Five Drabbles from Drabble Night/Morning; G to PG
Here are my five drabbles from drabble night/morning, slightly touched up. Nothing is over a PG rating. They're the first bit of writing I've been able to do in ages, so they made me very happy. :D Many thanks to azure_rosa for hosting! The titles are the prompts.
Taboo Apologies
He’d dreamt about and feared this moment in equal measure. The first time he’d really, truly be naked with Severus. Oh, they’d had sex before, half clothed, rushed and furtive, using all the meagre time and privacy that war allowed them. They’d been hiding their relationship from everyone they knew, after all, skulking in dark corners, fumbling, half clothed, in dim alleys, never once having the luxury of time and space... or even a bed.
Now all that was behind them. Wounds had been healed, relationships revealed, and suddenly here they were... just the two of them in a spacious room with a big bed. The moment of truth was at hand.
They stared at each other like nervous school kids for a long moment before moving together. Looking became touching which became kissing... It all felt so natural and wonderful, but when Severus began to unbutton the front of Remus’s shirt, Remus grabbed his hand and held it tight.
Severus blinked in confusion and pulled back. “What’s wrong? Have you changed your mind?” Tension suddenly laced his voice and Remus could see a flicker of fear in his eye.
“No, no, Merlin, no!” Remus exclaimed. Then he sighed and reached out to lightly stroke his lover’s cheek. “It’s just... you haven’t... look, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be too repulsed when you see me without anything on...”
Severus’s look of confusion deepened. “What are you talking about? Why would I be repulsed? Last I looked you were the handsome one and I was the-- and here I quote my many detractors-- “greasy git”. If anyone is likely to be repulsed, it’s you.”
“Never!” said Remus softly. “I think you’re beautiful. I always have. I’m the ugly one. After all these years as a werewolf, my body is... riddled with scars.” He looked down. “I’m sorry...”
Severus grasped his chin gently and forced Remus to look up and meet his eyes. “No, you never need to apologize for being who you are with me, and nothing about you could ever repulse me.”
*****
Watching
Remus stood at attention in the middle of the dim alley, his figure limned in moonlight. Wand extended, his eyes constantly moving, he scrutinized the deeper shadows for any signs of life.
Silently, Kingsley appeared beside him and shrugged. “If any Death Eaters were ever here, they’re gone now. You find anything?”
Remus hesitated then shook his head. “No, nothing. For a moment, I thought...”
He stopped and after a pause Kingsley prompted, “You thought?”
Remus grimaced and lowered his wand. “No, there’s nothing here. I’m just imagining things.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
Remus glanced at his friend. “I’m sure. Let’s get back.”
With a nod of agreement, Kingsley apparated away. Remus stood and gazed deeply into the shadows for a bit longer before following with a sharp crack.
For a short while longer the alley stood empty, then one shadowy corner shimmered briefly and suddenly one of the brick walls appeared to move back a foot, revealing the tall, dark figure of Severus Snape. Slowly he moved out into the alley. For a long moment, he stood silently in the small patch of moonlight that had recently held those who’d been hunting him then, with the faintest of sighs, he, too, vanished into the night.
*****
Forest
Severus slipped out of the castle and looked carefully around, it wouldn’t do to be caught before he even had a chance to do anything wrong. The coast, as it were, appeared to be clear, so he ran swiftly across a patch of lawn and slid in under the trees.
When he first came to Hogwarts, he’d been afraid of the Forbidden Forest with its menacing dark shadows and the rather intimidating and dangerous creatures who lived there, but over the past few years, he’d got over most of his fears. Spending time hunting under the trees for fresher potion ingredients than the school provided had helped, but the thing that had helped the most was discovering how useful a place it was to get away from his detractors and housemates alike.
And now he’d discovered its most useful quality of all, it was a great place for secret meetings. Better than the Astronomy tower and much better than behind the Greenhouses or down by the lake. He climbed over a mossy log and slid down into a small gully. Coming out of a thick copse of trees, he smiled to himself when he saw a lone figure sitting on a tree stump in the middle of a clearing... waiting. Waiting for him.
