A/N: Well well well... the story of three wells.

This chapter took longer to upload. It was mainly due to the fact that with Christmas so near work has been excuriatingly busy, and I've had shopping to do of course. But finally I got around to finishing this and getting it up.

Ah and one thing about this chapter... Well my 100th reviewer won a little prize. I would do anything she wanted in the story. I offered up three things, but there was only one thing she wanted. So for Alexis AKA Crafty... We have a segment of the chapter told from Snape's viewpoint.

I hope I did the lovely Potion Master justice, but being inside his head can be a bit difficult, so be kind :)

I think after this chapter though I shall leave the poor man's mind alone. Heh.

Chapter 36

The second morning upon waking up with Sirius was infinitely better then the first. The man seemed to have learnt his lesson after the first time, and he didn't mention anything that might have reminded me about Severus or feuds, or what the students and teachers were likely going to think. Though his reticence on the issue didn't stop my own brain from going into overdrive.

In the end though I chose to just give up on trying to sort everything out. Having a psychotic killer out to get you certainly does give you a new view on life. A view that tends to include not giving a care about what others think. It's a very "me" centered view. And as far as "me" went, I enjoyed sleeping with Sirius. I didn't think past the moment. It was just fun. A girl can have fun can't she?

Apparently Severus didn't agree with that opinion, judging by the hard look I received from him as I entered the Great Hall for lunch. I had missed breakfast...

Perhaps I should have cared that the potions master was angry with me at the moment, displeased with my choices, but I was beyond that point. While I had forgiven Sirius, Severus was still on my black list. It was a cold shoulder that I gave him as I took my own seat for lunch next to Sirius who was trying rather hard to hide the smirk that was edging it's way on to his face. It never made it's way completely onto his face though, likely due to the annoyance that was radiating from me. If nothing else, Sirius was smart enough not to push my buttons when it came to the role I played in his feud with Severus.

"So Aine, are you and Sirius dating now?"

Tonks was none too quiet as she asked the question from a few chairs down. Some of the other teachers seemed interested in my answer, while others shifted nervously, a few grunted in displeasure and turned away pointedly. My own eye was starting to twitch, the only small pleasure I could take out of the question was that it hadn't been asked loud enough for the students to hear.

"Tonks... I don't know what you've heard. But Professor Black and I are not dating..."

"But Siri said..." She winced and then pouted at Sirius who was giving her a dark look.

My lips tilted up slightly.

"Despite what Sirius might have said on the matter... my answer still stands."

Now Sirius's dark look was aimed in my direction but I just grinned at him in response. Really he should have been thrilled that I hadn't killed him for telling Tonks what had happened between us, or assuming things for the two of us based off them.

"Well I personally think you would have made a cute couple." Tonks shrugged. I had to wonder if anyone would think Severus and I would make a cute couple. People seemed to overwhelmingly prefer Sirius when it came to relationships. Hell, who was I kidding. People just preferred Sirius period.

"Some of us don't care about Miss Mackinnion's romantic entanglements." Professor Sinistra was obvious about her dislike of me, pretty much from the start. Whether this was because I was a muggle was something I wasn't sure of. "Right Severus?"

She had looked to Severus beside her for agreement with her statement. I gave the man a scathing look before focusing my attention on my lunch. Really I was still smarting over the fact that the man cared little enough about me to only really care that it had been Sirius I had slept with, not that I had slept with someone at all.

"Actually it's rather interesting."

Somehow I doubted that was the response that Professor Sinistra wanted. I was really starting to dislike the woman as well. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she thought she had the right to call him Severus.

Sirius was starting to bristle next to me, and all Severus had said was that it was interesting. God help us if he followed that comment up with anything else.

"It is not appropriate to discuss this in front of the children." The Headmistress had put a stop to the imminent argument with the one sentence and a firm look to all the teachers. Really I couldn't have been happier. The last thing I wanted was for Sirius to jump down the table and try and strangle Severus, even if I had been considering the same thing a few moments before.

With Christmas coming soon my classes were sort of tapering down. I had to say that I was right with the students when it came to the amount of work I wanted to do. So my homework assignments were a little... lenient. I thought having the students read some traditional Christmas stories was rather informative. Did it really matter that most of them were Children's books?

I shouldn't have been surprised when two students actually handed in papers on the books they had read, even though they hadn't been assigned.

