Summary: "This isn’t magic — it’s logic — a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven’t got an ounce of logic; they’d be stuck in here forever." What if Remus, who has being trying and failing to befriend Severus for several years, learned of Severus’ affinity for logic puzzles? What if after befriending him, he fell in love and decided that maybe the only way to Severus’ heart was through his brain?
Timeline: Post war, both lived, the Tonks train wreak never happened and thus no Teddy. Pairings: Friendship and eventual Snape/Lupin Pre-slash so far, but it might eventually become full blown slash. Background Harry/Hermione.
Disclaimer: If you think any of these characters are mine please tell me what world you live in so I can move there posthaste! Also all of the puzzles in this story are real and actual logic puzzles that I have solved in various computer games with the obvious exception of the Rubik’s cube which I played in reality. None of the puzzles mentioned hereafter are my intellectual property and at the end I will give credit where credit is due for each in order of appearance.
Warnings/kinks: none yet unless mind games, both literal and metaphorical, count. Sneaky Remus, sneaky Severus, courtship, drama. Also I switch POV between the boys; hopefully it will be simple to tell whose head you’re in. This is a WIP, but I have most of the beginning and about half of the end done, I just need to do the middle and the very end. I suspect I will post a section a month without any real breaks as I've quite the backlog. :)
"So we finally get to Snape’s protection on the stone and of course he had to be different. Hermione said, 'This isn’t magic — it's logic — a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven’t got an ounce of logic; they'd be stuck in here forever.' I’ve still got no idea how she figured it out so fast…"
I had stopped listening, not that Harry noticed. A new and brilliant idea was hatching in my brain. Unbeknownst to me a slightly evil smile, my Marauder smile, was slowly creeping across my face. Who knew that one of Harry's stories about his adventures from his school days could solve a problem I had been puzzling over for several years?
Maybe if I sent a puzzle by owl mail tomorrow morning and showed up for dinner at Hogwarts I would finally have a way through Severus’ defenses. I'd been trying to befriend my snarky classmate for the better part of three decades and this might finally do the trick. I turned my attention back to Harry’s story realizing it was just winding up. "…Of course I didn’t know any of that as I was passed out by then. I woke up in the Hospital wing soon after. That seems to be a pattern of the end of my stories doesn't it?"
I smiled teasingly, "Just now noticing that Harry?" He blushed just as easily has his mother when teased. As much as I care for Harry visiting always made me remember and miss my old friends, even Peter despite his betrayal. It was a lonely feeling to be the last of the Marauders and nearly the last of my generation.
"I never claimed to be quick on the uptake Remus; if I was Hermione wouldn't have had to pull me under the mistletoe to get my attention!"
"I’m pleased you two are still getting along so well. Do you think your relationship is going somewhere?"
"I hope so. I-I think I love her." Harry didn't quite blurt that out, but it was a close thing. I can't say I am surprised, I had seen them interacting over the last six months or so and they are a textbook case of lovebirds.
"Congratulations then! Have you told the lovely lady yet?"
"No, I've tried a few times but I get so nervous." Even talking to me about it was enough to make Harry blush and fidget. He reminds me of myself as a young man. I was horribly shy all through school and even into my early thirties.
"Believe it or not being nervous is a good sign. It shows you really care about her and how she will react. I suspect Hermione will not be displeased to hear such a thing from you, in fact I imagine you may get tackled again."
"Do you really think so?" Hope shone from Harry’s bright eyes.
"Your parents used to look at each other the way you and Hermione do, so yes I'm sure. Some people find setting up a romantic evening the best way to go when telling someone they love them, it helps them feel in control of the situation, but I've always had better luck with just spending some quiet time alone with the person and telling them once I've gathered my courage."
"Remus, are you happy?" Harry’s sudden question caught me off-guard. I floundered briefly as I tried to come up with a response that wasn't patently false or pathetic sounding.
"I am better off than I’ve been in years. I've steady work and a place of my own."
"That wasn't what I asked Remus."
"I am content with my life."
"Then why do you always get that wistful look when you visit?"
"Do I? I am sorry Harry, I don't mean to." I paused to gather my thoughts before continuing, "I find myself lonely for a friend of my own age at times. There are so few of my generation left and even fewer that I know personally."
Harry nodded understandingly, "I get that. I was cut-off from my peers several times and it was always a lonely feeling. Maybe you should try to develop a friendship with one of the Order members? They are likely just as lonely for company their age as you are."
Harry’s heart-felt advice was cut off by the sound of the fireplace connecting for a floo call. Hermione’s face floated in the green fire and immediately began to speak.
"Harry, are you home? Oh, hello Remus, sorry I interrupted, I didn’t know you were visiting."
"No bother Hermione, I was just leaving. I wish you the best of luck Harry. Not that I think you need it." With a reassuring smile and a conspiratorial wink in Harry’s direction I took my leave.
After apparating home I began to plot. If Harry was to be believed Severus had an affinity for logic puzzles much like myself. The angle of challenging Severus' intellect in a fashion that would force him to play along, even if only to prove himself to his old rival, somehow had never occurred to me before. Now all I had to do was gather my favorite puzzles that I hoped might stump the clever Slytherin, at least for a while. It seemed ridiculously simple but then all the best plans usually are.
Early the following morning I carefully tied a smallish perfect cube to the leg of my black and gray owl, Olivia, whom I sent with strict instructions to give it to Severus at the breakfast table after the headmistress had arrived. I knew I could count on Minerva being both concerned with the proper social protocol that she would not let Severus torch my missive and gift without opening it first and curious enough to demand he open it at the table. It was the only way I could guarantee my gift would be received and, hopefully, kept. To the package I added a challenge thinly disguised as a friendly note.
Severus, A little bird told me you share my love of logic puzzles. Enclosed you will find one of the first puzzles of that sort I ever encountered and solved. I hope you will find it as engaging as I did as a teenager. The objective is to twist the cube to make each side a solid color. I took the liberty of setting it up for you. One of my favorite aspects of this particular puzzle is its replay value; I’ve beaten this particular puzzle numerous times with ease so I doubt it will pose much of a challenge to you. Best of luck with your new Rubik’s cube! Remus
I smirked to myself as I penned my missive. If that didn’t make Severus determined to beat me at my own game nothing would. After sending Olivia off with her package I settled into my office to work but my thoughts wandered to my previous attempts to befriend Severus.
I’d tried periodically to engage him in conversation, everything from intellectual debate to lurid gossip, all to no avail. Offers of joint outings to dinner or academic conferences all answered with, "I, unlike some people, have important demands on my time Lupin!" I had been at the end of my metaphorical rope for quite a while. Hopefully this new plan would succeed where so many of its predecessors had failed.