What If

I do not own Harry Potter.



Sorry for taking so long to update!



I hope you enjoy this chapter!



IIIIIIIIIII



Chapter 4: Do You Really Want to Know?



IIIIIIIIIII



Neville growled as he tore up the soil in the ground beside green house three. The moon was still in the sky as the Herbology teacher decided to start working on his new garden. It was still early in the morning; classes wouldn’t be starting for another five hours and the young teacher couldn’t go to sleep.



Snape was a git.



He remembered going down to the dungeons after dinner last night. After he had discussed proper punishment for the Ravenclaw students with Flitwick, Neville decided to go see why Snape hadn’t shown up for dinner.



The dark haired man was found in the potion’s classroom stirring some more than likely advanced potion, Neville had to say his name a couple of times before the arrogant prick turned his head in response.



“Severus.” Neville said for the fourth time impatiently as Snape finally turned and faced the young teacher.



They regarded each other for a second before Snape turned back to his potion. Neville sighed as he took a seat on top of one of the students’ desk. He looked around the room for a second before remembering Hermione’s tear stained expression at dinner. “What did you say to Hermione?”



“The truth.”



Neville frowned at Snape’s short answer, the older teacher not even bothering to glance at him.



“The truth.” Neville laughed bitterly as he tore up some more soil.



He could feel the sweat form on the back of his neck as he continued his assault on the ground. Oh, he could think of a few truths he could tell Snape right then.



Neville had continued to be ignored by the man for a while before Neville stood and walked over to the potion the man was making. Snape glared at Neville who glared right back in retaliation, what had he done to make the man mad?



“Where do you go off thinking I’m too young?”



It hadn’t been what Neville had wanted to say as but when the words left his lips he had felt justified. Snape had made him realize his crush on the older man and then turned him down all in the same moment. And where did the older man get off telling Neville that he was too young to do anything?



He was nineteen and a teacher at Hogwarts.



“I go off thinking that because I know you are.” Snape turned fully now so that he was directly in front of Neville. “So are you here for just that or because you want me to enlighten you with the same truths I gave Ms. Granger.”



Neville hadn’t thought about that.



“I like you.” Neville tried again, trying to find something stable to hold onto.



“No you don’t.” Snape said curtly turning his head back to his potion but not getting the chance to when Neville grabbed his arm and glared at the older man.



“I like you.” He stated more firmly, Snape’s frown deepening at this. But he didn’t care, the teen had just realized his feelings for Snape and wasn’t going to let the man ruin it.



“I’m almost fourty.” Snape said boredly.



“And I’m almost twenty, quite frankly you should be honored.” Neville tried to joke but Snape pulled his arm out of his grasp.



“I would hate to take anymore of your childhood from you Longbottom, I don’t need you thinking I might owe you anything else in the future.”



So Snape had been mad about Neville interfering with Hermione’s interview. Neville hadn’t originally intended to say anything but it was just a spur of the moment thought, and Neville knew Snape would do the interview if he said it.



He didn’t know how he knew but he had known, and Snape had been mad about it.



“I don’t want-”



“If you don’t want anything from me then why are you here?” Snape’s voice was cold before a smirk formed on his lips. “Or were you hoping something would happen if you came here?”



Neville flushed at this and shook his head but Snape approached him, Neville stepping back until his back hit the wall, Snape now leaning over him; Neville hadn’t wanted this. Neville stared down at the ground, he knew he couldn’t look at Snape as he heard the older man’s sneer.



“Go back to your room.”



“I am not a student here anymore.” Neville suddenly yelled as he felt his face heat up. Snape was startled by this and took a few steps back looking at the dirty blond. “I am tired of you looking at me in surprise every time you remember I am a teacher.”



Snape took another step back.



“I am tired of you looking at me if you are just going to do this when I try and talk to you.” Neville took a deep breath before he glared at the older man. “It’s like you make all these rules on how am supposed to approach you but then decide to conveniently lose the guide book.”



“You can go to hell you git.” Neville spat out the words harshly as he stood straight.

“I like you! Is that so wrong? I don’t understand what you want from me?”



The words rang in the empty room before Neville made his way to the door. He heard Snape say something but ignored it as he turned down the hall. He had heard Snape yell at him then but he kept walking. He turned down the secret passage way that led to the Gryffindor common room even though he lived near the green houses. If Snape was going to follow him then he wouldn’t go this way.



Neville laughed bitterly as he wiped at his face.



The git wouldn’t follow him, he probably was back to stirring his potion and pretending like nothing happened. Why would Snape want to deal with Neville if the teacher was such an obvious waste of his time?



When a hand grabbed his wrist he turned around in surprise to see Snape glaring at him.



“Longbottom, you ne-”



“Professor Longbottom.” Neville stated flatly as he tried to take his hand out of Snape’s grip only to have the hand tighten more.



“Neville.” Snape tried again pulling on Neville’s arm while Neville just pulled back.



