One Last Chance

It was three days after he had lay outside with Remus when Severus found himself patrolling the corridors once again. After that night, he had gone back to ignoring Remus. He was now ignoring him as well. It almost bothered him that the man no longer tried to talk to him every chance he got. That he was no longer following him around the school, trying to get him alone. He hated to say it, but he missed him.

He now had to fight the urge daily to go up to the man and kiss him right then and there. He had came to terms with the fact that he wanted him, bad. He had also came to terms with the fact that they could never be together. He wouldn't put Remus through the kind of hell he had put Lily through. He wouldn't let Remus ruin his reputation if word ever got out that they were together.

Hell, he wouldn't ruin his own reputation if word ever got out. He couldn't be viewed as the soft hearted boyfriend of Remus Lupin's. He had to be viewed as the cold hearted Potions master who was forever alone in his misery.

Severus was about to turn around and begin patrolling the corridor below when he suddenly heard a shuffling noise. He whipped around, squinting into the darkness, and could just make out a figure moving toward him. "Lumos Maxima." He whispered, hoping to catch the person off guard so they didn't have time to run. The light shot from the tip of his wand and he looked up to see who he'd caught out of bed. Only it wasn't a student, it was Remus Lupin.

Neither of them said a word, just looked at each other for a moment. He couldn't stand the way the other man was looking at him. Like he wanted to just grab him and never let go. He had to get the hell out of there. "Nox." He muttered as he turned to go, but felt a hand grab his robes, preventing him from doing so.

"Remus." He began. He couldn't do this. Didn't the other man understand that? He gasped in shock as Remus, stronger than he looked, pushed him up against the wall.

He tried to push the man off of him, but it was no use. Remus was stronger. Much stronger. It probably had a lot to do with him being a werewolf. "Remus. I can-" He was suddenly cut off as the man pressed his lips against his neck. He didn't have to respond. He didn't have to let this continue. He could just push him away right now, when he was least expecting it. He was about to do so when he felt a warm sensation spread throughout his entire body. It felt good. Really good. He couldn't let this continue, though. He had to throw the man off of him.

He could hardly think as the man began sucking and biting at his neck. Everything was forgotten as Severus let his arms slip around the mans waist and Remus stopped working on his neck, staring at him in shock for a moment before grabbing his head and crashing their lips together.

He kissed back with as much force as he could, not caring that his lips were bruising in the process. Not caring that the force was hurting him like hell. Not caring that he had already promised himself that he wouldn't get involved anymore than he already was. He was kissing Remus. Really kissing him. Fireworks were exploding in his head, he could hardly think.

He let his tongue graze over Remus's lips, asking for access. It was granted to him and he felt the other man moan as his tongue clashed with his. Severus felt himself grow hard at the sound of Remus's moan and he ground their crotches together earning even more moans from Remus. Their tongues fought for dominance, Remus winning in the end. Severus didn't care if he was the one in control anymore. As long as Remus never stopped kissing him.

They continued to kiss like that, time slipping by. They didn't care that they were in the middle of the corridor. They didn't care that it was the middle of the night. They didn't care that they were both out of breath. Nothing else mattered at the moment except each other which is why they didn't hear the figure approaching or see the wandlight. "Oh!" A surprised voice gasped at the sight of them.

The two men sprang into action, jumping apart from each other at once. Severus could feel a blush on his cheeks and anger pouring throughout his body. Who the hell had interrupted them? He looked around and saw Potter standing there, his jaw slightly dropped. Of course it was him. He was always strutting about the castle when he wasn't supposed to be. "Harry? What are you doing walking around at this time of night?" Remus asked. The boy didn't answer, just hung his head. "Off to meet Mr. Malfoy, perhaps?" He heard himself say.

He didn't know what made him say it. He didn't think that he'd been on his way to meet Draco at all. Potter may be a rule breaker, but he was smart enough to use his invisibility cloak and that map of his when doing so. He was out for a completely different reason and he wanted to know why. Although, he didn't feel bad for exposing his secret with Draco. Expecially after what he had just walked in on.

