Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery

by Ms-Figg

A reluctant Severus Snape is ardently pursued by Hermione. A few tantrums, hexes, nasty spells and wellplaced knees later an understanding is reached...sort of: RemusOFC too. Yummy. Alternate Universe, Humor, Lemons, Oral, Anal, More.

9. Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery 9

Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery Part 9

Isadora looked in her wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear tonight. Most of her clothing was black, white or shades of gray, though she did have some colored outfits. She decided on a simple black dress that flattered her figure. It fell to just above her knees. She chose a pair of lacy black knickers and a black bra. Naked, she walked into the bathroom, tucked her hair into a shower cap and took a nice, hot shower. As Isadora stood under the steaming stream, her thoughts turned to Remus.

She had no idea what she was going to say to the werewolf. But she needed to convince him to come back and work, and to not stop trying to achieve a better life for himself because he was afraid of something happening between them. Isadora wanted the wizard to understand that she didn't perceive him as someone to be shunned. He was intelligent, kind, compassionate and gentle, and she found that compelling. She wanted him to believe he was worthy of whatever opportunity that fell within his reach. Isadora knew what it was to feel alone and without recourse. She knew what it was like to feel so beaten down you didn't want to draw another breath. She also knew that life could get better.

Isadora had cried for a month when she arrived in Naples. She was estranged from her son, didn't know the language and had no friends. But when she decided to stop feeling sorry for herself and to do the best she could with what she had, the darkness that covered her life slowly began to clear. The witch sincerely believed if Remus would just apply himself the quality of his life would improve, despite his malady. Even if no cure were found, he could live a better life.

Isadora knew that the werewolf was more than capable of becoming a success. He was learning much faster than she did. The only thing holding him back was his outlook.

How would she convince him? Should she try to approach him like she would her own son? No. That wouldn't work. Despite their age difference, it was impossible for her to look upon the wizard as a son. After all those dreams, she felt far from motherly towards him. And from what he had revealed to her before he left her flat, he certainly didn't look upon her as a mother figure.

Then Isadora went over what Hermione had told her about the wizard and one witch's experience with him. If it weren't for her dreams, she would find it hard to believe that Remus could be so demanding sexually because of his gentle demeanor. He seemed more like the kind of man who would be submissive in the bedroom, sweet and willing to please. The kind that would require instruction. The truth about the werewolf only proved how deceptive outward appearances could be.

Hermione said the unfortunate witch had pursued him, and he had turned her away numerous times. Obviously he had known what would happen. He must have gone through it before with other witches. Isadora didn't wonder that Remus wanted to distance himself from her. His malady, combined with his sexual ferocity made him feel that he couldn't pursue a relationship with anyone. So his dreams and attraction for her were torturing him. It was like dangling something he wanted badly but couldn't have in his face every time she was near him. Working alongside her just added more fuel to his fire

And herself. Gods. She was under no illusions as to why her dreams about him aroused her. Night after night her soaked knickers proved she still had that same darkness inside her that Darius used to draw out and sate before he turned into such an abusive man. Remus Lupin being an animal in bed didn't repel her. It attracted her.

Isadora and her daughter-in-law had something else in common other than Severus. They both had masochistic natures. Neither witch was truly submissive, but they loved sexually dominating men. Men who would shag them till they ached and could barely walk. Hermione had the wizard she desired, in all his snarky glory. But Isadora had yet to find her wizard. Her needs were somewhat different than her daughter-in-law's. Severus was sexually aggressive, and Hermione loved him that way.

Isadora was turned off by sexually aggressive men, most likely because Darius had been one. She had dealt with quite a few of them in Naples, though the one wizard she had indulged herself with was much like Remus in that he was a quiet, unobtrusive and gentle man. If he could have satisfied her in the bedroom, most likely she would have had an ongoing relationship with him. But his gentle nature carried over and he was unable to give Isadora what her body craved.

Isadora had a bit of a Queen Bee complex now. She was used to running her life and she would be happiest running her mate's life as well. Like her son, Isadora was controlling, though that aspect of her never really had a chance to shine when she was with Darius. It was only after she had re-established her life, that her true nature revealed itself. Isadora was a Slytherin after all, but female…so she was much more subtle in her manipulations.

Isadora needed a wizard who had no problem being supportive and letting her run things. A wizard who was easy-going and willing to be her drone. A man who was gentle in the hive, but an animal in the Queen's private chambers. Unfortunately for Isadora, the wizard who fit that description was Remus, and Remus was a runner.

Well, she had him cornered for the night at least.

Isadora sighed, turned off the hot water and after a moment or two stood shivering under the frigid spray. When she went to the Three Broomsticks tonight, she would have to be cool, calm and in control or she wouldn't be able to begin to handle this situation.

Isadora stepped out of the shower and toweled off. She looked at the bottles of scent on the shelves and decided against wearing any at all. Clean was just as sexy smelling as any perfume after all, though she did apply a deodorizing spell. She brushed her teeth, then slipped on her lacy black knickers, brassiere, little black dress and heels. Isadora then brushed out her hair until it fell down her back in a cascade of black silken waves. She applied a bit of lipstick and looked at herself in the mirror. Yes, understated but attractive. She wore no jewelry. Not even earrings. Except for the lipstick, she was going before the werewolf au natural.

---

"I'm doing what, Rosmerta?" Remus asked the innkeeper, his eyebrows raised in surprise and dismay.

"You are going to be the waiter for a private reservation for the night. You will stay in the room, take orders, bring food, wine, be attentive and do whatever the patron asks until the dining experience is over. I believe you will get an excellent tip for your service," Rosmerta said as she shuffled through the wardrobe for a white shirt and vest for the werewolf.

"But Rosmerta, I have no experience in this kind of thing," Remus protested.

"It's busing a table for one, Remus. You've done all of this before. All you have to do is be polite and attentive. I don't expect to see you in the inn proper unless you are bringing our guest dishes or removing them. I want to keep this patron coming back and I have a feeling whether she does or not will depend on how you treat her," Rosmerta said, holding a white shirt up against him speculatively then tossing it over her forearm. She retrieved a black vest and a pair of black trousers. She handed them to the werewolf.

"Go put those on," Rosmerta ordered.

Remus opened his mouth to say something, then decided against it. Obediently he walked into the bathroom and changed his clothes. There was a little bowtie with elastic around it. He slipped it over his head and the band under his collar. The wizard looked at himself in the mirror. Dressed in the crisp white shirt, vest and bowtie, he didn't look too bad at all. He made the snooty face of a high-end maitre d', imagining himself in a posh restaurant, turning patrons away at the door, then smirked.

Remus wondered about the patron. Rosmerta had said 'she' so he knew it was a woman he'd be attending tonight. Most likely she wouldn't be dining alone. The werewolf straightened his bowtie. He really did look quite presentable. He bowed to himself in the mirror.

"Remus Lupin at your service, Madam," he said, giving a cheesy, house elf-like smile.

That ought to work.

Remus washed his hands and left the bathroom to report to Rosmerta. If he had to be a private waiter tonight, he'd do his best to be accommodating.

---

Isadora apparated into Hogsmeade. She wore a cute little hooded cloak, the hood drawn up. She quickly walked to the Three Broomsticks and entered. Although she was hooded, Rosmerta recognized her by her walk and her slender pale legs.

"Remus!" she called.

The werewolf had been in the servicing niche in front of the kitchen. He straightened his bowtie once more, then exited the area, walking toward Rosmerta and a hooded witch. Before he got within twenty feet of the witch, he slowed, catching her scent.

That was Isadora's scent. Oh gods. She was the patron.

Remus fought back a scowl and managed to put the cheesy smile he had practiced back on. Rosmerta was watching him.

The wizard strode up to the innkeeper and the witch.

"Good evening," he said, straining to sound relaxed and attentive. My name is Remus Lupin and I will be your private waiter during your dining experience tonight," he said, speaking the lines Rosmerta gave him. "Please, let me take your cloak."

Isadora lowered her hood and looked at him, her eyes full of mirth at his formality. Remus kept a straight face. He found nothing funny about this. He walked behind the witch and gently slipped the cloak off her shoulders, folding it over his arm. Merlin, she looked amazing in that black dress.

"Thank you," Isadora said to him as he walked back around her.

"You are quite welcome. Now, if you would, please follow me to the private dining room, Mrs. Snape," he said gesturing to a small door and leading the way. Isadora followed him.

Rosmerta's eyebrows rose. So he did know the witch. But he was acting professionally. As long as he continued to do that, he would be fine.

Remus opened the door for Isadora, who stepped through. He noticed she wore no perfume as she passed, but he found the witch's natural scent alluring, though he did detect soap.

The room contained a small intimate table set for two with fine china and gold utensils. Several candles in holders served as the centerpiece. Two upholstered chairs were flush to the table, and the entire room was paneled in rich, gleaming wood paneling, with lush deep-pile green carpet and a black marble fireplace. A small, ornate settee rested against the far wall. Soft classical music played. Isadora was unable to locate the source of it. A tall coat rack stood in the corner. Remus hung her cloak and pulled out her chair.

"Thank you," Isadora said, taking a seat as Remus slid her chair in then stood next to the table attentively.

"Would Madam like to see the wine list before she orders her appetizer?" he asked her rather formally and coldly.

"Remus, don't call me Madam. Call me Isadora," she said with a bit of irritation.

"As you wish, Madam," Remus replied.

Isadora scowled at him. He was being purposely difficult.

"You don't want me to complain about your service do you?" she asked him darkly. Isadora was not beyond using blackmail. Another similarity to her son.

Remus looked at her.

"No, Isadora I don't," he replied.

If she complained he might lose his job. Isadora really had him by the balls. He began to see where Snape got his controlling ways. But Remus didn't mind relinquishing control. He had done it all his life.

"Good. Continue to call me Isadora," she said.

"Yes, Isadora," he replied genteelly.

She frowned at him.

"And don't be so damned subservient," she said, looking irritated.

Remus sighed.

"I'm your waiter, Isadora. I'm supposed to be subservient…ready to jump at your every command."

Isadora purposely gave him a rather hot-eyed look. Her son had nothing on her in that department either.

"Are you really?" she purred, "My every command, Remus? I find that quite interesting."

The werewolf looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Every command within reason, Isadora," he amended, then added, "Rosmerta is going to wonder why I have not gone for the wine list and menu yet. She's going to think I am being lax in my duties."

Isadora sighed. Already he was running. But after she ordered her wine and food, he would be forced to stay here and listen to her.

"Very well Remus. Go and get the tools of your trade," she said rather snarkily.

"Thank you," he responded, exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

Isadora kicked off her shoes and relaxed, slumping in the plush chair a little. She felt rather wicked. Remus had looked quite nice in his waiter uniform. He would cut a fine figure in a tailored suit. Maybe she would manage to get him in one. First he'd have to make enough money to buy one. He'd never let her purchase one for him.

She remembered meeting the wizard at a coffee shop to show him where her flat was in muggle London for the first time. She was drinking coffee and eating a doughnut when he arrived, and offered to buy him the same. He turned it down, though she could clearly see he needed to eat something. She managed to practically shove a sandwich down his throat at her flat, but if he wouldn't accept such a trivial thing as coffee and a doughnut from her, there was no way he'd accept a suit.

Isadora sighed.

Remus Lupin was a hard case…in more than one way.

She was going to soften him up.

---

Hermione walked into the nursery to find Raucous perched on the rail of Eli's crib staring down at the baby in fascination. He had already examined Demetrius. Both chicks looked very much like his master, except for their beaks. Raucous thought that was a pity. He liked his master's beak. It was a proper beak, nice and big.

Hermione looked at the raven studying her son and decided it was time to talk to the bird.

"Raucous?" she said tentatively.

The raven turned and half-spread his wings when she saw her. She was in the doorway, blocking his escape. He didn't squawk because he didn't want to wake the chicks.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hex you. I want to talk to you," she said to the raven.

Raucous lowered his wings but continued to look at the witch suspiciously.

Hermione walked slowly into the room.

"I'm going to sit down in the rocker, Raucous. I don't want you to fly out the door. You need to hear this," she said.

Raucous fluttered his wings a bit and glanced at the door, but he was curious as to what the witch would say. So he remained perched on the crib, turning to face her.

Severus who had been putting the finishing touches on his lab, walked into the house and headed for the bedroom to find his wife. Seeing it empty, he started for the nursery. He heard Hermione talking and paused outside the door. Who was she talking to? The babies?

"Raucous, Eli and Demetrius are babies now, but they won't always be babies. They are going to grow up," Hermione said to the raven, who was listening closely.

Severus realized she was having a heart to heart with Raucous. He leaned back against the wall to listen to how it would play out.

"And when they grow up, they are going to be very attached to both me and their father. They will also form attachments with Eli and probably you," Hermione said.

Raucous fluttered his wings at this. He was looking forward to the chicks becoming big. They could have a lot of wicked fun together.

"What you have to understand, Raucous…is they are going to be very attached to me. If they see you doing bad things to me, they aren't going to like you. No child would like anyone who did bad things to their mother," Hermione explained, "And if they see me hexing you, then they are going to believe it is all right to hex you too. So not only will they not like you, they will attack you like I do."

Raucous frowned at this, though Hermione couldn't tell. The raven didn't want his master's chicks to dislike him and hex him. He let out a low caw at the witch. Demetrius wriggled a bit, but remained asleep.

Hermione looked at the bird.

"What we need to do, Raucous, is call a truce. It's the only way we will have a happy family. It's not just us anymore, now we have to be examples for Demetrius and Eli. Good examples. We have to get along if you want to be a positive part of their lives. You'll never have their affection or respect if you don't agree we stop this war between us. Severus belongs to both of us in a way…you are linked to him through your bond as his familiar, and I am tied to him through marriage and our sons. Neither of us is going anywhere. So what do you say, Raucous? War or peace?"

Raucous bowed his head in defeat. It was over. For the sake of the chicks he would have to leave the witch alone. But then again, dodging Hermione was pretty exhausting. She was very sneaky and her hexes were getting worse. Just before she had the chicks she had managed to roll up on him and give him two extra wings. He couldn't fly or show his face for days. Plus mating season was approaching. If he were hexed, he'd miss out on all the choice plumage out there. He didn't want that. The raven looked up at Hermione then flew to her feet. It was the closest he had been to the witch since he had become Severus' familiar. It meant truce.

Hermione nodded.

"A wise decision, Raucous," she said to the dejected bird. "Don't worry. I'm sure you will find plenty of other people to aggravate. There's always Albus."

Raucous brightened a bit. Yes, there was the Headmaster. Now that Severus commuted to the castle from home, Raucous could make their house his base of birdie operations. That way he could do his dirt to the old wizard and not worry about being thrown out of Hogwarts. There was the possibility of being hexed, but he could handle that. The hex factor was what made it so exciting. Then there was that sour-faced witch who turned into a cat and the annoying one with the big glittering glasses and trailing multi-colored scarves. Raucous had wanted to plant one on that piece of work from the moment he saw her. Maybe the truce with Hermione wouldn't be so bad. He saw the potential for expansion.

