Candeh – I'm updating another chapter of 'Bonding' so soon, ONLY because I will be in Vermont for the next six days without my computer. I was at the camp my high school holds last week which was the explanation for the delay on updating. Hopefully you all can find it in your hearts and read this chapter, patiently waiting for my return on it. It will come, people. Xoxo
Chapter Seven –
By Severus and Remus
"Okay, Severus, let's see your book," Professor Plax said. Snape threw ten pages of parchment on the desk in front of him and Remus jumped. Professor Plax rolled his eyes at the skinny man's movement and picked it up. "Very nice, Severus. Would you like to read a few pages to us?"
"I would love to," Snape said. Remus suddenly felt a knot in his throat and his stomach drop. He knew what was coming. Shit. Snape picked up the book and flipped open to page one. "Remus Lupin: A Memoir," he cleared his throat. "Remus Lupin is a pathetic man and at the age of an adult choices to pity himself because of his lycanthropy as if he were still five years old. He also choices to act pleasantly because he is deeply afraid of people hating him and being prejudice towards his feral condition.
"Not only is he a skinny man, but he has the yellow eyes of a savage wolf, however much he likes to deny it." He turned the page, Remus' face loosing color. Professor Plax cleared his throat for Snape to stop reading, but he continued anyway. "Remus Lupin has difficulty in Potions but is believed to be skilled in DADA, however he has failed to do anything remarkable. He was a coward in his school days and even now; he hates confrontation and he is easily ignored."
Snape stopped.
"Severus," Professor Plax said calmly. "Thank you."
"Thank you?" Remus said.
"Yes," Professor Plax said. "He did the assignment. Ten pages."
"He never said it had to be a book of praise," Snape sneered. "Oh. Is that what you were expecting?"
Remus stood up and flung his ten pages of parchment on the table. Then he picked page one up and started reading, his hands shaking with rage, "Severus Snape is a misunderstood man. He is intelligent in his classes and a wonderful teacher. He is admired by the Slytherins greatly and is a great use to the Order. Dumbledore is very fond of him and he is also a good member of the Hogwarts staff."
Professor Plax smiled, "Very good, Remus."
Remus let his jaw drop. Snape glared. Determined to get Professor Plax to take his side, Remus kept reading, "Severus is a loyal man with a determined heart. Although some mistake his determination for stubbornness, it is clear that he is vaguely an understanding person."
"That's enough, Remus," Professor Plax said.
Remus stayed standing but closed his mouth, in pure shock. With a rush of anger that flew over him, he grabbed the parchments that were dedicated to him read over it wildly, gripping the pages more tightly as he went on.
Age the age of five, Remus Lupin was bitten and his poor, ashamed parents were worried that he would never get an education. Unfortunately for society, Albus Dumbledore allowed the half-breed to attend Hogwarts, where he would slip away through the Whomping Willow and Shrieking Shack on the nights of the full moon. His degenerate friends James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew found out and, thinking that he would be a good prankster with them, allowed him to continue being their friend. However, it was obvious to everyone that Remus Lupin was not a one of them and his quiet livid ways went not unnoticed as he stood in the background watching his friends torment.
Unemployed, he graduated Hogwarts, the teachers sympathy making him the top of his class, and lived on the streets, for no one in the right mind would hire someone with his condition. It wasn't until Albus Dumbledore assigned him to the teaching job at Hogwarts as DADA did he finally have a job thinking that he could get away with pretending to be normal.
It is unlikely that Remus Lupin will be remembered when he dies for anything except being a self-conscious werewolf with the incapability of doing anything wolfish. It is only likely that his disgusting half-breed counterparts are embarrassed of his part in their circle, as is any witch or wizard in the Wizarding World.
What Remus Lupin deserves is a dog leash and a dog dish. He does not need a teaching job, but a new set of clothes that he can't afford. Fingerless gloves don't' compliment the grunge look he is clearly going for. Most likely, he will spend his life alone in an underground society, tormented by his disabilities by other freaks. He will strive to be normal, grieve over the girls that he cannot date, because in reality, Remus Lupin is an untamed feral.
Remus closed the pages together and breathed heavily. He concentrated on his surroundings, not on the laughing Snape next to him or the thoughtful therapist in front of him waiting for him to explode. Instead, he focused his eyes on a quill on the table, but thoughts drifted to stabbing Snape in the chest with it.
"Are you done, Remus?" Professor Plax said, pointing towards his chair. Remus sat down reluctantly, still glaring at the quill. His fists were in balls, crumbling the ten pieces of parchment into a surprisingly small ball for the whole essay. "Good. Now, your next assignment – "
"Can I watch as Severus gets decapitated?" Remus said through clenched teeth.
