Five Years.
So, I'm beginning my first WIP. It's for the current 7spells challenge, and thus Harry/Remus. Here we go!
Title: Five Years
Rating: PG
Pairing: Harry/Remus (pre-slash)
Prompt: 4. Draw the line in the sand
Warnings: None
Word Count: 588
Summary: Harry Potter has not seen Remus Lupin in five years.
Beta-ed By: The lovely jackiejlh. =D
A/N: This piece is the first part of the Line story arc. It can ultimately be read as a stand-alone or along with the other two parts when they are posted. A very big "Thank you!" goes out to my beta, jackiejlh.
Five Years
Harry Potter has not seen him in five years.
This is not because Harry is unwelcome at his home. Harry is very welcome and has been invited for visits, chats, extended stays, tea, dinner, and any other thing he could possibly be invited for. He has politely declined every invitation. He writes the man every day, but he has not seen him in five years.
This is not because Harry is awkward. The man has been a friend for a long while, partially a confidante, and is easy to get along with. Harry never re-writes the letters he pens to the man, as he sometimes does with the letters he writes to others, like Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna. Harry feels completely comfortable with the man, but he has not seen him in five years.
This is not because Harry feels guilty. Harry knows he is partially if not wholly responsible for the death of the man’s only remaining friend. At the same time, he knows that such things are the past, and that no good comes from dwelling on them. Harry will never forget, but he will not let himself be consumed. Harry is not very disturbed, but he has not seen him in five years.
This is, however, because Harry is deathly afraid that the man in the flesh will not live up to his expectations. Remus is a solid pillar of truth and reality - there is nothing fake about him. He is what he is, and while lycanthropy is a part of his life, Remus is more obviously human than anyone Harry has ever known. When Remus writes, Harry is sure of this. Remus writes of both what evil and what good has come to him in the past day, but he is not overly optimistic or pessimistic about it. Remus will write when he is hurting and he will write when he is happy, and when the two don’t balance out there is nothing written to suggest that they do. He asks Harry every single day how he is doing, and Harry does not consider writing that he is fine, as he would when writing to many others. Harry writes instead exactly what he feels, whatever he feels.
Remus knows why Harry won’t come to see him. Harry has told him, many times, about his fear. Remus does not soothe his concerns, get angry, or even try to change his mind. He may not be the same person on paper that he is when he stands upright; he does not know. But he and Harry are friends, and Remus continues to invite Harry to see him all the same, regardless of whether or not Harry will come. He understands and respects the line Harry has drawn in the sand in order to protect himself from disappointment, and at the same time he makes sure to let Harry know how he feels - that no matter what, Harry is always welcome.
Remus does not believe that Harry will someday come see him, and yet he doesn’t believe either that Harry’s line will never be crossed. Remus simply does not know what Harry will go through in the coming years that will change his views on the world; he has no idea whether these experiences will lead Harry to dig the line desperately deeper or try to blow it away. Remus does not harbor hopes either way. Nevertheless, he does hope for Harry to be happy.
The line in the sand has hardly begun to fade.
FIN
7spells fic 4 of 7
Title: Five Years
Rating: PG
Pairing: Harry/Remus (pre-slash)
Prompt: 4. Draw the line in the sand
Warnings: None
Word Count: 588
Summary: Harry Potter has not seen Remus Lupin in five years.
Beta-ed By: The lovely jackiejlh. =D
A/N: This piece is the first part of the Line story arc. It can ultimately be read as a stand-alone or along with the other two parts when they are posted. A very big "Thank you!" goes out to my beta, jackiejlh.
Five Years
Harry Potter has not seen him in five years.
This is not because Harry is unwelcome at his home. Harry is very welcome and has been invited for visits, chats, extended stays, tea, dinner, and any other thing he could possibly be invited for. He has politely declined every invitation. He writes the man every day, but he has not seen him in five years.
This is not because Harry is awkward. The man has been a friend for a long while, partially a confidante, and is easy to get along with. Harry never re-writes the letters he pens to the man, as he sometimes does with the letters he writes to others, like Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna. Harry feels completely comfortable with the man, but he has not seen him in five years.
This is not because Harry feels guilty. Harry knows he is partially if not wholly responsible for the death of the man’s only remaining friend. At the same time, he knows that such things are the past, and that no good comes from dwelling on them. Harry will never forget, but he will not let himself be consumed. Harry is not very disturbed, but he has not seen him in five years.
This is, however, because Harry is deathly afraid that the man in the flesh will not live up to his expectations. Remus is a solid pillar of truth and reality - there is nothing fake about him. He is what he is, and while lycanthropy is a part of his life, Remus is more obviously human than anyone Harry has ever known. When Remus writes, Harry is sure of this. Remus writes of both what evil and what good has come to him in the past day, but he is not overly optimistic or pessimistic about it. Remus will write when he is hurting and he will write when he is happy, and when the two don’t balance out there is nothing written to suggest that they do. He asks Harry every single day how he is doing, and Harry does not consider writing that he is fine, as he would when writing to many others. Harry writes instead exactly what he feels, whatever he feels.
Remus knows why Harry won’t come to see him. Harry has told him, many times, about his fear. Remus does not soothe his concerns, get angry, or even try to change his mind. He may not be the same person on paper that he is when he stands upright; he does not know. But he and Harry are friends, and Remus continues to invite Harry to see him all the same, regardless of whether or not Harry will come. He understands and respects the line Harry has drawn in the sand in order to protect himself from disappointment, and at the same time he makes sure to let Harry know how he feels - that no matter what, Harry is always welcome.
Remus does not believe that Harry will someday come see him, and yet he doesn’t believe either that Harry’s line will never be crossed. Remus simply does not know what Harry will go through in the coming years that will change his views on the world; he has no idea whether these experiences will lead Harry to dig the line desperately deeper or try to blow it away. Remus does not harbor hopes either way. Nevertheless, he does hope for Harry to be happy.
The line in the sand has hardly begun to fade.
FIN
7spells fic 4 of 7