“No Severus.” Neville fought back the urge to push the man as he was finally about to pull his hand free. “Why did you follow me?”



“I didn’t want you-”



“That’s more than obvious by now.” Neville turned in the small hall way to leave before he felt hands on his shoulders turn him around and push him against the wall.



Snape looked like he was fighting with himself as he stared at Neville. The younger teacher tried not to wince as Snape’s grip on his shoulders tightened and instead leaned his head against the wall he was now against.



“Just listen.” Snape huffed before he regained his composure and let go of Neville.



Snape opened his mouth to continue before he shut it and made an aggravated face before rubbing his temples. Neville watched with slight amusement as the anger he felt slowly left his body. Snape seemed to be finding a harder time about this than he was.



“Do you like me?” The question seemed impossible at the moment but Neville needed to know. He couldn’t read these mixed signals and he needed a straight forward answer.



Snape looked up at him as if he had forgotten Neville was there, “Like you?”



“Yeah, do you even like me that is?” Neville could feel his temper coming back. “Why are we here in this hallway?”



“Because I wanted to be clear of your intentions.” Snape snapped back.



“How do you expect to be clear of my intentions if I don’t even know what they are? I don’t know what I want Snape, I know I like you but that is as far as I was able to get today.” Neville said the last part sarcastically.



It was when Snape closed his eyes and mumbled something that sounded to close to the word ‘teenagers’ in a defeated tone that Neville finally snapped. Grabbing the older man’s robes he pulled Snape down in a kiss that only last a second before he shoved the man away.



Only there wasn’t a wall behind Snape anymore and the older man as falling through some curtains. Neville tried to catch him before the man hit the ground but instead ended up getting pulled down with him and falling on top of the older man.



A startled noise made Neville open his eyes to see a very surprised Arthur and Lupin. Lupin was holding Arthur’s hand in a way that suggested Neville and Snape had just interrupted something private.



Arthur left before Neville could apologize and the expression on Lupin’s face made Neville’s heart drop to the pit of his stomach. He turned to look as Snape who was glaring boredly at him before he got off the older man and left to the green house.



If Snape had chosen to follow him then Neville had no idea what he would have done but the older man hadn’t. For all Neville knew the potion’s master was still lying on the ground by the secret passageway but as he started to organize rows in his soil he found that he could really care less.



He felt the tear roll down his cheek before realized it was there and lifted one of his hands to wipe it away knowing full well that he was more than likely covered in dirt by now. Why was he crying? It wasn’t like he had any real feelings for the git anyway, after all a crush was something that faded away didn’t it?



But he did like Snape.



He liked the way the older man was condescending to everyone around him, how the dark haired man would smirk at some inside joke between him and McGonagall. How those long fingers were delicate with the plants that Neville grew while the teen had gotten accustomed to seeing his plants ruined by the students he grew them for. He like how it felt like a surprise every time he tried to kiss the older man, though it was a surprise, he sat back and looked at the dirt he was going to have to ask Hagrid to build another green house over.



He couldn’t help how old he was, but at that thought Neville got mad at himself. Age wasn’t the problem and if Snape wanted to come up with an excuse he would need to come up with a better one.



But the potions master never denied liking Neville.



He didn’t confirm it either though, Neville’s mind reminded him as he forced himself up off of the ground before he realized how sore he was going to be in the morning. He looked up in the sky and closed his eyes one more time as a sudden realization hit him.



The full moon was less than a week away.



IIIIIIIIIII



Rita Skeeter was back and by now even the students were growing tired of seeing her blond curls around the school. She had pretty much had her way around the school for the past few days whenever McGonagall or Hermione were too busy to watch her.



“I am proud to announce that my next book: Severus Snape; Scoundrel or Saint?: will be published within the week.” She stated happily as she sipped her tea next to Arthur who was now looking at her in surprise.



“What?” Arthur worded in protest before he looked at Snape who just sighed.



“Honestly Rita, I do wish you would wait until I was dead before you publish a book in my honor.” His voice was bored but Rita smiled happily anyway.



“Honor? Oh Severus, you are still such the kidder I remember.” She opened her mouth to continue before she noticed Hermione smiling happily as she took a sip of tea. “And may I ask what you are so happy about?”



“Oh?” Hermione faked innocent as she smiled pleasantly at both Snape then Rita. “Do I look happy about something?”



“Positively glowing.” Rita said with a forced smile as she eyed Hermione suspiciously.



“Well I was hoping to keep it a surprise.” Hermione stated before she sighed dramatically as if Rita was trying to force the news out of her. “I finally finished my book.”



“Oh?” Neville said as he joined the conversation, taking a seat next to Arthur but pointedly ignoring Snape.



“Yes! And you won’t- Neville you look awful, are you feeling alright?” Hermione placed her hand against Neville’s forehead as the teen sighed and pushed it away lightly.



“Just had trouble sleeping.” He smiled at her apologetically before he heard at tutting noise from Rita.



