Summer Vacation III: Honeymoon in Japan, Part 5

by Geri ([email protected])

My homepage: http://www.geocities.com/geri_chans_fics/index.html

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Aric/Takeshi, Snape/Lupin

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

Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.

Warning: This is a continuation of the Always series, but the main focus is on Aric and Takeshi, and Snape and Lupin appear mainly as supporting characters.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, The Revenant, and Ash's Story. Although it's not so much a sequel to the latter two stories as it is a companion piece. The Revenant, Ash's Story, and Summer Vacation III all begin at around the same time, a couple of days after the ending of "Aftermaths," and pretty much run concurrently.

Summary: Aric enjoys his vacation in Japan, while Lupin looks forward to his and Snape's trip.
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Glossary of Japanese terms:

-oji; Ojisan=Uncle
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Time passed quickly and pleasantly during Aric's first week in Japan. He met a few of Takeshi's crane friends and relatives, but everyone in the clan seemed to be busy getting ready for the wedding of their princess, so Aric and Takeshi were left to their own devices for the most part, which suited Aric just fine.

Takeshi's little nieces came over to visit every day, and Ichiro and Kaori stopped by for dinner a few more times, but Aric met Ichiro's in-laws, the Head Weaver Shiori and her husband Ozora, only once that week. Takeshi assured him that was not a slight on their part, as the weavers were all busy working on the wedding party's robes, and on top of that, Shiori was related to the royal family, and so had a major role in the wedding preparations. But they did show up to pay their respects to their son-in-law's family one afternoon, making polite small talk over tea. Aric didn't really talk much with them, as Shiori and Ozora spoke almost no English, and Aric wasn't up to conversing in Japanese yet, so any comments directed between them had to be translated by Takeshi or one of the other Kimuras. But they did greet him politely, with pleasant smiles, and Aric didn't sense any hidden scorn or disapproval. Shiori was lovely, as all the crane people seemed to be, but compared to Chizuru's ethereal beauty and contrasting down-to-earth manner, the Head Weaver possessed an air of regal, stately grace. In some ways, she behaved more like a princess than Chizuru did--not arrogant like the pureblood elite in England, but she spoke slowly and seriously, as if choosing her words with great care. Her husband Ozora seemed a little shy and timid, which was how most of the crane folk--particularly the older ones--were around outsiders, Takeshi informed Aric later. But Ichiro's father-in-law seemed to warm to Aric when Takeshi told him that Aric had a talent for potion-brewing. It seemed that Ozora was an herbalist, who brewed dyes for the weavers' silks and medicines for the entire clan. Some of the beautiful colors and designs for the silks were created with magic, but Ozora prided himself on being able to create exquisite colors through natural means.

"It is a craftsman's pride," Takeshi said with a smile, translating for the elder crane. So Aric and Ozora had a pleasant if slightly awkward chat about herbs, using Takeshi as an intermediary.

Aric also met Takeshi's "Uncle" Yokuto, although it turned out that he wasn't actually Haruko's brother, and the blood relationship was several degrees removed. It seemed that Yokuto's many-times-over great-grandmother had been the sister of Takeshi's ancestress, the crane maiden who had married her human savior, and the families still remained closely bound together even several hundred years later.

"Clan means everything to the cranes," Takeshi explained. "They never forget or forsake their kin. And Yokuto-oji's son Tsubasa is my favorite cousin. He isn't here right now; he's been living with the tengu for the past several years, but you'll meet him at the wedding."

