Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

AN: Had a great holiday with my family. Writing started slow but finally picked back up.

Mutt of Lothorlien: Thanks for the review. Yes I know that I need to go back and tidy up. But hopefully the mistakes aren't too bad and I thought maybe everyone would rather have me write new stuff and then work on fixing the old stuff when I finished or had writers' block (wink, wink). If I'm wrong and you would like me to tidy up just let me know.

Ravens Jade: Alexis knows through Order of the Phoenix. Regarding killing Sirius: I am trying to stay as close to the books as possible. That doesn't mean if I can write fast enough to get ahead of J.K. that I won't bring him back in my story. The book just says that he went through the veil. I chose to believe that in the AU of fanfiction, Sirius is still alive and waiting for some loyal fanfiction author to rescue him.

Kanina: I am trying to stay as close to the books as possible. Some of what I have planned is hinted at in this chapter.

Everyone else: THANK YOU! Your reviews keep me going. I hope that answered everyone's questions…and now back to our story currently in progress:

Chapter 4 Lessons Well Learned

One good act of vengeance deserves another.
Author: John Jefferson

Alexis found it difficult to sleep that night with everything that had gone on in the last two days. She had tried to unwind by tending the boys, but that had only helped for a little while. Now it was late and she should be asleep, the babies would be getting her up early, but she just couldn't settle down. She kept remembering how helpless she had felt when all the trouble started at the Quidditch World Cup. Nothing she knew would have helped either the Ministry or the Muggles who were being tormented by the Death Eaters. She had been useless, Snape would not Apparate first and she still could not Apparate without using him as a beacon.

She could tell that Snape wasn't asleep either, "Severus?"

"Yes?" he quietly responded.

"I need to learn how to protect myself and the boys. There are going to be times that you're going to be busy or may not be around and I don't want you worrying about me."

Snape snorted, "I agree that you need to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible," in the dark Snape found he was able to speak of things that during the harsh light of day he would not be comfortable speaking of, "However, no matter how much you know, I will worry about you and the boys."

Alexis kissed his shoulder, "I want you to teach me Occlumency and Legilimency."

Snape was silent for a moment, "It is very difficult to learn however, if anyone can learn it I believe you can."

"Thank you," Alexis sighed; she knew Snape wasn't going to like this next bit, "I also want to hire Remus to tutor me in defense and offense. I know you would be the better teacher, but I also know that you're busy with potions projects. Also, Remus can use the money with getting married and the baby."

Snape didn't say anything for a long time. Alexis was starting to worry when he finally spoke, "I will allow Lupin to teach you the basics, if he is willing. After you have learned as much as you can from him, I will continue your education."

Alexis moved so that she was looking down at him, "Have I told you today that I love you?"

Snape appeared to think for a moment, "I don't believe you have."

"Okay, I was just wondering," Alexis pretended to start to settle down.

Snape pulled her down so that she was lying half on him, "I believe you should rectify that oversight immediately."

"Mmmm, I'm feeling kind of sleepy," Alexis yawned for effect, "perhaps tomorrow?"

Snape gave her "the look," he normally reserved for the Weasley twins.

"You want me to do it now?"

Snape nodded once slowly.

"And I suppose you want it right now?" Alexis sighed.

Snape again nodded just once.

Alexis huffed and rolled her eyes, leaning forward she placed a kiss on the right corner of his mouth. "I," moving to the left corner of his mouth she kissed it, "love," looking down at him with all the love she felt shining in her eyes, "you," and she finally kissed his lips. She traced them with her tongue, until he opened his mouth and then she deepened the kiss. Tasting him and sucking on his tongue, when he slipped it into her mouth. His hands were caressing her back, rubbing circles along her spine down to her bottom. She broke the kiss and moved so that she was straddling his hips. Catching the hem of her nightdress, she pulled it over her head and tossed it aside.

She could feel his hardness pressing against her. She grinned wickedly, stretching lifting her arms above her head thrusting her breasts out, rubbing against his erection. Snape smirked at her as he filled his hands and gently caressed her breasts, being careful because she was tender from nursing.

Moving his hands down to her knickers, with one quick snap he had the elastic ripped and he slipped them out from under her. Before Alexis could recover from her surprise at his sudden move, he had slipped a hand between their bodies and began stroking her clitoris. Alexis arched into his hand and her eyes closed at the rush of pleasure. Snape continued to caress her as he shifted to free himself. Alexis was so caught up in the waves of pleasure, he was causing that she was surprised when he entered her in a smooth thrust. She began to move finding a rhythm that pleased them both. Snape continued to rub her until he felt her first orgasm. He then rolled over and began a series of rapid strokes, when he felt her second climax he finally let himself go. With the release of her tension, Alexis was finally able to go to sleep.

The next morning, Alexis made her way to see Remus; she had left the babies with Snape. He was going to be working on his class schedules, insisting he could handle watching two babies who did nothing but eat, sleep and poop.

