Severus opened his eyes, after a night of absolutely no rest. It was cold in the basement, especially without a blanket. He must have fallen asleep before he could even cover himself.
Suddenly he heard footsteps above him. Soon after came the sound of running water, and then the smell of tea. Severus presumed that Remus was upstairs making breakfast . . . Severus stood, his feet on the icy floor and stomach grumbling. He scowled and began to walk up the basement stairs.
Before he touched the knob, a loud knock was to be heard at the front door. Severus froze, his eyes wide, and his ears perked, listening. The clattering in the kitchen stopped. Another knock sounded, and a familiar female voice was to be heard.
"Remus!" It cried, and after a moment or so, Severus frowned deeply. He recognized the voice to be of Nymphadora Tonks.
Slow and careful footsteps walked past the door, and Severus could hear Remus unlocking the door and letting her in. Severus pressed his ear against the door.
"Where have you been, Remus?" Tonks asked, her voice concerned. Remus cleared his throat. Severus could tell that he was choosing his words carefully - or thinking of a lie quick enough. A sudden, sharp twang of anxiety hit him somewhere in his abdomen -- what if Remus were to -- give him up? Certainly not, Severus told himself, he wasn't that sort of man… Then, Remus began to speak, grabbing Severus' full attention, though his heart was hammering in his chest.
"I've been resting. The moon will be here in a week or so . . . and it's hard enough without Sever--the Potion." Remus replied, and Severus raised an eyebrow. The moon would be hard enough without him…? He meant the Potion, naturally…?
"I could try and make it for you." Tonks said, and Severus could hear the smile on her face. He sneered. Remus cleared his throat again, and sighed - defeated.
"I don't think that will be necessary, Nymphadora." Remus said firmly, and Tonks let out a small sigh.
"Remus--" She began sharply, "Please don't call me Nymphadora--Tonks, please--And why not? Don't you need it?" She said, her voice again slightly sharp, putting emphasis on the word 'need', as if she were trying to hint something to Remus, "I can stay here for the week. I'll take care of you..."
Severus was enraged. Who did she think she was, coming in here and demanding to stay? But then again, Severus had almost did the same. But, Remus offered, so that's different...
"No " Remus said, a little louder than he meant, most likely, "I don't think that's a good idea... I'm a werewolf... I might hurt you..." He said this as if he'd said it a hundred times. Severus frowned. He probably had. Little girls could be so incorrigible.
"I don't care!" She whined, and apparently threw herself on Remus' shoulder, because the words that came from her now were muffled, "I'll take care of you. You know that I love you..."
Severus considered busting through the door at that moment, taking her by the hair, and kicking her out of the house. Love? What is this nonsense? Severus then sobered his thoughts, experiencing another sharp twang of anxiety -- Did Remus feel the same? Severus listened hard, more intently than he'd ever listened to anything…
"Thank you, Nymph--Tonks." Remus said softly, "But I really must say goodbye at this point." He said, his voice full of regret. Tonks protested, letting out a small muffled wail.
"Nymphadora--please. I just need some time." He said, his voice firm and weary. Severus then heard his feet start to walk back to the kitchen. He heard Tonks sniffling, and she let herself out.
Severus waited a few moments, making sure the pink-haired pixie was gone before he opened the door and walked into the kitchen. He was angry, and he didn't really know why. What business of his was it? What if Remus decided to pursue Tonks…? The angry burn in his chest flared up once more. It is his business. It always will be…
"What do you need time for?" He demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. Remus had his back turned, and at Severus' sudden words, he jumped.
"Gods! Severus!" He said, turning to the Potions master, his eyes wide, "Where did you come from so suddenly?"
"The basement." Severus said coldly, "What do you need time for?" He repeated, putting extra weight on the words this time.
Remus looked confused, "Time?" He asked, and Severus glared. He was playing stupid, surely.