Yokuto was extraordinarily handsome, as all the crane folk were, but there was a careworn look about him that Aric had not seen on any of the other cranes he had encountered. His hair was long and silky, but there were streaks of white among the black, and there were lines on his face that somehow reminded Aric of Sirius Black's handsome but ravaged face. He had a kind smile, though, and was more friendly and less reserved than the other crane folk. Yokuto chatted pleasantly with Takeshi and Aric about their lives in England, seeming interested in Takeshi's work at St. Mungo's and the charity clinic, and about what things were like at Durmstrang and Hogwarts. He spoke excellent if slightly accented English, and explained that he took more of an interest in the outside world because he was the crane representative to the Wizards' Council, a kind of ambassador for the crane clan. He didn't actually say so, but Aric assumed that his fluent English was probably due to his wife, Reiko, who was pretty enough but quite obviously human, lacking the supernatural grace and beauty that even the part-blooded cranes seemed to possess. She spoke English with an American accent, and said that she had been born in the States and met Yokuto when she had been visiting relatives in Japan shortly after graduating from the Salem Witches' Institute.

"Your cousin is a half-blood, then?" Aric asked Takeshi after Yokuto and Reiko had left.

Takeshi shook his head. "No, my uncle's first wife was a pureblooded crane. She died when Tsubasa was very young, which is why Yokuto-oji looks so much older than my mother, although they're about the same age; his sorrow weighed on him very heavily and aged him beyond his years. As I told you before, many of the crane folk do not survive the loss of a mate. I was not yet born at the time, but I have heard that my uncle nearly died of his grief until he met Reiko, who comforted him and mended his broken heart, and became a mother to Tsubasa. The clan has never been quite sure what to make of her. They're grateful that she saved Yokuto's life, of course, but she is twice over an outsider--not just human, but a foreigner as well. The family moved to America for several years after Yokuto and Reiko married, and the conservative members of the clan resent her for taking Yokuto and Tsubasa so far away from home for so long." Takeshi smiled. "Fortunately, my aunt is a strong and determined woman, and she does not let the gossip and complaints and subtle insults bother her or sway her course of action. And Okaasan says that it was probably easier for Yokuto-oji to heal in his new home, where he wouldn't have to constantly face painful reminders of his first wife's death."

"So your cousin went to school in the States?" Aric asked.

Takeshi nodded. "Yes, which is probably why he's not as shy or standoffish as most of the other cranes." He smiled, looking amused. "I think that the two of you should get along quite well."

"What's so funny?" Aric asked suspiciously.

"You'll understand when you meet him," Takeshi replied. "I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."
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Takeshi could be quite maddening when he wished, and refused to elaborate further. But Aric figured that his curiosity would be satisfied soon enough, and in the meantime there were plenty of diversions to keep him occupied. When they weren't baby-sitting the twins, Takeshi showed him around the valley. They went hiking up mountain paths; visited Ozora's herb gardens; went swimming in the lake (which contained no giant squids, Takeshi assured Aric with a grin) and had picnic lunches on the shore, or in a boat that they took out on the lake. It seemed that boating on the lake was a popular activity for the young courting crane couples, and there were often numerous little boats on the lake, propelled by oars for those who didn't mind a little physical exertion, or by magic for those who did. The girls looked like flowers, dressed in light cotton kimonos in bright summery colors, with matching paper parasols to shield their pretty faces from the sun, and the boys were almost as lovely as the girls, although their kimonos tended to be a little less colorful and flowery. The whole scene was like something out of a fairy tale, and Aric felt like a wanderer who had accidentally stumbled into a marvelous enchanted realm.

And of course his lover was like something out a fairy tale himself. One day when they had gone out for a walk and a picnic lunch, Aric reminded Takeshi, "You promised to let me watch you transform again when we were among your people."

"That is true," Takeshi said with a smile, and he flung his arms out wide, and Aric felt his skin tingle as that familiar aura of magic swirled around Takeshi like a gust of wind, and his lover's body slowly melted into the form of a large crane. The bird took a running start, then launched itself into the air, beating its wings, and soon it was soaring high above Aric, gliding gracefully on the air currents. Aric watched from below, awestruck, admiring his mate's beauty and feeling a little envious of Takeshi's ability to fly. The crane swooped through the air in a joyous manner, as if exulting in its freedom.

