'Love Heals All Wounds' was originally intended as a one shot but since clearing out a draw crammed with scraps of paper, I found a scene that never made it into the finished fic. After reading the notes again and wanting to write more about my favourite couple, I decided to continue with another chapter. During the writing of 'Dark Memories' I have been inspired with idea for further chapters…so if you enjoy reading this latest offering there shall be more to follow.
Many thanks and a huge hug to Kim (my beta) this fic is especially for you as I promise to keep them together for this one and thank you again to everyone that has reviewed chapter one!
'Dark Memories'
Remus Lupin lay curled on his side under the frayed patchwork counterpane, resting his chin upon his hand as he watched Severus Snape lost to dreams beside him. Lupin chewed nervously upon his bottom lip as his gaze travelled over the curve of his lover's shoulder as it stuck out from the covers, what had once been smooth, ashen flesh was now mauled and disfigured. But Lupin didn't care, it wasn't just that he had endured similar scars and was haunted by the same terrible memories, he actually considered himself extremely fortunate that the man he loved so passionately had survived the werewolf attack. Lupin reached out with trembling fingers, he knew that touching Snape might wake him, and yet he craved intimacy, longed for the warmth and comfort to be found entwined within his lover's embrace.
Snape's ebony eyes instantly snapped open, his whole body tensed making Lupin quickly withdraw his hand, a little hurt by Snape's defensiveness. But as the unfamiliar surrounding merged with the memories of the previous night Snape relaxed back against the pillows with a sigh.
"How long do you think we have before someone comes and unlocks the door?" asked Snape stifling a yawn.
"An hour…maybe two," replied Lupin trying to hide the anxiety in his voice. "Why? Do you want to get rid of me already?"
"Of course not you paranoid fool, not while you have your uses," Snape chuckled as he rolled onto his side and planted a kiss upon Lupin's cheek. But before Lupin could return the kiss Snape had returned to lie back against the pillows and was beckoning Lupin into his arms. "Come here lover…I need warming up…"
Lupin ignored Snape's playful mockery and eagerly complied, desperate to feel the reassuring sensation of his lover's willowy body pressed close to his own. Lupin closed his eyes allowing his other more finely tuned senses to experience the moment, so he could commit everything to memory. He breathed deeply and a little moan escaped his lips as the lingering smell of musk and spicy flesh flooded his nostrils. He laid his head upon Snape's chest listening to the steady, rhythmic heartbeat, all his fears slowly disappearing as Snape slowly ran his fingers through his greying hair. Lupin had dreamt of sharing this blissful intimacy with Snape for so long yet as they lay in silence together he couldn't help but brood over the terrible price that Snape had paid in order for them to be together.
"What's wrong?" asked Snape, finally breaking the silence.
"Nothing, my love," Lupin lied then instantly regretted it, Snape must have sensed his deception and stopped stroking his hair.
"Please don't lie to me Remus…I'm sick of lies."
"I'm sorry…" whispered Lupin, he could feel the jagged scars across Snape's hairless, pale chest beneath his cheek and he wanted to cry.
"There is no need to be sorry…" said Snape as he resumed stroking Lupin's hair. "Surely after everything we've been through in the last few days is proof that we must be honest with each other…what's troubling you?"
"It's just…" began Lupin cautiously suddenly feeling nervous and a little foolish. "All this…us…happened so quickly. It doesn't make any difference to how I feel about you, but you never did tell me what happened to you in Romania."
Snape didn't reply but Lupin thought he felt him stiffen slightly at the barely concealed question.
"I'm sorry. It doesn't matter, if you don't want to talk about it…"
"Hush," said Snape placing a long, slender finger upon Lupin's lips before reluctantly releasing his embrace to sitting up against the pillows. Snape looked down at his beloved with a serious expression. "No, it does matter and I think you should know everything. But I don't want to talk about it Remus, I want to show you."
"Show me?" croaked Lupin in surprise as he sat up and quickly drew the covers over him, suddenly feeling cold and exposed. "But surely we would need Dumbledore's Pensieve…"
"Oh no, my love," smiled Snape, unnerving Lupin all the more. "I often wondered why I should be so blessed in Occlumency and Legilimency, skills that saved my life on more than one occasion…yet those now seem like child's play compared to the abilities I have discovered upon learning my father's true identity…"
"Don't talk like that Severus…you're scaring me."
"Do you trust me Remus?" Snape rasped, his dark eyes flashing with a strange fiery light.
"Of course," replied Lupin. "But…"
"Then don't be afraid…let me show you what happened…let me share my memories with you…".
Snape cupped Lupin's face in his hands, drawing him into a caress. After a few moments Lupin pulled breathlessly away from the passionate kiss, but Snape didn't release his hold, and Lupin slowly lost himself in the hypnotic depths of his lover's beautiful obsidian eyes.
"Go on then…show me…" Lupin begged, he remembered the intoxicating closeness, the strange, extraordinary ability to understand Snape when they had been werewolves, and now he craved the same connection as humans. "I want your memories…"
Snape drew Lupin to him once more but this time his intention wasn't to kiss Lupin, instead Lupin felt an unexpected warmth as Snape rested his forehead against Lupin's own, Lupin shuddered as Snape's long black hair brushed against his cheeks and his hot breath tantalised his flesh. Lupin shuddered as he felt Snape's fingers slowly inch upwards, across his cheeks and entwine in his hair.
