Madness

Chapter 3: Accommodation

A/N: This chapter occurs after Chapter 28, and coincides with chapter 29 in For Tomorrow We May Die.

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"Remus?"

He lay curled in the corner, not asleep but not truly awake. He was conscious, but that meant little. He wasn't sure what day it was, or what time of day; there were no windows and no sense of night and day. Just the dim artificial light from somewhere above. It was some time after six Friday evening and before eight Tuesday night. He thought it might be Saturday night, but wasn't sure. He only knew it wasn't Tuesday night yet because he had not yet transformed.

He'd spent most of his life dreading the next transformation, but this time, he almost looked forward to it. Once he transformed, it would only be a few hours until his release. A release that seemed an eternity away still, as he'd already passed an eternity dark solitude, separated from the others by a wall of mutual despair.

Five times, a guard had delivered a plate of food and mug of water, and once Remus had eaten. He emptied the water every time it was brought and asked for more every time a guard came around, which seemed as though it was likely regularly, though without any sense of time, he couldn't detect a pattern to it. The guard always complied and brought him more, and the last two times he'd been around, he'd had the water with him already.

He'd heard the guard's low voice speaking to the children one time, telling them not to tell on him. Remus wondered what he'd brought them. From the crinkling sound that followed, he rather thought it was candy. If he were in their place, it was something he'd do—giving chocolate to children who were trapped in a place with a condition they had not asked for and yet were responsible for controlling.

"Remus Lupin? I need you to acknowledge me, or I cannot open the door."

It was Lara's voice, and Remus was torn. Torn between desperately wanting to speak with someone, to spend even a few moments in the presence of another, and not wanting to face another human being. He hardly felt human as it was, and he was confused enough about how he regarded Lara to not want to invite more uncertainty when he had nothing but hours upon hours to think about it.

"Remus, please speak to me."

"What do you want me to say?" he asked blandly. That, apparently, was good enough, as he heard the clicking of a key being inserted into the door and then turning. The lock sprung, and then the door opened outward, revealing Lara standing there, a guard behind her.

"Just give me a few minutes with him," she told the guard. "Go on, it will be all right." The guard looked a bit doubtful, but stepped outside the cell. Lara looked around and shook her head, removing her wand. "Scourgify," she said softly, and two and a half days' worth of filth disappeared. "I think perhaps we made an error in judgement regarding these holding units," she confided, lowering herself to the floor beside Remus. "I've already scheduled a meeting with Minister Davis about having some plumbing installed in them."

He continued to stare at the opposite wall, not meeting her eyes. "You might also suggest clocks or some such," he said blandly. "I presume it's Monday if you're here?"

"Yes," she replied. "Maybe around nine, Monday, 19 August. Guard? Do you have the time?" she called.

"Quarter past nine," he answered.

Lara nodded at Remus. "Quarter past nine," she repeated unnecessarily. "If you asked, I'm sure the guard would have told you."

He nodded again, still not looking at her.

"I know it's difficult to believe, Remus, but you're really not a prisoner here. You have many privileges and rights, and the guards have been instructed to be very accommodating within reason."

He nodded again.

"I know it's uncomfortable in here," she said, shifting slightly. "Merlin knows that I'm already uncomfortable and I've only been here for a few minutes."

"I suppose a chair and a book would be out of the question," he muttered.

"The chair, yes," she replied. "I've already fought that battle, and, well, it was pointed out that once the transformation takes place, any furniture would merely be something for a werewolf to destroy."

"None of us were going to transform over the weekend," he pointed out, finally looking at her. "And any fourth year Hogwarts student could perform the Vanishing Charm to remove the furniture. These cells could have been considerably more comfortable, particularly considering we were all here a full forty-eight hours before required by law."

Lara nodded this time. "An excellent point," she said. "I will bring it up with the Minister. And use of the shower facilities would not go amiss either? I'm afraid it's out of the question this month, but next month, perhaps daily opportunities to clean up. Shave," she said with a bit of a smile as she tweaked the three-day growth on his jaw.

