Author Notes:

Busaikko: You get a happy ending. Thanks for reviewing.

Murielmodel: They almost suffered more (sniff) Thanks for reviewing

See Full Author Note at the end.

Disclaimer: Time travel works forward not backwards, so I will never own this.

Chapter 19

Shaking a bit, she opened the box to find an overturned goblet with an anti-spill charm on it and a letter.

Dear Remus,

How are you? I'm fine and it's all thanks to you, which is why I would like to begin repaying you immediently. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through and I hope things are going well for you. Enclosed is a goblet full of Wolfsbane potion. Don't hesitate to write me if you think you'll need more.

Severus.

What did he think he was doing writing Remus? He'd ruin everything, the jerk. So, fuelled by fury she wrote her reply and went back to Remus as she'd promised.

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Seeing the letter made his whole face light up. If anyone had been in his private chambers with him they might have had a heart attack. That light flickered and died horribly as he read the letter that claimed to have been sent by Remus.

Snape,

Of course I should have realized that you would do something like this. I thought I got Tonks to tell you that the only thing you can do to repay me is to stay away from me. You're right, you have put me through a lot, but this is the worst of all. I know your trying to win my affection by sending me that potion, but I'll tell you this. I don't want another. I don't want to see you or another one of your potions ever again. We are not in love, and your constant pestering has led to the end of our fledgling friendship. Why did the Headmaster ever force me to baby-sit such a pathetic, desperate, man? No wait, your not a man are you? You're a murderer. A murderer I want nothing to do with. Stay away from me!

Mr. Lupin

He reread it several times getting more confused than he'd ever been. Remus would never write something like this. Hadn't the whole reason Tonks had told him to back off, was because Remus was too nice to do it himself? He'd seen Remus be completely infuriatingly cordial that time when Lucius Malfoy found him alone. Lucius had insulted Remus for ten minutes before storming off, and Remus hadn't reacted angrily at all. This letter just wasn't Remus, and to react like this to an act of kindness? He put the letter in his pocket heading for the door, then stopped dead. Could Remus really have written such a cruel letter? His heart was so used to rejection, to being used, and if he'd have listened to it he'd have gone to his potion shelf and grabbed poison. Which is why it's very good that the logic and curiousity of his mind won out.

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She and Remus were playing checkers again, with the window open and a slight breeze coming through. It was quiet except for the occasional move of a piece. Quiet until the tiniest knocks on the door came almost as if the visitor was debating fleeing. Unconcerned, thinking it Molly or something, she concentrated on the game while Harry answered the door.

"YOU!" she heard him spit out venemously before he slammed the door. The visitor knocked again now more sure of themselves making Harry run over to Remus. He gripped the back of his chair while Remus set his hand over his and asked who it was fearfully.

"Snape", she could have fainted but instead she found herself choking out," I'll get rid of him"

NO! I mean, no thank you Tonks", he sounded a mixture of hopefulness mixed with anxiety and anger," I'll be right outside Harry", he got up with Harry protesting and following so that Remus finally had to say," Harry please go sit next to Tonks. I'll be right back. There is nothing that will hurt you here"

"Not for two more weeks", he said under his breath so softly that none heard it before he sat next to Tonks, who quite frankly wanted to cry when he shut the door behind him.

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"Hello Mr. Snape", he said shutting the door behind him.

"Mr. Lupin"

"………..Can I help you with something?"

"I was wondering what was wrong with my Wolfsbane."

"Nothing, why do you ask?"

"You said you never wanted me to send any again. I assumed there must be someth-"

"No I didn't"

"Are you saying you didn't write me a letter telling me you didn't want-"

"You've never sent me Wolfsbane"

His whole being screamed with joy believing him, but now there was only one thing to ask. Do you hate me? How hard is it just to ask-"

"Severus why do you hate me?"

"WHAT!"

"Is it because I'm a werewolf?…Is it because of Sirius and James? Severus their dead now, and I love you"

"I love you too", he felt light-headed, giddy.

"Then why'd you write that letter?"

"Tonks", he choked out before bursting into hysterical laughter.

"Pardon?" Remus asked looking behind him, but when he'd looked back Severus had enveloped him in a hug shaking from the hysterics.

"She…told…me…you…hated…me…so…she…wrote…the…letters", Severus whispered in his ear the laughs puncturing each word. After calming down to the point of giggling he kissed Remus, who turned his head so that it landed on his lips not his cheek. He wrapped his arms around Severus pulling him backwards, still in the kiss, till they hit the wall.

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Harry jumped hearing the thump. "Tonks he's hurting Remus", she turned to look at him and said," No he's not…I…I've got to go", she ran for the door and Harry shrank back into the cushions putting his arms around his legs. The door opened a few minutes later and he began rocking.

"She's gone Remus"

"Harry!" he wrapped him in his arms

"Y-your not hurt?"

"No, no I'm just fine. I want you to pack your suitcase, can you do that?"

"Why?"

"We're moving in with Severus."

"But…but that letter"

"You read it?"

"sorry", he sounded small.

"It's alright, I'm not upset. Tonks wrote that not Severus."

"But why?"

"Harry why do you think she was over here so much?"

"Oh"

"Now go pack. I want to leave as soon as possible"

Author Notes: Next Epilogue. I originally had planned for Snape or Harry to realize what was going to happen a few minutes before Remus would marry Tonks. I banged my head on the wall (my brother helped) but I couldn't make it work, so I ditched that idea and was going to have Snape try and commit suicide. He would've sent a letter, Tonks would have freaked and all would have been well, but since my brother didn't react well to that idea I've went with this. I probably need someone better to bounce story ideas off than my brother, but if either of you want me to post the suicide ending I will. I'm still not happy with this chapter, but as my internet might be going away I thought it best to post it.