A/N: I am SO proud of myself for posting this chapter so soon...especially since I started writing part one roughly this time last night. Since I am the kind of person who checks about 30 times a day to see if new parts of my favorite stories have been added (coughing in the general direction of such authors as Severitus (I mean, I adore A Father's Sin, but shouldn't An Old Man continue Meddling sometime soon?), Shadowphoenix, neutral, polaris and many, many others)...anyway, since I am a compulsive chapter-checker, I thought I would post this since I have it written (I'm even a chapter or two ahead!) and I might as well post quickly while I still can...
Okay, the Remus/Severus conversation was supposed to be a paragraph, tops. What can I say, I love those two! And in my defense, it's a damn long way down to Sev's office, okay? (Why else do you think Ron and Harry are constantly late to Potions?)
A few people have begged in the reviews or in emails to turn this into a slash or pre-slash story rather than father-son tale. Now, I admit that I adore the Severus/Harry couple (and death to SS/DM...although of course I read it...anything with my darling Severus)...so here's the compromise. Assuming I don't get too discouraged writing this story, when I'm done I'll write a SS/HP story starting with the same first chapter. Happy? I also must admit that I'm rather fond of the SS/RL pairing, and after rereading this chapter (and the next), my versions of Severus and Remus do seem to have some...history? So feel free to put in your two sickles about a little SS/RL...
So here begins my slightly-different take on the Severitus challenge...which sort of smashes a few of the rules but hopefully will be slightly different as a result (at least I don't think something quite like this has been done...hopefully by the time I get around to revealing exactly what I'm up to it'll still be that way....).
But seriously, thank you ALL for your wonderful, encouraging reviews. You all have warmed my little ol' HarryTorturing heart. :-)
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is the property of J.K. Rowling. I am not J.K. Rowling. Got it?
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The Color of Crimson
By Lady of Arundel
Chapter Two
Remus Lupin swiftly picked his way through the ancient halls of Hogwarts, a hand absently assuring that the scrolls just given to him by the headmaster remained secured within his robes. His other hand ran through his grey- flecked brown hair, a nervous gesture gone unnoticed as Remus lost himself in a torrent of thoughts and emotions. His meeting with Albus had not gone as expected. Oh, sure, it had begun well enough. 'Remus, it's been too long! Might I interest you in a lemon drop, cup of tea?' and 'I can't thank you enough for agreeing to... If you don't mind, I have an errand or two I'd like to entrust to your...Wonderful, wonderful, I thought you would be pleased...' Remus indeed had been quite pleased that Albus had thought to trust him with such matters and had moved to take his leave when... 'Oh Remus, there's just one more matter we must discuss before you go...' Remus came to a halt as his thoughts caught up with him, the hand that had been running through his hair now over his face, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh gods..."
He really wasn't as surprised or as shocked as perhaps he should have been. Secretly he had always suspected something had been amiss, even all those years ago. He had never quite understood how it had all come about, it had always seemed a bit sudden and, well, he personally had simply never seen it coming. But he had kept those unsettling half-suspicions to himself, not wanting to encroach on the happiness of his closest friends.
Remus leaned back against the rough stone wall to collect himself. He really wasn't shocked or upset— indeed, everything now began to make much more sense—as much as he felt...unsettled. Everything could change, and not necessarily for the better, if this wasn't handled correctly. If certain people weren't handled correctly.
Remus groaned at that last line of thought. 'Sirius...oh, bloody, bloody hell...Sirius.' Remus gave himself a slight shake, gathering himself up both physically and mentally. He'd think about the particular obstacle, the one commonly known as Sirius Black, later. 'Much later...'
Remus blinked and glanced around, seeing his surroundings for the first time since leaving the headmaster's office. The main entrance to the dungeons. And where there were dungeons there was..."Snape," Remus groaned. Snape, who was at the center of the whole affair, really.
"Well, well, if it isn't Professor Lupin. If I didn't know better, I would think you were anything but overjoyed to see me. Or has the indefatigable optimist of Gryffindor finally grown up a little over the past year?"
Remus closed his eyes briefly, stifling a groan as the silky voice rapidly approached from behind. He spun resolutely on his heel and lifted his chin to meet the Potion Master's glare. "Yes, I do believe you're the one I must thank for giving me the...opportunity...for character growth. I admit I suddenly found that had a lot of extra time on my hands for personal introspection," Remus challenged.
Severus held his glare a moment before glancing aside. "I am painfully aware of that, Remus, and for that I apologize." Severus quickly brushed by the startled werewolf before he had even finished speaking.
