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(Saturday, October 8, 1977)
Severus stepped out of the floo, brushing the ash from his robe sleeves. The foyer he arrived in had a ceiling nearly as tall as the hall was long with several ceiling to floor windows lining the walls, resulting in magnificent lighting and a peaceful, welcoming feeling.
Glancing around, he saw a clerk sitting at the far end of the room and made his way over.
"Name and purpose for visiting?"
"Severus Snape, I am apprenticed to Potioneer Derby; he wished to meet with me today."
The clerk looked up at him dubiously before shuffling through the parchment on his desk. "So you are," he said, finding the right scroll. "Wand please?"
Severus hesitated a moment before handing his wand over. The clerk scanned it with his own before returning it, eyebrows raised. "13 and a half inches, Cedarwood, dragon heartstring, and unyielding. I daresay your wand doesn't even want to be held by me, Mr. Snape. That's got to be the most loyal wand I've ever held. A fine wand indeed."
"Thank you," Severus said, shifting from one foot to the other.
"Head Potioneer Derby's office is on the 6th floor. That's likely where he is now, if not, he will be there shortly so just wait for him there. Down this hall here you'll find the elevators. Have a good day, Mr. Snape."
Severus nodded and followed his directions, making it to the 6th floor with little issue. He stepped off the elevator and looked around. He was now standing at the end of a long, well-lit corridor, filled with doors that he assumed led to offices. Walking down the hall, he read the names on the blonde oak doors, looking for Potioneer Derby's and wasn't surprised to find his at the end of the hall.
He knocked and hadn't even lowered his hand all the way before he heard a cheerful, "Enter!"
Opening the door, Severus had to remind himself to keep his mouth shut – it was huge! Larger than it had any right to be without the aid of magic. Throughout the room was a mixture of warm and cool tones in the form of drapes, chairs, cushions, banners, and rugs, offering a comfortable atmosphere, likely enhanced by the friendly nature of the owner of the office. The floor to ceiling windows lining the walls allowed for very generous lighting as well as ventilation, which was necessary as the man had his own brewing station for Merlin's sake!
"Severus! So good to see you! Come, come, I'd like to know what you can make of this regrettable mess in my cauldron." Potioneer Derby waved Severus over enthusiastically.
Walking towards him, with one, two, three steady breaths, Severus fell into his brewing trance before he peered into the cauldron. Careful to stay clear of the noxious fumes the potion was spitting, he distantly felt his eyebrow arch. Probing it lightly with his magic, he pulled and pushed at its qualities without altering them before withdrawing.
"Pepper Up, correct?" At Potioneer Derby's enthusiastic nod, Severus continued, "I'd say you added too much powdered Bicorn horn – no, not just powdered, powdered once and pulverized again to have grains finer than sand. The measure was doubled to compensate for the finer powder when one and a third should have been used."
"Very good! You were spot on, Severus. Can you tell me why I should have used one and a third of the original measurement?"
"Because of how finely you ground it. You didn't reduce the grain size by half, but by one third, and so you should add one third more." Severus looked back at the bubbling mess, his brows furrowed. "If you were trying to eliminate the steam coming from the ears after the potion is ingested, I would make a finer powder and dice the Mandrake roots into 5cm cubes, but add in seven of them, one at a time after each clockwise stir. At the very least that should make the steam last half as long but be no less effective."
"Amazing! Let's try it, shall we?"
Severus nodded, bemused at how excited the former Hufflepuff was.
The mess was Vanished from the cauldron and together the two set about attempting Severus's ideas for improving the potion. While Severus kept a critical eye on the cauldron, Derby watched his apprentice, marveling at the skill and intuition in someone so young, taking copious notes all the while.
Severus gave the cauldron one last stir before pulling himself from his brewing trance again. "I believe that should do it. It has the right consistency, color, and vapors, but it should still be tested before consumed."
"I am very much looking forward to working with you this year, Severus. I've never such intuition in a potioneer before!" Derby said, positively beaming. "Come, come. I have a few books I would like for you to read during our time together." In something of a whirlwind, he led them over to a bookshelf that took up the entire wall and began pulling books almost at random. "Here, I trust you to take good care of these."
Four books were placed into Severus's arms. Shifting them in his arms to look at the titles, Severus spoke: "Master Derby, I have already read these."
"You have! Merlin that makes things easier – and you must call me Zeus! None of this Master Derby nonsense. Makes me sound old. Here, I'll take those back." The books were taken back and left in a pile on the shelf. "When did you read those books? Come, come, have a seat. Tea? Water? Lemonade?"
"Zeus, then," Severus agreed haltingly. "I'll have a lemonade, if it isn't too much trouble." He perched carefully on the indicated chair in front of the fireplace.
"None at all! None at all – Thumper!" A house-elf popped in and after receiving their order, left with another pop, returning moments later with what they requested.
Taking his drink from the tray, Severus had a sip and very nearly drained his cup on the spot so heavenly was the drink.
Clearing his throat, he set the glass down. "To answer your question, I started the first, Magic in Potions, in my Fourth year. I believe Madam Pince to be somewhat fond of me as she began to pull every theoretical potion book from the shelves for me to read. She probably even spoke to Professor Slughorn about it, because I soon found him recommending titles to me as well, even having small discussions with me about what I read."
"You understood that level of potion making in your Fourth Year?" Severus nodded, uncertain. "Merciful Morgan! I've found a certified genius! Tell me, do you keep up to date with current findings in the community?"
"When I can," Severus answered. "The last issue of a Potion's Journal I read, however, was from January of this year."
Zeus shot up from his armchair and rushed over to his desk. He pawed through some piles before emerging victorious. "Here! Since you've already read through the books on the theory and laws of potions, I'll loan you the journals you've missed this year. I want you to read through these when you've the time – don't place this above your actual homework! – and let me know what you think of the theories put forth and why or why not you think the potions will work the way they claim they will. I don't want you to try to brew their proposed creations, at least not without myself or Horace present – not because I think you incompetent, you're obviously the complete opposite of that – but because you are my apprentice and I have no desire for you to blow yourself up. Two heads are always better than one."
Severus nodded while accepting the pile of journals. "Would that apply to when I'm pursuing my own experiments?"
Zeus grinned down at him. "I frankly should not be surprised that you're doing your own experiments. But no, I think not. I would certainly prefer it if you worked on those in my presence so I might be of assistance, and with me your original work would be legally protected as your own, which is not the case with Horace. I know the man would never steal another's work, but your original work is not legally protected outside of our apprenticeship. If that makes sense. So, yes, you may work on your own experiments – I will need to have copies of all of them so I may make records of them so no others can steal from you."
Severus sat blinking for a moment. "I, yes. Of course. I can write them down for you now?"
"Can you? Splendid! Here, come. We can discuss them while you write them out."
