A/N: Hey, I know some of you (maybe not in this story but anyway) asked that now everyone has to stay at home, I post chapters more often. Unfortunately I managed to hurt my back about two weeks ago and at first was unable to sit for more than five minutes. Luckily I already finished about half the chapter before that happened so now that I got a bit better (though I would still be in a lot of pain wouldn't I take quite a bit of pain killers) I could finish it. However, I cannot and will not promise you anything about posting more often as that depends on too many things. So stay safe, stay healthy!

Chapter 9: The Game Is On

After some much-needed sleep and having a quick breakfast the next day, Marvolo made his way to the entrance hall of his manor to Apparate to Gringotts. He wanted to find a solution as soon as possible, and he believed Death when he said that he would only find answers in his vault.

Marvolo just rounded the corner to the atrium when he came across two of his followers. They were evidently searching for him, probably to give him a report on their assignment. However, he neither had the patience nor the time for that right now.

"My Lord," they greeted him while falling to one knee in front of him and bowing their head. "We're here for our report."

"I'm currently busy with other matters. You can hand in your written report no later than Sunday," Marvolo instructed them. He chuckled inwardly at the horror of having to write an essay like in school written on their faces, however well-hidden it was. "Make sure that it isn't exceedingly long."

Was it wrong that he found amusement in his follower's plight? Probably. Did he care? Not one ounce. It needed to be done anyway.

He quickly thought about whether there was anything urgent he needed to get done when his thoughts drifted to something not only his followers reported but also Harry hinted at during their meeting. The twins who owned the joke shop and were Harry's friends.

It was something he wanted to get intel on anyway, and this was a good assignment for his two followers not only because of their youth but also their more outgoing nature. Yes, he knew each of his followers well. He needed to, to be able to assess whether they were suited for an assignment or not.

"I have a new task for you too. I want you to investigate the joke shop that opened in Diagon Alley a few months back. There is more to the shop than is apparent, and I want you to find out what. Though you're not to offend or harm the owners, is that clear?"

This was a critical point. Marvolo couldn't risk alienating either the twins or Harry, that much was apparent.

"Yes, my Lord," they replied unison. "Is there anything else?"

"Not for now. Just find out what is going on in that shop behind closed doors. Dismissed."

With another "my Lord" the two stood and left to the apparition point followed by Marvolo.

Fred blinked a few times when two young men entered their store and began browsing the goods while arguing whom they could use them on. They both wore robes that were high quality and embroidered along the hems. Also, their entire posture screamed status and wealth. So, while it wasn't unthinkable that someone like them would enter a joke shop, they still stood out like a sore thumb.

Fred walked up to his brother George, who was currently restocking a shelf.

"Does He think that They are inconspicuous?" he wondered out in a low tone but loud enough to be heard by the men.

"But dear brother o' mine, they are!" George retorted with a smirk after looking at said men, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wouldn't they wear robes that only stuck up people as the Malfoys wear, they would fit in quite well."

"Oh, how stupid of me, of course, they are. But you're right," Fred nodded wisely. "So, what to do with them? We cannot leave this challenge unanswered now, can we?"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"If you're thinking the same thing as I'm thinking then yes, I'm thinking the same thing as you're thinking," Fred chuckled.

"Let's see what Voldy's men are made of," they chorused.

With a grin that would put the devil to shame, they turned towards the two unsuspecting men who were currently browsing the shelf with the more practical goods. When the two heard their cackling, a shiver ran down their spines knowing that there was no way to escape the twins. Since the Dark Lord had ordered them not to alienate the twins in any way, they were stuck, and they knew it. With dread, they watched the twins approaching.

Back from Gringotts, Marvolo was now sitting in his study with a small stack of books that hopefully held the answer he sought. When he entered the library vault, he for a moment thought of moving in there and never coming out again. It held endless rows of books and scrolls filled with the knowledge that was probably lost for centuries now. However, for now, he was after certain information that was by far more critical. Though he dearly hoped that Death wouldn't revoke his access once he found it.

He was reading a promising passage when a tingling of the wards alerted Marvolo to the arrival of two of his followers in the entrance hall. Curious who it was since he didn't expect anyone, he waited. However, when after five minutes no one showed up in his study, he was confused. Wondering what was going on, he reluctantly stood up and made his way to the entrance hall, but when he arrived there, he had to stop and do a double-take.

