Severus turned to Harry as though was the purpose for him to be standing where he stood. "Potter, how do you feel?" He moved closer to the boy, checking him over.
"I...Fine." Harry was disoriented, mind still grasping at what he had been through.
Remus reached out and took Harry's hand in his own. "Do you need anything?"
"A really stiff drink would be great," he answered with some of his usual humor.
"He's fine," Severus observed, moving back to his seat.
"I'm afraid we can't get you that, Harry." He smiled at the boy. He could only imagine the strength of a drink Harry could use. "Are you certain you are alright?" Remus started to brush back the boy's hair.
Harry nodded his head. "They... they beat her." His voice was soft, pained.
Remus looked away from him a short moment then back to his eyes. "She'll be alright. She's strong. You both are, just like your parents. Bill will care for her."
Again Harry nodded, closing his. He soon feel back into a troubled sleep. His mind recalling everything he saw, everything he felt. In his dreams, his nightmares, he relived every detail. Remus continued to soothe him, petting back his hair and holding his hand. He watched over Harry, driving away what he could with his simple actions. But... His eyes were unfocused, not on the occupant of the bed. They held a distant, thoughtful look and pain.
"He'll be alright," Severus broke through Remus' thoughts.
Remus blinked a couple times and looked up before nodding and sitting back from the bed. Unshed tears threatened to fall from his eyes. "So much pain in such a short life... both of them."
Snape stood and walked over to Remus again, brushing away the tears that did slip from his eyes. Remus tried to smile up at him, but he could not get it to come out. "And they are both strong enough to handle it," Severus told him.
Remus nodded again. "Doesn't mean it hurts us, or them, any less, either. I yearn for the day they can be free of all of this."
Severus nodded. "As do I."
Remus glanced away, off into the distance again. "I'd take it upon myself if I could, but... I'm not that strong."
"You are stronger than you think." Severus leaned down and lightly brushed his lip against Remus'.
"Am I?" He looked down at his hands. "Moony perhaps but..."
Severus cut him off right there. "Moony is weak compared to you. His is nothing."
Remus looked up and searched Severus' eyes. "I hate him, you know." And, again, he looked away. "If I could have anything in this world..." He sadly shook his head. "No, I wouldn't waste something as grand as that on myself. But, I would be rid of him if I was able."
Interest peeked, Severus asked, "What would you have if you could have anything in this world?"
Remus sighed and looked at Severus again. "For all darkness to be purged and youth to be carefree as they should be, not hidden under the shadow of these times." To his surprise, his answer earned him a sweet, tender, simple but true kiss. Though shocked at first, he accepted the kiss. Severus continued to confuse him by breaching not only his own but both their personal space. He never imagine that Severus would. Each brush of lips, touch of hand added to the confusion.
"I would have you in my life no other way but the way you are, Moony and all." He looked into Remus' eyes. Moony was a part of Remus, and that part being gone would change the man. As much as Snape may have hated the werewolf part of Remus, Remus would not be Remus without that part.
Remus searched Severus' eyes. He did not understand... No, that was not right, exactly. He was shocked, which lead him toward confusion, by those words. "Moony has tried unspeakable things to you..." He bowed his head as the memories flooded him. "That would be my personal wish," he spoke softly of the thing he had not uttered before, "to erase that."
"And yet I'm still here. I will always be here." He watched Remus. A change of subject was needed. He did not want to see him more depressed than seeing Harry in such a state was making him. "Some things do change given time."
Remus looked up. His eyes were bright. The pain and worry had moved to the back of the orbs, dark shadows not forgotten but abated. "Yes. Change is the one thing that we cannot change."
"You worry much for Potter." He looked over at the boy. Something was clawing at his mind. "Now is a time for truth before this can go any farther." A frown creased Remus' brow and bent his lips slightly. He had no idea where Snape was going. Severus' eyes stayed on Harry, who slept oblivious to them. Finally, he looked back to Remus. "He looks much like James. The only thing of his mother I see is his eyes." His voice was soft and silky but edged, leaving an opening for Remus to get the hint.
"He has a few of her mannerisms," was all Remus replied. He was starting to see where this was going, and he was not certain he wanted to go down that road.
"Not as many as Severina," he pointed out. His voice had started taking then tone he used when dealing with slow students.
