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You Will Not Kiss Me	By : Prosperosdaughter Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 22836 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
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Chapter List
- 54
- 55
- 56
Chapter 55: Secret Missions

"Assigning blame for it is really neither here nor there, is it, Albus? Your Memory Charm failed. Remus knew it would, and he told you so, but, oh no, blasé as usual, you know better! The point is: the mutt knows," Snape said, leaning on his hands on the Headmaster's desk.

"There's no need for those types of juvenile insults, Severus."

"Please Albus!" Snape shouted with disgust. "I listen to a stream of insults from Black at every Order meeting. In fact, I don't believe he has ever called me by my name. Do not dare tell me not to call him names. Mutt he is because he behaved like a dog, worse than a dog in fact! Now, you will need to convince him of the need to maintain secrecy, just as you insisted to us we could not live together for the same reason. I don't need him blurting out the truth when he's indiscriminately insulting me. If you're not concerned about protecting me, perhaps you should recall it endangers Remus as well."

"Severus, I understand that you must be angry, but I would ask you to calm down please. No-one could have foreseen Sirius would take your relationship with Remus this way," Dumbledore said, holding out his hands placatingly.

"And yet, I knew he would. Am I no-one, Albus?" Snape stood, his eyes blazing with injury.

"You foresaw he would assault you like that?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.

"Not exactly like that no. But, that said, it was no surprise he reacted violently. That I did expect. You reap what you sow, Albus. The first time Black tried to get Remus to kill me, you gave him detention. I would suggest that the punishment did not fit the crime then, and, as such, the lesson was not learnt," Snape sneered.

"Severus, please. Back then, I was trying to keep Remus safe – give him a life. None of it was his fault," Dumbledore said gently, trying to defuse Snape's temper.

"I know now none of it was, but I fail to see how that stopped you punishing Black." Dumbledore made to answer, but Snape cut him off. "No! Revising history does not assist us now. For whatever twisted reasons Black may have, he has reacted very badly to it, and nearly maddened Remus into killing me. And it's clear to anyone with eyes that he's drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol ..."

"As you would know ..." Dumbledore commented.

"Yes, yes, I do know - so give me enough credit to spot the danger before it happens!" Snape barked, angrier still that Dumbledore had referred to Snape's own bouts of maudlin drunkenness from his not-so-distant past before Lupin, rather than dealing with the issue at hand. "So, not only did he attack me, are you aware he attacked Remus before then? Actually blacked his eye because he would not tell Black what he and I were doing?"

"No," Dumbledore murmured, "no, I didn't know that." Dumbledore sighed. "In trying to keep Sirius safe, I'm afraid I am harming him. He needs a Mind Healer, Severus. Twelve years in Azkaban – one can only imagine what he's seen ... or been through ... " Dumbledore's fingers played through his white beard. "I know of no Mind Healer that will tend to Sirius without alerting the Ministry."

"The answer is clear, surely," Snape said emphatically. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in enquiry and Snape sighed heavily in exasperation.

"You need to catch Pettigrew and clear Black's name. He can then be sent to a Healer, run around duelling Death Eaters, I dare say, including myself, to his heart's content so he can feel useful, and Remus won't have to spend all his spare time babysitting him."

Dumbledore's face was impassive. "Without compromising your cover, how do we do such a thing? Voldemort keeps Peter at his side, more out of mistrust, I dare say, than favouritism. If you find a way to convince the Ministry to raid Riddle Manor, I shall back you to the hilt."

Snape had not been looking forward to the Order meeting the next night, not that he ever anticipated them keenly. He sat next to Dumbledore, as always, but noted that, for the first time, Lupin sat on the opposite side of the table to him between Tonks and Moody, leaving Black at his usual place at the other end of the table, between Arthur and Bill Weasley. Lupin avoided Black's frequent looks in his direction, and Black was unusually quiet throughout the meeting except when Black reported that his Floo conversation with Potter as well as Potter's owl had been intercepted by Umbridge.

The meeting had become quite exercised about Umbridge monitoring the owl post and Floo network within Hogwarts. There could be no doubt that what Umbridge had started at Hogwarts could quickly be followed by Fudge for the general wizarding populace. As the arguments became more heated and the voices shouting louder to be heard over one another, Dumbledore's voice resonated across the cacophony of others: "Be quiet!" Then his voice lowered once more. "This is my greatest fear: that we fight amongst ourselves. It will be Voldemort's greatest achievement." The meeting fell silent and then gradually returned to consensus once more until the meeting finished.

