| Current mood: |  surprised |
Moony Arrives
Remus Lupin -stepped up quietly, hands clasped behind his back, dusty black patched robes falling around his lithe and very thin frame. As always he looked horriby tired, his wavy auburn hair greyed, prematurely at the temples. There was a lopsided smile upon his face that shined through his amber eyes.- Hello Sirius...-he said in a quite voice.-
Sirius had smelled him approach, but just barely over the aromas coming from the cauldron steaming before him over the fire. A smile crossed his face, causing the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes to show all that more. He stirred the cauldron, then slowly turned to look over his shoulder behind him. "Hello Remus.... Fancy seeing you in this neighborhood..." he said a low, rumbling tone. His pale eyes roamed over the dishevled form of his former schoolmate.
May I? -He motioned to a position near Sirius.- I'm exhausted...-without the invitation he took a few slow steps forward, his arms dropping down to his sides, his fingernails were slightly dirty, as if he had been digging in the dirt. He had a few scratches over his hands. However he did not sit, He merely stood peering over the cauldron- What is that?
Sirius inclined his head toward the ground near where he was crouched, and a smile crossed his face. "Please, have a seat old friend." he said softly, then lifted a ladlefull of the steaming soup up and blew across it gently, then smelled the aroma before offering it to Remus. He held his free hand under the ladle to catch any drops that might fall on Remus or his robes. "Here, have a taste." he whispered, "But mind the heat on your tongue...."
-a look of ravenous hunger passed over his face for an instant, he smiled before he crouched down. He leaned closer, placing his hand slightly under the one Sirius had held up to catch the drops, and sipped from the spoon closing his eyes. After which he smiled, those amber hues drifting open slowly- Thank you, Sirius....it smells, and tastes quite wonderful....when did you become the chef? -there was a playful muse to his voice, and a slightly impish glitter in his eyes. He pressed his hands to the ground before he sat, canting his head to one side-
Sirius smiled with pride at the compliment to his cooking, and reached for a small bowl to fill. When it was filled three ladles full, he handed it to Remus, letting his hand brush over Remus' as he passed it over. "I am sorry, I don't have a spoon. See, I am not the perfect gourmand yet old friend..." he said, then winking at Remus, he glanced beyond him to the house, then back into those amber colored eyes.
-He took the bowl gently- A spoon is not needed; and I thank you again, my dear friend.....-he smiled brightly, taking a deep breath of the steam coming from the bowl- I hope I am not intruding upon your home, friend...I would hate to be in the way at all...-he glanced back over his shoulder twoards the house that Sirius had glanced towards.- I assume that you are living a semi-peaceful life, now? -he tipped the bowl to his lips and began to sip, as quietly as possible, at the broth in the bowl-
Sirius grinned, then leaned his head to one side, then to the other, "Well, as peaceful as one can living with Master Snape in the Manor...." he said, chuckling softly, then summoned another bowl with the wave of his wand, and poured himself a bowl as well. He sniffed the bowl, then summoned a loaf of bread and some wine as well. "To your health Remus Lupin..." he said lifting the bowl up to his friend, then setting to sipping from it.
Severus, is it? -an almost regretful smile passed over his features. He managed a gentle laugh- I'm afraid, Padfoot, my friend, my health is not the best thing to drink to....as I have found myself in more trouble than I'm worth, I believe.....It seems everywhere I manage to find myself my reputation as a horrible monster preceeds me, and each town wishes to throw a rope over a treebranch and hang me......-he swallowed back the last of the soup in his dish hungrily, and set the bowl down, folding his hands carefully in his lap.- But....enough about me....let me see...ahh... I am happy for you and Severus, however....I dosay it was the last person I thought you would have a relationship with...-a bemused smile passed over his lips.-
Sirius looked over the rim of his bowl at his friend, and then set it aside, hearing the sad tale. He reached a hand out to touch Remus' knee, and gave him a brave smile. "What can I say firstly about Severus? Opposites attract. Hate becomes love. Jealousy becomes respect." he said, seeing the look of loss and pain in Remus' eyes. "But know this... any house I am welcome in, so shall you be too." he continued with a soft nod of his head. "I will speak to Severus, and see what I can arrange." he promised, then refilling the werewolf's bowl, he handed it to him again. "Here, eat your fill. I daresay you are twenty pounds light from the look of you." he said, then tore off a hunk of the bread to add to the stew.
