Aftermaths, Part 151

by Geri ([email protected])

Rating: Mostly PG-13, but NC-17 for overall story

Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise

Warning: AU; events that occurred at the end of Order of the Phoenix were significantly altered from the book.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, and Phoenix Rising.

Summary: The various characters deal with the aftermath of the war, and Snape and Lupin try to build a family together with Theodore and Dylan. However, some people are unable to let go of the past...

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Hob, who belongs to William Mayne; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
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Lupin had decided that they would help Aric move into Takeshi's flat and throw the pair a housewarming party; Snape had realized that this was a fight that he couldn't win, and gave in with only minimal grumbling.

Actually, Aric didn't need much help in moving, since he had only the possessions he'd brought with him to Hogwarts, mainly clothes and books. He had more belongings at home, of course, but he was reluctant to face his family, so Erika had promised to pack up his things and send them to him later. Takeshi had been living at his flat for over two years, so he didn't really need any housewarming gifts, but he knew that Aric could use the moral support, so he cheerfully went along with Lupin's plan.

So after the wedding celebration was over, they helped Aric pack up his belongings and move them directly through the Floo to Takeshi's flat. (Snape had flat-out refused to ride the train with a bunch of noisy brats.) Cabal was left behind in the care of Hagrid, since Takeshi had diffidently suggested that perhaps the flat was a little too small to accommodate a large dog. The flat consisted of a living room, kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom, and a smaller bedroom that Takeshi used as a study, and was spacious enough for one or two people, but a little crowded with four guests, so it was probably just as well that they'd left the dog behind. Cabal had not seemed to mind, and Hagrid's dog Fang had seemed pleased to make a new friend.

Takeshi went to the kitchen to start dinner ("I did promise you a home-cooked meal when you got out of the hospital," he told Aric with a smile), while Lupin, Theodore, and Dylan helped Aric unpack. Snape declined to help with the unpacking, and retreated to the kitchen to discuss potions with his former student.

Aric, Theodore, and Dylan did as much gawking as they did unpacking. There was a beautiful painting of a flock of cranes in flight hanging above the fireplace, and there were shelves filled with books on potions and spells, which seemed normal enough, but there were also a number of Muggle devices: a stereo with compact disc player and tape deck; a television hooked up to video tape and DVD players, as well as a video game system; and a rack filled with compact discs, games, videos, and DVDs in the living room. There was also a computer in study. The boys all came from very traditional wizarding families, and despite their Muggle Studies classes, Lupin had to explain to them what some of the devices were.

"You never told me that you had so many Muggle devices!" Aric exclaimed, staring at them with an expression of combined horror and fascination on his face.

The kitchen was separated from the living room only by a countertop, and Takeshi laughed and smiled at them good-naturedly over it. "The Japanese wizards are a little less phobic about Muggle technology," he said cheerfully. "And sometimes it's easier for me to communicate with my brother or Professor Kamiyama through e-mail on the computer rather than by owl, Floo, or mirror. It was much more secure, too, at least while the war was still going on. None of the Death Eaters or their Ministry pawns would have had any idea how to use a computer, let alone hack into someone's e-mail account."

"Hack?" Aric asked, looking completely bewildered. He didn't exactly understand what "e-mail" was either, but he vaguely knew that it was possible for Muggles to send messages to each other through the computers somehow.

"It's a bit complicated," Takeshi said. "I'll explain it to you some other time. Suffice it to say that a Death Eater would have had no way to intercept messages sent through the computer."

"Clever," Dylan said, sounding impressed.

"Perhaps," Snape said doubtfully, eyeing the Muggle devices with an air of distaste, his upper lip curling slightly. "But do the other devices have some practical use or redeeming value?"

"Not really," Takeshi said, still smiling pleasantly. "They're mainly for entertainment purposes." He called out to the boys, "We can watch a movie if you'd like." He glanced at Snape's scowling face. "Well, perhaps not tonight, but you can come over some other time to visit us. I'll even make popcorn."

