Endgame

Endgame

Since I'm finding (to my dismay) a bit of writer's block on both my Decade and Passion fics I'm going to see if I can't break it a bit by this one. This fic will follow the premise of the musical Chess, with a few twists and turns. It will be partly set up as a 'stage production', as well as actual 'interaction' (well you'll see what I mean.) Anyway I needed something light and was listening to the soundtrack last night and thought just how perfect it could work for the crew of the HP world...so hopefully you'll enjoy! (Oh and if you want info about the play Chess feel free to email me. I have sites with the story line as well as the lyrics to the songs, though many of the song's you'll get to see in the fic :grins: )

Chapter One: A Plan Is Formed

'Severus? May I have a word with you?'

Severus Snape, Potion Master of Hogwarts, turned to face the person who'd spoken. 'Of course, Headmaster,' he replied warily. Clearly he didn't want to be disturbed at the moment but Severus never could refuse a request from Albus Dumbledore. The man was like a father to him in respects, and had saved his life and his reputation more times than Severus wanted to remember.

'Good, good. Meet me in my office after your next class. There is something I need to discuss with you,' Albus said with a twinkle in his eye.

'Very well,' Severus said with a slight nod, then glared at the man who'd been standing next to Albus. 'I hope you will not be there.'

'I'm afraid so, Snape. Deal with it,' Sirius Black, Severus's nemesis since their school days, smirked.

'I believe I suddenly have other plans for the rest of the day, Albus. You'll have to- ' Severus began.

'You will be in my office after your class is finished, Severus, is that understood?' Albus said in a tone of voice that suggested to do otherwise wouldn't be a good idea.

Severus scowled and once more glared at Black. 'Of course. I'll be there, Headmaster, you have my word,' he said in a clipped voice. 'Now if you'll pardon me, I have students waiting.'

Before either of the other two men could respond Severus turned on his heel and walked off angrily. Once more Sirius Black had brought him down to a level of reprimands and taunts, and Severus was damned tired of it. Ever since Black had returned to the 'living' in respects when he'd escaped Azkaban four years back Severus's life had been turned upside down. For the past two years he'd been forced to work with Black in the quest to defeat the Dark Lord Voldemort, and it had been two years of disappointments, angers and defeats for which he'd fully blamed Black for.

Severus walked into his classroom and barked out, 'Finish up Wednesday's assignment. If I so much as here a peep out of any of you it will be detention!'

'Err...Professor Snape, Sir?' a seventh-year Slytherin piped up hesitantly.

Severus turned and glared at the child. 'What is it, Malfoy?'

'Umm...I have already finished Wednesday's assignment is all. Is there anything else I can do?' Draco Malfoy asked.

Severus muttered a few choice words under his breath, trust Draco Malfoy to already have his assignment finished. 'Malfoy, since you're already finished then I'm sure you'll have no problem going over to help Potter finish his pathetic looking potion.'

'Help...Potter, Sir?' Draco asked in shock.

'Do you have a hearing problem, Mr. Malfoy?' Severus drawled. 'Since you are competent enough to have finished this highly complex potion on your own, then helping someone else shouldn't be an issue.'

'Why can't Granger do it?' Draco whinged.

'I'd prefer to keep this classroom in one piece, hence Granger has to help Longbottom before he blows it up. Now stop questioning me, boy, and do as I say!' Severus said coldly, his glare boring holes into the seventh-year.

Thankfully Draco didn't respond to that and the boy quickly gathered his things and took himself to Potter's workstation. Severus went over and sat down at his desk whilst attempted to occupy his thoughts on anything other than the upcoming meeting with Black and Albus. Unfortunately the more he thought about it, the more agitated he became.

'That man isn't anything but a selfish, stubborn, oafish, asinine prat! He takes away everything and everyone that's important to me. Damn you, Black!' Severus said in a soft, angry yet pained voice, then winced when he realised he'd just said that out loud. Looking up quickly he was glad to notice that no one apparently had overheard his words, however as his gaze settled on a particular workstation he paled. The two boys at that station were looking at him in confused shock amongst other things.

