~

"In flagrante delicto."

Literally in Latin, the heat of the crime

 He'd only talked to him once. It had been the day after Harry had left the cottage for the Weasley's busy home. It had been a brief conversation through the Floo network.

Harry's green eyes were pleading with him silently, begging for him to devise some grand scheme to come and rescue him. How bizarre, after a couple of weeks spent with a sex-starved werewolf and a drunken godfather, you would have thought the wizard would want solace in the company of his relatively sane friends.

There was no post-coital awkwardness between them and Remus had sat for a while watching Harry as he kept on trying to reach through the flames and to the man on the other side.

And so when Molly Weasley had asked the shy Professor-type over for tea one night, he had leapt at the chance to see his one-time lover for the final time before he would flee to Hogwarts.

He was stood in front of the fireplace, butterflies in his stomach. He darted back to the mirror for what must have been the third time that evening, smoothing down his hair and frowning at his reflection.

Remus felt a desperate urge within him to make himself look good for Harry. He wanted to cut his hair to a more reasonable length than the curling waves that ended just below his chin.

He wanted to stop the sweating on his forehead and upper lip. He wanted to wave his hand and look at the mirror at someone else.

Fashionable, trendy. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived's beau. Not the dowdy, conservative lycanthropic Professor figure who was always sensible and reliable.

A wave of self-hatred swept over him and Remus just about managed to stop the fist that threatened to punch forward.

"Fucking hell," he muttered, inspecting the purpling shadows underneath his eyes. "What does Harry see in me?"

He was nothing interesting. He was too skinny, slightly girlish in features. He wasn't a great conversationalist, preferring silence to the busy noise of a crowd. The werewolf frowned at himself, tugging at his hair so sharply that he felt a shoot of pain on his scalp.

He couldn't even understand Sirius' manic attraction to him. Feeling depression swamp over him he placed both hands on the mirror, vaguely noticing the sweaty hand shapes left on them.

Resting his burning forehead against the cool metal he stared into oddly coloured brown eyes.

Slut.

The words echoed around his ears, deafening him as a whirlwind of Sirius' insults swirled before him. Clapping his hands over the side of his head he dropped to the ground.

He buried his head in his knees, feeling sick to the core of his soul. Whore.

~

"Harry, dear, call in at Lupin's, will you?" Molly's motherly voice rang through the house with the ease of year's practice. "He's nearly half an hour late."

"That's not like him," he murmured, stepping into the fireplace, clutching the green powder in his right hand.

A moment later he bowed his head as he stepped out onto carpeted floor in front of the fireplace. "Moony?" he called.

A small noise alerted his attention and Harry spun around, noticing a small figure hidden in a corner by the mirror. With a couple of strides he'd covered the distance and crouched in front of Remus.

The man was curled in a ball on his side, his face was flushed, his eyes overly shiny and his breath came in short puffs as if he had just run a marathon. Upon seeing Harry the shortness of breath increased.

Clutching at his throat Remus made a strange mixture of noises, gagging and choking coupled with a hacking cough.

Harry felt the overwhelming pressure of panic press down on him and he quickly assessed the lycanthrope for any injuries. "Sit up, please," he pushed Remus up so that his back rested against the wall.

"Deep breaths, I'll just get you some water."

Dithering he finally sprinted into the kitchen, clumsily nervous fingers jittery as they filled a glass with water. After spilling most of it over the oatmeal carpet, he dropped to his knees in front of Remus.

"Drink this," Harry cried, resting the glass against flushed and cracked lips. He tipped the water into Remus' mouth despite the mewling sounds of protest.

He watched as Lupin swallowed then threw himself to the side as the former-Professor got onto all fours, retching. Horrified, all Harry could do was move his hands in soothing circles on Remus' back.

He retched and retched, nothing come out apart from some water. Mingled with the rasping sound of gagging were hoarse sobs.

After a while Remus pulled back, wiping at his mouth and sitting on his haunches.

"Fuck," Harry found himself muttering as he dabbed at Remus' mouth with his sleeve. He stared into bloodshot eyes, disconcerted by the red spots that were starting to appear below his eyebrows.