“That’s funny, Arthur had the same excuse when I asked him why he looked so tired.” Rita said as she eyed Neville then Arthur then back at Neville again.



“Well typically when people look tired it is because they didn’t get enough sleep.” Arthur stated in an almost polite sarcastic manner.



“Hm.” She glared a little at Arthur before she noticed Lupin sitting down looking awful. “And I suppose you didn’t get enough sleep either did you?”



“Oh I got plenty.” Lupin stated as he rubbed his temples. “Just feeling a bit ill.”



“I hate to interrupt what appears to be a friendly conversation.” A voice drawled around the table causing everyone to turn and see Draco Malfoy giving them a bored glance. “I believe I should ask Rita to go into the hall so we can discuss it privately but as this place tends to have no secrets….”



Rita opened her mouth to say something but Draco continued, taking a piece of parchment out of his pocket and saying, “Dear Rita Skeeter, the governors of Hogwarts have been able to review your bill we passed the earlier week and after much thought, we have decided to let the rules of who may enter the castle to rely under the jurisdiction of the Headmistress.”



Draco folded the parchment back up and looked apologetically at Rita thought it was obviously not fooling anyone. “So I believe that means that you are still banned. Do I need to walk you to the exit?”



Rita fumed at him. “Is this whole plot of yours to have me out of here because you agree with the Granger girl?”



Draco looked offended. “With Granger?”



Draco gave Hermione a look as if he just saw something unpleasant before he turned back to Rita. “No you daft woman. I didn’t plan to kick you out of Hogwarts, though I must say it was an added bonus, no Ms. Skeeter I don’t plan to stop you from writing.”



Rita seemed slightly taken back by that as she smiled at Draco.



“I plan to ruin you so that you won’t be able to right another article, even the Quibbler will turn you down when I am through.” Draco looked at his nails briefly as if threatening popular press was just a chore for him before he looked up at her. “So you were going?”



Rita’s face went pink. She grabbed her quill and bag, stood up in a huff before turning to all the teachers at the table and glaring at them. “Just you wait.”



And with that Rita was marched out of Hogwarts with Draco Malfoy following behind her. Snape smirked as he could hear them talk all the way out.



“This is for that article about you isn’t it?” Rita whispered harshly.



“This is about the several articles you did about my family.” Draco almost yawned as he opened the door for her. “And just frankly I am tired of seeing a picture of that haircut on the cover of the Daily Prophet.”



When the doors closed behind them everyone was silent for a second before the whole room broke out into chatter. McGonagall walked in shortly after that, looking around she made her way to the table and smirked.



IIIIIIIIIII



Draco returned later that day to talk to McGonagall about something but Neville didn’t pay it much attention as he dismissed his last class of the day. He sighed as he leaned against the table and stared a bit at the empty grass lawn of Hogwarts.



The students must be at dinner by now.



Neville turned was about organizing the seeds he wanted to plant in his new green house four (thanks to Hagrid and his amazing speed at setting up the building for Neville) when he felt someone’s eyes on him. He turned around quickly to see the last person he had been expecting that day.



Lupin realized he startled Neville and gave an apologetic smile.



Neville felt stupid for expecting Snape to come find him today. Did he actually believe the guy would walk over here to apologize? No, Neville sighed, he knew better than that as he put his seeds back in their container and looked over at Lupin.



“Where’s Teddy?”



“Oh I asked Professor Trelawney to watch him for a little while.” Neville made a face at that which caused Lupin to laugh, “I am sure she can handle him for a little while. Harry is supposed to be picking up Teddy to take him away for a few days while I…transform.”



“I was worried for her.” Neville smirked as he took a seat motioning for Lupin to do the same. “So what do you need?”



Lupin smiled at that and made a really awkward face before he took a deep breath and stated why he had come to see Neville, “I need to know your opinion on, well, on Arthur and myself.”



Neville arched his eyebrow at this and opened his mouth to say something before Lupin put his hand up to silence him for a moment.



“I mean what you think about us as a couple and not people.”



Neville shut his mouth at that and looked at the ground. He really needed to weed out this green house before Christmas otherwise the ground would be too hard. The young teacher studied his dirty hands for a moment before he looked up at Lupin.



“Are you a couple?” The question seemed silly but as far as he remembered about the two men, they never officially said that they were together.



“I guess you got me there.” Lupin admitted defeatedly as he sighed into his hands. He rubbed his chin for a moment before looking at Neville again. “Do you think we would have a chance?”



“Yeah!” Neville didn’t hesitate which surprised the other man but Lupin hid it under his smile. “I mean, it would be a little weird but I don’t see any problems with it, in fact I think if both of you took the time to actually talk to each other I think it would really work out.”



“We talk.” Lupin stated defensively.



“You ignore each other and then chase each other around the castle until the other gets tired out.” Neville stated with a smirk. “What was last night about?”



“I think it was Arthur finally winning.” Lupin smiled sadly. “Sometimes I really think I make him miserable.”



