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The Long Road	By : SinisterMe Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 63598 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 18
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 46
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- 48
Upstairs, Severus checked on Teddy, who was safely tucked in and sleeping soundly. He left be, walking across the hall and to his and Remus’ room.

Lupin was still awake, sitting in a chair by a small fire. “How did it go?” he asked.

“As well as could be hoped, I suppose. They were open minded enough to hear what I had to say and they were thoughtful enough to ask the right questions when sufficiently prompted.”

“Sounds promising, I guess. I suppose we’ll see when the papers come tomorrow.”

“That we will,” Severus said, removing his robes and undoing the buttons on his cuffs and the first few at his collar. He sat heavily in the chair beside Remus.

“Everything went well for you and Teddy?”

“Yes. You were right, we did finish The Hobbit tonight. I started The Wind in the Willows with him. You have a surprising amount of Muggle literature for a Pureblood supremacist.”

Severus chuckled. “My mother never cared about the origins of a good book.”

Remus smiled, but it faltered briefly. “Teddy and I felt a wave of magic roll over us while you were downstairs, do you know what that might have been? I told him his dragon farted on him, I had no idea what else to say,” Remus admitted.

Snape couldn’t help it, he let out a genuine peal of laughter at hearing that. “Creative,” he praised Lupin’s quick thinking. “But really, it was nothing sinister. I needed them to see the normalcy of the two of you together, so I cast a spell that would allow me to do that. You reading to him couldn’t have been more perfect – it is something they would likely have done with their own families. Whether or not it was wise or effective we will see in the morning.”

“You were with them quite some time,” Remus pointed out.

“All three of them seemed to be interested in different aspects of what had happened and what is going to happen next. Answering their questions while still getting out all of the information I wanted took longer than I had expected. It is finished for now, and next time there will be only one of them to contend with.”

“I’m just glad it’s over – what they write is out of our hands now. Though I’d expect it went rather well since you’re not completely fuming about it,” Remus grinned.

“The eternal optimist,” Snape said with a sarcastic lilt.

Lupin rolled his eyes.

Severus stood, going about the business of getting ready for bed. Then he assisted Remus, though it took much less effort with his returning mobility and his regained strength, however preliminary. He left the fire to burn down and settled both of them under the covers, reveling in the way Remus immediately shifted closer to him. Severus allowed Remus to become comfortable, laying against him with his head half on Snape’s own pillow.

When Lupin was finally still, Severus leaned the short distance in and kissed him. Remus’ lips parted in answer and Snape felt the gentle weight of his body pressing back against his own. He let himself go for a moment, fingertips discovering the rapid heartbeat in Remus’ neck, trailing down the curve of his spine and closing around the swell of his arse. He sensed the other man let out a groaning sigh before bending his leg up and over his own, pushing his hardening length into his thigh.

Severus kissed and caressed him a few moments longer before pulling away enough to be able to speak. “Remus, I want you to do something for me,” he said.

“Anything,” Remus breathed into his ear before closing his lips around the tender lobe.

Snape allowed the ministration for a moment, sorry to have to say, even fondly, “Don’t agree until you’ve heard the terms, remember?”

Remus pulled back slightly. “Right,” he smiled. “What do you want me to do, Severus?” Even with the warning he’d just received, he felt barely a hint of concern for what he would hear next.

Snape slid his hand along the small of Remus’ back, ready to stop his retreat if he reacted poorly to what he was about to say next. “I want you to make love to me.” Language that sounded so right when he said it to Remus sounded absolutely ridiculous when he applied it to himself.

Remus chuckled, “Convenient; I was just about to do that.” He moved in and brushed their lips together again.

Snape allowed the kiss but then pushed him back carefully. “Specificity,” he chided himself. “I mean to that I would like for you to…” he was reluctant to use that same turn of phrase again. “I want you to top tonight, if you are at all comfortable with the notion.” He understood that Remus was just rediscovering his body and his own sense of power; the idea of being in such control might not sit well with him.

Remus sagged against the mattress. “What? Why?” he said in rapid succession, clearly knocked off kilter by the request.

“As for what, I think you might have some idea already. Why? Because I haven’t… done that with anyone in a very extended time, not since before the end of the war. In the next couple of weeks, I expect that many unpleasant things will happen to me and I have not excluded the possibility of being forced by Lanning. Even if he can’t stomach to do it himself, I’m certain he can find a surprising number of people who would be eager to exact that sort of revenge on a former Death Eater.”

Remus let his head hit the pillow. The thought had occurred to him, but hearing the words fall from Severus’ mouth in such a simple and measured way gave him chills. Yes it was possible; likely, even. That didn’t mean he wanted to as much as think about it becoming a reality. He opened his mouth to speak but was relieved to hear Snape continue instead.

“This is something I have reconciled with. However, I have also realized that I would rather not go into this without-” Severus was finding this conversation difficult for a thousand different reasons. But he knew that nothing at all would go forward unless he made Remus understand what he was trying to say, which seemed an impossible task because he couldn’t say more than three words without wanting to retract them and start afresh. “Before I do this…”

Remus felt almost as if he could actually hear the words that Severus wasn’t, for whatever reason, able to form. “Before you do this, you want something that you are able to choose, something that can be yours. You would rather not do this without that; just leapfrogging from one terrible thing to the next.” Or at least he hoped that was what Snape was trying to say, or else he’d just made a right fool of himself.

Snape let out a sigh that was almost pure relief. How to pick that combination of words from the countless possibilities? He had never been one to talk about his emotions and now that he found he actually wanted to, language completely failed him. Thankfully or not, Remus seemed to understand.

“Yes,” Severus agreed simply, “it appears you see where I’m coming from in spite of my complete and utter unintelligibility. I trust you, Remus, and if I am able to choose, I would choose to share this experience with you.”

Remus leant in and kissed Severus in case he was considering continuing to speak. Inadequate was not a strong enough word to describe how he felt, but he knew he had no choice but to try, and try he would. If Snape wanted to do this with him, of all people, the other man must see something that wasn’t obvious when he looked at himself in the mirror. Despite this, he was determined not to muck it up; he wanted so desperately to please him.

He kissed Snape with everything he had; tongue and lips and teeth nipping lightly, hands working their way over and around, hips pressing firmly into his thigh, letting him know what the thought and sight and touch of him brought out. Feeling stronger than he had since waking in the spare bedroom, he moved his way down to attend to Snape’s neck, swiping his tongue across its almost even surface, feeling the slight scrape of stubble against his lips.

Moving lower, he nibbled lightly at an exposed nipple, suddenly gladder than ever that Snape seemed to prefer less sleepwear than some. While he did this, he pulled at the strings of his master’s waistband, tugging at the tie and loosening them as much as possible. He slid them as low as he could and ran his palm up Snape’s cock, playing with the head in his fingers as he did. Severus let out a satisfying sound and so he pressed kisses against his ribcage, creating more pressure with his hand, reaching inside his trousers to feel the firm length of him.

He pulled Severus free from the confines of his sleep attire, grasping him tightly and bathing his swollen tip with his tongue. Moving back, he patted Snape’s bottom, which lifted so he could easily remove the garment of clothing completely, untangling it from his long legs and tossing it to the side. Now that he was totally exposed, Remus took a few seconds to appreciate the view.

