Title: Home's the Farthest Way

Chapter: 2

Author: ReeraTheRed

Date: December 20, 2004

Rating: PG13

Summary: When Lupin is offered a werewolf cure, he dreams of no longer living in dread of hurting or killing an innocent person. But will things go smoothly? RLSS, romance but NOT SLASH.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Patti for beta-reading this.

Author's Note: There are references to Practically Brothers and The Wounded in here, so if you haven't read those, you may not know about everything that happens here, but hopefully, you can catch on eventually.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the reviews. Note to Oya - whoops, my mistake, I didn't mean to imply that Umbridge had created the werewolf registry, just the new cure program, I'll fix that in the previous chapter to make that less ambiguous. And Hipa, don't worry, I'm not going to kill anyone, this is a happy ending story - it's going to be sappy and hokey as all get out.

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Chapter 2

"I'm going to be cured," Lupin said, shaking his head as he leaned back.

The chair was not uncomfortable, but it was very plain. When Lupin had first seen Snape's flat, he'd thought it woefully barren, like a priest's cell. As if Snape were punishing himself by not allowing himself anything better, or, worse, didn't believe he deserved better. But Snape had conjured a fire in the fireplace that cast a warm glow, and brought out several bottles of butterbeer, and now Lupin felt the sitting room seemed almost cheerful. "I'm going to be cured," Lupin said again.

"You said," Snape said from his chair opposite Lupin.

"I'm sorry," Lupin said, "I know, I'm repeating myself. I feel quite giddy, and I still can't really believe it."

"You said that, too."

Lupin smiled. "I guess I'm going to be very boring company tonight."

"Not at all," Snape said. His face softened for a moment, and the expression that was as close as he ever came to a genuine smile flashed briefly across his features.

"I expect I must look as if I'm floating on air to you," Lupin said.

"At least several feet. Did they tell you anything about what's involved?"

"It's a series of potions," Lupin said, reaching into his robe and pulling out some parchments. "They gave me some literature on it - all informal for now. I expect they'll do up some pamphlets when they're ready to make this generally available."

Lupin flipped through the parchments, checking the titles, and then pulled out one and passed it to Snape. "That's the one on the specifics of the potions used, if you're interested. In fact, I'd appreciate a genuine Potions Master looking into this." He grimaced. "I keep expecting to find something wrong, it's just too good to be true."

Snape took the parchment and began to read, his face fierce as his eyes moved along the pages. Every so often, he would nod, and, as Lupin watched, Snape's face relaxed little by little as he became engrossed in the material.

"This could work," he said, finally, "They know what they're doing. They've started with the basics of the Wolfsbane Potion, but they've taken it further. I can't say for certain, I have not witnessed the results of their tests, but if what they say here is true, this is a cure."

"I confess," Lupin said, "if it weren't for Albus and Arthur speaking so highly of it, I'd be very skeptical. Particularly since it's Umbridge who's behind bringing it to England."

Snape scowled deeply. "I do not like the idea of you being in that woman's control, Lupin."

"I don't like it, either," Lupin said. "She hates werewolves, she thinks we're sub-human. She's the one behind all the laws restricting us, making it nearly impossible to find work."

"It must have truly rankled with her, having to stand next to you in that news photo," Snape said.

"She certainly covered any ill feelings well," Lupin said. "She spoke very sweetly to me, as if she wanted bygones to be bygones."

"That means she's up to something," Snape said, "Trust me. The woman is vile."

"Well, Arthur told me quietly that she's not going to have anything more to do with this than administrative work. It's all being handled through St. Mungo's. And the American people will be supervising the set up of the potions manufacturing. Although," Lupin added, "I'd appreciate it if you'd look into it. They want me to come by later this week, to see the setup, if you'd be interested in accompanying me."

Snape nodded. "Yes. I'd be interested, even if you weren't involved."

"Oh, it's much more than me at stake here," Lupin said. He shook his head, still trying to absorb everything. "What this means, for all werewolves . . . This could be a complete end to the disease. Not just to the suffering of the change itself, but the persecution."

"If the other werewolves will agree," Snape said, picking up another parchment. "From what I recall, when I briefly met some of your old packmates, there will be at least some who resist."

Lupin nodded. "Yes. And believe me, there are worse out there than those you saw. But I hope the majority, the ones who are being victimized by their thug leaders, will see this as a way out, a way to be free." He looked at Severus. "I might be trapped as well, back with that pack, if you hadn't stepped forward and declared that I was under your protection."

Snape looked away, and said, stiffly, "You'd have managed a way out, on your own, I'm sure."

