Warning: This is still slash. And we have some actual slash action! Yay!
Dedication: This one's for everyone who's reviewed. Thank you for making this my most popular story! It's fun to write, and I think I may keep up with it.
Author's Note: I don't know if this is going to be the last part or not. It could go either way, actually. I really do like this story though, Remus/Severus is one of my favorite pairings. And quite a few other folks, as well. :-) So enjoy!
A Personal Affair,
Chapter Three
Remus had dressed in his best, which, on reflection, left much to be desired. //Well, at least there's no holes.// He sighed, smoothing his dark brown sweater over his stomach. At least it was clean, and if it was well worn...well, it was well loved. The same with his faded jeans, and scuffed boots. His hair was clan and brushed back, and he felt confident in his appearance. //What if he doesn't like me? What if he's able to tell? What if...// But Remus pushed those thoughts aside. He took a deep breath, staring at the door of the Marksman. It was now or never. He realized how stupid this whole thing was. He was going to meet a man whose name he didn't even know, but whom he was half in love with already, on the grounds of spending the rest of their lives together. //I think I'm making a mistake...//
The inside of the Marksman was dark and familial. There was a warm, cozy atmosphere that Remus highly enjoyed. There were a few tables down below the bar, and a waitress or two wandered aimlessly about. Remus' eyes scanned the room anxiously, and his heart lurched into his throat.
//Oh god no...what's *he* doing here?//
Sitting in a corner of the room was a man that Remus least wanted to see. //He's going to ruin this for me...he's going to see me, and he's going to say something, and he's going to ruin this...//
The werewolf was tempted to bolt for the door, write to his literary paramour that something had come up, and reschedule. If only to avoid the disaster of having Severus Snape in the same pub! Unfortunately, Snape had seen him. The other wizard's eyes flicked towards the door, and a sardonic eyebrow was raised upon seeing Remus. //Wonderful. Now I have to say something.// Remus took a deep breath, forced his unbidden scowl into a polite smile, and headed down to greet his old classmate.
"Severus." He said, voice callm and placid.
"Lupin. Wasn't expecting to see *you* here." Snape had a drink and was leaning back in his chair. //That's rather sad, if he's sitting here drinking by himself.//
"Really? You must not come here often then." He forced a laugh, trying to remain light and friendly. Remus dropped by at least once a week.
"No, I don't. I can assure you, this is not the sort of place *I* frequent by choice." He scoffed, eyes trailing over the room. Remus was suddenly struck by the fact that Severus was not wearing robes. He was dressed in a finely tailored black sweater and slacks. //That's just bizarre...//
"Well, I find it to be a quite comfortable place."
"You know Lupin, have you ever thought to be anything other then drearily cheerful? I know it's your nature, but it is damn annoying!"
"Well, I don't really care Severus." Remus said, voice still pleasant. "My nature is my nature, and if you'll excuse me, I'm here to meet someone." He allowed himself
a small frown, enough to show irritation. He started to turn, but he felt Severus' hand on his wrist, suddenly.
"You're here to meet someone?" There was an urgent sound in Severus' voice. "Who?"
"None of your concern." //What? Is he afraid I'm meeting another werewolf here? Some people...//
"It may well be." Severus shook back his hair, and looked rather intensely at Remus. The werewolf squirmed under the intense gaze, feeling rather as thought Snape
were undressing him with his eyes.
"If you must know...I have a date." Hopefully that would be enough. "Why?"
"Because." Snape's voice had a strange note to it. "I am...here to meet someone as well."
"Wonderful. Let's make it a double." Remus said sarcastically. "I would *really* rather not be seen with you..."
"Fine. Just answer one question: You're not meeting someone you met through a personal add in the Dailey Prophet, are you?"
"How did you...?" Remus trailed off, puzzled. //How does Severus know about that? Or is he assuming, rubbing it in that he ruined my social life?//
"Because, Lupin..." And now Remus saw that Severus had begun to laugh. "Oh dear lord, this is too rich! Lupin, you're here to meet me!"
~~~~
The weight of that statement hit Remus like a ton of bricks. He sat down, not sure what else to do with his legs. //Severus? I'm here to meet Severus...?//
"This is highly amusing." Snape shook his head. "Oh, do relax. I hardly think it is worth all your dramatics."
