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You Will Not Kiss Me	By : Prosperosdaughter Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 22836 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: JK Rowling & her associates own the Harry Potter universe and I make no money from my stories.

Chapter List
- 91
- 92
- 93
Direct quotes from Chapter 33 of DH are in bold and © J.K. Rowling

Chapter 92: The Shortest Month

Dumbledore and Snape had spent some hours discussing the kinds of information that Snape could give to the Dark Lord. Dumbledore couldn't stress enough times that Snape must continually prove his worth to the Dark Lord if he was to avoid serious injuries. Of course, Snape knew this, but he was still touched that Dumbledore considered him. There were times, after all, when Snape wondered if he and Lupin figured at all in Dumbledore's considerations.

"So, to your personal arrangements, Severus," said Dumbledore, Vanishing the tea tray with a small swish of his hand. "Of course I understand that you wish to be with Remus as much as you can and have an alarm system set up with Tippy, but I insist that the students not realise you stay away from school every night. Except for the full moon, you will eat your meals at school, if you please, and not leave until late."

Snape wanted to grumble, but it was a concession from how the conversation had started when Dumbledore had asked that Snape see Lupin in the evenings of the weekends only. Snape had, of course, refused. Dumbledore pointed out yet again that Snape was Head of House and it was his duty to be on call for his students twenty-four hours of the day.

"Well, perhaps if someone hadn't been allowed to retain a certain map, Remus could have stayed with me then we wouldn't be having this discussion," Snape snapped.

Dumbledore regarded Snape over his glasses in a manner Snape always found patronising although its effect was supposed to be kindly, he was sure.

"If circumstances were different, Severus, Remus would be here in his own right as a Professor, would he not, Severus."

Hot shame washed over Snape and he looked away from Dumbledore quickly, his stomach lurching as his skin crawled. Dumbledore always knew how to wound Snape with his own transgressions. Snape's objections were forgotten now in his own mortification and Dumbledore smiled gently.

"Perhaps, it would be helpful if you had your flat connected to the Floo network then you would only be seconds away in either direction," suggested Dumbledore.

Snape shook his head mutely, still feeling the sting of shame. "It would ..." he coughed to clear his throat, "it would compromise the Charm. I prefer it to be like the farmhouse."

"Very well, Severus. We should discuss the Charm before long." Dumbledore's voice was soft, but it made Snape flinch anyway. "We should replace me as your Secret Keeper ..."

"No," responded Snape, more sharply than he intended, but he felt the weight of past guilt and that which was to come almost overwhelming him. "It can reside in each of us when ... when it's time. There is no-one I can trust as I do you."

Dumbledore's gaze never faltered and Snape wondered if he understood that meant there was no other who could withstand the Dark Lord's power and skill for torture and Legilimency. He suspected he did.

oooOOOooo

Their first Monday morning, Lupin helped Snape to dress, tying his cravat and smoothing down his usual severe black robe and buttoning it up with a Charm. Lupin inspected his handiwork critically, only then to pull Snape onto his lap on the bed.

"You still look too delicious buttoned up like this," he murmured into Snape's ear, his breath sending a thrill down Snape's neck, as a Charm undid the buttons with ease. Snape started to wonder how late he would to the Great Hall for breakfast, but the feel of Lupin's lips under his chin banished the thought all together. It was after that that Snape formulated a plan to wake early each day.

Snape and Lupin quickly fell into their own routine. They would wake before dawn so they could spend a couple of hours together. They would make love, shower together, talk, have breakfast, just as if Snape were leaving for a day job. Snape would eat little at Hogwarts in the morning as he had already breakfasted with Lupin. Then, all day he had the thrill of knowing he would eventually be home with Lupin. He ate dinner at Hogwarts because he didn't want Lupin to have to wait until late evening to eat with him but they would have a small late supper together during the week when they would discuss their days together.

It was not quite perfection, but it was as close as Snape could think they would come in these troubled times.

