Warnings

Although Sev knew that Lauren was dying to know how he had been doing, he decided not to appoint her that night and leave it to her choice. They had already met two nights during the week despite their decision to only do it once, so he just projected to her, "I have a proposal for you."

"Can it wait until Tuesday?" Which was the day they had agreed to meet regularly.

"Yeah."

"Then we will wait.At home, all in order." And she stopped looking at him.

Ugh… she's spent all day making sure we don't get caught and she won't even let me tell her the good news. It's getting harder and harder for me to keep myself whole in the Great Hall. Alone in the midst of so many people, so close and so far at the same time from those I love. Lily and the Gryffindors, Ariel and the Guard, Lauren… And surrounded on both sides and in front of me by the ones I hate and want to fight at all costs.

What he did do was reply to Lily's letter from that day, in which, indeed, she told him that she had been in Hogsmeade with Cecile and the wolf, and prepare an ad for the book of endemics in which he said:

Can the four of us meet at the clearing one of these afternoons, Monday through Thursday, after school? Only if it's safe. Let me get there first. Give me the sign during lunch.

He put it in an envelope also protected. The three of them were so eager to see him that Cecile beckoned to him the next day.

He projected to Lauren, "I'm leaving this afternoon."

"Go easy, I'll watch out."

Merlin… what would I do without her? And she really is lonely, I have to get her to join the Guard.

So that Monday, after school, Sev went home to leave his backpack and put on Jack's sweater, What a thrill… his cloak and boots, and went to the clearing. Since he knew that the Gryffindors should also go up to the seventh floor to bundle up, he didn't rush too much.

When he arrived he cast the heating spell and again dried a wide space on the ground so they could sit down and chat. He waited for them for ten minutes enjoying the changing color of the twilight sky lying like the day before with Ariel. He did not hear them arrive. Lily has taught them stealth.

They entered and were close to throwing the three on him. Luckily he had time to jump up and give them a foursome hug. He had not seen Cecile since the fir tree, Lily since the fantastic night that changed his life, and the wolf, also since that night that they hugged. They contained their joy until he warded the clearing, and they embraced again. They kept asking him, "How is everything going? How are you? How we wanted to see you... Our lives have changed since the ritual…"

I am overwhelmed, I will never get used to it. I'll let them elaborate a bit first, like Ariel.

"Okay, okay… let's go in parts," Sev said. They sat in a circle. "Lily told me that the three of you were in Hogsmeade and had a great time." They talked for a while about what they did.

"And you, what did you do on Saturday?" the wolf asked.

"Take advantage of the fact that the snakes weren't in sight and hide in the fifth floor to prepare more potion for you, addict. This is your ration until Easter," Sev said handing him the two flasks. "I prepared all that was left. Do not abuse, it has to be enough for everyone."

"You're right, Snape, it will be plenty for me. And I will contribute money to buy ingredients or I will order them to be sent to me if we won't go home," Lupin said.

"Brilliant. And yesterday, were you training here?" Sev asked. "I came looking for you last week and you weren't."

This way I'm getting into the subject, because Remus and Cecile don't know anything about the Guard.

"It's just that it snowed last week…" Lily said, sad.

Nice excuse.

"And what is the use of controlling the weather?" Sev asked.

"Well yes," Cecile said. "We should have come, but yesterday we were and you didn't show up, and it was fine weather. And we miss you so much, because you missed a great event."

Let's see, let's see… what happened? Cecile and Remus are giving each other knowing looks.

"Tell me, tell me…"

"I got my first corporeal Patronus," Cecile said.

Lily was thinking, Cecile loves to play mysterious, too.

"Wow… and what animal is it?" Sev asked.

"Can't you guess?"

Lily laughed. God… Sev and Cecile would be perfect for each other too.And that is the second time they meet.'

"Yes… A wolf!" Sev exclaimed. They all burst out laughing.

"They're twins like ours, Sev," Lily said.

