A/N: reflective and hopeful w/happy ending….. for red..
Severus slipped carefully into the warm, salty water settling himself onto one of the benches along the perimeter. He tried not to grimace as he moved, since an attendant stood by waiting to interfere at the first sign of weakness. He had arrived at the private Wizarding hospital in Droitwich Spa four days ago, after delivering the last assistance he could provide Potter. When it appeared that the boy had made use of it, and Severus had activated his portkey; a tiny charm that had adorned his clothing since before Dumbledore was killed.
He closed his eyes. His hair was too long and the ends fell well below his shoulders, and it floated gently about him. Severus tried to focus on the place and the time trying to exist in this moment. He valiantly attempted to avoid the ‘what ifs’ and ‘might have beens’. This was a healing place and his body was already responding. Severus rubbed his hand along the wall; the stone was smooth, polished by years of wear and salt. Thousands of wizards over the years had sat in this spot, in this bath taking in the water’s curative properties. It was said the water was ten times saltier than the sea.
His mother had told him about the hospital and the healer who ran it several years ago. She had concerns about his well-being. They never discussed what he did, but she seemed to know anyway. The healer here was one of her former lovers; all she would admit was that the man loved too well. Although Severus had gotten the impression that the man also loved too many. None of this was distracting enough, however.
Yesterday’s Daily Prophet continued to sing Harry Potter’s praises, interviews with the victorious and a small piece in which Severus was vindicated and his loss lamented. The news about other causalities was sketchier. The numbers of dead and wounded were fewer in today’s edition than yesterdays, but names were being withheld so that families could be notified. How long could that take? How many days before he would know for certain? He remained hopeful. If he had the energy he would chastise himself, obviously, he had been with the bloody Gryffindor far too long.
The faint glimmer of hope was enticing, though. He had hoped that Remus would have realized he was loyal to Dumbledore, not that he really believed Remus had any doubt. The blasted wolf had tracked him for weeks, Severus barely staying one-step ahead. Then, Remus married and procreated with that hussy. He alternated between telling himself it did not matter and that there had to be an explanation. Four days.
It had been than a year since he had seen Remus. The first evening the year Remus taught at Hogwarts and had sat next to him in the Great Hall; he had been lost, his attraction to the werewolf was undeniable. Their relationship had started out a bit rocky, but they had both been committed from the beginning. Severus alternated between hating himself for his weakness and revealing in the strength and passion of their union. They had created the portkeys three years ago. It had been just after the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Things were going from bad to worse, and they had made their plans to be together. Together. Yet, after all was finally said and done he was here alone.
Severus could hear people speaking in hushed tones. If he kept his eyes closed he probably would not be disturbed. There was the barely discernable sound of bare feet shuffling across the stone surrounding the pool. He heard the slight splash and felt the waves ripple over the water’s surface. The sound was muted, but the waves were larger and closer together. He felt his personal space being invaded as the other individual sat down.
“Not even curious enough to look?” Remus asked.
“Were you injured?” The words were torn from Severus.
“Slightly.”
“Four days worth is not slightly, particularly if one is a werewolf.” He still could not open his eyes and look.
“I had a few loose ends to tidy up and I knew you were in good hands.”
“You knew?”
“I had your mother check.”
“My mother knows?” His throat was beginning to ache. “Do not try to dissuade me. Loose ends. Your wife perhaps.” Bitterness overflowed in his tone.
“Not my wife, but my friend. We were never legally married since she was already married to her child’s father. It is all out in the open now. And if you think bureaucracy works poorly on a good day you can imagine how it is not working at the moment. My name needed to be removed from several legal documents, before I could come.”
“You weren’t…. you didn’t’…..” Severus was going to start blubbering any minute. More than twenty years since he had last cried, and he had to choose now.
Remus reached a hand over and covered Severus’. “I wanted to be free from all of that before I came to you.”
Perhaps, Severus could open his eyes now. A finger came up and touched him under the chin.
“Severus, have our duties and our time apart done irreparable harm? Can you bear to look at me?”
Severus opened slowly, and locked on the blue eyes with their green and gold centers. Remus moved his hand to caress Severus’ cheek. Afraid to blink, Severus’ eyes roved over Remus mostly naked body. There were a few more scars, and he wanted to kiss all of them.
“Severus?”
Severus parted his lips, but nothing came out. Remus took the movement as an invitation and pulled Severus over onto his lap. He pressed their lips together gently and something inside Severus burst. They went from sweet buss to something passionate and unslakable. The attendant squawked. Remus pulled back slightly.
“Don’t stop.” Severus said his voice rough with emotion and snakebite. “If he’s never seen two Wizards kiss, I would say it was about time.” He twined his arms around Remus’ neck and returned to quenching their voracious thirst.