Disclaimer: I still don't own it.

Chapter 18 Impossible possibilities

"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself."
- A.H. Weiler

Remus caught up with Snape right before he was leaving to join the rest of Hogwarts in waiting to greet Beauxbatons and Durmstrang schools. "Severus, wait up," Remus called.

"What is it now Lupin?" Snape sneered.

"Look, this will be quick but I think you will want to hear it in private," Remus said seriously.

"What now?" Snape asked tiredly.

"I really don't know how to tell you this other than to just say it," Remus paused. "Alexis thinks it would be a good idea for you to find someplace else to sleep tonight."

"What?" Snape gritted out from between clenched teeth.

"She is changing the locking charms and warding the rooms so that you cannot get in. She said that normally she would go home to her mother, but since her mother is dead she is going to change the locking spells on your rooms. Look, Severus, she is just mad and hurt. Amber is going to talk to her so this should only be for a couple of nights. A month at the most," Remus told him.

"A MONTH? Where am I going to stay for a night much less a month?" Snape leaned back against his desk.

"I'm sure you could kip with Filius," Remus said.

"Have you ever been to his quarters? Everything is sized for him. There is no way I would even fit in his room, much less be able to sleep on his couch," Snape snarled.

"I'm sure Hagrid and Fang would find room for you," Remus offered.

"Bah, I couldn't survive the drool and I wouldn't trust him not to relieve himself on my leg," Snape said pacing furiously.

"I'm sure Fang is house trained," Remus assured him.

"I wasn't referring to the dog," Snape sniped.

"I understand there is room in the Gryffindor dorms," Remus said slyly.

"Bite your tongue, I am a Slytherin born and bred," Snape said haughtily.

"But you married a Gryffindor; I believe that makes you an honorary Gryff…" Remus smirked at him.

Snape interrupted, "Finish that sentence and you will truly understand the meaning of pain."

"Harry Potter told me there was an extra bed in his dorm," Remus shrugged.

"It must be closer to the full moon than I realized," Snape said. "That is the only explanation I can find for you making such a ludicrous suggestion."

"Actually I just like watching your nostrils flare whenever you hear the name Harry Potter," Remus sniggered, "Harry Potter… Harry Potter. It is fascinating how they flare just that tiny bit at the sides," Remus dropped the finger he had been using to point at Snape's nostrils because it looked like Snape was about to take a bite out of the offending digit.

Remus backed up slightly, "Look, you are going to be late. Worse comes to worse you can sleep in the teacher's lounge.

Snape snarled as he stormed out followed by Remus.

Snape finally caught up with Alexis in front of the castle. She was standing with Darien and Amber waiting with everyone else. Slipping up behind her, he reached around and held out the bouquet of snap dragons. "Nice try, Severus," Alexis sniffed, "but obviously you don't respect me enough to make sure you remember my birthday. So until I finish the potion and make you proud, I just… I can't … you will have to understand," Alexis stood stiffly.

"Alexis, this is neither the time nor the place to discuss this," Snape hissed behind her. He smirked as he watched her shiver at the feel of his breath on her neck. At least he still had that going for him, "After the welcoming feast we will retire to our chambers and discuss this like rational adults."

"I don't think so Severus," Alexis said quietly.

Snape was starting to get mad, "Alexis," just then the Beauxbatons' house-sized carriage could be seen approaching, "we WILL discuss this later."

Alexis managed to give Snape the slip before the welcoming feast was over. Determined to get this settled once and for all, Snape headed to their rooms. On the way he was once again accosted by Remus, "Snape, we have to talk. This is getting totally out of hand."

"What is it now Lupin?" Snape snapped.

"Amber just told me that she has to support Alexis through this trying time," Remus complained.

"And?" Snape asked sarcastically.

"My wife has decided to stay with your wife until your wife forgives you," Remus stated. "Now, that is totally unacceptable. What are you going to do about your wife?"

"Come with me, this has gone on long enough," Snape swept down to the dungeons.

He snarled when he found that the locking charms had been changed and began throwing spells at the door until there was a sudden bang and the door and part of the wall disappeared, "Honey, I'm home," Snape sneered.

"What?" Alexis and Amber were staring at the hole where the door used to be.

"Remus, I believe that belongs to you," Snape said pointing at Amber, "I suggest you take her home."