Severus was lean and muscular, his pale body was dusted with a light covering of coarse dark hair, run through with uneven silvery scars. Dark eyes observed him keenly; he smoothed his hand up one thigh and over a hip bone, watching Snape’s prick twitch in interest. This was where his confidence really started to wane. He hadn’t topped many times in his life and all of them had been long before his abduction. He told himself that it was natural, that all he had to do was not overthink it. Severus understood about these things and wouldn’t push him. He took a deep breath, paying more attention to Snape’s cock to buy himself time.

“I can use a spell to prepare myself, if that would make things easier for you,” Severus suggested breathlessly, apparently sensing his anxiety or else feeling some of his own.

“No,” Remus shook his head, “please let me do this properly.” Snape had never taken shortcuts with him, had always made sure that he was not only prepared, but wanting and ready. He may have forgotten some of the more advanced techniques that came with topping, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have any tricks up his metaphorical sleeve. “Pillows?” he asked.

Snape pulled two of them from the top of the bed and passed them down lower. “You are in control tonight; pillows are the least of what you may have.”

This statement made Remus uncomfortable for several reasons. “Are you sure the bond won’t react badly to this?”

“I’m certain,” Severus answered. “It is something I am asking you to do, if nothing else. Besides, if I can’t submit for you, how could I for anyone?”

Instead of trying to puzzle through what that statement meant, Remus decided to continue on. If Severus wanted to pretend that he was calling the shots tonight, he could go along with that. He decided to take the same tack that Snape had taken with him. Regardless of what he was to him, Remus would treat him the same way he would a partner of his choosing; the fact that more and more he wouldn’t choose any partner other than this man was beside the point.

He took Snape’s half-hardness into his mouth, swallowing him as far as he could and feeling him grow to full size again. At the same time, he fondled his bollocks before moving his hand lower, massaging the place just behind them firmly. Severus hand came to rest on his shoulder, sighing as he gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance, fingers trailing along the skin there fondly. Remus continued his attentions, sucking and rubbing in sequence until Snape was heard panting above him. His fingers left first, his mouth giving one more upward caress of his cock before separating from his master completely.

“Lift up for me, please,” he requested. Severus obeyed him without delay, allowing the pillows to be placed between him and the mattress. “I’ll need some sort of ointment as well.” Snape waved his hand and a bottle came flying to it from the bedside drawer. He tossed it down to Remus wordlessly.

Remus uncapped the bottle, applying some of the unguent onto the fingers of both his hands. He set the bottle aside. Severus’ knees fell a little further apart and he moved up in between them, one slick finger teasing its way around his pucker. He felt a shudder of what he hoped was pleasure run its way through the other man and so repeated the action, pushing the very tip of his finger inside only a little before removing it and circling the ring of muscle again.

Severus appeared to be enjoying this, so Lupin leaned in and tried the next circle with his tongue, dipping it partially into him and retreating time and time again. Moving his mouth up to slide along his prick, Remus brought his fingers back to Snape’s entrance, pushing his index finger in until he felt a bit of resistance, and then more cautiously a little further. When he found the chestnut sized gland, he brushed it with his fingertips, once, twice, three times.

His master definitely felt that; muscles in his thighs and stomach bunched and released slightly, his breathing hitched almost imperceptibly. Remus knew he’d struck gold. He pushed onward with the fingers of one hand, toying with that place inside of him; at the same time his other fingers pressed up against his perineum, stroking him from that side as well. His own prick was leaking against the bedding, and though he didn’t think Severus would mind him touching himself, he knew it would be better to wait. He was so aroused that he thought he might burst, and he wanted the real thing to last once he’d suitably worked his way there. Besides, he didn’t think he was quite finished with the amazing man spread out before him.

Severus had decided to lay back and let Remus have control. He was surprised Lupin had agreed so easily with this and was almost afraid to spook him. All the same, he wanted the other man to know that he was enjoying what was being done to him, so he tried to hold little back. He’d never been very vocal during sex in the past, but then again he’d never had his prostate stimulated so doggedly before. His legs were twitching where they lay against the mattress, his breath was coming in uneven gasps. Just when he thought he was going to explode, Remus moved his hand away from his perineum and closed his fingers tightly around the base of his erection, preventing it from happening. He let out a frustrated moan, pressing his head back into the pillow.

“Not yet, my dear,” Remus said huskily.

Snape shivered at the endearment, even though he knew that people said all kinds of things they didn’t mean while being intimate.

Lupin held his erection tightly for a few moments, touching him in no other way than to kiss his stomach and the inside of his thighs. Only once he believed the other man had moved away from the precipice of his pleasure did he let him go. Wasting no time, he applied more lubricant to his hands and continued opening Severus up. He added another finger and continued to thrust them against the sensitive bundle of nerves inside him until he was almost there again, immediately pulling back and holding him by the base of his prick tightly again.

“Remus,” Snape ground out, “just get on with it.”

Lupin was gaining confidence; he saw the rapid rise and fall of his master’s chest, the flush overtaking his pale face. “I don’t think you’re quite ready yet, Severus,” he quipped. “And at any rate, you never said please.”

“Tease,” Snape complained halfheartedly. It was difficult to find too much enthusiasm for it with his throbbing prick encircled in Remus’ fist.

“If you insist,” Remus replied. Fingers still preventing his orgasm, Remus slipped a third finger in and bent down to swirl his tongue around Snape’s head.

Severus was distantly aware that he was behaving rather wantonly. One hand gripping Lupin’s shoulder, the other the sheets under him, he heard his own voice releasing a train of throaty whimpers that sounded completely unlike himself. He was so close; the pressure of Remus’ hand encircling him was the only thing preventing him from coming on the spot. Slowly he felt the sensations stop, all but the fingers thrusting rhythmically into him, carefully avoiding his prostate for the time being. They too retreated soon after.

Remus covered himself fully in emollient before moving himself so that he was lying on top of the other man. He kissed him thoroughly, putting the weight of his body momentarily on his elbows as he positioned himself at Severus’ entrance and forced himself to push into him at a slow and steady pace. He’d never imagined he’d be doing this again in his life; the realization that he could and was, with someone who desired him, for Merlin’s sake… the concept was enough to almost make him blow his load right there. He held himself still and breathed in and out with his eyes closed in an attempt to calm himself.

Snape waited for Remus to proceed, studying his face while he did. The lycanthrope had a fine polish of sweat across him already and his lips were parted just so as if he was in the throes of fiery passion, though he wasn’t moving as much as a muscle. He slid his palms down Remus’ back, almost as if he had to remind him to move.

Remus let out a near broken sound, beginning to thrust his hips shallowly. His eyes opened and linked with his master’s and he peered into their darkness only briefly before increasing his depth and speed, moving his mouth down to kiss Severus’ exposed neck. Snape’s fingers were now raking against his back and the sharp cry he freed let him know he was striking that perfect place inside him.

He kept up his pace, moving his weight back onto his knees this time which allowed him to pull farther out and push back in with more force. Severus unquestionably enjoyed this, bearing back down on him with every plunge he made. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer, so he took Snape’s prick in his hand and began to stroke him fast and hard. Severus’ hands tightened around his back, one sliding low over his arse, fingers curling into the soft flesh there.

Remus couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh god, Severus,” he said, unable to stop his release as it tore through him.

His hand pumped up and down over Severus’ cock twice more and the other man was coming as well, pulling Lupin down into a kiss that felt as if it would devour him. He thrust a few moments longer, reluctant for the experience to end for either of them. Then he rolled partially off of Snape, laying against him and panting heavily, feeling as if all of his strength had left him.

