Endgame

Chapter Three: Mornings Are Never Easy

Severus groaned as the morning chimes woke him up. Stretching lazily for a moment he yawned then rubbing his eyes he began to move off the bed, until he realised something rather...warm and soft...was in the way. Opening his eyes fully he nearly choked as he saw the person next to him staring back at him questioningly.

'Potter?'

'Umm...' Harry began, apparently unsure what to say.

'Potter...I'm going to say this one time and one time only - MOVE!' he half shouted.

Harry didn't need to be told twice and was out of the bed in a heartbeat. 'Sorry, Professor,' he said softly and walked over to sit down on the sofa.

Severus sighed then walked over to Harry and sat down on the sofa next to him. 'What was it this time?' he asked quietly.

Harry bent his head forwards and sighed deeply. 'It was Ron again. He was saying these really nasty things and I...I'm sorry. I just couldn't stay in the dorm anymore and I didn't want to disturb Remus again...and I couldn't find Sirius...and you did say that I could...err..'

'I know what I said, Potter,' Severus said irritably. 'I didn't however expect you to end up...err...well...where you ended up this morning. I believe we agreed on you using the sofa during these times wasn't it?'

Harry blushed. 'Yeah but it was really cold when I got here last night and there wasn't any blankets or pillows on the sofa and the fire was out and I didn't want to get a house-elf and...'

'For the love of Merlin, Potter, take a breath!' Severus said and shook his head in exasperation. 'I will make sure in the future to have adequate blankets, pillows and a fire blazing when I go to sleep,' he muttered. 'Now, I suggest you go back to your dorm before anyone else finds out that you're gone.'

'I seriously doubt that will happen,' Harry said bitterly, then walked over to a large painting that had a portrait of a man in his mid-forties on it. 'Morning,' Harry yawned.

'Good day to you, Harry,' the man said cheerily. 'Password?'

'Pure-blood' Harry said yawning again.

'Very well. Oh and Harry? Next time this happens, do try to come in sooner won't you? Two in the morning is a bit late for me you know,' the man said with a slight sniff.

'I'll try. Sorry to wake you up like that,' Harry said with a nod then waited as the man opened the portrait. Turning back to Severus he said, 'See you at rehearsal, Professor.' With that he was gone and the painting returned to it's original position.

Severus got up from the sofa and walked over to the fireplace, a strange expression on his face. 'I suppose it's my own fault isn't it, Salazar,' he said to the painting.

Salazar shrugged. 'The boy obviously needed someone to be a role model, Severus. Who better than you? Certainly you don't think that Black is doing a better job?' he snorted.

Severus scowled. 'He's not doing any job of it, that's the blasted problem. Otherwise Potter wouldn't have turned to me in the first place.'

'Oh stop your griping and accept the fact you like the boy, Severus,' Salazar chuckled. 'He's not as bad as you thought he was anyway.'

'No, he's worse,' Severus grumbled.

'And you're enjoying every moment that he spends in your company, face it,' Salazar argued. 'He's giving you a challenge, Severus. Question is, what will you do now? After all, you're the one who told Harry he could come to you whenever he needed to.'

'Not in the way you're implying, Salazar. I certainly didn't mean for him to start sneaking into my bed for Merlin's sake!' Severus said scathingly.

'Why not? He's got promise, and a hell of a good looking body to boot,' Salazar said appraisingly.

'You're daft, you know that?' Severus said coldly. 'The boy is my student, in case you've forgotten. Not to mention the fact that he is young enough to be my son!'

'Oh heavens forbid you should ever have a child, Severus Silvius Snape,' Salazar said rolling his eyes. 'That would be a mockery and a travesty of the word 'child' right there,' he smirked.

Severus snorted. 'Considering I am as camp as they come, Salazar, the hopes of me ever having a child is obviously out of the question. I have never bedded a woman in my life, and I certainly don't intend to start now,' he said firmly.

'Of course, that position is reserved for a particular werewolf now, isn't it,' Salazar said innocently.

