1
It was dark outside, and it was cold. The first real frost of the year would hit tonight. The wind that blew through the bare trees made a whistling sound. It was an empty sound. A sound that Remus knew. He knew it, because he felt it within his heart.
Sitting outside of the entrance to the Slytherin dormitory, he had his face in his hands. He tossed over in his mind over and over again, the decision that he had made. He knew in his heart that he had to do this. But his mind begged to differ. He loved Severus. And he knew that he did. But his heart told him, if he truly loved him... he would let him go. And rid him of the pain and torment that was caused by their continuation of their relationship. The marauders were still pretty harsh about him. The last thing Remus wanted was a repeat of the last time they had gotten a hold of him.
The entrance opened, and out stepped Severus, dressed in all black, with his hair pulled back out of his face. He saw Remus sitting, and walked to where he was. He could see the troubled look on his face, and his stomach dropped. Remus stood, and the two were now eye-level. "Remmy... are you okay?"
He shook his head. Coming forward, he brought his lips to Severus', praying that no one would appear. "Look... we need to talk, Severus." The tone in his voice scared him.
"Okay... then talk."
"Well... let's go sit down some where." The two walked to corridor, and they found an empty dead-end, and sat against the wall together. There was hardly anyone else out. Only the upper class students were permitted out this late. Remus grabbed Severus' hand, and held I in his own. He looked into the dark brown, almost black, eyes that sat in front of his own. It was painful. But he swallowed the tears, and coached himself to go on.
"I'm scared for you, Severus. The marauders... they still want to hurt you. And they're furious about us being friends. I don't want you to get hurt. The last thing I want is for what happened last time, to happen again. I think that... if we... didn't see each other any more... it would help calm them down maybe..." A tear fell down his cheek, but he kept his composure, even though his voice had cracked with the last sentence.
Severus looked as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. His heart was pierced. "No, Remus.... I would take that a million times more to just be with you..."
"I can't do that Sev. I can't let you get hurt again. I just can't stand it. It hurts me as much as it hurts you." He put his hand up onto the side of Severus' face, and kept it there, feeling the wetness of his tears. "I've thought about this a while. This needs to be done Severus. I'm sor-"
"I love you Remus. Please... don't do this to me," he whispered.
"I have to Severus... for you. I love you more than life itself. That is why I am doing this. Please... believe me." His chest began to heave, as he wept. Severus started to do the same. He then leaned over, placing himself in Remus' arms, and laying his head to his chest. Remus stroked the back of his hair, trying to calm him, yet too upset himself to do much good.
The two sat there in each other's arms well into the night.
After that night, they separated and went their own ways. The marauders quit their little "game", but continued picking on Severus. Well up until they graduated. Remus and Severus never spoke again the remaining school years, though it hurt both of them to do so.