He squawked at the witch and nodded. The war was over. Peace had been made. With Raucous at least.

Severus quietly went back to their bedroom. He was glad the two finally had come to an understanding. He sat down on the edge of his bed. He and Hermione had something to settle as well. He was ready for 'piece' too.

"Eli!" he called.

The elf winked in immediately.

"Yes Master?" the elf squeaked.

"I need you to go tell the Mistress I want her. You will be watching the boys for the rest of the night," the Potions Master said. "Whatever comes up, handle it. I don't want to be disturbed unless it is an absolute emergency."

Eli nodded.

"Yes, Master," the elf said. Then Eli looked at him with a lascivious mien. "Is you finally going to give the Mistress the in-outie, Master?"

Severus looked startled. How did the elf know he wasn't sleeping with his wife?

"That's what I plan, Eli…but how did you know we weren't engaging in …in the in-outie?" he asked.

"Oh sir, most easy to tell sir. The Mistress is very short sir. Very mean and tight. Not loose, sir. Not happy. On the verge of hexing, sir," Eli said trembling a little.

"Like when she was pregnant, Eli?" Severus asked him with a smirk.

"Not so bad, Master…but close," the elf replied.

"She will be in better spirits come morning, Eli. Maybe walking funny, but in much better spirits, " the Potions Master assured the little elf.

"That is good sir. You wants me to get her now, sir?" Eli asked as Severus rose from the bed and started unbuttoning his robes.

"Give me a chance to get into the shower, Eli, then go tell her I need her," Severus said, walking toward the bathroom and entering it.

"Yes sir," Eli said smiling.

The Mistress was going to be very happy. Walking funny, but very, very happy.

---

Remus returned with the wine list and the dinner menu. He handed Isadora the wine list and stood to the side of her as she perused it.

What was the witch up to? Obviously she arranged this meal so she could talk to him without his leaving. If he did leave, it could cost him his job. She effectively had him in her control.

Remus also knew that Isadora was not in business mode. She had been suggestive with him concerning him obeying her commands, her voice dropping to a low purr that went straight to his loins. He had been in the process of getting a raging erection when she let him leave to retrieve the wine list. Only by thinking of Albus and Minerva naked had he managed to deflate before re-entering the dining room.

He noticed immediately that she had removed her shoes, her delicate feet crossed at the ankles as she read over the wine list. His eyes fell on the low cut of her dress, and the full cleavage peeking out, then swept over her waist and the flare of her hips. Remus leg began to vibrate a bit, and with an effort he stopped it.

"I'll have a dry sherry before the meal, Remus," she said to the werewolf, "but leave the wine list. I'll decide what I will have with dinner when I choose what I will eat," she said.

"Very good, Isadora," Remus said, bowing before he handed her the dinner menu and exited to retrieve the wine.

Isadora opened the menu and scanned what was offered. None of the meals were suitable. She would just substitute then. She loved vegetables. Hmm. Steamed asparagus and carrots. Steak, medium rare, celery sticks, veggie dip, strawberries and chocolate dip. Perfect. And the wine? Hm.steak. That called for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Remus returned with her sherry, setting it before her and again stood to the side of her attentively.

"Have you decided what you will have for dinner, Isadora?" he asked her.

"Yes," Isadora responded, taking a sip of the sherry. She looked up at the werewolf. His eyes were gentle as always, though they also looked a bit troubled.

"Remus, you look out of sorts," she said, sipping her drink.

"I don't understand this. Or you," he said, "I told you today I needed to be away from you, and you do this. Arrange for me to be in your presence…when I told you, " he stated before Isadora cut him off.

"I invested a lot of time in you Remus, and you just walked out on me. Do you do that to everyone who shows an interest in your welfare? I was counting on you to help me with my workload, not just gain experience for yourself. And you just left me high and dry. Severus warned me you wouldn't stick with it…" Isadora said

"What?" Remus said, his eyes showing anger for the first time since Isadora had met him.

Severus said I was wasting my time trying to help you and bring you onboard. That you have no strength of character and you would abandon the training like you abandon everything else in your life," Isadora informed him. "He almost made me sound like I was a fool to want to help you. Now I feel like one. I haven't told him he was right yet. But I will have to tell him. I know he's going to gloat."

Isadora was stretching the truth just a bit, hoping that Remus would not be pleased he fulfilled Severus' prediction. She was also piling on the guilt. She was a mother all right.

Remus scowled.

"Let me take your order to the kitchen, then we will talk while your food is being prepared," he said, a frown on his face.

Isadora told him, and the werewolf left quickly. In a moment he was back. He walked over to the other chair.

"May I sit down, Isadora?" he asked her.

She nodded.

Remus sat and looked at her for several moments, his face passive. Then he spoke.

"Severus is wrong. I did not leave because of a weakness of character, Isadora. I left because I believed it was the safest route, not just for myself but for you as well. I told you I am attracted to you. I'm a werewolf, Isadora…unfit for any witch. And even if I were not a werewolf, I am still out of your league. And there are other things about me…that make relations with a witch impossible."

"If I were to continue working with you, I would be tormenting myself…my attraction would only continue to grow until the point I wouldn't be able to contain myself. I've been through this before, Isadora. The best thing for me to do is to leave you to your life. It has nothing to do with me not wanting to finish my training. It was a wonderful opportunity and I am sorry I have to pass on it. It could have made things so much easier," he said trying to make the witch understand.

What he was telling her was tearing him up inside, and the pain was evident in his eyes.

"Remus, let's say for the sake of argument I was attracted to you also…" Isadora said.

Remus eyes went wide for a moment. He looked shocked.

"Let's just say that…what would be your reaction to me then?" Isadora asked him.

The werewolf swallowed.

"I…I would still wish to stay away from you, Isadora. Even more so," he said softly.

"Why?" she asked him gently, "Why, if I were willing to accept you, even with your malady?"

"Because you have no idea what you would be accepting, that's why," he said, an edge of bitterness in his voice. "Suffice it to say, I don't have to transform to be an animal, Isadora."

He stood up.

"I don't what to discuss this. I'm going to retrieve your dinner," Remus said, exiting the room quickly.

Isadora sighed. That hadn't gone well, tantalizing as it had been. He had pretty much confirmed that what Hermione told her about his sexuality was true. But he had a wall up that didn't seem to want to crumble in the slightest. It was a strong wall, built on a foundation of fear. What else could she do?

Isadora put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her, drumming her fingers against her cheek.

"Think, witch…think," she said to herself.

The door opened and Remus appeared with her meal. His face was set as he placed the plate on the table before her and a carafe of Cabernet Sauvignon.

"I'll bring your dessert when you are finished with your main course," he said. "Will there be anything else before you dine, Isadora?"

The witch looked at him speculatively. He obviously didn't want to talk anymore.

"Yes, Remus…there is," she said.

The wizard looked at her in askance, waiting to hear what she wanted him to do. When she didn't speak, he pressed her.

"What else do you want, Isadora?" he asked.

Isadora's dark eyes became even darker.

"For you to feed me, Remus," she replied softly.

---

Severus opened the potions cabinet and took out the yellow bottle of colonic, then reached under the vanity and took out two bars of natural soap. He continued undressing quickly, peeling off his robes, shirt, trousers and boxers quickly, then picked up the soap and colonic, and carried them over to the shower, grabbing his and Hermione's washcloths off the rack as he passed. The Potions Master pulled open the opaque glass and stepped into the large, tiled shower, depositing the soap and colonic in the shower caddy as he did so. He had a shower seat built into the wall to accommodate Hermione when she was pregnant. It was about to come in handy.

Severus turned on the water and mixed it until it was just above lukewarm. He didn't want to raise any steam, but it was a good strong stream. The wizard let the water run over him, soaking his pale body thoroughly. He didn't pick up the soap yet. He was waiting for his wife to arrive.

Hermione had just finished changing little Eli when the house elf walked into the bedroom. She was just about to change Demetrius and looked up.

"Hello, Eli," she said, as the elf tickled little Eli through the crib bars before he approached her.

"Hello, Mistress. The Master wants you now. He sent Eli to fetch you," the elf said.

Hermione frowned slightly as she opened Demetrius' diaper.

"What does he want, Eli?" she asked the elf as she removed the old diaper and lifted the baby's bottom so she could clean him thoroughly with a soft, wet and slightly soapy washcloth. Just because the diapers were self-cleaning didn't mean they left the baby sanitary. Hermione wasn't taking any chances with her babies.

"He wants the Mistress," Eli responded evasively as he picked up a clean diaper and watched Hermione pat the baby dry and rub a bit of cornstarch on his bottom, in the creases of his legs and around his penis. Eli handed her the diaper and Hermione put it on the gurgling baby, kissing his feet afterwards and smiling at him tenderly.

As if he knew he was missing out on some affection, little Eli let out an aggravated cry from his crib, his arms and feet whirring fitfully. Eli gently lifted him out of the crib and held him close. The baby quieted. Eli then put him in the carrier, then coaxed Demetrius from Hermione and placed him in the other carrier next to his brother. Both babies blinked at the small, blurry figure in front of them as Eli tucked the blankets around them.

"You goes to Master, Mistress," Eli said, waving his clawed hand toward the bedroom door, "He is in the bedroom. Eli will watch over the little Masters."

"All right Eli," Hermione said smiling at the elf affectionately.

Eli really was a wonder with the babies, and a godsend. Hermione kissed each baby on the forehead and gave them a final coo and tickle before exiting the bedroom. She wondered what Severus wanted.

Her husband spent the entire day working on his lab, and would come in at night exhausted. He'd give her a quick kiss, maybe steal a suckle off her breasts then go right to sleep. He still hadn't had sex with her and it was almost a month since she had the boys. She was ready for him two weeks ago. Shit. He probably wanted another backrub or something.

Hermione walked into the bedroom and looked around. She didn't see the Potions Master.

"Severus?" she called. Then she realized the shower was running. She walked into the bathroom and saw Severus' long, lean body standing under the spigot through the opaque glass. She looked at him longingly.

"Severus?" she called. He seemed not to hear her. She walked up to the shower and rapped on the glass.

"Severus, you wanted me?" she called to him.

Suddenly the glass door flew open and a pale hand reached out, yanking her into the shower.

Hermione shrieked as the water poured over her, soaking her hair and clothes through.

"Yes I do, wife," Severus purred at her, water running down his face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hermione spluttered at him, mad as a wet cat.

"Getting ready to do my wife," the Potions Master replied, ripping her blouse open.

Hermione shrieked again as he grinned down at her, sliding her blouse down her arms and throwing it into the corner. He began tugging at her jeans. Hermione's temperature seemed to shoot up a hundred degrees as her husband popped the button on her pants and pulled at the flaps, forcing her zipper down, then sliding her jeans and knickers over her thighs and calves. The witch held on to his shoulder as she stepped out of them. The Potions Master kicked them to the corner then pulled her bra roughly over her head, threw it after the jeans and grabbed her, lifting his wife and kissing her passionately beneath the rushing water.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and battled his tongue hungrily, her body on fire. Gods, it was about time. She could feel his hardness against her thigh and groaned into his mouth. Severus put her down and reached into the shower caddy and removed the yellow colonic bottle, offering it to her. Hermione looked at it, then at Severus' hot eyes and took it from him. She was beyond caring at this point. She was willing to do anything with him, for him.

She stepped a little way out of the stream of water, opened the bottle and drank it down, handing it back to him. Severus returned it to the caddy. He then handed her his washcloth and a bar of soap, and took hers in his own pale hand and began to lather it.

"Let's get clean before we get dirty, wife," he breathed applying the soapy rag to her breasts, caressing more than bathing, fondling them roughly beneath the washcloth.

Hermione went straight for his tool with her soapy rag and he hissed as she ran it back and forth over his shaft. The lather grew as did their passion. Some suds were going to fly.

---

"Feed you?" Remus said incredulously.

"Yes, feed me," Isadora said, her dark eyes on him. "You are at my beck and call, remember? I feel like being fed. Surely you can do that."

The werewolf looked down at her. Yes, he could feed her. He just wasn't sure he should.

"Isadora, why do you want me to feed you?" he asked her. Isadora frowned at him.

"You aren't acting very much like a waiter, Remus. You aren't supposed to question your charge's requests. You are supposed to fulfill them," she said evenly.

Remus' eyes glittered at her for a moment, then he pulled up the other chair and sat down close to the witch. He picked up the knife and fork, cut her steak into bite-sized pieces then speared a piece of meat and offered it to her.

Isadora shook her head.

"No, I want to start with the asparagus," she said in a low voice.

Remus pushed the meat off the fork with the knife, then stuck the tines into a spear of the long, green vegetable and offered it to the witch.

Isadora shook her head again.

"No. Not the fork. I want you to feed me with your fingers, Remus," she said.

The werewolf looked as if he were going to protest at first. Then he picked up a piece of asparagus between his fingers and brought it to her mouth, his eyes focused on her face intently, and his jaw tightening as she opened her lips and gently closed them over the head of the vegetable, sucking at it gently before biting down and chewing slowly, her dark eyes fixed to his.

Remus visibly swallowed as Isadora licked her lips.

"Delicious," she purred.

"Yes," Remus agreed, his eyes fixed on her mouth as if hypnotized as the witch bit into the vegetable again, sliding her lips up it and biting the stem a short distance from his fingers, chewing rather sensuously, then swallowing. Then she went for the last bit, her lips closing over his fingers and sucking the last piece from between them. Remus felt the gentle suction on his fingers, and let out something that sounded very much like a whine. Then he took a deep breath and sat back.

"That wasn't so bad, was it Remus?" Isadora said in a voice that flowed over the wizard like silk. Remus licked his lips but didn't say anything.

"More," Isadora said throatily. "A carrot this time."

Remus looked down at the carrots. She had wanted them scraped and steamed whole. They were much thicker than the asparagus spears, and certainly more phallic. Remus picked one up and brought the narrow end to Isadora's mouth.

"No. I like the thick end first," the witch breathed.

Remus shifted in his seat as his erection returned. He was glad his lower half was hidden by the tabletop. His erection was huge…there was no way Isadora wouldn't have noticed his arousal. He wished he were wearing robes instead of the trousers Rosmerta had provided him. He turned the carrot around so the large end faced the witch. He brought it to Isadora's mouth.

Instead of moving forward to bite the vegetable, Isadora made a little "o" with her lips.

"Stick it in, Remus," she purred.

Dear Merlin.

Remus could smell Isadora's arousal before there was any physical manifestation of it. He could sense the rise in her body temperature, hear the increasing beat of her heart, and the deeper inhalations of her breath. And every nerve ending in his body was aware of her.

Biting his lip slightly, Remus pushed the carrot into the witch's mouth slowly and gently, another small whining sound emitting from his throat as her lips wrapped around it. Isadora's eyes were glittering at him, and half lidded, impossibly black. He felt as if he could fall into them and tumble endlessly into their depths.