Severus turned partially towards him as well, carding a hand through his damp sandy hair. He looked for a minute like he might say something, then leaned in and pressed their lips together one last time. With a wave of his hand, both their bodies and the bed were clean of sweat and secretions. His heart was still beating rapidly inside his ribcage and his body was completely out of energy.

Now that the heat of the moment had passed, Remus couldn’t help but feel incredibly self-conscious about what had just transpired. “I hope that was even close to what you were looking for,” he said nervously, looking anywhere but at Severus’ face.

“What I was originally looking for can’t be compared to what you and I just did,” Severus answered, cool fingers curling around the back of Remus’ warm neck. Euphoria was still foggy about him and he thought that if he died at this exact moment, he would do it a very happy man.

Post-coital glow blazing around him, Remus worked his way closer to his master, an arm creeping over his chest. His answer would have been ambiguous if it weren’t for the crooning tone of voice, the hands dusting over his body. “For a long time I was sure I’d never do that again, with anyone, ever,” he admitted. Even more brazenly he continued, “I’m glad it was with you.”

“I believe that I could say the same on all accounts,” Severus answered. Finding no other words to reply, he turned his head and kissed Remus tenderly, hoping that would be enough. His body was still thrumming with the echo of pleasure and Lupin’s words did nothing to calm him. Still, he settled down into bed, pulling the blankets up and over them, noting the gooseflesh that had broken out on Remus’ arm. He hoped the other man was comfortable, because he had no intentions of moving so much as a muscle for the rest of the night.

Remus processed the response he’d been given, finding his lips turning upwards in an unconscious smile. His head still pressed against Severus’ chest he let his eyes flutter shut, thinking that if only they could stay just like this, everything would be alright.

Remus woke to the pale morning sun streaming through the curtains, curled up against Snape, who appeared to be sitting up in bed. He took time to stretch, feeling better than he had in what seemed like forever, even after the previous night’s physical activity. Sighing, he turned over to look up at his master.

Severus was in his trancelike state again, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. The blanket he’d must have had over him at one point had slipped away, leaving him uncovered from the waist down. His face was tranquil and from this vantage he could see that the other man’s eyes were open just the tiniest crack, though he doubted he was taking in any sensory information from it.

This gave Remus the chance to observe him completely for at least a few minutes undisturbed. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked. His face had character, that was for sure, but Remus found himself becoming attached to its planes and angles. His neck was elegant, leading down to two rather prominent collarbones.

Now, in the light of day and not having to pretend he wasn’t looking, the full impact of the scarring on his body was apparent. He reached out his hand and gingerly touched a group of them near his pectoral. Snape didn’t as much as twitch as he caressed them with his fingers. He retracted his hand, feeling suddenly guilty for taking liberties he wouldn’t were the other man awake.

He felt no inclination to rise while Snape was ‘out’ so to speak, so he just snuggled back under the covers, setting his hand on Snape’s bare thigh and waiting patiently for him to wake from his trance. By the time he started to stir, Remus had almost drifted off and had to shake off sleep all over again.

“Making progress?” Remus asked groggily.

“Yes, it doesn’t take long to fall back into such a well-worn pattern. I didn’t mean for you to stay here if you’d wanted to rise – I just didn’t want to wake you.”

“Thank you,” Remus said, “I didn’t feel much like getting up though, too comfortable here.”

“Well at the very least we should go make sure Teddy’s been fed,” Snape said with an overly dramatic sigh.

Remus chuckled, sitting up and swinging his feet over the bed. He took the cane and went to retrieve his own clothes, noting that Severus was doing the same.

Snape dressed quickly, bustling about the room instead of helping Remus like he normally did. The other man was strong enough to do it and would have to figure it out with the cane by himself. In a mere day he would have to do it for himself anyway. It took him longer than usual, but he managed it with no problems.Together they went down the stairs, which Remus walked down for the first time, though Severus’ hand was on his elbow as he descended slowly with him. They rounded the corner into the kitchen and Remus’ eyes found Teddy immediately, sitting at the table and colouring while he ate his breakfast. He went up to the table and took his seat, looking across the table to find first a tea sitting beside his plate and then a cup of coffee and a stack of papers beside Severus’. Remus’ blood ran cold. The papers. He hadn’t even thought of them at all so far today, how was that possible? What was wrong with him?

Severus didn’t seem to be very concerned about any of it, filling his plate and eating more than Remus had seen him consume yet in a single sitting. He finally took his plate to the sink, clearing away Teddy’s and Remus’ as well since they were also finished. Then he refilled his coffee and sat down again, moving the unopened papers in front of himself and looking between him and Teddy with raised eyebrows.

Teddy seemed to realize that Snape’s attention was turned to him.

“Can we go down to the pond again today, sir?” he asked, eyes shining.

Severus seemed to think about it for a moment. “Your father and I have some things to go over first – how about you and Fred head down there for a while and we might catch up to you in a bit.”

“Okay!” Teddy exclaimed.

“Run upstairs and get a jacket and the boots from out of your closet – you came back sopping wet last time,” Severus told him.

“Yes sir,” Teddy said excitedly, jumping out of his seat and running up the stairs with his dragon.

Severus called Fred, who gathered a few things and waited for the boy to come running back down the stairs, through the kitchen and practically out the back door, shouting a hasty farewell to Snape and his father.

“I’m glad he wants to be outside more,” Remus noted wryly.

“As am I. I think we should go out as well.”

“Really?” Remus asked.

“Yes, we’ll go read these daft things outside in the sunlight where it might not seem so depressing if they’re terrible.”

Remus grinned. “Good idea.”

Snape Summoned a blanket from the living room and stood. Remus followed him out the door and down the stairs to the garden. Severus stopped in a small field of grass, spreading the blanket out across the ground under the partial shadow of a large tree. Remus ambled up to it with his cane and Severus helped him to sit down on the ground.

Taking out his wand, Severus cast a Cushioning Charm on the blanket under Remus and sat down as well, taking the papers out from where they were tucked under his arm. He tossed one on the blanket beside Remus and took another up himself and dug in.

Severus read one article after the other and then went through and read them again. He was shocked, awed, amazed and appalled on his journey through them.

Red’s article was rather unfocused, more proof in Severus’ opinion that he must be related to a Weasley somewhere along the line. It did manage to get the point across in the end, but Severus found it rather uninspired. He spent more time on the war, Severus’ history and the statements he had made about the Ministry and WIBNA than he did the subject at hand.

Beard’s article was much more put together. He reported all of the facts as he knew them, including shining some light on both what Lanning was doing and on what was happening to Lycanthropes of all ages based on a few example Ministry reports. He talked a bit about the war and Snape’s role in it, but brought that back around to make people look at their own morality and what they would allow and support. He even touched on Teddy and Remus and Snape’s apparent fondness for them, citing it as possibly being a reason for Snape choosing to go in Teddy’s place. He spoke of what happened at the Ministry and brought to question what was happening that wasn’t being reported anywhere, day after day. The unique thing was that he knew about Snape’s involvement in the raid where Lanning’s family was killed and mentioned that even though Snape was pardoned for those acts, the Ministry was basically tolerating his punishment for it in a roundabout way.

