Current location:	In a coffee shop. I love laptops and free wireless.
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Entry tags:	fic: nc17, prompt: fantasy fest '06

Fantasy Fest Fic: You Never Know
You Never Know

Author: Stasia
Characters: Remus, Severus, Sirius, James, Peter, and a cast of thousands
Rating: Um. NC-17, this chapter. I’m just going to make the whole fic NC-17.
Summary: elenalink -- Marauders Era, AU. S is in Gryffindor and R is in Slytherin. R is the one that gets tormented by James, Sirius, Peter, and Severus, until Severus discovers that R is an outcast in his own house, being beaten by Lucius Malfoy. H/C a bonus!
Word Count: 5789 this part
schemingreader, the Most Amazing Editrix, edits above and beyond the call of duty. Without her daily work, this story would be much less coherent and clear. I owe her more than I can say. Thank you, SchemingReader. *bows down*
Author’s Note: Epilogue!!
Also, I’m not really sure how and where to put this, but the Incident in an earlier chapter was supposed to have the same emotional weight as the Prank did in Canon. The Prank, in this story, will have a different effect on the boys; on all of them. I’m sorry if I’ve not been clear enough about what’s going on emotionally.

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1981


Remus lowered himself into a seat next to Albus Dumbledore. The older wizard was silent, and Remus felt his tension rise as the two of them stared at the figure seated in the middle of the large stone room. They were the only two spectators who were silent; every seat in the room was filled with witches and wizards talking or laughing amongst themselves.

Finally, a figure on one of the benches across the room stood and cleared his throat.

“Severus Snape, you are here to give evidence regarding the recent deaths at Godric's Hollow. What information do you have about the attacks there on 31st October, this year?”

As Remus watched, Severus pressed his lips together and lifted his chin. “I know nothing about the attack,” he spat. “I know that James and Lily... the Potters had been warned that Voldemort was looking for them--”

“Who told you that?” Crouch leaned forward, glaring down at Severus, who stared back up at him coolly.

“James and Lily Potter told me themselves that they had been warned. We were at their house for a celebration.” Remus could see Severus' knuckles whiten. He remembered that night himself. It had been the last time either of them had seen the Potters. Lily had invited them to celebrate Harry's half-birthday; Remus had thought it odd at the time, but given later events rather thought that they'd wanted to see Severus again before going into hiding and had invented something to celebrate.

Severus had entered into the idea quite enthusiastically; Remus had been surprised by how quickly Severus had taken to little Harry. Severus had been a favourite of Harry's as well; even at six months old, he'd been happy in Severus' arms, but had screamed when placed in Remus'. However, Severus had been very surprised to find that they were the only two guests. Lily had said something about not wanting to overwhelm Harry, but Remus had seen the look she'd shot Potter. Something else was happening, had happened, that night.

Pettigrew had been off doing something—no one ever seemed to know what he was doing with himself, although Severus said he wasn't worried about him—and Sirius simply wasn't there. Remus had had to suppress a surge of jealous fury when Severus asked if he were coming.

Towards the end of the evening, while Potter was in Harry's room changing his nappy, Lily had told them that they were going into hiding. There was a spell, she'd said, that would hide them away so well that a person could be looking into their window and still not see them. Severus had stilled, at that, and Remus saw him mouth something that looked like “fidelity”. When Potter returned, Severus demanded to know who they'd chosen as their Secret Keeper. Potter looked sheepish, and Severus practically begged him not to use Sirius.

Remus could tell, from the set of Potter's shoulders, that the choice had already been made. Lily didn't seem to agree, though, and Remus made a mental note to owl her and see if he could get more out of her than Severus could.

As he gritted his teeth in the cold dungeon courtroom, he wished that he'd asked her that night, instead of waiting until the next day. His owl had never been able to find Lily.

Crouch was questioning Severus about who had been chosen as Secret Keeper for the Potters' Fidelius Charm, when Dumbledore stood up.

“I believe, Mr Crouch, that I have the information you are seeking. Mr Snape was not involved in that decision.”

Severus' head snapped around at Dumbledore's voice. Remus could see his eyes, hot and wild, pass over the Headmaster and lock onto his. Severus relaxed, just a little, and Remus' heart broke to see his grieving lover being questioned as if he were a criminal. Didn't that hateful hypocrite Crouch know a good man when he saw one, or was he too blinded by the letter of the law?

