𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑

             there’s  something  masochistic  in  reading  the  news,  skimming  headlines  for  names  or  faces  he  recognizes.  often  times  he  finds  nothing,  feels  his  shoulders  relax  and  puts  a  spring  back  in  his  step,  and  in  others  he  flinches  and  sets  himself  on  edge  for  the  day.  maybe  it  would  be  easier  to  bury  his  head  in  the  sand,  try  to  ignore  the  state  of  the  world  these  days,  but  taking  the  EASIER  path  has  never  been  his  shtick.  no,  you  could  argue  that  he  does  the  opposite;   he  makes  things  much  harder  than  they  ever  needed  to  be.  today’s  no  exception:   he’s  running  late,  stumbling  out  of  the  floo  as  he  heads  towards  the  department  of  magical  law  enforcement.   grabbing  a  prophet’s  simply  part  of  the  routine  --  though  he  doesn’t  often  knock  hands  with  someone  else  doing  the  same.  “  nah, i  wouldn’t  dream  of  it. ”   he  hands  the  copy  over  to  her,  reaching  for  the  next  one  for  himself.  “  LADIES  FIRST. ”   it  takes  a  minute  before  his  sleep-addled  brain  makes  the  connection,  a  genuine  smile  gracing  his  features  when  he  recognizes  her.   “  oi,  alice  !  you’re  here  early. ”  given  he  doesn’t  roll  out  of  bed  more  than  twenty  minutes  before  he  has  to  get  the  floo,  the  concept  is  entirely  lost  on  him.

          he’d  recognize  that  voice  anywhere.  it  makes  the  hairs  on  the  back  of  his  neck  stand-up,  a  tick  in  his  jaw  as  his  teeth  grind  together.  he  feels  a  mix  of  shame  and  irritation  as  his  eyes  seek  out  severus,  the  irritation  winning  out  as  he  laughs.   it’s  cold,  dry,  and  unlike  him.  (    SEVERUS  SNAPE  brings  out  the  worst  in  him.  )    “  i  see  you’re  still  making  friends  everywhere  you  go,  snivellus. ”   the  next  comment  he  directs  to  the  person  he’s  arguing  with,  a  smirk  twisting  his  features.   “  watch  your  step  on  the  way  out.  i’d  hate  to  see  you  slip  and  fall  on  all  that  grease. ”

           given  he’s  on  his  third  coffee  already  that  morning,  he  doesn’t  have  a  leg  to  stand  on.  he  barks  out  a  laugh,  toasting  his  cup  in  her  direction.  “  probably  that  last  one.  SOUNDS  ABOUT  RIGHT. ”   he  pauses  to  take  a  sip,  contemplating  momentarily  his  words.  “  --  i’d  say,  unless  you’re  dumping  firewhiskey  in  it  before  noon,  you’re  probably  alright. ”  it’s  certainly  something  he’s  considered  before  but  he’s  barely  keeping  up  with  auror  training  sober  --  he  certainly  doesn’t  want  to  OVER-COMPLICATE  things.  

         "  don’t  insult  me  like  that. ”   he  full  body  shudders,  shaking  his  head  as  he  pulls  a  face.  “  nothing  about  me  is  LOGICAL.  i  take  great  offence. ”  it’s  not  exactly  true,  he’s  not  as  empty-headed  as  maybe  he’d  like  people  to  think,  but  it’s  all  about  perception.  “  you  can  stay  logical,  and  i’ll  stay  ...  EXUBERANT. ”   it  rolls  off  the  tongue  a  little  bit  better  than  mental,  or  completely  barmy,  so  he’ll  take  it.  

            “  spoken  like  a  true  garbage  collector,  or  a  HOARDER.  if  we  swung  by your  flat,  would  there  be  copies  of  the  daily  prophet  going  back  to  the  40′s  stacked  by  the  windows  ? ”   he  raises  his  eyebrows,  a  snort  accompanying  his  words.  “  A SAFETY HAZARD  that  is,  mate. ”

