What If

Here is chapter two!



Disclaimer: I don’t own HP.





Thank you WarpedMinded and Sisely for your reviews! I\'m glad you like the story and I hope to continue updating to frequently~





I like to think that this chapter helps show the relationships in the story a little clearer.



Enjoy!











IIIIII



Chapter Two: Kiss and Tell



IIIIII





Lupin stared at his bed as he leaned his head on the back of the door to his room. He could hear the Gryffindors head to their beds as the prefects instructed the first years. He was now the Head of house to the Gryffindors since McGonagall couldn’t do it and be headmistress at the same time. His room was actually a little ways from the portrait of the fat lady but he could still hear them, and there was an empty portrait in his room that must be for the pictures in the common room to come wake him in case of emergency. His bed was messy just like the rest of his room. He had already packed most of Teddy’s things and moved them to the side so that he wouldn’t trip over his son’s stuff.



It seemed so long ago that he had been in that bed with someone else that Lupin would have almost thought it had been a realistic dream.



But it hadn’t been a dream.



That body that he had touch, the body that writhed beneath him as they kissed, as he wiped the tears from those blue eyes, that body had been very real. He remembered waking up the next morning to find himself holding Arthur Weasley in a protective manner as the older man slept on.



He remembered the soft flesh against his lips and the warmth of that body against his.



It had been over 8 months since last Christmas and Lupin had done everything he could think to actually talk about it with the redhead, but the school year had ended too quickly and suddenly Arthur had gone off to sell his house while Lupin had to go pick up Teddy from Andromeda.



He had thought he had finally gotten Arthur when they left Neville’s green house the other day but Hagrid had run up and prevented any chance of a private conversation. It had been so long since Lupin had felt this way he had almost thought he was going mad, it had only been a year and a half since both men had lost their wives in the same battle. Him and Arthur had been friendly to each other when they both learned they were going to be teachers.



Arthur had said that the school was full of many wonderful memories as well as sad ones. Lupin had agreed as they took the train together to begin their careers here right after the war. Neville had greeted them happily and the young man had been so helpful with watching Teddy if Lupin needed to run some errand or while he was teaching.



He remembered the next year and how Arthur had thanked him for being a good friend, how Arthur smiled for the first time since his wife died. Then the Christmas party happened.



Lupin couldn’t honestly remember who started it, but they had been walking down the halls talking light heartedly. Arthur had swiped a body of cooking Cherie from Trelawney while the witch was arguing with the house elves over her drinking habits.



Then they were kissing and Arthur had proved to be such a good kisser, Lupin slid down the back of his door until he was sitting on the ground. They were kissing and crying, it had been so long for either of them since someone had touched them like that. Lupin had taken Arthur to his room and they had made love.



There was no way something as gentle and slow as that could have been meaningless sex.



It hadn’t been the first time Lupin had been with a man, the first love of his life had been Sirius but that man had been stolen from Lupin in Azkaban. Tonks showed up shortly after Sirius had returned to Lupin’s life and had been wonderful, forceful though, but still wonderful.



And now Lupin felt himself fall for another person before he had even realized.



He was in love with Arthur Weasley.



He remembered kissing the back of the man’s neck while the redhead slept in his arms. Arthur had woken up then and it seemed the dream was shattered. Arthur had jumped out of bed too quickly for a man his age and ended up hitting his head on the side table, he kept yelling apologies at Lupin but wouldn’t let the werewolf near him.



Arthur had looked so young then, so lost in his thoughts that Lupin let him go without a fight. The younger man knew that had been a mistake now, he should have kept the older man there, taken him back to bed even if he had to do it by force.



Arthur avoided Lupin like the plague after that or remained in crowded rooms so that they never had a moment alone. Then before the werewolf had a chance of any real conversation the school year was over, the students gone and along with them Arthur.



Lupin bit back a laugh as he looked at the clock in his room. He had made plans to corner Arthur before the school year started but had constantly been thwarted by outsiders. Then apparently Arthur had been telling Ron that Lupin had been annoying him? How about trying to have a conversation with someone he did not want to end up being a one night stand.



The werewolf sighed as he picked himself off the ground and looked over to find the graded work from his student’s first week on school. He grabbed the papers and made his way through his office and into his classroom to see most of the students there already.



With a forced smile he took a deep breath and started talking about pixies.



He would talk to Arthur before the week was up, whether it was private or publicly in the Great Hall would be up to the older man, but they would talk.



IIIIIIII



Neville stared at the chaos in his classroom. One of the slytherins had thought it would be funny to use an ‘Engorgio’ charm on the Venomous Tentacula he had brought in for the sixth years. Unfortunately this class was full of third years who were now screaming and swearing as the plant attacked.



