Always Character: Severus Summary: Severus is not a sentimental man, but he has a few things to say to Remus on Valentine's Day.
As little as I care for the sentimental, prefabricated claptrap associated with this ludicrous holiday, I decided some kind of acknowledgment was in order. Valentine's Day is, after all, a celebration of love. I have no desire to memorialize romance; finding oneself attracted to someone and sending them flowers is easy. Indulging in the throes of new passion is easy. Loving someone for a lifetime even when you know all their annoying traits and habits, raising children with them, making a commitment to them and keeping it -- these things are not easy.
Falling in love is easy; any fool can do it. Remaining in love is difficult, and yet we have managed it. We have no need to set aside a particular day for the trappings of romance when it is woven into the fabric of our lives all year round. Thus there will be no hearts, flowers, or lace-edged cards; I leave the sentimentality to you. However, I believe our enduring union and the family we have built together deserve to be commemorated, which is why I offer a token on this day.
I have no regrets, only gratitude for what our relationship has brought to me: fulfillment, even happiness. Before, I could not imagine myself having a successful, lasting relationship; now, I cannot imagine my life without it. Without you.
You will find the other part of my gift later; it is something I can only give in person. I also have a gift suitable for Lupercalia and some ideas on how we may best celebrate that holiday as well.
Always, Severus
Sealing the note in an envelope, Severus tucked it into a long black box containing three black roses wrapped in silver tissue paper. The roses were made of entirely of 80% cocoa dark chocolate, the "petals" colored black and the "stems and thorns" colored green; he had contemplated making a dark chocolate heart in the shape of a real human heart, but he decided to go with black roses instead.
His other gift was one he could only give in person, and it was, in fact, on his person. He had got a magical tattoo right over his heart; it was done in shimmery ink, and the design was quite unique if he did say so himself. It was in the shape of the moon, and it waxed and waned along with the real moon; the twist was that if one looked closely enough, one would see the moon was actually made of words. Specifically, names. The crescent moon consisted simply of "Severus" and "Remus", and as the moon "waxed", it expanded to include the names of their children until all five names were visible once the moon was full.
But that was for later. For now, he left the box of chocolate roses on Remus' writing desk and disappeared into his workroom to hide and let Remus wonder exactly what his other gifts were for a good long while.