“I think he just doesn’t know what to do.”



“He’s not the only one. I really don’t want to let him go.” Lupin shuddered as a chill ran through his body, he tightened his sweater around him before looking back at Neville and smiling. “Don’t worry about it, just a small fever, time of the month you know.”



Neville smiled sadly.



“Don’t let him go.” Neville stated causing Lupin to give him a surprised look. Neville flushed. “No matter how much he fights you don’t let him go.”



“But what if I hurt him?”



“So?” Neville scoffed surprising himself at his tone. “You love him don’t you, if I loved someone I wouldn’t let them go, I would suffocate them like the Devil’s Snare. No matter how much they struggled against me I wouldn’t let go because that’s what love is isn’t it?”



“Is it?” Lupin laughed a little as Neville flushed deeper.



“Sorry Remus…”



“I get that you’re trying to help Neville; though I feel like I should warn Severus about your views of love if you actually think that way.” Lupin noticed a frown form on Neville’s face. “I mean you guys were together last night?”



“Arguing.” Neville scoffed. “Git.”



“But you want to be with him?” Lupin tried helpfully.



“I don’t know.” Neville admitted as he ran his hands through his light hair. “I mean I like him but he is such a-”



“Slytherin?” The voice startled both Lupin and Neville as they looked towards the door to see Draco leaning in with his hand out as if he was going to knock. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?”



“Draco…” Lupin smiled as he stood next to his old student. “What brings you here?”



“Sorry.” Another voice sounded from behind Draco before the blond was shoved forward in a rude matter. “Out of the way Malfoy!”



“Rude as ever Weasley.” Draco snorted as he tried not to touch anything in the green house since he was wearing nice robes.



“Ron?” Lupin looked surprised. “Where’s Harry?”



“Something came up so he can’t get Teddy. I came in his place since he got tied up on a mission.” Ron gave Neville a small wave before smiling apologetically at Lupin. “I can watch Teddy for you if you don’t mind.”



Lupin just smiled and nodded his head. “If you don’t mind, will you take him to your apartment then?”



Ron turned a little green at that as if remembering something unfortunate.



“I can’t go back there until the Ministry clears it safe.” Ron didn’t go into any further detail hoping they would know he couldn’t before he tried to give Lupin some good news. “But I can take him to Hogsmeade if you don’t want him here at Hogwarts, I’m sure we would have lots of fun at Fred and George’s joke shop.”



“You want to take a toddler into a joke shop?” Draco scoffed at Ron like he was a moron. “I wonder how many untested objects those brothers of yours have lying around the place just waiting for an innocent child to grab.”



Lupin sighed in defeat as he looked at Ron. “Just keep an eye on him here in the castle, I’ll find somewhere else to go.”



“Why are you leaving?” Draco asked as he eyed Lupin suspiciously.



“The full moon is coming soon.” Lupin stated tiredly, obviously getting aggravated that everything was just going wrong.



“So?” Draco sneered before his face went blank then he looked at Lupin with wide eyes.



“Glad you could make it to the conversation Malfoy.” Ron hit the blond on the back before he apologized to Lupin once more.



IIIIIIIIIII



Lupin took the cup from Snape before he shut the door and placed it on the night stand by his bed. He watched the smoking substance for a while before he picked it up.



“DAD!” Lupin jumped a bit as he dropped the cup and ran to his bathroom where his son was to see the boy with bright white hair smiling up at his dad from his bubble bath. “It changed!”



Teddy’s hair hadn’t changed from its brown color since Andromeda died and Lupin had been worried about his son. Teddy had even gotten worried about it when he tried to change it into a bright red the night before. Lupin laughed as his son started to clap, making the bubbles float around him, he grabbed a towel and pulled his son out of the water.



“You like white?”



“Like snow!” The toddler giggled as the towel covered him and he stood straight so his dad could dry him off.



“Teddy…” Lupin sighed as he bent down so that he was facing his son. “Daddy is going to go away for a few days okay?”



The boy’s lips began to quiver but Lupin picked him up and carried him into the room before dropping him on the bed and grabbing his son’s clothes. “It’ll only be for three days and Ron is here to keep you company.”



“Won?” The kid smiled at that. “Won Weezy!”



“Yes Ron Weasley, and you can play with Neville and anyone else.” The kid yawned as he plopped down on his dad’s bed. “But you better behave.”



The kid agreed as he helped his father put cloths on him before he jumped off the bed and ran out of the room into Lupin’s office. Lupin smiled before he followed his son, grabbing his small bag as he left the room and shutting it close behind him.



Ron was waiting for them at the entrance way and Lupin watched his son’s hair turned into a fiery red almost matching Ron’s. They waved as Lupin left the castle and Ron turned to the child he would be watching now.



“What do you want to do?” Ron asked the kid who smiled happily.



“Neevil!”



Ron snorted as he picked up the child and turned to walk towards the green houses. They were about to walk down the last flight of stairs before they noticed a blond sitting there. Draco was holding an apple in his hand as he tossed it in the air before catching it again with a sigh.