“Will you guys just stop!” Neville pointed his wand at the plant and muttered his charm freezing it there. “Twenty points from Slytherin, don’t think I didn’t know it was you Frey Pritchard!”



The students glared at the Slytherin boy who glared at Neville while they all got up from whatever item they had been hiding under. Neville took one look at his class and while none of them seemed to have any serious injuries Neville wasn’t sure if he should risk it.



“Alright I want all of you up to Madame Pomfrey. And since class ended earlier than I had wanted I need you all to give me a sixteen inch essay on how you are supposed to handle dangerous plants.” He sighed as he rubbed his temples, Sprout never seemed to have these sort of problems. “Now go, and be careful.”



The students grabbed their stuff and muttered their goodbyes to Professor Longbottom before they set out towards the infirmary. Neville sighed again before he shrunk the plant back to its original size and tied it down with some rope. He looked at the clock to realize he still had an hour until lunch and turned around only to bump into something very black.



“I did knock.” Snape’s voice drawled as he and Neville stepped apart. Snape looked at his robe and rolled his eyes when he saw dirt on them and quickly wiped it off.



“What can I do for you Severus?” Longbottom smiled then frowned as he realized he just used Snape’s given name, he looked up at the man as if expecting to get hexed but realizing Snape hadn’t pulled out his wand, Neville continued to smile. “Did you need something?”



“I thought I would come see why your students left this building look worse for ware.” Snape looked over at the plant Neville had tied down. “The venomous tentacula is a bit advanced for third years.”



“I had intended teaching them about mandrakes today.” Neville declared as he looked at the affronting plant that struggled in it binds. “But as one of the students decided to enlarge my tentacula class was cut a little short.”



“Does this happen often?”



“The plants attacking or students leaving early?” Neville gave Snape a quizzical look before the older man clicked his tongue causing Neville to frown, “Did you need something or are you really so bored that you came here to criticize how I teach?”



Snape looked at Neville in some surprise before turning his head to the list Slughorn had given Neville earlier. “I actually came to see if you had anymore Aconite, Horace forgot to account for Lupin’s wolfsbane.”



Neville paused for a second before smiling again. “Yeah, its over here if you give me a second…”



Neville went to the ground and crawled underneath his tables that were full of plants, he had learned this was an easier way to get around the green house since the plants couldn’t grab you if they didn’t see you. He popped his head up on the other side of the green house to see Snape giving him an amused look before he blushed and turned to see the flowers he needed.



Neville grabbed one of the pots that contained half of the Aconite he had managed to grow over the summer and turned to ask Snape if this would be enough before he felt something grab his ankle.



“AH!” Neville yelled as his body hit the floor, he held onto the flowers making sure that they weren’t ruined before he was suddenly dragged back. He struggled against the vine as he turned to see the Devil’s Snare he had forgotten about grabbing his other leg. “Not you again!”



The Devil’s Snare seemed to not like that reaction as it dragged Neville too close to some table legs causing him to hit his head once, twice, then three times before he was suddenly pulled into a closet that the Devil’s Snare had decided to make it’s home. Neville held the flowers up hoping that the snare would let it be as he tried to relax, but one of the thorned vines made its way under his pant leg scratching at his skin.



“Deep breath.” Neville sucked in the air as he tried to relax only to suddenly be blinded as the closet door was pulled open. Snape caught him as the Devil’s Snare shriveled up in light, Neville groaned as he still held onto the flowers. “I’m having a rough day.”



“It happens to the best of us.” Snape muttered as he helped Neville to his feet. Neville blushed at Snape’s words before he handed the plants to Snape. Snape took the plants delicately as he inspected them.



Neville watch Snape attentively as the black haired man eyed the plants then eyed Neville. Neville smiled sheepishly as Snape smirked and quirked an eyebrow at the dirty blonde.



“Well I suppose it would be impossible for you to be useless at everything.”



Neville waited for Snape to leave the green house before he threw his fists in the air and screamed “HELL YEAH!”



He had the decency to be embarrassed as Snape poked his head in the green house only a second later to inform Neville that he would be back later for some more plants and to please make sure he had complete control of the plants in his care because it would be unfortunate for Minerva to find a replacement for Neville because the Herbology teacher was killed by a plant that even a second year could get through.



IIIIIIIII



“And why do you look so happy?” Arthur asked as Neville smiled at the other man. “I heard your second class had to go to the infirmary, I was expecting to find you depressed.”



“Sna-Severus said I wasn’t a complete failure.” Neville smiled as he took a bite of the dumplings on his plate.



“Not a complete failure was it?” Arthur said sarcastically.



Neville ignored Arthur’s remarks as he turned to Hermione who smiled happily at him, “I’m very happy for you, now if he would only recognize you aren’t a failure at all.”



