the werewolf only laughed. 'Oh, it doesn't take Legilimency to know about that. Harry's always so concerned about me. If you listen to him you'd think I was his godson and not the other way round.'
After Sirius death, Remus had taken over that role quite naturally and the two had become kind of a family. They had lived to together at Grimmauld place during school holidays and as far as Severus knew, they had even gone on holiday trips together.
'If it sets your mind at ease, Severus, and for Harry's sake, I promise I will eat anything you wish tonight. How about that?' Remus said goodnaturedly.
'Quite daring, I'd say,' Severus answered. 'Or maybe not. As this place is run by muggles, there shouldn't be any weird things on the menu, but what if it were a wizard's pub? How can you be so sure that I wouldn't order ... hm, let me think... fried slugs, for example?' He gave Remus a wicked grin.
'Because,' Remus answered in mock earnest, 'because, I think that in general, you are a decent man and that you would never do such an evil thing to a fellow spy.'
'If you say so,' Severus was amused. 'But allow me to add that you are much too credulous. Your are not suspicious enough for a spy. How on earth did you survive all these years?'
'Gryffindor luck?' the werewolf tried.
'Probably,' Severus snorted shaking his head. Amazing, how Remus had been able to change back to his old behaviour after the scene they'd just had back in that street a few minutes ago.
When they entered the pub, they were greeted by a thick mist of cigarette smoke and a range of unidentifiable smells the owner seemed to have been anxious to keep in the small room for days by not opening the windows.
'Well, that way we'll not be in danger of being watched by them. That's certainly an advantage,' Severus commented drily, coughing.
They went over to the bar and ordered beer. While they were waiting Remus looked around discreetly.
'I don't recognize anybody from my former observations, but that doesn't mean anything. We still don't know who else might be in the affair. I guess the table over there, near the door would be best for an overview of the whole place.'
'Yes, I think so, too. Let's go then,' Severus answered.
'Do you want anything to eat?' the landlord called after them. 'We've got homemade chicken pie. It comes with vegetables.'
'Oh yes, thank you. We'll have two then,' Remus said.
Once they had taken their seats at the said table there wasn't really much to do, so they sat in silence for some minutes, sipping at their drinks. But it didn't take very long. The landlord himself brought the food soon after. Severus was just about to put the fork in his pie when he heard a sharp gasp from Remus who dropped his knife and fork as if they were red- hot.
'What's the matter?' Severus asked with concern in his voice.
'Must be silver.' He showed Severus his palms which showed burns where the skin had been in contact with the cutlery. 'I'll go and try to cool that with water. Excuse me,' Remus muttered and left the table to go to the bathroom.
Severus was surprised. It was commonly known, of course, that werewolves were allergic to silver. That was the reason why people had used items of silver to defend themselves against these beasts or to hunt them down for ages, preferably crossbow bolts. But the former Potions master hadn't known that people with lycanthropy would react that sensitive even after only a short skin contact with silver.
'Is anything wrong?' the landlord, who had come to the table when he had seen that Remus was obviously having a problem, asked concerned.
'Well. My friend is highly allergic to everything which is made out of silver. Would you be so kind to provide him with a new knife and fork?'
'Yes, of course. Sorry about that. A silver allery? That's unusual, isn't it? I have never heard of that before,' the landlord said bewildered.
'Yes, but nowadays people have the remotest kinds of allergies. There is hardly a thing people cannot be allergic to, is there?' Severus pointed out. He didn't want to draw too much attention to them. He knew that for muggles, silver was considered to be a pure metal, often used by people who were allergic to other metals, especially where jewellery was concerned. But if they wanted to stay and finish their task and their meal, he had to give some kind of explanation to the man.
'Yes. You're right. I am very sorry about that. If I'd known that beforehand ... ' having said that, the landlord hurried away to get the new cutlery.
When Remus came back he was looking unhappy, but his face lit up when he saw that he had been provided with a new knife and fork. They looked quite old and as if they had served in the kitchen for generations of cooks, but the important fact was that they had wooden handles.
'Oh. Thanks. Your doing, Severus?'
'Yes. I couldn't see you starving in front of a full bowl, you see.' Severus smirked. But it is a bit unusual for muggles to have a silver allergy. Even I didn't know that werewolves are that sensitive to silver. I would have thought it needed a more intense contact with the body. Through a wound, for example, or the like.'
'Well. I remember that I cut myself once with a silver knife at a friend's when I was ten years old. I spent a week in bed after that, with high fever and all. The healers told my parents that it had been quite close. If you get too much of it in your blood it can affect the heart. What is more, it hurts terribly. That's the reason, I guess, why they still shoot us with silver arrows and bolts, where a simple stunning spell would do,' he scowled darkly.
