Written: 270102
Pairing: Snape/LupinNotes: This fic is actually sort of a companion piece to my other Snape/Lupin fic 'An Acquired Taste'. It's from Snape's POV, and also includes how they first got together. Part of a series in progress inspired by Frank Sinatra's 'It Was A Very Good Year'. Sequel to 'Reaching Through A Veil'.
Part 2
"No, you're wrong! It's not like that…" His desperate plea draws me back from my memories, back to the present, where an unbreachable gulf divides us. Staring at his pale, frightened face, it suddenly occurs to me that it was actually a prank, after all. The greatest prank that could ever be played on me.
***
"I think I'm in love with you." The soft whisper drifted into his ears. It took a while for him, mind engrossed with the intricacies of concocting a potion that would put one into a near-death trance, to register the meaning behind the syllables. When they finally made their impact, his head jerked up to meet the intense gaze of the other's grey eyes, all thoughts of spider silk and basilisk blood thrown out of the window.
"I beg your pardon?" He hardly dared to believe his ears. The word had never been used that way in relation to him before.
A slow blush was gradually spreading across Lupin's face. "I said…" his voice was surprisingly steady, in contrast to the vulnerability in his expression, "I think I'm in love with you."
It was a full minute before he could speak. "…why?" It had only been a scant two weeks that they had known each other. He couldn't understand how Lupin could come to such a conclusion so quickly.
Lupin took a deep breath, visibly fortifying himself. "I… the truth is, I've been wanting to get to know you for quite some time." Snape searched Lupin's face for a hint of jest or mockery, but he appeared frightfully sincere. "I know it's going to sound strange, but I've been a little drawn to you… it's as if we have some sort of connection."
As if he was afraid Snape would bolt, he suddenly reached out across the table and grasped Snape's hand, frozen on top of the books. "And now, the feelings have become stronger. I can't explain it, it just is."
Snape tugged at the grip around his fingers, and Lupin reluctantly loosened his hold, allowing Snape to reclaim his hand. "So… what do you want me to do about it?" he asked, eyeing Lupin guardedly as the boy left his seat and came around the table.
Lupin sank on the chair next to his. "I… I'm not sure myself… but, Severus," he made as if to touch Snape again, but restrained himself at the last second, clasping his fingers together instead, "do you – do you think we could have a chance?"
"A chance at what?" he asked, although he half-thought he already knew the answer.
This time when Lupin reached for his hand he did not resist. He stared into pools of shimmering grey as Remus said, "A chance at being – us."
He let his hand remain in the other boy's warm grip, his mind a whirl of confusion. He was painfully aware that he was highly inexperienced when it came to such matters, and it was so hard to think when he could feel Remus' thumb tracing light circles over the skin on the back of his wrist.
It abruptly occurred to him that his heart was pounding, and when he looked back at Remus, there was a twisting feeling in his gut, something akin to panic, yet was not. It felt… thrilling, and infinitely better than the blankness that occupied him most of the time.
Should he… and yet, why not? Wasn't this better than feeling cold and empty?
He must have made some sound that seemed like assent, because Remus' face suddenly lit up.
And then Remus' lips were coming nearer to his, inching closer and closer.
His eyes fluttered shut, and he didn't resist.
end part 2