_smoke_ (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} _smoke_) wrote,@ 2005-07-01 13:46:00 |
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Title: Power Play
Pairing: Snape/Lupin
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: D/s, BDSM, violence, bestiality, graphic sex.
Summary: Lupin was surprised to learn of Snape’s submissive side, and stunned when the Potions Master offered that submission up as a gift to him. He grabbed it without thinking, but did the werewolf bite off more than he could chew?
Notes: Two parts - complete. A little angst, but mostly an excuse to write smut. Set in the first half of the school year after OotP, but written before HBP.
Many thanks to Odd Doll, Snegurochka, and Rayvyn for their excellent work as betas.
Part 1
Chapter 2 : Werewolf and Wizard
Five days later, Snape arrived at noon with the Wolfsbane, leaving school for a short while to bring it on the day of the full moon. Lupin was in the library of the Black house, restless and jumpy as he always was at that time of month. His greatest fear was that for some reason the potion would fail, that he would be a mindless beast, loose to do unspeakable damage to the world of humans and wizards alike.
Snape Flooed in, that being his faster, though less preferred, method of travel. Silently, he poured the potion and handed it to Lupin, who downed it greedily, closing his eyes and swallowing hard against the mouth-watering bitterness.
“It will work, you know.” Snape’s voice was soft.
Lupin looked at him in surprise. “Reading my mind?”
Snape’s lip curled slightly. “There’s no need; your fear is written all over you.”
Lupin stared at him for a moment. “Well, you’re correct, Severus. You are not the only one in this room who fears the werewolf. It’s bad enough to give up one’s body to such a curse, but to lose your self, your humanity, is far worse.”
Snape took the goblet back and tucked it in a pocket before turning to the fireplace. He picked up a handful of Floo powder, then faced Lupin again.
“It will work.”
“Snape!” Lupin’s voice stopped the wizard just as he was about to throw the Floo powder into the fire.
He turned.
“Come back here this evening. Five thirty.”
Snape paled but nodded, and then, in a swirl of flame, was gone.
Lupin was at his desk trying to concentrate when Snape knocked once and entered the room. He heard the other man cross to the dresser and set his wand carefully on the top. Lupin stood, absently wrapping his arms around himself, scratching his upper arms.
Snape watched his actions carefully.
“That’s right.” Lupin’s voice had a slight edge. “It feels funny, you know. Your skin kind of crawls, then itches. Must be the hair starting.”
Snape’s eyes flitted nervously toward the door.
“Not yet, Severus. There’s still some time. I have trouble concentrating as the transformation gets closer. And my eyes change; I can’t see well for a while. My vision is better once the change is complete, but it’s different.” Lupin paced the confines of the room for a few turns, and then stopped as though coming to a decision. “Get something to read, will you?”
“Pardon?” Snape looked confused.
“I can’t read now; I can hardly sit still. You have a soothing voice. I’d like you to read to me.”
Snape blinked.
Lupin laughed. “Yes, that’s right. I’d like you to read to me. Anything you wish. A scientific article on the use of charms to subdue dragons, for all I care. Whatever you choose will be fine. There should be something in the library.”
Snape hesitated a fraction before grabbing his wand and heading out the door. Lupin fell into his armchair by the fire. For a moment he considered conjuring another chair, but thought better of it. That wasn’t the way it worked, and he didn’t think Snape would appreciate it.
Snape returned with a magazine, and dropping his wand onto the dresser, he turned to Lupin.
Lupin gestured to the rug by his chair. Snape crossed his ankles and sank down, and then, looking around, he moved the floor lamp a little closer.
Lupin’s skin was starting to crawl. He tried hard not to gouge at himself with his nails.
Snape opened the magazine, found what he wanted, and started to read. It was an article on a potion to improve resistance to the Cruciatus Curse. At first, Snape’s voice carried the cadence of a classroom lecture, but before he was more than a few paragraphs into the article, his tone changed. It was in turn strident, thoughtful, incredulous, disdainful, even outraged. Lupin closed his eyes, resting his head back on the chair, letting the rich tones of Snape’s voice wash over him. He barely understood a word of the scientific jargon, but he clearly understood Snape’s passion for what he was reading.
