Death Eater Takes a Holiday

Chapter 56 A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing.

Severus Snape was conveniently stationed near the entrance hall, conversing with Argus regarding the finer points of productive detentions. Argus recounted the good ol' days when a proper detention involved shackles. After forty minutes he wanted to be anywhere else. Severus was no longer sure his purpose in being in the entrance hall justified the means. He was extremely grateful to see Remus Lupin walking down the steps to the entrance hall finally.

"Excuse me, Argus," Severus politely smiled, turning to Remus, giving him the once over. "If I can have a word with you, Professor?" he addressed Remus.

"I was just on my way out," Remus attempted to get by without making eye contact with the Potions Master. He was embarrassed enough without having to discuss the matter.

"It will only take a few moments of your time," he replied silkily. "Perhaps we could go somewhere private?"

Remus nodded, and started for the stairs but then realized Severus had walked briskly past him, proceeding to the dungeons, not Remus' office. Severus spoke not another word until he had steered Remus into his office.

"Is that the best you can do?" Severus eyed his outfit in distain. "I'd hoped, since you'd given up wearing rags last year, that you might have something fitting to go out in. Apparently, I was mistaken." He gestured for his coworker to follow him.

"What's wrong with what I have on?" complained Remus, clearly insulted.

"Absolutely nothing if you're going on a dinner date," Severus held up the pair of brown leather pants he usually wore when riding, scowling when the length was four inches long. Next was a black pair that was much shorter to accommodate tucking into boots. He tossed them to Remus, who huffily changed while Severus conjured a full-length mirror.

While they were similar in waist size, Severus had a longer torso and higher hipbones. tha that won't do," Severus spelled the pants off Remus, taking him totally by surprise.

"Was that necessary?" griped Remus, feeling ill at ease standing in only his shirt and boxers.

Severus ignored the question, taking a long look at Remus' figure. Rubbing his chin in thought, Severus contemplated a solution. With unexpected speed, Severus grabbed Remus' shirt collar and gripped his hip. With a turn and an easy shift in balance, Severus flipped his unsuspecting victim over his back, landing him sprawled out on Severus' large bed. "Just as I thought, they're about the same size," a pleased Severus turned to the fireplace, ignoring his traumatized guest. Throwing in a handful of Floo powder, Severus called out his good friend's name. An unshaven man with brown, wiry hair appeared.

"Snape, you unsociable bastard!" Kieran shouted merrily. "How many times am I going to find strange men in your bed? You know he's pointing a wand at you, right?"

Severus didn't bother to turn to see if Remus was about to hex him. "I need some clothes. Whatever you wear when you go out drinking with Jo will do."

A moment or so later, Kieran stepped through the fire with an armful of clothes. "Is there something I should know about Fawkes?" Kieran liked Harry and hoped he and Severus hadn't broken up.

"Remus Lupin, meet Kieran Donnelly. Remus is a friend of Fawkes, he knew his family from way back," explained Severus. Kieran offered a hand to Remus, helping him off the bed. Remus had to admit he and this man did seem to be the same size, even if he didn't appreciate the way Severus 'sized him up'.

"I've heard your name before," smiled Kieran. "You're in the Order, right? Me, too," he said, surprising Remus.

"Are you new to the Order?" he asked, confused, though the name sounded familiar.

Severus looked over the various clothing that his friend had offered. "Kieran is what you would call a 'behind the scenes' member," Severus offered no further information.

"Almost ten years now with the Order," said Kieran, counting on his fingers. "I don't 'do' meetings," he added with a grin. Severus snorted.

Kieran and Severus discussed a few trivial things while Remus got dressed. Severus had glanced over when Remus pulled off his shirt. He hadn't expected Remus to be out of shape, but was surprised to find the wizard had a decent body. Personally, he didn't care for a full chest of hair, but some people found it appealing.

"Perhaps you should work with the assets you have," suggested Severus, handing Remus a tighter shirt with a V-neck, exposing his brown chest hair sprinkled with grey. He saw surprise in the wolf's eyes, but he wasn't sure if it was caused by the flattering remark, or the transformation in his own appearance.

Remus was put off-balance by a laid back Snape, and could better understand what Harry meant when he'd said that Remus didn't know Severus as well as he thought. He then remembered a comment Kieran had made. "Found many strange men in his bed?" he asked Kieran, but kept his eyes on Severus.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist. It was just the one. Two now, counting you," grinned Kieran.