“Oi, Malfoy?” Malfoy jumped up and looked over at Ron with a glare.



“Is that any way to speak to me?” He drawled as he sat up and threw the apple up again in the air, when he caught it he looked at Teddy who was eyeing the apple a little too hard. “Do you want it?”



Teddy’s eyes widened as if it was too good to be true, he looked over at Ron.



“It could be poisoned.” Ron stated as he looked at the apple that was still in Malfoy’s hands.



Malfoy smirked at this before he brought the apple to his lips. He pressed his lips against it at first in an imitation of a kiss, his eyes not leaving Ron’s as the redhead gulped, he then took a small bite of the apple. He chewed slowly before swallowing and opening his mouth so that Ron could see he had indeed just eaten some of it.



“A bit bitter but not poisoned.” Malfoy then offered the apple again to Teddy who frowned now that there was a bite in it but took it anyway and took a bite. “So where are you guys heading?”



“Neevil’s class.” Teddy stated as he took another bite in the apple. Malfoy eyed the kid and his red hair before he looked over at Ron and looked at the teen’s red hair. He rolled his eyes at this before turning and walking away.



“And where are you going?” Ron asked as he jumped down the steps and followed Malfoy.



“You heard the kid, Neevil’s class.” Draco smirked as Ron frowned a bit at him and proceed to put his hands in his pockets and walked in front of them whistling lightly to himself.



They walked silently as Ron eyed Draco and Teddy happily ate his apple until they were at greenhouse three, only it seemed that class wasn’t in greenhouse three anymore. Ron looked over at the new building standing beside it before he walked over to it and looked in through the window.



Neville appeared to be sleeping on the ground in the sunlight as two of his students put plants around him as if to block him in. Draco snickered a bit at this as he walked around and poked his head into the class room.



“And what are you doing to your teacher?” Draco fake admonished the students who shrugged at each other.



“He said it was a free period and passed out right there.” One boy said as he looked at the girl that was helping him surround his teacher with shrubbery. “We figured we should plant something other wise we should have left with the rest.”



“Free period?” Ron asked as if he had been offended before he looked at the boy in his arms. “Teddy, did you want to play with Neville?”



Ron put the kid on the ground as he nodded happily. Teddy’s hair changed to a bright green as he walked over to the plants and crawled between the bushes so that he was now beside Neville. He looked over at Ron and Draco, both gave him encouraging smiles as he looked at the teenager.



“NEEVIL!” Teddy screamed as loud as he could making Neville jump up, only to fall to the ground after he tripped over a plant. He looked around frantically as if he didn’t know where he was until he turned to see Teddy smiling at him.



“Brilliant.” Ron stated as he applauded jokingly. Teddy clapped to while Draco just smirked before he looked boredly around the new green house. The two students that had been in there smiled sheepishly at their teacher before they grabbed their stuff and left in a hurry.



“Can I help you?” Neville stated with venom as he looked over at the plants he knocked over and sighed. He got on his knees and began to repot them as he eyed Teddy who was still giggling.



“Lupin’s….umm offspring wanted to see you.” Draco said boredly as he touched a green plant that began to quiver frantically under his fingers.



“That’s poisonous.” Neville sighed as he reorganized the pots so that they were now by the walls of the building and not in a weird circle. Draco had taken his hand away from the plant like someone had shocked him before he glared at Neville.



“And his name is Theodore, not offspring.” Ron added as Draco looked at him then. “Uhh….just so you know.”



“Won! Pick up!” Teddy ran over to Ron as his hair turned red again and he held his hands up slightly jumping with excitement.



“Already? I was hoping you would forget about that.” Ron sighed.



“Pick up?” Both Draco and Neville asked at the same time before eyeing each other then looking at Ron again.



Ron just smirked as he grabbed both of Teddy’s hands and quickly threw the boy in the air. Forgetting that they were inside Teddy’s head barely missed hitting the roof of the green house as the kid giggled and fell into Ron’s arms.



“Don’t tell Lupin.” Ron muttered lightly as he glared at the two witnesses before throwing the boy again.



IIIIIIIIIII



“Ahnnn.” Lupin stared blankly at the sun that was glaring down at him. He could taste copper in his mouth and tried to sit up but had to settle for rolling over as he spit up the contents in his stomach. He groaned as he forced himself up only to fall back down.



His left arm was broken.



He turned on his right side and looked around. He had moved from the cave he had found a good ways away from civilization. He was able to force himself up in a sitting position as he looked at his surroundings.



He had no idea where he was.



Lupin groaned as he used his good hand to hold onto his torn robes as he tried to stand. He could see a trail of wreckage leading up to the spot he was in and decided to follow it, maybe he wasn’t too far from the cave.



His body protested in anger as he limped towards a broken stick and tried to pick it up.



