Severus Snape and Remus Lupin's Private Workroom
The workroom was quiet and empty, unusually still except for the crackling of flames in the fireplace. It was late, and Remus was generally accustomed to going to bed before, or at least at the same time as, Severus. But tonight, he'd been caught up in a fascinating article in the latest issue of "Defense Monthly", and after sharing some of the more bold claims the author made with Severus, had gotten so deeply into his reading that he'd merely grunted a goodnight when Severus had announced he was turning in.
Now, he was finished reading, and his eyes drooped as his gaze got lost in the flames of the fireplace. The article had discussed new research in methods to resist the effects of dark curses, and as Remus stared ahead, memories overtook him. He saw Severus stumbling out of the fireplace, crashing into a shelf of potion bottles, claiming he needed no help, clearly reeling from the pain and blood loss of a brutal encounter with the Dark Lord. A second memory, more horrific than the first, was full of gore and terrified, mindless muttering about Dark Marks being carved into the bone, deeper than flesh...
The article had cited examples from both wars, assertions that the Longbottoms might have kept their minds or that Minerva might have resisted the curse that took her life, but as much as he cared for his friends and mourned for their pain and losses, he was left wondering only how much torture his lover may have avoided if these theories were true, had been known then...
Remus discarded the journal and charmed down the flames to embers, padding quietly in bare feet into the bedroom. Stripping off his robes and clothes as he went, he stopped short of going to his pajama drawer at the sight of Severus in bed, his naked back the only part of him to stand out against the dark of the room and the sheets. Without a sound, Remus peeled back the covers and climbed in beside him, naked, before pulling the covers up again and rolling to tuck his body tightly against his lover's back. He did not worry about waking Severus - he could tell from the man's breathing that he wasn't asleep yet anyway - but he also did not want to disturb him. He simply wanted to hold, and so he did, wrapping his arm tightly across Severus' middle, finding his limp hand and holding it tightly in his own, pressing it into place against Severus' heart as Remus tucked his head into the crook of Severus' neck.
He simply needed to feel him, warm and alive and breathing. They had stood to lose so much, and Remus never wanted to forget what it felt like to be grateful.
Now, he was finished reading, and his eyes drooped as his gaze got lost in the flames of the fireplace. The article had discussed new research in methods to resist the effects of dark curses, and as Remus stared ahead, memories overtook him. He saw Severus stumbling out of the fireplace, crashing into a shelf of potion bottles, claiming he needed no help, clearly reeling from the pain and blood loss of a brutal encounter with the Dark Lord. A second memory, more horrific than the first, was full of gore and terrified, mindless muttering about Dark Marks being carved into the bone, deeper than flesh...
The article had cited examples from both wars, assertions that the Longbottoms might have kept their minds or that Minerva might have resisted the curse that took her life, but as much as he cared for his friends and mourned for their pain and losses, he was left wondering only how much torture his lover may have avoided if these theories were true, had been known then...
Remus discarded the journal and charmed down the flames to embers, padding quietly in bare feet into the bedroom. Stripping off his robes and clothes as he went, he stopped short of going to his pajama drawer at the sight of Severus in bed, his naked back the only part of him to stand out against the dark of the room and the sheets. Without a sound, Remus peeled back the covers and climbed in beside him, naked, before pulling the covers up again and rolling to tuck his body tightly against his lover's back. He did not worry about waking Severus - he could tell from the man's breathing that he wasn't asleep yet anyway - but he also did not want to disturb him. He simply wanted to hold, and so he did, wrapping his arm tightly across Severus' middle, finding his limp hand and holding it tightly in his own, pressing it into place against Severus' heart as Remus tucked his head into the crook of Severus' neck.
He simply needed to feel him, warm and alive and breathing. They had stood to lose so much, and Remus never wanted to forget what it felt like to be grateful.