Inspired by "Now we are Free", the credits song from Gladiator.
Disclaimer: They're not mine. (Alas.)
The crowd was gigantic- the ministry lobby had to be enlarged to make room for them all because those they tried to turn away wouldn't take the hint, and who wants to mess with a bunch of stubborn werewolves? The air in the room was tense, full of waiting suspense. Severus Snape edged his way towards the front of the crowd, nodding to a few people he recognized as they waited. He smiled inwardly at what he would've thought of all this before the war- standing in a crowd of werewolves all day wouldn't have been his idea of a good day, but it was worth the wait.
The day stretched on and on, but no one made a move to go home. Those who had brought food shared it among those around them, and everyone settled in to wait as long as they had to. Severus fiddled with his wedding ring, and tried not to be amused when some of the children playing in the fountain snapped the wizard's wand off by accident. He hoped it was an omen.
A murmur ran through the crowd and Severus looked up as the doors leading down to the Wisengamot courtrooms opened and Remus stepped out, a large piece of parchment clutched almost reverently in his hands. The crowd went silent. Although he looked exhausted, he straightened up and surveyed the crowd, before raising the paper to read its contents aloud in a loud clear voice.
"Today, October the twelfth, year two thousand and ten, in regards to the petition of changing Werewolf legislation paragraphs One through Twenty by Mr. Remus John Lupin and the four Were Clans in order to provide equal employment, law, medical care and adoption rights, free Wolfsbane, and the legalization of the four Were Clans,-"
Remus smiled and looked over the top of the paper, reciting the last lines from memory, just as they had echoed in the chamber below only moments before.
"The High Court of the Wisengamot has voted to pass this new legislation, by a vote of 26 to two."
The room exploded into cheering. Remus, grinning like an idiot, practically leapt off the stairs and into Severus's arms. Severus held him tightly a moment, one hand buried in his hair, the other wrapped around his waist. He could feel Remus's nose against his neck and when Remus pulled back a bit to look at him his eyes were bright.
Behind them, a younger werewolf broke out in song, in the old language of their people. Others joined in, cheering and celebrating, oblivious to the bewildered guards at the front desk and doors
Remus smiled and kissed Severus soundly. "We're free Severus," He whispered, the faces inches apart and his voice disbelieving, "We're free."