"Miss Cooper, Miss Tsuroda." I looked up at the two girls from behind my desk. The two looked a little uneasy with each other, apparently neither expecting someone else to bother doing a paper, and certainly not expecting to show up at the same time to pass it in. "You know that there was no required paper..."

"I just thought that perhaps I could get some extra credit." Miss Tsuroda said, shrugging.

"Well I just thought you'd like some feedback on the assignment. I don't need extra credit."

Chauncey smirked slightly at Michi who was looking a little put out being upstaged like that. Personally I found it all rather amusing.

"Well the two of you destroyed my objective of not having work to grade." I sighed dramatically, trying to look put out by the two. Immediately they started to apologize, but my laughter put a stop to them. "I was kidding. It's fine, it's great even. I'm glad you two were so enthused. You'll both get extra credit but please... don't do any extra work over the holidays. I would hate to think of the two of you doing homework on Christmas day."

"I would never do that." Michi denied it, but her face showed that she had indeed in the past worked over the holiday, but she didn't want to admit to that now. "Anyway, have a Happy Christmas Professor." She headed out of the classroom, leaving me with a rather fidgety fifth year Gryffindor.

"Is there anything wrong?" I had stood up, deciding to go out and spend the rest of the afternoon in the library. My plan was paused at the sight of the young student still standing in front of my desk, looking like she had something to say.

"I... I think something's going on!" She rushed it out, looking a little embarrassed after it was all said.

"Something going on?"

My immediate concerns were those of the confusing relationship that Sirius and I now had.

"The dark mark and those fires, and then the break-ins. I think it's all connected."

Is it bad that I almost sighed with relief?

"Miss Cooper... I think perhaps you would do well as a detective in the future." I moved around the desk, putting a hand on her shoulder, steering her toward the door. "But in this case I just don't see what you do. I think perhaps the dark mark has you being a little paranoid. Two break ins can't be connected. One was in London, the other was in New York. I'm glad that you're keeping an eye on things, really."

She looked a little depressed over my refusal of her accusations. There was a slight twinge in my conscience about denying it all to the girl, making her sound paranoid when she was completely right. Actually I was rather proud of the girl for having figured out a connection when most of the older wizards and witches hadn't been able to see it. She reminded me of Hermione in those terms.

"All right then Professor..."

"Really. Maybe you should stop reading the muggle papers... Just relax and have a nice Christmas at home. Okay?"

She made a face, but reluctantly the young girl agreed and made her way out of the classroom. I soon followed her out, though I was on my way up to the library.

Irma was of course there, and even a few students could be found among the stacks, despite the fact that the Christmas break was starting tomorrow. As a teacher of course I was rather happy that students were so dedicated to their studies... but really my personal opinion was that they needed to lighten up and go and get into some trouble.

"So you're staying here over the holidays?"

I raised an eyebrow at Irma, who was scowling past me at some students who hurried along at the dark look.

"Of course I am. There are students staying, and as a teacher I have to stay and look out for them."

That was not true of course, the real reason was the fact that Sirius wasn't leaving so I certainly couldn't. Add to that the continuing search for the horcrux, and a psychotic dark wizard out to kill me, and it didn't really spell out holiday at home.

"Did you finish that book I lent you yet?" The question was practically an accusation. After all I had the book for almost a month and a half with no sign of returning it just yet.

"I hope you don't mind Irma. I read it but I'm going over it again. I'm almost positive there's something there that I can use, but it's eluding my grasp. Sorry."

"As long as it's in perfect condition when I get it back."

I reassured her about my ability to take care of books and then made my way over to a table to do some reading. Actually at the moment I wasn't researching the connection actually. Right now I was reading some books on Lord Voldemort and what had happened all those years ago.

The man... if one could really call him that... was certainly a nasty piece of work. He had killed and tortured so many people that the ministry had simply lost count. There was just no way to be sure how many people he had been responsible for, certainly not when you took into account the muggles he likely had a hand in killing as well. No wonder the wizarding world counted Harry as it's most important hero. He had vanquished it's worst foe, not just once either... but twice. Granted the first time had been his mother's doing, but as far as the rest of the world saw it, it had been little baby Harry. It was rather amazing that he hadn't dyed his hair blonde and moved to the United States to get away from his likely fan base.

