The Thaw
a Harry Potter story
by Superimmunegirl
Snape was by far the most confusing person Harry had ever known. Snape had always hated him, and Harry very quickly came to return the sentiment. After he saw Snape murder Dumbledore, his feelings went beyond hatred. Then after Snape helped Harry kill Voldemort, and it was revealed that he had been loyal to Dumbledore the whole time-Harry saw his old professor in a different light, and tried to reconcile with him. But Snape's feelings had not changed. He made it clear that he still hated Harry, and that none of his actions had been for him, and he had no interest whatsoever in burying the hatchet. So Harry wrote him off. Although he was glad of what Snape had done, Harry had given up trying to understand the man or caring what Snape thought of him.
Ah, but then. Snape and Remus. It had been a surprise to Harry when Remus came out, and an adjustment, for he had never known anyone who was gay before. But then to find out six months later that he was dating Snape? He felt like his head was going to explode. So did everyone else. He was at the Weasley's when they first heard the gossip from Tonks, and they all ran around in not-entirely-mock horror, pretending to Obliviate themselves to get the inevitable images out of their heads. Snape and Remus in love. Snape and Remus kissing, Snape and Remus-AIEEEEEEE! Tonks, who had transitioned from Remus' girlfriend to his best friend, told them that Remus had had a crush on Severus ever since the year he'd taught at Hogwarts. She expressed a hope Remus would "get it out of his system" after a short time, and then find a proper boyfriend. But the relationship only seemed to deepen. Remus confessed to being head over heels in love, and Snape showed signs of being in the same condition. What else but love could have prompted Snape to start behaving decently to Remus' friends--even though it looked like it might kill him to do it? Tonks came around, and thought maybe they were a good match after all. "He's definitely good for Snape," she observed. "Yes, but is Snape good for Remus?" Molly Weasley wanted to know. Remus apparently thought so, and the couple moved in together. Because Remus pleaded with him to try, Harry attempted to be civil to Snape whenever they came into contact. But for the most part, Harry just avoided Snape like the plague.
***
It was a damp afternoon in late autumn, and Harry rang the bell to Remus' flat. He didn't usually visit Remus at home because he didn't want to run into Snape. But Harry had the day off and Snape was teaching, so he'd thought it was safe to make plans. Remus did not respond immediately, as he usually did when he was expecting Harry. Harry wondered if he'd gotten the time wrong, but then heard movement within. The door opened, and instead of seeing the welcoming face of his friend and mentor, he found himself face to face with exactly who he'd intended to avoid-Severus Snape.
"I-ah-I'm here to see Remus," Harry stammered lamely.
"He's not here," Snape said. His usually menacing voice was hoarse and congested, and he was dressed in a robe and slippers.
"Oh. We were, umm, supposed to meet," Harry said, shifting uncomfortably.
"He didn't say anything to me. But he'll be back soon." He paused, and then as though it caused him great effort to do so, he said, "You may come in and wait for him if you wish."
"Thanks," said Harry, while his mind desperately tried to think of a way to avoid accepting the invitation. But he couldn't, so he followed the man inside. "You're, ah, you're not teaching today?" he asked.
"No," he replied. "I have bronchitis."
"Oh," said Harry. That was unusual, for wizards-but Harry wasn't about to inquire. He was trying to be nice, but he wished he were anywhere but there with Snape.
Snape went to the kitchen where a kettle was whistling. He began preparing a cup of tea, then looked up at Harry and seemed to steel himself. "Would you like tea?" he said, through teeth that were slightly clenched.
"No, uh, that's all right. You go ahead." Harry wandered into the living room and sat down, hoping that Remus would return soon. From behind him, he heard Snape break into a fit of congested coughing. It sounded just terrible, and Harry wondered again how Snape had gotten so sick. The coughing fit culminated with a great sneeze-"atchhhrshhh!" and quite a bit of blowing. Harry winced, and was glad he'd refused the tea.