Isadora slid her mouth over the carrot until her lips touched the werewolf's fingers, then she moved back a ways and bit off the carrot midway, chewing slowly. Delicious tingling raced up and down her limbs as she looked at the werewolf. She remembered feeling this way for Darius, when he was good to her. It had been so long since she had felt this kind of desire for a man. Remus continued to stare at her, his entire body tensed as if he were ready to spring.

"You are attracted to me, Isadora. I can smell you," he said softly.

Isadora swallowed.

"I dream about you, Remus," she said.

The werewolf closed his eyes and turned his head from her.

"I can guarantee you, Isadora, I am nothing like your dreams. You have to stop this," he replied, sounding as if he were in pain.

"Feed me, Remus, she demanded. "I want meat now."

Remus' eyes flew open at the suggestiveness of the witch's statement. He felt as if he were in the presence of a succubus. Isadora's eyes drifted down to her plate, looking at the steak. It was very juicy. Remus picked up a piece of it, and Isadora opened her mouth again. Remus longed to taste that mouth, explore it. Isadora licked the piece of meat before she drew it into her mouth. A bit of juice fell from it, landing on the swell of her breast and pooling there. Remus' eyes followed it down, and Isadora looked down and saw the droplet. How fortuitous.

"Could you get that for me, Remus?" she asked softly, offering her breast. The werewolf picked up a napkin. Isadora pulled back.

"No," she said.

Remus looked at her and put the napkin down. He then extended his index finger and slowly reached for spot that marred her smooth pale skin. Isadora drew back further.

"No," she said again, her dark eyes looking at him, trying to silently convey what she wanted from him.

Remus stared at her a moment, and leaned forward, lowering his head hesitatingly. Isadora moved forward again.

Every sensibility the werewolf had was screaming at him to stop this, don't let the witch make him respond like this, but the animal inside him was snarling for closer contact and he gave in to the urge, pressing his lips to her exposed flesh and gently sucking the juice from her breast. Her scent filled his nostrils, rich, earthy female.

Isadora shuddered when the werewolf's mouth touched her skin so gently, and suckled for a moment. She couldn't help the gasp that flew from her. Remus raised his head slowly. He was very close to her face, to her mouth. He could feel her warm, sweet breath flow over his chin. His eyes were still gentle, but there was a kind of feral light shining from their depths.

"Isadora, if I could go now, I would," he said to her softly. "We both know what we want from each other. Believe me, Isadora…you are the most alluring witch I have ever come in contact with…but I am no one's dream lover. I am a nightmare. I would be a nightmare, Isadora."

"I know what a nightmare is, Remus," she whispered, drawn to his closeness, "I lived in one for many years with a man who once was my dream lover…until he changed into someone…something else. I don't believe you could change like that Remus."

"Isadora…gods. You don't…you don't understand," he said moving into her mouth, electricity crackling through both witch and wizard as their mouths connected, Remus delving into Isadora' sweetness and heat tenderly, the whining noise returning as the witch responded to his gentle possession.

Even as he succumbed and kissed Isadora, the werewolf thought this wasn't good, but gods so damn good. He kept his hands in his lap, knowing if he placed his hands anywhere on her body, the situation might quickly escalate. He sensed no reluctance in the witch, no hesitation…and that made this situation volatile. Helplessly his eyes cut to the settee against the wall, and then he closed them tightly and broke the kiss.

Isadora leaned forward, totally swept away by the sweet hesitation, then surrender in the wizard's kiss. Like Darius' first kiss, Remus' kiss made the witch want more contact with the werewolf…malady and Severus be damned.

Remus pulled back from the beautiful witch. For all his apparent calm, his heart was pounding in his chest, and he couldn't remember wanting to take a witch more desperately in his life.

"It's been more than seventeen years since a wizard's touched me, Remus. And more than forty years since anyone's made love to me the way I need," she said to him softly as he drew away.

Isadora's timetable was correct. Darius became abusive to her immediately after Severus was born. Sex between them was never because she wanted him after that, but because she belonged to him. Her husband ceased to care what she needed. Severus was in his early forties now.

Remus found it hard to believe that this lovely witch had been untouched for more than seventeen years, and unsatisfied for more than forty. He looked at her in disbelief. There had to be a reason for it.

"Why, Isadora? That is a lifetime. You're such a beautiful, desirable woman," he said in a low voice…his heart going out to the witch. That also meant she had been without companionship for a very, very long time. "How could you be alone so long?"

The witch's eyes glistened with tears, but she didn't cry.

"It's such a long and troubled story, Remus," she said softly. "Are you a Legilimens?"

Remus nodded slowly.

"Then I'll show you why," she said, leaning toward him.

Remus' eyes glistened as well, because of the sympathy he felt for the witch. He had a feeling he was about to see something terrible…something awful the witch had suffered through. Something that made her be alone. Hesitatingly the wizard brought his fingers to Isadora's temple.

"Legilimens," he whispered.

---

Severus had Hermione's writhing, slippery body backed against the shower wall, water streaming down his back, his wet, pale fingers between her thighs, rubbing and manipulating the witch's button as she moaned and sighed into his mouth, her hands reflexively caressing and pushing at his chest and belly while he stimulated her. Hermione's small hands slipped down and grasped his swollen member and began to massage it, slipping over the silken skin until he grabbed her and set her down on the shower seat, thrusting into her mouth, both hands pressed to the tile arching over the witch, one hand still clutching a bar of soap. He wasn't gentle at all, love, lust and a need for vindication driving the groaning wizard as his sex-starved wife submitted, treating his tool like one large lollipop, her hands pulling at his buttocks as she licked, sucked and swallowed hungrily.

"Shit, Hermione," he breathed as he watched her go at him, her warm mouth feeling like a wet bit of heaven slurping over him. She was like a witch possessed, and Severus gripped the back of her head with one hand and guided her motions, twisting and turning her head, hissing and cursing as he thrust between her soft lips. He felt Hermione drawing him to the edge and pulled back from her, but she followed him. He tried to grasp her slippery shoulders as she yanked at him, trying to pull him back to a position where she could slip her mouth over him again.

"Damn witch…wait!" he gasped as she managed to suckle him. His mouth dropped open as she sucked him powerfully, but after a moment he managed to wrest away. He didn't want any pauses in the action.

"I'm tired of waiting," Hermione panted up at him.

"You are, are you?" he growled, "So am I witch. So am I."

Severus managed to get a grip on her and pulled her back into the spray, turning her around and soaping up her back and buttocks with the bar of soap. He slipped the bar between her cheeks, and she pressed back against him.

"Yes, you know what time it is," he hissed in her ear as he soaped his organ.

No need for salve in here.

"Hold on to the wall," he groaned, bending the witch as he stood close behind her, positioning his lathered organ between her cheeks and wrapping an arm around her slick waist. He thrust forward into her tight sphincter. Hermione howled.

"Relax woman," he breathed as he pressed deeper, stretching the witch around him, "You can take this."

Hermione continued crying out as she felt the pressure and ache of his huge erection burying itself inside her. Severus' eyelids fluttered with pleasure as her tightness pulsed around him, his face contorted with lust as he watched himself slide deeper and deeper into the petite witch's orifice. Finally he was immersed inside her, and bent over her back, his mouth against her ear, the water rushing over him, rivulets pouring over her body. He gripped Hermione's soapy breasts and made a chuckling, noise in her ear. He hadn't started moving yet.

"Remember that sound, wife?" he asked her, and made the chuckling noise again, before pulling back and thrusting into her, hissing at her tightness.

Hermione jerked, crying out his out his name.

"That's not what I asked you," Severus breathed, adjusting his grip on her wet body.

The Potions Master thrust into his wife several more times, with long deep strokes, making the chuckling noise as she bucked under him But he held the witch securely, despite how slippery she was. She was relaxing around him…he didn't hurt so much now as he possessed her slow and hard, pressing rhythmically against her buttocks as he penetrated her, biting his lip in pleasure.

"A hyena…Hermione, you turned me into a fucking hyena. I had to shit in the backyard," he growled, suddenly tightening his hold on her and stroking her faster and harder. Hermione was crying out, her voice shuddering beneath her husband's strokes as his possession took her over.

You…didn't…even….say….you…were…sorry!" he gasped at her, punctuating each word with his stroke and hitting her hard at the end so she shrieked.

"Apology accepted," he breathed…but he dug his fingers into her hips and sped up again anyway, grunting lustfully as he buried himself deep inside the witch.

He was far from finished with her.

---

Remus Lupin watched the story of Isadora Snape's life unfold before him. A slim, pale, black-haired girl of about fifteen hid in a niche, her wand in her hand. She was wearing a Slytherin uniform, slightly different than the one the werewolf remembered that house wearing at Hogwarts. A group of Gryffindors approached, chatting among themselves. Remus watched as the girl whispered a spell and behind the approaching students a large puddle appeared, stretching across the corridor. Then the witch whispered another spell and flicked her wand toward the upper hall. Suddenly, a snarling manticora appeared and charged the students, roaring and salivating, his huge jaws opened, revealing long sharp fangs.

The startled students ran screaming straight into the puddle behind them and started slipping and falling all over the place, covered head to toe in what appeared to be black, slippery oil. The manticora leaped, claws extended, hurtling toward the struggling, terrified Gryffindors…then faded away. Laughing hysterically, the girl stepped out of the niche, bent over with mirth and holding her stomach as the oily Gryffindors struggled to stand up. They were all completely black.

"Slytherin Rules, Gryffindor Drools!" she shouted at the cursing group of students as she backed down the corridor, still laughing.

The irate students shook their fists at her. A couple tried to run at her, only to fall back down in the greasy mess.

"We'll get you Isadora Pendelton! If it takes all year! We'll get you!" they cried.

The girl laughed and made a very muggle gesture with her middle finger before turning and disappearing around the corner.

So that is what Isadora was like as a student in Hogwarts. Remus smirked. But his half smile didn't last long.

He saw an older, but still young Isadora stopped by a tall, older and rather good-looking man as she walked to work. She was lovely, nubile and obviously innocent. The young witch looked mesmerized as he spoke to her. Looking a bit confused the witch walked away quickly, the man looking after her.

Remus watched as the man continued to approach the witch, and one day drew her into a building and kissed her. Remus could feel Isadora's desire. Soon the werewolf witnessed her deflowerment, which seemed tender enough. But that soon changed and Remus watched as the man unleashed himself on the young woman. It was painful to watch…the man reminded Remus of himself in the throes of passion, but the werewolf soon realized that the witch was not trying to escape but passionately responding to the muggle's onslaught, and reacting quite favorably to her brutal lover, looking loving and sated at the end of her ordeal. He watched enough of this to see that it was a pattern and it obviously was what the witch responded to.

Then he saw her with a rounded belly and the muggle frowning then looking fearful as she pulled out her wand and showed him she was a witch. Then there was a marriage, the birth of Severus and an argument. The man snapped the witch's wand, hit Isadora and was thrown to the ceiling. He could make out a small figure. A house elf.

Then he saw Isadora clinging to the man as he tried to leave, and he pointed at the house elf and words were said and the house elf winked out.

Remus watched as the man abused Isadora, and then Severus. Now only did he abuse the witch physically, but verbally and sexually, beating her then taking her so viciously it seemed tantamount to rape in most instances. He saw Isadora on more than one occasion place herself between the man and Severus and what was done to her. But she protected the boy as much as she could. He saw Severus try to fight his father and be beaten severely. He couldn't have been more than eight years old.

The werewolf watched the horror of Isadora's life with her husband, murder in his heart then Darius' death came…his skeletal form lying in the bed, Isadora next to him sponging his brow with a wet cloth as he tried his best to twist his frail frame away from her. After all that she cared for him until he died. He saw her alone at a gravesite, then in her home, wrapped in a blanket, pale, frail with the house elf caring for her, feeding her and bathing her. He forwarded and she was better, working at a muggle supermarket. Then he saw Severus showing her his mark, then an older Severus sending her to Naples.

He saw her crying in a villa…then later working in an office taking care of well-dressed clients. Then she began to change, become more alive. There was a wizard…very quiet and kind. He saw them make love and the disappointment in Isadora's eyes though she tried to hide it. The wizard saw it too. That was the last he appeared in her life. Remus saw she did go out on occasion but never was intimate. He forwarded to Fawkes, to a plane ride, to the wedding of her son to Hermione and her running toward a rather shabbily dressed wizard licking her fingers. Himself. Then he was in her flat and Severus arrived and gave conditions.

Remus saw her in her bed, tossing and turning beneath the sheets…then saw what she was dreaming and his breath caught. She was with him in that same bed, and he was possessing her in almost the same brutal manner her as her husband, and she was loving it, crying out his name. The werewolf pulled out of her mind, his sense reeling with what he had witnessed. His eyes fell on the witch, hot, yet still hesitant.

Isadora looked at him, her face slightly reddened. She saw all of what he saw from beginning to end. It was the end that made her color, but still she met his eyes.

Remus didn't know what to say to the witch. To look at her now, he would have never imagined she had gone through such abuse and pain in her life.

"I'm so sorry, Isadora," he said quietly, "I've suffered through the years because of my malady and how others shunned me, but never anything like you've gone through."

The werewolf allowed himself to caress the witch's cheek gently. Her skin was so soft and warm as she leaned into his touch, her eyes half closing with pleasure as his slightly roughened palm smoothed over her face.

"Your husband was brutal to you in more than one way," the werewolf said in a low voice, but he couldn't get those initial images out of his head, when Isadora was happy with the muggle, obviously loving his roughness.

She was a woman who desired a man to ravish her. From her reaction to her only other lover, not only did she desire it but needed it to be fulfilled. Remus had never met a witch with needs like this before. Perhaps Isadora could…would…

Remus forced the train of thought his mind was riding full force from his head. He was a bit ashamed of himself for thinking of her sexually when he had just learned of all her pain.

"I know why you don't have a relationship, Remus…it isn't all because of your transformation," Isadora said softly. "You worry you will do harm to whoever you are intimate with"

Remus sighed.

"Did you see me, Remus? Before things went bad between my husband and I?" she asked him.

Remus swallowed.

"Yes," he answered her hoarsely.

Isadora took a deep breath, preparing to open up to the wizard. Her dark eyes met his soberly.

"I don' think you would be too passionate for a witch like me. A witch with my kind of need," she said softly. "You are a kind and gentle man, Remus. That is why I am attracted to you. I can't imagine you striking me or cursing me, or treating me badly. I've had so little kindness, Remus. So little tenderness from a man. The men I meet all remind me of Darius in the beginning somehow. A certain comment, or an action…a hungry look in their eyes. And it turns me off. Shuts me down. I can see it all happening again if I end up with a man like that."

Remus realized that Isadora, despite her apparent strength and self-confidence, still had deep-set fears. And of course she would…she had been abused for years. Even though she had moved into a world of light, there were still monsters lurking in her shadows.

"No. I would never purposely hurt or treat any woman badly, Isadora," he said, "but I have when I allowed myself to be intimate. Sexually, my animal nature is always with me. I need no full moon to wreak havoc on a woman's body. I am dangerous. Many women have fled my bed…and my arms," he said sadly.

Isadora put her hand on the werewolf's arm.