“Rubbish!” Snape froze, realizing what he had done. He didn’t turn to look at Lupin.
“It’s quite all right, Severus.” Lupin couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice. “I may not have a clue as to what the article is about, but I’m enjoying your reading of it immensely.”
Snape turned his shoulders to look at Lupin, the movement bringing them in contact with Lupin’s knees.
Lupin was beginning to sweat. “Please continue.”
Snape had almost finished when Lupin stopped him.
“I think you’d better leave.” He was starting to shiver. The change was getting very close.
Snape rose easily, uncrossing his ankles once he was standing. Lupin felt a stab of irritation. Didn’t the man ever get stiff?
Snape had his wand and was at the door in the time it took Lupin to drag his sore body out of the chair. Lupin studied him as best he could with his blurred vision - not that he needed eyes; he could smell Snape’s fear. A rather twisted smile spread over his face.
“Come back in an hour.”
Snape’s normally sallow complexion went dead white.
“Come back?” It was hardly a whisper. That he would question Lupin was a clear indication of his terror.
“That’s right.” Lupin was annoyed. “Don’t you trust your potion?”
Snape drew himself up a little straighter. “As you wish.”
“Remember that.” Lupin started to turn away when a searing pain doubled him over, his hands clenched over his stomach. Slowly, he sank to his knees on the rug, feeling as though his guts were being torn from his body.
When he was able to look up again, Snape was gone.
An hour later, Snape entered the dim room cautiously. The only light came from the dancing flames of the fire and the silvery slant of moonbeams through the window. He edged to the dresser, keeping his back to the wall. Reluctantly, he set his wand down. He could not take his eyes off the creature curled on the rug before the fire. When his wand settled with a faint click on the dresser, the beast raised its shaggy head and looked at Snape. It was all he could do to keep from screaming as the animal rose and approached him.
Lupin could smell the fear pouring off Snape in acrid waves. He approached slowly, looking into the dark eyes. Would Snape see him inside? Would he see the man trapped in the werewolf’s body?
Snape stood at rigid attention, his eyes dilated in terror, his breath coming in short, erratic bursts.
No. Lupin sighed. Snape saw only the werewolf, the beast that had almost killed him years ago. Perhaps he couldn’t blame him for his fear.
However.
Lupin studied him. While Lupin’s mind was his own, many of his instincts were wolfish. He reached up, grasped the hem of Snape’s frockcoat in his teeth and jerked.
For a second, he thought Snape’s knees were going to give way, but the wizard mastered himself, and with trembling hands, removed his clothes. When he stood, naked and shivering in the center of the room, Lupin approached him once again. The werewolf easily reached as high as Snape’s waist. Slowly, with thoroughness and care, Lupin sniffed every inch of Snape he could reach. The man was a veritable feast for his heightened sense of smell. True, the smell of fear was strong and rather unpleasant, but it didn’t mask the other rich smells. Lupin liked the way Snape smelled - a musky, sensuous odor that was warm and promising. He placed his muzzle between Snape’s knees and pressed to the side. He heard Snape swallow as he spread his legs.
Slowly, his whiskers tickling the sensitive skin on the insides of the man’s thighs, Lupin worked his way up to Snape’s genitals. These he sniffed with great deliberation, fully aware of just how terrified Snape must be to have the werewolf’s great teeth so close to such a vulnerable part of his body. Gently, he nudged Snape’s balls to the side with his nose, and extending his tongue, drew it across the smooth skin behind the scrotum. A convulsive shudder shook Snape’s body as the werewolf’s tongue went on to carefully taste every inch of his privates.
Finally satisfied with his exploration Lupin reached up, took Snape’s wrist in his teeth, and pulled steadily downward.
