IN THE NAME OF LOVE
by The Goblet

Chapter 4

"No! Absolutely not!"

"But you will survive my transformation," pleaded Remus.

"I will not mate with you!"

"You want to die?" asked Remus, terrified.

"Given that to be saved I must let you touch me, yes!"

Remus was taken aback. Did Severus hate him so much that he wouldn't even let himself by touched by him? The werewolf reached out and touched the other man's shoulder.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me," growled Severus, pulling away violently.

"Why?" implored Remus. "Why not? Is it because I am a man?"

"I do not wish to be bonded to you," Severus answered, shuffling away from the werewolf.

"Do you hate me that much? Is your hate so strong for me that you will choose death over a loveless bonding?" Remus whispered.

"This has nothing to do with my feelings for you," stated Severus. "I have made my decision. You will respect it."

"You are committing suicide."

Severus glared at the werewolf. "There are larger issues at stake here than my life. Do not question my reasoning."

Remus threw his hands into the air and got to his feet. "The choice is simple: Bond with me. Mate with me and save your own life."

Severus stood up, hating being towered over by the other man. "I would rather be turned than ever bond with you!" he hissed.

"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Remus asked despondently as he undressed himself. He folded his robes and placed them on a narrow ledge out of the way. Severus had not changed his mind in the intervening hours, and the werewolf was loathe to force him into intimate relations.

"I will not mate with you," Severus replied. He was sitting in a far corner: prepared to die.

"This is needless."

"This is necessary."

Remus was angry. How dare Severus force him into this? "You know Snivellus I can't believe you would go this far to hurt me."

"I am not doing this to hurt you."

"You are turning me into a murderer!"

"I am doing no such thing."

"Oh so when I kill you, it won't be my fault?"

"It is in the nature of a werewolf to kill."

Remus glared at him. But his glower was interrupted as the change began.

Severus looked into the Lycanthrope's eyes as the first stabbing pain began. "I forgive you," he whispered,

After a few minutes a large wolf had taken Lupin's place; it snarled at Severus, bearing its teeth.

It stood, sizing up the other man.

Severus had barely enough time to wet himself before it lunged at him.