Disclaimer: See Ch.1
A/N: I pulled the rating down because this fic is progressing slower than I had anticipated. I'm having so much fun with the development that I don't know when I'm getting to the juicy parts. hehe. Hope yous enjoy anyhoo...
~*Lycurgus*~
Chapter 4: Trial Friendships
Arduinna stood in front of the full length mirror in her bedchambers and gave herself one last look over. The reflection was that of a young woman, skin white as tissue and eyes an icy blue. Her hair, which normally fell straight to her waist, the same stark white of her skin with streaks of silver grey, was held up in a tight bun at the back of her head, accentuating her already angular, wolfish features.
Opting against normal wizarding robes, she wore a pale yellow dress of fine linen that fell to her knees, which clung to her body loosely and had a back tied like a corset, yellow ribbon criss-crossing over her skin. Her heels, transfigured to match her dress color perfectly, easily gave her another three inches of height. She would just be taller than Remus, but perhaps eye level with Severus.
If both showed up.
Arduinna sighed at that thought and made her way into the main room of her chambers, checking the set dining table one last time to make sure everything was in place before walking over to a chair in front of the fireplace and sitting down.
Now began the agonizing task of waiting.
Glancing at the tall, darkwood grandfather clock that stood near the door, she realized that there were still a good twenty minutes until either men were expected to arrive. Crossing her legs and straightening her dress, Arduinna leaned back into the armchair and glanced around her most recent of homes.
Headmaster Dumbledore had mentioned that these rooms had been previously used by Salazaar Slytherin's mistress, before he left his friends at the school, and not since then. The door had a bad habit of disappearing after its first and only master left Hogwarts, and had only recently returned to the visible spectrum. But Dumbledore assured, as with any of the apartements in this castle, as long as it had an occupant, it would remain stable and in this reality. Besides, this was the room most convienient for access to the potions labs.
As for the decor of the room, it had not been entriely green, silver, and black as Arduinna had exected. Silver, yes, there was much of that, but the rest of the room was mostly monochromatic, blacks and greys and whites, with only hints of other colors around the room. She smiled as she realized this was much to her own taste and her own color scheme.
Although the single large portrait in the room had no label, Arduinna assumed that the tall, regal woman was none other than the original owner of these rooms. She wore a very old, Victorian style dress, mostly white with a single front panel of black flowers on a white background. Her skin was also pale, not the unnatural color of Arduinna's, but only slightly pink, the color of skin pampered by nobility and title, which came in stark contrast to her raven black hair, falling in waves to her hips. The background was shadowed, and also rather monochromatic, making the only spot of color in the large painting her ethereal violet eyes. Perhaps it was because of the color scheme of the rest of the portrait, or perhaps because of the way she held them, but those eyes gazed the most intense gaze Arduinna could ever have dreamed of.
However, she never moved, although Arduinna was near positive she could. She simply sat, arms draped, casually, but with purpose, on the armrests the wingback chair she was perched upon, and watched. Arduinna knew that she was always watching, she could feel it, but it was not something that was frightening or disconcerting. On the contrary, Arduinna often smiled up at her, and sometimes greeted her as she entered the room, never getting a response.
This large portrait hung across the room from the hearth, always lit up by the flames and able to easily survey the entirety of the room. To look at her properly, Arduinna turned in her chair, turning her neck to the side and smiling over her shoulder at the woman.
"Do you think they will both come?" She asked as if talking to a dear friend.
Of course, there was no response, but she continued talking anyway, it eased her nerves.
"Perhaps I was a fool to even think that this would work out. I only know pieces of what's happened between the pair of them, I don't really know the whole story, and maybe I am assuming too much to think that it can be mended. But Remus's input could be so valuable to our data, and I don't want my only two friends within hundreds of miles to be unable to stand one another." Arduinna paused and worried her lip a bit, still staring at the woman in the portrait. "Its just... Remus is my packmate. My companion in this curse and few ever can understand that. The years apart from him were like living without a part of myself. And Severus... he is probably the most intriguing and complex person I've ever met. He's the antithesis of me, I'll say that... jaded by all that he has been through. It almost seems as if life has taken a back burner to duty for him. I want to understand that, to know that. Every bit more I learn about him feels like a triumph, and he's letting me... He's letting me. He's letting me know who he is, a gift I wish I could return." She paused and smiled. "But these thoughts get me nowhere. I only think myself in a circle."
"I do not wish anything in return." Came a soft, silken whisper of a voice from the direction of the doorway.
Arduinna's head shot up and her wide eyes met Severus's dark ones. How he had decieved her senses, she was not sure, but he was smiling softly, something she had never seen before, and it sent a flurry of butterflies to her stomach. Her hand shot up to her mouth and a blush climbed up her neck to her cheeks. "How... How much did you hear?"
