"Father, wait!"
Severus couldn't believe the words that had emerged from his mouth, but from the searing pain in his arms, legs, and chest, he knew that something was wrong, and that his father – the former football player turned unemployed mill worker – knew it.
He struggled to his feet and wrenched his door open. Nearly falling down the stairs because of the pain in his legs, he staggered into the kitchen, where his father was silently making a pot of tea, the same unreadable look on his face.
"Have ye had water after yer run?" Tobias asked as he pulled a mug down from a shelf, not looking at his son.
Severus collapsed into a chair, clutching his calf muscles in agony. "…No…"
"Get some," his father said. "Ye need to have water or ye'll get sick. Puked yet?"
Severus choked back the vomit in the back of his throat again that threatened to slide forward at the very mention of the word 'puke'. "Not… yet."
"Good. Pukin' is good for ye, but not at yer fitness level. Ye'd purge out more than ye've put in." Tobias sat down calmly and shook out the paper.
Severus filled a glass with water from the faucet and took a long swallow. He nearly spat it all back up as his gut heaved. Not trying that again…
"You said," Severus began heavily as he leaned against a chair, "that I was doing it wrong."
"Ye were."
"I assume, then, that you know how to do it?" Severus asked scathingly. "All these stretches and such?"
Tobias shrugged wordlessly. Severus felt the heat rise in his face. Why won't he give me a good answer? Can't he see that I want his help? Can't he see I'm in pain here?
"Could you… hell, I don't know, tell me how to do them right?" he asked.
Tobias shrugged again, and Severus finally lost his temper.
"I want your help, damn it!" Severus snarled with frustration. "Can't you be of use and help me here, Father? It's not like you're doing anything else!"
Tobias turned another page of his paper and read a few more lines before finally setting the paper down. Sliding his chair back, he slowly got to his feet. Despite himself, Severus paled and took an unsteady step back – his father was bigger than he was, and in Severus' uneasy, wandless state, his father could more than take him.
"Listen, boy," Tobias said quietly, his dark eyes fixing on Severus'. "I don't understand why ye're trying to get yerself in shape – and I can't say that I have much of a problem with it either. Ye needed something to get ye away from those damned books – they never did any good for ye anyways. But if ye want my help," he continued, a new scornful tone in his voice, "then ye'd better show me some damned respect. I can train ye the same way I got fit when I joined the Army…"
Severus swallowed hard, wondering what he got himself into. "You were only two years older than me back then."
"Damned right, and I was in better shape, too. But ye ain't a lost cause – I know those when I see 'em – and ye actually want to learn, which is sayin' something…" A surprisingly bright glint lit Tobias' eyes as he looked at his son. "Ye know, boy, if you take on the trainin' I did, ye'll be the pride of yer school."
Despite himself, Severus snorted. "I doubt much can change over six weeks."
Tobias' eyes narrowed. "Ye don't trust me? Army trainin' ain't like anythin' else. Then again, it's yer choice – I won't be wastin' me time workin' with someone who won't wanna learn."
Severus took a deep breath as he surveyed his father's expression, alight with something that Severus couldn't quite understand or recognize. It looks like he actually wants to help…
He swallowed hard. "Why would you even want to help me? There's no benefit for you."
Tobias scowled and turned away. "Look, boy, ye're the only son I have, and you have that accursed magic that keeps ye away from the family for almost a year. I need to give ye somethin' so I can say I did me duty as a father."
How about not be a drunken bastard to Mother? Severus thought resentfully, but at the strange, hopeful expression on his father's face, he didn't vocalize his thought.
It would make his world if I said yes… especially now, he realized. Father doesn't have a job, and the boredom is killing him. And besides, I could gain something out of it… he could be right… and this isn't exactly my area of expertise…
"All right," Severus said finally. "I'll try your plan… just this once. If it doesn't work for me, it's off."
"Deal," his father said coolly. "Now get some food – ye need somethin' in your stomach. Yer scrawny, and if you want ter gain muscle, ye'll need to increase yer food intake. I used ter eat four to six eggs a day when I was with the corps…"
Severus had stopped listening as he rummaged through the cupboard, his legs still shaky, partially due to the realization that suddenly, within his grasp, he had found the way – painful though it might be – to heal his relationship with his father.
