_smoke_ (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} _smoke_) wrote,@ 2005-07-05 14:14:00 |
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fic: ~Power Play~ NC-17, Part 2, Chapter 3
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 and Snegurochka for their excellent work as betas.
~~Power Play~~
Part 2
Chapter 3: Destruction
The week leading up to the full moon began the following evening. It was quarter ‘til eight, and Lupin was wondering if he should go to Snape, when he heard a footfall on the stairs. He went to the door of the drawing room and almost bumped into Snape as the man entered.
“Evening, Severus. I was just going to come for the Wolfsbane.”
“I was coming to London anyway. I thought I might as well drop it off.” Snape spoke without looking at Lupin. He withdrew the silver goblet from inside his cloak, then reached for the flask. Lupin saw the clothes he wore under the cloak, and suddenly felt lightheaded.
Snape was wearing his tall boots, a black shirt, and faded blue jeans.
Snape readied the Wolfsbane and handed the goblet to Lupin, his face expressionless.
“You’re going out.” It was a statement.
Snape looked at him a moment, his eyes unreadable. “Any reason I shouldn’t?” His voice was even.
Lupin tried to swallow, but found his throat too dry. One word. One word, and he knew Snape would stay.
“Lupin, are you going to take the damn potion, or are you going to stand there like a zombie all night?” Irritation flooded his voice.
Lupin grabbed the potion, downed the nasty stuff in two gulps, and returned the goblet to Snape.
He took it without a word, stowing it and the flask back inside his cloak. Swirling the garment off his shoulders, he waved his wand over it, reducing it to a small square of black cloth. Snape folded it carefully, and looked Lupin in the eye for the first time as he shoved the cloth in his hip pocket, smirked, and headed for the door.
“Severus!”
Snape wheeled, waiting. A heartbeat of time passed in silence.
“Not to worry, Lupin. You’ll have your potion tomorrow.” His voice was as dead as his eyes.
He was gone down the stairs a moment later, leaving Lupin alone.
Lupin stood staring at the door for a full two minutes before picking up a small wooden snuff box from the table and throwing it against the wall. It promptly burst into flames, but Lupin didn’t notice.
~~
Lupin was at his desk at about ten the next morning when there was a soft whooshing noise, a small burst of flame over the desk, and a note that fluttered down onto the letter he was writing. He swallowed his heart back down out of his throat and reached for the parchment. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to Fawkes as a messenger.
The note was in Dumbledore’s thin, slanting writing.
Please come at once.
It was signed, AD.
Lupin grabbed his cloak and ran. His Floo wasn’t connected to any at Hogwarts but Snape’s, so he had to leave the house to Apparate.
Minutes later, he was taking the steps of the school two at a time. Dumbledore was waiting in the entrance hall.
“What is it?” He struggled to keep his voice low while he regained his breath. “Has someone been hurt?”
Dumbledore held up a warning hand as several students passed by. Motioning Lupin to follow, he set off at a brisk pace. Once they reached the corridor to the hospital wing, they were alone.
“Is it Harry?”
“Severus.”
Lupin tripped.
“I thought you’d like to know.”
There really was no keeping secrets from the old man.
“Voldemort?”
Albus stopped, turning to face the younger man.
“No. This is something different. Poppy wanted him to go to St. Mungo’s, but he refused.”
Lupin must have looked ill, because Dumbledore reached out and took hold of his arm.
“It may be just as well. His injuries aren’t magical.”
“Wh... what do you mean?” All Lupin could still see was Snape’s backside as he had left the night before. The back pocket with the black handkerchief hanging out.
“Remus, Severus has been badly...” He sighed. “Brutally, beaten.”
”Beaten!”
“Yes. There was no magic involved, I’m afraid, just a great deal of malice.” They continued toward the ward. “Do you know anything about it?”
“What? No! No, I don’t.” Lupin was feeling sick. “Can Poppy... Will he...?”
“Yes, yes, Poppy can fix him up. But it will be a while before he’s back to normal.”
“But when? How did you find him?”
“He was found this morning, in Muggle London, by a former student. She’s nearly a squib, was only here for a year, but she recognized Severus and contacted us instead of Muggle authorities, thank Merlin. She was taking out the trash of the restaurant where she works, and found him lying unconscious in the alley.”
“Considering the fact that she was a former student, he’s probably lucky she notified you instead of just levitating him into the nearest bin and leaving him.” Lupin’s tone was angry.
