Disclaimer: Read the Prologue

Shamandalie: Of course! I plan to finish this fic! Unlike a few of my others… -slinks off guiltily-

Anonymous: Thank you… It means a lot that you think so, my spelling's been very mixed… Good sometimes, horrible others… I am trying… Unfortunately though, there won't be any updates for months because I have so many assignments and tests and homework to complete… Ah dear… Anyway, thanks again…

Warnings: Violence, bullying, tortured!Severus, swearing, slash (boyxboy), etc…


Chapter 5

The wind pounded against the windows ruthlessly, making them clutter and bang and eventually fly open with a chilling gust of wind. It was storming and as a particularly loud clang of thunder, Remus shivered and pulled his robes tight against him. The infirmary smelt as it always did to him, though the stench of smoke and soot hovered in the air along with the smells of mint, lavender and potions.

He was sitting in front of the fireplace in the infirmary, alight and hot and lovely, unlike the scene in front of him. He wasn't sure why he was there, but the headmaster had insisted that he stay. His and Snape's head of house: Professor Slughorn and Professor McGonagall were there too, along with Madam Pomfrey. Remus sighed and shifted in his seat again, feeling very uncomfortable.

"Mr. Snape, please let me remind you that we are here to help you. If someone is doing wrong, it is in your best interests to tell us who they are and what exactly they've done."

Severus hadn't spoken since he'd regained consciousness and Remus had to say it was unnerving to find the boy's usually penetrating stare, devoid of any life at all. He hadn't moved except to breathe and the for an unusual twitch in his right hand. But even so, the professors looked worried about his state. Remus had never seen anyone like this and it scared him.

"Severus, what has happened?" Remus winced as Slughorn's meaty hand grasped the dark haired boy's skinny arm and shook him roughly. Severus kept staring, but slid his arm out of Slughorn's grasp when the Professor had stopped.

They gave up half an hour later, Madam Pomfrey having convinced each professor that Snape was most probably in shock and wouldn't be able to do much for a few hours yet. They then turned on him, making him feel nervous. Slughorn was the one that made him most jumpy; Remus knew what his glare meant.

Soon they were finished, after having Remus retell his side of things a total of four times and having asked for any other information as to why he was in the dungeons in the first place. He told them the truth, which was that he was there looking for Slughorn. But he didn't mention Severus or Lily in his explanation.

Madam Pomfrey, then ushered him out of the room, with a stiff 'thank you' and 'good night'. The Gryffindor took his time getting up to the Gryffindor dormitory. Instead thinking over what had happened. Remus didn't sleep well that night and it had nothing to do with his friends loudly asking him where he'd been.

o0o0o

"The cauldron blew up. I must have knocked something into it."

Albus seemed to ignore his biting tone, "Are you sure that is what happened, Mr. Snape? Your professor tells me you are very careful in class."

Severus found it hard to scowl. His cheek was still slightly swollen, but it wasn't the same purple colour it was the night before. "Yes sir. It was a simple potion, so there was no real danger about getting poisoned or anything of the sort. I was quick to clean it up, because it was hot. I wasn't able to heal myself."

Severus knew the headmaster knew he was lying. But the headmaster would write to his father, and Severus found it much more bearable if his father thought he'd been in an accident, not a punishment. Not that Lucius wouldn't tell his father about the real version of events; on the contrary, Lucius would have a smug smirk on his face as he was writing his letter. It was probably already written and sent anyway.

The headmaster nodded and rose from his seat. "I hope to see you up and about soon my boy. Your head of house is very worried about you and he misses your presence in the potion labs."

The Slytherin simply nodded and let his eyes wander to the book in his hands. It was a potions book, of course. The headmaster had given it to him. His thumbs slid over the leather cover carefully, before he glared at it; it almost seemed like a bribe. 'Keep quiet' and all that. Severus' glare became heated.

Severus' attention was soon snapped to the door as a steady knocking made its way to his ears. Severus was quick to toss the book away, and tugged at his hair as he roughly called out that the door was unlocked. He immediately stopped toying with his hair, letting it sit untidily behind his ear, when he realized it was Lupin.

The Gryffindor waved a collection of parchment towards him with a small smile. "Your notes and homework, Flitwick was the one who set it." Severus took them and quickly scanned over them. Lupin fidgeted before he finally realized there was a seat beside Snape's bed and sat down. "So… When are you supposed to be out?"

Severus snorted, placing the notes on the bed carefully, "Pomfrey says tomorrow afternoon. I plan to be in class, I'm not missing anymore lessons." He said stiffly.

He ignored Lupin, when he frowned, "You're still not completely healed. You could hurt yourself again."

"Don't pretend to care Lupin."

