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westernredcedarIt is finished, people!! Thank you if you have stuck with me as I worked on this, and if you ever see me starting to post a WIP before I have finished writing it again, scream and yell and beat me down to stop me. ;P
Title: Twelve Nights, or You Will What?
Act: V
Author: Cedar
Summary: Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", set in slashy post-war Potter AU.
Quote: Now, sitting in the back of the hearing presided over by Severus, everything was only more complicated.
Characters/Pairings: Snape/Lupin, amongst others. Dramatis Personae is at the end of the post. Um, this is very slashy.
Challenge: written for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
shakes_that_fic fest
Rated: R for the finished fic, R for this Act
Warnings: AU, but canon-compliant to HBP (in other words, lots of people dead in DH are alive here, and vice versa), discussion of off-screen character deaths, slash, lots of booze (it's Shakespeare, people)
Word count: 6,800 in this Act, approx. 25,000 in completed fic
A/N: Thank you to the fabulous![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dizilla for her helpful comments and being so supportive and generous throughout this process. Thanks to blpaintchart for the Brit-pick and the beta and for being a wonderful human that I am so happy to know. *gush*
There is a major change from canon (Shakespeare canon) in this Act, so hold on to your hats. Hee.
Here are links to Act I, Act II, Act III, and Act IV
Severus had asked Kreacher to set up the little-used sitting room on the ground floor to accommodate the Death Eater hearing scheduled for the morning. He headed that way now to check on the progress, eyes alert for Bill. He was still feeling a bit disoriented due to his vivid dream about Remus, and was eager for the distraction the hearing would provide.
Severus was surprised to find that Bill was already in the sitting room, looking at some of the old Black family photos that continued to gloat and preen from the walls.
“Mr. Weasley,” said Severus.
“Sev…Snape, good morning,” said Bill, startled, averting his eyes, a marked discomfort in his voice.
“What are you doing in here?” asked Severus.
“I heard Kreacher banging about and was curious to see what was going on.” Bill seemed to have regained some composure and he looked over at Severus by the door.
“Kreacher was tidying up, on my orders,” said Severus, annoyed with Bill’s snooping. “Another Death Eater has been apprehended, and I am to preside at an initial hearing here this morning.”
“Ah, yes. Viktor Krum,” said Bill.
“Is that who they have captured?” Severus snorted. He had been present when Krum had taken the mark, during the final weeks of the war. The boy had looked shaky, even then, and from what he had said to the Dark Lord, Severus guessed he had only joined up in order to redeem Karkaroff. His hearing should be uneventful. “He is not significant.”
“I’m sure Krum would disagree,” said Bill in a good-natured tone.
“I was looking for you,” said Severus, ignoring Bill’s commentary. “I need to know what happened to the green stone I offered to Potter. Did he accept it?”
Severus noticed Bill swallow hard before responding. “What?”
“The green stone, where is it?” Severus asked, eyes narrowed.
Bill was silent, staring intently at a photo of Sirius and Regulus Black.
“Weasley?” Severus prodded.
“The stone is…with your love,” said Bill, still looking at the photo.
“I would like to get it back,” said Severus.
Bill turned towards him. “Would you?” he asked.
“I should not have parted with it,” said Severus. “Please retrieve it for me.”
Bill was looking at him with an intense expression that Severus could not interpret. He was tempted to probe his mind, but decided against it. Legilimancy was a dangerous skill to use with personal acquaintances, as he had learned the hard way; it was not always a good idea to discover what your colleagues truly thought of you.
“I will try…” Bill started, but was interrupted by the door opening. Severus turned as Harry entered the room. He felt a rush of embarrassment that quickly translated to anger. He had not seen Harry since Bill had told him of his rejection, and did not wish to see him now.
“Good morning, here you are,” said Harry. He was talking to and smiling at Bill, as if he did not even see Severus standing there.
“Potter. What are you doing downstairs?” Severus said. He winced at the harshness of his voice.
“You know, I just felt I could face it today,” said Harry, head cocked to the side, still smiling at Bill.
“That’s fantastic, Harry,” said Bill, a pleased expression on his face. He looked back and forth between Severus and Harry.
“It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?” said Harry. Again, he appeared to be addressing only Bill, his voice soft.
Watching this exchange like a spectator, a sliver of suspicion slid into Severus’s heart. Harry was being overly solicitous of Bill, almost flirtatious. Severus clenched his fists.
“Quite,” Bill replied, again, looking at Severus as if to include him in the conversation. “I’ve been out for a walk already.”
Harry’s expression became puzzled. “When would you have had time for that?” he asked.
Bill replied, “I went out just after I woke up. I didn’t sleep much last night, and I needed some fresh air. The square is so clean after all of the rain and wind last night.”
As Severus watched, Harry moved towards Bill, brought his hand to Bill’s cheek and said, in a tone that could not be mistaken, “I didn’t sleep much last night, either.” He brushed a kiss onto Bill’s lips. Severus felt the sliver in his heart sharpen to a cruel point, his guts twisting into a knot, blood rushing to his face.
“What is this?” Severus shouted, hearing his own voice enter the shrill, uncontrolled tone that he despised. Bill had pushed Harry’s hand away and stepped back.
“Severus, I don’t know. Harry, what are you doing?” Bill said, wiping the kiss from his lips.
“What’s wrong?” asked Harry. “Snape will find out soon enough.”
“Find out what, Weasley?” Severus felt himself nearing the edge of rage. Bill, whom he had trusted as his emissary, had instead won Potter for himself. This was insufferable.
“Find out what, Harry?” asked Bill, staying arms length from Harry. Severus wasn’t fooled by his coy act.
“About last night, of course. About us,” said Harry, moving closer.
“Harry, what are you talking about?” asked Bill, backed almost into an antique armoire.
“Yes, why don’t you illuminate us both, Potter? What are you talking about?” Severus retorted.
Harry was not able to respond, however, as a loud knock at the front door announced the arrival of the delegation from the Ministry. All three men spun towards the loud sound. With a glare, Severus swept from the room, letting his robes speak eloquently of his anger. Once in the hallway, he calmed his breathing, regained his composure. He needed to be an impartial judge now, and this adolescent drama would have to wait. His heart slowed, but the twisted feeling in his gut did not ease.
Kingsley and three young Aurors were at the door, accompanying Viktor Krum, who looked exhausted. The dark circles under his gray eyes gave him a malevolent air, and he walked hunched over as if in defeat. Severus was surprised. There really was very little he could be held responsible for in his short time as a Death Eater, and his imprisonment was likely to be short. Perhaps Kingsley had not informed him of that fact.
With a twitch of the head, Severus lead the group into the sitting room, and found that Harry and Bill were still standing there, staring at the door he had exited moments before.
“We’ll speak more later. Are you both staying for the hearing?” he asked, wishing the two of them would walk out the room and out of his life and never return, so this disaster could be behind him.
Bill said, “Yes, I’ll stay,” at the same moment Harry said, “No, we’re going upstairs.” Harry looked at Bill for a moment, and then they both took seats along the wall as the Ministry group entered the room.
* * *
Remus could not believe it. He had fooled himself that a night away from the bizarre events of the previous afternoon would sort out whatever the confusion was regarding Harry and Viktor Krum.
Now, sitting in the back of the hearing presided over by Severus, everything was only more complicated.
Harry had kissed him. Harry had made it seem as if they had just spent the night together. Harry had used this fact to hurt Severus. Remus felt ill, and clutched at the green stone in his pocket. He knew it was real, even if nothing else made sense, and Severus wanted it back. What did that mean?
Remus was tempted to flee to his room again, but here was an excuse to watch Severus at work, something he had rarely had a chance to see. If Harry wasn’t sitting next to him, moist, confused eyes peering out from his mess of hair, this might almost be fun. Could Harry be under a love spell that made him delusional?
As the Ministry officials walked in with the prisoner, there was a bit of a commotion.
“Zere he is, ask him! Please!” It was Viktor Krum, and the guards were holding him back from bolting across the room towards Remus.
Severus, seated at the ornate desk that had been moved to act as a judge’s bench, called for silence.
“I will not tolerate outbursts during this hearing, Mr. Krum,” said Severus, in his silkiest tone. If he wasn’t so tense, Remus thought he would melt at the sound.
“I apologize,” said Krum, still straining towards Remus as the Aurors lead him to a chair placed in front of the desk, and forced him down into it.
“Please, sir, may I speak?” Krum asked Severus.
“You will be given the opportunity to speak when it is appropriate,” Severus continued.
“Sir, there is a person in this room who can prove that I am redeemed, that I am not a bad man or a loyal Death Eater, if only he vould speak for me,” said Viktor in a bitter voice.
“Who is this person?” asked Severus, taking notes on a parchment.
“He is there, Bill Veasley,” said Viktor, pointing at Remus.
Remus blanched.
“Mr. Weasley?” prodded Severus, but Remus could only shake his head.
“I have been vith him for over a week, we vere in France together. I spent months planning his rescue. I saved him from a Death Eater prison. I come here at great personal risk, I made a promise to his wife, before her death,” Krum continued.
Remus continued to shake his head in denial. What was Viktor Krum talking about? They had never met before his surprise appearance the day before. How could he…?
“Now he is denying even knowing me! I charge him vith falseness. He is a very horrible man and should be punished for all of the lies he tells me,” Viktor continued, spite spilling out of him.
As Viktor spoke, a thought, an improbable, incomprehensible thought, occurred to Remus, a thought that would explain all of the bizarre occurrences, if it were true. It couldn’t be, he thought. This was just his sleep-deprived brain playing tricks.