Remus walked over and began to urge Amber from the room. Amber just stared from Snape to the devastation he had wrecked, "Yes, Remus, I think I would like to go home," she said weakly.

When they had left, Snape cast another spell and the door and wall were repaired, "Now, Alexis, I believe we have some things to discuss."

Alexis was just staring at him blinking slowly. Snape walked up to her, "Alexis, are you ready to discuss this like a rational adult?"

Alexis looked up at him and slowly shook her head.

"Alexis, I apologize for messing up your birthday, but locking me out of our rooms is not the way to deal with it," Snape reasoned. "You made it clear that open communication was imperative to the success of our marriage."

Alexis placed a finger over his lips. Snape looked puzzled but stopped talking. Alexis grabbed the collar of his robes and pulled him down to her, "This doesn't mean that you don't have to get me those ingredients, but damn you're sexy when you go all powerful wizard on me," and with that she jumped him.

Snape decided once again that he would never understand this woman in his arms, as he carried her into their bedroom.

Alexis woke up with Snape wrapped around her. He had one leg thrown over her; his left hand was tangled in her hair; and, his right arm was around her waist and his right hand was on her stomach. There was no way she could get out of the bed without waking him, "Severus," she said wiggling experimentally.

His hand tightened in her hair and his arm pulled her closer, "Severus, I need to get up," Alexis wiggled some more.

"No," Snape nuzzled her neck; "if I keep you in bed then you can't be mad at me."

"Unless you know a spell to take care of certain needs, you are going to have to let me up," Alexis said delicately.

"I am a powerful wizard," he was tracing patterns on her neck with his nose. "I know a plethora of spells, charms, hexes, and other assorted magic."

"Severus, if I promise to come back to bed will you let me up for five minutes?" Alexis shivered as he was now sucking on her neck.

"If you must," Snape began untangling his fingers.

"I really must or I really will be embarrassed," Alexis kissed the hand that had been on her stomach and made a run for the bathroom.

In four and a half minutes Alexis came back and crawled into bed next to Snape, "Now, we need to talk."

"That is not what I had in mind," Snape asserted.

"I know, but Severus we have to work through this. I don't like being mad at you and I really don't like feeling as if you don't respect me," Alexis was staring at the canopy.

"You really want to make that potion?" Snape asked.

"Yes, I do. I think it is important for our relationship that I prove to you that I can do it," Alexis turned to face him, "but I can't do it without your help."

"Very well, I will get you the ingredients," Snape was now staring up at the canopy.

"Thank you," Alexis was now tracing patterns on Snape's chest with the tip of her finger.

"Is that all?" Snape leered at her. "After all I do have to collect Spanish moss either totally naked or wearing wooden shoes?"

"Perhaps I can find something to make it worth your while," Alexis smiled back before leaning down to kiss him.

Remus had gotten some regular Pre-natal Potion from Madame Pomfrey. Now he had to talk Amber into substituting it for the chocolate flavored potion. Remus armed himself with Sinfully Dark Chocolate Truffles and Double, Chocolate, Chip Fudge Brownie ice cream.

"Amber, I have some bad news," Remus sat her down in the kitchen. "The chocolate flavored pre-natal potion turns out to have some side effects and you are going to have to switch back to the regular potion."

"But I haven't noticed any problems," Amber whined.

"You are just going to have to trust me on this," Remus soothed her by popping a truffle in her mouth.

"Are you sure Remus?" Amber asked around the mouthful of rich, gooey, sin.

"Yes," Remus gave her a big spoonful of ice cream.

Amber licked the spoon clean and opened her mouth for another bite, "If you say so, darling." Remus just gave her another truffle before getting up to pour out all of the remaining chocolate potion she had left.

Darien was waiting for Snape and Alexis in the potion's classroom, "Severus, I was hoping to have a word with you? If you have the time?"

Alexis kissed Snape before heading to her potion's lab three doors down, "I'll see you at lunch."

Snape looked at Darien, "Yes?"

"I was wondering if you had ever considered possibly taking on an apprentice?" Darien asked anxiously.

"I have not," Snape told him shortly. "Now was there anything else?"

"Would you consider allowing me to apprentice to you?" Darien was nothing if not persistent.

"I will consider it," Snape paused. "I do not think it would work out."