Snape watched as Black, hunched and miserable, slipped away from the others – from Lupin who was talking with a group of most of the other members of the Order. Snape took his leave and strode purposefully up the hall as if to leave, but then side stepped to follow Black into the library.

Snape slipped soundlessly into the library after Black and made the room secure and advanced on the man silently and purposefully with his wand at the ready.

Black turned the instant he became aware of Snape and he reached for his wand, but Snape Disarmed him and Bound him, flinging him violently with a whipping motion of his arm, so he was flat against the wall, where he strained helplessly at his bonds as Snape warded the room for sound.

"Well now," Snape said silkily, savouring Black's incapacity, closing the gap between them slowly. "Mr. Black, scion of this ... ignoble house ... progeny of Dark wizards ... felon ... failed rapist ... but successful cleaner ... is there no end to your list of achievements?" Snape drew level with Black, his eyes glittering on meeting the slate eyes so full of hate. "You and I need to have a discussion."

"We have nothing to say to each other, Snivellus," Black spat.

"I stand corrected. I do not need to hear from you: that is true. But you will hear what I have to say." Snape's voice was measured and firm, his expression schooled to be unreadable. He had every intention of making Black uncomfortable, even fearful, but he was determined he would not let this man make him lose his temper, as he had so often done before.

"I know what you are," Black hissed venomously. "You may have fooled Remus, but you don't fool me."

"You know nothing about me, Black. You never have," Snape said dismissively.

"I know all about Dark wizards," Black replied, his chin up, as if daring Snape to contradict him, to claim he was not Dark.

"What was your behaviour last time we met, if not Dark?" Snape said quietly, his head tilted to him in enquiry.

"No," Black whispered in horrified denial.

"How do you account for it: using an Unforgivable curse to try to sexually assault me so your friend would kill me? Dark stuff indeed." A smirk played on Snape's mouth. "And now, Remus knows that his one remaining childhood friend, the one he was so overjoyed to find was not a murderer, after all – oh the irony – in fact – is. Or would be, if he could just get his pet werewolf to do the job for him." Snape inclined his head to Black, his expression unpleasantly smug.

"You bastard!" Black spat, straining again at his bonds.

"Temper, temper," Snape said lightly. "Now then, Black. I have no intention of duelling with you. I need nothing from you. You've proved to Remus what you are – a viper through and through. You have destroyed your own golden Gryffindor image to your friend and now he knows the truth of you. But here's what we need to discuss. You cannot get past your hatred of me to see how you've broken his heart." Snape drew closer, his eyes narrowing, and his wand sparked as his voice became low and menacing, his speech deliberately slow, so Black would miss nothing. "Just a pet werewolf, I suppose, isn't he? Moony? Never a real friend: not like pureblood Potter. Not even like half-blood Pettigrew. Just a half-breed werewolf at the end of the day: not trusted by you to know the Secret Keeper fourteen years ago, but always useful as a weapon, but not a real friend."

"That's a lie!" Black yelled, fired by his hatred of Snape and tears of frustrated helplessness in his eyes. "He's my friend. He's clever and funny, and full of magic – a true wizard. You have no right to say he's not my friend – that I didn't trust him!"

"And yet you kept the change of Secret Keeper from him!" Snape said, still in silky but deliberately provocative tones. Yes, provocative: he needed Black to think; to think as Lupin must be thinking; to understand Lupin's confusion and pain - that was his mission in this talk.

"Yes, but they were hard times. No-one knew who to trust. Remus was running with the wolves ..." Black cried, almost pleading for his reasoning to be understood.

"And you didn't know where his allegiances lay ..." Snape added, his voice bland, leading Black on.

"Running with the wolves ... it changed him. You don't understand. He became someone else – so unlike Remus – harsh, bad-tempered, secretive ..."

"Perhaps, a young man in pain ... running with those from whom he had always striven to be different ... to prove he was not an animal ... and yet running with them because he was commanded to by the Order ..." Snape suggested, his eyes boring into Black's.

"I ... I ..." Black's body sagged. "I didn't think of it ... we didn't ... Merlin." Black whispered and his head dropped and then he raised it, his eyes screwed shut. He opened them and stared at Snape, his eyes haunted again. "We ... that is, I, never thought of it that way – what kind of toll his missions were taking on him. Oh Remus," he whispered to himself. "Everyone was under suspicion, they were such hard times ... oh." Black's voice faded away and he hung his head again.