The summer passed slowly, or at least for Severus it did. The work he did was monotonous, but bearable. Runston seemed pleased with his progress and continued to pay him well – too well, to Severus' thinking. He still didn't know why he was abruptly chivied out of the shop on some evenings with a full day's pay, leaving the inexplicable feeling that his superior was hiding something from him. It's almost like he's conducting some sort of secret business, and he can't trust me yet, he reasoned to himself on the way home from the shop late one night, passing one of the growing lines at the food bank. Well, at least if the police investigate, I won't be caught doing anything illegal…
His exercise routine was also picking up significant speed. After several excruciating 'training' sessions (in which Tobias bellowed himself hoarse from a borrow bicycle behind his son and Severus felt like he was under the Cruciatus Curse), his endurance and strength were starting to improve. After a week of hard training at five days a week, he had noticed, to some surprise, that he could finish longer running routes with less stops. It took him a solid nine sessions before he could even complete five push-ups without collapsing in agony, but once he broke that barrier, it began to get slightly easier. His body disagreed – indeed, it was hard to even stand properly behind the counter at work after a hard morning run – but mentally Severus felt confident that he was getting stronger. It's almost like brewing a particularly nasty potion, one that requires its brewer's sweat and blood to work, he mused dazedly one day after collapsing on the doorstep after a brutal run in the drizzling rain. There's got to be some pain involved.
Severus also noticed, to his astonishment, that he was eating more than usual. His father had also noticed, and had demanded that Severus continued consuming larger and larger quantities at meals, particularly of meat and vegetables. Severus often felt rather bloated after eating, but he had to admit that he now had more energy than he ever had before. He felt rejuvenated, both physically and mentally, and the sleep he did manage to get was more restful than he had every enjoyed before.
But he wasn't the only one reaping the benefits of such a schedule, he noticed with pleasure. His father, still without work, had taken to training Severus like a driven drill sergeant, and Severus could see the manic passion in his father's eyes as he pushed Severus to train harder and harder. Eileen, somewhat alarmed by the transformation in her husband and son, mentioned once over breakfast that perhaps Severus should slow down his training. Both father and son had scoffed in a rare case of agreement. As Tobias said gruffly from behind his paper, "The boy needs it, and he's not objectin'. Besides, look at all the progress we've had!"
At times, Severus had considered slowing down his training, particularly when he had gone through a particularly brutal workout session, but then at his father's humourless, slightly proud expression, he would cast the thought aside.
In the rare hours of spare time he had, between working, training, and sleeping, Severus kept up his research into the mysterious brooch, poring through his theory textbooks, hoping to spot a clue into its power. He also kept up with his correspondence – Narcissa was sending weekly letters, keeping him up to date on the recent issues in the Black family and the wizarding world. Regulus preferred to speak face-to-face, and would occasionally call by Floo, but Severus warned him not to call too often, in case his father caught him and cracked his skull with the poker.
Severus also noticed, to his surprise, that the girl who worked at the sports store had been watching him on his runs with narrowed and critical eyes. Severus had always returned Roxanne's looks with suspicion – he had the strangest feeling that she was watching him and privately criticizing his training, something of which both Severus and his father were inordinately proud.
No matter how hard he looked, he hadn't seen Lily at all.
"Yer on yer own today, for trainin'," Tobias said bluntly one morning four weeks after Severus had started running.
Severus cocked an eyebrow as he froze from lacing up his running shoes. "I thought…"
"It's not yer fault, boy, it's something I've got to do," Tobias said grimly. "There's a protest today at the mill, and all the workers are to be there, 'else they're out of the union. You know the routine, though. When ye get back… well, stay out of yer mother's way." Picking up his jacket and cap and breathing a heavy sigh, Severus' father shook his head. "Believe me, boy, I'd rather be trainin' ye then goin' today. It's gonna get ugly."
"Then stay safe," Severus countered evenly.
After his father had left, Severus let out a heavy sigh. His father was going to be gone for the day – the perfect opportunity to get to Diagon Alley and get the potion ingredients. I'll go for my run, do my drills, and then leave before Mother notices I'm gone.
Sliding quietly out of the house, Severus began at a quick pace, imagining to himself his father yelling behind him from his rattling bicycle.
Out of the corner of his vision, he noticed another person in running shorts in front of the sports store. His eyes widened with surprise, and then narrowed with suspicion. She isn't…
"Where's your old man?" Roxanne shouted, pulling her hair out of her face as Severus slowed slightly.
"Protest," Severus called back. "Going for a run?"
"Perhaps. Care if I join you?"