Darien was crestfallen, but stubborn, "Why not?"

"I prefer to work alone," Snape told him.

"As your apprentice I could take over some of the more tedious aspects of teaching," Darien tempted with a significant look at the pile of parchments on Snape's desk.

"Darien, I do not believe there is the budget available for an apprentice," Snape said discouragingly.

"Room and board would be enough to start," Darien persisted.

"I would have to talk to Dumbledore," Snape tried to put him off.

"I already have and he thinks it is a wonderful idea," Darien enthused. "I'll start Monday," and left before Snape could stop him.

"Bullocks," was Snape's comment.

Remus found Snape once again in the dungeons, "Severus, I have a favor to ask."

Snape gave him a look, "Why do you think I would do you a favor?"

"Because you owe me," Remus tried.

Snape remained silent. "Because I will owe you?" Remus amended.

Snape nodded sharply, "What is the favor?"

"Amber is craving water cress," Remus told him.

"And what does that have to do with me?" Snape asked sarcastically.

"It is a specific type of water cress. It is salt-water cress. I have no idea where to get it. And she wants it fresh. I was hoping you might know…"

Snape gave an irritated huff, "Yes, we will need to fly to a specific cove I know of. There are wards to prevent Apparition. How soon do you need it?"

"Is now too soon?" Remus asked.

An hour later the two wizards were on brooms, Remus was following Snape closely. Snape was thinking this wasn't so bad, an hour there, thirty minutes to get the salt-water cress and then an hour back.

Remus called across to Snape, "At least we have nice flying weather."

Snape nodded sharply just as there came an ominous roll of thunder, "You had to say that didn't you?" he asked irritably.

The dark clouds appeared as if by magic. A crack of lightning had Remus and Snape taking evasive maneuvers. Remus' sigh of relief was cut short as the heavens opened and water began to flood down on them. Gritting their teeth they continued to fly on.

Snape felt as if he were frozen to his broom when the cove came into view. Prying his fingers from the broom handle, he pointed down and Remus followed his descent.

Teeth chattering, Snape looked at the waves crashing on the shore, "We have about ten minutes before the tide comes in and floods the cove. Give me the bag and I will get you some water cress."

"What bag?" Remus asked.

"Don't tell me you forgot to bring something to put it in?" Remus snarled.

"I thought you were taking care of that," Remus defended himself.

"What do you have that we can transfigure into a bag?" Snape asked.

"Nothing," Remus said after a moments thought.

"What about a t-shirt or your boxers?" Snape growled.

"I'm not wearing either," Remus flushed bright red at that confession.

Snape growled as he asked, "Are you at least wearing a shirt under your robes?"

"No, it is getting close to the full moon and I stay hot," Remus explained.

Closing his eyes and counting to ten, Snape went behind a rock and came back a few minutes later with a green silk bag.

"Where did you get that from?" Remus asked curious.

"You don't want to know," Snape told him as he headed in search of the salt-water cress.

Alexis came in as Snape was stripping out of his sodden clothes. His robes and shirt were in a wet heap on the bathroom floor. He had removed his trousers preparing to take a hot shower, Alexis blinked at him, "Severus, what happened to your shorts?"

Snape stepped into the shower, "You don't want to know."

Alexis and Snape were enjoying a cup of tea; Snape's liberally laced with Ogden's Old Fire Whiskey. Slinky answered a knock on the door and Remus came in looking frustrated.

Snape gave him a suspicious look. Nothing good had come from any of Remus' recent visits.

"Remus, how are you?" Alexis made as if to get up but Remus waved her to remain seated and Snape had a firm arm around her, "Have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No thank you. I hate to ask you, but I really don't have a clue as to how to get this," Remus began.

"What is it now Lupin?" Snape sneered.

"You know that drink Steven served at dinner?" They nodded. "Amber is saying that she HAS to have some. It is a Muggle drink and I don't have a clue as to how to go about getting it."

"Do you know if it is Coke or Pepsi?" Alexis asked.

Remus and Snape stared at her, "Some people can tell the difference between to two," she said defensively.

"How would you know?" Remus asked.

"Muggle studies, I have been working with Professor Engvall," Alexis quickly ad-libbed.

"Oh," Remus shrugged. "I really have no idea which one it is. All I know is I found it entirely to sweet and syrupy."