With a whimper of fear, Snape sank to the carpet.
The room was gradually growing lighter. Snape lay curled on his side on the rug, his eyes staring into the fire. At his back was the considerable bulk and warmth of the werewolf, his great shaggy head resting comfortably on Snape’s flank. Outside, a bird stuttered and tried out a few notes, then, apparently satisfied with its tuning up, burst forth in song.
The werewolf lifted his head and yawned.
Lupin rose and stretched, then looked down at Snape. The wizard stared with unblinking eyes at the fire. He waited, but Snape didn’t turn to meet his gaze. With a sigh, he lowered his head and gave the wizard’s shoulder a nudge with his snout.
Snape was on his feet, dressed and pocketing his wand in an instant. He stood by the door, staring at the far wall, waiting to be dismissed.
Lupin approached him. He knew his transformation back to a man was close and he didn’t want Snape there to witness it, but he wasn’t quite ready to let him go. Slowly, he rose on his hind legs and planted his forepaws on Snape’s shoulders, bringing his muzzle close to the man’s face. He stared. Snape’s eyes flickered, then focused on the werewolf’s.
Lupin felt a sudden rush of anger. All night they had been together, and Snape still feared him! He nudged the underside of Snape’s jaw and when the wizard lifted his head, Lupin opened his great jaws and closed them lightly on Snape’s throat. Lupin could smell the sudden wave of terror that poured off Snape, and for a moment was tempted to bite down. Just a little. Just to punish the man for not trusting him.
After what must have been an eternity for Snape, Lupin removed his teeth and laid his muzzle alongside Snape’s jaw. The blue eyes stared into the black ones, and Lupin saw that the pupils were dilated in fear. He nuzzled Snape’s ear, then ran his tongue along the man’s jaw before Lupin pushed away and sank to all fours. His head drooped as he turned away toward the hearthrug.
Snape was halfway out the door when the first pain hit Lupin. His yelp made Snape pause. Lupin staggered, and then fell onto his side. Struggling to right himself, he saw Snape, frozen in the doorway. Curling his lip, the werewolf snarled.
Snape fled.
Lupin was at his desk the next day, trying to work on a draft of a letter for the Order, when the soft knock came, followed by the now familiar sounds of Snape entering the room.
He was somewhat startled when a short, brown bottle appeared in front of him, then a taller, green one was set next to it. Snape’s hand withdrew from Lupin’s circle of vision.
When he looked up, Snape was standing in front of his desk instead of his usual place by the dresser.
“That-” Snape pointed to the short bottle - “is a restorative potion. You should drink half when you go to bed, and the other half in the morning. That - ” The long finger pointed to the taller bottle - “you should drink now.”
“What is it?”
Snape’s brows drew together slightly. “Well, it’s not poison.”
Lupin’s brows rose in surprise. It seemed he was being visited by the Potions master, not the submissive. He uncorked the green bottle and downed the contents in a gulp. It tasted lightly of cinnamon. Instantly, soothing warmth started to speed through him, easing the lingering pains and relieving some of the soreness in his muscles.
He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. “Thank you, Severus.”
Snape shifted awkwardly. Lupin studied him with interest. Was the Potions master at odds with the submissive? Somewhere, he suspected, there might be another man altogether. When Snape raised his head, he was frowning. Lupin concealed a smile. He knew who was in ascendancy at that moment.
Snape still seemed to be having a difficult time. His scowl deepened for a moment before he blurted out, “Would you like a massage?”
Lupin couldn’t help the startled look of surprise on his face. Snape must have misinterpreted it, for his face suddenly closed, his eyes went to the far wall and he stood at rigid attention.
“No, Severus, please.” Lupin wanted to reassure him somehow. “You just took me by surprise. That’s a talent I didn’t know you possessed.” He stood up stiffly from the desk. “By all means.” He choked back a ‘thank you.’ “Give me a massage.”