"Ouch," winced Lupin trying to pull away as he felt a stabbing pain flash across his forehead. "Severus is that meant to…"
"Relax," whispered Snape, his voice like raw silk instantly sent shivers down Lupin's spine as he held Lupin firmly in place, his fingers entwining more tightly in his hair. Lupin desperately tried to relax but it was pretty difficult when Snape was stirring such passions within him. "Trust me…open your mind, let my memories become your own…"
Again Lupin felt the stabbing pain but this time even though it seemed as if his forehead was on fire he didn't pull away, he so wanted to share the memories, he trusted Snape.
"Oh…" said Lupin in surprise as a memory, and feelings of bitterness, anger and terrible grief flooded his consciousness, as he started to remember…
He stood in the graveside, but even in the bright August sunshine he felt no warmth, he shivered as he watched the ebony coffin slowly being covered with earth. The only other mourner at the graveside was Remus Lupin, the young man stood at a respectful distance, his head bowed. He gave his companion a secretive sideways glance, Lupin was dressed in his shabby, patched overcoat, his tired, worn features partly obscured by his long, floppy fringe of brown hair flecked with grey. It would have only taken him to reach out his hand and find instant solace in the warmth that Lupin so desperately wanted to bestow upon him, Lupin had made his feeling perfectly clear the night of Lord Voldemort's defeat, Lupin was in love with him. And he loved Lupin, he always had, despite that stupid prank played by Sirius Black…but even now then he was finally free to love Lupin, all the doubt now surrounding the true identity of his father filled him with fear and uncertainty. He looked away from Lupin, back to the cold, open grave, as if just looking at him was far too much of a temptation to resist. He felt an anger burning inside of him, a cold hated for his mother and his stolen childhood. Those distant, painful memories from his violent and unhappy childhood he thought could have finally been buried with her. But now the old wounds had been selfishly ripped open, haunting him with lingering doubts about his past, mocked by the irony that even from birth he had been living a cruel lie. All those years that he had spent alone in the shadows, hated and distrusted, he had clung to the knowledge that no matter how shadowy his cloak of deception he was at least being true to himself…it seemed now that he was just as in the dark as everyone else, and for the first time in his life he was truly afraid.
He closed his dark eyes and sighed heavily as he reluctantly came to a decision about his future, reluctant because in order for him to move on with his life, he had to confront his fear and rediscover his past.
"Are you alright…Severus?" asked Lupin, his soft, gentle voice full of concern. Even without opening his eyes he knew that Lupin would be hovering at his side, unsure whether to reach out with a comforting hand. It was the one thing he knew for certain, a faint light in the darkness of his confusion, that Lupin didn't just love him, Lupin want to protect and take care of him.
"It's nothing" he lied, and hated himself for the deception. He wanted to be totally honest with Lupin, he had shown him the letter from his mother, written on her deathbed, even allowed Lupin to be there for him at the funeral, but he just couldn't tell Lupin about his plans to visit the Carpathian mountains. He knew it was a journey that he needed to take alone, even though he was secretly terrified of what he might discover in Romania. He wondered if it would be safer to ignore the confession, remember his father as the muggle that had mocked and drunkenly beaten him. But he knew deep down there would always be that nagging doubt, the need to know the truth, like an itch that would forever need scratching. The moment he had read the letter he had felt something strange and portentous stirring within him, as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes and only now was he starting to see things clearly. He already knew that this journey was going to change him but no matter what he discovered he was determined that his love for Lupin would remain true.
"I am fine…really…" he said trying to give Lupin a reassuring smile. Lupin gave him a weak smile in return and nervously touched him on the shoulder, it was the first physical contact Lupin had attempted since he had held him in his arms, naked, tortured and close to death. And although that had been nearly two months ago either of them had spoke about it, the memories were still too raw and painful.
"Honestly Remus, I am fine…" he said reaching out and letting his long, slender fingers momentarily brush against Lupin's arm.
Lupin stared at him for a moment his lips quivering into a bashful smile that lit up the tired, grey features of the still handsome man. There were so many things he wanted to say to Lupin but before he could speak there was a loud crack, the sound of someone using a portkey.
"I…I think I'll make myself scarce", said Lupin with a nervous cough as he glanced in the direction of the sound. Lupin plunged his hands into the depths of his overcoat, the expression on his face was pained, his beautiful honey eyes silently pleading to be allowed to stay, but he said nothing. "I'll see you at the start of term then?" Lupin just managed not to sound wounded by the obvious rejection.
"Naturally," he replies suddenly sounding cold, guarded as his attention becomes focused upon the approaching couple.
"Yeah…well if you need anything before term starts…"
"Then you'll be staying with Harry…I know Remus."
Lupin quickly turned his aching troubled heart betraying him as tears stream down his face. He started to walk, shoulders slumped in defeat, down the path towards the entrance to the graveyard unaware that the obsidian eyes watching his departure have also misted with tears.
"Ahhhh Severus…" Professor Dumbledore smiled sadly as he offered a comforting embrace. "My sincerest condolences."
He accepts the old man's embrace without argument as the air seemed suddenly filled with a sweet floral perfume, He glanced over Dumbledore's bony shoulder to see a tall, slim witch dressed in elegant clothes staring in the direction that Lupin had just disappeared. Her white blond hair neatly swept up off her thin, pallid features, she had a striking beauty sadly marred by her arrogant manner and low opinion of someone that wasn't pure-blooded. He knew from bitter experience that Narnssisa Malfoy's beauty was tainted with selfishness, cowardice and innocent blood.
"Isn't your little friend staying?" mocked Mrs Malfoy, a cruel sneer playing upon her lips.
If you are referring to Remus Lupin", he replied defensively, flicking a stubborn strand of raven hair from his vision, "he's free to do as he pleases. I am not his keeper Mrs Malfoy…"
"That's not what I heard," snorted Mrs Malfoy looking at him with disdain down her long, thin nose.