"I think it is!" Remus said, resting his head on his hand. "All this...over you!"
"Yes, well, I suppose I could say the same." Severus raised an eyebrow, and Remus just shook his head. He couldn't even think. All this time, he had been baring his soul to one of his worst enemies. He had poured his heart and soul out to none other then Severus Snape.
"I'm sorry, this is just..." He trailed off again, just not able to finish a sentence.
"An amusing coincidence. This explains your fervent defense of lycanthropes. And your eyes are not brown, they're gold."
"Yes." Remus just nodded. His head was spinning.
"This truly is afecting you, isn't it?" Snape tilted his head, his black hair falling to obscure half of his face. "Would you like a drink?"
"I don't drink." //All right, just calm down. Take a deep breath. You can deal with this.// "I had no idea. I honestly didn't."
"Nor did I. Though I must say, it makes a few things easier. I do find you physically attractive, which was a fear I had. Despite your assurances. I am sure you can understand my hesitance to accept your claims on face value."
"Of course." Remus nodded. //Make the best of this...// "Thank you."
"I find it interesting that you failed to mention your lycanthropy...?"
"I thought that was something best discussed in person." Remus said, rather primly. "Though you certainly indicated that it wasn't a problem. I had no idea you had such an obsession with my kind."
"An interest, Lupin, an interest." Severus shrugged. "Now are we going to order anything, or are you simply going to sit there gawping?"
"I've stopped gawping." Remus mumbled. He felt like a small child who had been scolded by an older sibling. "And I'm not certain I can eat anything now."
"Am I that repulsive to you?"
It was a soft question, with no malice, but one that still stopped Remus dead. //Why are you making this so difficult? You and Severus have had your problems in the past, but...//
"No, Severus." Remus shook his head. "I'm just still in shock, I think. You've...you've never been exactly kind to me."
"Nor you to me, if we must be fair."
"Not when we were younger, no. But the last time we met I was more then civil to you."
"Yes, you were." Severus nodded. "Let me get to the point: time is running short, for both of us. We are alone, lonely, and more then a bit bitter. I am looking at this as an opportunity. THrough our correspondence I have a new understanding of you. I know you now, in a way I never would have known you from our...rather terse relationship."
"Yes." The werewolf had to admit that Severus was right. But Remus still had a hard time connecting the caustic, clever, charming man from his letters to Severus. It was like they were two different people. //But how well did you really know him? Hardly at all. You never bothered. Maybe if you had...//
"Would you like something to eat or not?"
"Yes." Remus nodded. What could it hurt? "I suppose this is sort of funny."
"Intently humorous." Severus quirked his lips in an odd sort of half smile. //He *is* good looking.// Remus decided. //When he's not working.//
"Except when I remember you were going to turn me over to Dementors to have my soul destroyed a couple of years ago." Remus smiled sardonically, eager to hear what defense Severus would have for that.
"Yes. At the time it appeared obvious that you were a traitor. I take my responsibilities to my students quite seriously."
"Of course." Remus sighed. //He always has an answer for everything, doesn't he?//
"What do you wish to do?"
"I'm not entirely sure." Remus folded his hands on the table, thinking hard. He had come here, to meet the man he had half decided to spend the rest of his life with. And it turned out to be Severus. What did that really change? //You always get angry when people spurn you once they find out who you really are. Don't be a hypocrite...// "Maybe...maybe you're right. Sirius is going to kill me, you realize."
"I certainly don't care what *he* thinks." Severus waved an elegant hand in dismissal. "This choice is ours, and ours alone. I'd like to give it a go, if you would."
"Well..." Remus sighed. //Nothing gambled, nothing gained, they say.// "Yes. I think I would."
"Thank god! I was beginning to think that dragging myself out to this rural hell-hole was a complete waste of my time." Severus shook his head, cringing a bit. "You can't honestly enjoy this place..."
"It's one of my favorites." Remus said, smiling shyly. "But if it offends you that much..."
"It does."
"We can always go somewhere else." Remus conceded.
"There would be little point. Let us simply eat." Severus snapped his fingers, to get the attention of one of the waitress'.