The books I had been reading had been almost reverent in their descriptions of the young man. The fact of the matter was that he seemed to actually be almost like a god the way they went on about him. Even those books being written about him hadn't changed that. Matter of fact most of the wizarding world secretly had read them, though none would admit it. After all a squib had betrayed their entire existence... but damned if it didn't make good reading.

The history catch up went well into the night, and it was only Irma shaking me awake that suggested that it was perhaps time I took my dozing off to my own bed.

The next day saw the departure of most of the students. Practically all of them really. With the entire population on edge after the dark mark showing up, and some suspicions about other attacks, everyone was being extra careful. And that meant keeping your children where you could see them, especially over the holidays. When all was said and done, only about 6 children had decided to stay. These lucky few included Kerstan, Cain and Chauncey. An interesting combination. I felt a little bad though about telling Chauncey to have a good holiday at home since it appeared she had no home to go to.

Since there were so few students, and for their own safety, Headmistress McGonagall had decided that they would all stay in one dorm together. It was an interesting idea since they all came from different houses. Two Gryffindors and Slytherins, and one each from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Even more interesting was the fact that she had decided they would all stay in the Slytherin dorms... It was a choice that Sirius was none too pleased with.

"Poor Kerstan! Having to stay in those horrible dank, disgusting cellars! Only snakes live down there!"

All I had to do was cough.

"Not including you Aine... You're not a snake. You're far to pretty to be a snake."

My look must have said it all since he decided to shut up after that comment. After all I wasn't overly thrilled with his description of Slytherins in general. After all they were just children, there was no need to be so mean to them all the time.

"It's for their protection Sirius." I was trying once again to read the book Irma had leant me, but it was proving difficult as usual in the lanky Gryffindor's presence. His pacing was driving me up a wall. "The cellars are the easiest places to protect. And both Severus and I live down there. Even you are just on the first floor. And since it's just us, McGonagall, Hagrid, and Sinistra staying over the holidays it really did make the most sense. So just shut up about it and please... stop pacing."

Not that my suggestion had been taken seriously. He continued to go on and on about the poor Gryffindors, and really the poor Ravenclaw boy and Hufflepuff girl, who had to suffer horrifically in the terrible dungeons. It got so bad that I was seriously contemplating a death when we walked into the Great Hall for dinner, the first of the Christmas break. It was either going to be my death or his. Though with our connection it was likely one would lead to the other, so it wasn't really a viable solution.

The hall had been decked out in Christmas cheer, covered with magical lights, and snow falling from the ceiling. Even Dumbledore sat in his portrait, a christmas tree now beside him, and what looked like mistletoe hanging in front of him. I had to wonder if anyone would actually kiss a picture..

"Happy Christmas Professor." I stopped by his portrait, greeting the former headmaster.

"And to you too Professor." He smiled slightly, nodding at me, and then to Sirius who had stopped next to me. "It should be rather an eventful break, I should think with who is staying."

"Ah. What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius asked, a bit abruptly in my opinion. But Dumbledore wasn't about to answer he was off on a different tangent.

"Ah you're under the mistletoe my dear."

Well that answered that question. Apparently I would kiss a picture.

With so few people in residence, everyone sat at the same table for dinner, teachers and students. I don't think Sinistra or Severus were overly pleased with sitting with children, but then the two of them were hardly pleased with anything.

My own personal agitation with the Potions Master had continued on into the holiday vacation. I hate to say it of myself but I do hold quite a grudge from time to time. And this was one of those times. One thing I can not get past is people who I try and care about, not caring about me. He could have at least faked a small ounce of jealousy over my... relationship with Sirius.

Though the very thought itself was irrational. There was no good reason for me to want Severus to be jealous. For that to be true then I would want something from the man. And I didn't. Not to mention that would mean I was just using Sirius... which would be wrong.

My contact with the man had been severely limited as well. I dislike saying that I avoided him... but really that's what it was. My imagination had even worked up several attempts by the man to talk to me, but I had ran out of the room, and just convinced myself later that it had been my imagination. My main concerns were cutting my connection with Sirius, teaching the students, and trying not to think about the evil dark lord who wanted to find me, make me resurrect his corpse, and then likely tear apart my body into so many pieces that no one would even realize the pieces had belonged to a human being.