'POTTER! MALFOY!' Severus yelled, 'Twenty points off for the both of you, and detention here, tonight!'

'Why?' Potter asked angrily. 'We didn't do anything!'

'You took your attentions off your potion, that's why, Potter. Now keep you eyes...and ears...to your work, and only your work!' Severus said icily.

Neither Potter nor Malfoy decided to respond, for which Severus was grateful, and the rest of the class passed quickly. As everyone was leaving he called out, 'Potter, Malfoy, tonight, ten o'clock. Be here or else you will regret it!'

Severus didn't expect an answer and as soon as the rest of the class filed out of the room he shut the door with a bang and made his way to Albus's office like promised. 'All right, Albus, let's get this over with. What do you want?' he said irritably as he walked into the room.

'Ever the cheerful one eh, Snape?' Sirius said mockingly.

'I wasn't asking for your opinion, Black,' Severus replied coldly. 'Now what do you want?'

'Ah, does this old wizard good to see the two of you talking,' Albus said with a chuckle.

'I would hardly call this 'talking', Albus. Severus wouldn't know the fine art of conversation if it bit him on the nose, though how it could miss is beyond me,' Sirius smirked.

'You leave my nose out of this, Black!' Severus hissed.

'It's hard to do that when it's so incredibly large, Snape!' Sirius shot back.

'I believe it's more aquiline than large, Sirius,' Albus joked. 'Now both of you stop this, and let's settle down to business shall we?'

'If Black will stop with his annoying Cheltenham dramatics, I will be more than happy to 'settle down' as you put it,' Severus said and glared at Sirius.

'What the heck is Chelt...er...Chalten...whatever dramatics?' Sirius asked huffily.

'It has to do with Muggle theatre, Black. Something in which it is painfully obvious that you know nothing about,' Severus snorted.

'That's not true. Remus tells me things about the theatre all the time. He even brings home those little books for me to read,' Sirius said defensively.

'Those 'books' are playbills you idiotic fool,' Severus said irritably, then recalled what Black had just said. 'Lupin is interested in the theatre?' he asked sceptically.

'Ah right, playbills, that's what they're called,' Sirius said with a nod. 'And not that it's really any of your business, Snape, but Remus isn't just 'interested' in the theatre, he practically worships it. He joined a local acting troupe a few years ago, just after he left here in fact.'

'He actually does real acting?' Severus asked in astonishment.

'Is there such a thing as fake acting, Snape?' Sirius said rolling his eyes. 'Yes he does 'real' acting, He hasn't acted in a bit though, but I remember the last play he did was called Oliver. Of course he had to take off a few days for the moon, but that's what having an underscore is for.'

'That's understudy you nitwit,' Severus muttered.

'Whatever,' Sirius shrugged. 'Now can we get a move on with what we have to discuss? I have to meet someone in a hour about a motorbike.'

'Oh good gracious,' Severus groaned. 'You are not planning on putting together another one of those damnable flying contraptions are you?'

Sirius grinned. 'Right you are, Sev. And this time she'll be better than before when I get done with her.'

'First of all, do NOT call me 'Sev'. I am not your friend, and I am definitely not your lover, nor do I care to be, so you do not have the right to call me such an intimate name. Second of all 'it' is an inanimate object, Black, not a woman,' Severus said coldly.

Sirius chuckled. 'Ah, Snape, you just don't know the finer aspects of life. A man and his machine are rarely parted.'

'If that's true then by all means, please build this blasted annoyance so that 'she' can take you out of my hair,' Severus muttered.

'And such lovely hair it is at that. Do I detect that you actually washed it recently? It's missing some of it's usual greasiness, hence I assume that you must have washed it at least within the last month,' Sirius quipped.