Remus chuckled lightly and followed Severus as he slunk down into his dungeons. "Do my ears deceive me or did the great Severus Snape just admit he was wrong?"
"You better trust your werewolf ears because I will not be repeating myself," Severus ground out, not sparing the other professor a glance. Remus reached out and placed his hand on Severus's shoulder, stopping the Potions Master's descent.
"I don't blame you, you know. I was angry and hurt at first, but then...maybe you were right." An ebony eyebrow arched. Remus licked his lips, "I mean, you were right that without the potion I posed a threat to the entire school. It was careless of me. Although how you went about it wasn't right. You shouldn't have told the Slytherins about me just because you were angry, it wasn't your place—"
"I believe I've already been on the receiving end of this lecture once already from Headmaster Dumbledore, so if you'll excuse me..."Severus said dryly, trying to shrug off Remus's hand. Remus held fast.
"I'm sorry, I know that...What I was trying to say was that, while it took me a while, I understand why you did it. You were angry and you felt cheated. So what I'm trying to say," Remus tightened his grip as Severus again tried to pull away from his grasp, "is that I understand, and I don't blame you. I forgive you."
Severus made a slight swallowing noise and Remus swore he caught a glimpse of something like wonder in those dark eyes before the Potions Master could slide his mask of indifference back into place. He snorted and drawled, "The forgiveness of a werewolf, I can now rest easy," finally wrenching himself free and hastening his step. Remus trotted after him.
"You forget, Severus, that I've known you most of your life, I think I can see through the sarcasm by now." Remus caught up to the other man and looked at him appraisingly, offering a slight smile. "I think you might actually mean it. If you didn't want my forgiveness then why else did you beg Albus to offer me the DADA position this year?"
The Potions Master's step faltered before quickening yet again. "I did not beg."
Remus smiled to himself but decided not to press the point—and his luck—farther. "Well thank you, regardless."
The two progressed in silence until they reached the door to the Potions classroom. Disarming the wards on the door, Severus finally broke his silence. "Is there a reason you're following me like a lost puppy dog? If I am not mistaken, you were hired to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, not Potions, and I would—"
"Albus told me, Severus."
Something about Remus's tone stopped Severus cold. If it had been harsh, biting, or full of hatred, Severus could have easily dismissed the man without a thought. But gentle and compassionate and knowing? Staring straight ahead, Severus dropped his voice to an icy whisper. "Told you what, exactly?"
Remus stepped around the Potions Master and gently pushed open the door. "Why don't we continue this conversation inside..." he spoke softly.
Swallowing, Severus mutely followed the werewolf into the darkened classroom.
TBC...
Okay, the Remus/Severus conversation was supposed to be a paragraph, tops. What can I say, I love those two! And in my defense, it's a damn long way down to Sev's office, okay? (Why else do you think Ron and Harry are constantly late to Potions?)
A few people have begged in the reviews or in emails to turn this into a slash or pre-slash story rather than father-son tale. Now, I admit that I adore the Severus/Harry couple (and death to SS/DM...although of course I read it...anything with my darling Severus)...so here's the compromise. Assuming I don't get too discouraged writing this story, when I'm done I'll write a SS/HP story starting with the same first chapter. Happy? I also must admit that I'm rather fond of the SS/RL pairing, and after rereading this chapter (and the next), my versions of Severus and Remus do seem to have some...history? So feel free to put in your two sickles about a little SS/RL...
So here begins my slightly-different take on the Severitus challenge...which sort of smashes a few of the rules but hopefully will be slightly different as a result (at least I don't think something quite like this has been done...hopefully by the time I get around to revealing exactly what I'm up to it'll still be that way....).
But seriously, thank you ALL for your wonderful, encouraging reviews. You all have warmed my little ol' HarryTorturing heart. :-)
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is the property of J.K. Rowling. I am not J.K. Rowling. Got it?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The Color of Crimson
By Lady of Arundel
Chapter Two
Remus Lupin swiftly picked his way through the ancient halls of Hogwarts, a hand absently assuring that the scrolls just given to him by the headmaster remained secured within his robes. His other hand ran through his grey- flecked brown hair, a nervous gesture gone unnoticed as Remus lost himself in a torrent of thoughts and emotions. His meeting with Albus had not gone as expected. Oh, sure, it had begun well enough. 'Remus, it's been too long! Might I interest you in a lemon drop, cup of tea?' and 'I can't thank you enough for agreeing to... If you don't mind, I have an errand or two I'd like to entrust to your...Wonderful, wonderful, I thought you would be pleased...' Remus indeed had been quite pleased that Albus had thought to trust him with such matters and had moved to take his leave when... 'Oh Remus, there's just one more matter we must discuss before you go...' Remus came to a halt as his thoughts caught up with him, the hand that had been running through his hair now over his face, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh gods..."
