200 ficlet #4 - Lupin/Harry

[pauraque_bk]

This one is for lycoris, who requested Lupin/Harry, dealing with Sirius's death. (And yes, there is a cardigan reference. I couldn't resist.)

PG, pre-slash, 580 words.


Microcosmos

'Take care, Harry,' said Lupin quietly. 'Keep in touch.' (OotP 766 UK)


7 July

'What do you think?' Lupin says, squinting up at the box office marquee. 'There's a documentary on insects that's meant to be good.'

Harry looks up sceptically at the title. He thinks about suggesting something else, a comedy or something. But then again, they saw what Harry wanted last time. He agrees to the bug movie.

The cinema is cool and dry, a relief from the summer haze outside. The katydids creep delicately across the screen, big as monsters. Harry glances at Lupin every once in a while, trying to be subtle about it. The whiteblue light flickers over Lupin's face, making his skin smooth, emphasizing the dark hollows of his cheeks. He's absorbed in the film, not conscious of himself, and his expression falls in a way that makes him look hurt and worried.

*

16 July

'It was just well done,' Lupin is saying, turning up one palm and shaking his head, chewing. He gestures a lot when talking about a film he liked; his eyes seem a bit brighter. 'You realise at the end that they left all the clues you need to work it out. Like the name on the sailboat, remember?'

'Yeah,' Harry says, and he's smiling, though he doesn't really like mysteries.

*

24 July

Harry picks the onions off his cheeseburger. Lupin is sitting not quite next to him, not quite across, having grilled salmon and a glass of wine. The seats of the booth are soft and close, making Harry sleepy. The fan makes shadow-stripes flicker over Lupin's face, and his careful fingers working like a katydid's legs with the knife and fork.

Harry notices how the bones stick out in Lupin's wrists, and he thinks his own fingers could circle them, easily, if he were to shift over and take them in his hands.

Harry excuses himself to go to the bathroom, and as he's coming back, he hears the waitress asking Lupin if his son would like any more lime and soda.

*

1 August

They come out of the cinema and it's dark, too late to eat. Lupin doesn't say anything right away, puts his hands in his coat pockets and cracks his neck. Harry wanders slowly over to the kerb, and runs the toe of his shoe over the edge of it, absently. He doesn't want to go home yet, and tries to think of something else they could do this time of night.

After a moment, he feels Lupin's long, skinny hand on his shoulder. He turns, startled. Lupin isn't someone who touches a lot, who hugs or gives pats on the back. That was always Sirius.

They look at each other. Lupin's eyes are dark and soft. He kneads Harry's shoulder for a moment, and then his hand drops away, fingertips trailing down the sleeve of Harry's jumper. Harry holds his breath.

'Well,' Lupin says, pushing the word out in a short puff of air. He gives a faint, crooked smile. 'It's rather late.'

*

8 August

At a quiet moment in the film, Harry notices that Lupin's breathing has become deep and regular. He glances over-- his head is tilted back against the seat, his mouth slack and slightly open.

The cinema is nearly empty. Harry awkwardly pushes up the armrest between them, and carefully leans up against Lupin's side. The worn cardigan is soft on Harry's cheek, and he can feel the shape of Lupin's shoulder beneath it, his warmth.

At some point, Harry realises that Lupin is awake again, and hasn't pushed him away.


end.


Feedback would be very much appreciated.

Comments

[glitterdemon.livejournal.com]

just lovely. the atmosphere here is very intense and... comforting, at the same time. your subtle characterizations are perfect. thank you for sharing this.

[bowdlerized.livejournal.com]

I am crazy about your writing! This is so touching and subtle, and the imagery is striking and fresh.

[fluffyllama.livejournal.com]

Lovely. That line from OotP always makes my eyes water (honest, um, it's an allergy or something ;-)) and you take the story from there perfectly. I am still slightly freaked out by the thought of giant insects on a cinema screen, but the cardigan moment helped :-)

[ex_amurderofcrows752]

Just lovely, and I don't even LIKE Lupin.

[lycoris.livejournal.com]

*glomps* Oh, that was lovely! Really sweet and snuggly with adorable hints of slash that isn't quite. Oh, I really liked that actually, I feel quite moved by it. *snuggles fic*

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Oh! You draw such beautiful pictures with your words. I so love the way your writing evokes images in my head. This is beautiful. :-)

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

More powerful and realistic than a thousand frantic, lustful fumbles. Not that those aren't nice, too, but I've been craving this kind of slow, kinda-sad-kinda-hopeful approach. That you're able to create that feeling in so few words is really fantastic.

