A/N: Thanks so much to the two of you who reviewed my last chapter (I would have replied to you directly but I could only do that to one of you so I figured it was just as easy to thank you both here) Whether or not you only read this for the chapter featuring Snape or not I still appreciate it. I don't expect to get tons of reviews but getting a few every so often is nice. So thanks again and I hope you keep reading/reviewing.
Chapter 38
Sirius jumped on top of her Lucy Sunday morning. "Time to get up! I've got plans for us!"
Lucy laughed and stretched, "You're never up this early. Should I be worried?"
"No! I've got plans and you're going to like them. Get dressed or I'm aparating us out of here and to our secret destination."
Getting out of bed she went to the closet and grabbed a dark pink set of robes. It was one of the few times she didn't mind being cheesy. "Where are we—"
"No," Sirius interrupted, "I'm not telling."
The second she'd finished dressing, he grabbed her hand. "Wait a minute. I want to—"
He disapparated.
"Make the bed," she finished, when they reached their destination. "Sirius? Where are—umph!" Lucy was cut off and she was tackled from behind.
"Let me see your hand!" shouted the newcomer in Lucy's ear.
"Tonks?"
"Of course! You're spending the day with us. Teddy's at Mum's and the men are going to cook," her old friend said dismissively, "Now let me see your hand!" She grabbed Lucy's left hand and closely inspected the ring she hadn't yet seen. "Oh, this is just gorgeous. Isn't it gorgeous dear?" She asked Remus, yanking the ring, and thus Lucy, over so he could inspect the jewelry.
Remus chuckled, "It's lovely, but I think you're about to dislocate Lucy's shoulder." He looked around his wife to his best friend, "So, is this what all the odd staring was about at Christmas?"
"Mmm. Yes, that and Lucy's insistence she had to sleep in another room for appearances sake."
Tonks rolled her eyes, "I don't think that was all of it. He only stared like that when she was holding Teddy. I think Padfoot is looking to have some puppies."
"Um, no. Not right now anyway. Maybe. Someday. In the future." Sirius said.
"We haven't really talked about that," Lucy said, "And it's not happening at least until after we're married."
Remus easily looped his arm around his wife and kissed her cheek, "Now, dear not everyone has to have children right away."
Lucy sighed. She always enjoyed being able to see the two of them easy and comfortable. She simply hadn't been around in the early parts of their relationship and she'd missed seeing that develop. Of course the other couple wasn't quite as demonstrative as she and Sirius were.
They followed the other couple into their front room where Tonks made a point of sitting on her husbands lap and playing with his hair. Lucy wasn't surprised when Remus grabbed Tonks's hand and kissed it before placing it firmly in her lap.
"So, have you picked a date yet?" Tonks asked.
Sirius snorted, "We just got engaged. Give us time."
"Well, I was just thinking. Lucy's always wanted a winter wedding you know."
"Really?" he said turning to her.
"Um, kind of but that was before I had a fiancé who had an opinion. We can talk about it. Later. I think there might be other things to worry about first."
Both Remus and Tonks stared at them.
"She found out about that uh, little incident, you know, in school with…" he glanced at Lucy, "Snape."
"Ah," Remus said.
"And now you're in trouble," Tonks said, a smug expression on her face.
"Not really," Sirius protested.
"A little," Lucy said at the same time.
"Why am I in trouble? I thought we worked it out?" Sirius looked confused.
"We did. You still need to work it out with Dinah and Severus and to work it out with Dinah you probably just need to work it out with Severus. Maybe apologize. Explain about the parents thing."
Sirius rolled his eyes, "Really? You really want me to do that?"
"Yes. When you do something wrong, you apologize. That's sort of the way it works. I would appreciate it and so would Dinah. This thing is making it awkward between us."
"Fine, if it'll make you happy."
"No, you can't just apologize to make me happy. It has to be sincere. I know you didn't mean…"
"I'll be as sincere as I can be, but don't expect me to run up to Hogwarts tomorrow and do it."
"I don't, but don't take forever about it either."
"I won't. Now, if you're finished with me I think it's time for Remus and I to go cook the meal."
Monday morning came far too early for Lucy's liking. More and more she seemed to be turning into someone who liked to sleep in. Of course, those times generally came when she'd been up most of the night and fairly active too.
During her first office hour that day she was seriously considering lying down on the couch when Dinah came in carrying a large bag and emptying its contents onto her desk. "So I hear that you are responsible for all of this."