'Oh....just shut up!' Severus grumbled. 'Why I even keep you here is beyond me.'

'Because I let you use my private rooms, that's why, Severus,' Salazar quipped. 'Besides, you know you couldn't get on without me, who would you confide in eh?'

Severus thought that over and scowled deeply. 'Sometimes...I hate it when you're right. Now, if you don't mind I have to get ready for the day. I have a rehearsal to get to.'

'How is the play moving along by the by?' Salazar asked as Severus headed over to the wardrobe to pick out his clothes for the day.

'It's moving, if barely,' Severus sighed. 'I'll admit this in the past fortnight since I began rehearsals it has been one nightmare after the other.'

'I assume Black is making you're life a living hell?' Salazar chuckled.

'Black is an odious, aggravating, pain the arse git,' Severus said through clenched teeth.

'What did he do now?'

'What doesn't he do!' Severus said throwing up his hands. 'He's annoying. He's got something to say about everything. You should have seen the fit he threw when he found out that- '

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

'Snape! Snape are you in there? I need to talk to you!'

'Oh for pity's sake!' Severus groaned and in two strides was at the door throwing it open. 'What the bloody hell do you want, Black?!' he screamed.

Sirius didn't even bother to say anything and just walked in the room holding out the script. 'You never said anything about this part,' he said.

'What part?' Severus asked exasperated.

Sirius held out the script. 'This part...here,' he said pointing. 'During the second match. You don't seriously expect me to complain about you eating strawberry yogurt do you? I don't even like yogurt!'

Severus stared at Black for a moment in shock, then groaned and shook his head. 'Obviously you know nothing about the game of chess, Black. It's not just a ploy by Freddie in the play, but it was also an actual tactic used in 1978 by Viktor Korchnoi, one of the world's greatest Chess champions.'

'Oh really? And what was it supposed to do? This ploy I mean?' Sirius asked.

Severus was a bit surprised that Black was taking interest in the conversation so he decided to tell him about the ploy from the game in question. 'Korchnoi's complaint about the yogurt was that Karpov, the man he was playing at the time, was using some sort of subversive code message via the means of the deliverance of having violet coloured yogurt delivered to him during the match,' Severus said. 'In layman's terms for your simple mind, Korchnoi thought Karpov was cheating.'

'Was he?' Sirius asked curiously.

Severus shrugged. 'Who knows. In the end however the jury met and decided that Karpov could have a drink during the match but not the yogurt.'

'Sounds funny to me,' Sirius said with a shrug.

'Funny or not it's the way it happened. Now, unless you have something of actual importance to ask me, please leave. I have things to do yet this morning before rehearsal, including getting dressed, and you are obviously in my way,' Severus grumbled and sent a glare towards the other man.

Sirius rolled his eyes. 'Well getting dressed shouldn't be all that difficult for you, considering you have such a wide range of outfits to chose from,' he said dryly as he glanced at Severus's wardrobe.

'Get out before I lose my patience with you, Black,' Severus said coldly as he held the door open.

Sirius waved a dismissing hand his way as he walked out the door. 'Can't lose something you don't have in the first place, Snape,' he smirked, but before Severus could respond he was gone.

Severus slammed the door shut behind him and stomped back over to the wardrobe, trying in vain to calm his temper. 'I hate that man! Why Remus puts up with him is beyond me!'

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Severus growled and once more threw open the door. 'What now?' he screamed, then blinked as he saw who it was standing there. 'Oh...er...I apologize, Albus. Come in,' he said in a more subdued voice.

Albus glanced at Severus a bit curiously as he walked into the room. 'I take it you've not been having a good morning, Severus?'

'When is the morning ever good, Albus?' Severus asked petulantly, then sighed. 'No, as it happens I am not. What was it you wanted?'

'I merely wanted to inform you that Sir Nicholas has finally gotten in touch with that ghostly orchestra you asked him about,' Albus said.

'And?' Severus asked with a raised eyebrow. 'What did they say?'

