A Dark Time For The Light

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During the coming month, Remus finished his treatments and nothing else had been spotted. The cancer had been arrested in time before it spread and he and his husband celebrated when he was given the all-clear. There would have to be regular tests in the future, but for now, Remus was clear and Severus was delighted, just kissing his exhausted husband’s sweet face as it turned to him, “Sorry, baby, but I’m just too tired”. Remus was sick of hearing himself say this but Severus was having none of it, “You’re fuckin’ well alive”, he choked out gathering his lover to him, “And likely to stay that way, too. For the last six months, I’ve been walking into that damned hospital expecting to hear the worst, that they found cancer on a lung or kidney or something, and there isn’t any and we’re here and I love you and I’m not going to lose you and you’re mine dammit. We have the rest of our lives to make up any ground you may feel you have lost, and we will, love, we will. When we go to Venice we can spend all day and night in bed if you want, but let me care for you now”. He led Remus to bed, undressed him asnd tucked him in, lying out full length next to him. Remus turned on his side and flung an arm over Severus’ middle and mumbled something. Severus moved away slightly and lifted Remus’ chin, “Sorry, what did you say?”. Remus smiled sleepily, “Too many clothes”. Severus disentangled them and stood, swiftly stripping and dived under the covers. Remus rested his head on Severus’ chest and fell asleep immediately.

When he was sure Remus was deeply asleep, Severus made to move and was held tighter, a reflexive gesture that made him smile. Okay, so he would be in bed all day, no big deal. He grabbed his book off his bedside table and settled in to read, using his spare hand to stroke Remus absentmindedly.

At some point during the afternoon, he reached for his jeans and extracted his phone, sending text messages to relate the news, then turned his phone off and curled around his Wolf for a nap feeling deliciously decadent sleeping the afternoon away.

Harry got the message at work and whooped with joy, turning to the room at large, “Sev’s just sent me a text. Remus has finished his treatment and he’s clear of the cancer”, to cheers from all who knew them. Draco made the same announcement to his own colleagues to cries of congratulations from new friends. They took a quick collection and Jacinta shot out to the shops bringing back a couple of bottles of champagne and a large bouquet. “This one we’ll have now to celebrate. Take these to them, Draco”. She handed him the flowers and the other bottle, “From all of us”. Draco grinned and stashed the bottle in his bag. He then phoned Harry, “Let’s meet up at Sev’s after work”. Harry grinned, they weren’t too far apart on this latest project, “I’ll come and pick you up, wait for me”.

Remus was awake and in his dressing gown on a sun lounger in the garden when they arrived. Severus was in the kitchen cooking tea, he emerged at the sound of voices. Draco presented the bottle and the flowers to Remus, “The gang at work had a whip-round, these are for you”. Remus looked up with brimming eyes, “Be sure to thank them for me, won’t you”, he said, a little choked.

Hermione was visiting a client when she got the message and shouted in joy and punched the air, then apologised profusely to her client, “Sorry, not very professional”, she giggled, “But I’ve just been told that a very dear friend of mine no longer has cancer, he’s been in treatment for six months. God, that’s brilliant news”, she could feel her eyes tear as she spoke and apologised again. The shopkeeper handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. She thanked him and the meeting was back on track. As she left his greengrocer’s shop, she bought a large bouquet, he sold it to her for half price.

As the news spread, all realised deep down, how worried they had all been for Remus and calls of congratulations flew about and several tears were shed. Severus quickly unearthed another couple of steaks from the fridge and offered Draco and Harry some food, which they accepted. They all spent the evening out in the garden and Remus called Alice with the news, then put a hand over the phone, “Can I invite them over?”. Severus nodded.

In minutes, the roar of a motorcycle could be heard approaching and all eyebrows shot up and Severus and Harry leaped to their feet and shot round the front to see Alice and Tony dismounting a custom Harley in the drive. They had never actually seen Tony’s bike before, not having room at the house to store it. They had a rented lock-up garage nearby. Severus ran a hand over the peardrop petrol tank admiring the artwork. Harry sighed, “Now that’s a real bike”. Alice rolled her eyes, “It looks cool, but it’s crap on corners. It was built for American freeways, all straight lines, not English roads, now a Norton Commando or a Triumph TS sport....”, and her eyes went all dreamy. Severus caught her expression and grinned. He knew just what she meant.

