A/N: Thank you, everyone, for the reviews. I greatly appreciate the enthusiasm some of you have for my story. I love you all.
Much of this is borrowed from Chapter Eleven of DH.
"Ah," Harry smiled, clasping his hands together, "Dung has come for a visit. Shall we?"
Chapter Five
Harry rushed into the hall to see Kreacher disentangle himself from Mundungus and bowed low to Harry, croaking, "Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher, Master."
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione yelled, calling his wand to her.
Dung dived for the stairs, but Ron tackled him, holding him still.
"What?" he bellowed, attempting to squirm out of Ron's iron grip. "Wha've I done? Settin' a bleedin' 'ouse elf on me, what're you playin' at? Lemme go, or I-"
"You're not in much of a position to make threats," Draco drawled, leaning against the door frame as Harry marched to the man.
They watched as Harry pointed his wand directly at Mundungus' nose, close enough to smell the stale tobacco and sweat coming from him.
"You did well, Kreacher," Hermione praised.
Harry pressed even closer.
"When you cleaned out this house of anything valuable,-"
"Sirius never-"
Kreacher ran forward then, hitting the rude man with a saucepan.
"Call 'im off!" the victim yelled.
"Kreacher!" Harry admonished.
"Perhaps another, Master Harry, for luck?"
Draco chuckled.
"I need him conscious, but if he needs persuading you can go again," Harry promised.
"Thank you very much, Master," said Kreacher, moving away so Harry could continue his interrogation.
"When you took things from here, you took a locket. What did you do with it?"
"Is it valuable?"
"Wondering if you should've asked for more for it?" Ron sneered.
"More? Bleedin' gave it away, didn' I? No choice."
"What do you mean?"
"Got in trouble by some bloody snoop. She were gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to the locket there an' let me off."
"Who was she?"
"I dunno. Some Ministry hag. Looked a bit like a toad with a bow on 'er 'ead."
Harry subconsciously rubbed the back of his hand, ordering Kreacher to take the trash back out where he found it.
"Do you think he means Umbitch?"
Minerva seemed to choke.
"Mister Malfoy!"
He gave her a falsely innocent look.
"What?"
She stood up, making her way back to the floo.
"That's Ms. Umbitch, to you. Learn a little respect."
And with that she left.
Harry chuckled, kissing Draco on the cheek before making for his room.
"I'm going to get dressed, then we can all go to the sitting room. Severus should be done with his potions soon."
He was setting up the tea tray when he heard the clicks from the door and the slide of the chain.
He pulled his wand, noticing Severus come from the basement the stand near him.
Moody's voice echoed through the house.
"Severus Snape?"
"It was not I who killed you, Albus," said a quiet voice.
Harry pointed his wand at the dissipating smoke.
"Don't move!"
"Mudbloods and filth-"
"Oh, shut up!"
Ron yelled, closing the curtain of the shrieking portrait with a snap.
"Hold your fire, it's me, Remus!"
"Show yourself," Harry ordered.
Lupin moved forward, hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Proof?"
Remus looked confused, and Severus clarified.
"Prove that you are who you say."
Remus looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "You call me Uncle Moony, I taught you your patronus, and last year I spent our week together acting sour because I had to go back and babysit Tonks."
Harry lowered his wand, and rushed to him, taking in the exhaustion on his face.
"What's going on? Is everything alright?"
Remus sighed, "Everyone is fine, Molly and Arthur are staying at some Aunt Muriel's or whatever."
Harry led them all to the couches, sitting down and pulling Draco down next to him.
"So, not that I'm not happy to see you, but why are you here?"
"I'll understand if you can't say, but Dumbledore has a mission for you doesn't he? I know he's alive, gave me a fright the other day, calling to tell me I could leave Dora with Charlie. He said I should ask you, because you were in charge now."
"He gave me a mission, yes, and these people here are helping me to complete it."
"Can you tell me what it is?"
Harry looked conflicted.
"Unless you are a part of it, no, and I don't think you can be a part of it."
"I don't need to know then, but can I help you? I could offer you protection. You wouldn't have to tell me anything."
Severus rose an eyebrow.
"What about Ms. Nymphadora?"
Remus' forehead crinkled.
"What about her? I'm not going to babysit her any more. She has Charlie. Did you know she's pregnant? At least she won't be flirting so openly with me any longer, considering the father of her child wouldn't appreciate it."
"I was under the impression that you to were an item?"
There was something different in Severus' voice. A false nonchalant tone covering a different one that Harry couldn't muddle through.
Remus spit out his tea.
"Oh, good heavens no! She's young enough to be my child! I held her as a baby! I could never!"
Harry snorted, "Not to mention the lack of certain *cough* parts."
Remus blushed, scowling at his honorary godson.