'They agreed, and will be here in a few days time,' Albus said.

Severus sighed in relief. 'Well, that's one less thing I have to worry about then,' he said, then looked back at Albus. 'Did you manage to correct the problem with the theatre by chance? As of yesterday the acoustics were still sounding tinny and echo-like at best.'

'I have a few house-elves working on that problem now,' Albus nodded.

'House-elves?' Severus asked in astonishment. 'What do they know about how a theatre should sound?'

'Now, now, don't get upset, Severus,' Albus said soothingly. 'Remus has been working with them since early this morning on getting it right. I never knew he had such a lovely singing voice. He is a tenor I believe?'

'No, he's an alto, and yes, he has a lovely voice,' Severus said quietly, then paled when he realised what he'd said. 'Err...so I ahh...remember that is. I haven't heard him sing in a long time, but I recall his voice was fairly decent.'

'Oh?' Albus asked curiously. 'I thought he auditioned for his role like the others did.'

'No,' Severus said quickly and turned away to busy himself in his wardrobe. 'I assumed he still had a decent voice, so he got the part. I haven't actually heard him sing as of yet.'

'Ah, I see,' Albus said then walked back over to the door. 'I do hope your day improves, Severus. One should never start the day on the wrong side of the bed you know,' he said with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

Severus turned to stare at the old man. 'And what exactly does that mean?' he asked suspiciously.

'It means whatever you want it to mean, Severus,' Albus said with a shrug.

'You're not implying that I am doing anything immoral are you?' Severus asked coolly.

Albus chuckled and shook his head. 'No, of course not, I know you better than that, Severus. I will say however that I am glad that a certain very troubled young man has managed to find some comfort in your presence. For that I am grateful to you,' he said quietly.

Severus sighed and walked back over to the door to face the headmaster. 'I don't really know what more I can do for him, Albus. For some undetermined reason the boy trusts me, but to what extent yet remains to be seen.'

'It's enough that he seeks you out when he needs it, Severus,' Albus said with a smile. 'Perhaps your play will help him, as well as another young lad.'

Severus raised an eyebrow in curiosity. 'Oh? There is another child in this school equally troubled? Is that what you're trying to tell me?'

'How much attention have you been paying to your house as of late, Severus?' Albus asked.

Severus thought that over and with a scowl realised what Albus was saying. 'You're right, not very much. What am I missing, Albus?'

'You know I hate to mess about in personal affairs- '

'Bullshite, Albus, you love to do that and you know it,' Severus scoffed.

Albus chuckled. 'Well, perhaps a little bit.'

'A little bit?' Severus said rolling his eyes. 'I think I'm the only one left on the staff that hasn't succumbed to your 'matchmaking' skills,' he snorted.

'No, Minerva hasn't as of yet,' Albus said with a slight sigh. 'She's young yet, there's still time.'

'I'm not interested in Minerva's love life, Albus,' Severus said irritably. 'Now tell me which student in my house have I apparently been neglecting.'

Albus looked at Severus intensely for a moment then grinned. 'Look back over your cast list, my dear boy. I think subconsciously you already have figured it out. Now, I'll let you finish starting your day, see you at breakfast,' he said, and before Severus could reply he walked out the door.

Severus stood there a moment wondering what Albus meant by his words. Closing the door he didn't even stop at his wardrobe this time, instead he went to his desk and looked down at the cast sheet. He poured over it for a good ten minutes then finally sighed and shook his head.

'What am I missing, Salazar?' he asked and looked up at the man in the painting, then slightly blushed and coughed when he saw what the man was doing, and with whom. 'Ahem...good morning to you, Rowena.'

'And good morning to you, Severus,' Rowena Ravenclaw said with a smile and tidied her hair and dress. 'Well, so much for an early morning rendezvous eh, Salazar?' she chuckled and glanced coyly at the man.

'We'll have time later, dear,' Salazar grinned, then turned back to Severus. 'You really aren't seeing it are you, m'boy,' he said with a sniff.

