Mist and Vapors

As Severus entered Remus' office, the werewolf turned from the grindylow tank and greeted him with a lop-sided smile. "Time already?"

Severus placed the goblet on the desk. "Hurry up, I don't have all day," he said in a sour tone.

Remus eyed the goblet with a grimace and picked it up with both hands. Lifting the rim to his mouth, he took a long swallow and made a face. "I swear, it gets more vile every month."

"I can always leave and take it with me," Severus said stiffly. "If you'd rather..."

Remus sighed. "It's just a joke," he said calmly. "You know what I mean."

Severus stood against the door frame, arms crossed. He wasn't in the mood for jokes. He wasn't in the mood for Lupin. He certainly wasn't in the mood to make the bloody potion every month. Not that anyone gave a nogtail's hairy rear end. But really, was it too much to expect the wolf to at least not whine about it?

Leaning against the desk, Remus took a couple more sips. "So how are preparations going? Are you ready for the next school year?"

Severus didn't even deign that worthy of a response. Of course he was ready - he firmly believed in not putting off until tomorrow what could be done today. Some of his colleagues should take a page out of that book.

And he wasn't in the mood for small talk.

Remus pointed to a chair. "Might as well sit down - this will be another few minutes, I'm afraid."

Scowling, Severus briefly considered just staying where he was - but really, after standing that long, the chair looked inviting. He stiffly sat down and stretched his long legs out in front of him.

"By the way, I asked the Headmaster, Flitwick, and Minerva about the potion delivery last month. They seemed genuinely surprised," said Remus quietly after swallowing another mouthful. There was a somewhat abashed expression on his face. "It occurred to me that they weren't the only ones who knew you were going out of town."

"How fascinating." Severus said acerbically. He would have been happier if it had occurred to the werewolf to just keep his mouth shut for a few minutes. Why could the bloody idiot not leave well enough alone?

"Did you...?" The forbidding, black look on Severus' face made Remus realize that it would probably not be in anyone's best interest to complete the question. He let his voice fade out, and cleared his throat. "Anyways, Severus, thank you." He pointed to the goblet. "For that, and for... well, if there is ever anything I can do for you..." he finished lamely.

Severus struggled with himself for minute - now that he was actually here, asking anything of Lupin didn't seem like such a good idea after all. "There is one thing," he finally said through clenched teeth.

Remus' eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Yes? Go on?" He sat down on the edge of the desk, facing his colleague and former class mate.

"Tell me about Pettigrew," Severus said.

Remus' lifted his eyebrows in mild amusement. "I would think that in the last few years you've had a whole lot more contact with him than I have."

"Do you think the Death Eaters were some sort of social club?" Severus said coldly. "There was never much time for fraternizing. At least not for me. "

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"I have received rather... unpleasant surprises recently. One was delivered to my bedroom. It had to be someone with knowledge of the school. I wouldn't expect many people to know the whereabouts of my private quarters."

"Threats?"

"Yes."

"And you suspect Peter?"

Not bothering to reply, Severus simply lifted an eyebrow. That much should at this point be obvious.

Remus rubbed a finger over his upper lip. "Don't know how much I can tell you that you wouldn't already know. One piece of advice I'd give you is not to underestimate him."

Severus' lip curled. "I didn't ask for your advice. Just tell me your assessment of him."

"Very well. My assessment is that he can be quite dangerous," Remus said mildly.

"That simpering, stupid, cowering little toady?" Severus gave a harsh little laugh. "What has he ever done except ride on the coat tails of others?"

"You're right, his character is weak. And he's not the most quick-witted, especially under pressure. When sitting for exams, he always did lousy. You would easily be able to dispatch him in a one-on-on duel. But if he has time to plan..." said Remus thoughtfully as he took another sip.

"Just think of all he has done so far. He managed to become an Animagus. Yes, he had help, but still, it is quite an achievement. Out of the many witches and wizards that attempt the transformation, only a handful ever succeeded. He managed to fool us for over a year while passing information to Voldemort. And he pulled off a rather brilliant plan when he framed Sirius for Lily and James' murders." There was bitterness in his voice now. "Thirteen dead Muggles in a single explosion - really Severus, he has much more ability as a wizard than we gave him credit for. Even if he is a sorry excuse for a human being."

Tipping the goblet up, he drained the last of the potion, gagging slightly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and handed the cup back. "Not to mention the fact that he was almost single-handedly responsible for nursing Voldemort back to health. And that he brewed the potion that restored his physical body. You're the Potions master - do you think just anyone could've done that?"

Severus looked at him calculatingly, but didn't reply.

"And keep in mind that he probably knows this castle better than any other person alive," Remus continued. "Between our school years and the many years spent as a Weasley's pet, he probably knows hidden corners and passages that we don't even know exist. Yes, I do think he is dangerous. If I were you, I would ward every wall and every opening, no matter how small."

"I repeat, I didn't ask for your advice," Severus said sharply as he stood up.

He was half way out the door when the werewolf called after him. "Watch out for yourself, Severus."

The Potions master stopped for just a moment without turning around, his eyes narrowing briefly as one hand clutched the goblet and the other closed tightly around his wand. Self-control, he reminded himself. As satisfying as the image of Lupin wearing his tongue as a tie for a week would be, it wasn't worth the repercussions. He made himself keep walking, heading down the corridor with long strides. Lupin, McGonagall, Dumbledore - he swore, the next person to start fussing at him would get something to fuss about.

