Chapter Five
Sirius stayed as far back in the shadows as possible as the two figures made their way to a table and sat.
They were just close enough for Sirius to make out what they were saying.
"So why did you call me here in the dead of night?" Snape muttered, his eyes darting around the pub nervously.
"I've heard whispers that something unusual happened at the Ministry a few nights ago. I thought maybe you'd have some idea what it was."
"And why would you think that?" Snape's eyes narrowed, studying the boy before him carefully.
Draco gave a scowl. "Because of the company you keep."
Snape gave a small smile, which looked like more of a grimace from Sirius' vantage point. "And you thought I might divulge such information to you?"
Sirius heard a rattling sound as Draco pulled a small bag from under his robes.
"I'd make it worth your while."
"So like your father..." Snape said softly.
Draco narrowed his eyes. "I'm more than my father ever was. He was fool enough to get himself caught."
Snape regarded him for several minutes.
"The only thing I know at the moment is that filthy werewolf is back from wherever it was he had crawled to."
"No idea why?"
"How am I to know how that animal's mind works? If I'd had my way, I would have had him put out of his misery long ago. Pining away all because of the loss of that..."
Sirius was using all his control to stay where he was. His hand had curled into a fist and he longed to connect it with Snape's jaw for the way he talked about Remus, but this conversation was too important. He gritted his teeth, staying still and silent.
"Never mind that," Draco interrupted him. "Can you find out?"
Snape scrutinized the boy carefully, steepling his fingers below his chin.
"Leave it with me. I will see what I can do."
Draco smiled broadly. "Excellent. Can I buy you a drink before you go?"
"I think not." Snape's eyes wandered to the bar with distaste, then stood. "I will be in contact with you shortly."
"You know where to find me."
Snape stood and made his way out of the pub, unaware of Sirius glaring after him.
After all these years, after Dumbledore's trust...what was Snape up to?
Sirius made his own way out to the dark street beyond and Disapparated.
Remus stretched out in the dark room, reaching to pull Sirius closer only to find cold, empty sheets.
He sat up suddenly, throwing off the sheets.
"Sirius?" He called frantically.
"Shhhh." Sirius was silhouetted against the window, but he turned at Remus' voice and walked over to him, pulling the sheets back up gently.
Remus gave a small smile. "For a second I thought..."
Sirius sat beside him, sliding an arm around his shoulders and pulling him closer. "It's alright. I'm right here."
Remus gave a contented sigh, snuggling close, savoring the warmth.
"Can't sleep?" he murmured.
"I'll be fine. Just got a lot on my mind."
Remus lifted a hand to entwine his fingers with Sirius'.
Sirius brought them up to his lips, kissing them gently.
"Anything I can help with?" Remus couldn't help the husky tone in his voice. It just felt so good having Sirius back in his life that he wanted to enjoy every moment.
"I think I just need some sleep," Sirius answered, finally shrugging off his clothing and slipping under the sheets.
Remus didn't mean to feel rejected, but he did just the same. He began to roll away, when Sirius pulled him back.
"We have plenty of time to be together," he breathed into Remus' ear.
"Do we?" Remus answered, but was instantly ashamed.
Sirius smiled into his hair. "Same old Remus. Always worrying."
He yawned widely then and Remus gave him a gentle push onto the bed. "Go to sleep. That's far more important right now."
Sirius pulled him into the circle of his arms, and they drifted off into sleep.
The breakfast table was quite full the next morning, what with the Weasleys still their guests and Harry home for Christmas.
No mention was made of Sirius' and Remus' relationship, but they both still tried not to be overly affectionate in front of the others.
Still, Remus smiled when he felt Sirius' hand on his leg under the table.
Just as they were finishing up, and Molly was busying herself with the dishes, there were footsteps on the stairs.
Sirius looked up to see Dumbledore enter, followed by Snape.
The look of contempt Snape threw at Remus made Sirius want to hit Snape all over again.
Then Snape turned and saw Sirius.
The colour drained completely from Snape's face.