He jerked his head away from her. He still couldn't bring himself to hate her; she was being too sympathetic and reasonable. But, he couldn't help thinking that these should not have been requests someone would have to make. Even condemned prisoners would have had basics like showers and toilets.

"As far as books go… I'll bring that up with Minister Davis as well. I don't see why not, though the Ministry would not be responsible for them if they were destroyed."

Remus nodded, looking at the wall again.

"I'm glad you're telling me these things, Remus. This has been our first attempt at it as well, and I know that there are plenty of kinks to be ironed out. Just be patient with us, and keep making these reasonable requests, and I'll do my best to see that every month is a little more comfortable."

He sighed.

"I'm counting on you, Remus, because you're bright and reasonable, and you don't accept things for just what they are. I knew from the first time I spoke with you that you were going to be a valuable asset if I could keep you talking, and so far you have. I'm very open to your suggestions. I just need you to keep making them."

"Are you asking the others for their advice too, or am I the appointed spokesman? Or spokesbeast as the case might be."

She sighed. "I'm going to ignore that last bit," she said. "And I am asking them for their input. Edward, for example, is seven, and he's two doors down. He thought it would be nice if Honeydukes chocolate were given to everyone at night."

Remus exhaled in a weak imitation of laughter.

"I didn't tell him that I could smell the chocolate he's been eating," she said with a smile. "And I don't even want to know which guard slipped it to him. I think it's wonderful if the guards are offering those bits of kindness, and there's no harm in it."

He continued to stare at the opposite wall.

"Think on it a bit more, Remus. We'll continue this conversation after you've had a chance to recover from the transformation. I'm very interested in what you have to say."

He nodded. She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed gently.

"I'd give you a hug if I didn't think it would upset you," she offered quietly.

For a moment, he was tempted to assure her that it would not, but he held his tongue. After a brief silence, she stood and brushed off her robe.

"Have you any complaints about the way you're being treated, Remus? I know that the situation isn't the best, but…"

"I'm fine," he interrupted.

She nodded. "I'll try to get back in to see you again before I leave tonight," she assured him. "But if I don't, it will be Wednesday before I return."

Remus nodded again.

"Let the guard know if you need anything," she told him, and a moment later, he heard the door click shut.

Lara did not return that evening, though the next morning, Remus heard her voice outside asking the guard if all was well. At one point, a guard delivered a tray of food, and Remus heard his voice on the other side of the door advising him to eat as there would not be another meal served that evening. Remus wasn't the least bit hungry, and did not touch the tray.

The transformation was difficult, the first one he had endured in three years without the aid of the Wolfsbane Potion, and though he didn't remember it, he made a very good case for the Ministry for exactly why there was to be no furniture, nor anything else that could be destroyed, in the cells. By midnight, he'd ripped his blanket to shreds, and, having nothing else to rage against had proceeded to curl up in a corner, biting at his own arm. With the rising of the sun, he transformed back into himself, and he would not remember that transformation at all, except that afterwards, he was exhausted and felt utterly defeated.

On Wednesday morning, promptly at 8:23, the cell block became a flurry of activity as witches and wizards from the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures descended into the cells in twos and threes. There were sharp cries of disgust and surprise, frantic calls for healers, and two loudly slammed doors followed by panicked announcements—two of the werewolves had not yet returned to their human forms.

There was a knock on his cell door, followed by a firm masculine voice. "Remus Lupin?"

Remus was crouched in the corner, dazed and weary, but he gathered his strength to respond with a weak, "Yes."

The door opened and two wizards stepped in, both younger than he by a fair margin. One of them hurled a cleaning spell into the cell and ducked his head back into the corridor, calling to an undisclosed person that they needed another blanket. The second wizard crouched at his side, firmly touching his neck and pressing his fingers against his arm.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, sounding as though he didn't care about the answer.

