Un Mauvais Quart d'Heure
Chapter 18 of 31
quaffswinegailyTime for tea and shortbread.
ReviewedUn Mauvais Quart d’Heure
Disclaimer: The usual disclaimer about ownership goes here.
As soon as the ceremony finished, Charmaine reactivated the Portkey, taking them back to their Edinburgh address. Stopping at the foot of the stone stairs leading to the communal front door, she started to say her goodbyes.
“You can’t leave us now,” said Remus, grabbing her by the hand and dragging her up the steps. “Come up and have a cup of tea, some shortbread and a wee blether. I think we all have a bit of catching up to do and a few apologies to make.” He glared pointedly at Severus.
Ushering them into the narrow, tiled entrance hall, Remus shooed the pair up several flights of stone stairs until they reached the top floor flat.
“Come in, sit down and unload. I’m just going to make us a nice cuppa,” Remus called over his shoulder as he disappeared down the corridor and into the kitchen.
“So, how have you been?” Charmaine asked.
“Do you want the polite answer, or do you want the truth, Professor?”
“It seems rich of me to request the truth when I haven’t been completely truthful about myself, doesn’t it, Severus?”
“Indeed. Perhaps, I haven’t always made the wisest choices myself.” His hand inadvertently drifted to his left forearm.
“I’m very sorry, Severus, but I think it would be better for both of us if I were to say goodbye and go now.”
“No, wait. Lupin has missed you. If not for me, at least stay and have tea with him.” As he strode across the room towards her, Severus spotted a silvery scrap of paper lying on the floor. Bending down, he scooped it up and was about to throw it in the dustbin when he recognised it as the chocolate wrapper he had left on her desk.
Smoothing it out, he read the inscription he had written months before. To warm your soul.
“You kept it all this time. Why?”
“I wanted something I couldn’t have, Severus. I was your teacher; I was on an assignment and wasn’t supposed to get too involved.” She looked down. “Then I got to know you, and I wanted more, even though I knew it was wrong.”
Gently, he took her hand, raising her fingers to his lips. “I’ve missed you so much, Charmaine. I will take whatever you can give me, so long as there are no lies.”
“No lies, Severus, just the truth, but not necessarily the whole truth.” She raised her eyes to meet his intense gaze.
“Agreed.” He nodded before gathering her close to him, hugging her tight and burying his nose in her soft curls. The smell of her and the closeness of her soft body sent warm currents through him. He was certain he loved her, but would not say it again, for fear of upsetting the fragile peace and losing her for good. This feeling was too precious; Severus felt like he was melting into her honeyed depth, and he never wanted to let her go.
A rattle of cups and the sound of Remus clearing his throat brought him back to earth. Lupin set down the tea tray before loping across the room and throwing an arm around each of them.
“I’m so glad you two are talking again. I love you guys.” He kissed Charmaine on her temple and licked up the side of Severus’s face before releasing them both.
Charmaine giggled as Severus grimaced, wiping a hand over the wet patch.
“Lupin, get off! You’ve slobbered on me twice today, you mad dog.”
“Only once on your groin,” noted Lupin, slapping his thigh and guffawing when Snape gave him a disdainful glare. “I only do it to ruffle your smooth veneer, my friend, and I’ll stop being annoying when you start calling me Remus.”
“He will, one day.”
“Over my dead body,” Snape muttered.
“I can see it now. Severus will hold me in his arms, gaze deep into my eyes and whisper my name lovingly.” Remus grinned, but the spreading smile slowed and dropped when he saw Charmaine’s stricken appearance.
She turned away abruptly, putting a hand over her eyes.
“No. I can’t...” she said, pushing past the wizards and heading for the door.
“What?”
“Charmaine?”
A hand grabbed her arm, swinging her round.
“Don’t leave.”
“It would be unwise for me to stay.”
Suddenly, the grip on her arm was released as Lupin’s hand flew to his left forearm.