What had gone wrong? He had taken the wolfsbane! He had done everything he would normally do………Lupin closed his eyes as used the stick to help himself up a few rocks. He could feel the wounds he had inflicted on himself start to make themselves known, he would need to get some help with those before they got infected.



By the time he had made to the cave he had originally planned to sleep in it was already night. He had planned to be back to Hogwarts by now. He groaned as he found his sack he had packed, torn, and covered in what was most likely his own blood.



He found his wand that he had hidden under a rock and lifted it. Turning slowly to his left; he apparated.



IIIIIIIIIII



Arthur Weasley was not worried.



No.



It was only already Monday night and Remus still hadn’t come back. Teddy was now sleeping on the older man’s bed as Arthur looked at his clock. Lupin was supposed to be back this morning but he had never shown. Ron had gone to check out some incident that had happened in south England since he had gotten back on duty as of this morning.



Arthur had taken Teddy then, and as the day got later the redhead couldn’t help but worry. He paced a few more times before he felt something tug on his robe. Teddy was rubbing his eyes and looking at the older man with a frown. He lifted his arms up and Arthur bent down to pick up the toddler.



He was rubbing Teddy’s back as he sighed and took a seat in his bed. The kid yawned before he snuggled into Arthur’s neck and proceeded to fall asleep.



Arthur envied the kid then.



He stared at the door to room and waited.



Soon Lupin would open it with an apologetic smile and explain that he had just gotten held up by some minor business. Arthur would yell at the man for being irresponsible then he would wake Teddy and let the boy go off with his father.



But as he stared at the door, Arthur got the sickening feeling that it wouldn’t be opening anytime soon.



IIIIIIIIIII



Lupin groaned as he walked up the steps of Hogwarts, he barely made it to the door when they were thrown open to reveal McGonagall in her night dress with Snape and Pomfrey beside her.



“Remus!”



Lupin groaned, not caring who was yelling as he fell down to the ground.



“You imbecile.” He could make out Snape’s voice and for the first time he was grateful for the man’s rudeness.



He had woken a few hours later in the hospital wing with a newly healed leg and enough wrappings around his chest and neck that he would knew he wouldn’t be able to bend down properly. He looked around to see that he was alone and tried to open his mouth to say something but thought better of it.



He closed his eyes and relaxed into the bed, everything could wait until morning.



Morning however didn’t take its time to get there as Lupin felt that he had just slept for only five minutes before he awoke with a start, the doors to the infirmary swung open to reveal a laughing child and a very pale looking Arthur.



Neville was with the older man and they seemed to be arguing.



“Calm down.”



“You calm down Neville, I’m going to kill him!”



Lupin wanted to turn then, to see what expression Arthur was wearing but he didn’t have to wait as suddenly blue eyes were glaring at him.



“Snape found a cup of wolfsbane on the floor in your room.”



The statement was said as if Arthur wanted Lupin to explain himself. Lupin just blinked before he smiled at the older man, he tried to move his arm only to find that it was tied down. Most likely Poppy hadn’t wanted him to move.



“Dad looks like a mummy!” Teddy laughed as he tried to get out of Arthur’s grasp but the older man wouldn’t let the boy down on his injured father.



“Your dad looks like a stupid git who made us all worry.” Neville laughed as he smiled down at the man.



“Speak for yourself. What do you think you were doing not taking the last cup of the potion? Look at yourself would you?” Arthur then decided to appease the squirming boy and dropped him on top of Lupin who groaned but smiled as his son hugged him.



Arthur sighed before he looked at Lupin opened his mouth to say something before he turned and made his way out of the hospital wing. The doors were almost shut before Lupin heard, “Glad you are okay.”



“He had assumed the worse.” Neville answered Lupin’s questioning glance. “When Snape found that cup he had threatened to go find you.”



“Threatened?”



“I think he would have killed you, then brought you back for a burial.” Neville laughed lightly before he sighed. “What happened?”



“I honestly don’t remember.” Lupin admitted before he groaned as Teddy accidentally tugged too hard at his still newly healed neck. “Do you know how long Pomfrey will keep me?”



“Just today, she said that the injuries weren’t as bad as they should have been. You were really lucky Lupin.”



“I promise to be more careful.” Lupin whispered as his son sat up and tried to take up room on Lupin’s pillow.



“I will see to that.” A silky voice filled the room and Neville seemed to tense a bit at it but smirked as Snape walked over. “I will make sure that you drink your potions from on.”



“I didn’t know you cared.” Lupin joked.



“I just don’t want to be held responsible for when you finally do yourself in.” Snape said coldly as he forced Lupin’s bed in a sitting position making Teddy move. He handed Lupin a cup of water then with a few pills. “Take these.”



He was glad to back.



IIIIIIIIIII



Neville stared at the red head in front of him. He had gotten an urgent message to go to Hogsmeade and go to the Weasley Wizard Wheezes shop there. He hadn’t expected to find Ron Weasley smiling sheepishly at him with several suitcases on the ground outside of the shop.



