Philomena

***The Poltergeist***

Severus Snape tumbled out of the hearth in Florean Fortescue's. Florean gave him a smile. "Do you have time for the usual or is this a business trip?"

"Business, yes," said Snape, "but I have about an hour. Just wanted to get away from certain people I shan't mention."

"Mint?" asked Florean swiveling around on his stool and grabbing a beer glass.

"Quite," answered Severus.

Florean popped open a can of Guinness and filled the glass, handing it to Severus. Severus sipped it cautiously and sighed happily. "Your powers of Glamour are second to none, Florean."

"Well, considering that you taught me, sir..." said Florean modestly.

"Might I remind you that I am absolutely horrible at disguising food items? They always end up tasting funny. Which doesn't matter when hiding potion ingredients because people expect a potion to taste horrible. Making mint chocolate chip ice-cream look like Guinness, and still taste like mint, however, that is talent."

"Making a six foot tall man look like a poltergeist and feel like one too, that is genius. Much more useful too, so I've heard."

Severus paled. "Florean" he said, "not so loud..."

Florean smirked. "Specialized Silencing Spell. Nobody can hear a conversation between me and another customer."

Severus breathed a sigh of relief. "Still, it wouldn't do for anybody to find out that I've been getting away with mischief and mayhem for years disguised as the ghost of a juvenile delinquent."

"And a transformational Glamour like that," insisted Florean, "by a boy barely seventeen... those Gryffindor idiots never realized it was you?"

Severus smirked. "No, they didn't. Stuck to them like a particularly malignant spirit all the last years of school I did." He grinned evilly. "Dumbledore never realized. Couldn't figure out why the poltergeist simply wouldn't do anything he said, or listen to any of the other teachers. It was a great deal of fun. Still is."

Florean gestured to another customer that he'd be right over. "Heard you hassled your first years this year with water balloons," he chuckled. "Still got a playful streak in you, hm?"

"Oh, yes," said Snape, taking a deep sip. "Most entertaining. Particularly when the Slytherins had the nerve to complain to me afterwards..."

Florean snickered but quieted quickly. "Severus," he said seriously, "there isn't ... anything terrible making you come down today is there? I mean..."

"No," assured Snape, "I promised to get you out if there were, didn't I? No, this is personal. A... very young friend of mine was mistreated horribly and I'm about to give them a taste of their own medicine."

Florean raised his eyebrows. "Nothing serious, I hope. I mean, they didn't..."

"No, no," said Snape, waiving a hand, "just fed her doubtful Potions for years, kept her looking several years younger than she is."

"Right up your alley then," said Fortescue, polishing the bar. "Should probably get a recipe from them while you're at it."

"Oh, I have that," said Snape. "It's primitive, to say the least and it's a wonder it didn't kill her. She seems to have a stomach lined with steal, or a very strong MIS."

"Please," said Florean, "don't get technical on me. You know how bad I am at Magical Theory."

"If you were a little better," smirked Snape, "there'd be another poltergeist roaming Hogwarts. MIS stands for Magical Immune System, which differs from the physical immune system in that it blocks reactions on the Magical level and on a physical level far more than the actual immune system. It will also have effect on bodily injuries, and not just infections. It relates to Heart Magic and Wandless Magic in a way; it's an instinctive protective reflex action of the body, blocking bad effects"

"Hmm," said Florean, "that'll be what healed my daughter's arm then, I suppose. Mediwizards couldn't understand it. She'd fallen from a broom. Out in the country, where nobody could hear her... She walked back though, and it had healed itself. In a few hours, too."

Snape nodded. "A typical emergency reaction in a stressful situation," he said. "I'm sure, however, that if she had been home at the time and there had been people there to help, her MIS would not have activated since she would feel taken care of. I've often told Poppy that if she didn't insist on healing everybody right away, they'd develop a good MIS, which would serve them well in later life when they don't have a nurse lurking around the corner all the time. But..."

"I know," said Florean. "Some people can't see beyond the immediate."

"Wearing blinkers," grumbled Snape. "Like those wretched Pure Blood Elitists' children. Brought up by their doting parents, who've been fed that tosh about sickness being Muggle. Their Manors are spelled to keep out bacteria, viruses, and so on, to prevent them from catching a 'plebian,' illness, and being 'tainted.' They've never even had the common cold. By the time they reach school...