'Oh yes, very funny, Black. You're wit is purely astounding me today,' Severus grumbled. 'Now what do you want already?'

'Sirius, will you please be so kind as to tell Severus what the problem is?' Albus asked now. He'd kept out of their bantering for several reasons, mainly though because he was heartened to have them both flinging words instead of hexes at each other at the moment.

Sirius nodded at Albus then turned back to study Severus. 'It's...about Remy. Well, more to the point...about his potion,' Sirius said hesitantly now.

Severus raised his eyebrow and peered intensely at Sirius. 'What about it?' he drawled.

'Oh hell, how to put this...' Sirius began.

'The best course of action is just say whatever it is, Black. I don't have time nor patience to sit here all day whilst you hem and haw over whatever it is,' Severus snapped.

'Fine,' Sirius said, his eyes blazing angrily for a moment. 'What it boils down to is simple. Remus finds himself short of funds this month, and because of it he can't buy his Wolfsbane Potion.'

'And this is supposed to interest me because...?' Severus said cooly, though suddenly his pulse quickened and he found himself eagerly awaiting Black's next words.

'Oh for the love of Godric, you are an impossible git!' Sirius muttered. 'Remus needs your help, Snape. Because of you he's more prideful than ever, even when we were kids he wasn't this bad. He refuses to allow me to buy his potion for him even though I can afford it, and now he's in a rut. The fact is, as distasteful as this is to me, he would rather beg for your mercy than accept money from me,' Sirius said with a drawn out sigh.

'I see,' Severus said sitting back in his chair to contemplate this turn of events. 'He'd rather have the help of the greasy git Potion's Master over his lover, irony at it's best perhaps?'

'Lover?' Sirius sputtered and stared at Severus as if he'd just been told he'd won a billion Galleons. 'What makes you think that Remy and I are...err...lovers?' he stammered.

'Lupin's flat has only a one bedroom if I recall correctly, and I would wager that you have not been sleeping on that tiny sofa of his,' Severus said dryly.

'Hold up, how do you know what Remy's flat looks like?' Sirius asked suspiciously.

Severus paled slightly, angry with himself for giving away such valuable information. 'I...err...I had to bring him something a while back, before you moved in with him,' he replied quickly. There was no way in hell he was going to admit to Black nor Albus the real reason he'd gone to Remus's flat, not if he wanted to remain hex and lecture free in the next ten seconds.

'If you did anything to him, if you had hurt him in any way whilst you were there, and I find out about it, you're in major trouble, Snape,' Sirius said threateningly.

Severus wanted to laugh at that comment. 'Believe me, I was the one who emerged from Lupin's flat with the wear and tear, Black,' Severus said coldly, though his body was suddenly anything but cold as he remembered that particular night, and the morning that had followed as well.

'Good, Remus finally knows how to fight back,' Sirius said in obvious relief.

*Oh, he put up a damn good fight all right, Black, but not in the way you think he did* Severus's mind smirked. The next time he'd seen Remus they had had a bitter row and never saw each other again, but in the past three years the wolf had weighed heavily on his mind.

'To dispense with further pleasantries, Black, I take it Lupin wants me to make him a batch of Wolfsbane? The moon is but a week away, you're cutting things rather close don't you think?' Severus asked.

'I would have done this sooner but I was trying to convince Remus to go with any other alternative. Since he won't you're it, Snape. I'm here to bring back a dose with me that will last Remus through the cycle,' Sirius said.

Severus thought on this carefully, a plan forming in his mind. 'No,' he said.

'No? No to what?' Sirius asked puzzled.

'No, I will not give you the potion, Black,' Severus said slowly.

'What? Why? It's because of you that Remus suffers like he does! If you hadn't forced him out of the school and revealed what he was...he might have had a decent life by now for the first time ever!'

'Sirius, that is enough!' Albus said warningly.

'No, Albus, he is right,' Severus said quietly, then looked over to where Black was sitting. 'Because I wanted you to suffer so badly I destroyed someone's life that I know didn't deserve it.'