"I've heard that Remus Lupin would like nothing more than to be your little pet…"
"I am sorry…" he snapped, his dark eyes narrowing with contempt, the only reason Mrs Malfoy had escaped imprisonment in Azkaban with the rest of the Lord Voldemort's followers was that she had been acting to protect her son, Draco. He was strangely fond of the boy and not wanting him to lose both his parents had spoken up for Narnssisa at the trials, but that didn't stop him hating the woman and her cowardly husband. "Was there an actual reason behind your visit or had you just come to insult my friends?"
"Forgive our intrusion, Severus," said Dumbledore his bright blue eyes twinkled as he peered over his half-moon spectacles. "I had no idea that you would have company…"
"Remus insisted; he didn't want me to face this alone," he replied softly." He's a good friend."
"He's a filthy werewolf…" Mrs Malfoy gave a snort.
"No…Remus Lupin is a courageous, fiercely mortal and honest man…unlike your dear husband, Remus would never have betrayed me just to save his own skin…" he hissed folding his arms defensively across his chest in a furry of black robes. Mrs Malfoy haughty expression wavered slightly, she seemed genuinely shocked by Snape's words. Even Professor Dumbledore couldn't hide his surprise at Snape's outburst, he had always secretly hoped that Snape's hatred towards Lupin was yet another warped reflection of the truth , a dark, nasty mask Snape wore to protect the people he cared about the most, but still Dumbledore was surprised by Snape's passionate defence.
"Lucius had no choice" replied Mrs Malfoy. "He was protecting his family."
"And victim of the Imperius curse no dobut…that's the defence of every Death Eater in Azkaban…" he snapped. "Some of us stood up for what was right no matter the risk to ourselves…"
"We are not disputing that, Severus…" Professor Dumbledore tactfully interrupted before Mrs Malfoy could retaliate. "But it would appear that Mr Malfoy has vanished…"
"What? From Azkaban?" he gasped, looking at Mrs Malfoy who he noticed was nervously wringing her small, gloved hands together.
"It is rumoured that Mr Malfoy was released from Azkaban with Alexander Caliban on a secret mission about three days before Lord Voldemort defeat…" explained Dumbledore.
"Rumoured?" he asked suspiciously. "What? You went to visit your husband one day and he wasn't in his cell?"
"Exactly", returned Narnssisa sharply. "And Alexander Caliban…"
"It seems that no one at the prison could explain the men's disappearance, so Narnssisa came to me for help. I made a few inquires at the ministry but there was no documentation regarding a mission, no official release papers from Azkaban…the only real evidence that did come to light, found by Kingsley Shacklebolt and after a lot of digging around I might add was authorisation for cross board portkeys dated on the day that Lucius and Alexander allegedly disappeared…"
"And I take it that we know the destination of the final portkey?" he asked.
"Yes", smiled Dumbledore. "And I thought, what harm would it do as you are already planning to travel to Rom-"
"Remus told you about Romania?" he snapped cutting Professor Dumbledore off abruptly in mid sentence. "He had no right discussing the contents of my mother's letter, I told him that in the strictest of confidence."
"Please don't blame him Severus, you know how persuasive I can be when I put my mind to it". Dumbledore gave a weak smile.
"Yeah…you persuaded me to spy for you and now you're doing your best to persuade me to search for the very man that nearly cost me my life."
"Forgive me, Severus, but what if Lucius and Alexander were working for the ministry in secret, that they had turn to the light…"
"Please Severus…" sobbed Mrs Malfoy, he turned to see those cold grey eyes suddenly glistening with tears. "If you want me to beg…then I'll get down on my knees…" Mrs Malfoy started to gather up the soft, fine folds of her expensive gown. He watched her for a moment sickened that this proud, elegant witch was willing to grovel in the dirt at his feet if it meant gaining his help to find her husband. It was a pitifully sight; he doubted Lucius would have humiliated himself in the situation had been reversed, which only made him all the more angry.
"For Merlin's sake, Narnssisa!" he snarled lunging forward and catching Mrs Malfoy by the arm. "I'll look for your husband and Alexander Caliban…"
"Then let's discuss this somewhere more private over a nice pot of tea," smiled Dumbledore.
He was now sitting in a chintz covered armchair in Professor Dumbledore's office, surrounded by portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses, all seemed very interested in the business under discussion. Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk, there were several parchments spread out before him but the old man's attention was currently engaged in selecting a chocolate chipped cookie. Narnssisa Malfoy was nowhere to be seen, but the evidence of her presence was revealed by the lipstick stained china teacup discarded on the desk and the lingering ghost of her floral perfume upon the air. He closed his dark eyes for a moment trying to shake the headache, the nauseating smell of garlic and stale cigar smoke emanating from the shadows wasn't helping his surly disposition.
"So it is agreed then?" said Professor Dumbledore peering over the rim of his teacup as he dunked the cookie.
He said nothing, just stared down into the depths of his cup, he wasn't thrilled about the situation Albus Dumbledore had put him in, once again he had been called upon to sacrifice his personal feelings and safety in order to serve that of others. He sighed and took a sip of Dumbledore's horrendous instant coffee, its bitterness reflected his mood perfectly.
"I know what I am asking of you Severus might seem like a betrayal of Remus' trust," said Dumbledore. There was a hoarse wheezing chuckle from the shadows, he tried to ignore it, biting back any snide remarks but his long fingers tightened about the coffee cup.
"I also know that Remus would be the first one to volunteer to travel with you…but I believe his company would be unwise under the circumstances, you have enough to deal with without the added complications Remus might bring…"
"I take it we're not talking about Remus' lycanthropy, Albus," growled Mad-Eye Moody stepping out of the shadows, he helped himself to several cookies before taking the seat next to Snape.