The twins slowly put down their remaining bits of toast.
The conversation Harry had been having with Ginny in the corner completely died away.
Nobody dared move.
"What," Snape finally hissed from between tightly clenched teeth, "is he doing here?"
Dumbledore, who had by this time seated himself at the table and unfolded that morning's Daily Prophet, looked up from his paper. "Ah, yes," he said, deliberately ignoring the growing tension. "Sirius has returned to us at long last."
Sirius leaned back in his chair, arching an eyebrow at Snape. "Good morning, Professor Snape," he said, his voice falsely sweet.
Remus groaned inwardly and covered his face with his hands.
"What's the matter, Black?" Snape sneered. "Did the Veil spit you back out? Did even the afterlife become sick of your sarcasm?"
"Why you – ow!" Sirius yelped as Remus kicked his shin under the table, hard.
Dumbledore glanced between the men. "I realize you've had your differences in the past," he began, frowning. "Perhaps it might do to recall that we are all on the same side here."
"That so?" muttered Sirius, glowering.
Remus stood up so fast that he overturned his chair. Hauling it upright, he grabbed Sirius by his shirt collar and forced him to his feet.
"Hey!" Sirius said indignantly.
"Would you excuse us, please?" Remus said to the room at large, gritting his teeth and half-dragging Sirius out of the kitchen.
"Um, of course..." said Molly. "Tea, Severus?"
Snape just scowled.
The twins took one look at the rather murderous expression on their ex-professor's face and hurriedly excused themselves. Ginny shot her mother a pleading look and, at Molly's impatient wave, chased after them.
"You must forgive Sirius," Dumbledore said to Snape. "He has, after all, been through a rather harrowing experience, and is not yet himself."
"Really?" grumbled Snape. "He didn't seem all that different to me."
"Severus, Severus, Severus," Dumbledore chided gently. "You are both grown men. It is long past the time to put aside childish differences."
Snape sighed. "I know, Albus. But I would swear he goes out of his way just to rankle me."
"So do you," said Harry quietly from the couch, startling the other three who had quite forgotten he was there. He would never have dared to speak so to Snape even six months ago, when he'd still been a student, but now that he was out of school, he couldn't resist.
Besides, Harry thought, what's he going to do? Give me detention? Take fifty points from Gryffindor?
"Potter," Snape growled. "Here already? I thought you weren't expected till tomorrow." Snape's venomous expression clearly stated that he wouldn't have come if he knew Harry was here.
"We got off a bit early for holidays."
"Did you now," sneered Snape. "How lucky for us all."
Harry stood up. "I have a few things to do," he said, pointedly ignoring Snape. "Mrs Weasley, let me know when Ron can have more visitors, please."
"Of course, dear," Molly said, but Harry had already left the room.
"What is it with you?" Remus hissed, glaring at Sirius as he forced him up the stairs to their room.
Sirius tried very hard to look innocent. It didn't work; Remus had known him far too long for that.
"What d'you mean?" Sirius asked in an injured tone. "It's Snape, it's Snivellus! Gods, Re, if I knew he'd be here, I'd have stayed dead!"
Remus stopped in his tracks. "Don't say that," he whispered. "Don't ever say that. Don't even think it, Sirius!"
"Oh. Oh, Moony." Sirius kicked the bedroom door shut with one foot as he pulled Remus into his arms. "Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't think... I just... reacted..."
Remus leaned his head against Sirius' chest. "Every minute since your return, I've wondered when I'll wake up, wonder when you'll leave me again. Having you back... Sirius, it's too good to be real."
Sirius tipped Remus' chin up to look at him, smoky grey eyes boring into amber ones. "It's real, Remus," he breathed, holding Remus' hand over his chest so he could feel Sirius' heartbeat. "I'm real. This is all real..."
He bent his mouth to Remus', savouring the taste and feel of the other man's lips beneath his own. He deepened the kiss, gradually flicking his tongue against Remus', aroused by his lover's soft moans.