Neville appreciated Hermione’s reaction a lot better that Arthur’s and proceeded to eat his dinner like he was on cloud nine. Hermione kept shooting looks at Snape that didn’t seem very friendly while Arthur didn’t even bother looking at the other side of the table as he stared down at the students even though Lupin was more than obviously staring at him. Neville tried to think of whose problem he could actually help with when he turned to Hermione.



“Why do you keep looking at him like that?” Neville whispered though he had the distinction McGonagall could still hear him as she eyed him.



“He keeps avoiding me, I need to interview to finish my book. He’s the final key but every time I think I have him cornered he gets away. I was thinking maybe I should ask him now to set up an interview time.” Hermione seemed to make the decision then as she stood up and made her way over to Snape.



She caught his attention and then they whispered fervently to each other before Snape rolled his eyes and agreed. Neville turned to face Arthur who was now looking at Lupin while the werewolf was distracted by Snape and Hermione. Arthur made a pained expression before Lupin turned towards him and he looked away only to be facing Neville who gave him a worried glance.



“What is going on between you two?” Neville asked quietly as he pushed his plate to the side, his last dumpling already gone.



“Its complicated.” Arthur confessed softly before he pushed his half eaten plate away.



“What happened last Christmas?” Neville asked boldly causing the other man to tense before he eyed Neville.



“You are a sharp young man Neville.” Arthur took a deep breath before he looked at Neville pleadingly. “Listen, if you could help me out, I would really grateful.”



“Anything Arthur!” Neville smiled, Arthur had helped him out plenty of times before now, “Just name it.”



“I need you to keep Lupin from following me out of here. He’s been trying to catch me alone for some time and I just really need to think about this.” Arthur noticed Neville’s doubtful look before he sighed, “I promise to talk to him soon, there’s just….”



“Complications?” Neville added helpfully as everyone started leaving the Great Hall and making there way towards there next classes. “Fine, but Arthur, if you don’t talk to him soon, he might take some drastic measures.”



Arthur gave Neville a small smile as he made his way out of the hall and Neville went over the Lupin who had started to get up. He pushed the bigger man down back into his seat startling Lupin who gave Neville a quizzical look.



“You can’t leave yet.” Neville stated coolly as he sat down in the empty chair next to Lupin.



“On his side now are you?” Lupin eyed Neville suspiciously.



“I’m on no one’s side, I don’t even know what is going on between you two. I just said I would do him a favor and now I am doing it.” Neville stated as he eyed Lupin whose eyes still stared at the doors Arthur had just left from.



Lupin sighed before he settled back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.



“Neville!” Neville turned around to see Slughorn clap him on the shoulder. “Snape brought me those Aconite that you grew and I just wanted to let you know that you did a splendid job.”



“Thank you sir.” Neville smiled, turning to face Lupin but the werewolf was gone. Neville quickly spun around to see the end of Lupin’s robes past the door and sighed. He only hoped he had given Arthur enough time.



“Don’t you need to hurry to the green house Neville?” McGonagall brought Neville out of his trance causing the dirty blonde to jump up and nod fervently before he took off towards his classroom.



IIIIIIII



Neville wrapped a bandage around the sixth year’s wrist as she smiled sheepishly at him. He had decided to go ahead and do the Venomous Tentacula since any later in the year the plant probably wouldn’t be as receptive. They had managed to get what the needed from the plant and Neville gave everyone in his class five points to each student for each of their houses.



As he waved his last student bye and leaned against the door frame to his green house, thanking McGonagall for only giving three classes on Monday, he turned to see Snape walking towards him.



Neville’s eyes went wide as he realized he had forgotten the potions master was going to be coming later for more ingredients. He quickly went back into the green house and looked around to make sure all his plants were where they were supposed to be, he grabbed his watering can and started to feed some of the Fanged Geraniums Arthur had been looking at a weeks ago before he heard Snape clear his throat.



Neville turned around with a smile as the older man gave him a cold look.



“Here is a list of the ingredients I will need.” Snape handed Neville a small piece of parchment and proceeded to look around the green house as Neville read it.



“I actually just got some of the venomous tentacula seeds today during the class earlier,” Neville laughed sheepishly as he started to walk around the green house into the other green house connected to it. “I actually have everything on this list so if you give me a second.”



Neville turned to see Snape had followed behind him and eyed the man, Snape still had a few inches on him but Neville wasn’t as quite small as he remembered being whenever he was next to the man. They proceeded through the second green house until they made it to green house one, as Neville did most of his teaching in green house three just like Professor Sprout.



“So when is your interview with Hermione?” Neville smirked as Snape rolled his eyes.



“I told her I would do it after dinner tonight.”



Neville nodded knowingly. “Better to get it over with, otherwise she will start following you everywhere.”