They entered the ward, empty except for a bed by the far wall that had screens all around it. Lupin hesitated a moment before entering. He wasn’t aware that Dumbledore didn’t follow.
“Severus, are you sure you won’t take this? It’s not poison, you made it yourself. You’d be a lot more comfortable.”
Lupin heard a low rumble in answer, and Poppy turned to leave. She stopped at Lupin’s side and spoke in a whisper.
“See if you can get him to take the pain potion, will you? I don’t know why he won’t, stubborn man, but he’ll heal more quickly if he rests, and he’ll rest better if he’s not in pain.”
Lupin nodded, then looked at Snape. He had to swallow repeatedly to rid his mouth of bile. Snape’s head was bandaged, as were his hands that lay on the blanket. His face was swollen almost beyond recognition, one eye completely shut, his nose clearly broken and mended.
“Sweet Merlin! Severus?”
The one eye that could still see flickered to Lupin’s stricken face.
“Sit down before you fall over, you idiot. What’s wrong with you?”
Lupin almost laughed at the familiar tone, even if it was muffled by a jaw that was bandaged shut. He pulled up a stool and sat beside Snape, his eyes traveling over the still form in the bed. He felt rage such as he’d never felt before well up inside him.
“Who did this?” Lupin spoke through clenched teeth. “Tell me the bastard’s name.”
Snape eyed him for a moment. “No.”
“Damn it, Snape!” Lupin had difficulty keeping his voice down. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll find that club of yours and track the animal down. I swear I’ll make him wish he’d never been born!”
Snape continued to study him for another minute. “No.”
Lupin was drawing breath to speak again when Poppy came in carrying a wand. She laid it on the bedside table and turned to scowl at Snape. “I’m returning this because the headmaster wants me to, but don’t you go trying any magic, you’re far too weak.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His reply was soft.
Poppy snorted. “Cheeky beggar.” Her face was full of affection.
“Someone found his wand then?” Lupin asked Poppy quietly. Snape’s good eye had closed again.
“Found it? It was in his pocket.” Poppy left, not noticing Lupin’s shocked expression.
“In your pocket?” he hissed at Snape, who opened his eye. “You mean to tell me you didn’t defend yourself?”
Snape just stared at him.
Lupin was on his feet. “Damn it, Severus! I ought to...”
“Ought to what, Lupin?” His voice was a hoarse croak. “Break every bone in my body?” He gave a crooked sneer. “I’m afraid he didn’t leave many for you.”
Lupin went white and swayed slightly. A hand took his elbow and steered him out of the ward. He stumbled down the corridor next to Dumbledore, not knowing where he went.
“There’s no way someone got the drop on Snape.” Lupin’s voice was a whisper. “He allowed that to happen.”
“It would appear so, yes.”
Lupin stopped walking; Dumbledore turned toward him.
“Why?“ Lupin was numb with disbelief.
Dumbledore started walking again and Lupin caught up.
“We each have to deal with our demons in our own way, Remus.”
Lupin felt his knees sag. The next thing he knew, Dumbledore’s hand was under his elbow and his feet seemed to be skimming over the stones. Before he knew it, he was sitting in Dumbledore’s office, a cup of hot tea infused with a hefty shot of brandy in his hand.
“I don’t understand.” His voice was dull.
“Nor do I, not entirely.”
“But you know.” Lupin’s voice was almost accusatory.
“I can only guess.” Dumbledore sighed. “I have a meeting. Rest here as long as you like.”
Lupin sat in the headmaster’s office until his tea was cold, then headed for the main doors. Halfway there he stopped. After a moment’s hesitation, he headed back to the hospital wing.
Snape’s eyes were closed.
“Was this to get back at me?” Lupin’s voice was hoarse.
Snape made a sound that might have been a snort had his nose not been so damaged.
“Why then?”
When Snape ignored him, Lupin took the top of the comforter and slowly peeled it down, revealing the broken landscape of Snape’s body. When he got down to the hips, Snape finally spoke.
“Stop!”
Lupin withdrew his hands, staring in horror. There wasn’t an inch of Snape’s torso that wasn’t covered in bruises and abrasions. There were no cuts, or whip marks, but there was the clear imprint of the heavy, lugged sole of a boot on his ribs.
Gently, Lupin pulled the covers back up.
“Why, Severus?” His voice trembled with anger. “Was this really better than playing chess with me?”
