A/N: Happy birthday Severus! Sorry I'm late, but you've lived with adolescents and people who garner way too much of your time; so I imagine you'll understand! Fifty…my that's a big one!!
He had just paced his twenty-seventh circuit around the room and the knocking had not ceased. Damn Gryffindors!
Severus flung the door open in an attempt to startle the unwanted idiot. Remus Lupin stood calmly with his hand poised to knock again.
"Hello, Severus. I hope I didn't wake you?'
Severus snorted. "As if anyone could sleep through that racket. Now that you've verified that I am awake you are excused to continue your quest for layabouts elsewhere." He started to push the door closed.
Remus' arm when up to stop the movement. "Might I come in?"
"No!"
"Severus if you don't let me in, I will just keep knocking until you do. "
"You would." Severus grumbled. "All right make it quick and then you may report back to Minerva."
"She didn't exactly send me, but she is quite concerned. You haven't left your rooms since you were released from the hospital. It's been two weeks."
"Yes, thank you for being so observant and pointing that out. Are we finished with the witty repartee yet?"
Remus sighed. "It's beautiful outside Severus. Don't you want to take a walk around the grounds, see the sun, smell the sweet smell of summer?"
Severus huffed. "I was walking before you so rudely interrupted me. Why would I want to see the sun or run into anyone who wants to chatter about nothing for hours on end?"
"There are few enough people around the castle in the summertime, you know that. You would be quite safe from chatter."
"I am not even safe from it in my own rooms."
"That was subtle, Severus. You need more practice; you just might be losing that delightful restrained nuance most Slytherin's have. "
"Shut up, Lupin! Get the hell out of here while you are at it!"
"I'll be back, Severus." Remus said as he retreated toward the door without turning his back on Severus.
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The knocking resumed at two pm the next day; at two-fifteen Severus opened the door.
"What?" Severus demanded.
"I brought you some things." Remus held out a parcel.
"I would be so inclined to open that. Once a Marauder always a Marauder."
"Severus, it's not like that. I brought you a gift. If I need to open it I will."
Severus stepped back two steps. "Open it right there."
"Would you be like this if Minerva brought you a bottle of Firewhisky or Scotch?"
"Of course not." Severus responded. "I would know that she was paying off one of the many wagers she had lost to me over the years."
"Fine" Remus said with a sigh. He ripped the paper off the top of the box and then opened it for Severus to see.
"I am living in a school, Lupin. There are plenty of quills, parchment and inks here."
"This is monogrammed stationary, some with all three of your initials in black, some with 'from the desk of Severus Snape' and the rest with just SS in little silver snakes. The quills are the kind you prefer. There a three new shades of ink from Flourish and Blotts. One is black but has a dark green shimmer when it dries, one is a metallic graphite and the third changes colour when the parchment it touched by someone." Remus chuckled. "It's sort of a mood ink just like those Muggle rings from the seventies."
For a moment Severus was at a loss for words. "Exactly whom am I to write?"
"Your mum, you grandmum, the editor of the Daily Prophet, Lucius Malfoy, the owner of Tai's Tahitian Resort….whomever you want." Remus thrust the box toward Severus who took it.
Severus clenched his jaw. "I believe we are done for today."
"I hope you enjoy your things, Severus."
A barely perceptible whisper escaped and a 'thank you' ghosted through the air as the door closed on Remus.
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It was one-fifteen in the afternoon when the knocking resumed the next day. It took Severus almost twelve minutes to answer the door.
Remus smiled and held up a vase; it was lined with pages of cinnamon buttons and filled with liquorice sticks, tied with a silver ribbon. "No opening necessary, Severus."
Severus wanted to take the vase and bash Lupin in the head with it, but he could smell the liquorice and it was fresh from Honeyduke's. The cinnamon button paper he had not had in years. He wanted, really wanted the sweets; he stepped back cautiously.
"If you ever need to talk Severus I'm available."
"Thank you, but no."
"All right, just so you know the offer and my door are always open." Remus walked back toward the door.
"Is this going to be on-going interruption?" Severus asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes." Remus smiled a small wry smile as he left.
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The visits continued day after day even the evening after the full moon. Remus brought something every time: a journal, periodical, the Sunday edition of the Daily Prophet and raspberry Linzer cheese Danish, fireworks for Bastille Day, wine, a picnic basket, the list went on. He offered to listen or talk on every visit as well.
One day Remus brought Severus' pardon from the Ministry; for his trouble Severus offered him a chair. They didn't speak as Severus held the parchment gingerly in his hands. After a while one long finger traced every letter and symbol. Neither of them spoke. Severus wasn't certain how long they sat there it was at least one hour, perhaps three. He felt his shoulders relax just a bit and then he stood. "Thank you for delivering this."
Remus stood and smiled a brilliant smile and laid one hand on Severus' shoulder. "You are most welcome."
