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bronze_ribbonsTitle: The Roar of Pebbles
Words: four drabbles, 100 words each
Pairing: RL/SS
Rating: PG
Note: A quartet inspired by John Brehm's "Sea of Faith," Anthony Hecht's "The Dover Bitch," Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach," and LJ:pixychelle, the last for whom this was written (October 2006, for her birthday).
LJ:almost_clara created a marvelous illustration of Snape in response to this story. You can view it here.
I.
The first half-dozen times Remus discovered Severus teaching in his sleep, he couldn't resist slipping into the role of a student. He had never before heard his partner's opening speech to Hogwarts' first-year Potions classes, and he savoured the well-honed phrases Severus lovingly wielded in praise of Dark spells.
When Severus began to relive grading scrolls about werewolves, Remus forced himself to sit through the first two nights of muttered corrections and imprecations. The third night, he woke Severus up.
"You finally couldn't stand just to watch?" Severus sneered.
"When you finished reading Hermione's essay," Remus said, "you were crying."
II.
After Tonks's second date with the hot Norwegian Auror, Remus teased her about how relaxed she looked.
She grinned. "It's restful being…. parked on top of his motorbike."
Remus shuddered. "Not only am I too old for such acrobatics, 'too dangerous' doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about any form of intercourse on top of surfaces requiring a kick-stand."
"You're one of the most grounded people I know," Tonks agreed, ducking the napkin he threw at her. "Even counting that time Snape had you across his lap--"
"You're supposed to pretend you never saw that," he groaned.
III.
"It's a stupid poem," Severus said. "You can't see the lights of France from here."
"He had to compromise," Remus answered. "Dover is more atmospheric than Brighton."
"Give me London any day," Severus grumbled. "Or Paris. What your ex was thinking--"
Remus said, "You know full well Tonks and Kjellfrid planned this for themselves. It was sweet of them to insist we take their holiday--"
"The better to throw us into harness once we return." Severus savagely kicked a flurry of stones seaward.
"Of course," Remus retorted. "As if you would even dream of sitting out this war."
IV.
Remus hadn't expected to survive the Second War, so he was astonished to find himself working for the Ministry during the Third. As he sifted through reports and pored over ciphers, he forced himself not to check the timepiece on his desk: the hands for Tonks, Kjellfrid, and Severus wouldn't be moving away from Deep In Enemy Territory anytime soon.
Remus sighed. It had been Severus's idea to disguise the clock as a grey stone paperweight.
"I thought you detested Dover," Remus had blurted.
"The night air was sweet," Severus had finally said, his voice as soft as a featherpuff.
Words: four drabbles, 100 words each
Pairing: RL/SS
Rating: PG
Note: A quartet inspired by John Brehm's "Sea of Faith," Anthony Hecht's "The Dover Bitch," Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach," and LJ:pixychelle, the last for whom this was written (October 2006, for her birthday).
LJ:almost_clara created a marvelous illustration of Snape in response to this story. You can view it here.
I.
The first half-dozen times Remus discovered Severus teaching in his sleep, he couldn't resist slipping into the role of a student. He had never before heard his partner's opening speech to Hogwarts' first-year Potions classes, and he savoured the well-honed phrases Severus lovingly wielded in praise of Dark spells.
When Severus began to relive grading scrolls about werewolves, Remus forced himself to sit through the first two nights of muttered corrections and imprecations. The third night, he woke Severus up.
"You finally couldn't stand just to watch?" Severus sneered.
"When you finished reading Hermione's essay," Remus said, "you were crying."
II.
After Tonks's second date with the hot Norwegian Auror, Remus teased her about how relaxed she looked.
She grinned. "It's restful being…. parked on top of his motorbike."
Remus shuddered. "Not only am I too old for such acrobatics, 'too dangerous' doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about any form of intercourse on top of surfaces requiring a kick-stand."
"You're one of the most grounded people I know," Tonks agreed, ducking the napkin he threw at her. "Even counting that time Snape had you across his lap--"
"You're supposed to pretend you never saw that," he groaned.
III.
"It's a stupid poem," Severus said. "You can't see the lights of France from here."
"He had to compromise," Remus answered. "Dover is more atmospheric than Brighton."
"Give me London any day," Severus grumbled. "Or Paris. What your ex was thinking--"
Remus said, "You know full well Tonks and Kjellfrid planned this for themselves. It was sweet of them to insist we take their holiday--"
"The better to throw us into harness once we return." Severus savagely kicked a flurry of stones seaward.
"Of course," Remus retorted. "As if you would even dream of sitting out this war."
IV.
Remus hadn't expected to survive the Second War, so he was astonished to find himself working for the Ministry during the Third. As he sifted through reports and pored over ciphers, he forced himself not to check the timepiece on his desk: the hands for Tonks, Kjellfrid, and Severus wouldn't be moving away from Deep In Enemy Territory anytime soon.
Remus sighed. It had been Severus's idea to disguise the clock as a grey stone paperweight.
"I thought you detested Dover," Remus had blurted.
"The night air was sweet," Severus had finally said, his voice as soft as a featherpuff.
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