Chapter 10

Molly Weasley was furiously spitting out words as she uninvitingly entered the Headmaster's office, "You have to find that murderer! No mother's child is safe with that thing on the loose!"

"We've done what we can, Molly. But no clues have been left behind of Harry Potter's whereabouts." Albus knew this was only the beginning. Soon owls would find their way to his office, demanding he find Harry Potter and Sirius Black.

Molly opened her mouth to enrage even more when she was interrupted. The Headmaster's door flew open as a very shaken and bruised Severus Snape struggled to walk inside. "Albus." Even his voice made the very proud, controlled man seem weak.

Albus quickly conjured a steaming pot of tea, handing a cup to the trembling Potions Master. "What did you find, my boy?"

Severus slowly swallowed the hot liquid, silently rejoicing at Albus' insight in adding a healing potion to his tea to counteract the Cruciatus Curse. "He doesn't have Potter or Black but is looking for them. It seems the Dark Lord was quite ecstatic that the world turned its back on Potter. A little too ecstatic. But he's also not happy with his control over the Dementors. They refuse to search for either Black or Potter. Seems something or someone spooked the Dark Lord's new allies from his side; they won't leave Azkaban."

Solemn blue eyes stared forward, unfocused. "Why would Voldemort be ecstatic? Does he know something we don't, my boy?" Severus shrugged. He had his suspicions but he couldn't be sure. "But Voldemort's not the only one who has lost control of the Dementors. I was informed that not even Fudge was able to force the creatures to leave Azkaban."

"There's more, Albus. By Winter Solstice, Azkaban will be brought down. He's becoming a bit more doubtful of my status. He mentioned an attack that was recently executed that I did not know of, a plan that made him very happy. As you know, last time he left me out of his plans. I believe he's re-trying the idea of flushing me out as a spy."

Albus frowned. "This is not good, my boy. You must be very careful. Try to find out this recent plan, if possible. The only thing we know that was recent was Harry Potter's trial." And those words caused even Molly Weasley to keep her mouth closed. The minds of all three were running overtime. They knew how Voldemort wanted Harry out of his way. And that it could be very possible that he was the one behind Harry's incarceration. If that was true, Molly was very fearful she had ruined the boy's only hope of a normal family life.

Severus was the only one who couldn't say anything, nor did he wish to. He was still suffering from the torture he always garnered when he returned to his Lord's side. Not only that, he knew the Potter boy well. He knew Potter's reaction when the school had turned against him for being a Parselmouth. And as if that wasn't emough to go on, Severus had also seen the absolute delight in the older Malfoy's eyes, as well as in his tone when the aristocrat had mentioned being able to prove his theory. He had been slightly confused at those words until he noticed his Lord's increasing suspicions of him as well as the recent order of a very difficult and Dark potion his Lord has requested, as well as a missing experimental Polyjuice potion, one that allowed the drinker to perform with someone else's signature wand.

"I will be calling an emergency Order meeting. I cannot express the importance of your safety, Severus. Nor will I be able to have someone on the look-out for Harry Potter and Sirius Black, not with news about Winter Solstice."

Severus barely held back a sneer at Black's name. He had been fighting his natural reaction at the mention of the man as he sat before Albus. He simply stood and stalked out of the room, quietly stating Poppy's name, knowing if he didn't go Albus would drag him there. But before he could fully sweep out of the Headmaster's office, Remus Lupin slipped inside. "Severus."

The dark haired man glanced at him as Albus spoke, "Ah, Remus. Tonight will be an emergency meeting about Harry Potter and Sirius Black's whereabouts."

The professor barely contained a flinch. Tawny eyes met with onyx and knew the dark haired professor knew all about the recent acquisition of a new pet. A pet that happened to be a large black dog with even darker eyes. "Yes, Headmaster."

