Severus laid awake in his bed as he stared up at the ceiling. That hard look in Swift's eyes haunted him but there had been something softer there as well. He had the feeling that Swift had said more than he'd intended and he had to remind himself that he wasn't dealing with one of his fellow Slytherins. He was dealing with someone more dangerous and yet that softer edge to Swift's eyes during their conversation gave him hope. He knew that anything he said or did wouldn't change Swift's mind. The man had come to a decision as Severus played back the conversation in his head. Was there any wiggle room? Any angle that he could exploit? Did he dare? Severus sighed and turned onto his side. He would just have to wait for school to start again for Swift to play his hand.

xXx

Severus could tell that Swift was watching Lupin and he shifted nervously in his seat. It was the first day back from Christmas break and the Hall was noisy. Severus had gotten used to the quiet of the holidays as he sat at the end of the Slytherin table. He knew that if word got out that Lupin was a werewolf and it was traced to him. Dumbledore would report him to the Ministry for brewing a dark potion.

Severus's eyes locked on Swift when he stood from his seat and walked down to the Gryffindor table. His move drew more than just Severus's attention. Normally Swift would just have a book on the table and wouldn't pay much attention to the students. Even if he was a great teacher, Severus always got the feeling that he didn't want to be surrounded by children.

Swift stopped beside Lupin and Black and the noise dimmed slightly at the Gryffindor table. Severus breath hitched when Swift held out a paper to Lupin and the brown-haired boy took it in his hand. Severus could feel his heart beating in his ears and felt like he'd been betrayed. He'd come to like and trust Swift, but in that moment, he wanted to rip that paper from Lupin's hand.

Swift turned on his heels and walked around the hall. Severus looked down at his empty plate as he swallowed back on his pain.

"Breath, Severus."

Severus started at Swift's voice and his eyes darted up and the man gave him a smile.

"You look like you're going to pass out," Swift remarked and Avery snorted from the other side of the table. "Perhaps a walk outside would help clear your mind?"

Severus nodded as he stood. He understood an order when he heard one. Swift turned on his heels and he followed after as the teacher led them outside. It was a cold night but wasn't snowing as Severus pulled his robes around him tightly. Swift heading off on the stone pathway that looped around the outside of the castle.

"Why did you do it?" Severus blurted out.

"Do what precisely?" Swift questioned and glanced over his shoulder.

Severus snapped his mouth shut as he stopped and Swift turned back to look at him. Those green eyes saw through him as he stood there. The sense of betrayal a cold rock in his stomach. He'd been let down so many times before that it was a familiar feeling. Swift just looked at him with unreadable eyes.

"Lupin," Severus whispered.

"A werewolf is a dangerous creature," Swift stated, in his teacher's voice. "A curse that takes over your mind and twists your body into the shape of another. It captures everything about you and locks your free will away. A danger to everyone including the cursed person."

Severus shivered and nodded his head in understanding. It still didn't shift that feeling in his stomach.

"If I cast the Imperius curse on you now, Mr Snape." Swift continued. "You would have a brief taste of what a werewolf feels on a full moon."

Severus looked down at the stones under his feet at that. He'd seen Lupin, had felt the fear root him to the spot. Those amber eyes that held no humanity and a growl that raised the hair on the back of his neck.

"But they are still human," Swift whispered as he grabbed his shoulder and Severus looked down at the short man. "They are still a part of the magical community."

"No," Severus disagreed.

"How so?"

"Their blood is tainted," Severus expanded. "They are part creature."

"And part wizard."

Severus looked down at the stones and Swift clenched his hand on his shoulder. He looked back up then shivered at the glint in his teacher's eyes before the man let him go.

"You can trust me, Severus." Swift said gently.

"I trust no one," Severus snarled as he pulled back sharply.

Swift just looked at him calmly, "you'll have to one day."

Swift then turned on his heels and walked away. Severus just stood there and was unsure what to think of that conversation. Much like many he'd had with his teacher. Swift gave them just enough information to get them thinking.

xXx

Remus hesitated before he knocked on Professor Swift's door nervously. He glanced down the hallway to see James and Sirius. They gave him a smile and a thumbs up but that didn't settle his nerves. He tried his best not to gather attention. He couldn't afford it with the curse he had.

"Enter."

Remus swallowed dryly before pushing the door open and entering the large office. It had a large bookshelf to one side and a desk in the middle of the room. Swift sat behind that desk with a book open before him. The man's piercing green eyes settled on him as he waved to the chair. Remus sat down as his nerves came back in force. Out of all the teachers that they'd had over the years, including the Headmaster, this man scared Remus the most. Even if the professor had done nothing to warrant that fear.

"Take a seat," Swift offered.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Remus asked softly as he settled into the seat.

"I did," Swift stated as he picked up his wand and waved it. "It has come to my attention that you are a werewolf, Mr Lupin."