"It would complicate the situation less, if you accompanied Severus to Romania. Remus' lycanthropy is just one of many complications, besides, I have no doubt your experience in the field will prove invaluable in discovering exactly what has happened to Lucius and Alexander…"
"Personally, I don't give two owl hoots about those scum…" growled Moody, as he inspected his cookie. "But as you asked me Albus…and if there's a chance they were secretly working for the Ministry, the light side…"
"Then I think we owe it to their families to uncover the truth," said Dumbledore.
"And where do you propose we begin our search?" he questioned as he took another sip of the bitter black coffee. He eyed Moody with suspicion through his curtain of black hair; the gnarled old man was looking at Dumbledore while he munched on a chocolate chip but he knew that Moody's magic eye was fixed upon him. Although neither of the men possessed a particular fondness for each other, there was a mutual respect and combined knowledge of the dark arts that would fill the Restricted Section of Hogwarts library three times over.
"We've only two weeks before the start of school," he reminded the headmaster.
"Your personal business in the Carpathian mountains must of course be the priority Severus…" replied Dumbledore. "All that I can ask is that once you have concluded your affairs, you try to discover what you can in the time you have left…if you do come up with anything worthy of further investigate then I shall use my influence at the ministry to authorise an official search…"
"Well…the Carpathian mountains sound a good as place as any to start looking…eh…Snape…" grunted Mad Eye. "I suggest we leave tonight…the sooner we depart the sooner we can be back, before dear Remus starts getting jealous about you spending so much time alone with such a handsome devil as myself...ha…ha"
"Fine" he snapped rising from the chintz covered chair, finally losing his temper as he slammed the coffee cup down upon Dumbledore's desk. "I'll go and pack then…" And with that he stormed out of the office, black robes billowing out behind him like angry storm clouds.
Lupin was reeling with the sudden depth of empathy that experiencing Snape's memories had brought him, he hadn't realised the anguish and fear Snape had felt deciding to go to Romania without him and he suddenly felt ashamed. Lupin tried to break free from Snape's hold but only felt it tighten.
"No…" rasped Snape. "There are more memories…you must see them all…"
Lupin felt another stab of pain flash across his temple, he shuddered suddenly chilled by the memory of a cold, eerier twilight…
As he and Mad Eye Moody walked in silence up the rocky path to the sinister, remote castle he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by a terrible sense of foreboding. He was still no closer to the reason behind his mother's visit to Romania, maybe he would never know for sure but it was becoming increasingly likely that his true father had been a Romania nobleman. The inhabitants of the small, ramshackle village nestled in Carpathian Mountains, surrounded by forest were all muggles and deeply suspicious of strangers, so he wasn't entirely surprised that no one would speak to them about Castle Nosfer. What did surprised him was that an old man, his face tanned and leathery with a lifetime of herding goats upon the mountainside confessed that he had warned two gentleman, one with long white blond hair, against go up to the castle. He had considered them fools not to heed his warning and as a consequence no one had seen them again,. He begged unable to hide the fear in his trembling voice for them not to make the same mistake but they knew now that they had no choice, they must face whatever dangers and secrets lurked within Castle Nosfer to discover the truth.
He tried not to dwell upon the old man's tearful warning as the entrance to the castle loomed above them, stark and unwelcoming in the rapidly fading daylight. The heavy iron portcullis that protected the castle against intruders had been raised and his uneasiness increased as he stepped through the stone archway adorned with grotesque carving into the courtyard. Mad Eye growled something under his breath, drawing out his wand and then fumbling for something in the depths of his travelling cloak, something white that he stuffed into his mouth. He felt his heart clench in his chest, as he reached for his own ebony wand, revolted by the sight of two shackled corpses impaled upon a metal stakes, hanging either side of the heavy, iron riveted door. He couldn't quite tell when the unfortunates had met their cruel, painful end, only that the vile act had taken some time ago for the bodies were partly decomposed, the exposed white bones glistening in the twilight. He shuddered morbidly fascinated by the way the jaws and hands of the corpses were elongated and deformed, the ragged clothes and wisps of hair fluttering in the chill night air.
"Come on," growled Moody ushering him into the castle. "There's nothing we can do for those poor buggers now…keep close, I've a bad feeling about this place."
"That makes two of us," he muttered as he stepped over the threshold of the castle with a sudden icy shiver that chilled his blood.
He stood in the crumbling, faded grandeur of the once magnificent entrance hall and for the briefest of moments he could see the rich velvet drapery, the elegant, polished marble staircase and the golden framed portraits.
"Lumos!" growled Mad Eye.
And his ghostly vision disappeared like the darkness as Mad Eye cast a spell causing the ancient torches upon the walls to burst into flames. Now he could see in the flickering torchlight the filthy, threadbare curtains, everywhere was covered with cobwebs and shrouded in a thick layer of dust. The smell of damp and mould hung heavy in the air, and he was suddenly overcome with a great sense of sorrow and bitterness. He let his long, pale fingers brushed against a moth-eaten velvet drape, and couldn't help wonder how such wealth and splendour could have fallen into such shameful decay.
"This was such a beautiful castle, long ago…" he found himself muttering sadly.
"What?" growled Mad Eye his dark normal eye was fixed upon Snape while his electric blue magical one swivelled around scanning the entrance hall. "What the hell are you ranting on about?"
But he didn't answer, he was already lifting one of the burning torches from its rusty bracket so that he could explore shadows. His foot steps echoed in the darkness as he crossed the dusty stone floor and took the second of two oak doors on the right of the grand staircase. He didn't seem to notice as he strode down the shadowy passageway that his strange familiarity with the castle was more than a little unnerving to his companion. Mad Eye Moody wasn't someone that got spooked easily but as they wandered deeper into the castle through countless neglected, musty rooms his nerves were on edge.
