Disclaimer: All characters are the property of Warner Brothers, J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury. Not to mention the Edinburgh book festival this year who are blessed to have Rowling returning were she will be revealing more about book six and reading from book five and I am seething because I did not get tickets!

AN: Sorry about this taking forever to materialise. I really have had rotten luck this past couple of weeks. My laptop crashed because of a virus and I lost all my work. So annoying. So this is a redone version of the original chapter five. To say sorry I also have added chapter six instead of holding it back until the beginning of next week. So please enjoy!

It is non-beta read since no one wants to beta read this story. Has it got the plague or something? If you interested let me know. A perk of the job is you get to read update before anyone else. You are the honoured and blessed first person to read this story!


Chapter Five: The Aftermath

Remus woke feeling panicky. He was still suffering the after affects that came from his transformation. A cool cloth was pressed against his forehead as he came to. Opening his eyes he saw Madam Pomfrey perched over him smiling.

"Well back to the land of the living, Lupin." She smiled.

"How long have I been unconscious?" he asked looking about for a clock.

"Two days, "Madam Pomfrey replied.

"How is Blackscales?" Remus said thinking aloud.

"Blackscales?"

Remus blushed red as Poppy grinned sheepishly and replaced the cloth against his forehead with a fresh one.

"You must mean Severus. He's in a lot of pain, so he is still asleep to prevent further injury. The Death Eater certainly did their worst to him. He has broken bones, torn muscle, severe bruising and internal bleeding. I won't be reviving him for another couple of hours. Meanwhile you have visitors."

Remus smiled grimly. He could guess who his visitors were. He had known his actions would have consequences. He had hoped to escape this confrontation for a little longer. He was unafraid of his future, or what he had left of it. Rising from his bed he dressed in the robes Poppy conjured for him then he made his way to the headmaster's office. He would be calm and collected. It was not Fudge's fault for once. It was the petty hatred of old wizards who feared werewolves. Denying them mates prevented the spread of the cure through parent to child.

Inside Dumbledore's office, Remus found Fudge conversing with the headmaster over a cup of tea. Dumbledore was enjoying his lemon drops in between sips. Fudge chomped on what appeared to be shortbread biscuits.

"Ah my boy!" Dumbledore greet him. "Come take a seat. Tea? How are you feeling?"

"No worse for the wear," Remus answered. "I would not mind a cup of tea. Before we discuss why I think you're here minister."

"Albus has said your actions have his full support." Fudge muttered. "Though he suspects that perhaps you actions are not illegal. Tell me, Mr Lupin why would the headmaster assume you had marked Professor Snape in the mid seventies?"

What? Remus thought as he turned to look at Dumbledore who smiled as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth. What was the old coot up to? Had he finally released the details of the near miss the Marauders and Snape had during their youth? Pleas don't have, Remus begged the Fates. It had been hushed up then to save him. As the full details of the attack two years ago had been. Everyone involved had not said a word, the school had just found out his secret but nothing about the attack on pupils.

"The Headmaster tells me because you marked you mate during the seventies," Fudge continued setting down his china cup. "Before the 1981 Act, under the law brought in that year you have committed no crime as you were paired before the decree was made."

He could not believe it. Albus had not condemned him but rather turn what should have been a criminal act for a werewolf in a solution they could use. As long as Blackscales- no he must remember to call Snape by his name at least. If Severus agreed then Dumbledore's plan could work as it proved a motive to why he took a mate. Though the desperation of the situation he thought would have proven his actions as honourable under the circumstances.

"Minister, I can see you are doubtful about this," Remus said guardedly. "But the attack twenty years ago was..."

"A prank!" Fudge exclaimed. "Set up by Sirius Black accorded to Professor Dumbledore. Don't worry Mr Lupin, when we catch him and the rest of those filth Death Eaters we will be adding that to the list of his crimes. No doubt he was trying to kill Professor Snape because of his refusal to join his little group, of course in the end he joined as a spy for us."

The lie hurt Remus, but not as much as the reference to Sirius still being alive and thought of as guilty.

"Cornelius, it was just a boyhood prank." Albus said firmly. "One of many played here in these hallways, are you going to excuse every prankster here of being a Death Eater? The Weasleys would be most upset if their twins were excused of that since they hold the reputation of being the most active pranksters in recent years."

"Right," Fudge said awkwardly before gathering his coat and addressing Remus again. "I will commission Aurors to gather evidence. Miss Tonks will arrive soon to gather statements in the mean time, good day."