It bothered him still that Lupin couldn't stay with him and the existence of the map still irked him, but Dumbledore had deflected the issue and Snape didn't want to bring it up with him again, but he still had something to say about it to Lupin though that morning over breakfast.

"If you hadn't given Potter that infernal map, you could have stayed secretly with me. Why did you do it?" he asked Lupin one morning over breakfast.

"Because it's his, Severus: a memento of his father."

Snape huffed and took the top off his boiled egg with a severe slice of his knife.

"Why shouldn't he have it? Albus knows about it and doesn't remove it. Perhaps, he thinks Harry should have it to see what's going on in the castle. It's not as if Harry is just an ordinary boy, is it?" said Lupin.

"Oh no, he's so very special," snarled Snape, unpleasantly.

"Severus! I meant he's targeted by Voldemort and his Death Eaters."

Snape hung his head briefly at his overreaction and patted Lupin's hand and mumbled an apology, but he still felt deeply if he could have got to that map in Potter's fourth year and seen Barty Crouch – they wouldn't have the troubles they had now.

Lupin picked up Snape's hand and pressed it to his lips. Snape knew Lupin didn't want to row over the child. They often had cross words over Potter – nothing major, but what Snape considered Lupin's favouritism, Lupin considered Snape's prejudice. It seemed they couldn't reconcile it, so Lupin would stop any argument with a kiss, his way of telling Snape he loved him but didn't agree. It suited Snape fine for they could both be such obstinate men.

"If I catch him with it ever again, I will confiscate it," said Snape, still aggrieved that no-one else seemed to see the inherent danger in such an item.

"I have no doubt," said Lupin, a small smile playing at his lips. "And I have no doubt, Harry will be extra careful you don't."

oooOOOooo

It had been agreed that Lupin would be available for Order duties, just like every other Order member, but Snape ardently hoped Lupin's spying days were over. It looked as if his prayers were answered when, within a couple of days of asking Bill at the last Order meeting, he confirmed that Gringotts had locum research work that Lupin could undertake. It was on a retainer basis with payment by results, but Lupin was delighted. It was background research work into ancient Coptic curses and, with the retainer, came an unlimited pass to the restricted antiquarian books and papers at the Bodleian Library.

Snape adored seeing how excited and engaged Lupin was, not only with having proper wizarding employment after month upon month of living with squalor and incipient violence, but that he could do research for Snape and Alphard too.

"It is for your benefit, you know," said Snape indulgently when Lupin fired off a series of questions to structure his research how Snape wanted.

"Yes, Severus, of course," smiled Lupin. "But I'm not an apothecary, or a Spell-Worker, to know what you need. In this," he bowed with a ravishing smile, "as in so many other things, I am your servant."

Snape threw a cushion at him, and then proceeded to describe the sorts of historical clues he needed. Lupin, ever the enthusiastic student, took copious notes, making Snape's chest constrict as he was overwhelmed with such affection and also memories of when they had worked together to unravel the Thrall – nearly four years ago! In this though, Lupin would be guided by him – he didn't have the experience of Dark blood curse formation as Snape did.

"Intention is everything, Remus," he said. "If we can somehow trace the first man to be cursed with Lycanthropy and discover who cursed him, and why," he clapped his hands together, "we can begin to ameliorate, maybe even unravel the curse!"

Lupin got up from writing, moved to Snape and dropped his hands on Snape's waist, and smiled softly at him.

"You may not be able to find the originator, Severus. It may be lost in the mists of time." He rubbed his nose against Snape's.

"I know," responded Snape. "But we have to try! I have worked so many curses and counter-curses. I have been so destructive. Perhaps this can be part of my atonement for that."

Lupin sighed and nuzzled into Snape's neck.

