Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 52
- 53
- 54
They ended up on the front porch of Lanning’s, but their feet weren’t on the mat for ten seconds before the door opened and two elves were there to greet them. They both bowed low and offered their services immediately upon entrance. One of them continued on, backing away until he was far enough off to resume his course. Just inside the entryway stood two stoic men in formal Ministry attire. They were still as statues and Remus knew instantly that they were there for protection, though for who and from what he couldn’t say.
The other elf stayed with them. “Peony is taking sirs to Master Lanning, Master is being expecting sirs,” she said formally after Darien introduced himself. The two men didn’t twitch so much as an eyebrow as they moved past them.
Remus stayed silent and kept his head down as much as possible while subtly trying to take in his surroundings. They were led on a direct route through the house, which appeared for all intents and purposes to be completely average. There were paintings and family photos on the walls, potted plants by the windows and a cat curled up on the sofa - all around it seemed like a normal living space.
Then they were taken down a narrow flight of stairs to the basement.
Immediately Remus could sense a change. The rooms were cooler, darker and damper. The floor was made of roughly hewn stone and the area smelled of must and fear and death to Remus’ more discerning senses the deeper they travelled. They walked past a set of cages with thick iron bars next to what looked like a hospital bed. Men and women huddled inside together, seeming to try to hold themselves so still so as not to even breathe. They were thin and filthy and they reeked of terror and illness. Remus tried not to meet their eyes, knowing that their fate, whatever that was to be, could easily have been his as well.
When they passed the cage with the boy in it, even Ackerley, who had come this far without even turning his head, paused to look at him. He was small and skinny, but he was much cleaner than the others and his clothes seemed in decent shape. His eyes were pools of sadness that almost stopped Remus in his tracks, though he had enough sense to keep following Darien. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, his skin was covered in gooseflesh and he wasn’t even in the room with Severus yet. His hands shook so badly he had to tuck them into his pockets as he tore his eyes away from the child so close to Teddy’s age caged there and kept for god only knew what horrid purposes. His eyes lingered on the identical, empty pen, and his mind supplied an image of his own son standing in there, alone and forlorn. He felt his heart break.
The elf held the last door open for them, so Remus followed Darien into the room. The place was atrocious, everywhere you looked a new weapon of torture. There, in the middle of it all was Severus, his head slumped forward, eyes hidden by a familiar curtain of lank hair. Remus had to swallow bile and drop his eyes, keeping iron control over every muscle in his body to stop himself from running to him.
Severus’ body was held in the air about a foot off of the ground by manacles connecting his wrists to the ceiling. He was naked and covered in grime and almost every inch of him Remus could see looked like one massive open wound. He couldn’t even hazard a guess as to what had made the abrasions but they were long and bloody and interconnected in a ghastly pattern that extended across his entire body. Blood pooled beneath him. His bad knee had been opened up, much of the tissue cut away. Remus didn’t know a lot about how things were supposed to look when exposed, but he felt like there should have been some sort of cap over the knee, something to protect the joint from damage. Then he saw the remnants of it on the floor over by a flat table covered with gore. A small keening sound came unbidden from the back of his throat.
Whatever he had been preparing himself for was nothing compared to what he was actually witnessing here. He felt cold inside, like his lungs had crystalized. Though he wasn’t using it to take his weight, his grip on his cane was so tight that his hand was going numb. He tried to calm himself in order to keep from vomiting while his eyes prickled distractingly with tears.
Lanning looked up from what he was doing, ended a protection charm that went over his eyes like goggles and smiled charmingly at them. He pushed aside a wheeled table that had what looked like most of a human leg on its platform and put down his scalpel and tweezers. He wiped his hands on his bloody apron and smiled at them. “Hello Ackerley!” he exclaimed. “Remus, so glad you could make it!”
“What’s your game, Quinton?” Darien asked in a much more stable voice than Remus could have mustered at that point. It was all that he could do to just stand there, eyes locked on Severus. “He needs to be able to speak with us, it is the only rule you were to follow for this meeting.”
“Did you hear that, Severus? You have company and they wish to speak to you,” Lanning called cheerfully. He appeared to wait for Severus to answer. “Sev-er-us,” he called again as if trying to wake a stubborn and sleepy child. He waited again. “Ennervate,” he commanded, a hard edge entering his voice.
Severus’ whole body jerked at the spell. His head flew up, eyes still closed, mouth slack. He managed to keep his head upright for almost thirty seconds, his neck wobbling like an infant’s or a drunkard’s before his chin fell back to his chest and he didn’t move other than to sway slightly in his restraints.
“Enough!” Darien barked. His wand had appeared in his hand and Remus guessed that if this went on much longer he would be in need of his own legal counsel.
Lanning shrugged and cast the spell that released Severus’ restraints. He fell in a graceless lump on the floor, impacting the stone with a sickening sound. Though unconscious, it seemed as if he groaned when the air was knocked from his lungs. He struggled to breathe on the floor while Lanning walked over and looked down on him expectantly, arms crossed.
Remus finally couldn’t stop himself, he was at Severus’ side almost before Quinton reached it, lowering himself to the floor at his master’s flank. He reached forward but his hands could do nothing but hover, so afraid was he to cause more damage. His voice was stuck in his throat, eyes overflowing with tears…
“Quintin, I’m about to walk out of here and report your utter lack of cooperation to the Ministry,” Darien said, his eyes trained on Snape. “I’m sure it will only help our case.”
Lanning sighed dramatically, bending down and taking Severus carelessly up by his head. He held it between his hands, briefly caressing each delicate cheekbone with the pad of his thumbs, before twisting violently, dropping Severus back to the floor as he released him carelessly. The sound Snape’s neck made as it snapped reverberated through the room.
Remus cried out and half reached for him, still feeling helpless to do anything but kneel and be there.
Snape’s body convulsed, his skin closing up over itself, tissue filling in the hollows. His neck cracked slowly back into place one vertebrae at a time; the odd angle his head was at righted itself with painful sluggishness. His lashes fluttered and his lips opened and closed soundlessly.
Remus was sobbing openly now, stroking the sweat dampened hair away from his master’s forehead as the terrible healing took place.
“This one is quite dramatic, isn’t he,” Quinton joked about Remus with a levity that was nowhere near appropriate for the situation.
“I have no words for you, Quinton,” Ackerley said, clearly not unmoved by the display.
“You want to talk to him and that’s how we have to make it happen when he gets to this point. He has a startling amount of endurance when his vitality levels are decent, but when he finally flags, he’s really down for the count.”