"He means Harry," added Severus.

Kieran gathered the rest of his clothes and chuckled at the memory. "I didn't even recognize him. He'd spelled his hair long for some dance, and I only saw him from the back."

Severus squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable.

"YOU HAD HARRY IN YOUR BED BEFORE HE FINISHED SCHOOL?" shouted a furious Remus.

"Sorry about that, mate," Kieran laughed, not looking very apologetic at all and quickly taking the floo out, leaving Severus to explain.

~*~

Hermione curiously watched a contented Dudley sitting on Harry's sofa with his eyes closed. "What's he doing? She asked no one in particular. Ron shrugged, not taking his eyes off the chessboard as he contemplated his next move. Harry knew, but wasn't in the mood to explain. Bill was leaning on the kitchen wall, quietly speaking into his girlfriend's ear. He replied when no one else spoke up.

"Remus spelled the sofa so that whenever the Dud closed his eyes, he'd see memories of his father."

"Remus did that?" Hermione knew Remus was a sweet guy, but didn't think he'd go out of his way to do something like that for the slime who'd helped make Harry's life miserable. "He doesn't seem too upset by the memories. I'd be in tears watching it if my dad had just died."

Harry watched his defeated king fall from the throne, ignoring Ron's snickers. "He's watching memories of his father hitting, yelling or otherwise being an all around arse to his favorite nephew," Harry said flatly.

"What?" flabbergasted, Hermione waited for additional explanation. "I thought Remus offered to came here to help keep the peace, not encourage a war." She frowned when Dudley's face lit up at a particularly vivid memory. "That's despicable." She was tempted to shove the intruder off the sofa, had he not been triple her weight.

Harry grimaced. "He said everything happens for a purpose. I guess if nothing else, he's easier to deal with like this. Whenever he gets annoyed, instead of threatening me, he sits back down on the sofa with a vicious smile." Harry glanced over at his cousin. "I don't even know how the spell is possible. Dark magic, maybe?" then shrugged. Harry still felt a little bad for making Remus uncomfortable and didn't want to question his motives...or method.

~*~

Hermione continued to surreptitiously watch Dudley. She had her suspicions, but wasn't completely sure until some time later in the evening when she spotted a minute clue. He had flinched several times prior to getting up for a snack. Returning with a bowl of ice cream, Dudley closed his eyes between spoonfuls. The smile had left his face, but a morbid curiosity kept him watching. While studying him like a documentary, Hermione guessed he would keep at it for another thirty minutes.

A welcome distraction came when Fred came in by floo, shortly followed by George. They came bearing packages, which was never a good sign. Bill quickly explained to his girlfriend, Ursula, that it was now officially unsafe to eat anything. "That explains why you're all so skinny," she teased.

"Yeah, except Mum," George received a smack from Bill for his comment.

"Watch it, Gred," warned Ron.

"What?" he asked innocently. "I only meant that we don't prank Mum."

"Sorry, Ursula, I can no longer guarantee your safety," said Harry ruefully, throwing his hands up in a defeated gesture, trying not to laugh. The witch giggled and cuddled up closer to Bill for protection. She was a pretty girl with strawberry blond hair and wore a robe of pastel pink as well as a matching hat with the point folded down fashionably to one side.

"Have a biscuit, Harry, they're ginger, you'll love 'em," offered George with a winning smile.

"That's our cue to leave. Harry, good to see you again." Bill bowed to them all.

"You're no fun. Where's your sense of adventure?" teased Harry.

Bill's response was cut off abruptly by Dudley, who had stood up and run to the loo.

"Twenty-eight minutes!" shouted a triumphant Hermione. "I knew it," she smiled, watching Dudley bolt from the room. She was the first to realize what it was Remus had intended when spelling the visions for Dudley. She'd watched as he had become more and more fidgety on the sofa. After several winces and his third flinch, she knew it was only a matter of time before Dudley's gift from Remus would stop being entertaining. Ron and Harry looked confused as they heard the door to the bathroom slam. The grin on Hermione's face only grew.

"Something he ate?" ventured Ron, not seeming to care one way or the other about Harry's cousin.

"Think about it Ron. How long..." Hermione started, but was cut off.

