"That was wonderful," he praised, turning Draco's cheeks a flattering shade of red. "You're amazing, dragon."
His dragon made himself comfortable on his chest, feeling Harry's sure arms wrap around him, and he fell into a dreamless rest.
Harry groaned, twisting away the crick in his neck. He was waiting for Severus to finish his potion, and it was taking longer than he expected.
The man walked out with a satisfied expression on his face and brown vial in his grasp. He looked up to see the young man outside his lab and dropped it, breathing a sigh of relief when Harry leapt forward and caught it before it hit the ground.
"Why don't you just put an unbreakable charm on it?" Harry asked him, handing the potion back to him.
"Wolfsbane is very sensitive to magic, Mister Potter," he explained. "Surely you knew that?"
"Wolfsbane? You have the potion ready for Remus, or is it-"
"This one is for the wolf, yes. The ones for the apothecary have been sent off."
"Are they different?"
Severus glanced away.
"I try to make his taste a bit better. They work the same."
Harry chuckled.
"Why don't you make them all taste better?"
Severus crinkled his nose in distaste.
"It costs an extra five knuts to make just one taste fine. Dragon saliva is not cheap."
"Dragon saliva?" Harry questioned with disgust written on his face.
"To counter the reaction from the chocolate… Don't you pay any attention?"
Harry laughed, shaking his head.
"Not really. Sorry, Professor."
Severus shrugged on his cloak, stepping toward the fireplace.
"I have to deliver this soon, so I should go. He only has a couple of hours before he has to take it."
"Good luck, Sev."
The older man blushed slightly, but did not reply.
"Lupin!" Severus called sharply, as was his customary greeting. He glanced around at the place, noticing that it was a good twenty minutes past when he usually arrived.
He cast a point-me charm, following his wand to the owner of the rickety house and stopping right outside the bedroom door.
Severus knocked, unsurprised but saddened to hear a slight moan from behind the door.
"I'm coming in."
He didn't wait for a reply, shocked to see the man sitting on the floor with only a pair of slacks on and his face buried in his hands.
He knelt down, uncorking the vial as he went.
"Head up, wolf," he ordered softly, using his fingers to lift his chin and administer the potion. "I'm sorry that I arrived later than usual. The saliva they sent me was nearing expiration."
Remus gave him a small smile, soaking in the care that Severus always treated him with before the full moon. He was all harsh lines and rough edges until this time, then he treated him like- human I guess.
"That's alright… Did the recipe change? Since when do you use saliva?"
Severus ignored him, bringing his arm under his shoulders to help him stand.
"Why are you wearing slacks?"
Remus blushed slightly.
"I was trying to get dressed when I heard you at the floo."
Severus pieced together the rest. He fell. He was too weak to stand that long.
He shook his head.
"You should have just stayed in bed. What if you had hit your head or something? Then where would we be?"
The werewolf snorted.
"I'd be without pain, and you'd be partying probably."
Severus jerked back as if slapped, a unique emotion covering his features.
Remus immediately regretted his words, recognizing the expression as the same one that used to show after Lily would ditch him to hang out with the Marauders.
"Hey…" he rasped. "I didn't mean that. What did I say?"
Severus ignored him once again, instead choosing to remove the man's slacks and fold them away in the corner.
"Would you like to stay here until we get closer to time, or would you like to go now?"
Remus narrowed his eyes, pulling the man down next to him with a strength that was clearly only coming from his wolf at the moment.
"Severus Snape, what is up with you? I asked you what I said that so obviously hurt you, and I would like an answer."
"It is nothing, wolf," He spat, attempting to jerk his hand away. "I am fine."
Remus sighed harshly, visibly shaking.
"I need to go down now. Moony is pushing tonight."
Severus hurriedly stood, pulling Remus upright.
"Can you walk still?"
He nodded in response, hobbling down the stairs to the concrete basement area there. There was a fireplace there as well, with a lonely rug in front of it.
"So," Severus started, knowing that Remus needed some sort of distraction from the monster inside him. "Did you go get new robes? You're honorary godson swears up and down that if you don't, he will go get them himself."
"You've talked to Harry?"
"Of course," Severus nodded. Harry was a good subject for Remus. "He has found his mate in Draco… surely you knew this?"
"Yes, I did not realize that you were told."
"Well, we surely couldn't tell his parents yet. I am Draco's godfather, and they both seem to trust me a bit."
"Harry holds a high respect for you."
"Does he?" Severus replied, surprised. He situated himself across from Lupin on the rug, cross legged.
"Yes," the man rasped. "He always said that you just needed someone to try to understand you. You weren't all cold."
Severus sighed.
"He has more hope than most do."
Remus leaned forward, brushing the hair away from the man's eyes.
"He just sees what others do not care to look for in you, Severus."
"He is only one. What do you see, Remus? A deatheater? A coward? What do you see here?"
Remus breathed slowly.
"A man," he whispered. "A bit broken, but very strong, beyond talented, smart, caring- man."
Severus stood.
"I must take my leave."
"I'm always sad to see you go."
Severus paused, locking the door from the inside as he thought over how his potion should affect the natural instincts of the wolf- making it nearly nonexistent. Only in appearance.
He took a deep breath and walked back.
"I cannot face you as you transform."
"Disgusted?"
Severus shook his head, eyes pained.
"No. I just can't, Remus. But I will stay."
"I used to think that you would enjoy watching me in such pain."
Severus lit the fire next to them, wincing as he heard Remus moan in agony.
He tried to stay facing away, but it became too much. He watched with tear-filled eyes as the man grabbed the floor with his knuckles.
"Don't fight it, Remus. Let Moony out. Breathe."
He couldn't help but shift back when Moony's eyes looked at him rather than that of Remus.
"Rem?"
A soft growl followed a slow howl left the beast.
"You still in there?"
The wolf moved forward slowly, sniffing him. He tried to relax his muscles- realizing that, for some reason, Remus was less there than Moony.
A small whimper left the wolf's muzzle, and then he was being licked on the ear.
"Moony! Remove that wet appendage from my person!"
The wolf seemed to chuckle, wrapping around the man.
"Am I not allowed to move?"
Moony growled lowly, nuzzling his neck.
Severus smiled, leaning against the canine.
"I'm taking a nap then."
TBC