Chapter Ten
~o0o~ ~RS~ ~o0o~ ~RS~ ~o0o~
Remus groaned as consciousness took over. His head was swimming and his entire body ached, hell, even his internal organs were in pain! He tried to fight back the nausea that was spreading through his intestines before he risked opening his eyes. Moving only his eyes around he realized he was in the Hospital Wing, in a soft bed with crisp white sheets and not on the floor of the Forbidden Forest as he feared.
Little snaps and flashes of last night started to come back and Remus flickered through them, trying to piece the whole thing together. There were the exams, of that he was sure, because even in his state he knew he had a huge pile of them to grade, and then he went after Harry, Ron and Hermione to the Shrieking Shack, now why would he do that? Sirius! And Peter!
Remus tried to sit bolt upright in his bed, but only managed to flail feebly as his tired muscles refused to cooperate. A soft hand lay on his shoulder and he turned his head noticing for the first time he wasn't alone,
"You shouldn't stress yourself too much." Remus slumped back into the bed when he realized that even if he did managed to get up on his own, Severus would never let him leave the bed.
"Peter, he's alive! We caught him, has he been brought before Dumbledore?" He asked urgently, not caring why Severus was actually there at the moment, "Sirius, is he alright? Was he cleared? And Harry, are the kids alright?" Oh, Merlin if something happened to the kids… He hadn't taken his potion last night, judging from the pain he woke up in and he was running around loose, he was outside on a full moon with no potion! It's a miracle he wasn't given the Dementor's kiss already! He could feel himself starting to hyperventilate, a panic attack growing inside him.
"Everyone's alive," Severus replied, his voice suggesting he wasn't entirely happy with that outcome but Remus couldn't exactly tell whose state of vitality pissed him more. "Sadly, Pettigrew escaped, as did Black. The kids are all well and safe." Remus closed his eyes and sagged back onto the pillow, so nothing changed. If Peter escaped, no doubt seeking his foul master's side, then there was no way to acquit Sirius and set him free! Everything was for nothing, he'd put people's lives at risk and nothing changed… "The hippogriff was rescued though." Remus let out a small laugh that sounded more like a sob. "Remus…" The man in question slowly blinked his eyes open,
"Why are you here?" He asked quietly. There was a part of Remus that was actually glad Severus was there, even after what he's personally been through the night before, but then again, it could be yet another devious plot by Dumbledore- forcing Severus to bed-watch him. He wasn't even sure what the Headmaster's goal here was, because he was pretty sure Dumbledore didn't know they used to date back in the day and if he did know what they were doing all year he probably couldn't tell there were actual feelings behind everything.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright." Severus answered simply and Remus felt like crying,
"Guilty conscious? I never knew you had one, Severus." He snarled at the man in hopes of covering for his guilt over last night events. Somehow it was easier to lash out at Severus than thinking about what had happened, and what almost happened, "Why do you do this? I told you I was done with whatever we had, and I'm not going to let you break my heart again!" Severus sighed, he knew this wasn't going to be easy but he vowed to himself he'd try and get things right this time,
"I know, I'm not here to try and get you into my bed," He said quietly, "I've got something for you."
"What?" Remus said, his voice sounding petulant in his own ears. Severus pulled something out of his pocket and put it on Remus' chest gently. Remus picked it up to examine it and found out he was holding a ring. A beautiful and clearly old ring made of white gold, with an intricate pattern going round it. He looked up at Severus in puzzlement.
"It was my mother's," Severus said quietly, suddenly feeling nervous at Remus' perplexed expression, perhaps simply presenting Remus with the ring was a mistake, perhaps he should have led to it better somehow, but he wanted to convince Remus he was serious as fast as he could before the other man realize he was better off without him for good, "It's the Prince matrimony ring, she was supposed to give it to my father, but instead she passed it on to me." He was babbling, Merlin was his witness he was babbling like an idiot! Thank Merlin there weren't any students at the ward to hear this.
"Wait," Remus said with slight confusion, though his heart was already increasing its beat, "Are you saying what I think you're trying to say in your very Snape-ish, most unromantic way?" Severus actually rolled his eyes and bit the inside of his cheek to keep his smile at bay,
"Yes, I am. What is your answer?" Remus was studying the ring, rolling it in between his fingers,
"My answer to what?" He replied cheekily, "I didn't hear a question." Severus took a deep breath,
"You're going to make me spell it, aren't you?" Remus lifted bright eyes to his lover, his heart soaring with joy,
"Of course I am." He deadpanned, "I don't expect I'll get many more proposals in my life, so you better make this one count!" He looked challengingly at Severus; almost not daring to hope he will actually follow through with this. Ok, so it wasn't some half-baked plan by Dumbledore, Severus genuinely wanted his forgiveness and his heart and that felt so good.
