Sirius shook his head, still walking: 'I'm not going home. I'm going to see what happened to Lucius Malfoy. I've got a right.'
'You've got no right. The guards will never let you in. Lucius Malfoy's death is no concern of yours.'
'It is my concern!' Sirius felt the fury boil up inside his chest. 'He's my son's father. I mean, my stepson's father. Look, it really isn't any business of yours, you goat-faced, weasel-footed tosser. Why don't you just bugger off back to whatever hellhole you crawled out of?'
They were nearing the end of the hallway, now; Sirius could see a tight knot of Ministry Wizards standing in front of a numbered cell door. Snape glanced at them, then coldly at Sirius. 'I am here representing the Ministry. Looking into Lucius Malfoy's death is part of my job here. You, on the other hand, are merely a blot on the landscape, contributing nothing.'
Sirius wasn't sure at what point he had lost his temper, but it was definitely gone. 'As an Auror, I've a hell of a lot more place here than you. Why don't you can just go on home to the Potions dungeon and get back to unfairly punishing little boys because you get such a kick out of it, that seems to be what you're good at.'
'I do not get a kick out of it. I am a teacher. I do my job.'
'How fortunate for you that your job is also your hobby.'
Snape sneered viciously. 'I'd just like to tell you that those twelve years you spent in Azkaban were the best years of my life. Every morning I woke up with a smile on my face and a song in my heart just knowing you were in there.'
'What song would that be? 'I May Be A Weasel-Faced Tosser But I've Got An Enormous Broom Shoved Up My-'
'Fuck you, Black.'
'Look, Snape. I beat you up at school and I'd be more than happy to do it again. If you even think about trying to prevent me from going in to that cell, if you tell those guards to keep me out, I will rip out your windpipe and garrotte you to death with it. And I don't care if they send me back to Azkaban, because it would be worth it. Got that?'
Snape looked at him, and Sirius was disconcerted to see the beginnings of a cold smile on his face. 'Fine,' he said. 'I hope you like what you're going to see.'
Upon Apparating himself into the library at Malfoy Manor, a rather unexpected sight met Lupin's eyes.
'Good God,' he swore, involuntarily.
With a startled exclamation and a rather loud thump, Harry and Hermione fell off Lucius' desk and disappeared from view, much to Lupin's relief.
A moment later, Harry popped up from behind the desk, straightening his shirt and rather pink in the face. He felt around the desk for his glasses, put them on, and looked guiltily at Lupin.
'Er, hello, Professor,' he said. 'We weren't expecting-'
'Yes, well that was rather obvious,' said Lupin.
Hermione popped up next to Harry, buttoning her cardigan, her cheeks scarlet. 'Professor, hello, how are you?'
'Fine, except that I nearly splinched myself,' said Lupin gravely, trying to not grin at their guilty expressions. 'Thanks to you.'
'We were just kissing,' said Harry, looking slightly defensive.
Lupin relented. 'Yes, and I'm very happy to see that you're back on good terms. Although that desk is none too sturdy. Do try not to hurt yourselves. In the meantime, I need to speak with Narcissa, so if you'll excuse me-'
'Professor, wait,' interrupted Hermione, nervously pushing her hair back behind her ears. 'Can you stay for a minute?'
'Right!' said Harry, then blinked and looked confused. 'I mean, no.
Don't stay! Wait, I don't mean that either, I mean…'
'Do stop gibbering, Harry,' said Lupin, not unkindly, and turned to Hermione, who, still very pink about the ears, was rummaging through the books stacked on the desk. 'It's all right, Hermione, I don't want to intrude.'
'Oh, it's all right,' said Hermione, coming around the desk. Lupin saw she was holding the centaurs' book in her hands. She walked up to Harry and handed it to him. 'Look at that, Harry.'
Harry looked at it. 'It's a book.'
'Yes,' said Hermione, with a tinge of impatience in her voice.
'So?'
'So, what language is it in?'
'You didn't tell me you wanted me to make with the reading.' Harry opened the book, flipped through it at random, and shrugged. 'It's in English.'
Lupin jumped. 'It's what?'
Harry gave him an odd look. 'It's in English.'
Lupin didn't know whether to splutter or shout. He nearly raced over to Harry, came around behind him, and stared over his shoulder at the pages, seeing the same incomprehensible squiggles and curlicues that he remembered. He jabbed a finger at the page.
'Read me that bit, Harry,' he said.
Harry gave him a look that clearly said, 'Right, you're off your onion, aren't you, but I'm going to indulge you
