Title: Wipe Away the Tears
Author: Moon Gazer
Rating: PG-13
Warnings and Comments: This story is a bit darker than my normal works, and involves vampires, murder, death, etc. Also, I admit, I have taken some of the rules of vampire lore and twisted them to my own needs. This story is in no way a good reference to use for your own stories. Thanks to all the people who read this over for me, including my friends, and a few of my teachers. Oh, and by the way, I( obviously at this point own only Miss Delalune and the twisted story plot, so don't sue. And if you think I own Disney, you're crazy, because then I wouldn't be writing this as a story. I'd be directing it on film!
Remus glared at the paper in front of him, willing himself to actually give a damn about the students views on the treatment of mountain trolls. Unfortunately, the subject was already dull to begin with and the preachy tone of the writing seemed to have attained the ability to go around in circles without ever proving a point.
"The inhumane treatment of mountain trolls has in part been based on the ridiculous theory that, like dragons, they hoard gold."
Remus stared ahead blankly. She had a gold ring around her pupil, very unusual. Groaning, he dropped his head to the table with a 'thunk'. This was getting ridiculous he complained, scrubbing his face with his hands. He had work to do, and all he could do was moon over a fellow teacher.
' Oh how the mighty have fallen.' He mused, knowing that if James or Sirius were there, they would have fallen out of their chairs laughing. Lily on the other hand, would have asked him what he was waiting for.
"What am I waiting for?" he muttered, before answering his own question, "A hint that she likes me back, maybe?"
'Well,' said that little voice that sounded remarkably like Lily, 'you won't know that unless you stop avoiding her.'
Remus swore softly. He had avoided her since that evening at the Three Broomsticks, confused by the spin she'd sent his emotions on. First she didn't care that he was a werewolf, and then she practically flirted with him throughout the dinner. But once back at the castle and among the rumors about her and Snape, he had begun to worry that maybe he had read into things too far. Maybe she had just wanted to be nice. She certainly hadn't gone out of her way since then to speak to him, rather she had been spending all her spare time with Snape, and when the two of them weren't bent over a pile of parchments, or walking into the hall together, they were owling each other details about something . Remus hadn't dared to ask what after he'd overheard her discussing robe colors with Minerva. 'Still,' that voice reasoned, ' you could be throwing this way out of proportion. She's known Snape for a long time. Maybe he's just helping her with something.'
"Or maybe he's involved in something with her." He muttered. Still, he didn't like being in the dark. Maybe a talk with her would be just the thing.
Serenite pocketed the latest robe measurements that had been forwarded to her. 'There is just far too much to worry about' she thought as she continued down the relatively empty hallway. Nearing the end, she noticed a door opening and watched as Dumbledore exited through it, a small box in his hands.
"Good evening Serenite."
"Hello, Headmaster. How are you?"
"Wonderful. And you?"
" A little frazzled, but otherwise fine."
Dumbledore eyed the papers that were threatening to fall out of her robe pocket with an amused smile.
"Hopefully not too busy to go to Hogsmeade this weekend? It is a Hogsmeade weekend, if you remember."
Serenite smiled back at him. In truth, she had forgotten completely, but the idea was appealing. Glancing down, she looked at the trinket he held.
"What's in the box?"
Dumbledore smiled again.
"That, my dear Miss Delalune, must remain a secret for the moment, until the puzzle is solved."
Serenite frowned, brushing back a strand of wayward hair. "Puzzle?"
Dumbledore nodded and held the box up, allowing Serenite to take note of the intricate carving.
"I see. It's a puzzle box, isn't it?"
"Yes, for Remus. His birthday is next week, and I felt a gift was in order."
"Really?" Serenite asked. "Next week?"
"Next Thursday, I believe."
Serenite nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "If you'll excuse me headmaster."
"Of course, Professor." He replied, watching her wander off with a bemused twinkle in his eyes.