"Whoa… Congratulations, how glad I am, what a pity I wasn't there, give me that hug we couldn't give each other yesterday," Sev said. They gave each other a threesome hug. "In addition, in new moon, propitious for a beginning. And February twenty-ninth, a unique day every four years."

It's amazing that Sev now believes in such things, Lily thought.

"It's true, Remus…" Cecile said. "We won't be able to celebrate our anniversary…"

Lily was laughing. Cecile already thinks it's forever, and Remus is all cut off.

"And you… when?" Cecile asked.

Cecile pretending she doesn't know, so Sev can tell her, Lily thought.

I'm so surprised that Lily didn't tell them about the eclipse, but I'm going to play along, Sev thought. "Under the Red Moon, in the Astronomy Tower."

"Oh…! I knew it! Lily ran away from us without saying anything and I had to cover for her," Cecile said.

Sev laughed. This Cecile is so much funny.

"Thank you… Without you we would never have made it," Sev said. Remus is reminiscing about two weeks before.

"Well, I didn't contribute much," Remus said, "I screwed up pretty good in Potions."

"Of course," Sev said. "You put the wolf's paw into."

Lily and Cecile laughed. Booah, Sev making jokes, amazing.At least he's made him laugh too, Lily thought.

"But then you've more than made up for it," Sev continued.

"Know that if it had not been for you both, I would never have been able to take the plunge with Cecile," Remus said. "You have changed my life, Snape."

"Remus, stop calling me Snape…" jaded. "Call me Sev, like the girls."

"Okay."

"I didn't come yesterday, but I did train anyway," Sev said.

Booah, he's going to tell them... he's already playing mysterious, Lily thought.

"You alone?" Remus asked.

Sev shook his head.

"Tell us!" Cecile exclaimed.

Sev smiled wickedly. "I have found allies at home."

"Good!" Remus and Cecile burst out.

Lily just smiled widely.

"We already saw you missing the Great Hall," Cecile said. "Can you tell us something else?"

"Yeah. I'm going to tell you everything," Sev said and began to tell them about his whole process, from his first failed attempt with Anthony, through Christmas with Ariel, the subsequent trial and third degree he was subjected to and his day with the Guard, without mentioning the shield or that they had been invited. And of course, Malfoy's letter was not spared. Indeed, they're at as much risk as the Guard of being read and they're going to have to learn to occlude too.

As expected, the Gryffindors were somewhat taken aback by the mix of good and bad news. At least now Lily won't feel so alone with the secrets.

"So that's what it is," Sev concluded with a sad smile.

"Ugh, Sev," Cecile said, visibly worried. "It's much more serious than we thought, and you're only four older…"

"Well, yes, but I suspect that the letter will not arrive until the bad weather ends and I will find out in advance, I have been learning Legilimency for months," Sev said.

"You alone?" Remus asked.

"Alone and with Lily. I already read eyes."

Of course, he can't tell anyone about his other ally, Lily thought.

"Wow…"

"But don't worry, I'll never do it with you, I have very strict rules for that, only enemies except in emergencies," Sev said. "I'm not like the old man."

"Sure, Sev," Cecile said. "We trust you."

Okay, on topic.

"Have you discovered something strange practicing Defense?" Sev asked.

"If you call it strange that we've improved a lot in a few classes from Remus, then yes," Cecile said.

Okay, I passed my talent to them, but they haven't discovered the shield.

"Well, you see, yesterday, when they tried me, they stung and the three of them surrounded me and…" Sev told them about the shield.

"Wow! But that's the bomb," Remus said.

Sev nodded. "Try to do it."

They did it in turns, all three got it.

"Wow… there's no way they'll catch you…" Remus said.

"Sure. It is something very powerful, but for that very reason, dangerous," Sev said. "If anyone else knows they can come for us."

"You're absolutely right," Cecile said.

"Have you told anyone else what we did in the fir tree or the results?" Sev asked.

"No, Sev, nobody," this was Cecile.

Of her I believe it sure.

