Christmas Day has arrived at last! Today I'm going to give you a piece of one of my fanfictions, one that is set in the Harry Potter fandom. It's part of a longer story, but this chapter, which is set at Christmas, can stand alone. I'll post the whole story, Second Chances, another time. I hope you enjoy it - my gift from me to you.
First, though, I wish to bid everyone a Merry Christmas, and to count my blessings for the people in my life. To my kids, whom I love more than anything, and who are the most amazing children, although they are each grown now. I love you very much and I'm very proud of you. To my friends - you know who you are - you are my strength and my support and I cherish the time we spend together. To my authors, the ones I've been privileged to edit for - many thanks for allowing me into your special worlds, you all hold a special place in my heart. To everyone else in the world, for although I may not know each and everyone of you, we are all related in a brotherhood that goes beyond mere genetics, and I wish you all happiness, peace, and love.
Merry Christmas to you all.
O Holy Night
"Sirius!"
Remus was exasperated with his lover and tired of explaining himself for the
umpteenth time. "It's only for a couple of days and I'll be back well
before Christmas!"
Sirius thrust out his
lower lip in his usual pout. He was never happy to see Remus leave overnight
for Order business, but the timing of this trip seemed especially unfortunate.
He wanted to be with his lover on Christmas—their first one together in years—and
all the werewolf's assurances that he would be back in plenty of time did not
comfort the distraught Sirius. "Why don't I come with you then?" he
asked, grasping at straws.
Remus rolled his
eyes, not deigning to even dignify that with an answer—it was far too absurd to
consider.
"Is Tonks going
with you, then?"
"No, I told you—I’m
going alone. Tonks is busy with something else."
"What about
Moody?"
"NO, Sirius, I’m going alone, and that’s
that!" Remus finished putting the last few things he needed into a bag,
zipped it up securely. He looked at Sirius, and his heart contracted at the
sight—he really did look so sad, how could he resist? He drew the animagus to
him, wrapped his arms about him gently. "I'll hurry home to you, love, I
promise. We'll be together on Christmas, this one and every other one for the
rest of our lives. This I promise." He pressed his lips against Sirius'
tenderly.
Sirius sighed
heavily. He knew there was nothing else he could do but accept it. But it
didn't mean that he had to like it. He wound himself around Remus as if he
never meant to let him go, pressing him down upon the bed, rubbing against him
suggestively. "Do you have time to make love to me?" he whispered
softly into his ear, and of course Remus couldn't resist him, so he left a
little later than he’d planned, but with a happy smile on his lips.
After Remus'
departure, Sirius decided rather than sit about moping to make himself useful
and plan a special Christmas for #12 Grimmauld Place. He sent a carefully
worded owl to Harry, full of enthusiasm, inviting his godson, as well as Ron
and Hermione, to spend this first Christmas with him and Remus. And another one
to Tonks, which he requested she forward to the Order members on his behalf.
He searched through
the basement for all the Christmas ornaments he could find, dusting them off
and polishing everything until it shone. He forced Kreacher to go out for a
fresh tree, which he did, not without a great deal of grumbling, which of
course set off Mrs. Black—the shrieking shrew—but Sirius ignored her. He set up
the tree in a prominent place in the living room, decorated it lovingly with
the ornaments he had stashed away a long time ago when he and Remus had lived
together after graduation, and carefully set candles about the branches. When
he found the small wolf ornament—the first one they’d ever had—he couldn't help
but smile at the memories it brought back of their first Christmas in their own
home. He set it on the tree where Remus couldn't fail to see it.
He was humming
happily to himself when he heard the door open and the sound of quick
footsteps. Looking up, he saw Harry ente the room, and Sirius smiled at his
godson most cheerily. "What a surprise! I didn't expect you this soon.
Where are the others, then?" He hugged Harry as he spoke.
Harry returned
Sirius' hug, trying not to crush the present in his hands. But then he drew
back, and his eyes didn't meet the other man's, and he seemed almost guilty.
