"What's up with you lately?" James plopped down next to his quiet friend, giving him a perplexed look. "You've been even quieter than usual. I don't think I've seen you without a book, even at meals!" The black haired male pouted childishly. "You didn't even listen to our plan to send Snivellus get well cards."

Remus put down his book and gave his friend an exasperated look. "Just why would you be sending him a get well card?" He asked. He knew that his friends would rather Snape be ill forever; they wouldn't want anyone to die, though they would probably be completely fine with the Slytherin getting sick as long as it wasn't deathly... then again... Remus shook his head. No, his friends wouldn't even wish a rival dead.

'Oh, how lovely,' Came Severus's dry voice, lacking any humor at all.

'I didn't say that was how I felt.'
'Whatever...' Severus grunted in reply. Remus shivered, still getting used to hearing and feeling everything Severus felt.

James smirked. "You see... I think he has a crush on Evans. He is always staring at her in potions class. She sits right behind us and he sits two rows over and in front of us and he's always looking toward her. So my brill plan is to send him get well cards from her so that Snivellus thinks she likes him back."

Rolling his eyes, Remus looked back down at his book. "You do realize she does like him. They're best friends and if you keep this up, perhaps he will steal her from you." He chuckled. "Ever think of that?"

'Just what are the two of you talking about? Who am I going to steal from who?' Severus sounded irritated that Remus was talking to someone else about him. 'What is this about get well cards, anyway?'
'Dumbledore made up some excuse for you being in the hospital wing last night. If you must know, James has a feeling that you are in love with Lily and is planning on sending you get well cards from her... don't ask me to explain how his mind works.'
'Why would he even think that? Wait, I don't care. Though... just because she is my only friend here, doesn't mean I have to automatically like her,' Severus almost defended. Remus had no idea why he felt the need to do that.

'She doesn't have to be your only friend here... I've already told you.' At this Remus heard no answer, though he could feel that Severus was annoyed and confused and if he wasn't mistaken, maybe a little flustered too.

"Hah!" James laughed. "Why in the world would I care if he steals her? She's the most annoying bird I know." James rolled his eyes. Sirius and Peter rolled their eyes at him. They knew he liked Lily. Everyone did. "As if anyone could like Snape anyway."

It was a good thing Remus was holding a book in front of his face because at that moment he had turned as red as the Hogwarts Express.

Severus could tell that Remus was really flustered and he did not want to admit that he wanted to know why. The Gryffindor was using a lot of self control to keep his mind blank, unlike Severus who couldn't. It was lucky for the Slytherin that Remus pretended to ignore any embarrassing thoughts he heard. Not that he would admit it, Severus was thankful. Both boys knew that without a doubt that there was some mutual attraction going on, though Severus refused to believe it went any further than that.

'Why do you want to know so badly?' Remus's soft voice tickled Severus's mind. The teenager let out an embarrassing yelp. At least thirty minutes had gone by since they had directly talked to each other.

'Know what?' Severus asked.

'I can tell that you're wondering what made me embarrassed,' The werewolf said. He sounded tired, sick even. Despite himself, Severus wondered if the Gryffindor was all right.

'I don't care...' The Slytherin answered though both knew that wasn't true because as soon as he thought it, he couldn't keep his true thoughts from leaking out. He did care, and he wanted to know just what James said to the werewolf to make him so flustered.

'Maybe I'll tell you later,' Remus said mysteriously. His voice sounded even more weak and sick. He sounded like he would pass out at any moment. The Slytherin frowned, standing up abruptly when all connection to the werewolf ended. It should have been a relief, though Severus knew it wasn't because the mind connection had stopped; something had happened to Remus.

Slowly Severus made his way to the hospital wing. He had overheard Black and Potter talking about Remus, knowing he would be there. The Slytherin paused by the door. He blinked a few times, before taking a deep breath and walking inside.

'Since when has he been "Remus" to me?' Severus asked himself. With a sigh, he looked over at the bed where Remus was lying. 'Why are you sick?' He got no answer because Remus was obviously in some kind of magical coma.

"Mr. Snape," Madam Pomfry walked into the room. She gave the Slytherin a curious look. It wasn't every day that a Slytherin took the time to visit a Gryffindor, but she was sure the other had been looking down at the werewolf with concern on his face. "You know of Mr. Lupin's condition, don't you?" He should know unless Dumbledore erased his memory.