Then the crane circled back, landed on the ground, folded its wings, and laid its head against Aric's chest. Aric gently stroked his mate, marveling at how smooth and silky the bird's feathers felt, just like Takeshi's hair. He was a little surprised to find that the red crown on the top of the crane's head was a patch of bare skin, not feathers as he had assumed. Aric tentatively stroked that patch of red skin, and Takeshi made a low purring noise that sounded like it should be coming from a cat instead of a bird; Aric gently placed a hand on the crane's long, elegant neck, feeling its throat vibrating from the purr.

And then Takeshi transformed again, and Aric found himself holding his human lover in his arms, his hand stroking long, silky hair instead of feathers or skin. "Mmm," Takeshi sighed, still purring a little. "That feels so good."

"You are so beautiful, 'Keshi," Aric whispered, and tilted Takeshi's face up with one hand so that he could kiss him.

"Come with me," Takeshi said, taking Aric by the hand. "I want to show you something." He led Aric to a large thicket growing at the foot of the mountains. A wooden post had been set into the ground just outside the thicket, and there was a wooden sign hanging from it by a loop of twine. Takeshi flipped the sign around so that the back was showing; there were Japanese characters written on both sides, but Aric couldn't read any of them.

"What does that say?" he asked.

"'Occupied,'" Takeshi purred, giving Aric a sultry look that made his knees suddenly go weak and wobbly. Takeshi murmured a charm, and the bushes drew aside to let them pass, then closed up behind them as they went by.

Aric found himself inside a natural little alcove that curved into the mountainside, enclosed and shielded by the wall of dense greenery. There was a carpet of thick grass beneath his feet, and in the center of the alcove was a small pool that seemed to be fed by an underground spring; Aric could see the water bubbling up from below, and there was steam rising from the surface of the pool. He knelt down and cautiously lowered his hand into the water, then exclaimed, "It's warm!"

"It's a natural hot spring," Takeshi said smugly, and began undressing. Aric watched spellbound as he unfastened his robe and let it fall to the ground, then slipped out of his trousers and underpants, slowly sliding them over his hips and down his long legs. Takeshi's braid had already come unbound when he had transformed, and he stood before Aric naked, his glossy black hair cascading over his shoulders and contrasting beautifully with his fair skin. He stepped into the pool and slowly lowered himself into the water, then gave Aric an inviting smile and asked, "Well, what are you waiting for, my wolf?"

Aric snapped out of his daze and quickly shed his clothes and joined Takeshi in the pool. It was just big enough to hold two people without feeling cramped, and the water was pleasantly warm but not scorchingly hot as Takeshi usually seemed to prefer it ("the boiled lobster effect," as Aric called it). He pulled Takeshi into his arms, and the two of them relaxed and soaked contentedly for perhaps a good fifteen minutes before Aric's inner wolf started getting aroused. He kissed and caressed his mate until they were both trembling with desire, then they crawled out of the pool and made love on the grass beside it, Aric growling with pleasure as he thrust into his mate, who was writhing and moaning beneath him, his legs wrapped tightly around Aric's waist.

Aric now understood the reason for the "occupied" sign outside the thicket, and as he neared climax, suddenly remembered that they hadn't bothered to cast a silence spell. As usual, he bit his mate's throat as they both came, and although he couldn't stop himself from howling, he tried to muffle it by keeping his mouth clamped on Takeshi's neck.

Afterwards, Aric was growling happily, nuzzling his mate's neck, but Takeshi was frowning as he combed his fingers through his long hair, trying to pick bits of grass out of it. "Next time, remind me to conjure up a blanket beforehand," he grumbled. "Or better yet, a mattress; my back hurts. You know, making love outdoors sounds very romantic and sexy in a novel, but the reality leaves something to be desired."

Aric chuckled and kissed Takeshi. "I didn't hear you grumbling about it at the time," he teased.

"Yes, well, I was caught up in the heat of the moment," Takeshi said sheepishly, flushing a little. "And besides, the wolf seemed rather impatient." Then he sighed, "Oohh, that's better," as Aric began rubbing his back.

