Necessary note: in the last chapter, it ought to have been 'whereabouts' as opposed to 'wear-a-bouts'. :D
Remus and Sirius went down to breakfast hand in hand. Both of them yawning occasionally, they stumbled and made the ever so difficult way down the stairs.
"Today's the day, Rem," Sirius said quietly, sounding as though he was addressing himself.
"Well, the first day," Remus corrected.
"The first day?" Sirius asked, coming to a standstill and turning to Remus. Tired, they both leant against the ornate stone wall beside them, by the corner.
"There was a notice on the board. Something to do with extending the time period because 'special circumstances arose,'" Remus commented, awkwardly analysing the stone floor at their feet.
"They did it for us?" Sirius said, sounding slightly surprised.
"It appears so, yeah," Remus answered with a nervous smile. He never was the one for big deals.
"All right then; well we had better make the most of it, then," Sirius said, leaning up from the wall and kindly pulling Remus with him.
"Breakfast?" Remus asked.
"Sure thing," Sirius agreed.
As they walked together down the corridor, they noticed odd couples stood together; some in close embraces, others looking as though they wanted to be sick. A small group stood gathered at the end of the corridor.
Remus and Sirius instantly recognised them as a group of Slytherins. Instantly, Remus scanned the group for Severus, not really expecting him to be there.
Sirius met Severus' gaze with a smug glare as his hand still clasped Remus'. Both Remus and Sirius' gazes were met with a look of distaste from all the gathered Slytherins; Narcissa, Lucius and Bellatrix among them.
"Cousin," Sirius spat.
At this, some form of riot began. Each of them shouting some sort of insult towards the pair.
Remus idly noted that Lucius was, once again, the proud, fierce boy that he always was; it differed greatly to the gentleman he presented himself as in the Hall the day before.
"Sirius, come on," Remus muttered. It didn't particularly bother him that he was being jeered at for being a half blood and a half breed, as they called him. Rather a half breed animal than full breed evil. This revelation cheered him slightly, and he tugged on Sirius' hand.
"Wands away, children – no duelling in the corridors," their Defence teacher said as he walked down the corridor to see what the commotion was all about.
"Sirius, breakfast?" Remus asked him quietly, as he retreated slowly.
Sirius however, shook his head, "I need to get something sorted with James," he said.
Remus bit back a sigh. He'd missed Sirius during the night and wanted nothing more than to spend time with him now.
"I'm sorry, Rem, but trust me – you'll thank me for it tomorrow," Sirius said, pressing a small kiss to Remus' cheek.
When he drew back, Remus saw Severus making his way over to them, now alone.
"Will I see you again today?" Remus asked hopeful.
"Before we sleep, yes, but have fun with Old Snivellus," Sirius said with a kind smile, before finishing with a cheeky grin and vanishing.
"Remus," Severus began uncertain.
"They're your friends?" Remus asked him in reference to the Slytherins.
"Well, they've been here for me a very long time," Severus pointed out, avoiding the question.
"Indeed they have," Remus agreed, unsure why that was relevant.
"And their knowledge of...some things...is quite extensive. They know a great deal," Severus pointed out; his expression distant.
"If you want someone clever, Sev, go to the Ravenclaws," Remus muttered.
"They don't know the things I am interested in," Severus muttered in response.
They were quiet for a short while, walking beside one another – though not touching – down the corridor.
"Have you had breakfast?" Remus asked Severus eventually.
"Yeah," he replied.
Remus merely nodded, and then there was an awkward silence once again.
"Severus, is something wrong?" Remus asked him; concern filling his features.
"Sorry?" he asked distracted, turning to look at Remus, "Oh, no. I'm fine."
"Sure?" Remus asked unconvinced.
"I said I'm fine."
Surprised at the change in Severus' being, Remus continued walking past the Great Hall with Severus.
"Wait," Severus began softly, "You haven't eate-"
"I'm not hungry anymore," Remus responded quietly.
With a sorry sigh, Severus reached out for Remus' hand.
Unaware, Remus also went to do the same, but knocked Severus slightly.
"Sorry," Remus said; as anyone would.
"It's all right," Severus said, sounding unconcerned. As it was, his eyes were almost watering at the pain caused by the slight knock.
Remus; having not looked at Severus, was convinced, and took Severus' hand.
"Are you sure you're not hungry?" Severus asked, squeezing Remus' hand in an attempt to eliminate the pain.
"Why?" Remus asked, observing a portrait beside them.
"I...uh...have something for you," Severus stated nervously.
"Oh!" Remus proclaimed, unnecessarily loud, "As do I. For you."