It was several hours later and well past the time that Severus was supposed to stay – he had missed Quidditch practice an hour since, but he couldn't bring himself to bloody well care. When he finished writing out all of his experiments and discussing them with Zeus, he found himself growing fond of the man, despite his over exuberant personality and tendency to praise him at every opportunity.
They were now both standing on the balcony, and Severus was positively itching for a smoke. He cleared his throat, gaining Zeus's attention. "Would you mind if I had a cigarette? It's not an issue if you do, I can wait until I get back to Hogwarts."
"Nonsense! Go right ahead. I'm rather glad you brought it up because I'm dying for one myself, but my secretary nags on me for it. He strictly forbade me from smoking in your presence unless you brought it up first. Here, try one of mine, they're rather mild."
Severus accepted it and lit it with a snap of his fingers, not thinking about what he was doing. "Do you ever run out of surprises?!"
"Pardon?" Severus asked, startled.
"Wandless and nonverbal magic, Severus?!" Zeus said. "Can you do it again?"
Severus blinked, and then snapped his fingers, causing a flame to spark to life over his thumb in answer. "Marvelous! Bloody marvelous!" Zeus lit his own cigarette from Severus's fire and took a long drag before speaking again. "How did you manage that?"
Should he tell him? Zeus hadn't given him any reason not to trust him. It was a rather… sensitive topic, but there was a yearning within him to talk to someone about this – to talk to Zeus about this. "Is this something that would remain confidential between the two of us?" Severus asked, genuinely curious.
"Yes, if you wish it so," Zeus said easily, idly scratching at his eyebrow.
"And nothing could break that confidentiality? Aside from my permission? I admit I did not look into the laws surrounding apprenticeships as much as I should have."
"Yes, yes. I am bound to keep anything you wish to be confidential just that, just as you are bound not to reveal any company secrets so to speak. I can give you a pamphlet that details it before you leave for the day."
"I'd appreciate that," Severus said, looking out at the Italian landscape before them. He took a puff from his cigarette. It wasn't bad, but he would have preferred his own blend. "You – I am not one who trusts easily, Zeus." He admitted. "But I feel that I can trust you, regardless of the confidentiality laws."
"I thought that may be the case, and I am honored to have your trust, Severus." He gave no pressure for Severus to speak, merely standing there in silent support, but that is precisely why Severus decided to tell him everything.
"I… Slytherin is not an easy House to live in. Not just because of the rest of the school, but because of the housemates. I have always had an affinity for self-healing due to… less than ideal conditions while growing up, and so at eleven years old, I was able to withstand a great deal of magical abuse. That tolerance only grew over the years.
"Because of my high endurance, I have been the… favored target in my House since I was a First Year. They don't have to hold back when hexing me. I'm an undesirable in Slytherin, and they've never been shy about letting me know that. When I got older, I would try to cover for the other 'undesirables' when I could, especially those in the lower Years – they can't withstand what I can, and they're just kids.
"So. The wandless and non-verbal magic developed in defense of my life, in a way. It really only blossomed when I tried to be top student academically, to see if that would ease my position within Slytherin – it did not, but through the hours I dedicated to becoming top student, I gained a much better understanding of myself, and of my magic to the point that in most cases I can call upon it at will without a wand in hand and only my intention in mind.
"I have not told anyone else of this ability and try not to use it in front of others, but it feels so natural that I often forget, which would be the case for this time."
A heavy silence fell around their shoulders and filled their ears. Severus stared at his hands, memories of spellfire flashing in his mind's eye, ghost pains flaring throughout his body.
"How can Albus and Horace allow such things to happen?" Zeus asked softly.
Severus looked at him, unable, unwilling, to hide his pain. "The Headmaster does not care for Slytherin House. I was almost killed my Fifth Year by another student, and I received punishment for the altercation when he was the one to lure me down into the lair of a monster. I know that I should not have been sticking my nose where it did not belong, but I will never forget what the Headmaster did. Never." He looked away, raising the cigarette to his lips with a shaking hand.
A beat of silence. "As for Professor Slughorn… he does not know. Times were different when he was in school, and my tormentors hide their indiscretions well, and have made it violently clear that should I try to tell anyone about it, it would not end well for me. Which would be why I asked for confidentiality. I am finally scratching my way out from under them, and it would destroy those efforts if it became known that I told someone."
"Severus… I am, so very sorry that you have suffered so much by the hands of those who should have cared for you. I can only swear that the world is not always so cruel. I promise upon Ywailles and Drucoir that you shall always be welcome and safe by my side." Zeus said solemnly.
Electricity shivered down his spine and crawled back up, causing Severus to shudder at the power that encased him. His mother always told him it was not wise to call upon the Names too often, for the weight of their attention could drive a man mad. To call upon two in one oath?
What kind of man was Zeus?
Why couldn't he have met him sooner?
He looked at Zeus, his eyes wide. "You barely know me," he whispered. "How can you promise so much? Why would you invoke two Names for me?"
He felt the weight of Zeus's hand on his shoulder, easing the crushing sensation. "Because you do not lie. You pursue knowledge to better yourself, and to protect yourself and others. You are humble, and you are hurt. I could do no less than offer you the same sanctuary that you have offered to others, no matter what path you take in this world, Severus. You deserve nothing less than that."
Severus had to look away. He couldn't bear the weight of Zeus's kind, sad gaze.
Thankfully, the man didn't push the subject.
He cleared his throat and flicked his cigarette over the edge of the balcony. "I should probably head back to Hogwarts. Dinner will start soon."
The man startled into action. "My goodness, so it will! I didn't mean to keep you this long today, Severus. Here, use my Floo connection. Don't forget the journals! Ah! Here is that apprenticeship pamphlet!"
Severus's arms were filled, and he was bundled into the Floo, arriving in the headmaster's cluttered office before he knew it.
"Ah! Mr. Snape! How was it?"
"It was… interesting," Severus offered, unwilling to say more.
Dumbledore chucked. "Zeus is capable of making anything interesting. Dinner is already underway, hurry up so you do not miss it. I believe the house-elves prepared a delectable shepherd's pie for tonight."
"Thank you, Headmaster."
"Of course, of course."
Severus slunk down the spiral stairs, not intending on going to dinner at all, but back to his room to mull over his thoughts.
He navigated the halls and corridors in something of a daze and arrived at his room without any conflict. A small wonder these days. Setting his stack of read aside, he flopped face down on to his bed. What would his life have been like if Zeus had reached out to him earlier? Just one month earlier?
Would he have felt pressured to join the Knights of Walpurgis if he had that escape? Would his mother had pressured him still? Would she have killed his father? Not that he really cared about that, but still. She said she wanted him to join so new opportunities would be open to him – opportunities he wouldn't get due to his blood status.
But he had gotten an apprenticeship, to Zeus Bloody Derby no less; one of the world's leading Potioneers working for the leading Potions' company, on his own merits.