"It's never a good sign when she starts like that," Ron interrupted, earning him a smack.

She held back a sarcastic comment, and continued where she'd left off. "How long do you think he could watch his father brutalizing Harry? Sure, it would be entertaining for a while, but even his hatred for Harry would eventually not be enough to excuse the unjust treatment. Less then half of what Harry's told us would be enough to freak out most people." Hermione locked eyes with Harry. "And most likely we weren't told the quarter of it."

It took Ron a moment to sort through the words she'd shifted around, but Harry knew. There was no reason to tell them everything about his life with the Dursleys. What he had told was enough. Any more would be redundant and only earn him more pity. Hermione was a clever enough witch to figure that out, and he was grateful for her compassion and that she understood she didn't need every detail of his life. She looked into his bright green eyes, not with pity, but proud of her friend's resilience.

Harry winked at her. "Aren't you the clever one?" he teased.

The fireplace flashed green, announcing Arthur and Molly. Harry stood up to greet them, holding his arms out for the inevitable hug from Molly. He could feel Arthur's hand smack him on the back in greeting.

"You're not leaving already, are you, Bill?" asked a disappointed Molly, seeing him reaching for the Floo powder box.

"I'm sure we can stay a few more minutes," Ursula said sweetly to Bill's mum. Molly gave her a hug, and glared at Ron who seemed to have a coughing fit that sounded suspiciously like 'kiss-up'.

"Oh, sure we can stay longer," Bill replied sarcastically to his girlfriend. "You've only been here for 45 minutes. I spent all morning with Uric and Albert here."

The joke went right over the heads of Harry and Hermione, the two muggle-raised. They'd yet to hear of the wizarding duo Uric and Albert, whose misadventures were told in many a bedtime story at the Burrow.

"I had the Albert action figure until Forge here," Ron pointed to the twin. "figured out how to spell it to do obscene things to my Joscelind Wadcock figure.* Only the greatest Chaser Puddlemore United ever had. Joscelind's broom wasn't supposed to go there!" protested Ron while the twins went on about mature wizards that need to get over pranks that happened a decade ago.

Molly and Ursula entered the kitchen chatting, followed closely by the twins, who were hoping to get some of the pudding Molly had brought.

Arthur had questions for Hermione regarding an odd little muggle item called a pencil sharpener. Harry and Ron had sat back on the sofa, watching the lively conversation about muggle writing instruments. Ron loved that after all these years, Hermione would still happily sit with his father to discuss mundane muggle things. Ron sighed happily, watching the way the light glowed across her face. He'd hardly heard Harry's question.

"Which one am I, Uric or Albert?" Harry asked, still thinking about the wizarding stories Ron was so familiar with.

"Uric, of course," Ron stated boldly. "I'm Albert, he's the witty one. Uric is the one who gets them in all the trouble."

~*~*~*~

Two drinks later, Remus left his seat up at the bar, and walked bravely to the table near the corner of the room. There had been five men at the table when he arrived, but only three remained. He hoped Seth wasn't one of the two that had left together. A brawny wizard on the far left was scanning the room, checking out the leather clad patrons with taste similar to his own. While he was well built and attractive, Remus secretly hoped it wasn't the man Severus wanted him to meet. That close to the full moon, he needed to be with someone who would be comfortable when the wolf came out and he took control. While he was out of practice with the night scene, he was confident of his skills, otherwise. The other two wizards seated there were talking animatedly amongst themselves. They both seemed more approachable, at least for tonight. He caught himself and wondered when it was he'd decided tonight was not a one-time visit.

The wizard sitting in the middle wore a robe cut unlike any Remus had seen recently. It was clingy, and open low in front, revealing much of his dark skin. Remus thought for sure if the man stood up, he'd see every line and curve. It was the third wizard that first noticed Remus approaching. He had long brown hair with red highlights and fair skin, but with pink cheeks and nose like he'd been in the sun too long earlier that day, or perhaps windblown. He smiled at Remus, patting the seat beside him. The wizard in the clingy robe introduced himself, reaching across his friend to shake Remus' hand.

"I'm Basil, and you are?" he flashed a dazzling smile.

"Scrumptious," the other wizard answered the same time Remus gave his name.

"Very nice to meet you, Remus," Basil said with a hungry look. "This is my dear friend, Willie."