Sirius seemed a bit taken aback by those honest words, and blinked in surprise. 'Then...then why won't you give him the potion, Snape?'

'I didn't say I wouldn't give it to him,' Severus replied.

'Yes you did,' Sirius argued.

Severus shook his head. 'You don't listen, Black. I said I wouldn't give it to you, I didn't say I wouldn't give it to him.'

'I don't follow you, it's the same blasted thing, Snape. What game are you playing at here?' Sirius demanded.

Severus started at those words. *A game...of course...that's it!* Focusing his gaze on Sirius he said, 'Tell Lupin that if he wants the potion to be here by nightfall, I'll have it ready for him.'

'Wait, come here? Why?' Sirius asked in surprise.

'I haven't made that particular potion since Lupin left, I want to supervise over it and make sure he does indeed take it,' Severus said.

Sirius snorted. 'Much as I hate to say this, I can't see you of all people mucking up a potion, Snape. Besides, you know perfectly well Remus wouldn't step within ten feet of the school again during a full moon.'

'That's a pity then, because it's the only way I will help him,' Severus said. 'He's got four hours to get here, or there's nothing I can do for him this month.'

'Why are you being such a prick, Snape? You know how Remus feels about endangering the lives of the students!' Sirius shouted.

'If he has so little faith in my potion working for him then why is he bothering me for it in the first place, Black?' Severus yelled back. 'He can either accept your money, or go without. And since he seems quite adamant about not doing either of those things, he'll be here.'

'And where will we stay?' Sirius asked coldly.

'I assume Albus will have no problem putting you up here at the castle. After all it's only one room that will obviously be required for the two of you,' Severus said coldly.

'Severus is right, I can easily put the two of you into one of the guest rooms, Sirius,' Albus nodded.

'Don't encourage the git, Albus!' Sirius muttered, then once more glared at Severus. 'Remus isn't going to be happy about this. He swore never to come here when there were students still in residence.'

'That isn't my problem,' Severus shrugged and headed over to the door, then turned back to look at Sirius carefully. 'I'll expect him by the end of supper in my office, Black. If he's not there than a cauldron full of Wolfsbane will go to waste this month.'

How the hell am I supposed to convince him to come huh, Snape? You're the expert at manipulation and getting what you want...so tell me how I should do this?' Sirius asked heatedly.

*I don't always, Black...but this time I do plan on getting what I want...what I have wanted and craved for years actually. You've put an end to things twice now, but all good things come to those who wait, and I've waited very patiently for a long, long time for this...*

'Tell him that his presence would be also be required for another reason,' Severus said, once more plans forming in his mind.

'And what reason would that be, Severus?' Albus asked curiously.

Severus though over quickly would he was going to say next, and chose his words carefully. Tell Lupin...that in exchange for my giving him the potion I will not take payment financially, but I will take payment by asking for his advice.'

'Advice? What the bloody hell does that mean?' Sirius asked puzzled.

'Tell him that I'm a protagonist short for an idyllic, well-produced scene. If he enjoys the theatre as much you say he does, he'll understand the reference,' Severus said with a slight grin, then before Sirius or Albus could respond he left the office closing the door firmly behind him.

As Severus made his way back to his dungeon quarters his mind was racing with possibilities. If all went well, and he hoped things would, he'd need to hurry. The Wolfsbane needed at least four hours to be made properly, and that would get it finished just round supper. That wouldn't leave him much time to gather up the rest of his ideas, but most of his plan was already formed.

If Lupin did get the hint, and Severus had a feeling that he would know exactly which play that quote had come from, then Lupin's interest would be peeked. Once that happened it would only be a matter of timing, creating the right mood, and setting the stage for the next step of his plans. He was so caught up in his scheming however he didn't even notice that the time had slipped away, and that the sun was slowly sinking now, and supper was right round the corner.