"Come on, you're going to bed," Harry said, trying to pulling him to his feet. It was to no avail; the man although frail was too heavy. It helped when Remus fainted after a moment.

Borrowing the use of the wizard's wand, he levitated the body into the bedroom then laid him onto the bed. Feeling strangely calm, the student stripped Lupin of all but his underpants and socks.

Then he laid him underneath the covers just as amber eyes fluttered open. "What happened?"

Harry perched on the edge of the bed, smoothing away the damp tendrils of hair that gathered on Remus' brow. "You were having trouble breathing then you started retching, love."

Again the endearment that never failed to send a little thrill of pleasure through the werewolf's tired body. He smiled a little before resting his eyes. Instead of the lust that had filled him before at hearing Harry's mellifluous voice saying that one word, he felt great calm.

"Are you staying with me?" he asked, annoyed by the pathetic tone that crept in with the question.

"Molly told me to come and fetch you for dinner, but you're not going anywhere, Mister." Harry smiled down at his patient. "Stuff Dumbledore, I'm staying here until I'm sure you're okay."

"I was just looking in the mirror"-

"That awful, eh?" Harry regretted the words as soon as they had left his mouth as Remus blanched considerably, slowly edging his body away from the boy's. "No, please. Carry on."

He placed what he hoped was a comforting pat on Remus' thigh.

"I just started to panic… I don't remember much else."

"I think you've just been under too much stress, with too little food, love." Harry kissed Remus' brow. "Now get some sleep, I'll just tell Molly what happened then I'll be straight back."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Harry kissed his fingers then placed them on a pair of flushed lips before leaving the room.

~

When he woke again it was night-time, the day's turmoil only a vague memory. Remus sat up quickly, his keen eyesight making out a shape in the corner of the room.

Flicking on the bedside lamp he smiled gently at Harry. The boy was fast asleep, his head drooping on his chest as he dozed in the wicker chair.

It was an uncomfortably hot evening and he was thankful for his lack of clothing. Pushing the covers away he made his way towards Harry, stumbling occasionally on wobbly legs.

"Harry?" Remus murmured, pressing a kiss onto his forehead.

The Boy-Who-Lived didn't stir and Remus smiled again at him, feeling his heart beat increasing as he watched Harry sleeping. By Merlin, he was so beautiful.

His pale cheeks were flushed with pink and there was a thin film of sweat on his face. Remus ran his thumb gently down the side of Harry's face then retracted to sniff the digit.

He couldn't describe the scent, but it was something that filled him with desire.

Salt, youth, danger, lust.

In his mind's eye several very vivid images flashed through, almost disturbing in their clarity. He felt himself blush with yearning and he pressed his lips against Harry's throat, gently sucking and nipping.

The first signal that the boy was awake was a silky moan and the tightening of fingers in his hair. Harry pulled him down into a bruising kiss, his emerald eyes open and flashing.

After a while Remus pulled away from lack of breath, smiling at Harry's pouting lips. "Patience," he murmured down at his lover, trying to regulate his breathing. He entwined his fingers in the jet strands of hair and levered Harry to his feet.

They staggered backwards like this, clutching at each other desperately as though every second spent with the other was to be their last.

Lips tearing at skin. Fingers brushing aside clothing until they dissolved upon the clean sheets in a pile of pale limbs. Remus propped himself up on his elbows, staring down at Harry. "Are you sure you want this?"

Harry bobbed his head quickly, his eyes sinfully suggestive in the way that they roamed Remus' body. His lips quirked up into a smile. "Of course I do, I'd be bleeding stupid to refuse you."

The werewolf frowned slightly, his former doubts invading his mind once more. "Harry, why do you want to sleep with me?" he asked.

The boy looked slightly insulted at the question. "Isn't that obvious?" he replied.

"No."

Harry stroked his fingers through the grey locks that hung down to tickle his cheeks. His eyes were so serious, so very serious that Remus was struck by how quickly the Boy-Who-Lived had matured.

