Severus had a hard time accepting that he and Remus had kissed in the wood near his house. Yes, it happened. They had kissed. But why? What compelled them to do this? What compelled Severus–who usually had a very responsible manner about him–to become this reckless?
He didn't think that it was possible for him to be attracted to the werewolf, though he found himself thinking of blue eyes and graying ginger hair almost all the time. He thought of scars on white skin, trailing in snake-like patterns... Sometimes he even found himself thinking of his tongue running across those scars... Though that was thinking more for the middle of the night, when Remus wouldn't be able to hear him...
Could he actually be attracted to Remus Lupin? The one who was friends with the absolute scum of Hogwarts? Was that plausible?
Severus snapped out of his thoughts and stirred the Wolfsbane. It was far from finished; looking more like chicken stock than potion. When it was almost black, it was done. But, it still had a couple of more days to stew. It would be complete right before the moon.
The kiss had occurred four days ago, and Severus thought of soft lips, mingled with the heavenly sensation of Remus' stubble. He could still remember the way Remus took his tongue in... so gratefully... as if something had released inside of him. Severus also felt as if something had escaped within himself. He felt as if nearly forty-plus years of frustration and anger had finally left him–even if it was for a few fleeting moments.
He stirred clockwise, and then counter-clockwise. Finally, he stepped away from it. Nothing more was to be done now. He had just sat on the cot when he heard a knock at the basement door.
"I've made dinner tonight, Severus." Remus called. Of course Remus was going through his own emotions about the kiss, but it was a lot more positive that Severus'. Remus thought that the kiss was a good thing, and maybe he had been wrong about Severus. Maybe he was a person Remus could get to know... and have pleasant times with.
Severus looked up to the door, and sighed. It was now or never. No more hiding.
"Remus, could you come down here? I would like to speak with you." He said, making sure he spoke in a way that was more sociable than his usual sardonic tone.
Remus came down the stairs carefully, dressed in his old cardigan. He pulled up a chair from the corner and sat in front of Severus, his expression concerned.
"Yes?" He asked softly.
"We kissed four days ago." Severus announced matter-of-factly. Remus' eyebrows jumped.
"I am aware. Thank you, Severus." He replied. The Potions master cleared his throat.
"How do you feel about it?" He asked cautiously.
"Well..." Remus began, choosing his words carefully, "I... liked it." He admitted, his eyes now on the floor.
Severus felt a warm feeling in his chest. "You did?"
"Yes, I did." Remus said, chancing a glance at the Potions master, "I liked it a lot."
Severus couldn't help but smirk, "I'm glad." He said. Remus smiled, and he stood, offering his hand. As Severus reached up to take it–
BANG!
Severus groaned. Must the Death Eaters always be so gung-ho?
Remus jumped, his eyes wide. "Gods!" He gasped, running towards the stairs.
Severus stood coolly, adjusting his collar. "It's The Dark Lord." He said softly.
Remus stopped, halfway up the stairs. "What?" He said, his nostrils flaring as if he was trying to pick up a scent.
"He's here somewhere!" Came the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange, "Oh Severus! Come out, come out wherever you are…" She said, letting out an icy shriek of laughter.
"Apparate." Severus said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he looked up to the ceiling of the basement.
Remus looked confused. "Where?"
"Where do you go when the moon comes?" Severus snapped, and then came another voice from upstairs.
"I smell him. Search the lower floor first." Hissed the Dark Lord, and in an instant, Remus was gone. Severus tapped his wand onto the cauldron, and it turned itself into a book. He stuffed it in his bag, along with a few other things... when the basement door flew open. There stood the Dark Lord, and Severus looked up at him.
"Hello, Master." Severus said coolly, though he knew he might regret that later... But he was tired of running. The Dark Lord drew his wand, and Severus Apparated.
Even though he really never wanted to return there... it was only place where he thought that no one would find them. The Shrieking Shack.
Severus Apparated into the Shack, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. The smell of mildew invaded his nostrils immediately, and a whisper came from a corner behind him.
"Severus?" Remus hissed, and then he heard the werewolf sniff, "its you."
"Oh really?" Severus said sarcastically, and then lit the tip of his wand. Remus was sitting on a dirty old chair in the corner, looking ill-tempered.
"Are they going to destroy my home?" He asked, and Severus sighed.
"They were going to kill us, you know." He said, frowning. The last thing I'd be thinking of is my house, he thought to himself.