"I believe you atone for your past every single day, Severus. I don't seek it from you. I just don't want you to chase a dream for me. If you can do it, I will do everything to help you as long as you promise you won't waste your beautiful life looking for a cure that just may not be possible, just for atonement's sake." He pulled Snape closer, inhaling him deeply. "We have a life to lead together, Severus. Sometimes, we have to accept the hand we're dealt and make the best of it."

Snape cupped Lupin's face in his hands. If Lupin did but know how much Snape needed to atone, and what was yet to come – dear Merlin – what was to come ... He almost couldn't breathe thinking of it.

"You are too accepting sometimes, Remus. I need to try. Do you understand?" he asked, his black eyes searching the soft blue eyes of the man he loved, imagining the wonder of having Lupin cured and never to have his body rent asunder by the moon again.

"I do, Severus. Just ... promise me that this won't be a penance. I want our life together."

How well Lupin seemed to understand Snape's nature. Yes, he could easily become obsessed, but he had Lupin to live for – how could he ignore this wonderful man who would be waiting for him, helping him, motivating him to do better - be better. He certainly never would put anything – let alone research - over loving this man.

oooOOOooo

The Order meeting was more sombre than usual. Kingsley and Moody reported on the latest disappearances. These had doubled over the past month. Muggle-borns were the primary targets, especially those who held any kind of influential position at the Ministry. Snape had been able to get some names from Wilkins, but not nearly all.

"I would have thought you would be better informed," said Tonks, accusingly.

"The Dark Lord trusts no-one with all of his plans," snapped Snape, rising to the implication that he was withholding information.

"I'm sure Severus does his best," interjected Lupin and Snape saw a frown briefly flicker on Dumbledore's features. "Under very trying circumstances, as well."

"So he says," she pouted.

"Perhaps you would like to offer yourself to the Dark Lord, Miss Tonks, and see if you can do any better," hissed Snape.

"Perhaps you reap what you sow," responded Tonks, a sneer almost identical to that of her late cousin on her wan face.

"Dora! What's got into you?" pleaded Lupin. She looked unhappy at the rebuke and Molly patted her hand and whispered something to her. Snape wasn't interested in what she said as he caught Lupin's eyes, absurdly proud that he had rebuked Tonks although he knew Dumbledore would chastise them for it later.

I suppose if she believes you still tend to me after the full moon, it's jealousy, Lupin thought to him.

Tend to you. Yes, a pretty euphemism. The thought was almost a seductive murmur, and Lupin actually blushed and Snape had to look away or he would smile ... in company! He coughed as he stared at his hands in his lap and thought instead on those whose names he had obtained were on their way to new lives on the continent and across the Atlantic. Snape's connections in the United States were proving very useful and they, in turn, also had relocation contacts in Canada. Bill and Charlie had a number of continental connections that were willing and able to assist and Bill reported on those. The sanction of Dumbledore, of course, blessed any introduction and smoothed the way of official channels being secured. Dumbledore gave the details of these but, of course, those relocations assisted by Snape were not divulged for the sake of his cover.

He saw the hostile looks he often got from Moody or Tonks, Hestia or Daedalus. Sometimes, even Molly looked unsure of him. Did it matter to him: other people's good opinions? Sometimes, he found it did. It really did, but when he looked up again and saw those blue eyes, a comforting warmth spread through him that he really only needed Lupin. That was all he needed.

oooOOOooo

"How, Severus, how?" the Dark Lord hissed. "The Order is weak! How can they get these people away before my people have got to them?"

"I don't know, my Lord. Perhaps, they guess that you will target the Mudbloods?" He hoped he looked suitably bemused.

"With Thicknesse under the Imperius curse, I expected Magical Law Enforcement to be up to the task of preventing escapees."

"He is but one man in a civil service of ineptitude, my Lord," said Snape smoothly. The Dark Lord paused in his pacing to regard Snape.

"You are right, of course." He moved closer, soundlessly. "Have you been able to find out how they are smuggling them out of the country?"

