"Lupin. Where's your sister?"

"Playing chess with Sirius in the library. Why?"

"I'm at no obligation to reveal that information to you." At his entrance, Lyra jumped away from Black, looking very much like a schoolgirl that got caught mid-tryst. "Professor Sn-Snape. I'm, I was- we were just-"

He cut her off, giving her a dirty look, "If you want to sully yourself with Black, that is your business. However, it becomes my business when you are late to our meeting."

"Oh, shite! I'm so sorry, Professor! I totally lost track of time!"

"Your 'sorry's' mean nothing to me. Be on time next time or I shall start without you."

"It's called having fun, Snivellous. You should try it sometime. Oh, but, you'd need to find people who'd actually be willing to spend time with you for that."

"Not all of us have the time to waste on frivolous activities like you, Black."

Before Black could respond, Lyra magicked away the chess pieces, "Maybe another time, Sirius. Bye."

They walked to the basement in complete silence. Lyra felt quite ashamed of herself. She was trying to show him that she was completely serious about this, and here she was, missing their session for chess with Sirius! "I- we really aren't friends, sir," she felt obligated to explain, "It's just...Remus wants-"

He held a hand up to stop her from continuing, "I couldn't care less who you befriend-"

"But I'm not friends with-"

"Don't interrupt me. You can run off and marry Black for all I care, just as long as it doesn't interfere with my time. Understood?" She nodded. "Good. It's time to move on to the second stage of the Wolfsbane." He motioned for her to come closer to the now-uncovered cauldron. The potion was still, only slightly bubbling. It took a green colour. "Right now, it is poisonous and will only kill Lupin. As tempting as that sounds, that is not our goal."

"So we make it...not poisonous?"

"Correct, although vague."

"What's the point of making it poisonous then?"

He took a deep breath, getting in full lecture mode. "Every potion is different. Some potions use ingredients that counteract the ailment in mind. Wolfsbane uses a different method. Aconite, the main ingredient of the potion, is actually very toxic to the Werewolf. Not only to Werewolves but to us as well. As such, Wolfsbane is composed in such a way that the other ingredients work around the Aconite to neutralize it."

"Why?"

"It's because of how the Aconite reacts with the Werewolf," he explained passionately, "Aconite, while very poisonous, is a controlling agent. The other ingredients may help with maintaining control, but in the end, the end result is due to the Aconite."

"So if Aconite wasn't poisonous, then, theoretically, a Lycanthrope, would be able to...snuff it down or something?"

He sneered at her choice of words but nodded. "Theoretically. If you recall, last time we put in the Aconite as well as the base. Today, we are to add the ingredients that will neutralize the Aconite's toxicity. Understand?" She resisted the urge to tell him that she was not a baby and instead nodded once again. "Good."

"What can I do to help?"

"Sit there and don't touch anything- I don't want to hear it. This is not yet the deadly stage, but one mistake and this entire thing? Useless. We'll have missed an entire week's worth of brewing and Lupin will have to go through his transformation without the potion. The Wolfsbane is not a potion one can pick up very easily. It is a potion that takes years to perfect. Accuracy and precision are absolutely necessary. If you are expecting to have it down by next week, you will find yourself very disappointed."

"You could have just said no," she mumbled.

The Professor was a natural at this. Whether you liked him or not, that was unarguable. What surprised Lyra the most was that he was passionate about it. He was always so cold and unfeeling that him being passionate about anything seemed unlikely, and she hadn't known him long.

He didn't simply use the ingredients, he worked with them. He was an artist and the cauldron was his palette. This, this was a true master at work. He seemed to be lost in his own little world, cutting each petal, trimming each leaf, preparing each ingredient to perfection. Not one imperfect cut, not one odd shape, nothing was even minusculy out of place. 'Could I ever get to that level of perfection?' She felt amazed and overwhelmed at the same time.

