Remus Lupin and Severus Snape could pinpoint the day it happened. The day that the curse was set upon them, never to be lifted. The day was supposed to be a happy occasion, not in the least a day where one was bound to an eternal curse for the rest of their lives. But it was. Yes, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape wish they had never been there. If only they had taken a quick rush to the loo, or a stop outside for a breath of fresh air. But, no, they had been that unfortunate.

Though thick and thin, the curse followed. Every moment of their lives, the thought of it bore them down. Feel Remus Lupin's and Severus Snape's pain as they suffer under

THE CURSE OF THE BEATLES

The First Encounter

The loud sound of the organ echoed in the large church, decorated with colorful flowers and soft candles lit on the side of each building. The guests winced- not only at the deafening sound, but at the terrible melody the organist was playing, if it could be called a melody.

Sirius Black sat at the organ, pounding the keys as hard as he could and extremely randomly. Turning his head to the audience, he smiled wildly and pressed the keys with larger arm gestures than before.

"All you need is to be is in the nude, and you could play the opening to Monty Python," Remus commented, leaning against the wall.

"If only," Sirius replied mournfully, making a sad face. "A chance to meet my idols? The most talented group of the century? I would never pass up the opportunity."

Remus laughed, relieving some pressure in his chest. Why he'd felt this way, he couldn't quite be sure. After all, it was James and Lily's wedding, a day to be happy.

"Ah, Remus! Why are you looking so unhappy? Come on!" Sirius clapped a hand onto Remus's shoulder, giving him an enormous grin. "James's wedding!" More pressure on his shoulder as Sirius pressed harder down, trying to force the feeling that made Remus morose out.

Flashing Sirius a large smile, Remus walked towards a pew, quite ready for the service to begin. "Perfectly happy, Padfoot. Perfectly happy!" he shouted back, and Sirius gave him a thumbs up as he started his Symphony No. 2.

Nice, 15th century religious pieces came out of the speakers towards the entrance, all of which were entirely drowned out by Sirius's masterpiece. Many of the guests had moved towards out of the chapel and gone into the congregating area, where the bride and groom were chatting amongst guests. Hoping Sirius wouldn't notice Remus slipped out to escape the noise.

People milled about aimlessly, women in ugly pink blouses gossiping, holding their champagne at a dangerous tilt. The room was completely packed, just as Remus had thought. Wedging his way between several fleshly men who simply grunted as he passed, Remus made his way past several former classmates and suddenly realized he had no idea where he was making his way to.

He turned back, maybe to go outside and have a breath of air, when he stopped. A woman with beautiful, cascading red hair stood only yards away, her body relaxed as she talked to a horsy faced woman who had her mouth in an ugly sneer. For a moment, he couldn't breath. He was captivated by her every move, the way her lips stretched to smile, her eyes… flicked towards him. Remus turned away his eyes as quickly as possible and made a rush back to the chapel. What was he thinking? He was almost to the door, back to the normality of Sirius…

"Remus!" A pink flushed, blonde, slightly pudgy man stopped Remus, placing a hand on his suit sleeve. "I haven't seen you in so long! Can you believe we're actually here? Lily and James, isn't it wonderful?" He sighed, lost in his own world of romance before abruptly coming back. "How are you?"

"Marvelous, simply great." Right now, now matter how many months it'd been since he'd seen Peter; he wanted to get back to the safety of the chapel.

"I think it's so strange how they have the chatting beforehand, but Lily's told me numerous times that she thinks it's a silly rule that the groom can't see his bride before the ceremony and that she was going to have a nice chat with her mum right just before the vows. Also, I think her sister had something going on right after the service, and couldn't attend the reception afterwards. Have you seen Lily? She looks radiant."

Remus's attention went straight back to Peter after his last two sentences. He couldn't know. "Yes… she does… I… I think I'm going to go back inside the chapel, all right?"

Shrugging, Peter accepted a refill of champagne from Sirius who had apparently given up his organ exploits and was pouring champagne for everyone. "Go ahead, Remus. I don't think anyone's in there. But it's good to get away from all the noise. Ah, Sandy! It's been such a long time…"

Such heavenly, pure silence rang in Remus's ears, except for a low babble of voices issuing from the wall behind. Remus took a deep sigh of relief and sunk into a pew, beginning to think. Since his 2nd year, he'd liked Lily. He liked their friendship with each other, her generosity and empathy. But recently, he'd really fallen in love. It started in 6th year. Writing stupid sonnets, poems, songs… things like that that only love struck teenagers did. It was the most senseless thing… yet not. He loved her. Maybe he should write a novel of grief and regret, not telling his love about his feelings until it was too late.

She'd been the only person who had listened to him, who had cared for him. And he'd waited too long. Was this his repayment? She would never know how much he loved her. He could never tell her, she was a married woman… almost. So he still had time. He had to tell her.

Remus walked to reception area, hesitation mingled with determination. Sometimes he would purposely walk the other way; sometimes he would stalk ahead with deadly resolve. The woman in white loomed ahead as he made his way, heart racing. Finally, she was there. Her green eyes, fringed with lovely dark lashes, her amazing voice expressing every aspect of her vibrant personality.