Snape’s eye opened and glared at Lupin. “This isn’t about you.”
“No?” Lupin’s voice was strained. “This has nothing to do with what you see as my rejection of you? Nothing to do with the fact that I will not beat you bloody? Nothing to do with the fact that you can’t handle the idea that someone might actually want you for more than what you can do in bed?”
Snape turned his face away. “Fuck off.”
Lupin stared at Snape, but when the battered face remained facing the wall, Lupin turned and stalked from the room.
~~
That evening, Lupin was sitting at his desk with his head on his arms when there was a soft knock at his door.
“Come in?” He cleared his throat, looking over the back of the couch to the door.
The door opened a little bit, then closed again. Suddenly alert, Lupin picked up his wand, rose, and started around his desk. At that point Dobby appeared around the end of the couch and let out a squeak of alarm.
“Dobby!” Lupin sank back in his chair.
The house-elf looked out from under the arm with which he had shielded his head. Years of service to the Malfoys had instilled self-preservation instincts in the little elf.
“So sorry to startle you, Professor Lupin, sir. Dobby has brought you your potion, sir.” He pulled the goblet and the flask out from under the large, misshapen jumper he wore, and standing on tiptoe, placed them on the desk by Lupin’s arm.
Lupin hesitated, then fixed the potion and drank it.
“How do you happen to be bringing me my potion, Dobby?”
“Professor Lupin, sir, Professor Snape asked us to bring it to you for five nights and a day, sir.”
Lupin frowned. “When did he ask you this?”
“Yesterday afternoon, sir. Before he went out.”
Lupin closed his eyes. He’d planned it. The son of a bitch had planned it. Had gone looking for it, for Merlin’s sake! He had to swallow convulsively to keep the Wolfsbane from coming back up.
“Is Professor Lupin all right, sir? Can Dobby get him anything, sir?”
“No, Dobby. Thank you.” Lupin shook himself. If that was what Snape wanted, it was none of his business.
“Dobby will go then, sir. There is much work to be done.” The little elf stuffed the items back under his jumper. “Dobby will be back tomorrow evening, sir.”
~~
True to his word, Dobby brought the Wolfsbane for the next four nights, and then, on the day of the transformation, he came at noon. He was in a hurry as he had much to do.
“Professor Lupin, sir, Professor Snape sent some extra bottles today.” Dobby lined them up on the desk. “The professor said you should take half of this one–” Dobby touched a clear bottle with a few ounces of brown liquid in it – “twenty minutes before sunset, and the other half twenty minutes before sunrise. These two–” He touched the now familiar green and brown bottles – “he said you would know what to do with.”
Lupin saw Snape’s cramped script on the labels of all of the bottles. “Did he give you these bottles today, Dobby?”
“Yes, sir. Just before Dobby was to bring you the other potion, sir.”
Lupin cleared his suddenly dry throat. “And how is the professor, Dobby? Is he out of the hospital wing?”
“Oh, yes, sir. Professor Snape has been back in his rooms for two days now. We’ve been worried about him, sir, but he seems almost himself again.” Dobby made a small grimace.
Lupin smiled. “Tell Professor Snape, Professor Lupin thanks him.”
“Of course, sir.” Dobby tucked the flask and goblet under his jumper, bowed low, and scuttled out of the room.
Lupin picked up the green bottle. It was the cinnamon-flavored potion, the one that brought relief and soothing warmth. The brown bottle was the restorative. He picked up the unfamiliar clear bottle. The brown liquid was thick, coating the sides of the bottle when he tilted it. The label was printed with the same instructions that Dobby had given him, but there was no other information. He remembered the last transformation, the brown liquid that Snape had given him as he started to change back. The potion that had brought the blessed relief from pain and panic, and the sweet darkness.
When he prepared that evening, he laid out a shallow bowl with half of the brown potion in it. He felt vaguely ill as he set it on the floor, but he knew there was no other way he could get to it in the morning if he didn’t.
When the pain started that night, he drank the new potion greedily, welcoming the oblivion.
All night, he paced the moonbeams. At midnight, he raised his muzzle and howled his loneliness to the moon. A night had never passed so slowly.
In the morning, when he started to shake, he lapped up the rest of the potion and sank down on the carpet in front of the fire.
It was there that he awakened after daylight, shivering and naked, to gulp the potion in the green bottle and crawl into bed, the pain in his heart far greater than the pain in his body.