"The name's Will, don't listen to this tosser." Will said humorously. "Don't think I've seen you here before. What brings you around?"

"A friend," Remus began nervously and reprimanded himself for it. "Severus suggested I come by here," he prayed that he'd not been steered wrong by his reluctant coworker.

The leather-clad wizard hadn't been paying much mind, but hearing the name Severus got his attention right quick.
Basil moved to sit on the other side, putting Remus between him and Will.

"It's far too long since we've seen Severus," his comment accentuated with a squeeze to Remus' leg. Will nodded in agreement, surprising Remus with his next remark.

"So, you're a friend of Severus? Doesn't he have a glorious cock?"

Remus choked on his drink, sputtering his apologies.

"Not that kind of friend, 'eh?" Will handed him a napkin, smirking.

"No, we're not all that close," he admitted.

Basil took a long sip of his drink while considering Remus. "Still, you must be special. Severus has never sent in a friend or otherwise."

"We go way back," too far back, thought Remus. "You say it's been a while since he was here?" Remus thought there was no point in missing the opportunity to check and make sure. He was relieved when the others confirmed their disappointment that summer had come and gone without a word from him. "He mentioned I might meet up with Seth. Do you know him?"

Basil and Will's faces lit up with renewed interest, while the still nameless leather-clad wizard suddenly lost interest in what Remus was saying.

~*~

Mr. Weasley confirmed that Petunia's release from St. Mungo's would be the following day. Harry was relieved to be getting rid of his cousin soon. Dudley was abnormally quiet for a while after his sudden flight to the loo, but soon fell back into his usual annoying self. Harry didn't bother to intervene when he saw the twins chatting him up. He was happy to go to a different room. In his little home, that meant the kitchen.

"Mum, you outdid yourself, everything was great," praised Bill. Molly was delighted to see Ron, Harry, and Bill had made a big dent in the food she'd left. "The blueberry cheesecake was the best you've ever made," Bill said with his head in the icebox.

"I didn't make cheesecake, dear," Molly eyed the impressive dessert Bill had taken out for seconds. "Don't make that face," she said, seeing him cringe with regret. "I'm not so thin-skinned as to be insulted over a thing like that." She smiled approvingly at Harry, "You'll have to give me the recipe. I didn't know you were so skilled in the kitchen."

"Actually," Harry checked to see that Ursula had left the kitchen. "Severus made it."

Ron snickered. "Like you always said, Mum, if you can find someone that cooks better then you, put a ring on her...um, his finger."

"It's a good thing Dudley will be leaving, Ronald. It looks as if you'll be needing a place to stay," Molly threatened her son, a wooden spoon waving in his face. Ron laughed and tried to lick the pudding off the spoon, but she was too fast for him.

Sometime later in the evening, Molly and Arthur said their goodbyes. Bill and his girlfriend had gone an hour before, leaving Harry with Ron, the twins, Hermione and his dear cousin Dudders. Molly had looked around to say goodbye to Dudley, but found him passed out on the sofa. She eyed the twins, but made no comment before leaving.

"What did you do to him?" asked Harry nonchalantly. He didn't really care in the least, but was making conversation. The twins quickly claimed innocence. However, a bowl of Ginger Naps on the coffee table explained a lot. Harry had allowed the twins to use the kitchen to cook up a few products. The houseguest had put their production behind schedule. "I thought you figured out how to make them so the victim only slept for a few minutes."

"We did, but the pig grabbed a whole handful and shoved 'em in his mouth at once. Don't really know how long he'll be out. He makes a great test subject." The twins never elaborated what other products they may have tested on him.

The trio transfigured a chair into a small sofa and relaxed. They filled Hermione in on any details she'd not heard about the attack at Harry's construction site, and talked about setting up a warding at the Granger home. Harry's friends had always been targets, but now that Ron was an Auror and often involved in the attacks on Harry, they were concerned for her safety.

Hermione was suddenly interrupted by a groan from the larger sofa. Dudley appeared to be having a bad dream. They'd each tried their hand at waking him, to no avail. Harry was more than happy to try a bucket of ice water over his cousin, but even that hadn't been enough to break though the spell of a huge handful of Ginger Naps.

Having tried everything they could think of, Harry and Ron were about to give up and put a silencing spell over the noisy sleeper when Hermione had an idea.