So it was always awkward at meals, now it was just worse since there were so few people to hide behind. I was actually surprised that so many teachers had gone home. It was just odd to think of them as having families to spend the holidays with. Tonks had actually been invited to spend the time with Weasley's. Mrs. Weasley realized that this was a hard time for the girl since after Remus's death she found the holidays particularly hard... Even Irma had gone somewhere. Apparently she had a daughter in the south of Wales. Thinking of that woman as ever having had children... well everyone has a secret side don't they?

Hagrid of course stayed, and McGonagall, well she was in charge of the student's protection... I had expected Severus to stay as well. He after all didn't have friends and family. There was a slight twinge at the thought, but I beat that little bit of pity back. And as for Sinistra. Well I didn't doubt that her staying the holidays had to do with Severus... Strange as it perhaps was to anyone except me, but the Astronomy teacher has a bit of a crush on the Potions Master.

Really my black looks to the woman did not concern that fact... She just plain did not like me.

"Professor! You kissed a portrait!" Chauncey Cooper was practically bent over laughing at the image I must have presented. Behind me Dumbledore was laughing in good nature, but that didn't stop the blush that stole up my cheeks. Sirius nudged me in the side, now laughing himself.

"Do I have to be worried? Are you going to leave me for a portrait?"

I am not necessarily the most good natured person when it comes to teasing...

"I can't leave you if we're NOT together Sirius. Now shut up!" I muttered, and practically stomped to the table and took a free seat, which luckily or not, happened to be next to Severus.

"The canine is going to reveal your relationship to the entire student body soon."

I stiffened at Severus's comment, but a look at the students that were there showed that none had noticed. Chauncey was still busy laughing off my apparent make out with Dumbledore, and Kerstan was chatting happily with two of the other students. Cain was of course practically dead, not a sound coming out of the boy.

"We don't have a relationship to reveal." I grumbled once again. It was getting rather tiresome to try and keep explaining this to everyone. But whenever Severus said anything, I immediately had to try.

"Dreadfully sorry, then he might reveal the fact that you're both shagging."

The man was practically livid which is saying a lot for him. Severus really never showed any emotion, so for him to look so pissed off was something. In fact if any event needed to marked down on a calendar this would be it. "Day Severus got pissed off."

I leaned in close to him, making me rather happy that Sirius had sat at the opposite end of the table and wasn't paying much attention to me. He was far too busy laughing with Kerstan about something. Apparently his mental age matched that of an eleven year old.

"Severus... Are you jealous?" I asked incredulous.

At my movement closer to him, he had practically jumped back, and now at my question there was a definite blush creeping up his oh so pale cheeks.

"Would it matter? After all you haven't spoken two words to me in weeks." He huffed out softly.

"Ah, but that was all I needed." I grinned at him, feeling a strange relief. My grudge with Severus had ended that easily. All I had needed was a show of feeling from the man, and his jealousy had finally broken it.

"That is completely childish." He looked incredulous at my complete change in demeanour.

"Ah, but I wasn't the one who was jealous, now was I?"

He huffed noisily, and turned away from me choosing to talk to Sinistra on his other side. I didn't miss the murderous look that woman was shooting out at me. Smiling at her, I turned my attention to my dinner.

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Now my feelings on women are that they are generally insane. It's an opinion that I would not necessarily air to the public, not that I necessarily fear what a certain Headmistress would do to me but it's just generally a safe idea. It usually proves to be correct though.

And with Miss Mackinnion's sudden turn from hating me to joking with me, it had just been verified.

For weeks she had been sleeping with that... with Black. A choice that was so nauseating that one couldn't think about it for too long without feeling the urgent need to empty the contents of one's stomach. It was a decision on her part that had immediately dropped her down a few levels, practically every level with me really. And yet the idea of her with that... Black...

It was a feeling that was best just ignored. Didn't stop me from trying to talk to her though, rectify the way things had been left between us. Not that I felt a bit of remorse over being sickened over anyone having... no thinking about that. Anything to do with Black tends to make me want to find a student and give them a detention for nothing more then walking near me.

But infuriatingly the woman had been avoiding me. If anyone should have been avoiding anyone it should have been me avoiding her. All I had intended to do was... not apologize, just talk her out of what she was mistakenly doing. No feelings involved in that.

