His injuries from the Final Battle and years of taking a new, experimental potion have rendered Remus almost completely helpless. His body is a mess of scars and scratches and his mind is often in a place that Neville can't reach.
Remus growls at everyone who visits him and attacks even when in human form. There had been that horrible day when he'd lunged at Teddy, who was visiting with Harry, and only Neville's quick spell had prevented him from seriously injuring the young boy.
Neville thinks it's ironic that it was Remus, as his old DADA teacher, that first taught him about Boggarts, when, for years now, Neville's biggest fear has been the day Remus does something Neville can't prevent.
When he comes home after work one evening, Remus is asleep on the sofa. Neville can tell he's been in the garden again from the small puddles of water on the floor where the snow is melting from his clothes.
As Neville pulls out his wand to remove them, he sees what else is lying on the floor. A dead rose from one of his favourite bushes. The brittle, purple petals hint that it's been buried under the snow for months. As he takes it, Remus' eyes flick open and a hint of the man he fell in love with looks out.
Remus/Neville, 'A rose in winter', PG-13, 230 words (warning: angst)
Remus growls at everyone who visits him and attacks even when in human form. There had been that horrible day when he'd lunged at Teddy, who was visiting with Harry, and only Neville's quick spell had prevented him from seriously injuring the young boy.
Neville thinks it's ironic that it was Remus, as his old DADA teacher, that first taught him about Boggarts, when, for years now, Neville's biggest fear has been the day Remus does something Neville can't prevent.
When he comes home after work one evening, Remus is asleep on the sofa. Neville can tell he's been in the garden again from the small puddles of water on the floor where the snow is melting from his clothes.
As Neville pulls out his wand to remove them, he sees what else is lying on the floor. A dead rose from one of his favourite bushes. The brittle, purple petals hint that it's been buried under the snow for months. As he takes it, Remus' eyes flick open and a hint of the man he fell in love with looks out.
It's moments like this that keep Neville hoping.