"N-no." He was surprised to hear his voice shaking. He stole a glance at Remus who hadn't seemed to understand his comment. Hearing Potter breathing hard, he took a good look at him and noticed that the boy had been crying recently. His eyes were blood shot and his nose was running. He looked like a mess. "Harry what happened?" Remus asked. "I g-got k-k-icked o-out." It took a minute for Potter to get the sentence out correctly as he had begun crying and gasping for air as he talked.

It was then that Severus noticed the boy had his trunk, broom, and owl cage with him. "Come on." He said, casting a hover charm on Potter's posessions. The other two gave him a strange look before following. He led them down to his quarters, where the portrait granted them immediate access. He instructed Potter to sit and beckoned Remus to follow him into the kitchen.

"What did he mean he got kicked out?" Remus asked in a hushed whisper. Severus ignored his question for a moment as he bustled around the kitchen, making them all tea. "He had all of his stuff with him." Remus observed. He glanced over and saw the mans eyes grow wide. "Oh no. You don't think...he got kicked out of Gryffindor tower?"

Severus had to try not to roll his eyes at the mans realization. It wasn't that hard to figure out. "That's exactly what I think." He said, coming to stand next to Remus as he waited for the tea to finish stirring itself. "But why?" Remus asked, looking very troubled. He was pretty sure he knew the reason why.

Severus could have told him right then and there, but he thought he should at least give Potter the chance to explain to Remus before spilling his biggest secret. "I think you had better let him explain." He said, briefly laying his hand on his shoulder for a moment before picking up the tea and heading back into the sitting room.

He was glad to see that Potter had managed to regain some of his control and was now taking sips of his tea, trying to calm himself. He decided not to push the boy into talking about what had happened and waited a good fifteen minutes for the boy to speak. "They kicked me out of Gryffindor tower." He informed them.

"They found out about something. Called me names and said I was no longer welcome there. They went up to my dormitory and took my stuff. They threw it outside of the portrait hole and told me to get out. Hermione and Ginny tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen." He finished.

Severus felt bad for him, he truly did. He had endured years of torment throughout his school years, but they had never gone as far to kick him out of his own dormitory and they were Slytherins. It was even more shocking that a group of Gryffindor's would do it, expecially to the Boy Who Lived.

He mentally scolded himself for being so mean. He knew the boy didn't like to be referred to as that. "What did they find out Harry?" Remus asked him gently. Potter just shook his head no, refusing to speak about it. "Tell him or I will Potter." He threatened him.

He watched as the boys eyes widened in horror at the prospect of him knowing. "B-but how do you..." "How I know isn't any concern of yours at the moment. Tell him what they found out Potter." The boy just miserably stared at him for a moment before beginning to speak.

"I'm dating Draco. I have been for almost four months now. We've been keeping it a secret from everybody because we knew what it would be like if people found out. Well tonight, after dinner, we met in the Quiddich pitch for a wile. Dean Thomas saw us kissing and told the whole tower. They called me horrible names. Called me a traitor. Told me to go join the Death Eaters. The only one's who would help me were Hermione and Ginny and they wouldn't listen to a word the two of them said. Even Ron turned on me. I don't know what I'm gonna do." His voice broke at the end and he buried his face in his hands again, fresh tears coming on.

Remus jumped up and walked over to Potter, pulling him into a hug. Severus just sat back and watched, thankful that Remus was there with him. He didn't know what he'd do if he was alone with Potter. Certainly not hug him. "They said it matters that I'm gay. That I'm gross. I guess they're right" He heard Potter whisper to Remus. He wanted to go smack the shit out of every single one of those Gryffindor's. He hated homophobic people. Hated them. He always had, even before he realized he was attracted to men. It was never wrong to love somebody.

He jumped in surprise as Remus sprang apart from the hug and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. "Don't let me hear you say that ever again." He said roughly. "You know that it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter to the Weasley's. It doesn't matter to anybody who visited Grimmauld place the summer before Sirius died. Speaking of Sirius, how would it make him feel to hear you say that? How do you think it makes me feel? Hell, how do you think it makes Severus feel?"

He stirred at hearing his own name. How dare Remus mention him. Potter didn't know about his sexual preferences. Oh wait, he'd just caught his other godfather and his Potions teacher making out in a corridor. "To hell with those people who judge you. If you love Draco and he makes you happy, then you have my blessing." Remus released him.