He finally stopped at a heavy wooden door, to Moody's eyes it looked no different from the dozen that they had just passed through, only this one was slightly ajar. The door gave a protesting creak as he pushed it open, silver moonbeams streamed through a small arched window casting everything in a ghostly half light revealing was once must have been a magnificent library. He surveyed the room, the plundered bookshelves, the ancient scrolls scattered across the table, the slashed upholstery and felt a sudden cold anger rising within him. He stooped down to pick up a carelessly discarded book from the floor. The scarlet leather was torn, the yellowing parchment brittle to the touch and the gilding so faded that he could only just make out the title 'The House of Nosfter- An Ancestry of Blood' . The title made him shuddered and he quickly dropped the book down onto the desk.
"How the hell did you know Malfoy and Caliban had been here?" asked Mad Eye as he set his lantern down upon a small table upon which stood an empty crystal decanter and glass tumblers.
"I didn't", he replied. "
We don't know for sure they are the ones that…that desecrated this place"
"Desecrated? I hardly think that describes it …but whosever has been here, it looks to me as if they were looking for something" grunted Moody.
He refused to snipe back with a cutting remark, it was obvious that someone had been searching the library and again that cold anger rose within him. As he set his torch in the bracket upon the wall he saw a gleam of silver nestling among the slashed remains of a chaise longue. It was a dagger, the twin to the one that Harry Potter had plunged into the black heart of Lord Voldemort. He held the dagger, it glinted seductively in the torchlight as a thin, spectral voice seemed to whisper at his ear…Take me…I'm yours…everything in this castle is yours…
"Snape…Severus…" Moody's rasping voice jolted him from his trance; he looked down at the dagger that he now clutched so tightly in his hand it had sliced into his flesh. He dropped it back upon the chaise lounge with a shudder, the wound was deep and his scarlet blood had started to drip onto the stone floor.
"Severus…quick bring your torch, I think I've found Caliban." Moody's usually strong, gruff voice was shaky, trailing off into the darkness as he stood on the other side of the library. He snatched up the torch, ignoring the pain in his hand and hurried over to where Moody had now hunkered down next to what looked like a bundle of rags. But as the torch bathed the bundle in a pool of flickering orange light it revealed a body. Mad Eye beckoned for him to bring the torch closer and he felt his stomach sicken at the writhed corpse clothed in the remnants of a finely tailored black suit, now dusty and gnawed by rats. The mummified remains were unmistakable human and there was the faint stench of something rotten. The leathery flesh was shrunken to the bones, the skeletal face framed by long raven hair stared up at them its dark eyeless sockets silently pleading, the features frozen into a hideous, twisted grimace of terror and pain.
"Caliban wore an earring," said Moody, it was more a statement of fact than a question as he torn a golden hoop from the withered ear. "Like this?" Moody said as with a crack of his knees he rose from the corpse and handed it to Snape.
"Yes," he croaked, "I gave it to him when we were at Hogwarts together."
Mad Eye growled snatching up his wrist and examining the wound with his normal eye.
"You should be careful how you cut yourself out here, Severus," Moody muttered thrusting his hand into the pocket of his travelling cloak and drawing out a clean white cotton handkerchief. "Bind that wound tight…I don't want us attracting any unwanted attention".
"You mean vampires," Snape replied coldly as he placed Caliban's earring into his own pocket and wrapped the handkerchief around his still bleeding hand. "You think that's what killed Caliban?"
"I don't know for sure, but those poor bastards impaled outside were werewolves, now if this castle was home to a werewolf then those poor bastards would have had to be staked out on the courtyard to burn up in the sunlight. Vampires and werewolves have always hated one another and probably always will but at least back home we've got laws preventing such atrocities…"
"I'm so glad Remus didn't have to see that," he said. "I think the least we can do is give them both a decent burial".
"I agree but we must stay vigilant, spilling blood is a serious matters in these parts, I am not worried about myself, my blood is poison to the undead…" said Moody deliberately breathing over him.
"The garlic," he replied taking a step backwards, just the smell left him feeling nauseous and he just couldn't shake the migraine that had been plaguing him since he had agreed to join forces with Mad Eye."
"I eat at least three bulbs of garlic a day…but you might make a tasty meal. And if it was a vampire that attacked poor Caliban, then it was damn hungry, sucked him completely dry." Moody kicked at the corpse with the toe of his boot. "There's nothing here, lets move on…"
"No! wait," he said as a tapestry hanging behind the desk seemed strangely familiar like a distant memory from a long forgotten dream. He strode over to the tapestry and pulled it aside to reveal a small wooden door, that appeared to have no handle or lock. The door had a sinister beauty, the ebony wood was inlayed with silver and carved with a macabre collection of skeletons, serpents and roses. And at the centre was the Nosfer family crest, a bat in flight against a full moon.
"How the blazes did you know there was a door behind that tapestry?" growled Moody straining his magical eye to look beyond the door.
"I didn't", he replied with a shudder. "But I am sure I've seen it before…I think my mother was working on a smaller version the year before I started Hogwarts."
"Yeah, and I guess you didn't know here are stone steps on the other side either."
"No…how could I?" he replied as something almost instinctive made him reach out with his wounded hand to touch the crest, training the carved bat with his fingertips. "But the door is magically sealed it could take us months to discover…"
"Merlin's teeth, Severus…" growled Mad Eye dragging him back by the arm as the ebony door creaked open. "How did you do that?"