“The Dark Lord’s summoning us. We have to go.” He gave her a brief hug and kissed her cheek. Picking up his cape and mask, he left the flat.
Severus folded Charmaine into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. “I don’t want to go. These meetings are getting harder all the time. The Dark Lord is becoming more vicious and vindictive.”
“It’s going to get worse.”
He held her away from him, looking into her wary eyes. “You know this?”
“Yes.”
His lips thinned, and he hugged her closer, kissing her forehead.
“We really need to talk.” As he released her, he winced, pressing a hand to his forearm. “I must go, but I’m afraid you’ll leave before I return.”
Charmaine dropped her head without answering. He kissed the top of her head and left with long, purposeful strides, his cape swirling in his wake.
“Severus, I don’t know what to do for the best. I shouldn’t be here,” she whispered after his retreating form.
Turning back into the flat, she wandered aimlessly around the room. Her fingertips trailed over the bars of Remus’s cage, which was tucked in a corner of the large room.
I wonder what the neighbours think of the noise, she mused. They probably think it’s just rowdy students or one of the Edinburgh Ghost Tours. If only they knew! She smiled to herself and drifted on.
The mantelpiece over the fireplace was cluttered with unwashed mugs and sweet wrappers, but in a clear area in the centre sat a picture. Picking it up for a closer look, she saw Severus and Remus standing comfortably side by side. Remus had his arm flung loosely around Snape’s shoulder, his hand ruffling Severus’s hair.
Severus smiled tolerantly in the picture before ducking his head away from Lupin’s hand and speaking to the photographer. Being a photo, she could not hear his words, but she knew them well. She remembered taking the picture herself.
“Please, save me.” The picture’s lips moved in time with the words in her head. The phrase repeated again and again as she watched the short scenario replay itself several times. He had been speaking in jest at the time, pleading for her to hurry up and take the picture so he could be released from the hair tousling.
“Please, save me.”
Clutching the picture to her chest, she slumped onto the settee. How could she leave now? She would have to wait for them to come back, to ensure they returned safe. Then she would go.
The waiting was the hardest part.
Charmaine stared at the tea and biscuits Remus had made for them. Her appetite had disappeared when they left.
She knew how vicious and unpredictable Voldemort could be, and she feared for the young men.
Holding the image of Remus and Severus tightly, she lay down on the couch, curling herself around them in a protective ball. Consciously, she tried to maintain pleasant thoughts, but her mind kept flicking over images of violence and torture. A shudder ran through her as memories of her own torture returned. It had been years ago, but at times like this it felt more recent. Tears seeped from the corner of her eye, dripping quietly onto the cushions beneath her head as she rocked to and fro.
Waiting… waiting…
A/n: Un mauvais quart d’heure = a bit of a bad time
Sunny33 is my tea leaf wrangler.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Man's Best Friend
353 Reviews | 7.7/10 Average
Damn so he came back cured of the love that he had,but stilled loved them as a friend.I am not sure I understand how he was cured from being dead...did he not really die cause of the Blaze? I loved the story,felt a little rushed at the end,but it was supposed to be a one shot right!! Great work thanks!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for taking the time to read to the finish and review. I wrote this story three years ago, so perhaps would take more time on the ending now. Maybe one day I'll revisit it.
I think they could have been a triad. Do you ever write those stories? You would write a great one I know!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I haven't yet. Maybe one day.
i like the older Snape and I am sure Hermione does too!!Great story!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
He matures rather well.
If he had lived would Lupin have been thier third? I would like to think so...I LOVE this story!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Perhaps... or maybe not...
i love the way you incorporate canon and fanon!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you very much. I appreciate your reviews.
poor Severus and poor(Hermione?)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Indeed.
I never liked Lily, a real friend would have forgiven!! I hate the fact Severus never recoved from her loss and went to his death alone on a dirty floor...Thank goodness for fan fiction!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fan fiction just lets us explore other options.
i was not expecting the unicorn to hurt our Severus!! I think it is for the good in the long run!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Here's hoping...