He had done that.
Not Malfoy. And not the Dark Lord.
Him.
Severus groaned into the bed covers. It was useless to think about what might have been. He had long come to the conclusion that the Dark Lord wouldn't have let him live outside of his service. There was also the fact that he wouldn't be able to protect Narcissa outside of the Knights, and that alone would be worth anything he had to do in the Dark Lord's service.
For what's a bruise or a brush with death to him in comparison to the bright, precious Narcissa Black?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
{Furius Draconis}
(Sunday, October 9, 1977)
"Snape saves again – shocking, I know. Do try to rein yourselves in," the Ravenclaw announcer said drolly. Severus spared her a brief glare before focusing back on the game.
"And the Quaffle is back in play! Snape to Yaxley, Yaxley to – intercepted by Brigg! Brigg races down the field, passes to Sawyer right over Lestrange's head. Sawyer to Green – Green shoots – ! Snape saves again. Merlin! I swear he's like a machine! Snape passes it to Lestrange, who looks like he's just going to carry it all the way down the field! AH! Ellstrom has spotted the Golden Snitch!"
Severus came out of his meditative state momentarily to look up at the score – 140 to 0. Not good. Falling back into his state, he kept part of his attention on the location of the Quaffle with the rest on the two Seekers hurtling after the elusive Snitch. Hopefully Black would be able to – "ELLSTROM CATCHES THE SNITCH! But – oh, Slytherin wins! Better luck next game, Hufflepuff!"
Severus's gaze cut back to the score and nearly withered in relief – Slytherin still won, albeit by 10 points, but it was still a win. He guided his broom down to the ground and landed with a small grunt, entirely set on getting out of his sweaty robes and into a shower, but the team had a different plan.
"Snape! Snape, come 'ere!"
Eyeing them guardedly, Severus walked over to his team huddled on the field. Yaxley slapped him on the back, making him stumble, while grinning like mad. "Another flawless game!"
"Well done, Snape!" Parkinson chirped, twirling his Beaters bat.
"Excellent flying, as per usual," Avery praised through gritted teeth.
Blinking through the confusion, Severus dipped his head in thanks. "Congratulations on another win," he said to the group.
Black slung his arm around Severus's shoulders, making him stiffen in surprise. "We would've lost, if not for your skills – truly most fortunate that Cousin Narcissa brought you to my attention."
Ah, this was a round of house politics. Not something Severus could ever see himself enjoying unless it involved destroying those who tried to destroy him. Inside of Slytherin, Avery and Jugson were currently at the top of that list. "Indeed," was all he said, looking down his nose at Black.
"Why don't you join us for a little celebration Snape?" Yaxley asked. His body language giving away something. Severus wasn't sure what, just that he didn't trust it. "Just for the team." Yaxley added; Severus's eyes narrowed a fraction, his magic coiling under his skin, ready for an attack.
"Can I shower first?" he asked bluntly.
Black laughed loudly, breaking the tension. "Of course! All of us could use a shower – it's so bloody hot today." Black spun them around and guided him towards the locker rooms, his arm still wrapped tightly around Severus's shoulders, chattering inanely in his ear like a magpie.
Black had been oddly… friendly with Severus since he started tutoring him, and he really didn't need much help, to begin with – a blessed breath of fresh air after dealing with Lupin's idiocy. The friendliness was likely Narcissa's influence, Severus rationalized. There was no way any of these teens would go out of their way to be friendly with him if it weren't for Narcissa's presence in his life.
It was odd to Severus, to be on this side of the line where Slytherins were concerned, he never had been before. He hadn't even made it a day in Slytherin before the insults started and the curses followed in his First Year. Their new attitudes put him on edge, if he was being honest, especially after how he spoke to Yaxley at tryouts. Not much had come of that, which was concerning in and of itself.
After his shower, Severus found himself being smuggled off to the dungeons by his teammates, and he wasn't sure if he should be worried or not. He could probably take them all on at once, but only if he held the element of surprise. It would be the height of stupidity to attack his teammates on the basis of paranoia, though.
They stumbled into the Common Room and into a crowd of cheers. Severus blinked in surprise. He had always avoided the Common Room after a match, preferring to shower and then go to the library to get classwork done.
Where his teammates were preening under the cheers, Severus remained stoic, at least until Black threw his arm around his shoulder again and gave him a light shake. "Snape! Come on! Loosen up a little! You look like you're constipated," he said with a laugh.
Severus glanced at him incredulously but still opted for silence.
A pair of hands clapped down on his shoulders, disrupting Black. "Come on, Snape, over here," Yaxley said, steering him over to where the Slytherins at the top of the hierarchy usually held court, and Severus couldn't help but feel a thread of panic. "Sit down, I'll get you a drink," Yaxley ordered, pushing him down in one of the chairs and wandering off before Severus could even think of a reply.
What the fuck?
He could feel the eyes of Slytherin on him, so he made sure to keep his thoughts off of his face, and did his best to look like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be sitting there. In the middle of the Vipers' Pit. And for a Pureblood Heir to be fetching him a drink.
Completely natural.
Gods, he needed Narcissa's help. He didn't know what to do with the finer intricacies of Slytherin politics.
"Don't look so surprised, Snape," Black said, coming out of nowhere and collapsing in the chair to his right. "Actually, you don't even look surprised at all – good. That's good. You're a natural at this."
"What?" Severus choked out.
"Maybe not much of a natural," Black amended. "Don't sound so surprised, then. You're in the Vipers' Pit now, and it's filled with merciless bastards. You'll do alright with my help, though." His face split with a sharp smile.
"Help?" Severus echoed, confused.
"Yes, yes, my help. You're helping me, aren't you? It's only natural that I return the favor. Try to use more than one word when one of them talks to you, though. And watch out for Avery – he definitely doesn't like you. He'll try to trip you up to feed you to the vultures."
"I'm aware of Avery's thoughts towards me," Severus said, his voice going cold. "Intimately aware."
"Oh-ho! That was good, Snape! Keep talking like that and you'll be just fine."
Severus eyed the sly teen. "You've been far too… helpful today – and avoiding Yaxley to boot. What've you done?"
Black blinked slowly before his smile settled into a smirk. "Me? I've done many things. Such as brush my teeth, play a game of quidditch, put my robes on, eat a bowl of porridge – but that's not what you're asking about, now is it, Severus? You'll have to find the right words for that question to get the answer you're after."
Yaxley came back then, drinks in hand, and Black slipped away before their Captain could even muster up a glare in his direction. "Here you are, Snape."
"Thank you, Heir Yaxley," Severus said. He would ask Narcissa about her slippery cousin later.
He discretely sniffed the liquid in his goblet to see if anything harmful had been added – he wouldn't put it past any of his Housemates to try to poison him. They'd tried it a few times before. He couldn't identify anything by smell alone, and a small pulse of his magic didn't turn up anything either, so Severus chanced a sip and nearly spat it out.
