Where Severus does what he does best to his students.

SEVERUS V

He turned the ladle around the cauldron very carefully. The faint blue smoke rose slowly from the container, the intensity slightly increasing under Severus' careful hand. The fire was burning just at the right temperature, the substance boiling just at the right point, stirring at the very right pace.

Brewing and preparing potions was one of the most relaxing activities in the world for those who mastered this art. Severus counted himself as one of the few who truly managed to succeed in that domain. The focus this activity required was demanding, but it helped someone to control his emotions once he had gotten the necessary discipline to conduct it. If there was one thing Severus hated above all, it was those who couldn't control their emotions, and who spent their time crying and brooding over their situation. Severus had learned that life wasn't fair, and that letting your emotions over this unfairness cloud your mind was the worst thing to do. The very few times he let his emotions take over, he always regretted afterwards and swore to himself that it would never happen again.

And as such, in this right moment, as he was preparing a potion destined to a man he despised, he remained calm, impassive, focused on his current objective to complete a perfect Wolfsbane Potion. Another turn anti-clockwise, and the potion was ready. Severus carefully took a certain quantity of potion with his ladle, then cast a spell to a nearby silver goblet so that it flew right over the cauldron. Then, still carefully, he poured the content of the ladle into the goblet, not allowing a single drop to fall back into the cauldron. He put the goblet aside, verified the power of the fire, then left his office, heading towards Lupin's with the goblet.

As he journeyed through the corridors of the school, Severus' mind was no longer occupied by the preparation of the potion. He was only carrying it, and although even that required carefulness, it didn't require as much as when preparing. Severus allowed his mind to think about the new professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Severus Snape had an undying respect for Albus Dumbledore, but that didn't mean he was happy with all and every of his decisions. First it was this coward of Quirrell, then this fool Lockhart, and now Lupin. When Lockhart ran away, Severus offered Dumbledore to take over Defence Against the Dark Arts, like he did every year, but the Headmaster refused him, like every year. Instead, he hired the werewolf. And on top of that, as if only to add more insult over insult, he demanded that Severus prepare a Wolfsbane Potion for the new professor.

Thinking of Lupin as a professor, one for Defence Against the Dark Arts furthermore, almost made Severus sick. Remus Lupin had none of the qualifications to occupy this position. He was as good a teacher as Potter could be called a model student. As always, Dumbledore only offered Severus vague reasons as to why he chose the werewolf to be the new professor. He said that considering the actual circumstances, Lupin would be an asset if Peter Pettigrew ever tried to invade Hogwarts.

Severus remembered Pettigrew very well. He was always following James Potter and Sirius Black everywhere, and he laughed every time his friends did anything that looked even relatively funny or brilliant. And in Pettigrew's eyes, everything James Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin did was brilliant. In some ways, Severus despised Pettigrew even more than James Potter and his other friends. At least, they had talent. As arrogant and childish James Potter might have been, no one could deny his talents. Pettigrew, however, was pitiful, always following those stronger than him. And ever since Severus learned of the role he played in the events of Hallowe'en in 1981, Severus had come to hate that thing of a man, if you could call him a man. Pettigrew actually tried to have Lily killed. It didn't matter that Lupin was here. If Pettigrew ever dared to cross the borders of Hogwarts, Severus would kill him himself. Lupin, with his affliction, was more likely to be a hindrance than anything else.

He arrived in front of the door that gave on Lupin's office. He knocked very briefly on the door.

"Come in," Lupin's clear voice came from the other side.

Severus turned the handle and the door opened. He had the displeasure to find, on the other side, not only Remus Lupin, but also Harry Potter. He looked straight at the boy, who looked more like his father every day, which only highlighted the point to which he shared the flaws of the man who fathered him.

"Ah, Severus," Lupin said on a falsely happy tone. "Thank you very much. Could you leave it on the desk for me?"

He did so without a word. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."

"I will. Thank you."

Severus didn't linger in this office any longer than necessary. His last wish was to spend time with Remus Lupin and the son of James Potter. He stared one last time at Potter though, and the green eyes that met him only encouraged him to leave. He barely refrained himself from slamming the door behind him.