Dylan's and Theodore's eyes gleamed with excitement. The wizarding world had live plays, and moving pictures in books and magazines, but it didn't really have anything equivalent to Muggle movies. However, it was not just the novelty of the idea, but also the thrill of the forbidden that appealed to them.

Snape sighed irritably. "You may live your life as you see fit, Mr. Kimura, but please try not to corrupt my sons."

"None of these devices are proscribed by the Ministry, Professor," Takeshi said politely. "And if I am not mistaken, Dylan is in a serious relationship with a Muggle-born girl. At some point, he will probably have to venture into the Muggle world to meet her family, and in that case, wouldn't it be better for him to be familiar with Muggle technology so that he does not arouse suspicion by appearing ignorant of things that most Muggles consider commonplace?"

"I suppose," Snape said grumpily. "Although I think it would be better if he did not venture into the Muggle world at all."

Lupin and the boys continued unpacking and exploring Aric's new home. As Aric hung up his robes in the bedroom closet, his gaze couldn't help but fall on the bed, and he felt a flush of heat rush through his body as he anticipated what might happen when he and Takeshi were alone. And although he had been glad for their company just a moment ago, he suddenly wished that Lupin and the others were gone. He had to duck into the bathroom for a minute to splash some cold water on his face and regain his composure. He could really have used a cold shower, but that would be difficult to explain to the others. So he firmly reined in his libido, telling himself that it wouldn't kill him to wait a couple of hours to be alone with his lover, and went back out to face his guests.

Soon Takeshi was serving dinner, along with Lupin's housewarming gift, a bottle of wine. It was a simple and mostly Japanese-style meal of rice, fish, and vegetables, but he had also cooked a couple of thick, juicy steaks and sliced the meat into thin, bite-sized strips. The meat was browned on the outside and pink and juicy-looking on the inside. Aric suddenly found himself salivating; it was all he could do to keep from drooling, and he remembered what Takeshi had said about the wolf craving meat.

Lupin and Aric ate the bulk of the meat, with Takeshi laughing at the expression of ecstasy on Aric's face as he chewed and swallowed.

"You're a great cook, Takeshi!" Aric said between bites. "I've never had a steak this good! Or does it taste better than it normally would, because of what you said about the wolf craving meat?"

"It tastes good to me, too," Theodore said with a smile. "Is that true, Remus, that a werewolf craves meat? I never noticed you having any particular cravings."

Lupin grinned. "Well, when I'm actually in wolf form, I suppose I do. Severus can tell you about the time that I nearly snatched a joint of beef off the dinner table during one full moon when we were staying at Sirius's house. Molly swatted me on the nose with her apron and told me to get down, like I was a pet dog!"

Takeshi and the boys laughed, and Snape said, "Well, you were acting like one, Lupin. Cabal is a good deal more well-mannered than you are."

"And also," Lupin continued, "I never had much money up until recently. I got used to eating whatever I could afford, which was usually soup or stew, since it could stretch the meat farther, and I could grow vegetables in my garden. If I had cravings, I suppose I learned to ignore them."

The mood instantly sobered, and an awkward silence fell over the dinner table, until Snape said sarcastically, "Well, you're just the life of the party, Lupin," and everyone laughed, including Lupin.

"Sorry, didn't mean to put a damper on things," Lupin said cheerfully. "I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me. I may have been poor, but I had a family and friends that loved me and accepted me as I was, so I was happy enough. And even happier now that I have a family of my own in Severus, Theo, and Dylan. Oh, and Cabal, of course." He smiled tenderly at Snape, who just grunted, looking embarrassed, and bent his head over his plate, concentrating intently on his food.

"I suppose it varies from person to person," Takeshi said. "But most of Lukas's pack members have told me that they've noticed a craving for meat, particularly near the full moon. It seems logical enough; in addition to the wolf being a predator, the transformation uses up a lot of energy, and meat replenishes energy faster than vegetables or fruit or bread. Sugar gives one a quick energy rush, but it doesn't last very long."