"We discussed this at the Order meeting last night, my Lord. No one person has all the contacts for the various underground networks that are used. It is Dumbledore himself who pulls together the disparate strings and facilitates all the documents, portkeys and permissions, together with any magical visas." It wasn't technically true, but it would divert the Dark Lord's attention away from those individuals who did have the contacts.

"Pity," the Dark Lord hissed, and then he smirked. "It will not be an obstacle for long though – will it?"

"No, my Lord."

"How very foolish of the old man not to delegate – when his time comes, all his contacts will be lost." The Dark Lord's white visage contorted with an ugly smile. "Such a shame." He patted Snape's head. "Stand, Severus."

Snape stood, his knees a little weak from having been on them for an hour giving as many explanations as he could for any Death Eater failures, although there weren't nearly enough of them for the Order's comfort.

"Greyback will be recovered fully soon," said the Dark Lord. "I thought perhaps a show of force of our werewolves so Dumbledore will not think them beaten. The cur may have been chased away by his own kind in Snowdonia, but he still has the power to terrify here. And perhaps a few Turned Mudbloods and half-bloods will focus The Daily Prophet's attention on how important blood purity is."

"A show of force, my Lord?" Snape smiled, as if in anticipation. "Of what kind, if I may ask?"

"Indeed you may, Severus, for you will need to liaise with Greyback about the next scheduled visit of students to Hogsmeade."

"At Hogsmeade, my Lord?" Snape had to stop himself yelping in shock. "My Lord! Because of the attempt on a student's life with the Rosier Necklace, security has been tightened considerably and the trip to Hogsmeade has already has been cancelled." It hasn't, but it is now, Snape thought, his heart hammering that he was nearly so very badly wrong-footed.

"It has? How disappointing. We will have to look for our werewolf friend's opportunities elsewhere."

oooOOOooo

It was days before Snape could deliver his information to Dumbledore. When Dumbledore finally returned, he refused to tell Snape where he had been, merely commenting in that maddening manner of his that it was a thrilling tale, but not one to be told just yet.

Of course, Dumbledore immediately cancelled the visit of Hogsmeade and quickly passed the word on to all the members of the Order that Greyback and his werewolves would be seeking victims at the full moon. His previous modus operandi had been to place himself near his victims just before moonrise. Snape made it his business to try to obtain the potential victims' identities from Wilkes, if he could and then Dumbledore notified Kingsley, Tonks and Moody to try to find them to protect them.

In the meantime, Snape once again cornered Draco and kept him behind after their Defence class.

"What now?" snapped Malfoy.

"Do not speak to me that way, Draco," said Snape dangerously, "or it will not be the Dark Lord you have to fear."

Malfoy sneered. "You vowed to protect me. You can't hurt me."

Odious boy.

"I want to know what you're up to. I promised your mother I would assist you. She asks me all the time. Why do you let her worry so? We can't afford another mistake like the necklace ..."

"We? There is no 'we'. I've got plenty of plans. Mother will be just fine when I've succeeded. Then you'll see who is the Dark Lord's most favoured servant," spat Malfoy petulantly and grabbed his books and raced from the room, leaving Snape staring after him in astonishment.

oooOOOooo

Valentine's Day was a Friday, half way through February and the first day of the waxing of the moon. Tonight, Snape had advised Dumbledore, he would be dining with his husband. He ignored Dumbledore's comment about never realising Snape was so romantic; he ignored the rather smug smile Dumbledore gave him. Anyway, he told himself, he wasn't romantic; Lupin was. And Lupin wanted him home for a special Valentine's Day dinner.

He arrived before Lupin, delicious smells wafting through the flat from the kitchen, where doubtless Tippy was creating her masterpieces. She came rushing out.

"Professor Snape! Welcome home!" She bowed low and took his travelling cloak from him. "Such a wonderful dinner Tippy has cooked for her masters tonight for their special night."