"Perhaps. But I lose my magic when I turn into a wolf, and I'm not strong enough, in wolf form, to protect myself, not against the stronger werewolves. And as long as they have other wizards in their control, I can't hide from them."

"And will this change, if werewolves let themselves be cured?" Snape asked.

"Arthur says the Ministry will guarantee protection to any werewolf who comes forward for the cure." Lupin looked uncomfortable as he said this, but his face brightened as he added, "More importantly, Dumbledore said he himself would personally guarantee everyone's safety."

Snape nodded, but his eyes were hooded. "I don't suppose any mention was made about treating thugs like Baron as criminals? Which would take care of the problem altogether."

Lupin shrugged. "Moody made some mention, but the laws aren't there. Werewolves have always been treated as a separate community, and wizards haven't interfered, unless werewolves themselves encroached on the wizard world."

Snape rolled his eyes. "So the hoodlums will remain in charge. Do you really think Baron would allow anyone under him to be cured, if it means they will no longer be under his control?"

"I know," Lupin said. "Moody was discussing this, saying they'd have to make it possible for any werewolf who wanted to be cured to have a way to get free. He's got contacts with the packs, far greater than any than I have."

"Because you're suspect to the packs," Snape said, "You're a wizard. And you've defied Baron, and you got away with it."

"Only because I have the protection of powerful people," Lupin said. He frowned slightly.

Snape recognized the look, he knew how much Lupin hated having to be dependent, and he said, gently, "No one survives alone."

"I seem to be more needy than most," Lupin said. But then his face brightened up. "I'll be able to work. Like a normal person. People won't have to keep worrying about me anymore." And then Lupin's face became almost radiant, "You know, Severus, it hit me, right as I was standing next to Umbridge, I might even be able to teach again."

Snape nodded, transfixed by the expression on Lupin's face.

"Just the thought of that got me through the photography session," Lupin said. "I'll go through anything, if I can have that at the end."

He smiled, more normally now. "Even if I can't, it's worth it, just to know I won't be a danger to anyone anymore. That my greatest nightmare, the terror that I might harm or kill an innocent person, that will be gone. That alone is worth it. I'll do anything for that. Even work with Delores Umbridge."

Snape frowned at the mention of Umbridge's name. "I am still not happy with her in charge of this."

Lupin shrugged. "Oddly enough, I think she's being up front about this. She wants to end the disease just as much as I do, in her way. She can't hate it any worse than I do."

"I think she'd be happy to rid the world of werewolves in any way she could," Snape said. "She just happens to have found this way, probably because it's more likely to work."

Lupin nodded. "I agree. But she has found this way, and it is likely to work. So she and I find ourselves working toward the same goal." He looked at Snape and smiled. "And not a word from you about 'strange bedfellows.'"

"What a revolting thought," Snape said.

Lupin looked down at the parchments he held. "They say it's almost a complete cure. No side effects, no one has become ill or had any problems with it in any way. I'll simply be like an Animagus whose form is a wolf. An Animagus who must transform at full moon, and who loses his magic while in wolf form." He sighed. "And whose clothes won't become part of the transformation."

Snape looked at Lupin thoughtfully. "Your Animagus form is fixed as a wolf. I wonder what form you might have taken, if a wolf had not been forced on you. Because your inner creature is almost certainly not a wolf."

"No, I make a bad wolf," Lupin said. "But I'll never know, now." He shrugged, then looked back at Snape. "We forced a shape on you, too."

"I am content with it," Snape said, looking away. "I shudder to think what kind of creature I might have conjured from within me."

"I didn't think you were a dog, at first," Lupin said, "but as time went by, I began to think a dog was exactly what you were. Just a different kind of dog, a guard dog." A creature who serves a master, he thought to himself, absolutely devoted, and loyal to the death.

"It's what I am now." Snape still looked away. Lupin watched the lights from the fire play across his face. Everything else, his hair, his robes, faded into the shadows of the dimly lit room, only his pale face and his hands showing against the soft black that surrounded him. If not a dog, what would he have been? He's almost a magical creature in his own right, bred to be a dark wizard. Hagrid could teach a class on him. And, thought Lupin, I only change during the full moon. He has to live with his nature every day.

And then the thought hit him, is he afraid that I won't need him anymore? I won't need the Wolfsbane Potion he brews me for me every month, if I have this cure.

"I'll still need you, you know," Lupin said, "during the full moon. I'll still be vulnerable then. My magic's gone, the wards around my house vanish. And, more importantly, I hope I can still enjoy your company."

Snape nodded and turned away from the fire, to look back at Lupin. "I suppose you'll always need someone to throw that blasted frisbee for you."

