The Avery Women

Chapter 2 - For Sake of Grace

Bored.

That's because there's nothing to play with.

Except each other.

And I already told you the answer to that, you great twat. Not happening.

Bored. The brown wolf heaved a sigh, and gave the black wolf curled in the opposite corner a mournful look.

The black wolf rolled her eyes in response. No.

Bored.

Don't care. She bared her teeth slightly. I have a twin, remember? I'd never live it down.

She's with Snape-the-git.

Take that back! That's my brother-in-law you're insulting! The black wolf was on her feet, a low growl coming from her chest, her teeth bared in a snarl.

Sorry! Habit. The brown wolf rolled onto his back, showing his throat, and whining. It took a long moment for the other to back down.

You picked up some nasty habits, Lupin.

Call me Remus. He gape-grinned at the other wolf, and she snorted.

Then you call me Grace. Though I still think my sister is never going to let me live that down.

If she's going to tease you for that, why not go for broke?

Because I'm not into total humiliation.

They fell silent as they heard the murmur of students coming to the door of the room.

"It's full moon tonight, Harry. Professor Lupin is probably in no shape to recieve visitors." That was a young woman's voice, and Grace put a paw over her nose, her lips curling slightly in a wolfish approximation of an amused smirk.

That, dear child, is the understatement of the month.

"And if he's here, Snape has to be making the wolfsbane potion again, and I thought that made him harmless."

I might be harmless, but that doesn't make the other werewolf in here harmless, Harry! Remus shook his head, and trotted to the door, settling across the doorway.

I wouldn't hurt him! Grace gave him an offended look. And besides, Niobe would have Snape's hide if he hadn't made enough up for the both of us.

"Just because he's harmless doesn't mean he wants company, Harry." That was Ron. "Come on, please, let's just go back to the common room?" He sounded afraid.

He smells afraid. I can smell him from here! Grace wrinkled her nose, and sneezed. Ugh.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Snape's voice, smooth and cold as ever.

Oh lovely! Remus rolled his eyes. And now for company I'd rather not have. Not today, of all days.

Hey, better than a student who doesn't have the sense to stay away from a werewolf on the full moon. Grace did her best to give him a raspberry.

Don't do that unless you're going to use it. Remus gave a soft bark of amusement as Grace tried to bury her head under her paws.

"Professor." Harry's voice was calm. "We just wanted to see if Professor Lupin was ok."

"Is that all?" Remus could imagine the raised eyebrow and skeptical look. "Twenty points each from Gryffindor for wandering the corridors. And another thirty for your monumental stupidity, Potter."

Ouch. Grace winced. I know he's a vicious bastard, but this?

Typical behavior for Severus.

Perfect match for Niobe, then. You know, her students call her the spawn of Slytherin.

So Moody mentioned when Dumbledore said she was coming here to take a break from teaching Aurors.

Hah! She came here to annoy Snape. I mean, they've been officially married for seventeen years, and she still hasn't slept with him. How much worse is it going to be for him to have her within reach, and still untouchable?

Your sister really is a sadist, isn't she?

In a word, duh.

"Having a pleasent time, are we?" Snape stood in the doorway, looking between the two werewolves, a sneer on his face.

Until you came, Snivillus.

Ok, one nasty nick-name. But no more. Or Niobe will have your hide, as well as mine.

Crazy sadistic wench.

Yup.

Remus snorted at Snape, rolling his eyes at the potions master. He purposely stood up, yawning, and slowly turned his back on him. Git.

Yes, you both are.

Aw, Grace! He gave her a pleading look, and she just snorted. The door closed behind him, and he knew Snape had left. He is a git.

You're supposed to be nice. He did make your wolfsbane potion after all. Grace yawned, and trotted over to him. Besides, he's got to deal with Niobe now on a day-to-day basis.

Remus thought that over a moment. True. He is doomed. One really must be nice to the condemned. And besides, I'm sure Padfoot would find some amusement in that.

Who is this Padfoot you've kept mentioning? Grace gave him a puzzled look. It can't be his real name, can it?

Promise you won't tell anyone?

Only person I've told secrets to is Niobe. And she finds them out most of the time even if I don't tell her.

Twins. Remus rolled his eyes. Padfoot was one of my closest friends while I was a student at Hogwarts. He and two of my other friends found out I was a werewolf, and they became unregistered animagi to keep me company.

Grace stared at him. That's so sweet. I wish I'd had friends like that. She wrinkled her nose. I wish I'd had some company growing up other than Niobe. She starts to take a toll on a person.

In galleons or in pounds? Remus bounded away from her when she nipped him, tail waving as he gape-grinned at her.

You... you... Grace was shaking with silent laughter. I'll get you for that!

She began to chase him around the room, the two collapsing in a panting heap next to the door after a few hours.

I can't wait until the moon sets, and I can tickle you mercilessly.

Just tickle?

Oh, shut up.

~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~

"So." Niobe was leaning against Snape's desk with her arms crossed. "They're getting along?"

Snape let his lip curl in distaste. "Apparently. They haven't killed each other yet."

Niobe shrugged. "Grace was well named. Honorable and kind and full of grace, is what the Muggles she's friends with say." She wrinkled her nose. "Makes it rather a pity she was the one that got bit by a werewolf."

"As I recall the story, you then had your first signs of magic, and the werewolf was found three weeks later washed up on a beach in Normandy." Snape sat down behind his desk, pulling a stack of timetables to him.

"So he was." Niobe shrugged, leaning back over the desk to look at the timetables. "So who are your prize pupils, Severus?"

Snape looked up, and scowled, glaring at her. "Are you going to sit there and tease me all evening?"

A smirk appeared on Niobe's face. "Quite possibly. You get annoyed so easily, Severus." She twitched the cloth of her robes, revealing a small amount of cleavage above the modest neckline. Snape nearly growled.

"Get out," he snarled, standing to come around the desk.

"Lay one finger on me, Severus, and you will be limping for a week," Niobe glared back at him. "I came here as a favor to Albus, for the sake of my sister. Not out of any desire for fulfilling the terms of our marriage contract."

Snape's lip curled. "You can't avoid me forever, Niobe."

"Watch me," Niobe snarled, one hand on her wand. She turned to leave, and Snape grabbed her arm, spinning her back. She spat out a curse, and he let go as he doubled over in pain. "I told you not to touch me."