A/N: Many thanks to my beta-reader, Ginny.


He knew he had done it. He knew that he had started the whole thing in motion into its eventual downward spiral. And most of all, he knew this above all things was why Severus Snape hated him.

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“Come on, Moony. You’re the only one of us she’ll talk to,” James pleaded.

“That’s only because I don’t torment her friend like the rest of you do,” Remus muttered.

“No, you just stand by and watch, with your mouth shut.”

“Sod off, Sirius,” Lupin barked back.

“Oh, come on, Moony. I’m just kidding,” Sirius said, as he teasingly pushed Remus. “ Is it getting close to that time of the month again? You always get so cranky, just before..”

“I don’t even know why I hang out with you, Black.”

“It’s because I’m so devilishly handsome, quick-witted, charming, and maybe, just maybe, because I turn myself into a bloody dog once a month just to keep your mangy arse company. So if I’m not your mate, then no one is.”

With that Sirius walked off, having had enough with the whole business. He was tired of Remus’ constant berating of his fun, and he was doubly tired of James’ lovesick, whiny little face pining over Lily. God, it wasn’t like she was the prettiest girl at school or even the most attractive girl in their classes for that matter. Sirius just didn’t get it.

“Please. Please, Remus, just talk to her for me. She’ll listen to you,” James asked with plain desperation in his voice.

“Alright, alright. If it will shut up your gob, I’ll do it, but don’t ask me for any more favors if she tells me to bugger off,” Remus agreed sullenly.

“You’re my best mate, you know that. You’re brilliant, Moony. I mean it,” James gushed.

“Oh, come on, we all know that Sirius is your favorite,” Remus said, blushing slightly.

It was then that Lupin began his relationship with Lily Evans. They had talked to each other in passing, on more than one occasion. He always gave her a shy nod and smile when they passed in the hallway, usually followed by a blood-chilling glare emanating from Severus.

He was afraid that getting her away from Snape would be a problem, but recently he noticed she wasn’t walking with him. He also noticed Severus appeared more alone and miserable than ever before, which seemed downright impossible to believe.

Remus even felt a little twinge of pity for Snape. He felt more drawn to talk to him than Lily. He had always wanted to take him aside and tell him he was sorry his friends had been total gits to him. But like his inability to stop his mates, the same fear kept him from talking to Severus. Remus was of the 'don’t make waves, and do everything possible to keep everyone’s attention away from you' mentality.

Lupin meekly took the seat next to Lily. They exchanged a quiet smile, and began to eat lunch. James kept craning his head over Sirius’ to get a better look. Finally, Sirius poked James in the ribs and told him to cool it.

Remus let almost the entire lunch pass in silence, when suddenly he blurted out,“So I’ve noticed you and Severus don’t seem to be getting along anymore.”

‘Of all the things you could have said, why did you pick that one, you oaf?’ Lupin’s brain screamed at him.

“Really. Is it that obvious?” she asked hesitantly.

“Well, kind of,” he continued. “I just noticed he didn’t hold your books anymore, or walk you to your common room…”

“Maybe that’s because you and your brilliant chums played such a horrid prank that he blurted out the meanest thing he could say to me!” she exclaimed and then rose to leave.

He didn’t know what compelled him to do it, but Remus gently touched Lily’s hand.

“Don’t go. I didn’t mean to upset you,” he added awkwardly. “Please stay. Besides you haven’t finished your pudding.”

A blush rose in her cheeks and she slowly sat down.

“I’m sorry about what I did. My friends don’t mean any harm. There just downright stupid sometimes. Trying to impress people. They tear him down to make themselves look good…”

“Well they don’t impress me, and if you don’t want to be bunched in with that lot, you’d might as well not hang round them,” Lily stated, huffily.

“Oh, see. I’m saying it all wrong again. They are good guys. Besides, Severus isn’t exactly a prince, now is he?” Remus asked, looking down at his scuffed-up shoes.

“Well, on that point you’re right,” she agreed.

“I’ve, I’ve been meaning to ask you…” Remus sputtered, trying to think of what he could ask her.

“Yes?”

Then suddenly his brain came up with a brilliant excuse to assure he could get the ball rolling with her and James.

“I’ve noticed you’re really quite good at Potions, and I seem to be having a little trouble with some of the tougher ones this year. I was wondering if you’d be willing to help me. I mean, if you have the time and all.”

“I guess that would be all right. Maybe I could get some help from you in Defense Against the Dark Arts? Severus used to help me…”

“Oh, sure. No problem,” Remus agreed. “Er, by the way, would you mind if James tagged along? He’s really not doing well in either subject.”

As Lily stood up to leave, Lupin noticed her gaze wander down the table and caught a glimpse of James. In the past he had seen her shoot daggers at James with those same green eyes, but now he caught a glimpse of tenderness in them. Perhaps it was pity, because she thought James was such an idiot, but it appeared to be something more.

“Alright,” she agreed. “We’ll try it out, but if he starts acting like an arrogant prat, the study sessions are over.”

“Certainly,” Remus said. “That’s more than fair.”

And that was how it all started. It really only took a gentle nudge. The spark was always there; Severus had just been very good at snubbing it out. But with him out of the picture, Remus slipped in and fanned the flame that would eventually turn into the raging fire consuming both James and Lily.


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As he stared at Severus across the staff room table he saw the same blood-chilling glare he used to give him when Remus had looked at Lily. But this time it was pure hatred, not jealousy. It was a look of resolution and understanding.

Severus was saying, ‘I know what you did and I hold you accountable for taking her away from me.’

Lupin didn’t know if that were true, but he did feel guilt. He wondered if he hadn’t stepped in if Severus and Lily would have eventually made up, but he also reminded himself that what he had done was not premeditated. He hadn't done it out of spite or malice. He had done it out of loyalty to his friend, and sometimes he would be able to comfort himself with this thought.

From across the staff room table another professor was noticing the animosity between Lupin and Snape. She sat with a smug smile on her face, peering through her thick, coke-bottle glasses. She had seen this coming for a long time. Besides, she knew the real answer was fate. No one person could change destiny if it wasn’t meant to happen that way. She found it amusing that Remus even considered himself that powerful. She decided this was going to be a very exciting year. She would be watching Severus and Remus closely with both her two eyes and her inner one.