FIC: Aftermaths, Part 3

[geri_chan]

Title: Aftermaths, Part 3
Rating: NC-17 overall, but most chapters are closer to PG-13
Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise, and a few other minor pairings
Word count: ~9,650
Warning: AU; written pre-HBP
Author's notes: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising
Summary: Lupin and Snape's new family seems to be getting along well until Theodore receives a letter from Blaise...

Part 1, Part 2

***

In addition to wood-gathering, gardening, and cooking, Snape also insisted that the boys do some studying to prepare themselves for the coming school year, and in Theodore's case, his N.E.W.T.s. They grumbled a little about it--out of Snape's earshot, of course--but secretly they felt relieved. They both had memories that they would rather not dwell on, and their chores and their studies kept them occupied enough that they didn't have to think about them.

The boys had been working in the garden with Lupin one morning, then helped him prepare lunch and do the dishes, then spent a couple of hours studying. Lupin finally chased them outside to "get some fresh air." They willingly left their books and ran out with their broomsticks; Lupin watched from the window as they practiced some Quidditch maneuvers.

"I think you're working them too hard, Severus," Lupin said.

"I'm doing it on purpose," Snape told him solemnly. "They're not normal, well-adjusted children like Granger or the Weasleys. They were both recently orphaned, and they spent years having their heads filled with Death Eater indoctrination. If we give them a lot of free time, they won't spend it playing; they'll spend it brooding about their parents. They need a routine, something to keep them busy."

"Too busy to think?" Lupin asked quietly.

"Yes," Snape replied.

"I'm not sure that avoiding and bottling up their emotions is the right approach, Severus," Lupin said, a worried look in his blue eyes. "They'll have to deal with their feelings sooner or later."

"Repression is the typical Slytherin way to deal with emotions, after all," Snape said with an ironic smile. Then his expression turned serious and he said, "They're not ready to deal with those emotions right now, especially Theodore."

"How will we know when they're ready?" Lupin asked.

"As you said, they can't bottle up their feelings forever." Of course, Snape had managed to do so for nearly twenty years, but the boys didn't have nearly as much self-control as he did. "Eventually it will spill out, no matter how many chores we give them. They'll deal with it in their own time, when they're ready. And we'll be there to help them."

Lupin smiled at Snape. "You're much better with children than you think, Severus."

"Oh, shut up, Lupin," Snape replied automatically, in an almost distracted manner.

Lupin ignored him, slipped his arms around Snape's waist, and laid his head on Snape's shoulder. "I love you, Severus," he said softly.

Snape hesitated for a moment; well, the boys were outside, after all, and Lupin's arms around him, and Lupin's silky hair brushing against his cheek, felt very good... "I love you, too, Remus," he replied, and put his arms around Lupin.

Lupin whispered into Snape's ear, "You know, I think the boys will stay outside for awhile, and we haven't had much chance to be alone lately." He bared his teeth at Snape and growled playfully. "Besides, the full moon is tomorrow, and the wolf is hungry. I feel I've been quite restrained, under the circumstances, for the boys' sakes, but..."

Snape glanced out the window; the boys were quite occupied with their Quidditch practice, laughing as they chased each other around on their broomsticks. Perhaps Lupin was right; maybe he had been overdoing it a little with their studies...but that made it all the more likely that they would stay outside and work off their energy for at least an hour, maybe more... "Then let's not waste any time," Snape purred. Lupin grinned at him, and they headed to their bedroom, locking the door and casting a silence spell, just in case.

They underestimated the wolf's hunger, however. Dylan and Theodore returned to find the house oddly quiet; either their guardians had gone to the village--unlikely, since Lupin had just gone there for groceries the other day--or...their eyes drifted towards the bedroom door.

"Silence spell," Theo said, blushing a little. He had used it often enough on his and Blaise's room at school. "Um...maybe we should go back out?"

Dylan shrugged. "Well, we can't hear anything, after all. We can just sort of pretend like nothing's happening; just try not to think about it."

"Easier said than done," Theodore said darkly, and Dylan laughed.

"Anyway, it's getting late. We could put supper on for Lupin; he's been looking a little fatigued lately, I guess because the moon is almost full."

"I'm sure he's tired, but I'm not sure it's because of the moon," Theodore muttered, giving the bedroom door a pointed look. Actually, he didn't begrudge Snape and Lupin a little time alone together, but it suddenly reminded him of how much he missed Blaise, even though school had let out less than two weeks ago.

Their foster parents emerged from their bedroom just as dinner was ready. Snape looked exhausted and a little embarrassed, while Lupin looked tired but very content. "How wonderful!" Lupin exclaimed. "You got dinner ready!" He leaned over to sniff at the cauldron of stew that Theodore was placing on the table. "It smells delicious. Thank you very much."

The boys smiled at him. Dylan said, "It's nothing, Prof...um...Rem..." He hesitated, glancing at Snape. "It's nothing, sir," he finished, a little lamely.

Lupin grinned. The boys had finally started calling him by his first name, but only when Severus wasn't around. Although they were still a bit hesitant about it; Lupin joked that he should change his name to "Prof...um...Remus."

"Oh, I don't care if you call the werewolf by his first name, Rosier," Snape said gruffly. He already knew that they were doing it behind his back, and since it seemed to make Lupin happy, he didn't really care, so long as they didn't start calling him "Severus." Lupin smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Cut that out, Lupin!" he growled, but his werewolf lover just laughed and ignored him.

They all sat down to dinner, and Lupin tucked into his food heartily. "I really do appreciate you fixing dinner tonight," he told Theodore and Dylan. "The wolf, ah, tends to work up an appetite near the full moon," he added, giving Snape a sly grin.

Snape choked on his food and turned red; the boys blushed as well. As Snape turned to glare at him, Lupin said in a very amused voice, "My, you Slytherins blush so easily! And here I thought you were supposed to be so cynical and worldly-wise...one would almost think you were Gryffindors..."