Snape gasped in his first breath of air since his most recent death, flailing as he tried to gain his bearings.
“Severus,” Remus breathed.
It was all the encouragement Severus needed to still. He went limp, breathing laboriously and blinking rapidly. His hands came up to his neck, gingerly prodding the skin there as if to make sure everything was back in its correct place. His head fell back against the floor and he let out a sigh devoid of hope or vigor.
Ackerley approached. “Severus,” he said softly, “Remus will fill you in on the details, but we’ve almost got you home. Just a little bit longer, mate,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “I have some paperwork to fill out and some things to go over with Lanning, Remus is going to wait with you until we’re done, alright?” Severus groaned. Ackerley took it for a sign of acknowledgment. “Let’s go Quinton,” he said firmly and went to wait by the door.
“I do know how much Severus has been looking forward to seeing you, Remus; he talks about you when he’s delirious sometimes. I’m sure this is a nice little surprise for him. Well, have fun you two - we’ll be back to join the conversation soon!” Quinton said sunnily.
Remus didn’t even look up as they left the room, having eyes only for his master. He was as near to him as he could be without actually coming into contact with him in any way.
“Severus,” he tried again, not sure what he was expecting as a response.
“’M here,” he answered thickly, still very disoriented. His voice was hoarse and strained, the sound of it pained Remus’ ears. Snape seemed to startle belatedly. “Remus?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes. I’m here, love,” Remus answered, trying to get himself under control. When Severus didn’t say anything he continued, “I want to touch you but I don’t know if I can,” he admitted.
“Already toldjyou, alw’ys have perm’shin,” Severus slurred, the words sticking in his mouth.
Remus felt his heart in his throat. His hand reached out, caressing Severus’ shoulder tenderly. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Remus told him honestly. The wounds that had been there when he’d first arrived had healed, but they had left red, raw looking scars behind in their absence. There was a map of agony all over his lover’s body that made him want to scream in anger and grief.
“Y’r hands could nev’r hurt me, Remus,” Severus answered. Gathering his strength, Snape opened his weary eyes and looked up at him dazedly.
“Your eye!” Remus marveled, his stomach twisting itself into knots at the sight. One of Severus’ eyes was its usual black pool of ink, while the other was a blue so vibrant he had a hard time believing it was real.
“Hurts,” Severus informed him with a raspy voice, moving one shaking hand up to touch the area around his blue eye carefully. His lips were terribly chapped and his tongue seemed affixed to the roof his mouth. “Blurry. Still work’ng on sight.” His voice sounded thick, like he was speaking through muddy gravel. “S’not quite right yet.”
Remus couldn’t stop himself any longer. He stripped off his outer robe and carefully gathered Severus from the floor, mildly shocked to find how much weight the man had shed in a mere week. He settled Severus against his legs, took the robe, still warm from his body, and spread it out over his exposed master. He was glad he had thought ahead and brought out the water skin that he’d tucked under his outer robe when he’d left the house. “Here, have a couple of swallows,” he urged gently, helping Snape’s head rest at an angle where he could get some of the water into him.
Severus drank greedily, moaning in what Remus could only assume was pleasure.
“Not too much, there, carefully,” he gentled through his tears, removing the water likely before Severus was ready for him to. He didn’t want to add making him ill to his list of troubles.
“Thank you,” Severus said, letting his eyes flutter closed. “’M so tired, Remus.”
“I know, love,” Remus said, his throat was so tight it hurt to speak, he was way out of his depth here. “We’re bringing you home soon, I promise. We’re doing everything we can within the system, just like you wanted.”
“Good,” Severus sighed, his head resting wearily against Remus.
“I’m so sorry, I’m just sitting around the house eating and sleeping and wanking and here you are, my god what has he done to you? What did he do to your eye?” Remus took a shaky breath, aware that he was rambling but not caring. Hysteria wasn’t far off. He thought the spell was supposed to completely heal Severus, but it didn’t look like it had at all from where he was sitting.
“Slow down,” Severus instructed tiredly, “making my head spin.” He could speak a little easier after the water. The wetness of it against his lips made him inclined to believe that this was really happening, though how? The robe that had been spread over him still carried the warmth of Remus’ body. The feeling of gentle hands instantly undid him in ways Lanning’s tortures hadn’t, he pulled his shields tightly about himself for entirely different reasons this time. None of this could be real. The creeping thought that he couldn’t trust his own mind niggled at him and was more worrying than anything that Healer could do to him physically.
Remus stopped talking, bringing his hands up to massage slow circles around Severus’ temples. He smoothed his fingers across the other man’s forehead, carded them through his hair. When he thought enough time had passed, he brought up the bladder for Severus to drink from again, which he did thirstily.
Snape lay against Remus’ legs, eyes closed and breathing even. “Tell me about Teddy,” he said without opening his eyes. Just because this was an illusion didn’t mean he shouldn’t enjoy it.
“He misses you,” Remus told him softly. “He’s spending time with Draco and Harry. Draco is teaching him to paint.” He couldn’t stop touching his master, smoothing his hands across his flesh to make certain he was still there.
“Sounds fun, messy.”
“Teddy certainly thinks so,” Remus said. “We’ve been to the pond a few times and we’ve made strides on his literacy and printing skills. He can’t wait to show you everything he’s learned and done. There may be a couple of surprises waiting for you at home.” He wouldn’t say anything about the nightmares or the sulking or the constant asking after Severus and when he would finally be home.
“I can hardly wait,” Severus said, an odd version of a smile appearing on his face. His voice sounded smoother, his words stuck together less and his voice was clearer.
“Neither can we.”
“Tell him that I’m thinking about him.” His hand came up to rub at his aching eye.
“Severus, what happened to your eye?” Remus asked again.
Severus’ whole body shuddered. “Plucked it out.”
“Lanning just ‘plucked out’ your eye?” Remus asked, unable to keep his voice level. It was likely the same body part they had received in the mail, not that he was to discuss that now.
“I did it.”
“You took out your own eye? Why the hell would you do that? He isn’t to use Unforgivables on you, if he has, I’ll tell Ackerley,” Remus told him urgently, trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing.
“No Unforgivables.”
“Then why?” Remus’ mind couldn’t fathom it.
“If I didn’t, he was going to do it to Daniel.”
“Who is Daniel?” Remus asked, horrified and confused in equal measures.
“The boy, you had to pass him to get in here.” He looked alarmed and sat up a little. “Is he still out there?”