"Would that explain your fondness for sweets?" Dylan asked Lupin with a grin.

"Perhaps," Lupin replied, grinning back at him. "But then how would you explain Severus's sweet-tooth? He's not a werewolf."

Snape muttered something under his breath that only Lupin and Aric could hear, about needing a lot of energy to keep up with a certain werewolf. Lupin grinned lasciviously and Aric blushed, which caused Snape to regard him with narrowed eyes and mutter, "I'll have to remember that there are two of you from now on."

They talked about their plans for the summer over dinner. Takeshi, of course, was taking Aric with him to Japan to meet his relatives and attend Chizuru's wedding to Karasu. Snape and Lupin had also been invited to the wedding, but were not sure if they would be able to attend. Snape was negotiating an apprenticeship for Theodore with a Master of Rune Lore, and he wanted to see his son properly settled in his new position before leaving England. Dylan wanted to visit Rosier Manor, his father's ancestral home, and possibly clean up and reopen the mansion. He also said that he had been invited to spend a couple of weeks with Hermione's family, who were eager to meet their daughter's boyfriend, which caused Snape to groan out loud.

"Just think, Severus," Lupin said in a chirpy voice, "they'll be our in-laws after Dylan and Hermione get married!"

Snape glared at Lupin. "I really think that a wolfskin rug would improve the decor of my office," he growled.

"Don't worry, Professor," Dylan laughed. "I'm sure we'll spend most of our time in the wizarding world, since Hermione will be apprenticed to Mr. Jigger, and then we'll be taking over the Apothecary shop after I graduate."

"Just don't expect me to spend any time in the Muggle world," Snape grumbled, not looking very mollified.

"Oh, and of course there will be Lukas's formal wedding reception, and Lady Selima wanted to throw a graduation party for Theodore," Lupin said. "I imagine that we'll spend most of the summer at Snape Manor."

"I don't suppose that we can convince her to combine the two parties," Snape sighed. "I really hate formal parties."

"But they make Grandmother happy," Theodore said.

Lupin smiled at him approvingly. "Yes, Lady Selima is in her element when hosting a party. I suppose she must miss all the socializing she did when your father still worked at Ministry, Severus."

"I suppose," Snape said grudgingly.

"It won't hurt to humor her a little," Lupin said. "And perhaps she'll be too busy arranging Lukas's entry into high society to pester you about behaving like a 'proper' Lord."

"Yes," Snape said, brightening at that thought. "His being appointed Lord is her personal victory, after all. And he'll need a great deal of help reopening the family mansion, which Amos had closed up, and in managing the estate finances..."

"Poor Lukas," Takeshi said, but his eyes were sparkling mischievously.

Lupin offered to help Takeshi clean up after dinner was over, and waved off offers of help from Theodore and Dylan. "Just relax," Lupin said. "We can manage. Do you mind if I put on some music, Takeshi?"

"Go right ahead," Takeshi replied.

Lupin turned on the stereo and put in a compact disc, ignoring the annoyed look on Snape's face. The Potions Master braced himself for some raucous music similar to the Weird Sisters, but it turned out to be classical music, and he relaxed a little, sipping at his wine.

The boys stared in fascination at the stereo, then began looking through Takeshi's CD collection, but eventually Aric grew curious about the conversation Lupin and Takeshi were having in the kitchen. He strained to listen with his keen werewolf hearing, but they were speaking softly, and the music prevented him from picking up anything more than an indistinct murmur, which made him suspicious that Lupin had put on the music exactly for that purpose--especially when he heard laughter coming from the kitchen.

Snape was glaring at the pair, and Aric hesitantly asked, "What do you think they're talking about, Professor?"

"In a case like this, you'll find that it's generally better not to know, Dietrich," Snape said sourly.

Dylan grinned and said, "That probably means that they're talking about you." Takeshi let out a startled exclamation, glanced at Snape, then quickly looked away when Snape glared at him. "Or about the Professor," Dylan added.

