five o'clock, with certainty

[mayachain]

Title: five o'clock, with certainty
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~300
Summary: Every portkey holds a destination.
Note: This is a short flip-side to the last section of Forty years, or three quarters thereof.
Previous parts of the birthday!verse (written 2008 and 2009) are here.

five o'clock, with certainty "We should have lured Remus out of the house," Draco whispered, flicking a glance at the man who was pacing in front of the fireplace. "It's his house," Neville hissed back, surreptitiously handing Teddy one of the biscuits. "We couldn't very well move Severus in here without telling him." "It would have been an even better surprise," Draco protested, "and anyway, what are we going to do if something goes wrong?" "Are you saying he won't trust a portkey your mother gives him?" Neville asked. This, as far as he was concerned, was the one thing about their plan that could go wrong. "He's lived in her house for eighteen months," Draco frowned, offended, and Neville grinned, choosing not to mention that didn't mean the Professor trusted her, or his own doubts that Severus Snape would let himself extend that much trust to anyone. "Well then," he said, "there's nothing to worry about, since we sure as hell don't believe he won't want to stay." Draco snorted. "Oh, he'll want to stay." "...even though we made a life-changing decision for him," Remus said, white-faced. "We're manipulating him. Walking all over him. Not letting him make an informed choice - " He broke off, staring a little crazedly at the half-eaten biscuit his son had flung at him. "There, see," Draco said into the silence, "We should have found a way to set this up without him." "It's his life," Neville insisted, then told Remus sternly, "If he tries to leave and you don't shout Ridikkulus at him, I'll withdraw your honorary membership of the D.A." "That would be a shame," Draco nodded gravely. "I should at least wait to panic until it's actually past five, shouldn't I," Remus sighed, laughing a little at the exasperated looks the young men gave him. "You think Daddy's being silly?" he asked, and Teddy hummed, mouth full of new, unspoilt biscuit. "Alright," he conceded, just as the hand moved to show :59, and sat down to wait until the air swirled in front of them.