"No," Severus said truthfully, reaching out to take Remus's hand for a moment. The contact was brief, but the touch of palms was a promise as well. It wasn't their last time together.

Hardly daring to kiss him, Severus took his hand back and double checked that the tie he wrapped around his neck was green and not red and gold. That would have been awkward to explain.

They headed back to the castle in silence. Severus's head was down and he picked out the landscape beneath his feet. It was hard to breathe.