Title: Veil of the Moon pt.4/?

Author: Deathangelgw

Disclaimer: You only WISH I had them…then you could borrow them!! *cackles madly* oh well I don’t.

Warnings: slash, sweet, sap, dark, angst

Pairings: Sirius/Snape (Yay! They're back together!), Remus+Snape, Remus+Sirius

Rating: PG-13

Note: *bounces happily* we get them back together!! YAAAY! Ahem…ok, I'm better…Still with me?? Good! Enjoy and please review!!

‘thoughts’

A slight shiver ran through the lanky form that stood in the shadows in the front yard of the Lupins' former home. After having said the revealing spell and leaving Hogwarts swiftly, Snape had finally found the charmed home of his dearest friends. He stood silently, letting the wind blow around him as he gazed at the darkened home. The sun was just setting and the forest animals could be heard all around him in the woods. But he knew he was safe. It was not only a safe haven for his werewolf friends and their friends, but also for some rare or endangered magical creatures that feared humans, but had befriended the couple.

'Hagrid would find a lot of good specimens here for his class,' Severus thought fondly, then chuckled softly. Hagrid and he weren't always on the best of terms, Snape's sharp tongue usually earning a bit of a grudge from the half giant, but they had always remained friends. Or as close as possible. After losing everyone all those years ago, Snape had isolated himself so much that not many could get in close to him. Especially not the son of one of his best friends.

'But I want that to change. I remember being with Lily and James…of our being together through everything. I had promised along with Sirius, Evie, and Remus to always look after Harry…I just hope I'm not too late,' he thought sadly, remembering the little baby that would sit on his lap and laugh, as Sirius would tickle him; of the little redheads that would run around their legs while chattering adults talked amiably. He felt tears of remembrance come to his eyes as he remembered their last Christmas together. 'Please let it not be too late,' he thought hopefully and looked down at his hand. He then reached up and touched the necklace that had never left his neck for sixteen years. He slid the gold chain off, then removed the ring from it. He gazed at it steadily in the sunset rays of light, then firmly put it on his ring finger. 'I will be his…for now and forever. I just pray he will take me back,' he thought firmly before going towards the house.

As he got closer, his stomach began flipping in anticipation. He silently prayed that he was right that this was where Evie had guided Sirius. He couldn't think of any other place that would be so safe. The Potters' home was destroyed, Sirius' own home was definitely off limits, and Snape's home was constantly under watch by the Death eaters now. 'This is the only place…' he thought desperately, then shook himself firmly. With a soft touch, he opened the door with the familiar password and stepped inside.

He had but a few seconds to allow his eyes to adjust to the shadows before he was almost tackled by several small bodies. He looked down blindly, then froze as he recognized the chittering and the sounds of the almost silent fluttering of translucent wings. 'The fairies?! They're still here?!' he wondered in shock, then sorrow at how lonely they must have been. He smiled softly as he felt little kisses on his face and cooed back at them as they hugged him and tugged on him. He pet a few of them, smiling as they purred cutely, tugging on his fingers for more when he stopped. A couple of them grew bold and overzealous as they sat on his shoulders and caressed their tiny blue cheeks to his own pale ones.

"There, there, little ones…I'm so sorry that you were left all alone…you missed them too," Severus murmured soothingly as he smiled at them and pet them gently. He felt a tug on his robes and stumbled slightly as several little hands began pushing him or tugging on his robes and hands. "What is it?" he asked softly, then realized they were leading him to another room. Their excited chittering grew as they chittered at him and tugged on him. He understood then…they were taking him to see something! "Is it…is it Sirius, little ones?" he whispered breathlessly, eyes shining with hope, as their chittering grew more excited. He followed them willingly, his breath short with hope and excitement as they led him, chittering in growing excitement.

They finally came to the den and Severus found he could go no more as he stared at the form before him. He felt tears in his eyes as he let his eyes rove over the too thin form of Sirius as the black haired man rested on the daybed. His eyes traced over the pale features that were peaceful with sleep. He felt his tears well up a bit more as he saw the steady rise and fall of Sirius' chest and the soft glow of slowly returning health coming to the sharp cheekbones.

He felt a sob choke in his voice as he stumbled forward. "Oh Sirius…" He felt tears of joy trail down his cheeks as he came over and saw the eyes of his once husband flutter open and look up at him. A gentle smile crossed Sirius' lips as he weakly reached up and met Severus' hand, lacing their fingers together as Snape came over the rest of the way.