"Fine," Remus lied.

The wizard helped him to stand, and a moment later the second wizard returned with another blanket, which he draped around Remus' shoulders.

"There's someone here to pick you up, Remus," the second wizard said with a smile, sliding a supportive arm around Remus' back.

He was led through one corridor and then another, finally deposited into a room with a three chairs and a writing desk in it. There was a basin of soapy water and a sponge and towel sitting on the desk, and the wizard guided him to one of the chairs, then nudged the bowl of water closer to him. "Lara will be in shortly," the wizard said. "You can clean up a bit if you want while you're waiting."

Remus nodded mutely, though in all honesty he didn't give a damn how filthy he was. He didn't move, and after a moment, the wizard rolled up his sleeves and reached for the sponge, squeezing it out. "Let me help you," he offered, and Remus found himself subjected to a hasty and ineffectual sponge bath that would have been the last assault on his wounded pride if he'd been in any position to argue. The kind, if somewhat incompetent wizard finished hastily and dropped the sponge back into the water, pulling Remus' blanket about his shoulders again. "There, that's a little better. You know, I probably should have told you my name. I'm Alex. Sorry 'bout that, mate. The Ministry hasn't developed a protocol for all this yet, so we're all kinda playing it by ear."

Remus knew that. It was essentially what Lara had said, only she'd been a bit more professional about it. It made it particularly hard to remain upset with them when they were trying to be sensitive and helpful. And he had to admit that they were trying. They weren't succeeding, but they were certainly giving it a go.

Silence settled around them an Remus closed his eyes. Alex, however, seemed a bit nervous, and apparently thought that filling the silence with prattle would make the situation a bit less awkward.

"I actually came over from the Goblin Liaison Office to help out. Slow over there right now, and we were sent a memo that Werewolf Support Service needed all the extra help it could get this morning. I don't think they were quite wanting 'all' the extra help they could get, though, right? I mean, it was kinda crowded back there in the cell—er, well, back there."

Remus nodded slightly, not really listening.

"In fact, about half the Pest Advisory Board is here. Not that werewolves are pests, mind you, but I think they get tired of doxies and horklumps. Can't say I blame 'em. At least there's interesting conversation with the goblins, when they bother to come. Say, you don't need—"

"That will do, Alex," Lara's voice floated into the room ahead of her and Remus opened his eyes. "Thank you. You can go back to your own office now. I think we have enough help here."

"Nice to meet you, Remus," the young wizard said, and a moment later the door closed.

Lara was shaking her head as she sat. "Honestly," she muttered. "Next month we're going to do this differently. Very differently. He didn't talk your ear off, did he? I swear the lad never shuts up."

Despite himself, Remus smiled and shook his head. "He's fine," he muttered.

"Good," Lara said, opening the folder. "I'm more concerned about you just now, though." She moved the blanket from his shoulders and frowned. "You've blood on your arm, here," she leaned forward and brushed a fingertip against his right shoulder. "An odd place if you'd done that to yourself. No one has hurt you, taken advantage of you, have they?"

"I probably fell against the wall," Remus muttered, and Lara nodded.

"Think you can stand, then? I need to give you a quick once over. It won't even take as long as the first one did. Up we go," she helped him up, and the only balm to what would have been an utterly humiliating experience was that he was too tired to care. After a few moments, she put aside the folder she'd been writing in and picked up the blanket, wrapping it around his shoulders once more. "There now," she said soothingly, "all done. Your friend has your things, and he's waiting just across the hall. I'm going to get one of the guards to help you across." She put her head out the door and called for a guard, and then turned back to him. "Now, I've scheduled a meeting with you again on Monday the 26th, and I'll see that your friend has that information. You look a bit tired to be thinking a week into the future."

Remus found himself hoisted up and he stumbled across the hall with the aid of the guard, into a room where he expected to see Albus Dumbledore. He did not, however. Instead it was Snape. If he'd had the energy, he would have cursed heaven and hell and all points between. Where was Dumbledore? Remus could have crumpled into a heap on the floor just then.