"Alright," Severus grumbled but without any malice in his voice, "Remus John Lupin, will you…"
"Wait!" Remus cried and Severus gave him one of his glares, which Remus ignored completely, "Do it properly, one knee and all." Severus sighed again, gods if he knew the werewolf was going to make him grovel… Grumbling quietly he got off the bed and knelt beside it, feeling like ten kinds of idiot,
"This is ridiculous!" He exclaimed, "I can't even see you." From above him he heard Remus chuckle,
"Yeah, me either, come on back up." Severus rose to his feet and tried to glare at his lover and with some luck- soon to be fiancé but couldn't really muster the venom in face of Remus' bright smile. Sitting himself back on the bed Severus allowed himself a small smile, he knew life with Remus wasn't going to be easy- especially since the werewolf was quite immune to his glares and foul moods, but it would be worth it, Severus was sure, even if he'd have to lost most of his dignity getting Remus to comply.
"Remus John Lupin, I know I acted like a complete arse towards you all year," Severus began and Remus did his best to keep his eye rolling to himself, "But I love you. You're the only man I've ever loved and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, properly this time. So, would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?"
"Well, when you put it this way…" Remus said with a somewhat wet chuckle, blinking tears away- if he'd known Severus would reduce him to this… damn him and his charm anyway! A smile blossomed on Severus' face, a real and genuine smile and Remus knew that he was sold. Reaching his hand over to Severus he let the other man slip the ring on his finger, before he lifted his eyes to see Severus looking very please with himself indeed. "One thing though." Severus' smile wavered a little,
"What?"
"We're getting you a ring as well." Severus made a face that on any other living person Remus would call pouty,
"I can't wear a ring, brewing potions…" He began but Remus cut him off with a wave of his hand, loving the way his new ring caught the light and its weight on his finger,
"Is a very lame excuse!" He informed his fiancé, "You don't dip your hands in the potions. I refuse to be your dirty secret again, and I don't want to hide anymore." He told Severus firmly. The two engaged in a short staring match but Severus soon deflated in defeat,
"Fine, I'll wear a ring," He practically spat out the words but Remus could see Severus was actually excited by the idea. "But I'm not having Dumbledore announcing it in the farewell feast!" He warned with his finger pointed at Remus, who looked like he was about to burst in laughter,
"Oh, don't worry, we're not telling Dumbledore!"
"Good." Severus said- a small part of him still feeling strange about the whole affair, somehow he expected Remus to put more of a fight, but mostly he was glad things were going so smoothly, even if it meant he'd have to wear a ring and have the whole school wondering about it. Perhaps he could glamour it somehow, to hide if from the students at least. "We should probably discuss whether you'll be moving to the dungeons or me moving to your rooms." Suddenly the smile slipped from Remus' face, and he bit his lip,
"Er… I don't think it'll be a problem…"
"Because you'll be moving to the dungeons?" Severus asked slowly, the change in Remus' demeanor didn't bode well, and he could feel it all the way to the pit of his stomach.
"Because I'm not staying."
"Why?" What else did Remus have to do with his time? Besides, as much as it pained Severus to admit it, because Defense Against Dark Arts was his coveted subject- Remus was a bloody fantastic teacher! The kids actually liked him, and he managed to make DADA fun! Finally Hogwarts had a DADA teacher that even Severus couldn't object would stay on for more than a year.
"Severus," Remus said gravely, "I almost attacked three students last night! I can't take the risk of hurting anyone."
"There's the potion…" Severus began, feeling like his heart was sinking low- they just got engaged and instead of bickering about what shades they should paint their joined rooms they were going to be separated? This was not according to plan!
"I don't trust myself, I can't… it's too dangerous." Remus shook his head, his whole body shuddering with thoughts of worst case scenario. Severus wanted to grab Remus by the shoulders and shake him- the castle was full of fully grown, capable wizards and witches that were keeping a close eye on Remus for Merlin's sake! One near slip didn't mean things would go wrong in the future! Especially now that he'll have Severus at his beck and call! He wanted to yell at Remus that there were special circumstances to last night and that not every full moon was going to be like this, but the determined look on Remus' face told him he'd be wasting his breath- there was a reason why people like Remus ended up in Gryffindor, too good for their own sake.
"So what are we going to do?" Severus asked in an icy tone to cover up for the hurt that was spreading in him like an inside Cruciatus curse. Remus looked up at his lover, feeling the change in Severus' demeanor and knowing that his man was more likely to shut off and go hex students than actually saying he was disappointed or hurt. Grabbing Severus' hand in his Remus smiled softly,
"We can still get married, and I could stay here with you or we could fix Spinner's end, but I can't keep teaching here." Severus made his pouty face again and Remus bit his lip to stop from chuckling, because if he even dared to think of Severus as cute the dark man would probably hex the ring right off his finger and disappear altogether. "It'll be alright." He promised his lover instead.
"I suppose." Severus shrugged, still feeling petulant but at least part of him acknowledged the wisdom in Remus' words.
"Besides, I have a feeling it'll be better if we don't actually work together." Severus narrowed his eyes, from the tone of Remus' voice he had a feeling this was somehow going to end up as a joke at his expense.
