Dog Days Are Done
Changing
Andromeda stood at the ready on one side of Teddy's room. Ted stood opposite her at the foot of the boy's small bed. Between them, Teddy crouched on his floor, growling threateningly.
Narcissa halted suddenly in the doorway, taking in the scene with wide, quick eyes. Severus put both hands on her shoulders, gentling her and urging her aside. She stepped so that he could see the boy, and Severus held his wand at his side.
Teddy's eyes were unfocused in his slowly morphing head. The bones cracked as they elongated and shifted about. But he remained crouched, and save for an occasional whimper or hollow grunt, was quiet.
Severus looked at Andromeda. "Try speaking to him."
She licked her lips and lowered her wand. "Teddy?"
A heavier grunt, and the changeling shifted toward her just slightly.
"Good," Severus said softly. Narcissa's hand pressed over her mouth. "Keep talking to him."
A few tears escaped Andy's eyes. "Teddy, it's alright lovie. We're here," she murmured.
Teddy whined again. His feet were stretching, claws forming. It was grotesque how he squinted his slimmed black eyes against the sconces' light. Severus noticed, and cast a dimming charm. Narcissa stepped closer to him. "You try," he whispered to her. "Speak to him."
It took her a moment to control her voice. "Teddy? My sweet?"
Teddy shuffled and panted. His snout was nearly fully formed and his spine arced like a buttress. Severus could see the pained empathy on Narcissa's face. She knelt slowly and offered her hand toward Teddy. "Oh, Teddy," she said. "Auntie's here. Are you alright darling?" At the boy's (Severus could not call him a beast) snort, she jumped. "Shh, shh, shh. No one will hurt you, Teddy. We love you." Her voice broke.
Teddy's arms and hands curled and bubbled into nubs, then popped sickly into paws. He unleashed a brief, hoarse howl and Narcissa fell onto her haunches. "Oh!" She cried.
Teddy rounded on her feral, snarling. His tongue slid over an incongruous jaw and unrolled over sharpened teeth. The fangs glistened. The creature lunged.
"Teddy, no! Cissy!" Andromeda shouted. Narcissa flung her arms over her face, wand still clutched. Ted and Severus moved at once, and Andy turned away from the scene. A guttural, pitiful yelp…then silence.
Narcissa, on her back, lowered her arms. She released the breath she'd held, and saw Severus balanced awkwardly across her midriff, his own wand arm raised, and Ted bending over her legs, his arms tightly wrapped round a whinging and vexing miniature werewolf.
But the wolf seemed cowed to its predicament. It snapped and growled, but offered no violent resistance. Ted blew a shank of thinning stray hair from his face. "Gods above," he muttered. "Alright there, Teddy?"
The werechild grunted and skittered on the floor. Narcissa scrambled to her feet, Severus steadying her, and Andromeda rushed to her. "Cissy! Are you okay?" Her eyes were on Teddy.
"I'm fine, Andy." Cissa's eyes were on the boy, too. "He seems…"
"He's under control," Ted said, almost wondrously. "What should we do, Severus?"
Snape watched the way the boy's struggles lessened, the way he slumped in Ted's arms. "Narcissa," he said. "Andromeda. Please go into the hall."
"What are you going to do?" Andy asked.
Severus shrugged. "I think we shall try to release him."
"Release him. Right." Ted nodded. "That's not insane, at all." He chuckled in an odd mixture of tension and relief.
Narcissa reached for her sister. "Come, Andy. Severus is right. Teddy might relax if fewer people are about." She ushered a tutting Andromeda past her into the hallway, but paused at Severus' arm. "Thank you," she whispered. At his tight nod, she looked to her brother-in-law. "And thank you, Ted." Ted smirked.
Narcissa closed the door gently, leaving the two wizards with a dopey werewolf. They all three regarded one another warily.
"Well?" Ted spoke up. "How shall we do this? He's damned heavy."
Snape nodded. "D'you trust my stupefy?"
"I suppose. I hear you're quick."
"Bit out of practice," Severus admitted.
"Trying to talk me out of this?"
"No."
"Alright, then." Ted took a deep breath. "I'll just let him down gently?"
"Yes." Severus readied his wand.
As soon as Teddy's forepaws hit the rug, he scrambled at it, attempting to stand. Ted calmed him with shushing noises and crooning. "There, there Teddy. That's a fine lad. Good job, son." With Teddy steadied, and his growling more like heavy breathing, Ted slowly released his hold and backed away.
