The Last Kiss

Initial Shock

~5~

It was lunchtime and Sirius sat at his desk, swirling the last sip of tea in his cup. His mind felt numb, completely incapable of concentrating on a single thought. He actually preferred to sit there, his mind void of any clear purpose other than to follow the whirl of the tea.

Wham!

As he jumped, the cup went flying out of his hand, crashing onto the floor in a dozen pieces. James leaned against the very door he had just slammed shut. "Dumbledore's not here, and no one knows where he went." He looked over at Sirius, who sat motionless, his hand still sitting as if the teacup were in it. Sirius sat, staring up at James, a little upset over this rude intrusion of his temporary incapacitation.

"How long have you had this drinking problem, Padfoot?" James asked, a grin on his face as he looked at the broken cup. Sirius' face sneered as he dropped his hand into his lap. James giggled.

"How long has he been gone?" Sirius picked his wand up off his desk, repairing the broken teacup, before placing both back on his desk.

"Crouch said he left shortly after coming in this morning. Apparently he had an owl waiting for him, and after reading it, he dashed out."

"Do you think he heard about Snape and went to check on it himself?"

"I don't know, but I could see how he would want to handle it himself. If it's true, that's not exactly the kind of publicity Hogwarts needs right now." James flopped into his chair. Sirius looked over at him, realizing his friend hadn't eaten lunch yet.

"Here, have a sandwich, I brought two." He held one out. James reached over and took it, lifting the bread on top.

"Swiss? What's wrong with Munster?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Oh, well, I'm sorry Prongs...next time I pack my lunch, I'll remember to use Munster." James laughed, biting into half of the sandwich. "You better eat fast, we have eight minutes until we have to go back outside."

As James finished cramming the sandwich into his mouth, Sirius grabbed his cloak off the rack and walked to the door. Opening it, he froze; Dumbledore was standing in front of him, his fist raised to knock on the door. Sirius smiled at the old man. "Always perfect timing."

Dumbledore didn't return the smile. "We need to talk." Sirius stepped aside to let him in.

"I heard about the incident at Aleanor's funeral yesterday. I must say, I find it strange that the two of you would stand by while Gregory, who was clearly not in his right mind, pulled his wand on Severus. Did neither of you realize the severity of the situation? I hope your old feelings for Severus had nothing to do with your rather slow intervention."

Sirius swallowed hard. The man still knew how to make him feel like a five year old, who had done something he knew was wrong, but still didn't want to be grounded for it.

He could hear James swallow hard beside him. "Ah, no. W... we just thought he was intimidating Snape to make him leave. We didn't think he'd do anything rash." Dumbledore looked over his spectacles, and Sirius felt like sinking into the carpet. When you want to, you sure can scare the hell out of me!

"I also heard about Gregory's accusation," he paused for a moment. James stood up while Dumbledore pointed at Sirius' teapot. "May I have a cup?" Quickly, Sirius complied. James apparently couldn't wait a moment longer.

"Well, is Snape a Death Eater?" James asked.

Dumbledore took a long sip of tea before sitting down in the chair in front of James' desk. Slowly setting the cup and saucer down on the desk, he answered, "Yes."

Feeling his blood boil with rage, Sirius slammed his fist down on his desk. "I knew it!" he looked over at James, pointing, "I told you I knew it! How he managed to hide his trail, I don't know, but I knew it!"

"Merlin, Sirius, settle down!" James shouted, as Sirius continued.

"That slimy bast-"

Dumbledore quickly jumped in. "Now wait, before you go insulting anyone, there is something you need to understand. This is the main reason for my visit. However, everything that is said in this room must stay in this room. No one else is to know what I am about to tell you. Not the other Aurors, not Crouch, not even the Minister himself. Is that understood?" Sirius and James nodded. "Severus was a Death Eater, and though he was not directly responsible for Aleanor's death, he discovered he had unknowingly played a role in it. Realizing the price he had paid for his loyalty to Voldemort, he came to me. He is now going to help us. He will remain in Voldemort's inner circle, and report to me."

Sirius knocked over the robes rack as he flung his arms out. "You mean to tell us, Snape is going to spy for us?"

"Yes, Sirius, that is exactly what I'm saying." How the old man could remain so calm, boggled Sirius.

James flopped in his chair; hand on his forehead, as Sirius continued. "How can you trust him? You've had a Death Eater teaching in your school for the past year, he lied to you, Dumbledore, what's to say he isn't now?"

Calmly, Dumbledore clasped his hands together, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair. "Sirius, I am well aware of his deception, however, I also know Severus better than anyone, sometimes better than Severus himself. I believe he is sincere in his desire to change allegiance." He watched as Sirius spun around leaning on his bookcase, mumbling to himself.

"Sirius, do not be so quick to pass judgment on others. There may come a day when you will find yourself in need of one who will listen to you and trust you, despite what they do or do not know about you. Your life may very well depend upon it."

