Reunion

~ Disclaimer: I own nothing but what springs from my imagination. Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Potterverse are the property and the children of JK Rowling. ~


Reunion
Chapter 4: “I Never Give Up”

Sunday morning dawned over Hogwarts, the sun rising and spreading its multicolored rays across the grounds. The dew sparkled like small jewels on the magically manicured lawns. Remus had awakened early for a run, feeling the pull of the lunar cycle. The full moon would be tomorrow night. Severus had been tweaking the Wolfsbane potion. It was still vile to the taste, but had a slightly longer stability without losing potency. He was working on putting it into capsule form, one Remus could take daily so that by the time the full moon came around, he would be fully dosed. If he missed a day, he could double up. And it would be far more portable than the liquid. But that was still in the working stages. While Severus and Remus were definitely friendly now, Remus didn’t think the potions master would go out of his way to make things easier for the werewolf. Remus smiled. Being in love with Ariah had only tempered Severus so much. To the rest of the world, for the most part, he was still the insufferable bastard he had always been. It was during the private moments that new facets of his dark personality were exposed. Remus was privy to some of those moments and it still amazed him to see the little signs of affection Severus showed to Ariah and to his friends. Even to Poe, the raven who once was a man. The raven who led the flock that killed Lucius Malfoy. The raven who, when finally given the option to become a man once again, refused, preferring to remain a bird. Remus stopped at the lake and stretched his slightly achy muscles. His thoughts were interrupted by a sly voice from the branches of a tree.

“I will never understand the fascination with running, Lupin,” said the voice, “you run and run and never actually get anywhere. Even when I was human, I didn’t get the whole thing. You ask me, running around in a big old circle can’t possible compare to…oh, I dunno, having sex.”

“And when was the last time you had sex, Poe?” replied Remus, glancing up at the large black bird.

“Hey, we birds have sex. It’s just…different. But pleasurable nonetheless.”

“Don’t you miss being human? You could have gone back to being a man.”

“Yeah, I coulda. But this way, I remain kinda young and carefree and shit,” replied Poe, “like I told the goddess, most of my friends are either gone or old. This has been my life for 25 years. Sure, I had some friends my own age, but most of the guys I hung out with were older than me. I look ‘em up from time to time, but the years hnot not been good to them. If I changed back, I’d be 60 now. What would I do with my life? I was a mercenary – a soldier for hire. It’s not like I can just slip back into that life. No, I’m better remaining in this form. At least I know how to live this life.”

Remus nodded, understanding. As much as he hated the curse of being a werewolf, if he were to be cured tomorrow, what would define him? He’d been a werewolf for so long that he couldn’t imagine himself as a mere person. He couldn’t imagine not fearing the full moon.

“So,” he said, changing the subject, “where have you been all weekend?”

“Making myself scarce. There are too many people around. It’s kinda intimidating. Plus I kinda wanted to give Sev and Ari some time to themselves. I seem to have a bad habit of interrupting them…”

“So I’ve heard,” laughed Remus.

“What’s new with you? Any new prospects on the horizon, female-wise?”

“Nope,” said Remus, “not a one.”

“What about that ‘infernally graceless’ chick with the multicolored hair?” asked Poe, doing a decent impression of Severus, decent enough to make Remus laugh.

“We’re just friends.”

“That what she wants, or just what you want?”

“Both of us want that.”

“Then why is she standing over there staring at you like you’re the last scone on the plate?”

Remus turned around to see Nymphadora Tonks standing on the path, watching him.

“She’s gonna think you’re insane, talking to a bird and shit,” said Poe.

“I must be, considering the bird is you.”

“Hey now, don’t be going all Snape on me,” joked Poe.

“We’re just friends,” he repeated emphatically.

“If you say so, gotta go. There’s a little dove who hangs out near Hogsmeade that I want to check in on. Catch you later.”

“Bye Poe,” said Remus, watching as the bird flew into the bright morning sky.

Tonks walked over to where Remus was standing and smiled at him.

“Were you just talking to a bird?” she asked.

“Yeah, his name is Poe. He talks back. Incessantly. Used to be human. It’s a long story.”

“Uh huh,” remarked Tonks.

“It’s true,” he shrugged, “what brings you here?”

“Wanted to see Harry,” replied Tonks, “and you.”

“Well, here I am, and Harry’s undoubtedly still sleeping.”