The witch’s article was something else entirely. It went through almost all of the topics in Beard’s article, but added its own twists and information into the mix. This article went more into Lanning’s experiments and the Ministry’s allowances of them as well as what they were likely condoning him to do to Snape by permitting this to happen. It spoke of the deplorable conditions and purposes so many lycanthrope children were subjected to and then contrasted the way Teddy appeared to live. She spoke of Snape and Remus’ history as it was widely known through Hogwarts, including the reports from the Auction House about the state Remus was in when Snape picked him up. More than the other articles she went into the fact that Severus had opted to undergo his enslavement in order protect Teddy’s life. Near the end she speculated about his actual feelings for them, saying that he sounded like a man protecting his own family than he did anything else.

Remus lay down and rolled over to look at the sky when he was finished reading. “Do you think they’re good?”

“They could have been worse.”

“They all talked about Lanning, the horrific things he’s already done. Gods, Severus, stripping a man’s arm, one layer at a time to better understand tissue growth and keeping him aware to rate the level of feeling he retains through the procedure? Tests of massive potions and magical burns purposely inflicted on people and then experimental treatments used to ‘heal’ them just so he can do it all over again? This is the man you’re giving yourself to?”

“That isn’t the purpose of this Remus, you’re focusing on the wrong things. Does it get you angry? Good, it’s supposed to.”

“Of course it makes me angry! All of this makes me angry!”

Snape chuckled lightly. “Let’s hope the general public feels the same way. I liked this one and this one,” he said, tossing Red’s paper to the side and bringing Beard’s and the Witch’s closer.

Remus took a calming breath. He wouldn’t be helpful if he allowed himself to actually think about all of this happening. He took a closer look at what Severus was indicating.

“Yeah,” he agreed, “me too. Which one are you going to choose for the, erm, next round, so to speak?”

“I’m not entirely sure yet. I’ll likely think about it for a while and then read them again before I decide.”

“That’s probably wise,” Remus said, leaning back until he was looking at the sky. “It’s gorgeous out here.”

“It is indeed,” Severus answered, his eyes focused on Remus as he did.

Lupin looked over and caught him staring, blushing in response.

Snape lay down as well, propping himself up on one elbow beside Remus. A sweet smelling breeze blew in from the orchard causing Lupin’s hair to ruffle and a smile to appear on his face. Almost without thinking about it he leaned in and kissed the lycanthrope.

Remus saw the motion coming, or at least he’d hoped he had. When Snape leant in to kiss him he lifted his head from the blanket to meet him, one hand coming up to tangle in his dark locks, pulling him closer. He felt like an errant teenager again, snogging on the lawns of Hogwarts far away from the eyes of his Professors.

Finally they broke apart, Snape lying on his side next to Remus, hand resting across the werewolf’s stomach, fingers finding their way through the spaces between the buttons on his shirt to rest on the warm flesh underneath. They lay there beside the folded papers taking in the sun and the glorious breeze for quite some time before being suddenly disturbed.

“What would father say if he saw you in such a state?” a voice drawled behind them.

“Oh, probably something along the lines of, ‘Good lord, Severus, face down in the dirt seems to be a favorite position of yours; and here I thought you were finally starting to grasp the way civilized Wizards behave!” Severus replied without so much as flinching or opening his eyes.

The voice let out a knell of laughter. “I forgot how good you were at that!”

“Everyone is good at something,” Snape drawled sarcastically, separating himself from Remus and rising slowly to stand. He brushed his robes off, looking at the other man quite fondly. “I’ve been expecting you, Draco.”

The blond man’s face rippled briefly with emotion and he crossed the few steps between himself and Snape quickly, wrapping the taller man in a tight hug. “It’s been too long,” he said into Severus’ shoulder.

“It certainly has,” Snape agreed quietly, returning the embrace wholeheartedly.

Draco held on moments longer than was necessary before he stepped back, clearing his throat and rearranging his face into its usual smug expression as he looked at Remus.

“So I take it mother informed me correctly,” he said, clearly speaking to Snape though his eyes never left Remus. “He’s your slave, and so is his son. Is that insanity in the papers true as well then?”

“It is,” Severus said slowly. He was unsure how Draco would react, how he would act toward Remus and Teddy. If he had to, he would step in, but he wanted to give him a chance and see what would happen. He went over to Remus and offered a hand, helping him up and arranging the cane so he could hold onto the handle. Lupin looked at him gratefully, accepted the help and then stood there like he wished he could disappear.

“I was afraid you’d say that,” Draco rolled his eyes. He looked briefly at Remus as if trying to weigh his worth and everything else about him in a single glance. “You could have told me.”

“What, and ruin all of your mother’s fun?” Severus asked lightly. He sensed his godson’s concern however, so continued, “It’s going to be alright, Draco.”

Again, the young man’s face fluctuated. The cocky expression overtook it almost immediately, “Of course it is, I’m here to help.”

It was Severus’ turn to roll his eyes. “And just what, pray tell, are you going to do that will affect the outcome of this so dramatically?”

Draco’s eyes flickered to Remus and then back to Severus. “Well, I was talking to fath-” Draco cut himself off abruptly. “Lucius and I were…” His composure seemed to ruffle even more than previously.

“Come inside and I’ll make us a pot of tea,” Severus interrupted, putting on an air of impatience. Secretly, he was concerned about the man in front of him. It was unusual to see one, let alone three successive breaks in his demeanor – Lucius had taught him better than that. Also, for him to show up unannounced was a suspicious occurrence in and of itself, no matter this hogwash with Lanning.

Remus waited while Draco and Severus talked. He wondered if he’d feel this unsure around new people for the rest of his life. Draco had barely addressed him, and he wasn’t about to be the one to initiate conversation. This man was obviously very important to Severus and he didn’t want to overstep his bounds. He couldn’t help but feel relieved when Severus suggested they go in for tea, just standing in one place was causing his feet to ache, even with the cane firmly in his hand.

Draco turned to go up to the house without another word, pausing only when he realized that Snape wasn’t beside him. Remus had went to take a step forward, but his bad foot appeared to have fallen asleep. He swayed momentarily, but Severus was at his side in an instant, one hand under his elbow, the other pressed reassuringly against his lower back.

“I’ve got you,” was said in a voice low enough for only him to hear. Remus’ nearly swooned for an entirely different reason now, but tried to keep his face blank as they caught up to Malfoy. Draco gave them a long stare, letting them walk ahead of him before following a couple of paces behind.

Inside, Severus walked him up to the table. Remus felt the pressure on his elbow change as Severus started to pull out a chair for him. Shockingly, Draco beat him to it, sliding the piece of furniture out from under the table and holding onto its back while Snape assisted him into it.

“Thank you,” he murmured, somehow even more unsure of what to say or do than before.

Severus turned and busied himself with setting up tea for three on a small tray.

“No trouble,” Draco said, sitting across the table from him and fiddling with an errant quill that was on the table. “You must think me completely devoid of class,” he said unexpectedly. “Its… interesting to see you again, Professor,” the young man said as if in greeting.

Remus wasn’t sure how to respond. “You can say that again,” he agreed despite that.

Snape made a sound of disbelief from his place at the counter. “See, was that so bloody difficult? You had to wait until you were out of school to show your Instructors some respect?”

“I always gave you the proper respect,” Draco pointed out, cherubic expression on his face.

“Only because you were too frightened not to; pity it isn’t so today,” Snape replied, turning back towards them, tea tray in hand. He set it on the table and took his place there as well.

“True on both counts,” Draco grinned. He took up the tea pot and poured out three glasses, setting the pot back in its proper spot. He paused, a look of uncertainty on his face. “What about Edward? The Ministry isn’t holding him until that Healer takes you tomorrow, are they?”