Alone, Severus stalked gracefully towards the Hospital Wing, determined to quickly end whatever torment he was in and to keep Poppy from tracking him down later. Impatiently, he endured Poppy's constant poking and hen-clucking as she healed his battered body. Once able to, he gracefully fled the Hospital Wing, leaving behind a knowing Poppy Pomfrey. But halfway to his dark dungeons he was met by a tawny eyed Remus Lupin, "Lupin."

Swallowing hard, Remus faced his colleague. "You know."

"I know what, wolf?" Remus flinched as the man referred to his lycanthropy, a condition he had suffered from almost all his life where he would be forced to change into a bloodthirsty werewolf every full moon. The only good thing that came from his curse was the Wolfsbane Potion, a potion designed to control the murderous creature within those infected.

Severus sighed, not willing to wait for the other man to answer his question. "Come." Startled, Remus did as he was told. Lost in thought, Remus didn't realize they had reached the Potions Master's rooms until he heard the deep voice hiss, "Basilisk."

Remus eyed the comfortably sized suite. He could see that Severus didn't seem to care for showing off his Slytherin pride, for the room was done in a mixture of dark cherry wood, soft charcoal blacks, light creams, and the occasional silver. Even the walls bore nothing of Slytherin, only the man's passion for potions. Every crook or cranny held books, parchments, quills, vials, cauldrons, potion ingredients, and utensils. The Common Room, in which he saw all this, held only a cluttered desk in a far corner, two black leather armchairs, a roaring silver fire in a dark fireplace, two small end tables, and a plush cream rug on the granite floor.

"Unusual coloring. But I always saw you as a true Slytherin."

"One does not need emerald and silver to be a Slytherin, Lupin." Not knowing why, Severus gave a brief description of his rooms, "We are in my Common Room. The door to your right, across from the fireplace, leads to a small dead-end hallway for my bedroom, bathroom, and a private lab."

"It's nice. Comfortable, though a bit messy."

Severus merely smirked as he crossed to a crowded book shelf. "Always nice to know where one places things." Using his wand, he tapped out a quick but difficult pattern on several books. Creaking slowly the shelf pulled open. Curious, Remus followed Severus through the opening. Eyes widened at the sight of a hidden room behind the shelf. He stared at the book shelves of finished potions, very rare and dangerous ones. He could also see the layers of carefully cataloged ingredients, commonly used, very rare, and dangerous. He even saw various bottles of experimental potions and cures. And further within the room was a small nook in a far wall, but large enough for several wine glasses and tumblers-for drinking whiskey and such-to sit, even with several bottles of expensive liquor.

Severus poured each a half glass of dark brandy, leading the way back to the fireplace, "When did you acquire the mutt?"

Remus sighed. Neither man could ever get along in the same room nor the same conversation. "Just a few days ago. I ran into him in the Forbidden Forest."

"How did they escape?"

"Siri doesn't know. He didn't even know Harry was there. He only knew that one night two Dementors opened his cell door and then fled. He said that they seemed frightened because anytime he ran past one, it fled from sight. He swam the river to the other side and made his way here. He believes Peter Pettigrew is living among us in Hogwarts. But since I told him of Harry's plight, he hasn't left my rooms, grieving for what he believes is his fault."

Severus gave a tight nod. All day he had felt nothing like himself. Something was wrong, changing. Even his memories of the past were altering, revealing vague things he only saw in dreams. Staring into the silver flames, he asked the man at his side, "What's changed?"

Remus once again swallowed hard. He was hoping the man wouldn't question the same feelings he had, "Severus?" Please let it be something else. Please, Merlin, let it be something else.

"Did you feel it? Things are different. Changing."

Remus looked away, "I know." His voice wasbarely above a whisper as he spoke. "I know." He had felt the memories falling away to reveal new ones. He had seen changes in the once proud, emotionally controlled man.

Severus felt completely lost. He hated the vulnerability he had always tried to hide. The werewolf suddenly leaned forward, using the man's distraction against him. Using one hand, Remus pulled Severus close and kissed the shocked man deeply, who responded seconds later, neither willing to part just yet.