Shiver

A/N: Thank you SKB For betaing!

Shiver


It had been two weeks. Two, long, painful, grueling weeks. He couldn't move without feeling the pinch of a nerve here, or a broken bone there. He closed his eyes. He hadn't had a chance to tell Harry and Layla that he loved them too.

~*~

Harry was sitting in front of the fire, simply watching the flames, as he had for the past week and a half. He would just sit there... hoping that the headmaster or just... anyone, would come through it and tell them they found Severus. That they found his mate. He wasn't having much luck. A thought skittered on the skirts of his mind, barely registering in his brain.

I hope Layla is doing okay...


Truth was, she wasn't. Well, to be honest, she wasn't doing okay emotionally. She would come close to breaking down if she stopped for a moment to think about Severus. Her hands were always shaking unless she was given a task to concentrate on.

Mentally however, it was like it never happened. Last week the headmaster had sent a letter to her parents with Hedwig, explaining that Layla would be staying with them for the school year until further notice. Her parents responded saying that was fine, as long as she was able to get her school work done. Dumbledore was able to pull a few strings, getting Layla all of her school work for all of her classes for the whole year.

Since the headmaster had gotten her schoolwork for her, she'd barely done anything else but her schoolwork. She was almost halfway done with everything she was supposed to do, she was focusing so hard on it.

Two weeks later, and her schoolwork was completed and Layla had nothing to keep her from thinking about Severus and the fact that he wasn't there. She took to joining Harry on the couch in front of the fire. Because they sat in front of the fireplace, they always wore shorts, and for Layla, shorts and a bikini top. They didn't sit next to each other, but instead sat on the opposite ends. The space between them seeming to stretch for miles.

The two hadn't been sleeping or eating properly, resulting in lost weight and dark circles under their eyes. They stopped showing up to meals with the staff, having Dobby bring them food in the dungeons instead. It was through Dobby that Albus knew how Harry and Layla were doing and why he was currently making plans for someone to come and stay with the two of them indefinitely.

Harry and Layla just didn't know it yet.

~*~

He groaned as the light hit his eyes.

“My poor, poor, Severus....” Other voices laughed as the cruelest voice spoke. He looked up into the red eyes of Voldemort. “Have you decided to let us know what we want to, hm?” He kneeled down next to Severus; his bony hand stroked his cheek almost lovingly. Severus could only glare, his throat hoarse from screaming.

Voldemort sighed. “No?” He stood and motioned to the other Death Eaters in the room. Two stepped forward, their knives glinting in the light. A small whimper escaped his abused throat and there was laughter once more.

~*~

“My dear, boy. How are you feeling?” Albus looked at the young man sitting across from him. He looked a bit worse for the wear, his robes looking a bit more worn and used since the last time he had seen him. There seemed to be a bit more silver in his hair, too.

“I'm doing fine, Albus. Thank you for asking.” His eyes were warm and soft, his voice matching.

“No need to thank me, Remus.” Albus smiled. “How was the last full moon?” He was a bit concerned how Remus was doing since he didn't have the wolfsbane potion for the last full moon. Remus sighed.

“It was... difficult, but I was able to deal with it.” Albus smiled softly, somewhat sadly.

“I'm sorry my dear boy.” Remus shook his head.

“It's not your fault. I know that Severus is still... unaccounted for. It's okay, really it is. I don't blame anyone.”

“Well, speaking of Severus, I was wondering if you would mind doing me a favor...” Remus slowly sipped his tea.

“What do you need, Albus?”

“I'm sure you must have been informed about the relationship that Severus is in with Harry and Layla?” Remus nodded slowly. “Well it seems to be that the two of them haven't come out of their rooms, Severus' rooms, since they were informed that he hadn't returned.” Remus nodded again.

“I was hoping that you would agree to stay for awhile and stay down there, with them, to help get them eating properly and sleeping properly again. If you need them, sleeping potions and nutrition potions would be available for you to use, to help them.” He nodded once more.

“I'd love to help them, Albus.” Albus smiled, his eyes twinkling.

“I thought you would, Remus. Now, I'll have you floo to their rooms, because they've apparently changed the password to the rooms about twice daily, so I haven't bothered keeping track of what it is.” Remus laughed softly, his eyes shinning in amusement. Albus stood, Remus following. He engulfed the younger man in a gentle hug, patting his back.

“Thank you, Remus. Whenever Severus returns, he will greatly appreciate this.” Remus nodded and smiled at Albus. “Now, my dear boy, it's time to see you off. And if I remember Dobby correctly the two are currently sitting in front of the fireplace, watching the fire, so you will startle them, I'm sure.” He smiled softly and nodded.