He looked at his captain incredulously. That had been horrible.
"Spiked Pumpkin Juice," Yaxley said. "Not for everyone, apparently. Don't feel bad, Snape."
"Spiked?"
"Merlin, don't tell me you don't know what that means, Snape."
"I'm afraid not, Heir Yaxley."
"Alcohol, man!" Parkinson exclaimed, coming to sit down with them. "How are you older than me, but don't know what a spiked drink is?"
Severus resolutely set the drink aside. He would not turn into his father. "I don't drink," he said flatly.
"Like I said, it's not for everyone," Yaxley said with a slight shrug, cutting Parkinson off. Severus was almost grateful.
"What do you do then, Snape?" Avery asked snidely, also coming to join them.
"I study, Avery," Severus said drolly. "Are you familiar with the habit?" They locked eyes and Severus tensed, ready to spring into action should Avery attack.
The sound of Yaxley and Parkinson laughing drew both of their attention and likely saved him from having to duel Avery right then. The sour teen sneered at him, but fortunately couldn't do much else, not with Yaxley sitting there.
Slowly the chairs around him filled with the top of Slytherin, mainly members of the Quidditch team, but no Narcissa – her help would have been invaluable just then. He felt like he was on trial with all of their attention on him, both outright and subtle.
"So, Snape, where were you yesterday?" Yaxley started, looking down at his drink as he stirred it. "You missed practice – not that you need it, mind, but the rest of us do need you there."
Fighting the urge to cross his arms (Narcissa was forever getting on to him for that habit), Severus answered him: "I'm apprenticed to Zeus Derby of E.M.L. Potions. I was working with him."
The ambient noise coming from the group around him stilled.
"You're apprenticed to the Zeus Eremon Derby?!" Parkinson asked incredulously.
"I did just say that, did I not?" Severus returned.
"How?" Asked a Sixth Year Severus didn't recognize.
"Who did you kill to get that?" Avery asked snidely.
Severus couldn't help but sneer at Avery a little. "Nobody. I got a perfect score on my Potions OWL and Zeus sent me a letter, asking me to apprentice to him this year."
"What the fuck Snape," Parkinson said. "Who gets a Merlin damned perfect score on an OWL?"
"Me, apparently."
"What were your scores?" one of the Lestranges asked – Rodolphus, he thought.
"All O's," Severus answered with a nonchalant lift of his shoulder.
"How many did you take?" the other Lestrange asked
"Fourteen."
"Fucking fourteen?!"
"Which ones?"
Vaguely amused now, Severus listed off his Owls. "Charms, Potions, Ghoul Studies, Alchemy, Ancient Runes, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Magical Theory, History, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Ancient Studies, and Defense."
"How the fuck did you manage all of those classes?" Parkinson asked
"It's not hard," Severus shrugged. He didn't actually attend all of those classes; he was able to take a few of the OWLs by studying on his own.
"'It's not hard' he says. Do you sleep?" Yaxley pressed.
Severus snorted. "Yes, most nights. I'm not a bloody vampire."
"Narcissa, is that true? Does Snape actually sleep?" The attention of the group was pulled to the Prefect, who had been passing by.
Narcissa paused and met eyes with Severus briefly before she fixed Avery with a positively frigid expression. "What, exactly, are you implying, Avery? That I frequent Severus's bedchambers at night?"
"Wha- No!"
"How else should I know of Severus's sleeping habits then?"
"I-"
"Please ignore Avery, Narcissa. He lacks social skills." Yaxley soothed.
Severus was inwardly amused to see how a glare from Narcissa could quail the entire group of Slytherins before him.
"Obviously," she said bitingly. She then turned to Severus and gave him a diplomatic smile. "Severus, I hate to interrupt, but I need your help clarifying a point on my potion's essay. Evans is worse than useless and it's due tomorrow."
He snorted as he stood. "Quite. Good evening gentlemen," he said before walked away with Narcissa, weaving through the crowded common room.
It wasn't until they were in the privacy of his room and secure behind wards did they actually speak. "Bless you, Narcissa," he breathed, sinking into the loveseat Narcissa had transfigured some time ago, hiding his face in his hands.
"You're quite welcome, dear." He felt the loveseat dip next to him and then her fingers carding through his hair.
"I don't know what to do with them when they're being civil to my face."
"Be civil back, my dear." Her voice was laden with amusement.
He looked at her now. "I don't do civil, Narcissa and you know it."
"You're civil with me, my dear," she said, still playing with his hair. "Warm and friendly. Practically a Hufflepuff." Her smile let him know she was teasing him.
He spared her a small glare with no real heat behind it. "Yes, but you're you."
She laughed, loud and clear.
"I think they had more planned for me," he said abruptly. "Something about the way Yaxley invited me to celebrate with them after the game… it was off."
Narcissa grew serious. "Do you think they would have taken you down to the Dark Hall?"
He shrugged, his eyes glazing over. "Probably. But, I don't think for the usual reason."
"They wouldn't dare," she said coldly. "Not now that the Dark Lord has laid claim to you. Besides, you're not their scapegoat any longer. I've seen the power you're capable of, you never have to play by their rules again."
"You're right," he said, trailing off.
"I sense a 'but' coming from you," Narcissa said.
Severus stood and starting pacing in front of her. "You know there are others," he said. "Other students who were – are – treated the same as me."
"Yes," she said, drawing out the word. "Where are you going with this?"
"I – when I was Slytherin's bitch, I'd take what the others couldn't, when I could." He said. "There has to be something I can do for them still, like you did for me by befriending me, and getting me a spot on the Quidditch team."
"Severus, you can't!" She shouted, jumping to her feet. "You can't! The minute you start standing up for the other half-bloods, is the minute the purebloods start looking down on you again! You have barely begun to drag yourself out from under them, and I won't let you become their kicking post again!"
"They're torturing kids, Narcissa!" He returned. "Hansen and Sutcliffe all but said so before they attacked me in the common room! What would you have me do?"
She clenched her jaw. "Tear them apart from the inside," she said harshly. "You plan to take over Slytherin, do you not? As practice for the Dark Lord's ranks?"
"That is the plan, yes," He said with a nod.
"Once you are at the top, you make the rules. Tear them apart from the inside, Severus, but only when you are safe to do so. You can do nothing for those kids now, aside from landing yourself right back where you were, as Slytherin's 'bitch' and that will help no one in the long run."
"I – fine. Fine."
She sighed and took his hands in her's. "Severus, darling, how your heart is still so big after all that's happened to you… you really should have been a Hufflepuff." He huffed in laughter at her weak joke. She smiled at him but grew serious once more. "You must first take care of yourself, for no one's sake but your own."