“Yes, he’s there, lie back,” Remus said, hardly believing his ears. “You took out your eye of your own free will to protect that boy from having the same thing happen to him?” He had to reiterate it to be certain he understood correctly. This was madness.
“Couldn’t do it, kept passing out. Lanning had to do it for me, in the end.” Why was speech so bloody exhausting? He felt strength draining from him with every sentence he uttered.
“Why would you do that?” Remus couldn’t help but ask, feeling a bit like a broken record.
“Mine’d grow back,” Severus said, as if that would explain it all.
Remus let out a sob that turned into outright weeping again. “I’m so sorry, Severus.”
“No,” Severus said sorrowfully, seeming to muster himself, “no, don’t cry and don’t be sorry. I- there’s something I want to tell you. I’ve told you many times already, but this time’m fairly certain you’re actually here…”
“Yes, Severus, I’m here with you, right now,” Remus assured, caressing his inky hair, leaning down to kiss his face.
Severus blinked up at Remus as he pulled away. It was a pity that none of this was really happening. Remus wasn’t here and he was lying alone on the stone floor in the middle of a sleep deprived hallucination. But if that were true, why did the inside of his mouth still feel refreshed from that water? Why was the sensation of Remus’ warm lips against his clammy skin so unbearably real?
“Are you sure you’re really here?” he asked, not sure why he thought he could believe anything said by an imaginary person created by his own mind.
“Yes Severus, I swear I’m here and you’re not dreaming me.” Something clicked in his head. “Merlin!” he cursed. He patted Severus lightly on the cheek twice to be positive he had his attention. “Severus, you have to listen to me – I have a Portkey in my pocket, I’m going to get you out of here.”
Severus’ body shook, and it took Remus a moment to realize that he was laughing. “Now I know you’re a hallucination.”
“Severus, I’m completely serious right now. You need to listen to me, I’m going to activate it and it will take us back home.”
The mirth melted from Snape’s face. “Whether you're real or not, you can’t do that, Remus.”
“Why not?” Remus exclaimed.
Severus twitched in response to the raised voice. “You can’t cut the sentence short; they may try to force the original ruling and take Teddy. They might make me serve the time all over again, from the beginning. We can’t risk it.”
“Severus, you’re not understanding me – I can get you out of here, now. I promise, none of that will happen. We’ll go into hiding, we have friends that could help us. I can’t let him keep doing this to you.”
“No,” Snape said with finality.
“You’re not thinking straight. I’m sorry, but I’m going to activate it regardless,” Remus said as he parted his robes and fumbled inside for his pocket.
“Remus, no. You are not to touch me with that Portkey,” Severus’ voice gained in strength and clarity.
Remus had already had the damned thing out, was almost to remove it from the envelope when he felt his hands freeze without his permission. Severus had ordered him to stop.
“Please,” he begged, “let me do this.”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t.” What would it matter, he was just arguing with a figment of his own imagination? But he couldn’t risk it, couldn’t even think about it.
“Severus, it leads back to your living room,” Remus told him. “I think it would be better if- I can’t not bring you back with me,” he said brokenly. His heart was hammering in his chest – this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He’d found the answer, it was in his hand right at that moment, but he wasn’t allowed to use it.
“You’re going to have to,” Severus’ hand reached out, finding one of Remus’ and holding it tightly. “I can do this, and so can you.”
“I can’t leave you alone here,” Remus told him, feeling like he might just tear apart just thinking about it.
Severus let out a tired breath of air. “I am not alone. We may not be together, but we are doing this together. We are doing this because not to do it is lunacy. He cannot have Teddy, we will not let him. As long as that is true, we are winning.”
“How can you say that?” Remus had to know. He doubted his own fortitude to endure this for any purpose. That kind of agony tended to defy thought and logic; it was mindless and dumb and could hear no reason.
“Remus, I’m not processing what’s happening to me - when my shields are in place, they make sure of that. I can’t guarantee what’ll happen when I take them down, so I want to tell you now, while I can. I might not be able to later, and I want you to know…” Severus’ voice trailed off.
Remus gave him with another few sips of the water, which seemed to help him be able to speak. “You can tell me anything Severus,” Remus said quietly, waiting to hear what could possibly be so important right at that very moment.
“Remus,” Severus opened his eyes again, piercing him with a solemn look, he spoke slowly and as evenly as he could, “whatever happens here, I need you t’know that I – care for you, deeply. I know it’s unfair of me to say it right now, but if I don’t... and you need to understand.”
He cleared his throat, feeling his speech start to decline again alongside a rising sense of shame that he was struggling to tell even a figment of Remus how he felt. He decided there was nothing to lose as he had no idea what shape he’d be in emotionally when he got out of here, especially when his shields finally came down. Also, he could feel himself growing weaker, his vision was blurring and spotting in both of his eyes and he didn’t want unconsciousness to stop him from saying what rightfully should have been said before he even came to this infernal place. Even if this wasn’t happening, it would be a blessing just to have said it aloud.
He struggled onwards, “I don’t want you to say anyth’ng, but you need to know that I would stay here forever if it would keep you and Teddy safe, keep you happy. I would do that because I love you and I think you should know that. If you’re really here, my mind isn’t quite right t’the moment.” His voice was slurring and his eyes rolled around in his head like he was on some sort of drug, but his hand was still gripping Remus’, he blinked to try and straighten out his vision. “I just need’d you to know,” he repeated, his eyes finally closing rather than waging the war with proper sight. He felt beautiful blackness envelop him and felt only regret that when he would awaken, Remus would be gone.
Remus’ chest constricted and tears of a different kind ran down his cheeks. “I love you too, Severus.” He leaned down and touched his lips to his master’s, thinking how it should be impossible to feel such joy in the middle of so much sorrow. “Severus?” he asked, getting no answer. Realizing that the other man was unconscious, he tried to touch him with the bus ticket again, only to find himself still unable to do so. It was as if his muscles froze and would only allow motion again if he directed his hand to move away from the direction of Severus’ body. In spite of the wonderful emotion that had overcome him at his master’s unbelievable words, he began to weep openly.
Using his handkerchief and the bit of water that was left, he cleaned the sweat and grime from Severus’ face, noticing for the first time the dark scar next to his newly grown eye. It went from the crease nearest to his temple and travelled jaggedly over his lid, stopping just shy of his tear duct. There was another of them on his opposite cheek, stemming out of the place where his lips met. It forked out from there both up to and over his cheekbone and down almost to the hinge of his jaw. It looked almost as if something had ripped the skin apart from the inside, but he couldn’t be sure. He pressed his lips lightly to the place where the mark began, feeling immensely angry that Snape had stopped him from using that portkey. Just as he thought the emotion would crumble him into dust, the door swung open and footsteps approached them.