Hermione?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Really?
Response from deedeebug95 (Reviewer)
Hahaha!
oMG, this really could have happened this way!! Poor Severus this is breaking my heart
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It's certainly a possibility.
like the start of this!! How dare they shave Severus' hair!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I know. Oily and lank though it may be at times, we do love his hair.
If the professor knew how the dance went, why would she not be prepared to be kissed by Severus? It seems odd that a professor would dance this dance with a student. Obviously she has some kind of magical sight that Severus can pick up on when he touches her. Legilimins? Could they have gotten away with a kiss on the cheek? She should chastise Snotter for trapping her and Severus and taunting him right in front of a teacher. I know I need to just buck and deal with the tragedy that is Silly Lily Evens the idiot girl who has no ability to judge character and Severus Snape. I still don't like it though. F the Gryffindors. I hates them all!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Lily is such a little airheaded dolt! She has no common sense! She knows Severus better than that! She should know he wouldn't say such a thing! And that Snotter deserves to be killed by Voldemort. The world is better off without his kind of riff raff. I know that sounds stinky, but I'm a fat, greyheaded, crotchety and cantankerous old broad so I get to say things like that.
"That little whiper snaper probably smokes dope like all them other little pimply faced reprobates! All those young people are are on dope, damn it!" 
That's the mood I'm in and it's late. So I'd better go to bed before I do or say anything else antisocial. 
If you knew the week I've been having you'd understand.
Some little wanker stole my car and got it impounded for driving with no licence and for possession. He also just happens to be married to my idiot, enabling daughter who makes excuses for the little A-hole. I have no idea who raised these damn kids of mine!
Just freeking kill me now before I ever have to live with with any of the ungrateful leeches. I'll have bed sores and a wet diaper all the time.
I could totally kick that drunk, skinny little ass of his if I wanted to, you know... he's a little putz and I weigh more than he does. All I have to do is knock him down and sit on his face until he suffocates. He just better hope I don't cough, sneeze or laugh while I'm at it! Oops! it's too late. There I went and said something else antisocial. Somebody make me go to bed! I have to work tomorrow so I can buy diapers and wipes for my spawn's babies.
If you have to have kids, for the love of god don't have girls! Drama Drama Drama! I'm just warning you now. Kids are over freeking rated.
It's time for sleeping pills. I can't believe how late it is and I'm still up bitching... 
Now you know why I read Harry Potter fan fiction. In my head magic is fixing everything right now and Snape thinks I am the sexiest thing he's ever seen!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
What special gift does she have? Oooooo, I know! She must be a werewolf! No wait. She does't smell of dog. But maybe she just knows how to keep the smell away. Hmmmmm. Touching Snape's face would have been OK if he had been a 4th grader but, teenager? Does she uderstand teenage male hormone function? Or should I call it a disorder? Just kidding. When I was a girl I didn't know what not to do around boys. I don't think I got wise until my mid 30's. I'm thinking she must be at least that old, however or she wouldn't have been thinking the things she was thinking. Women at the bottom of the hill wouldn't notice such attributes. Interesting.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Hmmmm. She wants to let Severus know that Lupin is a Werewolf? I sincerely hope she isn't the one behind the prank that almost killed the young Severus.
Why would Dumbledore want the two boys to work together? Training them for something? Are you saying that the speech on the first day of potions isn't Severus Snape's original work?
I am very surprised he would use someone elses speech, but I guess if she turns out to be someone he truely admires I suppose he might use it to honor her. Maybe it caught his interest so well that it inspired him for life and he uses it hoping to inspire other young people the way he was. I guess we will find out. Black is such an arse! No wait, worse, he's a vulgar dick head.
