Eleven
The sound of music echoed down the hall. An old song, a song he remembered his mother singing to him in his childhood. Everyone was still gathered in the Great Hall celebrating the New Year. Severus exited the hall the moment he escaped Dumbledore's eye. He made his way down the hall trying to shake the unnerving feeling of being surrounded by bodies, but still feeling alone. He tried to convince himself that he didn't miss him. Night was difficult. It always was. The sound of footfalls caught his attention. He turned the corner, wand in hand, and found himself face to face with a disheveled and red-faced Remus Lupin.
Remus smiled. "I promised, didn't I?" He extended his hand to Severus.
Severus snorted, "Did you run all the way up here?"
"I did. Come on." Remus pulled the man into his arms.
"What are you doing?"
"Dancing in the New Year," He added with a smirk, "with you."
Severus bit back a reply. He knew exhaustion and he could read it in the sag of Remus' shoulders and in the redness of his eyes. Begrudgingly, he let Remus move him to the music. The bells rang in the New Year a few minutes later. Remus gave a tired smile and pulled the other man in for a kiss.
"Another year."
"Another year."
It wasn't dancing so much as it was two people holding each other up, carrying one another's weight because to stand alone just wasn't feasible anymore. How long can two fucked up people hold each other together before everything tears at the seams? Probably not for very long, but they were going to try. They were going to hold on with everything they had left and when they couldn't hold on any longer they were going to let go together.