For You I Will III
Severus had just taken Draco and Harry to the infirmary. His mood was still as dark as it had been when they'd gotten that shit letter the night before. The ministry was had no right to dictate Neville's life, but there was not much he could do about it. He thought back to how crestfallen Neville had looked when he'd shown Severus the letter. They'd all but demanded his wand.
When he went into the dungeons, he found that Neville was not there, nor was he in his own room. Muttering a string of foul cuss words, Severus began to climb to the top of the astronomy tower. He saw his lover leaning against the wall with his face turned toward the sky. "I knew you'd be here," he said to the younger man.
Neville turned toward him and smiled. "Am I that predictable already?"
"You have your habits," Severus said with a sigh. "You know you shouldn't give a damn what they say. We'll find a way to fight it."
Neville shook his head. "How are Harry and Draco?"
"Fine. I still can't believe the stupidity of that potion business. I'll have to give them both the detoxifying potion in the morning. Will you go visit them?"
"When they're feeling better."
Severus slid his hand around Neville's waist and pulled the slightly shorter man to him. "The stars are out tonight," he said softly, and this time it was no lie. "There isn't a cloud in the sky and moon is so bright that it's bouncing off the snow."
"Beautiful," his lover commented as he brought Snape's hands to his lips. "You know I think the main reason I was such a nightmare in potions was that I was always watching your hands and not what you were adding to the brew."
"If I would have known, I would have bloody well worn gloves. Do you have any idea how many caldrons you ruined?"
Neville laughed. "I lost count after third year."
"Yes, well I didn't. You completely annihilated twenty-four of them. That will always impress me about you," he quipped as he began to kiss the bare bit of Neville's neck. The chill of the night combined with the passion he was feeling made Severus shiver. "Let's go inside."
In his chambers, Severus poured them each a glass of red wine. Sitting down beside Neville, he took in the pensive look on his face. "Do you think I'm good at this?" the blind man asked seriously.
"You haven't been at it long, but it seems you have a knack for it. The ministry can fuck off. Rolanda and I will back you on this," he promised.
"But let's face it, without Dumbledore there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that I'll get out of these ridiculous restrictions. Which by the way, I am surprised I didn't get a warning for using the translating charm on the letter they sent me. The use of magic is strictly forbidden unless supervised by no less than three trained wizards," Neville mocked.
"What do you want to do?"
The light haired man shook his head. "I haven't a clue. This is all so degrading. I spent three years learning how to function again. Three years at the university. I nearly got my muggle degree in education, but I decided to come here and teach. Now I wonder if it was the right decision."
"You're going to give up so easily? I keep telling you, fuck the ministry. We'll fight this!" Severus barked. "Those bloody morons don't know you. They've no idea what you are capable of."
Neville nodded. "I'll try, Severus, but if it doesn't work. I may go back to the muggle world. I can't live my life being utterly useless, and that is exactly what that little document makes me."
"Then we'll go together." Snape was just as shocked as Neville was by that statement, but he couldn't deny that he meant it.
"But you've been here for twenty years!"
Severus sighed. "I made a mistake when I let Remus go, and I will not repeat it. His death taught me exactly what I should hold onto."
Neville smiled at him. "I love you."
Now that caught Snape off guard. He wasn't sure how to react so he merely kissed the man passionately. It wasn't the right time for him to cross that bridge just yet.
They made love well into the early morning and when Neville crept out of the room, Severus was left to mull over things on his own. Neville had been right about not having a chance without Dumbledore. Barring Harry's return to the wizarding world, he didn't have connections to anyone who would be able to have that much sway on the ministries dealings. There simply weren't that many disabled wizards, and when there was an issue, it was easily swept aside. For all the wonder in this world, there was not much room for tolerance. Hadn't Remus proved that? Was it right to talk Neville into that kind of futile fight?
The muggle world. Severus grimaced at the thought. His few dealings with muggles had not been good. The Dursleys were almost enough to sour him on the whole lot of them. But if Neville could be accepted there more easily, maybe it would be worth it. He certainly wouldn't miss many people if he left.
The sun was up too soon and he had to administer the first round of potions to Draco and Harry. Rolanda had assured him that his classes would be covered for the day. He had left a reading assignment long enough to keep them busy. Stalking down the halls, he thought of all the things he wanted to say to that bloody Gryffindor when he was out of this mess. There certainly was a great deal of unfinished business between them.
In the infirmary, he found Poppy staring wistfully at the pair entwined in a single bed. The scene was so perfectly lovely that it made him ill. He hoped that he and Neville at least had a little more dignity when they were together, but something in him told him that it was not so. "Can't we let them rest a little longer?" Poppy sighed.
"It's best to get it done with. You know how badly this will effect them. It was going to be rough enough on Potter alone, and now Malfoy has tossed himself into the mix." He shook Draco gently. "Time to get up."