Ignoring Severus' tone, Remus answered, "It is natural for a daughter to take after her mother and a son the father." From experience of looking over families through the years from the sidelines he knew this to be true, at least in opinion of his own. "Though," he added, "I see a great deal of you in your daughter."
"And I see a great deal of the Marauders in Harry." Severus fell silent a moment then repeated, "Now is the time for truth."
Remus regarded him strangely, curiously, and perhaps slightly guarded. "What is it you search for?" He knew exactly what Severus was getting at.
"What do you suspect?" Severus could read it in Remus' eyes that he was understanding, but was he understanding correctly?
"You question Harry's relation with his mother, if she is his mother, perhaps." Oh, there was much more to it than that or it would have no bearing on either of them, but Remus was not certain he could put his speculation out there so easily.
"I question your closeness to a child until a few years ago you did not know."
"I knew him, before his parents died, though that hardly counts," he corrected. "He is the sone of my closest friend. I see James in him, but I also see the light that is Harry. He is special." Remus looked from Snape to Harry, eyes lingering there.
"Lupin... Remus," he corrected. Using Remus' first name could, would take time. "You were with James." He did not phrase it as a question. Remus nodded. "The reason Lily came to me," he admitted, "but was it just the once? Did it occur after that?"
"No, it happened again." Remus lowered his eyes from Harry toward the floor then settling on his hands. His voice was so soft, Snape nearly missed his answer. He wanted to tell him yes, that it was the once only but he could not lie to the man. He stared at his hands and waited.
"Harry?" Severus looked down on Remus. He had to know the truth. He did not want surprises farther in.
Remus stood and walked around him and the bed, to the window. Softly, slowly he admitted, "I don't know." He sighed and looked to the sky where clouds covered the moon. He jerked his face away from the offense object. "I have suspected but..." His voice trailed off as he put his hands to the window edge and leaned his forehead to the glass.
Severus moved to stand behind him, placing his hands hesitantly on Lupin's shoulders. "You are almost sure," he observed, gathering from the way in which Remus acted with the boy, especially of late. "There are tests."
A sigh escaped Remus. "I would ruin Harry's vision of his parents worse than has been done." His body began to trimmer minutely as he fought himself. His need to tell the boy and see if it was true warred with his wish to let sleeping dogs lie.
"He needs not know. We can do it now, while he sleeps." He dropped his hands from Remus' shoulders, and in a bold move put them around the man's chest, pulling him back against him.
Remus gratefully leaned back against the taller man, after the surprise he felt when the arms encircled him. He made an odd sound as he spoke. "I... I want to know. But, if it... if he is..." He made the sound again as he fought a sob from escaping him.
Snape tightened his hold. "He will be no less Lilly's son. She gave her life for him. As I said, you do not have to tell him." His Slytherin qualities showed in this. Where as he could just hide something like this, Remus could not. Severus knew this, but he had to suggest it. A Gryffindor was much too noble and proud to not do what was 'right'. "You will finally know and be free of your doubt."
Remus nodded "If he finds out... If it is true, I not only take his mother but his sister as well." He sounded so lost.
Severus realized that, perhaps, this time the need to protect was beating the need to be noble when it came to telling the boy. He glanced over his shoulder at Harry, feeling his own need to protect his child. He did not want Severina to lose Harry after just being united with him. "They are connected, closer than siblings. I don't want to push you, but find out and then decide what to do with the information. You shouldn't worry until you have something to worry about."
Turning in Snape's arms, Remus looked into the other man's eyes. After some contemplation, he nodded. Severus was right. He gave him a very small smile as the other man caressed his cheek. Then the arms were gone and Snape was off to prepare the simple potion that was required. Remus watched him go before turning back to the window, thankful the accursed moon was gone as the sun started rise. Even when it was not full it served as a reminder. How he loved new moons!
Soon, Severus was back with a small vial of some putrid looking green potion. "Remus, it's ready. Come stand by Harry." Remus turned and frowned. He hated potions that took on that look. They always tasted so horrid.
Remus sighed, closing his eyes and hesitating a moment before he moved to stand by Harry. He watched as Severus gently opened Harry's mouth every so slightly and dropped a few drops in his mouth. Then, he handed it to Remus. Remus stilled himself and took the potion. Severus used his wand, saying a spell, "Fateor satus."