Severus Snape was not a 'people person'. Especially at 10:43 at night, a time he normally spent with a glass of brandy and a good book. And he most certainly wasn't particularly civil after a day of teaching. So he really did consider it quite an accomplishment when he didn't send the door to his room blasting off its hinges, crushing the person who was currently knocking on it. He did for a moment, consider putting a Silencing Spell on the door, but set the thought aside, realizing that the mere knowledge that someone was at his door would annoy him. 'It had better not be Filch." he thought darkly, as he stormed towards the door.
"Sev? It's me!"
He raised an eyebrow as he undid the locks on the door. Opening it, he faced Sere on the other side, her look half excited, half worried. Ushering her in and closing the door behind him, he raised an eyebrow again as she paced in front of his fireplace. She continued to do so as he sat down. He sighed, waiting the agitated woman to stop. He hoped she would soon. She was making him dizzy.
Finally she stopped pacing, only to turn and stare at him. He raised an eyebrow.
"Well?" he drawled.
"Well what?"
He glared. "What do you mean, 'Well what'? You're the one who charged in here at eleven at night and then proceeded to wear a trench into my rug!"
She held up a hand to ward off the rest of his tirade.
"Sev, let me start over."
"I wasn't aware that you'd started at all." He muttered.
Serenite sighed.
"I came to ask for some advice."
"Ask away."
"Well.Remus's birthday is coming up next week and I'd like to get him something and-"
"And I fail to see what this has to do with you interrupting my evening."
Serenite glared at him and he steadfastly ignored the look.
"I was hoping , since you've known him longer, you might have some idea of what I could get him."
"Well, there are the usual.flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep."
"Severus."
He looked up, a smirk firmly plastered on his face.
"Who's been letting you into the Disney again?"
He snorted.
"Spare me. Those Muggle excuses for entertainment?"
Sere grinned.
"Whatever you say..Lumiere."
Severus sputtered and bolted upright.
"I do not under any circumstances resemble that French, over the top, brass brained, foppish..thing!"
"Whatever you say, Sev."
"I do not!"
There was a slight pause, before Serenite glanced back at him.
"I'm assuming that means that no one in the school knows about your little stint upon the boards back when I first met you?"
" No they don't." he snapped, as a horrible suspicion dawned on him, " and you won't be saying anything about it!"
"I'm sure we could arrange that, Sev..if you help me out." Serenite replied, her nonchalant tone ruined by the mischievous grin on her face. Severus growled low in his throat, sinking deeper into his seat.
"Fine. I'll help. But you're not allowed to come near me after this."
"Oh? Why's that?"
Severus groaned slightly, rubbing his hand over his face, before answering.
"Because I'm rubbing off on you, that's why."
Serenite said nothing, but continued to watch him, a small grin playing around her mouth. He glanced up at her through his fingers, glaring at her expression.
"In my defense, the rent had to be paid."
Her grin morphed into a smirk.
"And you just stayed for three seasons for pocket money, right?"
"Shut. Up."
"Alright, alright. As fun as this is..."
"You need my help."
"Exactly."
"What makes you think I know what you should get for that overgrown housepet of yours?"
She looked at him, pushing back some loose strands of hair that had fallen into her face. Much to his relief,she slowly sat down in the chair across from him, crossing her legs comfortably.
"Because I've come up with all the normal things. Sweaters, books, socks..."
"Socks?"
"Albus sai-.."
"Never mind, enough said."
"Anyhow, like I said, I've tried the basics, but they just don't seem to send the message I want."
Severus leaned back in his chair, templing his fingers together. The firelight reflected on the sardonic lift of his eyebrow.
"Just what kind of message are you trying to send? ' I'm available', ' I adore you.' , ' I haven't had a shag in fifty years and I'm desperate, take me!' ?"
"Severus!" Her face turned bright red, the blush apparent even in the dim lighting. She picked nervously at a loose thread in her robes, avoiding his suddenly overly intense gaze.
