Sticks and Stones

Disclaimer: Not mine, obviously.

A/N: Not edited.

The End:

Sirius congratulated himself. The perfect plan was about to be put into motion. He smiled. Any minute now the full moon would break past the clouds and his good friend Remus would be free. He would be wild, dangerous, and free. Any minute now, Severus Snape would round the corner of a hallway in which Sirius was standing watch.

Any minute now.

"Snape, much as it pains me to say this, Remus wants you to meet him. He said come to the place you visited a few days ago. You, apparently, are supposed to know what that means." Sirius was smirking inwardly the entire time the practiced speech fell from his lips. Severus arched a disbelieving eyebrow at Sirius.

"You expect me to believe that Black? I'm not stupid." Remus wouldn't ask to see me. Not tonight." Severus pulled his arm out of Sirius's grasp, and smirked when Sirius frowned.

"Fine then." Sirius pulled out his wand quickly. "Imperio."

Sirius felt triumph when Severus's eyes glazed over. Tonight whatever spell Snape had on Moony would end.

………………

When Severus finally regained control over his own body, he was in his dorm. He knew what had happened, and damn it all if he was going to let that scum Black win.

……………

Remus almost refused to come to breakfast. He'd attacked someone he was most definitely in love with.

And the things Severus had said after. Remus cringed. How could he have ever believed that anyone could love a werewolf?

"Come on Moony. You need to eat." It was James that got him to leave the dorm, James who got him to consume his breakfast, and James who understood. Maybe Sirius had been right. Nothing would ever happen between a Slytherin and a Gryffindor. Nothing.

It was only later that night, when he was in the library studying that he discovered how much of a lie that was.

He had been watching Severus for the last hour as the other boy worked on his own study. Remus had watched him turn every page and read every word. He ran a hand through his hair distractedly. It was like they had come full circle. Remus always watching and Severus always unaware.

Remus sighed with relief when Severus started to pack up his things. What he was doing, this obsession, wasn't healthy.

He felt Severus breeze by him as he made his way out of the library and watched a scrap of folded paper fall to the tabletop by his hand.

He picked it up and unfolded it. It said only one sentence and yet that sentence meant everything.

'I still love you.'

Remus looked up. Severus was still standing by the doorway. He smirked at Remus and then left. Remus smiled.

On the other hand, obsessing could be a very good thing.

A/n: Well, thinking up the best ending was hard. I hope you liked it.