"I hope you haven't festooned your creations with hearts and flowers," quipped Snape. Tippy's eyes went wide and then she looked at Snape side-on through narrowed eyes.

"Professor Snape is teasing Tippy. Come along now." She shooed Snape, glowering at her in apprehension of heart-shaped pies, into the living room and then brought him a gin and tonic. When had he ever drunk a gin and tonic?

"Master Lupin's orders," said Tippy with a firm nod of her head. "An aperitif." She padded back to the kitchen.

He sipped it. It was nice. He could taste the juniper and the quinine. He looked at the drink appreciatively and inwardly shrugged. Yes, it had a sharpness that cleansed the palette, he supposed. It was a very Muggle thing to have though.

Then Lupin rushed through the door, arms full of papers with his battered briefcase swinging from his hand.

"Severus! Sorry I'm late!"

Snape rushed to him to help him with all his papers, although Lupin grabbed him for a kiss first. "Happy Valentine's Day," he murmured.

"Nonsense," purred Snape, although he couldn't help his own smile responding to the tender kiss even with all Lupin's papers wedged between them. They carried all the papers between them to the settee and Tippy came rushing out to welcome Lupin and hand him a gin and tonic too.

"So, Muggle aperitifs, Muggle suits ..." Snape fingered the lapels of the rather shabby suit Lupin was wearing.

"Must blend, Severus. I mean, there are lots of wizards at Oxford, but we all wear Muggle clothes and drink Muggle drinks. No elf-made wine or Butterbeer in the dining halls at lunch. I had one of these yesterday on the recommendation of the Wizarding librarian. I thought you'd like it."

"I do. But I don't like this," said Snape, running one long finger along the frayed cuffs of the Muggle shirt Lupin was wearing. Normally, he rather liked Lupin in Muggle clothes - he suited them very well. He liked the cut of the trousers especially, he found, on Lupin's gorgeous backside - he liked to be able to admire Lupin's form. "Can't we get you a new suit and some shirts?"

"Oh Severus! You have no idea! If anything, I could do with being shabbier - it shows I'm steeped in academia and have no earthly thoughts for my looks," said Lupin, laughingly. "Muggle academics are as good as expected to look seedy." As he talked, Lupin finished straightening out all of his papers, most on his paid research but some on his first inroads in the the Lycanthropy history.

"You do not look seedy!" interrupted Snape, his fingers now playing with the tie at Lupin's neck, undoing it. He still hated to see Lupin dressed so poorly. With everything that seemed to be going to well for them at the moment, he'd rather Lupin dressed well. But then he supposed questions would be asked even in the Order where he found such money. They couldn't afford anyone to become inquisitive. Even as he was thinking this, he had drawn the neck tie away from the shirt collar, and his long fingers were now opening the buttons of his Muggle shirt. Lupin hummed as Snape's fingers worked so deftly. Snape rather liked the way Muggle shirts came open - like revealing a secret. His fingers slipped under the material and smoothed over Lupin's chest.

"We can discuss these over dinner," suggested Lupin as he stopped Snape's hands progressing any further. Then he leant forward and rested his head against Snape's. "Let's get cleaned up before ..." he paused, and continued in a low voice, "we eat." Snape smiled and each grabbed his drink as they made for the bathroom together, Snape heating in anticipation for the first night of the waxing moon.

oooOOOooo

Very quickly, every surface in their flat became overwhelmed with research papers. A desk was purchased so each could work, and new bookshelves and trunks to try to keep everything organised which, even with the addition of extension charms, proved difficult. Lupin seemed to thrive in an atmosphere of organised chaos, but Snape's desk and shelves were ordered to the point of compulsion. To the right of his desk were his researches and notes on the werewolf medicines and to the left the same on the curse itself. Alphard's notes and his most recent letters took up the shelves above the desk. Sometimes, all that could be heard was the scratching of quills and the shuffling of parchments and the turning of pages as they worked; sometimes, one or the other would share an inspirational thought or leap of logic, or just an interesting fact with a "Did you know?" or "I never knew this but ...". Sometimes, one would go to the other to massage their shoulders and talk over their work, the joy of intellectual discovery and discourse as stimulating as their physical attraction to each other. This may have been the shortest month of the year, but it was, without doubt, the sweetest to Snape.

