The Last Horcrux

Hunger Moon

The alarm rang the next morning, startling Sev awake. He felt as if he were hung over. He reached across the bed to find Remus but he was already up.

Down stairs he poured himself a cup of coffee. Remus was at the sink, washing dishes. He was tight lipped and angry, his shoulders hunched. Sev could feel the row, lurking in the air. He touched Remus' back but he jerked away.

"Don't," he said, his voice all bristles.

Well, Sev was angry too. He was the one whose home had been invaded, by that.... Animal. He was the one whose Valentine's celebration had been ruined.

"You overreacted," Remus said now, into the dishwater.

"I... I'm not sure that I did. What was he doing here?" Sev said.

Remus abandoned the dishes and dried his hands on the towel that hung by the sink. Sev noticed the long dark hairs growing around his knuckles, longer than usual because of the coming moon. He took a sip of his black coffee.

"I..... I don't know," Remus said slowly. "I found him playing in the yard with the kids. They were having a great time, so I let them be. He stayed a dog the whole time. He never talked to me."

"It's a security breach."

"He's a ghost, Sev."

"I know that."

They stared at each other. "But.... Why was he here?" Sev said. He heard the tightness in his voice.

"I told you, I don't know," said Remus with exasperation. "I....I think he just misses me."

"Not helping, Remus."

"He's dead, Sev. And besides, you're the one who's all goggle eyed over Eltanin Von Wold."

"I.... what?" Sev felt the blush creeping into his cheeks. "I'm not....He's not....."

"I get it," said Remus. "He's hot." He sat down heavily in one of the kitchen chairs and put his head in his hands.

"Remus. It's not....like that."

"I'm a mess," said Remus miserably. "I'm fat and tired all the time. I've got boobs and milk down my front and food in my hair and baby poo under my fingernails and.....someone always needs something around here...and ...Why would you want me? Why would anyone?"

"I want you," said Sev in a low voice. "I want you a lot. Remus, we haven't had sex since Phoenix was born."

"I know that," said Remus. "I miss it too. It's just.... There's so much to do and she's always there, needing me, needing to nurse, needing to be held. I just..... I...."

As if on cue Phoenix started fussing in her basket. Remus went to pick her up. "Hello little sprout. Do you need me?" He sat back down and put her to the breast. He looked up at Sev. "I'm sorry, okay?" he said. "It's the moon tonight and I'm a mess."

Oakley padded into the kitchen in his footie pajamas. He yawned enormously. "What's for breakfast?" he asked. He crawled onto Sev's lap and Sev felt the comforting weight of him. He buried his face in his curls and inhaled his little boy smell.

"Let's put Phoenix out in the alley," Oakley suggested. "Maybe the bin man would take her away."

Sev and Remus exchanged a look but they let it go.

Sev made eggs and toast for everyone. He ate standing at the counter, while Remus finished nursing Phoenix. He drank down his coffee in a few efficient gulps.

"I have to go in to work for a few hours," he told Remus. "I'll be home in time to take the children to Pepper and Spider's."

Remus touched Phoenix's forehead. She had fallen asleep at the breast. "I don't feel ready to leave her yet."