A/N: This chapter is dedicated for my very dear friend and kindred spirit, silvercresnt11, a.k.a. Ethereal-Midnight. During our endless musings we came up with a joke that Remus would probably fix his make-up first if ever Severus actually spoke to him. She made this awesome comic in tribute. http: / Silvercresent11 . deviantart . com / art / Remus-is-a-Fangirl-80238320 (remove spaces). It was absolutely hysterical so I had to write it into this chapter.

Chapter 5: Fluxweed and Butterbeer

xXx

"This. Is. Shite!" James shouted, late that evening in the Gryffindor common room. "How could McGonagall ban you from Quidditch? You're the best Beater we have. What are we going to do?"

Sirius slumped in his favorite cozy chair in front of the fire and sulked. Peter ordered a house elf to send up a cup of cocoa in hopes of cheering him up. It did not. Sirius felt miserable. Miserable and weary and still completely confused. What was wrong with him anyway?

"It's so bloody unfair! What was McGonagall thinking? She wants a Gryffindor victory as much as we do. Didn't Slughorn try and stop her?"

"Yeah," Sirius moaned around his warm drink. "McGonagall said she'd too lenient on me until now. Said I'd gone too far."

James blinked. "Mad old bat. She calls that going too far? That was nothing really."

"Hooper and Wood were burned by all that liquid," Remus said gently. "You wouldn't be so glib if it had been Lily who was injured."

James' face turned a shade redder than unusual. Lily was still a tender subject for him. Especially since she still refused point blankly to go out with him. "So you think she was spot on to ban Sirius, do you? You're okay with him being chucked off the team, eh, Mister Prefect?"

"N-No," said Remus, withdrawing from James' angry glare. "No, I didn't want Sirius off the team. Of course I don't. Sirius, you know that."

Sirius lifted his mug in salute. "Ta, Moony. Look, Prongs, mate. It's happened. Nothing we can do about it."

"So, you really won't be playing next week?" Peter asked, almost afraid to speak. "I thought Slughorn would, you know, mull things over like he always does."

"You know what I think?" said James, his brown eyes dark with fury. "It's all highly suspect to me. You get in trouble in Potions class a week before the game. If Gryffindor loses to Ravenclaw next week, then Slytherin will be in the lead for winning the House Cup this year. I'll bet that was his plan all along. Tell us honestly. That slimy git provoked you, didn't he? Did something or said something to make you lose your cool, right? Just like a Slytherin to pull something dodgy like that, and Snivellous is certainly crafty enough to think of such a thing. You should go to the headmaster and tell him what Snape did. He'd let you back on the team. He knows that the Slytherins are all a bunch of lying, cheating––"

"Snape didn't do anything to me!" Sirius shouted to be heard over James' rant. "Honest, Prongs."

James stared at him in disbelief. "No way. No way! That git did something to you. I know he did."

"He didn't!"

"He did," said Peter. "I saw you in class. Snape was pouring potions while you were stirring the cauldron and you went all funny, Pad. Had this real strange grin on your face. I think… I think he may have Confounded you."

"You see? I knew it! Forget the headmaster. We'll deal with the oily git ourselves!" James said as he lovingly stroked his wand.

"James," said Remus. "Don't. He didn't do anything to provoke you, did he, Sirius?"

"No, he did not." Not intentionally anyway, Sirius thought.

"But––" started Peter.

"It was all me, alright? I did it and McGonagall buggered me! Severus had nothing to do with it."

"Severus?" James looked as if Sirius had just uttered the very worst of swear words. Peter chewed on his lower lip but remained silent. "When did you start getting so familiar, eh? During those cozy little study sessions in the library? Is the grease starting to seep into your brain and make you forget that it's Snivellous? He's the enemy! And no good ever came from a Slytherin, especially that snake!"

"Give over!" Sirius exclaimed. His cocoa slopped all down his front yet he did not seem to notice. "I've already said it about a hundred times today. Let it go."

James' expression darkened, he put away his wand with reluctance. "I'm going to bed. This day can't get any worse." Peter followed after him.

"What happened to Severus?" Remus asked tentatively. "Was he very upset?"

Sirius pointed to his swollen eye. "Who knew the little bugger actually had a cannon for an arm?" He nearly smiled but stopped himself when he noticed Remus staring at him. "We've got detention together. He's sore that I messed up his project. Sorry, Moony, but you're gonna have to give us more samples."

Remus shrugged. "What's a little hair and blood if Severus needs them?" He pulled his chair a bit closer to Sirius and leaned in so not to be overheard. "Do you… do you think he can really help me?"

"Dunno. He's dead clever though. At least he's trying to riddle it out. I shouldn't have ruined his potion. What if that was the cure you needed, mate? I may have cost you your only hope."