He really wasn't as surprised or as shocked as perhaps he should have been. Secretly he had always suspected something had been amiss, even all those years ago. He had never quite understood how it had all come about, it had always seemed a bit sudden and, well, he personally had simply never seen it coming. But he had kept those unsettling half-suspicions to himself, not wanting to encroach on the happiness of his closest friends.
Remus leaned back against the rough stone wall to collect himself. He really wasn't shocked or upset— indeed, everything now began to make much more sense—as much as he felt...unsettled. Everything could change, and not necessarily for the better, if this wasn't handled correctly. If certain people weren't handled correctly.
Remus groaned at that last line of thought. 'Sirius...oh, bloody, bloody hell...Sirius.' Remus gave himself a slight shake, gathering himself up both physically and mentally. He'd think about the particular obstacle, the one commonly known as Sirius Black, later. 'Much later...'
Remus blinked and glanced around, seeing his surroundings for the first time since leaving the headmaster's office. The main entrance to the dungeons. And where there were dungeons there was..."Snape," Remus groaned. Snape, who was at the center of the whole affair, really.
"Well, well, if it isn't Professor Lupin. If I didn't know better, I would think you were anything but overjoyed to see me. Or has the indefatigable optimist of Gryffindor finally grown up a little over the past year?"
Remus closed his eyes briefly, stifling a groan as the silky voice rapidly approached from behind. He spun resolutely on his heel and lifted his chin to meet the Potion Master's glare. "Yes, I do believe you're the one I must thank for giving me the...opportunity...for character growth. I admit I suddenly found that had a lot of extra time on my hands for personal introspection," Remus challenged.
Severus held his glare a moment before glancing aside. "I am painfully aware of that, Remus, and for that I apologize." Severus quickly brushed by the startled werewolf before he had even finished speaking.
Remus chuckled lightly and followed Severus as he slunk down into his dungeons. "Do my ears deceive me or did the great Severus Snape just admit he was wrong?"
"You better trust your werewolf ears because I will not be repeating myself," Severus ground out, not sparing the other professor a glance. Remus reached out and placed his hand on Severus's shoulder, stopping the Potions Master's descent.
"I don't blame you, you know. I was angry and hurt at first, but then...maybe you were right." An ebony eyebrow arched. Remus licked his lips, "I mean, you were right that without the potion I posed a threat to the entire school. It was careless of me. Although how you went about it wasn't right. You shouldn't have told the Slytherins about me just because you were angry, it wasn't your place—"
"I believe I've already been on the receiving end of this lecture once already from Headmaster Dumbledore, so if you'll excuse me..."Severus said dryly, trying to shrug off Remus's hand. Remus held fast.
"I'm sorry, I know that...What I was trying to say was that, while it took me a while, I understand why you did it. You were angry and you felt cheated. So what I'm trying to say," Remus tightened his grip as Severus again tried to pull away from his grasp, "is that I understand, and I don't blame you. I forgive you."
Severus made a slight swallowing noise and Remus swore he caught a glimpse of something like wonder in those dark eyes before the Potions Master could slide his mask of indifference back into place. He snorted and drawled, "The forgiveness of a werewolf, I can now rest easy," finally wrenching himself free and hastening his step. Remus trotted after him.
"You forget, Severus, that I've known you most of your life, I think I can see through the sarcasm by now." Remus caught up to the other man and looked at him appraisingly, offering a slight smile. "I think you might actually mean it. If you didn't want my forgiveness then why else did you beg Albus to offer me the DADA position this year?"
The Potions Master's step faltered before quickening yet again. "I did not beg."
Remus smiled to himself but decided not to press the point—and his luck—farther. "Well thank you, regardless."
The two progressed in silence until they reached the door to the Potions classroom. Disarming the wards on the door, Severus finally broke his silence. "Is there a reason you're following me like a lost puppy dog? If I am not mistaken, you were hired to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, not Potions, and I would—"
"Albus told me, Severus."
Something about Remus's tone stopped Severus cold. If it had been harsh, biting, or full of hatred, Severus could have easily dismissed the man without a thought. But gentle and compassionate and knowing? Staring straight ahead, Severus dropped his voice to an icy whisper. "Told you what, exactly?"
Remus stepped around the Potions Master and gently pushed open the door. "Why don't we continue this conversation inside..." he spoke softly.
Swallowing, Severus mutely followed the werewolf into the darkened classroom.
TBC...