“No, we have him,” Severus assured him. “Teddy is down by the pond with Fred for the time being. I’m sure they will come back up to the house eventually.”

Draco nodded. “Good, I didn’t imagine you’d go for that.”

Remus sipped his tea, highly interested to watch these two interact. Draco seemed similar to the youth he remembered, but without a lot of the bravado he’d had then. He still had the remarkable good looks rightly attributed to the Malfoy name and he carried himself easily. Remus wondered how much of that levity was an act.

“Not likely,” Severus agreed, sharing a look with Remus. He decided to change the subject. “How was France? Are you back to stay for a while?”

“France was… well it was wonderful. I spent a lot of time just doing nothing, as I’m sure you’ve already predicted. But things changed part of the way through…”

“You met someone,” Severus filled in for him, clearly entertained.

“I did, yes. It was… who cares what it was, it ended terribly, not long before Mother told me about what was going on with you. And then with what is happening now, well I thought it would be a good idea to come home. I’d been thinking about doing it for a while now anyway.”

“Are you staying with your parents?” Severus asked, seeing that it was obvious that this wasn’t the entire story.

“No, I was planning on booking a room at the Inn in the town near here. I thought maybe you could use an ally right now.”

Severus heard the unspoken, ‘because I know I could’, and felt more remorse for having to go through with his enslavement to Lanning than ever. He’d do what he could for the boy, that he knew beyond all else. He only wished he had more time. It would likely take some coaxing to get the entire story out of his dragon and once he’d heard it, there would be no time at all to help before he was tied up for some time.

“Nonsense,” he said firmly, “you’ll stay here with us. Fred would be more than happy to clear out a bedroom for you.”

“That isn’t why I came here,” Malfoy said defensively.

“I didn’t think it was,” Severus agreed easily. “You’re always welcome here, Draco. You’ll even have the place to yourself for a while – Remus and Teddy are staying with Ackerley while I’m away.”

Draco whistled, pointing out, “That will cost more than a fortune.” He hesitated briefly before offering, “They could always stay here with me – I definitely don’t have a fee and I came here to help. I’m a free wizard, I could make sure no one was able to take advantage of them while you are… indisposed.”

Remus tried not to feel anxiety. He trusted Severus, yes, but Draco? How could he be sure that in making sure no one else took advantage of them, he didn’t just do it himself? He forced himself to stay silent and listen.

“I don’t know, Draco,” Severus said slowly. “Remus and Teddy don’t know you, either very well or at all. It would be asking a lot of all of you.”

“And they know this solicitor so well? Wouldn’t it be better for them to stay with family?” Draco asked, leaning forward.

Severus could have hugged his godson a second time. “Family?” he had to ask.

“Teddy is my first cousin once removed, they are family. Just because being counted as such is conditional for people like my parents, doesn’t mean it has to be for me too. And if being physically related to them doesn’t count, you’ve clearly taken them in as your own – that in and of itself would be enough for me.”

Severus nodded pensively. “We will discuss it. It will be up to Remus and Teddy, in the end.”

“Of course,” Draco assented.

“Now what were you saying before about your father? You’d mentioned that you’d spoken to him,” Severus pointed out. He was still trying to figure out why Draco was here; it had to be more than just what was going on with Lanning. He’d had a break up, spoken with his father after it and yet wasn’t staying with him and Narcissa. Clearly they’d had a falling out about something.

“Yes. He read the papers this morning and we spoke briefly about it. He wants to throw in his name and some funding, try and set up a committee to protest what WIBNA is doing. He thinks some of the other Old Houses would want to be involved as well, PR and all that, you know.”

Snape laughed outright. “Lucius always was as quick as a whip. I’d been planning on doing almost exactly that, I was just waiting for the right person to assemble the troops, so to speak.” At the same time he wanted to sigh and put his head in his hands. He should never have contacted Narcissa openly about Remus’ wand; of course Lucius would think it a direct invitation to try and open relations between them again. As if that would ever happen.

“Not my father!” Draco groaned. “You know how he is, everything would end up being only about him and his goals.”

“You, Draco.”

“Me?” Draco yelped.

“Yes, you. You’re intelligent, well spoken, trained from youth to navigate and influence people like these. You’re perfect for the job.”

“I actually have to agree,” Remus tossed in, almost the first words he’d said since Draco’s arrival. “You’re nothing if not persuasive. I’ve seen the level of determination you are capable of first hand and I know from having taught you that you’re smart enough to do whatever you set your mind to.”

“I- thank you,” Draco said, sounding startled. “Listen, Lup- Remus. May I call you Remus?”

“Yes, of course,” he answered.

“Alright. Remus, I have to say, since you brought it up, that I’m sorry that I was such a little shite to you the year you taught at Hogwarts. You were nothing but kind to me and I treated you worse than dirt. I was hoping that we could start over.” Draco held out his hand.

Remus was stunned, but all the same he took the offered handshake. There was a fine example of the kind of tact needed to win this thing, whether it was sincere or not in this present moment. “I appreciate that very much, Draco, thank you.”

Draco shrugged and sat back in his chair. “You two really want me to try and gather support for this? We are talking about freeing the werewolves, aren’t we? You honestly think I’m diplomatic enough for that?” he asked as if he’d not just apologized to Remus.

“That is exactly what we’re talking about and yes I do.” Severus sneered, but his heart clearly wasn’t in it. “Do it for your family. It would go a long way towards clearing the Malfoy name, and it sounds like your father recognizes that.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it, you don’t have to go and pull out that legacy tripe. Lord, don’t you have something stronger to put in this?”

“It isn’t even noon,” Snape pointed out. All the same he rose and took a bottle down from the cupboard above the ice box and brought it back to the table.

Draco took it and poured a healthy measure into all of their tea cups, filling them back to the top with steaming tea. He set the bottle aside and took a swig from his cup.

“I’ll want to get started immediately. Lanning is taking you tomorrow?” Draco asked.

“Yes. I’ll have some time to get ready. I’m to meet him at the Ministry tomorrow. I’ll likely receive post about the time and location tonight or early tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll start tomorrow after I’ve seen you off then.”

“You’re not going to the Ministry with me Draco,” Severus said sternly.

Draco snorted. “Like hell I’m not. If you want me to be involved in this, let people see me there, let’s make this public. What are your plans for those reporters then?”

“I was going to select one and continue to give them exclusive information.”

“Why settle for just one? I think you’d be better off with at least two. That way if the Ministry decides to lean on them you’ll have double the chance someone will hold out.”

“That sounds wise,” Remus said. “There were only two of them you really liked, why not give both of them inside access?”

“Perhaps I will,” Severus mused. “I think it would be best if they were present tomorrow so-”

The back door swung open and Teddy was heard chattering to Fred as he noisily kicked off his boots. He stopped to remove his jacket as well, giving it to Fred to hang up. He stormed into the kitchen, freezing instantly in his tracks when he saw that Remus and Snape weren’t alone. Fred hung up the garment and went back outside without paying any of them much attention.

“Hello, Teddy,” Severus started, “did you have fun down at the pond?”

“Yes, sir,” Teddy said, hunching his shoulders and making himself as small as he could. His dragon was held in front of himself like a shield. He appeared not to know where to go, looking from the floor to his father to the floor and then to Snape again.

“Teddy, I’d like you to meet someone. This is Draco, my godson.”

This caught Teddy’s attention. His eyes went right to Draco, looking at him shyly but intently.

“Glad to meet you Teddy,” Draco smiled handsomely.