In the middle of the room were his two followers whom he tasked with getting intel on the joke shop. They were gift-wrapped and looked like drag queens. The one facing him had a sign hanging around his neck, on it a message for him.

The game is on.
Surprise us!

The devilish and handsome twins

Marvolo couldn't help himself but chuckle over the sight. That was when he read what stood in smaller script beneath the message.

Ps.: Yes, we picked and duplicated the guiding function of the Dark Mark for Apparition and worked it into a Portkey, but we swear that we won't use it to send you anything harmful and won't tell anyone about it without your consent.

Pps.: This message destroys itself in five seconds. Have a beautiful day.

Exactly five seconds after he read the last line, the note exploded in a fountain of sparks, glitter and pink ribbons, that covered the two Death Eaters and Marvolo colouring everything they touched.

The two gaged and bound Death Eaters watched this in mute horror, fearing that they would have to suffer for what the twins did. However, Marvolo's reaction shocked and frightened them even more. The man began to laugh outright.

"Well, well, challenge accepted," he finally said with a chuckle, releasing his followers with a wave of his hand before dismissing them.

About them having reworked the guiding purpose of the Dark Mark, he wasn't worried. For one, one cannot track him through it and second, his wards would repel anything harmful that tries to get through. He trusted his people to admit them entrance to his manor if necessary, but that was as far as it would go.

With a contemplating smirk, he went back to his study and the books. It seemed that he had quite the challenge on hand. He had to give it to the twins that they knew how to amuse him, and he looked forward to what they would do next. Never had anyone dared to prank him and he had to admit that it was a pleasant diversion. That was when he realised that he couldn't get rid of the pink colour that was now his hair and clothes. Well, his reply would have to be a good one, wouldn't it? But what would be a good one?

Severus was getting ready for his excursion into the Black Forest under Harry's watchful gaze. After checking his bag, which he used to carry all his tools and container, for the last time, he bowed down to Amaterasu to make it easier for the snake. Once she securely wrapped herself around his shoulders, Severus turned to Harry.

"Remember, I should be back before lunch," he told him, kissing him goodbye.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Harry said with a smirk. "And shouldn't you be back by then, I'll cover for you. I might have been a lion once, but I know how things work in Slytherin, you know. In the meantime, I'll move your brewing station into my trunk as we discussed. Much better protection in there."

Severus nodded in agreement. Surprisingly he didn't have a problem with that arrangement. Had anyone else offered to let him use their trunk for brewing, Severus would have declined without a second thought, fearing that they would try something. Every single Knut he could spare he invested into his brewing equipment and ingredients.

Harry was different, though. Him he trusted absolutely. Merlin, Harry bought him invaluable ingredients when he had been away for his meeting with the Dark Lord and expected absolutely nothing in return. It was mindboggling.

Harry smiled softly as if he knew what he thought.

"Stay safe," he whispered, stealing another kiss from Severus. "Tera, take care that he doesn't run afoul of something in the forest."

"He won't come to harm if I can help it," Tera hissed back before turning towards Severus. "Now hurry up, I want to get out of the castle for some time."

"Better go before she makes you," Harry laughed.

With a last kiss, Severus turned around and left their bedroom. Harry, on the other hand, went to work and one by one levitated everything on Severus' table down into the potion's lab compartment of his trunk. He arranged everything the same way on the second workbench so that Severus wouldn't have to search for things. Once Harry finished with the task, he began to experiment a bit with the ingredients he bought. He had a few ideas for potions but never the time or opportunity to try brewing them.

Severus made his way into the forest and only when he was several feet in, he lowered Amaterasu to the ground and removed the concealment spells he had on her.

Tera stretched for a bit, hissing in contentment before slithering about in abandon. It was evident to Severus that the poor snake got out far too seldom. Shaking his head over Tera's antics, he also set into motion, only stopping when he came across a plant that he wanted to gather. Moving deeper into the forest, he could see that Tera never moved too far from him. What surprised him the most though was when Tera came to him, a cluster of vines clutched in her tail. It surprised him even more that it was a plant that he usually wasn't able to harvest with his means as it grew up in the crowns of certain high trees.

"Thank you, Tera," he gratefully told the snake while carefully taking the vines and placing them in an empty glass container, his dragonhide gloves protecting him from the poisonous thorns. "Let me guess, Salazar regularly asked you to get this plant."