"This is real too, Re," Sirius whispered, breaking the kiss just long enough to pull his shirt over his head. He pulled Remus firmly against him, slowly rubbing his hips in small circles against the other man. Both men were already unbearably hard. "And this is real," he said huskily, dropping to his knees. Swiftly he unbuttoned Remus' pants and slid them off.
"Yes... Oh, Sirius..." Remus gasped as Sirius took him wholly into his mouth, agile tongue working along Remus' erect length. With enormous effort, he pushed Sirius away.
Sirius stared up at him. "Um... Remus?"
"Stop. I mean, I don't want you to stop... Um..." Remus uttered a slightly shaky laugh and ran his hands through his hair.
"Ah," Sirius chuckled. "Lucky I nabbed this from the kitchen then." He held up a small bottle of olive oil.
Remus laughed outright. "So glad you remembered! But," he said, still laughing, "I believe I'd rather, ah, give than receive right now."
Sirius flushed. "Sorry 'bout that," he muttered.
"It's okay, really," said Remus as they fell together to the bed.
In the upstairs hallway, Fred Weasley dropped what appeared to be a long piece of flesh-coloured string to the floor. "That's the first time I've ever been sorry we invented Extendable Ears," he said, his face nearly as bright a red as his hair.
"I agree," said George. "Wholeheartedly. But at least we know they still work."
Harry looked shocked. "I think these things work too well," he muttered. "I just didn't need to hear all that... that..."
"'S alright, mate," Fred said heavily. "Maybe we should have stopped listening about twenty minutes ago."
"At least that long," said George, as Harry nodded his agreement.
Ginny said, "I didn't even know a person could do it... um... that way. You know, um, in there."
The three young men gaped at her.
"What?" she said. "It's not like this was covered at school."
"Well, how was I supposed to know what they were up to?" asked Harry, exasperated. "I thought they'd be discussing Snape!"
"Sorry, mate," said Fred. "I really, really wish they had."
"Likewise," said George.
"I think they make a very sweet couple," Ginny said, after an uncomfortable moment.
"Too much information!" George moaned, theatrically burying his face in his hands while his twin laughed and clapped him on the back.
"Come on then," said Fred cheerfully. "Who's up for some last-minute Christmas shopping?
Remus and Sirius lay contentedly in each other's arms, all their worries and fears forgotten, at least for the moment.
Remus absently stroked Sirius' arm that lay across his stomach Memories of those two years without him seeming so distant and pale right now, like a long ago nightmare from which he had woken.
He frowned as those memories tried to fight their way back inside his mind, images of sleepless nights, weeping until he ached all over, drowning his memories with firewhisky.
He wasn't sure why, but he had a sudden urge for some again.
No matter how wonderful it was to have Sirius back, he knew it still wasn't the same...yet.
They needed to work through so many things first. Sirius needed answers before he could finally let go of the past and begin to live in the present.
Sirius was sleeping, though Remus was quite sure it was only really a light nap, since it was only shortly after lunch.
Remus shifted slowly towards the edge of the bed, grabbing his jeans as he went. He pulled them on, grabbed a shirt, not bothering to button it up, and crept out of the room.
The house seemed quiet after the breakfast rush. He made his way down to the kitchen, rummaging in the cupboard until he finally found a bottle of firewhisky.
He sat at the table, popping the top and taking a gulp.
It definitely had the wanted effect of calming his nerves.
Relaxing in his chair he leaned back and smiled, taking another small sip.
"It's true, then, what they say about werewolves," came a cold drawling voice from the doorway.
Remus turned to see Snape leaning against the doorframe, a malevolent gleam in his eyes.
Remus knew better than to play into Snape's hands. He knew no matter what Dumbledore said, Snape would never be able to forget the past.
Personally Remus didn't blame him, and he still felt a trickle of guilt for never stopping James and Sirius in their teasing and taunting.
"Hello again, Severus," he said cordially, turning his gaze to the bottle in his hand.
Snape took a step inside the room, pausing at a creak upstairs. But then he turned his attention back to Remus.