'Would I be asking you if I was seeing 'it'...whatever 'it' is?' Severus asked dryly.

Rowena laughed. 'Now, now, play nice you two. Now what is this all about?'

'Oh it's really nothing, dear heart,' Salazar said off-handedly. 'Severus is completely missing the fact that it's the young Malfoy boy that needs his help, that's all.'

'Malfoy?' Rowena said and pursed her lips in thought. 'I knew a Marcelius Malfoy once. Odd man, but incredibly rich and dark sided at that, he was from France originally I recall. Shagged like a fiend as well, typical of the French though,' she chuckled.

'Rowena! Are you cheating on me?' Salazar said sounding hurt.

'Don't even start with me, Salazar,' she said petulantly, 'It was long before I met you, so wipe that scowl off your face, it doesn't become you. Now, is this Malfoy person related to Marcelius?' she asked as she turned back to Severus.

'Possibly, I really haven't a clue of the Malfoy lineage, Rowena,' Severus said with a shrug. 'Are you sure it's Malfoy though, Salazar? Why on earth would the boy need help on anything? He is a Malfoy after all, nothing but a conceited, pompous lot at that.'

'Definitely must be related to Marcelius then,' Rowena chuckled. 'A more narcissistic man I have never met.'

'I'm not interested in Marcelius Malfoy, Rowena,' Severus huffed. 'What about Draco Malfoy? The boy?'

'Oh stop griping, Severus,' Salazar grumbled. 'If you're so interested why don't you keep better tabs on the child hmm?'

'And how am I to do that?' Severus asked skeptically. 'Please, do enlighten me on this one, Salazar.'

'Common sense, boy. Think about it, he is in your play, is he not?' Salazar asked.

'Yes, he is...and?'

'Oi, and you say Black is dense,' Salazar muttered. 'What better way to observe the boy without him knowing it...then during your rehearsals. Honestly, even a troll could have figured this one out.'

'You really are as annoying as Black sometimes you know,' Severus muttered.

'He is right though, Severus,' Rowena said.

'I know he is, Rowena, which is why he's being an annoying prat,' Severus said irritably. 'Very well then, I'll keep my eye on him during the rehearsals. There is still a fortnight till we open, so that gives me time to see what to make of things. Now, let me get dressed in peace so I can at least make part of breakfast.'

'Of course, go right ahead,' Rowena said with a grin then winked at Salazar. 'We'll just go for a walk to give you some time to yourself.'

'Yes, a stroll round the castle seems like a good idea. I believe Godric and Helga may even be up already, shall we go call on them, my dear?' Salazar asked whilst holding his arm out for his lady.

'Good luck, Severus!' Rowena called out. She then took Salazar's arm and they both flitted off to wherever it was they were headed.

Severus only shook his head as they left, very few knew that Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw had been lovers. In fact after Salazar had left the school they had continued their clandestine affair. Even though both had been married to different people, they had met in secret up till they died. Severus often thought it was a pity that Salazar's wife was such an evil woman, it had really been her fault that Salazar had been forced to leave the school.

It had been her idea to have the school only bring in the pure-bloods, and poor Salazar had left the school in shame because his wife had begun stirring up problems between the four friends. Secretly he had continued his affair with Rowena however so he would know what was going on at the school, but to his dismay over the years his wife's attitude about the Muggle-borns (which Salazar really didn't have a problem with) had ended up in the history books as himself being the hater of Muggles.

Ironically in the end it had been Salazar himself that fought with his wife, ending the feud once and for all. He sent his wife abroad, set her up with all the money she could want, with the condition that she never return to Scotland. Being a materialistic woman she accepted, and thus insured the future of what he had always wanted the school to be, a home for the young to learn magic. He himself however drifted for a while, but Rowena went to him wherever he was to comfort him. Despite Rowena, Godric and Helga's pleading with him, he could never bring himself to return to the school again.