Soon Snape came into the living room and sat down next to the fire with his tea.
"Where is Remus, anyway?" asked Harry, anxious for his return.
"Dropping off papers at the Ministry."
"Oh."
"He didn't say anything to me about expecting you," Snape repeated. "When did you make arrangements?"
"Last week sometime."
"He may have forgotten...atchchhh!"
"Bless you," Harry said. The blessing was met with a watery glare, but it wasn't up to Snape's usual standard. Snape then blew his nose vigorously and succumbed to a fit of coughing. When he recovered, he opened a book that was lying on the table and proceeded to ignore Harry. Harry sighed and looked at the clock. Ten minutes; he would wait ten minutes. Then he'd leave, and if Remus came home later, he could Floo over to Harry's flat.
The time ticked by with amazing slowness, and the only sound was Snape coughing and blowing his nose. At seven minutes, Harry couldn't take it anymore, and was about to rise to leave. Just then, the fire flared up, and Remus' head emerged.
"Remus!" said Harry with relief. "So you didn't forget."
"Well, I'm sorry, but I sort of did-then I remembered, but something's come up." He turned to Severus. "How are you feeling, love?"
"Better," he replied, as Harry tried not to cringe at the term of endearment. "What's going on?"
"Well I'm at the Ministry with Arthur, and Scrimgeour's agreed to discuss amending the anti-werewolf legislation, but he wants to talk to me about it right now."
"Don't worry about me, we can always meet another time," said Harry. He knew how important this was to Remus. He'd been trying to get an audience with Scrimgeour for quite awhile.
Remus looked slightly relieved, but then turned to Snape. "I can tell him no, if..."
"Don't be foolish. I'm fine, and he won't take kindly to..." But then he broke into another series of deep coughs, and Remus looked anxious. Recovering, Snape continued, "He won't like being put off. Don't look like that, it's just a cough, I'm fine."
"You're far from fine, Sev. Harry, would you mind staying with him until I get back?"
"What?!" they both responded.
"He's really sick. I'd feel much better meeting with Scrimgeour if you stayed."
"I do not need someone to stay with me!" Snape said hotly, and Harry was inclined to agree.
"Well, I'd like someone to be there just in case."
"In case of what?"
"In case you need something, or in case you get worse...and he can warm up that soup for you if I'm not back by dinnertime."
"I am perfectly capable of warming up soup!"
"Darling, you're not even supposed to be up. Well, are you willing, Harry? It would mean a lot to me."
"Ummm, well, uh, sure..." he said, even as his mind screamed "noooooo!"
"Thank you, I really appreciate it. The soup's in the kitchen-make sure he takes his medicine at five o'clock; it's in the small cauldron. Thank you so much-wish me luck, both of you!"
And with that, he disappeared.
For several seconds, they just stared at the fire in a sort of shock. Then Snape spoke.
"Let me make it clear," he said. "There is absolutely no reason for you to be here except to put his mind at ease. I do not require anything from you. You may leave if you wish, and for my part I would vastly prefer it. But for his sake..." he sighed, exasperated. "I understand if you choose to stay."
"Well...uh...he seems pretty worried," Harry managed.
"He worries too much," Snape said, sounding annoyed-but behind the annoyance, Harry thought he detected a glimmer of something else. He wondered if Snape liked it that Remus fussed over him. "Well. I'm going back to bed." Snape said, and he rose from his chair. "Do as you like." And he walked rather creakily back to his bedroom and closed the door.
Harry was at a loss. For a while he just sat on the couch, mind boggling at the thought that he was actually charged with babysitting an ailing Snape. Didn't Remus know that, despite their forced politeness, they still couldn't stand each other? Or was Remus just too worried about his lover's health to care? Not for the first time, Harry found himself wondering what on earth Remus saw in Snape. Harry couldn't deny that the relationship seemed to be making Remus very happy. Harry just couldn't see why, and Remus didn't often talk about it with him. He didn't want to make Harry uncomfortable.