"Ron, move the coffee table out of the way. Harry, can you levitate the sofa up for me?" Having long since learned to just trust Hermione, they did what she asked. When she was satisfied that the sofa was up high enough, Hermione, standing at the end, pushed up on one of the back legs of the sofa, tilting it forward. Dudley dropped to the floor with a satisfying thud. After a loud grunt and whimper, Dudley settled down and slept quietly.

"What did you do, knock him out?" laughed Ron. Hermione smiled, having enjoyed both seeing Dudley drop, and having been right in her assumptions.

"The spell for Dudley to see Harry not being treated so kindly is activated by closing his eyes, but only works while he is on the sofa. I guess it works in his sleep, too. I can imagine the few hours of viewing he got was a bit of an eye opener for him."

"Maybe we should make sure?" asked Harry with a gleam in his eye. Ron's grin widened. He was up for an experiment. Harry, grateful for magic, used Wingardium Leviosa to spell the rotund boy back onto the sofa. It took a few minutes, but it became clear he was definitely having disturbing dreams, or whatever you want to call the visions of Harry's abuse.

Hermione felt a little guilty for enjoying tipping Dudley onto the floor again, but wouldn't give Ron the chance to do it. She hadn't had this kind of fun since she slapped Malfoy in the face. Satisfied with the results of their experiment, the trio continued their previous conversation regarding wards for the Granger home.

Having eventually exhausted their conversation, Ron and Hermione sat quietly cuddling on sofa and not paying any attention to the program that was on. Ron rested his feet on the coffee table by Dudley's body, but Hermione's legs were too short so she opted to use the unconscious beast as a footrest.

Harry sat, fidgeting. Not that he was uncomfortable while his friends cuddled, but he couldn't get his mind off Severus and the overdue talk they needed to have. Hell, he just wanted to be in the man's arms. Ron and Hermione noticed his restlessness, and were only too happy to hang out and watch over Dudley. Ron gave Harry a wink and suggested he have a quiet night's sleep in his room up in Albus' tower. Harry smirked, knowing his friends wanted to have Harry's place all to themselves. Dudley certainly wasn't going to be a bother.

~*~

"Ten points each for being out after curfew," reprimanded Snape. "An additional fifteen for my having had to witness such a deplorable display." His lips curled up at the sight of two fifth years scurrying away whilst still buttoning up disheveled robes.

His keen senses made him aware of the sound of footsteps, not of the fleeing Hufflepuffs, but someone else. He wasn't expecting the wolf back so soon, and was surprised to see Harry in the distance walking down the corridor.

"Mr. Potter, respectable wizards don't make social calls at such an hour. What, pray tell, brings you to Hogwarts?" he asked, knowing that it was never safe to assume there wasn't someone listening.

"I didn't know you considered me a respectable wizard, Professoape,ape," smiled Harry. "I'm just going up to my room in the tower."

"Do you have need to speak with the Headmaster?" he thought maybe Harry had had a vision, though he didn't appear to be distressed. "I can escort you there myself, if need be. I don't want to see you wandering the halls. You may not be a student here, but you set an example to the others, nonetheless." He'd missed this. It was hard to explain, but it was still fun to bait Harry Potter when catching him out after curfew, even if it was a moot point.

Harry shook his head. "I think I can find my way. Tell me, Professor," Harry smirked. "Does it bug you, knowing you can't take points off?"

"It's more than made up for by the fact that I know, this year you will not get into some harebrained adventure prompting last minute points from Albus Dumbledore. Slytherin may actually have a chance at the cup."

"It's still early in the year, Professor. I wouldn't be too sure," teased Harry.

Harry was not surprised to find Albus in his office, waiting to greet him. "You're not going to tell me how you know who's at the door, are you?" His guardian smiled innocently. Harry would continue to try for the answer, though not expecting one.

"How are you holding up with your houseguest, Harry?" Albus didn't expect him to leave his cousin alone.

"Fine. He's still a prat, but fortunately his need for sleep has alleviated the stress of his visit." He smiled wryly, not explaining his comment.

Albus eyed him critically.

"What?" Harry asked defensively, trying not to smile. "Anyone spending time in my home is a possible target for Weasley pranks. I can't help it if he overdosed on the not yet patented 'Ginger Naps'. That's what he gets for being a glutton." He was amused that he felt like a child explaining himself to Albus.

