Remus fretted at Harry's side. He had no idea how to help the young man. His heart sank low in fear that things were to only grow worse. Harry had already been through so very much in sixteen years. The previous five being the worst after the death of his parents. Only the deaths of Cedric and Sirius, especially, bothered him more. Remus' thoughts diverted only slightly as Severus entered and walked toward them.
"How is he?" The question was perhaps stupid considering, but Snape was not use to giving a damn how anyone was. What else was he to say?
"I'm not sure." Harry was no longer acting or sounding like he was in pain, but they had no way of knowing what was going on inside of Harry. Remus was worried, to say the least, and Severus could easily see that. He too was worried, not particularly about Harry as much as Severina.
Severus sat next to Harry on the opposite side of the bed. He looked at Harry a few moments. If Harry had felt that much pain, Severina had to have felt much worse. He could only guess the state she was in. He felt his heart in his stomach at the thought of never seeing her again. He raised his eyes to Remus. The other man was distraught. He was paler than normal, face drawn. "He is strong. He will be fine." We can only hope the same is true of Severina.
Remus nodded mutely. He had never heard Severus so sincere in regards to Harry, but he would have faith and believe the other man. He would think more on Severus' tone when time allowed. "Some day, he will break."
"He has people to help pick up the pieces if that happens." Severus had nothing else to offer.
Remus, who had gone back to gazing on Harry, glanced up at Severus a moment before looking back down. "I hope so."
"Severina will be there, the Weasleys, you."
Remus again nodded. His eyes stayed on Harry. He was afraid Severus would read too much in them at the moment. "How are you?"
"How do you think I am?" He asked incredulously. "The one thing I cherish most in the world is hurt and in danger." His tone relayed that he felt the question was quite stupid. How did the man expect him to be! Remus remained silent, watching Harry. Severus mentally kicked himself. Neither of them need his attitude at the moment. "I will sit with him. He's my one link to her. Go. Sleep."
"I'm fine," he argued.
"Don't be a fool! Go get some rest." Severus gave him his best 'I am in charge. Do as I say.' glare and tone.
"I can rest where I am." Remus was not leaving. He moved not a muscle, not even to look at Severus.
"Fine. Be stubborn. You always were," he said, not happy at all about not getting his way.
Remus glanced over at him. "Oh?" He had no idea what he was talking about this time, which was not all that surprising. Severus had a way of remembering the damnedest things.
"Yes," he replied gruffly. "Some things never change."
"I suppose." He leaned back in the chair with a heavy sigh. He was indeed tired, but he had no intentions of leaving Harry or Severus. He was quite glad the two were now in the same room. He had all intentions of keeping it that way as much as possible until everything was resolved.
"You will not be any good to anyone if you do not go rest." Severus was taking on his 'I am getting very annoyed' tone. Next would come his seething retorts. Remus hid a small smile as he waited.
"You need rest far worse than I." He looked him in the eye. The battle of wills and words was about to begin. Remus enjoyed their spats far too much, he wagered.
Severus eyed him sourly. He could tell Remus was feeling a bit smug. "Would you be so set on staying if you didn't have your little crush?" The tone was not as scathing as Remus had expected. Neither was the question what he had expected to come from the Potion Master's mouth. Though, Severus had a knack for throwing one for a loop.
Remus met his gaze evenly, giving nothing away. "Crush?"
"That is what I said."
Remus pulled a Snape. "I would still be set on staying with Harry, yes. Though, I hardly have a crush on the lad."
Severus narrowed his eyes slightly. "You know very well what I meant. Your infatuation with me!" He paused in sudden thought. "He looks much like James."
"Infatuation? Is that what they call it these days?" He would play innocent as long as he could just to get a rise out of Severus.
"What would you call it?" Severus asked just as Remus spoke again.
"What does him looking like James have to do with anything?"
Remus waited for Snape's answer, ignoring the other man's question. "Lily told me everything about the two of you. You did not answer my question."
"James and I made a mistake in the heat of the moment." He stretched his legs a bit. He was not going to admit the mistake had occurred more than once. "What question?"
"He felt it was a mistake?" Severus raised a brow. For some reason he doubted it. "You have not told me what you would call it." Severus' exasperation to that was becoming quite clear.
Remus shrugged, glad Harry would not hear what he was about to say. "I don't know how James saw it. I was using him, in the long run, to replace what I really wanted. He knew that." He ran a hand through his hair. "As to the other, pick whatever you want. Crush, infatuation, obsession. I'm sure you can come up with something clever." He shrugged again. He was not going to so easily spit everything out. His heart would not be bared without some insurance the risk was worth him doing so.
Severus though about all Remus had just said, and what he had not. "What did you really want?" His voice was almost laced with a softness.
"You already know the answer. 'Some things never change,' you said."
Severus eyed him blankly. "Why me? I'm nothing like you."
"Like me? What do you mean?" He could not wait to hear that answer.
"You answer my question, and I'll answer yours."
Remus rubbed at his face. The coming conversation was likely to be long and, worse, difficult. "Why not you?" He hated that Severus had such a low opinion of himself. He glanced over the other man, making it clear Severus was far from unappealing. "Severus, you are not the man everyone thinks you are. You are likely not the man you think you are."
"But, am I the man you think I am?" He asked, voice actually growing softer. "As for like you," he cleared his throat and took on his normal tone, "I am not fun, full of life, or open to people."
"I don't know if you are who I think you are. I'm not ever sure I know if I'm who I think I am. However, I do know you are full of life. In your own way. You're fun, too." He smiled slightly. "Your eyes let out some of your secrets, Sev."
"What do you want from me?" He held his breath for the answer. His stomach was dancing in a way he could only barely remember it ever doing before.
With honest voice and eyes, Remus answered simply, "Anything you would freely give."
Severus slowly stood and walked around the bed to Remus. He put a hand to Lupin's face. "Anything I would freely give?" He asked as though the answer had been misunderstood. His voice was soft, almost hopeful and nervous.
Remus looked up at him, the tow locking eyes. "Yes." He let his emotions show freely. He love and honesty intently displayed on his face. "I would force nothing from you. Ask nothing you would not wish to give."
Snape started to lean closer when Harry started to stir. "We have much to discuss, once Severina is back and safe." Remus nodded, cursing Harry's timing silently.
