A/N: Hi everyone! I hope everyone is well! Old Remus had to find out about them somehow! And Severus and Minerva deserved a break from the angst…

One thing Remus had missed about Hogwarts was the land that the castle stood on. Walking out the back doors after classes were finished for the week, Remus took in the fresh air that filled his lungs. His condition had caused him to spend so much time locked up either in the castle to catch up on missed schoolwork or in the shack to hide his transformation. The man's student years had left him with little spare time to enjoy the school itself. With his return to the school, he intended to take advantage of his beautiful home.

The students were most likely in their common rooms for the evening, as curfew approached, but the generosity of the summer months meant it was still very much light out. The light shimmering off the Great Lake's reflection drew him, and he began to descend the mountain the school sat on to take his walk to the lake's edge. The air was cooling down, and he exhaled deeply, smiling to himself. He was home for the first time in a long time.

Remus stopped suddenly when he saw two familiar figures down at the edge of the lake. Severus stood beside Remus's head of house, the two looking like they were having a rather intense conversation. The rivals were two people he would have never fancied seeing together, not like this. Careful not to make too much noise, Remus slid down a few rocks to get a closer look at the two. Minerva suddenly put a hand on his arm, letting her head full to his shoulder. Though he couldn't see their faces completely, Severus turned to look at the woman leaning on his shoulder, and swore he saw a smile on his face. Severus let his head fall on top of hers, and though he couldn't tell from far away, Remus could have sworn he kissed the top of her head. If years of transformations hadn't left him with great reflexes, he would have fainted at the sight of it.

The two stood like that for a few moments until Minerva spoke, and Remus caught parts of what she said. "You needed to be away from it all."

Severus pulled away from her and nodded. "I know."

Minerva rubbed his shoulder. The two looked happy. It was a Severus that Remus had never seen. If it weren't for the dark robes and greasy hair, he would have never thought it to be Severus. But there was no doubting who was standing by the lake below him. Something about seeing the man, whom he had consistently bashed heads with throughout the last few weeks, so open and vulnerable felt like something out of a good Muggle novel: the humanization of the enemy. "I meant what I said at the inn." He made no reply. "I have your back."

Severus nodded. "I know."

Minerva sighed and pulled up her skirts so she could sit down at the lake's edge. She extended a hand for Severus who took it and allowed himself to be pulled down to sit beside her. The usually dark man wrapped an arm around her waist. Remus smiled to himself. It was so out of character for them both. He wondered how long they'd been lovers. "I'm worried about you."

Severus snorted. "There is no need, Minerva."

Minerva grabbed the front of his robes, her face inches from his. "I'm serious."

"As am I," he replied.

"Holding in this much hostility is dangerous," she said, letting go of his robes. "I should have let you talk to me…I suppose I haven't been quite supportive of you, have I?"

"Do I hear Godric Gryffindor admitting to being wrong?" he asked, smirking.

"I'm not admitting to being wrong, simply, that I could have done a better job at understanding."

"You're never going to understand," Severus replied. It didn't seem Severus was going to talk to her, and frankly, as guilty as he felt for watching the two, he wished he could hear what Severus had to say about the whole situation. It may help him to know what he said behind closed doors…

"Then help me, Severus!" she exclaimed.

"I don't want to talk about this, Minera."

"If you won't talk to me, then who will you talk to? Because, this anger…this hostility…it's a lot, even for you."

"I appreciate your observations."

"I want things back to normal." Lupin was surprised by the way Minerva was so vulnerable to a man who was so cold to the rest of the world. He'd never heard his Head of House anything but stern and strong. Seeing her unraveled was a whole new side of her, especially in front of Severus.

"Life isn't going to be normal," Severus snapped. "I should know you're not thick enough to believe that. Tonight…it's a break…but it's not the solution."

"I'm tired of arguing. I'm trying to be there for you…"

A silence fell between them until Severus broke it with a deep sigh. "It's so rare we get this time alone. Lupin has ruined enough of this term and will for the foreseeable future. I am going to use your own words against you when I ask that we just enjoy right now," Severus replied, kissing her, which, Remus had to admit, was completely disorienting to see. Something about it made him uncomfortable, but the other half made him happy that the two people, who seemed most kept to themselves, had each other. As much as he couldn't stand Severus, even he deserved to be happy, something Remus knew he would never be able to have. Yet, he had to admit, part of him had suspicions. The idea of the two of them being sexually involved with each other seemed so out of place, that he couldn't help but think Severus was using her for something. But, his Head of house was a woman not to be used. Minerva McGonagall was not some weak woman that could be played- that much had always been clear.

Remus sunk down to sit on a rock, watching the two happily enjoying their time by the lake. He was careful not to make any noise, knowing they would both have his head if he saw them, especially Severus. This thing with Minerva had to be something he wasn't ready for others to see- it was a side of Severus that Remus had never seen. After a few moments, the sky began to grow dark, and Remus felt an all too familiar dread in the pit of his stomach. Looking up, he saw one of the Dementors that Albus had mentioned beginning to descend towards Severus and Minerva. Remus pulled his wand out, but before he could react, Severus had thrown himself on top of Minerva and pulled his wand out. "Expecto Patronum!" echoed across the lake and the Dementor was gone.

Feeling chills running through his body, Remus wished he had a piece of chocolate on him. Severus was still laying on top of Minerva, but he slowly lifted himself off her, stroking her hair. "Are you alright?" he asked with more gentleness than Remus had ever heard in his voice.

Minerva's hand came up to cup his cheek. "I'm fine," she laughed. "You were on top of me before I could even react."

Severus ran his hands down her arms. "Are you sure you feel alright?"

"Severus!" she exclaimed, pulling him to lay on top of her. "I'm fine."

"Albus is an idiot for allowing these on Hogwarts grounds," he muttered.

Minerva pulled his face down to kiss him. "That may be the first thing we've agreed on so far this term." Severus rolled off her, his face pale, from what Remus could see. The Deputy began to move his hair out of his face. "Are you alright?"

"It was so quick," he replied softly, so soft Remus almost couldn't hear him. "But, I forgot how those things can affect you."

"Why don't we go inside and have a house elf bring us a nice chocolate cake for dessert? I have a brand-new bottle of Firewhisky that you've left untouched so far this semester." Minerva was moving the hair out of his face.

Severus reached up and grabbed her hand. "In a moment; I can push through it until the sun goes down." Minerva chuckled. "You know the idea of watching the sun go down sickens me, but I know you wanted to."

Minerva settled herself with her head on his chest. "You're an old softie!"

"One more comment like that and I'm setting up a visit for you with Gilderoy at St. Mungo's."

As the two continued to talk, Remus knew he had overstayed his welcome. As quietly as he could, he picked himself up and hurried towards the castle to process all he had seen.