A/N: Hey y'all! This was written for Hogwarts. Angsty RemusKingsley.

Defense Against the Dark Arts Task 2: Write about wanting or trying to prolong the life of another person by magical means.

Word Count: 718

WARNINGS: major character death, injury, mentioned nudity

Enjoy!

Remus' house is still dark when Kingsley enters. The Auror walks anxiously towards the basement door, knowing that this is where Remus locks himself each month—and that he has normally contacted Grimmauld Place by now.

Kingsley can't imagine what caused the delay this time, but he imagines that it has something to do with Fenrir Greyback; Remus mentioned that his missions to the feral werewolf's pack were getting more dangerous. Fear coils in Kingsley's stomach, hot and tight. His lover is strong, but Kingsley knows that not even Remus is indestructible.

He uses his wand to illuminate the basement—there is no time to look for a light switch—but the smell hits him before the sight.

Blood. The metallic scent is thick in the air. It covers the walls, is smeared across the floor, taking the shapes of handprints, paw prints, and other, indiscernible forms. And there in the corner where the blood is thickest, the too-still body of Remus Lupin lies.

There isn't a moment of hesitation—Kingsley just moves. There is a part of his brain that is panicking, despairing, but a larger part is still thinking. He has seen blood before; he has seen much more than this.

Remus is naked, so Kingsley uses his wand to vanish the worst of the blood. Remus is pale where the red has been washed away, but Kingsley can feel a pulse when he presses his fingers against his lover's neck. The Auror takes off his robes and tears off a few strips of fabric. He uses them to stop the worst of the blood flow.

"Remus." His deep voice is more breathless than usual. "Remus, can you hear me?"

No response. Kingsley would have already taken him to St. Mungo's, but the hospital is no longer admitting lycanthropic patients. His fingers flutter over Remus' scarred face, which was freshly torn open during the night; Kingsley doubts it was his own doing and spares a moment to curse Fenrir Greyback's name.

Minutes pass, simultaneously too fast and too slow. Kingsley's hands are shaking now, because Remus has lost too much blood—and werewolf wounds cannot be magically healed, only helped. With no other options available, Kingsley raises his wand and begins casting every spell he can think of.

He's so focused on his task that he almost misses Remus' lips moving.

"King…?"

"Here," Kingsley croaks. He rushes to grip Remus' hand. "Tell me what to do."

But there is resignation in Remus' amber eyes. Kingsley is shaking his head before he even realizes it.

"Ferula," he whispers fruitlessly. "Episkey."

Suddenly, a conversation he had with Remus weeks ago comes to mind: "I'm getting older, love. I can't bend the way I used to… the way the curse wants me to. It will be too much one day—I need to warn you now."

Kingsley hadn't accepted it then, and he won't accept it now. He sends a patronus to Alastor, Arthur, and Poppy, hoping that someone will arrive in time to help.

There has to be a way to save Remus' life.

Remus doesn't keep potions ingredients in his home; he claims that he has no use of them, since he isn't a capable potioneer. He buys them brewed, which lessens their quality. But by the time Kingsley thinks to summon the bag of medical supplies, the mediocre potions are his only option. Kingsley rummages through the bag, looking for Blood-Replenishing potion or something equally as helpful, but there is nothing.

Now Kingsley is crying, and he can't stop. There is a gasping sound, and he realizes that Remus is trying to speak. He leans closer, his large hands abandoning the makeshift bandages and instead coming to rest on Remus' face.

"Greyback knows," Remus wheezes. "Managed to… to Apparate here, but… but…"

"Shhh." Kingsley kisses Remus' forehead. "Help is on the way. Just stay with me. Don't close your eyes."

But Remus's eyelids are fluttering. "I… I love you."

Kingsley will kill Greyback if he ever sees him. "I love you too. Don't go."

"Mmm."

There are things that Kingsley knows. He didn't get here in time, Remus was already injured when he transformed, their love has always had an expiration date; still, when the other Order members come, Kingsley finds himself hoping that Remus has one more miracle left in him.