Finally Harry gave up wondering and started looking through the bookshelves for something to read. He found a novel about an undercover Auror that looked entertaining, and with nothing else to do, he settled back onto the couch.
Harry wound up fairly absorbed in the book, and eventually looked up to see that more than an hour had gone by. It was almost five o'clock. Five o'clock...didn't Remus say Snape was supposed to take his medicine at five? Yes, he did...but judging from the snores emanating from the bedroom, Snape was fast asleep. Well, maybe he had set an alarm clock. Harry listened hopefully for sounds that Snape was waking up, but the snoring continued unabated. He got up and looked at the contents of the small cauldron. There was a parchment lying by its side. It read: "One cup to be taken hot exactly every four hours." He looked at the clock again. It was two minutes to five. He listened and looked anxiously as the clock turned, but when five o'clock came, Severus was still snoring, and the parchment had said, exactly four hours...Oh God, Remus, how could you do this to me? Harry thought. He let a few minutes slide by, and then he gave in and steeled himself to the task. He ladled out a dose of potion and approached the door. He knocked. Snape snored peacefully. Harry knocked louder, to no effect. Finally he entered.
Snape was lying on his side, facing the door. His mouth was open, his face was half-buried in the pillow, and his body rose and fell softly with each snore.
"Ummm....Severus?" Harry ventured. He never ever used that name, but he was unwilling to call him Professor, and he couldn't call him Snape to his face. "Severus? It's time to take your medicine." Words he never imagined he'd say, but still they got no reaction. Harry actually began to be a little worried, and put his hand out to touch Snape's shoulder.
"Auughh!" Snape started, causing Harry to jump. The potion went flying. Harry managed a Restororum spell at the last second and the cup flew back into his hands with only a few drops spilled. Nice save, he told himself. That wasn't Snape's reaction.
"What the hell are you doing in here!" he said.
"Trying to give you your potion," Harry snapped back. "It's past five."
"It's not-" he began, but looking at the clock, he saw that it was. "I set my wand to wake me..." he said, confused.
"Obviously you didn't, or you slept through it."
"Well, haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
"I did, you didn't wake up. I stood right here and called your name and you still didn't wake up. Here," he said, thrusting the potion towards his former teacher.
Snape took the cup, somewhat abashed. He drank its contents and then set the cup on the nightstand. "Well..." he said. "I'm sorry. You startled me."
"Don't mention it," Harry said, uncomfortable again. It was easier when Snape was being a bastard; he didn't know how to handle it when he wasn't. He turned back to the living room and Snape got out of bed and went to the open kitchen. Harry saw him cast a spell, and immediately heard the sound of simmering broth.
"I'm going to have some of this soup," Snape told him. "Do you want some?"
"Yeah, all right," Harry said, who was getting quite hungry. Then he added, "Just don't tell Remus I didn't heat it up for you."
"Agreed," said Snape, with a ghost of a smile on his face.
They ate their meal in silence at the kitchen table. When they finished, Snape looked very weary. "Going back to bed?" Harry asked.
"I suppose," Snape grumbled. "This medicine makes me tired."
He looked like he was going to add something but instead his breath began to hitch and his eyes blinked furiously. "Ahhhtchrsh! Atchooo! Hehh...TCHOOO!" he sneezed violently, and then launched into his rumbling, congested cough."Ugh...that sounds awful," said Harry, unable to keep from commenting. "Look, how did you manage to get bronchitis, anyway?"
Snape gave Harry an evil glare, and Harry expected to be told to mind his own business. But instead, Snape replied, "I neglected a cold. Foolish, perhaps, but it ha-happens....'tchoo!"
"Bless you."
"Thanks," Snape coughed, and wiped his nose. He rose from the table. "Tell Remus to wake me when he comes in." With that, he disappeared into the bedroom.
