Of Werewolf and Man

Harry stirred at the sound of voices, many of them familiar yet seemed so far away, as if someone had cast muffliato in the room. The light that slipped under his eyelids were blinding, and his entire body ached, his mind blank as he tried to remember what had happened, was it another Quidditch accident, or had the Lair's floor finally vanish beneath his feet?

Then he took a sharp intake of breath as he remembered, the trip down to Grimmauld Place, Snape, Lupin seriously injured –

"Remus!"

He wanted to bolt up, yet his body failed him as he merely struggled against the sheets. People gathered around him immediately, and after several minutes of hard blinking, the image of Ron, Hermione and Madam Pomfrey came into focus.

"He's awake, he's awake! Thank God!" Hermione was clutching onto Ron's arm, her face pale with anxiety. "Oh Harry, are you alright? We were worried sick -"

Harry opened his mouth but no sound came out, and was quite grateful when Madam Pomfrey shooed her out of the way.

"Mr. Potter, how are you feeling? You were hit by the Cruciatus curse." Her voice was casual as if they were merely discussing the weather. Harry groaned.

"Alive, I suppose."

His mouth was forced to open and some peppermint-tasting liquid downed his throat, before Madam Pomfrey threw a stern look at Ron and Hermione.

"You may have five minutes, Mr. Potter needs rest."

Harry turned towards his friends the moment the nurse was gone. "Is Re – professor Lupin alright?"

Ron exchanged a glance with Hermione, who nodded slowly. "He'll be fine, the amount of blood loss was terrifying, but Madam Pomfrey says due to his special condition he will be able to recover quickly."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and allowed the pain and sore to settle back in, slumping against the pillows. They were in Harry's bedroom, still magically enlarged to a duelling chamber's size but this time actually with a bed for a change, in the company of Ron and Hermione sitting on either side. He smiled wearily.

"So which one of you are gonna explain how I survived this time?"

Hermione gave a dark chuckle. "Well, me and Ron were just around Hogsmeade when we saw your Patronus swoop past and went to Hogwarts – then professor McGonagall came with several Aurors, so we all Apparated to Grimmauld Place to find the house visible, I think it's because you were inside, but the wards were still up and we couldn't get past it - "

"- and we saw Lupin, he was furious," interrupted Ron, his face slightly red. "I've never seen him this angry before, he was doing all sorts of weird things with his wand and full of vengeance - "

"- We saw you, professor Lupin was carrying you in his spare arm, you were covered in blood -"

"That's not my blood," said Harry quietly, his eyes prickling again. The image of Lupin's deep grey eyes flashed across his mind, full of agony, angst and almost fear, staring up at him while fully body-bund, unable to speak or move, unable to respond to Harry's remorseful smile and gentle strokes across his handsome features -

"We can't do a thing, you are the only one who can lower the wards for us to go in, but you were in Lupin's arms like a lifeless doll, we thought you were – you were -"

Hermione's lower lip was trembling as she went on restlessly, threatening to burst as soon as she was stopped. Harry smiled wearily again.

"Hey, I'm the Boy-Who-Lived, I can't die that easily."

Hermione gave him a watery smile and Ron hastily took over. "It was scary, that Auror – Hestia Jones I think – had to draw up anti-muggle wards so the neighbours wouldn't notice, and Moody was bombarding the wards trying to get in, but we couldn't do a thing, mate, we stood there and saw Lupin fighting, single-handedly against that crazy woman, and, and Snape, of all people -"

Harry could feel his anger swelling again as he heard that name, "It was him, it was Snape who cast the Sectumsempra curse on Lupin, that bastard -"

Hermione nodded silently, "We saw Snape disarming professor Lupin as well, but then he produced a small flame out of his bare hands and was attacking Lestrange with it, it was odd, Snape was shouting something we couldn't understand -"

"It was scary," Ron said with a shudder, "seeing two of your ex-teachers wrapped in a duel. Lupin was absolutely mad and out of it, it looked like he was going to skin them alive -"

"Talking about me?" a slightly hoarse voice interrupted from behind, making the three of them jump. Harry raised his head to see Lupin standing by the door, arms crossed, smiling.

"Professor Lupin!" Hermione hurried to greet him, "You shouldn't be out of bed yet, should you?"