Albus made his best attempt to look reprovingly at Harry, but it wasn't easy. "Then you didn't hex him with a sleep spell?"

"Well...not today. Before you ask, I didn't leave him alone; Ron and Hermione are there. They're playing house," he smiled thinking about his friends. He and Albus discussed Ron's impending proposal to Hermione, and then, the possibility of Harry attending the funeral for his uncle. After much debate and considering the pros and cons, Harry decided he would not go to the church service, as his family had never included him in their Sunday rituals, and he'd no plans to pray for the departed Vernon. Harry would go to the cemetery for the buriald thd that was it. Any press would choose the cemetery to get a story. Most were not so rude as to go to a house of worship during services. That, and the scene at the cemetery made for a photograph that would sell more copy.

Ordinarily, Harry could care less what story was done on him, but he didn't want to chance someone looking into why Harry wouldn't attend his uncle's funeral. It wasn't impossible for someone to find out he had been abused; difficult, but not impossible. In addition, Harry hadn't forgotten what Remus said about closure. He would be glad to know that part of his live was truly over.

When Harry arrived in his room, the first thing he did was open the floo. After kicking off his shoes and socks, he threw a pinch of Floo er ier into the fire. "Severus." Harry peered through the fire looking for Sev.

"What a surprise," Severus deadpanned.

"Busy?" his tentative tone hopeful.

"Yes, I have a huge stack of grading to do, but I suppose it could wait," he answered vaguely.

Harry was about to point out that he'd spent many weekends with him, and papers to grade had not been a problem then, but then he remembered Severus had been busy this past week, if you counted Wednesday night's Death Eater escapade. "Do you need to be available for your students or would you like to join me in my room?" Harry hated the expression 'your place or mine'.

Severus took a step back invitingly, allowing Harry in. He liked the privacy his own rooms provided.

"I've missed you," Harry stated in a tired voice, and noticed the small show of relief Severus allowed on his face. "There's so much going on; I hate that we're so far apart when all I want to do is feel you close to me." He closed his eyes when he was awarded that very feeling as Severus' strong arms wrapped around him tightly.

"I know I've overreacted about everything going on. It seems like everyone else around me is relieved to have Vernon out of the picture. Some, more than others," he added, thinking about Ron and Bill's conversation with him. Bless the Weasley family.

"It was your possible reaction that kept me from killing him outright," admitted Severus. "I didn't want to lose you; I thought I might have," he said these words into Harry's hair, and then rested chinchin there. He didn't recall the extra height, and looked down to see Harry was barefoot, toes curling over the edge of his boots.
wou would be a fool to let you go over Vernon," Harry's words were muffled in Severus' robe, but he heard the words.

"Yet, it wouldn't be the first time I attempted to convince you of your foolishness."

Harry could almost feel the smirk against his head. "Yes, yes, a fool, you've mentioned it once or twice in my years here at Hogwarts. But it's been months since you called me an Insufferable Brat."

"That you were listening," murmured Severus, and Harry realized there were tim times he'd not really been listening to Sev's words when the silk of that voice sent him off into oblivion. He realized he should probably be listening now, when the deep, sexy sound resonated through him. "Why, after his treatment of you, and your near death, would you be upset over his demise?"

"I scared myself. My first reaction to Vernon's death was indifference. I had been too worried about Ron. I was so relieved when I saw the man, and knew it wasn't Ron, I didn't care that Vernon was lying dead, right there. It's not that I expected to feel sad, it was that I tried not to think too much about the relief I felt, what that meant about me; I guess I felt a bit guilty about my reaction. One of the reasons I never told anyone about Vernon was because I was afraid of having to go to an orphanage, like Tom. His family hated magic and sent him away. He killed them for it," Harry softly explained. "I was afraid to admit to myself th was was glad Vernon died, after he'd treated me that way."

"You wouldn't have been sent away," Severus said evenly. "and shouldn't compare yourself to the Dark Lord."

"Tell that to a twelve year old," he muttered. "We have too much in common for my comfort. I wanted you to see the real me, so I told you a lot of stuff I don't usually tell people. Maybe, subconsciously, I was letting you find out about things like my tenth birthday because I wanted you to protect me from them."