"Practically fall sick on the first day, I know," answered Florean. "Horrid."

"And weak," added Snape. "Far weaker than the children who've led normal lives, got a healthy cold once in the while, maybe even the flu. The Elitists' children can't stand temperature fluctuation... and what do the mediwizards do? Give them the Antiinfectiolsis Potion to shield them from what they can't yet defend themselves against. And when, someday, they're cut off from their supply..."

"A common cold could do them in, yes," said Florean. "Happens all the time. And people wonder why Pure Blood numbers are shrinking... killing their children with protection they are."

Snape harrumphed unhappily. "And it isn't just that," he grumbled. "They're shielded from the world as well. Oh, to be sure, they're told all sorts of nonsense, about how brain frequencies from the Muggles and Muggle born are poisoning their brains, and how they must therefore be killed off en masse, but..."

"Kept in their Manors all their lives, yes," sighed Florean. "Haven't seen another child, nor no how to relate to one. Dealt with adults all their lives, and think they are on the same level. Look at the Malfoy child for instance. He came in here, must have been 12, I suppose and said that a filthy Mudblood such as myself ought to be AKed, that he would do it himself when he left school. And when I laughed he gave me the mirror image of his father's sneer..."

"That child..." snarled Snape. "It'll be a devil of a time to drag him out of the muck as it is. Add to that that his father will start teaching him 'the other,' pretty soon... I don't know what I'm to do with them all. He isn't the only one, either. They're all like that.

"Look at that Parkinson child. Has only ever dealt with her mother and her aunts, and thinks therefore that the way to get by in life is to simper and be seductive. Or Roltair, who was sorted into Ravenclaw of all the improbable things, thinks nothing of casting a hex on anybody that disturbs him in the slightest. Has lost Ravenclaw the Cup for at least two years running. Not loved at all by his housemates, I'll tell you that much."

Florean frowned. "What is one to do with them?"

"I honestly don't know. It's... I treat them they way they expect to be treated, like I would treat their parents. Its what they're used to, so they have a respect for me, even if they do not like me."

Florean smiled. "Don't think they like you at all," he said. "Even if they did, you wouldn't let them."

"I know they'll be attacked later," sighed Snape. "Even if I can't avoid a personal involvement at times, I feel I oughtn't encourage it. But as I was saying... what I have been trying to do, is treat them as they think they should be. That way, they don't see me as patronizing, as they do the other teachers and they feel that they are on my level.

"Now, I don't think they are and I disillusion them about it after while, but still, they must begin to respect in order to trust. Usually, what happens is that they start to bargain information with me for lenience in class. It is academic dishonesty and if Albus knew he'd skin me alive. But... somebody has to save them, somehow. If they learn that there is somebody that will listen and cares about what they know, maybe, just maybe, when push comes to shove, they'll tell me before they join the Dark Lord... and I can save them."

"They don't keep the points you give them for long," said Florean. "Your 'poltergeist' hops in and frames them for something horrid..."

Snape broke into a grin. "Yesterday," he said, "I knocked a blackboard right in front of Minerva and when it fell all she saw was Zabini standing there laughing like a fool..."

"Cheering charm?"

Snape nodded. "Made up for not taking dozens of points off for his throwing dragon hearts at the Granger girl. I wouldn't have taken more than twelve, but Minerva's a demon. She took fifty, and gave him detention."

Florean grinned. "Will you never grow up?"

Snape grinned right back. "Only selectively. But, friend, I must be off."

"Don't bother paying, I'll just take it off your Christmas present."

"Good man," said Severus draining his glass and rising. As he swept out, he glared nastily at the others, who were enjoying large ice cream cones. He was inwardly grinning, however. Silencing charms were wonderful things, and talking to Florean was always a relief, even a pleasure.

Also, being able to have ice cream, when everybody thought you were drinking something alcoholic was a tactical masterpiece. He had not missed the two blond men starring at him curiously from the other side of the room, wondering why he had bothered to go to Florean's for a drink, instead of the Leaky Cauldron.

If they thought he was slightly tipsy when they met, they would underestimate the power needed to fight and Severus could give them a nasty surprise. In spite of all the better reasons for doing what he'd just done, the fact remained that Severus liked mint, even if he wouldn't admit it.

He walked off, and entered the Leaky Cauldron. Feeling only slightly self-conscious, he sidled up to the bar and leaned on it in a careless manner. In a moment, the bartender walked up to him, wiping the sweat off his bald head with an enormous red handkerchief.