“Alright, Albus. I promise I'll try my best.” He clapped him on the back.

“I've no doubt in my mind that you will, Remus. I've no doubt.”

~*~

Harry and Layla were startled when Remus appeared from the fireplace. They stared, wide-eyed, and watched as he stood there for a few minutes, dusting off his robes before looking up at the two of them. He smiled softly at Harry first.

“Hello Harry.” He looked at Layla. “Hello Layla. I'm Remus Lupin.” He looked between the two of them, noting the bags under their eyes and how unhealthily skinny they looked. He was pretty sure that he could see Layla's hip bone, the one he could see from where he stood, sticking out sharply.

“How are you two?” He kept his voice light and soft. Layla turned her eyes from his towards the fireplace one more. Harry kept his eyes trained on Remus. Something seemed to have clicked in his mind, something snapping at the same time.

His eyes filled with tears, his bottom lip quivering. Remus opened his arms, wrapping them around Harry as he jumped up, into his arms, sobs wracking his body, his arms wrapping around Remus' neck. Layla's own eyes were glittering with tears, biting her lip, she tried to keep them from falling.

Remus lifted Harry up into his arms, sitting down on the couch, cradling Harry in his lap. Harry sobbed into his chest, clutching his robes tightly. He rubbed Harry's back soothingly.

“Shh... it's okay, Harry, it's okay...” He kept rubbing Harry's back, letting him cry. He looked over at Layla, seeing that she had pulled her knees up to her chest, arms wrapping around herself, she cried.

He held Harry against him tightly and reached out a hand towards her.

“Layla...” he called softly to her. She didn't look up, her breath hitched and she shook silently as she cried. He gently laid his hand on her shoulder, his other arm still around Harry's waist. She looked up, tears wetting her face. He gently pulled her arm towards him and soon found himself with Layla pressed against his side, crying into his neck. He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close, too.

They sat there, for an hour or so, Harry and Layla crying with Remus offering his comfort. It was a few minutes after he noticed Harry had stopped crying when he realized Harry had also fallen asleep, his breathing soft and even. He looked down at Layla, seeing she was still awake, clutching the side of his robes.

“Layla...” He rubbed her back gently as she looked up. “Let’s get you and Harry to bed, alright?” she nodded slowly and stood up shakily. She helped steady him as he stood up, holding the sleeping Harry in his arms. She led him silently to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Remus laid Harry on the bed, getting him comfortable. He looked up at Layla as she gently tapped his shoulder.

“Yes, Layla?” She silently held out a pair of Severus' pajama bottoms. He looked at them questioningly.

“Please. Stay with us tonight.” He smiled softly and took the offered clothing, and walked quietly into the bathroom, closed the door and changed. Coming back out in just the pajama bottoms. He set his clothes, folded neatly, on the bedside table and looked at Layla. She was sitting on the bed next to Harry, gently petting his hair. He smiled softly.

“Are you ready to sleep, Layla, or should I get you a sleeping potion to help you?” She shook her head.

“No, I don't need a potion, I just...” She trailed off, her hand stilling on Harry's cheek.

“You what?” He softly prompted.

“I just haven't been able to sleep these past four weeks because there was only one other person... I was so used to two... but, maybe if you're here, I'll be able to sleep normally again.” He raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“You want me to sleep with you and Harry?” She looked away from Harry.

“Well, you don't have to... but... well...”

“Yes, Layla?”

“I'd just... really like to have another person next to me when I sleep again.” Her voice was soft and it cracked in the middle. He smiled sadly and walked over to the bed.

“Why don't you lie on the other side of Harry and I'll lie in between the two of you, alright, Layla?” She sniffled and nodded, moving to the other side of the bed. Remus waved his wand, extinguishing the light in the room before climbing into the bed, going over Harry, to lie in the middle of the bed.

Layla snuggled against him once he got himself settled and Harry rolled over, wrapping an arm around his waist, nuzzling his chest. Remus wrapped an arm around each of them again, rubbing their backs softly. Harry sighed softly, sleeping deeper, feeling the familiarity of a male body next to him, feeling safe.

Layla lightly traced patters on his chest sleepily for a few minutes before finally succumbing to sleep. Remus looked down at the two, smiling down at the two of them softly. He shifted slightly, getting comfortable once more and closed his eyes, falling asleep, holding them close to him.

~*~

Severus groaned softly. His sides were flaring in pain, the knife wounds were still fresh and bleeding. He just hoped he could think of some way to get out of there, soon. He didn't think he could survive much longer.