"Good God," Snape whispered, and Remus felt himself being shifted from the guard's arms to Snape's. "What did they do to you? Remus?"

Remus didn't bother to answer. Didn't have strength to answer. Severus deposited him unceremoniously into a chair and knelt in front of him, looking into his eyes. After a moment, Remus looked away. Of all the people he didn't particularly want to see right now, Severus Snape was towards the top of the list. And it was bitter, because even two weeks ago, the Potions Master would have been one of his first choices as someone to trust.

"Remus?" Snape asked again, then hesitated. "Your clothes are in here," he said, the familiar frown returning to his sharp features. "So you need to get dressed. I'm not dressing you."

Remus snorted softly. "Sod off," he whispered, wishing he had the energy to sound more adamant. He meant it.

"I ought to, you know," Severus muttered, taking the lid off the box. "And I really had every intention of just leaving you here."

A sneer curled Remus' lips. Leave it to the greasy git to play the 'you-owe-me-big' card. "Then you have my gratitude. Is that what you want?" Remus stared at him blankly for a moment, then shook his head. "Just get out of here. Where's Dumbledore?"

Severus was quiet for a moment, then said, "He had another pressing matter. He asked me to see to… this." Severus put his robe in his hands, and Remus just held it for a minute.

Of course. Dumbledore had more important things to worry about than a werewolf. It stung, but Remus was an adult and could accept that. At least, he told himself he could. "What sort of pressing matter?" he asked, almost before realizing he'd spoken.

"I didn't ask," Severus replied briskly, then pointed at the robe he was still holding. "Put that on."

Severus stood and stalked away, leaving Remus to sit and contemplate his misery alone. So Dumbledore had pressing business. Couldn't he have found someone else to come? Someone a little more inclined to treat people as humans? Remus had already had more than enough dehumanization for one lifetime, but the torture, it seemed, would continue.

A moment later, Severus returned, offering a damp flannel. "Here," he said, and Remus took it from him, but just held it as well, atop his robe in his lap. Which obviously wasn't good enough. . "Come on, you imbecile," Severus muttered, snatching the flannel away from him again. "You're supposed to use that on your face."

Remus closed his eyes, fervently wishing Severus would go away. Severus just sighed.

"Then just sit there like a log. You're a grown man and I am not bathing you."

"Just leave me alone," Remus whispered, his face reddening. Couldn't the man at least leave him his dignity? Maybe they'd never been the best of friends, but hadn't their tenuous attempts counted for anything?

"I can't, Lupin. You see, if I leave, they put you back in that cell."

"Let them." He didn't care. In fact, he wasn't sure the cell wasn't preferable to this, actually.

"Just cooperate for once in your life," Severus muttered, taking his chin between long fingers and applying the cloth to his face. From most people, the gesture would have seemed kind, but from Severus it was as demeaning as every word from his mouth. "I'm taking you home, and I rather think you'd prefer not to arrive looking like this."

"I don't care." And he didn't.

"That is becoming increasingly obvious," Severus retorted, scrubbing harder suddenly. Hard enough to make Remus wince. "But you'll care tomorrow."

"Why are you here?" Remus asked pointedly as Severus softened his touch.

"Because someone had to come and sign the papers to get you out of here."

"But why you?"

Severus paused in his scrubbing, and for an instant, Remus felt something unspoken pass between them. The moment passed quickly, though, and Severus stood abruptly. "Enough questions. Just get dressed."

Remus turned his robe over in his hands, but he hadn't the energy to pull it over his head. All he wanted to do was sleep. Couldn't they have just left him there for another day? After all, he'd already been there nearly five days, what would one more have hurt? At least he'd have slept through this one instead of being awake and acutely aware of his misery.

"I thought I told you to get dressed." Severus had returned obviously.

