In the Gloaming

A/N: Only six drabbles this time, but they took me where I wanted to go. I hope they do the same for anyone else taking the time to read this.

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Those who were expecting him to change after Voldemort’s death and his release from life as a spy are sorely disappointed. His demeanour doesn’t change all that much – he’s still dour, enigmatic and sarcastic. The students still scurry away when he strides down the hall, a fact which he secretly finds amusing. There are still those who think he got off lightly, a fact which he secretly agrees with.

He should be dead and gone, and instead he’s terrorizing his classes, making first years cry, and finding that he doesn’t really know what his purpose is anymore. Has he one?

* * * * *

“…rushing into things, don’t you think?” She has joined him for lunch, and she gesticulates wildly with her sandwich as she makes her point. “For goodness sake, she hasn’t even graduated yet! I know the war is over and everyone is giddy with it, but have they all lost their senses? Ginny and Harry are way too young to even be considering this!”

Snape smirks; but doesn’t respond. His day has suddenly become much brighter. Earlier, when Minerva had told him about Potter’s engagement, she’d also mentioned the next announcement would be Hermione and Ron’s. Obviously, Minerva doesn’t know everything.

* * * * *

He finds that he enjoys sitting by the lake with a good book, enjoying the warmth of the sun. It’s been a long time since he allowed himself this small pleasure, and he almost forgets the reason he had stopped doing it, until Lupin appears. For a brief moment, Snape thinks the big black dog bounding behind him is Sirius, until he remembers Black is dead and will never torment him again.

The other man smiles tentatively at Snape, and motions the animal to heel. Snape starts in surprise when he realizes the other man is holding a bright-eyed toddler.

* * * * *

“Teddy loves the beast,” Remus nods at the dog, who is currently having his ears pulled rather vigorously by said child. “And gods know, the dog loves him back. I can’t help but think that Nymphadora sent him to us, somehow.”

“It does look remarkably like her patronus,” Snape agrees. He doesn’t know what else to say. For some reason, Lupin had joined him and was chatting him up as if they’d never been enemies. Perhaps they hadn’t.

“I loved her, and I wasted so much time…” Lupin runs a shaking hand across his face. “Will I always miss her?”

* * * * *

Hermione and Potter join them by the lake sometime after lunch. Harry smiles when his godson climbs into his lap and promptly falls asleep, while Hermione admires the youngster’s bright blue hair. They’ve brought a bottle of wine with them, and enough glasses for all. Snape notices, after a glass or three, that Hermione’s hair has hidden glints of gold and nutmeg within the depths of her curls.

“How did you end up becoming Remus’ agony aunt?” she asks after the two other men finally leave.

Snape shrugs, “I’ve no idea. I think it had something to do with Lily.”

* * * * *

They sit in companionable silence until the day turns to gloaming, and Snape wonders idly whatever happened to the young girl who couldn’t sit still for a minute before asking a question. He’d expected a rash of them when he’d mentioned Lily – even been prepared to answer them – but she’d simply said, “You must have loved her very much.”

“I did,” he’d agreed. “She was my best friend at a time when I had none. I’ll never forgive what I did to her.”

“I’ll never forget what you did for her,” Hermione had replied. “And for the rest of us.”

~fin 2~