[lolaraincoat.livejournal.com]

Aw. This made me sniffly, but in a good way.

[nangijala.livejournal.com]

*sigh* so lovely.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Lovely in a very quiet, real way.

[everythingisaid.livejournal.com]

This ficlet is lovely beyond words. And I love your icon, too. They both make me all warm and fuzzy inside.

[aubrem.livejournal.com]

Lovely. And I managed to picture Thewlis as Lupin all the way through - just like I wanted to. : ) The crooked smile, the tiredness warring with what, lack of reticense? Something. You show it when you have Lupin going on about the movie despite the fact that Harry didn't much like it. And of course, the cardigan.

[maeglinyedi.livejournal.com]

Oh my, that is so beautiful. Love how those little snippets do tell a whole story. What a lovely ficlet! :-)

[godlessharlot.livejournal.com]

Aw. This ficlet was just what I neede today. Loved the quietness that you've evoked and the way you've captured Lupin's character.

Also, loved the cardie moment. :)

[dragonelle-fics.livejournal.com]

Oh-- so soft and slow and real.

[millefiori.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is wonderful! These are dates! They're dating! I have to give you credit, this is the first fanfic I've seen that's actually made me interested in this pairing. (Of course, David Thewlis probably deserves some credit too...) The quiet, low-key companionship you describe is so obviously what Harry needs in the wake of that disastrous fifth year. Now my brain is just spinning with all the good things these two could do and be for each other.

This ficlet really captures the sense I have of Lupin (and to a lesser extent, Harry too) making his own moral rules; neither seems to have any real respect for conventional authority or social mores -- and why should they given the way authority and society have treated them? (I figure you know what I mean so I won't go further with that, unless it really does makes no sense and you want me to explain what the hell I'm talking about!) Anyway, this is most obvious when the waitress mistakes Harry for Lupin's son -- most people would be spooked/freaked by that unwelcome reminder that society would not approve of where this relationship might be going, but neither Harry nor Remus seem to care. It doesn't even appear to register, and that strikes me as very in character for both of them.

Thank you so much for sharing this -- it's delightful!

[gannet.livejournal.com]

Very nice. I like the mood of this; I think the present tense really contributes well to it.

I have to say that this line cracked me up because I once had a sort of opposite experience:

Harry excuses himself to go to the bathroom, and as he's coming back, he hears the waitress asking Lupin if his son would like any more soda.

My father had gone to the bathroom, and the waitress asked me if my... friend... would like some more coffee. And yes, the tone of voice implied that she thought we were a couple. I was just barely not jailbait at the time. I calmly replied that my father had asked me to ask for the check; she turned bright red. *grin*

[drworm.livejournal.com]

as he's coming back, he hears the waitress asking Lupin if his son would like any more soda.

Ouch.

I like how their routine becomes established, with the going to the movies and all... the dates kind of throw me off-balance, just because they strike me as being superfluous. But I suspect one could argue both for and against them. Lovely glimpses into these semi-private moments, nonetheless.

And this might just be an indicator of my supreme ignorance, but... "kerb?"

[snufflescutie.livejournal.com]

Lovely. You have a way with words that soothes the reader, very good flow. ^^

And it's sweet, how Harry and Remus interacts. And I pick onions off my burgers too. ;P

[liquorice-wand.livejournal.com]

It's so quiet and lovely and subtle, the comfort and the silences. It's beautiful and it conveys so much. A lovely piece of writing.

The only thing that made me go *blink* for a bit was "kerb", like the above poster mentioned.

[froda-baggins.livejournal.com]

That was really quite good. Very subtle and understated in the descriptions and characterizations. I like it a lot.

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

It's such a cosy fic, it's like having a big, warm, Lupiny cardigan wrapped around you!!
( and yeah for kerbs!! - I love you're adiction to the English, English language!!)

[kaptainsnot.livejournal.com]

This was just what I needed today -- It's a lovely thing, being able to rely on an author, and I really can depend on your works leaving me satisfied, and for a moment, whole. This one was no exception.

I loved how every small piece somehow described Lupin's face, particularly the fan stripes, and the routine they built, a relationship that seems warm and stable [cardigany!], in a time where nothing is so. Lovely piece, thank you for sharing.

[arwencordelia.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful. Warm and touching, because they're both missing Sirius, but then it becomes evident that it's more than that, at least to Harry. And Lupin doesn't seem to be discouraging him :-)

[shatterglass.livejournal.com]

That's just beautiful. Thank you for sharing.