Alexis kissed him goodbye and reminded him that Poppy was going to be available all day if he needed help. Snape snorted at that and practically pushed her out the door.

Remus answered the door at Alexis' knock, "Hello Alexis, I'm sorry but Amber is at St. Mungos today."

"Actually Remus, I came to see you," Alexis smiled at him, "would you be free to join me on a walk."

Remus grinned, "Amber's filled you in on the neighbors?"

"Yes," Alexis grinned back, "And if I had arranged something with Amber, it might be fun to give them something to talk about, but we'll save that for another time."

Remus nodded and stepped outside, they started walking towards Hogsmeade.

"Remus, would you consider private tutoring in defense?" Alexis asked.

"It would depend on who it was," Remus admitted.

"Remus, I have never been as scared in my whole life as I was that night. I don't want to ever feel that helpless again. Would you teach me defense and offense?" Alexis looked at him pleadingly.

Remus stiffened, "Alexis I don't need a pity job."

Alexis looked puzzled for a moment and then mad, "Remus Lupin, I am asking you because I feel that you're the best person for the job, not because I pity you."

"Alexis you were the youngest Auror, what can I teach you?" Remus asked angrily.

"Remus that is what is so scary; I don't remember any of that. I can do basic spells, the only spell I could have cast to protect myself would have been a full body bind. I don't think that would have been very effective. If you don't want the job, I will have to find someone else. You're mine and Severus' first choice," Alexis stated.

Remus gave her a long look as if trying to see if she was telling the truth, "I'll take the job."

"Thank you," Alexis was relieved, "when can you start?"

Remus smiled at her eagerness, "How about tomorrow morning at 10 up at the school?"

"Wonderful, I don't know if I can tell you how much this means to me," they had walked full circle and now faced, Amber's house, "I left Severus with the twins, I better get back." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before walking away.

Alexis returned to the dungeons to find that Snape was at his desk in their quarters working, while the boys were quietly swinging in mid-air fast asleep. Staring from her sons to her husband, she cocked her head in silent query.

"They were fussing and rocking was the only thing that seemed to sooth them. I had to finish this paperwork, so I used a levitation charm," Snape smirked.

Alexis shrugged and pausing to kiss him, retrieved her papers and settled on the couch. Dumbledore had asked her to be available to help the first years adjust. Minerva had provided her with a list of their names and Alexis was trying to familiarize herself with them.

They worked for a while in companionable silence before it was broken by Snape, "When do you start your lessons?"

"Tomorrow at ten," she responded, "How do you think you pronounce F-O-C-K-E-R?"

"Where will you meet? Focker," Snape responded

"Here at the school. Poor kid, what were his parents thinking naming him Seymour Focker?" Alexis was shaking her head, "Sounds like the type of name kids put down on an attendance list for a substitute teacher. Look another Weasley."

"What!"

"Just kidding," Alexis grinned over at him.

Snape humphed in irritation.

Saturday night came and Snape had made all the arrangements with the proprietor of the Happy Hare to make sure that Remus had a bachelor's party to remember. They would eat dinner in a private room, then enjoy the main show and then return to the private room and dancers for the finale. He had paid extra for the party to be catered; he had even rented an extra large carriage to take them there and back.

They arrived at the club at nine o'clock and were immediately shown to their room. Everything looked amazing. The table was spread with a snowy white cloth and set with bone china, the best Goblin made silver service and crystal glasses. When everyone was seated, three pretty girls dressed in skimpy costumes representing different animals began to serve the steak dinner he had ordered.

One of the waitresses was dressed as a black cat complete with a magical tail, that would caress and tickle the men she was serving. The other waitress was making sure everyone's glass was full, her outfit was a bikini trimmed in white fur, long white ears lined in pink and a fluffy white tail. The final waitress also was wearing white. Her suit was technically a one piece, but it was more a series of criss-crossing ribbons, that were just thick enough to cover what they needed to cover. A long gold tail and a gold horn affixed to her forehead indicated she was supposed to be a unicorn.

Filius was practically bouncing in excitement. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling like a deranged firefly. Hagrid was enjoying his double portion of steak and the extra large tankard Snape had specifically requested for his use. Remus was impressed with the effort and expense Snape had expended for him. Snape was smirking as he patted himself on the back for a job well done.

After dinner and very expensive wizard cigars enjoyed with glasses of brandy; the gentlemen headed into the main room to watch the featured dancer. Snape found that he was bored. It surprised him to find that he would much rather be home with Alexis and his sons. He looked over at Remus who was drinking another glass of brandy. Snape decided Remus looked bored too. Snape assessed Hagrid, Filius and Dumbledore and decided that at least they were enjoying themselves. Filius was waving the girls over, trying to stuff as much money in their costumes as he could manage. Snape watched as Flitwick, in his excitement, toppled off of the table he was standing on. He smirked as he realized the canny wizard's fall was actually a ploy to get both the waitresses and dancers to 'help' him up. Snape couldn't hold back a snicker as he watched Filius' eyes close in delight as one of the girls rubbed her generous endowments all in his face as she tried to help him to his feet.