Lupin stood while Snape removed first his shabby dressing gown, then his own robes. His touch was business-like, with no erotic, lingering strokes of those long fingers. Snape removed a blue bottle from his cloak. Lupin pointed to the dresser.
“In the top drawer. The larger one – I want to see your cock and balls in this one. And not too snug.” He grinned. “It may be on for awhile.”
Snape set the bottle down, rummaged in the drawer and extracted the leather band. Swiftly, he fitted it over his genitals, turning it so the closure was in a comfortable place. Lupin loved the look the ring gave - pushing the balls forward, straining against the scrotum, the cock swelling as it engorged with blood. Yes, he liked the look very much. With a happy sigh, he lay face down on the bed.
He felt Snape straddle him, saw the open bottle of oil set on the bedside table, and smelled the sharp scent of herbs. Snape rubbed his hands together to coat them with the aromatic oil, then started to work on Lupin’s shoulders.
“What’s in that?” Lupin’s voice was muffled by the pillow.
“St. John’s, Arnica, almond.” His strong hands moved to Lupin’s neck.
“Did you make it?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a god.” Lupin arched up into Snape’s hands.
Snape snorted as he continued to work the oil into the muscles, and the knots and soreness out.
When Snape was done with Lupin’s back, when he had worked almost an hour on every bit of Lupin’s body he could reach, he moved aside, allowing Lupin to turn over. He started with his legs, then went on to his arms, then moved to his chest. There was nothing overtly erotic in what he was doing, but they were naked and his hands were soothing.
Snape was on his knees, straddling Lupin, working the muscles of Lupin’s chest, when Lupin reached back, pulling a pillow under his head so he could look down the length of his body, and Snape’s. Snape’s genitals were engorged with blood, his cock stiff, his balls shiny. Lupin reached down and brushed his hand gently over Snape, relishing the heat of him, the stiffness and the look the cock and ball ring gave him. Snape went on with what he was doing while Lupin first rubbed him, then wrapped a hand around his cock and stroked lightly.
“You did well last night, Severus.” Lupin’s voice was languid with the pleasure of the massage.
He felt Snape stiffen a little, but he said nothing.
“I could smell your fear, feel your terror, but you were obedient. Even without my being able to tell you what I wanted, you knew, and you obeyed.” He fondled Snape’s balls, and saw him close his eyes in a long, slow blink.
“Did you like it when I fucked you?”
Snape’s hands slipped on Lupin’s ribs, and Lupin took the opportunity to grab the man’s wrists, flipping them both over, yanking Snape’s hands over his head and pinning them there. He moved his hips against Snape’s, rubbing their swollen cocks together.
Lupin bent down and nipped Snape’s neck, then bit harder on his shoulder. Snape moaned.
“Did you like it when I fucked you, Severus?” Lupin breathed the words in Snape’s ear. “Did you like feeling my wolf’s cock driving into your arse?”
Snape went rigid under him, his eyes closing.
“Look at me!” Lupin growled.
Snape’s eyes flew open and fastened on Lupin’s.
“You thought I would kill you if you didn’t obey, didn’t you?”
Snape stared at him, his face a frozen mask.
“Was it your potion you didn’t trust, or was it me?”
Snape swallowed, but said nothing.
“How many times did I take you, Severus?” Lupin was moving his teeth over Snape’s throat. When Snape didn’t reply, he bit him. “How many?”
“Six.” It was a whisper.
“Yes, six. And you hated me. Hated me almost as much as you feared me. At first.” He moved his mouth along Snape’s collarbone, nipping and licking as he went. “But after the first four times, you changed.” He propped himself up on his elbows and looked down into Snape’s face. “The fifth time, you liked it, didn’t you?”
Snape’s eyes closed slowly.
Lupin rested his forehead against Snape’s. “Look at me, Severus – I’ll not tell you again!” His voice held a clear warning. Snape complied, blinking as he tried to focus on the blue eyes so close to his.