Harry returned to the living room and picked up his book. Well, that hadn't gone so badly, Harry thought. Perhaps there was hope for them after all. Soon Snape could be heard snoring again, and Harry began to read. Periodically he looked up at the clock, wondering when the hell Remus was going to get back. At a little after six, the hearth leapt high and at last Remus stepped through.
"Hey, how'd it go?" asked Harry.
"It went well, I think," Remus said, looking very hopeful indeed. "He was more receptive than I thought he'd be, given his whole 'tough on dark magic' stance. But we'll see what happens in the legislature. Thank you so much for staying, I'm sorry it took so long. How is Severus?"
"He's fine-sleeping." Then he fixed Remus with a mock glare. "I can't believe you did that to me."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Remus laughed. "I know you still don't get along, but I just couldn't leave him alone for all that time, I would have been too worried. Did he take his medicine?"
"Yeah, but I had to wake him up for it."
"Well, you see?" he said, vindicated. "He's terrible at taking care of himself. I really appreciate the favor, Harry. He may be better now, but you should have seen him this morning."
"How did he get so sick, anyway? You never hear of wizards with bronchitis."
Remus hesitated and glanced at the bedroom door, where Snape's congested snoring could be heard. "You can't ever tell him I told you." Harry shook his head, no. Remus lowered his voice. "You see, yesterday was our anniversary. And he had some rather...elaborate plans for us. He took me to Paris, and...well, we had a wonderful night. But as he was making his preparations, he realized he was coming down with a cold, and he didn't want to take the time to either make or, Merlin forbid, buy Pepperup. He had some Hidamal, and so he took that instead. When it started wearing off in the middle of our evening, he took another dose of it. Then he woke up this morning coughing, sneezing, and burning up with fever."
Harry laughed. "But that's so-stupid! You're never supposed to take it twice."
"I know, and when he admitted what he'd done, I let him have it. Then I called Poppy over here and she let him have it too."
"But-why did he do it?"
"Because he wanted everything to be perfect for me," Remus said softly. He shook his head. "He's such an idiot. He doesn't understand..." Then he blushed and looked down, censoring himself.
"That it's already perfect, as long as you're together?" Harry suggested.
"Yes," he confessed. "I'm sorry, I don't want to embarrass you."
"No, that's all right...I understand. I pretty much said the same thing to Ginny on my birthday, when the Quidditch game she took me to got cancelled."
"It's... it's nice that you understand...at least somewhat," Remus said.
"I do," said Harry. He knew that they were talking about more than the anniversary. Just then they heard Snape's cough starting up again in the bedroom.
"It sounds like he's awake," said Remus. "I'll go in and see to him. Thanks again, Harry. Maybe we can try again on Saturday?" Harry agreed, and they embraced. Remus went into the bedroom and Harry headed to the door. But just then he remembered to ask Remus if he could borrow the novel, and he turned back to the bedroom. Then he stopped. The bedroom was reflected in the mirror on the open bathroom door, and he could see Remus seated on the bed, caressing Snape's cheek as if checking for fever. Snape's arms were crossed and it looked like he was attempting to hold on to his scowl despite Remus' best efforts to tease him out of it. Remus then said something Harry couldn't hear, and Severus...laughed. The frown dissolved, and his harsh features were softened by love. His eyes shone with it. Snape covered Remus' hand with his own and they kissed, very tenderly.
Harry turned around, put the book back on the coffee table and made his way quietly to the door. He emerged into a cool dusk, damp with drizzle. He walked home pondering the image fixed into his mind of a Snape he had never known, and a love he did not quite understand.
Strangely, he found that the last thing he wanted to do was Obliviate it.*Hidamal: a potion I invented for the fic Seventeen Words. It supresses all symptoms of an illness for a time, but when it wears off, you feel even worse than before.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters Author's Notes: Just a bit of fun. Hope you enjoy!