But they never did find his body…
“Wait,” Remus said, standing. “Just a moment. May I ask a few questions, Snape?”
After a moment, Severus nodded.
“Mr. Krum, you say you have just rescued me in France?”
Viktor sighed in relief, his body relaxing into the chair. “At last, yes, he is remembering.”
Remus turned towards Harry. “And you, Harry, you spent last night with me?”
There was a bit a murmuring amongst the assembled group at this statement, but Harry lifted his chin and said, “Yes, I spent the night with you.”
Remus couldn’t bear to look at Severus after that pronouncement, but he turned towards the judge’s desk and kept his eyes down.
“Snape, I have a theory, a very odd theory, about what might be happening here,” Remus said, glancing at his watch. “I’d like to speak to you about it in private…”
Remus was interrupted mid-sentence by the loud bang of the sitting room door being thrown open. Three bizarre-looking figures hurtled into the room, one shouting, “Help,” another, “M’aidez,” and the third sputtered an incomprehensible garbling that sounded like, “Huduma nous!” They slammed the door shut behind them, all winded and obviously being chased.
Everyone in the sitting room jumped to their feet, wands drawn.
“Ginny, Fred, George! What is wrong?” Remus asked. Their hair was green.
“How did you get in here…? What…? Huh?” said Ginny, staring at Remus as if at a ghost, and looking behind her into the hallway. “Did you apparate? You were just…”
The door crashed open once more, another figure entered, and Fred fainted.
* * *
When Bill awoke, Harry was gone and the morning was far advanced. A renewed pang of anxiety about Viktor stirred him from the warm sheets. He was also ravenous. The full moon was coming.
As he pulled on his clothes, Bill wondered where Harry might have gone. They had not spoken at all during the night, apart from voicing some very specific requests and pronouncing the effects of other actions successful. He grinned at the memory. He still knew next to nothing about his family, his friends, or why his sister and brothers attacked him. He did, however, feel quite refreshed and invigorated.
He pulled on his Muggle street clothes, which he found scattered about the room, and headed downstairs to find some food.
As he reached the second floor landing, he could hear the sounds of an approaching group of people, and recognized familiar voices in the group. It was Ginny, Fred, and George, walking up the stairs towards him.
He peered over the banister to see that his sister and brothers were carrying several boxes and chatting. They had not heard him coming. He hunched down to observe.
“…wanted to show them off before taking them in and opening the shop. They’ll sell well, for sure,” Fred was saying.
“We’ve tested them all, and they come in five languages now, with Cantonese and Italian on the way,” said George.
“May I try one?” asked Ginny.
“Ten knuts,” said Fred, holding out his hand, and Ginny mimed elbowing his gut in annoyance. “Okay, okay. For you, on the house,” said Fred, in mock pain.
George cracked open one of the boxes he was carrying, and pulled out a lollipop. Reading the stick on the sweet, he said, “This one is French.” Ginny reached for the candy.
Watching from the stairs, Bill pulled his wand out of his pocket. This was the perfect opportunity for a bit of brotherly payback for the unprovoked attack the day before. He sneaked down a few steps until he was within clear striking distance, and shouted, “Proculos!” with a firm flick of the wand.
The boxes in Fred and George’s hands flew open and dozens of small lollipops soared out and towards their mouths. One lodged in George’s mouth, and four or five made to into Fred’s mouth before they had dodged.
“Merde!” shouted George, spitting the lollipop to the ground. “Bill! La bas! Ah, le français!”
Fred and Ginny turned as Bill fired of his next hex, “Crudus,” and all three of his siblings’ hair turned bright green.
“Tu as nywele verde!” said Fred, and he grabbed at his throat, spitting lollipops everywhere.
“Quoi?” asked George, grappling for his wand, dropping the boxes of candy to the ground.
“Punctum,” Bill said, flicking his wand again, and Ginny shrieked as freckles started to multiply all over her arms.
Bill walked down the stairs, holding his wand at the ready, and the three stricken victims stared up at him. “My young Weasleys,” he said in a cheerful voice. “I have been an older brother for as long as I can remember. It is my job to be better at all of this than you. You don’t think I would really take being hexed lying down did you? Or did you forget what it’s like to have me around?” He raised his wand, grinning from ear to ear, and started firing off more hexes.
Ah yes, he was home. Fred, George, and Ginny dashed down the hall. He chased them down the stairs, past Hermione, who stuck her head out of the kitchen to see what the ruckus was, and she joined in the chase, shouting for help.
“Just wait until I tell Charlie how you welcomed me home. He’ll want a piece of you too,” Bill called out, grinning. His siblings ran ahead of him and ran through a door, closing it behind them.
“Trapped!” he yelled teasingly, and pushed open the door.
* * *
“Finite incantatum!” The feel of the hexes on him being lifted jolted Fred awake.
He came to with George and Hermione leaning over him, and heard two distinct voices shouting, “Bill!” and another shouting, “Sit down, everyone!” He sat up. George helped him to his feet.
The room was frozen, every eye in the place fixed on the mystifying image of two identical Bill Weasleys, standing across the room, staring at each other.
“What the fuck?” said one Bill, looking amazed, standing near the door, the wand that had recently been hexing Fred, George, and Ginny held before him.
“Which is Bill?” said a deep, heavy voice, and Fred looked over to see Viktor Krum’s tense face.
“Viktor!” said the same Bill, “thank god you made it here. I hope you received my signal last night.” This Bill looked towards Harry. “I was…delayed.”
“You know me?” asked Viktor.
“What are you talking about? Of course I know you,” said Bill, staring at the other Bill. “Viktor, why is there someone here that looks just like me?”
“I do not know,” said Viktor, accusing eyes turning to the other Bill.
“None of us know,” said Severus, looking back and forth with his glittering eyes.
“I can’t tell them apart,” whispered Fred to George, but George elbowed him.
“No, wait, look carefully Fred, Ginny, just look,” said George. The assembled group turned their attention to the Weasley siblings. Fred followed George’s gaze, and looked closely at the two Bills.
George was right. There was something about the one Bill, the one who had hexed them. Maybe it was the way he held his chin at a bit of an angle, maybe his wide stance, legs spread, maybe the hint of rakish grin touching his lips, maybe the earring, dragon-tooth, as always. What convinced Fred, though, were his eyes, a confident and devious gleam so familiar it hurt. The other Bill, standing across the room, looked like a dull shadow in comparison. Seeing the two of them side-by-side, Fred was surprised that any of them had been fooled.
“Do you see it too?” asked Ginny.
The twins nodded. “That’s Bill there,” Fred said, pointing at the man in the doorway. “That’s really Bill.”
“You are bloody right I’m me,” said Bill, “but who the hell is that?”
All eyes turned to the other Bill Weasley, who looked as if he wanted to melt into the carpet. The Aurors took a few steps closer to him, wands drawn, but a subtle hand signal from Kingsley kept them back.
The fake Bill didn’t move, but looked at his watch and took a deep breath. “Just a moment, and all will be sorted out,” he said, and looked at Severus. “I’m sorry about this.”
* * *
Remus’s body, well, Bill’s body, would not move. He could only stand, and watch the disaster unfold before him.
No, not a disaster, Bill was alive. He was alive and standing there, staring at Remus, cocky turn to his hip, single eyebrow crooked. Remus wanted to run across the room and hug him, wanted to shout his joy to the sky, “I didn’t kill you!”, but he was trapped. He had to repeat it again to stay calm. Bill was alive, and in another minute, unless he sipped polyjuice, he would be alive too.
This was not the plan, Remus thought, but then again, he’d never really had a plan, so this would have to do. It was rather a large audience for him unmasking, but at least Severus was there, alert and wary at the front of the room.
“Has this phony been here for long?” asked Bill, pointing at Remus.
“Someone of your description arrived here approximately a week ago,” replied Severus.
“A week ago?” Bill said.
“When did you get here, Bill?” Ginny asked, her voice shaking.
“Yesterday afternoon,” he said.
There was a silence and Remus watched the faces of those in the room as they tried to process this new information.
“There has been some sham Bill Weasley imitating me for over a week?” Bill said again. “That’s just fucking weird. What’s your story, other me?” He didn’t sound angry, just disturbed and curious. Remus breathed a little easier. He looked at his watch again. He only had about a minute left. He needed to start explaining.
Remus took a deep breath and let words flow out. “I thought you were dead, Bill. I thought it was my fault. I just wanted to bring you back, help your family, to make amends for my mistakes,” said Remus. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
“Who are you?” That was Severus.
A panicked voice behind Remus said, “Yes, and…um…where were you last night?” That was Harry. Remus looked at Harry, who was ghostly white, looking back and forth at the two Bills, arms wrapped protectively around himself.
“You know me, or most of you do. I’m a friend,” Remus said. He reached into his pocket and wrapped his hand around the green stone. “I’m your friend.” This he said directly to Severus, and he pulled the stone from his pocket.
The first tingles of transformation started, and Remus took a deep breath. This was it. He locked eyes with Severus as the unpleasant stretching and pinching of transformation took hold.
It didn’t take long, and the room stayed quiet, watching. Remus could sense the moment he was recognizable, could see the moment mirrored in Severus’s eyes. His expression, usually so controlled, transformed into pure, unconscious wonder. Severus swayed slightly and grabbed at the edge of the desk. Remus felt his own body take over, his own heart accelerate in his chest, his own eyes tearing up. It was very quiet. Remus didn’t look away from Severus, and Severus didn’t look away from him.
It was still and quiet for a long moment.
“Remus?” said Bill, from behind him. “Remus?” Remus could feel a hand on his shoulder, realized that Bill was hugging him.