"There's always hope." Remus considered his friend. "You like him, don't you?"

"I— what? No, I swear, Moony, I don't—"

"You don't think he's a greasy git anymore."

Sirius calmed down a bit. "Well, not since he fixed his hair."

"You know what I mean."

"Oh! Well, I guess he's… not as bad as I used to think. We can get on for the most part. I'd still like to hex him sometimes, though."

Remus' face brightened. "I'm glad to hear that. That you are on friendly terms, I mean. James is just so dead set on hating him. He still thinks I'm a fool, but I guess you can't control who you fall in love with, right?"

Sirius merely nodded.

"He, ah, he did like the gift, right?" Remus asked.

"Told you already, yes, once he got over that I wasn't trying to poison him."

"I should have given him more. He's doing so much for me. Do you think that if he does find a cure then maybe, maybe he'll want to go with me? I'd be normal then. I could date like everybody else."

"You could do that now," said Sirius.

Remus just smiled sadly at him.

Sirius felt the guilt kick in his gut. He reached out and patted his friend's shoulder. "Don't fret, Moony. No more mischief from now on, okay? I'll make it up to you starting tomorrow. I'm going to Hogsmeade with Severus."

Remus' eyebrows rose up into his hair. "You are?"

"To buy ingredients," he added quickly. "I thought I owed it to him. My purse can more than make up for my fat head."

Remus seemed able to breathe again. "Oh. OH! Do you think when you're finished you two could meet us at the Three Broomsticks? It would be a perfect chance for me to talk with him."

Sirius squirmed a little in his chair. "I suppose we could. No reason not to."

xXx

"Look at this supply of fluxweed!" They were in Hogsmeade's Apothecary and Severus was like a kid in a candy shop. Or a Potions Master in an Apothecary. "These are really fresh. Listen. Hear that crackling sound? Like baked bread straight from the oven. That means the potency is at its highest. These work much better than the ones we use in class. Slughorn only buys the old, dried out stuff. Cheaper for him but produces meager results. Look at this! Powdered Runespoor eggs! Here, smell. That's how you know you're getting quality."

Sirius held the basket out for Severus to fill with whatever he deemed worthy. It was rare to see the sullen boy excited over anything outside of a classroom. His face was animated as his spoke and Sirius could have sworn that Severus' eyes were twinkling. An odd thing to get worked up over, he thought. Not like it was Quidditch, but to each his own.

"And these sopophrorous beans." Severus poured scoopfuls onto a scale. "Slughorn says to chop them but I discovered that crushing them with the flat of a silver blade is much more effective. Produces much more juice. Slughorn really is thick, only he doesn't know it. Wow! I always wanted to try Acromantula venom. So expensive, though. Aconite will do just as well."

"You want it?" Sirius reached over, plucked the bottle from the shelf and tossed it in with the lot. "Go on then. It's on me"

"That's nearly 70 galleons a pint!" Severus explained.

"Don't fret so much. It's nothing."

They selected a few more items and banged them on the counter. A witch with teal ringlets wrapped it all up and the boys headed back into the village.

Severus, slightly flushed, was uncommonly silent. Other students spending the afternoon in the village were giving them odd looks. Sirius began to feel rather awkward.

"So," said Sirius. "You, ah, you really know your potions. Curses and defenses, too. Better than most in seventh year. Where'd you learn it all?"

"From my mum," said Severus, a touch of pride in his voice. "She was top of her class as well. Taught me loads of things before I came to school. She would say 'it's not what you know but what you don't know that gets you.' And potions were easy to learn after I had to do the cooking when—" Severus stopped as if he had said too much.

Sirius realized that this was the most Severus had spoken about himself in all the weeks they had been partners. He didn't want the introvert to retreat back into his shell.

"What?" he asked tentatively. "Something happen to your mum?"

"Not really. Her health isn't always good so I have to help out at home. Cooking is a lot like mixing potions."

"I don't know if I'd find half of what we mix up in class what you'd call appetizing. Like the way things would go if I ever attempted to cook."

This coaxed a chuckle from Severus. They continued to speak about hobbies and classes as they strolled down High Street, occasionally stopping to peer into a shop window. Sirius couldn't believe how easy it was to have a conversation with the other boy. It was like chatting with Remus or James.

The wind began to pick up, whipping snow to sting their faces. Sirius pulled his warm fur lined cloak tighter around his shoulders. He now noticed that Severus only wore a thin coat that was patched and torn in areas.

"Aren't you freezing in that?"

Severus shrugged. "I've cast a heat spell on the lining, to fight off the chill."

"But why not get rid of that old thing and get yourself something smart? Honestly. You look like kneazles are nesting in your pockets."

