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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[moonyblues.livejournal.com]

Remus glanced distractedly over at Snape.

"Do I...? Do I what?"

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus realised what he had started to say before but really didn't think it would be a good idea to continue that sentence.

"Do you want me to lower the fire?" It was a bad save, he knew that. And Lupin might very well think the same.

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Remus looked at Snape and blinked. His tone had been a little odd.

"No, it takes a lot to make me hot."

Only after he said it did Remus realize how that sounded. He blushed a little and looked back to his map, trying to act nonchalant about it.

"No, I'm...I'm fine."

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus' eyebrows arched slightly at Lupin's words, which once more could be understood in several ways. And the light heat he noticed on the man's cheeks indicated that Lupin was aware of that himself. So the comment had been unintentionally in that respect.

Most likely.

"Good then," He felt restless, just sitting and watching Lupin work. There was no point in him staying here. Lupin obviously didn't need his help.

So, why are you here?

"I should get back to school," He rose from his chair, unwilling to deliberate the fact, that he was reluctant to leave.

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Remus looked up and blinked.

Snape was...Leaving? He found he didn't like that. He found that he liked the other man's presence, even if they weren't really interacting much, at all.

And that...Was weird. That made him think it was a good idea for Snape to leave, even though a large part of him frowned at the thought.

He got up and ran his hand through his hair.

"Right, I've kept you long enough. I'll, umm, walk you out, then."

He saw Snape to the door, but stopped before opening it.

He had an odd desire to kiss Snape goodbye.

Not odd for Remus to want to kiss people. He liked kissing people, a lot. His gaze drifted to Snape's mouth and he blinked a couple of times. He imagined how it would feel, would Severus' lips be soft, or rough, or...

Do you have a death wish?

"Umm."

Maybe he could just...Hug Snape goodbye?

Oh, you DO have a death wish.

"Hrmm."

Just open the door, Moron.

"Yes, right."

Now he will think you're crazy, talking to yourself like that.

"I mean, thanks for helping me with the map. My work will go faster, now."

But he didn't open the door quite yet.
Remus smiled and tried not to look flustered.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

He hadn't expected Lupin to show him out. He knew where the door was after all, he had used it often enough.

Silently he watched Lupin, noted on the different emotions that seemed to flit over the man's face. And, he was aware of the moment Lupin had looked at his lips. Severus caught himself before his own eyes could mirror that action.

Something was definitely disturbing the man's usual calm, something was causing him to more or less make a fool of himself.

And he's not opening the door.

No, Lupin wasn't really ready to let him go, it seemed. It puzzled and amused him. But deep down, in a place he didn't want to fully acknowledge, it pleased him as well. As did the effect he seemed to have on the man.

"You're quite welcome, Lupin." Severus nodded lightly, a faint smile on his lips as he looked into Remus' eyes. He didn't move though. Basically, he could open the door himself.

You should leave...

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Remus caught Snape's gaze and held it for a few moments.

"I'm sorry. I'm preoccupied." He paused and smiled. "Work, you know."

Right.

He forced himself not to look at the floor or away. He could act like Snape didn't disconcert him, couldn't he? He'd managed it for years, after all. Remus didn't know why he'd started feeling like this around the other man, just that it had come upon him gradually over the last few months. More so even, since Sirius and the Veil.

He's the only one left.

All the more reason not to alienate him by acting like a first class idiot around him, Remus knew.

But he did try, and had, so far, been pretty unsuccessful.

He felt he'd been doing okay now, though. For the past fourteen seconds, anyway.

He reached past Snape and opened the door, unintentionally brushing against the other man. Remus managed not to react to it. Just barely.

"I guess I'll see you when I bring Harry for those lessons, then. Unless Albus decides to volunteer you to bring more reports by here."

He grinned a little playfully.

"You could always tell him we fought. Say you called me a 'pathetic mongrel' and I called you an 'insufferble bastard,' that it went downhill from there, and we barely avoided hexing one another. He may choose to send someone else, next time, if you pulled it off."

That would be kind of a shame, though...So why did you suggest it?

Remus didn't know why. He'd think on that later. Maybe.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

The light brush against him as Lupin opened the door was felt more accutely than it objectively should've been. But not many touched Severus, and he didn't touch many, as it was, so that was only natural.

"I hardly think he'd believe me. That man has an uncanny ability to know. And it would probably only serve as an incitement to send me here more often. I suspect he enjoys pitting us against each other." He chuckled lightly.

"I will see you Sunday I presume, since Dumbledore has given you enough work to last until then." Severus nodded lightly again, resisting the urge to shake Lupin's hand in good bye.

Why do you want to touch him?

"Good night, Lupin." He stepped past Lupin, once more briefly enveloped in the warm scent before he was outside in the cool evening air. Yes, it was time to go home.

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"Yes, yes. Goodnight. Severus."

Remus closed the door quickly, abruptly, and slumped against it, feeling oddly exhausted.

"What the fuck," he muttered.

Did he really want to think about this? Why was he freaking out around Snape, lately? First the drinking, telling him he had pretty hair...Now this.

He went back to his desk and sat down, staring at the flames for a moment before going back to his map. His maps were safe.

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus stood outside for a moment, letting the cool night air clear his mind from the earlier thoughts.

There was no point on contemplating the significance of their exchange on this night, was there? It was surely a fluke and they would go back to old ways.

It had to have been the alcohol the last time, and this time... the influence of the house, the darkness that seemed to spill into you once you got past the tresshold. And it made you need light, company, any light, any company.

Well, he would see the next time they met. In front of Potter they would have to act civilly, but the general feel of the situation should nevertheless be able to tell him whether or not things had changed.

You want them to, don't you?

Moving away from the house with that thought in his head, he apparated back to outside the wards at Hogwarts and walked the last bit to the castle and his dungeons.

And still Lupin's scent seemed to linger far more predominantly in his senses, than it objectively should have done. Entering his private quarters, other scents took over, the door to his private laboratory forgotten as he had left, open to leak in the different smells from his stock of ingredients.

He found he missed the scent when it was gone. With a disgusted snort he sat down at his desk and looked at the work he should've done tonight instead of keeping Lupin company. He couldn't pretend that he regretted that particular decision though, even as he started going through the 5th year essays, knowing he would be sitting up well into the night.

It had been worthwhile.