Dumbledore moved down the benches and Remus could see a tall, young black wizard with closely cropped hair ask Severus to stand and leave the room. As soon as Severus was up and moving, Crouch snarled at Dumbledore, “Who did the Potters' choose as their Secret Keeper?”

Dumbledore reached the floor of the room and turned slowly to face Crouch. He looked regal, and yet, somehow tired in a way that Remus thought he hadn't seen before. “They chose Sirius Black.” Remus, watching past Dumbledore, saw Severus stumble on his way through the door to the corridor beyond.

~*~

The next weekend, Remus took them both to visit Eileen. Severus had been moving like a sleepwalker since the trial and Remus hoped that Eileen would be able to think of something that could bring Severus out of the haze he'd been in. She took one look at him and bustled them both into the sitting room.

“Sit here,” she said firmly to Remus and then she pulled Severus up the stairs. Half an hour later, she came down alone. “What happened?”

Remus, who'd remained standing, sank down onto one of the chairs around the low table. “He heard that Black was the Potters' Secret Keeper.” He rubbed his face. “He asked them not to; I think he wanted to volunteer himself.” He suppressed a shiver of fear that ran through him at the thought of Death Eaters anywhere near his Severus. When he looked up, Eileen's expression was knowing. “I don't know why it's hit him so hard. He knew that Black betrayed them. He knew before the hearing.”

“I've put him to bed in his old room,” she replied, “and I'm sure he'll sleep for a while. We've more than enough time for you to tell me everything.” The two graduates of the House of Cunning leaned in and Remus began to speak.

Several hours later, Severus stumbled down the stairs. He was wearing an old dressing gown, but Remus could see the cuffs of striped pyjama bottoms sticking out below the hem. As Severus sat down in the other chair, the dressing gown gaped open and Remus had to bite his lip to hide a grin at the snitches shooting across the pyjamas. Severus missed the smile, but when Remus looked over, Eileen was watching him.

“Why'd you put me to sleep, mam?” Severus asked, rubbing his face. “I'm not a child. You don't need to use that old Charm on me any more.”

Remus raised his eyebrows at Eileen, who shrugged. “You looked like you needed rest,” she said calmly. “I'll get supper. Remus, why don't you come and help me?”

Remus stood to follow her. As he left the room, he glanced back and saw Severus curl up in the chair, his hair falling forward to hide his face.

Once they were both in the kitchen, Eileen took out her wand and cast a strong silencing hex. She stared flatly at Remus. “I've not said anything these last years,” she said, “but don't you think it's time Severus found himself a nice girl? Are you going to find a flat of your own when that happens?”

Remus drew on the years of hiding his emotions at school and smiled. “Well, he's rather torn up right now. I think he's probably not looking just at the minute.” He took a deep breath and forced himself to continue. “If he finds someone he wants to settle down with, I'm certain we can work something out about the flat then. I don't like to borrow trouble.” He smiled at her, hoping it didn't look like the baring of teeth it felt like. “Why don't we start on something to eat. My mum taught me a great curry.”

She didn't look convinced, but she did take some chicken out of the Muggle refrigerator.

The conversation at dinner was stilted. The only person who didn't seem uncomfortable was Severus; he ate mechanically, as if he barely tasted the food. Eileen pushed her plate away, her food unfinished, and crossed her legs.

“Severus,” she began, “I'm sure you remember the Weasleys? They had another child, a girl this time. I think Molly Weasley will finally stop. That's seven children.” She shook her head, her voice faintly disapproving. Remus, glancing back and forth between Severus and his mother, noticed the gleam in Eileen's eyes and stilled.

Severus, however, froze. Slowly he raised a bone white face. “Harry,” he whispered. “What's happened to Harry?”

Remus, who had been still watching Eileen, felt such a strong surge of hope he heard himself whimper, just a little. To his relief, no one else seemed to have heard it.

“Harry?” Eileen cocked her head. “Harry who?”

“Harry! James and Lily's child.” Severus stood up and leaned his fists against the table. “I'd forgot about Harry. I have to find him.” He started for the stairs, pulling at his dressing gown.