"The others aren't coming, Sirius, that's why I'm here."
"Not
coming?" Sirius frowned. "Is something wrong, Harry? Is there some
sort of problem?"
"No, not at
all," Harry reassured him, "but… well.... Ron's parents already
invited us all to the Burrow, and we already accepted. In fact, I'm on my way
there now. I just wanted to give you your present…" Harry's voice trailed
off. He could see the disappointment in his godfather's eyes. "I'm sorry,
Sirius, I really am."
"It's okay,
Harry," Sirius said, covering up whatever he might have been feeling.
"You go along and have a good time." He nodded cheerfully.
"Why don't you
join us there?" Harry suggested. "You and Remus? I know Molly and
Arthur wouldn't mind in the least?"
Sirius shook his dark
head regretfully. "I’d love to, but Dumbledore has let me know in no uncertain
terms that I'm not to stir from here for the moment. Not even to the Burrow,
I'm afraid. So Remy and I'll just stay here and have a quiet Christmas
together. It's been a long time, you know."
"Okay, if you're
sure." Harry felt guilty about leaving Sirius like this, but what could he
do? The demands of being in a relationship! "Where is Remus now?"
"He's off on
some Order business. He'll be back in a day or two," Sirius replied.
"Would you like
me to stay ‘til he gets back?" Harry asked, hesitantly.
Sirius heard the
hesitancy in his voice. "No, no, that's silly." He refused the offer.
"You go ahead and join Ron and the others. I'll be fine. I'm used to being
here alone. I'm a big boy, Harry." He laughed, his patented Sirius laugh,
which was almost a bark.
"Well, if you're
sure," Harry said. "The house looks great, by the way."
"Thanks, Harry."
Sirius smiled. There were still the members of the Order, he thought to
himself.
Until Tonks came and
told him that everyone, herself included, had already made other plans that
couldn't be broken. "Wotcher, Sirius," she said softly, as she sat
with him in the warm kitchen, drinking hot chocolate that he made for her
shortly after her arrival. "You know I would, but I already promised Mum
and I can't very well explain to her that I'm going to see you instead.
Especially since she'd tell Aunt Cissa and she'd tell her creep of a husband.
Who knows who it might get to that you're here? We can't risk that, you
know." She patted his arm gently as she spoke.
Sirius nodded,
suppressing a sigh. "It's okay," he said, "just come back some
time after Christmas, will you, and say hello?"
"Of course I
will!" Tonks hugged him warmly. "Want me to stay ‘til Remus gets
back?"
"No, I'll be
fine," Sirius reassured her. "He should be back tomorrow anyway.
There's lots here to keep me busy, you know."
Tonks laughed.
"You know, you could even pick up a book and read it. Just for fun."
"You sound like
Remus now." He scowled.
"Is that so bad?
Remus is a very smart man." Tonks replied.
"I know that.
And for your information, I do read, so there," and he stuck out his
tongue most childishly.
Tonks stuck hers out
in return, laughing at her cousin. "Don't worry, I'll be back," she
reassured him.
But Remus wasn't back
the next day. Or the day after that.
Worried, Sirius owled
Dumbledore and received a terse message in reply, telling Snuffles that there
was no information available at the present time, and not to stir. Sirius'
first impulse was to go looking for Remus—but not having any clue as to where
he’d gone rather put a damper on that notion, not to mention that if Remus
returned to find him gone, there’d still be hell to pay, regardless of the
reason.
He took to prowling
the house restlessly by day, pacing from room, unable to sit still, as if by
doing so, something bad would happen to Remus. So he remained in perpetual
motion, wearing himself out during the course of the day. And by night, he kept
a vigil in the living room, where he could watch the front door, waiting for
Remus to enter it—and not wanting to sleep alone in their bed.
It wasn't until the
fifth day that Remus was overdue that the front door opened at last. Sirius
jumped up at the first sound of its creaking, anxiously racing toward his
lover, only to find that the dark figure which enteredwas that of Severus
Snape, not Remus. Until he looked again, and found that the still figure with
him, slumped over Snape's shoulder, was indeed Remus.