Teddy yawned a wolf yawn. His jaw made an impressive snapping noise when he closed it. Ted gulped, and Severus gestured him toward the door.
A creaking floorboard startled the boy, and he whimpered, scurrying hurriedly underneath his bed. The bed jerked and wobbled off the floor as the boy settled in his hiding place. Severus and Ted peered under the bedclothes at the glowing green eyes staring back at them. A tiny territorial growl emerged.
Snape backed to the door. "I say we leave him alone now. I believe he may stay this way or sleep until dawn."
"Good idea." Ted sounded remarkably agreeable. They left quietly.
In the hall, they were immediately accosted by witches. Andy held Ted's lapels in desperate fingers. "Is he well? Is he calm? He didn't attack you?"
"Is he asleep?" Narcissa asked. She did not lay hands on Severus.
Ted held up his hands in supplication, speaking lowly. "Teddy seems…fine." He looked at Severus. "He didn't attack, no. He…sort of slinked away and…hid under his bed."
"Hid?" Narcissa's forehead creased. "Is that normal?"
Severus nodded. "Many werewolves – when treated properly with Wolfsbane or the like – enter a state of isolation. They prefer to suffer the transformation covertly."
Some minor scratching and bumping emanated from Teddy's room. They looked at the closed door warily.
"May I stay the night?" Severus asked. "I'll remain awake and listen for the boy. Just in case."
Andy was shaking her head. "Of course you can stay, Severus. But I doubt any of us shall sleep tonight."
"I'll make tea." Narcissa turned and hurried downstairs.
Andromeda watched her sister's departure, smiling softly. "She's become so close to Teddy. I think she'd forgotten that mothering instincts never die." The older witch rubbed her husband's shoulder. "Ted. You should go to bed. You've work tomorrow."
"Both of you go to bed," Severus insisted. "The boy will be fine. I shall wake you if anything goes awry."
The couple regarded one another, and Snape left them before they could refuse again. He wandered into the kitchen, following the sounds of clinking china. He found the Malfoy witch setting the small table for tea. "Four settings will not be necessary," he announced from the doorway.
She spun to face him. "Oh?"
"I believe your sister and brother-in-law are attempting to retire. You should do the same."
She waved her wand. Two tea settings swirled back into the cupboard. "I'll stay up with you," she murmured, turning to the kettle.
His ribs tingled where they recalled the firmness of her body beneath them. Hadn't they nearly kissed moments earlier? Wasn't that what women looked like when they wanted to be kissed? Eyes soft, lips parted… His forehead creased. This required too much damned thought for a man his age. Experience. I should have had more experience.
"Severus?"
"Hm?"
"I asked if you'd care for biscuits?"
"Oh. No, thank you." He sat before the tea she'd poured.
She sat across from him – prim, shoulders straight and eyes downcast. They were quiet save for sipping and the clinking of cups into saucers. After a moment, her hand crept to her neck. She rubbed the skin there absently. His fingers itched mysteriously.
"What will you do now?"
"Hm?"
She smiled. "What will you do now? Now that the potion has been successful? Do you go public? Patent it? Isn't that what you do, anyway?"
He cleared his throat. "I do, yes. But I can't guarantee this is successful, yet."
She scoffed. "Can't you? I mean…seemed quite successful to me. I've never seen him so easily cowed or so…peaceful. It's amazing, Severus." He watched the shadows play on her cleavage as she dipped a biscuit into her tea. "How does it feel? To do this incredible thing. To…create something that can change lives?"
Truthfully, her compliments swelled his head. And other less vital organs. He swallowed. "I need to know if it works long term before I can celebrate."
She smirked. "Nothing…premature, I suppose."
He blinked. Quirked a smile. Is she teasing me? "I'm never premature, I assure you."
She blushed and bit her bottom lip. "Good to know."
He grunted. Small talk. I can do this. "Draco looked well."
"He is well." She propped her head on her elbow, regarding him lazily. Something in her hooded gaze made him terribly warm. "He leaves for Italy tomorrow."
"Must be exciting. Travelling."
"Mmm. I enjoyed it."
"Will you miss it?" He asked.
"No," she answered quickly, decisively. "It wasn't worth the price I paid for so long."
"And what price was that?"
