This would be the happy ending version
Chapter 3b - The Return
I catch scent of the figure before I can make out the form. Above all is the acrid stench of the potion. Underneath is a familiar scent. Of potions and dungeons and of the smoke from the fire. Before my mind has a chance to catch up my body is already moving.
I collide with you and throw my arms around your shoulders. Normally, I would not be so bold. But I felt a weight lifted from me with your return. The world has righted itself, and the constant restored. I expect you to get angry, to push me away. All you do is grit your teeth and take in a sharp breath. And there is another scent.
Blood. Fresh. Not more than a day, two maybe. Your blood. You've been hurt. I can feel a rage take over where the emptiness had been. Until I hear you speak, and I realize that I haven't heard your voice for four months.
"Lupin, would you kindly remove yourself from me. Or would you like me to spill this potion and leave you to tear yourself to shreds?" The words are angry and bitter and oh so beautiful. But there is pain. I come partially to my senses and step back a pace, staying close enough to still feel your warmth.
"Who hurt you?" I keep my voice soft, as if trying not to frighten you. Not that you would be scared of me, but I don't wish to take any chances. Most people flee from the big bad wolf.
"Who do you think, you mangy mutt? Really, it was only a matter of time until they figured me out. I suppose I'm as useless as you now." You sneer at me in your usual way, and oh how I have missed it. You are expecting me to get angry with you. But I am too relieved by your return, and too worried about your health.
"When did you return?" My voice a little bolder now that you haven't run.
"What concern is it of yours? Just take your potion so that I can return to Hogwarts." I only stare at you. I will not take the wolfsbane until my questions are answered.
"All right. If you are going to be stubborn about it." Another icy sneer. "I returned earlier today. Now, take the bloody potion." But I still have more questions for you. And I do not want you to leave yet.
"What did they do to you? Where are they? I will rip them to shreds if I ever get the chance." I speak the last words to myself. I know that you do not take well to being defended.
"It doesn't matter. Will you just take the wolfsbane Lupin? I am quite tired and wish to leave." You do not sound angry, only fatigued. You shove the goblet towards my chest. I take it from you, but do not drink.
"You are still quite hurt. I can smell it. How did you get Poppy to release you?" She is so over-protective you must have had to stun her to get out of the hospital wing.
"I am a grown man Lupin. I think I can handle an over-bearing medi-witch." A smirk. Simply beautiful.
"But why? Why didn't you just send someone else? The messenger who delivered it for the last three moons?" I don't really care why. All I care about is that you are here, but I am still curious.
"Because I didn't. I do not have to answer to you as to my motivations. I am not so ill that I can not make a simple delivery." But I can see that you are not as steady on your feet as you were when you arrived.
"Severus, you should sit." You are eyeing me warily. "Please." And I motion to the cot near the window. You stare at it and I can tell you are seriously considering it. You must really be hurt to think about accepting kindness from me.
"Only because you seem to be taking your sweet time with that potion." You sweep towards the cot, but I can see that you move more hesitantly than normal. Slowly, gingerly, so as not to further any injuries that I can not see. My heart contracts and the rage returns a little. I swear I will kill them all myself if I have to.
"I still don't understand why Albus and Poppy let you come. You are obviously still in need of medical attention." You wince as you sit down.
"As I said, I am a grown man. I make my own decisions."
"Did she at least send you with something for the pain?" You stay silent. There is something you aren't telling me. It's not unusual for you, but I need to know. The longer I can keep you talking the longer you will stay here. I turn the chair from the table and face it towards the bed. This room is so small that we are only a few feet apart.
"Have you taken anything for the pain or for your injuries?"
"Will you stop bloody fussing and take that damn potion?" You sound angry, but your breathing is hitched more with pain than rage. I do not wish to cause you undue stress, so I down the vile brew and hold back a shudder. I place the goblet on the table behind me and turn to face you again. You sigh as if relieved, and attempt to stand. But it is a failed attempt. You fall back to the cot with a wince and a groan. Once again before my brain can process, I am already in motion.