"A galleon says he 'falls' again in the next ten minutes," Remus muttered to Snape.

"Two says it is within five," Snape countered.

Four and a half minutes later Remus was grumbling as he handed Snape some money, "You would think the little pervert could last longer than five minutes."

Snape just sneered, "He has found something that works for him, so he is going to play it for all it is worth."

Remus nodded and couldn't help smiling as this time Flitwick was squeezed between two bosomy girls, "Well if he suffocates, at least he will die happy."

Snape snorted into his drink as he saw that the tiny professor did indeed look as if might be in imminent danger of smothering. Filius noticed that Snape was about to come to his rescue and shot him a look that quickly had him resuming his seat, "I believe you're correct Lup…Remus."

Remus nearly chocked on his drink as Snape used his first name. Snape took advantage of the opportunity to pound Remus on the back, strictly as means of helping him clear his airways.

Hagrid started thumping his tankard on the table in time with the music, as a dancer costumed to look like a dragon came slithering out onto the stage. She was wearing a skin tight dragon leather outfit that covered her from chin to ankles. It almost looked as if the costume was painted on her body. At that thought Snape's mind drifted back to the time he had painted a snake on Alexis' naked body and then taken pictures. She had given him a portrait of her based on one of the photos for his birthday.

He was brought back to the present, when a long green glove landed on his head.

The dragon dancer was smiling at him flirtatiously, but quickly stopped when he just scowled at her. She had interrupted him, while had been remembering how he had removed the edible body paint from Alexis. The dancer was now wearing green scale pasties, a green g-string and was breathing fire. Hagrid was clapping so hard the tables were shaking.

The lights went down as the dancer left the stage to raucous cheers and catcalls. Snape started herding the inebriated wizards in his group back to the private room. The owner, Betty, had promised something special for the private number. Snape was more anxious to have the evening over so he could get back to Alexis than he was to see the specialty act, but the quicker the act was seen the sooner he could get home. He noticed that Remus, even though he was the guest of honor, was still sober and was helping Snape hurry everyone along.

The dining table had been removed from the room and replaced with large comfortable chairs. Filius' chair had extra cushions in it so he could see better. After everyone was comfortable and had a fresh drink, music started playing and large double doors opened. Four girls with long manes and tails attached to their brief outfits pranced into the room, pulling what looked like a huge bird cage. Inside the cage were three circular perches, each at a different level. Seated on each perch was an exotic "bird". The ladies were dressed in feathers, complete with feathered headdresses which covered their hair and sequined and feathered masks so that their faces were completely hidden.

The four "horses" stopped and one ran up and opened the front of the cage so the men would have an unobstructed view of the "birds". The birds started swinging in time to the music, as they swung they began to molt. Feathers gently floated to the floor before magically disappearing.

The center bird jumped down from her perch and began using her wings to hide behind. She swayed to the music, using her bright green and silver wings to flirt. Her feathers were still disappearing, now she was wearing a brief halter top that pushed her cleavage up and out. Her bottom was a sequined covered strip that wrapped around her hips and from which hung huge, long, thick feathers that allowed brief glimpses of her legs as she dipped and swayed. Snape found something strangely familiar about this woman. He stared at her as she danced, trying to determine if perhaps she was a former student.

Remus leaned over from where he was seated beside Snape, "Do you recognize the red and gold bird? I feel like I should know her."

Snape spared the bird Remus spoke of a passing glance and then did a double take. There was something very familiar about her. Studying the last bird who was dressed in blue and yellow feathers, he determined that there was nothing about that one to suggest he might know her also.

He watched as the red bird joined the green bird in front of the cage, the two began a very suggestive dance. They two ladies were very limber and Snape was impressed with how well synchronized their movements were. The blue bird soon joined the other two, now all three were moving in harmony. His attention kept returning to the green bird, the three began to twirl and the feathers really flew. As their legs began to appear, Snape began to get a bad feeling about who was under that mask. Looking over at Remus he found the fool grinning at him, "I know who the green bird is," before Snape could respond Remus continued, "it is your wife." Snape's face was frozen in a glare as he watched Remus start to chuckle.

"Yes and if the green bird is my wife the red bird is your fiancé," his words wiped the grin completely off of Remus' face. Remus quickly began intently studying the red bird. Snape saw when the realization that she was indeed Amber hit the other man and felt a certain grim satisfaction, as he saw Remus' face take on a look of extreme displeasure.

Grabbing Remus' arm as he got to his feet to put a stop to the dancing, "Wait, let's teach them a lesson."

Remus looked over at Snape and nodded slowly as he returned Snape's smirk.