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[Fantasy Fest entry: Playing with Fire, Chapter 2 --PG]
Title: Playing with Fire, Chapter 2
Author: firefly_quill
Word Count: 2589
Rating: PG
Pairing(s)/character(s): SS/RL
Summary: The Unexpected Task (You know the one)
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns. I simply play.
Warnings: Swearing and underaged drinking? O.o Oh, and bad French. Also, particular chapter doesn't end in a fluffy-happy manner.
Notes: Many apologies to ollopa and anyone else who has been waiting >.< For some reason I just couldn't piece it together even though I had the plot laid out. Further apologies on the un-beta'd-ness and the disjointed nature of the fic. I think the next chapter will be a short one, so that shouldn't take too long (I hope)

Chapter One



The Gryffindor Common Room was in a strange mood that evening, attempting to figure out whether they should spend their energy celebrating or cursing. The first task, after all, had been won by Hogwarts. It just would have sat better had the champion not been one Severus Snape.

James and Sirius suddenly ran into the room from their quarters, cackling madly. Knowing full well that nothing good ever came from this, Remus looked up from his book and braced himself.

"Look here, mates! We've made buttons commemorating the occasion of our colleague's win!" Sirius announced grandly.

James began tossing the colourful buttons at the others in the room. Remus eyed his suspiciously. It was dark green and silver, and displayed a very large nose. The words on it read "Snivellus Stinks". Remus frowned while the other Gryffindors laughed on.

"That's not all!" Sirius added. He tapped the button and it swirled and turned a shiny black, displaying the catchphrase, "Greasy Git".

Completely disgusted, Remus did what he always did in such situations: he stood up and left. Unfortunately, he failed to do so before Sirius surreptitiously stuck one of their new buttons on the back of his bag.

Remus wandered the halls without any particular destination. The buttons hadn't made their way into circulation yet, Remus noticed with relief. He hoped that his house mates would have enough sense to refrain from wearing them. This was his last coherent thought before he felt himself roughly lifted into the air by his feet.

"To think I almost believed in your good will, Lupin." Came the silky voice he knew too well.

"Severus? But I—" It was then that Remus caught sight of the button that had been affixed to his bag, which was now lying on the floor. Oh bollocks.

"But I should have known better." Was it regret in the other boy's voice?

"Let him down, you greasy bastard!"

At the arrival of this voice, Remus began to silently contemplate what he had done in his life to deserve such retribution.

The other three Marauders were running towards him (albeit upside down), wands raised.

"Gladly," Severus smirked. Remus quickly fell to the ground in a heap.

Remus cursed the fact that he hadn't been dropped hard enough to be rendered unconscious. He slowly rose to his feet, only to realize that he was situated right in the middle of a showdown.

"Come now, where is your school spirit? Raising your wands against your own Champion?" Severus sneered.

"The only reason that your name was chosen and not one of ours –" Sirius began heatedly.

"-is because someone decidedly cast my name into the fire without my permission, in hopes of belittling me for it after it failed to get drawn, forgetting that they were the weaker wizards." Severus finished with a sly smile.

The flush on Sirius' face betrayed the fact that Snape had hit upon the point exactly.

"You cocky little—"

"Furnuc—"

"Sectum—"

"That will be quite enough, thank you boys."

All parties froze. The Headmaster approached the scene, regarding it calmly. He picked up Remus' bag and studied the button.

"Mr. Pettigrew, would you kindly alert any who are in possession of these that they should be disposed of immediately?" Dumbledore asked genially. Peter nodded quickly, shooting the other Marauders a helpless look before running off.

"Mr. Potter? Mr. Black?" The boys, who had started backing away while Dumbledore had his face turned, stopped abruptly. "After you are done your attempted escape from this predicament, would you please see Professor McGonagall? I believe she would like to have a word with you about the blatant unauthorized use of the Hogwarts Champion Franchise."

Sirius and James headed dejectedly towards the Deputy Headmistress' classroom.

"And that leaves...ahh, yes," Dumbledore turned yet again to face Severus and Remus, smiling.

Severus looked back at him evenly. "Severus, I believe that Professor Slughorn is looking for you. It would seem that you are missing an important lunch meeting?"

Severus' scowl deepened at the reminder.

"Given the state of things, however, perhaps your afternoon would be better served in the library in detention. I will alert Professor Slughorn of this…punishment." Dumbledore's amused smile betrayed the fact that both he and Severus knew that this was anything but. Severus smirked and strode off.

The Headmaster finally turned to Remus. "Remus, will you join me in my office?"

---

Remus did not recall walking to the office, but found himself there soon enough, standing opposite the Headmaster's desk.

"Sherbet Lemon?" The boy shook his head.

