by SnapeRulez
Chapter Thirteen: "The Final Break with Tradition"
A cup of tea is one of those pleasant things that no one can help but like. A good cup of tea. Hot, tasty, and all in all nothing but a reassuring sort of thing. Why should one not like a cup of tea?
Lupin decided there was no reason he could think of, and, furthermore, decided he should rather drink the tea than praise it, as it was of no real use once cold.
Having taken a few sips, Lupin suddenly felt that a quiet, beautiful night like this needed a celebration. It called for one, and surely it deserved one, especially with a nice, white full moon like that....
But, he remembered, it had been him who hadn´t wanted a "celebration", or as Snape had put it, "a farewell party", or as Dumbledore had put it, with an excited expression in his eyes, "an excellent excuse for a fancy feast with your colleagues!"
Lupin agreed with Snape (which was nothing utterly surprising theses days) on this particular matter.
There was no feast in order when you say good-bye to a part of yourself, not even on an extrodinarily peaceful and inviting night like tonight. The last full moon had been rather tense, as everyone had expected Lupin to either black out once more or to turn into a werewolf again.
Neither had happened, and even Lupin himself was surprised at how calm he had been before the moon was up and especially - after.
No transformation. Dumbledore had said "It seems you have made your peace, Lupin. I am very glad. Very glad indeed."
At that point he had glanced at Snape, smiled a warm smile quickly and had then returned to re-arranging his books on the book-shelf.
A knock on the door brought Lupin back to the present, and carefully he put his tea-cup down onto his desk.
"Come in", he called. "Severus," he said as he recognized the Potions Master, "you´re up late."
Lupin smiled openly as the moodily murmured reply came.
"I see you are in a good mood?" Snape asked. Lupin patted the tea-cup lightly. "Yes."
"No pain? No...wolfish feelings?"
Lupin shook his head rather happily. "No wolf. Just me."
"Good." Snape looked at the tea-cup.
"Do you want some tea, Severus?" Lupin asked.
Snape grimaced. "No. I hate tea."
Lupin raised his eye-brows, but then he started to chuckle in a rather amused sort of way.
"Everybody likes tea, Severus."
"I do not."
Lupin laughed quietly. "You´re not like everybody, then."
"You should´ve realized that by now, Lupin."
"Yes, sure." His look darkened slightly.
"Does calling me 'Remus' do any harm?"
"Yes," Snape spat.
Lupin blinked. "What?"
Snape sighed, seemingly annoyed.
"I mean, it´s bad for my reputation."
Lupin took another sip of tea, looking at Snape over the blue rim of the cup.
"Don´t you think," he began, "it is time for a break with tradition?"
Snape took a small step forward.
"There has already been a break with tradition."
Silence followed.
"You shouldn´t," Snape started, "be too confident about the transformations stopping. It might return. Not very likely, but it might."
Lupin put his cup down once again and leaned forward a little. He watched the Potions Master´s face intently.
"Are you telling me to be careful?"
Snape grimaced once more. "No."
Lupin heaved a sigh and opened his mouth to speak, but Snape interupted.
"What I am telling you is: Take care."
It was lucky that Lupin didn´t knock over his tea-cup, as there were several essays lying on the desk.
"Oh."
Lupin took another reassuring sip of tea. "I will. Thanks."
Snape turned quickly and put his hand on the door-knob. He opened the door, but turned to look at Lupin, who was still a little shocked with surprise.
"And...," Snape began heavily, "you know..."
He didn´t seem to be capable of finishing the sentence.
Lupin smiled mildly. "Yes. I know where you are, in case I need help." Snape cleared his throat.
"Good. Er, I´ll see you at breakfast, then."
He left the office and pulled the door shut behind him.
Lupin was still looking at the door long after Snape had gone.
"Who are they," he said into the empty room softly, "calling you 'heartless' ?"
THE END.