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.

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[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."

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

A lustful level...

Severus had no response to that, so he stayed quiet, still watching Lupin.

The fire was warmer than was strictly comfortable, but he had endured worse by far.

Lupin's next words had him wonder if the man was actually paying full attention to what he was doing. He rose and went over to the desk, then leaned over Lupin's shoulder and studied the map as well.

"A magnifying charm should be helpful..." He pulled out his wand, tapped the square area on the map, Lupin was currently scrutinizing and intoned, "Tabula Amplificoare" The text and the features in that specific square where magnified to double size, pushing the other squares to the side and shrinking them lightly, but still keeping them in the correct order.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus smiled a little and turned his head.

Merlin, he's so close...

"Uhm, thanks. I think I lived with Muggles for too long, or something."

He should have known such a charm, but the thought hadn't even occurred to him.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus turned his head and looked at Lupin, who was closer than he .. should be.

"I suppose you have. You simply move the magnification with a simple movere" he used this charm often after all, to decipher old and finely scribed scrolls when he was doing research.

He looked back at the map and set his wand against the magnified square, then muttered "Movere." and dragged the magnifying charm over the map to the next square.

With that he straightened up, suddenly highly aware of Lupin's scent and the warmth coming from his body, even through the layers of his clothes, even in the already warm room.

"You're quite welcome."

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus tried hard not to react to Snape's nearness. It was a bit of a struggle; the man smelled amazing. Potion ingredients, most likely. Along with something else specific to him, something that everyone had but was always a little different for each person.

Severus' 'something' was...Really something.

"Feel like a bit of an idiot, not knowing this already."

He did, too. But he had always been on the very conservative side when it came to using magic for everyday things. He was just glad he'd said something about the type being so small before he'd actually taken out a magnifying glass. Snape would probably have snickered at him for such a thing.

He looked up to Snape and smiled, the expression lingering for a moment too long before he looked back to his map.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus was just about to comment on Lupin feeling like an idiot, when he was silenced by that smile.

There it was again, that... wonder. Why was Lupin acting like this, and why was he inclined to return that smile.

Only when Lupin looked away, averting that smile, did Severus find the words again, albeit not as sarcastic as intended originally.

"Well, who am I to correct you in your selfassessment..." He chuckled lightly as he stepped away, returning to his chair.

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus had heard such things from Snape far too often for it to bother him. He's heard a lot worse, actually, and said in much nastier tones. He'd always been able to take it in a good humor. Well, most of the time. A few of Snape's comments had hit too close to home, had made him angry enough to have to force himself to not react. This one though...The delivery was lacking.

Almost amiable. Or, as amiable as Snape ever sounded.

"Humm, well, I assume your question is rhetorical. But, in the interests of annoying you for my own childsish amusement, I'll answer it."

He grinned up at Snape for a moment before going on, looking the map over as he spoke.

"Aside from Albus, you probably know me better than anyone in the world. And what that says about my social skills, I don't even want to contemplate."

It was true, though. Remus had become friends, of a sort, with Harry. But he'd kept his distance even with him, as he did with everyone. Remus just wondered how he'd ever let himself become so close to James, Peter, and Sirius. But then, he knew that the resolutions of those relationships had only made him less likely to form such attachments in the future.

But Snape had been around, even then. And Remus had always felt an odd sort of fascination with him. He should have defended the other boy when his friends had made sport of him. But he hadn't...And part of the reason he hadn't had been that he didn't want his friends to think it was an indication of anything, of his odd sort of interest in the other boy.

He was ashamed of that, now. But somehow, he didn't think Snape would appreciate it being brought up, even in the context of an apology.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

The layer of lonelyness Severus sensed under Lupin's words resonated inside him. He refused to feel sorry for the man though, just as he refused to feel sorry for himself. They had both chosen how they wanted to lead their lives out from the conditions of their lives.

"Social skills are mostly concerned entirely with convincing others that you are somebody else, so people might take a liking in what they see. I prefer to show who I am. Then it's up to people if they want my acquaintance. Whether that constitutes impaired social skills or not, holds no importance to me." Severus' voice clearly reflected that he meant what he said.

Lupin seemed to want his acquaintanca and company though, no matter that he mostly saw a more negative side of Severus' personality. Which spoke more in favour of the man than Severus truly wanted to contemplate at the moment. Lupin was far more pleasant, generally, and was more likely to strike a cord of interest with people. Severus had never understood why the man insisted on not socialising more.

A conscious choice or insecurity? Or both?

[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I don't think your social skills are impaired," Remus said with a smile at Snape. "Mine aren't, either, really. All I meant is I tend to talk quite a bit while actually saying very little."

He looked the map over and marked a couple of things down.

He wondered why he had volunteered this information. He felt far too at ease with Snape lately, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to examine why too closely.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"Hmm..." Severus tilted his head slightly, looking at Remus. This conversation was slightly strange, unlike any other they'd had over the years.

"That might be so, although that is the mark of small talk, isn't it? You talk without really saying anything of consequence, but merely for the conversation's sake, for the company?" The truth was a bit too close to home, since he wasn't in the habit of small talk at all, and had found himself doing exactly that, with Lupin, on several occasions now.