She wasn't the patient type. She wasn't exactly expecting to learn it within a week, but years? Could she do it? One part of her wanted to quit while she was ahead, but her Ravenclaw side screamed that it was knowledge dangling in front of her nose. 'Remus needs it.' It came to that, her brother. While the Professor was very capable of making it, his disdain for Remus was very clear. She wasn't sure how much longer he would brew this for him. She couldn't rely on him to do it forever. It wouldn't be fair nor would it be likely. He was her brother, not his. She wasn't even sure why he took on the task in the first place.

So, she took notes diligently, paying attention to each word he spoke, each measurement he took, each leaf he sliced, making sure not to miss a single step.

Soon enough, he placed a lid over the cauldron, setting the flame on low. "That is all for today. We will meet next week on Tuesday at precisely 4:47 P.M. I will not wait for you as I did today. You will wear gloves and safety goggles."

Her mouth ran without asking her, "Muggle instruments?"

Almost ironically, his lip quirked up, "Have something against muggle instruments, Miss Lupin?" She looked up at him with wonder in her eyes. It must have made him uncomfortable, because the man that had a sense of humour was gone, replaced with the sour man she knew. Or, was it the other way around? Maybe she didn't, indeed, know him. He scowled at no one in particular, starting to clear his workspace. She debated offering her help but before she could, he spoke again, "That is all for today."

"Yes, sir. I promise I'll be here on time."

"It makes no difference to me."

"Yes, well, it was incredibly rude of me to waste your time today."

"Enough. Leave."

She hung her head low, "Yes, sir."

"He's just so cold," Lyra complained. She wasn't usually one to whinge on about people, but their conversation had come to a halt and it made for good conversation, even if it made her feel not so great about herself.

"That's just how Severus is. You just have to learn to not take it to heart," Remus explained. Lyra groaned, leaning against the counter. "How do you handle it?"

"Here you go," he placed a plate of steaming hot spinach pot pie in front of her. "I told you, I ignore it. Severus will always be cold, that's just how it is. I thank him for making my Wolfsbane and go on my way. If I have to hear a few of his...comments about my being a werewolf-"

"Lycanthrope," she corrected.

"-I'll handle it. At the end of the day, he's still making my potion. How is it?"

"Good. Could use a little more salt though." Remus stuck his tongue out at her in a childish manner. He'd always been a better cook between the two of them despite Lyra being great at Potions. "I wonder why he's like that," she mused after a while.

"Seriously, Lyra, you're still on that? It doesn't matter why he's how he is. Just leave it. Trying to understand Severus Snape is like trying to understand why magic exists." Lyra quickly changed the topic of conversation, knowing that this was just one of the things that she and Remus didn't agree on.

"Enter," Severus's voice rang through the room. A moment later, in walked Minerva McGonagall, Transfigurations Professor and friend to Severus Snape, if he could bring himself to admit it. "What do you want, Minerva?"

Without a moment of hesitation, she sat right down. "Oh, please, do make yourself at home," he drawled sarcastically, "Shall I set out some tea? Turn the fire on? Anything to make you comfortable."

She merely waved him off, "Don't be ridiculous, I can handle that on my own. These old bones have a few years left in them, after alls. I just came here to inform you that the staff has a bet going on."

"Oh? Thank you for that delightful information. Well, if that is all-"

She glared at him, giving him a reprimanding look, "Don't you give me that attitude, Severus Snape. As I was saying, they want to see who can give Umbridge the most trouble." She arranged two cups of coffee for them. She handed him the usual- one puff cinnamon, two spoonfuls of sugar, a splash of vanilla extract, and as much cream as possible without making it too light. When their 'meetings' first started, he'd tried to hide his true preference, but he absolutely hated black coffee and his winces at the bitter taste were not lost on Minerva. It amused the older witch to no end that the bat of the dungeons actually preferred his coffee sweet, but she always made sure that she made it the way he liked it from then on.

He took the proffered cup and took a long sip. He had an idea of where this was going. "Who'd you bet on?"

"You, of course. You have a talent for getting under people's skins, Severus." He smirked at that. He was going to leave her alone, but...well, Severus Snape didn't disappoint. Especially not Minerva McGonagall. "Who hadn't bet on me?"