“You weren’t afraid of me the last two times. Why is that? Did you realize I wouldn’t hurt you, or were you just too exhausted to fear me anymore? Or...” Lupin shifted his hips and slid his cock, slick from the massage oil, deep into Snape’s body.
Snape groaned, wrapping his legs around Lupin’s waist and arching into him.
“Or was it that you just plain liked being fucked by a werewolf?”
Snape licked his lips but didn’t answer.
Lupin pulled out of him, moving to the side. “On your knees!” He slapped Snape’s hip.
Snape scrambled to obey, resting his forearms on the headboard. Lupin straddled Snape’s legs and once more eased inside him. Leaning forward, he covered Snape’s back with his chest. His arms slid under Snape, his hands coming up to grip his shoulders, pulling Snape’s body down onto him with every stroke. Snape pressed into him, meeting him stroke for stroke.
“Were you surprised at how soft my fur was?”
Snape stiffened again.
“Did you think it would be coarse and wiry?” He nipped Snape’s neck. “Did you like the feel of it on your back?” He thrust hard into Snape and held himself there. Snape moaned, and he began his slow stroking again.
“Did you like my wolf’s cock, Severus? Did you notice that it was longer? Pointed? Did you like the way the knot ballooned inside you when I came?”
Snape whimpered and stopped thrusting back against Lupin. Lupin pulled him back more firmly on each stroke.
“Did it feel like a fist inside you, Severus? Have you ever had a fist up your arse?”
Snape’s body went limp, his head hanging low. Lupin stopped thrusting and straightened up. Winding his fist into Snape’s hair, he pulled him roughly back against his chest. Snape lay against him, completely limp.
“Would you like that, Severus?”
He felt Snape quiver slightly.
“No?” He held the limp body against his chest with one arm, the other fist still tangled in Snape’s hair.
Snape didn’t move.
“But you’d submit to me, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes.” The response was immediate, though softly spoken.
Lupin pushed him gently forward again, and Snape braced himself on the headboard once more. Lupin resumed his slow stroking, twisting his hips against Snape, then changing his angle and bumping his cock against Snape’s prostate. Snape gasped, his head snapping up.
He slipped one hand down Snape’s flat belly and fondled his swollen genitals for a minute before settling into a gentle stroking of his cock, moving his hand in time with his hips, making sure to rub against Snape’s prostate with each stroke.
Snape groaned and ground against Lupin, his breathing ragged, his growing arousal making it harder for Lupin to keep control.
“You won’t come until I say so, will you, Severus?”
Snape whimpered, pushing back against Lupin’s cock.
“No!” Lupin panted in an effort to keep in control. “You were writhing like this when the werewolf was fucking you, do you remember?’’
Snape didn’t answer, but tried to push harder into Lupin.
“The last two times... Do you remember the wolf’s tongue on you, Severus? Do you remember the wolf’s tongue in you? Do you remember how you begged the werewolf to fuck you, how you screamed when you came?”
Snape was shaking and mewling in his need.
“Surely you haven’t forgotten that, Severus? Surely you won’t say that you were so exhausted that you didn’t know what you were doing?”
Snape gave a choked cry and buried his face on his arms.
Lupin released Snape’s cock and grabbed his hips, driving into him with all his strength.
“Do!”
“Not!”
“Come!”
Lupin came hard, hunching over Snape, digging his fingers into the soft flesh at the front of his hips.
Gasping, Lupin pulled out of Snape, managing a quick cleansing charm before flopping down and dragging Snape’s shaking body with him. He pushed Snape onto his back and grabbed his cock roughly. Snape howled. Lupin loosened his grip a little and stroked Snape firmly.
“Please, Remus. Gods, please let me come.”
“Say you liked being fucked by the werewolf, Severus. Say it!”
Snape gasped. “I loved your werewolf cock, Remus. Dear gods. Please, Remus, I swear I’ll suck your werewolf cock for you, just let me come.”
Lupin grinned. “And swallow my werewolf come?”