"I wouldn't," she said softly. "I would accept your animal nature as part of you. I find it an alluring dichotomy, Remus."

The werewolf stared at her.

"Isadora," he began.

Realizing that most likely the werewolf was going to try to dissuade her of her feeling, Isadora shushed him. She looked down at her plate of food.

"My dinner's cold, Remus. I really don't want it anymore. Could you bring me my dessert?" she asked him.

Remus stared at her, realizing he was at the mercy of a woman's whims. Gods, how they could turn on and off. In the middle of such a tantalizing conversation, how could the witch want dessert?

Feeling slightly frustrated, Remus rose and collected up the dinner plate.

"I'll be right back," he said evenly.

He was still hard and held the dinner plate low to try and hide his erection. But Isadora seemed distracted.

"I'll be here," she said. The werewolf left.

Isadora quickly stood up, walked over to her cloak and fished her purse out of her pocket. She then cracked the door and peeked out. Remus was nowhere in sight. The witch quickly left the dining room and found Rosmerta.

"Rosmerta, do you have any policies about employees fraternizing with patrons?" she asked the innkeeper in a rushed voice.

"No, as long as it's on their own time. If I had rules like that, I'd lose customers," the witch replied, looking at Isadora curiously as she fished in her purse, coming up with a handful of galleons. Rosmerta liked this witch.

"I need your best room…as far away from any other occupied rooms as possible," Isadora said, looking furtively towards the kitchen door. "One with a king-sized bed."

By the way Isadora was looking at the kitchen door, Rosmerta didn't have to guess who would be sharing that bed.

"I take it you are pleased with our service," Rosmerta said slyly as she retrieved a key ring and Isadora's change. Isadora took the key and waved off the change.

"Keep it," Isadora said, smiling rather slyly herself at the innkeeper. "Call it your 'discretion' fee."

Rosmerta understood. Isadora wanted her business with the werewolf kept quiet. The innkeeper watched the witch hurry back into the dining room. She made it just before Remus appeared out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of chilled strawberries and chocolate sauce. By the way Isadora had completed the transaction, Rosmerta suspected the wizard had no idea of the witch's plans for him.

Rosmerta had always liked Remus, and was sympathetic to the werewolf's plight from the first. She had seen him lose job after job because of his malady, and he was willing to do next to anything to support himself as long as it was legal. Many werewolves fell into illicit activities to generate a decent income, becoming robbers, thieves and hit wizards. Remus was a very sweet man. She had never heard him say an unkind word to anyone. He was also a patient man not given to violence.

The innkeeper had witnessed him being verbally and physically attacked by several people who discovered he was a werewolf. He did push them away from him and pull out his wand, but he did not attack. The wizard simply walked away when they backed down. He didn't even cast a stunner. The incident got back to his employer however, a small bookseller who worried his patronage would decrease because he had hired a known werewolf. So he fired Remus.

The wizard came to Rosmerta's to buy some broth…that was all he had enough money for. After some coaxing from Rosmerta, who added some meat and vegetables to his broth at no charge, Remus revealed he was unemployed. Rosmerta hired him on the spot for a small salary. She wished she could pay him more, but she had an establishment to run. It was honest pay for honest work though. More than what he had.

Initially a few patrons who said they wouldn't eat at an establishment that hired werewolves threatened Rosmerta with a boycott. Rosmerta told them they could go eat at the Hog's Head Inn if that's what they wanted to do. No one was going to tell her whom she could and couldn't hire. The patrons stayed away for a little while, then grudgingly returned, though they would not allow Remus to serve them.

Rosmerta watched the werewolf enter the private dining room. She smiled.

He deserved a little happiness.

And by the look in that witch's eyes, she would do her best to make him very, very happy.

---

Severus turned Hermione, leaned her against the glass door of the shower, wrapped his fist in her hair and continued taking her, pressing his lips against her ear and silkily going through his list of offenses and getting his apologies for each one in the form of shrieks until he was satisfied.

Finally the Potions Master pulled out of his sloe-eyed wife and turned her around to face him, placing both hands on either side of her head as she panted, looking up at him with glistening eyes as the water washed over them, mostly over Severus. His organ poked her in the belly as he stood over her.

The wizard stared down at the witch imperiously, then lowered his head and kissed her gently, pulling on her lower lip before slipping his tongue into her mouth and tasting her heat, his lips moving hungrily against hers. After several moments, Severus pulled away, his dark eyes smoldering.

"You give me love. You give me pleasure. You give me sons." he said softly, "What have I ever done to deserve you, Hermione? Tell me."

The witch looked up at him, her eyes shining. She looked so lovely, the Potions Master felt it hard to breathe.

"You opened up to me, Severus. That was all you ever needed to do," she whispered as her husband caressed her cheek, staring at her mouth as she spoke.

"Was that all I needed to do?" he asked her, the back of his hand sliding down her throat.

Hermione nodded.

"Yes. Love doesn't differentiate between the deserving and undeserving, Severus. Love will give itself to all those who will accept it."

Then she smiled up at him, entwining her arms around his neck.

"Even snarky Potions Masters with secret dreams of saving the world," she added, turning them both into the spray and drawing him down into a wet but loving kiss.

Severus withstood her sweetness as long as he could. Suddenly he yanked her against him and threw the shower door open, backing her out into the bathroom without releasing her and heading toward the door to the bedroom, both of them dripping wet and leaving a trail of water behind them on the stone floor.

"Severus, what are you doing?" Hermione asked him as she shuffled backwards, her body pressed tight against his.

"Taking you to bed. We have some catching up to do, witch," he breathed at her, guiding her toward the four-poster.

"But we're soaked," she said as she felt the bed hit the back of her legs.

"We always end up soaked anyway, wife," the Potions Master replied, taking her down to the mattress and landing on her heavily. Hermione sighed at the welcome weight of his body on top of hers. It had been so long since they'd lain face to face.

"We've got a head start on it this time," he purred.

Severus lowered his head and kissed Hermione as he slid his slick, wet hips between her thighs, pressing his length against her heat and moving sensuously, coating him in her juices.

"I've missed this," he growled against her mouth.

"No more than I have, Severus," Hermione gasped up at him, her back arching as he moved against her, sending shocks throughout her body.

"Do me," she hissed, licking and sucking at his throat, moving her body beneath his wantonly, her hands sliding over his lean, muscled buttocks and pulling him tighter against her. Severus ground into her harder, staring at her face, loving the desire he saw in her eyes as she gasped under him. Gods, it felt so good to be on top of her again. Then he thought about something.

"Do I need to cast a contraceptive charm?" he asked her as he rolled against her writhing body. He hoped not. That would mean he had to get up and retrieve his wand.

"No. I've been wearing a patch since a week after I had the boys, Severus. You made me wait so long," she hissed. "Now take me damn it. I need you inside me."

"You need me now?" he teased her.

"Yes," Hermione groaned, pressing her pelvis against him.

"Right now?" Severus asked her, wriggling his member and making her gasp.

"You're a bastard," she hissed at him in frustration

"You knew that before you married me," he replied, kissing her forehead lightly.

Hermione actually snapped at him. He jerked his head back just in time. She would have caught his chin.

He scowled down at her.

'Biting Hermione? Now that's new. Don't tell me your little stint as a bitch last year had some lasting effects…"

Suddenly Hermione bucked up and to the side powerfully, half rolling Severus off of her. She tried to get on top of him. They began to tussle on the bed, the Potions Master only operating at half strength, enjoying his wife fighting him. He decided to let her win and after a weak attempt at holding her off, let her roll him to his back, straddling him and holding his wrists pinned to the bed. His black eyes glittered up at her. Hermione was panting, her full breasts rising and falling enticingly as she looked down at him, her hair wild and hanging in wet ringlets around her face, and her eyes narrowed.

"Well, you have me now," he said, smirking up at her. "But what will you do with me?"

"What the fuck do you think?" Hermione replied, still angry. "Now stay still, Severus."

"I doubt that will be possible, wife," he said as Hermione released his wrists and grasped his tool, holding it erect and without hesitation, sliding over it, letting out a cry of pleasure as her husband filled her with his length and girth.

Severus hissed as he was enveloped in her wet, tight warmth. Having the babies had not loosened her at all. She was just as snug and delicious as ever. He groaned as her sleeve pulsed around him, his hands moving to her waist.

"Oh gods you feel so good, Severus," Hermione gasped down at him, her voice quavering.

"I'll feel better if you move," he hissed at her, pushing up on her waist.

Hermione slid up, trembling from pleasure as his stiff member caressed her, then slammed herself back down on him, crying out as his thick head hit bottom. Severus' face contorted…watching her was arousing him so much he felt a powerful urge to come. The Potions Master grabbed Hermione and held her immobile, not letting the witch move. She wriggled in frustration.

"Severus…let me…let me go," Hermione begged, her eyes wild with need.

"You're too beautiful. If I let you go, this act will be over quite quickly wife. I have to calm down first," he said…"in fact…"

Suddenly Severus rolled over with the witch, pressing his loins tight against her so he didn't slip out as they flipped. He was now on top of her, immersed in her body.

"Exciting as that was Hermione, in that position you can't possibly get what I know you need," he breathed. "Give me a moment, witch, and I'll take you back down memory lane. Pre-twins."

Hermione lay beneath him, writhing and wrapped around his hardness, very ready for some time travel ala Severus.

---

Remus entered the dining room, the bowl of chilled strawberries in one hand, warm chocolate sauce in the other. Isadora was seated at the table, waiting for him.

"Your dessert," he said setting the fruit and chocolate in front of her and standing at attention. Isadora scowled at him, and he pulled out his chair and sat down.

"You want me to feed this to you too?" he asked her.

The witch nodded.

Remus looked at the strawberries. They were ripe, plump and red…also very phallic. He drew a deep breath, knowing that watching the witch consume the dipped fruit from his fingers would take him to an even higher level of arousal.

His gentle eyes washed over her. Isadora wanted him, despite knowing that he would be a less than genteel lover. This beautiful, luscious, alluring witch wanted to be intimate with him. He would love to accommodate her…but he was still unsure. He had such negative memories of other witches who he drove away with his passion, women he had caused pain he never intended to cause. On top of that, she was Severus Snape's mother.

Severus had set the conditions of creating his cure in the hope that Remus wouldn't end up sleeping with his mother. He hadn't counted on Isadora wanting to be involved with the werewolf. The Potions Master wouldn't take it well if he found out. Remus looked at the witch again. Hell, he didn't even know if Isadora wanted a relationship. She could just want a night with him. If that were the case, the situation was simplified. Gods knew he wanted to take her. But he was torn. If they did become intimate and she found she couldn't handle him, she would be yet another witch his malady had driven away. Each time that happened, it wounded his soul a little more. He had become resigned to being witchless, but Isadora blew his resolve out of the water.

Remus picked up a strawberry and swirled it in the chocolate sauce, Isadora's eyes watching his fingers clasp the fruit, then looking up at him and pursing her sensuous lips. Her mouth was so soft, so warm…so damn accepting. What would her body be like? Those long, smooth legs wrapped around his waist, that silky voice crying out his name?

Remus throbbed powerfully and it was all he could do to keep from showing any reaction. He brought the strawberry to the witch's lips, aware of how much it resembled the fluted head of an erect organ. He bit his lip as she bit down on it, a bit of chocolate covering her upper lip as she chewed, then let the tip of her tongue sensuously collect the spare chocolate and draw it into her lovely mouth.

Another whine escaped from Remus' throat. His reactions to the witch were definitely animal and feral, his loins on fire as he watched the witch consume the rest of the strawberry, her mouth once again closing over his fingers.

"Remus, have you ever done finger painting?" Isadora asked the werewolf with a slight smile as soon as she swallowed.

"I've heard of it, but never done it," he replied.

"It's easy," Isadora said, taking his hand and dipping his fingertips into the warm chocolate, "All you need are fingers and a clean palette."

She guided Remus' finger to her throat, and dragged them downward, leaving a trail of chocolate. Then she inserted those same fingers into her mouth, sucking them clean.

"My gods, Isadora," the aroused werewolf breathed as her warm mouth sucked at his digits. How was he to resist this woman?

"Of course, the clean up is the fun part," Isadora said in a low voice, offering her chocolate streaked throat to the werewolf. He knew not to pick up a napkin this time.

Remus leaned forward again, this time extending his tongue and bathing the witch's throat as he licked the chocolate from her warm skin, tasting her as well as the sweetness of the dessert. Unable to help himself, he pressed his nose to her neck and snuffled deeply, drawing in her scent. Isadora shuddered at this contact. If Remus dared follow his instincts, he would be snuffling and licking her entire body from head to toe…but he drew back, licking his lips and savoring her flavor as he picked up another strawberry.

Isadora sexily consumed every fruit Remus had brought her, the scent of her arousal threatening to make Remus lose all control. But the wizard was used to having strong desires and not acting on them, and contained himself, showing very little of the fire that was consuming him.

Isadora was doing her best to break the wizard's resolve, although the fact that he was apparently resisting her only served to excite her more. His hesitance was a turn on, a challenge. But was he really in as much control as he appeared to be? She would soon find out. She looked at the empty bowl of fruit.

"It appears my dining experience is over," she said in a low voice.

"Yes," Remus agreed his eyes locked to her face. He didn't want her to go…though a part of him thought it best she did…before…before…

He tried not to look at the settee again, but Isadora saw his eyes shift toward the small couch. It was large enough for an encounter. But Isadora did not want the wizard to take her in the dining room of the Three Broomsticks. Such an encounter would be rushed, and if she were going to be sexually involved with a wizard for the first time in seventeen years, she didn't want it to be rushed. She had a lot to make up for.

She looked at the werewolf. It was now or never.

"Remus…I have a room here, upstairs," she said, noting the look of alarm in the wizard's eyes. "I've decided I don't want to go home tonight to an empty flat."

Remus didn't say anything, he just looked at her as she pulled out a key from between her breasts and showed him the room number.

"My door will be open," she said, "As I will, if you choose to join me."

She kissed him then, softly, her tongue lightly tangling with his for a moment. Then she pulled back and stood up.

"This is probably the most insane thing I've ever done in my life," she said softly as she walked over to the coat rack, took her cloak down and let it rest across her arm.

"But not at least trying to find some fulfillment with a wizard I am drawn to, and who I know is drawn to me after all these years of loneliness is even more insane," she said, her black eyes burning into his.

Remus watched the witch as she moved toward the door. He still couldn't speak. He was stunned at the offer she had made him. He swallowed as Isadora opened the door. She turned toward him, her eyes liquid.

"As I said, Remus…the door will be open."

Isadora departed, leaving the werewolf sitting at the table and staring at the closed door. He sat there, torn and burning, hesitant and aching.

Remus stood and began to clear the table, his gentle eyes clouded with indecision.

---

Severus drew a deep breath as he looked down at Hermione's heated eyes, her need blazing up at him. He was through with teasing her. Sheathed inside her body the primal urge came upon him. He pulled out of the witch and she gasped in protest.

"No, Severus!" she cried out to him.