"I have to tell the Order that Voldemort was in my house. I can't keep this a secret." Remus said, and Severus raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what it means."
They stared at each other for a moment, and Severus turned around, really not wanting to get into an argument he thought he'd win anyway. What is the point? He heard a shuffle, and turned to see Remus standing with his arms folded. Severus frowned.
"What, Remus? Are you implying that we should have stayed there? Or are you implying that you're going to turn me in?" He asked venomously. Remus sighed.
"I'm just telling you that the Order needs to know that my house was invaded… Besides, you're innocent, so what's the bother with telling them?" He asked, his eyes flashing. Severus sneered.
"You know good and goddamn well why they cannot know…" He said dangerously, "The whole lot would happily turn me in just for good measure. It's not like my personality is popular with those cretins anyway." Remus' mouth hung open.
"You actually think that they'd turn in an innocent man just because he's…" Remus frowned. In a heated moment such as this, his extensive vocabulary would fly out the window, "An asshole?" he said, and then winced. Wrong choice of words… Severus glared at him, his eyes glittering.
"So you think I'm an asshole, Lupin?" He asked, his hands balled into fists. Remus looked helpless, his eyes pleading.
"No! That's not what I meant…" He said softly, "I meant that maybe if you were nicer…" Severus roared in frustration and began cleaning the Shack. He used different levels of cleaning charms, and by the time he was done, twenty minutes later, it looked half-decent.
"Where are you going to sleep, Lupin?" Severus asked coldly.
"I would be sleeping in my own bed…" He said gently, about to offer that they share --
"Look, Lupin." He began, all the color draining from his face, "You have no idea what I have been through this past year." Remus looked irritated, but at the same time, sympathetic. Where did this come from all of the sudden? He thought to himself.
"I understand." He said, leaning back in the chair. Severus walked over and sat on a small ottoman nearby.
"I am terribly sorry that they found us, Lupin," Severus said, his voice low and soft, "But you will get your house back... I made sure of it." Remus looked at him skeptically.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I let the Dark Lord see me before I Apparated. That way they wouldn't go tearing through the house. They know that I am gone. So... most likely, they have left." Severus said, smirking lightly. Remus looked terrified.
"You put yourself in danger because you didn't want them destroying my house?" He asked, and Severus nodded.
"I did not feel right letting the house that you grew up in fall victim to over-zealous fools." He said simply, and then stood; taking out the book and turning it back into a bubbling cauldron.
"It shall be done by the time the moon arrives." He told Remus, who was sitting in a state of mixed gratefulness and confusion. The werewolf merely nodded, thinking in his mind that maybe Severus cared more about him that he lead on…
Severus began stirring the Potion again, making sure it didn't get too thick, "And, or course, when I give it to you... you must drink it right away."
Remus nodded, looking almost in awe of the Potions master. He stood, and then in a complete surprise, wrapped his arms around Severus' middle.
Severus let out a surprised gasp, but found himself enjoying the feeling. He hadn't been held in years.
"There is only one bed." Severus blurted, and Remus laughed.
"I am aware, Severus. Thank you." He replied.
"I'll sleep on the floor." He said and Remus took his arms away.
"No you won't. I'll sleep on the floor..." He said, looking to the dirty floorboards, "I've done it before as a wolf."
"But you're not a wolf now, Remus." Severus said simply, and looked at the bed. It was quite large, spacious enough for at least four grown men, "We can share it."
Remus looked slightly taken-aback. "Us? Share a bed?"
"What is wrong with that?" Severus snapped, crossing his arms over his chest, "I don't snore or anything..."
Remus swallowed hard and began to peel off his cardigan.
"I'm quite tired now..." He said and Severus nodded.
"Go on. I'm going to tend to the Potion for now." He said, turning his back to Remus, and getting back to the now almost gelatinous looking Potion.
Remus looked at him regretfully, as if he wanted something more. After a moment, he shook his head, and crawled into the bed, removing his shoes.
After a while Remus drifted off to sleep, only to be awakened a few hours later by Severus getting in the bed. He removed his boots and turned his back to Remus, his black hair lying across the pillow. The werewolf smiled, the smell of sweet Potions coming off of Severus, making him feel comfortable... He found it to be a good smell–one he could live with for the rest of his life.
Remus turned on his side and faced Severus' back, drifting off once more.