Tera let out a hissy laugh while nodding.

Severus smiled and scratched the scaly head of the snake, much to her pleasure.

They continued their journey for a few hours now. From time to time, Tera would bring him plants or mosses that he would have a hard time to reach while she hunted an animal or another. Severus was even able to gather a bit unicorn fur from a tree that it must have used to rub against.

He was just about to call it a day when suddenly, a centaur crossed his path.

"Good day. My apologies young student, I didn't want to startle you," the centaur greeted him, when Severus instantly had his wand in his hand, ready to defend himself. "You shouldn't be here in the forest alone, however. It can be very dangerous. Many creatures call it their home."

Putting his wand away, now that he knew that he wasn't in danger, he nodded in greeting. Even with the bow the centaur was carrying, he knew that they would never attack him, having met several of them during earlier forays into the forest.

"Good day, Sir. I'm well versed with this part of the Black Forest," he explained. "I regularly come here to gather ingredients."

"Ah, you must be young Mr Severus," the centaur replied in recognition. Severus was well-know with their tribe, supplying them with potions from time to time that they were unable to get otherwise. At least not without having to pay heavily for it. Severus, in return, was allowed to roam their territory unhindered. However, he respected their boundaries and tried not to venture too deep if it wasn't necessary. For that, the centaurs respected him much.

Severus just wanted to reply something, when a few feet from them suddenly an Acromantula the size of Hagrid's hut fell from the tree and landed with a loud thud. The centaur instantly raised his bow, but before he could fire even one arrow, the spider stiffened and rolled on its back dead.

"Stupid spiders. What are they even doing here?" Tera hissed in obvious annoyance, slithering towards Severus. "Salazar would have never allowed those pests here. I should hunt them!"

The centaur stared at the snake in shock and even took a few steps away from her. Though he was surprised when she curled around Severus and settled on his shoulders as if she belonged there.

"Thank you, Tera," Severus said while stroking her. "I didn't think that those Acromantulas would travel this far away from their nest. Especially one this large."

"The spiders are getting restless. They feel that dark times are ahead of us. Mars is very bright and is becoming even brighter with every passing day. A war is coming," the centaur told him. "Am I correct in my assumption, that this is Amaterasu?"

The centaurs, of course, were aware of what or better who was resting beneath the school. Salazar was the one allowing the first centaurs to settle in the forest, after all, warning them accordingly. In case of great danger, Amaterasu was to defend them and the children. This story was told and re-told to every new generation so that they wouldn't harm the majestic creature. Though, seeing her being so small surprised the centaur.

"You are correct. A friend of mine visited her and took her with him so that she would get out some more," he answered vaguely, not wanting to get it back to Dumbledore that Harry was a Parselmouth.

"Death's young Master," the centaur muttered as if it answered many of his questions.

In a way, it did. They had felt his arrival. Thanks to their ability to glance at the future through reading the stars, they knew that something big was going to happen with Death's Master right in the middle of it. To learn now that this young man was closely connected to the events to come, made the centaur rethink a few things.

Thinking everything through he came to a decision.

"Listen, something is coming. Something big. Even we're not able to predict what will cause it, just that it will endanger everything. Not only this world but every single one. Stand with the young Master, trust him. He will need you more than ever in the times to come. Never doubt his love for you. While you might not like some things at first, it will be for the better of you all. Alone you will fall, as two you'll stand tall, but with the power of three, you will rise above all.

"Please relay a message to him. Should he ever need our help, we'll gladly give it. I suggest that you return to the castle now as lunch will be served soon. Stay safe young Mr Severus."

With that, the centaur turned around and dashed away through the thicket, leaving behind a dumbfound and confused Severus.

Shaking his head, he walked over to the dead spider, not wanting to think about that ominous advice for now. He began to harvest everything that he could use before shrinking down the carcass and placing it in his bag. While he couldn't use the chitin in potions, he could very well sell it to the goblins who used it for several other crafts. It wouldn't make him rich but get him a nice sum, nonetheless. Especially for a specimen this large.

Once he was done, he made his way back to the castle, contemplating what the centaur – whose name he still didn't know – told him. What third person did he mean? And what war? The one between Dumbledore and the Dark Lord? But that would mean that Dumbledore would finally do something that made it necessary for the Dark Lord to retaliate. It was quite evident that the Dark Lord was more than content to continue his current avenue.