"Now see here!" Snape said indignantly. "There's no need to be so insulting!"

This hadn't quite escalated into a real argument yet, but Dylan thought now would be a good time to change the subject. "Excuse me, Prof...um...Remus?"

"Yes, Dylan?" Lupin asked pleasantly. Snape continued to fume, but seemed to be calming down a little.

"I was wondering, sir," Dylan said to Lupin, "if it would be all right if Damien and Blaise came to visit us during the summer." Theodore flashed him a grateful look, and he smiled at his friend; he knew that Theo must be missing Blaise. "I'd like to practice some Quidditch maneuvers with Damien, and--" A burst of inspiration struck him, and he turned to Snape and added virtuously, "--we could all study together, get ready for the coming year and help Blaise and Theo prepare for their N.E.W.T.s."

Snape gave Dylan a wry look that said he was aware he was being manipulated, but said, "Actually, that's not a bad idea. Theodore and Blaise can use the practice, and it won't hurt you and Pierce to become familiar with the types of questions that will be on the N.E.W.T.s, even if you won't be taking them until your seventh year. It wouldn't hurt Mr. Pierce to do a little extra studying, period, for that matter."

"Then it's okay?" Theodore asked eagerly. "We can invite them over?"

Lupin and Snape exchanged an indulgent smile. "Of course," Lupin said. "I think it's a wonderful idea. Just let me know when they're coming so I can unblock the fireplace; they're not able to Apparate yet, and it's a bit far to come by broomstick." Out of habit, Lupin kept the fireplace warded to keep out anyone but a select group of trusted friends, such as Sirius, Branwen, and Dumbledore. The war was over, but Snape didn't think they should let their guard down too far: not everyone was happy about the legislation that had granted werewolves equal rights; and there were some Death Eater sympathizers who, while not convicted of any crimes, were not happy with the outcome of the war, not to mention the fact that Rabastan Lestrange was still at large.

"Thank you, sir!" Theodore said, his face lighting up, and Lupin and Snape exchanged another smile. Just then, they heard something scratching at the kitchen window, and looked up to a see an owl hovering outside it.

Snape got up to take a closer look at the bird and the letter it was holding. "Hmm, speak of the devil--it seems to be from Mr. Pierce." He opened the window and the bird flew in, dropped the letter on the table in front of Dylan, then flew back out again.

"It's from Damien," Dylan said, confirming Snape's guess, and tore open the envelope.

***

Dear Dylan,

I still can't believe that you knew all along about Lupin and Snape and didn't tell us! But keeping secrets is a Slytherin trait, I guess. And I'm still having trouble believing Potter's story in the Daily Prophet about how "embracing both my Gryffindor and Slytherin qualities" helped him defeat You-Know-Who! I'm not sure whether to be flattered or offended that the Savior of the Wizarding World is claiming fellowship with us. Hey, if Potter wants to be an honorary Slytherin, do you suppose we could make him our Seeker and kick Malfoy off the team?

Speaking of Malfoy, you'll never guess who's been coming 'round to tea lately--Narcissa and Draco Malfoy! Narcissa and my mum used to be friends in school, although of course she married into the Malfoy family and moved out of our social circle. But my mum has a soft spot for her; don't ask me why--it's not like Narcissa's gone out of her way to be friendly to us all these years, though I guess that's a good thing. If she had, she might have gotten us involved in Death Eater business, and I might be sending you this letter from Azkaban!

Anyhow, apparently she and my mother were roommates back at Hogwarts, even though Mum's a year older than Narcissa. She says Narcissa was this spoiled, sheltered little kid who had never been away from her family for longer than a couple of days before, and she missed them so much that she used to cry herself to sleep at night. Hard to picture, huh, snooty Narcissa Malfoy being a homesick little girl? My mother's always been a bit of soft touch for a Slytherin; every time a stray cat shows up, she ends up adopting it--we've got four at home right now--and she ended up "adopting" Narcissa, took her under wing like a little sister until she got used to living at Hogwarts.

So anyway, Mum felt sorry for Narcissa and started inviting her over for tea. She seems grateful that my mother hasn't snubbed her the way her other pureblood friends have; apparently none of her so-called friends want anything to do with her now. She's actually pretty nice when she's not in her "I'm a Malfoy, so I'm better than everyone else" mode. Draco's not so bad either, now that he's been humbled a bit. Sometimes he starts acting all lordly like he used to, but I remind him that I don't have to suck up to him anymore. Though my mum scolded me when she caught me doing that; she said he's going through a hard time and that I should be nicer to him--give me a break! But I guess I do feel sorry for him, what with his dad trying to use him as shield against a Killing Curse. I always envied the Malfoys a little, but not anymore. My dad might not be as rich and powerful as Lucius Malfoy was, but I know he'd never sacrifice me to save his own skin.

So how are you and Theo doing? What's it like, living with Snape and Lupin? I hope Snape's not as scary at home as he is at school. Or was that part of his Death Eater act? It's kind of hard to tell; I guess he was pretty nice to us that night after the battle, when he and Lupin brought us the hot chocolate, though I think that was probably more Lupin's idea than Snape's. Write to me and let me know you're okay, so I know that Snape doesn't have you guys locked up in the dungeon or something, haha! Although since you said Lupin lives in a cottage, I guess it probably doesn't have a dungeon...

Damien

***

Dylan snickered as he read the last paragraph, then hastily stopped and folded up the letter when he saw Snape giving him a suspicious look. "Damien was just asking how we were doing," he said nonchalantly. To distract Snape, he added, "And he says that his mother has been inviting Narcissa and Draco Malfoy over for tea. She feels sorry for them, I guess, since she and Narcissa were friends in school."

"She always was a bit soft, for a Slytherin," Snape muttered.

"Look who's talking," Lupin said affectionately.

