A/N: Chapter 10! Wooohooo! I enjoy writing this little tale, truly. But you know what I enjoy even more? Reviews! They feed my creative side! So review, please, if you don't want a poor, smut-loving, dirty minded FanFiction writer to die of creative starvation. *pout*
The sun's last rays were disappearing beneath the horizon when Severus finally stepped through the Floo Channel, the signs of physical and mental exhaustion clear in his posture and face. He hung his travelling cloak in the hook next to the giant fireplace and removed his shoes mechanically, his mind too tired to take note of much other than his goal: the bedroom across the hall.
He managed to drag himself into the room and drop onto the bed without undressing, a true testament to his fatigue. His arm was slug over his face and he was already lost in the haze of that pre-sleep limbo when the sound of the door creaking open again snapped him cruelly back to consciousness. He lifted his arm just enough to peak at the figure standing warily in the shadows of the hallway as if he was uncertain if he were allowed entrance.
"What are you doing, Rem?" Severus grumbled, allowing his head to drop back onto the pillow.
"Just making sure you're okay. Did you… want something to eat? Or should I just let you rest?" he asked timidly, earning him another glance from Severus. He watched Remus fidget in the doorway for a moment before patting the bed beside him and relaxing into the mattress once more. A few moments later he felt the bed dip and Remus placed his head gently on Severus' shoulder. Severus wound his arm around Remus' waist, pulling him closer and sighing contently. He kissed Remus' forehead, hoping his sentiments were clear.
The last few months had been hectic, the days blurring into a montage of tomes, quills, and frustration. Severus tolled over countless pages day after day and still all his efforts seemed for not. Thus far all they'd done was collect information salvaged from the failed attempts of others to study; there was no progress to be heard of, much to Severus' agitation. The strain on Severus' psyche was translating to his home life and his relationship with Remus. Of course he never expected curing Lycanthropy to come easily, but he hadn't truly realized how accustomed he'd become to spending time with Remus until he could not. Their time together was limited to say the least, with the long hours and dedication Slughorn demanded of his student-come-successor. Remus suffered in silence, attempting to spare him the guilt, but it did not go unnoticed by Severus. Though his lover was doing all he could to help from home, he could see loneliness and apprehension in his eyes. The former Slytherin hated it. He was torn between his drive to fulfill his promise to Remus and his desire to be the lover Remus deserved. Most days he felt as if he was failing at both.
Severus didn't realize he was hovering in the limbo between wakefulness and sleep until his lagging mind registered Remus' soft voice.
"Happy anniversary." It whispered so softly. It took the older man a long moment to understand his words.
He sat up abruptly, staring wide-eyed at his surprised lover.
"What?" he asked, hoping he simply hadn't heard Remus correctly. Surely he hadn't lost track of time so much that he'd forgotten he greatest day of his life?
The auburn-haired man looked away sheepishly, confirming Severus' fears. "I just said happy anni-"
Severus kissed him soundly, attempting to apologize through the joining of their lips. He kissed him again and again, whispering hurried apologies between each meeting.
"Severus, it-it's fine! I didn't mean to make you feel bad." Remus gasped as Severus' kisses moved down his throat.
"It is not fine, Remus! I forgot our anniversary. I've been so selfish and negligent-"
Remus placed a finger against his lips, silencing him with a gentle smile.
"You, my love, are anything but selfish and negligent. You're sacrificing so much for me and others like me; I couldn't possibly express my gratitude. So if I have to sacrifice a little of our personal time, so be it. Though…"
"Though?" Severus asked, enchanted by the gradual darkening of Remus' eyes.
"Though," Remus said with a wicked smile, "that means we have to make all of our time together mean something. And, well, this is our anniversary…"
Remus quirked his eyebrows, making the meaning of his unspoken words clear. He slung his leg over Severus' narrow hips, smiling as he ground himself against Severus' slowly awakening member. Severus smiled, running his hands up Remus' thighs to his hips. He watched as Remus pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his sun-kissed flesh. He ran his hands over the toned torso, reveling in the slight raises of each scar his fingers skimmed over. Remus shivered, leaning down to nip at Severus' right ear and throat. They stayed like that, exploring each other slowly, pushing their counterpart to the edge of pleasure and backing off just before they could fall over. It was the sweetest kind of torture; Severus relished in the devious things Remus' tongue did to the sensitive skin just behind his ear. It was enough to drive him crazy with lust, but alas, he could not allow himself to give in to the pleasure tonight. He was supposed to be repenting for his oversight, after all.
Remus squeaked when Severus shifted, flipping them over suddenly. It took him a moment to realize his pants were also suddenly missing, assumedly the work of a silent incantation. He watched as Severus stripped himself, his passionate gaze bringing an aroused flush to Remus' cheeks. He pulled his lover down into a fierce kiss as Severus spread Remus' legs and settled himself between them, their nude members sliding against each other and sending delicious waves of pleasure through their bodies. Remus wrapped his legs around Severus' hips and thrust upward, creating more friction and moaning, barely hearing Severus' soft groan in response. The potions master gripped his lover's hips and thrust against him, making Remus shutter.
"Tell me how you want it." Severus whispered throatily, drawing another shutter from the man beneath him. Remus had a weakness for his voice, he'd discovered, and he often used it against him. "Tell me what you want me to do to you."
Remus wrapped his arms around Severus' neck, his hands roaming down his back; it was as if he couldn't touch enough of his skin.
"Merlin, Severus, I-" Remus broke off into a moan when Severus ground their hips together again.
"It's been too long, hasn't it?" Severus muttered, "I'm sorry, baby."
"Baby?" Remus questioned, gasping in pleasure.
Severus chuckled, "Too much?"
