Harry ran to his bedroom upstairs and asked Phineas to tell Snape that he needed to talk to him urgently and would be waiting for him at Grimmauld Place.

In less than five minutes, Snape Apparated into the main hall. Harry was descending the last flight of stairs when he arrived.

"Severus."

Snape stared at him with a terrified look.

"Don't panic. Let's go to the kitchen," said Harry.

Snape turned on his heels and followed the boy briskly.

They had barely entered when Snape snapped, "What is it, Potter? Have you forgotten that you should not call me by my first name? And why did you call me here?"

"Relax, Severus. Sit down."

Snape narrowed his eyes, and remained standing.

Harry sighed. "Re... Professor Lupin knows... about us."

"What? Did you..."

"I didn't tell him anything. He's... sensed it."

"And didn't you deny it?"

"There was no way, Severus. And he didn't forbid me to meet you. I mean, he even gave his permission if we only... er, talk."

"Are you saying that Lupin doesn't mind that I am fucking James Potter's son?"

"Language, Severus," Harry gave a crooked smile. "Are you disappointed? Did you want him to have a fit and start shouting for revenge?"

Snape shrugged. "I thought he cared for you." Snape had barely spoken the last word when his face took on a worried look.

Harry approached him and held the older wizard's hands between his. "He cares, Severus. He's not worried because he trusts you."

Snape seemed to freeze at the touch, or perhaps at the words, and narrowed his eyes. "Lupin trusts me? Listen..."

"Severus, he drinks the potion you make for him every month!"

"That's different. I wouldn't dare to tamper with his Wolfsbane; Albus wouldn't forgive me if I did. Furthermore, this would damage my reputation as Potions master. No, don't be naïve. Lupin doesn't have any reason to trust me."

Harry laughed. "You do your best for that, right? You don't want him to trust you."

Snape only snorted.

"Have a seat, Severus. I need to talk to you about something else."

Reluctant, Snape smoothed his robe, sat down and smoothed his robe again. Harry sat in front of him at the long table.

"Spit it out," Snape snarled.

"You must promise not to tell anyone what I'm going to tell you."

"Why would I do such a thing?"

Harry glared daggers at him. Snape returned the look in kind.

"Severus, please."

"Spit it out!"

"You haven't promised yet."

"I don't have all day."

"You're really impossible." Harry let out a deep sigh. "It's about the twins. They've lost their patience with the Order and want to do something."

"Oh, sure. They think it is easy."

"They're smart, Severus, and they aren't joking. They want to create a terrorist or guerrilla group, whatever. And they invited me in."

"And you declined, I hope."

"I said I'd think about it."

"There's nothing to think about. You are going to say no. It's that simple."

"I don't know," said Harry stubbornly.

Snape reached out and grabbed Harry's elbow firmly. "What part of what I said did you not understand? You won't go. End of story." Snape released him suddenly, and stood up. He circled the table and loomed over Harry, menacingly. "You are the Dark Lord's target. You can't expose yourself. You are our only hope."

"You're acting like all the others, seeing only The Boy Who Lived, and not who I truly am. You yourself said you didn't believe in the prophecy!"

"It doesn't matter what you or I believe. The Dark Lord believes in it, and he won't think twice before reducing you to dust. Don't make things easier for him."

Harry pushed his chair back abruptly and stood up to face Snape on a more even level. "Severus, I'm not going to wait until he reduces each and every one of my friends to dust. It's gone too far. I have to do something."

Snape grabbed him by the shoulders violently. "No, Harry, you are not going to do anything. I'm not going to let you."

Snape crushed Harry against him in a desperate embrace. Harry put his arms around his lover's waist and leaned his head on his chest.

"If necessary, I will put you in chains."

Harry gave a choked laugh. "Oh, I won't complain if you want to play bondage."

"Harry, I'm not joking."

"All right, Severus. Let's make a deal: I agree to join the twins' group just to find out what they are up to. Someone should keep an eye on them, don't you think?"

Snape pulled back a little, staring at Harry suspiciously. "What are you up to?"

"Am I wrong? They can get in trouble, or even become a problem... for the Order. And for you. What if they decide to attack a Death Eater meeting and kill everybody? Do you think they will care if you're there or not?"

"I am used to this kind of risk. If I am going to worry about every..."

"Right, but don't you agree that the twins can put the Order's plans in danger?"

"The twins can put the entire Wizarding World in danger, just by the fact that they exist!"

"I promise you I won't take part in any action without talking to you first. Do you agree?"

"No, I don't!"

"Then I'm going anyway, and I won't tell you anything!"

"Don't be a child! Do you think this is a joke?"

"Oh, so I'm a child. Okay. In this case, we don't have anything else to talk about. You can go."

The look Snape cast at Harry was as intense and slashing as the green light of Avada Kedavra. "You... irresponsible brat!"

Snape's fingers touched the ring on his right hand. Harry looked at his own ring, then to Snape's.

"Ahem."

Both turned suddenly to the door, where Lupin observed them with a concerned look.

"Haven't you cast any Unforgivables on each other yet?"

Furious, Snape turned his back on Harry and, shoving Lupin aside, left the kitchen and Disapparated from Grimmauld Place.