"What'll you have?"

"I would like," said Severus softly, "to hear some fiddle music."

"Ah," said he, "Mort and Bob went with Ralf, then? They're the ones who usually put the spells on the lass, after all."

Snape shrugged. "I've no idea who any of those people are," he said carelessly. "I was told your room was carefully Warded for quick ... interviews."

"So sorry, thought you were one of an old customer's group. You can have it for about a half an hour," he said, handing Severus a small brass key, "it's the last door on the left. Leave the key on the mantle when you're through."

Snape took it, tossed the man a few coins and headed for the room. He walked down the hall and unlocked the door. It was a small, quite, bare room. There were two chairs by the fireplace and a pot of Floo powder in the corner.

Severus shut the door and locked it. He began to check the Wards. Antiapparition, Silencing Charms and a nasty Charm on the window to prevent any sort of entrance or exit there. He got out his wand and went to work removing the Antiapparition Ward, which was weak compared to the ones on Hogwarts or Lupin's place. After that, he took down the Ward on the window and opened it.

The drop to the street wasn't too much, he supposed and the more escape routes he had the better when dealing with the unknown. A quick Glamour later, and it looked shut. He took a deep breath, unlocked the door and positioned himself by the side of the door, so that when opened he would be behind it.

He didn't have long to wait. Apparently, the newcomers appreciated the virtues of being early as much as he did. They slammed the door open. Severus grabbed the handle to stop it before it slammed into him, as they threw themselves into the chairs.

They waited in silence, impatiently checking their watches every now and then. Finally, the shorter one snapped out, "Where is that girl? We can't wait all day for her to come. Can't cast charms on her if she isn't bloody well here."

Snape drew his wand and shut the door with a snap. "No," he said, with a nasty grin, "you can't."

***Veritaserum and Fathers***

The men leapt from their chairs and began to back towards the fireplace nervously. Snape grinned nastily and flicked his wand. "Accio Floopowder!"

Severus caught the pot in his left hand and dropped it with exaggerated carelessness to the floor. The pot smashed and the powder crackled at the disturbance. Snape stepped forward with a predatory grin.

"Please, gentlemen, be seated," he said with mock formality, and a polite half bow. "I'd hate to have you stand on ceremony on my account."

With a nervous glance at each other, they did as they were told. The shorter one's hand edged toward his pocket, but Snape was faster. "Expelliarmus!"

Two wands and a dagger flew through the air. Snape caught and pocketed them. His grin grew wider. "Now, all potential distractions aside, may we deal with the matter at hand?"

"Don't mean to be rude," said the taller one defiantly, "but who the bloody hell are you?"

"My name is for my friends," hissed Snape, "and my friends don't forcibly stunt a child's growth and bleed her."

"Oh," said the shorter one, "you'll be that Lupin chappy then. We were told to look out for you. Understand this here and now. She belongs to Ralf."

Snape shook his head slightly. "Wrong, sorry. I'd be glad to introduce you to the Wolf sometime, but... he is indisposed. The Moon, you know."

"Look," said the taller one diplomatically, "neither one of us is responsible for this. Ralf's the man you want. He's the one that started the whole thing. All we've done is-"

"All you've done," interrupted Snape, "is let a serious offence against the sensibilities of the civilized Magical Community go unchecked."

The shorter one, who seemed the more reckless of the pair, snorted. "'An offence' you say? Against the... 'civilized Magical Community'? I don't call disarming and assault civilized."

Snape raised an eyebrow and shook his head slowly, his smile lingering eerily on his lips. He stepped forward and placed his wand beneath the man's chin.

"And what you do is, perhaps, something better? I think not. I don't prey upon the innocent and defenseless. You had at least fifteen minutes to make sure of your surroundings and I was extremely late in disarming you. She had no defense, and no warning."

Fear burned in the man's eyes, as Snape pushed his head back with the wand's tip. "I..." he stammered, "I... we... What do you want?"

Snape removed his wand and stepped back. "The first intelligent thing you've said thus far," he sneered. "I am pleased with your progress. What I want is a detailed list of just what you've done to her. Every last spell, potion and charm you've forced upon her, from A to Z."