"Um, I am?" She wasn't really sure what Dinah was talking about.
"Just look at them," Dinah said, still grinning and gesturing to the objects. "I'm sure it'll come to you."
Lucy began sifting through the pile of stuff. Some flowers, a nighty, a book, some jewelry, candy, a lot of food… "Oh, he didn't, did he? He wasn't supposed to buy everything! I told him to think about which one you'd like best! I mean I probably could have helped him narrow it down but I think all the romance novels he'd read were freaking him out."
"Romance novels? You're kidding! Just to come up with gift ideas for me?"
She nodded, repressing a giggle, "Yes. I'm not sure he quite understood the concept of a romance novel before he started looking through them…The only he found that mentioned Valentine's Day in the restricted section and was more about sex than…well, I think what he wanted was more of a guide. I don't know, like I said I think he misunderstood what a romance novel was. Of course, right before he stomped out he shoved one at me and said I'd need it more than he did."
Dinah burst into laughter, pulling back the chair and sitting across from Lucy. When she finally stopped giggling she shook her head; "That boy is dedicated, I'll say that much. Oh, and don't worry, I'm not annoyed with you. I just thought it might amuse you to see the monster that you created."
"If I'd done my work well enough you'd have gotten some classy, yet slightly kinky, lingerie, but he vetoed the sexy theme." Even Sirius had gone the less obvious route. Must be something in the water.
Dinah sighed, looking a little disappointed with Lucy's words and fingering the purple alternative Severus had gotten her, "Yes, well... I like this, too..."
"It's gorgeous. He has good taste. I didn't mean there was anything wrong with it. Heck on the nights it's just me I wear something similar. Though it's usually cotton or flannel instead of silk or satin."
Dinah giggled; "He said you told him this was 'romantic'. You'd be surprised how much he kept invoking you when explaining why he got these things. 'Lucy said this', 'Lucy said that'... you have amazing influence."
Lucy grinned. She'd really had no idea he'd take her so literally…or tell Dinah about it for that matter. It was kind of cute in a way. "I bet that was romantic. To me the less revealing pajamas are romantic. It sort of says 'we're intimate but we don't have to have sex' or at least that how I interpret that type of gift."
Dinah nodded, "I like that idea. I think that's kind of where Severus and I are...probably forever, but I guess I can deal with that. When you really love somebody you'd be surprised what you can endure. But I guess I don't have to tell you that."
This conversation was quickly turning awkward, "Uh, no. Actually Severus told me, and I really am not sure why he did, but he told me he wants to but he's afraid of hurting you again."
Dinah smiled sadly. "No, I know. We both know it. That's why we're not doing it. We don't want to risk anything. It's fine. I'm surprised he told you, though. Then again, I think as an adolescent his insecurities and such make it harder for him to keep his mouth shut about things. Much different from when he was an adult."
Lucy bit her lip before saying, "Well, please don't take this the wrong way but I'm kind of surprised those teenage hormones you two got haven't swept you right along past that point of no return yet."
She shrugged; "Maybe there are parts of us that are still adult. I'd like to think so. Either way, we've made it this far. I'm not trying to predict what will happen in the future, I'm just letting things take their own course. It's easier that way."
Lucy nodded, "That's probably best." She paused for a moment before barreling on, "Dinah, I'm sorry but I just feel really awkward brining up anything to do with Sirius around you. I know what he did was wrong but I can't go back and change the past. I don't expect you to forgive him or want to be around him or anything I just…I just thought you should know I guess."
Dinah stared at her friend, looking like she wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to say. She shook her head. "I'm confused. Is there something specific you wanted to say about Sirius? Because I didn't expect you to bring him up or anything, nor did I expect you to go back and change something... I'm sorry, I'm just not sure what you're getting at."
Lucy shook her head, "Sorry, I'm not entirely sure either. I'm really tired. We stayed at the Lupin's last night and I didn't come back until this morning."
"Oh. Right. The werewolf," Dinah said, sounding a bit negative.
"They're a great couple. Remus is pretty soft spoken most of the time and he tries so hard for people to like him. He taught here once you know. Harry and the Weasleys say he was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they'd had. At least up until that point that is. I mean you know…Once people found out about his furry little problem the letters started coming in asking for his resignation. What's worse is he didn't expect anything different. It's just such a shame he's treated like that."