"I live to please you, my sweet crane," Aric said, planting a kiss on the nape of his mate's neck. A massage eased Takeshi's sore back, and Aric got rid of the grass in Takeshi's hair, as well as the grass stains on their bodies, with a quick cleaning spell. Then they got dressed and Aric combed out Takeshi's hair; ever practical, Takeshi had packed a jar of lubricant and his enchanted comb in the basket that held their picnic lunch. The only thing he had left out was the blanket, as they usually simply conjured up a temporary one, but this time they had been too impatient to bother with it.

"I guess I'll keep you around, then," Takeshi said, his eyes half-closed with pleasure as Aric combed his hair.
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A couple of nights before the wedding, it was Aric's turn to transform. Professor Kamiyama had sent over bottles of the Wolfsbane Potion so that Takeshi wouldn't have to brew it, and Aric had dutifully taken his dosage every day for a week, although he still shuddered each time at the taste.

"You could Portkey back home to spend the night with the pack, if you like," Takeshi told him. "But you'd have to be careful to take the time difference between England and Japan into consideration and not come back too early, or you could wind up going through two full moons and two transformations. I'm not really sure what effect that would have on your body."

Aric winced; he didn't really mind being in wolf form, but his first transformation had been quite painful and frightening. Lupin and Lukas had assured him that it would be easier once he got used to it, but he still didn't want to go through it twice if he didn't have to. Besides, what if transforming twice in the same day had some weird effect, like freezing him in his wolf form? Aric didn't really think that would happen, but he didn't intend to play guinea pig and find out.

"No, I'll just stay here," Aric said hastily. "I'm sure I'll be fine, with you at my side."

That must have been the right thing to say, because Takeshi smiled at him lovingly. "I'm glad that you trust me to be with you, my wolf," he said softly.

Takeshi suggested that they spend the night outdoors, beneath the full moon. "Are you sure that's okay?" Aric asked anxiously. "I mean, the other cranes won't mind having a werewolf running around the valley at night?"

"Most everyone will be indoors at the time," Takeshi replied, looking cheerful and unconcerned. "They all know that you're a werewolf and that the full moon is coming up, and I've warned them not to be alarmed if they hear any howling."

So they had an early dinner and went out and sat beside the lake and waited for the moon to rise. Takeshi had brought a blanket this time, although they certainly weren't planning to do any lovemaking while Aric was in wolf form. They sat quietly together until the moon emerged, shining like a silver disc in the sky. Aric gasped as the pain began wracking his body, but since he knew what to expect this time, it wasn't as terrifying as it had been the first time that he transformed.

Takeshi stroked his back and murmured to him soothingly; overwhelmed by the transformation, Aric couldn't quite make out his words, but his tone of voice was what really mattered to the wolf, and Aric found it comforting. And then the transformation was over and Aric was in his wolf body, with Takeshi's fingers still stroking the fur on his back. Aric's sense of smell was keen in his human form, but as a wolf, everything seemed much more intense. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of the grass and the lake water and smoke from a cookfire coming from one of the nearby houses, and most of all, the scent of his mate, familiar and reassuring.

Aric felt Takeshi's hand gently touch his head. "Are you all right, Aric?" he asked, looking concerned. Aric barked and wagged his tail. "I'll take that as a 'yes,'" Takeshi said with a smile, and began scratching behind Aric's ears.

Oh Merlin, that felt good! His tail immediately started wagging without any conscious effort on Aric's part, and he found himself making ecstatic little noises that were halfway between a growl and a whine.

"Does that feel good?" Takeshi asked, grinning, and in reply Aric jumped up and began licking his face. Takeshi laughed and spluttered, "Aric, I love you too, but...argh...I could do with a little less slobber...watch out for my glasses!" Takeshi had to take off his glasses and wipe them on his robe, as they had been rendered blurry and useless by wolf slobber, and Aric laughed, although it came out as a series of barks, and wagged his tail.