Severus felt Remus sit down beside him as he continued to watch the boy. He could tell he wanted to say something. "How did you know about Draco and I?" He asked him. Severus sighed. He really didn't want to have to go into this. "I saw you one night in the Owlery." He watched as the boys eyes widened, but then he looked confused.

"You saw us.." He said slowly as if trying to piece something together. "You saw us and didn't bust us. You let us be." Severus felt heat rise in his cheeks. He didn't know what to say to that. He didn't want Potter to think he'd gone soft. Or Remus for that matter. He decided to ignore the boys comments. "You need to sleep for a few hours. All of us do. Come on, you can stay here for tonight." He stood up, showing Potter into the spare bedroom.

Potter looked down right shocked that he was allowing him to stay there. The boy had saved his life, it was the least he could do for him. Also, he didn't really mind Potter that much anymore. He had noticed a huge change in him over the past few months. He seemed more mature. He was respectful at all times and didn't goof off in the corridors anymore. He had become a man. War does that to people. Forces them to grow up too quickly. Changes their personalities. Hell, he was living proof. He knew he had changed. For the better.

He closed the door behind him and saw Remus standing there. "Come on let's go to bed." He watched as a hint of surprise passed over the wolfs face. Ignoring it, he turned and began walking to his bedroom, not checking to see if Remus was following him or not. He wanted Remus to stay, but he wasn't going to beg him like a puppy dog. If he wanted to stay, he would follow him. Sure enough, he had been.

Severus pulled his robes off over his head, letting them fall to the floor. He looked up and saw Remus watching him remove his clothes. Embarassed, he turned away, pulling his pants and shirt off. He turned the lights off with a flick of his wand and lay down in his boxers, waiting for Remus to join him.

He felt the bed sink as Remus lay down next to him. Severus couldn't resist sweeping him over with his eyes as he was wearing nothing except for a pair of grey boxers. He wanted to tear them off of the man, but he resisted. Something was troubling him. Something he had to ask. "So everybody knew about you and Black?" He asked, not daring to look the man in the eyes.

"Quite a few people did, yes." Remus replied, obviously surprised at the question. "Oh." He said, disappointed. He was hoping that hardly anybody had known about the two of them. Then he wouldn't have to worry about Remus wanting to tell people about their relationship. If they even had one. He didn't know at this point.

Severus did know that he would be willing to start one with the wolf if he wanted it as well. He couldn't deny his feelings any longer. He didn't want to deny his feelings any longer. "I'd..I'd prefer if nobody were to know about...about us." He said, gestering between the two.

He looked up, expecting him to look angry. The man had a smile on his face, though. "So there's an us now?" Shit. Why had he said us? Now Remus would feel like he had to be with him. Would feel like it was some sort of obligation or something. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "I mean..if you want there to be." He stammered out. What the hell was wrong with him? Severus Snape didn't stammer.

He felt a hand cupping his chin as he turned his head to look into his eyes. "I have never wanted anything more in my life, Severus." At his words, Severus melted. He had never had somebody care about him like this. Not even Lily. She had loved him, no doubt, but she had never looked at him in this way before. Like he was the only thing that mattered. "I haven't either." He whispered.

He truly meant those words. No one had ever intrigued him in this way. No one had ever captivated him so easily. No one had ever broken his walls down so easily. He kind of didn't like the fact that he was showing himself to Remus. He didn't want to seem soft. He didn't want to seem weak. He also didn't care at the moment.

He pulled away from the mans gaze and lay down on his side, never breaking eye contact with him. He reached his hand up and brushed Remus's bangs out of his eyes. He felt an arm slip around his waist and he leaned into the embrace. "Goodnight Sev." Why did everybody always use that as a nickname for him? Oh well, he didn't really mind it when Remus said it. "Goodnight." He whispered as they fell asleep together, both more content then they had been in years.

Severus woke early the next morning just as the sun was beginning to rise. He had never been a late sleeper. He felt like he was missing out on things if he wasn't the first person up in the entire castle. Turning over, he couldn't help but smile at the sight of the man sleeping next to him.