They were both alike. They had been robbed of a childhood. Remus because of his lycanthropy had grown up without the naivety of youth, Harry because of the constant threat hanging over his shoulders.

"I'm attracted to you, and," Harry paused, his lips placing tender kisses over the older man's face. "You need someone to keep you sane."

Remus seemed somewhat placated by the response and nudged Harry's lips open for another passionate kiss. "Y-you don't love me, do you?"

His lover gave a small chuckle. "It's a bit sudden to say that, Remus. I'm not exactly experienced in things like that. In time, maybe…"

"I'm just hassle." Remus tried to concentrate on his words; he felt a burning ache within him to warn Harry from getting too involved. It was hard though, when a devious hand was exploring his naked body.

"I don't care," the boy said, his voice thick with desire.

"I'm not worthy of you"-

"Don't say that."

"You shouldn't be here- Dumbledore told you to stay with the Weasleys."

Harry gave a soft gasp, grasping Remus' face in both hands. "Stop fucking doing this to yourself!" he cried. "What's stopping you from sleeping with me? Morals, sensibilities, ethics?! Or paranoia?"

"I'll just hurt you. I've got too much emotional baggage." Remus gathered the sheets around the lower half of his body and sat, his legs dangling off the side of the bed. "Go and find a lover who can treat you as well as you ought to be."

The student rolled out of the bed, standing in front of his reluctant lover, ignoring his blatant nakedness. "You're just afraid. Afraid."

The lycanthrope's amber eyes glinted with something akin to anger. "What am I afraid of?" his voice was defeated.

Harry put his hands on his hips, his eyes brooking no argument. "You're afraid that someone else will screw you over like Sirius did. You're afraid that I'll sleep with you, then leave you until the next night."

Remus hung his head, unable to look Harry in the eyes. There was truth in the boy's words; he was unable to deny it. There was a part of him that knew that to all of his partners, he was never anything more than something to shag.

There had been no tenderness with Lucius, or Sirius. And despite Sirius' loud proclamations of love, Remus couldn't see that there would be any truth in the alcoholic's words.

And then there was Harry… for the first time he'd actually felt something. Something more than just lust or desire. But the next morning he was gone, leaving Remus on his own again.

"Fuck it, Lupin. Take a chance for once in your life, will you? Trust me. I'll try my dammed hardest not to ruin everything."

Remus couldn't concentrate on his morals while Harry was stood in front of him like that, glorious with his ivory skin and full lips.

"I might live to regret this, but okay," he could hardly speak for the desire pumping through him. With those words he flung Harry onto the mattress and promptly began to ravish him.

~

"I thought you'd left me," Harry purred playfully, as he strolled into the kitchen, clad only in the lycanthrope's dressing gown. He slipped his arms around his lover's waist and rested his chin on Remus' shoulder.

Remus turned around in the embrace, smoothing back Harry's fringe to kiss his forehead. "'Course I wasn't. I was making some breakfast, after last night I've worked up such an appetite you wouldn't believe."

"What are you making me? Strawberries and clotted cream?"

The former-Professor laughed, catching his beau's lips in a deep kiss. "You'd be lucky if you get cornflakes," he replied.

Harry smiled, glad that Remus seemed to be more like his normal self that morning. He pouted. "You really know how to turn a guy off, don't you?"

"Nonsense, if you're like any normal boy, then you'll remain perpetually horny all the way through adolescence, strawberries or not. You'll have to make do with me feeding you toast."

"Are you sure you don't have any strawberries?" Harry persisted. "I'm very disappointed."

"And you think I'm exuberant because I get to miss out on feeding my lover strawberries and cream?" Lupin countered, raising one eyebrow.

"Sadist," Harry moaned. Just Remus saying the word 'lover' made him ache with pleasure, but while in context with strawberries and cream, even more so. "You'll have to be punished because you did not realise my needs."

Remus tried his best to look penitent, hiding his eyes beneath his eyebrows but failed miserably as he was pulled in for another kiss. "Bedroom, now," Harry laughed and they staggered back and onto the bed.

The toast was left to grow cold on the work surface.

~