Part: 2/8

Pairings: Severus/Lucius, Severus/Remus

Rating: (for the whole) NC-17

Warnings: (for the whole) Some non-connish stuff, some torture, mention of rape

Disclaimers: Not mine, JKR’s.

Notes: // denotes thoughts. I know some of the ages are wrong here (specifically, Sirius is 16 when he lures Severus in to see Remus’ little secret), but I wanted to mix things up a bit with ages, as opposed to having every single main character in the same year together at school. Also, please forgive me the excessive angst…teen melodrama is a hobby of mine. Feedback is very, very welcome.

Remus spotted his friends immediately upon entry of the library, as Sirius was looking as though he was about to climb up on the table, Peter was frantically hanging on to the older boy's robes, and James was tipped way back in his chair, trying very hard to laugh noiselessly. As he hurried over, the low hiss of Peter’s voice cut through the dusty library air.

"Sirius! Get down! We are going to get in so much trouble!" The 4^th year was biting his lower lip in agitation and Remus was torn between laughter and pity.

"But, Peter, my love, I must serenade you! I must declare my undying devotion!" Remus wondered idly what had spurred this particular bit of tomfoolery, but then Sirius could go off on most anything. It was what made him both an infuriating and endlessly entertaining friend. But really, Remus didn’t want them to get kicked out before homework was even started…and poor Peter looked like he was about to faint dead away from embarrassment.

"Sirius!" Remus pitched his voice low, but insistent. "But what about last night? Didn’t you say you would never leave me, as I lay in your arms, after our fifth bout of mad, mad sex?" The darker boy turned to his friend, and a wicked grin lit his features.

"Ah, Remus, but I love you both! Why, why can’t a man have both of the loves of his life? There is room in my heart for two gallant, dashing Romeos…nay, even three!" He turned towards James, who’s brown eyes now sparkled with tears, little snorts and giggles escaping his hands. "Nay? Then I shall have to convince Professor Chung to brew me a draught of poison most foul, for I cannot live without you all!"

James removed his hands from over his mouth, and grinned like a loon at Sirius. "Well, in that case…" Sirius slid down from the table, much to Peter’s relief, and snagged James’ hand, kissing it loudly and repeatedly.

"Ah! My wildest dreams come true! Thank you, thank you, love!" He spun, grabbing Peter firmly by the shoulders, and bestowed two theatrical kisses on both the boy’s cheeks, which sent him in a spasm of giggles. "And you," Sirius added, turning to Remus, "You got yours last night, so there." He stuck out his tongue spitefully, but those blue eyes danced under sooty lashes.

"And what a night it was," Remus shot back, setting his bag on the table and pulling out his DADA text.

"Remus?" Peter asked shyly, "Do you suppose you could give me a hand on this essay?" He indicated a half filled sheet of parchment next to his text, "Diet and Hunting Habits of Mythical Predators".

"For Care of Magical Creatures?" Remus asked gently. Peter was often shy with his friends; he was not a naturally out-going boy, and by two years the youngest of the Marauders. Remus suppose it didn't help that he was somewhat overweight, and cursed with bright, strawberry blonde curls that his mother would not let him cut. Pulling it back into a severe ponytail only served to emphasize his moonish face, but then Remus had the feeling pretty much everything would look hopeless on Peter until he grew into his own body.

"Yeah, I’m supposed to get it done by Wednesday, and I know you had McNamara two years ago."

"Same text, too. What’s your essay on?"

"The role of instinct in the diet of rocs." Peter sounded a little disheartened by this, and he rubbed his pointed nose morosely.

"You know, I don’t remember much about that myself, but Rich Weasley did an essay on them, and he had this really good reference book…" Remus wracked his brain, trying to remember the name. "Oh, what was it…? It was by some bloke named Hugh Aviarus, does that help?"

"Ooh, thanks Remus!" A brilliant smile lit the other boy’s face, and the werewolf found himself grinning back. "Back in a few!" Peter hurried off towards the card catalogs, and Remus pulled out a piece of parchment.