"Oh, shut up, Lupin!"

"You can invite Draco over too, if you like," Lupin said, ignoring Snape. "Or any of your other friends."

Dylan and Theodore exchanged a look; they didn't really consider Draco a "friend," but they knew that Lupin would want them to be nice to him. "Yeah, okay," Theodore said unenthusiastically. "We'll invite him over sometime. But maybe just Damien and Blaise to start off with." He wanted a chance to spend some time alone with Blaise, and it would be easier for them to sneak off on their own, perhaps for a walk in the woods, if Malfoy wasn't around.

"Of course," Lupin said agreeably. His left eyelid seemed to drop down slightly in a nearly imperceptible wink--or was Theodore just imagining it? Surely Lupin didn't know that he and Blaise were more than friends...or did he? Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had caught them in bed together the night of the battle, and maybe one of them had blabbed about it to Lupin. Well, Theodore supposed that Lupin was hardly likely to object, considering his own relationship with Snape, but the thought made him a little uneasy.

Theodore quickly finished his dinner and asked, "May I be excused?"

"Of course," Lupin said, and Theo hurried downstairs to write to Blaise. But once he picked up paper and quill, he didn't quite know what to say. There was so much he wanted to tell Blaise, so many things he'd had to keep hidden...he flushed a little, knowing that he hadn't treated Blaise very well at times this past year. He had snapped at Blaise and pushed him away when he inquired too closely about the Death Eaters or Theo's family, but he had only been trying to protect Blaise; he hoped his friend understood that. He wanted apologize to Blaise and tell him how much he loved him, but the words just didn't seem to come out right. He crumpled up his third attempt just as Dylan was coming down the stairs.

"Need help writing your love letters?" Dylan jokingly asked, and Theo hurled the wad of paper at his head. Dylan ducked and laughed, then saw that Theodore really was upset. "What's wrong?" he asked gently.

"Nothing," Theodore said sullenly.

"Aw, come on, Theo, you can tell me. We're friends, aren't we? Brothers, even."

Theodore looked up at Dylan, and his irritation eased. Occasionally, he was a little jealous of Dylan, even though he knew it was stupid, but he was happy to finally have a brother. Besides, it wasn't Dylan's fault that he was "so damn perfect," as Draco liked to say; Theodore's lips curved upwards in a smile, his good humor restored. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.

Dylan just laughed and tossed the crumpled letter into the wastebasket. "You'll have to aim better than that if you want to try out for the Quidditch team next year! You should, you know. You'd be really good at it, and Malfoy's got no power over you anymore."

That thought cheered Theodore up even more. "Maybe I will."

Dylan flopped down on his bed. "So seriously, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Theodore repeated, but less hostilely this time. "It's just...there's so much I want to tell Blaise, about the Death Eaters and my family, and why I couldn't tell him the truth before. Too much to put into a letter."

"So don't," Dylan said, and Theodore looked confused. "I mean, don't put it in a letter. Tell him that you love him and you want to see him, but you can tell him all that other stuff in person when he comes."

Theodore gnawed on the end of his quill thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right."

"So go ahead and write your love letter--" Dylan grinned and Theodore grinned back at him. "--and I'll send it out with Blodwen first thing tomorrow morning." He went over and took his owl out of her cage and let her perch on his shoulder. She made a soft, affectionate hooting sound, and he stroked her feathers and fed her a treat. "Meanwhile, I'll write to Damien and invite him over. And I suppose we'll have to invite Draco over next time, to make Lupin happy. Damien says he's not so bad now." He handed over the letter to Theo, who laughed when he read the last part about being locked up in the dungeon. He picked up his quill and began writing, and this time the words flowed more easily.

***

"You only have one year of school left," Marius Zabini said to Blaise at breakfast. "It's time you started thinking about your future, son."

"With a Healing Gift, even a minor one, you could become a mediwizard," Olivia Zabini said brightly.

"Yes, but I don't know if I really want to go into medicine," Blaise replied. He had done well enough in his healing lessons, but he wasn't sure that it was something he would want to do for a living. Besides, he wasn't exactly squeamish, but he felt like he'd seen enough blood on the battlefield to last him a lifetime. "Professor Snape says that I have a 'scholarly bent,' and that I might consider becoming a teacher, historian, or researcher."

Marius frowned. "Well, I'm not sure that I really trust Snape..."

"He wasn't really a Death Eater!" Blaise said indignantly. "He was spying for the Order of the Phoenix all these years; the Headmaster said so! He's a hero!"

His parents looked startled by his vehemence, and his little sister, Allegra, who would be entering Hogwarts herself this fall, looked very eager and curious; the elder Zabinis had avoided talking about the Death Eaters and Blaise's role in the battle in front of her, and she was just dying to learn more about it.

Olivia saw the look in her daughter's eyes and hastily changed the subject, "Yes, well, I am sure you would be good at those things, Blaise, but a mediwizard earns a much better salary than most scholars..."

Blaise sighed a little, but didn't say anything. His mother was a bit touchy about their financial status, which was just barely above poverty level. They were a little better off than the Weasleys, with their obviously secondhand and hand-me-down clothes and school supplies, but just barely--and only because they didn't have as many mouths to feed. But that wasn't true anymore, come to think of it, now that Arthur Weasley had been promoted to Minister of Magic. And Blaise's parents, though poor, still held onto their Slytherin pride, and he knew how badly they wanted to give their children a better life.

"A researcher or historian is little more than a glorified clerk," Marius said in a slightly offended and haughty tone.

Blaise sighed again; his parents meant well, but what good had pride done the Malfoys and the other Death Eater families? Wasn't it their pride that had gotten them into trouble in the first place, the need to prove their superiority over the Muggle-born and mixed-bloods? But he didn't want to start an argument, so he just said mildly, "Professor Blackmore's father was a researcher, a very respected one from what I've heard, and he was the Lord of a prominent pureblood family."