"Snape, what
happened?" Sirius cried in alarm, following the potions master as he
silently made his way upstairs, to the room which he knew they shared, gently
placing Lupin on the bed. The werewolf's eyes were closed, and he appeared to
be sleeping, but he was even paler than usual, and his breathing was extremely
shallow.
"It was lucky
for Lupin that I happened to come across him," Snape said, in an even tone
of voice, "or Merlin knows what else they might have done to him. He had
the misfortune of being caught by a couple of Death Eaters who were anxious to
try out a new potion of the Dark Lord's, and they made him their victim.
Luckily I convinced them that I would torture him even more for them, and give
them the credit before their master, so they were content to allow me to take
him. I knew you'd be worried, so I brought him here, rather than
Hogwarts."
"Thank
you," Sirius said awkwardly, sitting next to Remus on the bed, and taking
his hand worriedly. "What kind of potion, what's wrong with him?" he
asked anxiously. "What do we need to do to bring him out of it?" He
glanced at Snape, concern written on his face.
"I'm not
sure," Snape admitted, frowning. "Something to do with personality,
maybe. Or maybe something far worse. I have some ideas, but I need to get back
to the dungeons to implement them. In the meantime, he is in your hands. I'll
return as soon as possible." And without waiting for any sort of response,
Snape flew from the room and out of the house.
Sirius gazed at the
pale face of his lover—so beautiful, it made his heart ache—and he wished there
was something he could do. But even he had to admit that potions were not his
forte, and never had been. He stroked his cheek softly. Remus stirred slightly.
Feeling hopeful, Sirius bent down to whisper in his ear, hoping perhaps the
sound of his voice might rouse the wolf from his slumber, "Remy? Remy,
love, it's me. Wake up, Remy, please.....?" But to no avail. Remus
remained still, giving no sign of having heard the other man's voice.
Sirius felt
incredibly hopeless. Could he trust Snape to actually help them? He knew very
well how much the dark wizard disliked them both, and had for years. Would he
be able to put aside those ancient grudges long enough to find a cure for
Sirius' stricken lover? Which feeling was stronger—the hatred and enmity of the
angsty teenager or the vanity of the potions master to show off his knowledge?
Sirius sincerely hoped that it was the latter.
Tenderly, he removed
Remus' cloak, laying it on a chair nearby. When he moved it, something fell
from the pocket, which he stooped to retrieve. It was a small package, neatly
wrapped with great care, with no clue as to its contents. Sirius set it back
into Remus' pocket with a shrug. That didn't matter at the moment. Nothing else
mattered but bringing his wolf back to him. He carefully undressed him so that
he’d be more comfortable, covering him with the soft comforters that graced
their bed—the ones Remus was always making fun of him for, because Sirius
insisted that he couldn't sleep when he was cold and kept several comforters on
the bed year round. He’d been that way in their youth as well. Which had always
been his excuse for having Remus sleep with him—the need to huddle against him
and keep warm—although Remus wasn't entirely convinced that was true, but went
along with it because he wanted to press up against Sirius in the night as
well, a protective arm thrown across his lover's body as they slept peacefully
together. James and Peter were none the wiser, of course. They cast privacy
spells to prevent unwanted intrusion, and rumpled the bed of whichever one they
didn't sleep in. It took Lily to point out the obvious to their two roommates,
deliberately catching them in flagrante delicto one day, to their great chagrin
and embarrassment. Sirius smiled to himself at the memory. James had pretended
to be shocked, until Lily had told him to stuff it. Peter had been his usual
self, going along with everything once he realized which way the wind blew.
That was Peter—never an original thought, or action—going along with the crowd.
Damn his fucking soul anyway, assuming he even had one.
