Chapter 5
Severus had to return to Hogwarts just in time for the Hallowe'en feast, which Dumbledore had been adamant he should not miss. But he walked up from the gates absolutely sated, full to the brim with images of Lucius's eyes and Lucius's clever fingers and Lucius's face as Severus had gripped his cock. It was quite probable that it would be the last they would see of each other until the Christmas holidays, but Severus could almost convince himself that it would be enough.
The grounds looked rather beautiful in the gloom, the high mountains visible only as hulks of black against the darkening sky. He could just see a light glimmering on the lake, and, despite the odd wave of cold as a Dementor passed by overhead, it was fairly mild. In fact, Severus realised with surprise that he felt almost contented as he went up to the castle.
Just as he stepped away from the margins of the Forbidden Forest, a movement made him turn his head sharply. A shape, a creature, had surely been there, before melting away into the shadows of the trees. Had he imagined it? It had been large, with four legs … He drew his wand from his pocket and proceeded more quickly.
After the feast, which was predictably enormous, Dumbledore took Severus to his office for a nightcap. 'Did you enjoy your weekend, Severus?'
'Yes, thank you.'
'And I haven't seen hide nor hair of Remus, which presumably means the potion is working.'
'Mmm,' Severus said, running over in his mind the various problems that still existed in the current formula. Then he said, 'Unfortunate phrase, perhaps.'
'Oh, indeed,' Dumbledore said, smiling. 'I'm very grateful to you for devoting so much time to this, Severus. Remus's life has already been transformed by this potion and any improvements you can make will brighten his future immeasurably.'
Severus inclined his head. 'I'm glad to hear it.'
'And, of course, it's wonderful for Harry to be taught by someone who knew his parents so well. I know that Remus is most impressed with him.'
The news of Lupin and Potter's mutual admiration had already reached Severus. He gave a short nod. 'Things appear to be going well for Lupin. I only hope he doesn't think to jeopardise it.'
Dumbledore's face grew still. 'What do you mean?'
'I believe you understand me, Headmaster. Lupin and Black were friends. Black is now free and wishes to kill Potter. Lupin begins to befriend Potter. Lupin has several days every month when no one will look for him. One could imagine – opportunities.'
There was a pause. Then Dumbledore said, 'Severus, where has this come from?'
Severus decided there was no point in lying. 'I saw something – in the grounds as I was coming back up – a dog, a wolf, something like that. It just seemed –'
'You're not suggesting it was Remus, are you?'
'No, I –' He wished he had thought this through before raising it with the Headmaster. Certainly he couldn't say that it was Lucius's words that were niggling him, his description of Lupin as Black's lapdog. He hadn't questioned it at the time – he had had other priorities – but he had begun to wonder how close the two had really been before Black had turned. And, therefore, how much influence Black might still have over his former friend.
'Severus,' Dumbledore said, looking at him seriously. 'You know yourself that the Wolfsbane sends Remus to sleep for the whole three days. Weren't you there with him when he drank it?'
'I was,' Severus conceded.
'Well, then. It is impossible for Remus to be out and about in wolf form during this cycle.' Suddenly Dumbledore smiled. 'On the other hand, I know Harry has also been having visions of dogs – in his tea leaves, I mean, according to Sybil. Perhaps you too are seeing the Grim.'
Before Severus could protest any further, there was a frantic knocking on the door. 'Albus? Albus, are you there?'
Dumbledore lifted his wand and the door opened. It was McGonagall, who was already in her dressing gown. Severus spent a split second envying her her early nights before she spoke. 'Albus, Gryffindor Tower …. the Fat Lady's disappeared – and her painting's been attacked …'
The Headmaster was out of the door before Severus could even stand up, leaving only the words 'Follow me, Severus' trailing behind him. Severus hated to run, but he did this time, and arrived breathless outside Gryffindor Tower just as Lupin rounded the corner from the other direction.
As Dumbledore questioned Peeves, Severus leant surreptitiously against the wall to get his breath back, and surveyed Lupin. He looked terrible. He wasn't simply leaning against the wall – he was sagging as if he could hardly stand up, the wand in his hand was trembling, and his shirt was not fully buttoned up. Clearly he had not been dressed when he had been called out.
