Chapter 76: The Death Of Romanized Notions
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Some Pub, Unknown Location, Unknown World...
After downing six rounds of Ogden's Finest, the smoke filled room and the notorious sting had not been so bad a seventh time as Severus Snape found himself drowning his memories in the bottom of a bottle. It was well past day break but this seedy pub stayed open all night and all day as it were. The look on Hermione's face when she realized that his title of death eater had not been a romanticized act thought up via the Headmaster, but a real one in which he had chosen to be apart of in his misguided youth, unnerved him. The look of utter disappointment had been similar to Lily's when she first saw the dark mark upon his left forearm. Unbeknownst to Snape, he had not been alone amid the smoke and atmosphere. On the far side of the pub, a lone Remus Lupin was having his fill of drink and examining the room. He took off shortly after confronting the drunken Sirius about his childish antics concerning Snape in the hopes of catching him before he'd done something he'd further regret. Being a werewolf, Lupin had been responsible for his fair share of casualties and Snape being in the position he was in as a spy for The Order Of Phoenix meant that he'd be responsible for some as well. Lupin had not been of the mind to judge, he thought it best not to leave the dour wizard to his own devices too long lest no good come of it.
As it turned out, he'd been right as Snape continued to down multiple glasses of firewhiskey as his treacherous mind took him all the way back to the events of that afternoon. The raid on the Muggle village had not been what he anticipated that day after all the time he'd spent with Hermione, he'd been reluctant to play his role amongst those he outright despised and whom had equally despised him.
"Are you going to stand there all night or do you have something to say Lupin?" asked Snape not taking his eyes off his glass.
Lupin had been a bit shocked that Snape noticed him amid the small crowd of people in the darkened smoke filled room. He made his way over toward the dour wizard clutching a beer bottle as he sat down in the empty chair on the opposite side of the table the semi drunken wizard occupied.
"How did you know?" asked Lupin turning up his beer.
"I would have been piss poor at my job if I didn't." replied Snape turning up another glass of firewhiskey.
Lupin nodded in agreement before taking a moment to compose his thoughts.
"Listen, Severus..." he began.
"How good of you to keep that mangy dog on a leash." said Snape already knowing what had been on his mind. "Next time might I suggest a muzzle be included."
Lupin sighed. He might have known Snape would read his mind.
"I'm sorry about..." he began again not truly knowing if he had any right to mention what happened given their surroundings.
"It's fine, she'll get over it." replied Snape once more turning to his firewhiskey.
"What about you?" asked Lupin knowing all too well what the effects of having to participate in something so terrible was doing to the seemingly indifferent man.
"Is there a point to this interrogation or are you just trying to piss me off?" asked Snape in a harsh tone.
Lupin sighed. Severus Snape was as guarded when it came to his emotions as ever it seemed.
"Arthur told us about the town." he began. "Sirius had no right to imply..."
"What does it matter?" asked Snape finishing off his drink.
Sensing that he was getting no where as far as conversation had been concerned, Lupin summoned the bartender and ordered the Potions Professor another drink and a beer of his own.
Snape reluctantly accepted the drink without a word and they sat there in silence enjoying the inevitable buzz that came from the alcohol. For the Potions Master, it was a much needed remedy as the screams from the town of Muggles had not faded from his ears and smoke from the burning buildings had not faded from his view. When he had finally left the town, he had only one thing on his mind in a bid to block out all of the horrors that summons produced and Sirius Black had managed to ruin that for him opening his big mouth.
While he had no doubt that Hermione would get over her initial shock about his inaction when it came to saving the Muggles, he knew it hurt her quite a bit due to her concerns for her own Muggle parents when it came down to it. Lupin had been quite the keen observer and noted a few not so subtle changes about Severus Snape that even he had failed to completely hide.
"Your in love with her." he said breaking the silence that had fallen between them in the wake of his attempt at a conversation before hand.
Snape seemed to be caught off guard by this and glared at Lupin.
"I have no idea what you are talking about...werewolf." he growled before finishing off his drink once more.
Lupin looked at Snape for a few moments before smiling and finishing off his beer.
"Never thought I'd see the day." he said.
"And you won't." replied Snape getting up from the table.
Lupin did the same after setting his empty bottle down.
"Whatever you say Severus." he said with a grin.
Snape rolled his eyes and made for the door, Lupin trailed after him figuring all too well that they'd been heading in the same direction.