"Nymphadora, please. I just need some time." He repeated in a mock-whining tone. Remus took in a breath and turned around, spreading jam on toast.
"That is none of your business." He said flatly. He was starting to spread the jam in the same place, over and over.
"So when did you start dating her, Lupin?" Severus asked, his voice hard. His breathing had become slightly laboured. Remus turned his head slightly.
"I'm not dating her. I never will." He said, then went back to the toast. The jam was leaking off of the sides of the toast now, his spreading motion becoming to fierce.
"Certainly looked like you were planning on it." Severus said, sounding more and more irritated with every syllable.
Remus put his jam knife down finally, after piercing the toast as Severus' last words and turned around. "Since when do you care, Severus?" He asked coldly, "I daresay that my love life is none of your concern."
Severus stared for a moment, "She's a girl." He said, then caught himself, "She's a young girl. Don't you have standards? Or... was I wrong about you?"
Remus blinked, "Wrong about me?"
"I thought you at least had the sense to know that it is in very bad form to lead on someone so much younger." Severus said, "Much less a female."
Remus opened his mouth, then closed it again. He looked like a very surprised and irritated puffer-fish.
"What are you saying?" Remus asked, his eyes considerably wide.
"I know that you prefer men, Lupin." Severus said bluntly, "I do as well--" He said, then frowned--"But don't change the subject!" He said, and Remus looked shocked.
"You prefer men?" He asked, and Severus looked annoyed.
"Yes. I prefer men." He said sarcastically, "You know, a male. Penis." He finished, taking his eyes from Remus. The werewolf swallowed hard.
"I wouldn't say it like that-" Remus said, a pale pink colour coming to his cheeks.
"But that's what you like, isn't it?" Severus asked, approaching Remus slowly.
Remus backed himself against the counter, though Severus was still a substantial distance away.
"My point is," Severus said calmly, "why are you dallying around with a young girl? Can't find men anymore?" He asked indignantly.
Remus swallowed hard again, "That's not your business-"
"You say that one more time and I'll poison your tea." Severus threatened, and Remus looked pained and his eyes glinted in a wolf-like way, as if he were pinned in a corner. Severus was right.
"I haven't had any sort of contact in a while, if that is what you mean, Severus." Remus said, as dignified as possible. His face was hot, and Severus could tell that Remus was probably hoping against all hope that it wasn't showing.
"So that gives you the right to have a romance with… her?"Severus asked, and Remus cleared his throat.
"Breakfast?" He asked, suddenly placing toast and tea on the table. Severus sat, sneering deeply.
Remus sat across him, and they ate in silence.
"You could do better than her." Severus said angrily, swallowing the last bit of toast.
"What?" Remus said, looking as if he hoped that this conversation was coming to an end.
"I can't believe you're leading her on like that." Severus said, sounding quite cross, "As annoying and completely horrid she is, I think that you should tell her that you prefer men."
Remus frowned, growing very tired of this argument, "Don't you have something that you could be doing?" He said irritably. Severus raised an eyebrow. Perhaps he was attacking him a little too harshly? Nonsense.
"Not when there is something like this going on." He said softly, "Tell me, Remus," He said, his lips pursing, "Do you care for her? Do you love her?" He asked, and Remus blanched.
"No, I don't care for her, and no, I don't love her. She loves me, and that's that. I don't have any feelings towards her whatsoever." He said simply, looking Severus directly in the eye.
"Good." Severus responded, and then stood, "I'm going to get dressed, then we are going into the wood to find wormwood for the Wolfsbane." He said, content with the answer he had received.
Remus looked up at him. "Why the both of us?" He asked, a little surprised. Severus and he alone in the woods, the way Remus was feeling... it might not be a very good idea.
"Because..." Severus said, then frowned, "I think it'd be best, in these times, to stay together." He said. Remus nodded silently. Severus was right. It wouldn't be good to leave one or the other alone anymore.
"Alright." He agreed.