Going to Grimmauld Place

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After an unexpectedly but still frustratingly futile discussion with Dumbledore, Severus found himself with an armful of documents and maps, meant for Lupin.

The simple fact that he was going to Diagon Alley to stock up on some of the rarer items in his stock should not be reason enough for Dumbledore to simply assume it would be no bother at all to make a small detour to Grimmauld Place, and hand these files over to Lupin for further examination.

He wasn't a bloody messenger boy.

Dumbledore merely looked over the rim of his glasses at that remark and told Severus to please give his warmest regards to Lupin, accompanied with one of those obnoxiously knowing looks. He was sure the old wizard knew somehow, about Lupin's small visit and the almost polite conversation they'd had. And true to form, Dumbledore would most probably mistake it for something it wasn't. Old fool.

With a snort he left the headmasters office and shrunk the files on his way down the stairs. An owl would have been sufficient, but no... it had to be him. As if he had so much time, he could waste it on dallying about like this.

After making his purchases at Slug and Jiggers, he apparated directly to Grimmauld Place, taking a moment to look at the foreboding structure before he went to the door to knock. He could have flooed, but he really didn't enjoy travelling in such a manner. Now he could only wait and see if Lupin was there at all.

Comments

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"Aha. As long as he shows up at the appointed time." Severus couldn't really care less about how the boy was informed.

"Have you ever thought of leaving out the tea?" his voice was both amused and slightly sarcastic as he looked into Lupin's eyes, taking another sip.

Drink your tea, Severus. You're not here for idle chatter or the exchange of niceties.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus gazed back at him for a moment before smiling.

"No, it's too grainy on it's own."

He should look away, but he didn't.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"Ah yes, of course. That might prove too ... rough, even for you." Severus nodded lightly with a very faint smirk, noting that Lupin kept the eye contact for some reason.

He took another sip of hot tea, then leant slightly back in his seat. "I see you managed to apparate safely from Hogwarts last time... or did you use the floo?"

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Yes, even I have my limits, few as they may be."

He sipped his tea and sighed, smiling a little.

"I wandered down to Hogsmeade to get some fresh air for a while, then I Floo'd back here."

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"Hm...Propably the wiser decision." Severus wondered lightly over Lupin's comment about limits and what meaning he should put into it.

He chose to view it literally, as in eating sugar pure wasn't something Lupin would be willing to do. Other connotations had no place here, no matter how intriguing they could be.

He put the mug down on the table, not looking away from Lupin "The wolfsbane will be finished on Wednesday." It was quite a leap in their conversation, if it could be labelled as such, but Lupin would know when he should be expecting a delivery.

Not that Severus truly doubted that the man knew perfectly well when he had to start the next batch.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus continued looking at Snape for a few long moments, then blinked.

"Oh, oh, yes. Alright. Wednesday. Shall I come fetch it, then?"

Dammit.

Remus didn't know why he found Snape so...Oddly compelling. But he couldn't deny he did, much to his consternation.

As if the man would ever look at me with anything more than mild distaste, in the best of times. And in the worst of times...

He'd not go there.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Lupin had clearly not paid attention for a while there, looking at Severus, seemingly almost... mesmerised until he snapped out of it.

Severus' eyebrows quirked slightly as he wondered about the reason. He couldn't find any. At least not a reason that would make sense, other than Lupin might be more tired than he'd thought.

He would not contemplate other possible explanations.

"Whatever suits you." Maybe Lupin wanted to get out of the house after all, and Severus had no intention of talking the man out of it, if that would save him the bother of going here.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Right. Okay, then. I can do that."

He drank his tea, eyes averted.

"How's teaching going?"

What? Why had he asked that? Just a lame attempt to keep Snape here?

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Now that was an odd question, coming from Lupin.

"Teaching goes as it always does. No students have as of yet managed to create real havoc though. A small wonder, I'd say." He doubted Lupin had a true interest and kept it at that.

Lupin might have averted his eyes for some reason, but Severus didn't as he leaned forward to take the mug again. The remaining tea had cooled down some, but the taste was still passable.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Small wonder, yes."

He glanced to Snape, only to find him looking at him still. Remus found it strangely disconcerting.

He smiled weakly then looked away again.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

A strange turn of events, watching Lupin look slightly... uncomfortable. There was no apparent reason, other than he might either be too tired or just wished to be alone and not in the company of the renowned surly Potions Master of Hogwarts.

Oh yes, he was well aware of how he was viewed by most and had no illusions that Lupin - in spite of his light and seemingly friendly teasing - thought otherwise.

"Well then. Enjoy Dumbledore's gift. I'm sure he has put a special effort into making it particularly interesting." light sarcasm entered his voice as he glanced at the stack of papers, then back at Lupin.

"Should you need assistence..." Was he offering help? Why on Earth would he do that? He didn't particularly relish the idea of trawling through endless information to pick out the tiny clues.

But once more, there it was. He had offered.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Uhm..."

Remus wasn't sure if the offer was sincere or just Snape trying to be polite.

But he's never tried to be polite before...Ever, really.

"I...Help might be nice, but if you really have to go. I mean, I could make us dinner?"

Did I just offer to cook...For Snape?

It would seem he had, and he had no idea where the idea had come from, and he didn't really need the help, but for some reason he didn't want Snape to leave just yet.

