Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything therein. No profit was made, etc. etc. etc.
Chapter Six
As Remus had spent the entire day resting, he had not been exhausted enough to fall asleep that night. Instead he sat in Severus' chair by the fire, rubbing ointment onto his arms at regular intervals to prevent them from stinging while the Potions master crawled under the blankets and slept. For hours Remus did nothing but soothe his wounds and watch as the covers rose and fell softly in time with Severus' breathing. His arms were still an angry red but nothing, not even magic could repair them. In time they would heal, as his other wounds had, with discolored and possibly scarred tracks over his flesh. That was the drawback of being a lycanthrope, and he could do nothing about it.
Through the night Remus sat silently watching Severus, paying attention to every little detail about him. His companion's face, usually hard and set, was smooth, relaxed, and peaceful looking. The black hair that framed his face was spilling behind him onto the pillow. Severus' limbs were pulled in close, as if he was guarding himself even in sleep. This time he was not snoring nor making any other noise, simply breathing. Remus found himself thinking Severus looked rather handsome before he even realized it.
The lycanthrope burned a deep shade of red, trying his best to dismiss this thought as the Potions master roused and woke with a yawn. Severus reached over the side of the bed and quickly snatched a robe to hide under with a disapproving grunt. Out of the corner of his eye, Remus could see his companion stand and awkwardly move over to the other end of the room, removing clothes from his wardrobe. Perhaps the lycanthrope was tired, because his mind seemed to further betray him by straying to thoughts of watching Severus change. It was then that he was aware of his own discomfort.
Remus gave a start and stood, trying his best to face the bookshelf and pretend as if he were fascinated by the numerous potions texts that lined the walls. Being a lycanthrope he was used to the untimely and sometimes awkward condition of his arousal. After all, having a wolf inside meant having a heightened and at times unpredictable sexual drive. He was used to it, mostly, and had also grown to be able to control himself quite well where those matters were concerned. However, his condition had never surprised him, or embarrassed him more than it did then. Remus found himself wishing for the long flowing robes he used to don within the walls of Hogwarts, which provided an adequate cover for his present state. He wagered this was the reason why Severus had slipped into the restroom, quickly showered, and was now buttoning up his long sleeved jacket and shrugging his robes over his shoulders. However, Remus was sure it was just a usual morning coincidence for the Potions master, and not something more, whereas his...
Severus cleared his throat as he came back into the room. "Breakfast will be sent down for you, as will lunch and dinner." He announced with a stony face. "I will also send down a mattress for you with fresh bed linens since you maintain that I spoiled the only set you own." The Potions master raised an eyebrow at him. "You may unpack your belongings and arrange them as you see fit. I will be back later as I have business to attend to." Without another word, Severus departed.
After showering and taking breakfast, the lycanthrope kept busy by unshrinking what belongings he had and placing them around the room. The modest chairs he owned were placed opposite Severus' chair near the fire. His bookshelf and book collection settled perfectly into a spot next to one of Severus' shelves. The bottom of one cabinet was where he stored his plates, silverware, and other miscellaneous items he owned. However, there was nowhere available for him to hang his clothes. Remus had no choice but to fill the remaining space in the wardrobe with his clothing. Every article was a stark contrast to what Severus owned. The Potions master had crisp clean dark robes and shirts with perfectly pressed sleeves and every button accounted for. Remus' clothes were muted colors and all had holes, stains, or places where the threads were beginning to become unraveled. It made him a bit embarrassed and only reinforced his desire to have robes, this time to hide his threadbare clothing under.
By the time he had finished getting everything arranged and the room completely presentable, it was already dark. Remus received his dinner tray and ate in silence, finishing his meal with a bit of loneliness. Part of him wished he could take his meals in the Great Hall, but he knew it was impossible, especially because of who was on faculty at Hogwarts this term. Rather than dwelling on that unpleasant topic, Remus dove into one of his personal books, trying to distract himself from the quiet until Severus returned.
As Remus was becoming completely absorbed into the chapter he was currently devouring, the chamber door burst open. The lycanthrope jumped in alarm. "Severus!" He exclaimed reproachfully. The look on his companion's face signaled to him there was something very wrong. "Severus, what is it?"
The Potions master's face was etched with deep disapproving lines. "Arthur Weasley has been attacked."
Remus shut his book and gazed at Severus with wide eyes. "What?" He asked in disbelief, his heart beginning to pound within his chest. "Is he alright? Was he badly hurt?" There were so many questions he wanted to ask. However, only a few seemed to leak through his lips.
