Jesterqueen: Thank you… Here's the update…
Shamandalie: Thank you…
Sexy Snape: Thank you… Unfortunately school's started and I don't have a lot of time to write… Sorry…
Crimsonsolaris: Thank you…
Alamony: Thank you, unfortunately I can't update as much as I'd like, but I'll try…
Pip: Yes… An update… -shifty eyes- Here it is…
Disclaimer: Read the Prologue…
Chapter 2
Remus sighed, staring mutely at the boy in front of him. Severus seemed so small and pale against the bed and its sheets. And though he was gaining in height, his breadth hadn't seemed to have changed at all. He still seemed to be the scrawny boy he'd first seen on the sorting hat's stool.
It really was pathetic, his sitting by the Slytherin boy's bed. If the others found him he'd be deaf by the time they were warmed up. He sighed. Well… It wasn't his fault someone had charmed a bucket full of itching syrup over Severus, and he was simply being a good friend.
The opportunity Severus had made for even a small friendship to develop between them wasn't going to be ignored and Remus was near ready to hex the next person who sent Severus to the hospital wing. Of course there were others that ended up sharing the room, but incidentally the worst Remus had seen of those were a couple of grown front teeth, dyed hair and people vomiting up stuff they shouldn't.
He ran a hand through his hair, taking his time in studying Severus' condition for the umpteenth time since he'd sat down. He jumped back, falling out of his chair and let out a loud squawk as his eyes reached the dark haired boy's face. Severus was staring up at him with large, dark, sleepy eyes.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Remus was panting hard, a hand on rapidly rising and falling chest, as he attempted to calm his heart. "Don't do that to me!" Remus exclaimed as he practically collapsed into his chair.
He heard Severus snort and mutter something about 'Gryffindor dramatics' the sarcastic tone of his voice thrown off as he yawned. Remus smiled slightly, "How are you feeling?"
"Better, I'm not scratching constantly now, am I?"
Remus shook his head, standing and filling a glass of water for Severus. The boy took it with a soft 'thank you' and sipped it slowly, sitting up against the head of the bed. "No, but you can't go out with all those red marks; something will irritate them."
"I thank you for your concern Lupin, but I can decide things for myself." Severus turned up his nose as he drained the last little bit of water from the glass and laid back down.
Remus sat back down, watching as Severus cursed under his breath and scratched every so often. Severus really did look rather achy with red splodges all over him. His face was the only part of his being free of them.
"Are you still going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Remus asked quietly.
"Of course, I'm not letting this stop my plans." He eyed Remus suspiciously, "If you want Lupin, we could postpone the trip. I'm sure you don't want to be seen with Snivellus," He spat the name out, a look of extreme distaste on his face, "By your side, especially with me like this."
Remus blinked rather stupidly for a moment, trying to think up something to say that wouldn't insult the dark haired boy in front of him. With a sigh he acknowledged that Severus would probably prefer the blunt truth to pretty words and shut up.
Severus glared and rolled onto his side, his back facing Remus. "Exactly what I thought."
Remus' eyes softened sadly, and before he could verify or argue the point Madam Pomfrey was in the room and fussing about Severus. He was rushed out of the room before the nurse checked the Slytherin.
o0o0o
"Out of the infirmary already Snape? I thought you would have made the best out of the situation and stayed there for the rest of the week." Lucius sniggered at Severus' blotchy state.
"I would prefer to keep up with my lessons thank you, Malfoy." He sat on his bed, careful to not move too jerkily and send himself into another bout of itching.
He heard Lucius snort, "You should have been put in Ravenclaw with an attitude like that."
Severus hummed, concentrating on finding his Charms essay, he could have sworn he'd put it under… Where was it?
"Looking for your essay? Rosier borrowed it."
"What! That was my work." Severus' scowled, "Why didn't you stop him? You do realize I have to start again now?"
Lucius shrugged, "He was going to get kicked off the Quidditch team if he didn't start earning better marks. You don't want us to lose do you? We don't have any better beaters than Rosier and his brother."
Severus continued to scowl but shut up, pulling out another roll of parchment. There was no point in arguing, Lucius would get his way, and he could finish another essay sooner than he could make Lucius rethink letting Rosier take his work. Why bother when you could just do another, better copy?
"Just don't bother me."
He realized he shouldn't have said that too late, and he was quickly cursed to the chair and the table, with Lucius scowling at him, "You have a big mouth Snape, don't you?"
Severus didn't dare speak, but he defiantly glared at the other boy, his frown still on his face.
"I think I better teach you to keep your mouth shut."
o0o0o
He sighed and twirled his quill in one hand, distractedly reading over his last paragraph.
Severus was stupid to have left the Hospital Wing before all of his blotches were gone; many people would be tempted to make them itch again. There was nothing more amusing than a tortured Slytherin and Remus knew Sirius wouldn't hesitate to do something to the poor boy.
"And he calls us idiots."
"Who?" Remus leapt a foot out of his chair, before staring up at Lily with wide eyes. The girl giggled, "You're not going to start grumbling about Severus too, are you? I thought you were better than that."