Remus felt the blood drain from his face as a cold sweat trailed down his back.

"I-"

"Now, don't lie to me." Swift cut in. "That was not a question. That was a statement."

"Um," Remus stuttered. "Yes, sir."

"It has also come to my attention that you have been disregarding the lives of everyone in this school," Swift continued. "Deciding that you would forego the containment that was offered and wander free on the ground of Hogwarts."

Remus looked down as he felt sick in the pit of his stomach.

"Do you understand what a werewolf can do, Mr Lupin?"

"Yes, yes." Remus muttered, without looking up.

"I believe that you have a contract with the Headmaster that allows you to study at this school under strict guidelines," Swift added.

"Yes, sir."

"You have broken those guidelines."

Remus nodded for he couldn't speak through the lump in his throat. He was so close to finishing his education. Since the night that he came close to attacking Snape. He'd stayed in his cage, even with his friends encouraging him to leave it.

"I want to see you here on the next full moon," Swift ordered and Remus's head shot up.

"No," Remus uttered with wide eyes. "I can't come here."

"You will," Swift growled and Remus pulled back in his seat. "One hour before sun down. You will come to my classroom. Do you understand, Mr Lupin?"

"No."

Swift sighed before picking up the book before him. He stood and held the tome out to Remus which he took in his hand. He looked down at the title in interest.

'Captured dangers by Georgia Reddington.'

"I believe that Chapter four will interest you," Swift added then pierced him with that stare. "You will be at my classroom at one hour before sundown of the next full moon which is Monday the twenty third or I will drag you here."

"Ye-yes, sir." Remus uttered with a nod.

"Dismissed," Swift ordered and waved his hand.

Remus fled the office with the book under his arm. James and Sirius stood waiting for him as he stumbled down the hallway.

"Whoa," Sirius exclaimed and grabbed his shoulder.

"He knows," Remus blurted out with wide eyes. "He knows."

Both of his friends paled at his words and glanced down the hallway.

"He works for the Ministry," James hissed. "Is he going to report you?"

"I don't know," Remus gasped as he felt tears threatening to fall.

"Should we talk to Dumbledore?"

"I don't know."

"He could have spoken to him," Sirius pointed out. "What do you have there?"

"He gave me this," Remus said and held the book out. "He wants to see me on the full moon."

"What," James hissed and pulled them towards an empty classroom. "Tell us everything!"

xXx

Harry felt eyes on him and it wasn't just from one direction. He would catch Severus and some of the Slytherins keeping an eye on him. Remus and his friends were keeping tabs and even the Headmaster would glance down at him when he thought that Harry was absorbed in a book. He felt like he was in the middle of a Mexican stand off and he wasn't the least bit concerned. He'd lived too long to care about such things.

It was the morning of the day before the full moon and he had a lesson with Severus tonight. The boy had been standoffish with him since the start of term and Harry had decided to work on shielding charms instead of Occulmency. Severus hadn't complained and was still turning up to the lessons. Harry knew he would for he wanted to learn everything that Harry could offer him.

A brown owl broke into his train of thought as it flew down towards him and landed. Harry gently took the letter from the owl's leg as he pushed a little scramble eggs towards the animal.

"Harry," Minerva admonished. "You shouldn't feed them at the table."

"What?" Harry questioned with an innocent smile. "Don't tell me your cat form is leaking over to your human one, Minerva?"

"Harry!" Minerva squeaked. "You are a trouble maker."

"On par with those four?" Harry questioned and waved his hand towards the Marauders.

Minerva grumbled under her breath as the owl took off. Harry was sure he heard the words 'just one year' amongst them. Harry wasn't sure if she was talking about him or the Marauders. He just sat back and opened the letter. It was from Dean Albert and contained the requested gold chain and pendent. Harry carefully placed the letter down and looked at the pendent. He pulled out a pair of glasses to take a closer look. The Runes were well done as he made sure that everything was in order. He could have made it himself but he hadn't had the time for the potions and spell work that went into the pendent.

"What is that?" Minerva questioned.

"A request on behalf of a student," Harry replied as he flipped the pendent over. "I had Albert make it for me…well, someone in his office did."

"And what is it?" Minerva grumbled.

"It's hard to explain," Harry said then paused on a rune. "You could call it a containment item."

Harry placed the pendent down and pulled out a leather pouch and unrolled it. He flicked his glasses up as he selected the right tool that he wanted. He peered back through his glasses as he corrected the rune slightly. Any other spell work and it wouldn't have matter. This had to be one hundred percent correct or it would be useless. He checked over the rest before placing everything away. He would double check it again tonight and add in the extra runes he needed for the pendent to work the way that he wanted.

"What is it containing?" Minerva pressed.

"Nothing at the moment," Harry answered. "I haven't cast the spells that will activate the containment."

"And what are you expecting to contain?"

Harry gave her a lopsided grin, "a curse."