"Shhh!" he said, slipping his arms under her legs and lifting them, then positioning himself over her, holding his lean, pale torso up by his arms, his hands gripping her wrists and holding them down slightly above her head, her milky thighs spread wide open to him. Severus knew Hermione liked when he held her trapped under him like this. The witch gave a little whimper of need that cemented his knowledge and made him throb.

The Potions Master looked down at her core, her wetness oiling her inner thighs and pubic hair so they glistened. The scent of her wafted up to him, and he growled as he released one wrist just long enough to place his thickness at her entrance. He could feel her juices coat his sensitive head.

"It's good to be back on top of you, witch" he said, "and it's better to be able to do this again…"

Severus plunged deep into Hermione savagely, grunting loudly as he parted her tight sleeve and slammed against her cervix. The witch shrieked and buckled, her back arching reflexively as her husband reclaimed her. He held himself deep inside her, relishing the feel of her hot sleeve pulsing around him. Panting, Hermione looked up at him, her eyes bright with ache and lust

"Go Severus," she whispered up at him, "Fuck me, daddy."

Daddy? She had never called him daddy before. Well, not during sex. But he was a father so the designation of 'daddy' fit. Yet it was a term he expected to hear from his sons one day, not Hermione. Oddly enough, being called daddy by his wife turned him on, greatly.

Staring down at her Severus pulled back and rammed into her again, watching her face contort as he hit bottom, her mouth dropping open, another cry escaping her lips. He began riding Hermione in earnest, plunging his long shaft into her softness again and again, slapping against her thighs loudly and groaning as her body sucked and flexed around him, his black eyes locked to her beautiful face.

Hermione jerked under him, the power of his possession causing her body to bounce off the bed, throwing her back into his delicious stroke. Gods, he hurt, but the ache was so welcome, so needed, and so, so missed, her wizard plowing through her with the strength of iron, yet the softness of silk, caressing her walls fully with his girth, reaching deep, deep inside her with his length. She wanted him like this, strong, passionate and merciless. Her husband, her lover, her demanding, lusty Potions Master.

Severus lifted his hips high, almost pulling out of Hermione completely, then thrusting himself back into her hot body, giving his wife every inch of him, pistoning into her rocking, buckling body as deep and hard as he could. The water they were covered with was soon replaced by perspiration. Rivulets ran down Severus' flexing back, pooled and splashed on to Hermione as he threw himself into her wildly. He began to roll and shift his pelvis, stroking into the witch at deep, alternating angles, massaging and titillating every inch of her sweet, wet orifice with his hardness, causing her to cry out with even more passion.

"I missed having you like this, witch" he groaned, straining into her body and twisting his hips sharply.

It felt as if something snapped inside Hermione.

Suddenly the witch shuddered and gave a long, sustained shriek as a powerful orgasm pulsed through her, her body stiffening as it clamped down on the Potions Master so tightly he gasped, her hot release rolling over him. Hermione's toes curled and body went boneless as her voice rose and fell, whispering her lover's name and other words Severus couldn't understand as her pelvis undulated, rolling him inside her.

Caught up in being able to see the erotic sight of his wife climaxing face to face for the first time in months, the Potions Master stopped moving, feeling and watching the writhing witch ride out her pleasure, biting his lip as her gyrating motions stimulated him lusciously. As he watched her, his heart felt full and he took great pleasure in being capable of sending her to that place she loved to go. Hermione was so beautiful when on that special journey.

"I have more for you, love," he whispered to the climaxing witch.

She half-opened her amber eyes and looked up at him. They were dilated and unfocused, the witch still lost to the pleasure washing over her body. She had needed released so badly. Severus lowered himself to kiss her, their tongues entwining.

Yes, he did have more, much more for the witch he loved.

---

Rosmerta watched as Isadora exited the dining room. The witch didn't look disheveled, so the innkeeper figured they hadn't engaged in anything too racy while she had her meal. The witch walked upstairs, presumably to her room. After a few moments, Remus exited the dining room with dishes in tow. Rosmerta watched as the werewolf walked toward the kitchen. He paused, just for an instant and looked toward the stairs. Rosmerta thought he looked a bit dazed as he continued on to the kitchen.

His waiter duties done, Remus changed back into his work clothes and returned to the kitchen to do his normal duties. The inn didn't close for another hour. He rolled up his sleeves and immersed his hands into the soapy water, beginning to wash the dishes. Rosmerta had given orders that the dishes be washed, not just scourgified. They seemed to get a better shine when done by hand.

As he scrubbed and rinsed the piles of plates, Remus' thoughts turned to the witch waiting for him upstairs. Did he dare go? Did he want to take the chance that he could find pleasure with the witch and she would not send him away? He didn't want to be rejected that way. It was one thing for a witch to turn him away if he approached her, but it was far worse to be embedded blissfully in a woman's warm body, only to have her scream and beg for him to let her go. Having to see the fear and hurt in her eyes as she dressed or he dressed, and feel the frustration and longing coursing through his body yet again…and ending up having to find his own release.

He didn't want that to happen with Isadora. He licked his lips. He could still taste her skin. Hell, he could still smell her. His mind went back to the scene of her with the muggle man…how strongly he was taking her, and how she accepted it…even wanted it. He saw the man nude…he was very well-endowed, just as Remus was. At least his organ was back to normal. Remus was circumcised, but when the full moon approached, he began to grow a foreskin even before he transformed, making his member larger and more sensitive as the urge to mate came upon him.

He remembered what happened with Ginny Weasley. She only lasted for a few minutes, before she too begged him to let her go. He hadn't wanted to hurt the witch and did his best to make her stay away from him. He wasn't particularly attracted to Ginny. She was pretty enough, but young…just past the age of consent. She didn't have the experience to be with him. But she caught up with him one evening two days before the full moon, when his nose was wide open for a willing female, and she offered herself to him again, telling him how she had wanted to be with him for so long.

Even as his human part was warning him off of her, his lusty animal nature came to the fore. To Remus' credit, he did his best to tell the witch he wasn't gentle…but she only said she didn't want him to be. She quickly realized he did want her and wouldn't leave him alone. So he took her back to his small flat and did his best to be gentle with her…it was fine until he brought her to his bed and slid inside her tight, willing body. Then he lost it, riding her so hard she screamed in agony and begged him to stop…it took all of his strength to do so.

Every part of him urged him to at least shag her until he came but he pulled out of her and rolled off of her, trembling with need and yelling at her to leave. He had yelled because he didn't trust himself to stay off her, and needed the witch to leave quickly. Her saw her at the Three Broomsticks afterwards and tried to apologize, but she fled from him. It took more than a year for the witch to speak to him again, probably realizing she had brought what happened on herself.

Now Isadora waited for him. But she was no Ginny. She knew what it was to be taken roughly. As much as Remus hated to admit this to himself, watching her being taken by the muggle had aroused him, even when it was abusive. Remus was a man after all, and men were visual creatures when it came to women. The sight of thighs and breasts were meant to arouse them, and the sight of a beautiful woman being taken was physically arousing…no matter the circumstances under which it occurred. So even if the mind was horrified, the body reacted. The werewolf hated that the witch had been so mistreated, but he had gotten a good glimpse of what she was like during sex when she was both willing and without choice.

Remus realized he had been washing the same dish for about ten minutes and gingerly rinsed it, setting it in the drying rack. His eyes were dark as he picked up the next plate and plunged it into the water. There was less than half an hour left before closing.

He had to make a decision.

---

Isadora sat on the edge of the bed in the suite she had rented. It was a rather pretty room, done in blue and silver, with oak walls, a small sitting area and a huge, firm bed. But Isadora hardly saw it as she struggled with the knots in her belly. Remus' kisses had been so gentle, and his mouth soft and hot against her skin. And when he snuffled her…gods. It was strange, but still arousing. How much of his animal nature was involved with his sexuality? Would he engage in foreplay or would he just take her. Merlin, would he even show up?

And if he did show up, would he really be able to satisfy her? She had no idea what he was working with. It could have been the witch Hermione told her about was young and inexperienced. Hermione had said the woman was her friend after all, and attended Hogwarts. Isadora knew that age was not a true indication of one's experience however. Then she remembered Hermione saying that the witch enjoyed sex very much. So something had to have happened for the witch to flee Remus.

Isadora stood up and started pacing. After several paces, she looked down at herself. She was barefoot but still fully dressed. Should she strip down to her bra and knickers? Should she strip down to nothing? Or should she remain fully dressed until she was sure the werewolf was coming?

There was a knock on the door.

Her heart pounding, Isadora looked at it as if there were a troll on the other side. This was it.

"Come in," she said in a low voice.

A young witch bearing a tray that held a bottle of wine immersed in never-melting ice and two glasses walked into the room, smiling at Isadora.

"Rosmerta said to bring this up to you, Miss," she said setting the tray on the nightstand.

Isadora thanked the witch, and she left. She looked at the wine…and wished it were firewhiskey. But any port…

The witch opened the bottle of wine and let it breathe for several moments before pouring herself a generous glass and drinking it down. She then poured another, and drank that down also. She put the glass down and turned, catching sight of herself in the mirror. She was still an attractive woman, but she could understand Remus hesitation. She didn't look as strong as she was. But as the adage said, "Looks could be deceiving."

Feeling a bit of a buzz from drinking two glasses of wine so quickly, and trying to quell her nervousness, Isadora began to spin in the mirror, looking her body over and striking what she thought might be alluring poses.

She was in a rather Marilyn Monroe-like pose, hands above her knees, buttocks jutted out, breasts pushed forward, her head turned slightly over her shoulder, a cascade of ebony hair partially hiding her face, pursing her lips at her reflection when she heard a soft, male voice ask,

"Isadora…what are you doing?"

She straightened rather guiltily, flushing red and turned to see Remus Lupin standing in front of the closed door, his head cocked, looking at her with an amused look on his face.

"Um…amusing myself?" she suggested.

Gods, he was here.

"I see," he replied, sobering and falling silent as he looked at the witch.

Isadora was silent too. Witch and wizard stared at each other, their eyes locked. There was still uncertainty in the werewolf's eyes, and he stood by the door as if he might turn and run. He wore a rather dingy white shirt and well-worn brown pants. His boots were clean, but scuffed. Yet his clothing fit him well. He was tall and lean. He could use another twenty or thirty pounds on him to beef him up but right now he looked just fine to Isadora. She could feel the heat coming off his body, and he could scent her excitement. The werewolf quivered.

"Isadora, are you sure about this?" he asked her softly.

Isadora looked into those gentle, uncertain eyes and her dreams about this wizard came back to her in full force, causing a flame to ignite inside her. Remus started, feeling the powerful rush of longing pouring off the witch.

"Yes," she breathed.

Remus only hesitated a moment before crossing the room to her, taking the witch in his arms and kissing her hungrily but tenderly, holding his body away from hers, his large hands sliding over the curves of her waist and hips. Isadora began to tremble with need and returned his hunger as Remus again whined, and pulled her against him, pressing his erection against her gently as he continued to explore and taste her mouth. Gods the witch tasted so good.

Isadora gasped into his mouth as she felt the size of his organ pressing against her pelvis. The werewolf was enormous and throbbing against her. She felt a gush of liquid flow out of her, and Remus stiffened for a moment, pulling away from her mouth, his eyes nearly glowing, the pupils oddly dilated as he looked at her.

Suddenly the werewolf dropped, wrapped his arms around her hips, pressed his face between her thighs through her dress and snuffled deeply several times. He let out a ragged, decidedly animal sound, before he rose again and bent her slightly back, pressing himself against her while attacking her throat with his tongue, lips and teeth, snuffling her as he did so, then with his teeth dragging first one dress strap down over her pale shoulder, then the other. He then did the same to her bra straps, kissing and licking her shoulders…mostly licking. With his hands he drew both sides of the dress down until he had almost revealed the witch's full breasts, but stopped, the fabric tantalizingly low showing the swell of her cleavage. He turned her in his arms so her back was against him, and gently snuffled her long, ebony hair, burying his face in it before moving it from her neck and latching on to her throat, pressing his hips against her buttocks, his hands rubbing her belly as he licked and kissed her throat, then moving up slowly, hesitatingly under they touched the underside of her breasts.

Isadora's eyes were half-lidded as the werewolf's mouth and hands moved over her. Darius had never taken this much time with her…a few kisses, a few gropes and he was on her. He wasn't a patient lover in the beginning, and when he changed he didn't even give her that. Isadora had thought perhaps Remus would be the same, but it was obvious the werewolf was not as his lips moved over her back. His hands went to her breasts, caressing them tenderly through the fabric. He didn't grope and squeeze, but his touch through her dress was driving her wild to feel his hands on her naked skin.

"Remus," she gasped. The werewolf grunted at her as his mouth returned to her throat.

"Undress me," she purred, catching his hands on her breasts and dragging them down, pulling the dress and bra with them so her breasts were exposed, then returning his hands to them. His mouth was near her ear when she placed his hands on her naked breasts, and he let out a snarl that startled her. He felt her jump and pulled back from her neck.

"I'm sorry I startled you, Isadora…but…this is how I am. Do you still want…" he began.

Isadora turned in his arms facing him again. Remus' face contorted as he looked at her beautiful pale breasts, and another snarling whine emitted from him, as his eyes rose to her face. There was a pleading look in them now.

"I want to very much, Remus," she whispered.

Remus moved to her mouth again, one roughened hand finding her breast and squeezing it gently. Isadora groaned into his mouth as her nipples peaked. Remus moved from her mouth to her throat, placing both arms around her waist and bending her back slightly, rubbing against her sensually, but not demandingly as he moved his mouth over the swell of her breast and found her taut nipple, sucking it between his lips and teasing it with his teeth and tongue before suckling. Isadora moaned his name and he grasped her other breast, stimulating the witch with his mouth and hand, then switching, listening to her voice breaking with pleasure.

Isadora had said it was seventeen years since a wizard touched her. Remus intended to touch her all over before taking her. That way, if she did run…he would have some intimate memory of the witch to sustain him, help him deal with her rejection.

Gods, she was so responsive, trembling like a virgin as he tasted her skin. He began to pull her dress down over her waist, but was held up by their grinding hips. He straightened the witch and dropped down again sliding his hands over her skin, catching the fabric under them and drawing the dress down over her hips, snagging her knickers in the process, and finding himself face to face with the dark triangular shape of her sex. His nostrils flared, and he hurriedly pulled her dress to the floor, and felt her hand caress his head as he knelt before her. He rolled his head against her palm like an overgrown puppy before his eyes locked to her bush again.

As Isadora stepped out of her dress, Remus pressed his nose to her sex and snuffled again, this time groaning. He looked up at the witch, his eyes glazed with desire.

"Can I taste you, Isadora?" he asked hoarsely, his hands rubbing her thighs slowly, reverently.

Isadora looked down at him.

Darius used to do that to her for a few moments before he entered her. It felt nice but he had never tried to bring her to orgasm that way. That's what a tool was for. But Remus had no such ideas. To the werewolf a tongue was more than a tool used to push food around, and since he had canine instincts, he derived intense pleasure from taste and smell. If Isadora agreed to let him have at her with his tongue, then he was going to indulge himself fully, not letting up until the witch was completely incoherent and shuddering against his mouth.