“You can start tomorrow,” called Eileen, twisting in her chair. Severus didn't pause in his headlong rush and she called after him. “It's a little late to start now, Severus. Anyone who knows will be asleep and they'll not welcome calls at this time of night.”

Remus shook his head and sighed a little when the thunder of Severus' steps stopped at the head of the stairs. “What time is it?”

“It's gone ten,” Eileen shouted back, her hands laced casually across her stomach. Remus watched Severus reappear, his feet showing first, then the rest of him coming all at once as he sat abruptly down on the stairs.

“How long was I asleep?”

Eileen raised an eyebrow. “At least three weeks, according to Remus.” Remus shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't sure he understood Severus' mum at the best of times, and she'd been distinctly unfriendly before dinner.

Severus rubbed his face, then came back to the table and sat down. After a long silence, he sighed deeply and turned to Remus. “I'm sorry. I know this has been really more than you should have to deal with. You've really taken good care of me since—since Halloween.”

“Oh, no,” Remus started, then stopped abruptly. After Eileen's comments earlier, he didn't want to make it look like he was too close to Severus. They'd been careful to avoid anything that might make people think they were more than friends. He took a quick breath. “No, don't worry about it. I'm sure anyone would have done the same thing. After all, what are friends for?”

Eileen interrupted the odd look Severus gave Remus by saying, “Who do you think would know about where this boy is?”

“Dumbledore,” said Remus

“Albus,” said Severus.

They looked at each other. Eileen nodded thoughtfully.

“Have you thought of what you're going to say to him?” Her gaze was directed at Severus, who leaned forward and began listing the different families he thought Harry might have been brought to.

Remus idly shifted his utensils around, then, frustrated by feeling slightly left out of the conversation, began piling up the dishes to bring them to the kitchen.

Half an hour later, standing in the darkened kitchen, he was startled by arms circling around his waist from behind as he stared out the window overlooking the night-time garden. The moon had just begun to wax, and he could feel the shift from waning to waxing; it almost felt as if he were itchy somewhere he couldn't quite place. He felt this every time the moon phase changed, and the only thing that ever seemed to ease the feeling was Severus, touching him.

He sighed and leaned back into Severus, who hooked his chin over Remus' shoulder. Several minutes passed in silence, then Remus heard Severus sigh.

“I'm sorry,” Severus whispered. “I left you alone, didn't I? I didn't mean to. I was just so devastated. I told them, I begged them—Lily—to make James listen, but they didn't. He didn't.” His hands tightened, clutching desperately at Remus waist. “I knew that Sirius couldn't be trusted. He changed, he was never the same after—“ Remus twisted around, pulling Severus to his chest and holding him tightly. He buried his head in Severus' hair, letting one hand stroke up and down Severus' spine.

“It's just that James didn't seem to trust me,” Severus stumbled on, his voice getting louder and harsher. “Right after Lily got pregnant, things—James—changed. And I don't know what to think about Peter. He's just disappeared. I even went to visit his mam...”

Remus murmured, “So that's where you went. I wondered.” Severus looked up at him, his eyes wet, then kept talking.

“She hasn't heard from him since June. I don't know what's going on...” He collapsed against Remus, the only thing keeping him upright was Remus' arms around him. “The only thing I do know is that I never would have told anyone. I wouldn't have told you, even. They'd be alive, if James had just ... just...” He broke into harsh, discordant sobs and Remus felt his heart break.

He knew why James hadn't trusted Severus any more. Lily had invited them over for dinner to tell them that she was pregnant. Remus had seen Sirius leaving as they arrived. Severus hadn't seen; he'd been too busy greeting Lily to see James and Sirius in the kitchen. James had joined them in the sitting room after Sirius left through the back door, but he'd looked oddly at Remus the whole time, and had, in fact, barely spoken to him since then. Remus didn't know what Sirius had told James, but whatever it was, James clearly had thought it was important. Important and deadly, it now proved.

As he stroked Severus' hair, he glanced up and saw Eileen in the doorway. She looked oddly satisfied, but before he could react, she stepped away. After a moment, he could hear her walking up the stairs to the bedrooms. Deciding that Severus was more important than Eileen, he buried his face in Severus' hair and held on.