Sirius never moved
from Remus' side, sleeping in brief snatches here and there, mostly focusing
his attention on the silent werewolf beside him, willing him to awaken. But he
didn't, never moving, never giving any indication, other than the gentle rise
and fall of his chest, that he was even alive. Sirius laid his head down on
that slender chest now and then, just to reassure himself that he was indeed
breathing, his dark curls spreading out over him. If Remy were awake, he would
stroke those curls—he always loved to play with Sirius' hair. Once Sirius had
teased him by suggesting that he might want to cut his hair, and Remus had
gotten the most anxious expression of dismay on his face, until he realized
that Sirius was only joking. To get even, he told the animagus that he’d cut
his water off if he cut his hair off, and the two of them had wrestled around
on the bed, until they grew weary of the foreplay and went directly to the main
event—and made sweet sweet love between them for a long long time.
Late the next day,
Snape returned, but only for a moment, and with nothing to suggest. He sat by
the lycanthrope's bedside, observing him as Sirius anxiously watched. "Do
you have any idea of what they might
have used?"
"Yes, as I told
you before, but I can't be sure, so I have to be cautious. If I use the wrong
ingredient to counteract what they have done, the results could be
catastrophic!" Snape snapped.
Sirius swallowed his
next words, not wanting to fight with the man who was his only hope for waking
Remus.
"Has he said
anything?" Snape asked, looking from one wizard to the other.
"No, not a
word," Sirius said, running his fingers through Remus' tawny hair. Not a
movement did he make. Snape made a few notes on a small piece of parchment,
before leaving again without another word.
Several days went by
in this way. Worried that his lover wasn't able to eat, Sirius sat him up a few
times a day, and held a potion to his lips—one which Snape gave him to ensure
that he would not waste away—and watched as his lover swallowed reflexively,
making sure he didn't drink too fast or choke. As if he were feeding a baby, he
tenderly cared for him, never leaving his side.
When James and Lily
had gotten married, Sirius had been their best man, and how he and Remus had
danced at the wedding! Sirius had gotten happily noisily drunk and had to be
carried home by a bemused Remus. Along the way, he’d managed to get sick,
throwing up all over his lover and the road as well. Remus had tenderly cared
for him, cleaned him up, and made sure he got back to their house safely,
tucked him in and rubbed his upset stomach, watching out for him all through
the night when he showed signs of being ill. And never once complained. Tears
came to Sirius' eyes. He loved Remus so much that it almost hurt. It was such a
physical thing between them, as well as a spiritual connection. A bond that could
never be broken.
It was a week before
Christmas now. Not that Sirius was paying attention to that—what difference did
any of that make? Each day that passed was another day that Remus was deeper
under whatever spell had been laid upon him, and Snape had once mentioned that
wasn't a good thing. So he watched, and he worried—and he didn't sleep, and he
didn't eat, ‘cause nothing mattered to him, nothing but the silent man in the
bed beside him. Without him, his life wasn't worth living. Without him, Sirius
just didn't give a great big shit.
Six days before
Christmas, Snape returned with a potion which he gave to Sirius to give to Remus.
Remus swallowed it obediently, making no fuss. Carefully the two men watched
him for several hours, to await the effects—but nothing happened. Snape notated
this clinically on his little parchment before leaving once again, and once
again Sirius silently waited beside his dormant lover.
Sirius wondered what
was going on in his lover's mind as he slept—what dreams, perchance, if any?
His own mind wandered to the twelve years that they’d been separated—the years
of his imprisonment in the hellhole that was Azkaban. He’d had to hide every
happy thought he had, deep inside where the dementors could not find them—take
them away from him—and they were all of Remus, and their times together.
There was the one
night in January of their fifth year—damned cold it was, he would never forget
it. He’d lost a bet to James—something stupid, he didn't even remember what it
had been. The price he’d paid for that was that he’d had to streak around the
castle in the middle of the night. This was even before he and Remus had been a
couple—before he’d realized that he was in love with his best friend. Poor
Remus had known, though, and had to suffer the agony of watching the boy he
loved running around naked, and not only that he’d patiently held his clothes
for him. How devoted he’d been, even then. Sirius couldn't help but smile at
the memory.