Lupin came over and sat by Harry's side, still smiling. "I seem to have evaded Poppy's intensive care," he said pleasantly, "I think I deserve a bit of life after what we had gone through. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to have a word with Harry."

Lupin's expression was mild yet there were some assertiveness in his tone. Recognising defeat, Ron and Hermione left, exchanging a 'we'll talk later' glance with Harry.

"Are you alright?" once the door had clicked close Lupin put a hand on Harry's lap, his expression of soft concern.

Harry nodded, automatically finding Lupin's hand and gripping it in his own. He seemed to have lost his ability to speak as Lupin went on:

"It was a noble thing you did back there, a true Gryffindor you are, but still, you disobeyed me – I told you to get away without me, you shouldn't have done that…"

Harry shook his head gently. "I can't watch them kill you, you know I can't."

Lupin sighed and rubbed his forehead. Harry watched him intently and risked a smile. "I'm just glad you are OK, sir."

Lupin's hand glided up Harry's arm and stopped at his shoulder, a deep mist gathering in those grey eyes again as the man spoke, his words soft, almost mesmerising.

"I promised, Harry, I promised your parents, and Sirius, that I'd protect you -"

"And you did!" Harry interjected forcefully, suddenly finding the look on Lupin's face too painful to watch. He crept forward and drowned himself in a tight embrace, inhaling the smell of the man deeply, feeling the warmth of his skin against his sore limbs, the gentle beating of his heart –

"Harry, you could've died," Lupin's voice was harsh, barely a whisper now as he hugged Harry tightly back, his head burying on Harry's shoulder. "If – if Lestrange used the killing curse instead of the Cruciatus curse – you would've sacrificed yourself to save me, you… you fool!"

Harry winced, he admitted that he had not thought of this possibility, yet there wasn't a lot of time to think your plans through properly when two Death Eaters stood before you. He managed to mumble, "I thought – I figured that if I revived you we'd stand a better chance – you saw Snape, he was too good atLegilimency, none of my spells worked -"

"Yet that was quite some Patronus you produced," said Lupin, chuckling darkly now, his breath brushing against Harry's neck and sending a shiver down Harry's spine. The man noticed this and let go quite awkwardly, suddenly pretending to take an interest in the bed sheet patterns.

Harry felt a rise of colour in his cheeks, yet he did not find himself to be as embarrassed as Lupin did.

"I'm really sorry what Snape did to you," Harry said quietly, tracing his fingers across Lupin's chest, where the slashes had been. Lupin caught these wandering fingers and guided them away, carefully avoiding his gaze.

"I've grown used to wounds, it doesn't matter. Did they tell you that I am fortunate enough to be able to recover quickly due to me being a werewolf?"

Harry nodded, attempting a smile as he remembered Bellatrix's words, 'Harry Potter, falling in love with a werewolf -'

"I wonder why the Lestrange woman saw us as lovers," he marvelled out loud, his eyes hovering over Lupin's head – yet he could've sworn that the man had blushed, if only slightly.

"Harry, it was just an insult. Don't take it too seriously." Lupin's voice was quiet, his eyes lowered, suddenly withdrawn.

Harry surveyed him. "I didn't think of it as an insult." He paused as Lupin looked up, and locked gaze with man. "In fact, it would be a… I dunno, more like a blessing… I think, anyway." He finished carefully and scratched his nose, embarrassment finally catching on.

Lupin laughed a dark, hollow sort of laugh. "You have no idea what you are talking about, Harry, just… just don't take it to your heart. I appreciate what you've done for me, but -"

Harry sighed and closed his eyes. "Remus, Ron and Hermione saw everything. They saw you going mad at Snape and Bellatrix, risking your own life fighting, yet you wouldn't let me go – you wouldn't put me down onto the floor, this was how they even got to disarm you and -"

Something warm and soft brushed past his lips. Harry instinctively snapped his eyes open and didn't even realise when he had stopped in his tracks, frowning as the warm sensation lingered on his lip, almost like a lover's caress. Yet Lupin was still sitting several inches away, smiling mildly.

"I promised them I would protect you, Harry."

"And that's everything, is it?" Harry asked, his throat tightening.