And a gentle look passed between the two of them.

-
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The next morning, while Lupin was drinking a cup of tea, sitting on his old sofa, a green fire flashed in the fireplace, and Harry's face appeared in the flames.

"Professor Lupin," Harry said, "I just saw, in the Prophet, about the program." He looked angry.

"Yes, Harry," Lupin said, sighing inwardly. "Come on over."

Harry's body materialized out of the flickering flames, and he stepped into the room. He brushed ash off his shirt. "Sorry, I guess I should have said 'Good morning' first."

"It's all right. I appreciate that you're concerned." Lupin poured a cup of tea for Harry and passed it over to him. Harry took it and sat down in a chair by the sofa. He took a swallow, then set his cup down on the coffee table.

"You can't get involved with anything Umbridge has a hand in," he said.

Lupin sighed. "You sound like Severus, last night." He set his own cup down. "She's not doing anything more than paperwork."

"She didn't look like it, in the photo in the Prophet this morning," Harry said, "She looks like she's in charge of the whole thing."

"She's a figurehead," Lupin said. "St. Mungo's is doing the real work."

Harry frowned.

"I'm not happy about Umbridge being involved in this, either, Harry," Lupin said. "But I trust Dumbledore's judgement on this. And I'm not going in blind, we're going to check things out, and if we're not happy, I'm not going through with it."

Harry's frown was gone now, though he was not smiling. He nodded. "All right then. But I want to be there when it happens."

"I'd like that," said Lupin. "I'm going over to St. Mungo's later this week, and Severus is coming with me to check out the facilities. He's more worried about incompetence, I think. The Wolfsbane Potion is so difficult to brew, and this is an offshoot of it. Although the staff at St. Mungo's has some of the best Potions people there are." Lupin looked carefully at Harry's face. In times past, Harry would have given a look of disgust at the mention of Snape's name, but Harry's face was calm now, as he took another swallow of tea.

Harry and Snape hadn't run into each other much, over the past nine months, since Harry had left Hogwarts at the end of the summer. Just at a few official functions, and they had managed not to say anything to each other, or even make eye contact. Lupin had been watching closely, each time, worried at just how they'd react to each other, but there'd been nothing. He'd tried to tell himself that this was an improvement from before, when they'd looked at each other with open hatred, but he wasn't sure.

Harry took another swallow of tea, and then said, "So, how is Shadow doing?"

Lupin carefully refrained from gulping his tea. He looked straight at Harry. Harry's face looked calm, though there was something there, in his green eyes, that Lupin couldn't make out.

Lupin gave a shrug. "He seems to be making progress."

"I bet not as much as he made last summer," Harry said.

"It's a different kind of progress," Lupin said, carefully. "He has had a lot of damage done to him. It's going to take a long time."

Harry nodded, and his eyes took on a glint of mischief. "Maybe I could come take him for a walk sometime."

"Maybe you could," Lupin said, "I'd have to see if he's available." And thought, that would probably be good for him, if he'd let himself do it.

"Tell him I'm going to Knockturn Alley by myself," Harry said, a smile flickering at the corners of his mouth. "The way he was, at Hogwarts last summer, when I just wanted to leave the grounds, and he didn't even like me then." He shrugged. "I do need to go to Knockturn Alley, you know. I need some stuff for one class. There's a group of students going down together, but it'd be more fun to go by myself, if I could get the added protection."

Lupin met Harry's eyes, and nodded. "He certainly would be upset if he knew you were putting yourself in danger."

"He always was. For as long as I can remember." Harry looked more sober at that. He met Lupin's eyes, and gave a sad smile.

He knows, Lupin thought. At least, I think he knows. "And how do you feel about that?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm moving on. From a lot of things. I've touched the mind of something truly evil. It makes other things look pretty small by comparison." He put his cup down and leaned back in Lupin's old chair. "I'm in the mood to be forgiving."

Lupin met Harry's eyes, and nodded. "Let me know when you plan to go to Knockturn Alley."

Harry grinned. "I will."

-
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"And this is Potions Master Horace Delworth." Delores Umbridge gestured to a fussy little man with a large forehead. "Master Delworth will oversee the manufacture of the potions for the werewolf cure here at St. Mungo's."

Lupin bowed to Master Delworth, who gave a curt nod. Lupin glanced at Snape, a question in his face. Snape gave a nod, "Master Delworth was a few years ahead of me when I studied under Professor Harriet Semper. Professor Semper had very high standards for her students."

