Praise to Reviews!--

To those that reviewed chapter one and two, thank you profoundly.

For chapter three-

skinnyrita- I haven't decided what, if any, pairings there will be romantically. I was considering RLSS when I devised the basic story thesis. However, like you, I like it without as well. I'll likely leave it up to spur of the moment and suggestion. Thanks.

the-kaiba-heir- Thanks. I hope to keep all my chapters good.

jensco- Thanks immensely.

FireChildSlytherin5- I'm glad you like it. I hope to keep it good.

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Severus growled to himself as he cleaned up his work area. The time for supper was drawing very close, and he was not looking forward to being stuck at a table with Potter and the werewolf, in addition to the rest of the staff present still at the school. He could only imagine what Albus would come up with to talk about. He contemplated taking a potion to mellow out his already growing ire and tension but eventually decided against it.

Let them put up with his surliness if they were going to make him sit through the meal with them. Albus brought it upon himself and the others and it was his problem, not Severus'. Severus cared little for the way the others perceived his moods. He was who he was and he was not about to change or act differently for anyone, let alone people he cared little for. Namely, Potter and Lupin.

Growling to himself yet again, he made his way from his dungeons toward the Great Hall. If Albus required his assistance to see to Lupin, he would have to summon him. He was not offering freely. He would wait in the Great Hall, and if none of them appeared within a respectable, and very short, amount of time, he was leaving.

He was not happy to find Albus and the other few professors already there, along with Potter and Lupin. He was having one of those days. Hell, it was shaping up to be one of those weeks. He hoped it ended soon. His nerves could not take much more. A month of this would surely make him destroy something.

Making his way slowly to his seat, he ignored those around him. Albus wanted his presence. He had mentioned nothing more than that, as it seemed he required no assistance to see to the werewolf. He would sit and eat silently then return to the solitude of the dungeons, just the way he liked it.

"Glad you could join us, Severus. I was worried you would decline my invitation." Albus grinned at him with that familiar twinkle in his eyes. He was not surprised by the man's seeming surly mood.

Severus grunted lightly not even looking at the Headmaster. He spooned his soup to his mouth and sipped his juice. He was there. That was enough.

"I see you are in high spirits as always." Albus continued to grin at the dark man. "I must thank you for bringing our wayward boys to us." He clapped the potion's master on the back with a solid slap. He was proud of Severus, greatly.

Severus snorted and looked up at the older man with a small glare. "It was hardly a chore to collect either of them." His glare traveled to Potter and Lupin. He observed that Remus was looking at nothing but his food, and Harry was doting on the werewolf. At least that meant he would not have to mess with it. "They can see to each other." He turned back to his own food, intent to finish it and get away from the others.

"I think you will find they will need some help." Minerva looked through her spectacles at him. "After all, you will be one of the few people here after the beginning of the week." She could only imagine the damage Severus could do instead of help Harry and Remus. However, she knew that Albus had something in mind, and Harry and Remus needed all the help they could get.

Severus glanced down the table with an arched brow then glanced to the two in question. He could tell Remus was trying to ignore being talked about like he was not present. Harry seemed used to it. "I believe they are perfectly capable of letting whomever they wish to know that they require help in whatever way they do. I'm also certain I will not be the one they will want helping them. As they are present, I think they can speak for themselves on the matter."

Remus glanced up at him and gave him an imperceptible nod before turning back to his cooling soup. He was hardly touching the broth before him though Harry was trying to encourage him to eat. "For Merlin's sake, boy, let him eat at his own speed!" Severus snapped in annoyance after a moment of listening to Harry's soft encouraging.

Harry glared up at him. "He has to eat." He looked back to Remus who was slowly doing so. Harry just wanted him to eat and get better. He couldn't lose him the way he lost Sirius, his parents, Cedric.

Albus smiled to himself. Between Harry and Severus, Remus would be seen to quite well. "I believe Severus is right, Harry. Let Remus eat slowly." He gave the boy a reassuring smile.

Harry deflated a bit and nodded, though he did shoot Severus another glare. What did the potion's master care how fast Remus ate or how he coached him to get him to? What business was it of his? He just had to stick his big honking nose in everything! Harry stabbed his potatoes picturing Snape.

Severus quickly finished his meal and stood. "If you will excuse me..."

"Severus, please, stay," Albus cut him off. "I thought you could walk Remus to his rooms. You are much stronger than Harry, and I am but an old man." He could easily help Remus himself, he knew, but he wanted Severus to do it. The man needed to do something for someone, to open up if but a little in some way.

Severus sat down. "If that is what you require, and he will not bite me for doing so." He sat back in his chair, summoning some wine to drink until the werewolf was ready to traverse to his room.

Remus made a small noise at the biting comment but said nothing. He did not wish to be a burden, but he knew that nothing he said would stop Albus from having the others see to him. He would just have to live with it . . . Key word, live. With a sigh, he shoved his soup away and stood shakily. "If you are ready, Severus." His voice was soft, weak.

Snape looked up and nodded. He set aside his wine and motioned the man to walk forward. He was not going to let him lean on him. He had to walk on his own, take care of himself. That was the only way for him to move on. Remus had to find purpose. The sooner he did, the faster Severus would be washed of the whole thing.

Harry jumped up to help Remus but Albus stopped him. "Let Severus see to him, Harry. He knows what he is doing." Albus knew what Severus was doing. He just hoped that Remus did not come out of it too much like the potion's master. Harry would have to keep the kindness in the werewolf.

"Are you sure, sir?" Harry's eyes followed Remus as he walked slowly along, Severus a few feet from him. Why wasn't he helping him? Remus needed better help than that! How could the Headmaster leave Remus in Snape's care!

"I am certain, Harry. Do not worry." He smiled at the young boy. He hoped that Harry would see there was more to Severus than he had always thought. Harry was not the only one he wanted to see it. Severus, himself, needed to see it as well.

Harry sighed and finished his meal, letting the potion's master see to Lupin. He did not feel Snape could do so better than he could, but he was not going to outright stand up against Albus' wishes. There had to be a reason the Headmaster was wanting Snape to help out. He just hoped the Headmaster knew what he was doing.

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AN/ Sorry about the length for an update, and the shortness of the chapter. I'll try to get the next chapter up quickly.