Unfortunately that left room for his idiotic children to carry on in their mother's footsteps, hence why even today heirs like Tom Riddle were running round creating trouble. It pained Salazar that his heir was doing such horrible things, claiming it was Salazar's will, when all he ever wanted was peace. There was nothing he could do about it now though, what was done couldn't be undone. Eventually he settled his spirit into the painting in his private rooms when he met Severus, renewed his relationship with the lovely portrait of Rowena, and pretty much chose to ignore everything else at this point.

However for Severus it hadn't been easy having the spirit of Salazar Slytherin round him constantly. The man did have a temper at times, and could be an annoying pain, but Severus had come to truly admire the man over the years, and was often glad to have his company. However it was a lonely existence confiding in a spirit and not a human, and worse when he woke every morning to a cold, empty bed.

The time he had shared with Remus he had allowed himself to actually settle into a routine, and had enjoyed the comfort of having the werewolf in his arms. Remus would secretly sneak in through the portrait of Salazar when it was safe to do so, and after they awoke in the morning he would return to his quarters in the same way. The portrait was the entrance to a myriad of passages that Salazar himself had magically built leading to all four towers and the quarters of the other professors, including Albus's private chambers.

His and Remus's first relationship had been odd to say the least. It had all happened so suddenly that Severus to this day wasn't sure who made the first move. What he did know was that it had been the night before a full moon, not too long after Remus had arrived to teach a few years ago. Severus had brought the Wolfsbane Potion to Remus as was scheduled, but something was different that night, and it changed everything that he had come to expect up to that point.

Perhaps it had been something in the air that night. Or maybe it had been the lost, wistful, and incredibly needy expression on Remus's face when he happened to glance at the almost full moon. Perhaps it was the way Remus's deliciously low, hesitant words of thanks made him shiver. Or perhaps it was just being in love with Remus Lupin to the point where he'd had more than his share of fanaticised aching dreams, both as a teenager and an adult.

The whole reason he'd created the special potion he had given Remus was to enhance those dreams. To make them so real that by morning he would have to change his sheets, but at least he was sated, even if it was just a dream. Whatever the case was, that particular night he had brought Remus the Wolfsbane potion had led to waking up to a soft, warm, deliciously needy body, and he wasn't one to question the Fates as to how or why it had happened. He accepted it for what it was, until the day came when Sirius Black strolled back into their lives.

It had been jealousy that night in the Shrieking Shack almost four years ago that had nearly cost both Black and Remus their lives. Severus knew that, not that he was going to admit it to anyone, but it had been cold, cruel, ugly jealousy that had made him do what he had. In his mind, when he had seen Remus embrace Black that night, Severus was positive Remus would leave him without hesitation.

Severus couldn't deal with that knowledge, he knew by that point he had irrecoverably lost his heart to the wolf. It really had been his own fault though, he knew that now. It was jealousy because Severus had never said the three little words that accompanied the strong emotions he felt for Remus, and that's what cost him everything at that time.

Because Severus had been too afraid, to weak to say he loved Remus, he had lost him to Black's bed. Now though he was going to take back when he felt was his and his alone. Remus did belong to him, somehow Severus just knew that. A part of him had been missing ever since he and Remus had that awful row that had caused Severus to become heatedly jealous, which had led to their breakup. He was going to fix it though, no matter what he had to do he was going to get Remus to leave Black, and return to him.

His thoughts were interrupted however as the school's chimes indicated breakfast was now starting. Quickly he got himself dressed and once more focused his thoughts on the play, as well as a few other things. He would have to pay far more attention to Malfoy now, and that wasn't going to be easy. One thing Malfoy's prided themselves on was their closet-like abilities, keeping emotions and thoughts hidden.

Somehow though instinct told him that perhaps this time young Malfoy might slip up, and when he did Severus would be there. He would be watching and waiting, so that he could plan the next move. Like a well played game of chess, the pieces were now being set into motion. All that was left now was to see which way the game would be played, and who would come out as the winner. Or in this case...hopefully all those involved would end up getting what they wanted.

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