To make matters worse as well was the fact that her avoidance of me seemed to make Professor Sinistra once again think she had a chance. Now there is nothing wrong with that woman, except for the fact that I personally find her repulsive, and her attentions are anything if NOT wanted. Aine had proven herself useful in that she had kept that woman at bay.

Really the most infuriating thing of all was the fact that Black had to look so damned happy all the time now. The two of them were probably shagging like rabbits every night, so he probably had every reason to be happy. I certainly had no feelings on that thought though, except revulsion.

Even though I was on the receiving end of a very firm avoidance, I still kept my word to that woman. I kept an eye on Cain Montgomery. And as loathe as I was to admit it, she had a reason to be a bit suspicious of the boy. Not that I thought he was a young death eater, not based just on a rumour that his father had been one. No instead I found him interesting based off his almost deathly silent nature.

My own childhood had been rather quiet, I understood being silent. This child though never spoke unless he was forced to, usually by direct questions in the classroom. Even I as a student had spoken to people, had answered questions in class, even had friends, of a kind... Cain Montgomery was never seen speaking to anyone his own age, no one from his house, never answering questions. An inquiry to some other teachers proved that it wasn't just my own class that brought about his silence. His work in class wasn't even too stellar, nor was it too bad. He wasn't as adept as that annoyingly happy Gryffindor Kerstan Faust, with potions, but he wasn't as bad as certain students I had in the past either.

But there was really nothing else to suggest he had anything going on in his head other then school work. He didn't wander off into strange areas of the school that I had ever noticed, he never disappeared. So my final, educated opinion was that he was just an abnormally quiet boy. But it was still enough to keep even more of a fixed eye on him.

I had also completely searched the Slytherin common areas for that blasted horcrux. Why I was even doing something so daft was beyond me. It was likely not in the castle. Not to mention it was such a dangerous thing to look for.

I am not frightened of... you know who.

That would be something only an idiot would say. Any sane individual would be scared of him, anyone with degree of logic would be. I am a logical man. No doubt if you went up to Black and asked him the same question, he would probably laugh and deny any fear. I have always known he is rather short on intelligence. Fear is a normal reaction. Though not one I would let anyone see of me. It is just that I had been a death eater who had turned on his supposed master, helped to foil his plans on numerous occasions, and in the end had helped to bring about his eventual downfall. It was not a history that would stand me in good stead if he returned. So why bring myself even further into his likely path of destruction? All because that silly girl asked me to.

No, not because she asked me to. I just wanted to rid myself of this mark once and for all. It was long ago time for Severus Snape to break free of everyone's chains.

And yet after a month or so of searching nothing had been turned up. If she was telling the truth, which was likely the case, then that dog had already searched the rest of the castle and hadn't turned up a single thing either. Strange as it was for him, he had almost trusted me to search where he couldn't. Occasionally he can have a shred of intelligence it seems.

It was almost going to be too wonderful to tell him that he had been completely wrong, that there was no horcrux in the school. Almost... after all that would mean there was no idea where this horcrux was, and if so then no way to get rid of... him... completely.

As if those two promises hadn't been bad enough, then I had also promised to try and find a way to break the connection between Miss Mackinnion and that insufferable Gryffindor.

Of course that had only been due to blackmail. Not even truthful blackmail either... I had been tricked by that woman. I hadn't even gotten a chance to see her naked...

One has to admit though that it was such a perfectly Slytherin thing to do.

That research hadn't gone well either. Apparently things were not going well for me lately. A boy in my house was being rather suspicious, I couldn't locate the one thing to defeat a man who had considerable control over me, and I couldn't break one simple connection between a man I despise and a woman I... well a woman I don't completely hate.

It should have been a simple matter, but things were complicated by the fact that one of the two people involved was a muggle with no magical abilities, and that the connection resulted from a muggle ritual. She might not have had any magic, but whatever she had used to raise that Black from the dead certainly had.

They couldn't be too far from each other, and could feel intense emotions from each other. It was likely this connection that had led to their... physical relationship as well. After all Aine had mentioned sharing dreams with him, and wanting to help him out. Damn her and her feelings toward that man. Just because you bring a man back to life doesn't mean you owe him anything...

Not that I cared that the two are sleeping together. It's just disgusting.

Honestly there is a bit of jealousy there.

And that was what led to her complete turn around with me apparently. She had avoided me for over a month for some nonsensical reason, and at the drop of a hat she turned completely and is talking to me again. Supposedly all because I showed a small amount of jealousy. Are all women mentally deficient?