"Yes, Meredith Blackmore was famous for rediscovering many long-forgotten spells," Marius said, still frowning, "but perhaps he should have left well enough alone. One of his experiments blew up his laboratory and everyone in it..."

"It wasn't an accident!" Blaise said. "Professor Blackmore said that You-Know-Who..." He paused, then forced himself to say the Dark Lord's name. "That Voldemort was behind it."

His parents gasped, and Allegra's eyes grew wide and round. "Blaise!" Olivia snapped in a frightened and reproachful tone.

"He's dead, Mother," Blaise said calmly. "We don't have to fear him anymore. And besides, Professor Lupin said that fear was what gave Voldemort power." It was a little easier to say the second time around. "He was never afraid to call Voldemort by name even when he was still alive."

"I wouldn't pay such close heed to a werewolf's words," Olivia said disdainfully.

"It's thanks to Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons that I'm alive!" Blaise said hotly. "If it hadn't been for the spells he taught us, I might be dead! I certainly didn't learn how to defend myself from Lockhart or Umbridge!"

His parents gaped at him in shock, and Allegra asked eagerly, "What spells did you use? Did you really fight the Death Eaters?"

"Allegra!" Olivia snapped, glaring at her daughter, who opened her mouth to protest.

Blaise shook his head at her slightly and gave her a look that said, "Not now; I'll tell you about it later." Allegra subsided reluctantly and shot him a look that said he had better keep his unspoken promise.

Blaise gave his mother a conciliatory smile and changed the subject. "I'm not really sure what profession I want to go into, Mother, but I promise that I'll think it over very seriously. I still have one year left to decide, after all."

His mother looked slightly pacified. "You are continuing in Potions and Herbology next term, aren't you, dear? They're required subjects for a mediwizard. Even if you're not sure that's what you want to do, you should keep all your options open--"

"Yes, Mother," Blaise replied patiently.

"I thought Blaise was going to take over Daddy's shop one day," Allegra said. Their father ran a secondhand store in Diagon Alley, which certain Slytherins--including Draco--sometimes sneeringly referred to as a "junk shop." Ironically enough, Blaise had seen the Weasleys and Potter in there one summer when he had been helping his father at the shop. He had been working in back, though, and he didn't think that they had spotted him. He smiled a little; he was sure that Ron Weasley didn't know who owned the shop--no doubt he would be horrified to learn that he had been patronizing a store owned by a Slytherin. Percy Weasley stopped by on his own occasionally; he had become a regular customer ever since he had found a used book there called "Prefects Who Gained Power." Percy did realize that Blaise's father owned the shop, but it didn't seem to bother him, and he obviously hadn't considered it worth mentioning to his younger brother. He would even greet Blaise politely if he happened to see him in the store. Blaise had to admit that while Percy was a prig, he was a fair prig. He had never used his authority as a prefect to harass Blaise or any of the other Slytherins, nor had he insulted them the way that the other Gryffindors did almost as a matter of course. He had reported every minor infraction of the rules he came across, regardless of House, but that hadn't mattered much in Slytherin, since Snape was not about to punish his students on a Gryffindor prefect's say-so.

Marius looked uncomfortable; he was not particularly proud of his job, because he viewed it as a step down from the days when his family had been a wealthy and influential family--not quite on par with the Malfoys, perhaps, but certainly equal to the Notts, Crabbes, or Goyles. "Yes, but with Blaise's grades, and a rare Healing Gift, he can do much better than running a junk shop," Marius told his daughter.

"It's not a 'junk shop'!" Allegra said indignantly. "There's lots of great stuff in your shop; they just need a little fixing up, that's all!" She loved sorting through all the "junk" in her father's shop: used books, broken wands, chipped and cracked china tea sets, tarnished goblets and cutlery, and old toys that were stained or torn or missing pieces. Her favorite toy was a black stuffed cat that had been missing one eye and coming apart at the seams, oozing stuffing through several tears on its body. When no one bought it, Marius gave it to Allegra, and her mother had patched it up with a Reparo spell and replaced the missing eye with a blue glass button. This gave the cat a rather mismatched look, since its remaining eye was green, but Allegra claimed that this made it look more mysterious, which was perfect for a witch's familiar.

Her parents smiled indulgently at her. "Yes, dear," Olivia said, "but every parent wants their children to have a better life than they did, no matter if they're a dishwasher or the Minister of Magic."

Marius scowled a little at being reminded that Arthur Weasley was now the Minister of Magic, and that he could no longer look down on his fellow impoverished wizard. But before he could say anything, a brown and white owl flew in through the open window and dropped a letter in front of Blaise.

Blaise recognized the owl as Dylan's. "Hello, Blodwen," he said feeding the owl a scrap of sausage from his plate. She accepted the treat, and a scratch, and seemed to be in no hurry to leave.

"Really, Blaise," Olivia complained, "must that animal sit at the table?"

"Sorry, Mother," Blaise said, coaxing the bird onto his shoulder. "She must be waiting for a reply." He eagerly tore open the letter, hoping that it was from Theo, who didn't have his own owl.

***

Dear Blaise,

Hi, Dylan is letting me use Blodwen to send this letter. It's a little weird living with Lupin and Snape, but they've been really nice to us, even Snape, in his own way. Dylan and I are sharing a bedroom in what used to be the basement; apparently that's where Lupin used to spend the full moon before the Wolfsbane Potion was invented because it's got all these claw marks on the wall! Lupin was a little embarrassed about that, so we covered them up with posters, but I didn't really mind.

You'll never guess who came to visit the first day we moved into Lupin's cottage: Weasley's mother! She brought us lunch, saying that she knew we would all be busy moving in and she wanted to make sure me and Dylan got "a decent meal"! Can you imagine? Weasley's mother, of all people, being worried that we might miss lunch?! I think Snape was a little offended that she seemed to be saying he might forget to feed us! But the funniest part was when she told Lupin and Snape that she thought they would make "wonderful parents"--I thought Snape was going to have a stroke! I don't get it, though; with the way Weasley acts, and the way Lucius Malfoy used to treat Weasley's dad, I figured they would all hate us. But Mrs. Weasley actually seems to like Snape; don't ask me why.