~*~

“What do you mean, you left him with his family? He doesn't have any family!” Severus stood in the centre of Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides and his face was livid.

Dumbledore took a deep breath. “I understand that you are very upset by the deaths of your friends, and I am very sorry. Young Harry has close relatives on his mother's side. His aunt and uncle will, I'm certain, be able to explain everything to him when he's older. I wrote them a letter.”

This seemed to render Severus speechless with fury, and Remus found himself in complete agreement with his lover. They knew how badly Lily had gotten along with her magic-hating sister. Didn't Dumbledore? This seemed like strangely cavalier behaviour towards the boy who'd saved everyone.

“You gave Harry, little Harry Potter to Petunia Dursley and her walrus of a husband? They're the worst sort of Muggles. They won't tell him anything about who he is, or what he is...” Severus seemed almost stunned.

“Yes,” said Dumbledore calmly, “I do think that would be best. Can you imagine what it would be like, to grow up with everyone around you knowing your name? Being famous for something you can't even remember? No, it is best for him to grow up away from all of that until he's ready to take it.”

Severus stepped closer to the desk. “Give him to me. Let us raise him. We'll teach him about magic, raise him as any other magical boy.” He didn't even look at Remus, who blinked at the request. He hadn't really thought about having children, ever, let alone so young.

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. “Sit down, my boy.” He waited until Severus stumbled back to his chair. “That is a gracious offer, and don't think it's one I did not consider. However,” his eyes flicked to Remus for a moment and the flat look in his gaze made Remus feel colder than he'd ever felt, “after some thought, I decided that this is the best thing for little Harry. I'm sure that, after some consideration and thought, you will come to agree with me.”

“You can't... Albus, we'd be good guardians, we would be careful to show him everything he'd need to know to be able to fit in when he comes to school and grows up.” Severus leaned forward, his arms outstretched in entreaty.

Remus, beginning to feel angry at Dumbledore's refusal to listen to Severus' suggestions and at the implication that he was a threat, stood up. “Thank you very much for your time, Headmaster,” he said. “I think we have another appointment soon, and I'm certain you're very busy.”

Dumbledore nodded at him, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “Thank you, Remus. I'm very sorry to have to give you such unhappy news, but I'm sure that, in time, my decisions will make sense.”

Remus hauled Severus up by the arm. Severus glared at him, then turned back to Dumbledore. “I'm not giving up, old man. That boy doesn't belong with those ... those Muggles.”

~*~

Remus shut the door of the flat behind him and turned to Severus who was standing in the centre of the sitting room with his arms crossed tightly.

“What the hell was that about? Why'd you drag me out of Albus' office that way?” Severus had clearly transferred his fury at Dumbledore to Remus, but Remus was confident he could handle it.

“I rather thought you'd want to hear this in private, is all.” Remus walked past Severus into the kitchen, grabbing a biro and a notepad on the way. He started tea and sat down at the table. “Now, how old is Harry? I mean, will we need nappies? And someone for him when we're both at work?”

Severus froze halfway down into a chair. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I don't see why we have to listen to Dumbledore. If you say the boy would be better somewhere else, then I trust you.” He shoved the pad over to Severus. “List what you think we'll need. I can pick some of it up in Birmingham when I'm there for work. Or,” he stood up and poured water into the teapot. “Or one of us can find the things in Diagon, if the magical variety is better. Now I think about it, magical nappies would be better. Do they have them?”

~*~

Remus stared around, amazed at how much the Muggles in this neighborhood managed to make every house look alike. “Hey, Severus, look at that!” He pointed at the house on the corner. The grungy motorcycle parked outside the garage was the only thing that looked real, that didn't look as if it came, pre-packaged, out of some catalogue of Boring Household Furnishings. Severus glanced over and grunted.

“That didn't used to be there. Petunia must be hysterical.” He turned away and walked quickly towards a house with a large number four next to the door. “It's this one.”

Remus grinned one more time at the automotive evidence of someone in the neighborhood being an individual, and then ran after Severus. “Wait, that's the house? That's so ... bland. Really?” He was surprised at how much he was looking forward to getting Harry. They'd gone shopping several days in a row in both wizarding and Muggle communities, and had added a small room onto their flat. He hoped that Harry wouldn't be too unhappy at leaving his aunt and uncle's house.

