Severus growled to himself as he poured the Wolfsbane potion from cauldron to goblet. Another moon cycle and another encounter with the insufferable Remus J. Lupin. How he wished the moon from the sky on each and every time he had to take the potion to Lupin! His life was a big enough circus of pains in the arse without the addition of the werewolf, who would smile that god awful smile and praise his thanks as he did every month. And, as always, Severus would snap back a reply.
He hated the ritual both for its never changing routine and because he despised having to waste time better spent on something else, anything else. If he did not owe so very much to Dumbledore, he would pawn Lupin off on another potions master.
As Severus took goblet in hand and grabbed a handful of floo powder, he wondered idly what asinine topic Lupin would attempt to engage him in conversation about. He quickly flooed to Hogsmeade, the Hog's Head, then apparated in front of 12 Grimmauld Place, as the floo network was not connected to the house. He then made his way to the door, entering without knocking or ringing the bell. Thankfully, his entrance went unnoticed by the bothersome portraits, namely Mrs. Black. She was the only Black... No, he hated Bellatrix Lestrange more than Sirius, too.
Quietly, Severus made his way through the house looking for Lupin. He hoped to find the man with other Order members so as to make his time with Lupin shorter. Unfortunately, he tracked the werewolf to the sitting room. Only, something was wrong. The ritual, the routine crashed away.
Remus glanced up at Severus, barely forcing a small, tight smile for the other man before looking back to the fire. "Good evening, Severus. Set it there and I will take it shortly." He did not feel up to company, especially the taciturn potions master, or the potion.
Severus puzzled over the man burning a fire in July for any reason other than fire calls or flooing. He sat the goblet down near Lupin, also thinking on the dull voice that usually sounded so full of life. "I prefer to see you take it. Can't have you not and tearing anyone apart. Though, if you got Mrs. Black..." He watched Lupin, trying to determine the problem, trying to get a rise out of him or something.
Remus sighed and reached out a frail, bony hand to grasp the goblet. He swallowed the potion without his usual faces and comments. Then, he dropped the goblet back to the table. The heavy metal goblet fell over and rattled to the floor. Remus did not seem to notice.
Snape frowned. Remus was certainly NOT himself. He looked him over closely; noticing the gaunt features, the frail looking hands, the gray pallor, the dull eyes, the unkept hair, the stubble on his face, and the way he shivered as though he could not get warm. Remus Lupin looked on death's door. The whole thing unnerved Severus.
"What is this, Lupin?" Severus demanded as he bent and fetched the goblet. When he received neither an answer nor a glance, he set the goblet aside and grabbed a hold of the man. He could feel the bones under the skin, every last one of them. "Remus!" He looked at the werewolf in horror. Why had no one noticed before!
Remus looked at Severus, saying nothing. He did not have to answer to the man. He had to answer to no one. If he wanted to sit alone, cold and starved, in the Black home, he would. He was just thankful Severus was the first to find him. He was least likely to make a fuss.
"You are coming back to Hogwarts with me." Severus left no room to argue. So much for no fuss.
"I'm fine here." His voice still had none of its ring. He sounded as dead as he looked.
"You most certainly are not!" Severus hissed, dragging the other man to the fire. He would open the floo long enough for them to get to Hogwarts.
Remus put up a tiring but meager struggle before being pulled into the fire. They exited in the infirmary, startling Madam Pomfrey. "Must you do that without warning!" She chastised them.
Severus glowered at the woman before dragging Remus over to her. "I had other things on my mind," he growled.
"What is . . ." She started to question what they were doing there, why a simple warning could not have been given. Her words were cut off.
"Look at him!" Severus demanded forcefully. He pushed Remus in front of himself. The man was enough. Severus did not have to say anything.
"What?" She glanced over Remus not really seeing for a moment. Then . . . "Oh my Merlin!" She gasped, grabbing Remus and leading him straight to a bed.
Remus put up no fight as he had been unable to get anywhere with Severus. He had no chance against them both. So, he bided his time. They could not keep him there forever. He ignored the tisking of the nurse and the glare from Snape. He simply sat and waited.
Severus scowled. How dare the werewolf let himself get in such a state when he could be needed! He just knew this was Black's fault. If the damn man had done as he was suppose to and stayed home. He hated Black more than anything and was not sad he was gone but for the way others were taking his death. Severus had no doubt his own passing, when it came, would never have such as effect. He cursed Black for living and for dying.
After several long moments of Poppy's tisks and tuts, Severus could take no more. "Well?" He growled.
"Don't growl at me, Severus," she chastised, ignoring him as he drew to his full height. She was use to his intimidation tactics and far from a student. "Sit down or go get Albus. Just stay out of my way and stop hovering!" She turned her own glare on the potions master.
Severus growled, again, and glared before sweeping from the room, robes and cloak billowing around him as he was famous for. He was certain Albus knew what was going on, but he was glad for the excuse to leave, which caused his mind pause. Why did he, of all people, need an excuse to leave anywhere, let alone the werewolf's vicinity? Something was afoot. Why had he cared to bring the man to Poppy when he clearly wanted to sit at 12 Grimmauld Place and die?
Albus met Severus at the gargoyle. He was just on his way to the infirmary. "Ah, Severus. I see Poppy has thrown you out."