He looked so peaceful as he slept. One arm was underneath his head and the other had slipped off of his back as he'd turned over to look at him. The sun was shining through the window, making the man mumble in his sleep.

He couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled the first time Remus had entered his quarters during the day. The sun had been shining through one of the many windows, bright as hell. Remus had jumped back in shock as he looked at the window. "There's a window." Severus had rolled his eyes at the obvious statement before explaining to him that Dumbledore had done a form of very complicated magic, making it so the walls were higher off of the ground and the sun shone through.

He looked down at the werewolf one last time before slowly sliding out of bed, not wanting to wake him up. Severus showered and dressed in his usual black attire, deciding to make breakfast for the two of them. Actually, the three of them.

He had forgotten Potter and the night before for a moment. He wondered where Minerva was going to have the boy stay now. She surely couldn't send him back to Gryffindor tower. Not after they'd kicked him out and humiliated him. He quickly scolded himself for caring as he turned back to the bacon he was frying.

He was halfway through cooking the eggs when he heard somebody stumbling quite loudly throughout the house. He hoped it wasn't Potter. He might not hate the boy anymore, but he certainly didn't want to be alone with him. The kitchen door swung open to reveal Remus looking very disheveled.

His robes were hanging off of him in a weird way. His hair was stuck to his forehead and sticking up in some spots. He looked cute like that. Cute? Severus almost slapped himself as the thought ran through his mind. He didn't call anything cute. Expecially not other human beings.

"Coffee?" Remus croaked and Severus pointed at the pot on the counter, watching as Remus stumbled over to it. He looked half dead as he poured himself a cup. "He must be one of those people who can't function until they have caffeine in their system." Severus thought to himself as he watched him down two cups before pouring a third and sitting down at the table.

He finished cooking and sent the food to the table with a flick of his wand. Remus looked more alive as he sat down next to him, wondering if he should wake up Potter or not. He decided to let him sleep. He needed it after what he had experienced last night. "Oh my god this is amazing Severus." Remus informed him. He flicked his wrist as if to say that it was nothing. "No seriously. I never knew you could cook this good." The other man continued.

He felt a blush creeping up his neck at the compliment. "Yeah well there's a lot you don't know about me yet." He hadn't meant to add the yet part, it had just slipped out. Hopefully Remus didn't read too much into it, but he probably would. He was a Gryffindor after all. He looked up to find Remus beaming at him. He had said the right thing for once.

They finished eating in silence. It was soon time to go to the Great Hall and at least pretend to eat something. It would appear suspicious if both Remus and himself didn't show up. "Should I go wake Harry?" Remus asked. "No let him sleep." He said, surprising himself and Remus from the look on his face.

He walked Remus to the door. They had decided he would go first then Severus would wait five minutes before beginning his walk to the Great Hall. "Thank you for breakfast." "It was no problem." He muttered. The other man lay a hand on his shoulder for a moment before turning to go.

He couldn't help but feel a great wave of disappointment wash over him at not being touched in a more romantic form. "Remus." He said, making the man stop with his hand on the door knob and turn to look at him. He didn't know what made him gain the balls to do it, but he walked over to the man and kissed him.

He got a weird sensation in his stomach that he couldn't explain as he kissed him back. The kiss was short, only lasting for mere seconds, but that was enough for him. "Have a nice day." Remus whispered, their foreheads touching. Before he could even reply, the man had left through the door.

Severus waited five minutes before beginning his walk to the Great Hall. He paused for a moment before pushing open the great oak doors. He began walking, his cloak billowing out from behind him, giving death glares to the younger students surrounding him. He had given up on frightening the older students as they were so used to his behavior by now. He stalked his way up to the staff table, taking a seat in between Remus and Minerva.

"Good morning Severus!" Minerva said a little too brightly for it being so early. "Morning." He grunted back to her. He grabbed some toast and poured himself a cup of tea, still full from a few minutes ago. Remus, he noted, was eating a full plate of eggs. Did he have a bottomless pit for a stomach?

He caught the mans eye, willing himself not to smile. He broke eye contact to scan the Slytherin table. Draco wasn't there yet. He really hoped the Gryffindors wouldn't make a scene when he showed up.