Remus and Draco wandered round the front to see what all the fuss was about and Draco’s eyebrows rose into his hairline. Harry was sat astride the sexiest motorbike he had ever seen. “Harry, can we get one of these?”. Harry laughed. “I can barely reach the handlebars”, as he climbed off. It was Tony’s turn to chuckle, “It’s customised to me, and I’m six six. I mainly take it to shows and rallies around the country. I don’t ride much in London, it’s a friggin’ nightmare. Your machine is ideal in town. Small and nippy”. Draco stood behind Harry and threaded an arm around him, “Just like it’s owner, the quintessential Seeker”, then kissed Harry’s ear.

They all wandered to the garden and sprawled about on the grass. Alice hefted a rucksack from her shoulders onto the ground and undid it, “A little celebration prezzie”, and pushed a heavy box to her hosts. They both laughed, A cast-iron cauldron shaped barbecue on three legs, just like the two their guests had. Tony helped Severus put it together and advised him on seasoning and priming it with hot oil before using it for the first time. They thanked them. Alice quipped, “You two never did have a house-warming, did you?”. Remus shook his head, “But we will when I’m not so knackered all the time, I promise”. Severus glowered at him, “No, stop with the evil eye, you. We will have a party when I’m well again”. Remus was the more naturally garrulous of the two. Severus shook his head and rolled his eyes at his mate.

They spent a lovely evening chatting and laughing, smoking a few discreet blunts. Alice asked if their hosts minded her rolling one with tobacco in. Severus shook his head, “No, outside is fine, though I’m not keen on the smell of tobacco in the house”. Alice smiled, “I’ll remember that in future”, and started to put one together, “It’s just you can’t really roll blunts with the hash and the weed smokes quicker than the hash if you mix it into a blunt. Tobacco burns slower and lets the hash get to the right temperature”. Draco tentatively enquired how long she had been smoking dope. “Since long before you were born”, she sniggered.

They parted after Alice saw Remus sag a bit and yawn, taking off with a throaty roar of the engine that had the other bikers biting their bottom lips and ‘hhmmm’-ing with approval. Harry and Draco went home shortly afterwards. The note of Harry’s bike sounded like an angry wasp in comparison and Harry was a little jealous, not to mention a bit pissed off that he would never really ride a big bike, being a bit on the short side as he was. With a sigh, he parked up behind their flat and they raced to the front door. Harry, as always, had his key in the door first. Draco threw his arms around his lover as they climbed the stairs, “Ever the Seeker, eh, Harry?”. Harry slumped down a few steps from the top and wrapped his arms around his knees. “I wish I wasn’t”, he said glumly. Draco was confused, “What, the youngest and best Seeker in a generation?”. Harry shook his head and mumbled something into his knees. Draco dropped beside him on the step and took Harry into his arms, “Now, what’s up?”. Harry muttered, “I feel such an idiot, but there are times, I really wish I was taller. And I’m a bit of a mess discovering Remus is going to recover. I really feared he might die. Oh god, Dragon”, and dissolved on his lover’s shoulder. Draco held on and rocked him, feeling his own eyes moisten, letting Harry cry himself out dropping kisses into Harry’s hair as he sniffled himself as the full force of how close they had been to losing a good friend washed over him.

Eventually they got to bed and held each other as they slept. The next day, it appeared as if everyone had had a reaction to the news. Steffie looked particularly distressed. “If I’m so happy he’s cancer-free, why do I feel so shite?”. Harry laid a hand on her shoulder and reassured her, “I wept like a baby last night. I think it’s a sense of overwhelming relief with the accent on the ‘overwhelming’”. The woman smiled and patted his hand, “Thank you, you’re probably right”. With that, break was over and it was back to work.