The Headmaster sat down and looked at Remus disapprovingly. "I admit that today's events have disappointed me, Remus."

"I had no part in what James and Sirius were doing, sir."

"Sometimes the fault is not in the action, dear boy, but the failure to prevent." The Headmaster said gently.

Remus pondered this, staring at his toes. That had been the crux of it, hadn't it? How many times had he walked away when Severus was in need of someone to stand up for him, for fear of losing his friends? Or are you afraid that your help would be unwanted?

"Severus does not yet have a date to the Yule Ball." Dumbledore said, breaking Remus' train of thought.

"No, sir?" Remus finally looked up, puzzled by this revelation.

"Tradition dictates that all champions take part in the first dance. Unfortunately, Severus is neither a willing participant nor a charming date prospect." Remus could have sworn that the Headmaster was smiling fondly to himself. The man suddenly turned to face him sternly.

"Seeing that he is the injured party in today's proceedings, I think it would be a fitting punishment if you would take him."

Remus' eyes widened. "But sir, he--" hates me!

"--Will be delighted to escape the humiliation of having to find a partner himself," Dumbledore finished before Remus could, jovially. "You might take advantage of the theme of the ball. Now, my boy, this has been a most delightful conversation, but the more neurotic Ravenclaws are once again attempting to break into the safe that holds the NEWTs. I must attend to this matter immediately before the House Elves decide on roasting transfigured pork for the dinner menu. Oh, but do take this."

And with that, Remus was ushered quickly out of the office, silvery mask in hand.

---

"Aww, Moony, you can't possibly be too sick to come tonight! I've made my 'special' pumpkin juice." Sirius winked and nudged Peter, who unfortunately fell over.

"Can't. Headache," Remus moaned into his pillow. "Have a pint for me though."

"Will do," James said cheerily. "Get some rest though, right?" James punched him on the shoulder.

"Oof. Not helping, Prongs."

"Right. Sorry, mate." James offered sheepishly.

"How do I look?" Peter asked hopefully.

Remus turned his head. "Dashing."

Peter nodded proudly and Remus could practically hear the boy repeat the word in his head as he applied it to himself. Sirius and James rolled their eyes. The boys gave him one last wave before piling out the door, costumes and spirits intact.

Remus made sure that the door had closed with a click behind him before jumping out of bed. He dug the silver mask out from the chest where it was buried under a collection of dull-looking books.

He reached into the dresser and pulled out his wine-red dress robes, a birthday gift he had not yet worn. His hair had always been on the longer side, but he charmed it so that it reached well below his shoulders and tied it with a red ribbon. He tied the mask on and pulled up the collar to his cloak. He might even have practiced a deceptively low female voice.

"Strikingly ambiguous, Cinderella." The mirror purred. Remus grinned.

Perfect.

---

Remus ran quickly down the stairs to find the students still milling around the door of the Great Hall. He scanned the crowd until he found what he was looking for: a figure fighting his way to the edge of the room, in that same shining black cloak, face obscured by a white mask. He fought his way through and almost thought that he had lost Severus, until he caught a glimpse of the white mask flashing across the sea of brightly coloured, overly decorated ones. He pushed through a gaggle of costume-coordinated Beauxbatons and just managed to grasp that black sleeve.

"Sir, will you walk about with your friend?" He asked, relieved to have caught up with the boy.

Severus paused for a moment, and then turned his head slightly. "Drop the pretenses, Lupin. If a weak-willed werewolf in drag was all that the Headmaster could come up with, I'll at least bear it with some dignity."

Remus gaped. "How..."

"I'm wearing a charm that tells me of the arrival of your friends and yourself for self-preservation. You're not cock-sure enough to be Potter or Black, and Pettigrew doesn't have your enchanting eyes." Severus smirked.

"I'm flattered that you find my eyes enchanting." Remus blurted out before he could stop himself. He paled, as did Severus.

"Ahh, perfect timing! Please, Severus, if you would escort your date into the Hall." Dumbledore had found them, of course, eyes twinkling.

Remus shot Severus an apprehensive look.

Severus frowned a little, but then turned to Remus and bowed, extending his right hand. Well, that was unexpected. Remus blushed profusely.

"Take the hand, you nitwit."

"Right," Remus grinned and extended a gloved hand. "Shall we?"

The Headmaster ushered them and lined them up behind Bellatrix, who had a haughty Rodolphus Lestrange in tow.

"A little manly, that one, isn't he, Snape?" Rodolphus drawled, eyeing Remus' broad shoulders.

"Not any more so than yours, I'm sure." Severus replied calmly. Lestrange laughed heartily at that, while Bellatrix began to shoot daggers with her eyes towards Severus. Anyone other than his date would have withered, Remus mused with some admiration, instead of returning such a glare with that patronizing sneer. He unconsciously clung more tightly to Severus' arm, and Severus at least pretended that he didn't notice.