“If I’d known you were going to try and clean him up for me I would have left you a slop pail and a bottle of solvent,” Lanning’s greeting accosted his ears. Remus gritted his teeth, not knowing how much more of this he could listen to and stay silent.
“We’ve finished, Remus,” Darien said, “and we have to go now.” He appeared much less collected than when he had exited the room.
Remus hung his head and tightened his grip on Severus, tears tracking down his face. He’d known this visit would be next to futile, but he had not expected to feel quite this empty and useless at the end of it.
“Who says you have to leave this second?” Lanning piped up. He strode further into the room and looked down at Remus where he sat with Snape still cradled on his lap. He hooked the edge of the robe Remus had spread over Severus with his toe and kicked it off him. “You could stay and have a bit of fun, make some memories, you know? That way once he’s back at home, bending you over any available surface in an empty attempt to regain his manhood, you’ll have something truly special to hold onto.”
Remus put a hand on his master’s chest. “Fuck you,” Remus said vehemently, “you don’t know anything.”
“Don’t engage him Remus, it’s time to go home,” Darien said again.
Lanning crouched down beside them. “Perhaps not,” he smiled, completely ignoring that Ackerley had said anything. “But seeing the two of you like this makes me think that I haven’t been giving Severus here nearly enough love. You’re certain you don’t want to stick around for that?” he asked as he reached over and grabbed Snape’s genitals, giving them a vicious twist.
Severus’ only response was to jerk in Remus’ grasp.
“Don’t touch him you cunt,” Remus snarled looking every bit like he would lunge through Snape’s body to devour Lanning’s face.
Quinton laughed. “You seem to have some fight left, werewolf. I’d like the chance to beat it out of you.”
Bloodlust took on a new meaning for Remus in that moment. “And I would like you to try,” Lupin challenged in a growl, straightening up and knowing that the eyes of an animal looked out of his skull. For the first time in his life he didn’t try to contain it. He felt it about to burst out of him, the itching ache under his fingernails that came just before the claws. He’d never been this close to the beast so far from the moon, but he wished he could transform now and rip this putrid man to a bloodied pulp that would spew forth such carnage that the thing left lying at his feet would not be recognizable as a human corpse.
Lanning leaned back. “You’re almost frothing at the mouth, you repulsive beast,” he snapped, the slightest hint of a tremor in his voice.
Darien’s hand clamped onto Remus’ shoulder. “We’re leaving. Now.”
Remus felt all of his anger flood out of him, leaving him shaking and deflated. His hands stroked Severus’ skin once more before he moved him gently to the floor. He sat beside him, petrified. How could he leave him?
Darien took his elbow, helped him to his feet. “Come on, Remus,” he said gently. Remus nodded dumbly.
“I’ll show you out myself,” Lanning said, having stood while Remus was straightening out his robes. He turned and walked to the door, Darien followed him mutely.
Remus took one last look at Severus, naked and unconscious on the floor, before his feet walked away on their own accord. He picked up the cane from where he had abandoned it and was only a few steps behind them as they walked through the room with the operating table and the pen of slaves.
Quinton saw them to the front doorway.
“We’ll be seeing you sooner than seven days, Quinton,” Darien told him.
“I’ll have to work ‘round the clock, in that case. Don’t worry, I’m used to long hours,” he said optimistically. “Well, it was lovely having you come and visit, enjoy the rest of your day! Oh, and Remus, do give my love to your son,” he smiled pointedly and closed the door.
Remus felt rage and despair trying to burst out of him. He was certain he looked much more composed than he actually was. They walked down the steps.
“Are you alright to Apparate, or do you need a moment?” Darien asked him.
Remus felt waves of nausea washing over him, it had been getting progressively worse as he’d been walking away from the house. He held up a finger to indicate he might need that moment. Not ten seconds had gone by and he was vomiting onto Quinton’s front walkway. He spat and wiped his mouth.
“Better?” Darien asked.
“Not in the least,” Remus replied, extending his arm all the same.
Darien nodded, took his arm and cast the spell to take them home.

Remus didn’t speak another word until they were back inside the house. His emotions were threatening to overwhelm him again, gathering speed and momentum inside of him with every passing second. Everyone was gathered in the living room. Harry was sitting and flipping through a book and Teddy and Draco were standing in front of an easel, paint covering them and the drop cloth under their feet. They all looked over at him and Ackerley as they entered the room.
Draco took one look at Remus and turned to face him full on, his hand coming to rest on Teddy’s shoulder. Whatever it was he saw, Harry was oblivious to it. “How’d it go?” he asked, looking up from his book.
“About as well as expected,” Darien said grimly.
“Did you see sir? Did you see him dad? How is he, is he coming home soon?” Teddy asked in an excited rush.
“You look pretty rough, Remus,” Harry continued, running a hand through his hair. “Maybe you should sit down.”
Remus couldn’t stop himself from bursting. With a guttural sound everything came out of him at once and he swung his balled-up fist through the wall next to him with as much force as he had. The impact made an impressive noise, the motion took him straight through the wood and plaster. He heard several people call his name as he wrenched his hand back out of the crumbling structure with no heed to the pain. Even the sound of his son’s frightened squeal didn’t reach him as he stood there breathing rapidly and wondering what he should tear apart with his bare hands.
He looked over to see that Draco had pulled Teddy behind himself and was standing with his wand out though he didn’t appear quite ready to duel. His son had his hands up over his face. Ackerley had backed away from him. Harry stood still, his mouth not completely closed. Their reactions made him feel distantly ashamed though it couldn’t override the fact that he was enraged enough to tear this house down to the ground one stone at a time. He tried to collect himself, took several deep breaths, focused on relaxing his tense muscles. His hands were shaking and he couldn’t say for sure that he wouldn’t be ill again. In one exhale he seemed to let it all go, releasing the handle of the cane and sinking to the floor with his head buried in his arms.
Teddy darted around Draco and was at his side in a moment. His small arms tucked themselves around Remus’ middle.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Remus said to the room with a trembling voice. To Teddy he said, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I love you daddy,’ Teddy said.
“I love you too, Teddy,” Remus said. He rested his cheek on the top of Teddy’s head and tried valiantly not to dissolve into tears again.
“Sir isn’t okay, is he?” Teddy stated.