Snape gave Neville an inquisitive look causing the teen to smirk. “When I first found out she was writing a book I avoided her like the plague. She started attending all my classes, and asking me questions until my students started to bug me about the answers too. I finally gave in when she got Moaning Myrtle to follow me in the bathroom with her interview questions.”



There was a moment of amused silence as Neville made a couple of clippings off his plants and turned around to look at Snape.



“Honestly Longbottom, I am impressed with how you have kept the place.” Snape said as he eyed the greenhouse again.



“Call me Neville.” Neville tried as Snape raised an eyebrow.



There was a loud bang sending Snape forward causing Neville to drop the plants as he tried to catch the older man, only to end up falling on the ground himself. The dust was everywhere as Neville looked up at Snape who was looking down on him. The older man’s body was pressed suggestively against his own, Neville’s bright eyes met Snape’s black one’s and for a second Neville felt as if it was perfectly normal for them to be in this situation.



He felt Snape move, his long bony fingers ran through the dirty blonde hair before Neville pushed himself forward, there lips barely touched before both men pulled back looking startled.



“Sorry. Rogue Bludger got the best of me.” Krum’s deep voice broke through the air catching Neville’s attention as he looked up to see the dark man looking down at him and Snape. “Are you hurt?”



“We’re fine.” Snape said coolly as he stood up and then held his hand out for Neville. Neville took it but didn’t look up in the man’s eyes as he tried to find the plants he had gotten to see them ruined in the aftermath.



“I will help fix this.” Krum stated as he pulled out his wand before Neville put up his hand asking the man to stop.



“Don’t worry about it, I actually needed to put in another sun roof.” Neville laughed a bit at Krum’s confused expression, “Go back to the students before they do more damage than that Bludger.”



Krum left after he nodded in agreement taking the Bludger with him. Neville kept staring at the ground, he knew Snape was looking at him, he could feel those cold eyes study him. When he realized Snape probably wasn’t going to leave with out the plants he needed Neville looked up at the man.



If Snape wanted to say anything his face did not let if show, he looked down at Neville boredly before Neville stood again. “I can bring you those plants in a little bit. Just give me time to clean this up properly and….and..”



“I’ll be teaching in the potions classroom. The first years should be making there way now.” Neville nodded as he watched Snape leave before he looked at the mess around him.



He saw Snape briefly stop and glance back at the greenhouses through the hole in the side of the building now but quickly went back to work. He was able to clean up most of the mess in no time, just a few simple spells and suddenly the wall was back with a giant window built into it now.



Neville turned around to see some of his plants had received serious damaged but took a deep breath and went to work. It was only when he had started working on Snape’s list again that he stopped and pressed his fingers to his lips.



Why had he suddenly wanted to kiss Snape?



IIIIIIIII



Arthur sighed as he turned on the light to the closet in his classroom, he climbed a couple of steps until he was inside and placed down the plugs he had shown his class today. He started to organize them in size before he heard a small thud outside.



“Hello?” Arthur called out but when he didn’t get a reply he just returned to organizing his closet. He could probably bring out the toaster next class and then talk about his action in the Ministry for Muggle protection.



The light in the closet turned off catching Arthur off guard as he reached for his wand but a large calloused hand grabbed his as he was suddenly pushed against the shelf he had just been organizing plugs on. The felt hot breath on the back of his neck as another hand was placed against the wall so that the intruder’s body was only barely touching Arthur’s.



“Remus?” Arthur hissed as the hand that was holding his hand tightened a bit.



“I have been trying to talk to you.” Lupin whispered as he smelled Arthur’s hair, he smelt oddly like soap and sweat. He felt Arthur tense against him as he sighed and pulled away from the older man. “And don’t pretend you haven’t noticed, because you have made it painfully obvious I was the last person you wanted to talk to since we-”



“I’m sorry Remus.” Arthur said quietly as he cut the man off. He leaned against the shelves in front of him despite the fact that Lupin had backed off. He didn’t want to turn around yet.



“Arthur, what is going on? I thought,” Lupin paused at this, what had he thought? That one night of chance would lead to something more? He laughed bitterly at himself as he looked up at Arthur’s back. “I thought we should talk about this before it turned into something we both regretted.”



“Regret.” Arthur said bitterly as he turned around slowly, he couldn’t see where Lupin was in the dark so he made due with looking at the area he knew the door was. “Remus, I do regret it.”



There was silence that settled over them, Arthur almost wondered if Lupin had left as quietly as he had come in but jumped when he felt a hand touch his cheek. He tensed as he felt the hand trace his face, he could feel the warmth of Lupin’s body in front of him as he started to make out Lupin’s shape.



“I don’t.” Lupin’s hands were soft against Arthur’s face as he felt the younger man tremble a bit. “Arthur, if you honestly believe it was a mistake, if you can’t see yourself even trying this…this thing with me then tell me now and I promise to back off.”