"I'm sure you have better things to do, though," he said with a rather dejected sigh, anticipating rejection before he even got it.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Once more surprise went through Severus and before he could school it, it also flickered over his features.

Did Lupin just offer to ... cook? He wasn't quite sure how to take that and what to reply.

Of course he had matters to take care of back at Hogwarts, plenty even, but suddenly he was curious. Their interaction had definitely changed character lately and it both baffled him slightly and intrigued him.

"As it is, I find my evening quite without duties..." Now that he thought about it, he also wondered about Lupin's cooking skills, given the man's inattentiveness to eating.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Was that an acceptance or not?

To Remus, it seemed as if Snape had been a little surprised, if only for a brief moment. It was something, and Remus smiled.

"Do you like eggs? I think I have eggs. And cheese."

He'd asked without really thinking it through. Now he felt kind of stupid.

And he didn't fail to notice that Severus hadn't said 'yes.' He'd just said he had nothing in particular to do this evening. Not quite the same thing.

No one can resist EGGS and CHEESE, Remus, you idiot.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"Eggs and cheese will do fine, thank you." He had no particular preferences when it came to food. As long as it wasn't bland or overcooked.

Lupin seemed almost eager all of a sudden, which ruled out his former assumption that Lupin had wished to be left alone.

Well, it would most probably prove to be a more comfortable meal, than those spent in the Great Hall. And perhaps more entertaining? Time would tell.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus nodded and started to make the food. He didn't really try to make small talk. He didn't know what to say, and this kind of food only took a few minutes, anyway.

He brought the food to the table and made a gesture of presentation.

"Here we are. The best Grimmauld Place has to offer."

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus silently watched Lupin, as the man cooked. It didn't take long and the efficiency showed that Lupin was quite used to cooking.

Of course, it was by no means a complicated meal, but it looked very appealing. Especially as he realised he was hungry.

The corners of his mouth quirked slightly. "Well, considering the lack of a couple of hundred bickering children, I would consider it good already." There was nothing that could ruin a good meal better, than having to listen to that.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's true, they did generate an awful lot of noise, so far as I remember."

He starts to eat. It's not bad. Simple, but not bad.

"I could babble incessantly in different voices, if it would make you feel more at home," he offers with a grin.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"I'd rather you don't, but if you must." Severus took another mouthful of the simple but comparably tasty meal.

"I would have to warn you, though. Should you disturb my meal with your... impersonations, I would have to take points..." He smirked lightly, then refocused on eating.

Of course, he could also give detention, but that might just seem too strange if he told Lupin to be at his office at 8 pm, so he could change the fluids and the jars of the preserved creatures.

On the other hand, he might be the only one apart from Severus himself, who would be able to stomach such a task.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"No, no, I don't have any particular desire to put on a show for you. And losing points is a fate worse than death, so I'd rather avoid that."

He smiled genuinely at Severus. The man was being almost lighthearted with him. Remus decided he liked it.

He took a couple more bites before shoving the plate away a bit.

"Well, that's it for me. I don't have anything for dessert, I'm afriad."

He reconsidered.

"Well, other than chocolate, of course."

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus looked intently at Lupin for a moment, an eyebrow arching slightly at the small amount of food the man had consumed.

Even Severus ate more than that. It was a wonder Lupin could sustain a relatively normal body weight, also considering his... condition and the energy it required of Lupin once a month. But it wasn't his place to point that out.

"I'm not particularly fond of sweets, so that's fine with me." He continued eating until he was done.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Not fond of sweets?" Remus grinned. "Well you know, I can forgive a lot, but I'm not sure that's something I can overlook."

He hoped Severus knew he was kidding. It's not as though he is in a position to need to forgive Snape for anything in his past.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"I'm not surprised." The corners of his mouth curled slightly. Severus was amused but also still somewhat amazed at the ... ease of their conversation.

"You have already thoroughly proven your proclivity towards sweet things after all." Severus wondered if that was only true with the man's tastes in food, or if it went deeper than that.

Sweet things ...

Then why does he seem to enjoy your company? It was a foolish question to ask himself really, since Lupin most probably would enjoy any company, here, now, no matter who it was.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"I guess I am pretty transparent."

Remus didn't really think this was true, not in most instances. But his penchant for chocolate and sweets was well known. And if someone had to have something about themselves broadcast and become common knowledge, that fact was a pretty innocuous one, really.

"You don't really need to stay and help me slog through these reports, Severus. You're welcome to if you'd like, of course, but I realise it's about as interesting as watching paint dry. Or grass grow. I wouldn't mind the help, but it's my job, not yours. Or you could just keep me company while I do it..."

Why the fuck would he stay just to keep you company, you great idiot? What a moronic thing to suggest.

Remus sighed and rubbed his forehead, mortified by his own babbling stupidity.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

No, Lupin was far from transparent. Severus doubted he had ever seen the true Lupin. Of course, he never showed anybody his own true self either, so he had no right to judge.

He arched an eyebrow at the... offer? Request? He wasn't sure what it was, but Lupin seemed to want company. And also seemed slightly embarrassed by having shared that fact.

Severus knew he had always taken a special pleasure in making Lupin slightly uncomfortable when he could. A childish game, but amusing none-the-less. This was too good to resist.

"As I said, I have no other duties tonight and since I was the bearer of the ... bad news, I could at least keep you company." He looked at Lupin, wondering how the man would react.