Remus’ mouth opened and closed. “No, he isn’t. But he is thinking about you, Teddy. He loves you very much and can’t wait to come home and spend time with you again.” He felt tears spilling from the corners of his eyes without his permission.
Teddy nodded and leaned closer to his father. Remus put his arm around the boy’s shoulders and hugged him close. “Is your hand hurt?” the child asked him.
Remus had yet to think about that. He looked at his hand, clenching and unclenching his thumb and fingers slowly to assess any damage. It was sore, but it would be fine by tomorrow. Now that the worst of his injuries were gone he found himself much closer to normal both in stamina and in regeneration. “I’m fine Teddy, thank you for worrying about me.”
“Are you sure your hand is alright, Remus?” Harry asked.
“It’s fine,” Remus said again.
“Perhaps your hand is fine, I’m getting the distinct impression that you are not,” Draco asked.
“I-” There were so many things going on inside of him that he could barely process an answer. The thought that he was better off than Severus floated across his mind. It was accompanied by the memory of the scent of fear and pain and piss, the sight of those atrocious scars cobbling together pale pieces of flesh. He leaned over and began to dry heave on the carpet.
Fred appeared in the room. He took in the wall and scowled nastily at Harry.
“I didn’t do it this time, honest!”
“We is talking about this later,” Fred deadpanned. He summoned a bucket for Remus and banished the bile on the floor. “You is all just standing around?” he asked incredulously, looking at Draco, Harry and Darien in turn. “Sir is paying you to be gaping like you is a dry fish?” he asked Darien irately. To Teddy he said, “You is coming with me. Your father and you is being together in a bit, he is needing time to himself and for having a talk with the other adults.”
“But Fred,” Teddy started to protest.
“There is being no arguments, little man,” Fred said sternly. “This is being no place for you now.”
Teddy hugged his father tightly and paced a kiss on his cheek. “If you’re still sad later you should come and find me, we’ll read or color together. Sir says sometimes just being with someone else can help and you don’t even always have to talk about it if you don’t want.”
Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. “Thank you, Teddy, that means a lot to me. I’ll do that when I have my head back on correctly. I couldn’t ask for a better son,” he said, hugging his boy and then releasing him.
“I’ll see you later dad,” Teddy told him, taking Fred’s hand and letting himself be walked from the room.
“Come on, let’s get you off of the floor,” Harry said, going to Remus and helping him to his feet. He walked with him to the sofa though he didn’t need to support him at all. He took a seat beside him, signaling for Ackerley and Draco to come closer as well.
Darien did so, but Draco brought some Scotch and glasses over, pouring two liberal glasses and handing them to Darien and Remus. “I don’t know if this will help your stomach, but it might do something for your nerves.”
“Thanks,” Remus said weakly, tipping the cup back to empty it and leaning in to refill it with double the liquid Draco had just served him. He drank a large measure of that and shook his head as if to clear it.
“We don’t have a week,” Darien was the first one to speak. “Anything else is on the back burner, we have to get him out of there. After what we witnessed today, I can easily say that we’re already a week too late.” He drained his glass in two swallows and held it out to Remus to refill, as he was still holding the bottle.
“What are we going to do?” asked Harry.
“We are going to make sure that we come out of that meeting victorious tomorrow,” Darien said coolly. “I’ll let those Ministry idiots look at my memory of today if they want to see just what they’re fighting for in this particular case.” He took another drink. “It reeks of bad PR for them, and after all the support we’ve gathered in such a short time I’m sure they’re rethinking their original stance of supporting WIBNA on this one. And if they aren’t, it’s my job to make them. It’s our first real opportunity to make sure this happens, and I’m not going to let us miss it.”
Remus tipped back the rest of his beverage. His hands were still unsteady and the alcohol burned in his stomach he didn’t think it was going to make a repeat appearance at this time. He felt hollow and jittery and a little like there was a hot coal scorching its way slowly through his heart. Darien sounded positive about the results of the meeting, but it did nothing to make him feel better, no matter the faith Severus had in the man.
“You saw him,” Draco said quietly, “do you think he’s managing?”
“If he is, I’ve no idea how - but it’s hard to say with him,” Darien answered slowly. “It’s… brutal. There is no other way of putting it.”
“Bad enough that we’ll want to use alternate methods of retrieving him from there if this meeting doesn’t go in our favor?” Draco asked, his eyes shining.
“You know that I can’t give you advice that would in any way cause you to circumvent the law. Also, there is security there, from what I could see the place is guarded.”
“It wouldn’t do us any good regardless,” Remus told them. “Severus won’t leave unless it’s through the proper channels.”
“How do you know this, Remus?” Darien asked, leaning forward.
“I tried to take him out myself, while you and that piece of shite were signing papers.”
“Just how did you think you were going to get him out of there?” Darien asked, frowning.
Remus reached into his pocket and tossed the envelope containing the bus ticket onto the table. “Imogene, the Headmistress of TAB, sent me this the other morning before you showed up. It’s an unregistered Portkey that ends up just over there,” he indicated the open space in the other room.
“You have an Unregistered Portkey?” Harry interjected. “Good thing I’m on indefinite leave from work.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Draco asked. His brow wrinkled. “And why didn’t you use it?”
“I wanted to use it on the both of us, but when I went to, he… ordered me to stop.” The reality was settling across his shoulders like a leaden cloak. “I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t move as long as I was going to touch him with the ticket. I could only move away. He said it was too dangerous for everyone and then he told me… he told me something very personal and lost consciousness. I still couldn’t touch him with the ticket. I could only move away. I could only move away. I could only...” The grief and rage were becoming tumultuous inside of him again. He distantly heard himself repeating the words over and over again, but he couldn’t seem to tell his brain to stop.
“Remus? …Remus can you hear me?” Harry’s voice came from so far away he didn’t bother answering him. He felt like his chest was getting tighter and tighter. He couldn’t breathe. Spots danced across his wobbly vision and the room seemed to spin while he stood still. His entire body was perspiring, his hands were shaking. He tried to steady them, to steady himself by clenching his fists as tightly as he could, and then tighter, and then a little more.
He was shocked out of his panicked delirium by the sound of glass breaking and the sensation of wetness across the front of his robes. The pain he only felt when he turned to look at his hand and found that he had crushed the glass of Scotch he had been holding. Some of the pieces had fallen to the floor and across his robes with the liquid contents of the glass, but a startling amount of it was embedded in his palm and the meaty part of his thumb.
Now, anger at himself for being so foolish was added to his fury about everything else. Before he knew it and before anyone else had a chance to react, his wand was in his hand and he was casting the strongest ‘Reparo’ he could muster.
