Chapter 3: Sanctuary

Remus glanced at his watch nervously. Though he hadn't been back to Bill's since that afternoon, he was still hoping the young man would take him up on his offer. The prospect of a full moon always put him on edge, even after all these years. It wasn't something you could just get used to and go on with. Bones grinding, shifting, and breaking. The feel of having your flesh tear away from you and the reform. No, he would never be used to it. The pain was too much. He could only imagine what it was like for Bill.

Severus dropped off his potion later early in the day. Remus couldn't say that he'd entirely forgiven the man. The deaths of his lover and his mentor were too closely related to Snape for Remus to simply forgive. Obviously, Snape had his own misgivings about the werewolf. Both of them had decided long ago that it was best to bury that kind of thing for Harry's sake, but that did not mean it was not awkward for them.

Remus had been reorganizing one of the shelves when Severus arrived. "Busy as usual, I see," Snape snarked as he glanced around the room.

"Things are never busy on a Monday afternoon," Remus replied unfazed by the sarcasm. He smiled warmly, and set aside his books. "Thank you for coming."

Though the dark man said nothing, his rather annoyed expression was enough. The potions master folded his arms across his chest. He was obviously waiting for Remus to say something more. After a few moments of Remus' confused silence, he signed. "I've made a few improvements to it. This one may dull the pain a bit for you, though a make no promises about that."

Staring at the potion with renewed sense of gratefulness, Remus thanked the man again. "You have no idea what this means to me. I don't take what you do for granted, not even for a second."

"I think you know why I do it," Severus said coldly. "Harry cares about you, and that moronic Gryffindor has become more important to me than anything. I won't have him wasting his time worrying about you. Now he has me doing experiments for the Weasley git too. If you want to be grateful, be grateful that he's your friend."

Remus nodded. "I am."

"Owl me with the results," Severus said curtly.

"I will, and please tell Harry that I send my best."

The rest of the day went rather quickly. He sold a few of his more expensive volumes. Most of the clientele that came through the door was interested in browsing over buying. Remus watched as they roamed over the shelves. The bell on the door jingled twenty minutes before close.

Bill Weasley walked in wearing a stained shirt and torn dragon skin jacket. Remus remembered that jacket from years ago. It used to be stylish and fitted, but now it seemed to resemble the man who wore it. The red head looked around the store nervously as though he were sure something awful was waiting for him.

Remus smiled, and turned the "open" sign over with the flick of his wand. "I'm glad you decided to come."

"I don't know why I did," Bill said speaking to the floor.

"Because you don't have anymore furniture to break?" Remus offered hoping to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, Bill didn't seem to see the humor in this. If anything, he looked more awkward than he had before. He knew why Bill was there, if Bill himself did not. "You don't want to be alone through it, but you never want anyone else to see it."

"So maybe you do understand," Bill admitted. "We've only got about an hour until sundown."

"I know. Come with me," Remus told him. Without a word, they walked to Remus' home a few blocks away. It was a nondescript little place, though it was neat. His home was a reflection of himself in many ways. The inside was much nicer. Harry had insisted that they split the Black fortune--in fact, if it were up to Harry, Remus would have taken it all. Using his newfound wealth, Remus had made himself a comfortable life. Every inch of the interior here bespoke of comfort and intelligence. The older man watched as Bill paused by an old photograph of Sirius and himself.

"Do you still miss him?" he asked softly.

Remus nodded. "I always will."

Bill set the photo aside. "After you."

Remus took Bill to the kitchen, and lifted a hidden door in floor. It led to a hidden room that was sectioned off from the rest of the basement. There was only one way in or out, for caution's sake. The rickety old stairs that led down to the floor creaked as it held their weight. Candles began to ignite as the pair hit the ground. This was perhaps one of the most dismal places Remus had ever seen, but he had designed it this way to accommodate the beastly part of himself. The padded walls with their shredded coverings did not offend the wolf nearly as much as they offended the man. "This is it," Remus said bleakly.

He pointed his wand at the wall, and a small cupboard appeared in the wall. "I usually leave my clothes in there for the night."

Bill nodded. "We don't have a whole lot of time."

"No," Remus confirmed, "we do not. I took my potion earlier."

It felt very uncomfortable to be going through this with another person in the room. Over the years, Remus had gotten quite used to his solitude. As he began removing his clothing, he could feel Bill's eyes on him. Getting naked with an old queet was probably not Bill's idea of an enjoyable evening, but when Remus turned to face him there was no disgust in his eyes. He noted that Bill was staring intently on the scar on Remus' calf.

"That's where he bit you, isn't it?" Bill asked.

"Yes…." Remus would have said more, but he felt the first sting of the moon. "Time isn't on our side."

He hurried and put his clothes away, and Bill handed him his own. "Never is," Bill agreed through gritted teeth.

Remus had just enough time to clasp the chain around his neck, when the change began in earnest. The crackling and popping of his bones was only surpassed by his screams. Even with the potion, Remus' mind could barely comprehend anything but pain. It felt as though his flesh was being ripped from the bone. He let out one last human cry that turned into a howl.

Slowly, Bill's screams started to register in Remus' mind. He was aware enough to understand what was happening to the young man. He watched as Bill writhed and screamed in absolute agony. His body desperately wanted to change, but couldn't. The young man thrashed about violently, clawing at anything he could grasp. His face contorted in pain, and his eyes were pleading for it to stop. Finally, he collapsed on the floor. He had exhausted himself to the point where he could only lie there and whimper pitifully. It cut into Remus' heart as he watched.

In wolf form, there was little Remus could do to comfort him. He laid down beside Bill on the cold stone floor. Nuzzling the young man's hand, he began to wonder if it would ever stop for either of them.

Morning came mercifully quick. The transformation from wolf to man was less painful, but still excruciating by normal standards. At first, Remus didn't have the energy to move. Lying there staring at Bill's unconscious form, he let his gaze trace the vicious looking scars on Bill's face. Though they had healed, Bill was no where near the handsome man he had been before. The beard and long hair only seemed to make the scars more sinister looking. First things first, Remus chided himself picking himself off of the floor.

He dressed quickly, and noticed that he had done considerably little damage to himself the night before. There were the typical wounds from the transformation itself, but Bill's presence had kept the wolf at bay. Remus snorted with disgust as he picked up Bill's tattered, dirty clothing. This would not do. Grabbing his wand, Remus conjured a blanket, and wrapped it around Bill.

"Bill, it's time to get up," Remus called softly. An agonized moan escaped Bill's lips. "Shh, It's alright," Remus soothed.

With the help of a levitating charm, Remus managed to get Bill into the bedroom, and onto the soft mattress. It took all of the will and strength Remus had, but he made it to the guest room before he passed out.