“Miserable. Hmmshhh. I really wish I could take pepper-up.”
“What’ll happen if you do?”
“Hives, difficulty breathing.”
“Would you be interested in alternative treatment?”
“There’s no other potion I can take. I can’t take anything for colds or allergies. I’m either allergic to a plant or herb in there, or they are no longer effective.”
“What do you take for your allergies, then? If I remember correctly, they could become quite severe.”
“Loratidine. Muggle medication.”
“I know. I take it myself on occasion.”
“Uh-emmphh, tuchff. What was your suggestion?”
“Muggle cold tablets.” He handed the man a box of cold medicine.
Snape examined the back. “I’m not allergic to anything in here, and I certainly do meet the criteria. Do they work? Ihshfff, kshfff.”
“I take them. Ash took them; she hated pepper-up.”
“I dow.” He opened the tissues and blew his nose. “I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough. You want anything in particular for dinner? I bought a few different things.”
“Not hungry. You just went to muggle London, then?”
“And Diagon Alley. Had to pick up my paycheck and go to Gringott’s as well as get some muggle bills.”
“Where are you working?” Lupin having a job was news to him; his lycanthropy made many unwilling to hire him.
“Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. They don’t care that I miss a few days for the full moon.”
“Thrilled to have a marauder working for them, I’ll bet.” he sneered.
“I suppose, although I am the only one left.”
“Except Pettigrew.”
“Peter Pettigrew betrayed us all. He no longer deserves to be a part.” Remus snapped, coldly.
“Touchy, aren’t we?”
“Don’t, Snape. He was a traitor and deserves Azkaban, deserves the Dementor’s kiss. Ash despised him from the day she met him. Now I see why.”
“She…ehhtchhh, huhshfff, chumphhh, ihsmphhh. She knew her frieds idstandly.” “I remember meeting both of you on the train first year.”
Snape gave him a look, faintly resembling a smile and blew his nose. “Me too.”
**Flashback**
A skinny pale boy with a large nose and stringy black hair sat alone in a traincompartment of the Hogwarts Express. He looked up as the door opened. “Do you mind if I join you?” a soft voice asked.
Snape looked up at the tiny girl; she had long strawberry blonde hair and clear, sparkling blue eyes. “No, sit down.”
“Thank you. I’m Ashling, Ashling Erinn O’Connor.”
“Severus Snape.”
“Nice to meet you. Where are you from?”
Snape was surprised. There was a beautiful girl sitting with him, asking him questions as though she was genuinely interested. “Bristol.” he said as the door slid open again.
A slight, very pale, brown haired boy with brownish eyes asked if he could join them. Snape nodded, and the boy sat next to Ashling. “I’m Remus Lupin.”
“I’m Ashling Erinn O’Connor, and this is Severus Snape. Where are you from?” “Wales.”
“Where are you from, Ashling?” Snape asked. “I’m assuming Ireland.”
“Right. Galway. Are you both first years, too?”
“Yeah.” Snape told her. Remus nodded, yawning.
“Tired?” she asked him. “I couldn’t sleep last night either. I was too excited and too nervous. I’ve never really been away from home before. I hope it’ll be fun. My mum taught me some stuff, but there’s a lot to learn. She told me all about Hogwarts and everything she learned. It sounds awesome. She was a Ravenclaw. So was my Dad, so I’ll probably be one too. I went and visited my dad before I left. He was happy for me, happier than my step-dad was. He’s a muggle, my step-dad, I mean. So what house do you think you’ll be in?”
“My mom was a Ravenclaw, and my dad was in Hufflepuff, so I don’t know.” Remus told her, yawning again.
“My family’s always been in Sly…ihh…ihtschh, hitschhff, hitschhphh. In Slytherin. They’ll be disappointed if I’m not. Huh-schff.” Snape checked his pockets for a handkerchief, but upon discovering he had forgotten it, settled for rubbing his nose with his sleeve.
“Bless you.”
“Thanks. It’s allergies. They’re really bad this time of year. Ehhr-schhh.” He mumbled, blushing.
Remus pulled a box of tissues from his bag and offered it to Snape. “I’ve…ihshhoo. I’ve got a touch of hay fever myself.” He explained.
“Thank you.” Snape took a few tissues and blew his nose. “Eh-shmphh.”
“Hishoo, shoo, ahishhoo.” Remus sneezed as well.
Ashling pointed her wand at the open window. “Cerra.” The window slammed shut. “Thanks.” Snape snuffled, blowing his nose again.
“Yeah. Thanks.” Remus yawned again, leaning his head against the window.
“Take a nap; you look like you need one.” Ashling told him.
Remus closed his eyes while half listening to Ashling’s chatter and Snape’s answers and occasional sneezes. The next thing he knew, Ashling was shaking him awake. “We’re here,” she told him.
“Ahhshoo. Thanks.”
Snape got up, turning his head and sneezing as well. “Ehh-smphh, ehchhihh.”
“Bless you both. C’mon, let’s go.” They got off the train and followed Hagrid onto the boats that would take them to Hogwarts. Little did they know, only Ashling would remain friends with both of them.”
**End Flashback**
“Umptphh, ehhtishhh, tuchfff, hashish, ehhhkucchshhh, ehhhuffshhh, uhhschushhh, eh-cheshhh, ehh…heh…hipshhhh.” Snape sneezed fiercely.
“Gesundheit.”
“I thik baybe I’ll try the buggle stuff dow.” Severus sniffled. “Hehh-kushhh. She was always a little, hyper chatterbox, wasd’t she,”
He blew his nose loudly as Remus handed him two pills along with the glass of water he had brought up with him. “She was. The pills might make you a bit drowsy.” He cautioned.
“That’s fide. I ab a bit hugry dow, if that offer for didder is still good.”
“What would you like?”
“Soup, if you dod’t bide. By throat is a bit sore frob all the sdeezig.”
“More tea, as well, perhaps?” Remus suggested.
“Yes. Thak you, Lupid.”
Remus headed downstairs and set about making soup and tea for himself and Severus.