He thought that he
heard Remus moan, and hurriedly bent down to listen, but nothing had changed.
Remus slept on, silently, barely breathing. Sirius sighed, tears forming in his
eyes at the thought that he might lose him. He brushed his lips softly over
Remus'—nothing. And so he continued to wait.
Three days before
Christmas, Harry arrived. Sirius looked up in surprise when his godson walked
into the bedroom, his green eyes filled with concern.
"Harry, what are
you doing here? I thought you were at the Burrow?"
"I was, but I
found out what's going on and I wanted to be here with you and Remus,"
Harry said. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Thank you,
Harry, all we can do is wait." Sirius smiled. "You should be with
Ron, you know, you promised him after all. I can always owl you if there's any
change."
"No way I'm
leaving," Harry shook his head, and at that moment, Ron Weasley himself
came into the room.
"I'm so sorry
about Remus, Sirius, is there anything we can do?" he asked, concern all
over his face.
"Thanks, Ron,
Harry, I appreciate your being here, really," Sirius said, touched.
"Right now all we can do is sit and wait."
"We can manage
that," Harry said with a smile, and Ron nodded his agreement. "Where
else would we be, but with you two?" And the two boys settled themselves
into a chair, arguing over who would sit on whose lap. Sirius smiled to himself
at the sight. There’d never been any question of just who was the dominant one
in their relationship—that had always been Remus, for he was the alpha male,
though few realized it, assuming that the more flambouyant Sirius took that
role—but that's not the way it was, and never had been.
They’d been best
friends from the first time they met, but it took Sirius four years to figure
out that he also loved him, while Remus knew it right away, and had to hide his
feelings for those same four years. But even before Sirius knew he loved Remus,
he’d spent most of his waking time with him in one way or another—seeking him
out at every turn. He told him everything and sought his approval for
everything. It was as if in some subconscious way he knew that they belonged
together, whether his conscious mind knew it or not. And when his feelings for
Remus finally did come out—well, that was a night that neither one of them
would ever forget.
Sirius was glad for
the boys' presence. They insisted that he not fuss over them, and managed well
for themselves, but he refused to let them sleep in that chair, shooing them
off to one of the spare rooms instead. He never left the bedroom, though,
refusing to leave Remus' side, watching his lover intently, all day and all
through the night.
Two days before
Christmas Tonks came, barreling into the bedroom with her usual enthusiastic
presence, tempered by concern for Remus, and for her cousin. "Any
change?" she asked hopefully, and was saddened to see Sirius shake his
dark head. She hugged him silently, her eyes going over the still form of the
former DADA professor. "Don't worry, Sirius, he'll be fine," she
tried to reassure him, patting his arm. But her eyes reflected her deep
concern.
The day before
Christmas, Molly and Arthur Weasley appeared, with the rest of the Weasley clan
in tow—Ginny and Fred and George and Percy, as well as Hermione, whom they’d
run into at King's Cross Station. And Mundungus showed up after them. And
Hestia Jones. And Mad Eye Moody. They all camped out at #12 Grimmauld Place,
holding a sort of vigil in the living room, as there were far too many of them
for the bedroom. Harry and Ron became the liaisons between those upstairs and
those downstairs—but there was never any news to tell, and it was a saddened
group that faced the approach of Christmas.
It had been several
days since Snape had last been there, and Sirius was beginning to wonder if
perhaps he’d found something—or given up. He thought about owling the potions
master, but Harry talked him out of that, assuring his godfather that if there
were any news, Snape would bring it, and that he was working diligently on the
problem. Sirius listened, biting at his lower lip thoughtfully. And bided his
time. But Remus seemed to be growing weaker, and was showing no signs of coming
around, and Sirius was becoming even more worried. He hadn't slept in days, not
properly, or eaten either. It was only at Molly's insistence that he was made
to eat something after her arrival. She’d taken over the kitchen and was in charge
of preparing proper meals for everyone. And she adamantly refused to listen to
Sirius when he said that he wasn't hungry, so he had no choice but to eat. But
his heart wasn't in it, and he still ate little of it.