"If you want to, Remus," she replied softly, her black eyes shimmering. He was so good. She felt as if she were going to explode from just his kisses and touch. She was close to orgasm as it was.

"I want to very much," he said standing and leading her to the bed.

He helped her in, making sure she was comfortably resting against the pillows. He looked down on the witch's slender, nude body. Her nipples were tight and dark against her pale skin, her belly flat, her thighs smooth and her legs long. He could smell her arousal clearly and his erection strained against his trousers. He toed off his boots and socks, then climbed into the bed fully dressed, leaned over her and kissed her again, his tongue penetrating her mouth and reveling in her heat. It seemed soon he would be buried in that same heat…but first.

Leaning over her and approaching from the side, Remus slid his mouth down her body, unbuttoning his shirt as he did so, stopping his journey to pleasure her breasts for a few moments before moving downward, over her belly, tonguing her navel before pressing his lips into her pubic hair, and pulling at the silken strands. He sat up and removed his shirt before he moved low on the bed and opened her thighs, looking down at her sex. He raised his head and gazed up at Isadora. Her black eyes were half-lidded as she stared back at him, her breasts rising and falling with emotion. Remus looked back down and placed his hand on her heat, and Isadora buckled reflexively at his touch. He was going to have to hold her down securely.

The werewolf gently parted the witch's lower lips, whining again as she flexed. Her inner flesh was dark and glistening, almost the color of plum.

He was sure she would taste just as sweet.

---

Severus continued to kiss Hermione deeply as her orgasm slowed and she ceased gyrating beneath him. He was still embedded deep in her warm body. The wizard pulled away from her mouth and looked into her eyes. They were soft and loving. He loved when she looked at him like that, as if he were the only wizard in the world.

"Do you want more, Hermione?" he asked her, already knowing what her answer would be.

Hermione stretched her body under him, causing his tool to bend slightly inside her. He hissed as the angle changed for a moment.

"Mmmm, yes Severus. Give me more," she purred at him, still shuddering slightly.

The Potions Master looked at Hermione consideringly, then pulled out of her, releasing the witch's legs and rolling to the edge of the bed, pulling her up. He swung his legs over the edge and sat up.

"Sit on my lap, witch," he growled at Hermione, his member erect and glistening against his belly.

Hermione's legs were a little rubbery as she stood up, then straddled his legs, sitting on his lap. The Potions Master lifted her legs, scissoring them around his body so they extended on the bed behind him. He pushed the witch's hips back slightly and adjusted her so he could position himself for penetration. He looked at her a moment, then gripped her waist and pulled her forward, entering her at an angle. Hermione gasped as he plowed into her again and began to pull and push her body over him.

"Yes," he breathed, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, crying out as he hit bottom.

"You like this, Hermione? Is it good to you?" he asked her as he leaned her back a bit and lowered his head to her full breast, suckling her gently.

Hermione gasped as his hot, wet mouth closed over her tender nipple. She was still lactating, and Severus' mouth slowly filled with her warm, sweet milk. He swallowed, then moved to her other breast to drink his fill, not missing a single stroke into her tight, pulsing snatch.

He drew away from her breast, licking his lips and pulling her over him faster now, his black eyes locked to his wife's jerking body. She was so petite, so easy to move the way he wanted…she leaned even farther back arching over his arms, her hair dragging on the floor. She was laying in his lap now and he was able to slam her body into him with more power. Hermione buckled up then fell back, her head hitting the floor.

"Shit!" Severus breathed, stopping and pulling the witch up. She looked dazed, but it was more from the shagging she was getting than her head hitting the floor. Severus felt her head, but there was no bump. Then he grabbed a pillow and dropped it to the floor and let her back down so her head rested against it. This position was too good to change.

The Potions Master leaned forward a bit, then began to take her again, ramming into her prone body over and over, grunting as she jerked before him, her breasts bouncing deliciously as she cried out, sliding away from him. Severus was so caught up in loving his wife he didn't think but fell to his knees on the floor, holding her hips up and continuing to drive into her, shuffling forward when she slid, her head and shoulders resting on the pillow, the pillow moving under every thrust.

The stone floor was hard beneath Severus' knees but he didn't notice. All he knew was the tight, delicious orifice that gripped him over and over as he plunged inside it, and the wailing witch before him. He must have driven Hermione ten feet away from the bed before he fell forward on his hands and began pounding into her. Hermione shrieked, getting the full power of her husband's stroke. There was nothing to cushion it as he tore into her against the hard floor, his body locked into stroke mode, her juices splashing his loins as he drilled her as if seeking oil. Her voice was going hoarse, and Severus was hissing and babbling words she could barely understand as he thrust into her, his head tilted back towards the ceiling and his black eyes closed in pleasure.

They were mostly obscenities, but the words "sweet," "delicious," "love," and "best pussy" were in the mix as well. Hermione had never seen Severus lose it like this, and the thought that her sex was so good to him it made him babble cause a powerful reaction in her, and once again she orgasmed with a scream, bursting over the Potions Master in a clenching gush and triggering his own release, a guttural cry torn from his throat as he exploded powerfully, every muscle taut, and veins showing in his neck and arms as he shot wad after wad of come into the shuddering witch beneath him.

Hermione felt as if someone had turned on a high pressure hose inside her, his ejaculation was so strong, blasting against her cervix and flowing back, mingling with her release, both of them drifting away into bliss, Severus falling on her heavily and wrapping his arms around her, riding out their passion pressed against her body until he felt himself settle again, his heart pounding against her chest and feeling her answering echo.

"Gods," he sighed, looking down at her, her half dried hair fanned out wildly over the pillow as she panted up at him, her eyes heavy. Hermione whispered something.

"What Hermione?" Severus asked lowering his head so he could hear her.

"I said you shagged me on the floor, Severus," she gasped. "My back is going to be killing me in a little while."

"You should have said something," he smirked down at her, knowing that would have been impossible the way he was laying wand to the witch.

"You wouldn't have heard me anyway with all the noise you were making," she retorted, though she had a small grin on her face.

Severus pretended to scowl at her.

You think you're the only one entitled to make noise?" he asked her, rolling off her body, getting to his knees and rising, looking down on her imperiously. "You were good, Hermione. I can sing a few praises if so inclined," he said bending and catching her hand to pull her to her feet. Then he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, leaving the pillow behind. He threw her into it unceremoniously then climbed in after her.

"And I was so inclined," he said, kissing her roughly, then falling on his back, reaching his arm under her and pulling her into him possessively. "I'll give you some pain potion for your back a bit later," he yawned. "Right now I need to recharge."

Hermione lay tucked against her husband's warm, lean body, deliciously sore and thoroughly satisfied. She didn't reply to his "recharge" statement…but he wasn't coming near her again without some purple potion being involved. He had done a good job on her. A very good job.

She stretched against him and relaxed.

Gods, what a wizard.

---

Remus pressed his mouth against Isadora's heat, kissing it gently, causing the witch to hiss in pleasure. He kissed her softness again, then again before running his long tongue the length of her, making the witch squeal, her hips bucking. The werewolf locked his arms around her thighs and began to lick and taste her, whining, sighing and snuffling as he did so. He was making a lot of noise, but doing a lot of damage as Isadora fought to break away from his mouth…it was too good. Remus caught her nub between his lips, rolling it between them before sucking it gently, making Isadora shriek, a fresh gush of fluid pouring out of her, to the werewolf's delight.

Remus drank it down like a fine wine, then slowly thrust his tongue inside her, knowing this was the first penetration of the witch's body in seventeen years. He wriggled it in her heat…even around his tongue she seemed tight as a virgin. Again, doubt rose in his mind as she writhed in pleasure, tugging his hair as he laved her with his tongue. She was so tight, sex with her might be too painful…

Suddenly Isadora cried out and bore down, clenching around his tongue as she orgasmed

"Oh my gods! My dear gods! Remus!" the witch cried out as pleasure rolled in waves across her body, her back arching uncontrollably against the beautiful sweetness spreading throughout her limbs. Hermione's toes weren't the only ones that curled tonight. Isadora was every bit as sweet as Remus thought she'd be as he sucked at her orifice, drawing out every hot drop of her release, then inserting his tongue to collect any bit he had missed, almost bursting out of his trousers as he did so.

Isadora was tugging on his hair painfully as he finished her off, his mouth moving against her until she calmed…somewhat. Then he licked her thighs and sucked the lips of her core, cleaning her of juices thoroughly before he kissed his way back up her body, ending at her half opened lips, thrusting his tongue softly into her mouth, sharing her own taste with her. He stopped kissing her, looking down into her eyes, his own eyes grateful.

"You are beautiful and passionate, Isadora," he breathed, kissing her again.

"Take off your trousers, Remus," Isadora responded hotly. Sweet words could come later.

He looked at her soberly.

"You're so tight, Isadora…almost as tight as a virgin," he said hesitatingly.

"Remus Lupin. There is no way you are going to leave this room without doing me," Isadora hissed at him, scowling prettily, her arousal making her voice low and dangerous. "Stop trying to warn me off you. It's too late. Now either you take your trousers off, or I will. I'm so hot for you, wizard that I swear I will cast an Unforgivable on you to make you perform if I have to. No more excuses. No more fears. Just take me, Remus. You want it. I want it."

Remus had never been with such a demanding witch before, nor had he ever been threatened with an Unforgivable if he didn't shag someone. He did have a rather submissive nature and Isadora's demanding behavior aroused him greatly. He wanted to please the witch as much as possible, and she made it clear that him taking her would please her. He leaned to the side and began to unfasten his trousers quickly, looking at the witch's face as he did so. What was a werewolf to do? He rose to his knees and pulled down his trousers, his long, thick member springing out…he didn't wear boxers.

For the sake of comparison, Remus wasn't as quite as long as Severus, but he was thicker and more veined. His shaft sprouted from a bush of brown curling hair, that ran up in a line to his navel, and his large, fluted head leaked pre-cum liberally as he looked down on the witch, swelling even larger as his eyes swept over her body and rested on her black bush. Remus lifted one leg after the other, removing his trousers, his huge tool bouncing as he did so.

Isadora's mouth dropped open as she looked at the werewolf's organ. He was bigger than Darius.

Still on his knees, Remus looked at the expression on her face, then down at his swollen organ. He began to stroke it slowly, spreading the ebbing lubrication over the head and shaft gently. Isadora watched him, mesmerized. She had never witnessed a man touch himself before. She licked her lips as fire spread throughout her belly. She reached out her hand.

"I want to touch it," she breathed.

Remus stopped his ministrations and looked at her for a moment, his eyes seeming to flash as another whine slipped from his throat. He shuffled towards her on his knees, leaning over her and resting his hands on either side of her shoulders. His eyes were swiftly loosing their gentleness as he looked down on the witch. Isadora's dark eyes were turned downward as she reached out and wrapped her long slender hand around Remus.

The wizard let out an absolutely hair-raising growl as he felt her fingers curl around him. Isadora's eyes shifted quickly to his face in alarm, but he didn't look dangerous. His eyes were still gentle, if heated. She tightened her hand around him, and he growled again, his eyes closing as she felt the heat, hardness and weight of him against her palm. His tool was heavy, thick and long. To think, this quiet, gentle wizard would soon be driving this into her, powered by the force of his body. Her eyes raked over him, he was lean and muscular, no doubt strong. A sound escaped her own throat as she gently caressed his length. Remus' eyes snapped open and again that pleading look filled them as he looked down at her.

"Isadora…Isadora…may I…can I…?" he gasped, jerking and her hand as his body clearly said what his mouth couldn't.

Isadora's eyes blazed up into his. Her Slytherin nature came to the fore. He had to say it.

"Can you what, Remus? Tell me what you want," she said softly, her hand still moving over him gently, driving him mad with the need to thrust into her.

"I want…gods Isadora I want you. Let me have you now," he breathed.

Isadora released him and spread her legs wider. Remus didn't move as looked down at her.

"Not that way," he said softly, "First I have to do you like my animal nature dictates."

Isadora looked at him, a confused look on her face.

"Roll over, Isadora," the wizard breathed.

---

Severus woke suddenly. He felt something was wrong, somewhere. He tossed a bit, waking Hermione.

"Severus?' she said sleepily, "What's wrong?"

He lay there a moment.

"I'm not sure," he responded. Then, "How was my mother today? I didn't get a chance to talk to her. Is she all right?"

Hermione woke up completely at her husband's question.

"She's fine," Hermione said shortly. "Working hard at her business."

"Is she still training the werewolf?" he asked her.

"You mean is she still training Remus," Hermione said sharply. She hated how Severus referred to the wizard, even if it were true. "Well, they are going over a little rough spot, but I'm sure they'll work it out."

Hermione didn't want to lie to Severus. It could come back and bite her in the ass later.

Severus turned toward her now, his eyes sharp, searching her face.

"A rough spot? What kind of rough spot, Hermione?" he asked her scowling. He didn't trust the werewolf around his mother.

"He wants to quit the training," Hermione said softly.

Severus chuckled.

"I told her he wouldn't stick to it. That it was a waste of time trying to teach an old wolf new tricks," Severus said, an ugly sneer on his face. Hermione scowled at him darkly.

"Remus was doing wonderfully," Hermione said in the werewolf's defense, "He had his reasons for wanting to leave."

"I can only imagine," Severus said, rolling back on his back, "Well anyway, he'll be away from my mother. That's all that matters. Did she say anything about the cure?"

"No. You are still to work on it Severus. It wasn't based on him working for her," Hermione hissed at him, angry now.

"And how will he pay me if he isn't making decent money, Hermione? I'm not a charity. My time and skill is worth money. He'll be underpaying as it is. I won't work on the cure if he isn't gainfully employed, and when I say gainfully employed, I don't mean scrubbing pots at the Three Broomsticks," Severus said coldly.

"Well, it isn't settled yet. I'm sure your mother means to talk to him and convince him to come back," Hermione said evenly.

"I hope she fails," he said, closing his eyes.

"Severus! That's not nice," Hermione seethed at him.

"I'm not nice," the Potions Master replied, his eyes still closed. "I'd prefer Remus Lupin was not around my mother. He may get ideas."

"Or are you worried she might get ideas?" Hermione spat at him without thinking. She cursed herself immediately as Severus' eyes popped open.

"Ideas? About Remus Lupin? Hardly," Severus replied, but feeling distinctly uncomfortable. His mother was going out of her way to help the werewolf. Training him to earn better money, trying to cure him of his malady, pleading his cause…

Suddenly the Potions Master sat up in his bed and looked at his wife.

"What did you talk to my mother about today?" he asked her, a dangerous tone in his voice.

"Just about the situation with Remus," Hermione said nervously.

"Show me," he demanded, "No occulmency. I'll be able to tell, Hermione."

"Severus, it was a private conversation. If you want to know what was said, go ask your mother!" Hermione argued.

"You're hiding something, Hermione. You know I always know when you are trying to hide something from me. I taught you for seven years. Now you show me that conversation, witch, or I'll force it from your mind," he said coldly.