"As you wish," he said with a sigh. He squeezed her hands in reassurance. "Now, do you actually need help with your Potion's paper? Or was that just an excuse you used to rescue me?"
"Oh, don't remind me of that wretched thing," she groaned and let her head fall against his chest. "Evans is a nightmare to work with, always so cheerful and bubbly." Severus could feel her pulling a face, which made him smirk.
She sighed and pulled away from him. "I'll go get the damned thing; I don't need help per say, but I would feel better if you looked over it before we turned it in. Don't you go gallivanting off now."
"I'll be here," he promised.
{Furius Draconis}
(Saturday, October 22, 1977)
Severus walked down the path that led to Hogsmeade with Narcissa on his arm. She was walking stiffer than he had ever seen her walk before. They planned to go and be seen for a while to give him a credible alibi, and then Severus would leave for his first training session with the Dark Lord since the summer holidays.
"Relax," he murmured. The uproarious chatter of their peers around them made it easy to have a private conversation. "Even the Gryffindors will be able to tell that something is off with you, never mind our housemates." He gave a subtle but pointed look to the Slytherins walking near them.
She sent him a glare without any real heat behind it. "Forgive me for being worried about you, my dear."
He placed his hand over hers where it was resting on his arm. "I will be alright, I promise."
"I'm holding you to that, Severus Snape."
"I'd expect no less, Narcissa Black," he replied in amusement. "You wanted to stop by Honeydukes, correct?"
"Yes," she said, visibly shaking herself from her worry. "I'm dreadfully low on sugar quills."
"A travesty," he deadpanned, making her swat his arm.
"Do not mock – it truly would be a travesty should I run out. I fear I might bite Malbuz's head off if I am to be without my daily dose of sugar."
"Again, I say, a travesty."
She laughed at that, leading them into the soon-to-be crowded store. "How harsh you are, my dear."
"Only when it is deserving, as you know." He picked up a blood-flavored lollypop idly, twirling it between his fingers.
She snatched it from his hands, smiling sweetly as she did so, and put it, plus a few more, in her basket. "So, is everyone in the world deserving of your cutting words?"
He snorted. "They are hardly worth my attention, Narcissa, much less my 'cutting words'." He grabbed a few packets of Peppermint Toads and slipped them in her basket.
"And just how many are worth your attention?" She asked, arching her eyebrow at his choice of sweets.
"Consistently? Just you." His attention was on the squeaking ice mice and so he missed her blush. "In general? I may have enough patience for three or four at a time."
Narcissa laughed. "Truly a man of great patience. Whatever shall you do for a job once you graduate? As little as my knowledge is of jobs, I do believe you must deal with more than three or four people at a time on a day to day basis."
He fixed her with a look. "Just buy your sugary confections, woman, and quit heckling me."
"Your wish is my command," she said grandly with a low curtsy. He could only roll his eyes at her.
They drifted from store to store, making sure Severus was seen until the time came to meet Malfoy in the sparse woods by the Shrieking Shack. Throughout the day, both had managed to lose the tension they held over this meeting, but as they walked down the path to the Shrieking Shack, it crept back into their shoulders. Their chatter slowly died as they made their way down the path, and walked in silence, apart from the crunching of their boots on the dirt path.
"Severus –" Narcissa started just as they turned the corner, nearly running into Malfoy.
"Ah, Severus, Cissy, how good of you both to show up." The platinum blonde greeted coolly.
Narcissa detached herself from Severus and went to stand by Malfoy, taking up his arm. "We aren't late, are we?" Narcissa asked, concerned.
Malfoy's face twitched. "No. You aren't."
"Shall we go then, Heir Malfoy?" Severus asked. He didn't like seeing Narcissa on the arm of an abusive wizard.
"We shall," Malfoy said, his eyes narrowed at Severus. "Pardon me, my love. I'll bring your little Half-Blood toy back by tomorrow."
Severus cut a quick glance at Narcissa, mainly to make sure she kept her temper in check – she always seemed to lose hold of it when he was insulted in front of her. It wouldn't do to have her speak out on his behalf and end up punished for it later.
"Very well," she said through a clenched jaw. "It was wonderful to see you, future husband, however briefly it was."
"And you, my pet." Narcissa's face visibly soured at being called that, not that Malfoy noticed or even cared. He pulled a short golden rod from his pocket and held it out for Severus to take. "Farewell, Cissy dear!"
Severus grabbed the rod and locked eyes with Narcissa as they were whisked away by the portkey.
Worry like that has no place on her face, he resolved.
Landing with a thud, Severus gave his head a shake. Traveling by Portkey was never his favorite.
"Come along, Severus!" Malfoy called, already walking away. "It isn't wise to keep our lord waiting, you know?"
Severus glared at his back but hurried to catch up nonetheless. He eyed the golden rod Malfoy still had in his hand. "A timed, permanent portkey?" Severus asked. "I thought those were illegal?"
"Nothing is illegal when one has enough money," Malfoy said condescendingly. He glared at the teen from the corner of his eye. "Just as it is unwise to keep our lord waiting, it is unwise to take this long to respond to a letter from me. Explain."
Severus grit his teeth. He had been putting off replying to Malfoy's request, trying to find a way to word it to make sure Malfoy wouldn't go to another person to spy on her. "I'm a Prefect, I'm studying for fourteen NEWTs, and I'm on the Quidditch Team. I don't exactly have time to reply to requests such as yours, Heir Malfoy. Besides, do you really think Narcissa dumb enough to not catch on to what I was doing? Have your forgotten who her older sisters are? There is no way I'm spying on Bellatrix Black's youngest sister. I value my life far more than that, and anyone with half a brain cell would do the same."
Malfoy was outright glaring at him now. "You fear Itty Bitty Bella more than you do me?"
"Of course he does!" Bellatrix called, stepping out of the shadows. Severus was struck by how much she looked like Narcissa, albeit a dark and terrifying version of Narcissa. Malfoy visibly paled upon seeing her. "He is well aware of his place, unlike some people," she flashed a sharp grin to Severus – the same Regulus often shot his way. "Run along, little Snape. I need to have a… chat with Heir Malfoy here. The Dark Lord is waiting for you in the dueling hall. And for your loyalty to my baby sister, I'll even tell you that he's… displeased with you."
Severus bowed his head in her direction. "As is his right, as my master," he said diplomatically. "If I may, is it over the potioneer apprenticeship?"
Bellatrix eyed him. "I see why Narcissa keeps you around. Polite as can be and sharp as a dragon's tooth. It is; you had better have a good explanation for him, little Snape."
Shooting a look at Malfoy, Severus asked slyly, "Would having Heir Malfoy redirect my letters to our lord count as a good excuse?"
"You little shit!" Malfoy exploded, reaching for his wand. However, both Severus and Bellatrix were faster than he was. He slowly put his hands up in surrender, finding himself faced with both their wands.
