Chapter 3

Diagon Alley was bustling on a warm summer evening. As usual for a Saturday Sirius and Remus Lupin were sitting outside a small, rather shabby bar, drinking beers and talking.

Inevitably the conversation had come around to Lily. Sirius had deliberately waited till his old friend had had a few beers before broaching the subject.

"I only wish I knew who it was who has been bad mouthing me to her..." he said irritatedly. "Have you got any idea who it would be?" he asked Remus casually.

Remus considered it. "Well it's bound to be someone who hates you... and is close to Lily right?" he said after some consideration. "That makes sense..." Sirius said thoughtfully. Both of them went silent as they had a good think of who would have a grudge against Sirius. Suddenly Remus got a look on his face like someone who has had the penny drop. "What about Severus?"

Sirius smirked. "Snivellus?" he said with some amusement. "Hmmmm. You could be right. He's hated me since that joke we played on him in school... and he used to be Lily's best friend... thought they did have a falling out at one point..."

"From what I hear they are still pretty close" Remus said with a smile. "And no... Sev has never forgiven you or James for the trick you played on him in school. Though he has forgiven me..." he said slyly, a rather smug look on his face. Sirius gave him an incredulous look. "Really?" he said surprisedly "Snivellus? And I thought you had taste..." he continued, a trace of derision in his voice.

Remus looked unperturbed by his attitude. "Greasy git or not... the man has... talents..." he said with a grin. Sirius pulled a face. "Spare me the details" he said amusedly. "Say... do you think you could do me a little favor and arrange a get together with him... maybe Friday night?" he asked mischievously.

Remus raised an eyebrow. "I could do... I'm guessing if I did that you would owe me one?" he said wickedly. "Several actually" replied Sirius with a cocky grin.

"Very well. But only because it's you Sirius" Remus said obligingly, sitting back with a smile.

"Excellent" said Sirius with a satisfied look. "Does midnight work for you?" he asked. "Trust me... midnight would be more than enough time" Remus said smugly.

"Then I'll see you at the stroke of midnight" Sirius said wryly. "Pun intended."

At precisely Midnight that Friday Sirius was outside his old friend's apartment.

He slid the door open without knocking and walked down the hallway to the bedroom.

When he got there he pushed open the door revealing two figures in the large bed. Remus was lying back calmly, a satisfied smirk on his face, Severus Snape shot up, holding the covers around his waist as he looked toward the door. Horror came over his sallow face as he saw who it was.

"My my..." said Sirius cockily. "Look what we have here..." he continued lazily, his expression suggesting he was enjoying Severus's panic.

"Sirus..." said Snape pleadingly. "It isn't what it looks like..." he continued. "Really?" said Sirius with a evil grin. "I think it's exactly what it looks like... Snivellus."

Snape's eye flashed angrily as the use of that name, and the derisive tone in which it was said. A resigned look came over his face and his shoulders slumped. "What do I have to ensure that no-one hears about this?" he asked in an attempt at his usual bored drawl.

"Well for starters you can stop bad mouthing me to Lily Evans" Sirius growled at him. A puzzled look came over Snape's face. "Lily? I haven't seen her in a while... and i don't thinkl I've ever as much as mentioned you to her..." he said sulkily. Comprehension suddenly dawned on Severus face. "But I think I know who did..." Severus said thoughtfully.

Sirius and Remus shared a smile. "If you tell me I promise I won't saying a word about your... little affair ... with a werewolf..." Sirius said persuasively.

"Augusta Longbottom" Severus said haughtily and was rewarded with stunned looks from both the other men. "Are you sure?" said Sirius skeptically. "Quite" said Severus firmly. "In her last letter Lily said Augusta had invited her to saty with her... rather than stay in the house of someone with your... reputation. The old bag seems to really have it in for you" said Severus smugly.

"Thank you... Snivellus" said Sirus with an insincere smile. "I'll leave you two alone now shall I?" he asked. "Later Padfoot" said Remus pleasantly. "You won't tell anyone... about this?" said Severus worriedly. "My lips are sealed" said Sirius with a grin.