"Shall we-"
"Go and get it, and then-"
"Meet in-"
"The library," they finished together.
Nodding, the two of them turned and made their way to their dormitories.
When Severus got there, he scurried along the outskirts of the room and made his way up the stairs silently; heading over to his bed and picking up the egg he had bought for Remus. It was a reasonable small egg, though around the same size as the one in which Remus had bought for him with the additional money.
Likewise, Remus made his way through the portrait hole; now with a different password, and went up to his dormitory. There was a small gap in the doorway, and he stood, considering. He could push open the door and cough; declare his presence. Or he could do what he very much wanted to do, and stand listening.
As it was, in the time it took to decide, he accidently, heard the occupants saying, "...right to tell him? It isn't our business."
"I don't want him getting hurt," Sirius' voice said.
"He won't get hurt."
"What would you do if it were Lily?" Sirius retorted, confirming the other voice to be James'.
"That's different," James said, knowing he was fighting a losing battle.
More curious than ever, Remus pushed the door open.
Squeak. Crack.
The door opened and the boys inside fell silent.
"Sorry, I came back to get something," Remus announced casually; as though what he had heard was not running through his mind.
Sirius and James (still distraught from their conversation) looked over at Remus in the doorway. The two gazes differed. Pity and sorrow was evident in both of their gaze, though Sirius' was laced with lust and a daring need to protect the boy before him.
A battle raging through his mind, Remus went over to his bed and found Severus' egg.
"I'll...just...be going," Remus said slowly as he retreated and neither boy had said a word.
James tried to offer some sort of comforting, casual smile, but failed epically, and gave up.
Once he had shut the door again, Remus wondered what exactly it was they were planning.
"I thought you weren't coming," Severus accused as he got up from his chair in the library.
"Sorry," Remus gasped after having run to their arranged meeting place, "There was something going on, but I haven't a clue what.." he trailed off.
"It's okay, you're here now," Severus said; a smile upon his face. All earlier malice and pain gone.
Also smiling, Remus walked over to him and put his arms around Severus' thin body.
By default, Severus' arms found their way around Remus' figure, also.
They remained like that for a moment; each of them calming in the presence of the other, as once again their scent overrode the area.
Remus sniffed beside Severus' ear.
"What is it?" Severus asked him, drawing back.
"I can smell chocolate," Remus grinned.
Severus held out his gift for Remus, who – in return – offered Severus his own.
"I'm sorry it's small," they both said simultaneously. Laughing, they walked over to take a seat by some shelves.
"It's brilliant," Remus said truthfully, devouring the egg with his eyes.
Embarrassed, Severus muttered a soft 'thank you' as he opened his own egg.
Hungrily, Remus had already broken some of the egg and had begun eating it.
Soft moans escaped his lips, along with the odd whimper and groan of pleasure, amusing Severus to no end, who – in the end – was laughing a great deal, and had barely eaten much of his own egg.
"Brilliant," Remus said as he swallowed some more of the chocolate, "Truly the best thing I have ever tasted."
Grinning happily, Severus nodded, "I must agree. But can I ask..." he trailed off, uncertain.
"Go on?" Remus said, having a feeling he knew what was going to be asked.
"Why do you love chocolate so much?" Severus asked him curiously; his head cocked slightly.
Remus thought long and hard.
"It's nice and soft," he began. His thoughts flickered to Sirius' lips as he said so.
"And quite often cold and gentle," he went on, now thinking of Severus' lips.
His eyes flickered to them as he said it.
"When I see it, I just want to devour it," Remus went on, his mouth watering at the thought of tasting the chocolate from Severus' lips.
"And-"
Remus' next words were cut off as Severus' lips met his.
Indulging in his fantasy, Remus' tongue found its way through Severus' lips and was tasting his own chocolate.
As Remus' eyes drew to a close, and a moan escaped his lips Severus drew back, bemused.
"I was enjoying that," Remus complained.
"You were," Severus confirmed, looking smug, "I'll see if I can find you some more, I didn't realise you loved it that much."
"The love I feel is never so obvious, though it is very real," Remus added seriously.
Severus, hearing the double meaning, did a double take, thinking over the words and looking slightly saddened, "Oh, I know."
I'm also inclined to believe this chapter was nowhere near as good as it could have been. That, I guess, comes from an extreme lack of sleep. As such, I anticipate mistakes being in here... Forgive me.
And please let me know how it went. It may seen too...abrupt, perhaps. I'm unsure.
However, I believe I know where the story is heading now, and so it will be finished rather soon, I'd wager. Well. Two more chapters I'd wager.
Thank you :)