Severus entered the room, his robes swirling after him obediently, and took the chair across from Arduinna. "I heard enough." The smile had faded from his face but not the amusement or curiosity from his eyes.
Arduinna's blush became deeper and she looked at the floor, an embarassed smile on her face.
"As I said before, I do not want anything in return. You are the first person I've felt comfortable with in a very long time... the why escapes me for now, but it seems my subconscious has chosen you. If you'll listen, that is..." He studied her as he slowly spoke, chin resting in his hand, firelight dancing on half of his face.
She looked up to him and nodded. "Of course I will. It is only that I am honored to be able to know someone as you. Grateful that you are not afraid of me. I have not been able to be properly educated in the wizarding arts and I know what I do through books and scattered friendships. From what I have heard of you from others, mainly Remus mind you, you are not one to share yourself easily. You give me your knowledge and your friendship... somehow I do not see just listening as a fit reciprocal action."
"I assure you, it is." Severus said, silent for a moment, watching her before opening his mouth slightly as if to continue speaking.
But he was interrupted by a brisk knocking at the door.
"Remus..." Arduinna whispered, barely a breath of a word, and made her way over to the door.
Taking a deep breath she brought herself back from the hazy world she had just connected with Severus in and put on a bright smile.
As the door swung open Remus stepped into the room, grinning widely and opening his arms for a hug. "Hey, Ards."
She smiled and leapt upon him. It felt so natural to be this close to Remus, to have their arms wrapped around each other in a tight embrace. "Hey Reems."
Taking a step back, but keeping his hands on her shoulders, Remus looked Arduinna up and down. "You look fabulous. Having guaranteed meals is nice, eh?" He smiled as he trailed a hand down her side, unable to feel her ribs jutting out from underneath skin as it had been when they met.
She grinned at him and swatted his hand playfully. "You don't look the worse for wear either. But come, tonight will not fit under the meager heading of a 'meal,' oh no, this will be a feast." She moved away from him and towards the dining table, motioning for both him and Severus to follow her.
They both did so eagerly, until they noticed the other. They then froze and nodded curtly once, almost in unison, before focusing again on Arduinna and moving towards the table once more. The table was round, leaving comfortable space between all persons present.
Arduinna smiled happily, grateful to whatever gods that both of them had shown up. She was still a bit shaken from the conversation she just had with Severus, but ready to negotiate alliances none the less.
"Well I say we eat first and talk later!" Arduinna said brightly, tapping the edge of the table with her wand which summoned food to all the plates. In the presence of two such powerful wizards she was glad she could do that much.
The three dug in right away, and there were a few moments of contented silence as all sated their initial appetites.
Remus was the first to speak. "So, how is the research going?"
Arduinna could have kissed him, for it was a topic all could contribute on. "Quite well actually. That book was really interesting, although it contained more science than I am accustomed to. Severus will have to help me understand some of the more complex things."
Severus took a sip of wine. "You should understand what you are taking every month."
"No doubt." Arudinna smiled. "But I still think that using six times strained belladonna would help the potion out alot."
"Belladonna?!" Remus exclaimed, looking as if Arduinna had grown another head. "But isn't that..."
Severus cut him off. "Yes it is, and we're not risking her life just to advance the potion. There are limits to what I'll try."
"Thank God." Remus sighed softly, mostly to himself.
"Agreed." Severus tipped his wine glass ever so slightly towards Remus before taking a sip.
"Oh, both of you worry too much." Arduinna crossed her arms. "Strained six times the worst it could do to me is make my feet numb." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "A small price to pay for..."
Remus was the one to interrupt this time. "I like your feet just as they are, thankyouverymuch." He sent a glare her way. When she opened her mouth to protest he raised a finger and pointed it in her face. "And don't argue."
"Fine." Arudinna sighed. "However, despite my little theory on the belladonna, the potion is doing well. Small tweaks are makes large differences. I'm surprised people haven't tried such before."
Severus looked at her pointedly. "Because in potions even miniscule changes in ingredient amounts can change the entire character of the potion. Most people aren't insane enough to mess with an already proven affective potion."
"Except for me that is." Arduinna smiled widely. "Us." She gestured to Severus. He nodded once. "Although, I think the data really is only half complete if we're only using me as a gauge. The reactions of born lycanthropes and made lycanthropes cannot be completely the same. I have no doubt in my mind that the transformation is easier for me than it is for someone like Remus."
"Its true." Remus offered. "My body wasn't genetically prepared for such a transformation and therefore it's not only more painful, but a more jagged and rough transition. And it doesn't help that since the current potion lets you keep a human mind you remember every agonizing detail."
"That is one thing I want to work on, the pain factor. Although I don't know how to insert such effects into the current Wolfsbane potion." Arduinna leaned back in her chair.