"I know wolf laughter when I hear it," Takeshi said, pretending to glare at Aric as he put his glasses back on. He resumed petting and scratching Aric, which felt very good, but Aric found himself feeling strangely restless as he gazed up at the moon in the night sky. His legs twitched slightly, and Takeshi must have noticed, because he said, "Do you feel like running? Go on, I don't mind. In fact, perhaps I'll join you." And Takeshi rose to his feet, transformed into a crane, and took off flying.

Aric followed his mate, running across the valley as Takeshi flew above him, and he was filled with a sense of exultation. He howled joyously at the moon as he ran, and he suddenly realized that he was living out the dream he'd had the night that he moved in with Takeshi, when he had dreamt of running beneath the full moon as a white crane flew above him.

When he was finally exhausted, Aric made his way back to the blanket by the lake, and Takeshi flew down and resumed his human form. Aric flopped down and laid his head on his mate's lap, growling contentedly as Takeshi gently stroked his head.

"You are such a beautiful wolf, my love," Takeshi murmured. "Didn't I tell you that there was no need to fear being with me during the full moon?"

{Okay, so you were right as usual,} Aric conceded, although it came as out as a low growl. He raised his head and licked Takeshi's face, and Takeshi planted a kiss on his furry snout.

"I love you, Aric," he said.

{I love you, too,} Aric thought, licking his mate's face again and then settling back on his lap. He began to doze off, and was only half-aware of Takeshi taking out his wand and transforming the blanket into a plush mattress. He did whine a little when Takeshi gently pushed Aric's head off his lap, but then relaxed when Takeshi lay down and stretched out beside him. Aric laid his head on his mate's chest, and felt Takeshi drape an arm over his body. He closed his eyes, and as he drifted off to sleep, his last conscious thought was that perhaps the full moon was something to look forward to instead of fear or even simply tolerate.
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Lupin was quite excited about their little trip to Japan, although he wasn't exactly sure why. He and Severus had visited Professor Kamiyama before, of course, but this would be the first time that they were going on a trip together since the war had ended. Maybe it was the feeling of freedom and security, knowing that they no longer had to hide their relationship or worry about the Death Eaters discovering that Severus was a spy. Maybe it was the joy of looking forward to seeing two of his friends--Chizuru and Karasu--get married, and the excitement of attending a royal wedding, although Lupin suspected that his friends would rather have eloped and done without all the pomp and ceremony. Weddings always put Lupin in a sentimental, romantic mood, and he had decided to think of their stay in Japan not so much as a business trip but as a belated honeymoon. "Someday" had been Lupin's private mantra during the war: someday it would be safe for him and Severus to stop hiding their relationship; someday he would not have to sit around waiting with fear gnawing his stomach when Severus was summoned to a Death Eater meeting, wondering if Voldemort had discovered that he was a spy; someday after the war was over, the two of them would take some time to spend alone with each other, to make up for all the time that they'd been forced to stay apart. Lupin had vaguely thought that they might go off on a trip together, or perhaps simply lock themselves up in his cottage for a few months and make love all day long. It had been those wistful daydreams that had sustained Lupin during the years after Voldemort's return, that had kept him from giving up hope in those dark times when it seemed like they would never be free of the Dark Lord's shadow.

Of course, things rarely went as planned in life, and he and Severus had gone straight from fighting in the war to becoming parents after it ended, without any time off in-between to take that romantic trip or leisurely summer of lovemaking that Lupin had planned. But as it turned out, they had still found plenty of time for lovemaking, and Lupin did not regret taking in Dylan and Theo for one instant; his sons were an incredibly precious gift to him, particularly since he had resigned himself to never having children, not wanting to pass on his lycanthropy to a biological son or daughter, and knowing that a werewolf's chances of being allowed to adopt a child were extremely slim. Lupin loved his sons dearly, but he found that he was really looking forward to spending some time alone with his mate. He felt almost giddy, the way he had back when he and Severus had spent Christmas alone together at Hogwarts that magical winter during their fifth year, when they had first fallen in love, without any disapproving friends or housemates around to put a damper on things. That had come later...