Severus groaned. The cryptic hints the centaurs liked to give out always gave him headaches trying to decipher them. Once whatever they told him came to pass, it becomes apparent and more often than not makes you want to hit your head for not having seen it. However, until then, they could very well be speaking an entirely different language. It was highly frustrating, to say the least.

With another shake of his head, he reapplied the concealment charm on Tera before stepping out of the forest. He made his way up to the castle luckily undisturbed and not soon later he entered their shared bedroom.

Harry was sitting in front of the fire, a large stack of parchment in his lap and one page in hand, reading concentrated. It was the clicking of the door that got Hadrian's attention.

"Severus! You're back," he exclaimed, quickly placing the parchment on the table before jumping up and hugging Severus. "How was your trip? I hope you were successful in getting everything."

Severus couldn't help but laugh at Harry's exuberance.

"Yes, I got everything and more," he replied with a chuckle after kissing Harry. "Tera helped to get ingredients I wouldn't be able to reach otherwise."

"That I don't doubt. Salazar probably often asked her to do that," Harry mused, leaning against Severus and watching how she curled up in front of the fire.

The bulge in her middle made it evident that she also was successful in her hunt.

"Yes, she confirmed as much," Severus said while pulling off his cloak and hanging it in his wardrobe before undoing his shoes and placing them next to it. "I also met a centaur. When I told him that a friend of mine got Tera out, he muttered something about Death's young Master. He also said something about a coming war and a cryptic message.

"Alone you will fall, as two you'll stand tall, but with the power of three, you will rise above all.

"You don't happen to know what he might mean?" he finally asked, getting rid of his last piece of clothes, waiting next to the bathroom door for Hadrian to give him an answer, but who seemed to be more inclined to ogle him.

Hadrian hummed thoughtfully. 'Alone you'll fall' was easy to understand, that if they decided to go their separate ways, that they will fall. Probably in the war he talked about. That also made the second part that 'as two, you'll stand tall' quite obvious. He and Severus together would be able to weather the oncoming storm. Maybe not without trouble, but it was doable.

However, the 'with the power of three, you will rise above all' was the part he didn't understand. What third person? Death? The Dark Lord, maybe? There was no other person that came to mind that would in any way being relevant to them.

He didn't know what exactly it meant. What he knew though was that thinking too much about prophecies and other predictions only resulted in you either misinterpreting them badly or trying to prevent them from happening if you didn't like them, more often than not setting them off with it. So, he did the only reasonable thing he could. He ignored it.

"I have no idea. If I were you, I would just ignore it. Prophecies and predictions have a knack for being so vague that it can mean anything literally," Harry answered with a shrug. "Trying to prevent it more likely than not will set it off and trying to understand what it means only will give you a headache. That much I learned about Divination."

"That's what I thought, too," Severus said with a nod. "I merely wanted to let you know. However, I'm dirty and go to shower before lunch."

"Want me to join you?" Harry questioned with a crooked smile.

"I'm hungry too, and having you with me would only result in us missing lunch," Severus huffed. "And before you go on about knowing where the kitchens are, consider this: Do you want to give Dumbledore any leverage against you when it isn't necessary?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Harry retorted frustrated, slumping back into his chair. "That man is too annoying."

"That I can agree with."

With that, Severus went to shower while Harry continued to read.

The next week flew by without much happening.

Harry took his OWLs in the evenings. Slughorn had arranged it that he could take every necessary OWL after school was out and before dinner. Monday to Thursday, Harry had his theoretical exams while on Friday he had his practical as he had school just until lunch. While he was quite good in the theoretical test, except History where he barely managed to scrape up an A, it was the practical part the examiner was most astonished over.

His best part was by far Defence Against the Dark Arts but considering that he had been an Auror and later hunted by his so-called friends it was hardly surprising. The woman who examined him even asked him to perform the Patronus charm for her. As it turned out, it was one of the topics within the Ministry gossip mill that the new student was able to perform a fully-fledged Patronus. This gained him a few extra points in Defence.

Divination he had ditched, not wanting to take up that load of crap again. Though the current teacher seemed far more competent than Trelawny was on her best days. That was at least what he heard from those in Slytherin who took the subject.

Interestingly he got his results pretty quickly. The grades of his written work as well of the practical exam he got right after the practicals.