'So, it's to be checkmate is it, Severus?' a soft voice asked from the doorway.

Severus looked up surprised that he hadn't heard the person walk in, then stared at what he was seeing. 'By Salazar, what has Black done to you?' he whispered.

Remus smiled hesitantly then waved his hand in dismissal. 'Sirius hasn't done anything to me, Severus,' he said in that same low, honey sounding voice that had tormented Severus's dreams for years now.

'You're a wreck, Lupin, it has to be Black's fault. He should be taking better care of you!' Severus argued.

'He is taking good care of me, Severus, I just don't take very good care of myself is all. May I sit?' Remus asked hesitantly. Severus nodded and indicated a chair for Remus to sit down in. 'I assure you, it's not Sirius's fault. I'm old for my kind, almost forty now remember?'

'Oh,' Severus said quietly. 'How is that possible though? You're a wizard, we live much longer than Muggles do.'

Remus shook his head sadly. 'I'm a werewolf first, Severus, I'm beholden to that blood more than anything else. Right now I feel more Albus's age than forty I assure you,' he said and shivered slightly. 'Why did you really want me to come here, Severus?'

'I...I wanted to see you again,' Severus said before he could stop himself, then paled at the sharp gaze Remus gave him at those words. 'I mean, I wanted some advice rather,' he said quickly hoping to cover up his mistaken words.

'Yes, Sirius told me something about 'advice'. On what?' Remus asked.

'You're too thin,' Severus said absentmindedly.

'I'm not concerned with my eating habits, of lack of them,' Remus said warily.

'Well you damn well should be! Black obviously- '

'Sirius is not at fault for what's happening to me, Severus, I'm not going to say it again!' Remus snapped.

'He's obviously not giving you much incentive to take better care of yourself, Lupin. I know for fact that your kind can live to at least a hundred if they take care of themselves.'

'Those are the ones that have good reason to live, I on the other hand have no reason to want that. I am tired of living in misery and loneliness!' Remus said angrily, then paled slightly at what he'd said and turned his gaze to the floor.

Severus was completely puzzled by those words. 'How can you say that when you have Black in your bed now?' he asked.

Remus sighed. 'There's all types of misery and loneliness, Severus, you know that as well as I do. Look, I don't want to discuss this any longer,' he said and got up from the chair, 'just let me have my potion please, I need to rest, I'm tired.'

'You don't have to be,' Severus said, then went over to the bubbling cauldron and poured out a goblet of potion.

'I know I don't have to be, Severus, but I am. I'm very tired these days, and the Floo Network made things even worse,' Remus muttered. 'So if you'll just give me the potion I'll go back to my room and rest for a while.'

'Your room?' Severus asked in surprise and held out the goblet now. 'Aren't you sharing a room with Black?'

Remus shook his head and took the offered goblet, his nose wrinkling in disgust as he downed the potion in two gulps. 'No, we're not. Sirius has decided to stay in the dorm with Harry. I'm staying in the guest quarters, by myself,' he said with a slight shiver from the awful taste of the potion and put the goblet down on Severus's desk.

'I see,' Severus said, and a part of him wanted to suddenly dance with joy. 'That may make things more convenient then.'

'More convenient? For what?' Remus asked curiously.

'For the real reason I wanted you to come to the school, Lupin,' Severus said and turned his gaze away from the werewolf.

'And what would that be, Severus?' Remus asked.

'Advice, as I said.'

'On what?'

'On the theatre,' Severus said hesitantly.

'The theatre?' Remus asked in shock. 'What on earth for, Severus?'

'These are dark times, Lupin, and to be honest even I cannot help but to notice that the morale in the castle has hit an all time low. After that last attempt on Potter's life by Voldemort a few months ago both the students and staff have been walking round here on eggshells, and frankly it's bloody annoying,' Severus said.

'I can understand that, but what does the theatre have anything to do with it?' Remus asked puzzled. 'Are you planning a field trip of sorts, Severus?'