"It's official; you've had too much counseling. You're over-analyzing things," Severus said lightheartedly. Realizing what Harry had said about his tenth birthday, he added, "Letting me find out about your tenth birthday? I think I've been had," he feigned resentment. "Did you set up that whole thing, me seeing your birthday in the cupboard, in your pensive project?"

"I couldn't let you go on thinking I was a spoiled brat, could I?" Harry laughed, and then heard Severus comment about Slytherin tendencies.

"Does this mean we're okay now?" Severus asked, knowing the answer. Harry nodded, but despite the lightheartedness of their words Severus could see Harry was still thinking about it. "Do you remember when we were on holiday and I asked you if you thought you would change so much that you would be a different person altogether in twenty years?"

"Yeah, that was when you were trying to convince me that Sev was Severus Snape even if I couldn't see it yet. But you have to admit; you are much more complex than your temporarily younger self thought you would become."

"Yes, I was clueless to say the least, but my point is: you will grow and there will be changes, but you will still be the man I know and love. You may see a lot of similarities between you and 'Tom'," Severus couldn't believe he'd referred to the Dark Lord as Tom, "Trust me when I say, there are many, many more differences than similarities." Severus looked deeply into Harry's eyes, and added one more thing to bring their conversation to a close. "Throughout his years in Hogwarts he secretly studied the Dark Arts, and in his sixth year, proceeded to set a basilisk on the school to kill muggleborn students. Am I making my point?" Severus sounded like he was in the classroom. Harry nodded; his weak smile grew brighter before pulling Sev down for a kiss.

~*~

Remus finished off another drink. He was feeling no pain, but he wasn't drunk. The werewolf metabolism worked to his advantage.

"You're a friend of Severus? Where's he been, hooked up with a steady shag?" asked the wizard who had been basically ignoring him since he asked about Seth.

"Are you Carl?" Remus grinned, the man nodded. "If I'm guessing right, I think this explains where he is. Severus said to give this to you. Something about a bet?"

Carl's shocked expression didn't go at all with the tough persona he portrayed. He took the gold coin from Remus, and, staring at it, placed it on the table before downing his drink in one.

"No way!" Basil exclaimed in a stage whisper. "Carl, that is not a bet I thought you'd win," he added incredulously.

"I assume you're talking about him being in a steady relationship." Remus wanted to confirm his guess. It was Basil who answered.

"Carl told him that there was someone for everyone. Severus insisted that if he were so inclined, though he wasn't, that he could probably find someone worth having a relationship with, but that love was for the suckers who were foolish enough to believe it existed."

"I only made the bet to annoy him. He's more fun when he's provoked," Carl explained suggestively

"Carl likes it rough," Will added, but Remus didn't hear it as he was still getting over what Basil had said. Severus would never come right out and say to Remus that he loved Harry, but had revealed himself by giving him the coin for Carl, knowing it would be explained.

His mind wrapped around that for a while, but was soon distracted by Basil and Will trying to decide who would introduce him to 'Seth'. Apparently he had a room across the street.

~*~

"This is a great set of quidditch robes Snape got Harry," commented Ron, checking out the black outfit in Harry's wardrobe. Hermione spelled fresh sheets on the bed, and sat in what she hoped would be a sensual pose.

"Best friends or not, you shouldn't be snooping though Harry's stuff," huffed Hermione when Ron hadn't yet noticed her pose.

"What the...Oh! Eww, that's just gross," Ron squished up his face, quickly closing the bedside table drawer.

"That's what you get for being nosy," chastised Hermione, but then she couldn't resist peeking and decided she had to find out where Harry bought his toys.

~*~


Remus' expression was priceless when Will told him 'Seth' was code for 'get me laid', though he said he may be paraphrasing a bit. Remus was equally embarrassed when Will offered to spell him, and he had no clue as to what he was talking about. Remus had been monogamous with Sirius, and it'd been a long time before that since he'd dated. Will grinned and cast the spell to protect them from diseases.

"This explains why you were so eager for me to meet Seth," Remus' voice was muffled as his shirt was pulled over his head. Will nibbled on his shoulder.

"Oh, yes," purred Will against his neck. A hummed sound of agreement came from Basil, whose mouth was wrapped around Remus' eager cock.

Tbc

A/N: Wadcock? Only JKR can make this up. *snicker*
*Joscelind Wadcock, Chaser for Puddlemere United can be found in 'Quidditch Through the Ages'. (hp-lexicon.org)