“You too, sir.”

“Oh please, it’s Draco. I hear you’re Severus’ new apprentice, what do you think of that?”

“It’s awesome,” Teddy said, moving a couple steps closer. “We get to do all sorts of neat things and I get to learn about so many ingredients! He lets me help prepare them and I’m learning to stir the cauldron the right way!” Teddy said everything in a rush and then hid part of his face behind his dragon.

“That does sound great. I like potions too; Severus taught me everything I know.”

“He did? Did you like the Erupting Bubble Solution too?”

“Oh he got you with that one, did he?” Draco sounded amused. “Yes, I remember having a lot of fun with that.”

“Sir is your godfather?” Teddy asked, coming nearer but making sure to keep the table and Severus in between himself and the new person. “Did he know you since you were little, then?”

“Ever since I was born; I believe he even changed a diaper or two.”

“Much to your parent’s dismay,” Severus said, sipping his tea. The elves had done most of the dirty work – diapers, bathing, dressing, feeding… It wasn’t that Lucius and Narcissa didn’t care for the boy, just that such things were below them. When he’d had time with his godson, he’d liked to take a much more hands on approach to his care. “And mine too, occasionally,” he smirked, giving Teddy a conspiratorial look while waving his hand in front of his face as if fanning a bad smell away.

“Right, and yours smells like roses,” Draco quipped. While they were talking he’d pulled a scrap parchment in front of him and was now doodling on it with the quill.

Teddy giggled at both of them, not hiding behind his dragon as completely as he had been before.

Severus had a thought. “Did you bring any of your things with you, or did you already have them sent to the Inn?”

“I have a trunk; it’s in the front porch,” Draco admitted.

Not what you came here for, my arse. “Good, whenever you’re ready you can move it upstairs to the room you usually use. Fred will want to air it out and refresh the sheets before you sleep there, but it should be in working order enough for you to change and store your things.”

“Thanks, Severus,” Draco said. “I’ve been travelling for the last couple of days, so that would be greatly appreciated. I might want to borrow your shower as well.”

“You know where it is,” Snape told him. “While you go freshen up I’ll make something for lunch, should I prepare some for you as well, or have you eaten?”

“I wouldn’t say no to that.”

“Are you staying here too?” Teddy asked Draco.

“I think I am, for a while at least,” Draco told him. “That wouldn’t bother you, would it?”

Teddy shrugged and shook his head at the same time.

“Okay,” Draco replied softly, as if he knew that was the best answer Teddy was able to give. “Well I’d better get a move on before Severus catches a whiff of me and has to pinch his nose for real,” he said with more force. Standing, he went the way of the front porch. After a few moments, his footsteps could be heard squeaking up the stairs.

Remus replayed the interaction again and again in his mind. Draco seemed sincere, but what did that mean, in the end? With a Slytherin, especially one of the caliber the Malfoys were eternally rumored to be, how could a person really tell? Teddy seemed unsure, but at least this first interaction had been more positive than most his son had experienced so far.

“Why don’t you go get your pencils and colouring book?” Snape suggested to Teddy. “You can colour until I’m done making something to eat. Sound good?”

“Yes, sir,” Teddy agreed, he lingered for a moment before going.

“Yes?” Severus asked, sensing that there was more the boy wanted to say.

“Is he really your godson?” Teddy asked.

“He is,” Snape said, noting that Teddy seemed quite hung up on this fact.

“And he’s living here for a while?”

Snape nodded, waiting for the boy to get to the point.

“Will he be staying in the room I’m using?”

“No, Teddy. That room is yours and yours alone. I would never give it to someone else or allow anyone to stay in there without your permission.”

“Not even if it’s your godson?” Teddy persisted.

Snape was just about to explain that there would never be the need for anyone but Teddy to use his room. That the house had many rooms that were presently unused, but with a little work could easily accommodate three times the people they could conceivably want to have over. Suddenly it occurred to him that Teddy likely wasn’t worried about space.

He motioned for the boy to come closer. Teddy did without any hesitation, looking up at him with his emotive amber eyes.

“Your place here is unique. Do you know what that means?”

Teddy shook his head.

Severus set his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “It means that it is one of a kind, that no one else can fill it. Draco can stay here for the next hundred years and it will not change the way you are treated here or the relationship you and I share. You will not stop being important to me because he is here, nor will my feeling towards you become any different than they are right now. I will always care about you, Teddy, and nothing anyone says or does will be able to change that.”

Teddy nodded, darting forward and giving Snape a quick hug. “Okay, sir,” he said thickly, zipping from the room to go collect his things.

“What?” Severus snapped more than intended, catching Remus looking at him.

“Nothing,” Remus said, “I just don’t know what to make of any of this.”

“Do you need to hear that my little speech applies to you as well?” Severus asked with blunted sarcasm. The fact that it was true was of no matter to his tone of voice.

Remus wasn’t sure whether to feel elated or cut in half with that response. Severus either meant it or he was mocking him, there was very little middle ground. He busied himself with drinking the last of his tea so as not to have to answer.

“He isn’t a bad person,” Severus offered in case that was Remus’ concern. “But under no circumstances will you have to stay here alone with him if you don’t want to. I’ve already set it up with Darien that you can stay with him.”

“You trust him, I can tell. Plus it wouldn’t cost you as much,” Remus said, trying to convince himself.

“That isn’t what we’re talking about. My trust in him is irrelevant if you spend two weeks fearing for your son and looking over your shoulder. If you haven’t decided already, take the night to think about it and tell me what you’ve chosen in the morning.”

“That sounds fair,” Remus agreed. “You’re going to let him stay here even if we go with your solicitor?”

“Yes. He’s stayed with me before, and I won’t turn him away now. He isn’t telling me everything, that much at least is apparent. I suppose I’ll just leave out the Scotch and see if that doesn’t loosen his tongue a little.”

“What Scotch?” Remus asked, unable to quench his smile at youthful antics.

Snape looked over to where the bottle had been sitting, now an empty patch of table. “Bugger.”

“I think it goes along with the age group,” Remus tossed in.

Teddy came walking back into the room with his books cradled in his arms. He set them up at the table and started immediately.

Severus busied himself with lunch, listening to Remus and Teddy talk in the background. He prepared sandwiches and a large salad for them to share, setting the table and leaving everything out for when Draco came down.

He sat down at the table, taking a peek at what Teddy was colouring. The child’s talent was growing exponentially, details and different shades used to represent textures and shapes were easily seen.

“You’ll have to show Draco your colouring book later; he’s interested in art himself,” Severus said.

“He likes colouring too?” Teddy asked, perking up.

“I don’t know that he prefers pencils, but I know he’s done quite a bit of painting in the past. He might even have a trick or two to show you.”

“I didn’t know Draco was into the arts,” Remus said, squashing the thought ‘unless they were the Dark variety’. There was no use judging Malfoy on his past alone. He’d done that with Severus and nearly missed… well, whatever it was that they had now. He only wished that there was more time for him to observe the blond and see what his true character was.

“Draco expressed interest, so Narcissa insisted,” Snape smirked. “Lucius considered it part of his training, once she’d properly convinced him of the class that came from being knowledgeable about such things.”

“Knowing how to paint?” Remus asked.

“Knowing about the finer things like things like art and music. He was allowed to take painting, but only if he took a History of Wizarding Art class, short though the history may be. The same went for music; I believe he played the Cello.”

“What was he training to be?” Remus asked, perplexed.