The doors opened to the Great Hall. The students stared on in awe at the glittering chandelier, floating candles, and jewel-toned streamers that danced in a breeze that must have been magical. The champions led their partners to the centre, while the other students stood lining the tables in a circle.

Remus stood facing his dance partner, one hand locked in Severus', another on Severus' waist. Severus was once again regarding Remus impassively, but so intensely that Remus felt his skin tingle.

Remus didn't really know what to say. "I'll try not to step on you."

Severus answered with a terse nod.

The music started.

And then they were somehow gliding effortlessly.

The other students and teachers must have still been there. They couldn't possibly have melted away as Remus perceived they did, because that was a silly and preposterous idea. It felt an awful lot like they were the only two in the room, though: that there were no such things as house rivalries, that the Marauders for one moment did not exist to torment Severus Snape, that the look that Severus was giving him was purely for him alone.

And that's when it hit Remus: he had accidentally and quite unfortunately fallen for the Slytherin. Behind all sour mannerisms and biting remarks was a brilliant, talented boy who talked to him despite his friends (albeit begrudgingly), had faith in his goodwill before Sirius and James had messed it up, and who thought that his eyes were enchanting. Could Severus possibly feel the same way?

"Lupin, the song has finished." Came the soft voice.

"And the next one is just starting." Remus smiled encouragingly. He was rewarded with another brusque nod.

"Je m'excuse, mais est-ce que je peux avoir cette danse?"

Remus felt Severus stiffen. He turned to find that Achille had abandoned his blonde and leggy Beauxbatonette and was smiling winningly at them.

"I'm sorry?" Remus asked disdainfully in his practiced purr. He was determined to show Severus that he would not lose Remus unless he wanted to.

"My apologies. I had forgotten that not everyone here understood French." The boy flashed his teeth charmingly.

Showoff. Remus' eyes narrowed. "I do well enough, sir, and regrettably must decline your offer for the next dance."

"Regrettably, yes. If only I were asking you," Achille said airily. Remus glared rather impressively as Achille turned to Severus, his eyes flashing with challenge. "I would be honoured. I would lead, of course."

"Yes, regrettably, you appear to be of the wrong gender." Remus snapped, only stopping to reflect on the irony of those words for a moment.

"Are you so certain?" Severus was smirking, and Remus was unsure of whether the phrase applied to Achille or to himself. Oh dear. That was interesting.

"In this case I will allow my partner to speak for myself and must decline," Severus continued, addressing Achille. "Demanding little creature."

With that, they spun away from the seething red-head.

"He was only mocking me," Severus commented dryly once they were far enough away. "You don't have to look like he would have swept me away from you."

Remus was at a loss for words. He could have sworn that Severus was teasing him, except that Severus never teased.

"Remus?"

Fuck.

Remus wondered whether this would be the first of many times where he would regret ever conspiring to make that blasted map.

The offending parchment was currently loosely being waved in Wormtail's hand. A glass of Sirius' "pumpkin juice" perched wobbly in his other.

"I'm sorry, I believe you have the wrong person."

"But thuh map..."

"You've obviously too much to drink. Really, a map that displays the name of people." Remus laughed nervously. For the love of Merlin, don't let him catch on. I spent months figuring out the arithmancy to make that bloody scrap of paper.

"Here, let me see that," Remus snatched the map from Peter's wavering hand, scanned it briefly and crumpled it, stuffing it into his cloak. "Clearly, just a blank of parchment."

"If you have other business, far be it for me to stop you." Severus said coldly.

"No!" Remus said quickly.

"Well, if yer shee Eemus, let'im know we shaved him some juice, 'k?" Peter giggled and toppled away in the other direction.

"They don't know about this, do they?"

"No."

"Yes, I imagine that you would have done with this situation after tonight." Severus said stiffly.

"Severus, I--"

"I don't need your pity, Lupin," Severus suddenly pushed him away angrily. "Nor do I pity you for being forced to accompany me. Leave if you must."

"I'm not leaving, Severus." Remus said firmly, meeting the boy's gaze.

"And what of tomorrow?"

"What of tomorrow?" Remus echoed uncertainly. He had an inkling of where this was going and he wasn't quite prepared to answer to it yet.

"Yes, tomorrow," Severus sneered. "Will you tell your friends about the wonderful evening that you've had? Will we become friends? What happens when the masks come off and you go back to being the boneless, cowardly follower that you are?"

Remus' mind reeled with possible arguments, but none of them reached his tongue as none of them seemed convincing. He simply sat, eyes pleading Severus to stay.

He wasn't quite sure when Severus left, nor when he made his way slowly back to his room, but the hollow, emptied feeling stayed with him well into the morning.