"I'm afraid I can't get you that," answered the man he'd threatened, massaging his neck where Snape's wand had jabbed him. "Mort's the one that does it. I'm just here for the ... intimidation factor." He gestured towards the other man, who frowned in thought.

"You want information," bargained Mort. "If you don't get it?"

"The Mediwizards will use you as an example for posterity," answered Snape simply.

"And if you do get it?" Mort pressed on.

"If I do," Snape said silkily, "you'll receive my compliments for being rational beings."

"What do you want anyway?" asked the other man. "What difference does it make what's been done to her?"

Snape glared at him dangerously, and flexed the fingers of his free hand. "What difference it makes?" he snarled. "Obviously, if I don't know what's been done, I can't reverse it, can I?"

"You take a lot for granted, sir," said Mort. "For one, you've assumed there actually is a way to reverse what's been done."

Snape waved a disinterested hand. "If it needs to be renewed on a regular basis, it isn't fully permanent. If it isn't fully permanent, it can be reversed."

Mort shrugged. "I don't know the formula for the Potion and I don't think there's an Antidote. The spells are Praestate, and Detrude. Praestate is the Maintaining charm. It ensures that the potion, while not binding with her blood, does not leave her system. It only keeps effect for about a year, however. Detrude forces her true form within, and keeps it from escaping. I'm warning you now, sir, that if she's without it when the potion begins to lose effect her body's natural reaction will be to try and revert to her true form. Without the effects of the Potion that will result in a rather grisly death, as her true form rips through her present one and destroys her physically."

Snape raised an eyebrow, and removed a small clear glass vial from his inner pocket with his left hand. "Drink this," he said, "and tell me that again."

Mort's eyes widened. "Veritaserum?" he asked. "Bob, you're the legal expert. Is that ... legal?"

His companion shook his head but shrugged. "No, but legality isn't exactly germane here."

"I'm afraid not," chided Snape. "None of this is legal. Either your past actions, or my present ones. Let us all be blissfully illegal and not rat on each other now, shall we" He flipped the cap opened and pressed the flask to Mort's lips.

The Veritaserum Snape carried with him was quite strong and the few drops that made it past the man's lips were sufficient for the effects to show. His eyes rolled back, and he slumped in his chair.

"Have you told me all you know about the Spells and Potions used on Philomena?" demanded Snape.

"Yes," answered Mort automatically, his voice expressionless.

Snape kept his face calm to keep his disgust from showing. He hated Veritaserum, and how he'd seen so many people under its influence spill their deepest thoughts to less than sympathetic listeners. Severus never used it unless absolutely necessary, but wasn't above using it as a threat. "Do you know the formula for the potion?"

"Yes."

"No matter. I have that," mused Snape. He kept his voice brisk and professional, as though he interviewed people under Veritaserum daily and it bored him. "Do you have the formula for an Antidote?"

"No."

"What is Ralf's current location?"

"France."

"What is his exact address?"

"I don't know."

"You'd like the Antidote to Veritaserum, wouldn't you?"

"Yes."

Snape smirked nastily. "What a pity. I haven't got one." He Disapparated.

Apparating close to Hogwarts, he made his way back up to the grounds. Severus walked automatically, hardly looking where he was going, though still not letting his guard down.

Rounding the bend, he came to the lake. He shook his head deciding he would rather not meet anybody on his way back, explain where he'd been, or even have Albus know he'd returned.

Severus walked carefully by the edge of the Lake until he got to his boat. He jumped nimbly in and untied it. Pushing off from the edge with an oar he rowed towards the south side of the Castle where the dock was.

Rowing was a relief. He'd been far too tense since the meeting with Potter as the dream had been disturbing. Adding an argument with Dumbledore and the meeting in the Leaky Cauldron had been a considerable strain on his nerves. Going into the Castle the hard way gave him a chance to process the day's events in his mind.

To begin with, he would have to have the Spells recast on Philomena. The Potion she was under would probably last several weeks longer. Ralf wasn't the sort of man who'd take unnecessary risks and if the Spells weren't cast before the Potion wore off it would be fatal for the girl.

Snape grimaced. Apparently, the girl's actual body was being literally forced under her present form. The consequences of abruptly removing the force holding her true form in would be horrific. While Severus had seen much death in his time he hadn't ever enjoyed it and being torn apart from inside was one he would gladly pass up witnessing.

"Remus won't like it, damnit," he snarled to himself, "but that isn't my problem, thank Merlin. I hope he's done something already, or he'll never find the Spells in time and I'll have to have her drink the Potion again..."