Lupin looked taken aback, "Why would I pretend?"

"You're a Marauder." Severus stated simply.

"You're a Slytherin. But you still care. Why else would you help Lily?" Lupin stated gruffly, his slouch almost sulky as Severus strained to reach for his drink. Lupin stood and grabbed it for him.

Severus took it with a slight nod and a frown, "That may be so, but I don't strut around in a gang and bully other students for the fun of it."

Lupin shook his head stiffly, "I have no part in that."

Severus dabbed at his mouth with the sheet, lying down on his side with his back to Lupin before he stated, "You do nothing to stop it either."

o0o0o

True to his word, Severus was out the next day. Remus noted with a twist of his stomach that Severus seemed to be limping slightly. His cuts and bruises were gone, the same as his swollen cheek, but he still seemed very unbalanced, often stumbling. A few students giggled, some others seemed worried, but did nothing to help the Slytherin, who seemed to be struggling with his books.

"Did you see Snivellus!" Sirius practically howled after Charms, "He got himself royally hexed this time. I wonder who the lucky guy was."

James snickered beside him, his arm encircling Sirius' shoulders as he threw his other hand into the air, "Probably wasn't a guy at all!" Remus shook his head with a grimace as his friends roared with laughter, catching the attention of everyone in the hall. Some of the other students laughed too, having heard their exchange.

When Remus had had enough, his face was fixed with a scowl and his eyebrows were knotted. Snape had to have heard that! Especially with how loud they were being and all. Remus knew he had as he spotted Severus' hunched form limping down the corridor, his head lowered, obviously trying to make himself as invisible as possible.

Remus was quick to make an excuse for the Marauders, telling them that he was going to study in the library, and was quick to run after Snape's form, having to dodge students as he did so. He thought he'd seen Lily, but didn't stop to see if it was her until he was a few feet behind Severus.

"Hey," Snape glared for a moment as Remus started walking beside him, before hiding his face behind his hair as much as he could. His nose was still visible though, "Erm, is the tutoring lesson still on?"

"I see no reason for it to be canceled." He answered snippily. Remus almost smiled, as he remembered how dead Severus had seemed a day or so ago. He much preferred Severus like this, no matter how grouchy he was.

They were silent for a few minutes, before Snape seemed to realize Remus was still walking beside him. They were nearing the hallway leading to the library now.

"Why are you following me Lupin?" Severus snapped.

"I want to study. The library is for all the students and teachers in Hogwarts, isn't it?"

Severus snorted and readjusted his bag on his shoulder. Remus could tell that he was still sore, but knew Snape was stubborn. He felt the urge to ask if Snape wanted him to carry it, but was quickly turned away.

"I'm not an invalid Lupin! I can carry my own belongings." Severus then hurriedly limped away, dropping his stuff on a dusty table in the furthest corner of the library.

o0o0o

"Evans! What a lovely surprise! Would you like to come in and sit down?"

Remus glanced up from his reading with a look of surprise at the mentioning of Lily. She didn't look impressed, standing by the door with her arms crossed and her foot tapping irritably on the floor. When she spotted Lupin on his bed she was quick to push past James and smile cheerily.

"Remus! What are you doing? We have to go soon, tutoring remember?" She sat down on his bed, shaking his raised knee jokingly. Remus almost burst into flames under the jealous glare he was receiving from James, but was trying valiantly to ignore it.

He glanced up at the clock. It read five, forty seven. "Oh, shit."

Lily nodded comically, ignoring James' attempts to impress her as he ran his hand through his hair and talked loudly of the latest Quidditch match, "Yes, Severus isn't a happy duck when I'm late. I hate to see how he reacts to you being late." Remus was now holding his potions text book under one arm. He didn't get to follow Lily to the door though as a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Wait a sec! Tutoring with Snape?" Sirius looked livid and Remus winced slightly as his grip tightened, "You both have to be insane! He'll hex you into the hospital wing."

"I'll have you know Black, that Severus has been tutoring me since last October!"

Remus shook off Sirius' hand hurriedly, smiling slightly, "It'll be alright. If he tries anything, I won't go back. It's my first lesson, and I need help with brewing." Remus was quick to push Lily out of the room before both Sirius and James caught him and tied him to the bed. They could hear their yells from the common room.

o0o0

"You're late."

Severus didn't look up from his potions text as Remus carefully stepped into the room, Lily close behind him. She was looking much for comfortable than what he did and felt. They were both pink from running.

"Only by a minute or two Severus; Black and Potter know about our tutoring lessons."

Snape snorted, "Fantastic." Remus hovered by the desk, wondering where he was supposed to sit. The desks were big enough to fit two people comfortably, but would be too squashy for three.