“Professor Lupin!” That was Harry’s voice. He was also hugging him. “We thought you were dead. What are you doing here?”
Remus was staring at Severus.
* * *
Severus knew, somehow, just before the transformation began, when the false Bill looked him in the eye. He knew. He knew it was Remus. The logical part of his mind, the part he cultivated and listened to and prided himself on, laughed at this folly, but the feeling overwhelming. He was certain. The transformation progressed, and each feature slowly resolved into that face, that face from his dreams and his nightmares.
All of the questions he knew he should be asking- Why are you in disguise? Why didn’t you tell me? Where have you been? Why did you leave me?- all faded into irrelevance at the sight of that face, those lips, still full, that hair, still straggling into his eyes.
It was not real. He felt himself sway. His eyes, Remus’s eyes, never left his face.
* * *
Remus couldn’t breathe, couldn’t respond, could only bask in the naked emotion blistering off of Severus. He could hear other voices uttering confusion or welcome, but they faded away, and all he could see was Severus, and all he could hear was his own breathing. The world narrowed to the two of them, all else falling away. Somehow, one of them, or both of them, walked towards the other, and they were face to face, and Remus felt Severus’s hand reach up and touch his hair, brush over his lips, run along his jaw, tentative, testing.
“You are alive.”
“I’m alive.”
“You are real.”
“Yes.”
Remus reached out to take Severus’s hand, and realized that the green stone was still clasped in his hand. Severus touched the stone and looked at Remus.
“I couldn’t give it to him. It’s mine,” said Remus. He wrapped his arms around Severus, pulling him close, wanting to press into every part of him, buried his face in his warm neck, felt long arms encircle him, hold him hard. It was real, he was real, and home, and himself. Remus could not hold Severus close enough. He didn’t know how they would ever let go.
After a minute, Harry’s loud voice interrupted them. “Whoa, you two are a couple? When did that happen?” This statement almost made Remus laugh out loud.
“When was that, Severus? 1975?” Remus asked, brushing a lock of dark hair from Severus’s face.
“February 5, 1975,” said Severus, his voice low.
The joy Remus had been holding back burst free at this comment, and he threw his head back and laughed, a free, full laugh. Severus’s arms tightened around him again. Remus pulled his fingers through Severus’s long hair, couldn’t imagine ever standing out of arm’s reach again.
Remus’s laughter seemed to free something up in the assembled group as well, and a chorus of chatter and questions and shocked exclamations broke out around them. Remus could hear them all as a vague background to the pounding of his heart as Severus wrapped him back into an embrace, murmuring, “You are not dead, you are not dead,” into his hair.
Eventually, one comment broke through the chaos to catch Remus’s attention. “So, um,” Harry said, “which of you was…um…last night…?”
Bill smiled. “That was me.”
Harry let out a long breath. “Oh, good,” he said. “No offense meant, Professor.”
Remus grinned, turning a bit so that he and Severus were side-by-side, arms around each other. “Oh not at all. I told you I was in love with someone else.” Remus almost fell over as Severus buried his head in his shoulder, whether to hide a smile or tears, Remus didn’t know. It was the most euphoric sensation Remus had ever experienced.
Harry approached Bill. “So…you… only arrived yesterday?”
“Yeah, right before we…you know…had mind-blowing sex,” said Bill, elbowing Harry in the ribs. “Quite a welcome home, I have to say.”
“So you never…sat and talked with me about love?” asked Harry, blushing, eyes darting through the room to see who was overhearing this conversation.
“No, Harry, that was me,” said Remus, feeling for Harry’s predicament.
“So, the person I thought I loved was you,” said Harry to Remus, “and the person I slept with was you,” he said to Bill.
“Sounds that way, mate. Sorry about that,” said Bill. “I had no idea.”
“Neither did I,” said Remus, trying to stay focused as Severus’s hand worked its way to the back of his neck and rubbed. “I was trying to tell you to forget about me.”
“I know you were.” Harry turned to Bill. “I suppose we are not soul mates, then,” he said.
“I don’t reckon,” said Bill. “It was a fantastic night though.”
“It was just a one off,” Harry said.
“Well, a three off, to be accurate, but pretty much,” said Bill with a devious grin. “Here, take this ring back. That will be for someone more important someday, I’d imagine.”
Harry took the ring, and his face shifted into a worried frown. “Where is Draco?”
* * *
Draco was huddled in the dark closet, having curled up in the tattered elf rags for a few scattered hours of sleep. Kreacher had come back in the early morning, and abused Draco for the next few hours with a string of muttered curses for taking his bed and invading his space. Draco never thought he would hear the phrase, “Filthy pureblood,” spit with such venom.
He had gone over the events of the last two days over and over. He knew all he needed was to see Harry, and all of this misunderstanding would be set aside.
He had also been formulating a variety of scenarios for revenge against Hermione for locking him in this dungeon. That thought was keeping him going.
He just needed to see Harry.
* * *
Swept away in the dramatics of the moment, Hermione suddenly looked to Fred and George when Harry asked about Draco, her expression panicked. “I forgot about him,” she mouthed, and dashed from the room. Fred bit his lip, and looked at George. This could not end well.
A minute later, the door opened again, and Draco, a yellow blur, flew into the room. Hermione crept back into the room behind him.
Draco looked terrible. His yellow robes were filthy, the sash loose and dragging. His face was smudged with what looked like coal, and his hair hung loose and greasy in his face. His gray eyes were squinted, as if the light hurt his eyes. He shielded his face with his hand and scanned the room. Once his eyes lit upon Harry, he dashed forward and threw his arms around him. It did not seem as if Draco had noticed anyone else was there, or that conversation had ended as all eyes had shifted to him.
“Harry, thank god, help me, please,” Draco said, hanging off of Harry’s neck. “None of them believe me. They think I’m under a spell.”
Fred felt George grab his elbow and squeeze.
Harry grabbed Draco’s shoulders and pulled him up. “Draco, what happened to you?” he asked.
“I was locked in an elf cupboard all night,” Draco moaned.
“What?” said Harry.
“I was only doing it all for you,” Draco said.
“Doing what?” asked Harry.
“What you asked,” he said, arms hanging limply at his side.
Harry paused, took a deep breath. “Draco, I did not ask you to do any of the things you have been doing.”
Draco’s eyes were wild and he scrabbled through his pockets, pulling out a tattered parchment. “You did!” he said. It was the letter. The hand gripping Fred’s elbow tightened, and Hermione moved to his side. They were done for.
Harry took the parchment and read it while Draco watched, expression hopeful.
“Draco,” Harry said with a sigh, “I didn’t write this.”
It was horrible to watch. Draco’s composure utterly collapsed. A flush of bright red crept up his chest and into his pale face, and his expression was of absolute horror.
“I know this handwriting, however,” said Harry, shooting a glance at Hermione. Fred and George both averted their eyes.
Draco followed his gaze and his expression took on an added element of embarrassed fury. He looked around the room at the assembled group, grabbed the letter back from Harry, and ran out of the room.
Fred felt George relax his iron grip on his arm. Harry shot a nasty glance their direction, and ran out after Draco.
George threw his arms around Hermione from behind, and she leaned back against him.
“We’re in trouble,” she said.
“Yeah,” George replied, brushing a hand through her hair, “but it was worth it.” Fred grinned at them and then noticed-- they looked good together.
* * *
Harry caught up with Draco partway up the stairs.
“Don’t speak to me, Potter. I’m going upstairs to pack my things,” Draco said, his voice tight, face still glowing red.
“What are you going on about, Draco?” Harry ran after him, grabbing at his sleeve.
Draco shook Harry’s arm off and turned on him. “Don’t ‘Draco’ me. I am leaving.”
“Wait. Listen, please, don’t…” said Harry, laying his hand on Draco’s arm.
Draco paused and looked at the hand resting on his sleeve. He folded his arms with a snort, but appeared to be listening. “What? Don’t be humiliated? Don’t be furious?”
“Listen. Listen.” Now that he had started, Harry took a moment to compose himself. “I didn’t write that note, Draco, but don’t leave. I want you to stay.”
“Perhaps I don’t care what you want,” snapped Draco.
Harry took a breath. “You know, Draco, yesterday, I was miserable. Life felt lost, meaningless. I couldn’t stand to see anyone, speak to anyone, do anything. There was only one person I wanted to see.” Harry said.
“Bill Weasley?” asked Draco.
“No. You.”
Draco’s face pulled into a skeptical frown. Harry continued, “Ask Hermione, ask anyone, I was asking after you, looking for you. Only you.”
“I don’t want to see you anymore,” said Draco.
“I doubt that. Look at what you were willing to go through for me. You did all this for me, yes?” Harry gave Draco’s haggard appearance another look.
Draco did not respond.
“Doing for someone else, that’s a new one for you, I think?” Harry smiled, and Draco pursed his lips. Harry softened his tone. “You are the one who has been there for me, you’ve held me together, kept me going for all of these years.”
Draco’s expression had relaxed to a pout. “Are you having me on?” asked Draco.
In reply, Harry took Draco’s hand. “No, I’m not,” he said, and he brought Draco’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “My loyal Draco. I had no idea how you felt about me.”
Draco was very still, his eyes nervously seeking Harry’s. Harry could sense his fear of embarrassment, his doubt. After a moment, Draco shifted his hand in Harry’s so that their fingers could interlace. The silence between them was thick with questions unasked and thoughts unsaid.
“Now what?” asked Draco.
Harry shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not going anywhere. Are you?”
Draco looked Harry in the eye. “No.”