Albus rose from his desk to show the Minister out. The horrid little man was soon gone. Dumbledore looked over to him and smiled bleakly. The wily old coots had bought them time at least in revealing the truth. But there were other things to address now, Remus sensed.

"Dare I say how very disappointed with you I am with you Remus?" Albus Dumbledore asked circling his desk to sit down opposite Remus.

"I know the law, Albus." Remus replied looking up to meet the non-twinkling eyes of the headmaster.

"Remus, I am not disappointed by your choice." Albus said softly. "In my view it has been coming for a along time."

Remus reminded silent.

"By the sounds of it you forgot to mention a lot of other things to Severus too."

He was talking about the link. In the short time they had before moonrise, Remus had meant to tell his mate, but Severus had surprised him too. So things had been left unsaid. No doubt the Werewolf link was going to be an issue that would lead to many arguments judging on how Severus liked his privacy.

"There was no time Albus," Remus said in his defence. "I could not just ignore the fact I would rip him to pieces in less that three hours. I still don't know how you found us."

"A little dragon told me." Albus said reaching for a piece of parchment. "Right, now we have important matters to deal with. First I have to write to Minister Fudge and urge him not to dispatch the Aurors here. I will ask him to come himself to deal with this situation."

Remus knew what Albus was thinking. If he could convince the Minister that it was done for the best and get Severus to agree for the sake of the Order to not sign the document allowing the Ministry to arrest his mate then there was hope of saving Remus's life. Remus watched at the quill jerked along the paper scribbling down swiftly the head master's neat characters. Fawkes was ready the moment the letter was finished and politely took the letter from Dumbledore and rose up from his perch on the desk flying out the window to deliver his important message.

"Secondly, we now have to convince Severus." Albus said glumly. "I will not press him on behalf of the Order; the boy has suffered enough because of myself. He will decide your fate, Remus."

Suddenly Remus did not feel so confident as he had done walking into the Headmaster's office.

"I shall have to tell him everything."

Albus nodded and stood. Moving around the desk he took, Remus arm and guided him to the door. The journey to the hospital wing was made in silence. Remus felt as if he was about to be presented before Cesar to have his fate decided by the turning of a thumb. He should not be afraid. Like Sirius used to say "he is just a greasy git."

No he isn't! Remus's mind countered. His hair is very fine and soft! It is those damn charms that make it appear so. Actually that was something he wanted to ask Severus about but best left for another time. If he thought positively about this issue and that he would have another time to ask then perhaps things would go well. Before Remus knew it he was standing with Albus at the entrance to the hospital wing.

"I shall be in Poppy's office," Albus said giving Remus a pat on the back. "After this chat, we should discuss what we should be done in the mean time."

Another black mark against me, Remus thought entering the hospital wing. Albus would offer him the position as DADA as he and Severus could not be separated for long distance or lengths of time because of the necessity of a werewolf keeping a mate close. Rejection or separation resulted in dramatic side effects for a werewolf. The intense pain came first, or that's what books said. Then the mourning period of high fevers, eventually the werewolf slipped into a coma and as the textbooks said, they would "expire".

Merlin could this be anymore of a mess. At least Severus knew about the possibility of that werewolves mating for life, explaining that at this late stage would be very awkward. Knowing the Potion Master he would have voluntarily told Fudge what to do. Now at least hopefully, they could have a civilised discussion. Maybe. If he was in a good mood- did that ever happen? Remus gulped.

Before he walked into the hospital wing, Dumbledore stopped him once more and handed him his wand. "I believe this belong to you, my boy."

Dumbledore then allowed him to continue on his way to Severus's bedside, wear he took the vacant visitor's seat that was beside the bed. Remus sat in the chair watching his mate sleep peacefully. He had come with a purpose but been halted at the sight of his mate, waking him seemed cruel. Never had he seen Snape looking so calm and completely relaxed. At school he had always been on alert because of Sirius and James and then because his life was constantly under threat, but now he seemed completely unperturbed. It did not change much about his appearance though. The nose was still too big and badly hooked, but underneath Snape looked half decent Remus knew now.

"Do you wish to continue staring at me Lupin," Severus said without opening his eyes. "Or do you intend to get to a point any time soon?"

Remus jumped as Snape spoke then opened his piercing black eyes to stare at the surprised amber ones.

"Dumbledore thought I should talk to you." Remus managed to say controlling the shake to his voice.

"I was wondering when you would be wanting to explain," Severus said pulling himself up to sit against the pillows then glanced around the room. "Do you have your wand, Lupin?"

