Something Like a Hero

Part 6

Harry waited for all the students to leave before entering Remus' classroom to talk to him. There was a period of awkwardness as they gazed at one another. There were so many things he wanted to ask him, but he didn't know what to begin with. Remus had been Severus' first lover. In spite of what Severus had told him, Harry knew that if Remus had been with Severus in the past, it was because Remus had loved him.

He was afraid of the answers to his questions, because if Remus still loved Severus, then Harry would be torn between stepping aside or fighting like a lion for the right to be with Severus.

"Remus..." he began.

"How are you, Harry?" Remus asked kindly.

"I'm fine. I started taking a weaker sleeping draught. It's not as potent as Soporiferum, but Severus told me it will help me be cleaned," Harry said bitterly. "He talks to me like I'm a drug addict. It's really upsetting. Like I'm this stupid eight-year-old kid who needs supervision all the time... I'm twenty-three. I can be trusted!"

Remus smiled. "He's only looking after you. The addiction to Soporiferum can get really bad. Severus knows what's best for you, Harry. Just do as he says and you'll be all right. I couldn't help but notice that he... has you in high esteem, even if he doesn't show it very often."

Harry's expression softened, his face blushing a little. "I know. That's why I'm trying not to fight with him all the time. I know he's worried, and I know he wants me to get better. Last night he actually told me that..." he stopped abruptly, looking anywhere but at Remus.

"What did he say?"

"Er... Never mind."

Remus sighed, not sure if he really wanted to know what Severus had said to Harry in the dead of the night, as they both cuddled in bed. He had accepted their relationship, but not that much. Not just yet.

"Well, I'm glad Severus is being so helpful," Remus said.

"Are you really?" Harry asked hastily.

Their eyes locked.

"Yes, really," Remus assured.

There was a long period of silence. Harry wanted to go straight to the point, but he didn't know how to.

"He told me you went with him to Antoine's house. What exactly did you do? Severus didn't want to tell me the details."

Remus smiled at the memory. "Well, he asked politely for a sample of the potion Antoine was selling you, but since Antoine said there was none left, Severus hung him upside down for a while, and threatened him with a very painful curse. He actually cast it on Antoine... The man is really annoying. He told Severus he was only helping you. He never meant to hurt you." Remus sniggered. "Like we would fall for that, right? So Severus told him to stop helping you, or he'd regret his pitiful existence. We have no evidence that he was doing you harm, but the thing is... If we went to the Hit Wizards, you'd also be in trouble. You were buying something you shouldn't be buying unless you had a prescription. It'd look really bad for you. So Severus just warned Antoine to leave you alone. As you know, Severus can be really scary, so I think Antoine won't do anything against you anymore. Just in case, we'll keep an eye on him."

"I was really stupid," Harry said sadly. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"You were just trying to heal yourself in the wrong place, Harry. I think now you've found what it takes to get better for good. Severus is the one helping you, right?"

Harry didn't miss the hint in Remus' words. He also noticed a tone of sadness in Remus' voice, and he looked down.

"Remus..."