A/N: Sorry about the wait. It's been far too long between chapters. So without further ado...

Warning: As I said last time, things will start to get darker now (sorry boys), emotionally and physically. Beware of scorned werewolves.

xXx

Chapter 10: Bedside Manners and Secrets Revealed

xXx

The next day, Sirius walked into the library and found Severus sitting at their usual table, but this time he wasn't alone. Remus was sitting next to him. They were both leaning very close to one another, their heads nearly touching.

"Oi," Sirius said as calmly as he could. "What's all this then?"

"Hey, Sirius," Remus said in a forced cheerful tone. "I came to take out a book for my Arithmancy class and what a coincidence it was! Seems that Severus needs to read the same one. So, we decided to read it together, see who can get through it first. Loser buys the winner a drink at Hogsmeade this weekend."

Sirius scowled at him. "You're sitting a tad close for such a big book."

"The print is miniscule, and it's written in an ancient text that is very difficult to learn," Severus said. "I thought I was the only student at this school who was fluent in it."

"Yeah," Remus said rather smugly. "Turns out Severus and I have a lot more in common than either of us knew. We're both intrigued by the study of the Dark Arts and Magical Theory. Plus we're both already learning at a seventh year level. He's agreed to help me study for our O.W.L.'s."

"You're already good at Defense Against the Dark Arts," Sirius scowled.

"Not as good as Severus." Remus practically batted his eyelashes. "And I want to ace my tests so I thought a little extra incentive might give me the edge I need. I feel it's productive to discuss lessons with someone who truly understands them, inside and out."

"It is refreshing to get a second opinion of one's ideas," Severus said. "But I am still going to get the top spot for final exams."

Remus grinned. "We'll see. This year you may be surprised, by many things."

"Perhaps you'll do well, Moony," said Sirius, "if there's a section on cosmetology."

"Well, should your grades slide, you could always rely on your place on the Quidditch team. Opps! Dear me. Sorry, Pad, I forgot."

"Snape," Sirius hissed at the dark haired boy. "I thought we had a lesson."

"Not for another half hour," Severus answered. "Lupin is very good at translating. Did you know that he found a passage in here that I had no idea existed?"

"Give over," Remus playfully cuffed Severus' shoulder. "I suppose it helps when one actually studies hard all the time instead of relying on last-minute luck, or his friends to cover for him. I try to get the lads to study for the exams all the time, but they'd prefer wasting the evenings at Exploding Snap or reading the latest Quidditch magazine."

Severus gave a slight shake of his head. "After all, the O.W.L.'s will be here before we realize and…. Is that… your hand on my knee?"

Remus blushed and sat back. "Oh, was that you? I thought it was my knee. My mistake. Maybe. Did you like it? Pure accident. Are you finished with this passage? Shall I turn the page?" He said all this in one breath.

"Snape!" Sirius threw his palms down on the table and leaned forward to stare into the ink black eyes. "I'd really like to get to that lesson, right now. I am paying for them, after all."

"Oh, well then", Remus said. "I guess you'd better drop all and do what he says. Sirius is the one with the gold, after all. Masters like their servants to come when they are called."

"I don't own him!" Sirius barked.

"Funny, you're making it sound like you do."

"Is everything all right?" Severus asked, looking from one Gryffindor to the other.

"Snape. I need to talk to you about something." Sirius did not wait but dragged the Slytherin by the sleeve into one of the unoccupied stalls. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Talking with your friend," said Severus. "I don't think he's said quite this much to me in one afternoon than in the past five years."

"You're getting awfully chummy with him."

"We were just talking. Lupin seems decent enough, still a bit thin and pale. Are you two fighting as well? I've never seen you at someone's throat like that."

"That's none of your business. I don't want you getting involved."

"I'm sorry, but I hate seeing you this upset all the time."

"You shouldn't be around him. For your own safety."

"Why? I thought you said he wasn't contagious."

"He's… dangerous."

Severus snorted. "Lupin? He looks like a stiff wind could do him in."

"Listen to me. He's not safe to be around. I forbid you from talking to him!"

"You forbid me?" Severus sneered. "Why don't you just banish me to the swamplands while you're at it, oh mighty Mugwamp? Unless you just don't want me talking with your friends? Afraid I might embarrass you? Or is it something more?"

"You're gonna have to trust me on this one. I mean it."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Where's the necklace I gave you? You said you'd never take it off."

Before Sirius could answer, a noise caught both of their attentions. They peered around the edge of the bookshelf to find a small crowd gathering around the slumped form of Remus.

Severus and Sirius ran back to the table. Remus was awake but hunched over and trembling like a leaf.

"Merlin's beard!" said Severus. "What happened?"

"Dunno," said a blond girl with pigtails. "One minute he was fine and the next he let's out this moan and just fell over."

"'M alright," Remus said feebly. His face was pinched in pain, beads of sweat poured down his forehead. "Jes fell 's all."