Remus frowned. Why would Snape want his wand? But better than to argue he pulled it out of the fresh robes that Madam Pomfrey had conjured up for him to wear after checking him out. She had promptly thrown the others out sniffing about how he was a wizard and could easily improve his clothes in an instant! She had given him the new robes that fitted his lean frame instead of being a size too big. He had mourned Sirius and forgot to feed himself and lost weight because of it.

"Of course I do, Albus found it in the Great Hall and returned it to me half an hour ago." Remus explained. "Why do you want my wand?"

"Well," Severus sniffed. "I hoped you could summon a robe or at least my dressing gown; as that bloody witch refused to allow me to go to the dungeons or give me my wand to do it myself!"

It was a reasonable request and Severus had not demanded he do it. He said "could" so Remus summoned what he hoped was the Potion Master's dressing gown. When the black silk garment appeared, he thought he had conjured the wrong one. But the green and silver snake revealed it was the correct one. Slytherin through and through, Remus thought to himself as Severus pulled on the robe and settled on the edge of the bed to study Remus. I wonder does he have Slytherin styled paper for letter?

"Well are you going to enlightenment why I can hear your thoughts and clearly see your emotions?" Severus asked rising a black eyebrow at Remus. "My stationary for you information carries my family crest!"

Taking a deep breath, Remus spoke. "Severus, what your experiencing is called the link. I... I should have told you before we... you know bonded. But there was not time."

He continued to explain the link was a mental forging of the bond. They would be bonded mentally and physically for the rest of their natural lives. They would know when each other were in pain or in danger. The link allowed them share thoughts and emotions. Its purpose was to allow them to be separate part of the time.

"Anything else I should know Lupin?" Severus asked looking seriously at him.

"Yes," Remus said then continued quietly. "By making you my mate I broke the law. I saved your life, Severus now my life will be in your hands."

Severus looked at him for a long time. His piercing black eyes taking in every detail of his profile from the brown locks of his hair, the amber brown eyes, the odd faded freckle on his straight nose, his lean figure to the green robes he wore. Remus knew he was a boyish sort of handsome. He was never going to be in the leagues with Sirius or James whose good looks screamed "Look I'm Gorgeous!" He would be a good companion to Severus too. He was intelligent; his standards of potions were not up to Sevreus's standard but he could easily debate and discuss them. There was also the Dark Arts but best to stay away from that area.

"Looks like you are in trouble again, Lupin." Snape hissed under his breath. "I owe you though for saving my life, even if I doubt I will live out the year."

"You better," Remus said snapping his head up glaring up at Severus. "When you die, I shall die too! I shall go into the Mourning, and waste away. So I have incentive to keep you alive."

Dumbledore had pounced on him as soon as Madam Pomfrey had discharged him from the Hospital Wing. He had suffered a number of injuries from of his fellow Death Eaters. The internal bleeding had been the most serious. It would take weeks for him to truly recover, but as long as he took the potions daily and kept away from his work he was allowed to move about the school. Remaining the hospital wing had not been a comfortable notion. The idea Lupin could swoop on him at any time prompted his speedy removal from the hospital wing.
Severus had been about to head down the stairs in the direction of the Dungeons when Albus had found him and insisted that he come to his office for a little chat. On the way, the headmaster had muttered on about how things would be different. He had asked questioned but only got grunts in response. Severus's mind had been engaged elsewhere trying to block Lupin reading his thoughts through there shared link. He was using the same principle he had used to hide his memories and thoughts from Voldemort and was having some success. Though he wished he could have more. So far it only worked if there was a distance between them up close. The Link was incredibly strong and hence his efforts had been unsuccessful to block the werewolf as yet.

But he had also been dwelling on other matters that enraged him from the distant past. Things he was trying not to control his reaction to the present otherwise he would have ready left and refused to even play along for the sake of Dumbledore's golden werewolf who could get away with murder it seemed. The old fool always had some reason to preserve his Gryffindors. Slytherins of course were the evil of the wizard and in the enemy. He would always be that no matter what he did or risked his life for.

"Tea?" Albus asked looking to him as they entered his office.

Severus snorted at the question as Albus poured himself a cup.

"This is a waste of time!" Severus snarled rising to his feet.

"Severus, my boy-" Albus began but was cut off.

"Lupin, can tell you all you need to know!" Snape bit out. "I am going to pack! My cover is blown, Albus. My life is at the mercy of Voldemort. There are a couple of things I must see to before that loaming death catches me."

"Severus, at Hogwarts you are safe." Albus said.

Snape just laughed. "You're a fool if you believe that Albus."

