* * * * * * * * * * *

It was more difficult than he'd thought it would be. He'd thought the initiation would give him a sense of purpose, but all it did was make him feel like he had enslaved himself to a madman. But Severus was too smart to allow these thoughts to show. No matter how difficult his life got, he was cursed with a survival instinct far stronger than his good sense.

And now it seemed that everywhere he looked, Black was lurking nearby. He hated lingering in the Slytherin dorms, but it was literally the only place he could escape him. Still, he was loath to spend time there. And with the NEWT's only a few weeks away, he really needed to be in the library quite a lot. He found a dark, secluded corner to work on his dreaded Ancient Runes parchment. He knew the interpretation of each symbol, but assembling them into anything like a cohesive message, finding some clarity in what they were trying to convey, was still eluding him.

Sirius leaned against a tall shelf, mentally steeling himself. He could see Snape hunched over a pile of books bigger than he was, and he cursed himself for accepting this assignment. But out of the rest of the members of the Order that were at Hogwarts, he was the obvious choice to track someone. But Snape, of all people. They suspected he'd taken the dark mark but they weren't sure. His job was to find out. That involved getting Snape out of those robes somehow (an idea which had given James ammunition to torment Sirius unendingly) or otherwise tricking him. But of course Sirius' arrogance had run away with him, and he'd volunteered. So here he was. He'd followed Snape around for a while now, but now was the time to make direct contact.

He made his way silently closer, and slipped into the seat across from Snape. "Having fun?" he said, smirking.

Severus glared at the handsome young man across from him. "I'm not going to deign to answer that. Please leave me alone," he said quietly, pointedly ignoring him. The little flip his stomach did when he heard that voice irritated him nearly to distraction. Why did his arch nemesis have to be the most attractive boy in school?

Sirius snickered. He looked around and shrugged. "It's a free country. Just," he added. "I believe I can still sit where I like." His eyes flicked over the books piled precariously around them. "A little lighthearted reading this evening, then?" he quipped. None of the titles looked out of the ordinary for the class, though.

"By all means, feel at liberty to sit wherever you like. That does not, however, entitle you to conversation with someone who is using the library for its intended purpose, which you may be surprised to discover is studying, not tormenting people or snogging behind the stack." He didn't look up at him. He knew exactly what Black looked like. He could even perfectly picture his expression. Unfortunately, that mental picture was far more enjoyable to his troubled mind than were the words on the page before him. He read the same sentence three times, grimacing when the meaning was still beyond him.

Sirius could feel Snape's irritation and it made him smile more widely. He knew how to get to him, and he also suspected Snape fancied him. Of course, nearly everyone did, to James' annoyance. Sirius had long ago accepted that as fact. Homing in on the one part of Snape's statement that interested him, he leaned as close as the table allowed and purred, "You mean you've never snogged in the library?" He waited a beat, then added, "Of course, just snogging is a little... tame."

Severus did look up then, only to be greeted by that chiseled, perfect face that caused his teeth to grind together. "You are despicable. No, I haven't snogged in the bloody library. But I'm quite sure you know that, since I appear to be an object of fascination for you."

Sirius laughed and shrugged. "I'm bored. I thought you might want a bit of relief from the tedium." He stood, stretching so that his shirt rose, showing off several inches of flat, toned stomach. He did love to show off his body. He loved to be looked at.

Severus swallowed hard and averted his eyes. "I'll take tedium over torture any time, thanks," he said, nearly grumbling. He wasn't sure what Black was playing at. "I'm sure you can find more interesting subjects for your mindless chattering. With such a short time left, you could even avoid me entirely, and we could resolve to never darken each other's paths again."

Snape had looked. Sirius knew he had issues with sex. He craved being wanted. He loved sex, of course. But the idea of someone lusting after him was almost better than the completion. Almost. He sauntered casually around the table to stand behind Snape. He leaned in deliberately, looking over his shoulder at his illegible notes. "Tedium indeed," he said, deliberately letting his hot breath tickle Snape's ear.

A shiver started to run through Severus' shoulders and he froze. "Bugger. Off," he enunciated. He had to get control of himself. At best Black was trying to humiliate him yet again. At worst... Well, considering he'd already tried to kill him, Severus didn't want to contemplate the worst he could be up to.

Sirius couldn't help but laugh at that. "Interesting choice of words, Snape. The Muggles have a chap called Freud, ever hear of him? He might have something to say about that." He reached out, turning the page of the book that lay open before Snape, pressing against him slightly.

He'd had enough. He would not be pinned in his chair like some firstie. He shoved back with all his might and stood, drawing his wand, his eyes blazing. "Do not touch me, Black," he hissed.