Dinah nodded, ""No, I understand. I didn't mean to sound bitter. I know none of what happened could possibly be his fault. There are plenty of nice werewolves out there; people who try to fight their transformation instead of succumbing to it."
"Okay," Lucy looked away for a moment, "Is it weird that we haven't talked about kids? I mean it's just Tonks made a comment when we were there and…I don't know. She asked about the date too and we haven't talked about that either. He seemed surprised when Tonks said I'd always wanted a winter wedding. I don't know. Maybe I'm over thinking this."
Dinah had to laugh; "Oh, you wanted to talk about romantic stuff. Well, let's see if I can get my old-lady advice-giving style back. I think every couple goes about things differently. I think myself if I ever got married..." she bit her lip and turned away. "Um, anyway," she continued, shaking her head, "Well, I'd try to have kids quickly only because I'm – or well, I was thirty-eight and if I waited much longer there would be health risks and such. But you're young. I don't think there's any problem with waiting a year or two before thinking about such things. Gives you time to get used to each other before you bring more people into the mix."
Lucy grinned, "You're right I suppose. He just seemed very…careful of me last night. It was kind of like how we were around each other before. We sort of had this unspoken agreement to stick to minimal touching. Which was probably a good thing considering what happened when we kissed the first time. He wasn't not touching me, it just kind of felt like it did then." Lucy considered her words for a moment, "Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing I suppose. It made things kind of…tingly."
"There are benefits to all parts of a relationship," Dinah smiled. "Of course, you are both aware of little things called protection spells, I would think. Dylan positively loved them over Muggle options. And I still have no children," she laughed.
Lucy joined in her laughter, "Oh, yeah. We know all about those spells. There's been a couple incidents where the spell has been forgotten but obviously it's not resulted in anything besides a little worry."
"Ah, so you're less cautions, then," Dinah grinned. "Might want to be careful in that case. But if you're that concerned about it I don't think you'll forget. Maybe Sirius is just trying to figure out what you think about the idea. As for the winter wedding, those are things you discuss together. Just because he was surprised doesn't mean he dislikes the idea...um, I mean I don't think so," she finished.
Lucy shrugged, picking up the snake stuffed animal sitting on her desk, "Maybe. I don't know. About the kids thing. He's got some major parental issues. I mean after you left…Hogsmeade House…he was telling me Severus was the kind of son his parents would have loved to have."
Dinah just stared at Lucy for a moment, "I see. Well... look, I hope I don't sound insensitive to this and I'm not trying to. I understand how Sirius might feel that way and it's legitimate, but...is that what you were saying Severus had that Sirius needed the other day?"
"Yeah. I know that doesn't really justify what he did but..." she shrugged. "I think somewhere deep down he wanted his parents to love him, like I wanted my father to love me. Severus was what they would have wanted in a son and Sirius must have been jealous of that. Again that doesn't make everything okay…"
Dinah shook her head; "No, it doesn't. I'm sorry. But Sirius should have thought more about the reality of such things before he started wanting things that didn't exist, even if his thoughts were all subconscious." She snorted. "Okay, so maybe Sirius's parents would have loved Severus but Severus's parents certainly didn't. Or, well maybe his mother might have tried but she was too busy in her desperate attempts to please that disgusting husband of hers. Battered woman syndrome and all that – Oh!" her hand came up to her mouth, "I really, really shouldn't have told you that. Severus is not going to be happy."
Lucy stared at her friend. Her babbling really had rubbed off on the other professor. "I…I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. I won't say anything. I wasn't trying to make it all seem okay. I just…I was just babbling again I guess."
"No, It's not really your fault, it's just the whole situation is so ridiculous. Sirius obviously knew nothing about Severus's family. It would have been no better than his and probably worse for him. I mean, I understand him wanting his parents' approval but," she shook her head. "He shouldn't have brought Severus into that. Severus's home life was just about the worst imaginable. I'm sorry. It really hurts just to think about."
"I get it. I think." She carefully placed the snake back on her desk with the rest of the stuff, "I don't mean to kick you out but my class should be starting soon. If you don't have a class you're welcome to stay if you want," she said, playing with her new necklace, sliding the Tudor Rose pendant back and forth.
"Yeah, I guess I should go. I have a class, too," Dinah muttered.
"Dinah?" Lucy said, as she led her friend to the door, "I'm not mad at you and you can come see me whenever you want."
"Yeah, thanks," Dinah smiled, "I'm not mad at you, either."
"I'm glad. See you later," she said, closing the door behind her friend.