"I know I told you to sod off," Remus replied, less scathingly than he would have preferred.

"Well," Severus muttered, snatching the robe from Remus' lap, "at least whatever they did to you didn't injure your temper."

Remus snorted softly. And who the hell are you to be talking about tempers? The sour thought was interrupted by his robe suddenly dropping over his head. Severus jerked the neck roughly over his head, and then muttered, "You could help me, you know. I'm not exactly used to dressing other people."

For a minute, Remus just stared blankly at him, a retort on his lips. He didn't have the energy to voice it, though, so settled for moving his arms into the sleeves and settling the robe down over his hips.

"That's better," Severus muttered, reaching for the box again. He stared at the contents for a moment, and finally pulled out shoes and socks. "Here, think you can manage your socks or do I need to do that for you too?"

"Would you please just leave me alone?" Remus asked miserably.

Severus sighed and picked up one of his feet. "No," he replied, rolling a sock roughly over toes, heel and ankle. "I won't. You see, when I tell someone I'll do something, I do it."

"I'm not your obligation."

"No, you're not," Severus snapped. "But I told Dumbledore I'd see you home, and so I shall. Now either help me or stop fighting."

Remus snatched the other sock away from Severus and jerked his foot away. The jackass couldn't even lie and say it was no bother, could he? Severus straightened again and peered into the box once more. "Do you want anything else out of here besides your wand?" he asked.

"There's probably a folder in there," Remus muttered, slipping a foot into his shoe.

Snape rummaged for a moment, then came up with the folder. "Anything else?"

"You're not throwing any of it out," Remus said defensively. Again, Severus hesitated.

"I wasn't intending to," Severus replied, his tone almost soft as he knelt in front of Remus again and peered into his eyes. "What did they do to you?"

For a moment, Remus could almost believe Severus cared. He wanted someone to care. He'd been there for Severus during moments when the other wizard had needed to be reminded he was human, and he'd attempted to do that. He'd had comforting words and a comforting hand for the other man. At least, he hoped he'd been comforting. He'd been trying to be comforting. It was too much to ask in return, though, obviously. "Stop pretending like you give a damn," Remus answered, and Severus scowled.

"Fine. Let's go." Severus stood abruptly again and gathered the box, Remus' wand, the folder, and the stack of parchment he'd been given by the receptionist. Remus didn't move. "Will you get up from there? I can't carry you."

Get up from there. Yeah. Easier said than done. Remus couldn't have moved if his life depended on it. In fact, if his life depended on it, he might have sat there anyway just so it would be over.

With an expression of long-suffering patience, Severus shifted the items he was holding to one hand and reached for Remus with the other. "Come on," he said gruffly.

"Can you be just a little ruder?" Remus asked. "I think there's some small part of me that's still pretending to be a person, but I'm sure you could remedy that."

Severus slipped an arm around Remus' shoulders and Remus struggled to stand, even with the scant help. "Come on," Severus repeated. His tone was a bit softer at least. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah."

They made their way slowly to the door and Severus ushered Remus out into the corridor and right into the path of Lara Berkeley.

"Oh! Remus! You found your friend I see. He looks well, doesn't he?" She directed this question to Severus.

Remus gave her a harsh look. Even if she meant well, there was a limit to the condescending comments he was willing to ignore.

"If you think he looks well, you need glasses," Severus said bluntly. So typical. Making wisecracks even when Remus hadn't the strength to defend himself. "Now, if you will kindly direct us to the exit from this place?"

"He only has the one cut on his arm," Lara pointed out. "One of our werewolves very nearly chewed his arm off last night." Remus flinched at that, and considered asking who, but Severus preempted his concerns.

"If you base your assessments on the fact that a person's limbs remain in tact after the full moon, I think you need to re-evaluate your standards. And perhaps take into consideration the scars that you don't see," Severus told her, and Remus looked at him oddly. Had he heard that correctly? Severus was moving again, giving Remus no choice but to follow, and a moment later they were in the reception room.

