Thanks for the reviews! They really pushed this update along. Hope everyone keeps reading!

--The Spaz

CHAPTER TWO

The next day, Harry awoke to the pleasantly lit Gryffindor dorm room. Seamus was still asleep, looking charming and content, despite the small amount of drool collecting on the pillow beside his mouth. He pondered over waking the boy to ask him if Dumbledore had announced the reason for the postponed classes, but decided against it. He knew the common room would have enough students to gratifyingly answer the question.

Harry dressed quickly and relieved himself in the loo before heading down the stairs to join his fellow students. On this morning, the common room was a buzz of excitement as the students who had already awaken reveled in a day free of classes. He saw Ron and Hermione in a corner, talking animatedly together, and looking strangely worried. By the time Harry had made his way to them, Neville Longbottom had joined them and they were all three discussing what seemed to be a very worrying matter. Hermione and Neville appeared anxious and Ron, being Ron, looked slightly confused.

"Morning." Harry announced hesitantly. Neville turned nervously and returned the greeting with a nod and hello.

"Good morning, Harry." Hermione was always one for manners, even when she was disturbed over something. She motioned for Harry to lean in and he did so.

"Neville overheard McGonagall saying something to Dumbledore this morning." Her expression became slightly panicked. "Someone's gone missing." Upon hearing this, Harry's eyes grew wide and he heard himself ask 'Who.'

"That's the thing, Harry. We don't know. You haven't heard anything?" She'd been secretly hoping that Dumbledore or someone else may have let him in on what had happened just because he was Harry Potter. The thought sounded stupid to her own ears, but it was a thought. Harry grew silent for a moment to think, but shook his head.

"Nothing that would point to someone's disappearance, no." Then a wild idea struck him. "You don't suppose Snape knows anything about it, do you?" The other three looked shocked at the question. Hermione answered first, ignoring Ron's sudden burst of comments about the greasy git.

"Well, he's one of the most respected members of the faculty and the Order. If McGonagall and Dumbledore are aware of a disappearance, I'm sure they'd briefed Professor Snape on the situation." Harry went into thinking mode for a moment.

"Do you think it's possible they knew about this yesterday? I spoke with Snape yesterday evening and he was rather...misplaced, characteristically." Hermione shared a look with Neville and they all four began chatting about theories and distresses for a while before Harry headed to the dungeons for his meeting with the Slytherin head-of-house.

II ... ... ... II

Harry arrived at Snape's quarters at approximately a quarter to nine. True to his word, the portrait opened and granted him entrance, but not before having a short and intriguing conversation with the younger wizard which gave him a little to think about.

Although Snape's quarter's were in the dungeons, one wall had been charmed with an artificial window which streamed in the morning sunlight. It's light formed warm patterns on the stone floor and gave the place an almost light-hearted feeling. It hadn't been there the night before, or at least he hadn't noticed it. He wondered if Snape had put it there for him, though he knew that was preposterous.

He glanced around, but it didn't appear as if anyone was there. He timidly called out "Professor?" but there was no reply. Lost on what to do, he took the same seat in which he'd been seated the night before.

After a while, Harry had become somewhat lost in his own thoughts, so when he heard a voice saying his surname, he was a little startled. He turned his head to see the professor standing at the entrance, the portrait closing behind him. He nodded to the man.

"Hello, professor." Snape walked past him and towards the kitchen.

"I trust you've behaved yourself in my absence? Not that the opposite would be surprising." His voice was sarcastic.

"Yes, sir. You may not believe this, but I can actually behave on occasion." That earned a smirk from the potions master, though it didn't carry any malice. It seemed to Harry that the man was trying to make civil conversation with him, only with a snarky twist that only Snape could provide. As Snape left the room, Harry watched him with one eyebrow raised in a mix of confusion and amusement. Maybe, he thought, there's a person under that batman-like façade after all.

The man returned a while later with two goblets of pumpkin juice. Unbeknownst to Harry, Snape had spiked his own drink with a little Brandy.

"If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to know why you asked me here." Harry looked at him inquisitively as he brought the goblet to his mouth to take a sip. Snape had made his way over to a bookcase, dissimulating his actions by pretending to look at the books in front of him. He didn't turn around when Harry spoke to him. Snape was silent for a few more minutes and Harry started to grow suspicious and impatient.

"Sir?" The word seemed to snap Snape out of some kind of trance, though it was more like pushing him towards a bridge he didn't want to cross. He turned around quickly to look at the boy and swiftly returned an answer.

"I called you here to pass news on to you at the request of the Headmaster." His face was more serious than his usual stoic look. The look caught Harry's breath short. Snape swirled his drink in his cup, thinking off-hand about how there wasn't nearly enough brandy in it. He felt Harry's eyes still on him and he brought his own eyes up to catch the other's. He squared his shoulders and set his jaw, not sure how to deliver the message but knowing he had to do so regardless.

"An issue has arisen of which the Headmsaster feels you should be made aware." A small clunk came from Harry's goblet as it he set it on the table and gave his full attention to what Snape was about to tell him.

"I'd prepare yourself, Mr. Potter, because this isn't going to be easy." Harry fidgeted. Snape's voice had lost its earlier slight undertone of civility and had been steeled with a coldness that made Harry's spine run dry.

"Remus Lupin has gone missing." Harry got sick as the Earth shattered underneath him. At least, he could've sworn it had. Missing?

"Wh-what?" The reply came out just barely above a whisper. The room around him was growing faint and unsteady.

"He's missing. We think he's gone to save Black."

"But Sirius...is dead..." The pain in his voice made even Severus almost break. Harry's eyes were glistening with unshed tears and he was gazing at him with a searching look, wanting to know how everything was going to end. And for once, Severus was saddened that he couldn't answer.

Author's Notes:

Some reviewers questioned why Severus was acting less cold than his normal self and I hope this chapter has provided a little insight. (In case it wasn't clear, the main reason he'd acte d the way he did was because of the news he had to deliver to Harry and how he knew he'd react. Of course, we all know he'd never admit that. XP ) There will be more insight as to Professor Snape's behavior as the story unravels.