Chapter 2

Unintended Connections

Snape stood up with lightning speed after hearing Ron speak. It wasn't so much from being caught off guard, but more of the way he was addressed. "I do think it best if you apologize for your use of such offensive language." He crossed his arms over his chest and took a small step towards the door. "I don't suppose you have any idea where everyone else is at, do you?" He took another step towards Ron then let his arms fall to the side.

"I...I...I'm not sure where Remus is, but everyone in my family is back at, um, they're at home, Professor." He reached up and scratched the back of his head trying to figure out what Snape was doing here, in his room, sitting on his bed, in the middle of the night. He shivered a bit, probably from Snapes presence and not the temperature in the old house, and, it was then, he remembered he had taken his shirt off when he first arrived. It was summer after all.

Severus' eyes narrowed slightly as if he were trying to see Rons expression in the overly dark room. After a moment he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand. Severus mumbled something then all the candles on the room sprang to life sending a eerie glow, along with dancing shadows, over the walls and floor. Snape placed his wand back into his pocket and exhaled a bit loudly. "Well, Mr. Weasley, if everyone is at home what is it you are doing here, at this time?"

"Um...I..." Ron lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow. He knew he was in trouble now that Snape had caught him here. There was no doubt in the boys mind that his parents would kill him as soon as they found out about this. Nor was there any doubt that Snape would run and tell them right away. "I was just...stopping by to see if Remus was here." Of course it wasn't a good enough excuse, and he knew it, but it might help reduce his mothers fury when he got home.

Severus wiped the dust from his black robes and frowned slightly as he realized it only smeared over the fabric. "If that were true, Weasley, then why were you so incredibly surprised to see me? I mean, wouldn't you think me to be Lupin if he were supposed to be here? Which, you might recall, said he wasn't." Snapes eyes fell unknowing over the figure standing before him for a moment then moved back to the others eyes.

The sweat quickly collects on Ron's forehead again and he makes no attempt to wipe it away this time. "I was just stunned to see someone sitting in my room, in the dark, ok?" He flinched slightly feeling his professors eyes move over him. He shivered slightly and hugged himself to try to both cover himself and warm up a bit. He took a deep breath and hung his head in defeat. "Ok, I left my house because I can't stand being there anymore."

Snape was slightly surprised to get an honest answer from the boy without any further questioning, though it was not the response he had suspected. He dropped himself into one of the dust covered chairs in the room and crossed his legs. "Do continue. You seem to have the need to express something you're feeling."

Several thoughts ran through Ron's mind in the next few seconds. Thoughts like, was he asleep, did he actually hear Snape correctly, but most of all who was this man and what had he done with the heartless, sarcastic, Gryffindor hating potions teacher that worked at Hogwarts? Ron shook his head then slowly stepped into the room and sat in one of the other chairs after throwing his bag on the bed. "W...w...why would you even care about how I feel?" Ron was beginning to think this was some new method of torture that Snape was experimenting with.

"Well," Snape settled into his chair a bit more. "It's too late for either of us to leave and return home now, and I'm not yet tired enough to fall asleep in this place." He folded his arms over his chest as he had a habit of doing. "So, I figure a bed time story might help. That, and you and I have never really talked before."

Ron was slightly confused by the last part of the mans statement. Snape was insane if he thought Ron was going to talk to him just because he was the only one around. "What does it matter that we never talked before? You hate me, remember?"

Snape dropped his arms from his chest to the armrests on his chair. "Whether you know it or not, Ron, I did used to talk to your brothers while they were in school. Not so much Fred and George, but the others. Charlie and I used to discuss the uses of dragon parts in potion making. And Bill..." He paused and fidgeted with something on his robe. "I'm sure that doesn't interest you in the least, however." A silent sigh passed his lips followed by a small yawn. "And, I don't exactly hate you, just most of the things you and your friends do."

"What we do?!" Ron practically yelled. "It's nothing compared to what your favorite student Malfoy and his friends do. It's not like Harry, Hermione and I go around attacking people for no reason at all." Ron's breathing was rather heavy from frustration and aggravation. After a moment he brought it back under control and looked down. "Sorry, Professor, I can get a little carried away at times."

Snape simply ignored the comment about Draco which surprised Ron greatly. "Now, back to the real reason you are here instead of at home with your family." Severus shifted in his chair in order to find some comfort on the lumpy old cushioning.

"I told you, I can't stand being there anymore." Ron walked over to the bed and dropped himself on it which sent dust through the air. He fell back and starred at the ceiling in silence just hoping Snape would leave.

Severus shook his head. "You know, I hope your children never ask for a bed time story because you aren't very good with detail. Now, would you like to tell me why you hate being there?"

"Not really, but I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Ron shifted a bit and brought his feet up onto the bed after kicking off his shoes.

Snape gave an amused laugh then stood from his seat. "No, I suppose you really don't." He walked over to the bed and sat next to the Gryffindor with an expression of pure interest in the details of his story.

Ron sat up and moved so his back was resting against the headboard of the bed. It was a bit odd for him to be sitting on a bed with Snape of all people. "Fine." He muttered almost inaudibly. "Ever since the order started I've been told I'm too young or too old to do anything."

Severus slipped his shoes off and moved up next to the red head. "How is it possible to be both too young and too old at the same time?"

Ron sighed. "I'm too young to do anything for the order and my parents are always yelling at me to grow up and act my age."

The older wizard moved closer and placed his hands on the Gryffindors shoulders. "Helping the order would only be more strenuous than simply being a teenager."

Ron trembled slightly under the touch but didn't say anything. The potion masters hands were rather warm and felt good on his bare skin. "I just came here to find some temporary peace. That is, if it actually exists"

Snape flashed a quick smile. "I know a lot of ways to help you relax if you're interested." The elder man leaned over and brushed his lips over the boys neck gently.

The red head swallowed quite loudly and closed his eyes feeling both uncomfortable and slightly excited by the contact.

"Are you interested, Ron?"