"Sit down, Severus!" Dumbledore bellowed startling the Potion Master. "I know your endangered but there are things to discuss. There are going to have to be many changes now Remus is your mate."

Severus stormed from the Headmaster's office half an hour later, feeling in a worse mood than when he had entered. It was all Lupin's fault! It was bad enough he was mentally and physically bonded to the werewolf, but now they were going to live together and work together. Goddamn it! Lupin had even been made DADA Professor again. No doubt Potter and his friends would be happy about that.

He felt trapped in a cage. At least as a Death Eater he had freedom to conduct his life however he wished as long as he came to call. Now he was being ordered to expect things he did not want and given no choice about his own life. He could not leave the castle without Lupin. Therefore he could not deal with business that he needed to attend. At least he had managed to block some of Lupin's ability to read his mind. He could only read thoughts when in close contact, until him who got a running commentary of Lupin's thoughts constantly. But he still had no privacy.

Completely lost in his thoughts he did not realise that he walked into Lupin until he was sprawled on the floor with the Werewolf staring at him.

"Are you alright, Severus?" Remus asked standing and offering his hand to his mate.

Severus just scowled and ignoring it before barking. "Fine!"

Lupin sighed. "Your back to your delightful self, I see."

"What business is it of yours?" He snapped at the werewolf.

"You are my mate, Severus." Remus declared looking at him with a half loopy grin on his face. "I wish however you would leave the Black Bat persona in the classroom. Or does it come with wearing those infamous black robes of yours?"

He growled at Lupin and walked off. How dare Lupin say such things to him! His mate indeed! Well they would see about that. If Dumbledore and Lupin thought he would dance to there tune they were seriously mistaken. He had thing to do, and he intended to do them. There were a couple of secret people he wanted to see and a couple of places of importance to him that required visiting before Voldemort caught up to him. Walking into the great hall, Severus found he was early for lunch and decided to wait there for the twenty minutes he had before the elves and teaching staff remain at the Castle appeared.

Unfortunately Lupin found him there moments later. At the end of his tether, Severus finally snapped.

"Merlin, Severus what is wrong?" Remus asked stalking up on his mate who stood leaning against the table in the great hall.

"Because of you," Snape growled harshly. "I have lost any hope of freedom. I have lost control of my own life!"

Remus was stunned. He had expected of course Severus not to be happy at the things that Dumbledore had revealed to him in his office. But surely Severus understood. He had saved the Black Bat's life! Moony would have torn him apart. Voldemort was up to something with Werewolves and Severus was being selfish! Remus did not know how to handle the situation. He wanted all these problems to be a thousand miles away and Padfoot to be alive.

"God, must you think of that Mutt now!" Snape bellowed furious about overhearing Remus's thoughts.

He was livid and was ready to explode. Picking up Severus's thoughts, Remus realised that Snape was not happy in this situation he wanted to be free of him! He hated him still. He hated him more than Voldemort. Remus gasped and shrank back from the black robed figure before him shocked. No one had ever hated him like that!

"You are a fool, Lupin!" Snape retorted nastily, drawing out each word. "I have always hated you. I despise you even more now! If you think I am going to bind myself to you for the rest of my life, think again! I wish I had the strength to let you have just killed me back in Avery Castle dungeon, or even that Potter had let me die twenty years ago! I refuse to be associated with you! I am not your bloody mate!"

"You don't mean that," Remus said turning ghostly white.

"What part of 'I am not your bloody mate!' did you not understand, Lupin?" Severus demanded icily, his eyes glinting in the candlelight. "My death will come on swift wings! I intend to live my last days free of those I abhor!"

Remus felt as if someone had just ripped his soul out. He had just been rejected not once but twice.

Severus snarled at him before stalking off, his robes billowing behind him as he strode out the doorway. He left Remus gripping the Slytherin table for support. How ironic, he was going to die at the Slytherin table.

Remus felt the pain begin in his heart and then spread. The world was spinning out of control. He wanted to howl out his heartbreak. Even though he did not love Severus, Moony recognised him as his mate. He felt as if losing Padfoot was nowhere as near bad as the loss of Severus. Snape had just rejected him. Tears stung the corner of Remus's eyes as he sunk to the floor as his body stared to shake. He knew this was the Mourning beginning. It was brought on when a Werewolf's mate abandoned or rejected their mate. If not reunited, the Werewolf died. Before unconsciousness claimed him. Remus knew Severus would not return.

"Good bye, Severus." Remus whispered as he collapsed, giving into the blinding pain that consumed his body. Finally the Marauders would be reunited, Remus thought as he slipped into the dark oblivion from which a swift end would come...