"He's a werewolf," Severus mumbled. 'What's wrong with him?' He wanted to ask, though he didn't.

"A full moon is right around the corner," The healer explained. "He gets sick and weak as his body is preparing for the change... sometimes he overdoes it and the result is what you see before you. Complete and total exhaustion of mind and body."

'It's because he's sharing two minds. So this is my fault...' Severus wasn't used to feeling such emotions, but he couldn't deny that he felt guilt and.. dare he admit it, worry. For the longest time he had thought Remus was just as bad as the others he hung out with, though he had to admit that the werewolf never, ever did anything wrong to him personally. The shrieking shack incident hadn't been his fault, either. It was hard not acknowledging that when you shared the other's mind.

Then there was the mutual attraction they weren't able to hide. 'The way Dumbledore is I've half a mind to think he did this on purpose.' The old man was observant and nosy. Had he noticed the mutual attraction they were hiding because of the house feud, and rivalry between each other?

Severus shivered. 'Creepy. That oversteps so many teacher-student boundaries.'
The Slytherin was brought to attention when flashes of memories assaulted his mind. It only took him two seconds to realize they were Remus's thoughts as he dreamed. He was seeing the werewolf's dream... He was seeing one of his nightmares. The pain Severus felt was indescribable. He felt everything Remus felt.

'"Hold him down," John lashed out to his wife.' Severus looked on as if he were in the very room. His eyes wide and disgusted, he watched as a man and a woman used their wands to restrain a little boy to his bed.

'"Papa!" Remus yelled. "I'm sorry." Tears trickled down the child's face.' Severus wasn't sure what he was watching. Why would they be holding Remus on his bed? Why was the father hitting him with his belt? Why was Remus sorry? What could the child have possibly done to deserve such a punishment?

'The mother cried as she obeyed the husband.' Severus looked on, feeling sick as they beat the boy until he was barely breathing. Then with wide eyes, Severus understood. The boy was slowly and very painfully changing into his animal self. The wolf snarled at the adults but was beyond exhausted and hurt to make much of a struggle to get away.

'They beat him while he was still human so that when he turned into a werewolf, he would be too tired and hurt to cause much trouble...' Severus was sickened by the actions of Remus's parents. Surely there had to be better ways to restrain the wolf once it was released? Dumbledore trapped him inside the shrieking shack, why couldn't his parents do something similar?

Remus's pain-filled eyes opened up. He heard every single one of Severus's thoughts. Feeling ashamed of who he was, the werewolf looked off to the side. "They do it to punish the evil out of me," Remus mumbled.

Startled by Remus's voice and their minds suddenly linking again, Severus jumped. He turned to look at the pale, sick teenager. "You are the farthest thing from evil." After seeing something so private, Severus allowed himself to be honest with the other. It wasn't likely that either was going to run off and start rumors, after all.

Remus smiled despite the pain he was in both mentally and physically. "I know that now, thanks to coming to Hogwarts." He couldn't help thinking he wished he could stay at Hogwarts all year round so that his parents wouldn't be able to hurt him when he went back home.

Severus winced. He hadn't realized Remus still got beat by his parents. "You're of age, so can't you move?"

Snorting, Remus shook his head. 'I can't exactly afford somewhere on my own and getting a job will be hard as eventually someone will put two and two together and figure out my problem... I'll be an outcast.'
Pacing back and forth, Severus started to think. 'You know Dumbledore had the right idea about the wolfsbane... I bet I can... Yes, I'm sure there must be a way to let you keep your human mind when you transform.' The Slytherin sounded excited, forgetting to guard how he truly felt.

Remus was taken aback, flushing when he felt that the other was concerned about him. A week ago he would have never thought it possible.

Severus sighed, hearing what Remus was thinking. 'Hey, I am human you know... just 'cause I'm a Slytherin and your friends hate me, that doesn't mean I have a black heart or something...' He smirked then. 'I only show it to those who are worthy of seeing it...' His best friend Lily and now Remus. Why? He wasn't one hundred percent sure, though it could partly be because he had feel... Severus quickly shook his head. 'Stop it... just don't think so hard about why.'
With a flush, Remus just smiled. 'I never thought you had a black heart. Just never thought you'd like me... as a friend,' He quickly corrected.

"Well, I do, now shut up and recover." Severus turned away from the werewolf, hiding the smallest of smiles.