The pieces off of the floor, from his robes and the across the table collected themselves together as if by magnetism, the shards in his hand were not exempt from the pull either. They ripped themselves back out of his skin and returned to make the perfect glass, which he took and set on the table, feeling much calmer.
“I think I need to be alone for a while,” he said levelly to the room.
“Ha bloody ha,” Draco piped up, having summoned a cloth from somewhere, which he was sterilizing with a charm in between sarcastic remarks. “That is the last thing that is going to happen here. Wrap this around your hand and hold it there tightly. Sit here and try to contain yourself until I am back from the basement. Potter, you make sure that glass is one hundred per cent whole and that there is nothing left of its broken pieces in his hand. I will return momentarily.”
“What are you doing?” Harry asked, moving to sit closer to Remus. He was already picking up the glass and inspecting it against the light for any missing fragments.
“Getting some potions and proper bandages from the lab and taking a moment to breathe,” Draco said. “Are you sure you want to stick around for this, Ackerley?”
“As much as I’d love to, there is a lot I have to prepare for tomorrow. I’ll owl you over any of the relevant information later this evening.”
“Right, see you tomorrow then. What time?”
“I’ll be here at nine,” he answered, standing. “We’re going to manage this,” he said to the room as he went to the door, exiting with a concerned expression as he looked over his shoulder once more.
Draco immediately left the room for the basement.
Remus sat there looking at his hand and holding the cloth around it as he’d been told.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have gone,” Harry said, wincing at his own lack of tact as he did.
“Don’t,” Remus said shortly. “Not now.”
“Snape is a tough bastard, and a smart one. I don’t think he would have gotten himself in over his head,” Harry tried.
“You weren’t there. He was hanging, half dead, from the ceiling. Lanning had to break his neck so he could speak to us, but he was still so frail, so disoriented.” Tears were flowing down his cheeks. He was so damned weak. “His body is a fucking patchwork quilt of these horrid red scars. When we first got there that butcher was working on his leg while he hung there bleeding from a regrown goddamned thigh with no kneecap attached to it. I gave him water,” Remus laughed bitterly, “it was all that I could do. His lips were so chapped they were almost bloody. He still wouldn’t let me take him. He just wouldn’t let me.”
“He can be a stubborn prick sometimes,” Draco’s voice said brokenly from the doorway, supplies heldin hands swinging limply at his sides. His face was paler than usual as he came closer, sitting beside Remus and pulling his hand near enough to work on. With a fair amount of skill, Draco cleansed and wrapped the cuts. He also gave Remus a potion. “Three swallows, don’t skimp.”
“What is it?”
“Calming Draught. Please don’t argue, I do a pretty decent impression of a stubborn prick myself when the need arises.”
Remus took the bottle and drank as Draco had told him, grateful for anything that would help slow his racing heart. “What do we do?”
“We beat him. And if we can’t beat him, then we kill him and make sure he doesn’t get a chance to come back from it,” Draco said, some of the emotion he was experiencing leeching into his tone of voice.
“You can’t mean that,” Harry said.
“I most certainly do. You can cart me off to prison after if you need to, just don’t get in my way before I’ve finished.”
“Draco,” Harry said, the single word a protest.
“What?” Malfoy, now finished Remus’ hand, turned to give his attention to Harry.
“That isn’t you,” Harry said firmly, “and your life is worth more than that. Besides, Snape would hate it so much no one would be able to put up with him ever again.”
Remus, who was now floating on a cloud above all of his problems, felt distantly like he was in the way of something, but he couldn’t be bothered to care much about that either. He leaned back into the chair and floated around his mind like a helium balloon in a gentle breeze.
“No, I’ve yet to murder someone myself,” Draco agreed. “But I’ve watched countless people be put to death. I’ve even helped to torture people like Severus is being tortured right now. I know exactly what my life is worth.”
“You had to do that,” Harry said, “they would have killed you or your family. I was there for your trial, you know.”
“That’s what good people do, Potter, they sacrifice.”
“You sacrificed your youth and what seems like your happiness, don’t you think that’s enough?”
“It will never be enough,” Draco said wearily, rubbing at his face in a very open gesture. “I know it wouldn’t accomplish anything anyway, but it would feel bloody excellent. If we were going to go that route we should have done it first thing. And Severus would hate it, whether I was hauled off to prison or not. He went to great lengths to keep me from tainting my soul with the act of murder and I would never insult him like that.”
Harry’s eyes flickered to Remus, who he obviously judged to be of little to no help because he looked immediately away and said, “I know it doesn’t mean anything coming from me, but you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. The Ministry cleared your name and other than potentially murdering Quinton Lanning, I don’t think you’re a danger to anyone at all. You’re just another bloke trying to get by post-war. There are lots of us, you know.” He admitted that last part with the smallest shrug of his shoulders as if to say ‘what can you do?’
“That’s easy for you to say, you’re THE bloody hero of the Wizarding world. Hell, if the Muggles had any idea of what you stopped you’d probably be their poster boy as well. You didn’t stand by and let people be tortured, you ended it. And now you’re going to do it again.”
“Well if that’s all true, then you really ought to listen to me,” Harry said, pulling a face. “You’re also missing a very key point, which is that we’re going to do this together. I wouldn’t even be involved in this if you, Remus and Snape hadn’t pushed me to be.”
It was Draco’s turn to shrug, a graceful rising and falling of his slender shoulders, seemingly at a loss. “I just want this to be over.”
“Me too, mate,” Harry said, clasping Draco’s forearm briefly and then releasing it. “Though we’ve got a ways to go for that. I’d settle for getting this one somewhere more comfortable. He looks half asleep. Remus? Are you awake?” Harry asked, reaching over and patting Lupin’s knee.
“Well he is now,” Draco said as Remus stirred, looking startled at the intrusion but too tired to do anything about it.
“You boys go on without me,” Remus muttered, eyes drooping closed again.
“What did you give him?” Harry asked.
“Refined Calming Draught. He’ll be back to normal tomorrow sometime, if we’re smart we can let it wear off while he’s in bed. He’ll likely sleep - it operates almost like an emotion inverter and he was extremely distressed. He hasn’t been sleeping regularly reither, other than last night that is. He might be out for quite some time, depending on how low his energy reserves are.”
“We should get him to bed,” Harry decided. “I’ll levitate his chair, you lead the way. Snape wasn’t too thrilled to have me in his personal space the last time I was up there, so I’d rather be the last car in the train, if you know what I mean.”
