As ever, standard disclaimers apply.
Sunday came bright as its namesake but Margaret Sellinger was feeling anything but bright. She scrubbed a hand thorough her short blond hair brushing up messy spikes by the action. She'd finally gone to bed around 2:00 AM but sleep had been elusive and full of dark warnings and evil premonitions. In other words, bad dreams. Absently she reached out for her cup of coffee, startling herself when its lack of weight informed her of its emptiness. She grimaced and refocused her gaze from the scattered papers to the empty cup. With a long suffering sigh she forced herself to her feet and padded over to refill her cup from the nearly empty coffee maker. Filthy habit, she heard her mother muttering. But she liked coffee more than tea for the sheer jolt it could give. Which was why she didn't drink it regularly. One could quickly build up a tolerance for the caffeine and there went the buzz.
She carried the once more filled cup back to the table and set it down without tasting it, her thoughts going back to the reports she was studying.
Apparently there was a difference between pureblood wizards and regular (her mother would have said 'real') people. It had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with inbreeding. There had been mutations which, at least in Severus Snape, indicated deviations from accepted norms. Severus Snape, (at least) could no more receive blood from any Muggle than could a dog. Ostensibly type AB Rh negative, but apparently not. Well... Type ABII she'd designate it. But there were other differences. Whoever had done the analysis had found chemical signatures from various drugs that did not make sense unless they could be assumed to have occurred because of a difference in his chemistry.
Now she leaned back in the chair and allowed herself a long drag from her mug. Spinal fluid, she'd test that as soon as she had him. She'd been too quick to simply inject chemicals into him. This time she would make a full analysis before she did too much else. This time she would succeed. She replaced the cup and started writing notes to herself on her laptop.
This was going to be a profitable weekend after all.
--
Merritt's deep somber voice struck Mundungus as forcibly as any blunt instrument. "Fletcher, I've been waiting over an hour," the voice caressed ungently.
"Had to be careful, I thought I saw Tonks." Mundungus noisily slid a chair over to the table Merritt had procured in the dark Knockturn Ally pub and promptly filled it with his own bulk.
"And you didn't want to lead her here. How thoughtful of you."
"She'd go straight to Dumbledore. I like the girl and won't see her hurt for this."
"All right. I'll let this go. The fewer involved the better."
Mundungus' eyes narrowed as he fiddled with his tobacco pouch. Was the man trying to make him think this was an action sanctioned by the Ministry? He didn't believe it, but then he also didn't ask. He filled his pipe and tamped it down. "Buy me a firewhiskey mate. I've good news."
Merritt gestured and the barkeep sidled over just long enough to take the order. They waited silently, Dung, caught up in the act of igniting his pipe just so, until the drink was served. Merritt's own drink was hardly touched. "Well?"
"Tomorrow. I can get him out tomorrow." He downed the drink in one smooth gulp. "There's an old lot at 34 Grimmauld Place. I'll have him there."
"What time?"
"That I'm not sure of. Not before brekkers anyway. Got to make sure his keepers are away. There'll be no one hurt. You folks want Snape, fine, but everyone else is off limits."
"Strong words, thief."
"That's right. Thief, not traitor." Dung puffed angrily on his pipe.
Merritt only nodded. "No, you are not a traitor, Fletcher, I will say that for you. Very well. Tomorrow then."
The thief slid quickly out of his seat and hurried away (partly he was afraid the Auror meant to stick him with the bill, partly he was feeling less than comfortable with this skullduggery). But the Auror did not move. Rather he was joined by three others. "Tomorrow morning, 34 Grimmauld Place."
--
Two more days before full moon. Remus couldn't help but feel the weight of depression descend. He didn't want to leave Molly shorthanded, but the Wolfsbane Potion was at Hogwarts. Or it would be come the time to take it, and so would he be! He had helped Snape negotiate the obstacle course to the kitchen at Molly's behest as she had hopes that seeing everyone else packing away a meal might get the message across that he should eat more himself. Remus personally doubted it but was not of a mind to argue. As for himself, although he was no more hungry than usual, the fact that he'd need all his strength had him devouring platefuls of carbohydrates. He always thought it odd that he could eat so much and feel neither hunger beforehand nor overfed afterwards. Indeed, once the whole ordeal ran its course, he would be worn out and desperately in need of sustenance.
He finally realized that there was nothing left to eat. Arthur was looking at him as if he couldn't figure out where it all went. Severus was staring at his still nearly full plate. "Delicious Molly! Just what I needed!" He forced more cheer into his voice than he actually felt.
"You had nearly as much as Ron," Harry sounded impressed.
Remus almost blushed. "Yes well... That time of month..."
"You will go soon?" Snape's slow speech startled them all. He hadn't moved to look up.
"Yes, but I'll be back on Thursday."
"I ... did not make it." There was confusion in the voice.
"Make what Severus?" Arthur asked without thinking.
"Potion. Wolfsbane Potion. I am supposed to... But I do not remember..." Now he did look up, long black hair parting to reveal his expression of complete befuddlement.
"You will, Severus. Not to worry. You will remember and I'll have a better potion for it, I'm sure."
A simple nod answered him but the expression did not change.
"Right then. I think it's about time I left. I'll see you folks in a few days." He took his plates to the sink and headed upstairs, all three teens at his heels for individual goodbyes. Harry was most obviously distressed and concerned. But they exchanged a hug and neither said anything more about the monthly transformation. "Have fun with Hermoine, tomorrow."
"We'll tell you said 'hello' and not to study too hard." Ron replied. They all laughed at that and Remus felt much better all the rest of the evening.