Food for Thought
Part 4
The following morning, Remus found himself stumbling down to the Great Hall, feeling like he hadn't slept in weeks. He knew that it was probably because he's tossed and turned all through the night and really hadn't slept well. He had a thousand things on his mind, and none of them followed suit with what the others had to do with. Most of them were about Severus and why he'd acted so cold the night before, but what could he do? There really was no point in crying over spilled salt.
Breakfast passed quickly for Remus, who was lost in his own world. He hadn't eaten anything, but he drank generous amounts of water. He knew that Severus was watching him, wondering why he hadn't eaten, especially after he told him specifically to have something in his stomach the night before. Remus closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He was very tired but he knew that he couldn't doze off here.
He was startled to attention when Dumbledore tapped his shoulder. Glancing up, he met the pale blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, what?" he asked, sitting up in his seat. He hadn't realized that he'd been slouching and was rather embarrassed about it.
"Remus, you look off color. I think perhaps you should get some rest," Albus said softly, looking down the staff table.
"Oh, it's nothing, Albus. I just didn't sleep well…"
"Dear me, but I must insist. Breakfast ended ten minutes ago and I've already asked Mickel to take over your classes…"
Remus blinked. Kettleburn was going to sub for him? But…he hadn't even been aleep that long, had he?
"Albus, I assure you that is unnecessary. I am perfectly able to fulfill my teaching duties…"
"Perhaps this afternoon, but as it is now, I would prefer it if you got some rest."
And that was that. Albus was a stubborn man, and could not be persuaded to move once he was set in his ways. Remus thought better of arguing with him and slowly rose to his feet.
"Thank you, Albus. Perhaps I do need a bit of a rest," he murmured. Albus smiled at him and led him out of the Great Hall. He continued to walk with him until they reached Remus' quarters. Albus nodded at him as Remus opened his door.
He was surprised to see Severus seated at his desk, going over a few papers. The dark haired man glanced up at him and motioned him over. Cautiously, Remus made his way to the other man. He was hunched over a pile of papers that Remus had forgotten to put away the night before.
"I was just going over your class notes," Severus explained. He held up a bit of crumpled parchment to show it to the blond. "This shows that you were planning to teach the day of the full moon."
"Oh, yes. I figured it wasn't a big deal, you know. It's for my morning classes, anyway. I should be fine until the evening and then-"
Severus cut him off by rising to his feet and walking over to him. "Lupin, you are fully aware as well as I am that you cannot be in any condition to teach that day."
"Severus, please," Remus sighed. "I want to. As long as I take my potion then I'll be fit as a fiddle."
"That's been concerning me as well. You didn't eat this morning."
"Oh, it must have slipped my mind. I was dreadfully tired, you know."
Severus narrowed his eyes and walked over to the table where he'd set the goblet. With a flick of his wrist, a platter of food appeared on the desk next to the simmering goblet.
"This will need to cool for the next half hour, so I suggest you eat. Your food should be settled in your stomach before you drink it anyway."
Remus glanced nervously at the food and shook his head.
"Really Severus, I'm not hungry and I-"
"Lupin, don't be difficult," Severus ordered sternly. His dark eyes felt like they were burning into Remus, so he didn't bother to protest.
Remus glanced at the food then back at Severus. He really didn't want to eat it, but how could he get around it.
"Severus, please…"
Severus studied him for a moment before settling himself into a chair at the table. His long elegant legs stretched out under him and Severus ran his slender fingers through his hair. He motioned Remus over and the blond complied. He watched as Severus reached into his robes and pulled out a small, slender white thing. Remus watched him as the other man light it like a cigarette and handed it to him.
"What is it?" Remus asked cautiously, looking at it with interest. It smelled vaguely of sausage and something else he couldn't identify.
"Just herbs," Severus assured him. His face was completely straight from years of practice in lying.
Because Remus trusted him, he took a long drag. The substance burned his throat and made his eyes water furiously. He coughed once and handed it back to Severus who also took a hit. The long haired man held his breath for a few seconds before letting his breath out. He rolled his shoulders and handed it back to Remus.
After a few more drags, Remus started to feel peculiar. When he closed his eyes, the world felt like it was spinning and he felt a little dizzy. When he looked at Severus, his features seemed more defined somehow. And the light from the fire was unusually bright. His eyes watered as he took another hit. Somehow, it felt like he was becoming very very light. He blinked and looked at the food.
He was hungry, no denying that. Cautiously, he picked up a fork and took a little bit. Severus was watching him as he did so, an almost satisfied look on his face. Before Remus knew it, all the food was gone and he was still hungry. Puzzled by this, he looked at the now empty plate. It had been a large one, filled to the brim with food. Why hadn't it filled him?
He looked up as Severus handed him the goblet which was now pleasantly Luke warm. He drank it in one gulp. The sensation was almost pleasant this time. For some reason, he didn't even taste is. He tried to open his mouth and found that he couldn't. For some reason, it seemed like the top half of his jaw was detached from the bottom. He couldn't get them to align properly. Why was his mouth so far away from the rest of his body?
He blinked up at Severus who'd once again risen to his feet. The thin man took him by the arm and led him over to his bed. Carefully, he helped him to lie down. Remus felt like he was going to throw up because of whatever it was that Severus gave him along with the food. He lay passively as Severus brushed his hair aside and kissed his forehead.
For a fleeting moment, Remus wondered if Severus would skip his class to stay with him, just to make sure he was alright. But of course, Severus had no intention of staying with his lycan lover. He merely kissed his mouth roughly, demanding submission. Remus gave it to him without a struggle. For some reason, he didn't even bother to try and make Severus give him control, just this once. Of course even when he did try, Severus never gave it to him. After a few moments of angry kisses and touching, Severus pulled away. He stood up and turned his back on Remus.
Severus did have the decency to glance back at him and make sure he wasn't hurt by the gesture. But Remus had had his fair share of practice lying, so Severus didn't suspect that his smile was a forced one. Severus yawned and looked down at the blond. He pulled the covers over his lover, making sure he would be warm enough. Then he turned to go. Picking up the goblet, he walked out without another word.
Remus lay there for what seemed like forever before standing back up. He couldn't sleep because every time he closed his eyes it felt like he was spinning. Unsteadily, he walked to his bathroom and kneeled before the toilet. It wasn't hard to throw up, considering he was feeling ill anyway. Once his stomach was empty, he crawled back into his bed. His head was throbbing and little lights kept dancing in front of his face.
Growling with frustration, Remus buried his face under his comforter and closed his eyes again. Imminently, he regretted it. But the feeling of nausea was no match for the sudden feeling of exhaustion that overcame him. In a matter of minutes, he was sleeping soundly while the herbs floated around his system, rewiring his brain as they did so.
A/N: Sorry this chapter was short, but I'm sort of itching to get to a later chapter. Yes, Severus gave Remus pot. Believe me, when you smoke that, you get very very hungry. That's why he did it, btw. It wasn't just to be a jerk and get Lupin high. He actually had a semi-nice reason for doing it. Anyway, Remus is going to start experiencing some problems in the upcoming chapters because when he vomited up his food, he also vomited up the potion. Oh, plot twists.
Thanks for reading.
Khavi