Just because my father had been a muggle, it doesn't mean I am starting to like them. She is rather unique though. It's almost too bad that she isn't a witch.

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"Severus!" I waved my hand in front of his face. "You're drifting away aren't you?"

The man had almost walked into a suit of armour. It was really quite an odd thing for him to do. Normally he was so composed, collected, calm as ice really. Now though he seemed millions of miles away, it was rather interesting to see. Sort of adorable even.

"Were you thinking about how much you love me again?" I teased him. We had left the Great Hall together, both heading to our sleeping chambers, helping the students get settled in the Slytherin rooms first. There hadn't been too much complaining, nothing like what Sirius had been saying was going to happen. IF anyone had listened to him it would have been expected that the students would have all ran away. Actually the only student who looked uncomfortable had been Cain Montgomery. I might have imagined it, but he seemed almost nervous around Kerstan. It was likely due to his nature being so opposite of the other boy's.

At my teasing Severus blanched, and then a decidedly bright red covered his face.

"You're... you're blushing!" Another thing to mark on the calendar... full fledged tomato coloured blush on one Severus Snape.

"Don't be... ridiculous." He muttered softly, running a hand over his face. When the hand had moved his skin had settled back to it's usual pale colour.

"Have you been rather annoyed with me for sleeping with Sirius?" I asked seriously. Really I wanted to take advantage of this crack in his mask.

"It's disgusting." He huffed out his normal answer.

"I know you think that because you hate him. But what about the fact that it was me he slept with? You would say it was disgusting of anyone sleeping with him."

Silence met my question and I thought that the mask had probably been fixed firmly back into place.

"I didn't like it. If you're in love with him though it can't be helped."

I almost laughed at that. In love with Sirius Black? It was impossible at the moment. Not that I didn't care about the man. I did, rather deeply. But I didn't think that it was love. More like a sense of responsibility toward the person I had raised from the dead. And of course there was the fact that I was incredibly attracted to him... and the sex was rather quite superior. But all of that didn't add up to love.

"I'm not in love with him." I grinned at the surprised look on Severus's face. "You wizards really seem to be a bit old fashioned don't you? Having sex with someone doesn't mean I love them. I like him sure, I find him attractive definitely, and I care about him quite a lot. I don't think it's love though... We'll see what happens after all this business is over." I shrugged. My newly discovered outlook on life didn't have room for worries about relationships.

"So who do you love then?"

The question did rather catch me off guard from Severus of all people.

"You." I smiled at him. "Is that what you want me to say?"

His expression had been priceless when I had said that. He had fought quit hard to hide it, but there had been a flash of joy behind those cold dark eyes. I regretted what I had said almost instantly. It had been a rather cruel thing to do. Even if I was grateful to have seen a glimpse of a man behind the mask.

"Of course I don't want you to say that." Severus practically sneered.

"I care about you as much as I care about Sirius." I rushed this out to make up for the earlier comment.

"Are you going to sleep with me then as well?" His lips were still twisted in that sneer, expecting a negative answer. The man's confidence really wasn't that strong.

"If you asked me, yes." I had to smile at the absolutely shell shocked expression on his face. Of all the possible answers he had been expecting, none had been in the affirmative sense. He hadn't been prepared for a yes. The mask was slipping so easily these days.

Moments slipped by in complete silence, and I can't say what kind of thoughts were going through the potion master's head at that time. But if his expression was any judge, it was something rather painful.

"I don't want Sirius's leftovers."

I should have been hurt by that comment. Instead I just laughed at Severus.

"I knew you wouldn't ask me. It looks like it'll take a bit more time to get under your armour. But it'll happen Sevvie. After all chinks keep appearing. You haven't even slipped your mask on yet."

It was the truth he was still looking dumbfounded, but at my reminder his face slipped back to its usual icy demeanour. I was actually rather enjoying these moments. The past month had been rather boring. Sirius was so easy to read, he never tried to really hide anything. It was a bit of a challenge with Severus then. He didn't know how to just lay things out in the open. His past led itself to deceit and betrayal. I know Hermione wouldn't agree with me, but in certain ways he was just as vulnerable as Sirius. And again in terms of this man, it appeared I had some part to play.

Wasn't an interesting triangle forming?