Chapter 9: Prisoner of Azkaban

"Hello brother-in-law, so sorry you couldn't make it to the wedding," Severus said through tight lips. He hated Remus so much and the fact that he was now the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher ticked him off more. It was like Dumbledore was purposefully trying to make him unhappy. Bad enough Viktoria hadn't been quite her usual self for the past four years, now he had to deal with Remus at Hogwarts.

"Ah, yes. I'd quite forgotten about that, then again I see no wedding band on your finger. Does Viktoria know you take it off?" Remus said mildly as he looked over at Severus who'd been married now for about twelve years.

"In fact she does and she understands why, but I always keep it close to my heart," he said as he glared at Remus. Remus merely turned his attention to his food. Now that he was back at Hogwarts his many memories of his friends came flooding back to him, not to mention the ache that he felt whenever he thought of Viktoria and Viktor. He'd never tried to get along with Viktor and then Viktor died, at a very young age. And Viktoria, how he had adored his baby sister, but he'd not seen her since she'd decided to marry Snape.

"How is Viktoria?" Remus asked as he turned his attention to look at Severus. Severus stared down at his plate, Remus could see that there was something wrong, but he knew Severus would never want to tell him. Therefore he merely grabbed his goblet and took a sip before setting it down.

"Ah, so you care all of a sudden what has become of her life," Severus said as he turned to look at Remus. Remus looked down at his plate, he knew that Severus had a point, but he just missed her so much. Often times he'd wanted to pay her a visit, but he knew that she would probably just slam the door in his face. "Don't worry about Viktoria; I take very good care of her. As hard as it is for you to believe that."

"Ah, I see you spending an entire year at Hogwarts is you taking care of her. Well I think you're doing a bang up job of it then," Remus said as he looked over the Great Hall. He tried his best to keep the mild smile on his face. He hadn't expected Severus to be a Professor at Hogwarts. Remus shook his head; he guessed that Dumbledore didn't have very high standards for hiring if he hired a Death Eater. Then again, he hired you, a cynical voice in his head said. Remus shook his head once more.

"At least I've been there for her for the past twelve years. Where were you when she needed you? Where were you when she had her miscarriage? You weren't there, even though she pleaded for you," Severus said through gritted teeth. Remus turned to look at Severus with shock written on his features.

"She had a miscarriage? When?" he asked.

"Four years ago. She hasn't quite been the same since and she's too scared to try anymore," Severus said as he stood up from the table and left him sitting there alone. Remus looked down at his plate and ran a hand through his hair.

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"Do you think that was very sly of you? Letting it slip to the entire school that I am a werewolf?" Remus asked as he followed after Severus, who had just exited the Great Hall. There was a very satisfied smile on Severus' face, one that Remus wanted to slap off his face.

"Well it takes care of my problem, gets rid of you," Severus said as he continued to walk.

"What makes you think that it is so simple Severus?" Remus said as he looked after Severus, he still couldn't believe that his sister had married this man. Severus stopped walking and turned around to look directly into Remus' eyes.

"Oh, I know that Dumbledore is willing enough to keep you on, despite the fact that your dark little secret is out now, but are you willing to allow Dumbledore to stick his neck out for you anymore then he already has? This time tomorrow morning all the owls will begin to arrive from concerned parents, all asking Dumbledore how he could possibly allow a werewolf to teach their children," Severus said snidely, his eyes sparkling with malice. Remus glared at him and knew that he was right; he wouldn't allow Dumbledore to do such a thing. "Of course you won't allow that. You will leave."

"You're right Severus, I won't allow that, but at least it won't tear me up as much as losing the Order of Merlin is killing you. How does it feel to be attacked by a thirteen year old boy and know that the man you hate most in this world is roaming free?" Remus asked as he stared at Severus, whom immediately became livid with rage. "Ah, you do hate Sirius don't you? Could it perhaps have anything to do with Viktoria? Or is it just that old grudge?"

"Viktoria has nothing to do with this," Severus said as he glared down at Remus.

"Ah, so you've never bothered to ask what she was doing in the four years that you were not with her. You never asked if she was with someone in the four years that you abandoned her, how interesting. I think that you would be very interested to hear the answer to that question," Remus said as he pushed his way past Severus. As he walked away he was satisfied to swipe the smug smile off Severus' face, but upon reflection and once he got his senses back he realized that perhaps that hadn't been the wisest thing to do.

Remus sighed as he ran his hand through his hair, wondering whether or not he had caused a problem for Viktoria. Well that's a great way to win your sister back. Poison her husband against her. Great, she'll welcome you with open arms, he thought sarcastically to himself as he sat down to write his letter of resignation. As much as Severus had ruined the only joy he'd had in many years, he knew that what he said didn't quite make everything even. Remus sighed, wondering were Sirius had run off to.

TBC…