Im back. I dont own harry potter. This is the longest chapter yet. I had to make up for the ast chapter. Sorry.

Chapter Nine

Slughorn was shocked. The Gryffindors had listened to his command. They sat attentively by his own house, waiting patiently for the class to start. He also didn't expect for Mr. Lupin to be sitting by Severus as far from his friends as possible. Even sitting next to Slytherins he would have thought they would congregate together.

Remus, as awkward as his position in a sea of snakes was, preferred this to his friends at the moment. They were rude, and Remus needed to focus on poor Snape. He had decided that instead of worrying about his lack of friends, he should do something. Remus didn't hate Severus Snape. He knew him well enough to know he was deeply scarred from something. Remus felt that he could help the wounded snake the best, being the most deeply wounded person he knew. The being sitting next to him visibly relaxed when the professor entered the room, as if he had actually feared for his life without protection.

"Silly Severus," Remus muttered. "I'm always watching and protecting all of you." What Remus didn't know was that Severus had heard his name mentioned. He hadn't heard the whole statement, just caught the part about how silly he was. He made the assumption the Lupin was using their partnership to advance the marauders torture of him. He neglected the fact that Remus often went against his friends to protect him. He was I the father and Voldemort fearing frame of mind and couldn't even comprehend the fact that Lupin had just covered for him so that he could enter the room.

All of these emotions passed unnoticed across their faces. Slughorn continued to discuss the potion that the class had to prepare for today. It was simple. Remus was contemplating the best way to convince Severus to trust him. Severus was trying to think of a way to poison Lupin. If he took out Lupin they would be without the brain and would fail out of Hogwarts, or at least not be able to do any truly great and terrible things.

When the class was allowed to leave their seats to set up their collaborative cauldron and gather ingredients Severus started to light the fire for the cauldron so that he wouldn't risk running into anyone that might want to bruise him, and thus indirectly cause him the worst pain of his life. Remus would have preferred to stay at the table to avoid his friends, but he understood the lack of enthusiasm on Snape's part for leaving the relative safety of the workstation. It wasn't until he reached the pantry that he realized its major perk. It resided by the Slytherin Head of House who was known to favor Snape, even over the snakes in this corrupted pit.

It wasn't until he was in the pantry, nearly empty as it was, and completely out of everyone's sight that he realized his situation. Sirius jumped on his back, playful. He was trying to work past their scuffle. He didn't understand how upset Remus was by it.

Minutes ago, just after Snape had escaped, Sirius had been struggling against Remus. Sirius had decided he wasn't going to wait for Remus to move. If he could just go through Remus he could go kill Snape for stalking him and his. James had stepped up behind Sirius and grabbed his arms. "Its ok Siri." James was speaking softly in his ear. "He just was walking to class." Sirius wasn't calming at all.

He was actually getting more wound up. He could still see Snivelly's back retreating down the corridor. It looked as if he were descending into hell, with the torches and the slight red haze that his anger cast over the whole scene. Remus stepped in front of him, straightening his tie because it had gotten really fucked up, almost to the point of choking him. It wasn't on purpose. Sirius' aggression got out of hand, the most often and noticeable occurred around Snape because he embodied everything Sirius loathed about his family. It didn't matter to Sirius that he was already hated. It never occurred to him that it would be worse to Snape because Slytherins hated him already.

Remus stood and adjusted over so that Sirius couldn't see the retreating figure that he loathed so much for no good reason. Remus stepped forward. The crowed that had gathered had dissipated when they saw the true danger that Sirius could be in this state. If he could attack his best friends than he could easily go after any of them. The torches lighting Remus' hair looked like the sun, golden brown turning to a lovely soothing brightness. "Siri, I know how hard it is. You need to calm down. It wasn't bad enough for this. If you keep this up we will all get in trouble." Remus was being calm and caring, yet firm. Sirius was calming just looking at Remus. The more he talked about the obvious hate the Slytherins would show if they got caught down here doing something against the rules. Dumbledore couldn't save them from everything. He also would never want to drag Remus, James and Peter into trouble just because he had no self control, and a short temper.

Stupid Peter though had had to keep going. He perpetuated everything, whether it was a positive thing or not. They were continuing on the journey, nearly as calm as before when peter had to add, "Have you noticed how often Remus focuses on Snape? Its like he cares more about him than us." Sirius had long worried that Remus would outgrow the three of them. They were too immature to hold his interest for long. They never passed if he didn't keep them on task. They had him look over all of their work, on top of the other helpless students.

Sirius was distraught at the thought of Remus moving on to be with Snape. He snapped. He screamed, nearly a war cry, and charged at Peter, who had been ignoring them and chose this comment out of everything he could have said. Remus knew the second Peter said it that it wouldn't end terribly well. He stepped, once again between Sirius and his prey. The difference that instead of being in defense mood, as he was when Snape was under threat, now he was full blown attack and couldn't be pulled back from the edge.