Harry allowed himself a smile. “Good. Then I say we just wait and see. Might I suggest dinner this evening, as a start? To make up for what appears to have been a rough day yesterday.”
Draco ran his free hand through his hair.
“All right,” he said.
“Now I believe you should go upstairs to bathe and sleep. You look awful,” said Harry, squeezing Draco’s hand and letting go. Draco nodded and started up the stairs.
About halfway up, he stopped and turned back to Harry, eyes narrowed. “I’m going to take revenge on those nitwits, you know, at some point,” he said.
“I wouldn’t blame you one bit. Perhaps I’ll help,” said Harry with a wink, and Draco actually showed a hint of a smile before turning and walking up the stairs.
* * *
When Harry returned to the sitting room, the mood was somber.
“What’s wrong?” Harry asked the person nearest to him, who happened to be Hermione.
“Bill didn’t know about Ron,” she said, touching his arm, “or about Molly and Arthur traveling in Asia, or about Percy’s new job, or about anything. He’s a bit shocked.”
Bill was sitting with his head down, Severus and Remus talking with him gently. Harry and Hermione sat, and watched from a distance.
After a few minutes, Bill motioned to Viktor, who stood and approached the group. More discussion followed, with quite a bit of exaggerated arm movement by Viktor, and eventually Severus stood and shook Viktor’s hand.
“Looks like Viktor has made a deal,” said Hermione.
Harry turned to her. “You will have to explain that letter you gave to Draco, you know,” he said.
“I know,” she replied. “Believe me, I was pushed to my limits to take such drastic action.”
“I assume you had help,” Harry said.
“Of course.”
“He will get back at you all, you know,” Harry said.
Hermione thought for a moment. “I’m sure you are correct, Harry. I am sorry to have dragged you into it.”
“It’s all right. I think I might end up thanking you for it.” Harry kissed her cheek and wandered off to check up on Ginny, who was sitting alone in the corner.
“Ginny,” he said.
“Harry. This has been quite a day, hasn’t it?” Her hair was still tinted a faint green and her face was pale. Harry sat down next to her.
“Ginny, I’ve been horrible to you,” said Harry.
She looked at him. “Harry. No, I’ve been pathetic. I let pining over you turn into my life.” Ginny lifted her chin and looked out at the room. “Well, that is over. I’m looking for a flat, starting today. I’ll be by for visits, but I need my own life now.”
“Good for you, Ginny,” Harry said, and then added, “You know I’m gay, yes?”
“Yeah, I got that when you announced you’d shagged my brother,” Ginny replied.
“Caught that, did you?” he said with a smirk.
“I can read between the lines.”
Harry leaned over and hugged her. “I still treated you like shite, and I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “Now go on and sort out who the hell you went to bed with these last few days, eh?”
She shooed him away and Harry left her, returning to Hermione and the twins for few more apologies.
* * *
Hermione and George suggested that they all move into the kitchen for some food and drinks, and the sitting room emptied in favor of gathering around the large kitchen table. Beer flowed, cold cuts and rolls were passed, and the mood became almost celebratory.
The hearing was officially called off. Bill’s testimony to Severus had been more than enough to show that Viktor was no longer a threat, and he had been released. Kingsley and the Aurors joined the celebratory lunch in the kitchen, along with everyone else.
Harry disappeared upstairs for a bit, and returned with a clean and subdued Draco, who was dressed in a simple blue velvet robe. Draco sat next to Harry, quiet and tranquil, and Harry seemed to be paying him a good deal of attention.
Bill was flirting with the three Aurors at the far end of the table. Ginny was sitting with him, leaning against him, her eyes closed, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, the protective older brother. Watching him, Remus realized he really had been a poor imitation of the man. Bill was vivid, charismatic, words no one ever applied to him. Bill was alive. He was alive. None of this was real to Remus yet, and he expected it would take some time to process all that had occurred.
Remus watched all this from his seat next to Severus. They had not been apart for a moment since his transformation. Even sitting at the table, they were always touching, fingers, arms, feet, hips, shoulders. If one of them needed to move, a new point of contact would be established somewhere else. Although he spoke to everyone in the room, often turned away from Severus, half of Remus’s mind was always focused on that touch, on the solid reality of the man next to him.
Remus had told the story of his past two years numerous times, trying to explain it all in a few concise words. After Hermione became the fifth person to start a conversation with, “So, when I spoke to Bill last week, that wasn’t Bill?” Remus was thinking about fashioning a badge that read No, That Was Me that he could point to.
“It was an utterly idiotic idea, you know,” Severus whispered in his ear.
“I know.” Turning to Severus, meeting his dark eyes, Remus felt his stomach flip. He was aroused just making eye contact with the man.
“Sentimental as well. Pretending to be the man you had killed, for noble reasons,” Severus scoffed. “Typical.”
It was like no time had passed and a lifetime had passed. Remus smiled.
“Where did Potter and Malfoy get off too?” Severus asked. Remus had not noticed they were gone.
“Ah yes,” said Remus, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on his chin, “Harry Potter. We’ll have to talk about that little episode someday.” Remus gave Severus a devilish look.
“I insist we never speak of it again,” replied Severus.
“You insist, do you?” Remus nudged his hip into Severus’s.
“I was attempting to get over you,” was the reply.
“Oh, of course.” Remus smiled.
“My original question is still relevant.”
“Why do you care where they got off too?” Remus asked.
“Because,” said Severus, leaning in close to Remus, eye to eye, “if they managed to sneak away from this tedious celebration, then we can do the same.”
Remus’s cheek was warmed with Severus’s breath. He felt light-headed.
“I suggest one at a time would create less of a stir,” said Remus, breathless.
“My thoughts exactly.”
As Remus sneaked out after Severus, he looked back into the kitchen. George had one arm slung over Hermione’s shoulder, Bill looked to be making an impression on the cute Aurors, while Ginny nestled in next to him, Fred, Viktor, and Kingsley were engaged in a intense debate of some sort. The room buzzed with life, with contentment, with moving on. He closed the door.
* * *
It took Remus a few minutes to locate Severus. He was not in his own room, or in Remus’s, but a muffled sound was coming from the closed door of the study. Remus smiled and eased the door open.
Severus was leaning over the antique Muggle phonograph, adjusting the volume. His thin, square shoulders were hunched in concentration, the black drapes of his robes hung in perfect folds. Remus stood in the doorway for a long moment, watching him.
Beethoven was playing.
“Ah, music, the food of love,” said Remus, leaning against the doorframe.
Severus looked up then, brows raised, eyes glittering. “Don’t be trite, Lupin.” Severus strode over to him, grabbed his hand, and led him into the room.
He locked the door behind them.
-fin-
Notes: As a few have requested it, if you want to read a summary of Twelfth Night, here is a link. The full text of the play is available on-line at Project Gutenberg.
Dramatis Personae
Orsino- Severus Snape
Viola- Remus Lupin
Olivia- Harry Potter
Sebastian- Bill Weasley
Sea Captain- Charlie Weasley
Antonio- Viktor Krum
Maria- Hermione Granger
Sir Toby Belch/Feste- Fred and George Weasley
Sir Andrew Aguecheek- Ginny Weasley
Malvolio- Draco Malfoy
Title: Twelve Nights, or You Will What?
Act: V
Author: Cedar
Summary: Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", set in slashy post-war Potter AU.
Quote: Now, sitting in the back of the hearing presided over by Severus, everything was only more complicated.
Characters/Pairings: Snape/Lupin, amongst others. Dramatis Personae is at the end of the post. Um, this is very slashy.
Challenge: written for the
shakes_that_fic festRated: R for the finished fic, R for this Act
Warnings: AU, but canon-compliant to HBP (in other words, lots of people dead in DH are alive here, and vice versa), discussion of off-screen character deaths, slash, lots of booze (it's Shakespeare, people)
Word count: 6,800 in this Act, approx. 25,000 in completed fic
A/N: Thank you to the fabulous
dizilla for her helpful comments and being so supportive and generous throughout this process. Thanks to blpaintchart for the Brit-pick and the beta and for being a wonderful human that I am so happy to know. *gush*There is a major change from canon (Shakespeare canon) in this Act, so hold on to your hats. Hee.
Here are links to Act I, Act II, Act III, and Act IV
Severus had asked Kreacher to set up the little-used sitting room on the ground floor to accommodate the Death Eater hearing scheduled for the morning. He headed that way now to check on the progress, eyes alert for Bill. He was still feeling a bit disoriented due to his vivid dream about Remus, and was eager for the distraction the hearing would provide.
Severus was surprised to find that Bill was already in the sitting room, looking at some of the old Black family photos that continued to gloat and preen from the walls.
“Mr. Weasley,” said Severus.
“Sev…Snape, good morning,” said Bill, startled, averting his eyes, a marked discomfort in his voice.
“What are you doing in here?” asked Severus.
“I heard Kreacher banging about and was curious to see what was going on.” Bill seemed to have regained some composure and he looked over at Severus by the door.
“Kreacher was tidying up, on my orders,” said Severus, annoyed with Bill’s snooping. “Another Death Eater has been apprehended, and I am to preside at an initial hearing here this morning.”
“Ah, yes. Viktor Krum,” said Bill.
“Is that who they have captured?” Severus snorted. He had been present when Krum had taken the mark, during the final weeks of the war. The boy had looked shaky, even then, and from what he had said to the Dark Lord, Severus guessed he had only joined up in order to redeem Karkaroff. His hearing should be uneventful. “He is not significant.”
“I’m sure Krum would disagree,” said Bill in a good-natured tone.
“I was looking for you,” said Severus, ignoring Bill’s commentary. “I need to know what happened to the green stone I offered to Potter. Did he accept it?”
