Author: Ally P.
Email: [email protected]
Feedback: Anything that you can give me. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Archive:My LJ (allyp), Red Moon Rising, and Azkaban's Lair, if they want it.
Spoilers: OotP
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine. I wouldn't have killed off whom JKR did.
Author's Notes: This was inspired by Victoria P's story "Hope is a Killer." The actual line was, "He will be looking for more whiskey when Snape arrives and sneers at him. They will almost come to blows, the last of his famous restraint gone in the face of this final loss." It doesn't quite fit that scenario, but that's what inspired it. This is once again, just a snapshot from me. I don't usually write long fics, as I tend to not finish them.
* Text inside of // text \\ are thoughts. Or the italics are. It depends on where you're reading this...
** The Saturday After The Incident **
Lupin gazed into the mirror in the bathroom beside the bedroom he and Sirius shared. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy. His hair had more gray than the day before. Tears were sliding down his gaunt and pale cheeks.
He's gone. Gone forever. I will never see my Sirius alive again. I will never hear his heartbeat again, nor his breathing. Yet, I will live my life to the fullest, in the hopes that I will one day see him again on the other side. I will watch out for Harry as he asked me to, even if he never placed words to it. I will survive for him. I will live for him.
I will remember the little things he did, both past-Sirius and recent-Sirius. I will remember how he was there for me. I will remember how he had said, "Thank you," to me every night as he curled against my chest. I will remember the first hesitant kiss after 13 years. Twelve of which he spent in Azkaban, one in which he was in a cave in Hogsmede. I will remember how beautiful he was, running free in the forbidden forest beside me, accompanied by a stag, and a rat. I will remember.
A quiet knock on his bedroom door awakened Remus from his reverie.
"Remus?" Another not-as-quiet knock, Remus just stared at the door. "Remus, if you don't come out here and eat I'll be forced to blow this door down!" Remus sighed and uttered the unlocking spell. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door to a very concerned Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes, Molly?" Molly paused, slightly taken back by his appearance. He looked as if he had aged ten years over night. Swallowing a cry, she grabbed him in a bear hug and murmured words of security and reassurance in his ear. After a moment, she composed herself and he himself.
"Now Remus," she said biting her lip, "I know that this probably isn't what you want to hear, but Severus is here with new information. Moreover, dinner is ready. We thought you might like to join us." Remus nodded, and moved to close the door. Molly let out the breath she hadn't realized that she had been holding. Remus moved to follow her to the kitchen.
Severus sneered as he saw what was left of Lupin enter the kitchen. He was a wreck, a half of a man. He watched as Remus let Molly coddle him, dishing out his food, patting him on the back, giving him a hug. Noticing Remus' bloodshot eyes, he shook his greasy head. The few who looked up when Lupin entered, tensed. It wouldn't be like Snape to pass up a chance like this.
"Have you been crying Lupin? Crying for your abhorrent bedmate?" A few low gasps broke a tense silence. Molly shook her wooden spoon at him and advanced. Remus touched her arm and ushered her back. Now standing, he calmly approached Severus. Fingering his wand lightly, he stood in front of the darker man.
Ever so quietly, calmly, Remus spoke and raised his wand to Snape's heart, "If I ever hear you say anything disrespectful about Sirius again, you will wish that you never came back to Dumbledore's side, for Voldemort would be far more merciful than I will ever be in that respect." Remus stepped back and returned to his seat. Severus scoffed and nervously straightened his robes.
Gazing around at the many people who had said nothing during the confrontation Moody spoke, grinning in Remus' direction, "Well, come on Snape, tell us the news. Not all of us have all day, some of us would still like a go at turning you into a ferret."