I take it we won't be super attached to Sirius Black in this story. That's fine with me. I read for the love of Severus Snape and the love of Snape/Granger romance.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Bummer! They shaved his beautiful long black hair. Hasn't the poor man suffered enough assault to his dignity? I wonder why they let him out of Azkaban for the funeral? Is it to humiliate him? Is he out of Azkaban but under house arrest with guards? It must be shocking to Hermione to see Snape sobbing. I guess you'll tell us how he survived the war. An ausicious beginning!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
This has got to be one of the most gorgeous convoluted twisty exciting mind bending epic stories I've ever read!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
I started reading this just before bed time, telling myself that I'd only read a chapter or two then off to bed... its now 5:30AM and I just finished! I just couldnt stop reading! I loved it. I really enjoyed every word! Great job and I look forward to reading more from you!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm absolutely delighted. Thank you very much. Now, go and get some sleep!
What a fun roller coaster! Thanks for posting it where we can read it.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for taking the time to stop and leave a review.
Charming story! I've definitely never read anything like it. I love the Portkey idea, and how the story flowed between the past and the present. Thanks.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for reviewing. This was my first ever long fic. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm not sure if I loved the story more or the A/N! Fabulous write;)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I really appreciate your review. A/N: must remember to give everyone squishy hugs for reviewing...
Thank you for a happy ending - Severus & Hermione wedded, and Remus brought back, as well as Remus finding another special person to love and share/continue a new life with! I can't believe you intended this first to be only a one shot - thank Merlin's Beard that you got carried away or we all would never have had this wonderful, creative adventure in our ff lives - big heartfelt thanks! Looking forward to more of your multi-chaptered works as well as all others!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It was a one shot, but the darned thing wouldn't lie down. Normally I struggle to string more than a couple of words together, so this was a bit of a one off. Thanks very much for your encouragement. Cheers, qwg
Ah-ah, Quaffie. I told you quite a few chapters back that you couldn't kill off Remus and you told me to get some new specs or something of that ilk because your prologue dictated that the lovely werewolf had shuffled off his mortal coil or pelt or whatever. Hmmmph. I'd like you to know lassie that I have 20-20 vision....and hindsight and can see through walls too. I enjoyed this ending but I secretly thought that Remus was going to end up with Harry. No??? Anyway thank you for a wonderful story. I have thoroughly enjoyed both Remus and Severus' and indeed our banter over the last few months and look forward to hearing from you again in the near future. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxxx.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fie on you, and your xray, 3D, perception... glasses... thingies. It was very tempting to set Remus up with Harry, or in a threesome, but Jo was looking a bit left out. And being a true Aussie sheila used to wrangling crocs and dingoes, I reckoned she'd be able to manage his scrawny, flea-bitten hide.And the bloomin' happy ending fairy took over...I'm away to sink into the slough of despond, or onto the couch, or anywhere out of this infernal summer heat. Thanks for all your edifying reviews.Cheers, qwg
So glad this was more than a one shot! I've loved every minute of it. I'm really loving this unicorn magic. You should explore it more in future stories. Beautifully written and one of my favorite fics.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm very glad you liked it. The story just kept expanding - in some part due to sunny33, who read the original, and never made a comment, but the look on her face just said 'crap ending, write some more' - so I did (but not exactly what she wanted).As for more unicorns - not sure if I trust the mutant horse much - we'll wait and see.Thanks for all your lovely reviews.Cheers, qwg
Yay for you! Your first long fic and it went out on top. This was an even better ending than expected. I have to have my happy ending, always, and I knew you would let Severus and Hermione end in that fashion, but I was so pleased to find that they were able to have their friend back, even if it was through a portrait. THEN, you went and did one better by bringing him back for real. I, for one, am pleased that this one-shot got carried away. Feel free to let that happen again ...
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Darn! The happy ending fairy got a bit over exuberant, didn't she? I'll have to go and think up something evil she can't tamper with. I hope you enjoyed the read. Really, it shouldn't have worked - a story about a time travelling poisoner, a dead werewolf and a hard drinking wizard with memory defecit. What a load of tosh!Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, they are much appreciated.Cheers, qwg