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Severus snarled, his sharp teeth on display.
“Let go of me.”
Potter laughed, a loud, mocking sound that grated against Severus’s ears.
“Nope, I don’t think we will.” Black laughed, a sound close to manic, his warm breath curling around Severus’s ear where he was leaning.
The two Gryffindors were dragging him through the vast, grassy backyard of Hogwarts. His limbs are rigid and unanimated, all thanks to a quickly-cast curse, courtesy of Potter.
Severus muttered darkly. At least they were dragging him by his arms, so he was only getting grass stains on his pants, and not his white shirt. He couldn’t necessarily afford a new uniform every year, so he tried to keep his sets nice.
“Prongs, mate, hurry up. Wormy is gonna be looking for us soon.” Potter grunted, but began to pick up more slack.
Severus hadn’t quite figured out their plan yet, but he was sure that it involved leaving him immobile, splayed out in the forest for wildlife to harass.
“James?” The soft voice of Remus Lupin called out to them, and both of the boys holding Severus froze.
“Moony? What’re you doing out here?” Potter tried to sound casual, flicking his shaggy hair from his face. Remus hummed, “Is that Severus?”
Black groaned loudly. “Yes– but, Remmy, listen–” Remus cut him off, “No, Sirius, just– no. I told the both of you to leave him alone– I told you he was my friend now, and you needed to bugger off and stop bothering him. And I then I find you two dragging him off into the Forbidden Forest?”
His chest is heaving by the time he’s done, and he’s clutching his wand tightly.
Black tries to backtrack, “Well, yes, but, we just wanted to have some more fun– but we were gonna leave him alone, honest!”
Remus sighed heavily, letting his arms drop back to his sides.
“Were you? Were you really?” His voice is dripping with disappointment, so much so that even Severus feels somehow ashamed, as if he had some part in this.
“Reinvigorate.” Remus’s spell work is quick, and soon enough Severus gains control of his body again, jumping up and skittering away from Potter and Black, who are lingering behind awkwardly.
“I’m done with you two.”
Potter gapes, and Black scoffs. “What are you talking about?”
Remus shakes his head.
“I’m done.” Black sputters, “What? What does that mean? You’re done?”
Severus crosses his arms, directing his gaze at Remus. He looks dead-set on this decision, but Severus knows better by now.
“I’m done with you two. I’m not– you guys think I’m some sorta pushover? You constantly push my boundaries, and hurt me and people I love, because you two are so determined to be funny and cool, and charming, and you’re dragging Peter down, too. It’s– I’ve had enough. So, we’re done. Don’t– don’t talk to me, please, just don’t.”
Remus twists on his heel and begins to march away, his strides long and his footfalls heavy. Severus is quick to follow after him, shooting a disgruntled look at Potter and Black first. Black makes a move to follow, but Potter stops him, a solemn look on his face. Serves him right.
Remus’s shoulders slump as soon as they’re out of view, and Severus is quick to take his hand in his own. Under the cover of the night, they didn’t need to worry about hiding– not to mention, comforting his boyfriend was far more important right now. Severus had grey morals– he’d be fine obliviating whatever unsuspecting student spied them.
“Rem?” Remus said nothing.
They walked on in silence, hand in hand, as they headed back into the castle. Severus didn’t speak, and let Remus guide them to wherever he wanted to go.
They ended up in front of the Slytherin dungeons, and Severus quickly allowed them in, the password rolling off his tongue like water.
“Oh, Sev, there you are. Lupin too, I see.” Mulciber’s greeting is friendly, his eyes light and mischievous. Remus had long charmed all of his roommates into accepting him– and into accepting their friendship, though Severus was quite sure they all knew what really went on.
Remus waved to him softly, and Severus nodded.
Severus let Remus crawl into his bed, and took a moment to shut the bed curtains and cats a silencing spell, and a sticking spell for good measure. Afterward, he shuffled in beside Remus, letting the taller boy wrap around him like a vine, intertwining all their limbs.
Severus’s skin was cold, and Remus’s warm. His skin was pale, whereas Remus’s was tan. His hair dark, his light. At first, Severus had thought that they were too different– at least for any sort of relationship to work. But now he sees it differently. They balance each other. For all of Severus’s righteous anger, Remus was calming breezes. For all of Remus’s polite people-pleasing nature, there was Severus’s take-no-shit attitude.
“Wanna talk about it?” Remus shook his head. Severus could feel wetness seeping into his neck, where Remus had wedged his head. “Okay. Love you.” Remus mumbled the answering “Love you,” into his neck. Severus smiled.
His spidery fingers moved up, and he sunk them into Remus’s sandy hair, taking care not to pull on any knots as he scratched his head.
“Goodnight,” There was no response, but as Remus’s breathing leveled out, and his body went lax, Severus knew why.
“My beautiful wolf,” He murmured, unheard in the silence of the night.
He would dare say he was in love.