"Just, Merlin, just-" Remus groaned, his nails scraping Severus' flesh.
"Don't worry, love, we're getting there." His lover promised, pulling away from Remus.
Remus' eyes slipped closed as he let out a long, soft moan. Two of Severus' slick digits sunk deep within his body, stretching him and teasing him simultaneously, causing him to buck and gasp in surprise and appreciation. He bit his lip to stifle a moan as Severus' unoccupied hand stroked him slowly, gently. A third finger joined its brothers, causing Remus to arch his back and cry out and draw Severus back down for a kiss. Severus quickened the motions of both of his hands simultaneously, both to heighten Remus' pleasure and complete the preparation standing between him and bliss. He assured his ministrations remained thorough, however; he could never allow his impatience to result in discomfort or injury for his lover.
"For Merlin's sake, Severus, fuck me!" Remus cursed, pushing himself down against the fingers within him. Severus' cock twitched in response; who was he to deny his own lover?
The lovers moaned in unison as Severus entered Remus, the werewolf's knees pressed against his shoulders by Severus' dominating hands. He fed his length into Remus' willing body, the mews, moans and grunts falling from Remus' swollen, parted lips enough to spur him on. Remus' hands roamed his chest, sending ripples of pleasure through his muscles. He grunted, a shameful, barbarian sound that he would never admit to allowing himself to make, his mind too muddled with passion to care. He buried himself to the hilt with each snap of his hips, relishing the quake of Remus' body beneath him. They moved together smoothly, feeding off each other's desires. Nails raked down Severus' back, his grip on Remus' thighs would surely leave unsightly bruises, an arousing reminder of their coupling. Their mounting desire finally reached its peak, ripping a scream from Remus' throat as he arched upward and erupted, the white hot streams of his essence coating both of their bodies. His clenching muscles sent Severus over the edge as well, emptying himself deep within the hot, velvet walls of his lover.
They gasped, hearts hammering as they tried to catch their breath, pressed against each other by the wariness that accompanied post-orgasmic bliss. Severus was hardly aware of Remus' soft chuckle as he shifted their entwined bodies into a more comfortable position. He couldn't even be bothered to raise his head and respond to Remus' whispered affections as sleep claimed his wary mind.
~~
"Sir… this is… incredible. Are-are you sure? I hadn't dared imagine we would make such a breakthrough this early!"
Slughorn laughed, grinning manically at his apprentice as he clapped the younger man on the back.
"Come now, Severus! You're possibly the most brilliant student to ever enter my classroom! Even so, it is quite extraordinary to think we made such a breakthrough in only a matter of months. This is mind-boggling! Severus, this is absolutely- you've done it! You've found the missing component in Newberry's experiment! This could be what we needed, this could be our cure!"
"Remus' cure," Severus whispered, staring intently at the book before him. He could hardly breathe.
"We need to study the interaction of all the ingredients to find what causes them to react in such a volatile manner-"
"Chinese Fireball blood is highly flammable and can become explosive when combined with certain ingredients," Severus answered automatically, picking up the piece of parchment containing the recipe to Newberry's potion, "Willow bark. That would do it."
Slughorn looked at the recipe over Severus' shoulder, "'Exactly 12 centimeters of willow bark, sliced thinly.' I see. It's used for its pain-relieving properties. And the Fireball's blood is known to heighten the senses; its most common application is for the Revitalizing Potion. These are two of the three main ingredients of the potion; all the others act as supplements. They cannot be substituted. This is… quite the predicament."
"No… No, wait. If… yes, if we grind the roots after slicing that will destroy the compound the blood violently to while maintaining the pain-relieving properties. Right?"
Slughorn seemed to contemplate Severus' words for a moment before nodding.
"It is possible. We will test your theory, and if you're right, well… we may be making history at this very moment!"
Severus was only vaguely aware of the hand on his shoulder, shaking him vigorously in Slughorn's excitement. His body and mind had gone numb as the realization that he was so much closer to his goal finally set in. Soon he could prove himself worthy- truly worthy- of the love Remus gave him so freely. Soon Remus would never have to suffer again. Soon… soon.
"When will we begin the experimentation?" he asked.
"Immediately! Come, we have to collect our supplies. The elves can prepare a room for you so we may work-"
"You want me to stay in Hogwarts?"
"Well, yes," Slughorn said, turning his attention from the parchment he was collecting to his former student, "We've moved into the most important phase of this project, you need to be focused and available at all times. You understand that, don't you?"
Severus nodded, "What about Remus?"
"Well… I suppose he can be useful. If we have him to record findings our focus won't be as divided. Then, of course, he would also be a valuable endless supply of the lycan cells we'll need."
Severus' heart clenched. He of course expected this subject to come up. It was only logical; why wouldn't they take advantage of the werewolf at their disposal when they were clearly working for his benefit? But that was the issue; he felt as if he were to ask Remus for this, he would be taking advantage of him and his condition. He knew Remus wouldn't feel that way. He would be more than willing to help in any way he could, and yet he still felt odd about making such a request to his lover.
"I'll… I'll speak to him on the matter." Severus said, avoiding the professor's gaze. After a tense moment Slughorn nodded.
"I was planning to have you sit in on a few of my classes starting next week. But with this breakthrough we may have to push that back for awhile, I'd say."
Severus was no longer paying attention to the other man, once again lost in thought. On the positive side, he would be able to spend more time with Remus if he joined the project as a lab assistant. Perhaps this could be managed after all.
A/N:Yay! Chapter 10! I struggled a bit with this one, but hopefully it satisfies you guys ^_^ Major conflict is on its way, people! This tale is about to pick back up! In, say two more chapters LOL. Review, mi amours! Muahh~!