Arthur opened his mouth only to find it suddenly dry.



He remembered what it felt like to be held in Lupin’s arms that night. How Lupin had been so gentle as he cried, what it felt like to be swallowed in the young man’s warmth.



He also remembered Molly, the love of his life that had been taken from him.



“I’m sorry.” And Arthur broke away from Lupin and made his way into the class room that was now poorly lit. He felt Lupin’s arms grab him and pull him into a tight hug. He felt a lump form in his throat as he stared wide eyed at the man holding him. “You said you would back off.”



“I lied.”



Lupin’s lips were on his in a second, the older man was shoved against the door to the classroom effectively shoving it close as he opened his mouth for the younger man. Lupin massaged Arthur’s cheeks and neck with his hands as he deepened the kiss. Arthur pressing his body towards Lupin’s he moaned into the intrusion.



“Arthur?” The door beside them opened to reveal Neville, who turned to the see the scene beside him. “Oh sorry!”



Neville moved to close the door but Lupin grabbed it causing Neville to freeze as he stared at the two older men. Lupin growled before he placed a quick kiss on Arthur’s lips one more time before backing up, still holding onto the door.



“Arthur, I don’t want to hear apologies, I want you.” Lupin did his best to look Arthur in the eyes as his cheeks flushed, “And I do not plan to let you go, so no matter what I have to do, no matter who I have to gain the approval of, you will not have an excuse to run from me again.”



And Lupin was gone, as Arthur shakily fell to the ground. Neville gave Lupin’s back a quick glance before he knelt down beside the shaking form of Arthur Weasley.



“Are you okay?” Neville whispered wondering what was going on but trying to give Arthur space to collect himself.



“I think I’m trouble.” Arthur smiled sheepishly at Neville who smiled back worriedly. “Don’t worry about him, he really is my problem. What did you need me for?”



“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Neville laughed sadly as he stood back up. “I will see you at dinner right?”



“Yes.” Arthur said but the older man didn’t bother to try and stand as Neville shut the door and left him there alone.



Arthur felt himself smile as he slowly pulled himself up and made his way to his office. He needed to pull himself together to make it to dinner or Neville would get really worried, or Lupin might come back and try to take things further.



He opened the door to his office to see the clock that had been in the Burrow staring back at him. All the spoons were pointing towards home, letting him know his children were safe at their new homes. He turned to see Molly’s spoon lying on his desk, Charlie had taken it out of the clock after the funeral. He stared at her smiling face as she looked at him proudly.



“It is okay for me to do this?” He asked the spoon but she just continued to smile at him.



He smiled back as he turned around and made his way to the restroom.



IIIIIIII



Neville flushed as he walked down the halls, he was holding onto Snape’s plants tightly as he tried to clear his mind. Had that really just happened?



Is that why those two have been so awkward with each other recently?



Though that scene didn’t seem so awkward; Neville slowed down as he felt his face heat up more. His eyes felt heavy as he wondered what it had felt like, to have such passion.

He was glad he hadn’t shut his eyes as a door opened directly in front of him.



“That greasy git gave us more homework!” A small first year boy mumbled as he left the class room followed by two other boys. He almost bumped into Neville and looked up with wide eyes.



“Professor Longbottom!” The boy squeaked as Neville smiled down at him. “Why are you here?”



“I have business with Professor Snape, and that wasn’t a very nice thing to call him.” Neville smirked as the boy looked down at the floor sheepishly. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything, but watch what you say about your teachers.”



The kids ran off quickly before Neville could change his mind as the tan teen walked into Snape’s classroom. The other students were still making there way out of the room as Snape waved his wand at the board erasing the lesson that had been up there.



Neville placed the tray containing the plants on Snape’s desk gaining the dark man’s attention. “I didn’t have any Alihotsy, they were all too damaged but I am sure I would be able to get some wild ones from the forbidden forest. If you really need some I could probably go in after dinner.”



“I’m not in a rush for it but the sooner the better.” Snape stated as he eyed each of the plants. “The accident earlier didn’t destroy all your plants I see.”



Neville blushed as he nodded, finding that he had suddenly lost the ability to speak. Snape eyed him suspiciously as the teen gave a friendly smile.



“Longbottom-”



“Neville.” Neville quickly corrected before smirking. “Or you can call me Professor Longbottom, whatever is easier for you, Severus.”



Snape narrowed his eyes at Neville causing the teen to take a step back despite himself, “Neville then,” Snape continued. “If you want, I could go with you into the forest.”



“I could just ask Hagrid.” Neville thought cautiously.