Christmas eve
arrived. Tonks offered to light the candles on the tree, but Harry smilingly
took the matches away from her and did it himself, even as Ron muttered
something under his breath about not needing to have the house set on fire. The
gentle glow of the candles reflected the gaily wrapped presents which were
piled beneath the tree, awaiting the advent of Christmas morn to be opened. It
was a somber silent group which sat in the living room, talking quietly amongst
themselves sporadically, and waiting. For something. Anything.
Snape ignored them
all when he walked into the house. He was exhausted himself, had been pushing
himself ever since he first began working on the problem. His reasons were
complex and multilayered, and they were his own. Ignoring the crowd assembled
in the living room, he went directly upstairs, to their bedroom. Sirius looked
up at his entrance. "Have you brought something?" he asked, not
seeing a vial in the potion master's hand.
"No, I
haven't," Snape said, wearily. His dark eyes bored into the other
wizard's. "I'm still working on it, but I think it's only right to tell
you that… it doesn't look good for Lupin. As long as he's been asleep now, I'm
afraid…" and his voice trailed away, but it was obvious what he meant to
say.
"No!"
Sirius said fiercely. "No! I refuse to accept that!" And he looked as
though he might actually attack Snape. Harry, who was half-dozing nearby, made
a move to run interference between the two men. But Sirius turned wearily away
instead, and missed seeing the compassionate look that Snape gave him.
The potions master
turned to Harry. "Can you please try to explain to your godfather what I
am trying to tell him, so that he will be prepared for the worst?"
Harry nodded mutely.
"I am going to
try to do what I can, but I don't know… I just don't know… " and without
another word, he swooped from the room, black robes billowing.
Harry walked up to
his godfather and put a compassionate hand on his shoulder. "Sirius,"
he began, gently, but Sirius would have none of it.
"NO!" he
moaned, "I won't give up, I'll never give up! Remus isn't going to die, he
can't die… he just can't..." And his blue eyes swam helplessly with unshed
tears, as he turned toward the silent form of his lover.
Harry patted his arm
helplessly, not sure what to do or say. He wasn't as confident as Sirius was—hopeful,
yes, but sometimes common sense dictated that bad things did happen, even to
good people—and he thought that Remus J. Lupin was one of the best people he
knew.
"Why don't you
and Ron go to bed, it's late?" Sirius said, trying to recover himself.
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to be alone, with Remus…."
"Sure, Sirius."
Harry understood. He motioned to Ron and the two boys quietly left the room,
heading downstairs to join the vigil in the living room. Tonks looked at them
as they came into the room, but they merely shook their heads, and the room
fell silent once more, all thoughts turning to the compassionate werewolf, and
praying for his welfare.
At exactly the stroke
of midnight, the ancient clock began to chime, which surprisingly did not set
off the harpie that was Mrs. Black. Everything was completely still, and no one
felt like saying Merry Christmas.
Upstairs, Sirius
watched his sleeping lover, feeling the time draining away, every precious
minute, every second… and he felt completely helpless. He remembered all the
times that they’d made love while at Hogwarts, hiding from all the others in
order to keep their love secret—in the broom shed, behind the green house, in
the astronomy tower, on the quidditch field—anywhere and everywhere. He could
never get enough of Remus, and he was forever touching him. He relied on him,
he depended on him—he needed him. At least, while he was in Azkaban, he knew
that Remy was still out there, living his life. This was different. He couldn't
go on without him; he didn't want to go on.
He couldn't stop the
tears now, they fell from his eyes in a steady stream, as he lay his head on
Remus' chest, holding tight to his lover, feeling completely and utterly
helpless to do anything to save him. "Please, Remy, please, Remy,
please.." he kept repeating, over and over like a mantra, "come back
to me, come back to me, come back to me. Need you, need you, need you." He
knew that if anything happened to Remus, his life might as well be over too. He
wouldn't be able to bear it without him.
