disclaimer: I don't own these guys but I sure wish I did.

beta: vampchic

MUSE

Chapter one- of parties and teenage angst-

20th December

"Harry, come on, just get dressed. It will do you some good to get out for a bit," said Remus tiredly as he looked towards the bed where his adopted son reclined.

"Why should I go out to this party with you? I just want us to stay home. Why can't we?" Harry asked, frustration, tiredness and an all around woeful attitude prominent in his slouched position, his has arms folded just so to state his teenage angst to the man.

"I've told you, I've promised a friend I'd rescue him from the drunkenness of our friends and colleges. There will be other teens there, Harry, you won't have to spend all night talking or, I guess in your case, sulking with us all evening."

"Fine, but if I start to feel unwell you're taking me home."

"You said you were fine! That the doctors said you were fine! Should I have asked them again?"

"No, you needn't do that. I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself!" Harry huffed, not wanting to go back into the hospital for any sort of stay.

"Harry, I just worry about you. I know you're in remission and all and I'm thankful, but you still need to be careful. No need to over do it and wind up back where you were."

"Just get your coat on, Remus, or it shall be you that is sick tonight not I."

The two bundle up before heading out into the cold December snow that soon collects about their feet as they trudge the several blocks it takes to get to the house.

Soon they reach their destination and wait silently as they kick the snow from their cold and half froze feet for the door to open.

Soft warmth surrounds them as the door opens, the sound of laughter and light music floating to their ears.

"Remus!"

"Severus, so good to see you. You remember Harry, right?" Remus said by way of introduction.

"Mr. Potter, it's been years, I must say, since I last saw you," Severus stated cordially.

"I'm afraid that I don't remember you, sir. But then again I have forgotten many things in my lifetime that it doesn't seem that shocking," Harry stated, as if trying to cover his unwanted presence at the party he didn't want to attend.

"Please, come in. I'm sure your freezing by now," Severus said, his lips now tight at the teens unneeded comment.

"Don't worry; we left our toes about three blocks back. It's only our noses and feet we now worry about," Harry said with a slight upturn of his lips, hoping he lifted the suddenly stale atmosphere.

"Harry, stop it," Remus scolded.

"Stop what, Remmy?" Harry asked feigning ignorance.

"You are being a snotty brat! I know you didn't want to come here tonight but you are and so must make the most of it. Stop taking your frustrations for me out on other people, do you hear me?" Remus said, his frustration getting the better of him.

"Yes, Remus, I hear you quiet well, actually. I think I'll just go over there, sit down and remain there until you come fetch me later, alright."

"Do remember to drink something, the punch over there shouldn't be spiked so it shall be safe to drink, all right," Remus said, pointing over to a refreshment table in the other room.

"Yes, sir," Harry said as he started to walk away, eye roll in full bloom for anyone who cared to see.

"What's wrong, my old friend?" Severus asked as they watch the teen move across the room to sit on the plush couch.

"He worries me. I was told he was in remission, but he was talking of being sick right before we left. I'm not sure if that was in a ploy to get me to stay home with him or a warning of some sort."

"What's wrong with him? You never told me, always just said he was 'sick'," Severus said as he watched the teen move towards the table with the punch on it.

"He was born sick. He was born with a collapsed lung and a blockage in his intestine that was unavoidable but needed surgery immediately.

"When he was about 15 months his dad thought it would be fine to let him play on the big jungle gym all by himself. He wound up falling off the top, hitting his head. There was so much pressure from it that the doc's thought he'd have permanent damage from it, then the swelling came down and he smiled as if nothing had been amiss." Remus looked up with a sad kind of smile as he watched Harry take a few sips of the punch before continuing on.

"He has the oddest luck in all things some how; he's top of his class in most things. He's a dancer by heart, though.

"His scar on his forehead is from the fall, he tries to hide it as much as possible, though. He's had a few other problems, leaving us at the hospital far too often. He's had a bit of chemo and other surgeries - broken arm once and a wrist another time, then all that happened before I came into the picture."

"Remus, how are you able to pay for all of this? If I'm correct, he's orphaned and he doesn't live with you year round, which means he must go to a boarding school. I know you have money, but this is a lot and you have to have been doing this for a long while."

"His schooling is all paid for; it doesn't come out of my pocket at all. Before his parents died, they had set up a school trust for him that pays for all things he'll need for school. When he's twenty-one he'll inherited the rest of the fortune. His guardian is awarded a certain percent to care for him and that takes care of his medical. I take what I need out of my paycheck to pay for the bills and a bit of food, the rest goes to him or in savings I'm afraid."

"Remus, you're not telling whole truths right now, are you?" Severus said knowingly.

"Alas, you know me well, but that doesn't change what I told you. It's what he's been told and he doesn't ask questions about it. He doesn't ask for anything, but that is of his previous guardians doing. He doesn't know how to ask for something. They were horrible people, his aunt and uncle. By the time Harry was nine; he was barely 50lbs. and was so small, he was barely 4ft."

"He's still small for what, fifteen?" Severus asked, looking over at the teen that was swaying lightly to the horrible music being played.

"He's seventeen now, Severus. And the doctors say he won't grow any taller."

"His father was nearly 6ft, his mum wasn't short either," Severus said in shock.

"I know. He was so malnourished when I found him. I went straight to the authorities; child services was called in and when they saw him, they took him to the hospital right off. They were scared he'd die otherwise," Remus sighed before taking a deep swallow of his drink.