"Lily?"

She turned around, and her eyes lit up. "Remus!" His hands were in hers, and for a moment, he felt completely lost. "Remus, I'm so glad you're here… you're not looking too well."

He gave a short smile. "You know I never do, Lily." Of course, there was another reason, and that was that the wedding was scheduled only two days after the full moon. Whoever thought up of those plans hadn't been too considerate to the werewolves of the wedding.

Throwing back her head, she gave a genuine laugh. "Don't say that, Remus. We know you can be quite dashing when you want to be!"

What? He forced himself to laugh back. "Well. I just wanted to-"

The woman next to Lily was giving him a disgusted glare. "Is he one of those wizards?" she interrupted, giving a rather unsubtle glance at Remus.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Yes, Petunia. But honestly, he's one of the nicest men you'll ever meet. Remus, this is my sister, Petunia."

Aha. So this was the infamous Petunia Lily had mentioned in the past. "Charmed," he said courteously, though from the stories, he thought he probably shouldn't be.

All Petunia did was give him another stare. What does she want me to do, tap dance? "So, I've heard you have a fiancée too?" he said conversationally, hoping Petunia would want to reply back.

She narrowed her eyes, looking over Remus as if to judge whether or not he was worthy to hear such information. After looking over his rather out-of-date tuxedo and pale face, she sniffed. "Well, yes. I do, as a matter of fact. He was supposed to come, but I felt he may feel a bit… out of place here."

For some reason, Remus felt she was a little out of place too, but said nothing about it. "Well, I wish you happiness in the future. When are you to be wed?"

"Fairly soon. I was engaged first, you know. But Mum and Dad thought that Lily should get married first, for one of their own reasons…"

It appeared he'd hit a sore spot. "Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Petunia."

She said nothing, but went back to her sneering.

Lily guided him away from her sister, looking quite pleased. "Remus, you are amazing, do you know that? This is the first time she's talked to anyone at the wedding!" Her whole face had lit up in excitement. "Thank you so much. I thought she was going to leave after Sirius started harassing her, but thanks to you…" She gave him a wide smile, and then hugged him around the neck.

Startled by this sudden movement, he could do nothing but stand in stunned silence. All he could do was breathe in the scent of her, look at her brilliant red hair that was currently falling all over his face and maybe… maybe hug her back…

But she let go before he got a chance to return the act of affection. "There's James over there," she giggled happily. "You're a special guy, Remus. Thanks for coming." Lily smiled once more and then left Remus still standing, dumbstruck, where she had confronted him.

Who was he kidding? He had just been ready to destroy the happiness of Lily and James on their wedding day by telling them his unimportant, unrequited little crush. He was an idiot, nothing more, nothing less. He didn't even deserve to come to this wedding.

Yet as he watched the two kiss tenderly in the reception hall, he couldn't stop a small wave of melancholy sweep over him. Get over it, Lupin, he chided himself angrily. The decision is made. You waited too late. She and James were meant to be. You would have just gotten in the way. It's over. Forget it.

He felt his whole body stiffen as the reality of his own words came over him. It was true. It's over. Let her go.

"MOONY!" Next thing Remus knew, he was on the floor as Sirius tackled him from behind. "Getting all philosophical on us, are you? Well, we can't have that!" Sirius reached down and ruffled Remus's carefully combed hair all out of place.

"If you must know, I was contemplating your future if you continued to act like this. And could you please get off of me?"

"Certainly not, Moony my friend!" He slapped Remus in the back of the head. Not surprisingly, a rather large crowd had begun to gather because of the commotion.

"Sirius," he attempted again, "let's let this go before more people come. Please?"
Before an answer came, there was a huge gasp from Sirius above. "Moony!" he cried, leaning over to meet his eyes. "Moony! Why didn't you tell me?!?"

"Tell you what?" Remus began tiredly until he saw what Sirius was pinching in between his fingers- a single grey hair. Damn. Why did Sirius have to discover that now?

Tears began brimming from Sirius's eyes. Remus didn't even want to know how Sirius could do that on whim when a choking sob escaped from his friend's mouth. "How… how could you not tell us? Were you scared? Were you cared of getting old, Moony?" Finally, Sirius stood up. "THIS!" he proclaimed, showing the hair to the whole audience. "He never even bothered to tell his best friends- nay, his brothers!- about this landmark in his life!"

After Remus had collected himself and was about to walk away from the madness, Sirius fell back to the floor, clutching Remus's legs. "Moony," he sobbed, "we would have understood… Why didn't you tell us before? I think it's distinguished, Moony, I wouldn't have minded!"
This was too much. In private, Sirius's escapades weren't too bad. But in public, at a wedding, nonetheless? Shaking his friend off his leg, Remus strode carefully aside, breaking his way through the throngs of people. "He's not feeling too well," he apologized, finding his way to the chapel.

Ahh. Blissful silence. He found his way to a nice pew in the back, hopefully one where Sirius wouldn't be coming anytime soon. Looking around, he noticed he was the only one in the hall. Perfect. He leaned back, gazing at the graceful figures of Mary that adorned the prayer area and the aisle that would take Lily and James to their future. It hurt just to think about it.