'Absolutely not,' Severus said irritably. 'I can't see half these students out in the Muggle world. That would be a nightmare, not a boost of morale.'

Remus chuckled. 'I agree with you on that point. So what is it then you have in mind?'

'A play. Rather, to put on a stage production here, at the school. We can use the students and staff for the cast,' Severus said.

Remus looked at Severus as if he'd grown a second head. 'Are you joshing me? Produce a play...here? Have you lost it?'

Severus scowled. 'No I have not 'lost it' as you so eloquently put it, Lupin. Black said you are an admirer of the theatre, that you even have been acting. Surely you can see that this would give the students and staff something to take their minds off their troubles?'

'I haven't acted in a few months now, I've been too ill,' Remus said sadly. 'I do miss the theatre though...the stage lights, the smell of paint and sawdust, the applause of an audience. You know, you may be right after all, this may be just the thing that could break everyone out of their shells, Severus. But what play were you thinking of doing?'

'Haven't you already guessed, Lupin?' Severus said quietly.

Remus thought on that for a moment then his eyes lit up and he chuckled. 'Which version though?'

'A combination of both British and American versions I think, I'm not sure yet. There are aspects of both that I enjoyed,' Severus said thoughtfully.

'You've seen them both?' Remus asked in surprise.

Severus nodded. 'As it happens yes, I have seen both versions, and have copies of both scripts and all the different lyrics for each song.'

'You are a surprise, Severus Snape,' Remus chuckled. 'I never would have guessed you to be an admirer of the stage.'

'There's a lot about me you don't know, Lupin,' Severus replied.

'Because you never allowed me to know, Severus. Believe me, it wasn't for lack of trying,' Remus said quietly. 'The question now is will Albus allow you do to this, and what will the rest of the school think of it?'

'I dare say Albus will be agreeable to anything that can boost morale right now. As for the staff and students, if they don't like it they'll learn to,' Severus shrugged.

Remus grinned and shook his head. 'Do you always get your way, Severus?'

'When I want something badly enough, then yes...I do,' Severus said and turned to look Remus in the eyes, disheartened by what he saw reflected in them. 'Go rest, Lupin, you're tired. I'll make sure one of the house-elves sends your supper to your room.' Walking over to his stores he pulled a small phial of a reddish liquid out of one of the cabinets, then went back over and held it out. 'And I want you to take this tonight.'

Remus looked at the phial hesitantly before taking it from Severus's hand. 'What is it?'

'Something of my own design. Let me know if it works,' Severus said.

'If I don't know what it is, how will I know if it works or not?' Remus asked curiously.

Severus chuckled. 'You'll know if it does, believe me. Now go, we'll talk more about the play tomorrow.'

Remus nodded. 'Good night, Severus...and thank you,' he said softly.

'You're welcome,' Severus said with a nod. 'Oh, and Lupin?'

'Yes?'

'Don't tell anyone, especially not Black, about the play yet. Let's keep it a surprise shall we?' Severus said.

Remus nodded and smiled. 'All right, Severus, I won't,' he said then slipped out the door back to his quarters.

As Severus watched Remus go he was torn in several different directions. He couldn't believe the changes that had come over the other man in just a few short years. Remus always been lean and wiry but now he was way too thin, his bones were sticking out as if he'd been forced into starvation. His once short salt and peppered hair had turned nearly all grey now, and was halfway grown down his back. The worst of it though was the light that had sparkled so brightly in the man's golden brown eyes before was now nothing but a dim fading glow.

*Damn you Black! Once more you have proven how incompetent you are. How could you allow this to happen to him? I may be a cold-hearted bastard but even I wouldn't have let him suffer like this!* Payback would be Severus's though and he grinned at the thought of his plans to come. *Oh yes, it will be game, set and match, and when I'm done it will be checkmate, Sirius Black. And this time I will claim and keep the prize that I never should have let go...*