"I…knew she would send you…" Sirius breathed out as he smiled up at Snape. Snape bit down on a sob and fell to his knees next to the daybed. He hugged Sirius tightly, shaking with relief, joy, and relived pain as he held onto his husband. "It's ok, Sev…it's ok. I'm sorry…for everything," Sirius whispered softly as he nuzzled his loved one, holding him tightly.

Severus leaned back, brushing his face of tears before caressing Sirius' face. "I thought that I would never see you again. I thought I'd died…it was worse than anything that Voldemort had put me through," he whispered brokenly as he held tightly to the thin fingers laced with his own.

Smiling weakly, Sirius shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Sev. You deserved better. Here you had, and still are, risking your life for the Order and I…I threw it away with misunderstanding. I'm sorry, Sev for what I had said all those years ago. I was hurt, scared…I wanted to push you away so I wouldn't get hurt. But I did and I regret it so much because I hurt you even more…and I had promised never to do that," he murmured softly, closing his eyes on his own tears.

"Shh…it's ok. We both said things we didn't mean back then. The question is…do we want to try again?" Severus asked softly, soothingly as he brushed away the tears that trailed down Sirius' pale face.

Opening his eyes slowly, but filled with hope, Sirius studied his once husband. "Do you…want that?" he breathed out, voice soft with hope and love.

Severus felt more tears come to his eyes and he kissed the hand he held. "Yes, I do. We've changed, Sirius…both of us have gone through so much. We'll have to relearn each other, but…but I never stopped loving you. Even with our fights before Harry, all I could think about was how I just wanted you to hold me. But I was scared and still hurt," he declared softly, squeezing the frail fingers laced with his own. "But when I thought I'd lost you forever…I almost couldn't do anything. I…I won't lose you again! Please, Sirius…let's try again. Please don't leave me," he whispered hoarsely as he gazed at Sirius.

"Your memory was what kept me going in Azkaban. I knew that, if I could, I would apologize and plead for you to take me back. I know we've changed and…and it'll be like we're dating all over again because of it. But I want to…Merlin above I need to!" Sirius cried softly and sobbed softly as Severus gathered him close in a rough hug and they held onto each other, sobbing together in joy and remembered grief. Their lips met in a soft kiss, their love for the other pouring through that simple intimate touch as they held each other. Snape knew then that he would never again lose his love ever again. He'd move heaven and earth so that they would always be together.

*~~**~~*

Harry sighed softly as he picked at his food. It was about a week before school was to start and he was back at the Burrow. Ron and his family along with Hermione and Remus had been hard put to try and keep Harry cheerful. Harry himself felt that nothing could make him feel better, but he also knew that he wasn't the only one suffering.

He'd cheered up somewhat when he'd found out that Remus was going to be teaching DADA again at Hogwarts. Dumbledore had asked the werewolf and they had agreed, despite some protestation on some parents' part. But his cheer had fallen swiftly as he saw Remus. Remus had grown thinner and paler, grief and loneliness seen within the golden eyes. He knew that the older man had been a good friend with Sirius, so it must have been just as much a hit to him as it was to Harry. 'He's lost as much as I have,' he thought sadly as he looked up from his food and gazed at the werewolf.

Remus was sitting nearby, smiling slightly as Ron and Hermione goofed around with Tonks, who was visiting. Harry felt his own smile come forth, but it was pushed down by sadness as he watched his soon-to-be teacher. 'He's lost…as much as I have,' he thought before looking down. Memories of what he'd seen and experienced through Voldemort made him cringe. 'I wish I knew who that woman was and what had happened…I fear for her,' he thought with a sigh.

They all looked over as they heard the familiar crack of a person Apparating in and looked to see who had come in. They all were stunned when Severus Snape came into the room. Harry's eyes narrowed with hate as he glared at the Potions' master, but Snape ignored him. In fact, his eyes sought out Remus' almost immediately. "Remus…we need to talk. Will you come with me?" The soft voice filled with warmth startled almost all of them, stopping half a dozen snide remarks that had been about to fly out from some of the people there.

'Did he just call him Remus?!' Harry thought in shock as they all looked over at Remus. Remus' face was soft with surprise and unexpected warmth as his eyes searched Snape's. 'What is going on?! Is there something more between them?!'

"What is it, Sev?" Remus' question and familiarity stunned them even more as the werewolf stood up. The two older men sized each other up, but there was no hostility. In fact, there was almost a warmth there, something that had a feeling to have been missing for a long time. Arthur and Molly looked at each other hopefully as Snape smiled at Remus.