"Aurora, Rolanda, Filius, and Charity. They think you, the exact term for it was, kiss up to the Headmaster's arse."

"I do not!" He meant that with as much offence as he could summon.

"Well, Severus, you've got to admit that when it comes to disobeying the Headmaster, you're least likely to." Clever woman. He could put his pride aside and not rise to the bait, but when pride was all you had left…

Severus opened his mouth to disagree but closed it a second later, realizing that she was right. It wasn't that he was much for rules- anyone who thought they could control Severus Snape would be sorely disappointed. It was that disobeying Albus felt wrong to Severus after everything he'd done for him. If that made him a kiss-up, then so be it. Still, he didn't want to be the laughingstock of the Hogwarts staff...

"And what made you so sure that I would?"

"Because I'd be disappointed if you hadn't."

"I could beat you in a duel any day, you old hag."

"Maybe, Severus, but do you truly want an angry me on your tail? There are other ways to make you rue your own existence you know," she said in good nature. "Chess?"

"You set it up." She wasn't wrong. He'd only had her mad at him once, but he didn't care much to repeat the experience. And, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he did enjoy her company. Especially in times like these. "I don't understand why you insist on muggle chess," Minerva grumbled, struggling to open the chessboard. Severus had grown up with the muggle version. As much as he had tried to part with his muggle side in his youth, there were some things that he just couldn't.

"Give it to me." He opened it effortlessly, setting it down on the middle of the table. "Wizarding chess is dumb, Minerva. I don't need their damn advice. Far too barbaric as well."

"Much harder to set up."

"It really isn't." 2 minutes later, the board was set up and Minerva played her pawn two spaces forward.

Minerva ended up winning, but it was a very close match. "Do stop gloating. I'll beat you next time."

"I'm sure you will."

Lyra watched as the Order members trickled in one by one. First came Kingsley Shacklebolt and Dedalus Diggle closely followed by Elphias Doge and Emmaline Vance. Next entered Mundungus Fletchers, who shiftily observed the room. A few minutes after were Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones, and Nymphadora Tonks. Finally came Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape, shoulder-by-shoulder, Mad-Eye Moody just behind them, keeping his eyes on the Professor.

They took their seats accordingly, the Professor next to Lyra, and McGonagall beside him. Mad-Eye settled right across the Professor, seemingly determined on not letting him out of his sight. A few chairs to the right sat Remus and Sirius, Nymphadora sitting next to her cousin, although she looked as if she'd much rather be sitting next to Remus. Interesting. "Good, we're all here," Albus Dumbledore said, standing up and thus, starting the meeting. Everyone's attention went to him. "Anything to report, Severus?"

"The Dark Lord-" Mad-Eye shot the Professor a dirty look. Lyra had no doubts as to what Mad-Eye's opinion of him was. "-is seeking a secret weapon. As to what this weapon is, I have no idea, however, it is located in the Department of Mysteries section of the Ministry," the Professor said sharing a look with the Headmaster that Lyra couldn't decipher. For some reason, Lyra felt as if the two men knew something that the rest of them weren't privy to. "Thank you, Sever-"

"Isn't that convenient," Mad-Eye sneered, leaning in, giving a close up of those yellowed teeth of his, "Gives us just enough information to keep us busy, but not enough to actually help us. Makes you wonder which side you're actually on, eh? Unless you're playing both…"

"Please, Moody, we speak about your suspicions to my character every week. Don't you tire of it?" The Professor asked looking completely bored.

"It's not just a suspicion, Snape, I know you're a traitorous bastard. I sniff people like you for a living, you know." Traitorous bastard? She had definitely missed a couple of episodes….

"Funny, I was under the impression that you're retired. As if in, not working anymore."

"Enough," the Headmaster ordered, sounding like a tiring father, telling his children to get along, "I will not have my fellow Order members constantly at each other throats! Severus has my full trust. Thank you, Severus."

He merely shrugged, "I would suggest patrols to minimize the risk of such a weapon being discovered."

"Can't you see that he's trying to keep us distracted?!" Sirius cried.

"There is no 'us,' Black. Last time I checked, you were on house-arrest, which makes you useless."

