Authors Note: With many thanks to my new beta BookFlower for her awesome work.

Chapter 19

Severus stood while the stairs spiralled upwards towards Dumbledore's office. As they stopped at the top, in front of the office door, he heard voices inside: Lupin and the Headmaster by the sound of it. He didn't bother to knock and was not disappointed. The door swung open almost immediately.

"-won't even listen to me. Whenever I try to talk to him he just walks away as if I haven't said anything." The lycanthrope said exasperatedly. He was pacing in front of the fireplace. He stopped dead when he saw Severus.

"Ah Severus," Dumbledore said, "Remus and I have been discussing Harry as you, no doubt, have deduced."

"Indeed." He answered stiffly.

"What do you think? Poppy said he was involved in an incident in your class today?"

No wonder the boy had doubted the infirmary's confidentiality, Severus thought sardonically.

"There was an explosion due to ingredients being," His mouth twisted, "knocked over. It has been dealt with. No one was critically injured. As to his emotional well being, after all he has experienced, it will require time for him to come to terms with it." Lupin glanced at him, somewhat surprised at the last bit.

"Yes, I suspected as much last year." The Headmaster nodded thoughtfully. "What other news?"

Severus glanced warily across to where the DADA teacher still stood. He did not care much for others knowing his business. "There have been renewed rumours of new initiates to the Dark Lord's army and a few… incidents which incite some concern." Dumbledore must have noticed his look and his reluctance.

"Remus is just as much a member of the Order as you and I, Severus." Severus resisted the urge to say something waspish.

"The rumours suggest that the new recruits will be students." He ground out.

"It is linked to the incidents you spoke of?" Dumbledore asked, a troubled look creasing his wrinkled brow.

"I fear so."

"What did the incidents involve?"

Severus was not particularly keen on discussing his students in front of another teacher, least of all one as much a Gryffindor as the werewolf. He always respected his students' confidentiality. "With all due respect Headmaster, that is something I would rather speak of in private." The older man looked at him sharply, but Snape held his ground. Lupin watched the pair questioningly.

"Remus, if you would be so kind? Unless there is something else you wished to speak of?"

"No Headmaster." Once the other man departed, Severus began to relate his news.

Harry stood breathing heavily in the empty classroom he had been practicing in. His school robes lay in a puddle next to his school bag. He took his stance again and began to move through the new sequence that Snape had taught him. It wasn't nearly so hard when the Potions Master wasn't hovering nearby. In fact, Harry would have gone as far as to say it was actually quite relaxing, just focussing on moving with no one else around. However, being alone meant be would have to explain to Hermione and Ron where he had been for the past hour. The two seemed to be bent on keeping him in their sights and continually making sure he wasn't going to be attacked by Malfoy and co. since the Potions incident two days earlier. He decided he would just tell them he was practising occlumency, which wasn't exactly untrue. He was afraid they would insist on practicing with him if he told them it was combat.

Looking at his watch, he sighed. Dinner time. At least eating no longer made him feel sick. After that it would be another long and worrying session with the Potions Master. The man had not said anything about the amulet again but every time he looked at him, Harry felt like he was being pinned down. The man meant to find out and Harry had no idea how to stop him. He felt like it was all whirling out of his control, everything he had managed for so long.

He pulled on his robe, swung his bag over his shoulder and made his way to the Great Hall.