S & L

The little group reaches the happy home and as they pass through the doorway last, Snape catches Elsbet up and asks her quietly, "please, promise me you will not go back there without me. That place makes me...uncomfortable. Will you promise me?" She looks at him for just a moment, her brows knitting, then stands up on her tiptoes to kiss him. There is a giggle in her heart, but she will not make light of his feelings; her kiss is like the brush of butterfly's wings on his lips, then she looks deeply into his glinting black eyes. "I promise you." As he hugs her to him, he hears Malfoy say,...

The fall was frightening, but they did not let her get hurt; two of them caught her on their sturdy backs, and once she got her bearings, she laughed and giggled like a child. Nibbling her toes and fingers with their velvety lips, they give her comfort and express their joy with little squeals. Slowly, carefully, she rights herself on the bigger one's back, and checks to make sure her stick is still in her hair.

It's gone.

She gives a little cry of alarm, for she loves her stick and does not wish to be without it. She calls out and the stick returns, but carried in the mouth of one of the young...

Snape takes his afternoon meal alone, as is his custom while here. Ham BLT, mushroom soup and spiced cider. He has the feeling that his loved ones are having the same, and while that feeling gives him some comfort, the food never tastes the same. It's never as good here, and lately, that difference is even more evident. The House-elves are unhappy. He can't blame them. For a moment, he wonders what the House-elves will do when the time comes, but knowing Dobby, he thinks, they'll be right out there fighting with the rest of us. He stops in mid-sip and contemplates that thought. With the rest...

It's a deep kiss, and Remus can't help but watch them. He's never had any doubt that Snape loves her, but he's never seen them kiss before. He's thinking that it's a beautiful thing when he feels a hand on his back, and he knows it's Therion. This is the moment, he thinks, the moment he tests himself...He turns and finds the curly-maned wizard smiling at him nervously, and relaxes immediately. Remus laughs softly and pulls Therion into his arms, then kisses him, lightly at first, then more strongly as he gives in to his excitement. Tonks watches her husband kissing another wizard and as Elsbet...

When Layne turns around he sees everyone is up and preparing for a very early breakfast. Andromeda and Ted are quietly saying goodbye; they had only come to make sure Elsbet was alright, and they don't want to be a bother. "If there is anything Ted and I can do, Severus," Andromeda says, "please just let us know." Snape thanks them as they leave, glances at Layne, then returns his attention to the breakfast at hand. Layne watches how well Snape and Malfoy work together in the kitchen. No words are necessary; they seem to anticipate each others' needs, their actions are smooth and graceful,...

A man clothed in all black stands by the windowsill at midnight. He's anxious, obviously. For what? He moves from the window and back to his desk. He nervously fumbles with a vial of an unknown liquid. His mind, however, is very far off. In his minds eye, he sees himself, but not alone as he is now, but accompanied by another man. Long, platinum blonde hair falls down his back and on his broad shoulders like a seductive silk waterfall. In comparison of physical features, he is much lighter than his seemingly shadowy friend, the black clothed man. The man in all black has black hair that hangs...

Innocently, Elsbet steps out from behind Malfoy and goes to the man she loves most in all the world, wraps her arms around him and hugs him tightly. He looks down at her, grateful someone--Lupin--covered her with his jacket, and hugs her to him. He notices the Yew wand behind her ear and wants to ask about it, but she lifts her gaze to him and reaches up a delicate hand to caress his face. "Renich i lú i erui govannem?" she asks, and it takes him several seconds to realize what she's asking. Oh yes, he remembers vividly the day they met. "Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen," he tells her, and...