Severus was serious. This was his mother they were talking about. He couldn't bully information out of Isadora, but he could out of Hermione.

Hermione sighed.

She couldn't keep Severus from breaking through her wall if he really wanted to do it. He was a much more skilled Legilimens than she was an Occulmens. It would only take him a few minutes to wear her down

"All right, Severus…I'll tell you what it's about. But you have to promise to let your mother handle it. She's a grown woman who can make her own decisions. If you try to interfere, you might end up driving a wedge between the two of you. After you've just gotten her back in your life, I know you don't want to do that. You will be out of her life, and she will do what she wants to do anyway. Just keep that in mind as I tell you this," Hermione said, sitting up in the bed now.

The Potions Master nodded, knowing instinctively he wasn't going to like what his wife was about to reveal to him. He already had an idea what it was.

"Remus quit today because he is attracted to your mother," Hermione said. "And he is attracted to her beyond the influence of the full moon, so it is not just the werewolf mating instinct drawing him to her. Rather than torment himself, he decided to leave," Hermione said.

"Good choice," Severus growled.

"But what Remus doesn't realize is that Isadora is attracted to him as well," Hermione continued.

"What? My mother told you she wants that werewolf?" Severus asked her, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes, she did Severus. After your father's treatment of her, she gravitates to quiet, gentle, unpresuming men. Men who aren't too strong-minded or forceful. Men like Remus," Hermione explained.

"Remus is only quiet, gentle and unpresuming because he is a werewolf and knows he would be driven out of town or worse if he were to act in any aggressive way," Severus replied, seething. "I assure you he is not that way when he is intimate with a woman. He is an animal, Hermione. He has next to no control in situations…of that nature. He could harm my mother."

"Which is probably why he chose to leave," Hermione said. "He doesn't wish your mother any harm, Severus. But by the same token…your mother is aware of his animal nature. I told her about him."

Severus raised his eyebrows at his wife.

"And how would you know anything about Remus Lupin's sexuality wife?" he said, staring at her intently.

Hermione frowned at him.

"Severus, if you are thinking I had any dealings with Remus Lupin, you've been inhaling too many potions fumes," she seethed, "I just know someone who did, who confided in me what happened. And I told your mother to warn her."

Severus relaxed a little. He was afraid that Hermione might have had a close encounter with the werewolf, if not actually shagged him. The very idea made him bristle and feel very possessive. He was going to take her again to drive the jealous feelings away. But first he needed to know more.

"And did she listen?" he asked his wife.

Hermione shrugged.

"I don't know, Severus. I think…I think…" she said, hesitating. How in the world was she supposed to tell her husband that she believed his mother was a masochist?

She wasn't. That was his mother's business.

"You think what?" Severus asked her, frowning.

"I think she is going to try to talk him into coming back," she said.

Severus scowled blackly. That probably meant she'd be alone with the werewolf, and they were both attracted to each other. Would his mother let the werewolf know how she felt? And would he act on it if she did? Gods, this was a mess. He rose from the bed.

"I'm going to have a talk with my mother tomorrow," he seethed at his wife as he walked into the bathroom and opened the potions cabinet.

He looked through the bottles and located what he was looking for. He set it on the counter and used the loo. Then he picked it up and walked back to the bed climbing in, uncorking the bottle and handing it to Hermione.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Purple potion…it's just in an opaque bottle," he replied.

Hermione looked at him a moment, then shook a little on her palm to identify it.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

"Hermione," he purred, "by your actions, one might think you didn't trust me."

"A very wise teacher once told me a long time ago to never take a potion without identifying what it is," she replied.

Severus smirked. He had told her and the entire class that in her first year.

"Glad to see at least one of you were listening," he replied, watching her drink the bottle down.

Most of her internal soreness disappeared immediately, though there was a small sting left. The ache that was developing in her back ceased completely

Severus took the bottle from her, capped it and set it on the nightstand, then turned back to look at her, his black eyes sweeping over her body surreptiously.

Thinking her husband gave her the potion to take care of her back, Hermione lay back down in the bed. Severus rolled on top of her immediately, forcing her thighs apart and making her gasp.

"Severus, what are you doing?" she asked him.

In answer, he poked her with his erection. It was ready for action.

"I think you know," he replied with a growl. "You made me a little jealous about Remus. I need reassurance."

"Severus! That's not remotely fair," she said as he positioned himself against her.

"I'm not nice. I'm not fair either, wife," he said, thrusting into her hard.

Hermione had wanted the Potions Master, snarkiness, warts and all.

She got every inch of him.

---

"Roll over?" Isadora repeated.

Remus nodded, pushing upward to his knees again, then sitting back on his heels. He began to pant heavily, then swallowed down his reaction.

"Yes, Isadora…roll over please," he said, offering her his hand.

Isadora's eyes washed over the nude wizard. He really was a good looking man, and although it was obvious he was aroused and ready to take her, the look in his eyes was soft and pleading, rather than lustful and demanding. He was a suitor seeking her acceptance, her willing acquiescence. He would make no move until it was clear that she wanted him to. But that did not stop him from trying to persuade her.

"Please Isadora," he said again, a whine escaping him as he held his hand out to her.

It was as much a plea for her to trust him as it was for her to give herself to him. Isadora's body and heart went out to the wizard and she placed her soft, warm hand in his, and he helped her into a sitting position. Isadora turned over and started to lie down again only to feel the wizard slip his arm around her waist and stop her. Remus leaned over her, gently moving her ebony hair off her neck and placing his lips against her ear, his warm breath washing over the pale shell.

"I need you on your knees, Isadora, preferably your hands and knees. My nature is wolf and man, but the animal must be appeased first before the human can manifest. I have to take you the way a wolf would take his mate…then I can take you any way you wish. I must always start this way, Isadora. You will let me…won't you?" he asked softly, moving his hips against the witch reflexively, his loins pressing against her buttocks as he licked her throat slowly, and snuffled behind her ear, his hand gently teasing her breasts and rubbing her belly. .

His tongue running softly across her throat, his gentle hand on her breasts and belly, his member pressing against her buttocks was a combination that was sending Isadora into meltdown quickly.

"Yes," she sighed, Yes, Remus, gods yes."

The werewolf shuddered against her, and Remus released her waist, running his hands up and down her pale skin, smoothing his palms over her back rhythmically before bending over her and licking her tenderly, tasting her flesh from shoulders to buttocks, his hands slipping back under her, stroking and petting her breasts, belly and sliding between her thighs, short whines, hisses and growls betraying his excitement as he rubbed her body tenderly, firing her senses, patiently working her into a frenzy until she pressed back against him urgently.

"Remus," Isadora urged, "Damn you…I've had enough gentleness. Show me what they run from."

"All right," he breathed, closing his eyes a moment. Suddenly he pulled back, spread the witch's buttocks and lowered his face between her cheeks, lapping at her, wetting the witch thoroughly with his salvia then inhaling deeply. A rumble started in his throat as he straightened and positioned himself against her wetness. Isadora groaned. Slowly the werewolf thrust forward, his growl growing louder as he parted her soft, inner flesh, stretching the witch around him.

Isadora hissed as he entered her. He was so big, and felt so good filling her, hot, hard insistent as he immersed himself inside her, his growl constant as he pressed deeper. Finally he was all the way inside Isadora, and his voice took on a kind of baying, whimpering sound as he shuddered with pleasure. His senses were whirling with the feel, scent and sight of her pale body positioned in front of him.

In his last barely controlled moment, he whispered, "Grab the headboard, Isadora."

The witch obeyed, reaching up and grasping the headboard as the werewolf grasped her waist tightly, pulled back and plunged deep inside her, banging against her cervix powerfully, hitting Isadora so hard, she choked on her scream. The werewolf pulled back and rammed into her again, his eyes rolling up into his head as he practically howled, while Isadora shrieked at the welcome ache. Remus started stroking her hard and fast, panting, growling, whimpering and groaning as Isadora's body jerked roughly, the werewolf hitting bottom, his strokes becoming wild and vicious, his fingers digging into her waist, pulling her back into him as he let out short barks of pleasure at every deep plunge, every luscious thrust into her soft, tight body.

Isadora couldn't close her mouth, her shrieks torn from her belly as Remus possessed her brutally, feeding her need, giving her that ache she had missed for so long. He was insatiable, a ramming, plunging, grunting growling animal, tearing into her body for all he was worth, howling his pleasure to the world. Luckily for the pair that the suites came with built-in silencing charms or the Aurors would have kicked in the door, thinking there was a werewolf attack going on.

Isadora came, her body trembling uncontrollably as the werewolf rode her through it, growling as she clamped down on him, her hot release rushing over him. Remus locked his teeth to the side of her throat when he felt her boiling over his head and shaft, holding Isadora but not breaking the skin…it was painful but to Isadora it was just more of what she wanted what she needed. Even Darius hadn't taken her like this. She felt the werewolf let go of her throat and grip her shoulder, pulling her away from the headboard and gently forcing her head down to the bed. How could he be so gentle while pummeling her so brutally?

Remus then grabbed the headboard himself and heaved into the witch even harder, using the bed for leverage as her tore into her, his hips stroking so fast they were blurred as he shoved her up against the headboard and trapped her there, apparently unaware of her predicament as he panted and whimpered in delight. She wasn't running, she was letting him mate, letting him possess her. Remus was going for it all…he didn't know when he'd get a chance like this again. Isadora was every witch that ever got away from him, and he battered her passionately, sweat streaming down his body, soaking the blue coverlet beneath them as he drove over and over into her slim, pale body.

The witch, twisted against the headboard, shrieked and climaxed again, Remus driving through her pulsing tightness, his nostrils flaring at the scent and liquid rush of her second release. Then he pulled out of her and lowered his mouth to her dripping orifice and lapped at her juices hungrily before straightening and plunging back into her body, licking her release from his glistening lips. Isadora was incoherent with lust and ache and sensation, her voice rising and falling as the wizard continued to bang inside her mercilessly. But he was starting to approach the pinnacle, a high whine growing in the back of his throat.

Remus let go of the headboard and wrapped his arms around her hunched body as best he could, driving into the witch with all his might, stroking toward release, his eyes rolling up into his head as his balls tightened into hard knots…then he slammed into the witch, and folded over her, holding himself deep inside her, howling long and loud as he ejaculated, then whimpering his pleasure as pulse after pulse filled the perspiring, shrieking, crying witch beneath him, his head clearing as he slowed, his eyes falling on her cramped form.

Oh gods. Isadora.

Remus pulled out of the witch and gently drew her away from the head of the bed, turning her to face him, his eyes anxiously searching her face. She seemed totally incoherent, her eyes closed, tears streaming down her face, panting, her chest rising and falling.

Damn it. Damn it. He'd gone too far with the witch. Remus sat back on his heels and pulled Isadora into his chest, stroking her hair tenderly, whispering apologies to the witch as she shuddered intermittently. His eyes glistened. The wizard held her like that for a while, then felt her stir against him. He pulled her away from his chest, searching her face, ready for the rejection he would see there. Isadora's dark eyes looked up at him, and she smiled sleepily.

"Gods, Remus…that was the best sex I ever had," she breathed.

The werewolf looked at the beautiful witch in his arms, stunned.

"You aren't going to throw me out?" he asked her softly.

Isadora snuggled into him.

"Throw you out? I'm moving you into my flat, Remus Lupin. You're going to be my bed warmer at arms," she said tiredly.

"But…my transformation…Severus, your reputation…" he said softly, believing this to be pillow talk.

"We'll find someplace you can go and transform safely, fuck Severus…he's my son, not my father, and I'm not concerned about what anyone thinks about me. I'm tired of these bigoted assholes in the wizarding world anyway. We'll be in muggle London, remember?"

"I won't live off you," Remus said.

Isadora stretched and winced, aware of the delicious ache still thrumming through her body. Remus let her go and she stretched out in the bed, relaxed and sated, her dark eyes sweeping down and resting on his spent organ a moment before looking back up at him.

"You won't have to live off me. I have several accounts set up with your name on them, waiting for you to make their travel arrangements. You can start them tomorrow…great commissions on them too. And you can pay rent if you like…though I'd be glad to take it out in trade. I'll give you your own bedroom, Mr. Propriety…though I hope you won't actually sleep in it."

Remus looked down at her, not saying anything. Isadora rolled over on her stomach.

"I don't do rejection well, Remus…and I'm good with a wand. You're a Gryffindor, I'm a Slytherin. You know how nasty we Slytherins can get when we're denied what we want. I want you," she breathed sleepily. "I plan to have you. Now lay down next to me so I can sleep and dream about you, werewolf. Then in a little while you can take me like a human being, if your animal nature is all right with that."

"It is," Remus replied softly.

In fact, he was already hardening again from Isadora threatening and ordering him about. The wizard recovered very quickly. But the witch was tired, and he was sated enough that he didn't need to take her again immediately, though he wanted her again. He could make love to her this time, even be gentle though he doubted she'd want that. Isadora was a tough witch with tough needs despite her apparent delicacy. Dominant. Strong. Sexy. And she wanted to continue with him.

"Lay down, Remus," Isadora said evenly, patting the pillow beside hers.

Obediently, the wizard lay down beside her, his fingers playing in her ebony hair as she drifted off to sleep. Remus studied Isadora's face, her dark, lush lashes resting against her cheeks. She looked like an angel, a beautiful pale angel sent just for him…an answer to an unspoken prayer he'd been praying his entire life and never even realized.

Maybe there were gods after all.

---

The next day, Severus apparated to muggle London during his lunch break. He didn't have another class until two that afternoon. That should be plenty of time to talk to his mother about this madness. He appeared in front of her flat and removed the silencing charm, then looked about before removing the disillusionment charm as well. Then he took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

Remus opened it.

Severus glared at him a moment. Damn, he was back.

"Hello, Severus," the wizard said, opening the door wider so he could enter.

"I'm here to see my mother," Severus nearly snarled at the wizard, not bothering to return Remus' greeting as he stalked past him.

Isadora was seated at her main desk, glasses hanging off her nose, her long hair twisted into a bun, wearing a gray button-up blouse and black dress pants. She looked up as Severus entered. She smiled. Remus returned to the terminal he was working at and continued making the travel arrangements Isadora had given to him to complete. But his werewolf hearing was attuned to mother and son.

"Severus," she said, rising from behind the desk, taking off her glasses, walking around it and up to the sour-faced wizard. She kissed him on both cheeks. "What are you doing here? It's a weekday. Aren't you supposed to be teaching?"

Severus looked at his mother. She seemed to be glowing…a soft inner glow. He scowled a bit.

"I'm on my lunch break, Mother. I'm here because I want to talk to you…" here he paused and looked back at Lupin, who appeared to be concentrating on the screen in front of him, "…in private."

Isadora looked up at her son, then over at Remus.

"All right, Severus, you can come into the kitchen with me," she said, leading the way.

Severus followed her, taking another look at the werewolf. He didn't look near as peaked as he usually did.

Isadora went to the cooler.

