Special Delivery

[m4moony]

Date: Wednesday, 14 February, 2001
Time: Gifts Delivered at Intervals during the day, beginning at breakfast and ending just after final curfew
Location: Hogwarts
Rating: PGish
Characters Involved: Remus Lupin & Severus Snape ONLY

Comments

[subtle_simmer]

If Severus had never experienced a 'normal' Christmas prior to this year, it was equally certain he had never received any 'gifts' on Valentine's Day. Indeed, the only Valentines Day he remembered with any particular fondness was the year Lockhart was teaching. It had been tacky and lurid and downright revolting, but Severus had achieved a record number of House-Point-Deductions that day - from every House - and had single-handedly passed out enough detentions for the evening to foil the plans of dozens of couples. He had found it most gratifying.

He had fretted over the impending arrival of the Holiday, not knowing what to do about it in light of his present association with Remus. It was impossible for him to determine what would be an appropriate gesture without being 'over the top'. How much did one spend on these things? How was the gift presented? He didn't want to give offence by not doing enough, nor cause embarrassment or heightened expectations by doing too muchHe was still pondering whether the thing he had decided

[subtle_simmer]

Severus was as fond of fresh fruit as the next man, but he had no particular affinity for a certain type of apple. Moreover, to have them delivered in such a fashion with such a note clearly meant there was more to the story than just a nice wooden box (he already had ideas for uses for the box!) and a cryptic note. Then again, considering all of Severus' extensive reading, it should be no surprise that he recognised the 'signature' and the story behind it - and it was this which sent his heart racing and his mental confusion higher

[subtle_simmer]

Severus had just finished chasing a pair of Fifth-year students out of the Astronomy tower. Going up there had gradually gotten a bit less traumatic over the course of the year, though he knew he would never ascend those steps again without vivid memory of what he had done at the top. Tonight, he had actually gone there on purpose, not only to disappoint hormonal snoggers, but out of a desire to feel closer to Albus - without going out onto the icy grounds nor attempting to face the Portrait in Minerva's office which was still, according to the Headmistress, frequently requesting to speak with him.

It was here, gazing out over the grounds, that the owl found him. Severus read the note with a mixture of amused indulgence and downright disbelief. How could anyone feel grateful for anything about him? He read the note and looked at the plant fragments in mystification. It was impossible that these were chosen at random - not after all the symbolism of the other gifts of the day. It was also impossible to access his own references

[subtle_simmer]

That thought caused a sharp, unexpected stab of white-hot emptiness like lightning shot right through his solar-plexus. Severus ruthlessly prodded at this surprising sensation, exploring it from every angle, rooting out his feelings surrounding the confounding werewolf.

Respect for his intelligence, of course - even if Severus did think Remus was too tender-hearted for his own good.

Concern for his over-all well-being. The second full-moon he spent entirely with Remus was no easier than the first, even knowing what to expect. Severus felt every cry of agony as though it was his own, helpless to ease the suffering.

Irrational jealousy whenever Remus appeared overly friendly with someone Severus perceived as a threat - which was pretty much everyoneProfound contentment whenever they were together, even if it was just to sit in the same room, quietly marking student essays

[m4moony]

Remus had spent a large portion of the day carrying on an inner argument of a different sort -- had he gone too far or not far enough? Surely some sort of sentimentalism should have been expected. It seemed as though he'd set foot inside the house in Spinner's End and forgotten how to conceal his inner feelings from it's formerly solitary owner. But, then, Severus had told him he played everything so close to the chest it hadn't been until that day at the car show he'd truly known that Remus might share his attraction

[subtle_simmer]

And there it was. That sense of perfect rightness. A warm, soothing comfort almost indescribably profound. As though contentment was a thick, soft blanket, enfolding him completely just by being with Remus.

NOW who was being soppy?!

Severus returned the gentle kiss with a pleased humming against Remus lips before drawing him into the room, nearer the warmth of the fire.

"Oh? Is it Valentine's Day?" he asked. "I had no idea."

Waving a hand to indicate Remus should take the sofa, Severus went to a shelf to collect glasses for the cognac, and also to collect his gift for the werewolf - which seemed far too inadequate considering the elaborate display he had experienced today. Carrying the large-ish envelope and the flat-ish box over to the sofa, he seated himself and tried to say something adequate to the occasion, or more specifically to his feelings about Remus' efforts today