"Severus!" Remus couldn't believe the rather rude gesture. "That was uncalled for!"
"We're ready to order, I have no desire to wait." The potions master shrugged, and turned his attention to the annoyed looking waitress who made her way over.
"We would like a bottle of your best wine, and whatever today's specials are."
"Severus!" Remus hissed again. //Now he's ordering for me? And I told him I don't drink!// The waitress said nothing, simply took the order and left. "I am quite capable of ordering for myself!"
"I am aware. But that saved time. And as little time spent here, the better." Severus gave a bit of a sardonic smile.
"That eager to get me home, are you?" Remus said, with a bit of a coy smile.
"Quite amusing." Severus gave him a mild sneer, and then shook his head. "You've a mind in the gutter."
"Sometimes." Remus shrugged. Their food came, and Remus wrinkled his nose at it. //I hate fish.// "But that does raise quite a question...I live here, in the middle of no where. You live...elsewhere."
"I live outside of London, yes distance is an issue. But again, I have every intention of moving you into my home."
"That's fine...but I come with accesories." He gave a small laugh. "I have Sirius with me. Are you prepared to move him in, as well?"
"Dear lord..." Severus narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I have no desire to have Black beneath my roof."
"Then you'r egoing to have to live without me for a bit." Remus reminded him. "I can't just leave him alone in my house. First of all, he'll wreck it. I know he won't mean to, but when he gets bored...second of all, Dumbledore asked that I look out for him. I can't do that in London, unless he's with me."
"He'll never agree to it."
"He won't have much of a choice. Look, it comes down to this: do you want me, or not? Forget about Sirius, or anything else. Do you want me?" Remus was surprised to find that he was quite anxious to hear what Severus had to say to that. //Does he want me? Why wouldn't he? Why *would* he? He's going to tell me to bugger off. He's going to tell me this was all a mistake. Or he'll say that he doesn't want me that much...//
"Do I want you? Of course I do. I wouldn't still be here, did I not."
"Really?" Remus broke into a wide smile. "Then you're going to have to put up with Sirius. I'm sorry, Severus, but that's just the way things are."
"Well, nothing worth having comes free." Severus sighed. "But I will have you know I am quite displeased at this turn of events."
"You can be. Honestly, I'm not too happy about it either. Sirius is going to make a relationship difficult."
"I don't care. I'll bend you over a table in front of him if I feel like it."
"Severus! And you say *I* have a gutter mind?"
"I never said I did not." He gave a small half smile, and Remus felt himself warming suddenly to the other man.
"I'll handle Sirius." Remus said. "When did you want me in?"
"You may go home and gather your things after we eat." Severus said. "This is he adress." He scribbled something on a bit of paper.
"All right." Remus took it, and his fingertips brushed across Severus'. The small touch sent shivers up his spine. //Maybe being bent over a table wouldn't be a bad thing...// They finished their meal in silence, and left the resteraunt together. There was an awkward pause, and Remus struggled for something to say.
"Er..." He started, turning to look into Severus' eyes. //They really are *dark*./
"At a loss for words, Lupin?"
"Please call me Remus." He said softly, taking Severus' hands in his. He felt somewhat strange, touching the other man so intimately. "I think we're beyond impersonality at this point.""Yes, I am prone to agree with you." Severus quirked his lips in a small smile. Remus swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. His heart was pounding madly in his chest, and a small part of his brain took control. He leaned forward, closed his eyes, and brushed his lips very softly against Severus'. It was the merest butterfly of touches, but it was enough. He pulled away, blushing and glancing down at the ground.
"Modest, as well." Severus said softly. "I would never have guessed. If this how you react to our first kiss, I'm afraid you're going to be a bit of a bore in bed."
"Don't worry about that." Remus said, not stopping the grin that spread over his face. //He's insufferable!// "I'm sure I'll surprise you."
"I look forward to it. Now get get your things. And...that other thing you're bringing with you. I shall see you presently."
"Yes, you will." Remus said, his heart soaring inside of him. He had had no idea, when he first repsonded to that add, that anything so good would come of it. He watched Severus walking away, a small sigh escaping his lips. //You know, I really think this is going to work...//
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It could end here, if I really wanted it too, but I may extend it.