"Sit down Lupin." Remus placed his books opposite Severus, and was quick to get the professor's seat at Snape's order. The chair was large and cushioned, and Remus sat down gingerly, scared that he might break it.

Lily giggled, causing Remus to turn red again, while Snape simply shook his head and mumbled. "What do you have trouble brewing Lupin?"

Remus glanced down at their books, "Uh, pretty much everything. I can't get my head around cutting, stirring and all that."

Snape nodded, looking thoughtful, "We will be brewing," Severus paused to flip through Lupin's book, "A pepper up potion."

Remus turned beet red. He wasn't that bad at potions, "I think I could manage something slightly harder." His flush became brighter as Lily smiled knowingly.

"We're starting simple. Just to make sure you are able to do the harder things."

Remus nodded dejectedly but began to read, and then collected ingredients and equipment, as Severus ordered him about.

"First you take the coreal and slice it." It sounded easy enough, and coreal flowers and roots didn't smell too bad. Lupin started.

"Your potion will make someone sick if you put that in it."

Remus looked up, startled, "What?"

Snape waved his hand at Remus' pieces, "You're cutting it too thick, and you need to be far more consistent with their size. As I said, you will make the drinker sick." Snape motioned for Remus to put the knife down as he took a vine out of the jar and started cutting it.

Remus watched with interest. Snape hand didn't seem to be touching the vine, but it did not move at all as he sliced it into even pieces. He seemed to be using his finger nail as a ruler. When he was done, Snape showed the pieces to Remus properly, "That is the biggest you may make them."

Remus nodded and started again, without argument. Snape was the best potions student in their year. By the end of his first lesson Severus had picked up on Remus' sensitive nose and the way it scrunched up with distaste as he mashed a particularly smelly beetle. Snape had announced it with an unexpected outburst and a smug smirk, but before long both Lily and Snape were snickering over it.

Remus somehow felt he deserved the humiliation. But as they packed and cleaned the equipment, Snape seemed to have regained his composure and forgotten about it.

"Same time tomorrow Lupin?" Severus asked as he turned to leave the room. He looked like he expected Lupin to have given up on his company. Remus had no thought of doing so.

He nodded and said 'goodbye' and met with Lily outside the lab. They walked back to Gryffindor tower quietly. Remus found that Lily was smiling cheerily the entire way, and as they walked into the common room, her mood didn't change at all as James made his way over to them.

Remus ignored Sirius and James (Peter seemed to be busy concentrating on his homework for once) for the most part, instead concentrating on finishing an astronomy chart.

"I can't believe you'd risk being hexed to improve your potions grades!" Sirius exclaimed when they reached their dormitory.

Remus replied in a soft voice, "Snape isn't that bad actually."

The comment seemed to have caught Peter's attention as well and he was watching with wide eyes. James looked dumb-struck, "How many lessons have you had with him?" He asked.

"Just this one."

"Then how can you say that?"

Before Remus could reply, Sirius snickered, "You know it sounds to me like Moony here has been spending a lot of time with Snape." James looked curious at Sirius' observation and the fact that he looked happy about it. Sirius just grinned, his arm looping around Remus' neck.

Remus was as stiff as a board; they couldn't have figured out his intentions already! He didn't want to lose them just because he thought Snape deserved a friend, and he thought that their actions were stupid and immature and undeserved and...

"So… What's the plan Moony? Make him feel comfortable before you hex him?"

Remus smiled shakily, "What?"

"You know, you hanging around with Snape. You're planning to prank him aren't you? I mean it's not like you really want to hang around him." Sirius sent him a sly curious glare, "What are you planning?"

James clapped a hand on his shoulder, "Moony, how particularly devious of you! I say, we've had a bad influence on you. We're proud."

Remus didn't say anything, but nodded. This was good. This was safe. He'd get to know Severus and give the others fake reports and updates on his 'plan'. Now all he had to do was make sure Severus didn't find out about it. Only Merlin knew how long it'd take him to gain the Slytherin's trust if that happened.

"Yeah, who knew you had it in you!"

For some reason, Peter didn't say a thing, and Remus found him staring at him blankly. He didn't worry too much about it though, Peter was known for being a little empty headed, he was probably suffering from a mental blank again.

But as they got ready for bed a few hours later, Remus couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He ignored the feeling for the most part.

"Goodnight Remus."

The Gryffindor smiled at his shorter friend, "Goodnight Peter."

Fire: School is annoying; I'm stuck with three assignments already… -pouts- Anyway, review please… I really want to hear your opinions and ideas… They might inspire me…

By the way... Sorry if the formatting is really wrong, my comp's stuffed...