Then Peeves said, clearly audible: 'Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black.'
There were gasps and exclamations of fear from the students. But Severus kept his eyes on Lupin, whose face crumpled in horror; as if overcome by dizziness, he sank into a squat and rested his head in his hands, his shirt falling open almost to his waist.
Dumbledore turned and saw Lupin. Catching Severus's eye, he indicated with a jerk of his head for him to help, so that a member of his staff would not be witnessed in a state of near-collapse by fifty shaken Gryffindors. Severus rolled his eyes, then seized Lupin under the arms and hauled him to his feet. 'Come on,' he muttered.
They made their slow way back to Lupin's office. Luckily, Lupin was able to walk most of it, so Severus did not have to endure the curious stares of those they happened to pass, as he would if he had been supporting or levitating his colleague. Word spread that all the students were to assemble in the Great Hall, and crowds of children flowed past them in the opposite direction.
Lupin was able to speak faintly as they walked. 'He won't still be here. There's no point in checking. But I'm sorry I'm not able to help with sweeping the grounds, I just feel' – he swayed as Severus swept him round a corner – 'rather unwell. You'll forgive me.'
'Is this normal after the full moon?'
'Unfortunately, yes,' Lupin said with a wan smile. 'I wasn't due to return to teaching until tomorrow, you see. A good night's sleep will set me right.'
'As long as Black doesn't manage to find you asleep and weakened during the night,' Severus said. 'I'm assuming you are also a possible target, not just Potter?'
'I'm sure I shall be perfectly safe,' Lupin said. 'I'm confident I know one or two more protective wards than Sirius. He never did much reading.'
There was a note of scorn in his voice, and Severus sensed, with some recognition, Lupin's uncomfortable role as the scholar amongst the energetic fighters he had befriended. Lucius Malfoy had been similarly erratic in his studies, similarly eager to get on a broom rather than pick up a book.
The thought of Lucius reminded him again of the lapdog comment. It probably didn't mean – Black and Lupin – but after all, what if it did? Lucius had a whole mental encyclopaedia of embarrassing secrets about all sorts of people, he'd proven it before. And while Black had been conspicuously, extravagantly heterosexual at school, it didn't mean he hadn't privately had somewhat broader tastes. And Severus didn't remember ever seeing Lupin with a girl, except Lily. What if –
Suddenly he realised they were reaching Lupin's rooms, and jerked his thoughts back to the present. 'You don't require any further assistance, do you?' he asked. He hoped to Merlin no help of a more intimate nature would be requested.
'No, Severus, thank you,' Lupin said, giving him a weak smile. 'I'll be fine tomorrow, you'll see.' He pressed his palm against the door, and it swung open to admit him, before closing again gravely.
Severus flicked an eyebrow in irritation, then turned and strode back towards the Great Hall. He had no idea what to think. His mind turned again to the dark creature he had spotted outside the Forest. He hadn't got a good enough look at it to see what it was. True enough, it had looked somewhat more like the Grim than a transformed werewolf – and he should know, with that memory of Lupin imprinted on his brain. But assuming he wasn't seeing an omen of his own violent death, this went no further to explaining what the creature was.
Later, back in the Great Hall and having spent the best part of two hours searching the castle, he attempted to speak to Dumbledore again, but the Headmaster was impenetrable. He did not believe, he said, that a single person inside the castle would try to help Black enter it, and that was the end of the discussion.
'Headmaster -'
'No, Severus. I will not engage with you on this subject. You must learn to trust Remus – as I have learned to trust you. Now go to bed. Get some sleep.'
As Severus picked his way out of the hall between the sleeping students, his thoughts turbulent with suspicion and irritation, he had a sudden image of himself in battle with Sirius Black, throwing hex after hex and reducing the escaped convict to a quivering mess on the ground, ready for the Dementors' Kiss. It was a beautifully satisfying thought – and one he would most certainly be keeping to himself.
