Disclaimer: See Chapter One!
Uploaded: 24th January 2005
"Black Light"
By Dante Lewis
Chapter Eleven: Revelations
Snape slumped back in his chair, the werewolf's finely tuned memories of his sister's final moments eliciting a exhaustive rush of emotion from him. There were so many things he had gotten wrong about what had happened that night. The assumption that his sister had lived long enough to at least name her child, to hold her, being one of them.
While the revelation that Selina didn't die alone brought with it some measure of comfort, the creeping insecurity of inadequacy - that he had failed to be there for his sister - overwhelmed him with jealousy. Where Severus had failed his sister in his duties as a brother, the man before him had risen to the occasion. Did his sister even acknowledge that he would have not hesitated to do all that for her if he had half the chance?
Swallowing his pride – for what felt like the first time in his life – Severus pushed his emotions aside and looked Remus Lupin square in the eye.
"T-t-thank… Thank you." He said softly, not needing to convey anything more.
Remus nodded solemnly, words escaping him.
Their mutual silence was broken only by the sound of the two men nervously gulping at their drinks and the dozing snore of a contented 5 month old.
After a few moments of companionable silence, Severus set his glass down heavily and exchanged looks between the sleeping infant and the werewolf who, in a unguarded moment, was staring down at the charge in his arms with emotion written all over his face.
"You love her, don't you Lupin." Severus said softly, shared recollections of the wolf's traumatic separation from his Goddaughter flashing through the forefront of his mind.
Remus raised his head and nodded his head pointedly. "Yes I do, I'm not afraid to admit it." He said proudly, before giving Severus a dead serious look and adding in a warning tone. "So help me Severus, you better treat her right. I'll be watching."
Severus felt his defences rise, but pushed back his distaste before matching his guest's serious tone. "I'll be counting on it." He said, sighing inwardly at his own shortcomings.
And from that day on, an unspoken truce was formed.
End Chapter: Revelations