On Shaky Ground (Severus)

[Remus Lupin]

Remus was silently hoping that Severus hadn't noticed the fact that his eyes were welling up, but even if he had, Remus was reasonably certain that the Slytherin boy wouldn't ask about it. Snape didn't exactly seem like the type who'd feel comfortable talking about such things. But it made Remus wonder more about the relationship between Severus and Natalie. After all, he still remembered what Sabrina had told him about Natalie's strange power. He didn't quite understand how it worked, but he knew that Natalie knew his secret. She didn't hold it against him or tell anyone about it, but she knew. Maybe she knew Severus's secrets as well, but they just didn't talk about it. Maybe that was why he liked being with her; beecause she knew who he was and they didn't need to talk about it.

When James and Sirius had figured out Remus's secret, they didn't hold it against him... but Remus still thought that, in some way, it defined the way they thought of him. They seemed to think it was "cool" that he became something else once a month. They didn't fully understand the stress and pain he went through as the lunar cycle progressed. Maybe Natalie would understand better than his friends ever could.

Remus sighed softly and shook his head. "I guess someone's always going to have to break up the fights, then," he said. "I can try to talk to them about leaving you alone, but as you can see, they don't always listen to me."

[Severus Snape]

Severus snorted "Then I won't hold my breath then Lupin." He began to cut out the flower he had drawn and finished sniffling. He wasn't going to say that the offer to help him hadn't touched him; he'd rather finish drinking a bottle of ink before doing something so...unsavory.
He wondered why Lupin was making such an offer, he was more or less well liked, despite his scars. He was easy going and had a bright attitude. Severus had always just lumped him with his other friends. another mean face that treated him poorly.
He could still resent him, he thought, just because he has had a problem with how he was treated and did or said little about it. The thought made him think of that lion in a muggle movie he saw once. Well, a part of once. He was kicked out of the cinema. He didn't see why they were so angry, it was an OLD movie anyway.
"Decision made at any rate." he said as he finished snipping out his flower and sticking it on his box.

[Remus Lupin]

Remus sighed. He really should be able to be braver than this. Weren't Gryffindors supposed to be brave? He didn't feel very brave. He barely even knew how to stand up for himself, let alone someone else... especially if it meant standing up to the first real friends he'd ever had in his life.

"I'm sorry," he said in a dejected voice. "But for what it's worth... You're OK with me. I won't ever bug you."

[Severus Snape]

Severus was begrudgingly touched by the truce. Maybe Lupin wasn't such a bad person.
"I'll hold you to that Lupin, if you go back on your word, I promise to hate you forever." he declared, being decidedly flippant in his tone, which was also decidedly rare for him to be. He decided it was an act of good faith.