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

[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.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus looked at Snape as if the man had just started spouting eighteenth century love sonnets.

He's actually taking me up on it?

"Oh, uhm, okay, then. I usually do that kind of work in the sitting room. Plenty of room to...ah...Sit."

Moron!

"Anyway, I'll just take this stuff in there, and you can join me whenever you're ready?"

Remus got up from the table and grabbed up the maps and such before Snape could respond. He knew it looked rude, but he had no choice but to flee, just to have a few moments alone before Snape got up to follow.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

A small smirk curled Severus' lips at Lupin's obviously flustered reaction and rapid escape

"I will," he replied just as Lupin left the kitchen.

He chuckled lightly. Still amusing but also slightly strange, that it would be so easy to unsettle the man.

Almost too easy.

That warranted further investigation. The fact that he didn't mind keeping Lupin company, and not only to surprise him with that action, he ignored completely. It was inconsequential and most probably a natural response to the friendly and non-abbrasive attitude Lupin had showed.

Of course, Lupin was always friendly, but also always with an element of teasing. Not so tonight though.

He rose from the table and with a flick of his wand floated his plate to the sink and left it there. Then he left the kitchen and moved into the sitting room. Lupin was already there, the documents and maps spread over the small table. Dumbledore really had made an effort in collecting this ... small mountain of work.

"Acquiring a small overview?" He sat down in an armchair.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus sighed and nodded. He felt marginally better.

"It's as if I've died, and gone to Paperwork Hell."

He smiled slightly at Snape and settled in the chair in front of the desk, curling his legs up under him.

The room felt a little cold to him. He wondered if Snape would mind if he lit the fire.

"Is it chilly in here, to you? Would you mind if I got the fire going?"

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus kept his eyes on Lupin, watching him... a bit too closely, he realised.

The room temperature was fine to him, but he was also wearing his usual robes more fit for the dungeons than anywhere else.

"Not at all, by all means." It would make no difference to him, unless Lupin insisted on getting a roaring fire going.

"and since you seem to be in hell anyway, the temperature might as well fit the setting. Of course, that would depend on what specific level of Hell you find yourself in..." he added with a small amused smile.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it'd have to be pretty hot, for that: Level seven, for the violent, and the sodomites," Remus said with a wide grin, then laughed. "No guesswork, there."

"Incendio," he said as he waved his wand at the fireplace, and a not-too-vigorous fire crackled in the hearth.

"Feel free to adjust it if you get too warm. Or you could..."

Just start taking your clothes off.

Remus swallowed and blinked.

"You could just tell me, and I could do it."

Lame save. Idiots, your bus is leaving.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

This time it was Severus' turn to be surprised. It was the second time, in all the years he had known Lupin, that the man had hinted at his sexual preferences.

And both times had occured within the last week.

This had also not been a hint. This had been a very blunt statement, leaving no doubts at all, no room for guessing as Lupin had said himself.

Why? He wondered again. Why would Lupin have an interest in sharing that rather personal piece of information with Severus Snape?

Did Lupin know about Severus' personal preferences?

Which brought him right back to 'why?'.

And combined with this strange behaviour, Lupin's odd reactions, his sudden interest in Severus' company...

Was Lupin trying to make advances, in a slightly convoluted way? That made no sense.

Why not? Severus would not get into that particular discussion with himself. He would also not go into the fact that he was ... intrigued by the thought.

He was mostly focusing on the conviction, that he was seeing thing which were not there and he should consider what made him want outside company at all, and not only Lupin's.

"I will adjust it, if I need to." He made himself comfortable in his chair, crossing one leg over the other.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Good." Remus picked up a map and started studying it. "Try to keep it to a 'virtuous non believer' level. Or maybe 'lustful', just on the outside. But, if it goes down to 'repenting believers,' I'll get chilled again and have to up it."

This map had no information of any use that Remus could see. He sighed and set it on the desk, crouching over it to look again, nose practically touching the parchment, the features on the map were so small.

"If he keeps sending me maps with such tiny writing, I'll need reading glasses by the time I'm forty."