****************************************
to be continued in Part 2, Chapter 4
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 and Snegurochka for their excellent work as betas.
Part 2
Chapter 3: Destruction
The week leading up to the full moon began the following evening. It was quarter ‘til eight, and Lupin was wondering if he should go to Snape, when he heard a footfall on the stairs. He went to the door of the drawing room and almost bumped into Snape as the man entered.
“Evening, Severus. I was just going to come for the Wolfsbane.”
“I was coming to London anyway. I thought I might as well drop it off.” Snape spoke without looking at Lupin. He withdrew the silver goblet from inside his cloak, then reached for the flask. Lupin saw the clothes he wore under the cloak, and suddenly felt lightheaded.
Snape was wearing his tall boots, a black shirt, and faded blue jeans.
Snape readied the Wolfsbane and handed the goblet to Lupin, his face expressionless.
“You’re going out.” It was a statement.
Snape looked at him a moment, his eyes unreadable. “Any reason I shouldn’t?” His voice was even.
Lupin tried to swallow, but found his throat too dry. One word. One word, and he knew Snape would stay.
“Lupin, are you going to take the damn potion, or are you going to stand there like a zombie all night?” Irritation flooded his voice.
Lupin grabbed the potion, downed the nasty stuff in two gulps, and returned the goblet to Snape.
He took it without a word, stowing it and the flask back inside his cloak. Swirling the garment off his shoulders, he waved his wand over it, reducing it to a small square of black cloth. Snape folded it carefully, and looked Lupin in the eye for the first time as he shoved the cloth in his hip pocket, smirked, and headed for the door.
“Severus!”
Snape wheeled, waiting. A heartbeat of time passed in silence.
“Not to worry, Lupin. You’ll have your potion tomorrow.” His voice was as dead as his eyes.
He was gone down the stairs a moment later, leaving Lupin alone.
Lupin stood staring at the door for a full two minutes before picking up a small wooden snuff box from the table and throwing it against the wall. It promptly burst into flames, but Lupin didn’t notice.
Lupin was at his desk at about ten the next morning when there was a soft whooshing noise, a small burst of flame over the desk, and a note that fluttered down onto the letter he was writing. He swallowed his heart back down out of his throat and reached for the parchment. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to Fawkes as a messenger.
The note was in Dumbledore’s thin, slanting writing.
Please come at once.
It was signed, AD.
Lupin grabbed his cloak and ran. His Floo wasn’t connected to any at Hogwarts but Snape’s, so he had to leave the house to Apparate.
Minutes later, he was taking the steps of the school two at a time. Dumbledore was waiting in the entrance hall.
“What is it?” He struggled to keep his voice low while he regained his breath. “Has someone been hurt?”
Dumbledore held up a warning hand as several students passed by. Motioning Lupin to follow, he set off at a brisk pace. Once they reached the corridor to the hospital wing, they were alone.
“Is it Harry?”
“Severus.”
Lupin tripped.
“I thought you’d like to know.”
There really was no keeping secrets from the old man.
“Voldemort?”
Albus stopped, turning to face the younger man.
“No. This is something different. Poppy wanted him to go to St. Mungo’s, but he refused.”
Lupin must have looked ill, because Dumbledore reached out and took hold of his arm.
“It may be just as well. His injuries aren’t magical.”
“Wh... what do you mean?” All Lupin could still see was Snape’s backside as he had left the night before. The back pocket with the black handkerchief hanging out.
“Remus, Severus has been badly...” He sighed. “Brutally, beaten.”
”Beaten!”
“Yes. There was no magic involved, I’m afraid, just a great deal of malice.” They continued toward the ward. “Do you know anything about it?”
“What? No! No, I don’t.” Lupin was feeling sick. “Can Poppy... Will he...?”
“Yes, yes, Poppy can fix him up. But it will be a while before he’s back to normal.”
“But when? How did you find him?”
“He was found this morning, in Muggle London, by a former student. She’s nearly a squib, was only here for a year, but she recognized Severus and contacted us instead of Muggle authorities, thank Merlin. She was taking out the trash of the restaurant where she works, and found him lying unconscious in the alley.”
“Considering the fact that she was a former student, he’s probably lucky she notified you instead of just levitating him into the nearest bin and leaving him.” Lupin’s tone was angry.