But Lupin refused to dwell on unpleasant memories. He happily packed his suitcase while whistling a cheerful tune, and Severus said nothing, although he looked a bit puzzled about why Lupin should be so excited about a short trip to visit some old friends and colleagues.

Although Lupin was looking forward to his "honeymoon," he knew that he would miss Dylan and Theo, and even Selima and Vorcher and Cabal. They had to leave the dog behind because Professor Kamiyama's house was rather small, and it would be rude to bring a pet--especially such a large one--without permission. Besides, Severus wasn't sure how Cabal would react to the Kamiyama family--the Professor and his daughter were kitsune, fox shapeshifters, and the Professor's granddaughter Miyako was a werewolf. It was possible that Cabal would react hostilely to the scent of strange canines.

So Lupin reluctantly agreed to leave his pet behind. Cabal seemed perfectly content at Snape Manor, which eased Lupin's conscience a bit. He had expected Selima to object to the dog's presence, but she had accepted him without a single word of objection, partly because he had tried to protect Dylan when the Revenant had attacked him. So now the dog was a pampered house pet, with silver dishes for his food and water, his own rug beside the hearth in the drawing room, and a handsome black leather collar decorated with the Snape family crest in silver. He was allowed free run of the grounds, except for the flower gardens, and a doggie door had been added to the back entrance so that he could come and go as he pleased, although Lupin or Dylan usually took him out for a walk a couple of times a day, or played fetch with him on the lawn. To Lupin's relief, Cabal was perfectly well-behaved, and did not run in the house, piddle on the carpet, or break any of Selima's priceless antiques. He seemed to save all his energy for playing outside, and when he was in the house, he spent most of his time curled up contentedly on his rug by the hearth. If his family wasn't around, though, he would get lonely and seek them out, and then flop down on the floor at the feet of whomever was most convenient--usually Lupin, but sometimes Dylan, and occasionally Selima. He had learned not to get underfoot around Severus, though, after the time that the Potions Master had tripped over him, stepped on his tail, and uttered a few blistering (but fortunately only verbal and non-magical) curses. He wasn't precisely afraid of Severus, but he had developed a healthy respect for him, and while he would sometimes lie near the Potions Master, he was careful to pick a spot where he wouldn't be in the way.

Strangely enough, Cabal seemed to have taken a liking to Selima, and even though Lady Snape never seemed to favor him with any affection, he would often lie on the floor near her when she read in the drawing room or worked in the study.

"Maybe you're a peacock like Dylan," Lupin joked as he scratched behind Cabal's ears that night after dinner. "It was Lady Selima who gave you that handsome collar, after all." He and Severus were leaving for Japan the next day, and Vorcher had prepared a splendid farewell feast. Prospero had stopped by for dinner, ostensibly to cadge a free meal and say goodbye to Lupin, and they had all repaired to the drawing room after dinner, to chat over glasses of wine.

"Perhaps it is only that like all--well, most--males, he appreciates the company of beautiful women," Prospero said, with a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.

Selima sniffed disdainfully. "More likely, it's simply that he knows which side his bread is buttered on, so to speak. He has quite a cushy life here at Snape Manor, one that more than a few human mongrels would envy, and I am sure he would not care to return to life as a homeless stray on the streets of London." She gave the dog a stern, intimidating look, and he barked once, as if in agreement, and wagged his tail.

"He's only a dog, Mother," Snape said sourly, although there was an undercurrent of amusement in his voice. "Aren't you overestimating his powers of comprehension?"

"Not really," Selima said coolly. "He is an intelligent animal, and he is certainly well-behaved--much more so than a few werewolves I could mention."

Lupin just chuckled good-naturedly, but Prospero said slyly, "Oh, I don't think that you're really all that averse to werewolves, Selima. You just had a party for Cyril, after all."

"While I admit that his manners normally leave something to be desired, Cyril can behave like a proper Lord when he puts his mind to it," Selima replied coolly.

