Disclaimer : - The world of Harry Potter isn't mine – wish it was – but belongs to JK Rowling… anything from the books is hers not mine…. Anything else is probably mine. Not getting anything but fun from writing this etc etc etc….

The fic is Rate R ….. if you are not old enough to read it etc then please don't

Spanning the River of Blood

By Ridley-Roo

Chapter 22 – A Cunning Plan?

Jake sat at Snape's desk and contemplated the events of the last few hours.  Stretching out his legs helped to ease the cramps but didn't affect his throbbing headache.  Closing his eyes he rested his chin on steepled fingers and attempted to get his train of thought back on track.  His sensitive nose could easily pick out the smell of the potion simmering in the silver cauldron on the far side of the room.  On the desk before him was a vial containing every last drop of Raycon Juice in Hogwarts, the activating ingredient in Wolfsbane.  Now all he needed to do was decide what to do with it.

He had followed Snape back down to his office after the encounter with Layla on the roof.  A shudder crept up his spine as he remembered that little scene.  Why his mistress would want to be intimate in any way with the man was completely beyond him.  Yet she was obviously interested for some bizarre reason and, while he wasn't against a bit of manipulation to end such follies if he felt it necessary, in this case he felt he could use the relationship to his advantage.

Sighing he opened his eyes, pick up the vial and started to idly spin it through his fingers.  Lupin on the other hand he didn't have a problem with.  Both men were outcasts in their own way, but how they had dealt with the situation could not be more different.  Snape had drawn it around him like a cloak to keep the world at bay, rather like a wounded animal, whereas Lupin appeared to have accepted it and simply moved on with his life.

Jake liked the werewolf and had been pleased to see him up on the roof.  Snape hadn't of course and even after killing some gargoyles his anger had needed further venting when he'd reached his office.  Storming through the door he had kicked one of the armchairs half way across the room and cursed everyone and everything, from himself to the Minister of Magic before he calmed enough to complete Lupin's potion.  Jake had sat quietly in the corner until Snape had left with the foaming goblet before transforming and taking the more comfortable seat at the desk.

Catching his reflection in one of the glass fronted cabinets filled with various pickled body parts he looked critically at himself.  Over the years he had grown more and more inclined to remain in his feline shape and couldn't remember exactly when he'd last seen himself in this form.  Rising to his feet he moved away from the chair to get a better look.  His eyes were still the same vivid green they had always been, although an objective observer would probably say they didn't sparkle with the joy of living they had once held.  Pale but weathered skin covered a face many would have called handsome, framed by close cropped hair, as black as it had always been.  An unchanging face to match his unchanging body, neither of which could stop him feeling old, nor tired.  As he looked himself squarely in the face it was impossible to avoid one simple truth.  He was tired of exile and wanted to return to his former life.

Over his years guarding and protecting Layla he had tried to convince himself that he was happy with this life.  Biding his time and allowing her to develop at her own pace, trusting her instincts to guide her.  He'd watched her grow into the person she was today and was proud in the role he'd played to get her there.  But he longed for the old days, the freedom and life he'd lost.  Layla held the key to getting it all back and he wasn't sure how much longer he could wait for her to use it.  To be so close after all this time that he could almost taste it, was more than he could bear.  He had to do something to make her take that final step.

His decision made, he turned away from his reflection, unstopped the vial, opened his trousers and added to it's contents before replacing it carefully where Snape had left it.  It was risky he knew but sometimes you had casualties in war.

* * * * * *

After leaving the roof Lupin had taken Layla down to the kitchen where the excited house elves had fussed around her in a way he'd never seen before.  They now sat in two newly conjured armchairs by the hearth eating a variety of cheeses with freshly baked bread.  Lupin had often eaten in the kitchen before and sat contentedly listening to the noise and bustle around him.

'Would M'Lady be wanting anything else?'  Rani the house elf appeared by Layla and stood waiting for her reply.

'No thank you Rani.  If I eat anymore I think I'll burst.'  Layla's voice was lazy with contentment as she answered but as she spoke her face took on a quizzical expression.  'Of course you could tell me why you all seem to have such crap clothes?'

Lupin came instantly to attention at the unexpected question.  Looking first at Layla and then Rani he could see the question was genuine and that for once the house elf didn't seem to be offended by the topic.  He remembered how they had all acted when Hermione had been on her freedom crusade.  Every single one apart from Dobby had been deeply offended and they had needed to keep her well away from the kitchens since then.  But Rani didn't seem offended at all, in fact as he searched around for a description of how she did look his mind kept coming back to one word.  Excited.

'Tis tradition M'Lady.'  Now that was news to him.  He didn't know house elves had much of a culture let alone traditions.

'Funny tradition.  How did it get started?'  Oh Layla was pushing her luck now surely, he thought.

'Err.  Rani is not being allowed to tell M'Lady.  Rani is sorry.'  Her ears were flattening down and it was obvious from the slight shaking of her body that she was afraid of what might happen because of her inability to answer.  Lupin watched as Layla reached out to place a hand on the elf's shoulder and lent forward in her chair to bring her head closer as you would to a child.

'There is no need to be afraid, Rani.  I will not hurt you simply because you're not allowed to answer a nosey question.'  She spoke softly to the creature.  'But Rani I would like you to promise me something.'  Her soft voice was soothing the elf and Remus watched the scene spellbound.  'If anyone tries to hurt you, ever, I want you to come straight to me and tell me.  Will you do that Rani?  Will you come and tell me so that I can deal with them?'

As Remus watched Rani's expression changed from fearful anticipation to open adoration as she faithfully promised that if anyone tried to hurt her in anyway she would go immediately to 'M'Lady'.  Noticing that the noise level had dramatically subsided he gazed around the kitchen, the exchange had been witnessed by every elf present, and every face showed the same adoration as Rani's.  The spell lasted a few more moments until they burst back into activity with renewed enthusiasm.

Making his excuses Lupin left and headed towards the Headmasters Office.  He wasn't sure why but he was certain Dumbledore would want to know what he had just seen and heard.