So now Harry was a proud owner of his owls with a total of six Os – Charms, DADA, Potions, Runes, Duelling and CoMC –, three EEs – Transfiguration, Herbology and Arithmancy – and one A – History. Ten OWLs were indeed nothing to laugh at. Granger would be oh so proud of him…not. Well, that bitch hopefully rotted in the most bottomless pit of hell.

Harry also read the report Marvolo sent him, which was the size of a small book – when did he even have the time to write all that? It was enlightening, to say the least.

Marvolo had no intention to move against Muggle-born. Quite the contrary, he wants them to take mandatory etiquette and culture classes to help them integrate better. How many times did a Muggle-born insult someone without even knowing? It was no wonder that they didn't get good jobs or even any job in the magical world at all.

On the other hand, he also wanted purebloods to take classes on how to blend in within the Muggle world. Most purebloods, when venturing there for whatever reason, stuck out like a sore thumb. Hence why the first thing every one of his followers needed to attend lessons on navigating the Muggle world without standing out.

Not to mention that the Muggles progressed faster than ever and from what Harry told him, would become an even more significant threat.

That one made Harry wonder just how much was lost to Voldemort's madness. During the second war, the man attacked Muggles without a second thought, not in the least interested that it might reveal the world. It was mind-boggling.

Though what amused him was that the Dark side, who many think to hate Muggles, knew more about them than the Light side and so-called Muggle-lovers.

One afternoon, when Harry and Severus sat at a hidden table within the library together with Lily and Barty, Lily asked him what had him so engrossed. After some hesitation, he explained, that the Dark Lord sent him an overview of what he wanted to achieve and why. It surprised Barty quite a lot that the Dark Lord went to such length to get Harry on his side. Though, considering what he learned about Harry so far, he had to admit that it was a wise move to make. The other teenager was sneaky as hell and certainly knew his spells as was proven by the bonus points on his DADA OWLs.

Lily, on the other hand, was shocked that Harry knew the Dark Lord well enough to correspond with him. For a long time, all she heard about him was that he was a mad-man hellbent on eradicating Muggles and Muggle-born. Though, Barty already told her that many things people said about him were either embellished or plain false. When Harry let her read the report, she began to wonder just how wrong the magical world was about the Dark Lord's goals. Mandatory classes and opening an orphanage didn't scream evil overlord at all.

What made her hesitate though were the seemingly random attacks on Muggles the Prophet reported about from time to time. The answer to that question shocked her even more. None of the attacks was as arbitrary as they seemed to be. No, the targets were always the guardians of magical children who abused them for the gift they had. Most weren't even at Hogwarts yet and considering the medical histories that the man added to the report, they probably would never have made it.

That was why the Dark Lord sent small teams to those families, got rid of the parents or in case of orphans modified the memories of everyone and took the children. With those he had to leave alive, he certainly left nasty surprises. The children, on the other, hand those of his followers adopted, who always wished for children but couldn't get their own for whatever reason.

Lily wanted to protest and say that those people loved their children. But with one glance at Severus, she fell silent. If his father wasn't a prime example of what Muggles were capable of, Lily didn't know what was. She couldn't say that she wholly agreed with his methods, but she had to admit, even if reluctantly, that it worked.

It was Saturday evening two weeks after his exams though when Harry ran into another problem that he could have foreseen had he thought about it for one moment. However, he hadn't, and so he was blindsided by it.

"Eldrid, could we talk please?" Remus hesitantly called out to Harry when he left the great hall with Severus coming from dinner.

Harry looked a bit confused, not knowing why Remus would want to talk to him alone – the Marauders had been suspiciously quiet lately – but nodded in the end. The other teenager looked haggard and as if he needed a night of good sleep.

Remus, as soon as he got a positive response, led him to the closest empty classroom. Severus followed them pensively, not putting it beneath the Marauders to set up a trap. Once they were in, Remus closed the door and erected a few simple privacy wards. Knowing that they could be easily compromised, Harry threw up a few stronger ones. Whatever Remus wanted to talk about was supposed to stay between them.

However, it was evident that Remus was highly uncomfortable with Severus being here, as he was shifting restlessly while looking at him.

"Okay, whatever you want to say, you can say in front of Severus too," Harry stated with a deep sigh when Remus' indecisiveness began to annoy him. "I'd probably tell him later anyway."

"Who are you?" Remus finally asked.