“Yes.” Snape’s hands clawed at the quilt as Lupin slipped two fingers inside him and stroked his prostate in rhythm with the hand on his cock.
“Are you ready, Severus?” He breathed the question in the writhing man’s ear.
”Yes!”
“Then come...” He pressed firmly on Snape’s prostate and pulled the cock and ball ring off at the same time. “Now!”
Snape screamed, his hips surging upward, his body convulsing with the strength of his release. Lupin kept pressure on Snape’s prostate as Snape writhed and gasped. Then, just as Snape was starting to come down, he leaned over, closed his mouth over Snape’s swollen, red cock and sucked. Hard.
Snape screamed again, this time in pain. Lupin used one arm to pin Snape’s legs and the other to block Snape’s hands as he sucked with merciless brutality at Snape’s oversensitive member. Snape writhed under him, crying out in pain.
He sucked and pulled at Snape’s cock until he felt it start to shrink in his mouth, then released it gently, stroking a hand down Snape’s thigh as he did so. He lay back next to Snape, gathering the shaking man in his arms. Snape burrowed his head into Lupin’s shoulder, clutching at him convulsively.
Lupin stroked his back, making soothing sounds, waiting for the storm to pass.
Two or three times a week they met – at Lupin’s, at Snape’s, wherever they thought they wouldn’t attract notice. Lupin was practically euphoric. Snape was the most compliant, best-trained submissive he had ever encountered. He was beginning to think there was nothing the man wouldn’t do for him.
But a disquiet niggled at the back of Lupin’s mind. Snape was an extremely intelligent, well-read man. However, if Lupin were to try and engage him in conversation, or ask him what he thought about something, Snape would invariably frown and reply, “What I think is not important.” Further attempts to engage him were met with monosyllables and evasion. Lupin was feeling cheated, although, had he thought about it, he couldn’t have said how. Snape’s talented mouth and hands soon had Lupin’s mind disengaged, and his ability to read Lupin, to know what he wanted at any given moment, soon put an end to Lupin’s attempts at conversation.
The week before the full moon, they had an excuse to meet every night as either Snape came to Grimmauld Place, or Lupin traveled to Hogwarts. It was two hours before moonrise when Snape knocked at Lupin’s bedroom door, entered without waiting for an answer, laid his wand on the dresser, and stood quietly. Lupin was already pacing.
Lupin cast him a nervous look. Snape had a book under his arm.
“Good.” He waved vaguely toward the lamp. “Please read.”
Snape sank gracefully to the floor, opening the book to a ribbon of marker. Smoothing the page with his hand, he started to read.
Lupin continued to pace, unaware of the subject matter, just letting the rich tones of Snape’s voice flow over him. It wasn’t long before he dropped into his chair with a sigh. Without skipping a beat, Snape scooched a few inches sideways until his shoulder came into contact with Lupin’s knee. Lupin tipped his head back and closed his eyes, letting the soothing voice and warm touch quiet him.
Lupin waited as long as he dared before sending Snape away – with orders to return in an hour. Snape paled slightly, but nodded, grabbing his wand and leaving the room. Lupin heard him set the wards from the outside just before the pain started.
The wolf heard the soft sound of the latch, then the click of the wand being set on the dresser. He rose and approached the wizard, sniffing the air as he came. There was no smell of fear. Carefully, he rose on his hind legs and set his paws on Snape’s shoulders. Now he smelled the fear. It came off Snape in a tidal wave. Lupin snarled. He saw Snape’s eyes dilate in terror though the man never moved.
Damn it all!
For more than a month they had shared time together. They had done things a lot of people would never believe. Time and time again, Snape had given himself up to Lupin, had trusted him with his well-being – his life. Never had he showed the slightest sign of fear or doubt. This was his potion! He knew it worked. He knew who the man inside the beast’s body was, and yet he was still afraid.