"I…I don't know…" he replied in a shaky voice, staring at the Nostra family crest now glistening scarlet in the moonlight. "I think it was my blood," he said rubbing his bandaged hand.
"I see…" mused Moody as wand raised he peered cautiously through the doorway. "Just remind me, what did your mother say in that letter?"
"Putting it politely … I am the result of affair my mother had with a Romania nobleman just before she married Tobias Snape…"
"Illegitimate, eh? Well that figures…you always was a snide, cantankerous old bast…hey Snape, where are you going?"
But he was already climbing the stone steps, his heart suddenly hammering against his chest, his knuckles white with strain as he clutched his wand as he disappeared into the spiralling darkness.
The stone steps ended at another door only this one wasn't inlayed with silver, the entire door had been crafted from the metal. Again, some strange instinct caused him to reached out and as his wounded hand touched the shiny polished surface, the door slowly creaked open. Cautiously, he entered the gloom, surprised how quickly his dark eyes adjusted to the only illumination, a guttered oil lamp set upon a long wooden chest at the foot of a four poster bed. He shuddered, as he realised Mad Eye had been right; that this small chamber with no windows and a door of solid silver must have been created as the resting place of a vampire. He heard a murmur from the shadows and whispering a spell to give him a little more light peered toward the bed. He gasped as illuminated by the reddish glow at the tip of his wand he could just make out the long, white blond hair of Lucius Malfoy flowing over the dirty, threadbare pillows. Lucius' strong, handsome features were untroubled, breathing relaxed as he slumbered naked beneath the filthy, rotting linen sheets.
He was just about to go and wake Lucius when a movement in the shadows on the other side of the room made his blood turn cold. Afraid of warning Mad Eye in case he endangered Lucius, he stood froze as a woman stepped into the flickering pale circle of waning lamplight. She was tall and thin, dressed in an exquisite forest green gown, emeralds and diamonds glittered at her throat, all strangely at odds with the decaying, neglected castle. Her thick, shinning black hair, and heavily hooded dark eyes reminded him of Bellatrix Lestrange, but that was impossible, Bellatrix Lestrange was dead, he had killed her himself.
The woman curled her full, red lips into a feline smile that sent an icy shudder through him. He heard Lucius murmuring in his sleep and watched with repulsed fascination as Bellatrix walked gracefully across the chamber and stooping over Lucius caressed his neck with her long, painted fingernails, feeling the gentle rhythm of his pulse beneath the pale flesh. She looked up at him, again she smiled and beckoned him toward the bed.
"What in Merlin's name is this place…" puffed Mad Eye as he staggered through the doorway.
"Snape…Severus are you alright? Bloody hell…Lucius…STUPEFY".
A jet of red light exploded against the canopy of the four-poster bed, Bellatrix screamed flinging herself over Lucius to protect him. Lucius disturbed from his peaceful slumber woke with a cry. He looked about the chamber with a strange glassiness in his pale grey eyes, then as spell upon him was suddenly broken and he found himself trapped in a nightmare he started to scream.
Lucius' screams torn through him, returning him back to his senses. He felt Mad Eye's gnarled fingers curling around his shoulder, pulling him back from the bed, trying to protect him. He stared in disbelief as the enchantment now shattered he saw Lucius ensnared in the arms of his demonic lover. The vampire without her disguise was a hideous, pitiful creature, the veins snaking across her wasted body were clearly visible and ugly beneath her translucent, sallow skin. Her lank, dark hair hung in dirty, matted tresses and the beautiful silk gown was torn and stained with blood.
"Severus…please help me," begged Lucius as he struggled to escape from the vampire's embrace. His pale, grey eyes were imploring, filled with something he had never seen before, real fear. "Severus…please get this vile creature off me…"
"No!" shrieked the vampire, her dark eyes blazing with hellfire. Her filthy, broken fingernails clawed at Lucius' finely sculpted , hairless chest, tearing the flesh as she held him fast.
"You're mine…they'll not take you from me…I shall not be abandoned again." Lucius screamed again as the vampire bared her fangs desperate to re-infect him with her poisonous caress.
"Don't, you might hit Lucius," warned Moody pulling the sleeve of Snape's frockcoat as he aimed his wand at the vampire.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take", he snapped.
"Well I'm not", growled Mad Eye. "Dumbledore would never forgive me…"
"Then what do you suggest?" he snarled wrenching free from Moody's grasp, Lucius screamed as the vampire tried to sink her fangs into his neck. " For Merlin's sake, Alastor…aim for the canopy again" he screamed dashing forwards and grabbing the vampire by her hair. As Moody's spell demolished the canopy above him, sending it crashing down around them, he dragged the vampire off Lucius and they both fell back backwards, he lost grip of his wand and it skidding across the stone floor.
The vampire screeched, clawing at the air as she tried to tear herself free from him. Moody limped across to the bed, snatching up one of the rotting velvet drapes and wrapping it about Lucius who was rocking back and forth, clearing in shock.
"Noooo!" spat the enraged vampire as she twisted around in his arms, her foul, icy breath made his flesh crawl, her deadly fangs glinted in the lamplight.
"Fight her, Severus", growled Mad Eye as he helped Lucius to his feet.
"What do you think I am doing?" he snarled unable to summon his wand for fear of losing his hold on the snarling vampire.
"You've taken my love…so I'll take you instead…" the vampire hissed.
"The hell you will," he snarled baring his own teeth, but the vampire lunged forward with all her strength she pinned him to the floor and then dived for his jugular. A blinding pain exploded in his head as his skull cracked against the stone floor, he cried out as the vampire's fangs raked across his neck, her cold, dead lips inches from his flesh. Still he fought back, snarling with rage, his vision became clouded by a red mist as some dormant survival instinct took over.