Master Delworth gave Snape a look that seemed to say that, as far as Master Delworth was concerned, Professor Semper's standards hadn't been high enough in Snape's case. Lupin felt himself grow defensive for his friend's sake - Snape was one of the best at Potions in the world, far talented enough to meet even St. Mungo's requirements. But Snape was an ex-Death Eater, they would never accept him here, no matter how great his abilities were.

Master Delworth turned to Lupin, his face more formal now. "I was extremely pleased when I heard you had been selected as our first patient, Professor Lupin. I think you are a most excellent candidate."

Something in Delworth's face reminded Lupin of the look the man had just given Snape. He suspected Delworth didn't care any more for werewolves than he did for ex-Death Eaters, but he managed to keep his face even while he said, "I am delighted to help in any way I can, and, of course, I am eager to participate." He glanced at Snape. "I was hoping my friend, Professor Snape, might be allowed to observe the potions facilities. He has been brewing the Wolfsbane Potion for me for many years, and I'd appreciate his insight into the process."

Both Umbridge and Delworth drew up, and they glanced at each other. Delworth opened his mouth, but Umbridge spoke first. "I suppose there would be no harm in this," she said, although her expression said she clearly thought there would be. "Horace," she said as Delworth opened his mouth to speak again, "we must allow anyone who wishes to see what is happening. After all," she added, her sweet smile back again, "we have absolutely nothing to hide."

Delworth stiffened. "Of course not," he harrumphed.

Umbridge turned to Snape and said, "I'm sure Horace would be delighted to show you the labs after we've finished here." She almost simpered.

Snape nodded. "I appreciate it."

"There now," Umbridge said, brightly. "Professor Begay," she gave a nod to the professor, "and his staff are already in the process of training Master Delworth's staff in the manufacture of the potion cure, and so far, he says he is very pleased with their progress, isn't that so, Professor?"

Professor Begay nodded again, and said, "Yes. You have a very good staff here. I couldn't ask for a better one. They've picked up the steps very well, and Master Delworth is well able to handle the more complicated portions of the manufacture."

"Perhaps I might be allowed to observe the process," Snape said. "As a student of the Wolfsbane Potion, I'd be very interested in seeing the adaptations you've made."

Professor Begay smiled broadly, "I'd be delighted. I'd also be interested in hearing the views of a fellow Wolfsbane Potion brewer. I'm sure we've had to deal with many of the same problems."

"It is a difficult potion," Snape said.

"Well then," Umbridge said, "After we've viewed the facilities, we will inspect the lab. You may stay and speak with Master Delworth, the Professor, and the staff afterwards, Professor Snape."

Snape nodded. Professor Begay looked genuinely pleased, Lupin noted. He can't have many people to discuss the Wolfsbane Potion with, Lupin thought.

The group traveled through St. Mungo's to the ward that was to be used for the werewolf cure patients. The ward was filled with beds, like any normal hospital ward, but beyond, there was a room, with walls, floors, ceiling and doors specially reinforced, not just structurally, but with magic. Lupin could feel the tingle from across the room.

"Our patients must all spend their first full moon after the treatment in this room under observation," Healer Delworth said. "Just as a precaution." He looked over at Lupin as he said that.

Lupin nodded. "I agree, that would be necessary. If only to make absolutely certain the cure has taken." He turned to Professor Begay. "Has the cure ever not worked?"

Professor Begay shook his head, "Not once we got it perfected. The only problems we've really had with it, is that it can only work one time." Lupin looked at him in question and Begay went on, "We've had a few instances where, for some reason or another, while the cure worked, it had to be reversed - there were interactions with other conditions the patient had that caused problems. We can check for that now, so that doesn't happen anymore, but there were problems at the beginning. So we had to reverse the spell for the cure to reverse the side problems. But when we apply the cure a second time, it doesn't take. So it's absolutely critical that everything work perfectly the first time through."

Lupin nodded. He felt a knot in his stomach. How terrible it would be, to be cured, only for it to be reversed, and all hope for it taken from him forever.

Professor Begay smiled. "We've checked over your medical records, and nothing shows up that would cause any problems with the cure, Professor Lupin. And we'll be sure to give you a complete physical once again, when we start."

After that, they viewed the Potions lab, which looked like any other Potions lab Lupin had ever seen, only, as this was a hospital, the walls were whiter and the light was brighter than most. The staff was polite, many even genuinely friendly to Lupin. Whatever Umbridge may be doing, Lupin thought, these people are genuine, and they'll prepare the potion correctly.

Snape was far more interested in the lab facilities than Lupin, looking over the equipment, commenting on the ventilation, and seemed to almost be drooling (for Snape) over the supply cabinets, which were enormous, and held a wealth of exotic ingredients.