So, Potter maintained his habit of seeking favor with the teachers. It would be easy with Lupin, considering how close he had been to the boy's father. The boy should consider himself lucky that he was the son of Lily Evans. If he wasn't, there wouldn't be dozens of Dementors guarding the perimeter of Hogwarts only for his own safety, and Severus wouldn't be keeping an eye on the boy either.

If you ever try something again on my son, proof or not, I'm coming for you. The words Lily told him two years ago still echoed through his mind to this day. It was the last time they actually talked. He saw her, especially during Quidditch games that she attended because her son was Gryffindor's Seeker, but they never talked ever since. She didn't even thank him after she discovered it was Quirrell who tried to kill her son. But she knew. Dumbledore told her. It was the Headmaster himself who told Severus that he did tell her about this. And yet, she remained away from him, and every time their gazes had met, he only met contempt and disgust.

Severus stopped in an alcove, hiding behind a statue. Mechanically, he augmented his hearing and his view with his wand, allowing him to look through solid objects. He could take looks of disgust and hatred from everyone. Everyone but Lily. She had been the only ray of sunshine in his life, ever since they met as children. She was the only good thing that ever happened to him. And he lost her. He had never used the word Mudblood after that day in their fifth year. And all this was James Potter's fault. If he hadn't attacked him that day, if he didn't humiliate him in front of the whole school, Severus would never have used that word. This arrogant boy probably taunted him in the hope that Severus would eventually commit a mistake. And he succeeded. The year after Lily broke up their friendship, she began to get closer to Potter. First, she got along better with one of his friends, Remus Lupin. To Severus' surprise, when he revealed to Lily at this moment that Lupin was a werewolf, she unexpectedly told him she already knew. On top of that, she told him that Remus Lupin was a better human being than he would ever be. And eventually, she started dating Potter, right after they were named Head Boy and Head Girl. James Potter purposefully stopped harassing Severus in her presence, even though he continued behind her back. Severus had tried to tell Lily about that. He tried to warn her against Potter, but in vain. She didn't want to talk with him... only because of that one word. And as a result, she ended up marrying Potter, and almost getting killed in the process. It was a chance that Severus had joined the Dark Lord. Without that, he would never have been able to ask his master to spare Lily, and she would be dead right now. Only for that, joining the Dark Lord had been worth it.

As he was lost in his thoughts, Severus saw Potter coming out of Lupin's office, and turning a corner.

"Hey, Harry."

Potter stopped in his journey. A girl wearing the colors of Hufflepuff came into his view. Severus recognized her as Susan Bones, a girl of the same year as Potter, with limited talents in potions, like most of his students. He always remembered all of his students all the same, even those without interest.

"Hi, Susan. I was heading for Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"Yes, me too. You saw Professor Lupin?"

"Yes."

"Harry... There's something I wanted to ask you. Professor Lupin... I heard that you know him... quite well."

"Yes. He's a friend of my mother."

At the mention of it, Severus clenched his fists. Lily could really make the wrong choices, sometimes. An arrogant prat for a husband, a coward for a Secret Keeper, a werewolf for a friend.

"And you see him often?"

"A few times per year. Mostly during the holidays."

"Hmm... Tell me, Harry... Is he... dangerous?"

At this question, Severus' mind state changed completely. Unlike Potter, he was not at all disposed to laugh.

"Dangerous? How can you think he is dangerous?"

Again, this boy proved how arrogant and stupid like his father he was.

"Well, come on, you know...You know, don't you?"

"Know what?"

Severus first thought that Potter was feigning, but there was no trace of feint in his voice or his demeanour. He clearly and sincerely looked confused, as if he didn't know what the girl was talking about. So... what Lupin told them was true. No student knew that he was a werewolf. Not even the son of his best friend.

"I... I thought you... I'm sorry... Forget what I said... It was a stupid question..."

The girl walked away, distancing Potter, who looked even more confused as he watched her walking away, before he headed in the other direction.

So, Lily didn't reveal the truth to her son. Somehow, it made Severus feel a little better. That meant she may not trust her son or Lupin as much as he feared. However, this slight feeling of elation didn't last. Potter didn't know that Lupin was a werewolf when that girl asked him about it... But it meant this girl knew.

Severus rushed behind Bones and caught her at the end of the corridor.

"Bones!" The girl with reddish brown hair stopped in her tracks and turned to face Severus, an expression of obvious fear plain on her face.