"Well, well, well… I was going to ask what evidence you had to support that, little Snape, but this was all the proof I needed. Come along, I shall escort you both to our Lord. You are not in the wrong here, Snape."
Walking with Malfoy between them, Bellatrix led them to the dueling hall and knocked, waiting to hear their lord grant permission to enter before opening the door and giving Malfoy a shove through.
"What is the meaning of this, Bella dear?" Voldemort asked, his eyes narrowing. His eyes landed on Severus and his magic made the temperature in the room spike. "Young Severus… you owe me an explanation, and for your sake, I do hope it is a good one, else you may find yourself missing a finger or two."
Severus fell to a knee and bowed his head. But before he could even begin to explain, Bellatrix stepped in. "My lord, if I may? The reason I am here is directly tied to Snape's supposed insubordination."
Severus could feel the weight of the Dark Lord's gaze on his head. His heart was hammering wildly in his chest. He hoped Bellatrix's input was enough to spare him the Dark Lord's anger, or else he might actually not be okay, and then Narcissa would kill him. "Explain," Voldemort hissed.
"I met the two on their way here in the halls and stopped them upon hearing that Malfoy had requested Snape to spy on my baby sister – you know how I am about my sisters, my lord, I should not have stopped them on their way to you, however, and I do beg your forgiveness for delaying your youngest Chosen."
"I suspect I will forgive you once you finish your tale, Bellatrix." Voldemort granted, his heated glare still on Severus.
"Most gracious as always, Lord," Bellatrix said, bowing her head. "I was going to send Snape on to you and have a… chat with Heir Malfoy when Severus asked if you were displeased with him over his new apprenticeship with the Potioneer Zeus Derby, I confirmed that as the source of your ire. He then accused Heir Malfoy of withholding the letters he wrote to you, concerning the apprenticeship."
Voldemort whipped his gaze to the platinum blonde. "What evidence do you have for this accusation, Severus?"
"My lord," Severus started. "I first received an invitation to apprentice to Potioneer Zeus Derby not long after I left your side to get my school supplies. I met with Heir Malfoy in Diagon Alley for lunch that same day and I brought it to his attention then so that he might be able to speak to you for me as I do not have the password to the mail ward you have around your person. He also told me that should I need to write to you, that I should send it to him and that he would pass it along to you. Time passed and I heard nothing from either you or Heir Malfoy regarding the situation, despite my repeated letters to Heir Malfoy.
"Before the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, I received a summons to the Headmaster's office. Potioneer Derby was there personally to ask after my reply to an apprenticeship to him. With them both there, I could see no way I could decline or stall my answer without appearing suspicious to them both. I most humbly apologize for not waiting for your word on the matter, my lord, but my hands were tied."
"Heir Malfoy! Does he speak the truth? Did you fail to get Severus's letters to me?"
Looking out of the corner of his eye, Severus could see Bellatrix stab her wand into Malfoy's neck. "Yes!" he gasped. "Yes, my lord, he speaks the truth but –"
"But nothing! You would have me direct my ire to young Severus, when it is you who are to blame! Get out of my sight, I'll let your father deal with you."
Severus heard the door shut behind him, but he still did not dare to move from his position on the floor. The air was still charged with the Dark Lord's anger and he did not want to do anything to worsen it.
"Is it worth it?" the Dark Lord asked.
"Is what worth it, my lord?"
"Your apprenticeship? Is it worth your time?"
"I believe it will be, my lord. I have only met with Potioneer Derby once, but learned new things. My experimentations have been unguided thus far and he helped me through two of my inventions where I had been previously stuck. It also helps keep the headmaster from suspecting me, I believe. He was uncharacteristically supportive of this apprenticeship. He even gave me permission to use his office Floo even if he is not there."
"I shall allow it to continue, then." The unnatural heat of Voldemort's magic bled from the room and both Severus and Bellatrix breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, my lord," Severus said feelingly.
"You are dismissed, Bellatrix," Voldemort said. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Do no lasting harm to Malfoy for whatever it is he said about your sister."
"Thank you, my lord," she said. As she was leaving, she lightly touched Severus's shoulder. "Send Narcissa my love, little Snape, and tell her that her interesting choice in friends is most acceptable."
"I, I will," Severus said, blinking in confusion. From what he had heard of Bellatrix and her time at Hogwarts, she probably would have been one of his more ferocious tormentors. He was glad that he hadn't been at Hogwarts at the same time as her. She gave him another sharp grin and his obvious confusion.
The door shut behind her, and Severus was alone with the Dark Lord. "Rise, Severus. I want to see if your dueling skills have diminished since we last trained."
Severus was hardly standing when the Dark Lord attacked, but he was ready. If he had learned anything from the summer training with the Dark Lord, it was to hit others harder and faster than they could hit you – it was, however, a difficult principle to apply in a duel with the most powerful dark wizard of their time.
Severus kept his movements fluid, spinning out of the way when his shields wouldn't hold, swaying his wand arm in broad strokes for more power than precision in his spells as the Dark Lord had taught him. Focusing magic into his fingertips, he drew runes in the air to summon the water from the air, and with a twitch of his wrist, he turned the water to shards of ice and sent them flying towards his opponent.
"Good! Very good!" Voldemort praised as he flared his magic to melt the ice that would have skewered him otherwise.
Severus was momentarily frozen by the praise, causing him to have to throw himself to the ground to dodge the bone breaker curse the Dark Lord threw at him. Regaining his head, he shot off a volley of cover spells so he could regain his feet. It was a deadly dance he was learning, but he had a purpose now.
He had to protect Narcissa.
When the Dark Lord called halt, Severus was panting and very nearly drained. He placed a hand on the wall for support while the other wiped the sweat from his face.
"You were holding back on me before, Severus," the Dark Lord said.
"Truthfully, I was not, my lord," Severus says, mindful of how quickly the conversation could deteriorate should he say the wrong thing. "I was merely out of practice last you saw me, being back at Hogwarts has rectified that."
"In what way? Are your classmates a greater challenge to duel than myself?"
"Of course not, my lord," Severus was quick to say. "Just different. With them, I have to handle more than one opponent."
"Oh?"
"It is rarely, if ever, one student who attacks me, my lord," Severus explained.
"I will keep that in mind," the Dark Lord promised. Severus wasn't sure what he just got himself into with that. "Come," Voldemort said, conjuring two chairs with a careless wave of his wand. "Sit, let us speak."
"As you say, my lord," Severus said. He walked somewhat shakily over to the other chair, grateful to sink into the armchair. "What would you like to speak of, my lord?"
"Tell me of your ambitions, Severus. Where do you want to go in this world?" His eyes were sharp and assessing on Severus's face. The full weight of his attention was… heady in a way.
Severus blinked rapidly, trying to get his brain working. "I have always dreamed of being a well-known Potioneer," he settled on.
