Remus looked at the clock on the mantel. “Do you want some more cold medicine? You can have some now.”

“That would be great.” Snape blew his nose loudly.

“I’ll go get it. It’s nearly 5, and we didn’t eat lunch. Are you hungry?”

“Actually…yes. Het-SHOO . Usually I’b dot whed I’b sick, but I ab. May.. ay-SHESHH …baybe that Buggle stuff is helping wihh.. ihh-CHSHH …with dat. Huh-HUTCHOO, HAESH, HAESHOO .”

“Bless you. I’ll bring the cold medicine down and make some dinner. Anything in particular you want?”

“Do.” He sniffled, coughing and blowing his nose again.

Remus went upstairs, returning a few minutes later with the cold medicine and administered it to Snape. “Just lay down here and rest. If you’re asleep when dinner’s ready, I’ll wake you. Do you need more tissues or anything?” he fussed.

“Do, thadks. Hey, Lupid, why didn’t you becombe a healer? You seeb like you’d be good at this.”

“Aside from the obvious reason? I was never much good at potions. I can brew the simpler healing ones, but not some of the ones I’d need. Why didn’t you? You’ve got the skill.”

“Ashlig was the odly onde I could ever rebaid patiedt with whend she was sick. I don’t have bedside badder. You should have beed able to figure that one out.”

“I see. I’m gonna make dinner and then suggest we watch a movie or something. It’s been a long day for both of us. By the way, are you feeling any better?”

“Yeah. Heh-EHSHOO, huh-ESHH . I’b stardig to anyway. I dod’t dow what you bead by a bovie, but if it’s not very active, I’b for it. Huh-CHOO. ”

Remus smiled. “I forgot you don’t know this stuff. A movie is a muggle thing Ashling was fond of, and she got me hooked. It’s like a book, sort of - it’s a story that you watch - more like a play, really. You’ll enjoy it. She’s got a whole collection in that cupboard over there. Pick one that sounds interesting to you.” Remus went into the kitchen to make dinner while Severus looked through the video collection. Half an hour later, Remus returned, carrying soup and tea. “I just reheated the left over soup. I hope that’s okay.”

“”It’s fide.” He took the soup and tea from Remus and sat back on the couch. Both men were rather talked out, so the meal progressed in silence, save Snape’s sniffles and sneezes.

“Did you find a movie?”

“Yeah. Hablet.”

“Ash’s favorite movie. She loved -”

“Shakespeare. She used to tell me the stories. I liked this one the best. I actually read it.”

“Severus Snape read Muggle literature?” Remus teased.

“She could be very codvidcig.” Snape replied, raising his eyebrow.”

“I don’t want to know.”

“Adyway, I liked it. Ash kind of rebided be of Ophelia. I read it again after she died. Abundance of death and being let down by people closest to her killed her, just as the death of her father killed Ophelia. Plus she was sweet ad iddocent, like Ophelia.”

“I know.” Remus slipped the tape into the VCR and started the movie. They watched the movie in almost the same silence as dinner, remembering Ashling.

“ HAYSHOO, AYASHOO .” Snape sneezed at the end of the movie. “It’s a good bovie.”

“Yeah. She really liked the guy who played Hamlet. She said he was a ‘major babe.’” Remus yawned.

“Gettig tired?”

“Yeah. It’s been a long day.”

“I dow. I’b getting tired, too. Ub, Rebus, before we go to bed, cad I see her roob?”

“Yeah. I knew you were going to ask that at some point. It’s a little dusty though. Usually I go in there to clean it, but it’s been a few weeks; there was the full moon; I was sick before and after, and I haven’t gotten to it yet.”

“I’ll live. I’ll sdeeze, but I’ll live.” They headed upstairs and stood before her closed door. After a long minute, Remus opened it and led Snape in.

“I just go in to do the cleaning charms. I haven’t really been in here since she died.” Remus said, softly. “It’s exactly how she left it.”

Snape walked through the room, looking at her desk, her books, her pictures: her with Remus, her with Neville, and her with him. “I rebeber whed this was taked. Yule Ball. Sixth year. Before I became a death eater.” A piece of paper half under a book caught his eye. “Whahh.. Ah-SHOO …what’s this?”

“I don’t know.” Remus pulled the paper out and set it on the desk where they both could read it.

“ Every now and then, we find a special friend who never lets us down,

Who understands it all,

Reaches out each time you fall.

You’re the best friend that I’ve found.

I know you can’t stay, but part of you will never ever go away,

Your heart will stay.

I don’t need eyes to see the love you bring to me,

No matter where I go.

And I know that you’ll be there, forevermore a part of me,

You’re everywhere; I’ll always care

And I’ll be right behind your shoulder watching you.

I’ll be standing by your side in all you do.

And I won’t ever leave, as long as you believe.

You just believe.

I’ll make a wish for you and hope it will come true:

That life will just be kind to such a gentle mind.

If you lose your way, think back on yesterday.

Remember me this way.

Remember me this way.”

“I’ve never seen that piece of paper before.” Remus told him.

“It’s albost, like, she was saying goodbye to us. Heh-SHOO, huh-SHAAHH . I feel so close to her id here.”

“I feel close to her all the time.” Remus reached into his pocket. “I carry this with me so it… itschoo …it feels like she’s always with me.” He set her inhalator on the desk. “It’s silly, but…”

“Do, dot really. I wish I had sobethig like that.”

Remus opened the drawer on her bedside table and handed Snape a matching inhalator. “She kept one on her and one by her bed.” he explained, pressing it into Snape’s palm. “Now you… ushshoo …you have a part of her, too.”

“ Huh-CHISHH . Thaks, Rebus.” he slipped the inhalator into his pocket. “I’b glahh… ah-SHESHH …glad Dubledore bade be do this. You dow, this place was like hobe for be whed she was alive. I cabe every full bood or whed you were gode, so she wouldn’t be lodely. Ahr-SHOO. ”

“I know. You’re always welcome here, Severus. She would have wanted that. The room you’re in, she always called that ‘Sev’s room.’ Heyshoo, hehshoo, heheshoo. Let’s get out of here for now; the dust is starting to get to me.”

“ Eck-SHOO . Be too. Good dight, Rebus. I’ll see you id the bordig.”

“Good night Severus.”

They both walked out of the room, closing the door. It would be opened later, after the room had been cleaned, but for now, the dust was too much for their sinuses.