"Sit down, Severus. I'll bring us a drink," she said, taking a pitcher of pumpkin juice out of the cooler, setting it on the kitchen counter and retrieving two glasses. Severus sat down at the kitchen table, his eyes on his mother.

He had to admit that she looked less than her age. Most people assumed she was his sister, rather than his mother. He almost wished she looked a bit wizened…then he wouldn't find himself in awkward positions like this, trying to discourage her from shagging a werewolf.

Isadora walked over to the table and set a glass in front of Severus then walked to the opposite end of the table, set her glass down and took a seat, looking at him expectantly.

Severus looked down at his glass of pumpkin juice.

Isadora watched her son.

"You're about to tell me something I'm not going to like," she said softly. "I know that look, Severus. You might be a grown wizard now, but I still know your mannerisms. Just spit it out and let the games begin."

Severus looked up at her.

"Mother, Hermione told me what is going on between you and Remus Lupin," Severus said evenly, his eyes accusing.

Isadora didn't even blink. She just looked at her son.

"And just what is that supposed to be?" she asked him. She was disturbed though. She had believed Hermione to be someone she could confide in.

Severus looked a bit taken aback. He had expected some kind of denial. He did see the flash of disappointment in her eyes when he said Hermione had told him. He didn't want Isadora thinking she couldn't trust his wife. He had practically dragged it out of her.

"Before you go thinking Hermione ran and blabbed to me, Mother, she didn't. I wanted to know what you two talked about yesterday, and she was hesitating. I know my wife. I know when she is trying to hide something from me. I threatened her with legilimency, forced legilimency. She isn't strong enough an Occulmens to keep me out if I want to know something. So it was either tell me, or be subjected to a mental onslaught. So she told me," he said.

Isadora was relieved and not a bit shocked that Severus would threaten his wife with such a thing. He was a Slytherin just like she was. If she was as accomplished as he was at Legilimency, no doubt she would employ similar methods. Marcus was right. Where mother and son were concerned, the apple really didn't fall that far from the tree. It landed right under it.

Isadora took a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"And what did she tell you?" Isadora asked him.

She wasn't pleased her son wished to discuss her personal life, but he was her only son, and actually she understood his concern. Not that it had anything to do with the price of cauldrons in Bulgaria. This was her life.

"She told me Remus had expressed an…an interest in you, Mother. An interest that compelled him to leave your presence…which in my opinion was a wise choice considering his malady."

"And did Hermione also tell you I have a vested interest in Remus too?" she asked him evenly.

"Yes," he said, his voice heavy with disapproval.

"So why are you here then?" she asked him, scowling.

"To try and talk some sense into you, Mother. Remus is a werewolf. True, he only transforms into a total beast at the full moon, but there are aspects of the wizard that are animalistic at all times. He isn't safe, Mother. If you must be involved with someone, find someone more suitable. Someone who won't…won't lose control if you are…are intimate," Severus said haltingly.

He felt out of place discussing his mother's sex life.

"Severus, you need to get out of my bedroom and stay in your own," Isadora said to him. The wizard looked shocked.

"Who I choose to be intimate with is none of your affair. I resent you even trying to pick and choose who I fuck," Isadora seethed.

Severus' eyes grew wide. His mother had said the word "fuck" and used it in a literal sense. Good gods. No son should ever hear his mother talk about fucking.

Isadora used the word purposely, so her son would see that she was a sexual being too.

"I'm…I'm not trying to pick who you…you are involved with, Mother. I'm just concerned about Remus harming you. You have no idea what he is capable of…" Severus said, trying to make her understand. "If you were interested in a normal wizard, then I would feel better."

"Severus, you selfish prat," Isadora seethed at him. Prat really wasn't the word she wanted to use, but she kept from cursing at her son. "My life is not going to be dictated by how YOU feel. I assure you, I am very aware of what Remus is capable of," Isadora said evenly.

Again, Severus' eyes widened. If his mother knew…it meant the werewolf had gotten to her.

"Mother…no," he said lamely.

Isadora looked at her son. He was so upset. Like any mother, her heart went out to him. She knew he thought he was doing what was best for her by having this conversation. She decided to lay it all out in the open.

"Severus, listen. And listen good because this is the last time I am going to justify anything I do to you. We are both adults now, and as adults we are responsible for our own actions only. We cannot control the lives of others. I am your mother, but I am a woman too. I've been lonely for a long, long time," she said softly, "You know how your father treated me…treated us both. He was cruel, overbearing and vicious. I had no choice concerning him, Severus. None at all. And I know you used to hear what he would do to me behind closed doors."

Severus winced slightly. Yes, he remembered his mother shrieking rhythmically. It wasn't until he became sexually aware however, that he realized his father had been shagging his mother and not just beating her.

"Severus, I never knew tenderness or gentleness when I was with your father. He never had a kind word, or took any time with me after you were born. But this wasn't your fault…it was just the kind of man he was. I didn't see it. I wish I had. I was very much in love with him, and he betrayed me. That was what hurt the most."

Isadora's eyes were wet. Severus listened to her, his heart aching at the pain in her eyes. He was a cold, snarky bastard, but he truly loved his mother. Now she was reliving her pain and he felt it.

"Severus…Remus is a kind and gentle man. I believe he is a good man. He doesn't swagger about trying to prove his masculinity, and instead of letting his urges control him, he controls them. He is ostracized but unlike many with his malady, he lives as good a life as he can, not turning to crime or living in bitterness. He doesn't hate, Severus. There isn't any violence in him. Can't you see why I would find him attractive? After all I've been through? He's lived a hard and lonely life too. He appreciates me, Severus and he is the kind of man that can make me happy. He's quiet, and he listens. He'll do anything I ask within reason without a word of complaint. He doesn't want or need to dominate me. He has no desire to hurt me or control me. All he wants is to be there for me."

Severus just looked at his mother, taking in her words.

"You have Hermione…and I am happy for you. Can't you just be happy for me? Happy to know I'm with a man I can trust…who won't do me any harm? And I have no doubt he'd protect me if I needed protection, he is a skilled wizard. If not for his malady, he'd be almost perfect. I can deal with his animal nature until you find the cure…I could deal with it if you never find the cure. He's the one I want Severus. Don't try to take him away from me or make what I find beautiful about him ugly. I've been alone a long time, son. Now I'm not. Just be happy for me, please, Severus?"

Severus stared at his mother. He didn't want her with Remus Lupin, but obviously she wanted the wizard if she made this much effort to try and make him understand her feelings. And she had been alone a long time. But damn, why did she have to fall for a werewolf? Severus sighed.

He could do one of two things. Make an ugly scene and try to force his mother not to see Remus, which would only drive them apart, and she would still continue to see him, or he could accept her decision with as much grace as he could muster. Hermione was right. She had just returned to him. Why do anything to divide them? Severus loved his mother, and really did want to see her happy. He and Hermione were considered an odd match, but they were very happy together. He loved the witch, and the sons she had given him.

If the Potions Master really wanted to ease his misgivings, he would find a cure for Remus. Then he would be a relatively suitable consort for his mother, if not the Potions Master's first, second, third or fourth choice. He thought about Hermione's choice. How everyone, including himself (maybe with the exception of Albus) thought he was wrong for her. But the stubborn little witch ended up correct about him. He was what she wanted, and she was what he needed. Maybe his mother knew best, despite appearances.

Although Severus really didn't want to think about it, he suspected his mother's sexual nature was much like his wife's. He didn't know if she were like that by nature, or if his father's treatment of her made her that way. He knew he himself was like his father when it came to sex. He liked to control and totally dominate his wife between the sheets, and she loved it. His mother didn't want to be dominated, but she probably craved a powerful lover. Remus' dichotomy of innate gentleness and animalistic lust most likely met her needs. Severus shuddered a little at the thought. Gods, she was his mother. But she was a woman too. He would just have to deal with this situation as best he could.

Isadora watched her son consider everything she said. He looked thoughtful, worried then resigned. She let out a tiny sigh of relief. She could tell he was going to back off.

Severus leveled his eyes at his mother, then stood up.

"Well Mother, it seems you have made your choice. I don't believe anything I can say or do will change your mind. Rather than have this come between us, I've decided to be the bigger wizard and allow you to live your life as you wish. I won't come between you and the werewolf…unless he mistreats you. And if he mistreats you…I won't have to worry about finding him a cure. You can't cure a dead wizard," he said darkly.

Isadora had to sit on her hands a bit. Her son was a chauvinistic twit. Be the bigger wizard? Allow her to live her life? Grrr.

Severus walked around the table and kissed his mother softly on the cheek.

"Are you leaving?" she asked him.

Severus looked at her.

"First I'm going to talk to your werewolf, then yes, I am leaving," he said.

He turned and walked through the kitchen door and back into the living room where Remus was. Isadora didn't follow him. Let the wizards talk.

---

Remus had heard every word of the pair's conversation. He pretended to be working when Severus stalked out of the kitchen and approached him, scowling. He looked up just as the Potions Master reached him. The two wizards looked each other in the eyes.

"Apparently Remus, you have managed to wrangle yourself into my mother's affections. She seems determined to pursue this madness until whatever conclusion is arrived at. I expect you to treat her well, very well. Don't make her unhappy. Don't break her heart. You do either of these things to my mother, Remus, and transformation will be the least of your worries. Do you understand me?" Severus said to the wizard in a low, controlled voice.

Remus shook his head.

"I'll be good to her, Severus," he said softly. "You don't have to worry about that."

"But I will worry," Severus replied, "She's my mother. You be careful with her when you…you...shit, Remus…just don't hurt her too much. I don't care what she says."

Severus turned quickly to hide his reddening face and disillusioned himself. Remus watched as the door to the flat opened and closed. He didn't hear anything else. Severus must have cast a silencing charm before he disapparated.

Isadora walked out of the kitchen and up to the werewolf.

"So did my son promise you torture and pain if you hurt me?" she asked him, smiling.

Remus looked at her.

"Actually no. At least not directly. He gave me the basic warnings on what not to do, and seemed a bit concerned about our private relations," he said quietly.

Isadora looked up at him rather sloe-eyed as she remembered those "relations."

They had continued their tryst last night, and the witch discovered Remus was as good a human lover as he was an animal. Even more so, because he was quite uninhibited and sexually creative, gently bending and twisting her body into positions he knew would give her the most pleasure when he penetrated her, and asking what she wanted, how she wanted it, then giving it to her good and hard. Remus knew how to use his tool.

The wizard seemed to need her vocal reassurance he was pleasing her, although he was a magnificent lover. She still couldn't understand how he managed to maintain the illusion of gentleness while driving her across the bed linens. Maybe because he kissed and caressed her so tenderly as he did so. She didn't know. All Isadora knew was she was stuck on him.

"Our private relations?" she purred at him.

She still felt the ache of the wizard between her thighs, but that still didn't quell the feelings of desire starting to well up in her as his eyes met hers. Remus could sense it.

"Yes, Isadora our private relations," he confirmed.

"What did he say exactly?" she asked the wizard curiously.

Remus looked at her, his lips quirking slightly. Isadora felt the urge to kiss them.

"He said to be careful when I…then he couldn't bring himself to say what it is I do to you, but he did tell me not to hurt you too much no matter what you say," the werewolf replied.

Isadora moved into Remus, pressing her body against him. The werewolf drew in a breath and did not outwardly react. He could still maintain his façade of calm to a point.

"But you will listen to me, won't you, Remus? You'll do everything I tell you to do," she breathed, sliding against him a bit.

"Yes," he answered.

Isadora pulled out her wand and warded the door to her flat, adding a strong silencing charm. Remus went on point immediately, a low whine in his throat. Did she want more? She must.

Isadora gave him a wicked grin.

"You can start with kissing me, werewolf," she said, pursing her lips.

Remus began to lower his lips to hers then paused.

"You realize, Isadora, we are back to square one if this…this escalates," he said softly.

"Remus, I can guarantee this will escalate," Isadora purred.

She was like a child with a new toy. Sex toy that is.

"That means the wolf…" he said, his gentle eyes flashing just a bit

Isadora let out a very good imitation of a deep, feral growl. Remus looked surprised.

"Are you sure you don't have a little wolf in you too, Isadora?" he asked her.

Isadora grinned at him sexily.

"Not yet," she replied, drawing his head down and kissing the wizard passionately.

---

Severus returned home after school and immediately found Hermione.

"I want you to help me make a gift basket for my mother," he said to her, transforming a magazine into a woven basket.

"Severus, how sweet!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Sweetness has nothing to do with this, Hermione," he said, catching her by the arm and pulling her along as he left the house and strode across the yard to his lab. He opened the door, turned up the torches and guided her over to his potions stores. He opened the door. It was very well stocked.

"You're giving your mother potions?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," he hissed. "Now I'll hand you the potions and you arrange them attractively in the basket."

Hermione looked around, then plucked a hair from her head. Taking out her wand, she placed the hair in the basket and transformed it into lavender colored fake grass.

"All right, Severus, I'm ready," she said.

Severus handed her four king-sized bottles of purple potion, some bruising salve, some joint pain elixir, and a bottle of "Heads Down" impotency potion. Hermione's eyebrows went up.

"Peel the label off that, and write "For Remus" on there," Severus said as he continued looking over his stores.

Hermione frowned at him.

"Severus, this is not a gift basket…it's a first aid kit," she said looking at the items. Then she held up the bottle of impotence potion. "And I'm NOT putting this in here. You are horrible."

Severus turned and scowled at her. Hermione put the basket on the floor and folded her arms, scowling back at him. They stood there for a couple of minutes.

Finally Severus said, "All right. It was just a thought. In case she needed a break."

Hermione handed him the bottle of "Heads Down" back.

"If your mother wants a break from Remus, I'm sure all she'll have to do is tell him. She needs no help from you. This basket is embarrassing enough as it is," she said.

Severus ignored her remarks and handed her some pepper-up and replenishing potions. She added them to the basket.

"How about some soaps at least?" she suggested, looking at his supply of scented soaps.

Severus shook his head dismissively.

"No. That might inspire them to shower together," he replied, taking the basket from her and bringing it to the counter. Shaking her head, Hermione followed him.

He tore a bit of parchment off a pad, set the basket on it, and took out his wand. With a flick, he transformed it into see-through plastic, which wrapped itself tightly around the basket, a big lavender bow appearing on top. He stepped back to admire his handiwork.

"So, what do you think?" he asked his wife, who was frowning at the basket.

"I think it's perfectly ghastly, Severus. Surely you don't really intend on sending that to you mother?" Hermione asked him as he picked up the basket and headed for the door.

"I most certainly do intend to. If my mother insists on sleeping with a werewolf, I at least want her hale and healthy afterwards," he said exiting the lab and heading for the house, his robes billowing.

He was going to have Eli take the basket to his mother's flat. The elf would be overjoyed to visit with her.

Hermione sighed after her husband. He was such an idiot sometimes.

The witch turned down the torches and exited the lab, locking it securely.

As she walked toward the house, Hermione hoped her sons would have more sense than their father when it came to dealing with her.

---

A/N:::fanning a little::: Thanks for reading. One more chapter to come…er…I mean go. Lol.