"So, Remus found out about the change of Secret Keeper and the lack of trust that meant, and that the real traitor was alive. A nasty shock after twelve years mourning the people he thought were his friends, but forgiveness and blessings were bestowed between the two of you, and all was well," Snape said snidely. "All is well, that is, until Remus does something - with someone - that you hate. It is something Remus wants; something that makes him happy; something, if I say so myself, that is his heart's desire. But never mind what Remus wants – he's only a beast after all." Black was shaking his head, and kept repeating "no," increasingy desperately as Snape ploughed relentlessly on.

"You do not like it so you try to snatch it from him – to sully it first and provoke his wolf to then destroy it so you don't have to inconvenience yourself to accommodate it. After all, what's a werewolf's Claim in comparison with your discomfort in knowing Snivellus is the mate of your friend? What's a werewolf's conscience, bloodied with murder, worth as long as you are not incommoded into dealing with someone you dislike? You are an entitled pureblood after all – he's just your werewolf pet. Why should his needs and desires have parity with your own?"

"NO!" Black screamed at him, tears of anger coursing freely down his cheeks now. "That is not how I think of Remus! I've always protected Remus – always!" Black shouted, shaking with anger. "I discovered he was a werewolf after being sick with worry when he'd go missing for days at a time and come back looking beaten! It was me! It was me that told the others – persuaded one of them not to tell his parents we shared a dormitory with a Dark creature! James and I came up with becoming animagi to be with him – to keep him company - to help him – to protect him from himself! That night in the Shrieking Shack - I wanted to scare you off asking about him. All the time – you never stopped nosing around. I know it was stupid and it nearly cost me his friendship then too! I didn't think! I ... I ... just didn't want you exposing him. I've always protected him!" Still, Black struggled with his bonds.

"It nearly cost me my life, Black," Snape sneered. "Did you not even consider that?"

Black stopped struggling and glared at Snape once more, a muscle jumping under one eye. "No," he said, sounding defeated. "I didn't. I had nightmares about it afterwards though." Snape made a soft noise of disbelief. Black's eyes shot back to him. "It doesn't matter if you don't believe me. Remus knew I was sorry. He made sure I was sorry. I thought he was upset that I could have exposed his condition, but no. You know Remus. It was the thought that you could've died or become a werewolf that tortured him. A boy he hardly knew. A bloody Slytherin." Black snorted, shaking his head with disbelief.

"Does House loyalty trump morality then, Black?" Snape enquired with derision.

"No! No!" Black snapped. "I made a mistake. It was a huge mistake – I know that."

"And yet ..." Snape said softly - triumphantly. "And yet, it was a mistake you were prepared to make again ..."

Black's desperate eyes stared at Snape's. "I was protecting him. I thought I was ... protecting him ... I thought ..." Black's eyes were casting wildly about himself.

"I had bewitched him? That he couldn't possibly love someone like me, perhaps?" Snape's voice was light, but saying these words to his enemy, knowing these were Black's thoughts, made hot anger flush his face.

"Yes," Black whispered, the sound no more than a wisp of air.

"Because he can't make his own decisions in love? He lacks the mental capacity to know what he desires, even if that is a Slytherin like me?"

"No! You're twisting what I'm saying, Snivelly. Just like a bloody Slytherin!" Black shouted.

"No, Black. What you're saying is twisted – don't you see?" Snape returned. "You're saying he has no judgement; that he doesn't know what he wants. In every way, you talk about him like an inferior. I'll say it again – you believe he is your pet werewolf with needs subservient to your own."

"No, no, no, no!" Black whined, "I would never think of Remus like that. Never!" Black protested.

"Then prove it!" Snape snapped. "Beg for his forgiveness for what you tried to do to him! On your knees like the craven man you are, or on your hind legs, like the dog you are – I don't care which – just – do – it," Snape snarled, no more than an inch now separating their faces.

"And what do you want from me?" Black sneered. "You want me on my knees as well? Is that the deal, Snivellus?" Snape's eyes flashed.