"Most Muggle grocery stores would carry both," Alexis told him.

"Grocery store?" Remus asked with a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Yes, it is where Muggles go to buy their food," Alexis grinned at him.

"Alexis, could you go with me to get some?" Remus begged.

"No she cannot," Snape told him firmly.

"Why not?" Alexis shifted to look at him.

"It is too dangerous," Snape told her.

"A trip to the grocery store is dangerous?" Alexis queried.

"Yes, a trip to a Muggle grocery store would be fraught with danger," Snape said flatly.

"Just what dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, might I face going into a Muggle grocery store to purchase some cola?" Alexis sniggered.

"They are too numerous to mention," Snape replied.

"You don't have any idea what a trip to the store would involve, do you?" Alexis smirked.

Remus and Snape Apparated to Diagon Alley, Professor Dumbledore had requested a meeting with Alexis so she hadn't been able to go with them.

Snape read the careful list of instructions Alexis had insisted on writing for them, "First we have to go to Gringotts and exchange some money."

Remus was leafing through the strange paper that Muggles consider money, "I hope we have enough. Alexis said twenty pounds should be more than we would need."

"How much did you get?" Snape asked.

"I got one hundred pounds," he replied, "I wanted to make sure we can get an ample supply so that we do not have to return any time soon," Remus said while Snape nodded his agreement.

Tom at the Leaky Cauldron was able to provide directions to a Muggle grocery store. Ten minutes of walking had them standing in front of a large square garishly lit building. Brightly colored signs were in the windows advertising the specials for today while long streams of pennants criss-crossed over their heads, fluttering in the breeze. A huge banner stretched across the front of the store "GRAND RE-OPENING".

"How do you re-open a store?" Remus asked Snape.

Snape just ignored him because he wasn't going to admit that he didn't know, "Let us get this cola stuff and get back. I have to be there for the Halloween Feast tonight and the naming of the champions."

Remus nodded and they headed toward the doors. Stepping on the black mat in front of the door, they both sprang back reaching for their wands when the doors whooshed open. They stood there staring until an elderly woman pushed past them with a muttered, "Excuse me," and walked through the automatic door.

Snape cautiously followed the grey-haired Muggle into the store watching as she pulled a strange wheeled contraption from out of a long line of such things and pushed it down an aisle. Snape walked confidently up to the line and grabbed the handle of the closest thing and tugged it like the woman had. The whole line of contraptions clinked and clanked but the one he was tugging did not come free.

Remus walked up beside him and gave it a tug. Again there was no separation. Snape tugged again more forcibly. A second even harder tug freed two of the strange wheeled push trolleys. Backing it up, Snape gave Remus an impatient nod to the end of the second cart, "Pull on that one."

Remus took hold of the one on the end while Snape held the handle of the original trolley, "Ready?" Remus nodded and they both gave a tug. Snape almost pulled Remus into the basket of the trolley with the force of his pull, "Lupin, can you not even manage a simple task like this?"

"I wasn't ready for you to pull so hard," Remus explained, "Try it now," Remus braced himself and Snape tugged again. Now there was a crowd waiting for their turn to take a cart. Remus and Snape had been wrestling with the carts for several minutes and the crowd was starting to get irritated.

Finally a little girl of about twelve walked up to Snape and said, "Excuse me, mister." Snape looked down his nose at her. "Let me help you, move please," she told Remus and then she held the handle and kicked the edge of the trolley while lifting it slightly and banging it on the floor. The end cart rolled free and another customer grabbed it and rolled away with it. The girl grinned at the two men, "My dad can't get them to work either," before grabbing a trolley for her mom.

"Not a word," Snape told Remus, "not a single word or I am leaving."

Remus just took the trolley and headed down the nearest aisle.

"Where did that little girl go?" Remus asked looking around. They had been searching the store for the drink that Amber was craving without success. Time was slipping away and Snape needed to get back to Hogwarts.

"May I help you gentlemen?" an acne-covered teen in a green apron and matching green bow tie asked.

"Where is your cola located?" Snape asked.

"Aisle four, down that way," a long skinny arm pointed down the way they had just come.

Snape grabbed the cart and began to push it toward aisle four. "Hey, that's my trolley," Remus told him hurrying after him.