Severus noticed Bill swallow hard before responding. “What?”
“The green stone, where is it?” Severus asked, eyes narrowed.
Bill was silent, staring intently at a photo of Sirius and Regulus Black.
“Weasley?” Severus prodded.
“The stone is…with your love,” said Bill, still looking at the photo.
“I would like to get it back,” said Severus.
Bill turned towards him. “Would you?” he asked.
“I should not have parted with it,” said Severus. “Please retrieve it for me.”
Bill was looking at him with an intense expression that Severus could not interpret. He was tempted to probe his mind, but decided against it. Legilimancy was a dangerous skill to use with personal acquaintances, as he had learned the hard way; it was not always a good idea to discover what your colleagues truly thought of you.
“I will try…” Bill started, but was interrupted by the door opening. Severus turned as Harry entered the room. He felt a rush of embarrassment that quickly translated to anger. He had not seen Harry since Bill had told him of his rejection, and did not wish to see him now.
“Good morning, here you are,” said Harry. He was talking to and smiling at Bill, as if he did not even see Severus standing there.
“Potter. What are you doing downstairs?” Severus said. He winced at the harshness of his voice.
“You know, I just felt I could face it today,” said Harry, head cocked to the side, still smiling at Bill.
“That’s fantastic, Harry,” said Bill, a pleased expression on his face. He looked back and forth between Severus and Harry.
“It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?” said Harry. Again, he appeared to be addressing only Bill, his voice soft.
Watching this exchange like a spectator, a sliver of suspicion slid into Severus’s heart. Harry was being overly solicitous of Bill, almost flirtatious. Severus clenched his fists.
“Quite,” Bill replied, again, looking at Severus as if to include him in the conversation. “I’ve been out for a walk already.”
Harry’s expression became puzzled. “When would you have had time for that?” he asked.
Bill replied, “I went out just after I woke up. I didn’t sleep much last night, and I needed some fresh air. The square is so clean after all of the rain and wind last night.”
As Severus watched, Harry moved towards Bill, brought his hand to Bill’s cheek and said, in a tone that could not be mistaken, “I didn’t sleep much last night, either.” He brushed a kiss onto Bill’s lips. Severus felt the sliver in his heart sharpen to a cruel point, his guts twisting into a knot, blood rushing to his face.
“What is this?” Severus shouted, hearing his own voice enter the shrill, uncontrolled tone that he despised. Bill had pushed Harry’s hand away and stepped back.
“Severus, I don’t know. Harry, what are you doing?” Bill said, wiping the kiss from his lips.
“What’s wrong?” asked Harry. “Snape will find out soon enough.”
“Find out what, Weasley?” Severus felt himself nearing the edge of rage. Bill, whom he had trusted as his emissary, had instead won Potter for himself. This was insufferable.
“Find out what, Harry?” asked Bill, staying arms length from Harry. Severus wasn’t fooled by his coy act.
“About last night, of course. About us,” said Harry, moving closer.
“Harry, what are you talking about?” asked Bill, backed almost into an antique armoire.
“Yes, why don’t you illuminate us both, Potter? What are you talking about?” Severus retorted.
Harry was not able to respond, however, as a loud knock at the front door announced the arrival of the delegation from the Ministry. All three men spun towards the loud sound. With a glare, Severus swept from the room, letting his robes speak eloquently of his anger. Once in the hallway, he calmed his breathing, regained his composure. He needed to be an impartial judge now, and this adolescent drama would have to wait. His heart slowed, but the twisted feeling in his gut did not ease.
Kingsley and three young Aurors were at the door, accompanying Viktor Krum, who looked exhausted. The dark circles under his gray eyes gave him a malevolent air, and he walked hunched over as if in defeat. Severus was surprised. There really was very little he could be held responsible for in his short time as a Death Eater, and his imprisonment was likely to be short. Perhaps Kingsley had not informed him of that fact.
With a twitch of the head, Severus lead the group into the sitting room, and found that Harry and Bill were still standing there, staring at the door he had exited moments before.
“We’ll speak more later. Are you both staying for the hearing?” he asked, wishing the two of them would walk out the room and out of his life and never return, so this disaster could be behind him.
Bill said, “Yes, I’ll stay,” at the same moment Harry said, “No, we’re going upstairs.” Harry looked at Bill for a moment, and then they both took seats along the wall as the Ministry group entered the room.
* * *
Remus could not believe it. He had fooled himself that a night away from the bizarre events of the previous afternoon would sort out whatever the confusion was regarding Harry and Viktor Krum.
Now, sitting in the back of the hearing presided over by Severus, everything was only more complicated.
Harry had kissed him. Harry had made it seem as if they had just spent the night together. Harry had used this fact to hurt Severus. Remus felt ill, and clutched at the green stone in his pocket. He knew it was real, even if nothing else made sense, and Severus wanted it back. What did that mean?
Remus was tempted to flee to his room again, but here was an excuse to watch Severus at work, something he had rarely had a chance to see. If Harry wasn’t sitting next to him, moist, confused eyes peering out from his mess of hair, this might almost be fun. Could Harry be under a love spell that made him delusional?
As the Ministry officials walked in with the prisoner, there was a bit of a commotion.
“Zere he is, ask him! Please!” It was Viktor Krum, and the guards were holding him back from bolting across the room towards Remus.
Severus, seated at the ornate desk that had been moved to act as a judge’s bench, called for silence.
“I will not tolerate outbursts during this hearing, Mr. Krum,” said Severus, in his silkiest tone. If he wasn’t so tense, Remus thought he would melt at the sound.
“I apologize,” said Krum, still straining towards Remus as the Aurors lead him to a chair placed in front of the desk, and forced him down into it.
“Please, sir, may I speak?” Krum asked Severus.
“You will be given the opportunity to speak when it is appropriate,” Severus continued.
“Sir, there is a person in this room who can prove that I am redeemed, that I am not a bad man or a loyal Death Eater, if only he vould speak for me,” said Viktor in a bitter voice.
“Who is this person?” asked Severus, taking notes on a parchment.
“He is there, Bill Veasley,” said Viktor, pointing at Remus.
Remus blanched.
“Mr. Weasley?” prodded Severus, but Remus could only shake his head.
“I have been vith him for over a week, we vere in France together. I spent months planning his rescue. I saved him from a Death Eater prison. I come here at great personal risk, I made a promise to his wife, before her death,” Krum continued.
Remus continued to shake his head in denial. What was Viktor Krum talking about? They had never met before his surprise appearance the day before. How could he…?
“Now he is denying even knowing me! I charge him vith falseness. He is a very horrible man and should be punished for all of the lies he tells me,” Viktor continued, spite spilling out of him.
As Viktor spoke, a thought, an improbable, incomprehensible thought, occurred to Remus, a thought that would explain all of the bizarre occurrences, if it were true. It couldn’t be, he thought. This was just his sleep-deprived brain playing tricks.
But they never did find his body…
“Wait,” Remus said, standing. “Just a moment. May I ask a few questions, Snape?”
After a moment, Severus nodded.
“Mr. Krum, you say you have just rescued me in France?”
Viktor sighed in relief, his body relaxing into the chair. “At last, yes, he is remembering.”
Remus turned towards Harry. “And you, Harry, you spent last night with me?”
There was a bit a murmuring amongst the assembled group at this statement, but Harry lifted his chin and said, “Yes, I spent the night with you.”
Remus couldn’t bear to look at Severus after that pronouncement, but he turned towards the judge’s desk and kept his eyes down.
“Snape, I have a theory, a very odd theory, about what might be happening here,” Remus said, glancing at his watch. “I’d like to speak to you about it in private…”
Remus was interrupted mid-sentence by the loud bang of the sitting room door being thrown open. Three bizarre-looking figures hurtled into the room, one shouting, “Help,” another, “M’aidez,” and the third sputtered an incomprehensible garbling that sounded like, “Huduma nous!” They slammed the door shut behind them, all winded and obviously being chased.
Everyone in the sitting room jumped to their feet, wands drawn.
“Ginny, Fred, George! What is wrong?” Remus asked. Their hair was green.
“How did you get in here…? What…? Huh?” said Ginny, staring at Remus as if at a ghost, and looking behind her into the hallway. “Did you apparate? You were just…”
The door crashed open once more, another figure entered, and Fred fainted.
* * *
When Bill awoke, Harry was gone and the morning was far advanced. A renewed pang of anxiety about Viktor stirred him from the warm sheets. He was also ravenous. The full moon was coming.
As he pulled on his clothes, Bill wondered where Harry might have gone. They had not spoken at all during the night, apart from voicing some very specific requests and pronouncing the effects of other actions successful. He grinned at the memory. He still knew next to nothing about his family, his friends, or why his sister and brothers attacked him. He did, however, feel quite refreshed and invigorated.
He pulled on his Muggle street clothes, which he found scattered about the room, and headed downstairs to find some food.
As he reached the second floor landing, he could hear the sounds of an approaching group of people, and recognized familiar voices in the group. It was Ginny, Fred, and George, walking up the stairs towards him.
He peered over the banister to see that his sister and brothers were carrying several boxes and chatting. They had not heard him coming. He hunched down to observe.
“…wanted to show them off before taking them in and opening the shop. They’ll sell well, for sure,” Fred was saying.
“We’ve tested them all, and they come in five languages now, with Cantonese and Italian on the way,” said George.
“May I try one?” asked Ginny.
“Ten knuts,” said Fred, holding out his hand, and Ginny mimed elbowing his gut in annoyance. “Okay, okay. For you, on the house,” said Fred, in mock pain.