I place my hand behind your head and lift your legs onto the cot. Laying you back gently into the pillows. I expect a struggle, but you do not fight.
"Severus." I whisper, still leaning over you. "Have you even been to hospital yet?" you speak through gritted teeth.
"That is none of your concern." And you try to get up again, only to fall back. My heart is racing. You haven't even had your wounds checked. Stupid fool, why did you come here?
"You are severely injured and lying in my bed. I'd say that makes it my concern." I get up to retrieve some supplies. I can not get you to Hogwarts, and you need medical attention now. I return to your side with several potions and a clean cloth.
"Take this. It is a pain potion that Poppy gave me for mornings after my transformation." I tip the vial towards your lips and you try to resist. But the struggle makes you cringe again in pain, finally you oblige and seem to calm as the potion takes affect. I make a move to unfasten your robes so as to apply a healing salve to whatever wounds you may have. But you grasp my wrist.
"What exactly do you think you are doing beast?" It is an attempt to sound vicious, but you are still in pain. I can see it in your eyes, smell it on your skin.
"I am going to dress your wounds. I can not get you to Hogwarts as I will be transforming in little more than an hour, and you can not get there yourself in this condition. What did they do to you? And why in bloody hell did you not go straight to hospital?" I am angry with you for not taking care of yourself. Though selfishly, I am glad that you did not go to Madame Pomfrey. Another moon without you and I may have gone mad.
"They didn't do any more harm than a pack of third years could have done. They were quite drunk when they got the orders to kill me. A revel to celebrate the murder of a muggleborn and her husband. Their aim wasn't much better than Longbottom's. I am quite capable of taking care of it myself." But you obviously aren't, because you moan in pain when you've finished speaking.
"Severus, please. The moon will be taking affect soon and you need your wounds looked after. Let me help, while I still can." I hold my breath while you appraise me. After several moments you concede defeat.
"All right then, but be quick about it." They must have done more damage than you are willing to admit, because you would never allow me to help you any other way. I move to the clasp on your robe, and carefully undo it. After I slip it off your shoulders I start on the buttons of your shirt. I can see now that there are shiny patches of blood on the black fabric. Gently, I undo all the buttons and move the fabric aside. I have to bite my tongue to hold back the cry.
Your chest is a mess of bruises and gashes. Most of them closed now, but a few are still bleeding slowly. I speak softly to you as I help you pull your arms from the sleeves of your shirt.
"Why did you come here? You should be…" But you cut me off.
"Lupin if you tell me one more time that I should be in the hospital I swear, once I am able to, I will punch you square in the mouth." Even when in pain you manage to be rude. I hold back a chuckle. I have missed you so.
"Yes yes, all right. I will just be quiet then, shall I?" I summon a bowl from the kitchen and pour warm water into it from my wand tip. Then I take the cloth and dip it in the water so that I can clean the blood from your chest.
"Yes that would be a very good idea." Sighing softly as the warm cloth cleanses your skin. You relax a bit more into the bed, even close your eyes. It is difficult for me to concentrate on my task. I can't seem to tear my eyes from your face. You have been gone for so long, and I am still not quite sure that you aren't some kind of hallucination. Some spectral image that I produced to ease the pain of your absence.
I shake myself back to reality and finish cleaning the blood and dirt from you. I then take the healing salve and pour a bit onto my hand. You sigh once again as I start to soothe the abrasions. Your skin is warm under my finger tips, and you smell of blood and sweat and pain. I can feel the moon's pull. The wolf wants to be free. I have to finish quickly before my hands turn to paws. I imagine that would make it quite difficult to apply the salve.
"Turn over so that I may clean your back." I whisper and urge you to turn. As you roll I remove the soiled robes and shirt from under you. I think you have finally admitted defeat, because you don't fight me at all. Once on your stomach I take up the cloth again. A quick cleaning spell and another dip in the water and I start on your back. There are not so many injuries here, but the sight still makes my blood boil. The wolf wants vengeance. I think that he may consider you one of his pack. I can feel the primal anger surge as my transformation comes closer.
