Severus pressed his pale lips together until they deepened to a cherry red. He looked at Sirius with an oddly unreadable emotion. "I didn't ask you to life a finger? No. Listen to me. You are dull. You are dumb. You're wrong, you're always wrong. And that's why my using that word is unforgivable to you and why..."

Severus was defeated. It stung.

"And why I can forget your short comings. I'm better than you, Sirius Black, but you've gotten under my skin as well."