A/N: Wow! I'm so excited by how much people are enjoying and commenting on this story. Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to read and leave your thoughts. I know that POA get's into some sticky territory- Albus becomes less the good guy, Severus begins to become more of a victim than a bully, and who knows how to feel about Remus. I think the comments with frustrations about the Severus/Remus situation speak to the brilliance of Rowling's writing and how developed she made these characters that we all feel so strongly about them- about what's right and wrong. I am enjoying, so much, everyone's thoughts/ventings/frustrations! This is, I would say, one of the most emotionally complex books. Quite frankly I'm looking forward to being through with these drabbles and onto GOF lol. Anyways, here's a new chapter, hopefully we all get a bit of satisfaction out of it- I know I sure did.

"Afternoon, Remus," Filius said, gently tapping his colleague on the shoulder. Making his way towards Pomona who sat on their favorite sofa, Filius waited for the other man to reply. The staff room was crowded as there was only a study hall going on, but it wasn't rowdy enough that Remus shouldn't have heard him. He was normally so friendly. He hadn't even moved when Filius greeted him.

As he settled down, Pomona raised an eyebrow. "Remus? Are you alright?" she asked.

Remus finally turned around, looking more exhausted than usual. "I'm sorry, Filius. Rough day- All Hallows Eve normally is."

From across the room, a familiar snort echoed above the rest of the chatter. Seated at a table with Minerva, surrounded by parchments, Severus looked up with a glare fixed on Remus.

Remus clearly heard it as well, turning all the way around to face Severus. "Do you find something amusing about that?"

"Not particularly; though it is typical of you to play the martyr."

"The martyr?"

"Like you're the only person who's ever suffered."

The room immediately grew quiet, Charity picking up her things and sliding out the door. Left in the room was Minerva, Severus, Remus, Pomona, Rolanda, and Filius, and the tension could immediately be felt. "So, I suppose you're mourning today as well?" Glancing over at Minerva, Filius could see her face had gone pale, looking back and forth between the two men, her hand slightly touching Severus's. "Must have been a hard defeat for your people that day- being beat by a young woman and a one year old."

Severus stood from his chair so quickly and so violently, it slammed against the floor. With sensitive nerves, Filius cursed himself as his body trembled slightly at the sudden noise. Seated between Pomona and Rolanda, who had taken the silence to slid beside him, they each put a hand on his thighs. The pressure always calmed him. His best friends knew it without saying a word. "You have no right to speak to my loyalties."

For the first time since he'd arrived, Remus rose and looked as vehemently angry as Severus had looked for the past two months. There was pain on both men's faces. "If you think I am going to let you stand here and imply you even begin to understand the pain I feel, you're wrong. I'm not the child I was when we were in school."

"Neither am I," Severus snapped, his hand on his pocket where Filius knew he kept his wand.

"Every day you practically gloat about James and Lily's death. Look at how you treat their son!"

"Remus, please…" Minerva cut in, standing as well, a hand on Severus's back. She was standing behind her lover, and it was evident that it was taking all of her self-control to let them fight it out themselves.

"Don't, Minerva," he snapped. The pause after reflected, what Filius could see, was a moment of regret for speaking to Minerva so rudely. Filius knew the great deal of respect Remus held for her. Remus took a step closer to Severus, his hands visibly shaking. Severus's face was growing redder and redder. Beside him, Pomona grabbed his hand; they all felt helpless watching the two enemies argue. Their arguments had been heated all year, but none had quite the feeling this one did. "I am not going to be bullied by you for the rest of the year."

"You want to talk about bullies?" Severus asked, pulling out his wand.

Remus immediately pulled his out, holding it with white hands. "What are you going to do, Severus? Kill me in the middle of the staff room? I have been mourning the loss of my best friends since I arrived here," Remus said, his voice cracking slightly. "I haven't had a moment to mourn. You have so much hate inside of you for me, for Harry, and my dead friends. You don't know what it's like to mourn someone. You've never had anyone to mourn. You've always been so angry and mean and-," Remus's voice was hysterical as he rambled, only to be interrupted by an equally loud voice.

"Enough!"

The voice of their Deputy echoed above both men, and both of their wands flew out of their hands into hers. Minerva's face was red, and she stepped between them. "Remus. That's enough."

"This is our battle to pick, Minerva."

"And it's over," she snapped. For a moment, Severus's face had softened slightly, the love he held for her more apparent on his face than it had been in months. "We are all mourning something today, and we are not going to make accusations of what we think others are feeling. You cannot speak to Severus's feelings, just as he isn't going to speak to yours!" Remus sat back down in his chair, sighing deeply, smoothing the sides of his face with his hands. He looked like he was trying not to snap back. "Severus," she said, turning to the equally furious man. "Meet me in my rooms."

Severus extended a hand towards her, and Minerva gave him his wand back. "You should learn to control yourself, Lupin," he growled. "The cat can get out of control if she's mad enough." Without another word, Severus slammed the door behind him.

Silence fell over the room for a few moments. Filius looked to the women on either side of him, nobody knowing what to do except let the situation play out as if they weren't watching. Remus broke the silence, reaching out to grab Minerva's hand, but she swiped it away. "Minerva, I'm so-,"

"Don't," she snapped. "I'm not Albus," she continued. "I will not stand by and allow this behavior to continue. I am not going to stand here and condone Severus's behavior, but I'm not going to allow this disregard for him to continue. There are things about Severus you do not know, and they are not my story to tell."

For a moment, Filius felt sorry for the other professor- he truly looked apologetic that he'd gotten her so angered. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me," she replied. Minerva straightened herself, looking to Filius for just a moment. He nodded to encourage her. She was doing the right thing- standing up for Severus. "But, I suggest you rethink your accusations about Severus's loyalties." Minerva picked up the parchments that belonged to both her and Severus. "This is just as hard for him. I'm tired of standing by and watching what this is doing to him." With her head held high, Minerva left Remus alone with them.

When the door had shut behind their Deputy, Remus looked awkwardly to the three professors still seated on the couch. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he muttered.

"It's alright, dear," Pomona said softly.

Filius let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding in and was the first to approach Remus, a hand on his arm. "She's right."

"She loves him," Remus said, as if he were discovering it for the first time.

From behind them, Rolanda laughed. Filius couldn't help but smile; her laugh could ease the tension to any situation. "You quarrel with Severus; you quarrel with Minerva."

"She's right, Remus," Filius cut in. "Severus's loyalties shouldn't be questioned. It's been years…"

"But," Remus interrupted, his hand up. "If he wants me to think for a moment, he gives a shit about the death of James and Lily…he's out of his mind."

"We don't know everything," Filius replied. "All Hallow's Eve has always been a hard night for him. You have no right to tell him different, no matter what his history is."

"You really trust him?" Remus asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "You all do?"

"We do," Pomona said with a small smile.

"Minerva didn't always," Rolanda said. "Oh, Merlin, she hated the man. But you see how much she loves him. Don't you trust her?"

Slowly, Remus nodded. Silence fell over the room again until Remus stood. "I'm going to get some rest," he said softly.

"That's a good idea," Filius agreed.

"Have a good night," Remus said, slowly making his way out the door.

With Remus gone as well, Filius felt his shoulders untighten for the first time since the argument had begun.