"Mr. Snape?" the receptionist called through the window. "I have a message for you."

Severus muttered something incomprehensible under his breath and deposited Remus in a chair. "Stay there," he commanded, and Remus bit the urge to ask if he should beg and play dead next.

Whatever the message was, it didn't take long for Snape to receive it, and he returned, sliding an arm about his waist once more, helping him out into the corridor.

Well," Severus muttered once the door had shut firmly behind them. "That has to be one of the least pleasant places I've been in a while."

"Tell me about it," Remus muttered in reply before it occurred to him that they'd almost shared a civilized exchange just then.

Severus propped him against a wall and shifted everything he was carrying, peering at it. "Do you think we'll need any of these papers to get out of here?" he asked.

"The folder," Remus muttered, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the wall.

"All right. Here, take this," Remus felt his fingers curling around the handle of his wand, and a moment later, Severus spoke again. "Do you think you're up to Apparating?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite," Remus muttered, jerking away from Severus. If Severus could Apparate after being hit with three Cruciatus Curses, Remus could Apparate after a transformation.

"Come on, then," Severus muttered. They took the lift to the Atrium, and Severus turned in his visitor's badge. "And what do you need out of this folder?" he asked the guard.

"There should be a page with a case number on it," the guard said, sounding bored, and Severus shoved the entire folder at him.

"Then find what you need and do what you must," he snapped.

Remus leaned against the wall and closed his eyes again, hoping this wouldn't take long.

"Are you the wizard claiming responsibility for this creature?" Remus cringed inwardly, but kept quiet.

"I am claiming responsibility for this wizard," Severus replied, putting a delicate emphasis on 'wizard'. Remus opened one eye to peer at him.

"Then I need you to sign here, stating that you have been informed of the creature's needs and that you agree to fulfilling the requirements of the Magical Creature Protection Act as stated on page fourteen of the information packet you received in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It is my duty to inform you that under this law, if it is found that this creature has suffered any ill effects due to willful negligence or abuse on your part, you will be held liable under Article four of the Magical Creature Protection Act and therefore subject to fines and imprisonment as is determined appropriate by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Remus closed his eyes again halfway through that speech.

"Date there, please, and initial here and here," the guard said, quill scratching. "And the same thing on this one."

"Why do I need to do it twice?" Severus asked.

"Because all forms are in duplicate, one copy to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and one for the creature's own records."

Remus flinched again.

"And this form acknowledges that you are taking one Remus J. Lupin, case number 33795009, from Ministry protective custody, and that you release the Ministry from liability for his actions until and unless he is returned to Ministry custody. Further, you acknowledge that his next appointment with his advisor is on Monday, 26 August, and he is to be here at 10:15 am—"

"Am I responsible for seeing that he's here for this appointment?" Severus asked, and Remus sneered into the air. That's right, Severus. Make sure you don't have to have anything to do with me.

"No," the guard replied. "Just acknowledging that you have been made aware of it. And further, you are acknowledging that Remus is leaving the Ministry custody in sound physical condition."

There was no sound of quill scratching this time, and when Remus opened his eyes, Severus was looking doubtfully at him. Remus waved at the parchment.

"Very well," Severus muttered, and scribbled his name across the parchment, then again across the second copy of it.

"And this form—"

"How many forms are there?"

For fuck's sake, Severus, just sign the goddamn forms.

"Six," the guard replied, then continued as though he hadn't been interrupted. "This form states that you have been made aware of the Ministry's need to be able to locate all registered werewolves, and that you are aware that this creature has reported that he does not have a permanent address, but has listed Albus Dumbledore as a contact who will be able to find him if the Ministry needs to communicate with him."

"Then I'm responsible for seeing that he gets his owl post?"

"No, sir. Just that this information is correct to the best of your knowledge—that to your knowledge he does not have a permanent address and that Albus Dumbledore would know where to find him."