The blow landed square on Remus' nose. The second Sirius heard the bone crunch he snapped out of it and was nearly in tears in seconds. He went to pull Rem into a hug. Moony was angry. "And what would it be to you if we liked him more? Would it be a shock? We're pretty sure we never broke your nose." Peter was no where to be seen, clearly having fled when Sirius first started the threats. The use of the plural clued the two that were left into the fact that they were talking to Moony. He stormed of down the hall to potions. He was furious and the blood was pouring profusely from his crocked nose. Moony quickly came to the conclusion that Remus had to fix their nose. He took deep breaths and let Remus take control again.

Remus knew what had happened and stopped the bleeding fast. He then used a simple Episkey to heal the break and continued on the prior path, less mad than Moony, but more disappointed. Moony never trusted those two. Remus had trusted them with his life. Even worse, Remus trusted Sirius with his thoughts. Sirius was the only person that knew some stories. If anyone knew he did. There were many no one knew. Parts of himself too monstrous to inflict on his friends. He strode to the door and needed a couple seconds to get his emotions back in check. The thought of someone who knew so much about him turning against him like that took it too far. It was worse than betrayal because he didn't just think of the punch, but also what could happen, if Sirius or James decided to abandon him. Peter knew only one secret, his worst as far as a future and prospects, but emotionally Peter held no hold over his secrets that worried him now.

He heard a crowed and three familiar voices in the direction he just came from. He entered the room mere seconds before the other marauders did. He went to sit next to his partner Snape, surprisingly really glad to not be by Sirius.

Now though, Sirius was holding him in close to a bear hug. There were only Gryffindors in the closet and James was out there so there was no buffer. Moony was threatening to take charge. "Siri, I love you as the best of friend. But that behavior was unacceptable. I cant believe you did all that because you thought I was leaving you for Snape. We have been friends for six years. Pull your head out of your ass because I cant deal with this behavior any more." He was angry, but the hurt shown on his face, beyond anger. Sirius couldn't believe how saddened he was by that tussle he had considered little. It was like it was a crime, as if Sirius would never see Remus again. He pulled out of the hug abruptly, realizing he hadn't yet.

Remus was ignoring Sirius until he heard a sharp intake of breath. Sirius was clutching his hand to him. Remus was concerned on a deeper level than he was angry. He was so concerned that Moony felt concern for this child that he distinctly doesn't trust yet, after six years. "What happened, Siri?"

"I hit my hand against the shelf. It wouldn't be bad but your head is hard." He laughed and Remus laughed. "I understand you need some space, Rem, but just know that the space doesn't stop the love."

Remus couldn't say anything about. Not real words. For one of many times Sirius had left him speechless. Instead of floundering with words that fought veraciously against complying he grabbed Sirius' hand. It had been pretty damaged against his wolfish skull. The cuts were still oozing blood and if it wasn't dealt with infection was inevitable. Sirius and James were pants at healing spells and had decided, wrongly, that ignoring it was better than botching it.

This wound took less complex magic than Remus' nose had. It just took a cleansing spell and a spell to knit the flesh back together. It was left flawless, no scar or any mark that would hint at the former gash. "Siri," Remus had to say, couldn't say nothing, "I know you meant no ill will, but I cant deal with it right now. I will be fine at dinner. Ill sit next to you and my head will be screwed on just as well as it was at breakfast. But I need from now until then to myself. I will eat lunch outside." Remus and Sirius shared a moment were, with only their eyes, the both explained how they would miss each other. Remus' plead for understanding while Sirius' plead for mercy. They were both granted and walked away content with their agreement.

The room seemed brighter to both of them knowing they would have the opportunity to make up. Severus sat watching them both come out of the storage room and smile as they separated. He couldn't understand why it bothered him so much. It was like a painful thorn in his metaphorical side, causing a gentle but insistent focus on the on and off relationship the marauders have. They don't fully appreciate Remus.

Snape shook his head, He couldn't think of where that thought could have originated. Hate had become his way of protecting himself. Even if he couldn't really feel hatred towards any of them, the thought that he hated them and they knew it refreshed his worn down spirits. He condemned them to suffer for their persecution of him whether Remus had to suffer on their pyre with them.

Snape didn't even shake his head. When the hell had the marauders fucking lap dog turned into Lupin inside his head, much less Remus. Wasn't it bad enough Remus, Fuck, Lupin had used his given name last night? Apparently not because as far as Severus' subconscious was concerned the peer approaching was Remus. Thanks to the fucking marauders and Professor Slughorn he would be stuck with Remus for the rest of the year. They would both succeed or go down in flames based on the others merit and their ability to work together to make a potion.

Remus sat own next to Snape, calm and collected on the exterior despite his deeply rooted feelings of betrayal by his parents brought up by the minor scuffle. It was the fact that Sirius could willingly attack his friend. Remus knew the hit hadn't been meant for him, but it had been meant for one of them and it could've been him. The moods shifted too fast for him to keep straight.