"Because you're going to make my Boggart wear an ugly dress again?" Remus bit his lip again but this time couldn't help a snort of laughter from escaping, but he quickly clamped his mouth shut when he saw Severus' expression,
"You know, I can't help but think that you wouldn't be as upset if the dress fit better." Severus let out a soft dismissing snort to show what he thought of the idea, but Remus was unabashedly grinning now, "It's your own fault, you know."
"Oh," Severus crossed his arms over his chest, "How come?"
"Well, if you didn't work so hard to make everyone scared of you, you wouldn't end up as anyone's Boggart." Remus explained simply. Severus had to learn there were consequences to his actions and if the only way to teach him was to put him in an ugly dress and vulture hat than it was a price Remus was willing to pay. After all, Severus in that dress was not sexy!
"Yes, but if I'll be nice to the pests they'll want to talk to me after teaching hours, they'll like me…" Severus sounded positively aghast while Remus was howling with laughter,
"Oh, Sev," He chuckled, wiping happy tears away, "Never change. I love you."
"I love you too." Severus responded softly and leaned down to kiss his fiancé. Remus smiled into the kiss, moving a little to get into a better position and deepen the kiss when his muscles protested and he groaned in pain, Severus hurriedly broke the kiss,
"Are you alright? Shall I call Madame Pomfrey?" Remus quickly shook his head, the last thing he needed right now was the nosy matron interrupting their perfect moment,
"No, just stay with me." Severus looked undecided for a few seconds but eventually nodded and spelled his shoes and outer robe away before crawling into the bed to wrap his arms around his beloved.
~o0o~ ~RS~ ~o0o~ ~RS~ ~o0o~
Harry ran through the corridors, jumping recklessly onto the staircase just as it started to move away from him. It couldn't be right; surely there was some sort of mistake! Hagrid must have been ill informed! Teacher or no, he was wrong!
Charging around the corner in full speed he skidded to a hasty halt in front of Professor Lupin's door, which stood open, only to see his favorite professor directing a neat stack of books into an already full trunk and closing the lid with a swish of his wand,
"It's true then…" Harry heart sank and he slumped against the door frame, suddenly exhausted, "You're really leaving." Remus looked up from his packing, smiling gently at the youth,
"I'm afraid so, Harry." Pushing himself off the door frame Harry strode into the room, grabbing a pile of books from a nearby desk and clutching them to his chest, as if this small act of rebellion will change Remus' mind,
"But why?" He cried, "We'll keep your secret, Ron and Hermione would never tell!" Remus smiled sadly, if only things were as simple as that. Sometimes he wished he could still have Harry's thirteen years old naïveté but then again, even when he was thirteen he was already much more jaded than Harry will ever be, no matter what The Dark Lord had in store for him,
"I trust you, and Ron and Hermione," He assured the boy, "The one I don't trust is myself, Harry, and that is why I have to go." Harry looked at the verge of tears and Remus put a tentative hand on his shoulder, hopping for a reassuring pat when the boy flew into his arms and wrapped his arms tightly around Remus. Remus looked shocked for a second before he smiled softly and returned the hug warmly.
"Is it because of Professor Snape?" Harry asked quietly, "I know that Hermione thinks you two were…" Remus shook his head to himself, Merlin save me from overly smart witches he thought before he gently pushed Harry so that he could look the boy in the eye,
"Severus and I… we've reached an understanding." He said slowly, knowing full well that if he told Harry the whole truth there was no telling what chaos will ensue, besides, if Severus will find out he told Harry, of all people, that they were engaged before they told anyone else he could probably kiss said engagement goodbye. "It has nothing to do with him." Walking over to the desk Remus grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak and handed it over, "I went back to the Shrieking Shack to rescue this for you." Harry smiled a sad, slightly watery smile as he took his cloak back and Remus took a deep breath before grabbing the Marauders Map from the table, "Since I'm no longer your teacher I feel no guilt in returning this to you. Use it wisely Harry." He told the youth and Harry nodded somberly- he was going to have to step up his game if he didn't want to be caught by Snape again, because now that Professor Lupin was leaving there will be no buffer between him and the man's hatred.
A knock was heard and the two turned to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway. Harry hastily stuffed his possessions in his bag while Dumbledore smiled at Remus and pretended he didn't see,
"Your coach awaits you, Remus." He said pleasantly, and Remus nodded in thanks, surveying his rooms one last time to make sure he took everything before he shrank his possessions and pocketed them and walked over to the Headmaster to shake his hand,
"It's alright; you don't have to escort me down." He told his boss and Dumbledore gave him a small suggestive wink that caused Remus to blush to the roots of his hair and practically run out of the room before Harry saw him. A part of his was sad and disappointed to leave the castle behind, because despite of everything- he's had a good year. When he reached the courtyard he saw Severus standing next to the coach, waiting for him and glaring at the thestrals in his usual Snape way and a wide smile broke on Remus' face, yes it has been a good year, but the new one will be even better!
~o0o~ ~RS~ ~o0o~ ~RS~ ~o0o~
A/N: YAY! Another story finished! I must confess it turned out different from where I started but that what happens when you take about a year to write 10 chapters…
I hoped you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading, reviewing and just in general.
Love, Lilyyuri.