Severus looked from her, to Remus, and back to Arduinna. "It is not an easy task. Many of the ingredients in the most common pain numbing potions would be highly reactive to the ingredients in the Wolfsbane. We'd have to find a potion that wouldn't reaction violently with the wormswood in the Wolfsbane. Perhaps I could write Poppy..." Severus trailed off, looking out past the table, deep in thought.
Arduinna smiled at his concentration. Remus just watched in a state of partial awe, never having been privy to Snape outside of his sneers and sarcasm.
There were a few moments of silence, Arduinna wondering if the friendly atmosphere was coming to an end; and then Remus spoke.
"Do you think... do you think observing me would help your research?" Remus offered, speaking directly to Severus.
Coming back from his musings, Severus regarded Remus with a raised eyebrow, almost shocked that he would offer. Then again, he was a noble Gryffindor. Severus was silent for a few moments, just studying Remus's face before speaking. "Of course, more data would always be helpful. But you would both transform at the same time. To observe you both you'd have to be in the same room, and I'm not sure I'd like to be in the same room with both a male and a female werewolf, even if you supposedly still have your human minds."
"We've been in the same room before with no problem." Arduinna chimed in, voice bright with hope. Severus raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a look that screamed 'but not the both of you with another human'.
"Actually, us being together makes the whole thing tons easier. We keep each other occupied. I know I would have torn my room in pieces if Ard hadn't shown up last moon." Remus smiled, remember those tunnels in the carpet.
Severus's head shot towards Arduinna, glaring at her. "You left?"
Arduinna smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "You were asleep."
"But what if something had happened? Some latent reaction?" His voice was cold and his eyes sharp. "You should have known better."
She looked down at her lap guiltily. "Sorry. I just... I was bored. And so was Remus. There's a lot going on in a human-wolf brain to deal with. You always feel like you should be doing something. Exploring something. Chasing something. And if not, sleeping. But you can't sleep for a whole three days. We're not cats."
Remus stifled a laugh at this, causing Severus to shoot a glare in his direction as well.
"Fine, if my professional opinion is not heeded, I am not responsible..." Severus narrowed his eyes, obviously getting angrier by the moment.
Arduinna shot forward and put her hands on top of his, interrupting his speech with her own voice as well as her actions. "It was one time Sev. I won't do it again. I promise. It was stupid to do and I'm sorry."
Remus watched with a curious eye at the interactions between Arduinna and Snape.
Calmness came to Severus almost immediately with her touch, her words only furthering him back to his normal state. She gently moved her fingers back and forth over the top of his left hand as she smiled softly at him. She only relinquished touch when he looked into her eyes and nodded, an understanding firmly reached between the two.
Remus was amazed at the inimate, non-verbal communication between the pair, and how it seemed natural to them. And suddenly anger flared up in him. That was how she acted with him, not with someone like Snape. He didn't understand what they were, are, and always will be; he doesn't understand the slavery to the moon so how could she treat him with such kindness and understanding? Snape could never understand her, not like Remus can anyway.
Remus was brought back to reality when he noticed Arduinna staring at him, eyes curious. He smiled back at her, anger dissipating. Why was he so angry about that? Arudinna showed such understanding and kindness to almost everyone she met, and Snape was a friend of hers, so why shouldn't she treat him that way? There was no reason for him to be jealous of Snape.
Wait a moment... jealous? Remus looked at Arduinna, studying her for a moment. She was his companion, his packmate. Pack mate. Mate.
When had his thinking of her shifted from packmate to possible mate? This was very strange. Arduinna, his mate? He smiled to himself, imagining for a moment the two of them sitting in front of a hearth with twin boys running around.
Hold on... where had that one come from?
Suddenly, Remus felt dizzy.
One hand on the edge of the table, one hand on his forehead, Remus stood. "I... I'm feeling dizzy. I think I should go lie down."
Arduinna rushed to his side, brow furrowed with concern. "Come on. My bedroom isn't far." She pulled Remus's arm about her shoulder and guided him into her bedroom, helping him into the bed and taking off his shoes before pulling the blankets over him.
"Are you alright?" She asked, her hand on his forehead. "Oh, gods, was it the food?"
Remus smiled slightly. "No, no. I just. I was thinking about something and... I'll tell you later. Can I just rest here?"
"Of course, Reems, of course." Arduinna smiled and patted his shoulder. "If you need anything at all, just holler, I'll be near."
Remus nodded. This wasn't quite where he wanted to end up, but he felt that if he didn't lie down soon, he would have fallen down. "Thanks."
"Of course. Now rest and feel better." Arduinna smiled at him and then leaned down and kissed his cheek. The hand that was on his forehead slipped down to his cheek and lingered there for a moment before she left the room.
Still dizzy, and not really wanting to further contemplate Arduinna's actions of late, Remus closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift in the lingering warmth of her kiss.