"Thank you, both of you," the Headmaster nodded, signifying the end of their argument. "I do agree with Severus. We will need to figure patrol schedules."

"Whoever it is will have to be inconspicuous," Remus pointed out.

"Yes...that leaves us with Nymphadora, Kingsley, Arthur, and Alastor." The elderly man seemed to be deep in thought. "I will arrange a schedule by the next time we meet. Mr Lupin, may I have a word with you after-"

"Are you trying to get him killed?" Surprisingly, this came from the Professor.

The Headmaster didn't look offended, only slightly amused, "I didn't know you cared so much, Severus."

"I don't," the Professor retreated calmly, "Only it would be a waste. The werewolves will not listen to Lupin. I'm telling you that now."

"I can do it, it's fine." Remus looked pale.

"If you have a suicide wish, fine by me. Lupin's not an alpha, he doesn't stand a chance. Besides that, we have nothing to offer them."

"And Tom does?"

The Professor pinched the bridge of his nose, his elbow resting on the table. "It is of no matter whether he truly does. They believe he does. Albus, what is the best you can do? Petition the ministry for more rights for werewolves and pray to all the stars that it comes through in the end? Anyways, It's not as if they've ever been one of your priorities." The Headmaster didn't meet Severus's eye. He avoided the Headmaster's eyes just as well. "Meanwhile, the Dark Lord actually can make true on his promises. He won't, but the werewolves don't know that, do they?"

"It is still worth a try, Severus."

Lyra couldn't believe what she was hearing, "But the Professor literally just said that it's a suicide mission! Why would you send Remus if he's going to fail?"

"Now, now, Miss Lupin, failure is not guaranteed. Every lycanthrope swayed to our cause is a victory." Lyra looked pleadingly at the Professor. He minutely shook his head.

"You can't actually be thinking of accepting!"

Remus sighed, "I have to."

"Remmy, please! Haven't you done enough?!" She remembered how much it had taken from him the first time he tried to recruit the werewolves.

"And I'll do more! I can't just say no, Lyra. Dumbledore gave me a chance at having a taste of a normal life. I got friends because of him! I got to go to an amazing school! I owe him."

"Right," she bitterly spat, "Cause you'd much rather hang out with your friends than your loser sister."

"Lyra-" Lyra floo'd back to her apartment. It was a mess. She put music on blast and spent the next 2 hours cleaning it. She knew she was being unfair and selfish -this wasn't about her, after all, even though she sure did make it all about her- but the feeling of inadequacy popped up randomly every once in a while, although this time, it stemmed from worry for her brother's life.

It was yet another reminder that Remus would choose his friends over her when it came to it, even if it meant leaving her all alone. He was her entire world but she was only a tiny corner of his. Hell, the only reason she was back in England was that that was where her older brother was.

He was the only person of consequence in her life now with her mother having perished to illness and her father being driven to such a state of depression that he spent most of his days under a liquor bottle.

She hadn't any friends. Sure there had been that study group back in her Hogwarts days but they were more acquaintances than anything. There was her roommate, but Lyra didn't dare get close to her.

Her solitary choice of lifestyle had suited her just fine until it didn't anymore. It wasn't a sudden urge for human company, but rather her freaking out at the sense of boredom that she felt coming. Boredom meant more free time, which meant more thinking- just what Lyra was trying to avoid.

Freaking out at Remus wasn't a smart move. They'd make up soon enough but she wouldn't be the first to apologize and neither would he. Rather, they'd avoid each other until avoiding each other didn't make any more sense, pushing their issues under the rug and forgetting all about them until the next time it came up. Probably not too healthy, but Lyra wasn't so big on confrontation and neither was Remus- they were doomed from the start.

She eyed her travel bag that was set next to her bed, still unpacked; it would stay that way, too. She dug out a worn-out vintage leather back diary with an engraved 'Lra Lupin'at the top right corner. The 'y' had fallen out ages ago and the dot of the 'i' was no longer visible. She unhatched the straps and turned it to the next empty page. The diary would have run out of use a long time back had it been a muggle one

Entry date: August 12

Got into a fight with R. today because he insists on going on his old missions once more. He refuses to budge, so do I. We'll see how it works out in the end.