"Struck a nerve there,did I?"
"No!"
"I see."
"You didn't!"
"I never said I did."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Um-hm. Did you notice him in those green robes?" He added with a mischeivious glint in his eyes. He chuckled slightly as her expression glazed over slightly, obviously recalling aforementioned robes. He noted the small smile on her face as she gazed off into space and shook his head. The motion caught her attention and she blushed again, tucking her hair back behind her ear to hide her embarassment at being caught so easily.
" It sounds silly, but I want something that will really make him notice me, really make me stand out."
Severus snorted to himself. If she hadn't noticed the way the man practically gave himself whiplash everytime she entered a room, he wasn't going to state the obvious. He continued to watch her as she looked away from him, casually scanning over his collection of books.
Even after all these years, Serenite still found Severus had the ability to make her blush like a teen on a first date. To avoid further embarassment, she looked away from him, glancing at the titles of the books on the shelf behind him. Squinting suddenly, she rose, unable to fully make out the title of a particularily dog eared tome from where she sat. Carefully, she pulled the book from the shelf and read the title, glancing over at the dark haired man.
"Since when do you keep books on lycanthropy in your casual reading stock?"
Severus glanced over his shoulder at her, noting the book she held, and snorted.
"I really don't know why I've kept that one. It's all rot and rubbish. Some myth about an amulet made of moonstone, said to cure the symptoms of lycanthropy."
"Written by ' J. Alpha' ...didn't you apprentice with him at one point?"
He snarled and turned away, glowering into the fire.
"Unfortunately."
"That bad, hm?"
"Worse."
"You've been reduced to one word answers. He must have been a nightmare."
She smiled for a moment, turning back to thumb through the pages. One passage in particular caught her eye.
"...and if thou should travel to the Lost City and survive the three tests, thou shall then be asked to sacrifice that of thyself which thou hold dear..."
Ominous sounding, but then, when wasn't something written during that time period? She smirked slightly. Fourteenth century authors always did have a decided taste for morbid flare.
" Sev, would you mind if I borrowed this?"
"What on earth for, Sere? It's a waste of paper, nothing more."
" I know. I'm just curious."
He sighed and stood, turning to face her.
"Fine. You'll only steal it if I don't give it to you and I'd rather save myself the bother of cursing you."
She smiled up at him, hugging the book to her chest. For a moment, he was distinctly reminded of her as she was when he first met her. She had been an open, cheery person. The wariness in her eyes hadn't been there and she hadn't yet to learn to move without the reckless abandon of a teen. He wondered for a moment what he had missed in her life while he was gone and she stayed with Jared. With a half smile back at her, he dismissed his thoughts as pointless. Past was past and present and future were what mattered. Perhaps if he kept telling himself that, he thought darkly, he might just believe it someday.
Serenite watched him for a moment, noting the small changes in his facial expressions. Years of familiarity allowed her to read what each tiny movement meant and she smiled warmly up at him, reaching out to touch his shoulder with her fingertips.
"Thanks Sev."
He nodded, an unspoken communication passing between them.
"I'm going to go and hole myself up in my room for a while. Remember, we've got our second round of robe fittings next Tuesday. I think they got yours a bit wrong."
"How so?"
"Well..." she eyed him up and down, a playful grin on her face, " If you have 48 inch hips, you're hiding them really well."
He groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Yes, yes, I know. Let me say it for you. ' Incompetent imbeciles, how can they even stay in business if they can't even take a basic measurement, they're worse than the bloody Gryffindors...' Something like that?"
" Something like that yes. I intended to throw in the words "sodding" and "bastards" in for good measure."
She laughed and patted his shoulder once more before turning and seeing herself to the door.
"Goodnight, Sev."
"Goodnight, Sere."
He sighed as she closed the door quietly behind her and stood for a long moment, staring at the dying flames. Try as he might, he couldn't get the thought out of his head. Finally, he gave in and yelled to the walls.
"48 inches!"