"Since I am no longer your teacher, I feel no guilt in giving this back to you. So now I'll say goodbye but I'm sure we'll meet again, Harry. Mischief managed," Remus said with a flick of the wand and a faint smile to the Boy who Lived before turning around and retrieving his cane. As his eyes left Harry's and walked down the stairs, he leaned on his cane for the support he so desperately needed from being so weak after last night's transformation.

He never wanted anyone to see the true pain he felt from the lycanthropy. He also never wanted Harry to see how much it hurt him to have to leave the one place he could truly call home.

Lupin felt a pang in his heart as he walked out of the DADA classroom for the final time. Standing tall as he could, he still attempted to be as brave as possible because he felt the young man's eyes fall on him as he walked out. He really did not want to leave his post, the people, and he simply dreaded going back to a life of solitude. He internally chastised himself for neglecting to take the Wolfsbane potion but the sight of his old "friend's" footsteps on the map completely overtook whatever thoughts he had.

Clenching his jaw, he made his way through the threshold of the doorway and into the corridor. The wounds he had received last night pained him so and it ached him to carry the bag along with him. Feeling frail, he kept the cane close to him and tried the best he could to shuffle his way from the castle that he had truly desired to be his home. The werewolf was accustomed to disappointment.

The ache on his chest was killing him. He wasn't sure where the gash came from or any of the other cuts but they were more uncomfortable than usual. He went into the bathroom before he could make it any further and was pleased to see that there was no one there. Making his way to the sink, he put the cane and his bag to the side as he lifted his hands to the porcelain and rested them on either side to brace himself as he stood.

The scars were deep along his face and neck, he observed and swallowed hard. He put his trembling fingers up to the button of his shirt, afraid to look, to expose his chest to see how dire it was. The mark was in the shape of a hoof and still quite bloody. He never actually remembered what precisely happened last night. He had Pettigrew and then he vaguely remembered the all too familiar sting of his bones and body twisting, growing into the monster that he could no longer hide from the world. A salty tear escaped his deep blue eyes that ran down his cheek as he looked at his battered body. The scars he could manage as he had been through worse but it still did not negate the fact that they were there and are a reminder of how he lost the only steady job that was willing to work with one of his kind in years. The thoughts were consuming him of how truly alone he was now.

He could not risk seeing Sirius too long because his friend would be endangered of going back to Azkaban if anyone caught them together.

Pettigrew was just as dead to him now as he was before. The friend he thought he knew destroyed whatever trust he ever had.

The loss of blood and the bruises covering his weakened body accompanied with his deep seeded sadness of being alone, truly alone, overtook him as he lowered his eyes to the image before him and openly wept in the lavatory.

The soft sobs escaped the lanky man's throat and he didn't notice that he was no longer alone. Snape walked into the bathroom. He didn't say anything at the sight before him but merely watched for a moment. He tilted his head and was about to open his mouth to make a snide remark to the man. He stood at the door quietly and watched as the man finally fell to his knees, broken.

Snape finally cleared his voice to gain the werewolf's attention and Lupin gulped audibly when he became aware someone had joined him. Turning his head to look over his shoulder behind him, he saw the man who had sealed his abandoned fate.

Snape walked closer to Lupin and stood before the kneeling man. Crossing his arms and arching his eyebrow, he began to speak but stopped as he looked at Lupin's deep gashes on his face, neck, and chest.

"Is something the matter, Lupin?" Snape sneered at him.

Shaking his head slowly and wiping his tears on the back of his sweater he answered, "N-No, Severus. I am quite alright. Thank you."

Remus held on to the sink as he attempted to pull himself up from his knees and stood before Professor Snape. He kept his calm demeanor about him as he smiled timidly at Snape and reached to clutch his cane, his knees trembling.

Snape couldn't help but smirk at the miserable man. He had finally gotten his revenge on one of his old tormentors. Of course, Remus didn't actually bully him but he never stopped it either. If he couldn't have the satisfaction of putting Black where he deserved, then making sure this filthy little man got his rewards quenched his thirst.

Lupin looked at the condescending gaze Snape casted his way. He never wanted anyone see him in such a vulnerable state, especially him. He kept the brave face on him and reached to grab his bag. He could feel the tension in the air.

"Shouldn't you be on your way, Lupin?"

"Yes, yes of course. I was heading out to the carriages and had to make a bit of a stop."

"Don't. waste. time. Werewolf. You're not welcome here."

The pain in his heart and eyes were evident but he still spoke with a sense of bravery, "Probably not by you, Severus. However, I am leaving on my own accord."

Snape scoffed at him, "Lying to my face. You're leaving because everyone knows you're an atrocious little werewolf and a danger to everyone you come in contact with including yourself. You shouldn't be near anyone."

Remus grabbed his bag and put all his weight on his cane, his knuckles turning white as he clenched the handle of it, "Severus. As I said in the Shack, you should let go of the schoolboy grudges. IT is in the PAST. Whatever I did or didn't do to you, I am sorry."

"You are just as deceiving and arrogant as any of the others and I am glad you are leaving. You deserve nothing, werewolf. The only thing you have in this world is your dingy, patched up garments-quite fitting for a monster such as yourself. "

"Monsters come in all different shapes. Some of them are hook-nosed bats."

"What did you just say to me?"

"I do believe your hearing is in superior working order. I admit, I have an illness and it causes me to change into something I have no control over. What's your excuse?"

Arching his eyebrow, Snape replied, "I don't have to answer myself to anyone, least of all you."

"Why is that? Are you afraid the truth will come out that you're just a very mean, spiteful man who is so hell-bent on hurting everyone he can to make himself feel better?"

Snape looked at the werewolf shocked. He couldn't help but continually noticing the gashes all over the man before him.

Remus continued, "I know you're never going to forgive me, Snape. I have accepted that a very long time ago. But, do NOT mistake my kindness for something weaker or you will be regretful. I know you revealed my secret to the world. I forgive you for that. I have lived with this damnable problem since I was a small child. I have since apologized for things that were done to you as an adolescent and have paid for my sins time and again. I may be broke, battered, and without anyone at the moment but I have one thing you will never have or never know-"

Snaped eyed him curiously, "Oh? And what's that?"

"I have compassion. Good day to you, Sir." Remus smiled at him through the pain as he shuffled his feet to the side to walk around Snape.

He bowed his head meekly and made his way to the door when he saw Snape pointing his wand at him in the mirror. He swallowed hard and fumbled for his own wand tucked into his back pocket, turning around to counter the spell but Snape was too fast for him and cast the spell on the man, "Vulnera Sanentur!"

The spell hit Remus, making body tremble slightly as he looked down at his chest. The hoof mark was healed and he walked over to the mirror, noticing the scars on his face were also gone.

He walked over to Lupin as he kept an emotionless gaze on him and put a hand on his shoulder. Leaning into the thin man's ear he whispered, "See me at the appropriate times for your Wolfsbane Potion and I shall accommodate you."

Before another word could be spoken, Snape had already turned and left the bathroom which left Lupin extremely baffled.

"What in the name of Merlin's beard is he playing at?"