I like it here at Lupin's cottage. It's practically right in the middle of the woods, miles away from civilization (so that people wouldn't hear him howling during the full moon). You'd think I'd be bored, but it's quiet and peaceful. I've already had all the excitement I can stand, and anyway, Snape keeps us pretty busy. Dylan and I help Lupin out around the house, with the cooking and stuff, and Snape has us studying all the time ("You need to prepare for your N.E.W.T.s, Mr. Nott") or helping him make the Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin, which is actually pretty interesting. Making the potion, not studying, that is! But it's not so bad; there's not much to do around here, anyway, and Lupin makes him give us a break every so often. There's lots of room to fly out here, so Dylan and I have been practicing Quidditch maneuvers; I think I might try out for the team when school starts, now that I don't have to suck up to Malfoy anymore.

It's really, REALLY weird around here sometimes--like when Lupin starts nuzzling Snape (I kid you not!) or putting him his arm around him and acting all lovey-dovey. Snape always turns red and acts all grumpy and embarrassed, but Dylan says that it's just an act. I guess he's right, because Snape never pushes him away, and he never turns Lupin into a wolfskin rug, like he's always threatening to do. Like I said, it's really weird! But still, I like it here.

Lupin says we can have friends over if we want; Dylan's sending a letter to Damien, too. I really miss you, and there's so much I want to tell you; too much to fit in this letter. So please say you'll come.

I love you.

Theo

***_

Blaise felt a wide grin spreading across his face. He had been worried about Theodore, but from the letter, it sounded like he was happy living with Snape, Lupin, and Dylan. What pleased him even more was that Theo was surprisingly loquacious in his letter, and that he had said "there's so much I want to tell you." Theodore had been taciturn and guarded for as long as Blaise had known him, even after they became lovers, so he was happy that Theo finally seemed ready to open up to him. In the days following the battle, Theodore had finally admitted that his father had cast a Memory Charm on Blaise during their Halloween outing in Hogsmeade, but he had not wanted to go into detail about it. Blaise suspected there was a lot more to it than that, but hadn't wanted to press for more information when Theo was still looking so pale and haunted and fragile. And on the day before school let out, he had come back to their dorm room with his eyes red and a stunned expression on his face, and had given Blaise two shocking pieces of news: first, that Snape and Lupin had decided to become his foster parents, and second, that his father had murdered his uncle years ago when he was a little boy. Theo had not wanted to discuss his uncle's death; he only told Blaise because he said that the news was soon going to become public when Dumbledore spoke to his uncle's family, and he didn't want Blaise reading about it in the Daily Prophet. So Blaise had remained silent and simply held Theo, trusting that his friend would confide in him when he was ready; now it seemed that his patience had paid off. And that final "I love you" made Blaise smile too; he already knew that, of course, but he still liked to hear Theo say it.

"What are you grinning about?" Allegra asked. "Is it from a girlfriend?"

Blaise quickly folded up the letter and stuffed it in his pocket; he wasn't sure how his parents would react to the news that he had a boyfriend, not a girlfriend. He knew that they expected him to have children and carry on the Zabini name someday as the "heir" of the family, despite the fact that there was little for him to inherit other than that name. "No, silly," Blaise said, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's from my friend, Theo."

"The one who was adopted by Professor Snape along with your other friend?"

"That's the one," Blaise replied, then turned to his parents. "He and Dylan want me to come visit them. Can I go? Professor Lupin says it's all right with him."

His parents frowned at each other. "I don't know," Olivia said. "I'm not sure I like the idea of you going off all alone to that werewolf's house in the woods..."

"Aw, come on, Mum!" Blaise protested. "Lupin's perfectly safe; he has Professor Snape to make him the Wolfsbane Potion, and besides, he's a hero of the war! He and the other werewolves fought against the Death Eaters. And I won't be alone--Damien's going, too."

"Well..." his mother said reluctantly.

"No," Marius said firmly.

"But Professor Lupin is--"

"It's not the werewolf that I'm worried about," Marius interrupted. "Although I'm not really crazy about the idea of you associating with him. I don't want you hanging around with the Nott boy anymore."

"Theo?" Blaise asked, feeling stunned. "But why?"

"He's a Death Eater's son, Blaise!" Marius snapped. "He nearly got you killed!"

"That wasn't his fault!"

"Did he or did he not drag you out in the middle of the night to meet the Death Eaters who were carrying out a sacrifice on the school grounds?"

"That was Draco," Blaise argued. "Theo didn't want to go, either, but Malfoy forced us to--"

"I don't care!" Marius said sharply, and Blaise's heart sank. His father was normally a kind and agreeable man, but when he made up his mind about something, he could not be swayed, and right now he had that stubborn, implacable look in his eyes. "I don't trust him."

"But Father," Blaise argued, "the danger is over. The Dark Lord is dead, and the Death Eaters are all dead or in Azkaban."

"Two of those Death Eaters were his parents," Marius pointed out. "How do we know he doesn't want to carry on their work one day?"

"He's not like that!" Blaise cried out. "Please, Father, you don't know him, so how can you judge him? But I lived with him for six years, and I know he's not like his parents!"

"I did meet the boy a few times at the Slytherin Quidditch matches," Marius reminded him. "He seemed like a sullen, very unpleasant boy to me."

"He only acted like that because he was scared of his father and the other Death Eaters! He's my best friend, Father, I know what he's really like! He's a good person; if you got to know him you'd see that--"

"You are not going to visit him, and that's final!" Marius said sternly.