“How’ve you been?” asked Tonks, “it’s been awhile…”

“I’m good.”

“Almost the full moon…”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Yeah,” she said, her blue green eyes expressing little, “Remus…”

“Yeah?”

“Nothing.”

“O.K.”

“Are you headed to the castle?” she asked.

“Yep.”

“Can I tag along?”

“Sure.”

They walked back to the castle in uncomfortable silence. Remus kicked a small rock the majority of the way down the path. Since they had gone on that rescue mission a few months back, things were tense. He didn’t expect that they would be easy. They had a physical relationship, one which he believed to be strictly sexual. She, however, didn’t feel the same way, although she had done a nice impression of someone who did. Truth be told, Remus was still a little angry about that. He still felt a little…he wasn’t sure the word for it…tricked, maybe. Had he had any clue of the depths of her feelings, he never would have slept with her. Still, what was done was done. He looked over at her, taking in her pale blue hair with its green streaks, her pale heart shaped faced, her blue green eyes. He dropped his eyes to her body. It was delectable as always. He remembered taking extreme pleasure in her form. Too bad he couldn’t just have meaningless sex with her. It had been awhile for him and he could have used the release before the full moon. But alas, it wouldn’t be. He wasn’t like that.

“What?” she said, noticing his eyes on her, “why are yookiooking at me like that?”

“No reason,” said Remus, coloring slightly, “just admiring the view.”

Tonks looked at him slyly and lifted up the hem of her sweat shirt, affording him a view of her creamy breast with its rosy colored nipple. Remus bit his lip and stared in spite of himself.

“Like that?” she said, with a grin, slipping her hand over her breast and pinching the nipple, making it harden in the cool November air, “we couuck uck into some private space out here and you could geacqeacquainted with it…”

“Tonks, stop. We’ve been through this,” said Remus, unable to tear his eyes from her hard nipple and wandering fingers, “we’re friends.”

“And friends do each other…favors,” she replied, “come on, Remus, it’s been awhile for me.”

“No Tonks,” he said, resolutely, turning away from what she offered him, “it wouldn’t be any different.”

“It could be.”

“No, it couldn’t. You would still have feelings for me that I don’t have for you.”

“Oh, you think you’re oh so irresistible? That I haven’t gotten over my little crush on you? Don’t flatter yourself Remus Lupin. I would have happily settled for a quick fuck behind the rosebushes,” she said angrily.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied quietly, “I’ve always thought you were worth more than that.”

Remus walked away from Tonks without a backward glance, leaving the metamorphmagus standing there with a tear in her eye. The tear wasn’t one of sadness, it was one of anger. She couldn’t believe she had been turned down by the likes of Remus Lupin, a werewolf. She contemplated methods of getting back at him for turning her down, or at least for getting him to notice her as a woman and not some silly girl with a crush. She was so over him. She didn’t need him. She didn’t want him. She certainly didn’t love him…

“But I do…” she said to herself softly.

Tonks entered the castle a few minutes after Remus. She had transformed herself, now appearing with silky blond hair and bright green eyes. Her complexion was still peaches and cream and her smile was still the same. She still looked like Tonks, only different. She stalked into the Great Hall, flashing grins at the students on her way up to the staff and visitors’ tables. She greeted the Headmaster warmly, as she did the other professors. Remus she ignored completely. She took a spot at the visitors’ table between Harry and Oliver.

“Wotcher, Harry,” she said with a wink.

“Hey there, Tonks, how are you doing?” he replied.

“Never better,” she said, glancing over at Oliver, “Long time no see, Mr. Wood. I must say, you’re looking quite delicious these days.”

“Um, thanks,” said Oliver, blushing.

“You’ve grown up nicely, now, haven’t you. You coach now, right?”

“Yeahe rhe replied, “assistant coach of the British National Team this year.”

“At such a young age…”

“I’m 23, “ he replied.

“Right, you were two years ahead of Harry…”

“Three years. I graduated wHarrHarry was in his 4th year and went to play for Puddlemere United, got hurt and started coaching. Knee injury,” he explained, “can’t grip a broom the way I used to be able to. I can ppretpretty well, but not at the international level. So I coach and train.”

Tonks smiled at him, draping her hand across the back of his chair and batting her eyelashes at him. She glanced up at the head table and saw Remus staring at her. She flashed him a look.

Let the games begin, she though with a smile.