Chapter 6: Dark Alleys

            Severus walked the streets of Wizarding London in mid July.  His father was attending to paperwork with the Ministry, while Severus was preparing to make out his birthday list, as he would turn 18 in August.  He walked from the boring bookstores on Diagon Alley to the less reputable ones on Knockturn… he had been there before, with Remus, and he had known the best places for everything. 

            His black robes flared around him, catching the wind and making him look more dangerous than a normal 17 year old.  Intimidation… another tactic he had learned from the lycanthrope… why in the hell was he thinking about Remus so much today?  Sighing, he scribbled down the name of a few more books that he had seen in the last shop onto his list and prepared to meet his father back beside Flourish and Blotts. 

            It was then that he heard two hags muttering, "Did you see that body over there?  You'd think that the Aurors would have gotten rid of it by now."

            "Bloodied up that one was," said the other.

            Snape followed their gaze and walked to a dark corner of the alleyway, near the orphanage known as St. Jerome's.  He gasped at what he saw. 

            A rail-thin but tall teen lay sprawled on the ground.  He clutched a leather rucksack like a pillow, and gashes lay on his arms in various stages of healing.  Sticking in his left arm was a hypodermic needle, and Severus could tell that when it was clean, the teen's hair was light brown.  His clothes were ragged, he was greatly in need of a bath and there were dark smudges underneath his eyes. 

            Severus placed his hand over the person's nose and mouth, and felt the movement of air.  He grasped the fragile wrist, the skin nearly crackled like paper underneath his fingers.  There was a slow but thready pulse. 

            One did not simply call out for help in the middle of Knockturn Alley.  Snape drew his wand and decided to wake the person.  "Ennervate."

            The vagrant inhaled and opened his eyes slowly.

            "Remus.  What the fuck do you think you are doing?" he asked hotly.

            "Killing myself with all the mercy (or lack thereof) I deserve," he said, words slurred slightly from the drugs in his system.

            Snape knelt on Remus' left arm and pulled the needle out.  "Evidently.  You had Dumbledore worried sick."

            "Of course I did."  He curled up into a small ball.  "Leave me alone, Sev."

            "No.  My father is here.  You're coming home with us, and we will contact Dumbledore once we get you… sober."  Snape brushed his hair out of his eyes as he looked around, hoping to see his father.

            "How plain do I have to be?  I don't want your help, and I'm not worth the trouble.  I've known that all my life," he said, pushing Snape away.  "Besides… why should I trust you?  You hate me… I nearly killed you."

            "So you keep reminding me.  And you should trust me because I am never a friend to anyone who isn't worth the trouble.  You will someday be a great wizard, but you can't do it lying in a gutter somewhere, being a sight that even hags complain about," Snape said, casting a calming spell on Remus and picking him up.  There was no protest from the werewolf and Snape walked back to Diagon Alley in silence as Remus fell asleep.

            "Severus, what is that?" Tiberius Snape asked his son.

            "Father, remember I told you about the Slytherin who ran away at the end of last term?  This is Remus Lupin," he whispered.  "He's… unwell.  We need to get him out of here, and tell Dumbledore, so that his adopted father can be notified."

            "You never told me why he left?"

            "He made the decision to befriend a group of Gryffindors, and he later regretted their friendship."

            Tiberius examined the boy with watchful eyes.  "Very well.  Apparate to the Manor and place him in one of the guest suites.  We will contact Dumbledore as soon as we are home."

            Severus nodded and held on to the werewolf, Apparating to his ancestral home.

            Remus didn't move at all.  Whatever he had taken, it was having adverse effects.  Maybe it was one of those Muggle street drugs…  But without a medi-wizard, they wouldn't know.

            He lay the werewolf down on a black duvet-covered bed and set the bag on the floor.  He muttered a few charms to keep Remus in the bedroom and bathroom, another to alert Sev when he woke, and another to prevent further self-injury.  He walked downstairs to find his father in the study, fire-calling the Headmaster.

            "Albus, my son was most insistent that I contact you immediately," Tiberius said coolly.  He had never liked Dumbledore now that he had graduated.  "Ah, Severus.  Tell your Headmaster what had happened today."

            "Yes, father.  Professor, I was in Wizarding London today, and I found him."

            "You located Mr. Lupin?"

            Severus nodded.  "Yes, sir.  He is somewhat ill… and injured.  We have brought him to Snape Manor and he is sleeping it off… whatever it is."

            "What do you mean?"

            "He had recently injected something into his arm.  He is very sluggish… and drowsy.  Took him a few moments to recognize me, and he didn't even stay awake for that long.  He also looked like he hadn't slept in a few days, nor ate, and he had gashes on his arms, legs and torso."  Severus sighed.  "He was not in good shape, sir."