"Y... Yes, Professor Snape," she stammered.

"Follow me!"

She didn't dare to object. Very few students dared to. Severus only relied on her footsteps he heard behind to ensure she would follow him. He headed for the dungeons, where his office was.

"Professor... I have a lesson in Defence..."

"It will wait," he cut her. He opened the door to his office violently. "Inside. Now." The girl, obviously reluctant, followed him all the same. "Close the door behind you," he ordered, and she did so.

Severus went to sit behind his desk, not caring about telling the girl to sit down. It would be better if she remained standing. He stared right at her. He knew that Susan Bones was the niece of Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. But that was the most noteworthy thing to say about the girl. She always remained silent during his Potions lessons, alone in the back of the classroom, away from everyone else. He seldom saw her talk. And even right now, she said nothing. He left her there, standing, shivering. When he considered he let her brew long enough, he spoke.

"Miss Bones, do you know why you are here, in my office?"

"Because... you asked me to follow you... Professor," she replied. But he had no time to lose with this.

"What do you know about Professor Lupin?"

Her reaction was so plain that Severus thought he could hear her heartbeat from where he was.

"What... What I know about Professor Lupin?"

"Yes," he answered softly, though he made sure his voice remained threatening.

"I... I know nothing, Professor."

He squinted his eyes. "Five points from Hufflepuff. I don't appreciate when students lie to my face. So I will give you one last chance, Miss Bones. What do you know about Professor Lupin?"

He stared at her unflinchingly, waiting for her answer. He could see that the girl was afraid. She moved her lips a few times without any word coming out of it. She kept her eyes on him, even though Severus could feel the thing she wanted the most was to escape him. He waited, and finally the words came out.

"I know he's a werewolf," she blurted out.

Severus kept staring at her for a while, purposefully allowing a heavy silence to settle in the air. "Where did you hear that?" he then asked in a whisper, making sure she could barely hear him.

"I can't tell you," she replied quickly.

"Ten more points from Hufflepuff. Last chance, Miss Bones. Where did you hear that?"

"I can't tell you!" For a moment, it was as if her eyes threw lightnings. The outburst would have surprised him if he wasn't prepared for almost anything coming from the students.

"Very well," he replied, still in his soft and threatening voice. He stood up. "Have you talked about this to anybody?"

She hesitated before she answered. "No."

"I warned you, Miss Bones. I don't appreciate liars."

"I told no one," she explained quickly. "I... I almost told Harry... but then I realized he didn't know about Professor Lupin, so I said nothing finally."

Severus took a deep breath, calming himself further in presence of the stupidity of this girl.

"You should know, Miss Bones, that the Headmaster is fully aware of Professor Lupin's condition. And so is all the staff of Hogwarts. Yes, we all know, before you ask. And so far, it seems you are the only student who knows about it, unless of course you mentioned it to anyone of your friends."

"No, I didn't. My... I told no one." He noticed the way she took away what she was about to say.

"Well, make sure it remains that way. Speaking ill against a professor is not in your best interest, Miss Bones."

The bell rang. The girl looked around. "I have..."

"I know, but you will not. Know this, Miss Bones." He let some time pass so that his next words would sink in deeper. "You will regret that I didn't take more points from you or that I didn't give you a detention, if I discover that you talked about your professor's condition in any way, to anyone. Did I make myself clear enough?"

She nodded, but it was a verbal answer that Severus wanted.

"I didn't hear anything, Miss Bones. Do you understand what I just told you?"

"Yes... Professor Snape."

"Then leave this office, and pray that your professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts does not give you a detention for arriving late in his class."

She ran away immediately, slamming the door open. Severus looked at her escaping his office with disdain. Like most students, she was mediocre, uselessly afraid and impulsive. No wonder so few of them reach his N.E.W.T. class. At least, there were few chances that she would speak about Lupin's condition. And if she did all the same... Well, Severus did his duty. If after that, students somehow found by themselves the truth about Lupin and this forced him to resign, then this would not be Severus' fault.

Severus spent the afternoon either correcting students' works or teaching them. He had to suffer a class of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws who could barely tell the difference between a cauldron in which they brew their potions and the flasks in which they put their samples.