"Oh, well I suppose it must be nice to have rich parents so that you don't have to worry about warm coats, or... or… spider venom that costs 70 bloody galleons a pint!" Severus' voice was high and irritated.

Silence fell again. Sirius blanched. How many times had Remus told him that not every wizard was born with his own vault at Gringotts? Now he'd gone and spoiled the easy mood they had finally established between them. He looked around wildly for something to break the tension.

"I didn't mean it like that. Look, why don't we head into the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer? Get out of this cold, eh?"

Severus raised his eyebrows. "In there? But it's so crowded. So many people."

"Yeah, that's what makes it a pub. Come on. I'm meeting up with my mates anyway."

"I see," said Severus, his voice losing all trace of felicity. "I'll leave you to it then."

"They said they wouldn't care if you came along."

"That was nice of them." Severus did not sound pleased at all. "Bet Potter will cry buckets if I don't show."

"It's just a ruddy drink, Snape. And I'm about to freeze my bludgers off if we don't get warm soon." He opened the pub door and herded Severus inside.

It was crowded. Students and villagers alike all found it's warm atmosphere a perfect alternative to the freezing cold. A few friends greeted Sirius and waved him over. The innkeeper's daughter, a very pretty girl a few years his senior, gave him a most fetching smile. Rosmertta tossed her long, dark curls, prettily, making sure that he noticed how they swayed when she walked by.

He turned back to Severus who was looking around him with anxiety. The Slytherin hung his head so that his hair fell over his face and he was clutching his packages so tightly they seemed fit to burst. Sirius wondered why the pale boy looked like he was trying to disappear into the woodwork, and suddenly it dawned upon him. All this time he had thought Severus to be arrogant because the boy was smarter than everyone else. Now he could see that Severus was just exceptionally shy. It made Sirius ache within. He was overwhelmed by a desire to take Severus' hand.

Sirius heard his name and spotted James sitting with Peter and Remus at the far end of the room. Remus noticed Severus standing there and whipped out a small, circular object that he used to inspect his face. He even went so far as to dab his nose with what looked like powder.

Sirius rolled his eyes. The daft werewolf was wearing make-up? How could he, Sirius, ever be mistaken for the girl?

"There are my mates," he said and settled for dragging forward Severus by the sleeve.

Severus yanked his arm back as if scalded. "I'm on to you!" he spat.

"What?" Sirius asked, unsure what had just changed.

"You're trying to trick me again, aren't you? You and your mates want to humiliate me in front of everyone. They don't really want me to drink with them. No one does!"

Sirius shook his head. "Talk about paranoid. Will you stop being such a Suspicious Sally and come on? It'll be fine." He maneuvered them through the crammed tables and pulled up two chairs besides the Marauders. After a moment Severus decided that it was safe to sit as well. Sirius poured them two tall glasses of butterbeer.

"Alright, Paddy?" James said brightly. He did not acknowledge Severus in the least.

"S'up, James. Lads. Everyone remembers Severus, eh? He's been trying to teach me the importance of recognizing fresh fluxweed. I may actually be able to brew a solution without melting another cauldron this year."

"Hi, Severus," said Remus rather breathlessly.

"Lupin." Severus nodded his head. "Pettigrew. Potter." The last name came out with a definite hint of bitterness. He took a careful sip of butterbeer, and then gave Remus a quizzical look. "Is that… are you wearing lip gloss?"

Remus pursed his lips, flustered. "It's a…an ointment. A bit dry in here, isn't it?

"And the eyeliner?" Sirius snorted. "That for your dry skin, too?"

Remus laugh was uncomfortable this time. "What are you on about? Why would I wear make-up? So, Severus, um, having a good day?"

"It's alright," Severus said in a flat tone. "Black's been purchasing the things I'll need for my next project."

"And, um, how's that going?"

"Very ill, and these delays are not helping." He sniffed at Sirius. "But things should press on for the better now, thanks to Black."

"If you want to thank him so much," said James coldly, "why'd you get him chucked off the Gryffindor team? What did you do, eh?"

"What did I do?" Severus bristled. "I fail to see how any of that was my fault."

"There you go playing games," snarled James. "As if you did have it all planned to get Sirius off the team so the Slytherin would have no real competition for the House Cup. What did you do, Snivellus? Put a hex on our Sirius? Tell me you used the Imperious. I'd love to see you get hauled into Azkaban."

"Remarkable deduction, as usual," Severus said calmly. "Blame the Slytherin simply because he must be guilty due to association with his house. How like a Gryffindor. And you don't have to worry about being put under the Imperious Curse, Potter. You need a mind to control first."

"Prongs!" Sirius said in a warning. "I told you to drop this."

"How can you still defend him? He probably did it so you'd spend a lot of gold on him."