'They still do, don't they? Just for the sake of causing pain? I would have thought ...'
'Well, most people don't think when werewolves are concerned. They just don't act reasonably out of fear. In some cases they may be right, we can be very dangerous, but in others...'
'But there is the department in the Ministry, and you are working there, Remus. Decades ago, they didn't even have social workers, only aurors for hunting werewolves down. Surely, there must have been some changes over the last years? Just think about all the literature on lycanthropy.'
Remus laughed bitterly. 'Well, that would be the academic approach of our condition. Just look at your case. You know more about werewolves than most people, having brewed the wolfsbane potion for me and all. And what good did it? You're still having nightmares, although you should know that I'll be safe in the dungeons every full moon.'
Severus looked down on his plate, his hair comfortably hiding his face.
'What I am doing at the Ministry is simply giving advice to werewolves and their relatives, mostly in legal things, but also in matters of everyday life,' Remus went on. Generally I am trying to give them the confidence to live on in the wizarding society as if lycanthropy was a normal desease, as if I didn't know better. A poor job, if you ask me. When the real problems occur, if a werewolf turns wild, doesn't show up in the dungeons or if the muggles only report a big wild dog running free and attacking people - as soon as that happens, I am out of it and the aurors take over. In many cases that means death for the werewolf in question.'
Severus gulped. He had lost his appetite after that description. But while he was taking only small bits on his fork, chewing without much enthusiasm, Remus, on the other hand, shoveled the food into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten for days - which was probably the case. He didn't seem to notice what he was eating, though.
'Do you think, these two over there could be some of our suspects?' Severus started the conversation anew.
'No. I don't think so. I've told you that I've seen some of them already when they were meeting in other places, but I cannot be sure, of course.'
'This whole thing isn't going to lead us very far, is it?' Severus sighed.
'Well, no. Probably not. At least, not today. As you said yourself, spying needs a lot of patience,' Remus smiled mildly.
'Is the food okay?' They hadn't noticed that the landlord had approached them - or rather had creeped up upon them - again. Severus felt slightly uncomfortable about that. He wondered, if this was the custom in this place, or if the man was only being polite, because they were strangers here and because of Remus' little accident? Maybe they had become the object of observation themselves already.
'Yes. Thank you. Everything is fine.' Remus answered politely. 'This was chicken in the pie, wasn't it?'
'Oh yes. Certainly no vulture. Haha. My wife makes the pies herself. Some of our guests come especially because of them,' he explained proudly.
Severus was sure he had seen Remus' mouth twitch at the word 'vulture'. When the landlord saw that he wasn't needed anymore, he left them.
Severus frowned. 'Remus. Don't you think I didn't see that.'
'See what?' he asked innocently. When Severus didn't answer but started to stare menacingly, Remus gave in.
'Oh come on, Severus. You are not on about that old joke, are you? I remember having apologized for that as well. Anyway, it was meant to be a harmless thing, really. Well, all right. It's not nice to make fun of teacher colleagues. I realized that, but I think it helped Neville a great deal. By the way, I think, making fun of or bullying students isn't nice either. What is more, you've already punished me for that. Remember, when you spilled the beans about ...'
'Oh stop that, Remus, or we'll end up fighting again,' he interrupted the werewolf. 'Yes, I know that I have never been a model teacher. But the other thing was because I didn't know the whole story about you and Black, because I was cold out at that time. I simply wanted to protect the students and ... well, maybe I was a bit blind, perhaps, as well. But coming back to the vulture ...'
'Oh no, really, Severus ...' Remus groaned.
'What I was going to say is, that it was also unfair towards Mrs. Longbottom.'
'Hm. Perhaps. Have you ever met her? I didn't. Maybe I wasn't long enough at Hogwarts.'
'I did, once. But not at Hogwarts. She never came there as other parents did. She thought that it would be better for Neville to handle everything on his own. No, I met her when I was at St. Mungo's. It was shortly after they had stopped giving me the tranquilizing potions and allowed me to wander around a bit. As you, I hadn't met her before.'
'How did you know her then?' Remus wanted to know.
'By her attire, of course. I think she must be the only witch wearing that kind of hat. Can you imagine the shock I got, when I set my eyes upon her?' Now, Severus couldn't help but grin.
'But she knew who you were?'
'Yes, of course. And do you want to know what she said to me? "Professor Snape, get a grip on yourself. There are many others who are worse off than you".
'Ouch. That wasn't very tactful, was it?' Remus grimaced. 'What did you say to her?'