George cracked open one of the boxes he was carrying, and pulled out a lollipop. Reading the stick on the sweet, he said, “This one is French.” Ginny reached for the candy.
Watching from the stairs, Bill pulled his wand out of his pocket. This was the perfect opportunity for a bit of brotherly payback for the unprovoked attack the day before. He sneaked down a few steps until he was within clear striking distance, and shouted, “Proculos!” with a firm flick of the wand.
The boxes in Fred and George’s hands flew open and dozens of small lollipops soared out and towards their mouths. One lodged in George’s mouth, and four or five made to into Fred’s mouth before they had dodged.
“Merde!” shouted George, spitting the lollipop to the ground. “Bill! La bas! Ah, le français!”
Fred and Ginny turned as Bill fired of his next hex, “Crudus,” and all three of his siblings’ hair turned bright green.
“Tu as nywele verde!” said Fred, and he grabbed at his throat, spitting lollipops everywhere.
“Quoi?” asked George, grappling for his wand, dropping the boxes of candy to the ground.
“Punctum,” Bill said, flicking his wand again, and Ginny shrieked as freckles started to multiply all over her arms.
Bill walked down the stairs, holding his wand at the ready, and the three stricken victims stared up at him. “My young Weasleys,” he said in a cheerful voice. “I have been an older brother for as long as I can remember. It is my job to be better at all of this than you. You don’t think I would really take being hexed lying down did you? Or did you forget what it’s like to have me around?” He raised his wand, grinning from ear to ear, and started firing off more hexes.
Ah yes, he was home. Fred, George, and Ginny dashed down the hall. He chased them down the stairs, past Hermione, who stuck her head out of the kitchen to see what the ruckus was, and she joined in the chase, shouting for help.
“Just wait until I tell Charlie how you welcomed me home. He’ll want a piece of you too,” Bill called out, grinning. His siblings ran ahead of him and ran through a door, closing it behind them.
“Trapped!” he yelled teasingly, and pushed open the door.
* * *
“Finite incantatum!” The feel of the hexes on him being lifted jolted Fred awake.
He came to with George and Hermione leaning over him, and heard two distinct voices shouting, “Bill!” and another shouting, “Sit down, everyone!” He sat up. George helped him to his feet.
The room was frozen, every eye in the place fixed on the mystifying image of two identical Bill Weasleys, standing across the room, staring at each other.
“What the fuck?” said one Bill, looking amazed, standing near the door, the wand that had recently been hexing Fred, George, and Ginny held before him.
“Which is Bill?” said a deep, heavy voice, and Fred looked over to see Viktor Krum’s tense face.
“Viktor!” said the same Bill, “thank god you made it here. I hope you received my signal last night.” This Bill looked towards Harry. “I was…delayed.”
“You know me?” asked Viktor.
“What are you talking about? Of course I know you,” said Bill, staring at the other Bill. “Viktor, why is there someone here that looks just like me?”
“I do not know,” said Viktor, accusing eyes turning to the other Bill.
“None of us know,” said Severus, looking back and forth with his glittering eyes.
“I can’t tell them apart,” whispered Fred to George, but George elbowed him.
“No, wait, look carefully Fred, Ginny, just look,” said George. The assembled group turned their attention to the Weasley siblings. Fred followed George’s gaze, and looked closely at the two Bills.
George was right. There was something about the one Bill, the one who had hexed them. Maybe it was the way he held his chin at a bit of an angle, maybe his wide stance, legs spread, maybe the hint of rakish grin touching his lips, maybe the earring, dragon-tooth, as always. What convinced Fred, though, were his eyes, a confident and devious gleam so familiar it hurt. The other Bill, standing across the room, looked like a dull shadow in comparison. Seeing the two of them side-by-side, Fred was surprised that any of them had been fooled.
“Do you see it too?” asked Ginny.
The twins nodded. “That’s Bill there,” Fred said, pointing at the man in the doorway. “That’s really Bill.”
“You are bloody right I’m me,” said Bill, “but who the hell is that?”
All eyes turned to the other Bill Weasley, who looked as if he wanted to melt into the carpet. The Aurors took a few steps closer to him, wands drawn, but a subtle hand signal from Kingsley kept them back.
The fake Bill didn’t move, but looked at his watch and took a deep breath. “Just a moment, and all will be sorted out,” he said, and looked at Severus. “I’m sorry about this.”
* * *
Remus’s body, well, Bill’s body, would not move. He could only stand, and watch the disaster unfold before him.
No, not a disaster, Bill was alive. He was alive and standing there, staring at Remus, cocky turn to his hip, single eyebrow crooked. Remus wanted to run across the room and hug him, wanted to shout his joy to the sky, “I didn’t kill you!”, but he was trapped. He had to repeat it again to stay calm. Bill was alive, and in another minute, unless he sipped polyjuice, he would be alive too.
This was not the plan, Remus thought, but then again, he’d never really had a plan, so this would have to do. It was rather a large audience for him unmasking, but at least Severus was there, alert and wary at the front of the room.
“Has this phony been here for long?” asked Bill, pointing at Remus.
“Someone of your description arrived here approximately a week ago,” replied Severus.
“A week ago?” Bill said.
“When did you get here, Bill?” Ginny asked, her voice shaking.
“Yesterday afternoon,” he said.
There was a silence and Remus watched the faces of those in the room as they tried to process this new information.
“There has been some sham Bill Weasley imitating me for over a week?” Bill said again. “That’s just fucking weird. What’s your story, other me?” He didn’t sound angry, just disturbed and curious. Remus breathed a little easier. He looked at his watch again. He only had about a minute left. He needed to start explaining.
Remus took a deep breath and let words flow out. “I thought you were dead, Bill. I thought it was my fault. I just wanted to bring you back, help your family, to make amends for my mistakes,” said Remus. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
“Who are you?” That was Severus.
A panicked voice behind Remus said, “Yes, and…um…where were you last night?” That was Harry. Remus looked at Harry, who was ghostly white, looking back and forth at the two Bills, arms wrapped protectively around himself.
“You know me, or most of you do. I’m a friend,” Remus said. He reached into his pocket and wrapped his hand around the green stone. “I’m your friend.” This he said directly to Severus, and he pulled the stone from his pocket.
The first tingles of transformation started, and Remus took a deep breath. This was it. He locked eyes with Severus as the unpleasant stretching and pinching of transformation took hold.
It didn’t take long, and the room stayed quiet, watching. Remus could sense the moment he was recognizable, could see the moment mirrored in Severus’s eyes. His expression, usually so controlled, transformed into pure, unconscious wonder. Severus swayed slightly and grabbed at the edge of the desk. Remus felt his own body take over, his own heart accelerate in his chest, his own eyes tearing up. It was very quiet. Remus didn’t look away from Severus, and Severus didn’t look away from him.
It was still and quiet for a long moment.
“Remus?” said Bill, from behind him. “Remus?” Remus could feel a hand on his shoulder, realized that Bill was hugging him.
“Professor Lupin!” That was Harry’s voice. He was also hugging him. “We thought you were dead. What are you doing here?”
Remus was staring at Severus.
* * *
Severus knew, somehow, just before the transformation began, when the false Bill looked him in the eye. He knew. He knew it was Remus. The logical part of his mind, the part he cultivated and listened to and prided himself on, laughed at this folly, but the feeling overwhelming. He was certain. The transformation progressed, and each feature slowly resolved into that face, that face from his dreams and his nightmares.
All of the questions he knew he should be asking- Why are you in disguise? Why didn’t you tell me? Where have you been? Why did you leave me?- all faded into irrelevance at the sight of that face, those lips, still full, that hair, still straggling into his eyes.
It was not real. He felt himself sway. His eyes, Remus’s eyes, never left his face.
* * *
Remus couldn’t breathe, couldn’t respond, could only bask in the naked emotion blistering off of Severus. He could hear other voices uttering confusion or welcome, but they faded away, and all he could see was Severus, and all he could hear was his own breathing. The world narrowed to the two of them, all else falling away. Somehow, one of them, or both of them, walked towards the other, and they were face to face, and Remus felt Severus’s hand reach up and touch his hair, brush over his lips, run along his jaw, tentative, testing.
“You are alive.”
“I’m alive.”
“You are real.”
“Yes.”
Remus reached out to take Severus’s hand, and realized that the green stone was still clasped in his hand. Severus touched the stone and looked at Remus.
“I couldn’t give it to him. It’s mine,” said Remus. He wrapped his arms around Severus, pulling him close, wanting to press into every part of him, buried his face in his warm neck, felt long arms encircle him, hold him hard. It was real, he was real, and home, and himself. Remus could not hold Severus close enough. He didn’t know how they would ever let go.
After a minute, Harry’s loud voice interrupted them. “Whoa, you two are a couple? When did that happen?” This statement almost made Remus laugh out loud.
“When was that, Severus? 1975?” Remus asked, brushing a lock of dark hair from Severus’s face.
“February 5, 1975,” said Severus, his voice low.
The joy Remus had been holding back burst free at this comment, and he threw his head back and laughed, a free, full laugh. Severus’s arms tightened around him again. Remus pulled his fingers through Severus’s long hair, couldn’t imagine ever standing out of arm’s reach again.
Remus’s laughter seemed to free something up in the assembled group as well, and a chorus of chatter and questions and shocked exclamations broke out around them. Remus could hear them all as a vague background to the pounding of his heart as Severus wrapped him back into an embrace, murmuring, “You are not dead, you are not dead,” into his hair.
Eventually, one comment broke through the chaos to catch Remus’s attention. “So, um,” Harry said, “which of you was…um…last night…?”