Severus watched the look pass his face. He went from a forced happy to calm, blank. It wasn't even meant to deceive others. He knew from experience that the blank and unresponsive glaze to Remus' eyes was meant to distract himself. A hand wave so that Remus didn't notice the overwhelming sadness.

"Lupin. What the hell took you so long?" Severus said, voice laced with venom. Remus saw through it though. He had watched Severus for long enough that he didn't need to worry about the faux voice that he performed.

Remus turned to look him straight in the eyes. The haze fell and Severus saw the sadness that engulfed the other's soul. Remus wanted Severus to see. "Snape, cut the crap. We both know you don't hate me. You should know that I don't hate you. Did you stay to watch me take a punch for you?" Remus said this calmly, as though they were friends who had just had a brief fight and would be back to being close as Cornish pixies in an apothecary cage.

They sat silent for a moment as arguments flared up at other tables scattered around the room. The loudest was the confrontation between Lucius and Sirius. Lucius had tried to make a move on Sirius as far as the pair heard. Lucius was denying it, much to everyone's amusement because half of the room had seen him snake an arm around Sirius' shoulders before the professor had finished talking.

James and Rodulphus Lestrange were being comically argumentative. Lestrange would have given up, because he didn't really care about what ever it was at that moment in time. Bellatrix Black wouldn't let him ease up. Bella Black had a nasty tendency towards the darker aspects of everything and right here and now Lestrange had no control while her eyes attempted to bat in a sultry way. He was smitten in a way unbecoming of a Slytherin, much less a future death eater as everyone knew they were. Bella Black had every right to exploit these flaws as far as she saw fit.

Black had Peter under control yet he didn't seem scared. She was yelling at him and he showed no emotions. It was something both Remus and Severus filed away, both for different reasons.

They were snapped out of their reverie by the explosion of Peter's cauldron. Remus started chopping the dry ingredients while Severus brought the liquids to a boil. "Hey, Severus, could you pass me the silver knife?" Remus didn't see anything wrong with it. Why shouldn't he talk like they were friends. If he talked as friends maybe they would become them.

"When the hell did I become Severus to you?" Severus enjoyed the irony, it was the same sentiment as last night. "That's been coming up a lot recently." Severus would have chuckled if his insides hadn't flinched at the horror in the depths of Remus' eyes with this simple, subtle reminder of the hell that was last night. Remus shock it of and thought of all the he knew Severus put up with and all that he suspected. Remus was pretty sure he had guessed Severus' secret. He had. He thought he was a death eater. He also hoped he was a spy. That would be the only positive way to spin the frequent trips to the head master's office.

Severus hadn't watched Remus enough to have any thoughts on Remus beyond what he had been told and what he knew from dealings with the marauders as a whole. He did know that he was competent, so he trusted him to chop the ingredients.

The ingredients for this potion had to be added in three batches. Their silence was broken when Remus decided to enter. "You became Severus when you followed me to the bathroom and talked like you cared."

Severus was shocked. "What about Black and Potter? You can talk to them and they'll care more than I would." Severus, on his part, wasn't sure about that last bit. He all of a sudden cared not just about people in general but Remus.

"I try not to burden them. I didn't think you'd care so it wouldn't cause you any strife."

Severus didn't understand that. He'd never had a reliable acquaintance much less someone to worry about troubling with his own problems. "In a case your too dense to notice I stole all your shit. And yet here you are talking to me. Why?"

"Because I care. Is it so wrong to want to care about you. You need someone. Why can't it be me? Am I not good enough?" Remus turned to add the third batch which just needed to soak for a minute. Severus tried to respond but Remus ignored him. Severus didn't know that Remus was really caught up in his own mind and abandonment again. As soon as the potion was in a vial Remus ran for the lake. He was trusting Severus to give it to his own head of house. It isn't really trust though when its just a lack of care though.

He didn't got to the lake. If he went there now then Sirius would find him. He had been told to stay away but after that exit he would forget the fight or the agreement. As Remus thought about it there was often a Severus sized shadow not so far from his place in the trees by the lake shore. He had seen a student walk down after he was already settled. He didn't want to run into him again either. He decided to go to the only place he had were no one could find him. He went to talk with Moaning Myrtle. She was load and screechy, but when he got passed that she really had a lot to offer and needed someone to talk to.

It also wasn't on the map, so unless Severus decided to come after him he would be safe and spared from any intrusions. He didn't need to cry. He needed to sleep. He had a free hour this period and could get an hour in without anyone giving him a hard time about Snape or class or projects.

He needed to be completely un disturbed for just a little bit. When he jogged he thought. Now he was going to meditate. To stop all thought, and feeling. He needed the deadness he got from this bathroom. Instead of peace as he got in the prefect's bathroom he got nothing. He couldn't focus in bathrooms without real work and so he couldn't focus, For once nothing in his brain. He set a magic alarm clock and slept right on the floor, curled under his cap

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