But after the lessons were over, he went to the Headmaster's office and called Lupin so that he would be there as well. Then he did his duty and reported to the Headmaster and his colleague that a student was aware that Lupin was a werewolf. His colleague in shabby clothes seemed to take the news with resignation.

"I guess it was bound to happen," he said. "Though I have to admit I didn't think it would happen so soon."

"Who is the student who learned the truth about Professor Lupin, Severus," Dumbledore asked.

"Miss Susan Bones," he replied.

The Headmaster's face brightened up, as if he understood a great mystery. "Ah. I should have known."

"I remember her," Lupin said. "She's in third year. Hufflepuff, I think."

"Yes, she is. And her aunt shared with me her concerns about you becoming professor, Remus, before the beginning of the term. Amelia Bones is aware of your condition. She must have told her niece, or maybe the young Susan heard her aunt talk about it with her parents."

"Whatever," Severus declared. "The most important is that she knows the truth about Professor Lupin." As much as he hated to call Lupin with this title, Severus still felt some obligation to give a minimum of respect to his colleagues, no matter how undeserving of the position they were. "I made her promise to not tell anybody, but with children of this age, we never know. It would suffice that she talks about it to another student and the rumor would spread through the castle more quickly than the pestilent smell of Dungbombs. We're already lucky that Potter's brain is as atrophied as that of a house-elf."

"Wait. She told Harry?" Lupin asked, looking more curious than afraid.

"She almost did. She seemed to think that Potter somehow knew about you, but she soon found out that it wasn't the case and had enough brains to not say anything more. I doubt that Potter suspects anything."

It was strange, but Lupin almost seemed disappointed. Severus would have expected him to feel insulted by his words about his deceased friend's son, or afraid at the news that people were discovering the truth about him, but none of these emotions appeared on his traits. Instead, he turned to Dumbledore and spoke to him as if they were talking about the weather.

"So, Dumbledore. What do you think we should do? If the news that I am a werewolf start to spread, it could create panic among the students and their parents. Who would blame them? If you want my resignation..."

"Remus, let's not jump the steps here," the Headmaster interrupted him, to Severus' great displeasure. If Dumbledore stopped Lupin from continuing, then it meant he didn't want to hear about a resignation. "You are no danger for the students of this school, and so far, no general panic is to be expected. I'm going to have a little discussion with Miss Bones and maybe her aunt about this. I'm sure we can find a way to keep the truth about your condition a secret. Especially at the moment when my students finally get to enjoy their lessons in Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Severus didn't miss the amused look Dumbledore sent in his direction for a very quick moment. Indeed, Severus had heard about Lupin's way of making his lessons interesting. For example, by having silly and talentless students like Longbottom turn a Boggart into Severus wearing the clothes of his grandmother. The news of this had travelled through the school even more quickly than Dungbombs. Severus was sure that Longbottom and his friends had a very good laugh at him, but they would soon learn how he could have a good laugh at them.

"By the way, Remus," the Headmaster resumed, on a more jovial tone, "is it true that the Boggart from yesterday took the appearance of Darth Vader at one point?"

"I'm afraid I do not know who Darth Vader is, Professor," Lupin replied, looking a little too much uncomfortable to be sincere to Severus' state.

"Well, in this case, you should have gone to the cinema more often with Lily and Harry."

"I don't have much time for cinema, Professor, I'm afraid."

"It would be worth it, Remus. You see, Darth Vader..."

Severus was forced to listen to Dumbledore talking about one of those stupid Muggle entertainments they called movies, and took his leave as soon as he could. He despised everything that was related to Muggles ever since the day he knew what kind of person his father was, which meant since forever. He had no desire to hear about it, even less when it was Albus Dumbledore who talked about it excitedly, with Lupin in attendance who seemed quite interested. Severus wondered who among the students could have as his worst fear a movie character. Not that he was surprised, but he still wondered who among them could be more stupid than all the others. At least, he was sure that it wasn't Malfoy. After all, if there was one student in Hogwarts who he could be sure had no love for anything even remotely related to Muggles, it was the son of Lucius Malfoy.

Severus hoped that students and parents would find out about Lupin. He wouldn't be the one to tell them, of course. Dumbledore swore them all to secrecy. But Severus couldn't prevent the news from spreading if somehow a student learned about this and began to tell all his friends about it. Or her friends.

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Next chapter: Hermione