"Do not tar me with the same filthy brush as you, Black." He inhaled sharply to regain his composure. "I want nothing from you. But know this: there is no pureblood from Slytherin who demeaned me that I have not had my revenge upon, one way or another. I could certainly put my Cutting curse to good use on your miserable body." Snape dug his wand into the crotch of Black's trousers and bared his teeth. "Castration would be no more than an animal like you deserves," he spat. "That I do not do it is only because Remus would not wish me to harm you. I do not care what you think of me. Do the decent thing by Remus and I'll leave your balls intact." He glared at Black, watching his reaction, and then said softly and dangerously, "Think about what I've said and whether I'm really so far wide of the mark. I don't think I am. Do the decent thing by Remus and show him you respect him – because you owe it to him."

Snape stood back and sneered at the man with the tear-streaked face. Then he released the spells suddenly so Black fell heavily to the floor, and Snape swept out of the library without looking back.

The effect on Lupin of Black's attack on Snape had been profound. He was unhappy and withdrawn. Snape had got Dumbledore's permission to take Lupin to Cadr Idris for the full moon on the Friday following his talk with Black in the library and to get cover as Head of House for the weekend. Snape hoped that running in that place of ancient magic would bring some much needed peace to Lupin's troubled mind.

They Apparated to the field in mid-afternoon, and Snape himself felt a comfortable warmth spreading throughout him to see the farmhouse he hadn't seen for over a year and its joyful memories for him of his forgiveness and Claiming. He hoped Lupin felt the same, but this day was never the day to look for the best in Lupin as the drawing of the moon was felt by his body and soul. They settled in quietly as the day wore on but soon, the atmosphere changed, and Snape saw the change in Lupin. As soon as Lupin laid strong hands on his shoulders, Snape felt himself release to the wolf, his own submission total and keenly anticipated, as Lupin pulled him towards him, kissing him greedily as his hands grasped his body possessively. Heated pleasure welled up inside Snape in the mere anticipation of what was now to come.

oooOOOooo

Snape had opened the door, and the wolf paced by the open doorway, itching and almost scampering to run as Snape finished dressing against the October night.

"It's been a while, hasn't it Remus?" Snape said as he scratched his fingertips in the wolf's crest, finding himself excited almost beyond endurance. Tonight he would fly with the wolf. He would truly fly. The wolf trotted a few paces out the door and skipped around as it waited for Snape, its ears forward and alert.

Fugere.

Snape stood on the threshold, his eyes bright with excitement as he concentrated on the incantation and lifted his arms and with two swoops of the invisible wings, he lifted at an arc and moved swiftly off, looking for the wolf, who barked excitedly and shot off towards the mountains. Remus wants a race! Snape thought, excitement and amusement flaring inside him as he darted forward and flew above the wolf, watching the animal's muscles under its coat working in its haunches and shoulders as it set a blistering pace across the field and towards the woods near the trail of ascent. He found he could match the pace with his magical wings. It was exerting, but thrilling as he paced with the wolf as he tore up the mountainside, gaining the summit and leaping to try to catch Snape as he once had when Snape rode a broom.

Snape whooped and laughed as he dipped to tease the wolf into trying to catch him, not believing the physical freedom he felt, no longer reliant on the broom – flying with Lupin running, and teasing him in play. It was truly magical and he laughed at the freedom of it, as the wolf barked joyously below him.

The moon was nearly at its apex and Snape slowly descended, landing gracefully, and knelt to greet the wolf who leapt up to place its paws on Snape's shoulders.

"Foolish Remus," Snape laughed as the wolf pushed him to the ground, licked his face and barked joyfully before running to the stone and howling to the moon as Snape raised himself on one elbow to watch the wolf, adoring the animal, adoring the man within. Three times the wolf howled to the moon.

And a pack answered.

The wolf and Snape stilled as a dozen or more wolves answered Lupin's howling. Snape's wand was in his hand and he was on his feet in a second. The wolf was still and attentive, his snout nudging upwards as his nostrils dilated to find the scents on the air, his ears forward to pinpoint the noise, his hackles rising slowly. Snape moved towards him.

"Should we get back to the farmhouse? Are they near?" Snape said, looking around himself. Then he heard a small whining noise and turned quickly to look at the wolf and looked into his eyes.

They are all werewolves, Severus. No human mates. They are on the next lower summit. The wolf gestured with his snout away from the route by which they'd come. We should go. If they have no Wolfsbane, they'll be pure wolves and I'll be no match for them with a human mind. Come!