"You need to get to the hospital wing, Remus," said Severus. "Can you stand? Sirius, help me."

"He's fine," Sirius said blankly. "It's all an act."

Severus shot him a scandalized look. "He's gone pale as a ghost and is convulsing. Nobody's that good an actor."

"He's faking it. Believe me, I know what he's up to. Give it a rest, Remy. No one's buying it."

"Black! Help me!" Severus shouted and lifted Remus' arm over his shoulder. The fair boy's legs wobbled dangerously, then buckled under him, nearly pulling Severus down as well.

Sirius cursed and hoisted Remus between the two of them. His friend's head bobbed up and down like a rag doll every time they took a step.

"Don't worry, Remus," Severus said gently. "Everything's going to be okay. Just hang on to me."

Sirius cursed under his breath. The wolf was better at this than he thought.

xXx

Severus went to visit Remus in the hospital wing. "I brought you your Arithmancy homework. It's difficult but I think you'll manage. And some fresh lavender. It helps with swooning fits."

"Thank you, Severus." Remus sat up a big straighter in his bed, his heart beat like a locomotive under his nightshirt. Why did he have to leave his guy-compact in his dorm? He must look a fright judging by the way Severus was starring at him. Why did it have to be a full moon that night? "Sorry about my behavior before. I was a little distracted."

"I could tell."

"No, honestly. After all that acid spitting, what must you think of me? Such conduct is inexcusable."

Severus set aside his bag and sat down in a chair. "What's happened between you and Black, if I might ask? Not just you, but with all your friends. The four of you used to be inseparable. Is it true that you have rejected him because he prefers men?"

"Certainly not." Just his choice of men, Remus thought to himself. "Well, it was quite a shock for us when he admitted it. I had my suspicions but I thought he was far too prideful to ever admit to declare that part of himself existed."

Severus looked downcast. "Then it is because of me."

Remus' expression changed and a weight dropped into his gut. "What– what do you know about it?"

"I know that you four are quarreling when you never did before. I know that Slytherins and Gryffindors have been common enemies since this school was founded. I know that Black and Potter have bullied me, disliked me, for nearly my entire stay at Hogwarts, but now Black's attitude seems completely reformed. He has changed towards me in such a way that sometimes I'm not sure what to make of it." He turned his head slightly to hide the blush. "Now I must seem a fool to you."

"Oh no," Remus leaned forward. "That's impossible. I mean, you do not seem foolish at all to me. And you are not at the cause of the dispute at all. Sirius, well, he's kept too many secrets. But… beg pardon, it might not be my place to say, but are you sure of his intentions? As you said, Sirius has been your tormentor, and he is known for his impetuous nature."

Severus said nothing but his features hardened. "He… has been much altered these past months. If I had met him today I would never have recognized him."

"That is true. He is altered. No doubt he holds you in high regard. He defends you openly in front of James. And surely he is reassured of your affection."

"I gave him a gift, a necklace, for his birthday. Did you chance see it?"

"I did. He did not take care of it though, I'm afraid." Severus began to stand. Remus' hand flew out to catch hold of his. "Forgive me, Severus! I do not say these things to cause harm. I only mean to put you on your guard."

Severus stared at the other boy. "I thought this was your friend we were talking about. It surprises me to hear you speak so coldly about one who was like a brother to you. He is always talking of you so favorably. How smart and funny you are. Something has been plaguing him. Every time I offer to help he gets so upset and lashes out at me and I don't understand why. I'm not sure how to talk to him at times. How do I make things good again?"

Remus held Severus' hand tighter. His fingers gripped with a surprising amount of strength for a boy who had fainted hours ago. "Are you sure this is what you want? I'm sure that he cares for you, but he didn't have the decency to tell me about it. If he truly did care he would have told me."

Severus grew cautious of the other boy's agitation. "We… we wanted to keep it private for the moment, until—"

"Until when?" Remus' tone was closer to anger now. "Until he felt you were worthy of mention? Or was he going to keep you his secret and then discard you like dust under a rug?"

Severus tried to stand but was pulled roughly back in place. "Stop!" Remus exclaimed. "I mean, you and him together… it just doesn't make sense. Are you sure that he loves you? Tell me!"

"Lupin, you're hurting me!" The Slytherin pulled his arm free and jumped to his feet. Half-moon imprints marred the pale skin on his wrist.

Remus looked scandalized. He knew he could have hurt Severus if he had held on any longer. He wanted to reach out again and hold Severus. Crush Severus' bones against his own. Feel the pulse flutter under his hands. Smell… he could smell the other boy's scent and was painfully aware at how close Severus' neck was to him.

"I appreciate your honesty," Severus said in a low voice.

Remus stared at Severus until it grew painful and tears threatened to spill. "Thank you for your help and for the assignment. I am tired now." He turned his eyes into his pillow.