At first he didn't
feel the soft hand in his hair, it was so weak, but then he heard the
low-modulated voice, weak but audible, "Don't cry, Siri, why are you
crying, love?"
He raised his head
and was confronted with the sight of those beautiful amber eyes looking at him
with concern.
"Remy?" he
gasped, "Remy?" and he began to cry even harder, but now with joy.
"Shhh, shhh,
Siri." Remus tenderly stroked his lover's beautiful curls.
"I've been so
worried about you," Sirius cried, holding tight to his beautiful Remus,
"I was so afraid that you were going to leave me, I couldn't stand
it."
"Sirius, why
would you think that?" Remus asked, confused, as he made an effort to sit
up without dislodging Sirius.
"Don't sit up, lie
still," Sirius insisted, "’til I make sure you're okay. You've had us
all worried, you know. You've been sleeping for two weeks."
"Two
weeks?" Remus frowned, trying to make sense of what Sirius was telling
him.
"Yes, two weeks,
love, two very long weeks." Sirius half-laughed, half-cried.
"What day is
today, then?"
"It's Christmas
day, love," Sirius said, kissing him softly.
"Christmas day?
Damn!" He made a move as if to rise, but Sirius held him back.
"Where do you
think you're going? Stay put, wolf boy," he admonished him.
"Where is my
cloak?" he asked, "the one I was wearing?"
"Don't worry,
it's here," Sirius reassured him. "I took it off myself."
"In the pocket.
A present," Remus said softly. "Get it, please?"
Sirius reluctantly
got up from his position, kissing Remus' lips once more, before finding the
cloak in question, and feeling about in the pocket for the object he’d found
there previously. He returned with it to Remus, holding it out in his palm.
"Is this what you were looking for, Remy?" he asked.
"Yes,"
Remus smiled, "Merry Christmas, love."
"For me?"
Sirius asked, surprised.
"Yes, you."
"But I didn't… I
mean, I haven't… I don't know what to say," he stammered.
"Just open it,
Sirius." Remus laughed.
Sirius did as he was
told—sometimes he could be an obedient pup—and inside the package he found a
ring.It was a simple gold band with two diamonds in it. On the inside of the
band was engraved in a fine script—To Sirius, love always, Remus.
"Remy!"
Sirius was taken aback. He’d never expected anything like this. "It's
beautiful!"
"Do you really
like it?" Remus' eyes gleamed as he watched his lover.
"Yes, I do, very
much."
"Here, give it
to me," Remus reached out one hand, and Sirius laid the ring into it.
"Now, give me your hand." Sirius complied, and Remus slid the ring
onto the ring finger of Sirius' left hand. "There," he said,
"this ring is my promise to you that I love you now and I will love you
forever. And you are mine forever."
"Yes,
yours," Sirius said happily, admiring the ring on his finger; it felt so
very natural. "Someday you and I will be married, Remy, I promised you
that, remember?"
"I remember,
love," Remus said with a soft sigh, lying back down, his limited strength
spent. He held out his hands to Sirius and held his lover against his chest
once more, stroking the soft curls, both of them very content.
Little did they know that
as they lay there together, the others came up, one by one, to each see for
themselves that Remus was indeed all right, (which had started when Harry had
come up to check on them only to discover that Remus had awakened), smiling at
the sight of the two lovers, and tiptoeing back down again, where they all
opened their presents and wished one another a very Merry Christmas.
Remus and Sirius
talked a little longer, until the werewolf had some inkling of what had
happened during his missing two weeks, and what his lover had been through. He
continued to stroke him gently until the exhausted Sirius fell asleep at last,
and for a little while, Remus kept watch over him, until he too fell back to
sleep, a natural sleep this time, and they were both very happy. And all was
right with the world once again.
Until next time, take care!
♥ Julie