Just then they turned down aisle four and stopped staring. The whole aisle was lined with bottles and bottles of strange drinks. There were large bottles and small bottles and medium bottles and then there were bottles that were held together somehow in sixes and then there were boxes that had the same markings on them as the bottles and then there were little metal cans.

"Where is the list that Alexis gave us?" Remus asked.

Snape pulled it out of his pocket and began reading it hurriedly, "It just says to take the cola off the shelf and take it up to the front of the store and pay for it at the 'check-out'," Snape sniped.

"She asked when we were sitting in your quarters what type of cola we were looking for. Do you remember what she called them?" Remus asked desperately.

Snape thought for a moment, "Pep something and then there was the one that sounded kind of like cola but not. Start reading the bottles," Snape instructed, "Just remember the drink was dark colored," Snape looked at the various colors available.

They had narrowed it down to five different drinks; there was Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer and Mr. Pib. Remus wanted to put the Root Beer back because Amber was pregnant and shouldn't have any alcohol. Snape agreed so that narrowed it down to four.

Snape said, "Just grab ten of each of them and let's get out of here."

"Ten?" Remus asked surprised.

"Yes ten, I have no plans of accompanying you on another one of these fools errands so you will want to stock up," Snape snorted.

"You might change your mind," Remus grinned.

"Why on earth would I do that?" Snape sneered.

"Because I have found one of the ingredients you need for Alexis," Remus smirked.

"In a Muggle establishment?" Snape was incredulous.

Remus reached to the shelf opposite the cola's, which Snape now noticed, had a large selection of candy. Picking a large box off the shelf he gave it to Snape.

"Choco-crocs," Snape read, "chocolate covered crocodile shaped sweets. This can't be what they meant?"

"Maybe not, but will Alexis know the difference?" Remus smiled.

"Remus, that is almost worthy of a Slytherin," Snape said.

"There's no need to be insulting," Remus protested.

Remus and Snape filled the trolley with cola and boxes of Choco-crocs. Snape had sent Remus back to the front of the store to get another cart since they were rapidly filling up the one. Snape looked up at a loud crash at the end of aisle four to see Remus surrounded by cans of some type.

"Blasted trolley," Remus muttered as with a quick look around he went to pull out his wand.

"Lupin," Snape said in a warning tone.

Giving him a dirty look Remus quickly picked up the cans and replaced them on the shelf and began to push the new cart toward Snape, who quickly saw why Remus had knocked into a shelf. All four of the wheels on the trolley seemed to be trying to roll in different directions. Remus had to physically force the thing down the aisle in a more or less straight line. "You couldn't find one that actually works?" Snape sneered.

"This was the only one left and I know why now," Remus complained.

"Hurry up, I need to get home," Snape snarked.

"I am hurrying. If you think you can do any better you take this trolley," Remus growled.

"I have filled my trolley," Snape sneered as he started to fill Remus' cart.

"Now we go to the 'check-out lane' pay for the cola and we should be able to go home," Snape stated as they headed back to the front.

Snape was fuming by the time Remus finally managed to force his trolley to the check-out lane, "It certainly took you long enough to get here."

"Next time you take the hexed trolley and I take the normal one and then we'll see how fast you get anywhere," Remus growled.

Snape looked at the normally even-tempered werewolf and decided not to make any further comments.

Snape watched the people in the queue in front of them and when it was there turn, carefully unloaded the drinks and boxes onto the counter. The person behind the counter stared at all the bottles of cola before asking, "Thirsty are you?"

Snape gave him a glare for his insolence that quickly had him ringing up their purchases.

When everything was rung up, paid for and bagged, Remus looked at Snape, "How are we supposed to get all of this home?"

"Follow me," Snape ordered pushing the cart that the bags had been placed in out of the store. Remus followed him, not really understanding what he was going to do.

Snape found a slightly darker area of the parking lot and waited until Remus had caught up with him, "Apparate," he told him. Remus nodded and then there was a loud crack. Snape looked at the buggy full of bags, "Idiot."

Another crack and a red faced Remus was back grabbing the handle of the shopping trolley and then two cracks so close together they sounded like one and that corner of the parking lot was empty.

They Disapparated in front of Remus and Amber's cottage in Hogsmeade. "What are we going to do with these things?" Remus asked Snape.

"That is your problem," Snape told him as he gathered together the bags holding the Choco-crocs and with a crack was gone.