For a bare, aching moment, she seemed to search his eyes as though looking for trust, for empathy. And perhaps she found it because she answered in a somber tone: "Unhappiness. Loneliness."
He nodded slowly. "So you're happy now?"
Her eyes held a softened revelation, something she'd obviously realized for a time, but hadn't spoken of. "I think I'm getting there. I mean…I know I've lost everything. But I've regained my sister, my family. And I have my freedom."
"And the loneliness?" His jaw clenched after the word slipped his lips.
She stared at him. "It's…abating." Her lips pursed as she tilted her empty teacup. "Severus?"
"What?"
"Would you care for something a bit stronger than tea?"
His eyebrows shot up. That is either the worst idea I've ever heard…or the best. He considered. "Absolutely."
Grinning, she waved her wand at the cupboard over the sink. A dusty bottle of elven moonshine plunked onto the table between them. "You're serious," Snape said.
"I am." She scowled as she struggled with the stubborn cork.
Sighing, he took the bottle and popped it open with ease. "This is a rather potent substance, you know."
"I know." She swiped the neck and rim of the bottle before putting it to her mouth…then pausing. "Would you prefer a glass?"
His dry mouth worked up the saliva for a reply. "I don't mind sharing if you don't."
Her lips were sinful on the bottle's curve; her fingers were equally wicked caressing its neck; her throat danced like Salome on the first hot sip. He was captivated – the enchantment unbroken even when the bottle crashed to the table and she coughed demurely behind a raised hand.
"Gods," she gasped. "Your turn."
He grasped the bottle without looking at it. She was flushed brightly, eyes and lips wet. "Where did Andromeda and Ted come across this?" Elven moonshine was rare, expensive…and illegal.
She put a prettily manicured finger to her mischievous moistened mouth. "Shhh! I stole it from the manor's cellar before I left for the last time."
It burned beautifully, smoothly. Sweet and sharp. It was a fine brew. He breathed deeply to cool his throat. "Naughty witch." She giggled and his groin throbbed.
"Not as often as I ought to be," she said, winking as her lips curled round the bottle again.
Merlin, help me. He matched her swig for swig, and on four, they decided to be reasonable. Narcissa re-corked the bottle. Her aim was a little awry. Severus watched her hips sway as she took the brew back to its hide. Her slightly-too-big sundress' strap had slipped down her shoulder unnoticed and impeded her reaching for the cupboard. The bottle tipped from her hand, and Severus was amazed at how quickly he moved after four shots of elven moonshine.
But he caught the bottle, and the witch whose balance was sorely compromised. She oofed into his chest, and when they came to rest, he felt every soft inch of her pressed sweetly into his chest, his belly and thighs.
And he was quite certain she could feel every not-so-soft inch of himself pressing into her. "Hell," he mumbled. His lips brushed the crown of her head.
Her face brushed against his chest as she looked up at his face. A scant few inches and his mouth would taste hers. They were both panting lightly, their moonshine breath mingling. "Good catch." She sounded slightly choked.
He ached.
"Severus?"
He ached harder. "Narcissa." Fucking hell. Do I sound like that?
"Were you going to kiss me? Earlier? Before Teddy –"
"Yes," he cut her off succinctly.
"Oh."
Her mouth absolutely shouldn't say that word.
She licked her lips and he nearly whimpered. "Will you kiss me now," she whispered.
His fingers tightened on the neck of the moonshine bottle hanging at his side, a reminder of their states of mind. "I probably shouldn't."
Her head shook a bit. "You're probably right."
But their bodies were well ahead of their minds, and talking wasn't what their mouths wanted to be doing. His head dipped, and the sound she made when his lips met hers was a spell – a dark magic that clenched in his gut and pulled it toward hers, that clipped his muscles from his tendons and his tendons from his bones.
The moonshine clunked to the floor. The witch's back hit the sink and her fingers coiled in his hair like baby snakes. He groaned at the scrape of nails against his scalp and the taste of her tongue when it teasingly played at his.
His belly burned. Elven moonshine, indeed. His hand brushed over a clothed breast, felt the pebbled nipple through the fabric. She growled into his throat. Best idea ever…
AN: I know, I know... I'm an awful, evil witch and a house should fall on me. I apologize for both the delay and the end of this chapter. But trust me, I will make it worth your wait. Next chapter sees a sisterly chat, more Grangering, and...what? Oh, no. Probably not that... At least not yet.