"That as well. No, I was only living with her for protection, but I don't have to anymore. I shouldn't have done it in the first place. Being known as the lover of a werewolf, even though the rumours were false, has damaged her reputation. The Wizarding world looks on creatures like me with great disdain," Remus stood, pacing as he muttered, "they'll probably think the baby's mine. Like I would ever curse a child with a father like me."
Severus stepped in front Remus' path, holding his shoulders to keep him from moving any more.
He didn't normally comfort people, but he had to make sure Remus didn't really feel that way about himself.
"The world only thinks as they do because they are all morons, and I'm sure you'd be an excellent father."
Lupin looked at him in shock.
"I'm being reassured by the most hateful man I know," he tried to joke, "I almost expect a cruel joke to jump out at me."
Severus' face flashed briefly with what could've been hurt before he released him, moving off quickly.
"I need to check my potion."
Hermione scowled at Remus, hopping up to scurry after him.
"Did I say something?"
Harry frowned at him.
"You just told him he was the most hateful man you know."
Remus looked almost shocked at himself.
"I didn't- I just meant that he was- a bit- you know- rudely sarcastic. You know I don't think of him like that, Severus deserves our respect."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"I'm aware of how you respect him, Remus. You've babbled on about him for hours at a time. I know, but Remus, he doesn't."
Remus ran a hand through his hair frustratedly.
"I need to go apologize."
"Yea, you do."
Ron scoffed at them, getting up to go to the kitchen.
Draco looked at Harry with sad eyes.
"Uncle Sev probably took that pretty personal. He has a bit of a thing for Lupin."
"Really?"
"You can't tell a soul, Harry."
Harry smiled, pecking his nose.
"I wouldn't dare, but you should know, I think Remmy has more than a little crush on our favourite potions master."
-DOWN STAIRS_
Remus approached the door of the lab, standing right outside opening.
He heard Hermione's voice filter out.
"You are not hateful, Severus. I know that. Harry and Draco know that. What does it matter what Remus thinks?"
He had to strain to pick up the much quieter reply.
"I have devoted myself to being hateful. I am proud that he thinks me that way. I am not offended, Ms. Granger, I assure you. Now, if you would let me attend this potion."
Hermione's voice grew louder, as if she was nearing the door, and Remus shifted away slightly.
"I think it bothers you that the man you love doesn't think you capable, but really, you haven't shown him that you are."
She threw the door open, stalking out and ignoring Remus' presence in the hall.
Remus slid in, pulling the door closed behind him.
Severus had his back turned, throwing ingredients into a cauldron.
"I don't need any more lecturing, Granger. I don't feel any pressing need to assure the wolf of my ability to love."
"I wasn't planning on giving you a lecture," Remus said softly, "and you needn't assure me of your ability to love. What I said was untrue and cruel, and for that I apologize."
Remus looked up just in time to see the bubbles form atop the brew, rushing to grab Severus and pull him into his arms, throwing a shield charm around the two of them.
A splatter of blue goop went everywhere, bouncing harmlessly of the protection Remus created.
Remus loosened his hold on Severus' back, moving so that they were no longer chest to chest.
"Are you okay?" he asked, checking Severus like a mother would a wounded child.
"I'm fine. Don't strain yourself to care for my well being," Snape sniped.
Remus sighed heavily.
"I swear Severus, I didn't mean it like that. I know you aren't heartless. You are the bravest, most loyal person I know. I care for you, I sincerely do."
Severus shook his head.
"I'm nearly desperate enough to believe you."
Remus pulled Severus to him, ignoring the annoyed look on the stiff man's face.
"Please. You must know that I care. We used to be friends, Sev. We used to tell each other everything. I know I've made mistakes, and I would like to move past them. I would like to be your friend again."
Severus looked away.
"I don't know if I could do that."
Lupin pressed their foreheads together, holding Severus' face in his hands.
"Why can't you be my friend?"
"It's easier to be your enemy."
Remus smiled, "Not for me. It's awful. I hate not being able to be there for you when you're upset, because you hate me."
"I don't hate you," Severus snapped, sighing wearily afterwards. His entire being exalted tiredness, defeatedly resting his head against Remus' shoulder.
"No? How do you feel about me then, Severus?"
Severus didn't answer, shifting away to clear up the mess he had made. Remus took in the goop, recognizing it as a mild healing potion. A potions master like Severus should've never made such a mistake.
The werewolf stepped towards Severus' back, gripping his hip.
"How do you feel about me, Severus?"
The other man shook his head, not answering the question.
Remus dropped a kiss on his neck, smirking at Severus' gasp before nuzzling beneath his hair.
"When you can, let me know."
He released him slowly, reigning in the need to embrace Severus again, and walked out the door.
Severus lifted his hand to his neck, staring unseeing at the mess.
He started cleaning again methodically, thoughts whirring around his head.