They entered the ward, empty except for a bed by the far wall that had screens all around it. Lupin hesitated a moment before entering. He wasn’t aware that Dumbledore didn’t follow.
“Severus, are you sure you won’t take this? It’s not poison, you made it yourself. You’d be a lot more comfortable.”
Lupin heard a low rumble in answer, and Poppy turned to leave. She stopped at Lupin’s side and spoke in a whisper.
“See if you can get him to take the pain potion, will you? I don’t know why he won’t, stubborn man, but he’ll heal more quickly if he rests, and he’ll rest better if he’s not in pain.”
Lupin nodded, then looked at Snape. He had to swallow repeatedly to rid his mouth of bile. Snape’s head was bandaged, as were his hands that lay on the blanket. His face was swollen almost beyond recognition, one eye completely shut, his nose clearly broken and mended.
“Sweet Merlin! Severus?”
The one eye that could still see flickered to Lupin’s stricken face.
“Sit down before you fall over, you idiot. What’s wrong with you?”
Lupin almost laughed at the familiar tone, even if it was muffled by a jaw that was bandaged shut. He pulled up a stool and sat beside Snape, his eyes traveling over the still form in the bed. He felt rage such as he’d never felt before well up inside him.
“Who did this?” Lupin spoke through clenched teeth. “Tell me the bastard’s name.”
Snape eyed him for a moment. “No.”
“Damn it, Snape!” Lupin had difficulty keeping his voice down. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll find that club of yours and track the animal down. I swear I’ll make him wish he’d never been born!”
Snape continued to study him for another minute. “No.”
Lupin was drawing breath to speak again when Poppy came in carrying a wand. She laid it on the bedside table and turned to scowl at Snape. “I’m returning this because the headmaster wants me to, but don’t you go trying any magic, you’re far too weak.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His reply was soft.
Poppy snorted. “Cheeky beggar.” Her face was full of affection.
“Someone found his wand then?” Lupin asked Poppy quietly. Snape’s good eye had closed again.
“Found it? It was in his pocket.” Poppy left, not noticing Lupin’s shocked expression.
“In your pocket?” he hissed at Snape, who opened his eye. “You mean to tell me you didn’t defend yourself?”
Snape just stared at him.
Lupin was on his feet. “Damn it, Severus! I ought to...”
“Ought to what, Lupin?” His voice was a hoarse croak. “Break every bone in my body?” He gave a crooked sneer. “I’m afraid he didn’t leave many for you.”
Lupin went white and swayed slightly. A hand took his elbow and steered him out of the ward. He stumbled down the corridor next to Dumbledore, not knowing where he went.
“There’s no way someone got the drop on Snape.” Lupin’s voice was a whisper. “He allowed that to happen.”
“It would appear so, yes.”
Lupin stopped walking; Dumbledore turned toward him.
“Why?“ Lupin was numb with disbelief.
Dumbledore started walking again and Lupin caught up.
“We each have to deal with our demons in our own way, Remus.”
Lupin felt his knees sag. The next thing he knew, Dumbledore’s hand was under his elbow and his feet seemed to be skimming over the stones. Before he knew it, he was sitting in Dumbledore’s office, a cup of hot tea infused with a hefty shot of brandy in his hand.
“I don’t understand.” His voice was dull.
“Nor do I, not entirely.”
“But you know.” Lupin’s voice was almost accusatory.
“I can only guess.” Dumbledore sighed. “I have a meeting. Rest here as long as you like.”
Lupin sat in the headmaster’s office until his tea was cold, then headed for the main doors. Halfway there he stopped. After a moment’s hesitation, he headed back to the hospital wing.
Snape’s eyes were closed.
“Was this to get back at me?” Lupin’s voice was hoarse.
Snape made a sound that might have been a snort had his nose not been so damaged.
“Why then?”
When Snape ignored him, Lupin took the top of the comforter and slowly peeled it down, revealing the broken landscape of Snape’s body. When he got down to the hips, Snape finally spoke.
“Stop!”
Lupin withdrew his hands, staring in horror. There wasn’t an inch of Snape’s torso that wasn’t covered in bruises and abrasions. There were no cuts, or whip marks, but there was the clear imprint of the heavy, lugged sole of a boot on his ribs.
Gently, Lupin pulled the covers back up.
“Why, Severus?” His voice trembled with anger. “Was this really better than playing chess with me?”
Snape’s eye opened and glared at Lupin. “This isn’t about you.”