Lupin hesitated. "No, it's not." He paused and looked away, "I want to protect you, too, that's the most important if not the reason why I volunteered to be your tutor. Dumbledore trusted Severus, and -"

"Snape," Harry spat, suddenly angry. "he nearly killed you! He nearly – he could've - "

To Harry's surprise, Lupin only shook his head sadly. "This is what I came here to talk about," he picked up Harry's wand from the side table and drew up a silencing ward. The grey eyes darkened, as Lupin carefully chose the words -

"Harry, I believe Severus Snape might still be on our side."

Harry gaped. "You are joking," he said breathlessly, waving a hand at Lupin's chest. "He used that curse on you! You could've died!"

"Yet I didn't," Lupin said coolly, grasping Harry's hand and settling them down on his lap. "You know this. Severus knows this. Because I'm a werewolf, he knew I would recover quickly…"

"But he tried! He tried to kill you! He disarmed you at the end!"

"Harry, please calm down and hear me out," Lupin's voice was steady, as was his gaze. "Think, Harry, think. He used the Full Body Bind charm just in time so I would not be killed by Lestrange. He didn't attack you, merely deflected your curses. He didn't explain to or warn Bellatrix about your Patronus, and delayed time so the rest of the Order could arrive and -"

Harry was shaking his head fervently. He did not believe any of this. He could not, and did not want to believe any of this. All he could do was to replay the scene where Snape cast the Sectumsempra curse, his expression indifferent, dark eyes full of hatred and vengeance as he stared down at Lupin and Harry –

"- Harry, listen to me, please," Lupin was clutching his shoulder once more, his voice harsh, almost raw. "I can't say that I'm one-hundred per cent sure that he is on our side, but I think there's enough coincidences – if not evidences – to keep our mind open." He stared deep into Harry's eyes, a hint of plead in his voice. "I need you to be with me on this."

Harry's fervent head shaking was steadied by Lupin's firm grip on his shoulders. He took a deep breath, eyes still closed, refusing to speak or move. He could feel Lupin's gaze intensify on him, almost scolding, the warmness in the man's hands pressed into his shoulder and neck, reassuring, yet demanding.

"I don't trust Snape," Harry said finally, opening his eyes, trying to keep his voice even. "But I trust you."

Lupin lowered his head, his expression hidden away in the shadow. Harry remained silent and still, unsure whether he had said the right thing, until he was pulled abruptly and rather roughly into another tight embrace.

"Harry – Harry you have no idea…"

"That's right," Harry interrupted as he knew too well where this was going, "I haven't got a clue about what Snape's up to. But I think I know a fair deal about you – enough to not misplace my trust, that is."

Lupin's eyes were swirling and shining in emotions as he pulled back, smiling gratefully. Harry felt a sudden urge to stroke the man's face as he did while Lupin was under the Body Bind Charm, but decided it was best if he had resisted.

"You know," he said suddenly, remembering the incident on the night of the full moon just a few weeks ago, "Something interesting came through the owl post just on the night of your last transformation."

He quickly explained the Wolfsbane potion that had arrived anonymously and his suspicions. It felt like million years away.

Lupin frowned. "I wasn't informed of this," he said quietly, "Moody did not mention it to me at all."

"Well it wasn't very useful anyway, it came after you had transformed." Harry said dryly, "Knowing Snape, it could well be -" he stopped and shrugged noncommittally. Lupin smiled.

"All the more reason to keep our mind open." He picked up Harry's wand again and tapped his palm lightly, producing two large chocolate bars. "Here, eat this, it'll help."

A sudden flashback of their first encounter on the Hogwarts Express produced a broad grin on Harry's face. "How do I know you haven't poisoned it?"

Lupin eyed him most innocently before taking a bite himself. "And he trusts me, he says."

Harry laughed, all pain and hate forgotten as he is safely tucked away under Remus Lupin's care, midst all the bizarre weather and encounters with Death Eaters – but he decided he could risk to put these at the back of his mind for just one more day.

A/N: Thanks for all the, erm, -enthusiastic- reviews...XD
I hope I did this bonding bit fair, I mean... it would be too OOC for them to jump at each other, but I promised -some- slash, eh. We'll see to them progressing through the story, that's for definite.
Despite all the other Harry/Remus fics I've read, I don't believe that Lupin is very very very withdrawn, he won't accept his feelings straight away but he won't deny them either. And I don't want Harry to push him too hard at this moment.
Any constructive criticisms would be greatly appreciated!