"No."
"You're hilarious, Remus," Snape said. "Go on. Tell us a werewolf joke. C'mon."
"Can I decapitate him?" Remus said. The wolf was in his head and as much as he tried not to say anything at all, the words were being forced and he was no longer in control of what he was saying.
"Bad doggy, Remus! Bad dog!" Snape said, whacking Remus on the nose with Remus' essay about him.
"Enough," Professor Plax said, slamming his fist down. "Your next assignment is to go to Britain."
"With the Muggles?" Snape said with a look of disgust.
"Yes," Professor Plax said. "With the Muggles."
"And what on Earth are we going to do there?" Snape asked.
"Why, baby-sit of course."
"Excuse me?" Remus said for the first time.
"Babysitting." Professor Plax ignored their unbelieving faces. He sighed, explaining. "Yea, this assignment is a bit cheesy, but Muggle kids will be less more difficult for two…men in therapy. They're not testing out their new wands or make you shoot slime out of your nose, etc."
"Slime out of your nose? Hilarious."
Journal – He's making us to Britain with the Muggles. This will be interesting. By the way, I think Remus liked my book. – Severus Snape
Journal – I don't know if I can stand another day with him; another stupid assignment. I thought my decapitation idea was pretty good, too bad Professor Plax didn't go for it. But that wasn't me…I don't know what came over me. Maybe it's because the moon is in a week…I'm not sure which. – Remus Lupin.
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"What the hell are Converse?" Snape said looking down at his feet.
"Muggle shoes," Remus muttered. He scratched the back of his neck, then looked down at the three kids eyeing them. One was awkwardly chubby and reminded him of a very young Peter. The other was a girl around the age of six, dark brown hair that curled at her shoulders and another boy, smaller, who was picking his nose.
"So," the one called Jimmy said, stopping digging in his nose.
Remus bent down. "Hi," he said. "I'm Remus and this is Severus. He's a bit of a grumpy camper, but we can get along, can't we guys?"
"Sure can," the girl said. "I'm Lena. And this," she said jerking towards the fat one, "Is Lee." She shifted on the couch, "Why did my mommy hire two babysitters?"
Snape snorted, "Because your mommy is under a curse and she doesn't know because she's a stupid Mug – "
Remus stuttered for something to say over him, "So…hide and seek anyone?"
The kids cheered and Snape spat, walking awkwardly in the Muggle shoes Professor Plax had given him, jerking and scratching at the red t-shirt he was forced to wear. The jeans were a little big and too blue for his taste and he brushed his hair back, sighing as it fell back into its natural middle part.
Remus led the kids by the hands and Snape moaned following. "Want me to count first?"
"What the bloody hell is hide and seek?" Snape snapped.
"Bloody hell!" shouted Lena.
"Oh!" Remus said. "Oh!" He nervously laughed. "Haha, none of that now, your mom wouldn't approve, I'm sure."
"You count," Jimmy said, pointing angrily at Snape. Snape laughed.
"I'm not counting," he retorted harshly.
Remus looked pleadingly at him. "Can you just count?"
Snape shook his head. "This is ridiculous." He reluctantly turned around and faced the wall, counting in a non-caring monotone.
"And don't peek, ugly," shot one of the kids.
"You little prat!" Snape shouted, turning around ready to choke the kid silly, but Remus stepped in front of them.
"One…Two…Three," Remus said.
"No!" Peter said. "We want him to count! We want to hide with you!"
Snape grumbled, turning around once again and counting. Remus gave a soft apologetic smile and then ran off with the three kids behind the couch. Instantly, Snape stopped counting and turned around.
"Ready or not, you little brats," he hissed. He turned on the tennis shoes and instantly saw Jimmy's feet from behind it. He jumped out, smirking wildly at them, but before he could say another word, Lena and Peter and Jimmy jumped on him, pinning him down on the ground.
"Kids!" Remus said, his hands now grabbing his hair. "Kids, get off him he's…"
"Get off me you little – " Snape hissed, but the kids managed to pick him up off the floor. Lena ran into the bathroom picking up some toilet paper and a bar of soap. She threw the soap at Snape's head, who growled in response. Then, she hurled the toilet paper at him, wrapping it around his body.
Snape tugged at the paper, his black eyes filled with rage, trying to catch the kids that were tugging at his arms and hitting at his face. "Stupid little Muggle brats! Get off me!"
"Severus!" Remus said, trying to pull Peter off, but the kid was heavier than he was and he got tired fast. "Kids!"
"We don't like him! He has a big nose!" Lena said, skipping around throwing toilet paper on Snape. Suddenly, Snape took a step forward and grabbed the girl by the arm. She kicked at him, but he overpowered her and sat her down on the couch.