Stop being so selfish! They love each other! James is your best friend! Would you really be so callous to try and disrupt their most happy day?

He hated to say it, but it was the truth. Yes.

They'd kissed once, Lily and him. It was in sixth year, just as he was starting to like her. They were reading in the library, and then… it just happened. It was the first time he'd ever kissed anyone, and to be honest, it was also the last. He'd apologized profusely, and she'd even seemed a little embarrassed. Lily, the bravest girl he'd ever met! Of course, they hadn't talked of it again. It was just in the passion of the moment. She was feeling particularly daring and he was feeling a bit down after having told the love of his life he'd never kissed anyone before. That was all.

Yet the memory still elicited a day-dreamed sigh from Remus's lips. This must be one of the most pathetic things he'd even seen himself do. The stupid sigh echoed from his memory again and again… the last one seemed almost real…

Suddenly, Remus turned around. There, a few seats over, sat a figure with lank black hair who had emitted the woeful sigh. Remus hadn't noticed him there before. He must have just arrived. The man didn't look familiar in his black tuxedo and dark tie, but a thought struck Remus. Surely it couldn't be…?

He blinked in disbelief. But it was. Severus Snape was the one sighing only a few yards away. A sudden desire to run out of the chapel entered his mind until he had to fight it back. Snape wasn't that bad. He worked for the Order… and yet, he always seemed so inaccessible…

Evidently, Snape must have heard Remus, because the Slytherin turned around, gave a quick glance to Remus, then stood up and started to walk out of the chapel.

"No! Wait!" Remus heard himself say, much to his surprise. Apparently, it was much to Snape's surprise too, since he stopped in his tracks.

"I… I… didn't mean to startle you. You can stay here; I was just leaving."

A snort of disdain came from Snape. "You weren't leaving," he said, a biting edge to his voice. "There's no way you're going out there, after what Black did to you."

"How- did you see…?"

"Everyone saw!" Snape lifted his hands up in the air exasperatedly. "Poor grey-haired Lupin, the years passing him by…"

For a moment, Remus didn't know what to say. "I'll... I…"

"Don't know what to say, Lupin? Isn't that a surprise," muttered Snape darkly, beginning to walk towards the exit of the chapel. Remus sighed with relief until he realized Snape was making his way towards him.

"Besides," Snape said knowingly, "surely this isn't the only reason you're here. Brooding over something… you lost?"

A cold sweat broke over Remus. He couldn't know. He couldn't. Play it cool, Lupin. "Well, yes, I've been missing my house key for the past day, so-"

His voice came out even, thank goodness. Snape's, on the other hand, rose with fury. "I'm referring to Evans," he spat, eyes glittering. "I see you look at her, Lupin. Anyone who hasn't noticed is a fool of epic proportions."

So he knows. Remus could live with it. Especially since, as he looked into Snape's venomous eyes, he saw a sort of melancholy that not even Occulmancy can hide.

"It's hard to see her go; I'll admit it. But we've got to let it be, Severus. We waited too long, and she found her love. Just let it go." Remus glanced up, hoping his impulse was correct. Judging on how Snape's cold, furious mask dropped for the visage of a spurned, sad man, he knew he was right.

"I… I… this is… how dare you…"

Suddenly, the church music stopped, and a newer song started to lap over it. Piano chords, one after the other… It was quite beautiful. From the corner of his eye, Remus saw that he was not the only one startled into submission by the eloquence.

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom

Let it be

That was enough for Remus. All of his thoughts seemed to have been channeled by the artist and transposed onto a gorgeous melody which certainly explained his feelings much better than he would have himself. After it was over, he turned to Snape, still dumb-struck.

"That was…"

"Ethereal." A strange choice of word from the oily man beside him, but Remus couldn't agree more.

"Ethereal," he agreed. "Do you know who...?"

"I have no idea."

"We really must look into them."

"Quite."
There was a silence on both of their parts, until finally, Remus found the courage to speak. "Did you… feel like…?"

"I would appreciate if you finish your sentences, Lupin. But yes. It conveyed more than I ever would have been able to myself."

Remus felt the corners of his mouth tug slightly upwards. "You know, that must be the first time I've ever heard you admit you had feelings."

"So you found me to be a cold-blooded monster that had no emotions whatsoever? I'm not surprised, Lupin." And Remus swore he saw Snape give a hint of a smile. Now would be a good time to talk about Lily.

"When did you fall in love with her?"

"I can't even remember; it's been so long." Snape stared straight ahead as he watched dribbles of the crowd enter the chapel. "You know, Lupin, I'm not sure why I divulged that information to you." The man even looked slightly surprised himself.

"I get the feeling it's not something you do often?" He raised his eyebrows a hair, trying to go for his usually wry approach.

A rather sarcastic snort came from Snape. "Of course not, Lupin. And if you ever tell anyone about Evans and me, I'll-"

Remus put his hands up. "I promise, I promise. Just as long as you keep my infatuation under cover too."

"I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise."

Suddenly, the wedding seemed more bearable, what with Snape on his side and that piano tune still stuck in his head.