Disclaimer: All characters belong solely to JK Rowling. If you recognize a scene or a name, it is hers.

Chapter Eleven: Detention

After dinner, the Marauders went toward Gryffindor Tower. Remus, James, and Peter changed for detention, and Sirius got out his broom for a "personal break from studying." Remus dug through his trunk for his muggle clothes. His jeans were slightly faded, but they fit. He pulled out his navy sweatshirt; it was always cold in the dungeons. James took at least five minutes to find his muggle clothes, by which time Remus and Peter were already dressed. Peter was wearing his blue tee-shirt and black jeans. The two went with Sirius to the common room to wait for their fourth wheel. By the time James left the dormitory, dressed in his brand-new jeans and Gryffindor-red shirt, it was nearly a quarter to seven. They would have to hurry.

The three Marauders said goodbye to Sirius and slowly made their way toward the dungeons. It was five minutes until seven o'clock by the time they neared the dungeons, but as none of them wanted to get there early, they slowed down considerably. They arrived at the exact same time as their Slytherin classmate, but the other boy wouldn't look at any of them. He knocked on the door and waited for Slughorn's reply, as if the Marauders weren't even there. Snape was wearing jeans, faded and slightly too short, and a ratty green sweatshirt. James raised his eyebrows at Peter, who nearly started laughing; Remus saw the expression and sent a glare toward James. Grinning, James turned back toward the door to await the detention.

Professor Slughorn opened the door and ushered them all inside. "Potter, Pettigrew, your detention will take place in here. The cauldrons over there and do not use magic. I will know. Snape, Lupin, come with me, if you would." He led them into a separate room, a room neither had been in before. "You two have actual potions ability, while those other two… Anyway, you will be pickling beetle eyes, as I already said. You both know, I would hope, how important this job is. Take it seriously, or I will know, and there will be consequences. Get to work."

And with that, he was gone. He knew these two wouldn't try getting out of the detention, but Potter and Pettigrew have done it before, so they would need supervision.

Remus glanced around the room, his eyes settling on the buckets of beetles in the corner. "What do you suppose he wants done with the rest of the beetles?"

Snape fixed him with a glare. "I highly doubt he wanted you to eat them, werewolf," Remus flinched at the tone. "Though I wouldn't put that thought past you. Conjure a bucket to put the remainder in." He let out a breath. "Use your brain, Lupin, or I will be forced to go and tell Professor Slughorn that you would be better off scrubbing cauldrons with your little friends."

"It was a simple question, Severus; you don't have to take my head off." Remus sighed, went over to their shared working station, and sat down. "You want to take out the eyes or pickle them?"

"Whatever. I don't care." Snape sat as far from Remus as was possible at their table.

They worked in silence for a half hour, Remus shooting glances toward Severus every once in a while. Glances which were ignored entirely by the Slytherin.

"I… I'm really sorry about earlier. Sirius was…"

"And here I thought maybe I'd be allowed to work in peace." Remus flinched again.

"Just hear me out." Snape glared at him. "Sirius was out of line, and he had no right to say any of that. None. It wasn't true, and he knows it. I don't know why he won't stop this nonsense, but he won't listen to me. I'm sorry."

Sometime during the speech, Severus had looked away, looking at the jars he was working with. He couldn't break down now, not in front of the Marauder. But he felt it happening. He hated the control Remus had over him. Hated that he even cared. But he couldn't help it.

"Like I care, Lupin. Get back to work. Preferably in silence."

There was a sniff from Remus, but he didn't say a word. When Snape glanced up at the Gryffindor, he was stunned to see the tears in Remus' eyes. But the werewolf was plucking the eyes out of a beetle, so he didn't notice the Slytherin's gaze until he had tossed the remainder of the beetle into the half-full bucket. Remus glanced up again at the Slytherin and caught his gaze.

"I really am sorry, Severus."

Snape glared at him again, but said nothing, just turned back to his work. They worked once again in complete silence, both of them realizing how well they worked together, but both refusing to acknowledge it aloud.

They both jumped as they heard the door slam open, but instead of seeing Professor Slughorn, it was James who stood in the doorway.

"Hey, Pete and I are clearing out. Coming, Remi?"

"You're finished or you're ditching?"

James smirked. "Ditching. You in? Leave the beetle eyes for another day?"

Snape spoke up softly, "Just go. I'll tell him you cut your hand or something. It's believable, if he's seen you hold a knife." His usual sneer was absent as he looked at Remus.

"Jamie, you go on. I'd rather not lose points and get a second detention, thanks. See you in the common room."

James and Severus both stared at Remus, as if he had just grown a second head.

"Let me get this straight. You won't ditch… He just said he'd cover for you!"

"James. I'm staying here. You and Petey can go. I'm not. See you later."

A strange look passed over James' face, and then his eyes widened; he glanced between the two. "Oh. Oh! Got it. See you later, Remi!"

And with that, the door shut again, and James was gone.

"Why didn't you go?" Again, there was no sneer, no glare on the Slytherin's face.

"Because I'm not leaving you to pluck eyes out of beetles on your own. I earned this detention, I'll finish it." And with a small smile, Remus got back to work.

Snape watched Remus work for a few more minutes before getting back to work. But just as they again started seeing their compatibility, the door flew open again. This time, it was Slughorn, and he was angry.

"Lupin, Snape, either of you see anything?"

"See anything, Professor?" Remus asked.

"Yes, Lupin, see anything. Your friends are gone, there's soap all over the place, and only one cauldron is finished!"

Remus fought the grin he was tempted to give, knowing it would only infuriate the potions master. "I didn't see anything, professor. Not a thing."

"Didn't think you would have, Lupin." Slughorn broke the glare he had thrown at Remus, and looked over at Severus. "What about you?"

"Nothing, sir."

With another glare at each of them, Slughorn stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Thank you," Remus muttered softly. He had fully expected the Slytherin to turn in his friends.

"Don't thank me. Just… Just be honest with me." Remus looked up at him questioningly. "Was Black telling the truth, or were you?"

Snape finally turned to him, amber met obsidian, and Remus whispered, "Me. Sirius was lying. He doesn't get it." The werewolf laid his hand gently on top of the other boy's hand, which was lying on the table.

Severus glanced down at their hands, and looked back at Remus. He turned his hand over, allowing his fingers to curl around Remus'.

I hate leaving this story here, but I have no choice. I'm NOT abandoning it, but it'll be a while before I am able to continue posting it. My computer's power cord got extremely hot and started melting, so I won't have computer access until I can get a new one. I'm so sorry everyone!

At least they're together now! Please review, I will check for ideas as soon as I can. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me! I will post as often as I can!