Bill smiled. “That was me.”
Harry let out a long breath. “Oh, good,” he said. “No offense meant, Professor.”
Remus grinned, turning a bit so that he and Severus were side-by-side, arms around each other. “Oh not at all. I told you I was in love with someone else.” Remus almost fell over as Severus buried his head in his shoulder, whether to hide a smile or tears, Remus didn’t know. It was the most euphoric sensation Remus had ever experienced.
Harry approached Bill. “So…you… only arrived yesterday?”
“Yeah, right before we…you know…had mind-blowing sex,” said Bill, elbowing Harry in the ribs. “Quite a welcome home, I have to say.”
“So you never…sat and talked with me about love?” asked Harry, blushing, eyes darting through the room to see who was overhearing this conversation.
“No, Harry, that was me,” said Remus, feeling for Harry’s predicament.
“So, the person I thought I loved was you,” said Harry to Remus, “and the person I slept with was you,” he said to Bill.
“Sounds that way, mate. Sorry about that,” said Bill. “I had no idea.”
“Neither did I,” said Remus, trying to stay focused as Severus’s hand worked its way to the back of his neck and rubbed. “I was trying to tell you to forget about me.”
“I know you were.” Harry turned to Bill. “I suppose we are not soul mates, then,” he said.
“I don’t reckon,” said Bill. “It was a fantastic night though.”
“It was just a one off,” Harry said.
“Well, a three off, to be accurate, but pretty much,” said Bill with a devious grin. “Here, take this ring back. That will be for someone more important someday, I’d imagine.”
Harry took the ring, and his face shifted into a worried frown. “Where is Draco?”
* * *
Draco was huddled in the dark closet, having curled up in the tattered elf rags for a few scattered hours of sleep. Kreacher had come back in the early morning, and abused Draco for the next few hours with a string of muttered curses for taking his bed and invading his space. Draco never thought he would hear the phrase, “Filthy pureblood,” spit with such venom.
He had gone over the events of the last two days over and over. He knew all he needed was to see Harry, and all of this misunderstanding would be set aside.
He had also been formulating a variety of scenarios for revenge against Hermione for locking him in this dungeon. That thought was keeping him going.
He just needed to see Harry.
* * *
Swept away in the dramatics of the moment, Hermione suddenly looked to Fred and George when Harry asked about Draco, her expression panicked. “I forgot about him,” she mouthed, and dashed from the room. Fred bit his lip, and looked at George. This could not end well.
A minute later, the door opened again, and Draco, a yellow blur, flew into the room. Hermione crept back into the room behind him.
Draco looked terrible. His yellow robes were filthy, the sash loose and dragging. His face was smudged with what looked like coal, and his hair hung loose and greasy in his face. His gray eyes were squinted, as if the light hurt his eyes. He shielded his face with his hand and scanned the room. Once his eyes lit upon Harry, he dashed forward and threw his arms around him. It did not seem as if Draco had noticed anyone else was there, or that conversation had ended as all eyes had shifted to him.
“Harry, thank god, help me, please,” Draco said, hanging off of Harry’s neck. “None of them believe me. They think I’m under a spell.”
Fred felt George grab his elbow and squeeze.
Harry grabbed Draco’s shoulders and pulled him up. “Draco, what happened to you?” he asked.
“I was locked in an elf cupboard all night,” Draco moaned.
“What?” said Harry.
“I was only doing it all for you,” Draco said.
“Doing what?” asked Harry.
“What you asked,” he said, arms hanging limply at his side.
Harry paused, took a deep breath. “Draco, I did not ask you to do any of the things you have been doing.”
Draco’s eyes were wild and he scrabbled through his pockets, pulling out a tattered parchment. “You did!” he said. It was the letter. The hand gripping Fred’s elbow tightened, and Hermione moved to his side. They were done for.
Harry took the parchment and read it while Draco watched, expression hopeful.
“Draco,” Harry said with a sigh, “I didn’t write this.”
It was horrible to watch. Draco’s composure utterly collapsed. A flush of bright red crept up his chest and into his pale face, and his expression was of absolute horror.
“I know this handwriting, however,” said Harry, shooting a glance at Hermione. Fred and George both averted their eyes.
Draco followed his gaze and his expression took on an added element of embarrassed fury. He looked around the room at the assembled group, grabbed the letter back from Harry, and ran out of the room.
Fred felt George relax his iron grip on his arm. Harry shot a nasty glance their direction, and ran out after Draco.
George threw his arms around Hermione from behind, and she leaned back against him.
“We’re in trouble,” she said.
“Yeah,” George replied, brushing a hand through her hair, “but it was worth it.” Fred grinned at them and then noticed-- they looked good together.
* * *
Harry caught up with Draco partway up the stairs.
“Don’t speak to me, Potter. I’m going upstairs to pack my things,” Draco said, his voice tight, face still glowing red.
“What are you going on about, Draco?” Harry ran after him, grabbing at his sleeve.
Draco shook Harry’s arm off and turned on him. “Don’t ‘Draco’ me. I am leaving.”
“Wait. Listen, please, don’t…” said Harry, laying his hand on Draco’s arm.
Draco paused and looked at the hand resting on his sleeve. He folded his arms with a snort, but appeared to be listening. “What? Don’t be humiliated? Don’t be furious?”
“Listen. Listen.” Now that he had started, Harry took a moment to compose himself. “I didn’t write that note, Draco, but don’t leave. I want you to stay.”
“Perhaps I don’t care what you want,” snapped Draco.
Harry took a breath. “You know, Draco, yesterday, I was miserable. Life felt lost, meaningless. I couldn’t stand to see anyone, speak to anyone, do anything. There was only one person I wanted to see.” Harry said.
“Bill Weasley?” asked Draco.
“No. You.”
Draco’s face pulled into a skeptical frown. Harry continued, “Ask Hermione, ask anyone, I was asking after you, looking for you. Only you.”
“I don’t want to see you anymore,” said Draco.
“I doubt that. Look at what you were willing to go through for me. You did all this for me, yes?” Harry gave Draco’s haggard appearance another look.
Draco did not respond.
“Doing for someone else, that’s a new one for you, I think?” Harry smiled, and Draco pursed his lips. Harry softened his tone. “You are the one who has been there for me, you’ve held me together, kept me going for all of these years.”
Draco’s expression had relaxed to a pout. “Are you having me on?” asked Draco.
In reply, Harry took Draco’s hand. “No, I’m not,” he said, and he brought Draco’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “My loyal Draco. I had no idea how you felt about me.”
Draco was very still, his eyes nervously seeking Harry’s. Harry could sense his fear of embarrassment, his doubt. After a moment, Draco shifted his hand in Harry’s so that their fingers could interlace. The silence between them was thick with questions unasked and thoughts unsaid.
“Now what?” asked Draco.
Harry shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not going anywhere. Are you?”
Draco looked Harry in the eye. “No.”
Harry allowed himself a smile. “Good. Then I say we just wait and see. Might I suggest dinner this evening, as a start? To make up for what appears to have been a rough day yesterday.”
Draco ran his free hand through his hair.
“All right,” he said.
“Now I believe you should go upstairs to bathe and sleep. You look awful,” said Harry, squeezing Draco’s hand and letting go. Draco nodded and started up the stairs.
About halfway up, he stopped and turned back to Harry, eyes narrowed. “I’m going to take revenge on those nitwits, you know, at some point,” he said.
“I wouldn’t blame you one bit. Perhaps I’ll help,” said Harry with a wink, and Draco actually showed a hint of a smile before turning and walking up the stairs.
* * *
When Harry returned to the sitting room, the mood was somber.
“What’s wrong?” Harry asked the person nearest to him, who happened to be Hermione.
“Bill didn’t know about Ron,” she said, touching his arm, “or about Molly and Arthur traveling in Asia, or about Percy’s new job, or about anything. He’s a bit shocked.”
Bill was sitting with his head down, Severus and Remus talking with him gently. Harry and Hermione sat, and watched from a distance.
After a few minutes, Bill motioned to Viktor, who stood and approached the group. More discussion followed, with quite a bit of exaggerated arm movement by Viktor, and eventually Severus stood and shook Viktor’s hand.
“Looks like Viktor has made a deal,” said Hermione.
Harry turned to her. “You will have to explain that letter you gave to Draco, you know,” he said.
“I know,” she replied. “Believe me, I was pushed to my limits to take such drastic action.”
“I assume you had help,” Harry said.
“Of course.”
“He will get back at you all, you know,” Harry said.
Hermione thought for a moment. “I’m sure you are correct, Harry. I am sorry to have dragged you into it.”
“It’s all right. I think I might end up thanking you for it.” Harry kissed her cheek and wandered off to check up on Ginny, who was sitting alone in the corner.
“Ginny,” he said.
“Harry. This has been quite a day, hasn’t it?” Her hair was still tinted a faint green and her face was pale. Harry sat down next to her.
“Ginny, I’ve been horrible to you,” said Harry.
She looked at him. “Harry. No, I’ve been pathetic. I let pining over you turn into my life.” Ginny lifted her chin and looked out at the room. “Well, that is over. I’m looking for a flat, starting today. I’ll be by for visits, but I need my own life now.”
“Good for you, Ginny,” Harry said, and then added, “You know I’m gay, yes?”
“Yeah, I got that when you announced you’d shagged my brother,” Ginny replied.
“Caught that, did you?” he said with a smirk.
“I can read between the lines.”
Harry leaned over and hugged her. “I still treated you like shite, and I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “Now go on and sort out who the hell you went to bed with these last few days, eh?”
She shooed him away and Harry left her, returning to Hermione and the twins for few more apologies.