"Tom Hadrian Eldrid," Harry said, confused. "You should know that."

"It's just that you…your…," Remus began but fell silent again, obviously not knowing how to say what he wanted to say while sniffing the air.

It dawned Harry what all this was about, and he hit his head with his palm…hard.

"I cannot believe that I forgot about you being a Werewolf," he exclaimed, shaking his head before he began to ramble. "I mean not forgot it but more what it entails. Then again, it isn't that you have to worry about that all that often. Let me guess it is my smell?!"

When Harry admitted to knowing that he knew that Remus was a werewolf, said teenager's eyes went wide in shock and not a small amount of fear before he looked at Severus.

Severus, on the other hand, wasn't any less shocked about that admission. Though thinking about it, it explained a lot about Remus, and he wondered how he didn't see that earlier. Merlin, the other teenager missed one day every month, and he would bet that it was the day after the full moon.

"What do you mean with smell?" Severus inquired for clarification on the only point that he didn't understand.

"It is quite easy actually," Harry explained. "Werewolves have heightened senses. They hear and smell things a normal human wouldn't especially close to a full moon. Guess what? Two nights ago was a full moon."

"You were so worried about your looks but your smell you didn't take into consideration," Severus deadpanned.

"Yep."

"W-why?" Remus threw in with a panicked tone to his voice. "Why tell him? He'll get me thrown out!"

"Why would I do that?" Severus asked, genuinely bewildered.

Harry though looked at him in surprise when he heard the question. It seemed that the confrontation between old Severus and Remus on a full moon had had a more profound impact on the man than he thought if it shifted his view from mild interest to deep hatred.

"B-because I'm a werewolf? A monster?" Remus replied, still fearful but with a certain amount of surprise. "Revenge for what we did to you?"

Severus blinked a few times before he huffed a small laugh.

"Were you Potter or Black you might be right and I would probably use it against them," he admitted with a shrug. "However, you never actively attacked me. Quite the contrary, you even held them back at times. Besides, you're far more tolerable anytime than they are on a good day."

"Not to mention that Severus learning it this way is by far preferable to the alternative," Harry added with a shudder.

Now confusion began to replace Remus' fear.

"What do you mean? What alternative?" he tentatively asked, fearing the answer.

"Well, in about half a year Severus would have begun wondering where you vanished to every month. Sirius found out about that and in all his wisdom decided to send him to the Shrieking Shack on a full moon," Harry explained with a wince. "I certainly don't have to tell you what nearly happened."

Where previously fear and curiosity filled Remus, now pure horror took over.

"No!" he breathed out while frantically shaking his head. "NO! That cannot be true. Sirius…he would never…."

Remus stumbled backwards and slumped down on a chair, an air of defeat surrounding him because deep down he knew that yes, Sirius would do something so incredibly stupid. It was as Severus said, he held them back from time to time but to be honest, it was Sirius who tended to go that step too far. Remus had no idea whether it was because of the so-called Black-madness or if Sirius indeed found things like sending a tripping jinx at someone close to a flight of stairs funny. So no, he had no problem imagining Sirius sending someone after him on a full moon.

"If anything happened," he continued, his breathing becoming laboured. "They would kill me! They wouldn't care that it wasn't my fault."

Harry sighed, walked over to Remus and knelt in front of him when it became evident that Remus was heading into a full-blown panic attack. Gently pulling the hands away with which Remus covered his face, he looked him straight in the eyes. But Remus instantly looked away.

"Remus, look at me," he commanded softly, and Remus followed even if reluctantly. "That's it. Now take a deep breath and slowly rerelease it."

He guided him through the breathing exercise until Remus was calm again.

"Good. Remember, nothing has happened, and if I can help it, nothing will ever happen, okay?" Harry asked him in a low tone upon which Remus nodded. "Also, neither Sev nor I want to get you expelled. Hey, maybe we are even able to help you."

Harry smiled gently while standing up and sitting down opposite of Remus. He admittedly always liked Remus more than Sirius, but that could be because he saw him more often and longer than his godfather. It still pained him greatly how the man hated his lycanthropy, but maybe this time he could change things at least a bit.

"Are we?" Severus deadpanned with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on, you cannot tell me that you won't like the challenge to invent something that helps werewolves," Harry baited him with a grin. "Maybe you'll even find a cure. Who knows?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at Harry, knowing exactly what he was attempting. Unfortunately, he had to admit that it was working. He loved working with potions and cracking such a nut would be fantastic and certainly help him gaining his mastery.