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When Remus stood at his door the next day Severus opened it immediately. Remus held a six-pack of cola and a large bag of crisps. "Lily used to tease you about having to have your fix." He shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't think of anything else that could follow yesterday."
Severus took the offerings and headed for his chair in front of the fireplace. Remus closed the door and followed. There was a loud snap that echoed off the dungeon walls and Severus began guzzling his soda; halfway through he stopped, opened the crisps and ate a few handfuls. He finished his drink and stared straight ahead.
Finally, Remus broke the silence. "Are you all right, Severus?"
Severus turned his head and looked at Remus his face incredulous. "Of course, I am not all right! How many people do you know that do not leave their rooms for weeks?" He demanded.
"This is one of the reasons I've been visiting you every day. You just seem pensive today, however, and you haven't said a single snarky thing to me in two days. That is not normal."
"What do you do with your time when you are not annoying me?" Severus asked.
"What do I do? Do you mean for a living?"
Severus nodded.
"Well, I've been working on the castle rebuild here, but I have a freelance column I write for a newspaper in Glasgow and I've been asked to write weekly piece for The Quibbler."
"And the position in Glasgow is it new?"
Remus' brow furrowed. "No. I've had it for several years now."
"Excactly." Severus stated smugly.
Silence fell, again.
"I don't understand, Severus."
Severus rolled his eyes. "It should be apparent even to a Gryffindor. You have a life, a job, a plan, something to continue. I do not have a plan, or a job. I did not expect to need one." Severus paused. "I expected to be dead." Severus paused again he tongue slid out and touched his top lip. "I have always had a plan before not always a good one, but a plan nonetheless."
"So make a new plan. What are you waiting for?"
Severus snorted. "Oh, yes so simple just make a new plan. What am I suited to do? You have straddled the Muggle world by necessity for years. I do not have any skills that I know of that would be valuable there. Here, I'm Albus Dumbledore's murderer, much hated Headmaster Snape." He shrugged. "The same title could be affixed to Professor Snape as well and I do not care about that. What I am certain about is that my skill set is limited to potions making and spying." Severus popped the top of another can.
"Severus.."
"Lupin, I know I'm being a maudlin git. It is time for you to be going on with the rest of your business for today." Severus stood and pointed toward the door.
"All right, Severus. Don't over indulge on that sugar and caffeine!"
Severus thought there was a very old look on Remus', no Lupin's face.
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Severus' tea was late and he was just about to summon a house elf when there was a rap at the door. Apparently, yesterday's outburst had not deterred Lupin. It was Remus at the door, wearing a stupid party hat and pushing a tea trolley.
"Lupin?"
Remus waved his wand and cast a charm. Severus' lounge was covered in balloons, streamers and confetti. "Sorry, I'm late Severus. I had to track down Flitwick to learn this charm."
"I would say you most definitely did not need to learn this charm." Severus grumbled. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"Might I come in?"
"Anything so no one else can see this mess." Severus stepped back from the door.
He closed it behind Remus. "Now to the question? What is the meaning of this?"
"I brought you a hat as well Severus."
"I will not be wearing the bloody thing! Lupin!" Severus made it sound like threat, which it was.
Remus pulled the cover off the tea trolley. "Happy birthday, Severus!"
"Lupin, my birthday is in January! Who told you it was today?"
"I know your birthday is in January, but we are giving you a new birthday today. You are born anew, without expectations or past burdens. You are going to start over. Think about what you like, what you want to do. You are not bound by the past any longer. Today is your birthday and you get to begin again."
"Lupin, that is completely daft! One cannot forget one's past."
Remus laid a hand on Severus' shoulder. "The Ministry has pardoned you now you need to forgive yourself. You have a life to live. One of your own choosing. Come on, blow out the candles before we set the dungeon and the cake on fire. It's chocolate you know."
Severus felt lighter. "With raspberries?"
Remus grinned. "With raspberries."
The werewolf was completely out of his mind. Severus blew out the candles.
They cut the cake and poured tea. Remus made yummy noises as he ate two pieces of the cake. Severus set down his plate and cup.
"If I am starting afresh today, will you be returning tomorrow?"
"Of course, Severus." Remus responded
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Yes, why?" Severus' eyebrows were both raised.
"I….err….well…"
"Have you been courting me, Lupin?" Severus drawled.
Remus blushed. He looked quite delicious. "I didn't….well it started….for years….maybe…"
"I will take that as a yes."
Remus nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I did mean yes."
"As you are courting me, I do not imagine asking for a birthday kiss would be out of line."
"No, Severus it wouldn't."
Remus slid from his chair to kneel in front of Severus. He captured the birthday boy's face between his hands and touched their lips together. It was a gentle kiss that led to more not so gentle kisses. Severus groaned as Remus' tongue invaded his mouth. He had a plan, at least for the rest of the day if Remus was amiable. With a gentle tug, he pulled Remus up to stand. After all, a good plan today was better than the perfect plan tomorrow.