Furious, Lupin grabbed a mouthful of the front of Snape’s robes and yanked as he dropped to the floor. The fabric ripped, and Lupin snapped his head back and forth, tearing a large chunk of the cloth away. He grabbed another mouthful and yanked again and again, stripping Snape’s robes off his body, leaving him naked and trembling. Snape’s eyes were huge with fear, but still, he never moved.
Disgust overcame Lupin and he dropped the torn cloth. He stared at Snape for a long moment before returning to the hearthrug, dropping down with his back to Snape, resting his snout on his paws and closing his eyes.
Lupin didn’t know how long he had dozed. When he looked around the room again, the bright beams of light told him that the moon was high. Snape was still standing where he had left him, though he was swaying slightly on his feet.
Lupin rose. Closing his mouth gently on Snape’s wrist he led him to the hearthrug and tugged gently downward. Snape sank to his knees and sat back on his heels, his eyes on the werewolf’s. Lupin snuffled along his jawline, then rested his nose under Snape’s ear and his cheek against Snape’s. He could smell no fear this time. A hesitant hand came up, ruffling through the fur on his ribs, coming to rest on his shoulder.
He drew back and looked into Snape’s eyes. Snape’s hands rested on his thighs, and he held the wolf’s gaze without faltering. Lupin placed the top of his head against Snape’s chest and butted him gently. Snape leaned back on his hands, and after a fraction’s pause, raised his hips, offering his genitals to the wolf.
Lupin closed his eyes and breathed in Snape’s rich scent. He loved the way he smelled. Opening his jaws, he ran his long tongue the length of Snape’s cock, smiling to himself in satisfaction as the wizard groaned. He wondered, did Snape remember the promise he had made a month ago?
Lupin awoke on the hearthrug, alone, naked, shivering, and sore. He struggled to his feet, stumbled to his bathroom, and hastily pulled on a worn, quilted dressing gown. Beside the sink were two bottles. A restorative potion, half for then, half for bedtime, and the wonderful warming cinnamon-flavored one. He drank them eagerly, relieved himself, and stumbled to bed. Sleep came quickly.
Later that evening, Molly brought a wonderful dinner of stew and crusty bread that she had made for him. She was in the habit of coming the day after the full moon, and making sure he had a good, nourishing meal. She always invented one pretense or another for being there, and he never argued. Her fussiness and caring helped the bouts of depression and soul-numbing loneliness that had followed his transformations ever since the end of his school days.
That night, he was uncharacteristically anxious for her to go. Would Snape come? He hadn’t told him to; he’d forgotten that. But Snape had come last time, with soothing oils, magic hands, and... Well, truth to tell, Lupin was looking forward to a massage more than anything else.
He left the kitchen around seven, as soon as he felt it was polite, and hurried back to his room. Outside the door, he hesitated. Snape might not be there. It was a bit early. It wasn’t as though he’d ordered him to be there. Lupin fidgeted a moment, then, with a sound of self-disgust, he entered his room.
Snape was sitting in the chair, reading.
Lupin wiped the grin off his face. “Did you bring the oil?”
Snape had stood at attention as soon as he had heard Lupin enter. “Yes.”
“Well, then.” Lupin eased his shoulders inside his robes in anticipation. “Shall we proceed as before?”
“As you wish.” Snape’s voice was soft.
Two hours later, Lupin lay on his back, boneless and content, Snape against his side. Lupin could feel the tension in Snape’s shoulders even though he appeared relaxed. He would have loved nothing better than to snuggle under the covers and sleep, Snape against his back, but he knew that wouldn’t happen. Oh, he could order Snape to stay, which he would do without demure, but he wouldn’t sleep. Twice Snape had stayed with him – other than transformation nights – and twice Snape had lain awake all night. There was no enjoyment in it for Lupin, that being the case.
Lupin removed his arm from around Snape’s shoulders.
“You may go.”
Snape was up and dressed in a moment. He pocketed his wand, and then turned an inquiring face to Lupin, who nodded.
Snape was gone.
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to be continued in Part 1, Chapter 3