"And I've noticed that you've started calling Remus by his first name instead of 'Professor' or 'the werewolf,'" Prospero continued.

"You are talking nonsense, Prospero," Selima said, giving him a puzzled frown.

"You addressed him as 'Remus' when we were organizing the search party to look for Lukas and Amos and Williamson after the Quidditch Cup match," Prospero reminded her. "And when we were planning our strategy for combating the Revenant."

"I did no such thing!" Selima protested indignantly.

Lupin searched through his memories and realized that Prospero was right. "You're right!" he exclaimed. "She did, but I was too distracted to notice it at the time!" He grinned widely at Selima, who flushed and glared at first him and then Prospero.

Dylan's eyes were sparkling with amusement, but he tactfully changed the subject, saying, "I really enjoyed your new book, Mr. Zabini. I hear that it's selling very well."

"Yes, it looks to be turning into one of my best sellers," Prospero said, beaming proudly. He turned to Lupin and said, "And I must thank you, Remus; it wouldn't have turned out nearly so well without your help."

"It's a wonderful story!" Lupin said enthusiastically. "And it was a good idea to write a children's book, too. Of course your previous novels are popular with the older students at Hogwarts, but now the younger ones can read this book, too."

The main character of the book, which was titled "By the Light of the Moon," was a young man from a pureblood family who had to hide his lycanthropy from his classmates at school and from society in general. Along the way, he encountered adventure and romance--his love interest was female, though; Prospero had been afraid that a gay romance in a children's book would be too controversial, and he had wanted to avoid antagonizing Severus by making the story too similar to Lupin's and Snape's own life. Lupin had helped Prospero with his research, answering his questions about lycanthropy to make the details in the book more realistic.

"Or rather, they can read this title openly, instead of hiding it from their parents and teachers," Dylan said with a grin. Prospero's other novels had some racy love scenes, making them off-limits to the younger students, who still managed to get hold of copies anyway--trying to prohibit the books probably just made them even more appealing.

"It's good timing that it happened to be released after Cyril and his pack were proven innocent of being involved in the 'werewolf' attacks," Prospero said. "Otherwise they would be languishing on the bookstore shelves or worse, turned into fuel for bonfires by the anti-werewolf faction. But now that Cyril has achieved such celebrity, people are eager to read a book about a werewolf hero." Prospero smiled smugly. "They're selling so quickly that the publisher is already planning a second printing."

"I'm sure that it will become a bestseller, Prospero," Lupin laughed.

"Thank you, Remus," Prospero replied. "And please don't worry about Cabal; I'll look in on him while you're gone." He reached down to pat the dog. "The two of us have become very good friends, haven't we, boy?"

That of course gave Prospero the perfect excuse to continue visiting Snape Manor, but Lupin pretended not to notice, and just grinned and said, "Thank you very much; that really sets my mind at ease." Lupin thought to himself with amusement that Prospero claimed to be a bad Slytherin, but that he had the very Slytherin knack of being able to turn an apparently altruistic act into something self-serving. Or perhaps it was the other way around--making a self-serving act seem altruistic. Either way, Lupin didn't mind; over the years, he had developed an appreciation for Slytherin deviousness and cunning.

"Well then, Severus, we can enjoy our honeymoon without any worries," Lupin said sweetly.

His lover glared at him and said, "First of all, I'm not worried about the damned dog. And second, this is a business trip, not a honeymoon. We're attending Chizuru's wedding as representatives of Hogwarts, and I will be conducting Potions research with Professor Kamiyama. Please don't go all maudlin on me, Lupin."

Lupin smiled sweetly and said, "Forgive me, Sev. I can't help it; I'm a Gryffindor." Then he leaned over and kissed Severus on the cheek as Dylan and Prospero laughed, and the Potions Master's glare turned positively murderous.

"Yes," Selima sighed wearily to no one in particular, "the dog is much better behaved than the werewolf." And Cabal barked happily and wagged his tail.
 

Summer Vacation III part 6

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