Severus grinned slightly. "You're probably far better than I am."
"Probably. But indulge me."
Severus had been right – Roxanne was faster than he was, and had better endurance. Right off the start, she pushed the speed up a notch, and Severus was forced to pick up his pace to match hers. After they had completed the four kilometer route – a route Severus could now run without stopping, although he was in excruciating pain at the end of it – they stopped in front of Severus' house. Roxanne, much to Severus' infuriation, wasn't even breathing hard.
"Well, that was fun," she said lightly, watching as Severus wheezed and gasped in pain against the mailbox.
"Speak for yourself… you little devil," Severus coughed. "I think… I'm going to cough up a lung."
"It'll be good for you," Roxanne replied with an easy smirk.
"Shut… up."
"Make me."
"Why… why did you come with me anyways?" Severus asked before the girl could make another snide comment. "You can… easily outpace me."
Roxanne shrugged. "General boredom, and for the looks on the faces of those football bastards on the practice green. Didn't you see them glaring at us?"
"I was trying harder… to breathe," Severus gasped, glaring at Roxanne.
"You should really work on that. Rumor has it that breathing is essential to brain development – and Lord knows you could use the help in that department."
Severus shook his head with exasperation. "I don't know how… anyone could put up with you."
Roxanne sighed. "Not many can, Severus. In any case, I should get back to the store… it does eventually open, after all. Remember to stretch!"
His mother was long gone by the time Severus had stretched and showered, but he wouldn't have cared even if she had been around. Pulling on his robes, he cautiously approached the low fireplace with a meager handful of Floo Powder that he had bought two years ago in Diagon Alley. A small scrap of paper was shoved hastily in his pocket – his list of supplies for the potions.
He wasn't sure that this would work – his mother had always told him that the Floo connection had been disabled to his house – but Regulus' appearances in the fire suggested otherwise. Besides, it costs money to close up a connection if you don't want to block the fireplace, and I know she wouldn't have paid for it. But why then would she lie to me?
Striking a match, he threw it into the grate. Within a few minutes, the coals and kindling had ignited, and a weak, smoky fire was blazing in the fireplace. Gritting his teeth, Severus hurled the Floo Powder into the grate.
Much to his surprise, the fire turned bright green and roared high. The connection's open after all… I guess Mother's got some explaining to do… Taking a deep breath, Severus walked straight into the fire.
"Diagon Alley!"
A few whirling, sickening seconds later, Severus stumbled out of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron, shaking soot from his long hair. Right… first obstacle done… now to Gringotts and the apothecary without being spotted by other Hogwarts students – the last thing I want is my surprise to be bungled…
But after a few minutes of walking through Diagon Alley, he realized that his fears were for naught. There were hardly any students in sight – mostly just regular witches and wizards doing their Saturday shopping. Breathing a little easier (and privately thankful that the Marauders – or Lily – weren't around), he headed into Gringotts.
The goblins looked a little perplexed at the small bundle of Muggle money he handed them, but they grudgingly gave him Galleons for his pounds, and soon Severus was in possession of more wizard money than he'd ever held.
"You wouldn't happen to be under the name of Severus Tobias Snape, would you, young sir?" the goblin asked in a raspy voice. "You… are close to the description we were given."
Severus froze. "If I was…"
"No need to worry, Mr. Snape. A Gringotts employee, under part of our financial charter, is obliged to report to a customer when a transfer is made to or from his vaults."
Severus' eyes narrowed. "Who has their hands on my money?" he asked in a dangerous voice. He did have a bit of savings – something that his mother had given him nearly a decade ago and that he hadn't even seen, much less touched.
The goblin gave him a toothy grin. "Nothing like that, Mr. Snape. You have received a deposit of fifty Galleons from one of the Malfoy vaults – Mr. Lucius Malfoy came here specifically to arrange it. Would you like to withdraw any of it?"
Severus shook his head instantly. "Could it be possible to reinvest it?" he asked instead, remembering a piece of the conversation that he had heard at the table that night – how Rodolphus had been talking about one of his uncles had made a fortune investing in wizarding companies. Now that I have some money – capital, I think they call it – I can try and make it grow…
The goblin scratched his pointed chin with a long finger – a rather peculiar-looking gesture. "What company would you be inclined to invest in?"
"May I see a list of the recent exchange?"
The goblin gave a toothy grin as he pulled out several stacks of paper – several thick stacks of paper – and placed them on his counter. "As you wish."