"You're all alike, you know that."
Remus ignored him, reading the label of his drink with mock concentration.
"Dumbledore still thinks you're controllable. I suppose that fool Black thinks he can put collar and leash on you and you're harmless...but you're nothing but an animal."
Remus had heard it all before. His entire life had been filled with people who were so scared of him that they never bothered to delve deeper, to discover the man.
He looked up, giving Snape his sweetest smile.
"I sincerely appreciate your Wolfsbane potions Severus. Helps to keep my inner animal at bay."
"You're just as bad as Potter, both senior and junior. Just as arrogant."
"Oh, I have no delusions of being better than anyone else, Severus. I leave that to others."
Remus hadn't meant to give such a snide remark, but Snape was ruining what had promised to be a lovely day.
Snape glared at him. "If you knew what was coming..."
Remus raised his eyebrows. "Is there anything you'd like to share? There should be no secrets among friends after all." He forced his smile back on his face, standing and taking another fortifying sip of the whisky.
Remus moved closer to Snape, stopping when Snape took a step backwards.
"What's the matter, Severus?" he couldn't resist drawling. "I won't bite."
When Snape didn't answer he made to go past him to leave the room when Snape blocked his path.
"Heed my words, werewolf. My plans don't concern you, and if you get in my way..." he leaned a little closer, "it will only take one bullet to remove you from my path."
Snape turned to leave the kitchen but was faced with Sirius, glaring at him, his face masked with a fury Remus could barely remember.
"Going somewhere, Snivellus?" Sirius growled, quivering with barely suppressed rage.
Remus shook his head frantically at his mate. "Don't, Sirius," he said. "He isn't worth it."
"And you are?" Snape laughed, keeping his eyes locked with Sirius'. "Why don't you listen to your pet, Black?" he said coolly. At Remus' sharp intake of breath, he flicked his gaze towards the werewolf. "In fact, why don't you both..."
Wham.
"Sirius, no!" Remus yelled just as Sirius' fist and Snape's jaw connected solidly with a sickening crack. A heartbeat later, Sirius drove his other fist straight into Snape's chest, knocking the man hard against the wall, his head snapping back against the doorframe.
He pulled back for a third punch, but Remus leapt at Sirius with a hoarse yell.
"Sirius! What the bloody fuck do you think you're doing?" Remus screamed at him.
Sirius gaped at him. "You were right here! You heard him! I'm s'posed to stand here while he insults you like that, am I?"
Remus grabbed Sirius by the hair, twisting his head around until Sirius was forced to look at Snape, crumpled and unconscious on the floor. A thin trickle of blood ran out of the corner of his mouth.
"Look," Remus seethed. "I can take care of myself, Sirius. I've been doing it all my life. A few petty insults are not going to kill me."
"He threatened you, Re!"
"Sirius, we are on the same side! All of us!"
Sirius narrowed his eyes, the smoky grey darkening even as he spoke. "Don't be so bloody sure," he muttered, wrenching out of Remus' grasp. He shot one last scathing glance at Snape before storming up the stairs, nearly barreling into Molly who was on her way down.
"That's all right," she muttered peevishly to herself. "No, don't worry. Didn't knock me down..." Spying Remus, she added, "Remus, is it just me or is Sirius completely mannerless? He just – oh!" Her eyes widened abruptly, her mouth forming an O of surprise as she took in the scene before her. Snape still sprawled in the kitchen doorway, Remus crouched over him with his wand out.
"Molly!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Excellent. Just the person I needed. Look, you raised Fred and George; you must know loads of healing spells!"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Um, could you... I mean, I have to go after Sirius before he does something stupid." He slid through the door, edging past Molly who seemed unable to move. "Or something more stupid, that is." He gestured at Snape. "Could you, Molly? Please? For me?"
Molly gave a small, almost imperceptible nod of assent, and Remus vaulted up the stairs two at a time, calling his thanks to her over his shoulder.
"Oh, dear," Molly said.