He stood, excited, behind Severus at the door. Severus knocked on the door, then turned to smile over his shoulder at Remus. Remus saw the curtains in the front window twitch. Several minutes later, the door cracked open. Severus turned to the narrow sliver of face visible through the crack and gave the most feral smile Remus had seen. Remus could see the horsey looking woman flinch away.

“We're here for Harry.”

At first the woman—Remus couldn't believe this was Lily's sister—wouldn't let them in. Then Severus threatened to have Remus change into a giant wolf and howl until her husband returned from work; Petunia blanched and let them in.

“I thought that man said the brat had to stay here or he'd be in danger,” she said, her voice scornful. “I'd think he'd be in less danger here. At least here there's a chance he won't grow up to be a freak, like you.”

Remus saw Severus' face tighten and he rested a hand on Severus' shoulder. “We're just here to take him. Let us worry about any danger the child might be in.”

She huffed and moved towards the stairs, but instead of leading them upstairs, she opened the door of a cupboard under the stairs. “He's in here,” she said, “and he's been a right handful already. He's taken much of the time I should be spending with my own dear child.”

Remus felt his temper begin to fray. “Mrs, ah, Dursley. You've put him in the cupboard? Surely there's another—”

She spun around, her face blotchy and tight. “I never wanted him. That awful old man made me take him, but he couldn't make me do anything else for the little freakish thing. Here.” She reached into the cupboard without looking and pulled out a small child by the leg. He'd clearly been sleeping, and his face crumpled in shock and fear as he dangled suddenly over the floor. “Take him. I don't want him to contaminate my precious Dudley.”

Severus darted forward and snatched Harry away. “You... you... “ he was stammering in fury, angrier than Remus had ever seen him. Remus himself, though he'd been apprehensive about taking on Potter's child, felt his own temper break.

“You shouldn't be allowed to have any children, if this is what you think is a proper way to treat them,” he said, only just managing not to scream. “We'll take him. Did he come with anything?”

“I'm not giving you any of the nappies or things I bought,” Petunia snapped.

Severus was most of the way to the door already and Remus wanted to hurry up and leave, himself. “I meant, was he given to you with anything, any papers or blankets or other things from his family?”

Petunia glanced at a smallish chest in the corner of the room, then quickly back at Remus. “No,” she said, widening her eyes. “I found him with just a nappy on, on the door step.”

Remus snarled at her, grabbed the chest and walked to the door, ignoring her angry cry. “I hope I never have to see you again,” he said, then left the house. Outside, Severus was standing on the walk, holding Harry tightly on his hip. The two dark heads leant together, their hair mixing, and Remus found his emotions turning quickly to a fierce, protective joy. This was his family now, these two people.

He and Severus had discussed what Dumbledore had said about Harry's fame and they'd made several decisions.

First of all, they added a second extra room to the flat and placed the strongest and most un-breakable silence and locking spells on it. Remus, standing in the centre of the small room, couldn't help but sigh. He wasn't looking forward to transforming in here, but it was safer than any other option they'd come up with.

Second, they told Eileen that James and Lily had left instructions for Severus to 'get' Harry, if anything happened to them. She didn't seem to believe them, but she was happy enough to have a grandchild, no matter how oddly acquired.

Third, leaving Harry with Eileen, they stopped off at Mrs Figg's house. Severus slipped a memory modification potion into her teacup and, while she was in a suggestible state, told her that she'd remember checking up on Harry every time she had been told to, and that he was happy and growing healthily each time she saw him.

Fourth, they went shopping for Christmas presents. The boy clearly needed everything.

~*~

Remus closed the door behind him with his foot, dropping his bags on the floor gratefully. “Ugh,” he groaned, twisting his back from side to side. “That's the last of it. I'm not going out again until after the holiday is over.”

Severus stuck his head into the sitting room from the kitchen. “Harry's sleeping. I sent an owl to my mam—she's expecting us for dinner on Christmas. Does your mam want us?”