“McGonagall just sent Hagrid on an errand for her and I do not know when he will be back. While I don’t need the Alihotsy right away, it would be nice to start on this potion before this upcoming full moon.” Snape gave Neville a blank expression. “Unless you for some reason would prefer Hagrid…”



“No! No, you’re fine!” Neville said quickly then felt like an idiot at the face Snape gave him. “I mean, yes, if you are available then it would be nice to go ahead and get the plant after dinner.”



“Indeed.” And Snape picked up the plants Neville had brought and took them over to the counter to prepare them as ingredients.



Neville watched the older man work for a second. The long bony fingers that had ran through his hair for only seconds worked on the plants with such delicacy that Neville briefly wondered what else those hands were good at.



“Did you need something, Neville?” Snape’s voice broke him out of his daydream as he jumped a little and blushed.



“See you at dinner.” And Neville ran out of the room quicker than the student that had almost run into him. He waited until he was a few floors up from the dungeons before he slowed down and took a deep breath. He looked up when he heard a door close to see Lupin walk out into the hallway.



Lupin sighed before he sniffed the air and looked over at Neville. They both froze as they stared at each other, Lupin had the decency to blush as he quickly looked away. Neville smirked slightly before he started walking down the hall again. Lupin took stride right beside him as they started towards the stairs to the Great Hall.



Neville glanced at Lupin who saw him and sighed. “I’m really sorry about earlier, I shouldn’t have done that.”



“I’m not sure there are any rules about kissing Arthur in his unlocked classroom.” Neville stated matter of factly.



“Yeah, I mean I should have at least considered the place.” Lupin ran his hand through his graying hair. Neville gave him an odd look before the question that had been in his head for a while popped up.



“Do you snog often?”



Lupin made choking noise at that but was able to compose himself as he stopped Neville just outside the Great Hall.



“Let’s get this straight Neville. What happened today is not a common occurrence, in fact it was a rare moment of weakness on my part and I am sorry that you walked in on it.” Lupin ran his hand through his hair one more time this time effectively messing it up.



“Do you really like him?” Neville asked this quietly as if to give Lupin a chance to pretend he hadn’t heard the question.



Lupin stared at him for a moment with such a sad expression that Neville had to look away. Lupin just sighed before mumbling, “If it were only that easy.”



Neville followed Lupin into the Great Hall, the students already sitting there patiently waiting for all the teachers to show up. Snape came in soon after and McGonagall started the feast without Arthur.



“Is he okay?” Hermione asked Neville from her seat just as the doors to the Great Hall opened. “Oh, never mind, looks like he was just running late.”



“Sorry about your greenhouse.” Krum stated as gave Neville an apologetic look.



“Don’t worry about it, it’s as good as new, and I finally got to install the window I have been meaning to add since last year.” Neville turned to Arthur as the redhead sat down at the table. “Are you feeling alright?”



“I’m fine.” Arthur stated calmly as he looked up from his seat to Lupin who had been looking at him worriedly. Arthur gave Lupin a brief smile causing the younger man to brighten up as he turned his attention to other teachers.



“Sorry about earlier Neville.” Arthur whispered as Neville blushed causing the red head to blush.



“Don’t worry about it. But I do have something to ask you about later.” Neville whispered quietly as Hermione looked over at him skeptically.



“Secrets, Secrets are no fun guys.” Hermione smirk as Neville gave her a sheepish ‘whatever do you mean?’ look.



“We don’t speak to the press.” Arthur stated matter of factly before he took a bite of the roast on his plate. “Wow, this is really good.”



They all talked lightly as they talked about their students, and rough Mondays. Apparently Arthur had gotten several muggle-borns his class and they had been willing to explain to him the basic uses of a television.



Neville looked over at the other side of the table to see Snape looking at him but the quickly glancing at Lupin to ask the man a question. Neville sighed as he remember they would be going into the forbidden forest after dinner but as the more he thought about it, the more he wondered why Snape had wanted to do it tonight.



“Well I have to go get some of my stuff. I will see you guys later.” Hermione was up after she gave Krum a quick kiss on the cheek.



Lupin got up next with Flitwick and they both left, the small man talking animatedly towards Lupin as the werewolf gave Arthur a passing glance. Arthur blushed at this and took a deep breath.



“Are you going to explain to me what is going on between you two? Or do I have to wait for Hermione to get wind of this?” Neville made a motion from Arthur to Lupin and back again.



“Can we talk about it later maybe? If you want, you can come to my office. I have a few papers I have to finish grading tonight so I will but up for a while.” Arthur looked at his watch and sighed. “I better get started soon.”



“I have to go get a plant from the Forbidden Forest first but I promise to run up there right after.” Neville gave Arthur a small wave before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Snape was looking down at him.



“I think we better head out before it gets too late.” Snape said coolly as Neville nodded and followed his old potions Professor out of the Great Hall.



They made their way across the lawn and by the time the made it to the outside of the forest Neville was beginning to feel how warm it was still in September. He looked over at Snape who didn’t seem bothered by this and just kept walking into the forest.