"But a spy..."

Dumbledore interrupted him. "His becoming a spy was my idea."

James now had both hands over his eyes, mumbling, "Oh, bloody hell..."

Sirius looked over at his distraught friend. "My thoughts exactly!"

~~~*~~~

Sirius walked past his living room and straight into the bedroom. Taking off his robes, dress shirt and tie, he pulled a sweater and jeans out of his dresser.

How much more can possibly happen? As if things aren't fucked up enough as is, Snape is working for US! I'm really beginning to wonder if Dumbledore is going mad. He threw his dirty clothes in the corner and zipped his jeans before heading back to the living room. If I told Renae about this, she'd faint.

As he walked in the living room, he nearly leaped out of his skin. Renae was sitting on his couch. "Renae, what are you doing here?"

"Snape, he's..."

Sirius sat down beside her, realizing she was shaking. "I know."

"Well, did you and James go get him?"

"No."

Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "What! Why?"

"Why are you reacting like this today? Yesterday you didn't even flinch when Gregory called him a Death Eater."

"Well, I didn't believe it, Dumbledore would never have let a Death Eater into Hogwarts, but then I talked to him, and he admitted it."

Sirius grabbed her hand. "You mean to tell me, you talked to Snape? What in bloody hell for?"

"I thought he might need someone to talk to."

Sirius couldn't believe what he was hearing. Okay, now I've heard it all, next thing Moony is going to walk through the door announcing his engagement to Wormtail!

Renae must have read the look on his face as he was thinking.

"Don't look at me in that tone of voice! I am not losing my mind." She ran her hand through her hair. "I just realized I was wrong about him."

"What! You just looked white as a ghost a minute ago because you found out what he was, and now you were wrong about him? Which is it, Renae?" he shouted, ready to pull out his own hair.

Renae's face turned red as she stood up. "We always thought he just strung Aleanor along, well, he wasn't. He loved her! This morning I found him, ready to kill himself because she was gone. I felt awful, disgusted with myself for all the cruel things I ever said to him."

"You should have let him do it and save us all a lot of grief."

Smack!

The sting of her hand on his cheek made his eyes water. "Once you almost cost him his life." She crossed her arms as shock spread across his face. "Yes, I found out you were the one that set him up, and your ass would have been on a spike if James hadn't saved him. I use to think it was just the stupid, idiotic prank of a child, but now I wonder if it wasn't more than that, you being so disappointed in my stopping him from committing suicide."

****

Sirius knew this conversation was quickly turning ugly, and wanted to avoid it getting worse at any cost. He took several deep breaths while Renae stood there, fuming. Finally, he reached his hand out to her. "Renae, I didn't mean what I said. I'm sorry." Slowly she took his hand. "You were right yesterday, and you were right to stop Snape today. Can you forgive me?" He flashed her his puppy dog eyes, hoping the look hadn't lost its usual effect on her. Her face didn't soften one bit. Shit, I'm really in for it.

"I'll forgive you on one condition..." he swallowed hard "...don't ever piss me off like that again." Sirius sighed in relief. She broke into a small smile as she giggled, pointing to his cheek. "I didn't think I hit you that hard."

He reached up and felt his tender cheek, his fingers tracing the welt her hand had left. "You are a greater danger to me than You-Know-Who, himself!"

She laughed, sitting down next to him. "I am so sorry."

Sirius grinned slyly. "Then how about a kiss to make it better?"

He pulled her to him as she ran her fingers through his hair, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. Releasing her bottom lip, he snaked his way down her neck and began tracing his tongue along her collarbone, drawing a supple moan from Renae's lips. She grabbed either side of his face, pulling his lips back to hers. As their kiss deepened, he leaned her back onto the couch. She giggled and spoke with each parting of their lips.

"We...should...fight...more often."

Sirius panted slightly as he barely lifted his lips enough to let a word escape. "Why?" He quickly returned to his desired activity, leaving Renae to try and answer between the parting of their lips.

"Because... I... like... how we... make up," she panted with each word.

~~~*~~~

"Renae..."

Not yet, I'm still tired. Renae felt something warm gently run along her arm.

"Renae..."

She heard her name growing louder in her ear as warm breath brushed against her neck, a few strands of her hair vibrating with the moving air.

No, I want to stay here. Now the warmth that had run down her arm was holding her tightly, shaking her gently.

"Renae, wake up."

She grumbled. "Nodnauw..." Soft kisses began trailing themselves from her ear to her shoulder, quickly snapping her attention to the owner of the lips. "Sirius?" she managed to get out, rubbing her eyes as she flipped over on her back to look up at him.

"Good morning, sleepy head," he said with a smile.

What I wouldn't give to wake up to that smile everyday! Renae thought to herself as she smiled back.

