Severus woke up with a bit of a headache. He went to his bathroom and took out
a pain reducer. It helped him immediately. As he walked into the living room
he could see a dog lying in front of his fireplace.
Now all of the past day came back to him. With the memories came also the worry about the man. It seemed that Azkaban had left some scars in the Animagis mind.
As he heard whimpering from the dog he considered his options to wake him up without coming across as concerned.
He came to the conclusion that he would make breakfast and make as much noise
as possible in the process.
He hoped he would wake up Lupin with the commotion.
Severus wouldn't have to worry because as he began to rattle with plates and flatware the door to Remus room opened up and gave view on a disheveled man.
*************
Moony woke up from the rattle of something and the smell of toast.
As he left his room his eyes fell on Padfoot who was sleeping on the floor. But his sleep wasn't peaceful. He was whimpering and tossing.
It was a nightmare he was caught in. Remus walked over and began to shook him softly.
*************
Sirius was caught in a nightmare concerning his stay in Azkaban. He could see the dementors coming through a door and stop in front of him. Suddenly there were Moony and Sev looking at him with disappointment, anger and hate. The dementors walked over to them and as the two died they screamed at him.
"Why did you do this to us?..."
"...We only wanted to be happy..."
"...without you..."
"But you were jealous!"
"It is your fault we died!"
"You are worthless!!!"
They looked at him out of dead empty eyes and he began to cry and scream.
"No...No!!! It is not true! Moony you can't believe that... I would never
stand in your way to happiness!
And Sev deserved to be happy, too! I didn't mean it... Please believe me! PLEASE!!!"
Suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder and he startled awake. Thanks to his survival instinct he transformed and stood in less than a second.
****************
Remus sat on the floor before him and Severus stood just outside the kitchen. Both had their wands directed at him.
"Siri are you OK? You had me worried here. It was just a bad dream. We are here for you!"
He stood up slowly and made a step towards his shaken friend.
`Just a dream. You heard it. It wasn't real! Moony stands in front of you...'
With a strangled cry Padfoot embraced Moony and held him tight.
Severus couldn't believe that the strong and inaccessible man he always thought Sirius Black was could be this disturbed by a dream. But he was although concerned.
`I shouldn't mention it. It will be the best if we can manage it to distract him from his dream. It is the best we begin to work on the prophecy... but I will find out what is wrong with him!'
With that Severus Snape turned around and made his way back into the kitchen to finish the breakfast.
"Will you two come now or would you rather eat your toast cold with cold tea?"
The question shook the both men out of their stupor. Remus tightened his hold for a moment before he stepped back. He looked into his friends eyes and could see the shame there.
"It is alright Siri. Everybody has nightmares and gets frightened. Come we will accompany Severus in the kitchen."
**************
As they entered the room Severus had the parchment with the prophecy lying in front of him.
"We should get started with the prophecy as soon as you two finished eating. This is rather difficult because there are so scarce indications."
Sirius tried to concentrate as he listened to the Slytherin but his nightmare wouldn't vanish from his mind. It had to mean something. But the prophecy was more important now. He would do everything to show the two men he secretly loved that he isn't stupid. With that decision in mind he ate a bit and stood up after he finished.
The others also stood up and followed him in the living room where they sat down on the chair and the two Gryffindors on the couch.
"Let's start with the puzzle!" Sirius exclaimed more enthusiastic.
tbc