“Lumos.” Neville had his wand out as he tired to light the ground in front of him. He had only been in the forest by himself once since he had started teaching at Hogwarts and all the other times Hagrid or Firenze had accompanied him.



“I don’t think they are found that deep in the forest.” Neville stated as he started to look by trees. If he remembered correctly they liked to grow by oak trees. “Oh! I think I found some.”



“Let me see.” Snape said coolly as he leaned over Neville to look at the plant. Neville could feel the warmth of Snape’s body on his back, his face felt like it was heating up again but Neville blamed it on the humidity.



“Indeed.” Snape agreed as he leaned forward, his arm brushing against Neville’s as the potion master plucked the plant from the ground. “Should I grab some extra for you?”



Neville stared at Snape who was now looking at him, their faces were only inches apart and Neville’s throat had gone dry. He could feel sweat build up on his forehead before he looked at Snape’s eyes. He started to nod before Snape turned away and grabbed some more of the plant.



Neville took this moment to stand up and put some space between him and the potions master. He saw Snape concentrate on the ground and Neville felt his heart beat faster but there was no way for Snape to be the cause of this.



Neville took a deep breath as he felt his body start to tremble. What was wrong with him? He felt a cold hand touch the back of his neck and almost moaned as he stared at Snape, Snape frowned at this as his hand moved from Neville’s neck to the teen’s forehead.



“Are you feeling alright?” Snape almost sounded concerned.



Neville nodded that he was fine since he didn’t think he could trust himself to speak just yet. He leaned into Snape’s cold hand and smirk. Never in a million years would he have ever expected himself to be grateful for how cold Snape was.



Neville took his time to study the man as Snape looked over Neville to make sure the teen wasn’t sick. Snape wasn’t bad looking, wasn’t handsome but was decently average. Neville licked his lips as he suddenly remembered the event that had happened this morning.



“I don’t think you have a temp-” Snape was shut up as suddenly Neville kissed him. The older man took a few steps back at the force of Neville’s attack before he grabbed the teen by the shoulders and pushed him away. “Longbottom.”



“Professor Longbottom.” Neville corrected as he licked his lips again. He suddenly felt dizzy as all the embarrassment he should have been feeling this whole time rushed on him. Neville took a few steps back so that they weren’t touching anymore. “I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I don’t know what came over me.”



“It’s fine.” Snape shut him up quickly before turning and heading back towards the castle. “We better hurry back.”



Neville swore under his breath as he walked behind Snape. This time the older man had his wand out and was lighting the way. Neville stopped a few steps behind Snape when the older man turned and face Neville with a confused expression.



“What did you mean by that earlier?” Snape’s voice wasn’t cold but just slightly confused. As if there was finally a problem the potions master wasn’t able to solve.



“I just remembered what almost happened this morning.” Neville spat out quickly as he continued, “And your hands felt really good, then you were just so close. I’m so sorry, I don’t normally attack people like that, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”



“Hn.” Snape turned and continued to walk as Neville felt humiliated behind the older man.



What was wrong with him?



IIIIIIII



“Arthur?” Neville poked his head into the Muggle Studies classroom to suddenly be attacked by a push of curly brown hair.



“Oh I am so mad at you!” Hermione pulled Neville into the classroom. Neville gave her a questioning look before he turned to see Arthur sitting at his desk, the older man had taken off his glasses to grade the papers, he looked up and shrugged at Neville.



“Why?” Neville ignored how his voice cracked at the question.



“I had planned to interview Snape right after dinner but then I find out you had gotten him to go with you into the forbidden forest!” Hermione glared at Neville as if he had done it on purpose. “Now I will have to try and corner him again.”



“Ohh!” Neville’s eyes went wide as he put his hands up in front of him in a surrendering motion. “Snape told me he would accompany me, he didn’t give me a choice!”



“But you could ha-”



“And you didn’t tell me that your interview was tonight so how was I supposed to know?” Neville stated more calmly, he was not however going to tell her that Snape had said something about it that morning and he had just forgotten.



Hermione sighed in defeat as she sat in one of the student’s chairs. “I will corner him again tomorrow, even if I have to sit through his first years potion class.”



“Good luck.” Arthur chuckled in amusement that was obviously not appreciated by Hermione. She stood up and grabbed her notebooks before making her way out, mumbling ‘good night’ to them though she was obviously still upset.



“I thought about sending my patronus to warn you but she would have known what I was doing.” Arthur laughed as Neville slumped into one of the chairs. “How was your trip to the Forbidden Forest?”