“A proper Malfoy, of course – the only job they ever expected him to have to do. I’m led to believe that he had quite a talent for acrylics, however.”

“What is an acrylic?” Teddy asked.

“It is a type of paint. Magical paints, like the stuff portraits are painted with, aren’t used until the artist is very adept – I’m led to believe they’re quite finicky and ridiculously expensive.”

“I still haven’t mastered them,” Draco admitted, appearing silently in the doorway, hair tousled and damp. The bottle he’d nicked from the table was in his hand, the liquid now below half. “I was doing quite well, painted a series of works that a dealer in London was interested in displaying for sale. That is until my father found out,” he said, a faint crease appearing on his brow. “It is one thing to have an art aficionado in the family, an entirely different thing to have an actual artist.”

“You shouldn’t stop doing something that you enjoy just because of that,” Remus had to say. He thought of the pride he would feel if his son were ever in that position and couldn’t imagine ever wanting to stand in his way. “Not that it’s any of my business.”

“Your daddy didn’t like you doing art?” Teddy asked for clarification.

“Not one bit, kid. But that’s okay – I’ve decided to take a different direction with my life.”

“And that would be?” Severus asked, standing and fetching the sandwiches and bowl of salad and placing them on the table. Draco should definitely eat something if he insisted on draining that bottle.

“Magical Repair,” Draco announced.

“That will please him ever so much more,” Severus pointed out drolly. He set two sandwiches on the plate in front of his godson so there was no possibility of negotiation. He wanted him in a mood to talk, not hurl all night into his toilet.

“Well that doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve already accepted an apprenticeship – on a tentative basis – I don’t know how long you’re going to need me to be here.” He picked up his lunch and took a large bite, chewing away.

Snape fought the urge to roll his eyes again. “How did you come by this apprenticeship? I don’t know of many Magical Repair businesses off hand. How did you meet this person?” Severus had to ask. It wasn’t that he didn’t think his godson was discerning, just that he couldn’t help but be suspicious himself.

“He actually contacted me,” Draco said, finishing his bite. “He runs a small shop in Diagon Ally, said he read about my repair of the vanishing cabinet and despite the… awful circumstances surrounding it, he found himself impressed.”

Remus narrowed his eyes. “He doesn’t take contention with… those circumstances at all?”

Severus listened, having the same thought bouncing around in his head.

“I thought the same thing, especially when I found out that he was a half-blood, his wife was a Muggle and both his children were non-magical. He’d even shut down his show during the war and worked out of his home on commission only to keep himself and his family out of the spotlight,” Draco said in between bites.

“You aren’t helping your case,” Snape cautioned him.

“Yes well, his sons got involved with a Muggle group or gang, or something like that. They did some pretty terrible things themselves – one of them was even in Muggle prison for quite a few years. He said that without people in the community helping them and giving them a second chance, they would never have been able to properly turn their lives around. He heard what I did with the vanishing cabinet, thought I must have some natural aptitude, and would like to bring me in on a trial basis of about six months. That way we can see if I like it and if I'm suited to the work.”

“I didn’t know you were suited to any actual work,” Severus said.

“Bugger off,” Draco said with a smile. “I did tell him that I hadn’t done much in the way of physical labor in my life, but I’m fit and adaptable. I’m going to try it, anyway. If it doesn’t work out, there’s always Potions.”

“Are you trying to upset your father? Not that I wouldn’t completely approve, just that I have to ask,” Severus said. They were getting closer to the heart of the matter, he could tell.

“Too late for that,” Draco said brightly, pouring a measure from the bottle into his used teacup and drinking a swig. “I’ve already royally pissed him off; he’s beyond apoplectic, actually. The rest of this is just the icing on the proverbial cake. It’s recently been pointed out to me that I may not always have the family money to rely on. Besides, you’ve been hinting at me to do something for years, I thought you’d be thrilled.”

“I’ve been telling you that outright, as well as that your family fortune may not be as all-encompassing as you’ve been led to believe in the past. Regardless of what is happening with Lucius, I personally think it would be a good thing for you to find a direction in your life other than just being a full time Malfoy. If nothing else, I’ve been learning for myself that having a little humility can go a long way; dedicating your life to something might just be what you need. I know that those words have been used against you in the past, but if your heart is in it, you’ll know it is the correct thing to do, no matter what Lucius or anyone else has to say about it.”

Draco opened his mouth and then promptly closed it again. He looked at Remus, taking another mouthful of sandwich and trying to pretend he hadn’t been staring. Finishing his portion, he pushed his plate away and leaned back, teacup in hand.

“Yes, well,” Draco said awkwardly, “that may very well be true. Who knows, maybe I’ll really get into this fight against WIBNA and find that my life calling is to fight for equal rights,” he said, trying to make light. “Father would really be overjoyed to hear that, wouldn’t he?”

“Ecstatic,” Snape deadpanned.

“Maybe you’ll find that you absolutely hate it, you might even hate Magical Repair more,” Remus suggested slyly. “Best to try all of this mumbo jumbo now and get it out of your system while you’re young rather than having a fit and throwing it all away once you’re middle aged and already settling down. I’m sure he did the same thing, or at least something similarly distasteful to his own father, when he was your age.”

“Oh, you’re good,” Draco said with raised eyebrows. “I do believe that your scales are showing, Gryffindor.”

Remus shrugged, but his eyes sparkled with mischief. “Must be the company I’ve been keeping.”

“Absolutely,” Draco agreed, smiling at Severus and waiting his reaction.

Snape merely harrumphed and stood to clear the table. He brought over a pot of water with a teabag in it, charmed it hot and then set it out; good enough to mix with the alcohol at least. He also got out a glass of lemonade for Teddy from the ice box and set it next to the boy so he wouldn’t feel left out.

“Oh, thank you sir. Fred brought some of this down to the pond today and it was delicious!” Teddy said, taking a long drink from his cup and then setting it a safe distance from his colouring book and supplies.

“Would you like some lemonade as well, Remus?” Severus asked. “I’m led to believe that Draco and I may do some damage to that bottle there, but there’s no reason you’re obligated to join us if your preferences lean in a different direction.”

Remus thought about the night ahead and what the days before them would contain. “Don’t count me out,” he replied, pushing his teacup forward.

Snape nodded. “Share,” he instructed Draco.

Malfoy filled his glass and slid the bottle over to Snape. Severus poured a measure into both his and Remus’ glasses, filling the rest up with the improvised tea, adding a final splash to Draco’s cup.

“I hope it isn’t too late, but I think you should contact the two reporters you’ve chosen, try and get them to be present tomorrow. That way they can see firsthand what goes on when Lanning takes you, their reports will be swifter and more accurate than having them wait to speak to Ackerley about what went on,” Draco said.

“Not a terrible idea,” Snape said. He’d been about to say the same thing before Teddy and Fred came back from the pond. Oh well, he’d been dealing with Malfoys for long enough to know that being bested by them was just part of the package.

“That Healer?” Teddy asked anxiously, showing his excellent memory in recalling the Healer’s name. “Where is he taking you?”

Snape could have cursed both Draco and himself into dust.

“I have to go away for a while Teddy, I was planning on discussing it with you tonight,” he offered.

“Where are you going? Are you coming back?”

“Without question I will be returning,” Severus assured him instantly. “There is something I have to do; I will be gone for two weeks, but I will come home to you soon after that. You will be with your father the entire time, I promise that you will be safe and well cared for while I am away.”

