Happy Christmas, Severus Snape

The Miracle of Forgiveness

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It was aready dark outside when Severus Snape Apparated in front of the house Black and Lupin were living in. He was holding two glass bottles, being very careful not to drop them. He moved them both into his right hand when he approached the door.

Slightly nervous, he knocked on the door.

He heard some noises from inside. After a moment somebody walked to the door, and it was pushed a bit ajar.

"Who's there?" asked Potter's voice cautiously. He was able to hear some low growling. Apparently Black was in his dog form.

"Severus Snape," he answered, trying to keep his voice calm.

There was along silence. Then the door was opened wholly. Petter stood there, yes, but now Black was in his human form, his eyes flashing in fury and sorrow.

"What are you doing here, you bastard?" Black spat out before he was able to say anything. "Did you come to mock poor Remus? Because if you did, I'll kill you. No matter if they put me into Azkaban, I'll kill you."

"Don't worry, Black," he said, shaking his head. He felt suddenly very tired. Too tired to insult Black - and for some reason, he didn't even want to. "I'm not here to mock any of you. I came here to bring these potions." He reached out the two glass bottles he was holding.

"What are they?" Black asked warily. "Neither of those is Wolfsbane. And what else could we need?"

"Well, I don't know if you care to have these," he replied with a dry smile, "but this should help for Lupin's illness." He lifted the blue bottle a little bit higher.

Black stared at him, both surprised and shocked. "How did you know -" he began, but Severus interrupted him.

"Doesn't matter, "he said bluntly. No reasons to tell everyone that Severus Snape was a true Seer. That old hoot Trelawney would never leave him in peace. "And this," he said, keeping hte other bottle higher, "is what was keeping me in hurry today." Okay, so it was a lie, but so what? Who would ever find out, after all? "Lilybrew. Very rare potion, and very difficult to brew. It's also dangerous, and it should only be taken once a year or two - it can crash your mind if you use it more often."

"And what does it do, then?" Potter asked, since Black seemed to be still unable to say anything sensible. The tall man just stood there, his jaw hanging open. Well, maybe he shouldn't blame the Animagus. He had been quite a bastard in the past.

"Well," he said, managing a little smile, "it's an experimenting cure for Lycanthropy. It should be able to allow Lupin to stay in his human form this full moon."

Now they both stared at them. Then they both turned around, when they heard some noises from behind them. The youngest Weasley boy and Lupin appeared in the corridor.

Lupin looked really ill, even worse than Severus had thought. His face was far too thin, and his walking was unsure. Every now and then he'd take support from Weasley's arm, and he was seemingly trembling.

It was exactly like Sharia had been.

"Harry, what it -" Weasley began. Then he noticed him, and his hands flenched into fists. "What's that fucking bastard doing here?" he yelled. "Couldn't he just leave us in peace?"

"Calm down, Ronald," Lupin said gently. Even his voice was weak, and when he raised his maber eyes to meet Severus's own obsidian ones, he could see a fewery shine in them. "I'm sure that Severus has good reasons to come here."

"I have," he said bluntly. "I came to bring you these potions. This one helps to your illness and this one is Lilybrew. I don't think I have to explain how it works, I'm pretty sure you're already aware of it."

"I am," Lupin replied with shaky voice. He nearly ran to the door - or ran, as well as his condition allowed, which wasn't much more than a hasty walk - and accepted both bottles. He was smiling like a little child who had got all his wished Christmas presents, and tears of joy were running from his eyes. "Thank you ever so much, Severus."

"You're welcome." He looked at them. Potter was busy explaining Weasley the effect of Lilybrew, and Black, who seemed to be at last able to do something, drew Lupin into a brotherly hug, being very careful not to crash either of the bottles.

They didn't seem to need him anymore.

He shrugged and turned around, preparing to leave to his own quarters in Hogwarts. His cold, quiet, empty quarters. Something stung in his heart when he thought about it, but he chose to ignore the feeling.

"You won't come in?" somebody asked behind him.

He turned around like he had been hit. It wasn't Lupin who had spoken, nor was it Potter with his ever-good Gryffindor pride. No, it was Black, looking at him and waiting for response.

"I don't think I'd be very wanted guest," he pointed out dryly. "I am, after all, a 'fucking bastard' like young mister Weasley stated it."

"Well, you haven't been anything but that, and worse, in the past," Black admitted with equally dry voice. Then he, to everyone's great surprise, smiled happily. "But I think you've earned much more than one happy Christmas with this."

"What makes you think I wouldn't have happy Christmas if I didn't join you?" he asked, although he knew himself very well that he wouldn't.

"Sulking alone in the dungeons? Probably even a dinner with the other teachers, if you're on very boisterous mood?" Black shook his head. "Don't make me laugh."

"Come in, Severus, please," Lupin said, with genuine, yet weak smile. "I now owe you more than I can ever repay you." He stepped backwards, leaving the doorway open.

For a moment he just looked at them.

Then, shrugging, he stepped in.

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