Sure enough, his worst fears were confirmed a few moments later as Draco entered the hall. He hadn't taken two steps before Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnagan, and Ron Weasley had stood up. "Oy!" The Weasley boy called over to the Slytherin table. They all turned to look at him. Some in shock and some in disgust. "Did you know Malfoy's fucking Potter?" Severus watched as their eyes widened and they turned to stare at Draco. He heard a gasp from Minerva on his left and felt Remus digging his nails into his thigh on his right.

Draco had frozen and was now looking back and forth between the two tables, waiting to see what would come next. "That's fucking disgusting." Pansy Parkinson called out. He doubted she really thought that, seeing as he had heard rumors of her having sex with an older Ravenclaw girl a few years back. The little bitch was just jealous that Draco didn't want her.

"Traitor!" "Faggot." "Don't bother coming back to the common room!" People were yelling so many things at him. Severus watched as Draco turned and fled the hall. Not caring that people were staring at the two of them, Remus and Severus both jumped up and began walking toward the exit. "50 POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN AND GRYFFINDOR!" He yelled as he stomped past the two tables and out the door.

They spotted Draco beginning to climb the staircase, heading toward Gryffindor tower he assumed. "Draco!" He called out. The boy stopped dead in his tracks, glaring at him. He hadn't expected anything less. The boy probably thought he was there to scold him. To belittle him. To make fun of him even. "Come with me." He ordered him. Remus was already walking toward the dungeons and was long gone by the time he convinced Draco to come with him.

By the time they arrived, Potter was already standing in the living room. "Draco!" He called as he ran forward and flung himself at the boy. He immediately broke down into tears and began telling Draco everything that had happened the previous night. "Those bastards! I'll fucking kill them. Just wait till I get my hands on them!" He released Potter and tried to make his way through the door. "You will do no such thing Draco." Severus told him, coming to stand in front of the door. "Go sit in the living room." He ordered and watched as he came to sit next to Potter, taking him in his arms again.

Severus quickly made the four of them tea as he came to sit in the armchair next to Remus. "What's he doing here?" Draco suddenly asked as if noticing him for the first time. Severus opened his mouth to answer, but shut it again as he saw Potter whispering in his ear. "So are you two together?" He asked.

What the fuck had Potter told him? He didn't want to know. He just hoped it wasn't far from the truth. Remus turned to look at him, silently asking him if it was alright for him to tell them the truth. He nodded in confirmation. "Yes we are." Remus answered for him. He waited for the boys to make a comment or protest. They didn't, though. Just stared at them for a moment before nodding.

He cleared his throat so they all turned their attention to him. "I would appreciate it if you kept this to yourselves." He would appreciate it? What the hell was wrong with him? He should be scaring the shit out of them right now, telling them he would skin them alive if they told a single soul. "We will." They promised and Severus believed them. After all, they had kept their own relationship a secret for months. They knew the importance of it, expecially after what had happened in the past twelve hours.

"I'm going to go to Minervas office and see what can be done about their living arrangements." Remus informed him. He nodded and watched as Remus exited the room, wondering why the hell he didn't just use the Floo.

The minutes crept on and he made conversation with the two boys. They weren't actually that bad to talk to when they were being their true selves, not the image they had to maintain. Remus was soon back, the headmistress following behind him.

"So we've came to two different options." Remus stated, wasting no time in getting down to business. "One, they can lie." Lie? What the hell was he talking about? Dean Thomas had caught them kissing by the Quiddich pitch. It was pretty obvious they were together. "They can each tell their houses that they were leading each other on. Harry could say he wanted to break Draco's heart to get back at him for his parent's actions and Draco could say he wanted to break Harry's heart to get back at him for his parent's being in Azkaban."

What kind of a plan was that? A stupid one. A very stupid one at that. He obviously wasn't the only one to think so as he heard the two boys begin to protest. "No way in hell." Draco said, slipping his arm tightly around Potter's waist as Potter nodded in agreement.

Severus had to agree with what Draco said. That was a bullshit plan. The two would be even more miserable than before. They would also have to end their relationship. He hated to admit it, but he could tell they were in love. He waited patiently for the next option, hoping it was a much better one. "The other option is that you two would live here, with Severus." No such luck.