"It's bad." Severus returned as he came in and sat down in his own chair. "They've taken him to St. Mungo's. He's alive, but he's badly hurt."
"Do the Weasley children know?" Remus asked.
Severus nodded. "They've all been sent to Grimmauld Place. And Potter too." He added with a scowl.
Remus rubbed the bridge of his nose, running his fingers over a scar absently. "Do they know who, or what, attacked him?" He ventured to query.
The scowl seemed to become exponentially more severe. "It has been deduced that it was a snake." Severus returned with a grave tone in his voice.
A chill ran through Remus' body. Did that mean what he thought it meant? "We should go see him." He murmured to himself aloud. "When he's settled in, I mean." added the lycanthrope.
"You're welcome to go." Severus returned. "I must stay to finish out the term."
"I'll drop by tomorrow morning, then. Perhaps I can accompany them to the hospital." Remus announced.
"Do what you please." said the Potions master as he reached next to him to where a stack of student essays were. He unraveled a roll of parchment and began scratching corrections on it with his quill.
Remus resigned to watch him for a moment, sinking back into his chair silently. "How's the term been so far?" He asked.
"It's been heaven." replied Severus with a thick layer of sarcasm.
"Is it true that woman is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Remus asked. His tone of voice produced not only a raised eyebrow from Severus but also a look of surprised astonishment. It had been a question he had been meaning to ask but had never gotten around to it until now.
"And by 'that woman' you mean Dolores Umbridge?" The Potions master clarified. Remus answered with only a bristle. "Yes, it's true. I trust you've heard she's become High Inquisitor of Hogwarts as well?"
Remus bared his teeth before he was even aware of his doing so. Turning his head to face the fire, he did his best to stifle a growl that was building from deep inside him. "Yes, I've heard." He returned, clearly upset though trying his best to keep himself as composed as possible. "What're your thoughts on her?"
"I find her to be nosy and highly unintelligent." Severus admitted honestly. "And by the looks of it you don't think very highly of her either."
"She's a vile, crude, manipulative, evil little bigot!" Remus exclaimed.
Severus' eyes were wider than they had ever been. "I've never known you to speak this way before, Lupin." He replied.
"You know she's biased against half-breeds, don't you? And you know she drafted that anti-werewolf legislation a few years back?" The lycanthrope railed.
"Yes, I'm aware of it." Severus said coolly.
"You're aware of it, everyone is. But no one understands!" Remus returned bitterly. His anger left him suddenly, replaced by a hollow, empty sadness. It was rare that he showed his emotions like this, as he was a very private man. However, something in him felt the need to open up to Severus. Perhaps it was merely because Dolores Umbridge caused so much anger within him whenever he would so much as think about her, let alone discuss her aloud with someone. "She's why people like me can't hold a job anymore. It was hard enough without her. But now she's made it virtually impossible." He elaborated sadly. "She's forcing us into lives of poverty and hunger. She's making it so that we have no choice but to become the animals everyone thinks we are in order to survive." Remus choked on the red hot lump that was forming in his throat. "We want nothing more than to be men and we're nothing more than animals." He finished.
"Remus," Severus said softly from where he sat. The sound of his name through the Potions master's lips once more was surreal. He sat, gazing at Severus with wide, tearful eyes. "The heart that beats in your chest," he continued, "is no more an animal's heart than mine is."
The lycanthrope smiled in the silence, not being able to punctuate the comfortable air between them with any more words. Severus continued grading the rolls of parchment while Remus was content with watching until his eyes grew heavy with sleep. Standing up he began to walk towards his mattress which he had arranged against the wall near Severus' bed. However, he paused, placing a hand on Severus' shoulder. "Thank you." He murmured softly.
To his surprise, Remus felt Severus' hand come to rest on his own. His skin was warm and soft yet held enough firmness to indicate that he was a true Potions master who worked with his hands for a living. Remus' breath caught and he could manage nothing more than to smile. A long moment passed between them where neither man moved. Finally, after what seemed like an infinity interrupted far too soon, Severus' hand moved back to his parchment and Remus resumed his journey to bed.
"Good night, Severus." Remus bid, climbing into his new bed.
Severus still sat by the fire, eyes scanning the parchment, his hands scribbling corrections. He did not look up but Remus could tell the Potions master's expression was soft, almost as soft as it had been when the lycanthrope had watched him sleeping. "Sleep well, Remus."