NOTES: Written for the Slash_Challenge Community on Livejournal, 1st week challenge: What Remus does to comfort Sirius after he hears about Snape's private Occulmency lessons with Harry.
Blend & Balance
"That... that..," Sirius slammed the door of their shared bedroom at 12 Grimmauld Place,
apparently unable to find a strong enough epithet to describe the Potions Master and greasy prat
extraordinaire that was obviously the cause of his rage. Remus had received the news in advance,
and thought again that perhaps he could have broken it more delicately to his lover. Should have.
But questioning Dumbledore's motives or interrupting what ever end this sadistic display was
means to was not something he was prepared to do. Not at a volatile time like this. Yet Remus
couldn't stop himself from feeling a little guilty.
"Bastard?" he offered to help.
"Yes! That un-mi-ti-ga-ted bastard!" Sirius spat out each syllable like a particularly
disagreeable venom. Remus leaned on the wall, pondering whether he should let the man seethe it
all out or to offer some kind of consolation -- reading Sirius had become increasingly difficult ever
since his incarceration.
He decided on the latter. "Albus must have his reasons."
"I don't care!" Sirius shouted, flinging his hands up in the air in frustration. "I don't want that...
that.... I just don't want him anywhere near Harry, okay?"
"Naturally."
"As a matter of fact, I'd like nothing better than the chance to beat him into a bloody pulp!"
"Of course."
Sirius gave him an odd look. "Stop agreeing with me. I know you don't."
Remus finally parted with the wall and stretched his back before settling in front of Sirius. He
gripped his lover's shoulders firmly and held his eyes captive until some of the rage ebbed away.
Remus took a deep breath before murmuring his answer: "No, I don't think incapacitating
Severus would be a good idea. Albus has placed more than one life into his hands, mine included.
He knows what he's doing. He must."
Sirius closed his eyes, defeated and ashamed. He knew what the Wolfsbane Potion had meant to
his lover, had meant to both of them. Sighing, he cupped Remus' cheek with his palm. "I just feel
so... helpless, locked up in here."
"I know," Remus breathed, kissing Sirius' lips gently. "It will be alright."