“No,” Remus replied, bringing the bags into the kitchen. “She's in Greece this year, something to do with the native population of heatferns being decimated by tourists. She's doing a study.” He quickly put the groceries away, then stepped up behind Severus, who was standing at the stove. He'd pulled his hair back into a tail and Remus could feel himself getting aroused at the pale neck that was showing. “Mmmm,” he hummed, wrapping his arms around Severus' chest and burying his nose in the soft angle where Severus' neck met his shoulder. “You know I love it when I can taste your neck.”

Severus tilted his head away, exposing the spot just below his ear. “If you want to have dinner any time tonight, you'll leave that alone,” he said, belying his words by wriggling back into Remus' chest. Remus chuckled, then dropped light kisses up from Severus' shoulder to his earlobe, giving a short nip to the lobe itself.

“Dinner can wait,” he whispered. “I'm hungry for something else.” He slid his hands up Severus' chest and rubbed the already hard nipples he found there. Severus moaned and let his head fall back against Remus' shoulder.

“Yes,” he said, “it can.” He waved his wand one last time and the seething pot on the stove stilled. “Do that again.”

Remus laughed darkly, and spun Severus. “I can do much better.” He braced himself and lifted Severus, turning them both so that they switched places. Then he ran a hand down the front of Severus' robe while he kissed Severus fiercely, his mouth plundering his lover's. When Severus' robes were open, Remus moved lower, kissing Severus' neck, nipping at the sharp collarbones, then straying down his chest to the tight, brown nubs. He licked gently at one, and, inspired by Severus' deep moan, bit firmly on the other. Severus cried out, his hips jerking and one hand clenching tightly in Remus' hair.

“Oh!” He slid a hand under Remus' shirt hem, his long fingers pressing and rubbing at Remus' chest and side. Just as Remus thought he'd burst from the tantalizing shred of contact, Severus pinched his nipple. Remus felt lightheaded; he panted into Severus' neck.

“I love you,” he said, “I love you.”

Severus turned his head and kissed him, clinging to him and burying both hands in his hair. His lips opened, his tongue wrapped itself around Remus'. Remus ground their hips together, feeling his cock surge and tighten at the way Severus' tongue was mimicking sex in his mouth. After several long moments, he wrenched his mouth away and gasped for air.

Falling to his knees, he licked a path up Severus' inner thigh; then he took one of his balls in his mouth and sucked gently. Above him, Severus was staring down, his dark eyes wide and unfocused. Remus loved to make him this way, loved to make Severus lose control and become frantic and needy.

Keeping his eyes locked on Severus', Remus closed his mouth over the sensitive head of Severus' cock. Slowly, he slid his lips down the shaft, watching Severus' eyes become glassy. His own cock, upset at being ignored, throbbed in his trousers. He pressed the heel of his hand to it, knowing that there were better things to come.

He pumped up and down, relishing the delicate skin covering the rock hard flesh underneath. Severus was moaning and shifting, one hand clenched on the table edge, the other locked in Remus' hair.

Remus pulled his mouth all the way off, licking and sucking on just the tip, enjoying the way the attention made Severus' hips flex. Pushing at Severus, he managed to get him up onto the table with his legs spread. He stood up, tugging his trousers and pants off, and then he tipped Severus' hips up further. Remus licked Severus' balls again; after several moments there, he slipped his tongue down to the soft, protected skin below. Severus yelped and clutched at his shoulders, crying out, “Oh, God. Remus, oh please...”

Remus stood, fighting his own arousal. After a couple of deep breaths, he reached for his wand and whispered a spell. Thick gel poured out of the tip of his wand into his hand and he tossed the wand aside again. Slowly, carefully, he rubbed the gel into Severus' opening, sliding first one, then two fingers in and massaging the sensitive skin inside. When he could feel that Severus was ready, and when he could no longer wait, he slathered the remaining gel on himself.

He moved to stand between Severus' legs, pressing his anxious cock deep into Severus, not stopping until he was sheathed completely. Severus looked at him, his face suffused with joy. Reaching up, Severus stroked Remus' chest and whispered, his voice cracking, “I love you. Love...” He trailed off, throwing his head back as Remus began to move, pumping slowly and firmly . Remus was always careful to start slowly; several months after moving in together, Severus had told him what happened with Sirius in school. Remus swore to himself that he'd never do anything to make Severus think that he would do anything like that.

