Shiver

A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update! I've been busy with my NaNoWriMo story, The Sea Noose, and I kinda forgot that I had this chapter started and not finished. ^_^" Well, here you go my reviewers! I hope you enjoy it.

Shiver


“Remus, I have something to tell you.”

Remus was sitting in front of Albus, holding a cup a tea and nursing it slowly. He looked at the aged wizard and cocked his head to the side slightly. He wanted to know what Albus wanted to say quickly so he could return to Harry and Layla before they awoke and found him gone. He was worried what they might do if he wasn't there.

“Yes, Albus?” he finally asked. The headmaster took a deep breath and took off his spectacles, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“We've found Severus.” Remus' eyes grew wide.

“That's wonderful!”

“Before you get to excited, my boy, there's more.” the old wizard closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of his chair. Remus set down his cup of tea and sat on the edge of his seat anxiously.

“Well? What is it? What's wrong?” he demanded quietly. Albus sighed again.

“Poppy doesn't know for sure if he'll survive.” his voice was thick and grave. Remus sucked in a deep breath.

“No...” he raised his head and looked at Remus.

“I'm afraid so, Remus. His chances aren't good, I'm afraid. Poppy is doing her best to heal him, but... only time will tell and from the looks of things now, it looks like he doesn't have much time left.”

“I'm afraid so, Remus. His chances aren't good, I'm afraid. Poppy is doing her best to heal him, but... only time will tell and from the looks of things now, it looks like he doesn't have much time left.” Remus looked down at the floor, his thoughts racing.

What's going to happen to Layla and Harry... what am I going to do without the Wolfsbane potion... he sucked in a quiet breath as his mind brought up another issue entirely. Harry fed from me... if Severus dies I'm going to have to fill in for him, but wait. How could he fed from me in the first place? Oh god, what am I supposed to do? I couldn't take them as my mates! They belong to Severus... I would never be able to do that... right?

"Remus, please." he looked up, startled from his thoughts.

"What?"

"Please, calm down. I'm sure that things will be ok. We just need to be patient. Until such a time when we can discern if he'll live through this or not, we'll all just have to stay strong. You more than most, because you're taking care of Harry and Layla. How are they doing, by the way?" Remus blinked a few times.

"Uh, good. They're doing good." Albus nodded.

"That's good then. I wish you the best, Remus. And should you need anything, you can always call upon me. Oh, and I trust you understand why I would like this to stay between us for now?" Remus nodded.

"I don't want to get their hopes up either, Albus. I'll see you later then." he stood and made his way out of the headmasters office, slowly walking down the moving staircase. Albus sighed as Remus left and stood stiffly, moving over to the fire place to floo to the Infirmary to stay vigil by Severus' side.

*

Remus entered Severus' rooms and closed the door behind him softly, leaning up against it. He took a deep breath and pushed off the door, walking slowly to the bedroom where he had left Harry and Layla. When he entered, he smiled. In his absence, Harry and Layla had wrapped around each other tightly. He closed his eyes as he thought of how they would cling to each other if Severus didn't make it.

He shook his head, erasing the thoughts from his mind. He walked over to the bed and made himself comfortable. His back was pressed up against the headboard, his legs stretched out before him. Harry had his back to him as he was lying on the bed wrapped around Layla. He reached out an arm and gently stroked Harry's back, watching in light amusement as Harry started fidgeting for a few minuets before he sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

“What?” he whined softly.

“Good morning, Harry.” Remus said warmly, his hand resting on Harry's side. Harry smiled at Remus and climbed into his lap, his nose nuzzling his neck, just below Remus' ear.

“Good morning, Remus.” he wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and held him close, his other hand now reaching over to stroke Layla's cheek gently. She swatted at his hand and glared at him through sleep fogged eyes.

“I wanna sleep...” he smiled at her.

“I'm sorry, Layla. You can go back to sleep. She smiled softly and scooted over, pressing herself into his side, her head coming to rest in his lap, next to Harry's legs. Her arm wound itself around his thigh as she sighed softly and fell back asleep. Harry adjusted his position, moving so his back was pressed against Remus' chest, his nose still nuzzled against his neck.

“Are you still tired, too, Harry?” he nodded into Remus' neck. “Then why don't you go back to sleep, too. I'm going to stay here, so don't worry about anything, ok?” he nodded and inhaled Remus' scent deeply, his body instinctively pressing back against Remus.

“Love you, Remus.” he mumbled against his neck, his fang lightly ghosting over Remus' skin. Remus tightened his arm around Harry and stroked Layla's hair away from her face gently. She sighed softly and pressed closer still, her head moving to nuzzle against hip.

Remus let out a soft breath, studying the two. If it came down to it, he'd step up and take them as his mates. Of this he was sure.

He just didn't want to get attached now and have Severus come back and find out. He didn't want to think what that Incubus would do to him if he found out.

*

“Poppy, are you sure?” Albus was standing at his full height above the witch. She glared up at him.

“Yes, Albus, for the tenth bloody time, I'm sure!” he sighed softly and rubbed his tired eyes.

“Please, forgive me, Poppy... I just want him to get better. I don't like seeing him like this.” Poppy smiled softly and patted his arm.

“Neither do I, Albus. I prefer him better when he's being snarky, than to this.” she looked down at the pale man on the bed. His hair being the only thing that look alive about him. She sighed softly.

“So, you'll ask him, right?” Albus nodded.

“If we had known this earlier, I would have asked him while he was in my office a while ago. But, yes, I will ask Remus.” she nodded.

“Good. You need to do it soon, though. I don't know how long he can last like this without me interfering again.” he smiled sadly at the man.

“I shall ask Remus in an hour or two to let Harry and Layla have him for a bit more, before he does this.”

“You mean he will?” she looked at him curiously. “How do you know that?”

“Remus has a big heart, and as we speak, Harry and Layla are wedging themselves into it slowly. He'll do it, if only to see them happy. And, if we're lucky, when Severus wakes and finds out, he won't be too mad at us for doing this.”

“But if he is mad, it was all your doing.” Albus chuckled lightly.

“Of course, Poppy.”