He knew his secret. He didn't like it; didn't like him, but he faithfully prepared his monthly dose of wolf bane because he was obligated. Not to him, but to his only friend on earth, Albus Dumbledore. Had Albus told to him prepare a poison and give it to Remus, he'd do it with the same sense of duty.

Severus handed the wolf ban potion to a severely weakened Remus. He took it from his hand and surprised Snape by giving him a grateful smile. He raised his eyebrows but didn't respond.

"Thank you," Remus said weakly, grimacing at the awful taste of the potion. "I…"

Severus took the empty glass away from him before he could finish his sentence.

"You are very kind, Severus."

He turned the very ends of his mouth in a smile. "I'll have your next dose ready at the same time tomorrow."

"Again, thank you."

There was a sleeping potion in the wolf bane; that was Dumbledore's suggestion, so that he would be able to pass the full moon cycle in dreamless slumber. Dumbledore asked Severus to stay with him through the night, but he adamantly refused. He should get his own nursemaid, Snape insisted.

But when it got down to it, Dumbledore knew Severus would never refuse, so it was no surprise to the professor when he found Severus asleep in a very uncomfortable chair with his legs propped up on Remus's cot. He smiled at him and magicked a blanket and pillow for him. He backed out quietly out of the room.

Remus began tossing and turning; he appeared to be in pain. Severus jumped up and leaned over to him. Remus's hands were clenched and he was making inhuman noises. He snarled and moaned began panting.

Werewolf. This is how it feels. He was a tortured soul; his only friends were dead. He was alone in the world; so alone and an outcast. But he was not the only tortured soul; he was not the only outcast. There was another whose only friend was dead. They had more in common than either of them would recognize or admit to. They were kindred souls alone in the world.

Would Remus remember what he did for him? He doubted it. His mind was on other things. Would he remember that he stayed with him through the night and wiped the sweat from his forehead? He doubted it. Would he remember they became kindred souls that night? He'd never know.