Severus' heart sank as he saw looked at the papers – each looked like the size of several large books – but then a name jumped up off the paper at him, one he remembered instantly.
" 'Prismatic Wand Publishing,'" Severus read, thinking back to the dinner again. That was the company that Dolohov said was publishing his books… this could be advantageous, especially considering that 'Wit of the Duelist' is going to be released soon to the open market. I could make a killing, especially if that book sells well…
"Take your time," the goblin said evenly, turning back to his ledger.
After a few more seconds, Severus pulled out the sheet and handed it to the goblin. "That one. The publishing company."
"Are you quite sure, sir?" the goblin asked, frowning slightly. "There has been little signs of growth of that stock recently…"
"I'm sure," Severus said firmly. "Furthermore, can I specify that thirty percent of any deposits to my account from any Malfoy vaults go towards that investment?"
The goblin's manner changed instantly, becoming more business-like and attentive in a second. Waving over two other goblins, they began filling out forms with rapid speed. No doubt making sure that all the transactions are legal and binding – and that their arses are covered, Severus thought smugly. Then again, I'd do the same.
Finally, after a few minutes of frantic work, the goblins handed him a few papers to sign, to which Severus carefully scrawled his cramped signature. There was a flurry of papers and stamping, and finally the goblins handed him a rather thick folder, filled with papers.
"What's all this?" Severus asked with confusion.
"Legal procedure implies that we give you your investment details, and you can expect a progress report every month," the goblin said briskly. "You can expect your first in September."
"Thank you, sir," Severus replied, privately astonished that so much had been accomplished so quickly. "Might I enquire of your name?" he asked suddenly.
The goblin gave him a private, toothy smile. "Looking for a private investment advisor, Mr. Snape?"
Severus smirked. "It could be an option."
The goblin handed him a small card, heavily embossed in silver writing. "The name's Grattack, Mr. Snape. It was a pleasure doing business with you."
No doubt if he gains customers, he makes some money, Severus thought to himself as he left Gringotts. And if my account does well…
His next step was the apothecary, one of his favourite stores. Severus took great pleasure reading his entire list to the harassed assistant and watching as the poor man scrabbled to collect it all. But after ten minutes of hectic confusion, he walked out of the store, a sealed bag full of ingredients in his triumphant hand.
He passed Madam Malkin's and slowed, frowning slightly as he saw the robes in the window. I still have some money left… hell, more money than my mother ever spent on me… why can't I get something decent to wear for once?
He made up his mind in a second, and he went straight into the store. Fifteen minutes later, he left the store, a bag of new school and casual robes in his hands and a grin on his face.
Severus checked his watch quickly. It's only two… I could probably get a book or two if I was quick…
"Severus Snape!"
He froze – he knew that haughty voice. He turned slightly, only to see a dark-haired woman approaching, a smirk on her lips as her rich robes billowed in the wind.
"Hello, Bellatrix," Severus replied suspiciously. "What, ah, brings you to Diagon Alley?"
Bellatrix tossed her hair back regally. "I needed to get out of the house for a while. Surely Narcissa has told you about the little… incident that happened in our house as of recently."
"Mentioned it," Severus said stiffly. Conversation about Andromeda's going to be awkward. Best to avoid the topic…
But Bellatrix didn't say anything more, instead noticing the packages in Severus' hands. "I see you've been shopping."
"I have."
"Where did you get the money?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I've been working," Severus replied coldly. "I needed money, so I decided to get it the old-fashioned way."
"Impressive," Bellatrix said, her smirk widening. "So… responsible. You know most of your friends consider such work beneath them."
"I have higher priorities on my mind," Severus said icily, not bothering to distinguish whether or not Bellatrix's last statement was an insult or not.
"Clearly," Bellatrix said, her voice abruptly cold. "Narcissa clearly has some knowledge of these priorities, Snape, yet she always fails to mention them when I enquire. Would you be inclined to enlighten me on said subject?"
Severus' eyes narrowed. "That's none of your concern, Bellatrix."
"By the Dark Lord, it is my concern, especially when you could be with my sister!" Bellatrix snarled, stepping closer to Severus, her wand abruptly in her hands. "I have no love for Evan Rosier, but his loyalties are at least clear, while yours remain murky. Whose side are you on, Snape?"
"My own."