            The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes had long since vanished.  "With your permission, I would like to see Mr. Lupin, and if need be, see him back to Hogwarts for treatment.  If this is acceptable, of course, Tiberius?"

            "Of course," Tiberius said evenly. 

            The Headmaster stepped through the Floo and Severus gestured his professor to the guest suite.

            "He didn't want to be found, sir."

            Dumbledore sighed.  "I was afraid of that.  Is your father aware…"

            Severus shook his head.  "No.  I only told him that he was a fellow Slytherin, who made unwise associations with those outside his house.  My father understands that sometimes, the only house a Slytherin can count on is Slytherin.  I wish that Remus had known that," he muttered, opening the door. 

            The Headmaster looked inside.  Remus lay sleeping on his back, tangled and matted hair draped haphazardly over his face.  A peaceful expression rested on the teen's face and Albus sighed.  "Thank the gods."  The aged wizard walked to one side of the bed and sat upon it, brushing the hair from Remus' face.  "Thank you, Severus."

            Snape shrugged.  "Just because I'm a Slytherin doesn't mean I am a cold heartless bastard, sir.  If our positions were reversed, he'd have done at least as much for me," he said.  "Did you need anything, Headmaster?"

            "His injuries, and the symptoms you describe, force me to believe that he should see Madame Pomfrey immediately.  What is the best way to leave Snape Manor?"

            "Floo would probably hurt him.  I'd recommend Portkey."

            Dumbledore nodded.  "Severus, I cannot stress enough the need for secrecy."

            "I understand, sir.  Tell him he can have his damn badge back.  Tell him it's penance for being a moron," he said quietly.

            "I will do that.  Where is it?" Dumbledore asked as he charmed the Portkey.

            "Black has it… I yelled at him the day Lupin left."

            Dumbledore smiled, gathering the boy's rucksack in his arms and preparing to use the Portkey.  "I believe Madame Pince may have informed me of such.  Thank you, Severus.  His father will be overjoyed to see him home again," he said quietly.

            Snape nodded as the Headmaster grasped the bag of Lemon Drops and along with Remus, disappeared.

            Remus' head hurt.  He was sweaty, weak, nauseous and he felt like death warmed over.  It was like the post-transformation disorientation, only ten times worse.   

            "Remus," said Madame Pomfrey gently.  "Remus, please wake up."

            He groaned a bit and yawned.  "What?"

            "Remus, I need to know what you took."

            "Chasing the dragon…"

             Another voice cut in.  It sounded like the Headmaster.  "'Chasing the dragon?'"

            "Damn it.  It's a muggle saying… he's on opiates.  They're meant as soporifics… pain-killers.  And I'd be willing to bet from the scars on his arms, he's been abusing it since he left…" she said, clinking glass bottles together.  "Sit him up, Albus.  Remus, I need you to drink this now."

            He felt himself being helped up, but lay limply against his mentor. 

            "Merlin, the withdrawals are going to be hell," Pomfrey muttered as she poured a pepper-up potion down his throat, followed by one to counteract the mental sluggishness brought on by the opium.

            "He's strong, Poppy… he won't be the same as he was before… but he'll recover in time."

            "Albus, lay him on his side, just in case he begins vomiting."  She sighed.  "I only hope he hasn't caught any Muggle diseases from those damned needles.  What do you suppose drove him to this?"

            Dumbledore rubbed his forehead.  "Remus alone can answer that.  He will have some hard questions to answer when he awakes.  Not the least of which is why?"

            The next month and a half were hell for Remus.  He went through terrible withdrawals, resulting in insomnia, anxiety, tremors and less visible effects, combined with the pain of his transformations.  He saw a psychiatrist, but that rarely helped.  How did one explain being a werewolf to a person who had never treated one before?  In the end, he settled for counseling sessions with Dumbledore, which were harder by half. 

            "Remus, you are ready for the Feast?  The other students will arrive shortly," Dumbledore asked from the doorway of Remus' summer rooms in the castle. 

            "Yes, sir."

            "Remus, you don't have to call me that.  The term has not yet started."

            Remus adjusted his silver and green tie, sighing.  "Better to get back into the habit, so no one notices, sir."  He turned to the mirror.  "You know, it's kind of ironic… the color of my house is the one color I could never touch."

            "Lucius had asked if you had received a Prefect's ring."

            Remus scoffed.  "Right.  An emerald, set in silver.  That would work real well, Professor."