Sneaking silently up behind the apparently oblivious boy on the stump, Severus was just about to leap forward and grab his prey, when the boy turned swiftly and grabbed him instead. They fell to the leafy forest floor in a tangle of arms and legs and rolled around until coming to rest with Severus lying flat on his back, his intended victim on top of him, holding him down and grinning from ear to ear.
“How’d you know I was there?” Severus asked, wriggling slightly, rather excited to have ended up in such an intimate position so quickly.
Remus grinned. “I heard you breathing. You breathe as loud as a Hippogriff.”
“I do not!” Severus protested.
Remus just laughed and leaned down for a kiss.
*****
Secret Celebration
Severus walked quietly down the steps to the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. Through the half open door, he could hear the sounds of celebration within. The evening had been a huge success. The Dark Lord’s plans had been dealt yet another setback. He should be pleased, and he was... though he couldn’t quite make himself push open that door and go inside. He knew he wouldn’t really be welcome and all his presence would do was put a damper on everyone else’s happiness.
Slowly he turned and retraced his steps. Once he was back in the gloom of the upstairs hallway, he shut the door behind him and leaned against it, closing his eyes. Would there never be a place where he belonged?
The light sound of a footstep caused him to open his eyes and straighten up. Standing in front of him holding two glasses full of something light and bubbly was Remus Lupin.
Holding out one of the glasses, he said, “I had a feeling you wouldn’t join in the merriment downstairs, but you still deserve a bit of celebration. We wouldn’t have succeeded tonight without you, you know.”
Severus hesitated then slowly reached out and took the glass.
Remus smiled and brought his own forward, lightly clinking the delicate crystal flutes together. “To our continued success and the man who’ll make it all possible.”
*****
In the Library
Remus pushed open the door and walked into the dark, cavernous room. Technically he was supposed to be looking for students who might be out of bed, but he’d covered his assigned area four times without finding anyone awake much less up to any mischief. It was time for a break before making that long circuitous route once again.
Lighting his wand, he wandered deep into the room, turning randomly into an aisle. Reaching out, he ran his fingers gently along the edges of the books, inhaling deeply of that unmistakable scent of dust, leather, ink and paper. It was a calming, familiar scent... one that spoke of home, contentment, a reminder of happier times.
Suddenly, a soft noise caught his attention, a rustling of cloth followed by an exhalation of breath. He wasn’t alone.
Extinguishing his wand, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, now lit solely by faint light coming through the tall windows. Then he quietly began to make his way toward the back of the room, toward the restricted section.
The faint flicker of wandlight held over a book caught his eye as he stepped around a bookcase. The rebuke he had ready never left his tongue because the person he now faced wasn’t the errant student he’d expected, but was instead a fellow professor. His heart began to beat faster as he recognized the familiar shape of Severus Snape.
“Severus... isn’t it rather late to be doing research.” He spoke quietly, hoping not to startle but the response he got was more vigorous than he expected. Instantly a dazzling light was directed at his eyes, blinding him, and he raised a hand to try to block it out.
“Lupin.” Severus’s voice dripped with disdain. “Why are you spying on me?”
“I’m not spying on you, Severus. I was just taking a brief break from my rounds. I’m on corridor patrol tonight. Could you lower that light a bit? Please?”
“Why come in here?” The light lowered slightly, but still remained pointed at Remus’s chest.
“I like the library. I always have. You should know that. In addition to books, it holds... many happy memories for me.” He hesitated and added on impulse, “I thought it might for you, too. Does it?”
The light wavered and dropped lower so no stray reflection could reveal Severus’s expression. “No.” Severus’s voice was cold. “The library is simply a place for study and research. Something for which I do not have sufficient time during the day. Nothing more.”
Not surprised but still disappointed, Remus nodded. “I’ll say goodnight and leave you to it then.”
“Thank you.” The words were soft but final. So Remus turned slowly and headed back to his duty.