Severus scribbled again.

"And this form is informational for us. I need you to fill out the lines marked with an 'x'. Name, date of birth, address to reach you." The quill scratched against the parchment, and then paused, and the guard said, "I need a signature."

Severus bent over the parchment again.

"And this one simply states that Remus J. Lupin, case number 33795009 has been released into your custody."

Aren't we nearly done? I'm about to start giving that case number as my name.

"I thought I already signed one that said that."

"You signed one that said you were taking him. This one acknowledges that he has been released."

The quill scratched at the parchment again.

"Remus, I'll need your signature on this one as well," the guard said.

Lupin gave the man a nasty look but shoved away from the wall and signed both copies of the parchment with a shaky scrawl.

The guard shuffled parchments, placing several of them in the folder before handing it back to Severus. Severus pocketed it briskly.

"You're free to go then. Apparation area is through the door on the right, street entrance is through the door on the left. Have a good day."

"Two and a half hours," Severus muttered. "This has to be the most ridiculous waste of time I've ever imagined."

"Thank you," Lupin replied bitterly. "I'll tell Dumbledore not to waste your time next month."

Severus glared at him. "Stuff it, Lupin. And no, we won't be doing this next month."

Remus certainly hoped not. "Sod off."

"That's the third time you've told me to do that, you bloody prat. Give up."

Lupin straightened. He was still weak, and too weak to actually be walking of his own accord, but where his strength failed him, his pride held him up. He noticed that Severus did not remove his arm from about his waist though. It was oddly comforting, and for a moment, Remus almost considered seeking emotional support from the other wizard.

"Are you sure you're up to Apparating?" Severus asked quietly as they approached the pair of doors.

"Positive," Lupin muttered. He just wanted to be back in his own bed.

"I'll meet you in the kitchen, then," Severus said quietly.

"You're coming too?"

"I have half your belongings in a box in my pocket," Severus retorted. "I certainly don't want to keep them for sentimental value."

Right. Remind him that all his possessions could fit easily into a cardboard box that Severus could carry with one hand. And of course none of it was worth keeping. His irritation and offense was enough to spur his Apparation. Once he was in the kitchen, what strength he had found in his conviction to not make a fool of himself bled out, and it was fortunate that Severus Apparated in right behind him and caught him.

Severus deposited him into a chair, muttering, "This was a bad idea." Remus' eyes drifted shut. "Stay there," Severus told him, his voice sounding distant and cold, almost like an echo. The last thing he remembered before unconsciousness swept over him was Severus asking if he was able to walk. He hoped distantly that his lack of response would suffice as an answer.

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A/N:

First, I promise I won't do this often-- the identical chapter except shift in perspective. I did want to use the technique here, though, because Severus and Lupin are clearly not on the same wavelength and I wanted to explore how the one might interpret the other's actions and reactions. It grew tedious quickly (though in rereading, I think the read is more interesting than the write was) so I won't be doing it again without good reason.

Cecelle: My model for Lara was a cross between nurse, social worker and government official. Lara is extremely well-developed in my head, and she fascinates me, I must say. I don't think she sees them as cattle or as cases even, but she also doesn't necessarily see them as human. More on that in later updates, though, but I'm glad you picked up on that. That's exactly where I wanted to go with her-- the friendly and kind demeanor, and obviously good intentions in someone who just plain misses the boat in terms of how she treats him. I hope that came out even more in this chapter.

Silverthreads: Poor Edward?! Poor Lupin!! (j/k) I thought Edward was a nice touch.

duj: don't you know it?

Gina: good! I was wondering how long it would take me to make someone cry ;) Seriously... I meant it to be gut-wrenching. And I don't really intend to lay off for a while.

Hecate: Thank you! I've always felt that the emotional stuff was my strong point, so I really enjoy seeing reviews like that. I do try very hard to draw out the emotion. My own measure of a good book is that at some point it should make me laugh, cry and want to throttle the author. ;)