“You came!” Ron smiled as he lifted two of his suitcases and pushed his way into the still closed shop. “I thought you might have slept in.”



“I wish I had.” Neville yawned as he looked over at the rising sun. “So what’s so urgent that you called me here first thing in the morning?”



“Sorry mate, do you think you can grab that?” Ron tried to point at a suitcase on the ground so Neville just grabbed the two closest to him and followed Ron through the joke shop. “I didn’t think I would be moving here so soon.”



“You’re going to live here?” Neville looked around the apartment they had just entered that was above the joke shop.



It was a giant loft, it had a decent sized kitchen right beside the door to the stairs, a fireplace across from it and the restroom appeared to be beside the only other door in the room; which Neville guessed was the closet. There were ten boxes sitting in the middle of the great space and Neville wondered idly if they had some experimental toys the twins were working on.



“I think those are my dad’s boxes from the burrow.” Ron threw his suitcases to the ground before he peaked inside one of the boxes. “Apparently he made Fred and George clean this place up before he would even set foot in it.”



“What about Harry?” Neville placed the suitcases he was holding beside the ones Ron had thrown.



Ron’s smiled slightly faltered at that and looked at Neville as if he didn’t know if he should say anything. He redhead just sighed before he ran down the stairs and grabbed the remaining bags that were outside before he ran up again and looked at Neville again.



“Can you keep a secret?” Ron smiled sheepishly, “Luna is living there now.”



“Luna?” Neville was actually surprised by that, she hadn’t written anything to him about moving, just about how she thought the nargles were moving south and how she hoped Neville was being careful.



“You can’t say anything!” Ron opened up one of his suitcases that immediately exploded out a mattress knocking the redhead over.



Neville helped lift the mattress off the Auror who moved it over to one side of the room. It didn’t take long until they had Ron’s bed together and then Neville helped him move all of Arthur’s boxes over to the corner by the closet.



“So they are-”



“Oh! Um, she took my room so they’re not, well I guess they could be but she does have her own room.” Ron flushed a little causing Neville to blush too.



“I didn’t mean that!” Neville sighed.



“Oh.” Ron blinked a few times in embarrassment before he just shrugged. “I just thought it was time to move out, I mean I just got transferred in work so that most of the cases I will handle will be out in the country instead of the city. And then again me and Harry might be best mates but we see each other so much at the Auror office that I don’t want to see his ugly mug at home too.”



Neville laughed at this before he looked outside to see the sun was already up. He should probably make it back to the school otherwise he would be late to his first class.



He couldn’t believe it was already Friday but then again the past few weeks had gone by so fast. Lupin was still recovering his previous transformation and was walking around with a cane. Arthur and Lupin seemed to have reached some sort of truce that meant they just pretend nothing happened. The two would joke around and talk as if they hadn’t been fighting with each other.



But the truce seemed to work because he hadn’t seen either of them look this happy in a while; he just wondered how long it would last.



Snape seemed to have decided to do the exact same thing with Neville as he acted like nothing at happened with the teen. Neville had briefly wondered if maybe he was going mad but he and Snape were actually able to hold conversations now without either one of them getting mad. Neville had never thought Snape could hold a conversation without insulting someone at least once in it but Snape had proved he could act civilized.



“Hey Ron, I’m heading out.” Neville waved goodbye as he made his way out of the shop then started his journey up to the school.



Maybe one of his students would notice that he hadn’t been there for breakfast and bring him a muffin or something. It was doubtful, but Neville could still hope as he heard his stomach growl at him.



The school year seemed to relax now they were making their way to Halloween but Neville couldn’t fight the feeling that something was going to happen. Draco had been popping up around the school more frequently but when Neville asked Snape about it the potions master admitted that he hadn’t really talked to Draco since the war.



Hermione’s book had come out and been an immediate smash hit but Neville hadn’t gotten around to reading it yet. She had given him a free copy that he now had in his room but he just didn’t know if he wanted to know what really happened. Sure he had been there and knew what had happened during the war but Neville hadn’t been behind the scenes of the whole thing.



He didn’t know if he truly wanted to understand how Voldemort was gone for good.



He didn’t know if he wanted to know the truth about Snape.



And Neville had to admit to himself as he looked over at the school he was walking to. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to relive the past just then. It had taken him a while before was able feel normal again after the war and Neville was afraid that if he read the book it would bring back memories he did not need to revive.



His students had all gotten a copy though and he knew the questions would come soon.



He just hoped not today.



IIIIIIIIIII



Ron sighed as he sat back against his bed and looked around the loft. It had only taken him an hour or two to completely finish unpacking, and now the room looked a lot livelier. It had posters of the Cannons and a few of the Holyhead Harpies that were autographed. He sighed as he looked around one more time, he could hear the bell chime downstairs letting him know that Gale had opened the store.



Gale was an ex-Auror that Fred and George had found in Knockturn Alley, they probably went to the seediest looking shop they could find and recruited the witch. She was old and looked like she was missing a few screws but she kept a good watch on the shop and nothing ever got past her.