            "He offered to persuade you to get one, if you did not do so before the term started.  His exact words were, and I quote, 'it would be absolutely shameful for Remus, one of the most distinguished prefects in Slytherin in recent years, did not receive the symbol of honor that is rightly his.'"

            Remus tugged at his cuffs, buttoning them.  "Yup, sounds like Lucius."

            "Remus, every 7th year was offered the position of Head Slytherin Male Prefect… every one of them refused… saying it belonged to one student.  You.  Please accept the position again," Dumbledore said, looking at the boy… nearly a man. 

            Remus stood tall, his ginger brown hair slightly silvered from his summer, and his clothing was impeccably pressed.  He sighed, turning towards his guardian and picked up his robes.  "I don't deserve it, Albus."

            "These are not given lightly, Remus.  For 6 years, you have been a dedicated and respected student.  There is not a person within these walls who does not admire your perseverance, and your intelligence, your athleticism.  Not a student who hasn't complemented you to his or her peers.  You would have made an excellent Head Boy, Remus.  But I will settle for you accepting this honor… and this." 

            Remus watched his mentor hand him a small box. 

            "I told Lucius that you would prefer platinum.  It is not silver in any form…"

            Remus opened it and sighed.  "He wouldn't accept me if he knew."

            Albus smiled.  "Those who love and respect you will understand.  Come, Remus.  We must not be late."

            The werewolf sighed again and slipped the ring onto his right ring finger.  Risking one last glance in the mirror, he left the room and followed Dumbledore to the Great Hall.

            "I haven't heard from Remus since he left," Sirius muttered to James.  "You?"

            "No," he sighed, pulling a badge from his pocket regretfully.  "You'd think we would have heard of something by now."

            Peter was silent as Lily fidgeted with her Head Girl badge.  "I don't know…"

            They entered the Great Hall, the first of the students to arrive… save one.  A single figure sat at the far end of the Slytherin table, considering his hands. 

            Another 7th year walked past them.  "Oh, yes.  Gawking is the best way to win him back, Black."  He stalked to the end of the table where Remus sat.  "Hello.  You're looking better."

            Remus laughed bitterly.  "Could I have looked any worse?"

            "You could have been burned to a crisp by a dragon, or mauled by a chimera, or…"

            "Oh, shut up, Sev."  He snorted.  "By the way, Sev… thank you."

            The darker Slytherin nodded.  "You're welcome.  If you ever need to talk, Remus…"

            "Yeah, the psychiatrists drilled it into my head about the need for my support structure.  I had a miserable summer, how are you?"

            Snape scoffed.  "You mean, aside from finding one of my best friends half-dead in a dark alleyway?  It was fairly good.  You still managed top marks in our year, though.  Beat out both Evans and Potter this time.  You keep this up and you'll make valedictorian easily."

            Remus rolled his eyes.  "And you?"

            "Third in our class… ahead of Potter."

            "I really wish they wouldn't fucking stare at me… like I'm a zoo exhibit or something…" he trailed off.  "Say it and I will beat the crap out of you, Sev."

            "Wouldn't dream of it.  They're trying to figure out how best to remove their feet from their mouths… or more accurately, how to get it out of the tremendous pile of shit they have stepped in," Snape said.  "I thought that you…"

            Remus followed his gaze.  "Oh, platinum.  Dumbledore told Lucius that I preferred platinum, and he was happy to speak to a jeweler about it.  A little white lie, I suppose."

            Severus arched one eyebrow.  "It will eliminate some suspicion."

            "Why are you being so nice to me?"

            He sighed.  "I don't know how to explain it.  Let's just say, I know what it's like to come from a home where you aren't wanted.  But unfortunately, I'm the only Snape to have survived in my generation."

            "Pureblood families and their need for the perfect heir… makes me physically ill, Sev.  I'm sorry."  He played with the fork in front of him and sighed. 

            "Yeah.  It's why I never fought you on one of your tantrums about the upper class:  they're all legitimate, but they act like bastards just the same."  Snape smiled.  He then shot Sirius a warning glance as the teen came closer, whereupon he sat farther down the table and left the two alone. 

            McGonagall guided the first years in and the Feast began.

--00--

Disclaimer is in the first chapter.

I hope you guys like this, and try not to hate me for posting 2 days before OoTP comes out.  I can't wait though.  Hope you have a good weekend. S (6-19-03)

Pegataur Cat- How funny… that makes me happy too.

Lord R- Thanks.  I'm really flattered, and I hope you like this chapter too.

Remus-Lupin- Thanks Moony.  Hope to see you online again soon.

I Love Beans- I like beans too.  I hope you like this bit…