IN THE NAME OF LOVE
by The Goblet
Chapter 5
When Remus returned to his human form the next morning, he was horrified to find himself completely covered in blood.
Lifting his head, he surveyed the room. He almost didn't dare to look, but he knew that if Severus had somehow survived the night, then the Slytherin would need assistance.
Severus was nowhere in sight. All Remus could see were puddles of blood and ripped shreds of Severus' robes.
Lupin pushed himself up into a seated position. His transformations were always difficult, but a transformation without wolfsbane was horrendous. His abused muscles ached as he moved and he was still bleeding from the large gashes which covered his body.
Bracing himself, Remus cautiously looked around the room. He really didn't want to see Severus' remains. He intensely feared what the wolf had done.
Then he spotted him, lying in a far corner, in a pool of blood. Severus was completely nude, his clothes strewn about the vault.
Remus could only see his naked back, where several claw and bite marks stood out vividly against his blood-smeared skin.
The Potions Master was lying, facing away from him and he was apprehensive about what he may find: had he torn out the other man's throat?
Leaning forward, Remus got to his hands and knees and slowly began to crawl towards the Slytherin; dread filling him, terror overcoming him.
He stopped in order to collect himself and try to calm his queasy stomach.
Suddenly the vault door disintegrated, and Remus turned to see a goblin being hastily pushed aside as Albus Dumbledore rushed into the room.
The Headmaster didn't spare a glance at Lupin, instead hurrying to Severus' side. He knelt beside the Slytherin and blocked him from view.
Remus was so pre-occupied watching the Headmaster tend to his Potions Master that he jumped when a blanket was draped over his shoulders. He looked behind him to find Kingsley Shacklebolt covering his nakedness. "I-I need to s-see what I have d-done," he stuttered, trying to get to his feet.
Kingsley caught him as he fell. The Auror wrapped his arms around the injured man, holding him upright. "Shh, let Albus check him over," he said, calmingly while restraining Lupin.
The two men watched as the Headmaster pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around the Potions Master's still form. Carefully, he stood up, cradling the man in his arms.
"Do you have the portkey?" Albus asked softly. His voice was strained, broken.
"Oh Merlin," Remus murmured upon hearing Albus' overwrought voice. He crumbled to his knees in grief, despite Shacklebolt's support.
Kingsley pulled out a long Gringotts Bank scarf and flung one end at the Headmaster. The goblins had given them a charmed portkey which could circumvent their many anti-burglary charms and jinxes.
He bent down and pressed the scarf to Remus as he sat sobbing on the floor, while Albus held it to Severus' skin.
With a jerk, all four men disappeared from the vault.