"I've been trying to wake you up for the past ten minutes. You sleep like a rock."

"Well, considering how much sleep I got last night, can you blame me?" He laughed and leaned down to give her a gentle kiss.

Sitting up, Renae remembered why she had come over last night. "Sirius, we have to tell Dumbledore about Snape." Putting on his dressing gown, he turned towards her.

"Do you normally think about Snape first thing in the morning?" he chuckled.

Renae grabbed one of his shirts out of the dresser beside his bed. "That isn't even funny. I had meant to tell you that last night, but we got a little side tracked."

He laughed. "We did, didn't we," he grinned, grabbing a towel from the back of his bathroom door, throwing it on the bed, "and we don't have to, Dumbledore already knows."

She felt a little relieved. "He must have found out yesterday," she picked up the towel and headed for the bathroom, "I saw him on my way to the potion's classroom. I asked him why he was there, and all he said was he had business had to take care of there, which I'm guessing was Snape." She stopped at the door. "But Snape didn't mention anything about being sacked, and Dumbledore didn't seem the least bit upset as he left. Why wouldn't Dumbledore sack Snape if he knew he was a Death Eater?"

Sirius debated for a while, whether or not to tell her, finally deciding he'd rather not break a promise to Dumbledore. "I don't know, but I'm sure he has his reasons."

Grabbing the handle of the bathroom door, she nodded. "I guess your right." Sirius smiled at her as she closed the door and turned on the shower.

~~~*~~~

A week had past and Renae was making her way to the courtyard, she had grown tired of sitting around the library, and even Hogsmeade for that matter, waiting for Sirius to get off work. Feeling like she'd rather be alone for the moment than sit in a crowded pub, she sat down on a bench in the courtyard, and opened her newest copy of Transfiguration Today. As she began to lose herself in her reading, a hand touched her shoulder. She looked up and nearly fell off the bench. Her heart raced as Snape looked down at her, but not in his usual manner. He looked very different... like he wasn't plotting her demise.

"I," he paused for a moment, "I wanted to thank you for stopping me the other day. I don't remember much of our conversation. I had taken several shots of vodka before you walked in, and I'm afraid they affected my memory. I do not know what I may have done or said to cause you to leave so abruptly, but whatever the reason, I hope you will forgive me."

Renae was still getting over the initial shock of Snape's change of demeanor, let alone apology, before she could allow the meaning of his words to sink in. As they did, she saw Snape lower his face and begin to turn away. "Wait!" she set down her book as he turned back to her, hope in his eyes. "Won't you sit down?" Slowly he walked over and sat beside her, slightly trembling. Renae knew she was seeing a Snape few knew, or understood, the Snape Aleanor must have known.

"What do you remember?"

"I remember you saying something about being wrong about me, but the rest is pretty much a blur."

He doesn't remember telling you he joined Voldemort.

"I said I realized you loved Aleanor, and I was sorry about how I treated you all these years." For some reason, telling him this was easier the second time. Perhaps because she had already suffered the guilty feeling the first time she spoke to him. Looking over at him, she smiled; he had a weak smile on his face.

"I wasn't exactly a gentleman towards you either. Then again, I never was." He chuckled. "But may I ask, why did you leave so suddenly? I seem to remember that it was my fault."

After writing to Dumbledore, he reassured her that Snape had changed his ways due to Aleanor's death, which, after seeing him crying on the floor, she truly believed; she felt it wouldn't be necessary to tell him that he had basically told her, he was Death Eater. Quickly, she came up with an excuse.

"I panicked, I'd never seen you like that before, and I didn't know what to do or say, and I didn't think you'd want me there any longer, so I left."

He seemed to accept this. "Well, I thank you, Wallis," he said, standing up.

"You know," she called out and he turned to face her, "I prefer Renae," she smiled. The familiar sneer spread across his face.

"People would think we were becoming friends, Wallis," he said. She laughed as he walked away. Well Snape, maybe we will. Then she laughed to herself. Merlin wouldn't that steam Sirius!

****

Sirius and James were about to head home, both exhausted from the day's work. As they walked through the corridors of the Ministry, Sirius lightly hit his old friend in the arm. "Hey, how about some Butterbeers over at the Leaky Cauldron before heading home?" he grinned.

"Alright, let's stop and see if Wormtail would like to join us."

Sirius pulled his cloak on as James opened the door. "What about Moony?"

James held the door open for him. "Looking for a new job, again."

"Well in that case, lead the way Prongs!"

~~~*~~~

Reaching the Leaky Cauldron, Wormtail in tow, the three of them found a small empty table by the fire and ordered a round of Butterbeers. Sirius emptied his first bottle in one long gulp, quickly ordering another. Peter took a small sip before setting his bottle down and asking James a question.

"So James, what do you and Lily have planned for Harry's first birthday?"

James smiled.