Master Delworth even softened up, seeing a fellow enthusiast, and when Lupin left to return home, the three of them, Snape, Delworth and Begay, were locked in conversation, discussing the peculiarities of various ingredients, reactions when different substances were combined, and unusual cases they'd worked with. The hospital potions team hovered around the three, listening in awe, and asking the occasional question.

Lupin smiled, happy to see his friend enjoying himself, as he quietly followed Umbridge out of the room.

"I'll need to schedule an appointment with you, Professor Lupin," Umbridge said as they reached the hospital main floor. "Just to give you some paperwork."

"Why not now?" Lupin smiled. "I can take it back home with me to look over."

"Oh," Umbridge looked uncomfortable, "It's all the way over at my office. Surely that's too much trouble. Better I bring it next time we meet here."

"It's no trouble," Lupin said, "We can Apparate over to the Ministry from here."

Umbridge still looked uncomfortable. She doesn't want me to go to her office, Lupin thought.

But then she nodded. "Very well." There was a set look on her face, almost a hard look, very different from her usual overly sweet simper.

Lupin followed Umbridge out onto the street, where they Apparated to the Ministry Building. From there, they went inside, through the lobby security, into the elevator and out down a series of corridors until they reached Umbridge's office in the Beast Division in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Lupin frowned at the idea of belonging in the Beast Division, but he thought to himself, don't make a fuss, it isn't worth it.

Umbridge hesitated one moment before opening the door, and something flashed across her face. But it passed so quickly that Lupin wasn't sure he'd really seen anything. And then he followed her inside.

Lupin had heard about Umbridge's office at Hogwarts from Harry, so he braced himself, only to find it wasn't anything like what had been described to him. There was a dreadful decorated plate or two on the bookshelves, but overall, there was a barrenness that reminded him of Snape's flat. Had she fallen on hard times? Lupin wondered. No, this felt like something different. This felt like self-punishment. She has fallen from her high position at the Ministry, she had been the Minster of Magic, Fudge's, assistant, and now she's down here. They couldn't fire her, but they could move her, down to a place no one cares about. It's not a time for her to indulge in fripperies, she has to show she's dedicated.

"If you'll take a seat, Professor Lupin," Umbridge said, her sweet smile back on her face. "I'll just be a teensy moment getting out the paperwork."

Lupin said in a chair in front of Umbridge's desk, while Umbridge began to pull out files from a drawer, taking a sheet or two of paper from each one.

Lupin looked around the room and his eye was caught by a framed photograph on the desk. Seeing the features, he had no doubt it was a much younger Umbridge, or a close relative; there was the same broad, flabby face, the same wide mouth, the little eyes. But the expression was so different, he'd at first thought it a picture of a completely different person. Instead of the hard look in the eyes, and the sickly sweet smile, this person looked genuinely jolly and likable. The eyes might be small, but they were bright and sparkling, and the wide mouth grinned in a way that made Lupin want to grin, too. The girl looked out at him, and grinned even wider, in a way that said, isn't the world a delightful place? Lupin couldn't help smiling back.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I couldn't help noticing the photograph here. Is this of you?"

Umbridge's mouth tightened. "No, Professor Lupin, it is not. That is a picture of my sister." She set a stack of papers down on the desk with a little too much force.

Lupin smiled, and the photo winked at him. "She looks like a nice person."

"She was," Umbridge said, mouth even tighter. "She died, a long time ago."

"Oh," Lupin said, "I'm sorry."

Umbridge sat very still for a moment. Then she looked directly into Lupin's eyes. "She was killed, Professor Lupin. By a werewolf."

Lupin saw such coldness, such raw hatred in Umbridge's eyes, he had to stifle a shudder. He took a deep breath, and said, carefully, "I am so sorry, Madame Umbridge." And doesn't that explain a lot, he thought.

"I keep her picture here," Umbridge said, "to remind me. Of why I am here, and what I must do." She still stared hard into Lupin's eyes. "I will make sure that this will never happen to anyone else's sister, ever again."

Lupin looked back at her, and he thought, if your sister had lived, it might be her, sitting in this chair, while you prepare the cure for her. But I could not say that to her. So he simply said, "Then we are in complete agreement, Madame." Umbridge's sister grinned at him from her portrait, and nodded.

Umbridge stared back, a little too long, then she turned to the stack of papers, which she handed to him, saying curtly, "Read these over. You'll need to sign in certain places. You can owl them back to me when you've finished."

Lupin took the papers from her, nodded and thanked her for her trouble, then left the dreary room as quickly as possible.

TBC