“But why do you have to go with that Healer?” Teddy asked. A look of horror appeared on his face. “Are you going away because I was bad? Is it because I bit him?”

Snape moved his chair, sliding Teddy’s out from the table also so that they were looking each other square in the face, with all intents and purposes blocking the rooms’ other occupants out. Had Teddy’s dragon been an actual living thing, it would have been crushed to death by the force of the child’s arm pinning it to his side.

“No,” Snape said simply and easily, “in no way is any of this your fault. Yes, I do have to leave for a while, that is nonnegotiable. However, I will return and we can resume our lives, much as they have been.”

“But I don’t want you to go!” Teddy protested desperately.

“Neither do I wish to, yet it cannot be helped. You will be provided for while I am gone; your father and Fred will be with you. You can continue your studies, keep up your arts and crafts, play outside with your dragon… Your life will not change, except that I will be temporarily absent from it.”

“But…” Teddy protested, but it was much more feebly this time.

“I may be far in distance,” Severus told him, hating this much more than he had anticipated, “but in thought and in heart I will be very close to you. Fred will help you count the days until I am home again.”

“You’ll be home for my next transformation?” Teddy asked.

“I’ll be back before the next full moon, yes,” Severus answered, evading most of the question.

“And you promise that you’ll come back,” Teddy repeated.

“I promise,” Severus answered, his full attention on the boy.

Teddy heaved a watery sigh.

“Come here,” Severus said, opening his arms to the child.

Teddy shot from his chair like an arrow from the string of a bow, settling himself on Snape’s lap with unbelievable speed.

Severus just looped his arms around him and leaned against the back of his chair.

“What if I get scared?” Teddy asked in a small voice.

Severus scoffed. “You’re one of the bravest people I know,” he answered, meeting the boy;s eyes with confidence as he said the words he knew to be true. “And if you do happen to get a little shaken, your father will be right there to protect you, and so will Fred.”

“Okay,” Teddy said, though he sounded far from convinced. He put his hands on Snape’s arms so they couldn’t retreat, but otherwise just settled in. Severus had no intention of letting go of this boy. He sat back, letting Teddy recline on him as he did.

Remus drank a large portion of his ‘tea’, and noted Draco did as well, though likely for different reasons. Watching Severus take such care with his son’s feelings for the second time today, he could no longer argue with himself. Lord help him, but he was in actually love with this man. Of course the real actualization of it would twin itself up almost with the exact moment in time when Severus was required to leave. Remus shuddered: Snape and Draco may somehow be able to speak about it easily, but a cold chill still went up his spine at the mere thought.

Severus sat there for a time, soaking in the moment with Teddy. Eventually, the child got restless so Snape pulled his chair back up to the table so that he could colour but still stay close. He wasn’t sure if remaining this way for a bit longer was more for Teddy or himself. Remus and Draco were chatting in the background, but he was mesmerized instead by that little hand making confident marks across the page, the way Teddy’s sandy head would tilt to get a better angle on the trickier parts he was colouring in. Everything about this boy was intriguing and he wanted to soak as much of his presence up as he could before he left in the morning.

He shook his head to clear it and looked up at Draco and Remus. He’d completely missed what they’d been talking about, but neither of them looked distressed. He drank from his teacup, knowing full well that alcohol wasn’t doing him any favors in the long run. He was already assembling a list of potions to ingest before bed and upon rising to improve his vitality and resistance for at least a few days of his sentence. Surprising himself, he found that he would rather turn his attentions to other things presently.

“I know that you came in not too long ago, but how would you feel about going down to the orchard?” he suggested to Teddy.

“Okay,” Teddy agreed, setting his pencil down.

“What do the two of you say?” Snape asked Remus and Draco.

Draco shrugged while Remus, never one to miss an opportunity for sunshine, smiled broadly and nodded.

“Good enough for me,” Snape said. “You get ready to go, I’m going to go send a quick note to those reporters.”

“You still have that owl?” Draco asked.

“Obviously,” Severus replied.

“Good, I’ll likely need her to schedule appointments to meet with some of the old families.”

“Be my guest,” Severus replied.

Teddy hopped off Snape’s lap and went to start putting on his shoes. Snape hurried up the stairs opening his window and calling for his owl. While he waited for her to arrive, he wrote two quick missives to Beard and the Lady, the two reporters he’d like to continue covering his story in detail. When his owl appeared, perched on the window pane, he attached the letters to her foot and sent her off with a treat.

He was about to turn and go back downstairs when he spied Remus’ chair sitting by the fire. Thinking that the orchard was quite far for Remus after the other small stroll they’d taken earlier. It was no effort for him to shrink it and toss it in his pocket. That way if they lycanthrope tired out either there or on the way back, he’d have an alternative to walking. While he was at it, he took a large quilt and shrunk that down, putting it in his pocket as well.

Heading back down the stairs and towards the kitchen, he paused just outside the door, wanting to hear what was going on in the other room.

“Yes, we’ve been close for as long as I can remember,” Draco said, presumably to Remus.

“And yet you don’t feel any resentment towards my son or I over what is happening?”

“How could I? Severus does what he wants. And besides, it would be pretty hypocritical of me to feel that way when he’s… done some pretty dramatic things for me too,” Draco said with surprising candor, likely stumbling because he didn’t know what Remus did or didn’t know. The sound of a teacup being lifted and replaced on a hard surface was heard.

“I know,” Remus told him. “We’ve spoken of you on a couple occasions; it’s clear that he cares about you. I’m sure he’s glad that you’re here right now.”

Severus could almost hear the fine fabric of Draco’s shirt rumple as he shrugged. “We don’t often speak of such things, but I believe you’re right. I know that it doesn’t sound like the version of me that you know, but I really did come here to help however I can. If that means I see him off with you tomorrow and house sit until you all come back, so be it – I really didn’t mean to pressure you with all that stuff about being family earlier. It’s true regardless and whether you stay here or go stay with Ackerley, it won’t offend me.”

“I would hope not. I’m still thinking about it, but these days my reasoning skills are… slow,” he chuckled to himself.

“That sounds fine,” Draco said, “Would you mind me visiting you if you do decide to stay with Severus’ solicitor?”

“No, of course not,” Remus answered. “You’d want to do that?”

“Yeah, think that I would,” Draco said. There was a long pause before Draco said more loudly, “You may as well come and join the conversation, Severus.”

Snape silently cursed. He waited a moment and then walked silently around the corner into the kitchen. “Hmm?” he asked distractedly, “I heard you call for me, Draco?”

“Pfft,” Malfoy said in an undignified fashion, waving his hand at Severus.

Teddy giggled from the floor where he and his dragon were sitting and tying his shoes.

“Eloquent,” Severus drawled. “Are you ready?”

Draco grabbed the bottle. “You bet.”

Remus grasped the handle of his cane and struggled to rise. He seemed steady, so Severus let him be.

“I’m definitely ready,” he said.

“Alright,” Severus said, holding his hand out to everyone should head towards the back entrance. It was his last night as a free man; he would enjoy it to the best of his abilities.

A/N: So, its been a while. Sorry! Life is crazier than ever but my mind still never strays far from this piece. Thank you for your words of encouragement and motivation, they really light a fire under me! Thank you to everytone who has made this journey with me, both from the beginning and any new readers that may be stumbling across this story. You are fantastic! I hope you liked this new chapter - my Draco may be a little rusty but give him a chance! - More to come as soon as I am able. Please let me know your thoughts and if you're still out there reading! Thank you again!
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The Long Road