"Things change." Severus knew that to be untrue, actually. So many things had remained pathetically the same. Each year, the only thing that Severus could look forward to was a hell of a lot more pain and the need to keep his mask on tighter.

Well. Not so. Not with Remus.

The butting of their heads always had such a way of calming him. Severus shifted, settled in and closed his eyes as Remus's breath washed over him.

"You're..." It was hard to compliment someone. He so rarely did it. "Competent."