Snape grimaced. Probably, an Antidote wouldn't even be necessary, considering that the Potion wasn't permanent in the first place. If Lupin found a Counter Spell, then they could simply wait for what she was under now to work itself out of her system...

But when? How much time did they have? Severus concentrated on simply rowing. Going forward. The dock was so much farther away from where he was and it would take so much effort to get there in that much time. Simple, physical facts. Nothing to assume, suppose, or second-guess. No tedious having to remember who exactly one was supposed to be, or what one was or wasn't supposed to know. Just a boat, a lake, and a destination.

He would have to do a thorough analysis of the Potion. When he'd finished, with luck, he would have a time limit. How long he and Lupin would have to search for a Counterspell before the girl would have to take the Potion again.

Snape gritted his teeth. It wasn't that simple. Things were never simple when he got involved. Analyzing the sample he had would destroy it, which meant he would have to duplicate it, which meant he needed an analysis of the ingredients list to find out the brewing procedure used...

Snape reached the pier and steadied the boat by the side, tying it firmly to its post. He rose carefully and stepped onto the dock. There was a reason the lake entrance was used primarily by first years; it was an impressive and very intimidating introduction to the School.

The students arrived in the evening and could probably see nothing at all when the boats went across the dark waters. The Squid always put in an appearance, of course. That was its job after all. Then, scrambling onto the dock, they had to file up the imposing flight of stairs into the grand entrance whence they entered the Great Hall.

Their first sight of the school always left a lasting impression on their young minds; that not only was Hogwarts a place of learning, but also one of majesty, mystery, and danger. At least, that was what it was supposed to do. Judging by the prevailing student attitude, it didn't do any good whatsoever.

The other reason this route wasn't normally used by anybody other than first years was that there were so many easier ways to get into Hogwarts. A short walk across the grounds from the Main Gates and one quickly reached the West Entrance, which led directly to the main School corridor. There were several other entrances, including the above ground one to the Great Hall used by the older returning students and the staff.

One could also use any of the secret, or supposedly secret, passages from a number of other locations that lead directly into the castle without the need to cross the Grounds at all. These were the ones Snape preferred, especially in chilly October weather.

The very fact that the lake entrance was sure to be deserted was the reason Snape liked it. The dock didn't have one entrance up to the grand entryway, but several side exits into various parts of the castle.

Four doors led to the four Common Rooms. Severus hoped profoundly that the students didn't know about these passages or that the children at least had the sense not to try midnight swims or the like. There was a passage up to the Headmaster's office and one to the main hallway of each floor.

Severus opened the door that lead down to the dungeons. This was the only passage in the castle without portraits, simply because it was too damp for them. Snape smiled to himself as he walked quickly down what he considered his private hallway. For once he was completely sure that he was alone. No students, colleagues, enemies, allies, portraits, house elves, or even owls...

Finally, he reached his private quarters. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, grateful for the reassuring hum of the Wards. They were the closest things he'd ever had to a mother's mollycoddling.

Snape checked the clock over the mantle. He groaned when he realized that the words beneath the single hand read: Too little of it for you, mate.

Severus sighed. The clock was right; he never had enough time to finish what needed to be done.

With a sigh, he wondered why he kept the clock at all, but it was the last thing Mordred had ever given him. He couldn't exactly get rid of it considering that his brother's last act had been to send the clock to him.

Taking a deep breath, he got to business. He would need to contact Lupin, and inform him of how things stood. Hopefully, the man was back on his feet, in some semblance of health.

Gritting his teeth, he lit the fire with a quick Incantation and then hesitated for a moment. Just how good were Lupin's wards? Would they permit incoming Floo visits from an uninvited party? Probably not. He would stay on the safe side with a preliminary Firecall.

Severus grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, repressing a shudder. He had always hated Firecalls. The mere thought of having his head in one place while the rest of his body rested miles away with the possibility of the meager connection holding them together being severed so easily was abhorrent to him.

"Lupin's Cottage," he called, throwing in the Powder and sticking his head into the flames. After a horrid disorienting pop he blinked and found his head in Remus' living room.

Remus was sitting up and drinking tea. He started and turned to see Snape in his fireplace.

"Snape," he said, nodding, "I have two questions for you. Number one, who ate all of my chocolate, and number two, why are there pillows in my back garden?"