Neville blushed at this as he mumbled slightly, looking away from Arthur. Arthur raised an eyebrow at this before he looked at the paper he had been reading, his students were supposed to write a 24 inch paper on a muggle culture they found interesting, but this student had written about French wizards. Arthur wondered if a ‘T’ was too harsh sense the child had at least written about another culture but sighed and wrote ‘D’, he would give the student another chance to raise the grade before the semester was over.



“I kissed Snape.”



Arthur had already moved onto his next paper when the words registered in his ears. He paused a moment and furrowed his eyebrows at the paper he had started to read as if trying make sure those words he had just heard were real. He looked up at Neville to see the teen sitting stiffly in his chair regarding Arthur almost fearfully.



“What?” Arthur drawled out the words slowly as if trying to hint a need for some explanation on Neville’s part.



“I kissed him, he had his hand on my forehead and it felt nice. His face was just close and I remembered what happened this morning, and this afternoon, oh I almost kissed him this afternoon too. See there was this explosion at the green house because of a rogue Bludger that Krum hadn’t been able to stop, the next thing I know, I’m on the ground and Snape was on top of me, and his body just, then his hand and then I tried to kiss him. He didn’t say anything about it until after I kissed him again in the forest. I think I might have really confused him or something but I don’t know what I am doing!”



Arthur stared at Neville as if all he had heard was white noise. Neville took a deep breath before he cleared his throat.



“I kissed Snape and I don’t know what is wrong with me.”



Arthur blinked at that before he put the paper and quill that were in his hands down. He folded his hands over each other and looked at Neville. “You kissed Snape.”



“I kissed Snape.” Neville repeated flatly.



“Are you attracted to Snape?” Arthur asked helpfully.



“I don’t even like him.” Neville spat out before he took another breath and closed his eyes. “I mean, I didn’t like him, he terrified me for seven years!”



Arthur gave Neville a look that made Neville frown as he felt himself calm down. “I think today was just really stressful.”



Arthur seemed a little taken back by that before he said, “So you usually relieve your stress this way?”



“I don’t go around kissing men twice my age if that’s what you’re getting at.” Neville spat out angrily before he stopped. “Sorry Arthur, this is just so, so confusing.”



“Did Snape say anything to you?” Arthur tried a different approach.



“He asked me why but I don’t think he liked my answer because he didn’t talk to me again. Just handed me my plants and walked off with his own.” Neville sighed as he placed his face in his hands.



There was a moment of silence before Arthur opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it. Neville heard the older man make a snuffing noise and looked up to see that the redhead had gotten up and was now pulling a chair up to Neville so that they were sitting right beside each other.



However, the image of Arthur sitting behind a student’s desk at his age did seem awkward.



“Neville…..”



“So what’s the deal between you and Remus?” Neville cut him off trying to get the subject off of himself. Arthur looked startled at that as his face flushed lightly and his lips thinned.



“Neville, let’s focus on your problem first.”



“No, lets not. I walk in on you two snogging like it was going to be the last time you ever saw each other again and you expect me to drop it?” Neville scooted his chair so that now him and Mr. Weasley were facing each other.



“It wasn’t that dramatic.” Arthur defended himself as he felt his face go red.



“So it was the door I heard moaning like that?” Neville snapped back.



They both regarded each other in annoyance. Arthur made fisting motions with his hands as if he was trying to gain some control over the situation while Neville sighed and frowned. So maybe neither of them wanted to talk about it? Maybe for the first time in two years Arthur wasn’t going to able to help Neville out with his problem because for the first time it seemed the older man had a bigger issue of his own.



“I’m going to end it with Remus, for good.” Arthur added the last part quickly as he continued to stare at his hands.



“Why?” Neville was surprised at Arthur, he had thought that the two older men had finally settled whatever issue was hanging over them.



“Because……” Arthur couldn’t seem to come up with a decent reason and fell silent again. He took a deep breath and looked up at Neville. “Because he could do so much better than me.”



Neville opened his mouth to protest but Arthur stood that second effectively knocking over the chair he had been sitting in as he straightened out his robes. “Now Neville, I believe it is getting late, and I still have papers to grade so…”



Arthur gave Neville a weird face before he went back to his desk and sat down, grabbing the first essay he saw and effectively pretending to read it. Neville ran his hand through his wavy hair before he turned around made his way to the door. He took a deep breath and said the one thing he could think of saying in a situation like this.



“I think…..Lupin deserves to be happy just as much as you do. Good night….”



Neville shut the door behind him and hit his head against it. He paused before he sighed and turned around to head towards his room. It was going to be a long night.



Arthur stared at the place where Neville had just been. He really wondered if they kid believed that it was really that simple. He sighed as he sat back in his chair and groaned as he ran his hand through his thinning hair.



He was too old for this.



Too bad for Arthur that breakfast the next day wasn’t going to make things any easier for the teacher’s at Hogwarts.



IIIIII





Hope you enjoyed it! See you in the next chapter!



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