She also wasn’t afraid to yell at Fred and George for wasting her time when they visited but the twins still found her to be interesting. And least no student’s wandering hands would ever make it out of the store without paying.



No the Hogwarts students were probably scared that the woman would curse them.



He looked over at the boxes that were on the side of the room and wondered briefly if he should actually tell his dad that he had moved in here. Ron wasn’t sure why he hadn’t said anything to his father yet, well it was more than likely because it had been very last minute but he could simply walk to the school and let him know.



A head popped up in the fire place and Ron jumped up to see Harry smiling at him.



“Got a mission for you mate.”



“Really?” Ron smirked as he grabbed his jacket. “Where to?”



“Well….” Harry looked at Ron with an expression the redhead wasn’t quite able to place. “That’s the thing mate. It’s at the burrow.”



“What?” Ron looked at his friend but realized Harry wasn’t kidding. “Fine, I’ll be there in a bit, see you at the office soon.”



“Good luck.” Harry was gone and Ron sighed before he apparated.



The burrow wasn’t anything like Ron could remember. It was now gone, the beginning of a mansion was obviously be started and the only thing that seemed to remain was the little shed his dad had kept all his muggle stuff in.



Ron looked around but didn’t see anything that looked amiss so he started to walk towards the workers only to be stopped by a dry voice.



“They sent me Wealseby?”



Ron tensed as he turned to see Draco looking a little put out. Draco had his sleeves rolled up and seemed to have run over to the Auror but collected himself as soon as he saw who it was.



“Why am I here Malfoy?” Ron looked around and nothing seemed to be wrong.



“Oh, could you take this to my dad.” Draco pulled a scroll out of his pocket and handed it out to Ron but the redhead didn’t grab it.



“I got called over here to get your mail?” Ron felt himself blush in anger. “This is ridiculous.”



“Hey, I just said I needed someone over here urgently, its not my fault they sent you.” Draco defended as he pointed the scroll at Ron threateningly. “Now I need you to take this to my dad.”



“Just send an owl.” Ron turned and was making his way out of the yard when a hand grabbed him.



“Owls can’t go into Azkaban or did you forget the new restrictions your lot put over the place.” Draco’s grip tightened on Ron’s arm.



“My lot?” Ron smirked as he pulled his arm out. “Then you take it.”



“I can’t take it.” Draco’s eyes widened as he seemed to panic a bit. “You can take this to the ministry and have someone else take it.”



“Why can’t you take it?” Ron kept walking away as the blond chased him until he was back beside the shed.



“Because if I go there, there is a good chance they won’t let me out or did you forget about the one thing all the prisoners there have.” Draco stood straight as Ron looked at him quizzically.



“Wha?”



“Are you really this thick?” Draco turned his left arm over to reveal the dark mark. He stared at it himself, taking a deep breath before he looked up to see Ron staring at it too.



Realization hit Ron like a brick as he turned so that he was fully facing Draco. He opened his mouth to say something but instead just closed his eyes and shook his head so that he wasn’t staring at the mark. When he opened his eyes again Draco had rolled down his sleeves so that he was covered now and slightly glaring at the redhead.



“Sorry.” Ron stated as he held out his hand and took the scroll from Draco.



“Thank you.” Draco muttered as he ran his hands through his hair thoroughly messing it up.



His hair had gotten long since their school days, not quite long enough for a full ponytail but it wouldn’t take much longer. He still kept it slicked back but it was at moments like this, Ron realized, that made the teen almost seem normal. Nothing like that untouchable sarcastic git he had gone to school with. Ron had first witnessed this version of Draco after the teen’s father had been sentenced to Azkaban for five years.



They both regarded each other silently before Draco smirked and gave Ron a small nod. “Just make sure it gets there.”



“I will.” Ron huffed in annoyance.



“And I am going to be at Hogwarts again tomorrow.”



Ron just ignored the blond as he walked away. Why did Draco think he would care about that?



By the time he had gotten to the Ministry, handed the scroll to the right people and then made it to the Auror office Harry was already heading out to lunch. The day flew by quickly, some suspicious dark magic was found at a muggle school but it was handled quickly.



He groaned as he appeared in Hogsmeade, walking down a bit to see that most of the shops were closing already he sighed. He looked up at his apartment above the tacky store his brothers owned and decided he didn’t want to go home just yet. He turned and continued his walk until he made it to the Hogs Head bar and walked in to see it practically empty minus the bar keeper, a witch at a booth, and a too familiar blond at the bar.



“Fire whiskey.” Ron hit the bar as the old man nodded before the red head turned and glared at Draco. “And why are you here?”



“I said I was going to be at Hogwarts tomorrow. The inn is full to their letting me stay here.” Draco smirked as he placed his drink down. “And don’t pretend you didn’t miss me.”



IIIIIIIIIII





I wonder what is about to happen?



Will be updating soon!