"A noble aspiration," the Dark Lord acknowledges.
"Thank you, my lord." Severus dipped his head.
"What projects are you working on currently? I am interested in how your mind works, Severus. What little of your talent I have seen in potions has astounded me. Your methods are unorthodox in many ways, but you rarely fail to produce what you want in a cauldron."
Words become stuck in Severus's throat. The Dark Lord seemed genuinely interested in what he might have to say in a way that very few people had ever been in his life.
"I am attempting to master the animagus transformation," Severus blurted out.
"Truly?" Voldemort asked, not perturbed by Severus's change in topic. "Not many are able to achieve the transformation. How goes that?"
Severus's nose scrunched involuntarily in frustration. "I succeeded in brewing the potion the weekend before term started, but there has yet to be a lightning storm. So, I am at a standstill, reciting that damned line sunrise and sunset."
"It is impressive that you've made it that far, Severus. Many fall ill after holding a mandrake leaf in their mouth for an entire month."
Severus waved his hand. "I have been poisoned before, my lord, the true difficulty with the leaf was keeping it in my mouth from full moon to full moon."
"You will keep me informed of your progress, Severus," Voldemort ordered. "To send a letter directly to me, seal it with your blood, and the owl will find its way to me."
"My blood, lord?" Severus asked, alarmed, forgetting he shouldn't question the Dark Lord. But he could list at least ten potions off the top of his head that could seriously harm him should any amount his blood be added to it, never mind the potions he had no knowledge of. You only gave your blood to someone you trusted with your life, and even then, it was done cautiously.
Voldemort smiled. "Smart boy," he praised. "Other than you, Bellatrix is the only one who has caught on to that. I imagine her cousin, Regulus, would do the same." He pulled a small scroll from his sleeve. "Here, for having a good, competent head on your shoulders. Brew this potion and use it as ink when you wish to write to me. The owl will be able to find me, wherever I am."
"Thank you, my lord."
Voldemort inclined his head. "Tell me, what would you make of substituting dragon's blood for that of thestral blood in a potion for true invisibility?"
Severus frowned. "I would sooner cut off my own hand. Dragon's blood, while more powerful, has nothing to do with invisibility – dragons cannot render themselves invisible – and truthfully, neither can Thestrals. They are only invisible to those who have not seen and come to terms with death, a charm passed down from mother to offspring, worked into their very being by the Picts and Druids of this isle to better protect their thestral herds. Substituting dragon's blood would probably result in an explosion or in utter sludge that would destroy the cauldron.
"The blood of a demiguise would work better, as their hair is used for invisibility cloaks. Of course, it also depends on the other ingredients you planned on using for the potion. I should think that a combination of… cherries, chicken hearts, and crushed spiders would do the trick."
"Fascinating," Voldemort said, his eyes gleaming.
{Furius Draconis}
(Wednesday, October 26, 1977)
Remus never let his friends see his transformation, it was one of the few things he held firm on. He didn't want to put them through the same horror he went through every full moon. A part of him was still insecure – felt that if they truly saw him for what he was, they'd leave.
And how could he not?
He knew what the world thought of werewolves. He knew what his father thought of them. His father's opinion on werewolves was why he was one.
He shoved that bitter thought down viciously. He couldn't do anything about it anyways.
"Here we are, Remus dear," Madam Pomfrey said, levitating a rock to hit the knot on the Whomping Willow that would halt the tree's attacks.
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Remus said calmly.
She eyed him, noting the slight tremors wracking his body. "I will see you in the morning, dear."
He nodded and slid into the tunnel the tree guarded. His heartbeat roaring in his ears, his nose filled with the crisp scent of dirt and roots, his eyes watering from it.
One step after the last, one foot in front of the other, Remus made his way to the Shrieking Shack. He could make his way down this tunnel with his eyes closed if he wanted to. He had every root, rock, dip, hole, and turn memorized.
He saw the door in the distance, and he had to fight down his fear, his terror at the sight. His monthly transformations never got any easier, even if he knew his pack would be on the other side of them. He always woke up in a bloody, broken pile and he hated it.
He hated it so fiercely he didn't know what to do with himself, other than continue to put one foot in front of the other.
His hand closed around the knob and he gave it a push and tried to calm the unyielding clawing, biting panic that threatened to overcome him.
He sucked in air sharply just to exhale it forcefully and slowly several times before he was able to fully step into the shack and close the door behind him. He really was trembling now, and he hated it.
Hated how unfair it was, that because of his father's bigotry he had to suffer every month when Fenrir could have just bitten –
He cut that thought off before it can even fully form.
He wouldn't wish this on his father. He wouldn't wish this on anyone.
This hate is an old one, but it still surges forth every full moon. Every time he's reminded of his furry little problem.
With a snarl that sounds more beast than man, Remus pulls his clothes off so he doesn't ruin them in the transformation and throws them into the closet. He paces the floor, like a caged lion, waiting for the inevitable.
Soon his anger and hatred bled into terror, pure unadulterated terror. A pure moonbeam filters through the boards on the window. He freezes mid-step and falls to his hands and knees, skin tingling all over as coarse wolf hair pushes through his skin.
The coppery taste of blood blossoms in his mouth as his human teeth are painfully pushed out of place and drop to the floor in an unrhythmic tap, tap-tap, tap.
His back contorts and he lets out a gasping cry when his tail begins to grow as the rest of his bones begin to grind and rearrange themselves into the shape of a wolf's body.
He pounds his fist on the wooden floor when his skull begins to morph. The sounds that escape him now are far more wolfish than human. He gives a keening whine when the wolf's teeth push through his already tender gums. He coughs up more blood and snaps his jaws in displeasure.
His last conscious thought is This really fucking sucks before the wolf takes over completely and lets out a bloodcurdling howl that pierces through the quiet night in Hogsmeade. Shattering the façade of peace.
He growls, thrashing and snapping, pacing and waiting.
His pack would come. They always come.
He just has to wait.
{Furius Draconis}
(Thursday, October 27, 1977)
Remus wakes in a pile of blood. He can see his teeth before him, both human and wolf, and he faintly wonders just how many teeth he has lost. Wonders where they've ended up. Wonders why he's even thinking about his lost teeth.
He lies there until Madam Pomfrey comes bustling in, a tray of potions floating behind her. She's put him back together after so many of these nights she isn't even phased by his lack of clothing.
She pulls him from his blood without much fuss, and sets about wiping it from his mouth, his face, tutting softly under her breath. She swaddles him in a blanket – a blissfully warm blanket – and begins an in-depth medical scan, just to make sure everything was put back where it should be.
He had misplaced his gallbladder once. One of his kidneys, too. Come-to with a dislocated shoulder, hip, knee, thumb – he couldn't keep track any more on that score. Had broken bones and broken shredded skin.