"Most likely both," Snape said with a sigh of resignation. "But as I said, I'd rather not know."
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"I thought perhaps I should give you the 'facts of life' speech," Lupin told Takeshi as they washed the dishes, with a mischievous little twinkle in his eyes.

"Aren't I a little old for that, Remus?" Takeshi asked, looking amused.

"I meant the werewolf facts of life," Lupin clarified. He lowered his voice nearly to a whisper, obviously not wanting the others to overhear him in the living room. "I know that you're an expert on treating werewolves, Takeshi, but I don't think that your knowledge extends to...er...werewolf mating habits. There are a few things you should know, so that you won't be surprised." Lupin smiled nostalgically. "Well, some things came as a pleasant surprise to Severus and myself, but some people might be taken aback by them..."

Takeshi blushed and murmured, "Actually, Remus, you can save the speech. I've...ah...been with werewolves before, so I'm not nervous about being with Aric. Well, no more so than I would be about any new lover. I won't go into a panic if Aric starts howling or something, if that's what you're worried about."

"I see," Lupin said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "I don't mean to pry, but were these serious relationships?"

"No," Takeshi replied as his blush deepened. "Just a couple of one-night stands." He hastily added, "I don't usually do that sort of thing, but, well..."

"You don't need to explain," Lupin assured him. "You're a consenting adult, and your lovelife is none of my business. The only reason that I ask is because I suspect things might be a little different with a lifemate than with a casual lover."

"You 'suspect'?" Takeshi asked curiously, wondering if that meant what it sounded like.

Lupin smiled. "Severus is the only lover I've ever had," he confirmed. "So my experience is obviously somewhat limited. But I can tell you that a werewolf has...er...remarkable stamina."

Takeshi giggled. "That, I know."

"Severus says that I'm insatiable," Lupin said with a wicked grin that was worthy of a Slytherin, and Takeshi laughed and blushed again. "And I'm not sure if you know this, but the wolf's desires seem to grow stronger the closer it gets to the full moon." He leaned over and whispered something into Takeshi's ear.

"HOW many times in one night?!" Takeshi exclaimed softly, staring at the Potions Master with mingled shock and awe.

"Shh!" Lupin hissed, looking like he was trying not to laugh, and Takeshi quickly looked away as Snape glared at them.

Takeshi giggled, his face flaming red by now. "I know that werewolves have more than human strength, but how does the poor Professor manage? He must need a Strengthening Solution to keep up with you!"

"Oh, Severus has remarkable stamina himself," Lupin said proudly. "I'm not sure if the wolf's desire is contagious, or if I'm just lucky in my choice of lovers. Even so, sometimes the wolf is still...um...frisky...even when Severus's strength has run out. But he does his best to...er...satisfy me in other ways. I just wanted to warn you that you might find the nights leading up to the full moon rather exhausting."

"I look forward to it," Takeshi laughed, still blushing. He was mortified, and yet at the same time he couldn't wait to experiment with Aric and see if Lupin's "facts of life" were really true. As much as he liked Remus, and as glad as he was that Aric and Theodore were growing closer, Takeshi really hoped that his guests would not be staying much longer.

Looking a little more serious, Lupin said, "And, at least in my own personal experience, the wolf seems to feel a need to mark and claim its mate. So don't be alarmed if Aric tries to bite you during lovemaking. He won't hurt you."

Takeshi remembered the dream he'd had where his wolf lover had bitten him on the back of his neck, and he remembered the sensation of Ash's teeth brushing against his throat the time that they had made love. He remembered wanting to be bitten and claimed, only not by Ash, but by his dream lover--who was real now, and no longer a dream.

"I am not afraid of being bitten," Takeshi said softly.

"Good," Lupin said quietly, a gentle smile on his face. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Takeshi. I'm sure you and Aric will do quite well together."

Takeshi laughed, his blush finally beginning to ease a bit. "Perhaps I should have you teach a class at the clinic: Sex Education for Werewolves."

They both laughed so loudly that it carried over the music, causing the boys to gaze at them curiously and Snape to glower at them fiercely.

Chapter 152

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