"Please, just give him a chance," Blaise begged. "I won't go to Lupin's cottage, but let Theo come here for a visit, and get to know him. Give him a chance, that's all I'm asking! That's fair, isn't it?"

His words didn't seem to move his father, but his mother said hesitantly, "Marius, perhaps--"

"No, dear," Marius said firmly.

"Everyone knew, or at least suspected, that the Notts were Death Eaters!" Blaise said. "But you've never objected to my friendship with Theo before!"

"We did not object," Marius said gravely, "because the Notts were an important family, with friends in high places. It would have been dangerous to offend them. But Marta and Thaddeus are now dead and disgraced, and this boy, even if he is innocent himself--and I'm not yet convinced that he is--will only hold you back."

"Hold me back?" Blaise asked numbly.

"From advancing in the wizarding world," Marius explained patiently. "Our fortunes fell, in part because my grandfather made some poor business investments, but mostly because my family chose not to ally themselves with the Malfoys and their ilk. The Malfoys saw to it that no one of importance would do business with us after that, and that is how we wound up running a junk shop and living in this little house instead of working for the Ministry and living in a grand mansion. But it was the right choice to make; Lucius Malfoy and his friends have been cast down, and we are not tainted by association with the Death Eaters. We--or rather, you and Allegra--have a chance to rise up in the world again, to become someone of worth. But that will not happen if you associate with a boy from a disgraced family, if people believe that you were involved with the Death Eaters yourself."

"I don't believe this!" Blaise shouted, clenching his fists in anger. "You want me to abandon my best friend for the sake of power? So I can rise up in the world and become someone of worth? Do you know how much like Lucius Malfoy you sound, Father?"

"I am your father; don't speak to me in that tone of voice!" Marius snapped, but he looked a little ashamed of himself.

"I thought I had something of worth already, Father," Blaise said softly. "I have a family and friends who love me. The Malfoys had power and wealth, and what did that get them? Lucius Malfoy is dead, and Draco has to live with the knowledge that his father tried to sacrifice him to save his own life."

"Of course we love you, son," Marius said, in an equally quiet voice. "We want you and Allegra to have a better life than the one we have now."

"The life we have now is okay," Allegra protested, but in a very subdued voice.

Marius smiled at her a little sadly, and stroked her hair. "Of course it is, sweetheart. I'm able to put food on the table and clothes on our backs. But I want you to have more than the bare necessities; I want you to have a life that is better than 'okay'." He turned back to his son. "I don't want you living as a pauper and an outcast."

"But--"

"Your loyalty to your friend is touching, but only a Gryffindor can afford such high-minded ideals," Marius said.

"I don't care about--"

"Our house was attacked while you were at school," Marius said, and Blaise stared at him in shock.

"Marius!" Olivia cried. "We agreed not to tell him--"

"He needs to know," Marius said grimly. "He needs to know the dangers involved. Tensions were running high this past year, ever since the Death Eaters broke out of Azkaban. People began attacking Death Eater sympathizers--"

"But we aren't sympathizers! You just said that we lost our fortune because we wouldn't join the Death Eaters!"

"We are Slytherins, and to the ignorant masses, that is the same thing as being a Death Eater sympathizer. There was a great deal of vandalism, and a few beatings--"

"What happened?" Blaise asked anxiously. "Were you or Mother or Allegra hurt?"

"No," Marius replied. "But there were threats made, graffiti written on the house, a rock thrown through the window..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Blaise asked in dismay.

"We didn't want to worry you," Olivia told him. "There was nothing you could do, and we wanted you to remain at school where you were safe."

"Where we thought you were safe," Marius muttered, recalling how Blaise had gotten involved in the final battle.

"It's all right," Olivia assured her son. "No one was hurt, and Dumbledore actually sent some people to put protective wards on the house and the shop. I must admit, I didn't expect that, but we were very grateful."

"Not so surprising in retrospect, I suppose," Marius mused. "My father used to call him a bleeding heart liberal; he always stuck up for the underdog. He hired that werewolf teacher and got the Wolfsbane Potion distribution program started, after all..." Then he shook his head slightly, as if reminding himself to get back to the subject at hand. "So you see, Blaise, it is for your own good that I'm forbidding you to see this boy--and the Rosier boy, too, for that matter."

"But Father--" Blaise argued, knowing it was useless.

"I don't want to hear another word on the subject, Blaise," Marius said sternly. "My mind is made up."

"Yes, Father," Blaise whispered, and ducked his head so that no one would see that his eyes had filled with tears. He reminded himself that he and Theo would be separated only for the summer; his parents could not stop them from seeing each other at school. But right now, those three months seemed like an eternity. He pushed back his chair and rose from the table.

"Where are you going?" Olivia asked, looking concerned.

"I've got to write Theo and tell him I can't come visit him," Blaise said bitterly. "I can at least do that much, can't I?"

"Finish your breakfast first," Marius said, in a gentle voice.

"I'm not hungry," Blaise snapped, and left the table; his parents didn't try to stop him. He headed to his room, slammed the door, picked up his quill, and then hesitated. Theo had already been hurt enough; he didn't want to hurt his lover further by telling him that his parents had forbidden him to see Theo because he was a Death Eater's son. On the other hand, he couldn't evade Theo for three months without arousing his suspicion. He decided to invent a plausible excuse to put Theo off for now, and hope that he could persuade his father to change his mind, although he knew that wasn't very likely. He chewed on the end of his quill for a moment, then dipped it in the ink bottle and began to write.

***

Damien sent a note via his family owl that said: "Are you kidding? Of course I'd love to come over! I'm really curious to see where Lupin lives, and what he and Snape are like together at home! Would this weekend be okay?" Dylan and Theodore grinned when they read it.

"He says he can come this weekend, if that's all right with you," Dylan told Lupin.

"That's fine," Lupin said.

"What's taking Blodwen so long?" Theodore asked fretfully as they cleaned up the breakfast dishes. "Shouldn't she be back by now?"