oooOOOooo

It was half past eleven when Snape arrived home. He hadn't intended to be this late. It was the first time in this glorious month that they'd been properly together. But tonight he had needed to repeat the counter-curse on the curse in Dumbledore's hand and administer the Spiritus Vitae. It always took time and Dumbledore liked to do this late at night so there was less chance of being disturbed.

He found Lupin asleep at the table, his Coptic notes spread around him, a mug of cold tea by his hand. Snape stood and watched him for a long time, just taking in the wonderful sight of his countenance at rest, his healthy complexion and a little weight gained in the past couple of weeks. How happy it made Snape that Lupin was away from the werewolves and the toll it took on his health. How much happier that he had been with him every single night since the full moon? It had nearly been a full cycle. It had been a long time since they had been able to spend such time together. Snape felt blessed.

He shook Lupin's shoulder lightly and kissed the crown of his head and Lupin's eyes fluttered open.

"Sev'rus," Lupin murmured as he found and held Snape's hand and smiled at him. "I meant to be awake to make you tea. I'm sorry ..."

Snape smiled softly. "You never have anything to be sorry for," he said softly and he stroked a finger against his cheek.

Yes, he felt blessed indeed.

oooOOOooo

Snape left the wards of Malfoy Manor siphoning away the blood spray that covered his robes, face and hair, his hands shaking violently and his stomach roiling. He couldn't go straight home to Lupin – he couldn't take this foulness back with him. Breathing deeply to rid himself of the coppery tang of blood in his nostrils, he Disapparated into the crushing void. As he turned out of his Apparition at the gates of Hogwarts, he stumbled and a hand reached out and steadied him. It was Dumbledore.

"Are you all right, Severus?"

"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just ..." He looked into Dumbledore's eyes and saw the concern there. "I'm not injured." Dumbledore gave him a small smile. "You waited for me?" Dumbledore had not done that before.

"Well, if he hurt your arms again, I was worried about your Apparition, but ... well, I am pleased to see he did not." Quick bright eyes took in a few remaining drops of blood.

"No. It's not mine. He was pleased with the information I gave, and ... he had other distractions tonight," said Snape heavily. "The Fletchers, Albus. They didn't make their portkey. He had them ..."

Dumbledore breath caught as he held Snape's arm to steady him.

"You didn't ...?"

"No ... no," gasped Snape. "It was a pleasure he reserved for himself." Snape tried to be dispassionate. He had Occluded deeply so he would not vomit when the Dark Lord had used his Cutting Curse so savagely on the Muggle-born woman, but even then, it had been hard. And now, it was everything he could do to stop shaking.

"Do you have a potion you can take?" asked Dumbledore as he let go of Snape's arm.

"I'll be fine. I just need some air. To calm down," he said breathlessly, trying to forget the brutal murders he had been called upon to witness and to applaud, but they remained with him as if seared on his eyelids.

"Let us walk then."

Snape nodded curtly, grateful to walk away his stress before returning to Lupin. He knew Lupin to would listen to anything Snape wanted tell him, but to tell him was to corrupt him. Lupin was his Light, his reward for keeping to this hard, hard path. He didn't want him corrupted by the Dark Lord's obscenities.

Snape and Dumbledore strolled together in the deserted castle grounds by twilight. The air was still crisp and cold; it was not quite spring – but it would be soon. The promise of it was there.

Perhaps, this would be a good opportunity to try to get answers that Dumbledore always seemed so reluctant to give him.

'What are you doing with Potter, all these evenings you are closeted together,' Snape asked abruptly.