“Alright, come along,” Draco said, standing and walking to the staircase. He took them into Snape and Remus’ room, going over to the side of the bed that was slightly rumpled and pulling back the blankets.
“Shoes?” Harry asked.
“Probably,” Draco agreed, lighting a small fire in the grate and collecting a glass of water from the other room and setting it a safe distance from the bed on the nightstand.
Harry bent to unlace and remove Remus’ shoes, taking off his socks as well.
“Here,” Draco offered, levitating Remus a portion of the way off of his chair. “The robes and belt will be easier like this.”
“Thanks,’ Harry said, removing the outer robe, tie and belt. He undid Remus’ cuffs and the top three buttons on his shirt, an action that revealed the lightly glowing phial underneath. Both of them looked at it uneasily.
Draco was the first to spur himself back to action. “Let’s move him to the mattress. I’ll get him over to the bed and you get him into it.” he levitated Remus again, this time out of the chair and over to the side of the bed. Harry pulled his legs out and tucked them into the covers as Draco eased him to the mattress. Potter pulled the covers up over his former professor and stepped back.
“He’s been through a lot,” Harry said, watching Remus softly snore.
“Walden was a son of a bitch,” Draco said in way of agreement. “The world seems to be full of them.”
“Let’s go downstairs so that we don’t bother him,” Harry said. “We have to make sure we have everything ready for tomorrow. We can work and drink.”
“Maybe one of us can,” Draco said with a raised eyebrow.
“That high horse of yours must be tired by now,” Harry joked, “after carrying around you and your fat head for so long.”
“A comedian now, Potter? I’d say don’t quit your day job but, well…” Draco smirked. “You’re right though, we have work to do before Ackerley sends us over even more. It’ll be an early start, you may as well use the spare room you stayed in last night.”
“I think I’ll do that,” Harry said as they exited the room. “It’s easier than trying to get back onto this damned property.”

Remus didn’t stir until the next day. Light was streaming full on through the windows and the room was warm from the sun. He felt like he’d been hit by a particularly nasty Bludger. But then he stretched and had a long drink from the glass at the side of the bed and he found that he wasn’t so terribly off after all. He felt like he had energy for the first time in days, and, having slept in a proper bed his muscles and joints weren’t so sore.
He looked briefly at his bandaged hand and felt a space in his memory. What had happened yesterday? How had he gotten to be after all? His mind tried to fill in the blanks, and be briefly found himself without any answers. Then it all came crashing back to him. He plopped back to the mattress with a large sigh. How could he have been that stupid? He’d reacted so poorly that Draco had felt the need to medicate him. Shame flooded through him.
There was nothing to it but to go and face the music. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and found himself missing shoes and socks. A further check told him he was also without a belt, tie or outer robes. He hung his head in his hands. Still, he could wallow or he could keep on, and there was no real choice other than the latter.
He dressed himself in clean clothes, finding that he managed a freshening charm perfectly. Even that couldn’t lift his spirits after the memory of yesterday.
Remus went downstairs, finding the house eerily silent for one that was supposed to have five occupants. There was a plate of food sitting under a stasis charm on the kitchen table that was obviously for him. Beside that was a note. Other than that the kitchen was clean and devoid of any other signs of life. Not feeling hungry, he went to sit at the table anyway, picking up the parchment and reading it over.
His stomach turned over inside of him. The note was in Draco’s hand, letting him know that they hadn’t been able to rouse him and had gone to the meeting without him. It reminded him that as a slave, he wouldn’t have been allowed into the proceeding room regardless. It also told him that Teddy was off with Fred and to try to relax. He felt like screaming. Checking the clock, he found it to be almost one in the afternoon. Surely they’d be home soon.
He went to the cupboard and pulled down the bottle they’d been drinking yesterday and sat back at the table with it and a glass. He poured a tall one and began to open his bandages. When they were unraveled completely he found a hand that looked to be scratched and badly bruised, but otherwise fine. He was obviously healing at his normal rate again, and good thing too. He wouldn’t be much use to anyone with only one usable hand. Not that he was much use to anyone now.
He sighed and drank. It seemed an unending repetition. Sigh. Drink. Sigh. He would surely burst if he didn’t hear from them soon. If this didn’t go well, Severus still had seven days until they could go and collect him from that pit. How could he live with that, after what he’d witnessed yesterday?
Remembering the sound of those unbelievable words, his blood chilled. How could anyone love another person that had caused them to undergo so much agony? He drank again, slamming the glass down on the table more firmly than he had intended, startling himself. How could someone even live with that person without resentment? He discovered that he wasn’t worried what Severus would do to him, only a sense of loss that he and his son had so thoroughly ruined the tentative peace he’d finally made in his life. Isn’t that what he said he’d wanted?
He needed to get out and do something. He finished his glass in three long swallows and went to the back door. He put on his shoes and left the house. He walked down through the small grove of fruit trees near the back of the property, then down along to the small pond. Nature continued on, unbothered by all of their problems. He tried to take solace in that as he walked leisurely back up to the house.
He noticed extra shoes at the back door when he went in. Hurrying, he discovered Harry and Draco sitting at the kitchen table, drinking and smoking thin cigarettes.
“What happened?” he blurted almost before being through the door.
“Darien should be here in under an hour with the verdict,” Draco said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“It went way longer than anticipated,” Harry said. “I don’t think they were on our side until Darien showed them his memory from yesterday. One of the witches deliberating couldn’t even stay in the Pensieve all of the way through.”
“Two People vomited as well,” Draco added with a frown.
“Did you view it?” Remus asked, unable to help himself.
“No,” Draco answered, “Severus wouldn’t have wanted either of us to see him like that.”
“Apparently one of the Ministry workers there was quite distressed with the number of slaves in Quinton’s possession as well. He only has licenses for three of them, so he may be under fire for that, at least,” Harry said, sipping his drink. “Darien found any angle that he could and used it, he really did quite a fantastic job, in my opinion. …Sit down, Remus, you’re making me more nervous than I already am.”
Remus took a seat, moving the glass he’d been using earlier closer to himself and pouring a drink.
“Smoke?” Draco offered.
Remus took one. “I didn’t know you smoked,” he said to the boys.
Harry shook his head, ‘I don’t.”
“Neither do I,” Draco said. “Gerard did from time to time. I still had a pack under stasis and I thought that if I didn’t need one now, I never would.”
Remus used the tip of his wand to set the cigarette alight. It complimented the alcohol and fuzzed his brain just a little around the edges. He felt like he could use that and more. Waiting was taking years off of his life. He had another drag and tried to calm himself.