That answer surprised Bellatrix, and her eyes narrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said," Severus replied coolly, glaring into Bellatrix's dark eyes. "I have declared no allegiance – openly – as of yet, thus I am on no side but my own." When Bellatrix looked to protest, Severus cut her off smoothly. "After all, Miss Black, the Ministry has many ears, and I have no desire to be thrown from Hogwarts before my time."
Bellatrix looked around quickly. "Nobody is listening."
"Nobody appears to be listening," Severus corrected her in a low voice. "I don't take anything for granted. If you cannot trust me, then trust your beloved sister – she, at least, has put her faith in me."
"What faith?" Bellatrix scoffed. "Surely you don't think –"
"She knows she can't trust any of the other boys in our year – why do you think Lucius approached me?" Severus hissed. "It was on her request, Bellatrix. Now, is there anything else I might do, or can I leave? I do have… business to conduct."
Bellatrix glared at him for a long second before turning away. "Make your allegiance clear soon, Snape, or there will be consequences," she growled, and before Severus could reply, she spun on her heel and Disapparated with a crack.
Bloody bitch, Severus thought, clenching his fist. Thank Merlin I don't have any interest in her.
The next few days passed quickly. Severus planned to brew the hair-care potions over the next weekend – thankfully, they didn't require much time to simmer, but the last thing he wanted was for his mother to see them when she cleaned the house. It's not that the potions require a long time to make, Severus thought idly as he left the house on the Thursday morning after his trip to Diagon Alley, wincing slightly with every step (his father had insisted on a five kilometer 'distance workout'). They're just finicky potions that require one to be extremely exacting with the brewing – which I have no problem with…
He passed the general store and gas station, noting that petrol prices looked to have gone down a bit. Must have gotten a shipment in, he thought, watching as three cars jockeyed for position in front of the station.
"You shouldn't limp as much – it could become chronic," a snide voice suddenly said from directly behind him.
Severus sighed and turned around to see Roxanne, wearing running shorts and an old T-shirt, grinning widely at his exasperated expression. "It was a five kilometer run, all right? I'm in pain here. Can't you be a bit sympathetic?"
"Not really," Roxanne said cheerfully. "I'm just enjoying myself – after all, I've been through this before, so there's no need to look down your abnormally long nose at me."
"I appreciate the attempt at humour."
"No need to be sarcastic, Severus, I'm actually asking you for a bit of a favour." Roxanne crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Interested?"
"I've been giving too many people favours recently," Severus muttered to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, nothing. What do you want?"
"Well, there's this guy…"
"No."
"He's being a real prick…"
"No."
"His name is Severus…"
Severus glared at her.
"I'm kidding, it's not you, and his name doesn't matter. In any case, he asked me yesterday to go out with him tonight, and I need an excuse not to go."
Severus rolled his eyes. "So you want me to get involved. Fantastic. Just what I wanted, to get the tar beaten out of me by some rich football player."
"He doesn't need to see us," Roxanne said, frustrated. "I just need an excuse to get away, because he knows where I live and will come over there if I just go home."
"Wonderful. Just bloody wonderful," Severus groaned. "So how do you want to do this? Are we just going to socialize idly in front of the pawn shop until he goes away?"
"We can socialize in the park if you want," Roxanne replied testily. "What time do you get off work?"
"Usually around ten, but don't meet me here," Severus said, thinking fast. "There's some pretty dangerous characters that hang around near the shop, and the last I need is one of them coming after you. Meet me in that cheap all-night café across from the used books store – you know, the one where they sell marijuana below the counter."
"How would you know that? I didn't think that was common knowledge."
"I hear things," Severus replied evasively. Damn punks came into the shop talking about it… if Rinston hadn't been there, I would have thrown them and their stolen property out.
"You know, smoking weed is bad for your health."
Severus gave her an even glare. "Do I look like the kind of bloke to smoke that garbage?"
Roxanne shrugged. "Not really. Just curious how you knew."
"It's not important. Look, I need to get to work, so just… I don't know, avoid the bastard for the rest of the day and I'll meet you at the café. We can decide what to do from there."
"And if he finds me?"
"Beat the tar out of him for all he's worth, and maybe he'll make the prudent choice to pursue other women."
Roxanne grinned.
All day, Severus felt his nervousness rise. He was risking a fight – one without magic – to meet with Roxanne at the café, and he didn't like any of it. Even as he scribbled in the ledger, complex figures running through his head, his mind wandered.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Rinston flipped the sign over the shop window to 'closed' at precisely ten o'clock. Severus breathed a little easier – the pawn shop owner had no particular schedule to when he closed the shop, but business had been a bit slow that night.