"And you, Remus?"

"No, Snape."

"Not even the other three?"

"Not at all," the wolf replied. "What explanation could I give them without them suspecting? You saw that I slipped away from them the day of the blizzard. In fact, I'm going to have to hide certain advances in the subjects, because otherwise it's going to seem strange to them, it's starting to seem suspicious to them that I get potions like you do. I might even have to switch places, in case they think you're helping me."

"Tell them that you apply Arithmancy, which is what we do after all," Sev sugested.

"Precisely in that subject is the one in which I should stand out the least." Remus looked at him with a certain plea.

The secret that the quartet hasn't caught me in all this year is precisely in Arithmancy. The wolf must know some spell or have some artifact with which he knows where I am and that only he controls because he is the only one of the four who has the subject.

"Well, then hide what you need," Sev said. "Change places in Potions if you want, I'll be sorry, but I prefer that you take the Outstanding, because you need it for Medimagic, don't you?"

"I do, and I am very grateful to you, I would never have achieved it without the fir tree ritual, nor the one in Herbology."

"Wow… then I'm very happy for you. Well, and with what we have just discovered, do you all realize the danger we are in if we get caught?" Sev asked.

"Sure, Sev."

"Sure, Snape."

"Yes, Sev."

"Okay, then to hold back and hide and not risk doing something extraordinary at an inopportune time or place. Whatever you want to try, you can do it here, warded."

"Of course," Remus said.

"And not only that, we are all going to have to learn to occlude for the future," Sev continued.

"Of course, or even when going out to Hogsmeade there is risk. Black's cousin," Remus said.

"That one."

"Who is Black's cousin?" Cecile asked, alarmed.

"Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort's right hand," Remus replied, "and an excellent Legilimancer like him, who often comes to Hogsmeade to do interviews with would-be Death Eaters."

"That is to say, that on Saturday we were taking a risk…" Cecile said.

"Not that much, they usually go to Hog's Head, and we didn't go near there," Remus replied.

"And I know she didn't come, I was reading," Sev said.

"Booah, Snape, what a relief to have realized it in time."

"Well yes. Yesterday with the Slytherins we had quite a tense day when we found out, because there is also a third-year boy involved."

"Sure... Ariel…" Lily said, anguished. "You also did the ritual with him at Christmas... ugh…"

"Well, yes, what a mess," Sev said. "I had to have a serious talk with him at the end of the day. But he is a very mature boy and aware of the danger of knowing magic, in two months he has not told anyone, not even his friends despite not knowing the shield, and he alone deduced that he had to hide his advances. He is extraordinary."

"Were you together?" Lily asked.

"Yes, yesterday at this time and right here we were looking at the stars."

"Oh… He was so glad to see you, wasn't he?"

"He was, and I him," Sev replied. "Well, in summary, that we are three lions and five snakes in a good mess, and the best thing is that we get out of it together."

"And how do you think?" Cecile asked.

"It has not occurred to me, but to them, although I think it would be the best. You are invited to join the Guard."

"Did you tell them that we are your friends?" Remus asked, alarmed.

"I had no choice when we discovered the shield," Sev replied. "Does it seem wrong to you?"

"Ugh… alliances with the snakes…"

"That's what Steed said when I told him about you, before telling them who you were, and two days later, after doing the ritual with me, it was he himself who proposed it to me. I don't see what the problem is, you're going to have to do it unless you want to wait until Easter to get a Pensieve to learn how to occlude, and then maybe I won't be able to teach you because I'll be at maximum risk from Malfoy's damn letter. Anyway, he can't bring it either until he takes the Apparition exam this month and goes to Diagon on the next Hogsmeade trip, we don't buy that much time either. So think about it calmly and decide, they are ready for us to start training next Saturday. As obviously, the four of us can't miss the Great Hall at the same time because of your dear Potter, they suggest you all go only in the morning, or in the morning both girls and you all day, Remus."

