Title: The Lost and Loved Pairing: Severus/Rabastan Rating: G Warnings: none Summary: Severus creates a small shrine for his lost beloved friends. Note: Thanks to 00sevvie for being my beta. You have been such an inspiration to me, severed_lies.
Severus cast Geminio on a small table, then cast a shrinking spell. He set both tables in a triangular mahogany tier. A triangle ensured stability in corner placement, but also represented one's place on the earth, reaching to the heavens and stars.
It was the Day of the Dead. This was a shrine to them — the literal dead, and those who had lost their minds in Azkaban. He placed tokens for each of them: Regulus; Evan; his parents; Lily; the Dark Lord; Roddy, Bella and Barty; Antonin; Igor; Remus; Albus; and reverently, Abraxas.
Each Halloween Severus did this.
He circled candles around his shrine, one for each soul represented. Did something of their humanity cling here? He bowed his head, remembering, smelling the slightly smoking wax.
He also smelled stew steaming as the kitchen door opened. A square of light spread across the floor.
A voice asked, "Is there nothing on your altar for me?"
Severus rose and stood. "You are getting better, Rabastan. You are no longer lost, though you are even more loved."
"There is nothing on your altar for yourself either, Severus."
"No." He turned into Rabastan's quiet arms, against his reassuring chest. "No, there is not."