"Hardly! I was merely coming to make sure you were aware your werewolf is there." He glowered at the older man. His glare was not that strong as he took in Albus' dull eyes. "He does not look well at all."
Albus nodded. "He should not have been looked over and left alone." His guilt was apparent. He should have seen this. Remus needed friends, love. He should not have failed him so. His mind traveled to Harry. "Severus, I want you to go to Surrey."
"Find someone else." Snape backed away from Dumbledore. He was not going near Potter or the relatives he had seen in the boy's mind.
"But I trust you. Take Kingsley and Alastor." The matter was settled as far as he was concerned. Harry needed friends and love as much as Remus, or nearly as much. The two needed each other. Harry had to come back to Hogwarts.
"I have no say in the matter?" He asked incredulously. He knew the answer. Albus had made up his mind.
"It needs done. Do it, if not for me or Harry, then for Remus." A twinkle passed through his eyes then was gone.
"Why would I do it for him? Is brewing his damn potion not enough!" He could not believe his luck. "Does Moody have to go?" He knew he would not get out of going.
"I'm sure Tonks could . . ."
"No!" Severus cried, interrupting him quickly and urgently, in horror. Anything but her! "Moody's just fine." He growled as he stormed off to make the arrangements. Albus watched him go with a trace of a smile before heading to the infirmary.
Poppy had made Remus lie down as she found him a couple thick blankets. She then went about getting him something to eat and drink, warning him strongly against moving from where he lay. So, he burrowed under the covers, cutting himself from the world and the world from him.
Albus entered the infirmary and strode straight to Remus. He frowned slightly when the werewolf did not acknowledge him. Remus certainly was not himself. Dumbledore set beside him, saying nothing, being there when Remus needed him.
Poppy soon returned with a light broth soup, bread, and pumpkin juice. "Remus, sit up and eat this." She walked over to him. Her voice left no argument.
Slowly, Remus sat up, not looking at either Poppy or Albus. He took the tray the nurse held and slowly ate at the food, barely touching the pumpkin juice. When he felt he had eaten enough, he pushed the tray aside and again curled up under the covers. He continued to ignore the other people in the room as much as possible.
Albus continued to say nothing as well, just being there even if Remus did not want him to be. Poppy went about her work, letting Remus alone, but keeping an eye on him.
The quiet resounded for over an hour. Remus had dozed off. Albus was reading some scrolls Fawkes had brought to him. Poppy was off to her storage room, straightening and counting her stores. Severus found the quiet nice but the reason for it still unnerved him. Usually, Albus or Remus in a room alone made it a trying time of patience. The two men together insured your ears a time of it.
So, naturally, the eerie silence made one pause. Severus paused briefly only, then made his way over to Albus. "We leave in the morning. Moody insists, however, that more than three of us go. I told him I would talk with you about it." His opinion on it was obvious by his tone.
Albus lowered the scroll he was reading. He sighed. Moody could be too overly cautious. "Three is enough. I will make you a portkey to Hogsmeade and have a carriage waiting there for you."
Severus nodded. He was still unhappy about having to go at all. The blame laid on Black. Even in death, the man made his life miserable. "What am I to tell the muggles?"
"I will take care of that. A simple letter should suffice after the warning they received." Albus set about writing said letter, addressing it to Petunia.
Severus raised a brow. "Warning?" Who had warned the Dursleys and how? He felt he needed to know what was said so he could use it to his advantage.
"Yes." Albus glanced at Remus making sure he slept. He was certain the man would not take them involving Harry well. "Remus, Arthur, and Moody made sure to impart on them that any harm to Harry would not be taken well. I'm certain they'll remember Moody." He grinned despite the situation.
"I'm certain I will impart a lasting impression as well. So will Shacklebolt." Severus quite enjoyed the idea of intimidating the muggles. From what he had seen, they deserved it, even if it was Potter they mistreated.
"Don't be too hard on them." The look in Dumbledore's eyes said something far different, but he had to keep up appearances. The muggles would not know what hit them when Severus walked in their lives.
"Of course, Headmaster." Severus looked to Remus, really looking at the bed for the first time since entering. "Lupin?"
"He's eaten and is resting." Albus looked at the werewolf, too. "With attention and care, he should be fine." Something in Albus' eyes made Severus wonder if the Headmaster really believed that. "You should rest before your trip." He looked back to Severus in a fatherly fashion.
"I hardly need rest to collect the boy!" Besides, he had potions to see to. A few hours would be more than enough. He was use to functioning on little to no sleep.
"You never know what might befall you." Albus looked at him in concern. Severus' pride got in the way of the man's feelings most of the time and his sense on occasion.
"I assure all will be well, but I will be sure to turn in before too late." He turned and strode from the room after a slight nod from Albus. After so many yeas, Dumbledore knew that was the best he would get. Severus would not deny his potions for any reason. His single-mindedness made Albus wonder why Defense Against the Dark Arts was so important. The potions master would never stand for another 'botchering' potions in attempts to teach.
With a heavy sigh, the headmaster went back to his scrolls. He only hoped the two men and one boy he looked upon like sons would not only survive their grief but each other. The summer could prove to be very long. He figured it best to warn Minerva.