Remus smiled sadly, "Different reasons I'm afraid." He shuffled his chair across, allowing Lily to share the table he was working on. He was surprised when she leant across the table and smiled knowingly at him.
"What's on your mind Remus?"
"Uh…"
"Come on, you can tell me." Lily giggled again at his rather surprised look and poked his shoulder. When it seemed he would never speak Lily started, "Severus is a nice guy you know. All you have to do is see through his moods and look past his appearance. He helped me with Potions the other day, and helped me find a way to remember those stupid Troll wars. You know the ones during the Middle Ages?" She began toying with a lock of her hair, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Remus nodded, and Lily continued talking, "He's just not used to people. Or… At least, that's what I think. You know he knows about a good few muggle movies, and the actors in them!" She giggled some more, before sobering. "What do you think of him?"
"Erm…" Remus started, "He's… Obnoxious – I mean… He's not really… I don't know…" Remus sighed and started again, "Normal people tend to not be so blunt and truthful. But…" He pointed at Lily's hair, "You know how – not to insult you or anything – when it rains and your hair gets all curly and knotty, it's not nice to look at. He'll go and tell you that. But people don't want their faults pointed out all the time."
Lily nodded, "But wouldn't you prefer to be told the truth than to have people lie to you all the time?" Remus stared silently, watching her absently as she smiled knowingly and said her goodbyes, leaving for the girl's dormitory.
Remus stared after her for a long time, before he turned back to his essay and his books. But he couldn't concentrate.
Maybe it was better that Severus was like that. He thought back to the first time he'd met James and Sirius and little Peter too. They'd said he hadn't looked well and asked if he'd needed to go to the infirmary. Since they'd found out his… condition, they'd always said he'd looked fine, even though he knew he didn't.
He paused in his packing, maybe, for Severus, it was normal to be spoken to so truthfully? His friends certainly let him know how much they disliked him and the way he looked and the things he was interested in. Maybe he was just… Used to it? And in turn expected others to be so as well?
"Hey Moony, we're going down for a bite to eat, want something?"
Remus smiled, but shook his head, "No, thank you!"
o0o0o
"Are you sure you're alright? I mean… You look paler than you usually do."
"Lupin, I am fine. Ask me one more time and I will hex you."
Severus knew Remus wasn't going to leave it be. They were walking quickly down a street Severus knew all too well, and Remus seemingly didn't. Severus' eyebrow rose in question when Remus asked where they were.
He just huffed and continued walking, shaking his head as Lupin walked down the wrong street.
o0o0o
Remus frowned as he at the bookshop as they neared it. It was old, rickety and had broken windows. It was on a street off Diagon alley, one that Remus hadn't known was there. But he'd followed Severus.
It wasn't the Flourish and Blotts he expected. The books were cheaper and looked far more worn and some had rips and tears on the seam. Each one had to be second hand. He watched as Severus headed off to the back of the store, slowly peering around and taking books off their shelves, reading the back or the first page before placing them back on the shelf.
Remus was silent as he followed the Slytherin, his head down as to not attract the attention of the wrinkled witch sitting at the register, her thin arms rested on the counter as she stared into space.
"What is this place Severus? I've never seen it before." He heard Severus snort, his eyes and nose in a large, brown book. He peered over the other teen's shoulder. He was surprised to find it was a muggle book: the pictures in the book weren't moving at all. "What's this?"
"This," Severus said, "Is a muggle book and we are in a second hand book shop."
Remus stared at Severus' back in confusion, "But why are we here? And why are you reading a muggle book?" You're a Slytherin! He wanted to yell.
Severus sighed and placed the book on the shelf before he walked out, waving to the witch at the counter, who dreamily waved back. Remus followed, really confused with the other boy's behavior.
"Aren't you going to buy something?" He asked.
"It seems you aren't comfortable in there, Lupin. I'll come back later or another day."
Remus spluttered, "I was fine!"
"You were not," Severus glared accusingly, "You didn't like old Madam Siton and you were – are confused about why I would be looking at muggle books." Remus didn't like how Severus could read his feelings.
They were silent for a few minutes, with Severus glaring and Remus trying (and failing miserably) to match it.
He sighed, "Well, why did we come here?"
"I… Just like muggle books."
Remus' eyes shot to the other boy's face. He recognized that tone. It was the one from the infirmary. He noticed Severus had begun to rub his right arm, and considered asking if he really was alright, just to change the subject, but stopped himself.
Severus didn't like being fussed over.
"Do you feel like an ice cream?" He smiled when Severus regarded him with a cynical look, but in the end nodded shyly. "What flavour do you like?" He asked as they neared the corner.
"Strawberry."
Remus blinked. That was different, he hadn't expected Severus Snape to like strawberry. "Really? I expected you to be more of a vanilla sort of person."
Severus couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face, "And you're a chocolate person, no doubt?"
"How did you know?"
Fire: I don't like school… It takes up all your time… -dies-
Anyway… Reveiw please?