Sirius wasn't intimidated. "You going to hex me right here in the library?" he smirked. He knew he'd gotten to Snape, and even if it wasn't his task to follow him, he was going to be all over him now. He glanced at Snape's left arm, but the robes still covered where the dark mark would be. "Why don't you admit what you *really* want to do to me?"

Black's arrogance was infuriating, especially because he was right. Severus' body was like a traitor to him, reacting to the nearness of the sexy boy. "I want you to leave me the fuck alone," he said quietly, voice deep and gentle.

"Again with the word choice. You really shouldn't repress your feelings so much, Snape. They're going to come out, one way or another." Sirius regarded Snape. There was nothing conventionally handsome about him, but he was fascinated nevertheless. He was too thin and his hair was stringy and his nose was too big. But his eyes were deep and mysterious and that voice...

"Are you a complete moron, Black? I'm attempting to study, and I do not wish to be bothered by you, now or at any time in the future." He scowled and put his wand away.

"Your voice says no, but..." Sirius sniffed. His nose wasn't as sensitive as when he was a dog, but it was still more so than it used to be. Snape was bothered by him, physically. He grinned and stepped closer. "Your body says, 'Oh god, Sirius, throw me down and fuck me like an animal.'" He danced back out of reach quickly, bowed slightly and disappeared behind the stacks, giggling to himself. He always did love to have the last word.

That brief moment when Black had come close had made Severus gasp, and there was no hiding that. His face burned with shame, and he resolutely sat back down and returned to his studies, his concentration more frazzled than before.

Later that evening after dinner, he slipped off to the Potions lab. He had no worries about the Potions NEWT. Slughorn was an imbecile, but he'd learned all he needed to know to ace the exam in 6th year. Now he was using the time to conduct his own experiments to improve upon and invent new potions. Unfortunately, the Dark Lord was well aware of his skills.

Sirius had been following Snape all day. He groaned when he saw him go into the Potions lab. He hated it in there. It was his least favorite subject, though with effort he did well in it. He hated to make an effort at something that bored him. But Snape making potions out of class time was interesting, and Sirius waited outside the door for a few moments before slipping in.

Severus had placed an alarm ward on the doorway, and a very soft bell jingled in the air above Sirius' head. Severus glanced up, his expression instantly darkening. "What now?" he asked. He was at a particularly delicate point in the brewing procedure. He didn't need this kind of interruption.

"Aw, Snape... is that any way to treat the object of your desires?" Sirius purred, slipping around the cauldron closer to Snape. He leaned over and sniffed. "I don't recognize this one. Not part of the NEWT's list, is it?"

Severus insinuated himself between Black and the cauldron. "You'd do well to mind your own business, Black. What is it you want down here? Remedial Potions isn't available to 7th years." He stared defiantly at his face.

Sirius snorted. "Though I'm nothing close to a future Potions master like yourself, I'm not remedial. I can smell that you're using ingredients that are not in the regular stores. Doing a little *private* research, Snivelus? Trying to make an aphrodisiac potion that works for you?"

Severus snorted. "If I did you can consider yourself completely safe, Black." He folded his arms over his chest. "Why are you following me around? Have a falling out with your little gang of bullies?" he asked.

Sirius shrugged. "Perhaps I'm just curious about you. You do skulk about a great deal." Snape was definitely up to something. He could tell.

"And of course irritating me is the best way to find out what I'm up to. I'm pleased that you're not responsible for anything important, Black. There's nothing of interest to be gleaned from shadowing my movements. Go play elsewhere." Normally, he would just ignore him, but he didn't want Black to discover what he was up to. Not that he really believed he could figure it out.

Of course Snape was hiding something. And of course, he wouldn't tell him what it was. Sirius had to try to catch Snape off guard. Well, he was good at agitating him, that was for sure. And Snape wanted him. So he had a clear plan. He moved closer. "So what are you doing after you brew this mysterious but completely legal potion?" he purred, moving sinuously.

"That's utterly none of your business," he said, his voice growing slightly hoarse. He backed up a little until he was up against the table, the bubbling cauldron behind his back. His body was instantly sensitive to Black's proximity again, and his sallow cheeks colored.

"But what if I want to make it my business?" Sirius purred, smiling brilliantly. He ignored the smell of the potion, the heat of the fire, all else save his objective. "Don't try to tell me you don't want me." Sirius' own body was reacting to the idea now. The chase was delicious.

Severus' dark eyes widened. "I certainly will tell you that," he said. He reached out and put a restraining hand on Black's chest. "Don't come any closer. What I do is none of your business."