"Listen here, filthy little girl," Snape said.
"No, you listen big nose!"
Snape twitched hearing Remus hold back obvious laughter.
"Remus, let's go get ice cream!" Jimmy said.
"I actually think it's time for bed," Remus suggested, picking up Peter who was jumping to get into his arms. He lifted him up, then instantly had to sit down, his sore arms from the weight of the kid.
Snape twirled around. "Look at him. Make fun of him. He's a skinny prick with the complexion of a ghost."
Remus shot him a look, and he snapped. "I think they like the big nose."
The kids laughed and Snape fumed madly. "Bed! Now!" He dragged the kids by their feet into their bedroom, and then slammed the door shut, but the kids managed to get out anyway and tackled him. "Get! Off!"
Remus' face softened, "Kids…how about I give you some chocolate?"
"My mommy says not to take candy from strangers," Lena said, but Peter was drooling at the mention of candy. Remus shook it off and Snape snickered, glad that the attention was off of him, but it did not stay for long.
"Okay, let's get ice cream from your big…white…thing, then, okay?" Remus said, his smile on the verge of irritation.
"You mean the refrigerator?" said Lena. Snape grumbled.
"Right, of course," Remus said, slapping himself in the head. The kids laughed.
"Yes, yes, Remus is quite the comedian. You should see him on the full moon. He's exceptionally funny," Snape hissed.
Remus' eyes bulged. "Ice cream it is then, kids." He shoved the kids into the kitchen, got some bowls and started scooping ice cream into them. He had some difficulty, but Jimmy helped him how to use the Muggle contraption while Snape leaned against the wall, snorting.
"These assignments are ridiculous," he said when the kids started digging it. Remus leaned against the same wall, panting and rubbing his weak, skinny wrist.
"It's for the best, I guess."
"How is this for the best, exactly? How is babysitting kids helping anything?" Snape yelled. "You know what I think? I think he's up to something or something. I think he's getting us in deeper over our heads."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Yea, but you also think I'm going to attack you at every moment."
"You are, wolf," Snape said, disgusted.
Remus shook his head, "My point exactly." He played with the loose string on the zip up blue jacket Professor Plax had given him and then at the darker blue jeans. He bit his lip, hoping the kids would take their time, but turned to the sudden yelp that urged out of Snape's mouth.
Peter had punched him hard in the stomach and Snape glared coldly at him. Remus stood up, pulling Peter back.
"I guess in retrospect you shouldn't give children ice cream in the middle of the night," Remus said, struggling.
"You git," Snape said, walking away, but Lena and Jimmy pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. "Oof!" He fell on his chin as the kids jumped on top of him and he grudgingly tried to rip them off. "Remus, get over here!"
"Uh, kids, look at this…look it's a…uh…light switch. Oooh, ahh," he flipped the light switch on and off again, himself a little amazed at how it worked, but the kids didn't seem to be fascinated with a Muggle everyday item.
"Get them off!" Snape roared.
"Oh!" Remus jumped. "Um, uh, how about a little television kids?"
Snape snatched at the kid that was pulling at his hair. "You have greasy hair," Lena said. "Gross!"
"Grrr! Remus!"
"They're just kids, Severus," Remus said, still prying Peter off. "Talk to them or something."
Snape mumbled. Then he took a deep breath, "Kids," he made his voice sound as pleasant as possible, "Why don't you give old Severus a break, eh?"
"Die, die, die!"
"Jimmy! Don't – " but Remus' voice was cut short. A dark mysterious shadow past him and he felt dizzy. He clutched onto the table behind him and Snape's struggles were muzzy in his ears. "Severus, I think there's something here – "
"Get off of me you brats!" Snape's voice came. Three children's laughter filled his ears and drowned out and his head rushed.
"Severus – " Remus choked out. A feeling of horror swept through him and for a minute, he felt as if he were about to faint.
Snape finally noticed the werewolf's behavior, but stayed pinned on the ground. "Remus?" Remus' body was shaking and he looked at his quivering hands.
"Remus?" Snape's stomach dropped. The figure loomed above him and the kids, who all stopped and froze, their eyes scared and bodies unmoving. The shadow extended a clawed finger as if calling them forward and the kids scurried behind Snape, who extended his arms.
Remus was still shaking in the corner, his eyes fixed on the shadowy creature in awe. Neither had brought their wand. The shadow then suddenly let out a long yell, a high-pitched scream that blew back Remus' hair. The kids whimpered.
"Remus?" Snape said again, his voice concerned. Remus was still on the floor, now not looking at anything in particular, shivering madly.
His knees fell to the floor as the dark shadow came closer, closer, closer, and then disappeared.
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