              “  if  MINNE  couldn’t  manage  it,  i  dunno  what  he  thought  you’d  do. ”  there’s  a  playfulness  in  his  tone,  eyes  sparkling  as  he  leans  forward.  he’s  animated  when  he  talks:  wild  hand  gestures  accompanying  his  words  as  he  nearly  knocks  his  butterbeer  over.   “  s’not  like  you’re  totally  INNOCENT. ”   sure,  remus  might  not  be  as  cavalier  or  reckless  as  he  &  james  but  even  he  could  appreciate  a  solid  prank  or  two.  (  so  long  as  no  one  got  hurt  —  but  he’s  actively  trying  not  to  think  about  that.  )    “  once  a  marauder  always  a  marauder.   even  with  that  prefect  badge  pinned  to  your  robes. ”   he  pauses  to  sip  from  his  drink,  ankle  knocking  against  the  side  of  remus’  foot  as  he  shifts  to  make  himself  more  comfortable.  hearing  him  agree  brings  a  brilliant  smile  to  his  face,  lips  stretching  wide  as  he  flashes  his  teeth.   “  oi,  now  that’s  the  spirit. ”   he  raises  his  glass,  liquid  sloshing  over  the  sides  as  he  toasts.   “  to  having  a  fun  time ! ”    then  a  pause,  added  almost  as  an  afterthought.   “  you  can  get  your  beauty  sleep  after.   not  that,  mind  you,  you  need  it. ”

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I want to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I would hug you. ✧ I would kiss you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I want to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I would hug you. ✧ I would kiss you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I want to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I would hug you. ✧ I would kiss you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I want to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I would hug you. ✧ I would kiss you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I want to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I would hug you. ✧ I would kiss you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I want to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I would hug you. ✧ I would kiss you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

            “  i  don’t  think  britain’s  bored  housewives  and  gossip  mongers  are  all  that  interested  in  my  life.   i  hate  to  disappoint  you. ”    except  he  doesn’t.   by  the  smile  on  his  face,  you  could  argue  he  ENJOYS  it.   “  buzz  off,  skeeter.  i’m  sure  there’s  plenty  of  garbage  out  there  for  you  to  rummage  in  —  finding  scraps  wherever  you  can. ”   as  much  as  he’d  love  to  run  his  mouth,  create  a  few  new  headaches  for  the  family,  he’s  two  weeks  without  any  howlers  from  his  mother  and  he’s  aiming  for  three:  a  new  record.   

             “  best  mates  since  we  were  eleven  and  this  is  how  you  treat  me  ?  DISGRACEFUL,  moony.  truly,  disgraceful. ”   he  says  it  forlornly,  like  he’s  wracked  with  sorrow,  but  the  light  in  his  eyes  always  gives  him  away.    “  —  luckily,  i  love  me  enough  for  all  of  us. ”   he  can’t  take  credit  for  that  one:   he’s  quite  sure  his  last  girlfriend  shouted  that  to  his  face,  in  front  of  the  entire  gryffindor  common  room,  after  splashing  a  butterbeer  in  his  face.   (   ah,  YOUNG  LOVE.  )   he  stretches  his  arms  along  the  back  of  the  booth,  nodding  his  head  at  tom  and  murmuring  his  thanks  when  their  drinks  are  brought  over  a  few  minutes  later.   “  cheers. ”    he’s  thankful  for  the  round  of  drinks  —  they  add  a  little  DRAMA  to  his  reaction  when  remus  LIES.   he  feigns  a  spit  take,  lips  twitching  mischievously  as  he  tilts  his  head  to  the  side.   “  you.  living  in  the  moment. ”   like  it’s  a  foreign  concept.   “  he  who,  if  memory  serves,  was  worried  about  the  n.e.w.t.s.  before  he  even  took  his  o.w.l.s. ”    an  eyebrow  arches:   a  silent  challenge.   “  —  so  this  weekend  then,  when  you’re  off  the  clock. ”   it’s  not  fair,  using  his  words  against  him,  but  when  has  he  ever  played  fair  ?   “  you’ll  come  out  with  me  then  ?   PROPERLY,  no  bailing  out  early. ”    he  was  teasing  at  first  but  now  that  the  seed’s  been  planted,  he  hopes  his  answer’s  yes.   “  we  can  invite  out  pete  and  prongsy.  a  proper  night  out  —  IT’S  BEEN  AGES. ” 

          the  exhaustion  that  weighs  him  down  seemingly  evaporates  when  he  hears  a  familiar  voice.   frown  paves  way  for  a  smile,  an  arm  slung  around  lily’s  shoulders  from  behind  as  he  practically  sings  her  name.   “  now  now,  lilypad.  is  it  really  early  if  you  NEVER  went  to  sleep  to  begin  with  ? ”    he’s  making  assumptions  but  given  her  dark  circles  compliment  his  —   HE  THINKS  HE’S  ON  THE  RIGHT  TRACK.