Sirius leaned in, knowing he could overpower the smaller boy, at least physically. Snape seemed momentarily to have forgotten about his wand. "You want me," he whispered. "Don't lie." Sirius wasn't even sure why he was pushing like this now. He wasn't thinking much.

Severus swallowed hard. "What do you want from me?" he ground out. He felt nervous, more so than usual around the other boy. The fact was, he did want him, physically, at least. How could he help himself? He was only human, and although he was sure Black was only trying to embarrass him, he couldn't deny it again.

Sirius snickered. "I would think *that* would be obvious," he said, voice low and silky. He moved closer, pressing his advantage.

"No," he said more firmly than he felt. "Look I've got real work to do, and there's a school full of other people you can harass. Now leave me the bloody hell alone." He put his other hand up, holding Black back. "Please," he added.

Sirius was not one to be discouraged easily. He grabbed Snape's wrists and moved them, and moved forward until they were inches apart. He was panting, and slowly he pressed forward until their bodies were touching.

Severus gasped. His cock was quickly hardening and even through the robes, if they were pressed together like this Black was going to feel it. "Stop it," he whispered desperately. "Wasn't it enough to try to kill me? Or are you here to finish the job?" He glared at him, twisting his wrists to try to break free.

"No, this time I want something else," Sirius breathed. He leaned in, pressing his lips against Snape's roughly. Part of his brain was telling him to stop, but right now there was very little blood left in his brain, so it was a small voice.

Severus squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to react. His stomach twisted with dread. He knew the laughter would start soon after, the taunting, the humiliation. But it felt so good. He whimpered, and the sound was like fingernails on a chalkboard to him. He tugged at his wrists again, desperate to break free.

Sirius pressed closer, and then he could feel Snape's arousal. He smiled against his lips and pulled back, panting. "Why do you fight when I know we both want it?" he panted. But he released Snape's wrists then.

Severus looked accusingly at him. He knew only that he wanted Black, not the other way around. "All you want is to mortify me. If you're quite done, I have work to do," he rasped. His hands were shaking and he gripped the table behind him for support.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "You keep telling yourself that," he smirked. "But then you'll always wonder, won't you?" He was actually a little annoyed that Snape had resisted. But he wasn't going to give up just yet. It was a win-win situation, really. If he pursued Snape, he might unhinge him enough so that he made a mistake. Or he might just get laid. Either option was fine with him.

Now that the other boy was backing off, Severus pushed him back. "No. I won't be wondering. I won't be thinking about you. I won't be pining after you. I will be dreaming of your death, and hoping it will be torturous and painful. Now will you please leave." He was rattled. If it weren't for the potion he would have felt more at liberty to escape, but he couldn't trust in Black's inability to identify it, obscure and unfamiliar though it may have been.

"You can't fool me," Sirius smirked. "And you can't fool yourself. Have fun with your potions, Snivelus. Do try to keep your mind on them..." He caught a glimpse of one unmistakable ingredient, asphodel, and grinned. Then he was gone.

Severus pulled out his wand and closed and locked the door. He sat down and held his head in his hands. He needed to stay away from Black, and he need to find a more secure place to brew potions for the dark lord.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next meeting of the order, Sirius wasn't feeling quite as confident. He'd promised results and all he'd really gotten was a suspicious potion, and a near snog. "I'm continuing to watch him," he offered to the assembled members. "He'll make a mistake soon enough."

A few Order members asked some questions about Snape's general movements around the castle, and it was decided that Sirius should continue to observe him as best he could. The meeting moved on to other suspected collaborators and other reports were given.

When the meeting was adjourned the four friends lingered by the refreshments table, waiting for Dumbledore to escort them back to school. "You didn't really snog Snivelus, did you, Pads?" Peter asked.

James winced. "If he did, I don't want to know."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "He's not all that bad looking, you know." He smiled a little. He wouldn't mind doing it again, in fact.

Remus smirked. "You've got the hots for Snape," he said teasingly in a sing song voice. "Oh the broken hearts you'll leave behind."

Peter just looked at him wide-eyed. "You don't really, do you?" he asked.

"Shut up Moony, you're just jealous," Sirius laughed. "Besides, you know I love a challenge."

James shuddered. "Stop. It's too disgusting. Snivelus? It's not even human."

Sirius frowned. "Come on, James, lighten up. I was just having some fun." He glanced at Peter. "Trying to rattle Snape, you know?"

Remus snorted. "Rattle him. Right. That's a good one. Rattle him right out of his knickers, I'm sure." He grinned at James, giving his friend a wink. "Severus actually has some fine qualities, you know. He's not all bad. No one is."

James covered his ears. "I just ate," he complained. "I don't want to have to be ill."

Sirius was disquieted by the urge to defend Snape. He kept silent.