Philomena chose that moment to enter the room, carrying a bowl of very appetizing soup, which she set before Remus. She caught sight of Severus' head, and smiled cheekily at him. "Hello there, Daddy."

Remus nearly choked on his tea. He looked from Philomena to Snape and back again. "Make that three questions."

"I have a few questions too, Lupin," said Severus. "Number one, can I come through or must I stay with my head in free space? Number two, have you any idea what went wrong with the potion last night? And number three, might we have a civilized conversation on your daughter's condition?"

Remus blinked, twice. Philomena smirked and decided that everything would be much better if she removed the teapot. "I'll get some more tea, father," she said. "Come in, Daddy." With that, she swished out the door.

"Well, come in then, Snape," snapped Remus. "You've ruined my tea already."

Severus' head disappeared and was replaced momentarily with his entire self, stepping onto the hearth. "How are you feeling?"

Remus put a hand to his head. "Like I've been to hell in a hand basket," he replied. "Thanks for patching me up."

"I've been on some ... diplomatic visits ... to chat with certain people and I've learned a great deal about the Spells currently on Philomena," said Snape, getting right to the point. "The Potion is temporary and could wear off any minute now." He threw himself into the chair opposite Remus.

"Well, that's good isn't it?" asked Remus. "I mean, if it wears off we won't need to research an Antidote, will we?"

Severus sighed. "It's not that simple. The Potion has forced her current form on top of her actual one. If the Potion wears off and the Spells keeping her true form within her body aren't put back in place, her true form will rip through her present one. It would kill her."

Remus grimaced. "So what do we do?"

Snape knit his eyebrows. "We have to recast the Spells she's under before the Potion wears off and before the present ones lose effect. I have no idea how much time we have, so you'd better do it at once. In the meantime, I'll have to research the Potion. I've already got the ingredients, but I'll have to do some tests to see how long it lasts, and how much time we have. If you can't find a Counterspell soon, we'll have to give her the Potion again. Otherwise..."

Philomena had reentered the room with a steaming pot of tea. "Here you are, Daddy," she said, handing a cup and saucer to Snape. "Do you take sugar?"

"Er, Philomena..." said Remus carefully, "why are you calling Snape 'daddy'?"

Philomena started to giggle. "Because... because..."

Snape coughed. "Because she thinks it is amusing," he growled.

"I don't," countered Remus. "Really, love, he gets 'daddy' and I'm stuck with 'father'?"

Snape smirked and added sugar to his tea, noticing how the teaspoon was jammed into the sugar bowl. Apparently, Remus had indeed had to pacify it.

"You see... I was telling Mr. Snape this morning, when I... that is... er..."

"She came to me about the Potion," explained Severus quickly. "Since you were, shall we say, incapacitated. As for the ridiculous pet name she's stuck on me..."

Remus looked from one to the other. "I'm not going to like this explanation am I?" he asked. "Very well. Spit it out and I'll promise not to fly off the handle."

"When I woke up, you were already on the couch and all, so I went over to thank Mr. Snape for staying with me, and-"

"You... stayed with her?" asked Remus, looking at Snape with a hint of severity, perhaps even jealousy in his voice.

"Yes," answered Severus. "You were throwing yourself at the door at frequent intervals. I don't blame her for being nervous. She asked me to stay. I did. Until dawn."

"Yes, that's right," agreed Philomena. "I was afraid, and I didn't want to be alone. At any rate, next morning you were on the couch and healing nicely, so I flooed over to his office to thank him and see if he was ... alright."

Snape coughed to stop her.

"Why ... why wouldn't he be all right?" asked Remus.

"I hit my head," answered Severus quickly, "when I ran up the stairs. It's nothing."

"I'm sorry," said Remus.

"As I was saying," continued Philomena, "I went over. He asked again about the Potion and I described it. We ... worked on it for a while, and he came up with a sample. We tested it pretty thoroughly, so I know it's the right formula...

"While I was there, we got to talking about Ralf of course. I said that I hated the fact that my father was such a damned cad, and Severus said that he wasn't strictly speaking my father anyway, since he was my Sire. And I said Ralf was a damned father, and he said, no, YOU were my Dam. Which was really funny. And then I said that if he taught me Potions and so on, he'd be my patron, which is a sort of parent, and then..."