"First," Snape smirked, "I did it to sabotage Gryiffindor's Quidditch team and now I am an extortionist. How do I manage it all, Potter?"

"That's exactly what I would like to know! Greasy git."

"I'd rather be greasy than a big headed prat. And I'll thank you to lay off of Lily. She's ready to hit you with a permanent Severing Charm in an area you might consider valuable, the way you're constantly bothering her."

James turned crimson. "I'm not bothering her!"

"She says you are. Unless that's your best effort at charm. If that's so then I'd quit while I still had both my—"

"Shut up, Snively!" James was on his feet, his wand pointing at Snape's chest.

Severus did not even blink. He merely sat where he was as if this was tea and cakes with his auntie. "Go on then, Potter. Think you've got it in you? You're prefect mate my not try and stop you but I doubt McGonagall will be so forgiving this time. Not too chuffed with you lot these days, is she?"

"James, please!" Remus said weakly.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" barked James. "Like me to get kicked off the team too, then Gryffindor wouldn't stand a chance. Maybe if you weren't still built like a nine-year-old boy you might play for Slytherin yourself. At least then it would be a proper challenge instead of this subterfuge."

"James!" Sirius and Remus both stood up. Peter remained in his seat, rocking on his heels at what to do next. Several heads turned in their direction to see what was happening. "Put it way. You'll get us all in trouble."

"Since when did you let a little bit of trouble bother you?" James spat. "You've gone and let yourself be tamed by a stinking Slytherin! What does he do, suck your dick? Is that why you're so fond of your private lessons? Why else waste time on this ugly git?"

Severus sprang to his feet, glared darkly at Potter and then at Sirius. Nearly everybody was watching their table now.

"You're a right foul idiot, Potter! But everyone always knew that. Small wonder Lily has standards," he said and dramatically dashed for the door, his coat swishing around him like bat wings.

Sirius was about to call after him when a tall figure appeared out of nowhere and blocked Severus' way.

"Wotcher, Snape." It was Dunstran Diggory. "Doin' alright, are you?"

"Never better," Snape muttered.

"Is it true you thrashed Black? Gave him a shiner?"

"Oh, I suppose I did. So what?"

"And zapped him with a Bat-Bogey Hex?"

"Guilty as charged. What are you on about?"

Diggory beamed at him, his teeth were white and perfect. "May I buy you a drink?"

Severus was taken aback. "I… what?"

"For the man who took down Big Mouth Black. Merlin knows I've always wanted to wipe that stupid grin off his face, after all the times Gryffindor has beaten Ravenclaw. The fact that it was you is rather impressive. With a right hook like that you'd make a fair beater. So, will you come have a drink with us?"

"Er… I… yes, thank you."

Sirius could only watch as Severus moved to another table with Diggory and his mates. Dunstran passed over a butterbeer and let his fingers brush against Severus' in the process. Sirius' insides turned to ice and it was all he could do not to hit the pretty-boy with a Blasting Curse. Remus was glaring at the scene with equal vehemence.

"Diggory fancies him!" Remus whispered, his voice pure acid. "I can smell his desire from here." There was a dangerous fire in Remus' golden eyes that Sirius did not like. The thin boy growled deep in his throat. He gripped the edges of the table so tightly that they snapped as if made of dry rot.

"Easy, Moony." Sirius realized that beneath his friend's gentle exterior there lurked a monster. He wasn't sure he wanted to provoke that beast any further. "Not here."

"I have to do something, Pad," said Remus. "Now, before I lose him. Just look at Diggory. What chance does any guy have against him?"

Sirius was thinking along the same lines. "Why'd you have to go and ruin everything, James?" he said irritably. "For Remus, I mean. Can't you see he wanted to talk with Severus?"

"Concerned for sweet Severus, eh?" James narrowed his eyes and downed the rest of his drink. "In my opinion you're both better off without him. Bugger can't even take a joke."

"Saying that I'm getting him to suck my dick is a joke to you? That's… sick, James! Really sick."

"Now who can't drop it, Paddy? Honestly, one might think you took it seriously."

Sirius shook his head and refilled his glass. Diggory said something that made everyone around him laugh out loud. Severus included. He was smiling which made him look much more, Sirius had to admit, attractive, and he seemed far more comfortable in his new surroundings.

"So, honestly, Moony," he said. "Why are you wearing women's make-up?"

"It's for blokes!" said Remus quickly. "Says so on the package."

"Then why the bloody hell is it pink? Oh, and look here. Your 'dry-lip ointment is strawberry flavored. With sparkles."

xXx

A/N: The HP Lexicon has Acromantula venom at 100 galleons per pint, but given that this is the 70's I thought that the Wizarding World should not exempt to inflation. Next chapter will be the one everybody's been waiting for! Dun-dun-dun! (dramatic chord)