*near a lake in Scotland*
*dusts the dirt off his hands and sits back on his heels* *examines the gillyweed bush he's planted* Well, there you are, Professor. *addresses Minerva's grave* I thought the sort that grows would be better for you than the sort you drink...
*plops down next to the grave, and tips his head to look at what's there* Saw Snape leaving when I got here, but doesn't look like he left anything... and the cat here, that's from Sirius, right? *touches the little figurine fondly* And who're the flowers from? *leans in to examine the card* *recognizes the writing* Remus. *smiles just a bit* Gang's all been here, eh?
*reaches into the bag he brought with him, and pulls out a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes* Don't know why I brought these, you know... *opens the cigarettes* I quit a while ago... maybe because I hoped you'd pop right up out of that grave and swat them out of my hands with a ruler. *laughs as he lights one and opens the bottle*
Happy birthday, old girl. *leans against the side of the stone* Wish we were around a table with a cake Mum baked you and a whole pile of gifts. Wish you were around. I could use some advice. I've screwed up twice in a week.
*closes his eyes* Can't believe I almost got Tonks killed. First I missed that... that thing... and then taking it out I almost killed her again. And now Dumbledore wants me to study it... I get to stare at that failure every day until I work it all the way through.
I know what you'd say. *turns to grin just a bit* 'Well, why don't you just get it over and done, if it bothers you?' And you're right. But it's hard -- Tonks is already like a sister. She's so good for Perc... and she's such a decent bird in her own right. *ashes the cigarette* And it's hard for another reason. Because I'm distracted.
*takes a long slug of the whiskey* I'm distracted by Sirius Black. There's something I'd never expect. I'm distracted by my failure with him, too. That spell we did... something went wrong. The marks on my back, they're still there. I think they're fading a bit, but... what if they don't? They weren't supposed to burn. They're not supposed to stay. And even before that spell...
*smokes for a minute* I've had dreams, Professor, dreams like I used to have with Fleur. Worse -- or maybe better. *half grin* His eyes on me... then his hands on me... then his lips on me... but I'm sure you don't want details. *laughs, and takes a small drink* 'Discretion, young Mr Weasley!' Say, I do a fair impression of you, I think.
*drums his fingers on his knee* He's my best friend, my only friend of late, so I can't even talk to my friends about this. It's so strange.
*brushes his hair out of his eyes* I've never felt this way before about a man, that's for certain. Fleur always used to entertain the thought of bringing another one home, and I wasn't averse to the idea, but all my thoughts to that end included her between us. What'll it be like with the veela removed?
How do I fix it? What do I do? *puts out the cigarette on his boot and tucks the butt in his pocket* I miss you, you know. And I know what you'd say. *pulls himself up to his feet and smiles down at the stone* 'If you've gone and made another mess, William, best to start cleaning right away'. And you're right.
*bends down and kisses the corner of the stone as he used to her cheek* Thanks, Professor. Without saying a word you've helped me, same as ever. *scoops up his bag* Take care. I'll come check on your new shrubbery after Monaco.
*plops down next to the grave, and tips his head to look at what's there* Saw Snape leaving when I got here, but doesn't look like he left anything... and the cat here, that's from Sirius, right? *touches the little figurine fondly* And who're the flowers from? *leans in to examine the card* *recognizes the writing* Remus. *smiles just a bit* Gang's all been here, eh?
*reaches into the bag he brought with him, and pulls out a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes* Don't know why I brought these, you know... *opens the cigarettes* I quit a while ago... maybe because I hoped you'd pop right up out of that grave and swat them out of my hands with a ruler. *laughs as he lights one and opens the bottle*
Happy birthday, old girl. *leans against the side of the stone* Wish we were around a table with a cake Mum baked you and a whole pile of gifts. Wish you were around. I could use some advice. I've screwed up twice in a week.
*closes his eyes* Can't believe I almost got Tonks killed. First I missed that... that thing... and then taking it out I almost killed her again. And now Dumbledore wants me to study it... I get to stare at that failure every day until I work it all the way through.
I know what you'd say. *turns to grin just a bit* 'Well, why don't you just get it over and done, if it bothers you?' And you're right. But it's hard -- Tonks is already like a sister. She's so good for Perc... and she's such a decent bird in her own right. *ashes the cigarette* And it's hard for another reason. Because I'm distracted.
*takes a long slug of the whiskey* I'm distracted by Sirius Black. There's something I'd never expect. I'm distracted by my failure with him, too. That spell we did... something went wrong. The marks on my back, they're still there. I think they're fading a bit, but... what if they don't? They weren't supposed to burn. They're not supposed to stay. And even before that spell...
*smokes for a minute* I've had dreams, Professor, dreams like I used to have with Fleur. Worse -- or maybe better. *half grin* His eyes on me... then his hands on me... then his lips on me... but I'm sure you don't want details. *laughs, and takes a small drink* 'Discretion, young Mr Weasley!' Say, I do a fair impression of you, I think.
*drums his fingers on his knee* He's my best friend, my only friend of late, so I can't even talk to my friends about this. It's so strange.
*brushes his hair out of his eyes* I've never felt this way before about a man, that's for certain. Fleur always used to entertain the thought of bringing another one home, and I wasn't averse to the idea, but all my thoughts to that end included her between us. What'll it be like with the veela removed?
How do I fix it? What do I do? *puts out the cigarette on his boot and tucks the butt in his pocket* I miss you, you know. And I know what you'd say. *pulls himself up to his feet and smiles down at the stone* 'If you've gone and made another mess, William, best to start cleaning right away'. And you're right.
*bends down and kisses the corner of the stone as he used to her cheek* Thanks, Professor. Without saying a word you've helped me, same as ever. *scoops up his bag* Take care. I'll come check on your new shrubbery after Monaco.