It was a familiar process. Something he valued at times like these, when he was still disoriented and so heartsick he didn't know what to do with himself.
She makes no comment once she's done, knowing that he wouldn't give any sort of response for several hours yet. She just sets about righting his body after a hellish night.
He wasn't sure if his pack – his friends – showed up last night. He guesses by the lack of superficial wounds that they probably did. But he's also had full moons where he didn't leave so much as a scratch on himself long before he ever knew his friends.
He suspects that it doesn't really matter either way.
"Up you go, dear," she said softly. "Let's get you dressed."
He dutifully stood but made no other moves.
"Accio Remus's clothes!"
She got him decent and began to herd him out of the door and down the tunnel. He shuffled alongside her in almost a trance, not really seeing his surroundings, not really hearing anything, not really smelling anything. It isn't until they reach the Hospital Wing that he notices a difference in anything, and that's only because now he's vertical rather than horizontal.
"Try to get some sleep, dear. Your friends are bound to come scampering in later this afternoon and Merlin knows I'll need all of my energy to deal with their antics."
He says nothing and eventually falls unconscious. It's the kind of sleep where you cease to exist and wake up not knowing where you are, much less who you are. It's Remus's favorite kind of sleep.
It seems like only seconds later he's pulled from his sleep by Sirius's boisterous voice echoing around the Hospital Wing.
His brain takes a while to catch up to what's being said, he has little more energy and a great deal more pain than he did before he slept.
"What do you mean we can't see him? Do you know how hard we worked on this month's handshake? It's bound to be our most spectacular yet!"
"Sirius Black if you do not lower your voice this instant, I will kick all three of you out!" Madam Pomfrey hissed.
Remus heard a yelp and then James's voice. "I'm very sorry Madam, we'll keep a muzzle on him-"
"A muzzle?!"
"-Can we see Remus now? We can just sit by his bed, and we'll be quiet."
"Very well! I know I cannot stop you three even if I wanted to, but – do! not! – wake him. Or I'll have your heads to hang above my doorway to serve as a reminder for the rest of the students!"
"O-of course, Madam Pomfrey!" Peter squeaked.
Perhaps he should come to his friends' rescue? That seemed like the thing to do.
Remus cleared his throat. "Madam? Could I have some pain-reliever potion?"
There was a flurry of activity on the other side of the door and before he knew it, his bed was full of the Marauders, all babbling nonsense, and Madam Pomfrey stood in the doorframe, rolling her eyes. Remus managed a small, splintered smile.
"If you three could kindly stop trying to smother my patient, I could get him his pain reliever." The three immediately jumped off the bed and out of the way. Remus was sure that they'd be bowing and scraping if they had enough room to do so.
"Thank you Madam Pomfrey," he said softly, passing back the empty vial. He could feel the effects almost immediately, and what a blessing that was.
She gave him a rare smile before turning to the three boys with a stern expression. "No rough-housing. No explosions. No rambunctiousness. No spills of questionable substances. No animals. No singing."
They nodded in unison, but it was James that spoke. "We left all of our questionable substances and behavior outside the Hospital Wing, Madam."
She eyed him especially hard. "Good." And with that, she left the room, closing the door behind her with a soft snick.
"Moony-mine, Moony-pie, Moony-moon, mon petit chou. Did you miss us?"
Remus snorted. "No. It was quiet."
They all ignored Sirius's indignant gasping and spluttering in favor of getting a game of Exploding Snap set up. Sirius joined in after a solid ten minutes of being dramatic.
From past experiences, the three boys knew that Remus would be grouchy and decidedly not himself and that it would be best to wait for him to warm back up before heaping their monthly handshake on him. They wouldn't even get a smile out of him if they just rushed right in with it.
After winning for the fourth time in a row, Remus sighed tossed his cards down, and then said, "Alright. Let's see it then."
In retrospect, he should have been worried by Sirius's mad cackle as he rolled off the bed, and even more worried by the slow, reluctant movements from both James and Peter.
Peter and Sirius somehow managed to fit everything Madam Pomfrey just told them not to do into their handshake. Remus was actually impressed. Especially when Madam Pomfrey came rushing into the room in a towering rage and chased his friends out of the Hospital Wing. The three of them were shameless enough to run away while laughing.
But his smile was more genuine now, light shimmering and dancing in his eyes, and he knew that Madam Pomfrey would let them return tomorrow, and the day after, and every month after for that reason alone.
{Furius Draconis}
Remus looked up at the sound of someone breathing in the doorway and finds none other than Severus Snape standing there. The Slytherin eyes him cautiously from the doorway, a bundle of scrolls under his arm. Remus smiles pleasantly back at his class partner.
"You can come in, you know."
"Mn." The stoic Slytherin manages, but he still doesn't move a muscle.
Remus actually looks at him now. He doesn't know the other teen well enough to discern how he's feeling, but he imagines it has something to do with entering a dark, small room with a werewolf – the same werewolf that almost mauled him due to Sirius's idiocy and hatred.
Remus is touched by the fact that Snape managed to come at all.
"Or not," he said easily. "Thank you for bringing my work. You can leave it with Madam Pomphrey."
Snape takes in a shuddering breath, and then steps into the room, stiffly taking a seat next to Remus's bed. "You've missed four classes, and unfortunately for you, we were assigned research assignments in each of them – topics were given to us. I've duplicated my notes for you. I'll get to work on finding the relevant books. Potions will be easy enough, but Ancient Studies will be more difficult."
Remus gave a soft sigh. "Of course, we were. Thank you, Snape. I'll read these. Madam Pomphrey should let me out tomorrow, I can meet you in the library then."
Snape gave a jerk of his head that Remus thought was supposed to be a nod. "If you have questions–"
"I can ask when I see you tomorrow."
They sat in awkward silence. It looked like Snape was chewing on some words, unsure if he should spit them out or not. Before Remus could ask him what was on his mind, the Slytherin stood and left the room without so much as a by your leave.
Shaking his head, Remus picked up one of the scrolls and opened it. Snape really did take nice notes – well organized too.
The way he recorded the information made so much more sense than the way the professors presented it and Remus was momentarily stunned. How the hell did Snape take what was to Remus's ears absolute confusion and present it so concisely? He was definitely begging his notes off of him for the rest of the year, because what the fuck.
Ayyy, I'm not dead. Just mostly dead.
Sorry it took so long to get this written! Life has thrown so very many hardballs at me, but I appreciate y'all's patience and understanding! There would've been a couple more sections in here, but I felt that since this was a heavily Snape centric chapter they could find a home in the next chapter, but Remus's transformation and the aftermath made it in because it made sense timewise. Would it help if I included the dates for when things are happening?
With my track record the way it is, I think it would be safe to assume that y'all probably won't be seeing the next chapter until the fabled 2021. Hope y'all enjoyed this one though! Got a lot of balls rollin' in this one.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review!