“From what you’ve told me, you’re better off without that ponce,” Harry threw in. “And your dad was right, anyone wearing that stupid hat has to be a creep.”
“My father did not call Gerard a ‘creep’,” Draco argued.
“He kind of did,” was all Harry retorted.
Draco gave an undignified snort. “Maybe he did. Still, he has reason to be angry with me in spite of his atrocious taste in headwear. You can’t tell me you’d want to date a Death Eater and not know about it.”
“Not and not know about it, no. I like to know all of my significant other’s job history before we get too serious.””
“You’re a cheap drunk, Potter.”
Remus couldn’t help but find their banter soothing. He sat back and listened.
Harry wagged his eyebrows. “Cheap, but not easy.”
“Oh I don’t doubt that,’ Draco said, “nothing with you is easy.”
“Nope,” Harry agreed with a smile.
Draco let out a put upon sigh, butting his cigarette in an ashtray that someone had conjured at some point. “You’re hopeless.”
The sound of the door opening and shutting was heard and all traces of amusement were erased from the room. Footsteps were heard coming into the room.
“Hello?” Teddy’s voice was heard just before he clamored into the kitchen, Fred shortly behind him.
Everyone collectively exhaled. “Hi Teddy,” Remus managed a smile.
“Are you feeling better today?” Teddy asked him, moving next to his side and looking up at him anxiously.
“I think so,” Remus’ smile wavered. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“It’s okay daddy. You were sleeping when Fred tucked me in and when I got up this morning.”
Fred took one look at the bottle and glasses on the table. Remus thought he could see him sniff the air and shake his head. “You is being due for a bath, little man,’ he said.
“We went to town today,” Teddy informed them all. “Fred took me to a park and there were other children there and I got to play with them!”
“That sounds wonderful, I’m sorry I missed it,” Remus said honestly.
“It’s okay, Fred said we can always go again!” Teddy was almost vibrating at the thought.
“Upstairs!” Fred instructed more clearly. “You is wearing half the sandbox.”
“Yes Fred,” Teddy said and ambled off into the other room.
“You is hearing anything?” Fred asked.
“Not yet,” Remus told him.
“Darien should be here any-” Draco started. The back door opened and closed again.
“Hello?” The much lower timbre of Darien’s voice echoed through the room.
“I is tending to the little one,” Fred told them, straightening up. “I is expecting information later.” He left the room after Teddy, keeping his back straight and his ears up.
Darien’s head peeked through the door. “Good, you’re all here.”
“Where else would we be?” Draco snapped, exasperated.
“What did they decide?” Remus butted in, preamble be damned.
“It took them until the very last minute to come out of the room,” Darien seemed to fidget where he stood, coming further into the kitchen. “They told me that in no way are they prepared to
address all of our concerns and demands in this one session. The number of ballots was beyond startling to them, but they still want to see this go before the Wizengamot before everything we’re trying for is decided. However, they are willing to concede on one point – we’re to get Severus out of there tonight.”
“You couldn’t have led with that?” Draco exclaimed.
“He’s coming home?” Remus asked, almost unable to believe it.
“He may require a short stay at St. Mungos’,” Darien cautioned. “We don’t know what state Lanning will leave him in, and they won’t be able to gather the proper people to return the portion of his soul they removed before his full healing will take place.”
“Do we need to go back to that room?” Draco asked, the idea obviously leaving a bad taste in his mouth.
“They will need the chair from the ceremony, but whether that can be moved or not is unclear,” Darien answered. “I’ll fight to have it brought to the hospital if it is in any way possible. Severus has had enough happen without being paraded through that hellhole again.”
“He’ll be declared free upon leaving Lanning’s, correct?” Draco asked “He won’t have to stay in the slavery ward?”
“I’m still working out all of the details,” Darien told them. “All I know is that they are going to dispatch a set of Medi-Wizards to help us move him to St Mungo’s. If he’s not stable when we go to get him, it will be unsafe to Apparate with him without the proper training.”
“When do we go?” Remus asked eagerly.
“They need a couple of hours to sort everything out. We’re not all to crowd onto Lanning’s property either. Only Remus and I will be permitted to go, you two will have to meet us at the hospital. The punishment was considered too harsh for the crime in this case, Quinton has still done nothing wrong according to the law and as such he will be treated as a law abiding citizen,” Darien said with a sneer. “We’re to meet the Medi-Wizards at Quinton’s home at five this evening, and straight to St. Mungo’s from there.”
“Is there anything we need to prepare for here?” Harry asked.
“Other than for dealing with Severus while he’s not at his best?” Darien asked sarcastically. ‘I think you’re fine on this end. Draco, you’ll have to decide whether or not to give a statement, I’m sure the press will be lurking somewhere. Also, you’ll need to decide if you’re bringing the boy or not. If you’re going for the route of maximum PR, he could be an asset.”
Remus bristled slightly at hearing Darien speak about his son like that, but he knew he had to let it go. In the long run, and any publicity they could generate would only help them.
“I’ll certainly give a statement – I’ll let our reporters know where we’ll be and when. As for the rest, that’s up to Remus,” Draco said. Harry nodded in approval.
“He can come with us,” Remus assented easily. He couldn’t imagine Teddy’s reaction to not being allowed to go along a second time. “He’ll go with Draco and Harry initially and I will decide whether or not he gets to go in and actually visit Severus. If Severus isn’t well enough, then I don’t want to expose Teddy to that.”
“Understandable,” Darien acknowledged. “Well I’d like to stay and celebrate, but I don’t trust everything to get done in time if I’m not stoking the fire under everyone’s arses. I’ll be back in time for us to all Apparate where we need to be.”
“Thank you Darien,” Remus said, meaning it from the bottom of his heart and hoping that it showed.
“My pleasure,” Darien said, standing to leave. “See you all in a couple of hours. I can’t wait to see the look on that smug wanker’s face when we’re on our way out of there.” He nodded and Apparated straight out of the kitchen.
“We did it,” Remus said in wonder.
Harry held up his glass. Draco tapped the rim of his glass to Harry’s and Remus couldn’t help but get involved also, clinking his cup to theirs. It was a meager gesture to express the joy and uneasy anticipation he was experiencing, but for the moment it would have to do.

A/N: Okay, so there’s another one! Thank you for reading this far, I would never have made it to this point without you guys. Sorry as always for any errors, I hope they don’t detract too much from your reading experience. Let me know what you thought and more is on the way!
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The Long Road