'Nothing. But she was right, you know, regarding her family's fate. She must be very strong witch to endure all that. I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd hexed me there right on the spot, given the fact that I had been her grandson's least favourite teacher, but she didn't. Just left me standing there.'
'That's what distinguishes a real lady, Severus.'
'Probably.'
There was a moment of silence while the two finished the rest of their dinner and sipped at their beers. During the time they had been there, only three other customers had come in and sat down at the bar to drink. They didn't talk to each other but to the landlord in turns. It didn't look at all as if some conspiracy was going on in this place.
'Well, what do you think. Shall we call it a day?' Remus yawned, 'I'm quite tired and I don't think anything interesting will happen here in the next hours.'
'Yes. You're right. We'll have to wait for another opportunity, I guess. Harry didn't say how urgent this was, did he?' Severus enquired.
'Uh, no. I don't think so. The problem is, we don't really know what's going on. There have been sightings of wizards meeting muggles, which in itself isn't illegal or rises suspicion, of course. But, as you know, these wizards were known to have been close to Voldemort's lot once, and the muggles could certainly be called criminals. So we're just looking for something, hoping to prevent anything which could endanger our world, or the muggles, or both.'
They got up and went over to the bar to pay for their food, said good bye to the landlord and were out of the pub within a minute.
Severus enjoyed the fresh night air after the smoke-laden atmosphere inside that place. He inhaled deeply while the two men walked silently the same way they had come. They went in direction of the underground station where they had met a few hours earlier. There, their ways would part. Severus would take the next train and Remus would probably disapparate home in a moment when no muggle was near to watch.
'Severus, can you do me a favour?'
'Depends.'
'I won't be in the Ministry tomorrow, because I have an appointment outside London. Would you be so kind to report to Harry what we found out, or rather: did not find out tonight?'
'Yes, sure. I am always glad to have an excuse to leave my office. And maybe Harry will have a new assignment for us.'
'So you wouldn't mind spending some more uneventful nights at dubious London pubs to eat and watch totally harmless people?' asked Remus.
'Well, it's not that I have much to do otherwise,' Severus shook his head. 'We are quite a team, aren't we? Well, at least we managed not to fight seriously at the first argument. If we'll be able to improve our understanding in that way, maybe we can track down some real villains.'
Remus smiled. 'In the meantime, I'll try to find a werewolf in the countryside and talk him or her into spending the full moon at the Ministry dungeons.'
'Is that the job you're going to do tomorrow?' Severus enquired.
'Yes. There have been sightings of a wolf northeast of London the last full moon. Muggles saw it. I have got some addresses of wizards living in that region. I'll have a try if one of them could be a werewolf.'
'Would you recognize one when it is in its human form?'
'Yes, definitely. You know that we have enhanced senses.'
'But it could also be a muggle, couldn't it?'
'Theoretically, yes. But it normally becomes known quite quickly, when a muggle is attacked. That always means a lot of work for the Ministry aurors. All the obliviating charms they have to put on the muggles. It's a lot of work too, to trace all the information the muggles produce and to manipulate them afterwards. Quite an ordeal. But in most cases it's wizards who get bitten. Becauses wizards mostly keep to themselves and have not that much contact to muggles. So do wizard werewolves. Most cases are kind of family affairs. You know, couples who are not careful enough and don't put 'their' werewolf in the cellar if they haven't got access to the wolfsbane. Young children who sneak after the family member who disappears every full moon, or the like,' Remus explained.
'But it's better, if you have a family behind you to support you, I guess?'
'Oh yes, definitely. I wouldn't have known what to do without my parents and my grandmother. I was seven years old, you know, when it happened.'
'Well, good luck then for tomorrow,' Severus said when they had reached the underground station. 'I'll talk to Harry. See you.'
'Yes. Bye.' And with a silent 'pop', Remus disapparated, leaving Severus behind a bit wistful. Apparating was certainly one of the magical abilities he was missing. Not that he minded travelling by muggle public transport. In fact, he had often travelled for hours through London, just for the fun of it. He had a monthly season ticket, so he had no bother with buying tickets. It was an excellent means to spend time when you had too much of it, to read or watch other people. At least, it gave you a certain feeling of being busy, although you weren't doing anything.
He needed over an hour to reach his flat and had to change trains twice. When he was sitting at his kitchen table a few minutes later, sipping at a freshly brewed tea, he was wondering how Remus living quarters would look like. If he had a kind of 'cage' at home, just in case?
----
A/N:
If Remus and Severus think their little spying job will stay that uneventful, they are much mistaken.
Don't worry about he social worker. She was only meant to be a background illustration for Severus' everyday life.
Thank you for all your reviews!