"Maybe Blaise is writing you a long reply," Dylan said, winking at him. Just then, Blodwen flew in through the open window. Theodore eagerly took the letter she was carrying and opened it.

***

Dear Theo,

I would love to come to visit you, but I can't right now. I promised my father that I would work in the shop during the summer. He runs the store all by himself during the school year, so I try to help him out during the holidays. Business has been good--which is great on one hand, because we need the money, but on the other hand, it doesn't give my dad much chance to take a break. I can't really get away right now, but maybe I can come see you later in the summer.

I'm really sorry; I promise I'll make it up to you later. I miss you, too--I can't believe how much I miss you when you've only been gone for a couple of weeks. But I am glad to hear that you're doing okay, and that Snape has been treating you well.

There's a lot I want to tell you, too. I promise we'll have a long talk when we get together. In the meantime, please keep writing to me. I love you.

Oh, and by the way, I think trying out for the Quidditch team is a great idea. Say hi to Dylan for me.

Love,
Blaise

***

Theodore stared at the letter, the expression on his face changing from elated to crestfallen. It wasn't just that he was disappointed Blaise wasn't coming, although he was. There was something off about the letter: it was brief almost to the point of being curt, and the casual tone seemed a little forced, somehow. And he knew that Blaise normally helped his father in the shop when he was at home, but he hadn't thought they were so busy that Blaise couldn't get away for one day...

"Is something wrong, Theo?" Lupin asked gently, a look of concern in his blue eyes.

"Uh, no, Professor," Theodore said hastily, folding up the letter and sliding it back in the envelope. "It's just that Blaise says he can't come; he has to help his father in the shop."

"Shop?" Lupin asked.

"That junk--er, secondhand store in Diagon Alley," Snape replied. "Zabini's father owns it." Then he frowned. "It seems odd, though, that he can't get away for just one afternoon..."

"Blaise says that things are busy in the shop right now," Theodore said quickly, not sure whether he was trying to convince himself or Snape. "But maybe he can get away later. He'll let me know." Despite his words, he felt a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. Maybe Blaise didn't want to see him...no, he didn't really believe that; he took out the letter again and glanced at the words "I love you," to reassure himself. But maybe Blaise's parents didn't want him associating with the son of two Death Eaters...

"Would you like me to talk to his parents?" Lupin asked.

"No!" Theodore said quickly; if there was a problem, he suspected that would only make it worse. "No, it's okay, Professor--"

"Remus," Lupin reminded him with a smile.

"It's okay, Remus," Theodore said. "Really. I'm sure he's just busy. His dad works hard at his job; he runs the store alone, and he doesn't get to take time off unless Blaise is there to help."

"It's good of Blaise to help out his father," Lupin said, still smiling. "He's a very responsible boy. Very well; tell him the invitation is still open, whenever he has some free time. Perhaps the next time Severus or I need to run errands in London, we could stop by the shop to say hello."

"That's not really necessary," Theodore said nervously. He didn't really want to confront Blaise's father; what if he threw them out of the shop, or simply said outright that he didn't want his son hanging out with a Death Eater? As long as he didn't know for sure, he could keep pretending that everything was all right, that Blaise was just busy, and he would stop by later in the summer as he said in his letter. Snape, Lupin, and Dylan all gave him looks of mingled concern and suspicion, and he added, not very convincingly, "I mean, we don't need to make a special trip just for that."

"I need to consult with the lawyer on the progress of our petitions," Snape said, "and I should pick up some more aconite to replenish what we used in the potion this week. So I do need to go to London in the next week or two, anyway." His voice was casual, but his black eyes were staring at Theodore intently. "We could make an outing of it, the four of us. Perhaps stop by the Sakura for lunch?"

"That would be nice," Lupin said cheerfully. "And Fortescue's for dessert."

"Can we stop by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?" Dylan asked.

"If you must," Snape groaned reluctantly.

Lupin laughed. "We can stop by Mr. Zabini's shop along the way, and see if he can let Blaise off for an hour or two to have lunch with us."

"Uh...okay," Theodore said weakly, seeing no way he could reasonably object, not without voicing fears that he would rather not speak aloud right now. "Is it all right if I go for a walk?" he asked, wanting to be alone for a little while.

"Of course," Lupin said. "Just make sure you're back in time for lunch."

"Yes, sir."

"Want some company?" Dylan offered.

"No," Theodore said curtly, and left the cottage, slamming the door behind him.

Lupin's cheerful smile disappeared and a wrinkle furrowed his forehead as he frowned. Theodore had finally been opening up to them, finally beginning to heal from the damage his parents had inflicted on him over the years. His smiles had grown more frequent of late, and Lupin thought that even his tears--such as the ones he had shed over Rafe in the Nott mansion--were a good sign, because it meant that he trusted them enough to share his secrets, felt secure enough to be vulnerable in front of them. So he was troubled to see Theodore reverting back to the sullen, gloomy boy he had been in school; he hoped that it was only a temporary setback.

Snape was concerned as well, although he showed it in a different way. He crossed his arms and stared at Dylan sternly. "Is there some trouble between Mr. Zabini and Mr. Nott that I should know about, Mr. Rosier? Or trouble with the Zabini family?"

"Not that I know of, sir," Dylan replied honestly. He wondered uneasily if his guardians knew that Theo and Blaise were more than friends, and whether he should mention it to them. Could Blaise and Theo have had a fight? No, that didn't make sense; Theo clearly hadn't expected any trouble until he read the letter, and besides, Blaise had been very protective and solicitous of Theo after the battle, right up until school ended. Could Blaise's family not want him to visit them, perhaps because of their connection with the Death Eaters, or maybe because Lupin was a werewolf? Of course this was all pure speculation...

While Dylan was debating whether or not to voice his theories, Snape said, "Very well, then, Rosier. Don't you have something you should be doing right now?" His tone of voice made it clear that even if he didn't, Dylan had better find something to do.