* * *
Hermione and George suggested that they all move into the kitchen for some food and drinks, and the sitting room emptied in favor of gathering around the large kitchen table. Beer flowed, cold cuts and rolls were passed, and the mood became almost celebratory.
The hearing was officially called off. Bill’s testimony to Severus had been more than enough to show that Viktor was no longer a threat, and he had been released. Kingsley and the Aurors joined the celebratory lunch in the kitchen, along with everyone else.
Harry disappeared upstairs for a bit, and returned with a clean and subdued Draco, who was dressed in a simple blue velvet robe. Draco sat next to Harry, quiet and tranquil, and Harry seemed to be paying him a good deal of attention.
Bill was flirting with the three Aurors at the far end of the table. Ginny was sitting with him, leaning against him, her eyes closed, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, the protective older brother. Watching him, Remus realized he really had been a poor imitation of the man. Bill was vivid, charismatic, words no one ever applied to him. Bill was alive. He was alive. None of this was real to Remus yet, and he expected it would take some time to process all that had occurred.
Remus watched all this from his seat next to Severus. They had not been apart for a moment since his transformation. Even sitting at the table, they were always touching, fingers, arms, feet, hips, shoulders. If one of them needed to move, a new point of contact would be established somewhere else. Although he spoke to everyone in the room, often turned away from Severus, half of Remus’s mind was always focused on that touch, on the solid reality of the man next to him.
Remus had told the story of his past two years numerous times, trying to explain it all in a few concise words. After Hermione became the fifth person to start a conversation with, “So, when I spoke to Bill last week, that wasn’t Bill?” Remus was thinking about fashioning a badge that read No, That Was Me that he could point to.
“It was an utterly idiotic idea, you know,” Severus whispered in his ear.
“I know.” Turning to Severus, meeting his dark eyes, Remus felt his stomach flip. He was aroused just making eye contact with the man.
“Sentimental as well. Pretending to be the man you had killed, for noble reasons,” Severus scoffed. “Typical.”
It was like no time had passed and a lifetime had passed. Remus smiled.
“Where did Potter and Malfoy get off too?” Severus asked. Remus had not noticed they were gone.
“Ah yes,” said Remus, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on his chin, “Harry Potter. We’ll have to talk about that little episode someday.” Remus gave Severus a devilish look.
“I insist we never speak of it again,” replied Severus.
“You insist, do you?” Remus nudged his hip into Severus’s.
“I was attempting to get over you,” was the reply.
“Oh, of course.” Remus smiled.
“My original question is still relevant.”
“Why do you care where they got off too?” Remus asked.
“Because,” said Severus, leaning in close to Remus, eye to eye, “if they managed to sneak away from this tedious celebration, then we can do the same.”
Remus’s cheek was warmed with Severus’s breath. He felt light-headed.
“I suggest one at a time would create less of a stir,” said Remus, breathless.
“My thoughts exactly.”
As Remus sneaked out after Severus, he looked back into the kitchen. George had one arm slung over Hermione’s shoulder, Bill looked to be making an impression on the cute Aurors, while Ginny nestled in next to him, Fred, Viktor, and Kingsley were engaged in a intense debate of some sort. The room buzzed with life, with contentment, with moving on. He closed the door.
* * *
It took Remus a few minutes to locate Severus. He was not in his own room, or in Remus’s, but a muffled sound was coming from the closed door of the study. Remus smiled and eased the door open.
Severus was leaning over the antique Muggle phonograph, adjusting the volume. His thin, square shoulders were hunched in concentration, the black drapes of his robes hung in perfect folds. Remus stood in the doorway for a long moment, watching him.
Beethoven was playing.
“Ah, music, the food of love,” said Remus, leaning against the doorframe.
Severus looked up then, brows raised, eyes glittering. “Don’t be trite, Lupin.” Severus strode over to him, grabbed his hand, and led him into the room.
He locked the door behind them.
-fin-
Notes: As a few have requested it, if you want to read a summary of Twelfth Night, here is a link. The full text of the play is available on-line at Project Gutenberg.
Dramatis Personae
Orsino- Severus Snape
Viola- Remus Lupin
Olivia- Harry Potter
Sebastian- Bill Weasley
Sea Captain- Charlie Weasley
Antonio- Viktor Krum
Maria- Hermione Granger
Sir Toby Belch/Feste- Fred and George Weasley
Sir Andrew Aguecheek- Ginny Weasley
Malvolio- Draco Malfoy
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 03:33 am (UTC)“Ah, music, the food of love,” said Remus, leaning against the doorframe.
Severus looked up then, brows raised, eyes glittering. “Don’t be trite, Lupin.”
GLEE!
*applauds wildly*
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Date: 4 Sep 2007 06:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Sep 2007 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Sep 2007 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 04:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Sep 2007 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Sep 2007 12:07 am (UTC)Thank you for following the progress of this thing, and for your lovely comments- I do hope the characters stayed true to themselves. I really appreciate it. :)
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Date: 4 Sep 2007 04:32 am (UTC)I don't think I can read Twelfth Night, though, 'cause I'll be looking for Remus and Bill and Severus and... and... and... ;o)
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Date: 5 Sep 2007 12:10 am (UTC)I'm glad you were pleased with the Drarry bonus. :) Thanks for all of your supportive comments. Yay!
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Date: 4 Sep 2007 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Sep 2007 12:12 am (UTC)Thank you for your lovely comment. *blush* I hope I captured a little bit of the feel of the play, that is a wonderful compliment, so many thanks. :)
no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 04:47 am (UTC)Remus was thinking about fashioning a badge that read No, That Was Me that he could point to.
LOL!
Everything is concluded very well, and there are plenty of wonderful little moments here: Snape's pain at Harry's mooning over "Bill", Bill's revenge on his siblings, and the Snupin is very moving. I adore the 'unmasking' scene, and Snape's response to Lupin's Shakespeare quote is just priceless.
As to the major change, I think it's a good one. It would stretch belief that Bill would really be Harry's soul mate, when the only true interaction they've had is one night of vigorous shagging. Draco may have been a pill, and he made for an amusing fool, but he also proved the depth of his devotion to Harry by putting up with all of the 'guidelines', so it's good to see Harry recognize that.
Congrats on a job well done!
no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:06 am (UTC)I'm glad you approve of the canon change...it was the only pairing from the original that I could not get quite right in casting, and I've always been sad for poor Malvolio at the end of 12th Night anyway, so it was a satisfying re-do.
Glad you laughed too!
Thanks again. Your comments have been so thoughtful throughout and I really appreciate it. :)
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Date: 4 Sep 2007 05:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:09 am (UTC)I'm glad the reunion worked for you...I would get a bit teary sometimes thinking about it as I was writing. Mmmm...snupin reunions make me happy.
Thank you for being so supportive. It is truly very motivating. I am writing more...next up in
no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 06:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:11 am (UTC)I liked rescuing Malvolio a bit (in Draco form) as I have always felt terribly for the poor guy. Glad you found that it worked. :)
Thanks for reading sweetie. I am behind on reading your stuff and I need to get caught up. Maybe tonight!
no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 02:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:14 am (UTC)This whole thing would not have come together without you, m'dear. I reserve the right to gush about you whenever I want to, as well. So there. *gush*
Oh, and here is a tissue for those embarrassing tears, Snape, quick, before anyone sees. ;)
no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 11:08 am (UTC)Thank you so much for this, I've loved reading it. :)
And, awww, Drarry - good to see...
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Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 11:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 03:33 pm (UTC)Awww! I'm glad that Severus asked for the stone back - and I definitely think that Remus got off easily for impersonating Bill for that time. Love that Fred fainted! And the badge - NO, THAT WAS ME... LOL... Poor Remus. Such good intentions and it all backfired on him.
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Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 03:50 pm (UTC)so sad and so loverly.
::adds to mems::
I really enjoyed this,even when it got the most confusing!! xD
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Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:27 am (UTC)I'm glad you powered through the confusion. It needs a diagram, I think! ;P
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Date: 4 Sep 2007 04:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:30 am (UTC)The Olivia/Sebastian was always a challenge for me to believe, just as Bill/Harry was for me here, so I really enjoyed writing the scene where Harry realized it had only been a one night stand. The bonus was that meant Draco could have his happy ending too! Yay!
Thanks for your comments and for reading. It means a lot to me.
no subject
Date: 4 Sep 2007 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Sep 2007 03:38 am (UTC)Magnificent! I just loved it!
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Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:35 am (UTC)Better than the original Well, my goodness. That is a compliment on the magnitide that I cannot even comprehend. Hee. Sorry, Shakes.
I loved saving Malvolio!Draco in the end and giving him the happy ending I feel he deserves in the original as well. I'm thrilled you liked Ginny too. This was the first time I've written her, and I really enjoyed it. Surprise!
Thanks again for you great comments. :)
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Date: 5 Sep 2007 08:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 01:36 am (UTC)Thank you so much for reading it and giving me such kind comments. You win, darlin'.
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Date: 6 Sep 2007 08:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Sep 2007 11:26 pm (UTC)I glad the goo situation is resolved. *g*
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Date: 14 Sep 2007 09:44 pm (UTC)love, lore
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Date: 18 Sep 2007 12:43 am (UTC)Thank you lore, and I'm so flattered you took the time to make it through all of the craziness of this fic. *happy feelings*
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Date: 3 Nov 2007 05:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 Nov 2007 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 14 Jun 2009 06:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 19 Jun 2009 06:12 pm (UTC)Because it's never to late to leave a comment...
Date: 7 Nov 2009 09:19 pm (UTC)