Sighing deeply, he nodded.

"We'll see," he replied, not promising anything.

Remus though looked back and forth between Harry and Severus, wondering in what alternative reality he landed. Two Slytherins wanted to help him? Him? A Gryffindor?

"Why…why would you help me?" he finally asked aloud.

"It is as Harry said a good challenge," Severus answered with a shrug.

"But…you're Slytherins! Why would you help a Gryffindor?"

Remus didn't know what to think anymore.

"Why wouldn't we help you?" Harry asked in return. "Just because you're a Gryffindor, or you're a werewolf doesn't mean that you're less worth than any other person in this school. Everyone who thinks different is a bigoted idiot."

"You're truly James and Lily's son, aren't you?" Remus questioned with a low chuckle. "You certainly have her large heart and intelligence with James' mischief."

Now it was upon Harry to laugh.

"Things are a bit more complicated, but yes, you're right. They are my parents," he admitted.

Harry was taking a leap of faith here, admitting as much as he did. However, he had a feeling that Remus wouldn't betray him and not just because they had some leverage against him.

Remus though furrowed his brows.

"But Lily is currently with Crouch Jr.," he mused. "You even helped in that regard. Wouldn't that create a paradox?"

"As I said, it is a bit more complicated," Harry said with a smile. "I have an idea. How about an exchange? For your secret, I'll tell you mine, and we three swear an oath that none of us betrays the other's trust by telling anyone what we know without consent. That way, no one has to fear that their secret gets out."

"Weren't you trying to bribe me into saying yes, I would have said that you're a Gryffindor," Remus replied amused before turning to Severus. "But what about you, Snape? I doubt that Eldrid here just can make that decision for you."

"Oh, believe me, Harry will pay very dearly for agreeing for me," Severus told him with a smirk that spoke of nothing good. "But yes, I'm willing to agree to this."

Harry swallowed when he saw Severus' gaze and hadn't he known that Severus would never hurt him, he would have worried. This way, however, he wondered whether Severus would finally do more than just kissing him senseless at every opportunity.

Remus wanted to intervene and prevent Harry from being punished because of him, but when he saw Harry's heated gaze, he thought better. This was certainly none of his business.

"Anyway, as much as I want to discuss this here and now, I'm a bit exhausted," he told Remus. "Besides this isn't the best of places to discuss something like that."

Remus nodded in agreement but didn't say anything.

"What do you suggest instead?" Severus wanted to know.

Harry stroked his chin, thinking about that problem.

"How about the Room of Requirement?" he recommended.

Severus snorted. "Dumbledore knows about that one. It is much too suspicious."

"What do you suggest then?" Harry demanded to know.

"Some remote room in the dungeons," Severus stated matter-of-factly. "There are so many unused rooms down there that it will be pretty hard to find us there."

Harry opened his mouth but closed it again without saying anything. Severus was right, the dungeons were complex and finding someone down there who didn't want to be found was nearly impossible.

Remus, on the other hand, was wondering whether they were planning his demise after all. Luring him somewhere no one would find him before offing him. Harry laugh brought him out of his musing.

"Stop worrying, Remus," Harry chided him with amusement. "I just don't want this to get out, that's all."

"Then why tell me at all?" Remus couldn't help but wonder.

"Because I can see the man you could be and because I might want your help in the future," Harry explained but quickly put his hands up when Remus glared at him. "Nothing involving your friends, except maybe to keep them from committing acts of stupidity. No, what I mean is that I want to change a few things, including the laws concerning werewolves and I could use your insight."

"You want to change these laws?" Remus choked out in shock. "But you just arrived here. No one knows you."

"Ah, but that is where you're wrong," Harry chuckled. "But let us speak about all that once we took our oaths okay? How does tomorrow afternoon sound to you?"

"I don't know whether you're deluded or insane," Remus retorted, shaking his head. "But I'll listen to you, that much I can give you. Tomorrow afternoon then."

"Tomorrow afternoon," Harry repeated with a smile before he left the room, taking the privacy spells down in the process.

A/N: I thought about adding Severus' punishment in this chapter but not only would it have blown this chapter out of proportion, but I also didn't want to rush it. That's why I decided against it :). 'til next chapter!