"Yes, sir," Dylan said quickly. "I need to...ah...work in the garden."

Lupin smiled a little, although his eyes still looked worried, as Dylan darted out of the cottage. "Perceptive boy; picks up on hints readily."

"Of course," Snape said, so proudly that Lupin chuckled. "He's not one of your thickheaded Gryffindors." Then, in a more serious voice, Snape said, "There's something odd, about the letter, and Theodore's reaction to it. I have seen Blaise working in his father's shop, but Marius Zabini is fond of his children, and he doesn't strike me as a slave driver; I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't let his son take a day off. And Theodore's disappointment about a friend being unable to visit seems a little out of proportion, though I know he doesn't have many close friends..."

"A lover's spat?" Lupin suggested lightly.

"What?!" Snape exclaimed. "Nott and Zabini? Are you sure, Lupin?"

"Reasonably sure," Lupin replied calmly.

"Did they say something to you?" Snape asked, still looking puzzled and a little stunned.

"They didn't need to," Lupin said with a smile. "Honestly, Severus, I would expect a sly Slytherin like you to be more observant!" Snape glared at him. Lupin continued patiently, "Didn't you notice, at the Yule Ball, how Theodore paid more attention to Blaise than his own date? Or how Blaise looked a little wistful while he watched Theo dance with Millicent?"

"No, not really," Snape said, looking rather chagrined.

"Well, I suppose you were too busy arguing with Branwen and blasting apart rose bushes to notice," Lupin laughed.

"Hmm," Snape said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose that would explain why Theodore took the risk of confiding in me when Blaise was in danger..." Then he said to Lupin in a deliberately haughty voice, "But this is all speculation, of course. You don't have proof of this so-called relationship, do you?"

"Do I need any?" Lupin asked, cocking his head to one side as he tried to figure out what Severus was getting at.

"It's against school regulations for the students to be having sex with each other, Lupin," Snape said bluntly. "Of course it's impossible to regulate teenage hormones--that's why we have separate dormitories for the boys and girls. Although it doesn't seem to have occurred to our dear founders to take into consideration same-sex relationships..."

"I would think the lack of privacy would put a damper on that," Lupin said with a grin. "Though you and I found ways to work around it..."

"The Slytherin dorms have only two people to a room," Snape interrupted, a faint smile crossing his lips. "And Zabini and Nott are roommates."

Lupin blinked in surprise. "Really? There are four or five to a room in Gryffindor."

Snape grinned. "It's probably because so many of the wizarding elite are sorted into Slytherin, and the parents don't like the idea of their precious little brats being 'herded like cattle' or 'housed in barracks'--or at least, that's the impression I got from talking to some of the older teachers and the parents. There are too many students to give them all single rooms, so apparently they compromised on doubles. Although Lucius did insist that I give Draco a room of his own, and I wasn't in a position to argue. I suppose I should make him take a roommate now, but he only has one more year left, and it seemed like adding insult to injury on top of his father's death..."

"Softie," Lupin said, kissing him on the cheek.

"Cut that out, Lupin!" Snape huffed, but he couldn't quite hold back his smile. "Anyway, getting back to Nott and Zabini...as their Head of House, I would be obligated to separate them if there were evidence that they were having a...shall we say...personal relationship." He raised an eyebrow and gave Lupin an expectant look.

"No, there is no evidence, only my personal speculation based on a few glances at the Yule Ball," Lupin replied smoothly. "Upon further thought, it might only be my overactive Gryffindor imagination."

"Good," Snape said. "Then there's no need for me to take any action. However, hypothetically speaking...could this imaginary relationship be the cause of Mr. Nott's distress?"

Lupin thought it over. "I don't think so. They seemed very close, right up until school let out. I didn't sense any trouble between them." He frowned again. "If Blaise's parents found out about the boys'...ah...friendship, would they be the type to object?"

It was Snape's turn to frown. "I don't know them well, but probably, at least if they thought it would deter Blaise from getting married one day. He is the son and heir of the family, after all. As poor as they are, the Zabinis still cling to their pureblood pride; in fact, they're downright touchy about it sometimes, perhaps because that pride is all they have left. Or maybe they just don't want Blaise associating with two sons of Death Eaters. Then again, it could be you and I that they object to--our scandalous relationship, or simply the fact that you are a werewolf and I a former Death Eater."

Lupin smiled sadly. "Well, I hope it's just you and I; then perhaps they wouldn't object to Theodore visiting Blaise at his home, even if they don't want Blaise to come here. What should we do, Severus? Should we talk to Blaise's parents?"

"No, I don't think so," Snape replied slowly as he considered the question. "At least, not yet. It could be nothing; perhaps Marius really does need his son's help at the shop. Let me see if I can pick up any rumors first. If that fails, we can stop by the shop as you suggested, and try to gauge his reaction. I don't think he'll be outright rude to me, since I'm his son's Head of House, and Blaise's future depends in part on the grades I give him, but I'm sure I'll be able to pick up on any hostility he might have towards myself or Theodore."

"That sounds reasonable," Lupin conceded, "but I don't like seeing Theodore so unhappy."

Snape shrugged. "Nor do I, but at worst they'll only be separated for a few months."

Despite his worries, Lupin grinned at his lover. "Don't you remember what it's like to be a teenager, Sev? A few months, even a few weeks, can seem like forever..."

Snape said solemnly, "Yes, I remember." The short time that their romance had lasted had passed by in a flash, while the days after they had parted had seemed to pass at a torturous crawl. He pulled Lupin into his arms and kissed him. "I love you, Remus."

"I love you, too, Severus," Lupin said tenderly, then glanced around. "I'm not sure how long the boys will be gone; perhaps we should continue this in private..." He took Severus by the hand, and his lover willingly followed him to the bedroom.

Part 4