"Oi! Leave off, mum," the pimply faced man groused. He stretched and let out an enormous yawn.
"Who you call'n, mum? I ain't that ugly! Now sell them their bloody tickets, you boob!"
"It's Bob! Not boob. And I'm getting to it. What can I do for you gents? I got tickets to St. Mungo's for a good price this week. You both look like it might do you a spot of good."
Remus graced him with a regretful smile.
"Hogsmeade, if you would. I fear my young friend here is a bit late for class."
Oh, bullocks. Harry had completely forgotten about classes. He'd missed that quiz in potions, he was suppose to study for his Transfigurations practical this weekend, and he hadn't finished either his Charms or Herbology homework!
"I 'm going to get so much detention," he lamented once they were both seated on what appeared to be beds. Weird.
"It could be a lot worse, you realize?" Remus said, chuckling.
"That's easy for you to say. My innards have only been saved so that Snape can use them for potions ingredients."
The werewolf barked out a laugh.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
They reached the castle just as third period was starting, and the halls were deserted. Now that he was standing safe and sound in Hogwarts, Harry felt at a distinct loss about what to do. Did he go to the headmistress' office and report what had happened? Did he go to the infirmary (where ever that was) to get patched up and then go back to classes? What about Whitehall and Morgenson? What about the other Slytherins? He doubted Draco would have condoned their actions, but that didn't mean others weren't capable of similar acts, especially if it was to maintain their House's honor.
"Let's go to the infirmary," Remus suggested. "Once you're fixed up, the nurse can alert Minerva of your return. She'll have a better idea of what to do than I would."
It sounded like the perfect plan to Harry, and he followed Remus knew exactly were he was going. They were just climbing an unfamiliar staircase when they ran into their first castle occupant. Or rather, said castle occupant ran after them.
"You!" came the scandalized voice. "What are you doing here? You're violating your probation!"
Remus looked down at the harried potions master, his expression completely benign and perhaps a bit condescending. Calmly, the werewolf descended a step and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. The young Seeker, who had never seen Snape so out of sorts, looked between them with obvious curiosity. Suddenly, Snape turned to Harry, and looked positively stunned. If he weren't so confused, he would probably have enjoyed causing the dark man all this strife.
"Potter, where have you been? And what are you doing with this... this..."
"Why, Severus, I've never known you to be at a loss for words," Remus said.
"Mangy vagabond!" Snape snarled.
The werewolf wasn't the least bit phased, but Harry scowled at his insult.
"Why don't you ask Morgenson and Whitehal? They knew exactly where I was and the company I was keeping."
Snape stared at Harry intensely, raking his form for clues to his whereabouts. The boy was still dressed in his school robes, which were dirty and torn in places and he held his left arm close to his body. The presence of one of his old school nemeses sparked his memory of the current lunar cycles and the date of Harry's disappearance. He looked rather troubled by his conclusion.
"Are you bitten?" the dark man asked softly.
"No," Harry replied, and then crossed his arms. "But only thanks to Remus. He saved my life."
"A werewolf saved you on a full moon, Potter? I find it unlikely."
"What's the matter, Severus? Have you no faith in your own potions? The Wolfsbane you provide my pack with every month has been of use to us for some time. A clear minded lycanthrope does wonders for diverting... accidents?... as it were."
If Harry didn't know any better he would have thought Remus was trying to goad the other man into an argument. He felt more than a bit of envy at the man's audacity. But Snape was a man better versed in the game of wit and intrigue, and his expression quickly turned cool and reserved.
"I am... glad to know that my potions have been of some assistance to you Lupin. Now that I know whom is benefitting directly from them, I feel more inclined than ever to improve the formula."
"My alpha will be glad to hear it. He doesn't put much faith in potions, but even he is ... impressed... with your work."
Both men regarded each other darkly for several moments, until Harry got bored of watching them and started his way up the stairs again.
"Where are you going, Potter?" Snape snarled, drawn unwillingly away from his staring match his old rival.
"The infirmary, sir," Harry replied, not bothering to stop his slow ascent. "I think, anyway. I'm not entirely sure where it is. Remus was escorting me."
"And now I will," Snape said cooly, stalking up the stairs, past Remus (never turning his back to him). "Since you've already pulled me from my class with your impromptu return, I may as well see it through."
"How did you know we were here anyway?" Remus asked, fighting off a growl as the dark man stopped beside his godson. Snape graced him with a malevolent smirk, and placed a possessive hand on Harry's shoulder. The boy flinched at the contact.
"You should know this already, old friend. Your present form may not have been enough to set off the castle's defenses, but it was more than enough to set off the wards for an intruder."
Moony looked stunned for a moment, then openly angry. Harry watched awed as the werewolf's eyes turned amber and a hint of fangs peeked out over his grimacing lips.
"You're a liar, Snape. Hogwarts never forgets its own. And even if I some how did manage to set off the wards, they're tied to the headmaster or headmistress, not Slytherin's head peon."
"Very good... for a mongrel, but you forget. The wards will alert the deputy headmaster or headmistress in their superior's absence. Headmistress Lestrange left... or rather, was sent to find the student she somehow managed to misplace."
Snape's wicked expression became even more sinister, as turned his gaze to the student in his grasp. "How unfortunate for her to have just missed you, Mr. Potter. Incompetence and bad luck are a dangerous combination when in the direct employ of the Dark Lord."
Remus merely shrugged, his anger dissipating with the simple gesture. Sensing their time was now at its end, Harry carefully maneuvered himself out of Snape's grasp to bid his guardian goodbye. Remus returned the hug, just as delicately as Harry gave it, and ruffled the boys messy hair affectionately.
"Try to stay out of trouble?"
"For all the good it does me? Be safe, Remus, and take it easy once you get back."
"The sooner the better," Snape sneered. They both ignored him.
"The same goes for you. Sirius would kill me if something happened to you, when I..." Remus trailed off, realizing he had almost let loose his secret heart's desire.
"When you, what? Could have taken the opportunity to eat him? Must you Gryffindors turn everything into a melodrama? Just go, Lupin, before the castle vomits you out."
Said Gryffindors spared him mutual glares of distaste, before turning back to each other.
"Tell Uncle Sirius hello for me?"
"I will. I'll ask for permission to write, but it's an unlikely we'll be allowed. So just in case... Goodbye, Harry."
Harry smiled, trying to keep it as real as he could even though he felt all wrong and it made his face ache. "I'll see you later, Remus."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Harry was escorted by Snape to the infirmary in complete silence. Snape asked no questions about where he had been or what he had done over the last three days. Snape also said nothing about what had happened in the time he had been gone. What did people think had happened to him? Were his friends worried? Why had the Headmistress been sent to look for him?
He was bursting with questions, but every time he looked to Snape to ask, he quickly changed his mind. The potion's master expression was so openly hostile, Harry feared what he might say or do if he were to actually gain his attention. The only thing keeping the young Gryffindor from inexplicably disappearing was the oath Snape had told him about that prevented a teacher from harming a student.
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