tjwritter (tjwritter) wrote in lupin_snape, @ 2009-03-10 16:28:00 |
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Over the years, Harry found himself returning to the Pensieve that contained Snape’s last memories from time to time. To see his mother, to see if anything had gone unnoticed that first time in the rush of a losing battle, or just to revisit a past that wasn’t entirely his but was so much of who he was; who he would become.
Little nuances of meaning and subliminal attentions were found each and every time. And then one day, he found himself looking at an entirely new memory, as if the old ones had suddenly pulled it out. He had no idea how it had shown up, what triggered it, but he was powerless to step away once it was there before him.
Harry was standing beside a table in the Hogwarts Library and across from him was Snape, sitting alone. Having lived in Snape’s memories so regularly, Harry could easily gauge this as a late teen Snape. Perhaps sixteen or seventeen. Waiting for his mother to show up, Harry was surprised when the person who joined him was not Lily, but Remus Lupin.
Snape didn’t even look up from his paper. “What do you want Lupin?”
He didn’t see the wicked grin on Lupin’s face, but Harry did and it shocked him. He’d never seen Remus this way, not even in memories he’d seen of him with the Marauders.
“I want to apologize,” Lupin said, but his look said something else.
“For being a werewolf?” Snape asked, still not looking up.
“I wouldn’t apologize to you for being a werewolf you git.”
“Fine, for almost killing me?”
“Nope. Wasn’t my fault. I didn’t lure you anywhere. I didn’t stick my nose where it didn’t belong.”
“You’re doing an admirable job of apologizing, only insulted me twice so far,” Snape said and then looked up finally. The look on Remus’ face made him swallow, which made the invisible Harry swallow.
“What exactly are you sorry for?” Snape asked, in a whisper.
“For this,” Remus answered as his lips assaulted Snape’s. Harry gasped loudly and waited for the fight to commence. It didn’t happen. There was a moment of shocked stiffness from Snape, then — and Harry could barely believe it if he weren’t sitting right there witnessing it —he just moaned and opened his mouth wide for Remus’ tongue. Remus wrapped his arms tightly around Snape and pulled him close. Snape just let him.
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be seeing this, Harry thought, and yet. He was immobile. Damned my curious nature!
Finally, finally, they removed themselves from each other’s mouths and with wet, bruised lips, Remus smiled wickedly. “Yeah, for that.”
Snape, noticing that Remus had taken his arms away, pulled away and wiped his mouth, as if he didn’t believe they had just been where they were. “Why did you do that?”
“Wanted to.”
“But why?”
“It’s my birthday.”
“And that was…what you…wanted?”
Remus licked him lips. “Uh-huh.”
He got up and swaggered away; Harry and Snape watched him in awe. Then the room faded.
Harry left the Pensieve that day knowing that he would never have to visit it again. Maybe his mother wasn't the only one who ever cared for the Potion Master after all.