Dumbledore looked at him wearily. Snape felt he shouldn't look this tired; he had only administered the Spiritus Vitae last night. Perhaps, it would come to a natural end? If only he could be that fortunate and be spared this killing.

'Why? You aren't trying to give him more detentions, Severus? The boy will soon have spent more time in detention than out.'

Snape bridled with offence. The brat had had very few detentions from him this year, but Snape could surely remedy that if Dumbledore wanted to test him.

'He is his father over again -' he snapped reflexively.

'In looks, perhaps, but his deepest nature is much more like his mother's. I spend time with Harry because I have things to discuss with him, information I must give him before it is too late.'

Snape hated it when Dumbledore tried to manipulate him by drawing comparisons between the boy and Lily. He would even like to believe it was true, but he never saw it. All he knew was that the boy was supposed to be 'the Chosen One' and so Dumbledore trusted him with time and information which he did not give to Snape.

'Information,' repeated Snape. 'You trust him ... you do not trust me.' He knew it sounded petulant, but he was under a geas to Dumbledore, not the boy.

'It is not a question of trust. I have, as we both know, limited time. It is essential that I give the boy enough information to him to do what he needs to do.'

'And why may I not have the same information?'

'I prefer not to put all of my secrets in one basket, particularly not a basket that spends so much time dangling on the arm of Lord Voldemort.' Whether Dumbledore had intended to be so offensive, Snape did not know, but his temper became more and more ragged with each offence.

'Which I do on yours orders!' he barked.

'And you do it extremely well. Do not think that I underestimate the constant danger in which you place yourself, Severus. To give Voldemort what appears to be valuable information while withholding the essentials is a job I would entrust to nobody but you.'

'Yet you confide much more in a boy who is incapable of Occlumency, whose magic is mediocre and who has a direct connection into the Dark Lord's mind!'

'Voldemort fears that connection,' said Dumbledore. 'Not so long ago he had one, small taste of what truly sharing Harry's mind means to him. It was pain such as he has never experienced. He will not try to possess Harry again, I am sure of it. Not in that way.'

'I don't understand.' What Dumbledore was saying was like riddles to him. He was just a boy; how could he hurt the Dark Lord? How was it even possible?

'Lord Voldemort's soul, maimed as it is, cannot bear close contact with a soul like Harry's. Like a tongue on frozen steel, like flesh in flame -'

What was this nonsense? thought Snape angrily. These were the parallels the boy drew so erroneously. How would the Dark Lord's soul contact the boy's? They weren't discussing soul magic, were they?

'Souls? We were talking of minds!'

'In the case of Harry and Lord Voldemort, to speak of one is to speak of the other.'

Dumbledore glanced around to make sure that they were alone. They were close by the Forbidden Forest, now, but there was no sign of anyone near them.

'After you have killed me, Severus -' Snape exhaled heavily. After everything he had seen this night, did they have to discuss this again? He didn't want to do this. And if he had to, he didn't want to bear it alone.

'You refuse to tell me everything, yet you expect that small service of me!' snarled Snape, real anger flaring in him now at the trap in which he found himself. He didn't want to do this thing. He didn't want to sully Lupin by being bonded to a killer. 'You take a great deal for granted, Dumbledore! Perhaps I have changed my mind!'

'You gave me your word, Severus. And while we are talking about services you owe me, I thought you agreed to keep a close eye on our young Slytherin friend?"

Snape's jaw tightened with anger. Everything he was supposed to do! Everything he was meant to juggle! It was Dumbledore who wanted to save Malfoy's soul at the expense of Snape's and still Dumbledore berated him!

Dumbledore sighed.

'Come to my office tonight, Severus, at eleven, and you shall not complain that I have no confidence in you ...'

"But Remus is waiting for me ..."

"Let him know you'll be late, Severus. It's time you knew."

A/N: Thanks for reviewing - it's always appreciated.
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You Will Not Kiss Me