Severus' hips were snapping up to meet Remus' every thrust; Remus couldn't control his movements any more. Watching Severus' face, watching the look of insensible joy and pleasure creep up and then wash over him, hearing the sounds Severus made as he exploded, tipped him over the edge and he felt himself fill with light.

~*~

Dinner was over, and they'd moved to the sitting room. Harry was on the floor, playing with the miniature set of dragons Eileen had given him for Christmas. Severus sat with him, moving the dragons and making them talk to Harry. Remus glanced away from them to see Eileen watching him, a thoughtful look on her face.

“I'm going to make some tea. Remus,” she smiled at him, “would you help me please?” She stood up and started toward the kitchen. Remus grimaced, remembering the last conversation they'd had when she'd called him into the kitchen. Severus looked at him, a question on his face, but Remus shook his head. He'd find out what this was. If she planned to tell him to stay away from Severus, he would politely ignore her.

In the kitchen, Eileen had already put the tea service on a tray. There was a large wrapped package on the counter.

“Yes, Eileen?” Remus figured he was there to help carry the tray; it looked quite heavy. She'd gone overboard on biscuits, it seemed.

She turned and leaned on the counter, facing him. “That's for you,” she said, nodding at the box.

Remus, after a puzzled moment, pulled the paper off and opened the wooden box inside the wrapping. Inside was a full set of china, in an old-fashioned pattern of vines and lavender. Confused, he looked up at her.

“That's my grandmam's china. She gave it to me, when I got married. I've been saving it for Severus' wife, so...” she trailed off, looking uncomfortable. “So, I guess it's yours.”

Remus stilled, feeling conflicting impulses. The first thing that managed to find its way out of his mouth was, though, “Are you saying I'm Severus' wife?” As soon as the words were in the air, he groaned, wishing he could take them back. To his surprise, though, Eileen laughed.

“No,” she said, smiling. “You're not... well, anyway. I just,” she shifted, looking at the door, then at her feet. “Severus used to talk about you, when he was still in school, and I never really knew what to think of it. Then, in his—your--sixth year, something changed. I haven't found out what. For a while he seemed so unhappy, but when he's with you....” She looked him in the eye. “When he's with you, he seems happy. You're not what I expected. But you're what I have, aren't you?”

Remus bit his lip, unsure how to respond. He'd never expected Eileen to say anything like this. “I am, Eileen. I want...” he took a deep breath and glanced at the door, himself. “I want very much to make your son happy. I'll do what it takes to make him... to show him how I feel.”

She eyed him, her expression a mix of rueful and amused. “Even take on the child of someone you hated in school?”

He stiffened, then relaxed. Slowly, he began to smile. “Well, I think of it this way. If I help raise him, he can't turn into a copy of Potter, can he? And, he's also the son of a woman I cared about. I'll just have to think of him as Lily's boy, rather than Potter's.”

She smiled back. “That sounds... sound. Now—“

“Taaaaaaaa!” Severus, with Harry on his hip, was in the doorway. Harry had seen the teapot and was reaching for it, trying to say 'tea'.

Severus looked back and forth between Remus and Eileen. “What's going on here? What's grandmam's china doing out?”

Eileen smiled at Remus once more, then turned to Severus. “Give me that child. I gave the china to Remus.” She swung Harry to her own hip, and poked him in the middle. “I'm saving your grandmam's silver, though, for Harry's wife.” She placed just the slightest stress on the word 'silver' and Remus froze. He looked over at Severus, who'd gone white and was staring at his mum.

“Mam,” he whispered, “I, er....”

“What I don't understand,” Eileen said, as if she'd said nothing provocative, “is why I can't have Harry come over once or twice a month. You know,” she slanted another smile up at Remus, “to let you two have some time for yourselves.”

Remus relaxed against the counter. Life was a funny thing, he thought, watching his family grow. You really never knew what would happen next. He hoped that, whatever happened, he'd always have his loved ones nearby.

“Mus!” yelled Harry, stretching his arms out towards Remus. Yes, Remus thought again. You never know.

He smiled and grasped one hand, while Severus held onto the other. Eileen and Harry, in the middle, laughed.

Fin

~*~