Squeeze so tightly

July swiftly entered with its sunny days and blue skies. Tensions were running high, as exam pressures mounted, and most fifth and seventh years could be found furiously studying in the library and the common rooms. In contrast, however, Severus Snape could be found in an abandoned classroom near the dungeons. After completing his exams earlier than the rest of the seventh years, due to his apprenticeship, he was avidly watching a sputtering cauldron and muttering to himself as the potion began its final colour change.

Exclaiming with triumph, Severus grinned widely as he bottled the potion into a phial, and raced from the room, intent on finding his friend before the sky darkened. Fortunately for Severus, the days were longer, so the sun was only just setting at seven twenty-seven in the evening, and he stealthily snuck past the paranoid Caretaker, Filch, and ran out onto the grounds.

The sky was awash with colour, as beautiful hues of pink and orange mixed to form an amazing view. Staring into the distance, Severus could make out the menacing whomping willow frantically whipping its branches as a familiar figure approached it. Upon spotting him, Severus' smile only grew.

Quickening his pace, Severus reached the willow in no time and swiftly copied Remus' actions to disable the tree. Creeping through the dark and grimy hidden passageway, he soon emerged in a dank room, smelling of damp and doxie-ridden curtains.

"Severus!" Remus' surprise quickly gave way to fear and urgency. "Severus get out, you can't be here, it's too dangerous!" he shouted at the flushed Slytherin, who was still panting from the exertion of getting into the shack.

Severus ignored Remus' dismissal and proudly held out the phial of murky-green potion to the Gryffindor. Only a slither of Remus' fear slid way to confusion as he glanced between Severus and the potion.

Sighing in defeat at the Gryffindor's incomprehension, Severus chuckled. "It's the wolfsbane potion," he explained, yet Remus' confusion only seemed to increase tenfold.

"Y..You brewed this for me?" he asked shakily, staring at the phial with wonder and awe.

Hearing his friend's question, all of Severus' pride seemed to disperse into nothingness, as nervousness seeped into his every pore. "Yes," he murmured quietly; shifting nervously on his feet.

Severus didn't see the pair of arms reaching towards him, so he wasn't prepared for the Gryffindor barrelling into him, and they both went hurtling to the dusty wooden floor.

"Ah! Remus, you're elbowing my bladder!" came Severus' cry, and it was only a short second before Remus moved his arm with a small huff. "Remus?" he questioned when the Gryffindor made no inclination of moving. With a small effort, Severus managed to prop himself onto his elbows and stared into dark eyes, filled with an emotion Severus dared not to hope for. He watched as sharp canines bit into luscious pink lips before they settled into a toothy smile. "Remus?"

In the next second, or two, honestly, he had no clue how long it was. Those luscious lips crashed onto his own, and Severus lost all ability to think; only the feel of those full lips massaging his own, and the heady scent of Remus, captivated him. Opening his mouth, he let Remus dominate before he pulled the smaller man beneath him and ravaged his mouth.

Hot breath. Harsh panting. Bliss.

Severus pulled away and collapsed down beside Remus. The Gryffindor was splayed on the rotting floor, limbs lying limply beside him as his eyes, blown wide, staring at the ceiling.

Severus thought it was the most beautiful sight he ever saw.

Time passed by, and Gods know how long it was; only a low buzzing could be felt, as every pore of Severus' body was tingling with the feel of Remus. Gods, it was magnificent.

"It's getting dark," Remus' throaty voice broke the silence, and Severus had to smirk at how breathless the teen sounded. "You should get going; it would kill me if I ever hurt you."

Severus reluctantly saw the logic in his statement, and slowly got to his feet; lazily brushing the dust from his robes. Glancing down, he had to smile widely at the sight of Remus, looking thoroughly shagged. Gods, it was almost sinful.

However, Remus wasn't looking at his face. No. With a sense of dread, Severus followed Remus' gaze to his own bare arm. His bare, left arm.

"Remus," Severus murmured pleadingly, "This isn't what it looks like."

Immediately, Remus sprang to his feet, and that beautiful mouth was now twisted into an ugly sneer. "So that isn't the Dark Mark, Severus?" He questioned roughly, glowing green eyes feral in their intensity. "What was this? Some joke that you and your friends concocted? Get the stupid Gryffindor to fall for the Slimy Snake?"

"No!" the desperate denial was wrenched from Severus' lips, and he reached for Remus, only to fall through thin air as Remus pulled away. "No-one knows about my feelings for you! They're my own feelings. Gods, Remus, you have to believe me!"

Remus snarled at the Slytherin, his teeth bared in anger. "Why should I believe you? You're a Death Eater! I hate you! Get out!"

"Remus, please!"

"Get out!" Remus bellowed, before pushing Severus towards the door. "Get out, you horrible, horrible dickhead! How could you?"

And Gods, Severus' breath caught in his throat, as he saw those beautiful eyes begin to water. His own eyes filled with tears. The last thing he saw before the door was slammed in his face was Remus' devastated face filled with betrayal.

Falling to the ground, Severus' head fell against the door. "Please Remus," and damn everyone to hell at how broken he sounded, "Please believe me! I never set out to hurt you! I…I… love you, dammit! I love you more than anyone or anything else in the world!"

The Gryffindor didn't reply, and it was the silence of rejection that had Severus heart shattering into pieces. Fingernails dug painfully into the soft flesh of his arms as he felt his gut wrench. "Gods, Remus," he whispered, his breath hitching as a sob broke through. "Please take the Wolfsbane; it should lessen the pain of your transformation. Please! Fuck! I'm so sorry! Please!" he trailed off as another sob racked his body. "I love you…so much…I love you."