Once these wounds are cleaned and dressed I stand to get a blanket. Laying it over you gently I can hear that your breathing is significantly more even. And your heart rate has slowed. The change is close now. Not more than twenty minutes. I take a few more blankets and put them on the floor under the window, and I hear you stir. You try to sit up.
"I have to go. You will change soon." You attempt to stand, but only fall back to the cot. The sedative in the pain potion and your injuries make you weak. I walk over to you and rest my hand on your back.
"No, it's all right. The wolfsbane makes me almost harmless. And if I am not mistaken, I think the wolf considers you a part of his pack. He will not harm you." Even as I try to calm you I can feel your pulse quicken. You are still afraid. Sirius made sure that you would be long ago.
"How can you be so sure?" You sound worried, and I feel as if my heart wants to break. I hate that you are afraid of me. But I try to reassure you anyway.
"Have you ever been a werewolf?" You roll over onto your back to look up at me.
"You know bloody well that I haven't. What kind of inane question is that?" Some of the old venom has returned to your voice. It makes me smile, you will be fine. They did not destroy you.
"Well since you have never been a werewolf, you will just have to trust my expertise on the matter." I smile, trying to comfort you. "You will be safe here. And first thing in the morning we will contact Albus and you will be on your way back to your dungeons. But for tonight, please stay. You need to rest." I can tell that you are torn. Trying to decide between your old fear and the desire to sleep. When you speak again your voice is devoid of all spite. Only a sincere curiosity remains.
"Why does the wolf consider me part of his pack? I am not a beast?" You do not mean to offend me, I can tell. You are only trying to make a point.
"Well I suppose because you have been a part of my life for so long. And for the past several years you have been around close to the time of transformation. The wolf can smell you after you've left. Except for the past few months." I whisper the last words as I remember the emptiness that I felt when you were gone. And I can feel the wolf grow anxious at the memory. I only have about ten minutes left and his presence is insistent.
"Did the wolf really notice the difference?" I look into your eyes. Unreadable as usual. Pure obsidian. Though they seem softer.
"Yes." In a whisper I add, "And so did I." There. I admitted it. You will probably want to leave even more now. The stupid wolf is getting emotional.
"Would you still like to know why I did not go directly to the infirmary?" I have never heard you speak so softly. I am confused, but I nod.
"Because I needed to see you first." Surely you did not just say what I think you said. But before I can speak your hand is at the back of my neck, and you pull me down towards you. When our lips meet I can feel all the pain and emptiness of the past months bleed away. You are so warm. The wolf is anxious for me to take you into my arms. Hold you close, and never let go again. But my mind is still in control and I know that you are injured. I would only hurt you more.
Your hand on my neck pulls me closer against you and I can feel the warmth of your skin through my thin shirt. Your lips part slightly and your tongue brushes across my bottom lip. I moan into you and reciprocate your actions. I know that if I do not stop this soon that you will wind up with a wolf at your side. But I have been lonely for too long. I have missed you so much, and now you are here. You are with me. And I can't seem to break away from you.
I whimper when you pull away. The warmth of your lips slowly fading. But you keep your hand on me and look into my eyes as you whisper.
"We both need to rest. I will be here in the morning."
"Do you swear?" It is a needy question. But right now I don't care.
"Yes, now rest." You pull me down again for a chaste kiss and release me.
"All right." I straighten up and move to the blankets I have prepared by the window. As I remove my robe I look over at you, and you have already closed your eyes.
"I missed you.' It is nothing more than a whisper to your sleeping form.
"I missed you, too. Good night Remus." Or maybe not sleeping. After a moment of shock I realize that you used my given name. I can not help the warmth that spreads throughout me.
"Good night, Severus."
Within moments of settling down I can feel the first signs of the change. It is painful as always. But it is perhaps the easiest transformation I have had in a long time. The wolf emerges and sniffs the air. The familiar scent has returned. The owner is here, in the room. The beast is calm. And there is darkness. Sleep.