"In a hurry, Snape?" Rinston asked, cocking an eyebrow. "You seemed awfully preoccupied today with something?"
Severus swallowed hard. "It's nothing important, sir."
"Like hell it's not. What's going on?"
"I'm meeting… someone," Severus replied awkwardly, moving towards the door.
"Male or female?"
Severus froze. Damn, he's good. "Female."
"Ah. Well, be cautious. I wouldn't want to lose a promising assistant." The heavy-set man crossed his thick arms over his chest. "You know, women are dangerous creatures – worse than any monster you'll ever see in a cinema. Some could even say they're like vampires, leeching the lifeblood from honest men."
"You can, uh, count on me, sir," Severus replied as he stepped out and closed the door, a bit confused at the comment – and wondering how Rinston knew about vampires. Must be one of those Muggle things… they've known about vampires for a long time, but they just think they don't exist…
The uneasy thought stuck with him until he reached the all-night café. Brightly lit and covered with cheap lights, it stood out like a garish decoration in a stone corridor. Swallowing his fear, Severus stepped inside.
There were only a few people in the cheaply furnished place, and Severus spotted Roxanne instantly. She had been facing towards the door, and got up as soon as she spotted Severus.
"Aren't you going to pay for your coffee, you little bint?" a plain-faced girl who looked vaguely familiar yelled from behind the counter.
"Oh, shove it up your arse, Petunia," Roxanne said disdainfully. "Put it on my tab or something."
Severus froze. Oh damn, that's Lily's sister working back there! If she sees that I'm leaving with Roxanne and tells Lily…
"You're going to pay for that!"
"Yeah," Roxanne replied, as if considering the remark. "Eventually. Come on, let's go." And before Petunia could screech another comment, they had left the store.
"Looks like you have quite the reputation," Severus observed.
"Nah, that's just Petunia. She's a real bitch on occasion," Roxanne said conversationally. "Her little sister's nice, though – about our age."
"How do you know her?" Severus asked, keeping his thoughts away from Lily. Not now… I can't look like I'm interested…
"She went to the same secondary school I did, the local one," Roxanne replied offhandedly. "She graduated last year, and she's just working at the café until she can go off to some university. Manager doesn't trust her with the marijuana, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's completely in the dark about it."
"Probably smart," Severus mused. "In any case, what should we do now?"
"Park?"
"It's an idea," Roxanne said, running a hand through her hair as she pulled out her ponytail. "We could stop there, but the only problem is those weed smokers hang around there late at night."
"There are some nice wooded areas around the edge of the park," Severus said, rubbing his jaw. "We could go over there, if you want."
"Aren't there a bunch of homeless that live in that area?" Roxanne asked suspiciously. "My dad's always told me to stay away from that section after dark."
Severus didn't answer. There were a few homeless that eked out a sleeping spot in the woods, but not many where Severus was thinking. I could take Roxanne to the spot where I always went with Lily…
"You know, it seems like there are more and more homeless around all the time around here," Roxanne finally said.
"Mill's closed, and if people can't pay their rent, they get thrown out," Severus replied with a shrug. "It happens in the tough times."
"Yeah, but there's something wrong with that," Roxanne argued as they passed a young, haggard man sleeping across a bench. "I mean, look at that poor chap. He's out alone like this… he could mugged or worse in this area at this time of night!"
Severus looked at the young man – more of a teenager, really – lying across the bench. The lamplight above him was flickering, and in an instant, he caught a glimpse of the young man's face.
He froze. It's not possible. There's no way… it can't be…
"What's the problem?" Roxanne asked, looking at Severus with confusion.
"I know him," Severus said in a strangled tone, his thoughts in turmoil and filled with a mixture of confusion and fear as he stepped closer to the sleeping young man. His face was bruised badly, and his clothes were ragged. What Severus had thought was a blanket in the flickering light was really the tattered remains of a Hogwarts school robe, threadbare and filled with gaping holes. "I go… to school with him."
Roxanne's eyes went wide as she got closer. "What happened to him? It looks like he got beaten up!"
"No," Severus murmured to himself, as the young man stirred on the bench. "It was worse than that."
"Who is he? What's his name?" Roxanne asked impatiently.
"Lupin," Severus said finally, turning back to the werewolf that had nearly killed him only a few months earlier. "His name is Remus Lupin."