"So how’s your good friend Snape?" Sirius asked suddenly, and Remus winced. So he was going to bring this up in front of James, after all. He really didn’t know why Sirius hated Snape quite so much, but he’d been ignoring it for awhile now, putting off the time when he was going to have to tell his compatriots that he had a new friend, a Slytherin.

James looked up from his book at Sirius’ sarcastic comment, watching Remus as he answered. "He’s fine, Siri, as you should know, since you saw him not 25 minutes ago."

"You’re friends with Snape?" James’ voice was quiet, curious.

"Yeah, Jamie, I am." Remus leaned the side of his head into his palm, propping his elbow on the table in preparation for a lengthy discussion. //And here I thought I might actually get some homework done.//

"Oh. How’d that happen?"

"Well, Professor Chung put me with him in Potions, and we sort of started talking, and found out we…well, we get along pretty well. He’s helping me with some extra credit work."

"Hmm. You trust him?"

//Trust him? Do I trust him? What an odd question…// Remus thought about it seriously, rubbing his thumb along his jawline. "Yeah, I do. He’s been really nice to me, and he didn’t have to be, you know?"

"Okay. Well good on you, then." James smiled in that serene, Buddha-esque way that drove Sirius crazy, and turned his attention back to his reading assignment. It was that absolute acceptance of whatever life had to throw him that made him so popular with other students…but also so open to all sorts of dangerous pranks and adventures that were the purview of the Marauders.

"James," Sirius hissed, and Remus shook his head. He was surprised that James had been so understanding, but of course, Sirius had to push it. "You know who Snape is, right? He’s a Slytherin! And he hangs around with Malfoy!"

"Who does?" interrupted Peter cheerfully, flashing his newly acquired text triumphantly to Remus.

"Remus is friends with Snape," the darker boy stated flatly, disapproval written loudly on his handsome face.

"Snaaape…" Peter said thoughtfully, and Sirius sighed and rolled his eyes.

"That greasy bastard that’s always hanging around Malfoy. Black hair, big nose?"

"Oh, that Snape!" Peter grinned, and roses bloomed in his cheeks as he blushed slightly. "He’s kind of cute, isn’t he? Bit skinny, though."

"Pete! God, you’re worse than Remus! Has everyone here gone bonkers? Slytherin, remember? You-Know-Who’s House? Full of slimy, good-for-nothing Dark wizards?" Sirius was whispering furiously now, obviously deeply offended at the very thought.

Peter blinked those pale, almost colorless green eyes at his friend. "Wow, Siri, I didn’t know you were so prejudiced," he said softly.

James cut in before the other boy could start in on another rant, this one directed at poor Peter. "He’s right, though, Siri. You shouldn’t judge people based just on what House they’re in. Lots of good wizards and witches have come from Slytherin, too. And I bet Gryffindor-and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw-have their fair share of bad eggs."

Sirius just rolled his dark eyes, and waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, but don’t forget, he hangs out with Malfoy. And we all know what Malfoy’s like." He stabbed his index finger into the table top for emphasis. James nodded thoughtfully, but then shrugged.

"But then, if everyone was judged by their friends, the whole school would be assured that me, Remus, and Peter here are all absolute nutters, Siri." The beatific grin that danced on James’ lips pulled an answering half-smile from Sirius.

"Yeah, I guess so. I just…" He shifted his eyes back to his paler friend, now sitting and resting his crossed arms on the table top. "I just want you to be careful, Remus. That crowd is bad news."

"Why do you hate them so much?" Remus was genuinely curious…though he could understand why no one liked Malfoy (the boy was, after all, a complete and utter bastard), Severus was actually fairly innocuous. His most offensive actions were some dirty looks and rather sharp comments.

Sirius just shook his head, blowing at his ragged fringe. "Never mind, Remus. Just trust me on this." Something dark and secret passed behind the older boy’s eyes.

"Siri-"

"Drop it, Moony." Remus blinked, sighed, then nodded.

"Okay." //But not forever, Sirius.//