At first, nothing happened. Slowly, Remus felt a heat in his body as he saw a dim, light blue light surround himself and then a feint yellow light Harry. Then the lights grew brighter, reaching out into the room, searching. When they met, they wound around one another remaining two distinct lights before flashing brightly and merging, turning a the same green the potion had been. Then the light dispersed and was gone.
At a nod from Severus, Remus realized this meant what he thought it did. He closed his eyes and sat down heavily. He had not a clue what to do. In ways he had wanted both answers. He wanted Harry to be his son as much as he wanted him not to be his son. His head fell into his hands as his worry and happiness tried to rip him apart.
Severus watched him, sympathetic to the way he felt. "You look as I am sure I did when I was told I was to be a father."
Remus snorted. "At least you knew. I've been a father for sixteen years and didn't know." He looked at Harry over his hands. "If I tell him, at least he won't have to go back to those muggles." His smile was empty.
"Would it have been better if you had known before now? You couldn't have been in his life. You know that." He hated to say it to Remus, but it was the truth.
Again, Remus nodded. "I know, but... I could have done something!" He sat back feeling somewhat helpless.
"Lily's sister's blood protects him. He needs to be there. He is safer with them than anywhere," Snape reminded him.
"Is he?" Remus asked incredulously. He had no doubts the muggles had not heeded the warnings passed onto them by himself, Tonks, Moody, and Arthur. "Do you know what they have done?" He sighed. "He wouldn't have to leave his sister at the end of the term, but maybe he would be better off." He looked from Harry to Severus. "I'm so confused now, torn. I've never felt like this, not this strongly."
"You are not in it alone," he assured him. He wanted to make sure he knew he was not alone, that he had him if no one else.
"No." Remus watched him a moment then held out a hand to him. "Neither of us is alone now." He gave a small smile as Severus walked over to him and took his hand, squeezing it lightly.
"You will tell him. When the time is right, you will tell him." Severus was certain of that. Remus could not keep it from Harry no matter how much he may want to. He was not the type of person to keep that kind of secret from someone that was such a part of it. He remembered how Remus had tried to talk Dumbledore into telling Harry about the prophecy, not liking keeping it from the boy as long as they had.
Remus nodded and looked back to Harry again. "Yes, when the time comes." Harry had to know, it was his right and Remus' duty.
"You know, looking closer I see your nose on him." Severus had turned to look at Harry with Remus.
A sly smile graced Remus' face. "Well," he joked at him, "it could have been worse." His eyes danced playfully, his worry and tension easing away.
"Yes," Severus agreed dryly, "he could have your sense of humor." He then paused. "Never mind, I believe he does."
Remus pulled on Severus' hand, bringing the other man closer. "I think he has James to thank for his sense of humor, thank you." Doing his best to sound offended but not pulling it off too well. "At least mine or James' is better than none at all."
Snape's eyebrow went up at that. Surely he was not implying... "Well, seeing as I do have a sense of humor, I need not worry about that."
"What do you ever find funny, Severus?" Remus watched him. Instead of an answer, he got a kiss, which he returned. "Well?" He asked when the kiss was done.
"Your attempts at humor are much more amusing than the subject, which are usually completely droll." He had to admit this bantering was growing quite fun. He had always been fond of good bantering.
"Are you calling me droll?" Remus sounded affronted. Their little game kept them from noticing Harry was awake again. "And I'll have you know that a Marauder does not ATTEMPT at humor." He smirked.
"Is that why you never do anything amusing?" Severus sounded as though the answer was one he had always contemplated. Remus rolled his eyes. At the rate they were going, they would be at it forever. He shook his head and leaned in and kissed Severus again.
"I didn't need to see that." Harry watched them. One second they sound contrite and argumentative and the next kissing. What was going on? Had his head been damaged or something?
Remus coughed and blushed in embarrassment, glad all they had done was kiss. Of course, they were no where ready to go any farther than that, yet. "Harry!" He smiled. "How are you feeling?" He reached out and took the boy's hand.
"Bout the same as before, not as sleepy." He watched Remus and Severus, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Good. You should be fit enough to leave the infirmary soon," Severus informed him as Remus dropped his hand and brushed the hair from Harry's face. He watched as Harry looked at Remus' actions in puzzlement.
"Not if..." Remus looked away from them both as he squeezed Harry's hand.
"We will find a way to break the link before more damage is done to the boy." Or so Severus hoped. He was to be wrong.