"NO!" wailed the vampire as she shrank back from him, she clasped a shaking hand across lips that looked swollen and blistered. "I can not touch…it is forbidden," she rasped twisting her clawed hands together in angrily frustration.
"Carpe Retractum!" he cried; his wand instantly flew into his outstretched hand and he aimed it at the now terrified creature. "Why can't you touch me? he questioned in a hoarse whisper, his long fingers checking his neck for wounds. "What do you mean, demon?"
The vampire's scalded lips flickered momentarily into a strange smile then the chamber was filled with her thrill, crazed laugher. "Do you not know who sired you?"
"Tell me…tell me the name of my father," he demanded advancing upon the creature.
"For Merlin's sake, Severus," growled Moody. "Just kill it and lets get the hell out of here,"
"No," he hissed. " I have to know who my father was…"
"You half breed…" the vampire shrieked with manic laughter. "You are all that is left of the once great Nosfer bloodline, you are Radu Nosfer's heir…"
"No…that's impossible," he snarled. "The undead can't have children.."
"And yet you stand there before me, only the blood of Nosfer can open the doors of the sanctum. The master disappeared not long after you were sired leaving his most faithful servant alone and forsaken…" The vampire fell upon her knees before him, her long bony fingers tipped with dirty, broken nails grasped his ankle. "But I am yours now to command master, the blood of Nosfer bequeaths many great powers, together we can restore this castle to the glory of the old days, you shall reign as Radu Nosfer once did, dark lord of these lands…"
He looked down at the pitiful creature grovelling at his feet, the sight sicken him bringing back painful memories. So this was the truth he had sought, that the blood running through his veins, his father's blood, was poisoned by centuries of death and tyranny. He felt disgusted, ashamed but most of all terrified of his unwelcome dark inheritance, terrified that the ancient hatred between vampires and werewolves, yet another cruel, mocking twist of fate would make an enemy of the man he so dearly loved.
"Let me serve you master, let me make amends for the past…" beseeched the vampire still fawning at his feet as he stepped back in disgust, the hideous creature had suddenly taken on the appearance of Eileen Snape, his mother. "No? You care little for your mother? Then perhaps I am more to your liking master?" whispered the creature in the deep voice of Sirius Black as it transformed into a handsome dark haired teenager before his eyes . "Ahhhh…no…" hissed Black with a sly smile his features already starting to change again. " I am the one your heart truly desires…" said Remus Lupin gazing up at him through his floppy, greying fringe with imploring honey brown eyes. The vampire started to shrug off the shabby, patched jacket and unbutton his thin cotton shirt beneath which was a hairy scarred chest. "I know how you hunger for me, how you ache to kiss me, to touch me, to love me…"
"How dare you!" he hissed savagely, curling back his thin, pale into a snarl that revealed his own suddenly elongated canine teeth.
"Master…master forgive me," the vampire wailed shrinking back from him and returning to its true form. He loomed over the trembling creature, his whole body shaking with anger, tears streaming down his ashen cheeks as he pointed his ebony wand at its chest.
"I may be the son of Radu Nosfer, and the last of the bloodline but I will never be your master," he snarled rising his wand.
"No…no…master pleas…"
There was a blinding flash of red light, darkness, and then as Snape broke the magical link between them, Lupin found himself gazing at his beloved through eyes misted with tears.
"Oh Severus…" cried Lupin flinging his arms about his lover, he clasped Snape tightly to his chest and buried his face in that long, dark hair. "Why didn't you tell me?" he sobbed as the terrible feelings of anguish and fear Snape had allowed him to experienced still haunted Lupin. "I would have still loved you, no matter whose blood flows through your veins. I wouldn't have care about that stupid ancient feud."
"I know…" murmured Snape his lips brushed against Lupin's naked flesh making him shuddered with delight.
"I tried to protect the ones I love…" Snape continued lifting his head so that he could look his beloved in the eyes. "But I failed, I was such an idiot, so intoxicated by my newly discovered gifts that I stupidly risked losing you…"
"But it's you that nearly died Severus…" said Lupin smoothing an unruly strand of hair from his lover's bewitching, dark eyes. "If I had lost you…" Lupin's voice trailed off for a moment as he fought back the tears. "But that's all water under the bridge now, lets not dwell upon past but think about the future, our future…"
Snape nodded but remained silent, Lupin knew that there were still ghosts haunting his beloved but with his understanding and love he hoped that in time Snape could finally lay them all to rest. Lupin held Snape tightly in his arms until the silence between them was unbearable, he desperately need to see Snape smile again.
"There is just one question…"
"Yes…" Snape replied breaking free from Lupin embrace, he stared at Lupin with a inquisitive but confused expression. Lupin chewed nervously upon his bottom lips suddenly wondering if his attempt at lightening the mood was such a good idea after all.
"Did you really have a thing for Sirius?" Lupin couldn't stop himself blushing at the thought of Snape secretly lusting after Sirius Black. "I mean it's not that I'm jealous or anything…"
"Not much…" Snape teased in his silkiest voice, curling his lips into his most seductively smile as he seemed to returned from his melancholy. Lupin didn't mind being mocked, he knew Snape was only teasing him and it was worth it just for that wonderful, sexy smile. "I confess a fleeting crush on Black in the fourth year…"
"Really? Well Sirius was very good-looking, athletic, popular…" mused Lupin thoughtfully. "But he was only ever just friend, he was straight and not really my type anyway," he added quickly.