"I'll leave you to rest then. Shall I see you in class tomorrow?"

Remus shrugged but did not look up again until he could no longer hear Severus' footsteps. He took the sprig of lavender from the table and inhaled deeply. He kissed the blossom before crushing it into powder.

xXx

The moment Severus exited the hospital wing he found himself seized and dragged into an empty corridor.

"Just what do you think you were doing?" demanded Sirius. His gray eyes were wide and fierce.

"I went to visit Lupin," Severus answered. He rubbed his arm where Sirius' fingers had left their mark. "I brought him his homework as the Professor requested me to do. I'll thank you not to man handle me in the future for it."

Sirius paced back and forth, obviously in a state of nervous worry. "What did he say to you?"

"He is not your biggest fan at the moment. He assures it is not my presence that has caused this rift but somehow I find that account lacking."

"I don't trust him around you."

"Rather seems you don't trust me." Severus folded his arms, his long, pale fingers tapped impatiently on his upper arms. "I'm not stupid, you know. Didn't you think I'd work it out, about Lupin?"

Sirius swallowed.

"I didn't get it at first, he's been so cryptic, but it's obvious now that he has an erumpent-sized crush on me." Severus grinned but not in his typically malicious way. "I had no idea all that twitching was his method of flirting. I thought he had fire-crabs down below."

"Oh really?" Sirius fumed. "And you seem to be lapping it all up."

"Why is it that every time you get in a mood your intelligence drops ten points? I'm with you."

"Remus fancies you. He's smarter than me."

"And I'm smarter than the both of you. As if that matters. I'm still with you." Sirius scoffed and Severus glared at him. "You know what I think? I think you're keeping something from me again. Dog, I've never been in a relationship before. If I've said or done something to offend then tell me."

"It's nothing to do with you."

"Then it's something you feel you cannot share with me. You're not wearing the collar, I notice. I thought you said you liked it."

"I did. I do. It… got damaged. Torn."

"How?"

"Had a… an accident. Been trying to fix it but I think there's a curse on it. The leather won't seal itself."

Severus' sneer could freeze water in July. "I am a practical man and I do not tolerate false flattery. You could have just said that it was not to your taste."

"I'm telling you the truth."

"Are you? Do you know how difficult it was for me to allow myself to trust you? What we did the other afternoon meant a great deal for me. The thought that this is all just an amusement for you is more than I can bear. Have you told Potter that he was correct in his assumption but not in his timing? Are you all laughing at me in private? Have you any idea how that makes me feel? That I am a standing Gryffindor joke? Black's Slyther-whore!"

"It is nothing like that. I love you!" Sirius caught him in a desperate embrace. He wanted himself even closer to Severus, to break through that wall the Slytherin kept around himself out of his insecurity and shyness. "You can't be alone with Remus again."

Severus tried to push the other boy away. "Let me go. You don't want me in your life. Lupin says that you and I don't make sense together. I want to go."

Sirius inwardly growled, stung by Remus' cutting remark and by the obvious distress it was causing Severus. "I'm trying to tell you, Remus is more dangerous than you think! You don't understand the danger you're in. Come with me tonight after curfew when the full moon rises. Remus goes to the Shrieking Shack. There's a tunnel under the Whomping Willow. Press this knob with a branch and the tree goes still. Go with me and I'll show you why you can't get involved with Remus Lupin."

xXx

Sirius ran over the down as fast as he could. The moon was already up. His only thought was to get to the Whomping Willow. He hadn't counted on Professor McGonagall confronting him after supper, nor had he been prepared for her to assign him extra detention for what she thought had been misconduct the previous night. He had spent the entire evening cleaning out the Thestrals stable with Haggrid, without being permitted to send so much as a note to Severus, or even James to warn them.

What had he been thinking? He had all put given Severus access to Moony's hidey-hole. He'd exposed his best friend's secret, without properly explaining the circumstances to Severus first. What if Severus reacted badly to the revelation? What if he told Dumbledore? What if he told someone else and it got out? It was not just Moony's "hairy little problem" Sirius had put at risk, but his friends and himself for being unregistered Animaguses.

Sirius could detect movement up ahead and caught whiff of something warm and metallic in the air. Blood.

He ran faster. The blurred images changed into two men supporting a third in-between them; the man in the center unwilling or unable to walk on his own strength.

"Severus!" Sirius launched forward in time to catch the boy as his legs gave out. The Slytherin was paler than usual. His face and chest bore signs of a battle and he was bleeding profoundly from a wound in his neck.

"Dog…" Severus said weakly, eyelids fluttering to remain open. "Stay… away from me…." His head slumped forward and he went still.

"Thank Merlin… you are here, Pad!" Peter gasped, his fat face pink and drenched with what looked like sweat, and blood. James looked no better, though neither of them seemed injured.

"You'd… better hurry… and get help!" said Peter and he pointed back in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. "I-I think Snape's killed Remus!"