Snape gaped at the wolf. Of course, he knew that Lupin kept his mind on Wolfsbane, but it simply had not occurred to him that Lupin would be able to speak to Snape's mind. But of course he would! Snape's face broke into a seldom-seen broad grin, then recovered his equilibrium and stretched out to lift off. As he rose into the air, the wolf turned and burst into a run, turning once to check to see Snape flying above him as his legs stretched out and in as he tore down the scree of the mountainside and Snape flew above him, feeling the wind being engulfed in the swoop of his magical wings as he flew directly above his wolf, occasionally checking behind to see if any wolves followed until they reached the safety of the Fidelius.

They entered the farmhouse, and Snape flung himself into a chair, disrobing, as the wolf came to him and placed his head in Snape's lap, still panting, his tongue lolling out. Snape looked at the wolf's eyes – his lambent gold eyes.

You have beautiful eyes as a wolf. Have you ever seen yourself as the wolf? Snape held his hands around the wolf's mask and stroked his head gently.

It's never occurred to me, Severus. Snape thought he could sense Lupin chuckle then the chuckle stopped. I didn't know there was a pack here. I haven't seen that in any intelligence that's been gathered so far.

Feeling a churn of concern in his stomach, Snape asked: Will you try to contact them?

I shouldn't squander the opportunity. They'll know I've been on the mountain: a lone wolf with a human mate.

How will they know I'm your mate?

Scent.

Oh.

Snape wrinkled his nose. It hadn't occurred to him the scent of their sex would be so obvious. But then, he wasn't a wolf. He Summoned a Butterbeer and glass from the cupboard.

"What do you want to drink, Remus?" he said out loud as he opened the bottle and looked to the wolf once more.

I've heard some dogs like beer – shall we see if I like Butterbeer as a wolf too?

Snape snorted and Summoned a bowl to pour some Butterbeer into, as he marvelled that he was sharing a Butterbeer and a conversation with a wolf in the sitting room.

oooOOOooo

They had lazed in bed for a good part of the morning. Lupin's mood had completely recovered. Snape didn't know if it was being here in this place of magic, or his peaceful transformation and reversion, their flight from the mountain or their companionable mind conversation through the small hours of the morning. It had certainly been eventful, and Lupin seemed happy and gentle once more. The only thing that had upset Snape to start with was when Snape started to kiss Lupin, wanting to make love to him but Lupin stopped him gently and looked at him seriously.

"Severus, listen to me and don't be offended." Lupin held Snape's hands. "If I'm to speak with the werewolves here, I can't let you make love to me." Snape had flushed uncomfortably at the perceived rejection, but Lupin rushed to kiss him. "I can't let them smell your sexual dominance. It wouldn't be accepted," Lupin explained.

"What of Jack and Guillaume? One of those had to be dominant." Snape asked, trying hard not to feel slighted.

"No, that's not what I meant. They were both male werewolves. They would have fought for dominance as wolves, then that would be set between them as men. As a werewolf, I can't let a wizard be dominant. The pack would attack me as an omega to serve a man." Lupin looked embarrassed as he told Snape this. "It's obviously not what I think or believe is right since we've been together, Severus," he said gently as he held Snape's hands, "and I don't run in a pack for it to matter that I enjoy very much my mate reversing roles on me," he smiled saucily provoking a crooked smile in return. "But, if I'm to try and talk to them, the position of omega would not help the conversation."

"What is an omega?" Snape asked.

"An outcast," Lupin explained as he snuggled down next to Snape once more. "Would it be such a hardship for me to make love to you instead this morning?" Lupin asked softly, starting to kiss him and run his fingers along his body.

Snape sighed as the soft lips seared his neck. "Not a bit of it," he murmured, stretching his neck to the side for more.

oooOOOooo

Finally, they had left their bed and showered. Snape had made a large breakfast for them as Lupin told him more of different packs he had been with, in the first wizarding war and his latest forays. They started to talk about how Lupin would approach this pack.

"I thought I'd let them find me. They know I'm here, after all. It looks less suspicious than my approaching them."

"What of Wolfsbane? Will they smell that on you? Will they do what the other pack did?" Snape demanded, remembering the beating Lupin took last time.

"They'll smell it, yes, but it's a chance I'll have to take. If they're the type of pack that becomes violent over Wolfsbane, they're probably beyond my reach anyway. We'll know soon – look."

Snape looked out of the large picture window. A ragged group of men and women, whose movements were slow and deliberate were beyond the perimeter of the Fidelius, unable to see the farmhouse, but clearly scenting the trail of the lone werewolf and his human mate and trying to pick it up.

