Unwanted pet (Snupin) *Complete*

Part 25: The morning after again

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

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Waking up next morning, Remus smiled, reminiscing about the evening before. Severus looked relaxed, with a glimmer in his eyes and even a grin when he beat him at chess.

His heart started to sing, but his soul was icy cold. He realized that this friendship he needed as much if not even more than Severus did. But, how long this is going to last? 6-8 months? No, 6 months at the most, the plenty of time passed already. What will be after that, after their time passes? Most important of all, what then?

Will I be able to go back to my old life? To the solitude? Will I be able to let go, and be alone again?

He sighed and jumped out of the bed. Snape' calm voice reached him from the armchair.

"We do have to work on that idiocy of an assignment if we are to appear at the staff meeting tomorrow."

"Do we have to? I did make some breakthrough last night."

"You will show me, and ... yes, we do have to."

"There is no fun with you, no lazy Sunday over a game of chess?" Remus teased with a hint of true disappointment.

"No, I have no such inclinations."

As the day progressed, Remus gained a deep understanding of why students disliked Severus. Snape was meticulous, harsh, a true slave driver. But in all honesty, Snape was like that to himself as well as to the others.

Lupin found himself surprised at first with Snape' knowledge, but then he remembered - in school, Severus was on the top of the class through all years. He was above Ravenclaw students in grades, excelling in all subjects. What happened later as well as his rare and extraordinary aptitude for potions made people forget how smart he really was.

Of course, the sole topic decided by Dumbledore was not up to the alley with either one of them, which severely influenced Snape' mood. Remus almost bit his lip to the blood not to laugh when Severus mumbled that evening.

"The magical ways to permanently get rid of garden gnomes . . . What magical ways? Just whack them hard enough with a bloody stick, that will suffice."

Severus gave him one of his looks, which caused Remus to erupt in laughter.

Until the end of the evening, he had to face the fact that laughing at Severus Snape was a crime with the severe punishment. Severus refused to say a word to him if it were not about gardening gnomes.