"It took nearly two years before they would allow me to adopt him. He was withdrawn, so very distant he refused to talk or even take more than a small spoonful of food at every meal. He was scared he'd become like them if he did."

"How is he now?" Severus asked, furious at what those damn people had put him through.

"He eats nothing but healthy stuff. I can't even get him to eat pizza, unless its vegetarian with spinach and feta cheese on it - he's so picky. But the doctors are happy with his weight and his eating choices. And with his dancing. He has to stay in shape, it helps with recovery and staying out of hospital," Remus commented softly, as if still thinking it over as he said it.

"Mm, I can see how that would help. Is Harry a vegetarian or is that only for his pizzas?" Severus asked to lighten the mood, it is almost Christmas anyhow.

"I only eat chicken and some pork and turkey, only the white meat - I can't stand the look of the dark and it's not good for you anyways," Harry said from behind the pair.

"Harry!" Remus said with a start. "How many times must I tell you not to sneak up on me? You'll give me a heart attack one of these days."

"Sorry, I just couldn't miss such a good opportunity to get you," Harry said with a smirk and a sparkle in the eye.

"Are you having fun, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked, looking at the bright eyed teen.

"Mm, I'd have more fun if I had someone to dance with since I'm unable to drink anything here. Is there a way to change the music to something not so… Boring? Not to offend, but it's what one would listen to if they were placed on hold by an equally boring operator."

"Harry, that wasn't very nice," Remus chided.

"No, but it was entertaining nonetheless," Severus smirked before motioning with his head towards the stereo in the other room.

Following quickly behind the tall man, Harry was happy to note that the man put on a C.D. that had a lovely beat to it. It just beaconed to have hips sway to it.

"Care to dance, Mr. Snape?" Harry asked coyly as he looked up through his fringe.

"Hmm…" Severus said as he watches the teen's hips sway in a sultry motion just begging to have his hands wrapped around them, pulling him close.

"Or do you feel that I am too much for you to handle?" smirked Harry as he rolled his hips just so, as if to challenge the man.

With the challenge issued, Severus didn't wait longer before grabbing a wrist and spinning a startled Harry into his arms.

"Mm, I think I can handle the job just fine, Mr. Potter. How are you?"
Severus asked as he spun him around the room, paying no mind to the others in the room as they turn and watch the scene.

"So... I lied. I do remember you, or at least, I know about you," Harry whispered softly into Severus ear when he was brought back up from a dip. "You dance well, Severus." Harry all but moaned his appreciation to a good dancer.

"Oh, and what is it you think you know about me?" Severus purred, happy to please the younger man.

"I know that Remmy is your editor, that you write semi-fictional stories, most involving homosexual relationships. I've read a few, though Remus doesn't know that I have. He probably wouldn't approve of my reading it while in school."

"I can see why. Schools wouldn't normally accept such homoerotic writing there, other than to talk about it in a creative writing or fiction's class."

"Mm, actually I have used one of them for a class assignment."

"Oh?" Severus said, taking him into another dip.

"Yes, got an A on it, too," Harry smiled, his face flushed prettily.

"Indeed."

"How's the new story coming along? Remus says you're to turn in another 2000 words by next Friday."

"Hmm, it's coming along. I'm afraid that I'm lacking inspiration as of late and no story is forth coming, but he doesn't know that. So don't tell him unless I'm a week late okay, kid."

"I'm not a kid," Harry growled softly before whispering, "You should write one with a dancer in it. You haven't written one like that yet. Mm, yes a beautiful male dancer who is in search of... I don't know, something or someone. Then he meets someone, not someone who was beautiful on the outside, but in his eyes and his hands. They're strong from years of working. Mm, can you picture it?"

"Yes, I can," Severus said. "Do you write as well? Or is this just what you want me to write for you?"

"Mm, no, I don't write and I'm only giving a suggestion on what you could use in writing. It is neither guideline nor request."

"So how long have you been dancing?"

"Since Remus found me. After I got out of the hospital I was told that I needed to do something physical so that I could build my muscles back up. And, so, he took me to a bunch of different things. Then took me to a ballet. I thought it was beautiful, the way they moved, like water, all smooth movements."

"And have you mastered the fluid motion as they have?"

"I'd like to think I have since I've been doing this for eight years," Harry said, a bit breathless and dizzy from all the spinning around the room they've done. He hadn't been drinking any water, just the punch he was directed to.

"Are you alright?" Severus asked, concerned.

"I'm not feeling too well. I think the punch was spiked earlier and that may have been a bad idea."

"What, how much have you drank?"

"I think I need to go home," Harry said as he starts to walk away from him.

"This way, Harry. Come on." Severus said, maneuvering him towards where he last saw Remus.

"Severus, what's wrong?" Remus asked, worry covering him in mere seconds of seeing his 'son' in such a state.

"The punch was spiked apparently," Severus said, not at all pleased. "I was going to lay him down on my bed."

"Are you sure, Severus? I could just take him home…?" Remus said, his face covered in worry still.

"No, you walked here and there is no way you'll be able to get him home in his present state. You may stay here for the night if it's needed. I shall place him in my bed and I'm sure he will be asleep sooner than you think."

"Thank you, Severus," Remus sighed as he watched his friend maneuver his 'son' down a hall and through a door before disappearing.

(tbc)