"It's an opportunity," Lupin said gamely, jumping up and Summoning his cloak, robe and boots. "You could come with me. They know I have a mate, after all. What do you think?"

Snape was stunned. It hadn't occurred to him to go with Lupin to meet feral werewolves. Then again, perhaps it would help them, giving him an insight to what feral werewolves were like so he could help Lupin when his missions became difficult for him. Snape agreed and Summoned his own outdoor clothes.

"We'll need to disguise you, in case Greyback comes calling later. We know he's on the lookout for me – we don't want to give him you by default. He's not looking for a mated couple, so this might be quite useful," Lupin said, smiling brightly. "Now then, a name for you." Lupin thought for a while. "I will call you ... Seth," Lupin said, smiling in satisfaction. "Never make a lie too large." He nodded his head for emphasis.

"My name with a lisp?" Snape drawled, hiking one eyebrow.

"Who on this earth would call you Sev?" Lupin asked, chuckling.

"No-one," Snape said dangerously, "may call me Sev." Anymore, he added to himself sadly.

Lupin laughed again. "Good. I like your full name. It's ... rather sensual," Lupin said and kissed Snape's cheek. "And, unlike mine, it doesn't rhyme with ..."

"That's quite enough," Snape cut in. "Now - a surname perhaps?"

"Yes. One that's easy for me to remember." Snape stood, his arms folded as Lupin lifted his head, smiling. "Moore. Yes, that's good. I'll remember it, you see. It was my mother's maiden name. So, Seth Moore, mate of a werewolf, let's give you a new face ..."

"Do not - maraud - my features," Snape instructed Lupin as he concentrated on Snape's face intently.

"I think just those features that identify you so singularly should Greyback follow and get a description of you."

"You mean my nose – just say it - my nose," Snape huffed, and Lupin kissed the tip of his nose. Then he held Snape's chin gently in the palm of his left hand as he pointed his wand to Snape's face and cast. Snape blinked as he felt his features undulate mildly and settle. He shivered. He never did like transfiguring himself. He decided not to look in a mirror, although he could see his hair was longer and now a wavy, sandy blonde. Probably best not to see what Lupin would prefer him to look like, Snape decided.

"Just your eyes, nose and hair, Severus. Oh, and that bloody robe." Lupin cast down at the black robe and the colour changed to brown.

"I don't care for brown at all, Remus," Snape said petulantly, looking down at his robe.

"It's burnt umber." Lupin stood, arms folded, admiring his work.

"Burnt umber indeed, Remus." Snape rolled his eyes.

"How about periwinkle then?" Lupin quipped, with eyebrows raised.

"Burnt umber is perfect," Snape retracted quickly.

Lupin concentrated on Snape's robes "They're too fine. You're the mate of a down and out, nomadic werewolf, you need to look poorer." He cast again, and Snape's robe became shabby and patched, like Lupin's own. It twisted Snape's stomach. Why were Lupin's clothes still so shabby? He hadn't thought about it for a long time. Well, they suited his undercover work, but what about otherwise? Now he thought about it, the only good clothes he'd ever seen Lupin in were the ones he'd given him for Christmas.

"So, what's your day job, Mr Moore?" Lupin asked, as he pulled on his own robe and tightened its belt. "Something human but peripatetic."

"Tutor? Would that work? Not too large a lie," Snape shrugged. They continued to get ready as Lupin talked.

"Perfect. If anyone asks, although it's unlikely, you have a current position with a family in ... um ... Barmouth. That's relatively nearby. Obviously, the family's name is confidential. Right then." Lupin stood and held out a hand. "Come, Severus ... Seth," he corrected himself as he grasped Snape's hand.

They Apparated to the edge of the ancient woods that skirted the north side of the mountain so they were still ahead of pack and together they made for the clearing there. Lupin pulled a tiny rucksack from his robe and enlarged it and then, settling down, Lupin made a small encampment to make it seem as if they had rested there for a couple of days. Snape lit a fire when Lupin produced a small camp kettle from the rucksack and boiled some water from a nearby stream to make some tea. Snape investigated the rucksack, smiling at the undetectable extension charm that masked the full camping outfit within.

Then they waited, sitting around the fire, hands wrapped around tin mugs and talking, until they heard the crack of twigs signifying they were no longer alone.
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You Will Not Kiss Me