She paused for breath, and Severus took up the story. "And so I laughed, and asked her how she'd ever be able to tell all her fathers apart ... whereupon she started calling me that."

Snape stopped abruptly as Remus stood, his arms wrapped around himself, radiating anger. Philomena paled and shot a nervous glance at Snape. Remus' eyes blazed, and he seemed to be trying to stop himself from hitting something.

"You had to tell her, didn't you," he said, his voice dangerously quiet. "You..."

Remus stepped forward, towering over Snape. Snape slowly got up from his chair, his eyes never leaving Remus'. Lupin continued to glare up at Snape, venom nonetheless lost for losing the advantage of height. For a long moment, they stared at each other, while Philomena watched sitting frozen in her chair.

"Stop it!" screamed Philomena suddenly, coming to her senses. "Stop it!"

Both men started and turned towards her. She'd leaned back, tensed in her chair, her fists clenched. "Stop it this instant!"

Remus seemed to come to himself and turned away from both of them, wrapping his arms around himself again.

"He didn't tell me anything," Philomena shouted. "I saw it. In Ralf's Pensive. If anything, try being angry with me for telling him. Though he did know already apparently."

Remus didn't say anything, but had started to shake slightly. "You... saw..."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I... didn't mean to bring it all back unpleasant memories..."

Snape took a deep breath. "Lupin," he said, "if you please, I'd rather you didn't have a fit right about now. Calm yourself, sit down, and finish your tea. I have a plan to discuss."

Remus gave another shudder before reseating himself. "Out with it then."

"We need to find the Counterspells," Severus explained, "and I need to ascertain how much time we have. I suggest we reapply the Spells now; by the time we realize she needs them it'll be too late."

Remus nodded. "Yes."

"They're Praestate and Detrude," Snape continued. "I'll get back to my lab and get to work. With luck, we might even have her well in time for the next Order meeting, at which point you could introduce her as an especially accomplished Seer."

"I've... been doing some work on the Spells," said Remus. "I... almost have the Counterspells. One of them, anyway."

"Good," said Snape. "I'll get back to my lab. I have dozens of things to do now, but I'll get the Time Analysis back to you as soon as possible."

Remus nodded, intent on his tea.

"Have you any idea what... went wrong last night?" asked Philomena quietly.

"No," answered Snape. "The potion should have worked. Nothing in any of the research indicated a need to take it at a specific time. Frankly, I might have made a mistake..."

Remus looked up from his tea. "You didn't make a mistake. It was just... too late."

Snape leaned forward in his chair. "Too late?" he asked. "Have you noticed a change in effectively based on when you-"

"No," answered Remus. "You see... the Wolf... is a completely separate entity from me. That includes a different mind, a different personality. With the potion... she is locked out during the Transformation and I keep my human mind. The result is that she fights constantly to break out. Her mind is... trapped inside. She wants to get loose. And if there's the smallest loophole she'll grab it. She'll do anything to claw get back in control.

"Before I started taking the Potion I never felt the Wolf while in Human form. Now... I hear her. Often, I feel her instincts taking charge. It never happened before. It's the inevitable result of shutting her mind out of her body. It tries to take over mine and..."

Remus quieted. Snape fell back in his chair, running his hands through his hair in thought. "Perhaps," he said to himself, "we have been going at the Potion the wrong way. If I altered it, so that instead of repressing the mind of the Wolf, it calmed the wolf... or allowed the human mind to exist in tandem with the Wolf's. Perhaps even... tried to simply counteract the Bloodlust..."

"It does need more research," agreed Remus. "But, please, Severus... you've enough on your plate now. It's not important. Or not as important as Philomena. I just have to make sure I take it well before dark, or lock myself in as I've always done."

"But father you can't just..." Philomena quieted at a shake of the head from Remus.

Snape furrowed his brow in thought. "I'll see what I can do," he said at last. "You take care of the Charms. I have to get back to Hogwarts before Albus sends an army of House Elves after my blood."

"I'm... sorry," said Remus quietly, as Snape stood to go.

Snape blinked. "Whatever for?"

Remus shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said, "that you... had to see that. And for... being such trouble. I... didn't want... I didn't..."

"Oh shut it, Lupin," admonished Snape. "It doesn't matter. I don't do it for you anyway."

"What do you do it for?" asked Remus.

Snape merely smiled in his predatory way, fingering his cloak clasp before Flooing himself out.