Author:bonfoi Rating: PG Pairing: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape Summary: This story takes place in an alternate reality where Remus’ spine is a bit stiffer, Severus’ heart a bit tender, and they see something about the other that makes it worthwhile. Challenge: lupin_snape RetroFest 2009, Prompt #6 (see inside for full prompt). Word Count: Part Seven: 1,224 Genre: Alternate Reality; Romance; Angst; Humor Warnings: A Wee Bit of Swearing Highlight for Warnings: ** A/N: To entice those who where looking for more...something to tide you over for a day or two!
Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter, its characters and settings are the copyrighted works of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., her publishing companies and affiliates. No profit was made from the writing of this story nor was any malice intended in any way, shape or form to the author or the actors/actresses who so brilliantly have brought them to life.
This author is not responsible for underage readers. Please observe the ratings, warnings, and age of legal consent for your country.
Weeks flew by and Lupin’s inroads into the werewolf clans’ allegiance to Greyback and Voldemort began to bear fruit and, thus, more lycanthropic allies; even as he weakened, Dumbledore grew confident they would not be alone in their fight. Utilizing Harry’s willingness to thwart Tonks’ machinations, and put a spanner into Molly Weasley’s matchmaking, Remus and Snape sent messages back and forth without a problem. Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to last; Tonks was an Auror, and a good one when she wanted to be.
The Order of the Phoenix, supplemented by more Weasley whelps, Severus, and Mad-eye Moody, were arguing over how to use The Quibbler to pass messages. Ideas—some absurd, some logical—were being discussed across the table as Dumbledore mediated. Tonks tripped into the room, face red and hair a nondescript brown; the silence rippled out from her as if she’d dropped a stone of it into the room.
“Damned Slytherin! Slimy, greasy, underhanded...” she fumed. Her hair began to flicker through a rainbow of red and orange hues at the tips. “Snape! Severus Bloody Snape!” Tonks shouted. Her wand was almost up the Potion master’s nose as she poured invective over him for five straight minutes. The other members were stunned and speechless, until Remus came in behind her.
“Expelliarmus!” he shouted. Tonks tripped as she turned, trying to hold onto her wand as the magic pulled it away. Her features flickered and something visibly clicked inside Remus’ eyes; Severus saw and decided to hold off his questions until he could get the other wizard alone. “That’s enough, Tonks.” She opened her mouth and he held up a hand to forestall her. “I said enough and I meant it. We’ll have it out later, after the meeting. Sit down and shut it.”
Remus turned to Severus and seemed to be asking if he were all right. Severus nodded and resumed his seat, arms crossed over his chest, wand very visible in his hand. Tonks fell into a chair next to Molly Weasley, hair turned a murky black and red as she sulked. Albus continued the briefing for another half-an-hour and then sent everyone but Remus, Severus, Molly and Tonks on their way.
Dumbledore’s eyes weren’t twinkling when he tapped Tonks on the shoulder and caught the young Auror’s gaze. Molly almost blurted something out, but Remus’ hand on hers stopped whatever she was going to say. Severus knew that Albus was using Legilimency on the Metamorphmagus; he’d felt the spell taking hold as he sat on her other side. Only the creaking of a squeaky floorboard broke the silence.
Minutes passed and then the Headmaster blinked. Tonks started to stand, but a wave of Dumbledore’s hand pushed her back into her seat. “Miss Tonks, when did you and Molly Weasley come to the conclusion that Remus Lupin was too good for a Slytherin?” he asked gently. Remus jerked in his seat and stared at the witch next to him, pulling his hand away as if it were burning. “You never seemed to notice him before.”
Arms crossed, Tonks fumed, her hair darkening and straightening while her features turned into a feminine version of Severus’. “Didn’t talk really,” she groused. Her eyes flickered everywhere but in Remus’ direction. “Harrumph...Just got some pointers, so to speak.” Mrs. Weasley’s face turned redder than her hair as she began to sniffle. “He needs to be looked after and….”
“Molly?” Cutting off whatever else Tonks had to say, Albus turned a scolding look on the matron. She squirmed and then pulled a polka-dotted handkerchief from her apron pocket and dabbed at her eyes, sniffling. “I see you know that you had no business interfering in Remus’ life. Will you cease and desist?” The redhead nodded and hid her face in the handkerchief.
“He’s…he’s…it’s past time Remus had a family, Albus. I just wanted him to know the love a good woman,” Molly whispered. She twisted the damp handkerchief in her hands, looking up at Remus with teary eyes. He turned his shoulder to her and looked over her toward Severus.
“Severus, I take it you are not as hostile to Remus as you once were?” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled as he waited for Severus’ answer. Remus turned in his direction, wary anticipation on his face.
“I do not find Lupin’s company irksome, if that’s what you mean.” Severus refused to look at anyone, speaking over Dumbledore’s shoulder. He could hear Molly’s skirt sliding over the wood of her chair and the grinding of Tonks’ teeth. Severus just knew Lupin’s jaw was aching to fall to the floor with surprise.
“If Auror Tonks would like to act as a reasonable adult and explain why she’s hellbent on doing me bodily harm, I will listen.” Severus crossed his arms, glancing sidewise and sharing A Look with Remus. “If not, I would like to return to Hogwarts tonight. I’ve potions that need to be brewed.”
The portrait of Mrs. Black began shrieking and the five of them went to see what the trouble was. Remus was the first one into the hallway and his shocked gasp had Severus pushing past Tonks and Molly, wand up and out. A silvery object was floating before the portrait. Before it winked out of existence, Severus would have sworn it was a Grim.
Ω•≡•Ω♦Ω•≡•Ω♦
Bowing before the Dark Lord Voldemort, Severus was careful to keep Bellatrix’s latest courting effort to the forefront of his mind:
Bellatrix tripped into the brewing room, arms loaded down with a papier-mâché box that looked small but must have been heavy. She grinned—stained teeth glinting in the candlelight—and set the deceptive box down on a clean table. “Snapesy, look!” she said unnecessarily. “I found my trinket box, from when I was a girl.” Bellatrix flipped the lid open and a hidden hinge caught it before it slammed into the tabletop. Inside were Wizarding pictures, mouse skulls, ribbons—some clean, some bloody—a gold brooch with the entwined letters “SSRL”, and most interesting of all, a shrunken potions ingredient kit.
“Ah! Here it is, Snapesy!” She waved the ingredient kit around, the small flasks and bottles clinking as they slid inside their tiny wooden frame. “I got this from Aunt Walburga. She said she sees you all the time and you’re the only one that has the bollocks to stand up to her.” Mad eyes were hidden and then revealed behind erratically fluttering eyelashes. “Auntie Burga says you are a man of great things, taking Dumbledore’s plans back to our Lord at great risk.” She pressed up against Severus’ side, her breasts uncomfortably pointy. “Auntie says I should fuck you and make babies for our Lord. Would you like to fuck me over the table now?”
Severus threw-up a bit in his mouth as she draped herself over the table and began wriggling her tight dress up her thighs. He swallowed the bile and grimaced. “No, Madame Lestrange, oh, god, no!” He waved his hands and accidental magic took care of the rest: her dress and robes flowed back down her body, hiding the deathly white skin from Severus’ wide eyes. The magic also knocked her unconscious, something he hadn’t thought about, but it made the air whoosh out of him. He wiped his forehead. “Thank Heavens for strange miracles….”