Meeting P.S. in two days time for the Potion. I'm kinda nervous but excited at the same time. He's an intelligent man, though off-setting.

Not sure what to think about him- know nothing about him...ask R.? Maybe S.B. would be better, although more biased. Is it my business? No. Am I going to make it my business? Yes.

And then there's D. He's not who I thought he was and P.S. agrees, apparently.

Progress on the Potion is slow, but I'm learning so much!

Lyra sought out Sirius before meeting up with the Professor. He was in the library playing chess with a boy who looked to be about 15 or 16. "Sirius? Is this a bad time?"

"Not at all, love." He grinned charmingly at her, knocking out one of the boy's pawns. "Harry, this is the lovely Lyra Lupin, Lyra, this is my godson, Harry. Harry Potter."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr Potter. Are you, by any chance, related to James Potter?"

Harry looked a little confused, "Umm...yeah, he's my father."

"Ah." She was tempted to throw in an 'I'm sorry' in there but resisted. Just because she knew his father was an arsehole didn't mean that he did. "That's a...cool scar you have there."

Harry looked at Sirius, frowning. Sirius, too, looked perplexed. "You don't know who he is?"

"He just told me who he is?"

"Harry's the boy-who-lived. He got the scar from Voldemort himself," Sirius proudly informed, puffing his chest out as if it were he, himself, who survived Voldemort. "Oh, really? What a frightening experience that must have been." Sirius's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as if he'd expected her to hero-worship the boy.

"I don't really remember it. He tried killing me with the Killing Curse. It didn't work and he died until a month ago." Harry shrugged nonchalantly as if he was talking about the weather.

"I suppose we owe you our gratitude, then."

"Not really. I didn't really do anything."

"Nonsense!" Exclaimed Sirius, "Without you, he wouldn't have died."

"He doesn't look so dead now, does he?"

"Well," Lyra was past discomfited, "It was nice meeting you, Mr Potter."

He weakly smiled back at her, "You too."

Sirius moved his bishop, knocking out Harry's knight, "How did you not recognize Harry?"

"Should I?"

"Of course! He's famous!"

"I knew a boy had defeated Voldemort, but that was only through whispers here and there. After Hogwarts, I went to America and hadn't thought about the war at all. I had no reason to recognize his name. Er, no offence."

"No! No, I'm actually a bit relieved. It's nice not having everyone be...shocked and all, you know." Yes, definitely not his father.

"I'll see you later, then." She could ask Sirius later.

"Nonsense, you can watch us." Sirius was reluctant to let her leave, having that odd glimmer in his eyes that she didn't really like. "I can't-"

"Not Snape again, please, darling, my heart couldn't take it!" His hands clutched at his heart dramatically, his face twisted as if it actually would hurt him. "What's Snape got to do with anything?" Harry's face scrunched in distaste, much like his Godfather. Lyra fought the urge to defend the Professor. She might not exactly like him, but she didn't dislike him either. He was a little harsh but he hadn't been bad to her. And, other than that comment of her sullying herself with Sirius, he didn't mention the man, nor did he ever ask -rather tell, a man like him wasn't one to ask- her to stop her friendship with Sirius. Not that she was friends with him.

"A pout doesn't suit you, Black."

"Sirius, darling."

"Well, Black, I'd thank you to please not call me 'darling.'"

"Why not?"

Her eyes squinted in indignation. Did women actually find this cute? "Because I'm not your darling. Or your anything. It's Lyra or Lupin to you."

She glared at him once more and left the room, with a quick goodbye to Harry. "We'll see about that!" She didn't get a chance to respond since she was basically out of the room.

He definitely belonged in the 'stay away' pile.

A/N: First, I know the 'The Headmaster' and 'The Professor' thing gets annoying, but there's no way around it, since that is how she thinks about them as of now. Second, there's a time at the end where she calls him 'Black' instead of 'Sirius,' as she usually does. This was intentional.