"I think it's fantastic," Cecile said very sure. "I hate segregation in Houses. What you said, we are all in the same boat. From what you have told us, they seem to me to be serious and reliable people and they are reaching out to us without knowing us at all. I'm in."

"I want to meet them too, it's a shame we can't spend the whole day," Lily said, sad.

"Yeah, honey… But it's too risky for you," Sev said. Maybe later, when the others learn curses and the girls have learned the way, they can come in the afternoon, longer.Now all that's left is for Remus to say 'I'm missing…' I'm going to encourage him up a bit. "Steed proposed to sign you as soon as he heard the name Lupin. He knows you're good, he wants you for the group and you like Defense, Remus, you'd fight at your level and you'd advance a lot. Try to come in the morning, if you don't like it, go to have lunch with the girls and in peace. It is enough that you then keep the secret of where we train."

"The truth is that I really want to, but I have so many prejudices, Snape…" Remus said. "We have spent almost five years convinced that we are your enemies."

"Well, I haven't stopped being a Slytherin and you don't consider me your enemy, and I'm sure you'll really like Steed," Sev said. He's a great guy, and he thinks you're a nice guy too, just because of the looks. He told me that he was always surprised that you harassed me with the others."

"Oh really?" interested.

"Yeah. And the real war isn't Slytherin against Gryffindor, it's the good guys against the bad guys, Remus. It's just around the corner, it's going to catch us as soon as we leave school, and Voldemort is going to try to recruit you too."

"What are you saying?" alarmed.

"What you're hearing. He does it with all the good duelists as soon as they graduate."

That's information from his ally, Lily thought.

"So, either you hide that or you better train seriously with your little lions, but not four against one," Sev continued.

Take a taunt! Lily thought.

"Think about it calmly, now you have the information," Sev continued. "And don't slip to the other three about what I just told you. I'm sure Black knows this too and hasn't told you anything."

Remus was thinking.

"Well, girls, are you still willing despite what you just heard?" Sev asked.

"I am, of course," Cecile said. "I want to learn to defend myself even if I have to hide it later, for my OWLs I only need a Exceed Expectations."

"Brilliant."

"Me too, Sev," said Lily. "I have a great time training, even though I also need only Exceed."

"You need it above all, Lily," Sev said vehemently. "And not only for studies. Remember your origin, Voldemort is after you, whether you are with me or not. Is it clear to you?"

"Yes, Sev," she replied very seriously.

"Well, then we'll meet on Saturday after breakfast on the road by which we entered the Forest. We're going to do it in ten-minute batches so not to be seen together or waste too much time. The Guard leaves the castle at half past nine. Then I go at twenty to ten, and you at ten to ten. Go far down the path, and don't scare if we appear Disillusioned behind you, it will be to make sure that no one has followed you."

"Great," Cecile said.

"It is very far?" Remus asked.

"About forty-five minutes," Sev replied.

"And it is devious?"

"The last twenty."

"Then we will have to accompany the girls back to the road," Remus said.

He's thinking of staying all day.

"Of course, I'll take care of that, and surely it will only be necessary to do it a couple of times. We have the orientation of the Forest."

"True."

"Are you in, then?" Sev asked.

"Yes, Snape, of course, and thanks for opening my eyes."

"Well, you know, see, hear and shut up."

"Of course. By the way, do you both want to meet this week?" Remus asked.

Yes, please… Lily thought.

"You can?" Sev asked Remus.

Good…

"Yes, whenever you want," the wolf replied.

Let's see… impossible tomorrow, Lauren, Sev thought.Today or Wednesday, two days in a row of potion.It must be Thursday.I'm going to switch with Lauren for Mondays, so I have more leeway.

He's calculating when he's meeting his ally, Lily thought.

"How about Thursday, Lily?" Sev asked.

"I can always, Sev."

How lucky.

"Thanks my love," Sev said.

"Thursday then," Remus said.

"Watch out for the sign, Sev," Cecile said.

"Always, Cecile. Thanks friends."