"I'm glad to hear it," Snape returned with another seductive smile as he rose from the bed. "It wasn't until much later, when you took up the position teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts that I finally realised it was you I really wanted…but of course at that time I couldn't reveal my true feelings, there was far too much at stake, too many people I risked putting in danger…forgive me." Snape lent over the bed to plant a kiss upon his lover's forehead but Lupin reached up and pulled him downwards, their lips brushing momentarily before Lupin initiated a burning, passionate kiss.
"Of course I forgive you," gasped Lupin as with some reluctance he finally broke the heated caress.
"Thank you…" Snape replied softly shivering with the cold, he fought against the inviting temptation of climbing back into the warm bed and making mad, passionate love to Lupin. But as much as Snape wanted Lupin, he knew it wouldn't be long before Harry or Professor Dumbledore came to unlock the door, desperate to know if they had survived the night and he wasn't going to be caught naked by anyone but his beloved Lupin.
"Now get your clothes on lover…I might enjoy the sight of you naked but I doubt the rest of the school would…and as the educators of young minds we do have certain standards to uphold."
Lupin laughed softly, gathering the threadbare patchwork quilt about him as he watched Snape get dressed, then with a sigh he slipped from the bed and found his clothes.
Lupin had just finished knotting his tie when a key was turned in the lock and the heavy wooden door cautiously opened. Someone stood silhouetted the doorway, nervously lingering upon the threshold, the amulet of protection Snape had given them glinted in the lamplight.
"Professor Snape?…Professor Lupin?"
"Is that you Harry?" called Lupin.
"No…it's Hermione, Harry just couldn't bare to unlock the door, but I just had to come…" explained Hermione stepping into the chamber.
"Miss Granger?" said Snape somewhat surprised, he was a little disappointed that Harry hadn't been the one to release them but he was impressed by Hermione's nerve and comforted by her concern for him, obviously she had forgiven him for the induced false feelings of infatuation for him.
"Oh, Severus," cried Hermione as she ran across the dusty floorboards and flung her arms around him. Snape staggered backwards with the force of Miss Granger's embrace, shocked and a little embarrassed he patted her on the back. "I'm so relieved you're okay," Hermione sobbed, she released Snape from her embrace only to beckon Lupin over so she could hug them together. "I have been so worried about you both, and Harry, Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey, in fact none of us could sleep last night…"
"Really?" questioned Snape. "I don't usually sleep very well myself, but last night I drifted off no problem…"
"I'm not surprised Severus," said Lupin. "All those sedatives, painkillers and the Wolfsbane potion in your system…"
"No…I don't think that was the reason…" replied Snape touching Lupin briefly on the arm, causing the shabbily dressed man to go crimson with embarrassed happiness. Hermione's cheeks were also flushed, she grinned approvingly but obviously felt a little awkward as she glanced down at a letter she was holding pretending to read it.
"Is that from young Mr Weasley?" Snape asked having just noticed with relief, the return of a diamond engagement ring upon Hermione's finger.
"Yes," answered Hermione clutching the yellowing parchment to her chest. "He's just arrived in Romania to help his brother Charlie with the increasing outbreaks of Dragon Flu…"
"How bad is it?" asked Lupin. "I know Hagrid was pretty worried about a dragon named Norbert…"
"I know…" said Hermione. "Hagrid wants to travel to Romania and offer his help but Professor Dumbledore persuaded him to stay for now. Ron says that Charlie wants to move the Dragon Research Unit's headquarters away from the main colonies, somewhere where his team can isolate and nurse the sick dragons. But so far they haven't had much luck finding anywhere that fulfils all the requirements…"
"Such as?" asked Snape glancing at Lupin with a curious smile playing upon his thin, pale lips.
"Well…firstly it needs to be a safe distance from any large centre of population, secondly it has to provide shelter for humans and dragons alike and thirdly somewhere secure…tents and cages in the forest just aren't safe or sensible when you've got sick dragons sneezing fire…"
"Poor Mr Weasley that is quite a dilemma…" Snape replied. "What he could really do with right now is an abandoned castle…"
"Severus…" scolded Lupin, he could see the confused expression upon Hermione's face and didn't think that it was fair of Snape to tease her. Snape shot Lupin a mock glare of disapproval while mouthing Spoilsport over the top of Hermione's head.
"It just so happens, Miss Granger, that I know of a castle that might be just what Charlie is looking for…" Snape winked at Lupin as he gestured Hermione towards the door. "How about we discuss the details over breakfast?"
"I'll see you later then?" questioned Lupin.
"Of course, I'll meet you here at about five o'clock…unfortunately the Room of Requirement will have to suffice for now but I insist on somewhere far better than this next month…"
"But Severus, the moon doesn't rise until about seven o'clock…we are quite safe until then…" protested Lupin. Although he was desperate to spend time with Snape alone, the Shrieking Shack, even this magical simulation brought back unpleasant memories for the both of them.
"I know…" replied Snape. "But I have plans for us."
"You do?"
"Oh yes, my love," Snape whispered, in a deep, velvety voice. "I want to see what exactly happens when the blood of a creature that enjoys the slow, enriching stimulation of all the senses combines with the blood of a creature that prefers quick, instinctive gratification…"
"Oh…uh…yes…" stuttered Lupin, he could kill Snape for embarrassing him in front of Hermione, although he was pretty sure she hadn't heard his lover seductive insinuations.
"And now, Miss Granger, if you want to know more about this castle I suggest you follow me to the staff room if I don't get a cup of decent strong, black coffee soon I'll go totally insane."
And with that Snape swept out of the chamber, his black robes billowing behind him.
"It's a relief to know that Severus has survived the transformation pretty much unscathed," mused Hermione. "I mean it doesn't seem to have changed him much."
"I agree," Lupin smiled, "and I wouldn't want him any other way."
TBC?
R&R!