RLupinMoony: -he seemed to grow slightly restless, shifting just slightly- I do hope that Severus won't get upset at my being here. I can't say that I've talked to him since I was last teaching at Hogwarts....I can't say I've held a job since then either....-he thought a moment, quietly- I've been away so long...I didn't wish to intrude upon anyone....but....out of us all...you are really all I have left....with...James gone...and...-he sort of stared off past Sirius- then Peter.....but I digress...-he smiled once more- do tell me....-he leaned forward picking up the bowl- I haven't eaten in days....-he furrowed his brow and glanced up- Oh...Sirius, don't go to the trouble....It might agitate Severus....I don't want to be any trouble....-he waved a hand- tell me how this....hate to love relationship came about...I'm interested
Sirius laughed easily at that, "Severus is agitated ALL of the time, it just fluxuates between what level he is currently at." he snorted, then sipped at his soup again before continuing. "It's a long, odd story Remus. He didn't know it was me he had fallen for when it started.... I was in disguise as the boy, remember?" he said softly, then sipped at his soup again draining the bowl easily in three long swallows. He then swabbed at the remains with a section of the bread.
RLupinMoony: -nods a bit, swallowing back the bowlful of soup in three or four gulps. He covered his mouth, and a smile, before he wiped the corners of his lips with his fingers; he glanced then up to the sky. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.- two weeks....-another pained look crossed his face, and he looked back down, over towards Sirius, before he placed his hands close to the fire under the cauldron.- I hadn't realized you were even close by...I smelled the soup first, honestly....I was so bent on practicing my "begging for a bowl" speech, that I was only a half-mile away before I realized it was your scent mixed with the aroma of the soup...came as quite a surprise, I assure you...-he shifted once more, looking down towards the fire...-
Sirius looked at his friend for a long moment, then slowly leaned over, and nuzzled his nose into Remus' long hair, pressing his nose to the soft spot of skin just behind his ear and rubbed there for a moment. He sniffed several times, taking in the scent of his dear friend and former lover, then slowly he pulled back. "You still smell like forest and earth Remus." he said in a voice low, and at the same time suddenly tensed with choked back emotions. He then looked away. "You shouldn't be begging for food Remus. I can set you up in a place to live... Help you out." he offered, then shook his head, he knew how noble Remus was, he would never agree to charity. "I have more that I can ever use..." he added lamely. Severus did actually. Sirius was well off, no doubt, but Severus was Nobility Rich. It made you wonder why he bothered to teach.
RLupinMoony: -a pained smile crossed his face, and he sucked in a breath at the gesture.- I shouldn't have left....I suppose I'd still have you if I didn't....-he stopped then, with a soft sigh- I do not want to impose...and I doubt that Severus would enjoy having me around...I might actually pose a threat to him in some minor way....since we were....-he waves a hand, and then looks back to the fire.- Do you ever feel.....lost, Sirius? not....location wise...but....just...empty....-he glanced up and then shook his head- no no...I don't suppose you do...-he smiled, looking over his shoulder to the house- You have a home, and a loved one....-he looks back over, tilting his head to the side a bit, and leaning back on his palms to look up to the sky- I feel so...empty....-he takes a breath- as if I've lost parts of me that I'll never get back....and it's hollowed me out inside....I feel...guilty...as if it were my fault they're gone, and I don't even know what it is I've lost....-he looks over to Sirius.- I suppose it doesn't make any sense.... I think I'm going mad.....
Sirius was watching Remus closely, listening to his voice. Sure, he felt the emptiness, the loss of James, Lily and all the others pained him, but he had moved on, selfish as it may be. He had seen to Harry, now graduated and at a University, Voldemort vanquished, and he bound to Severus. If there were cold and empty spots in his soul, he did not dwell on them. He ignored them, or drank them down. "I am fine now Remus. I miss the ones that are gone, the ones WORTH missing, but I've... moved on in so many ways." he said, trying to explain, knowing it wouldn't be enough.