.-.-.-

The wizard they had talked about was not too far away, sitting in a tattered armchair in the back bedroom of a deserted farmhouse. He had spent most of the winter in his animal shape - it was much easier to find warmth and shelter that way. Yet the animal nature made his thoughts cloudy and vague, just shreds and pieces of ideas.

That was over for now. He had had plenty of time to plan this summer. The lonely farmhouse was a good place to think. Quiet and remote, it was far enough away from any neighbors that he could be sure of not being disturbed.

He was alone now, for the first time in ages. It was a strange feeling, and he didn't like it.

First, there had been James, Sirius, and Remus. After that, years as part of the Weasley family - always people in the Burrow, always people at Hogwarts. And then there had been his Master - he had barely been out of the Dark Lord's presence for the last three years. And now there was no one. He was alone.

His thoughts went back in time, to when he had still been happy.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. They had been inseparable...

Sirius - things just came to him naturally. His good looks made the girls swoon as he swaggered by. Reckless, brave, loyal, daring. An illustrious name, an old family. Sirius had everything going for him.

James, the hero of the Quidditch field. Handsome in an artfully disheveled way, very sure of his abilities. Plenty of money, a brilliant student.

Twin stars, attracting all around them.

And then there was Remus. He didn't have the flashy sparkle of the other two. But he had other qualities - patience, a good listening ear, intelligence and magical ability to match theirs. Not that he ever would have truly stood up to them - no, he, like Peter, was too afraid of losing the friendship. But it had been Remus who had talked them out of the most hare-brained schemes, kept them grounded in reality to a certain extend.

And then there was Peter. He really had only one function in the foursome. He was the cheering section. He shuddered to think what his school days would have been like without their friendship - silly, pudgy Pettigrew. There was nothing he had to offer them - not looks, not brilliance, not money, not connections, nothing but admiration and adoration. Yet they had taken to him - offering friendship, looking out for him, including him, making sure everyone knew he was part of their little group and under their protection. No one had been allowed to make fun of him except them. They were nothing if not loyal; he could not fault them for that. And for a while he had been content with just being a lesser planet in their solar system.

That contentment had ceased. It had been Severus Snape who had caused lingering discontentment to crystallize into active dissatisfaction.

Severus Snape. He had nothing to commend him except cold intellect. His personality could curdle milk; his looks made the girls snicker behind his back. Greasy, sallow, hook-nosed black bat. He had no money, and had gotten beaten by James on the Quidditch field every time Gryffindor played Slytherin. And yet Severus had become a Somebody.

The Dark Mark was an admission ticket to a select club. The mask and hood were great equalizers - looks didn't matter; names, ability, accomplishments - they did not matter as much as loyalty. When the Dark Lord's servants approached him, when he had found out that Snape had become one of Voldemort's inner circle, it had put in Peter's reach something he had never experienced before - the chance to be an equal member of an exclusive group.

Peter had seen Voldemort grow stronger, seen him rise, higher and higher, destined for dominion. It had been intoxicating to find out that this powerful being wanted him. For the first time ever, Peter had something to offer, had power, had influence.

His friendship with the other three enabled him to pass on information about Dumbledore's activities that no one else among the Death Eaters had access too. And later, the birth of Lily and James' son had given him an ace in the hole - the Dark Lord wanted that baby. For the first time, Peter had felt important.

That illusion hadn't lasted too long, really - the first time Peter had qualms, he quickly found out that loyalty could not waver, and that the Dark Lord by no means considered him indispensable. After that, fear became a determining factor. Yet, Peter had quickly persuaded himself that it was love for the Dark Lord that motivated him. That, and the allure of power.

Things had come to a head, that night in October so many year ago...

"You have to see reason, James. I'm too auspicious. I've called Dumbledore to cast the Fidelius Charm. No one will suspect Peter."

"Peter is our friend, too. Why should they suspect him any less than you?" Lily had asked, looking up from where she was cutting buttered bread into bite-size pieces to feed to Harry.

"Oh come one, who would expect Wormtail to be chosen for something this important?" Sirius said with a grin. "Just look at him - he looks harmless as a mouse, doesn't he? Oh, pardon me, rat," he added with a mocking bow in Peter's direction. "If given the choice between Remus, me, and Peter, who in his right mind would choose Peter?"

James had laughed, and given him a good-natured punch in the arm. And Peter had played along, laughing sheepishly at the joke, and hugging to himself the knowledge that in a few hours or days, he would be able to hand the Potters and their boy to the Dark Lord on a silver platter. He had never felt so powerful in his life.

It was ironic that it had turned out the wizard who had caused him to turn traitor had turned out a traitor himself. He had made his way back into the Dark Lord's favor after the first incidence, persuading them all that he had only pretended to be a spy for Dumbledore to gain access to his circle, passing useless bits of information to Dumbledore only to gather useful facts for the Dark side. And in truth, no one had been able to prove that anything Severus had done had harmed their cause - until the Potter fiasco, things had been going rather well.

Then, at the last battle, it had become clear where Snape's loyalties truly lay. That it had all been an elaborate façade. And now he would have to pay. Once Severus had suffered, once he had seen all he valued destroyed, once he had been Dementor-kissed - then Peter would leave for good, go somewhere far away and start a new life. But first, he would see Severus Snape brought down.