"I…don't want to say here. But…but it's important. Trust me? Like you used to?" Snape asked softly as he held his hand out, smiling warmly at Remus.

"No way! Don't go with that slimy git, Remus!" Ron suddenly protested, having finally found his voice.

"That's right! He can't be trusted!" Harry spoke up as well, glaring at the Potions' master hatefully.

"Actually…he can be. Don't worry. I'll see you all later. Molly, Arthur, take care of things and explain things to Dumbledore when he comes by," Remus replied serenely, smiling softly. He took Severus' hand and they both went into the living room, where the sounds of their Disapparating echoed within the stunned room.

"Well bloody hell!! What the hell is going on?!" Ron demanded softly, stunned.

"Hopefully, the reparation of something long ago lost," Arthur answered cryptically before going back to eating. And, no matter how much Harry, Hermione, or Ron tried, neither he nor Molly Weasely spoke of what that might mean.

*~~**~~*

"Now are you going to tell me what this is about, Sev?" Remus' voice was filled with curiosity as they appeared in a field just outside of a Muggle village near Hogwarts. He looked around, feeling something that felt very familiar to him tingle on his skin. He knew this place…or something about it.

"When was the last time you were at your home, Remus?" Severus' voice was soft with amusement as he looked at his old friend.

Cocking an eyebrow at the other man, Remus sighed. "That's a silly question, Sev. I haven't been there since…is that what this place is? No wonder it is familiar," he mused aloud as he looked around, eyes suddenly filled with unending sorrow. "Why are we here, Sev?" he asked softly, his voice filled with pain.

"To bring some joy back into our lives," Snape stated, then said a few words quietly, waving his wand. The air around them shimmered and suddenly a forest appeared, surrounding a house that Remus knew well. Remus looked up at his one time friend with apprehension, then blinked as he saw the warm smile on Severus' face. Snape took Remus' hand again and said, "Come...I'm sure the little ones will have tea ready by now."

"Sev…I can't. It's been…please don't make me," Remus whispered hoarsely as he was led to the front steps.

"But, there is someone you need to see," Snape replied softly, encouragingly as he opened the door. He tugged gently on Remus' hand and led the way in. He snickered as Remus was nearly accosted with overjoyed fairies and chuckled as Remus soothed the little ones. He smiled as he saw tears in Remus' eyes and led the rest of the way, surrounded by chittering fairies that flew around them excitedly. He went into the den and smiled. "Love, I brought him," he called cheerfully, then came in.

Remus followed his friend in, then felt his face pale as he saw who was sitting at the tea table. "S-S-Sirius?!" he gasped out in shock as he stared at his friend.

"Aye, Remus. I know…quite the shock, eh?" Sirius replied warmly as he stood up with Severus' subtle help. He was still very weak, but he was getting stronger every day he was in his husband's care.

"Shock isn't the word," Remus choked out then ran over, hugging his friend tightly as he sobbed slightly. "You're alive!! Oh Merlin you're really here!!" he cried, as he sobbed, burying his face within Sirius' shoulder and soaking it swiftly as his pent up grief was released. He finally regained control as Severus and Sirius rubbed his back soothingly and leaned back, grinning widely. "How?! Who?! When?! Tell me! Oh Harry is going to be so happy!" he declared, babbling, then grinned even more as the other two men laughed in amusement.

"Let's have some tea and we can explain everything," Severus ordered jovially as he led the way back to the little table. They ate and Snape told them what had happened. Remus, to Snape's relief and chagrin, didn't blame him at all for what had happened to Evie. In fact, he thanked him wholeheartedly for giving her something to hold on to. The shock of her living had worn off swiftly with the joy that she was alive, and then the horror of what was being done to her.

"What I am wondering is how we can get her out of there? And what of this child? Surely we must destroy it?" Sirius asked softly as he played with his cup of tea.

"I know. First we must get her out and to safety. The full moon is coming next week. I will brew a potion like I did the last time, enabling her to be in full control of her werewolf state, or as close to it, so she can escape. It will look like the other potion, so they won't know the difference," Severus explained softly as he gazed down at his cup.

"You can do it, Sev…I know you can." Remus' voice was gentle with encouragement as he reached over and took one of the other man's hands. "Please…bring her home," he whispered pleadingly.

"I will. I'll bring her home so we can be together," Snape replied softly, firmly, as he squeezed Remus' hand. He smiled as Sirius took both of their other hands, completing the circle.

"We will be together again. And Voldemort will pay," Sirius declared firmly as the other two nodded just as firmly, resolved to their future…no matter what.

TBC

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