“No?” Lupin’s voice was strained. “This has nothing to do with what you see as my rejection of you? Nothing to do with the fact that I will not beat you bloody? Nothing to do with the fact that you can’t handle the idea that someone might actually want you for more than what you can do in bed?”
Snape turned his face away. “Fuck off.”
Lupin stared at Snape, but when the battered face remained facing the wall, Lupin turned and stalked from the room.
That evening, Lupin was sitting at his desk with his head on his arms when there was a soft knock at his door.
“Come in?” He cleared his throat, looking over the back of the couch to the door.
The door opened a little bit, then closed again. Suddenly alert, Lupin picked up his wand, rose, and started around his desk. At that point Dobby appeared around the end of the couch and let out a squeak of alarm.
“Dobby!” Lupin sank back in his chair.
The house-elf looked out from under the arm with which he had shielded his head. Years of service to the Malfoys had instilled self-preservation instincts in the little elf.
“So sorry to startle you, Professor Lupin, sir. Dobby has brought you your potion, sir.” He pulled the goblet and the flask out from under the large, misshapen jumper he wore, and standing on tiptoe, placed them on the desk by Lupin’s arm.
Lupin hesitated, then fixed the potion and drank it.
“How do you happen to be bringing me my potion, Dobby?”
“Professor Lupin, sir, Professor Snape asked us to bring it to you for five nights and a day, sir.”
Lupin frowned. “When did he ask you this?”
“Yesterday afternoon, sir. Before he went out.”
Lupin closed his eyes. He’d planned it. The son of a bitch had planned it. Had gone looking for it, for Merlin’s sake! He had to swallow convulsively to keep the Wolfsbane from coming back up.
“Is Professor Lupin all right, sir? Can Dobby get him anything, sir?”
“No, Dobby. Thank you.” Lupin shook himself. If that was what Snape wanted, it was none of his business.
“Dobby will go then, sir. There is much work to be done.” The little elf stuffed the items back under his jumper. “Dobby will be back tomorrow evening, sir.”
True to his word, Dobby brought the Wolfsbane for the next four nights, and then, on the day of the transformation, he came at noon. He was in a hurry as he had much to do.
“Professor Lupin, sir, Professor Snape sent some extra bottles today.” Dobby lined them up on the desk. “The professor said you should take half of this one–” Dobby touched a clear bottle with a few ounces of brown liquid in it – “twenty minutes before sunset, and the other half twenty minutes before sunrise. These two–” He touched the now familiar green and brown bottles – “he said you would know what to do with.”
Lupin saw Snape’s cramped script on the labels of all of the bottles. “Did he give you these bottles today, Dobby?”
“Yes, sir. Just before Dobby was to bring you the other potion, sir.”
Lupin cleared his suddenly dry throat. “And how is the professor, Dobby? Is he out of the hospital wing?”
“Oh, yes, sir. Professor Snape has been back in his rooms for two days now. We’ve been worried about him, sir, but he seems almost himself again.” Dobby made a small grimace.
Lupin smiled. “Tell Professor Snape, Professor Lupin thanks him.”
“Of course, sir.” Dobby tucked the flask and goblet under his jumper, bowed low, and scuttled out of the room.
Lupin picked up the green bottle. It was the cinnamon-flavored potion, the one that brought relief and soothing warmth. The brown bottle was the restorative. He picked up the unfamiliar clear bottle. The brown liquid was thick, coating the sides of the bottle when he tilted it. The label was printed with the same instructions that Dobby had given him, but there was no other information. He remembered the last transformation, the brown liquid that Snape had given him as he started to change back. The potion that had brought the blessed relief from pain and panic, and the sweet darkness.
When he prepared that evening, he laid out a shallow bowl with half of the brown potion in it. He felt vaguely ill as he set it on the floor, but he knew there was no other way he could get to it in the morning if he didn’t.
When the pain started that night, he drank the new potion greedily, welcoming the oblivion.
All night, he paced the moonbeams. At midnight, he raised his muzzle and howled his loneliness to the moon. A night had never passed so slowly.
In the morning, when he started to shake, he lapped up the rest of the potion and sank down on the carpet in front of the fire.
It was there that he awakened after daylight, shivering and naked, to gulp the potion in the green bottle and crawl into bed, the pain in his heart far greater than the pain in his body.
****************************************
to be continued in Part 2, Chapter 4