I....find myself sitting in the forest for most of the time....watching things pass me by....thinking of everything that I've lost...everything I've given up.....You....James....and Peter were my only friends back in school....and the only reason anyone else was remotely kind to me was because of you all...You all became Animagi....for me....and I've always felt that I owed you something in return....and I don't think I've ever been capable of returning that gift....the emptiness I feel is something I can't get rid of because it haunts me.....nags at the back of my mind....I had a job...for a year...-he smiled slightly- the longest I'd ever held one you know.....It felt so good to be back at the school again...and.....and then seeing you....it was....as if I weren't the monster that I am....as if I were normal.....-his voice was slightly strained- of course...Severus was still angry with me...I'm sure he still is.....how could I stay after he mentioned to everyone.....the students of what I was? I'm sure the owls poured in with letters of concern for the children....so I left....
I wasn't there for James and Lily.....I wasn't there for you......I left the school.....and you again.....-he sighs heavily- and I feel so guilty....because I know I've brought it on myself.....I couldn't come into your life, and ruin what you have with Severus...because I feel that is what I would do.....
Sirius looked at his friend with sad eyes, he seemed to be on the edge of tears or whining sadly like the dog he was, or both. He placed his hands on Remus' shoulders, and looked him in the eyes, giving him a brave smile. "We can forget all about debts Remus. Life is too short to carry debts." he said giving Remus a gently shake, and feeling the bones of his shoulders on his underfed frame. "I will find a way for us to help you. I will not having you living under a bridge begging for scraps. Not even Severus in his most foul of moods would wish that upon you, on anyone. He's changed." he said, then grinned sheepishly, "A bit. I mean, he's still Severus, but he's... tempered a bit with time, with having me around. I daresay I have been an influence on him, in a good way." he said, voice brightening a bit. "Let me set you up in the Gate House, for tonight, and I shall talk to him about it tonight."
-His shaking hand pressed over his dear friends, and he sighed softly.- I will stay one night, if it is truely your wish, Sirius; but I fear that I would be only trouble if I stayed much longer than that...-there was a pain in his voice that he was trying to hide that reflected in his eyes. He drew his hand away quickly, and clasped his hands in his lap; looking back towards the night sky.-
Sirius smiled triumphantly. He was glad Remus had agreed to stay, that had been the easy part. The hard part lay ahead, convincing Severus this would be a good and kind thing to do. He gave Remus a wink as he began to gather up his cooking utencils. He covered the cauldron and would leave it to simmer while he took Remus to the Gate House, and get him settled before Severus returned home. "Come on Moony," he said offering him a hand up. "Let's get you indoors and settled." he said in a jovial tone.
-His gaze averted from the sky towards Sirius. His hand grasped Padfoots, just long enough to pull himself up from the ground, he then drew his hand away; quickly, as if he were afraid he might damage something priceless. His eyes glanced around quickly, and he then began to figit slightly, fingers toying with a loose thread left over from mending a tear in his cloak. He glanced towards Sirius, and followed quietly.-
Sirius kept looking over at Remus and grinning, like only he could as he lead him across the damp grass of the grounds, and to the small gatehouse on the edge of the property. Small compared to the Manor at least. It was a two bedroom affair with a small sitting room, nook and full bathroom and kitchen. "You will be fine in here for now..." he said, voice trailing off, then he looked Remus in the eyes, "How long until you change?" he asked, a tad concerned for the welfare of all around, and the property of Severus.
-He glanced upwards- Two weeks.... -Remus looked then back towards the Gate House, and then to Sirius- Are you sure this will be alright?
Sirius nodded, confident as ever. "Of course. His name may be on the gate and the Deed, but I am the man of the house," he bragged as he opened the door with a spoken charm upon reaching it, then held it open to allow Remus to enter first. "After you Remus, welcome to your new home...." he said softly.
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