When morning came, Sirius was sleeping in a cushioned chair in the den next to Remus' bed. He was still wrapped in his towel, though the tuck had come undone during the night and the towel had separated. Both of them were sleeping heavily when Sirius was rudely awakened by a shout.
"They're in here, Mum! Oh my..."
Sirius startled awake and blinked fuzzy eyes at the entry to see Ginny Weasley with wide eyes and gaping mouth. Molly's round face soon popped into the doorway behind her daughter and she let out a squeal as she quickly covered Ginny's eyes with her hands and steered her out of the room.
"Sirius Black, get some clothes on this instant!"
Still confused and blinking the sleep away, Sirius looked down at himself and let out his own squeal of alarm. He snugged up the towel, silently thanking whatever God was responsible enough to keep his privates still private, and pressed his ear to the door crack.
"I don't have any down here, Molly," his sleep roughened voice cracked. He heard Ginny giggle and Molly shoo her into the kitchen.
The door snapped open and bounced painfully off of his nose. The Weasley matriarch let out an 'oh!' of surprise and apologized. "I'll fetch you some then, shall I? And just so you know, I'll be locking this door," she said loudly, "to keep certain prying eyes away."
Ginny let out another giggle from the kitchen and Molly rolled her eyes. "Just be a moment, Sirius, wake Remus would you dear, we'll be having breakfast in a jiffy."
The door was pulled shut just as quickly as it was opened and Sirius shook his head as the door locked with a solid click.
He walked silently over to Remus and looked down at the sleeping wolf. Lines of worry creased his forehead. Lupin's color was off, looking more pale than yesterday. Carefully, Sirius rested his hand on the wizard's forehead and let out a small sigh of relief. Remus had no fever.
"Remy," he called softly, not in the least bit surprised that Molly's voice hadn't woken him. "Come on, Moony, breakfast is waiting."
Slowly, the wolf woke with a sigh and grunt. He smiled sleepily at Sirius and struggled to sit. The animagus offered him a hand and soon had him sitting upright.
"Did you say breakfast?" Remus grumbled, sleep laden voice deep and gravely from disuse.
"I certainly did," Sirius grinned, tossing the blankets aside and waiting poised and patient as Remus tried to stand. "Molly's here now, told me to wake you."
"I thought I may have heard her voice," Remus grunted but managed to stand on his own. "Goodness, it's certainly hot in here, isn't it?"
Sirius shrugged, he was only in a towel, but he wasn't cold. It was possible to a fully clothed wizard that it was a bit warm. "I wouldn't know," he grinned cheekily as Remus laughed and shrugged slowly out of his robe.
Stains of sweat circled the wolf's collar, arm pits and lower back. Sirius frowned deeply and restrained from touching his friend's forehead again. "Would you like a wash-up before eating?"
Remus grimaced and nodded, "I think that would be best."
"Alright, Remy me chum, a freezing cold shower and sandpaper towels await." Sirius waggled his eyebrows and tried to open the door, only to find it sealed. "Oh, right."
The werewolf gave him a curious look.
"Well, Molly's gone to fetch me some clothes you see..." Sirius trailed off, waving a hand idly at himself. Remus nodded in realization and leaned heavily against the wall as he laughed.
It wasn't long before the door-lock clicked and Molly called out a warning before she pushed the door in. "Here you are, Sirius. Please refrain from sleeping in the nude in future. I do have young eyes about you know," she huffed.
"Yes, mum," he saluted, taking away the small pile and shaking them open. His fathers, of course. He grimaced and began to dress.
"Good lord," Molly breathed in exasperation and turned away to shut the door. "Not a modicum of shame in that one," she called through the doorway.
Sirius grinned and zipped his fly, tugging the button-up shirt across his shoulders and pulling the door open. "There now, all done."
Ginny came around the corner with a mug in her hands and paused in the hallway, her face coloring brightly.
"Button up for goodness sake!" Molly shrieked, bustling off to chase Ginny into the kitchen.
"I'm not used to so many innocent eyes," Sirius mumbled, buttoning his shirt.
"Not so innocent any more I'm afraid," Remus chuckled to himself and walked from the room.
"Do you want any help?" Sirius asked quietly, not wanting to treat his friend like an inferior but putting his willingness out there just in case.
"Want any? No." Remus shook his head with a sigh. "Need help? That's a different story. I'll have a go myself first though if you don't mind."
"Not at all," Sirius put up a brave face as Remus entered the bathroom and shut the door.
It took a pitiful amount of time before Remus opened the door again--looking like a kicked puppy--and asked Sirius if he wouldn't mind assisting.
Sirius nodded solemnly, promising himself not to make a wisecrack and shut the door behind him. Remus had gotten his shoes and socks off, even managed to unbutton his shirt but couldn't bend around properly to pull it off.
"Here," Sirius motioned with his hand for Remus to turn around. The wolf complied and Sirius took hold of his collar and carefully shook it and pulled gently backward until it slipped from his friend's shoulders. The bite scar was puffy and raw, still not seeping but looking just as ugly as before.
"I think I can manage from here," Remus said softly, embarrassed and angry that he couldn't even undress himself.
"Sure," Sirius nodded, "I'll just be out--"
"Wait," Remus interrupted. "I," he swallowed audibly, "I might need help stepping up into the tub."
"Sure," Sirius parroted, turning toward the door to give the lycanthrope a bit of respect.
It took longer than it should have for the man to undo his pants and wriggle out of his boxers, but eventually he had managed himself. "Alright," Remus mumbled, stepping toward the tub.
Sirius turned back and bit his tongue. He had seen Remus half nude two nights before, and caught glimpses of him in passing as they traveled together before this sickness happened. All the glimpses didn't add up to what he saw now. His friend was emaciated, each rib razored his flesh. Old scars shone; from what, Sirius didn't know. He never asked about them and until Remus broached the subject, he would never ask.
"Here we are," Sirius pulled Remus' good arm across his shoulders and wrapped his free arm snuggly around the wolf's waist.
With a careful lift, Sirius swung Remus' feet over the lip of the tub, wincing as the spine under his arm popped and Remus grunted. Once Remus had his footing, Sirius let him go and took a step back. "Alright, there, Moony?"
Remus put a hand against the wall to stabilize himself. He didn't look at Sirius, but the animagus could see the blush rise in his friend's skin. "Yea, I'm fine. Could I--could I have some privacy now, please?"
"Of course," Sirius started, turning quickly to the door. "If you need anything--"
"I'll call, Sirius," Remus sighed. "Give me ten minutes."
"Sure, Remy, sure." Sirius pulled the door shut and leaned against it, listening to the inside as the water began to run.
Reluctantly, Sirius went to the kitchen and sat down heavily into a chair. He didn't notice the youngest Weasley as she colored up as she cooked beside her mother.
"Where's Remus?" Molly asked, humming softly as she worked.
"He's in the shower," Sirius mumbled.
"What's that dear?" Molly turned and paused as she looked across the kitchen to the animagus. Sirius looked on the verge of crying or vomiting, which was hard to tell. "Is it that bad?"
Sirius blinked up and shrugged, clearing his throat several times before he dared to speak. "I hope not," he twirled a cup between his hands, "but I think it is."
"Oh dear," Molly frowned sadly and turned back to her pans.
They went about their business in silence until Sirius couldn't take sitting around any longer and gathered a set of clothes for Remus and stood beside the bathroom with his ear pressed to the crack as he waited.
It was another five minutes until the water shut off. "Padfoot," Remus called from inside.
Sirius stiffened, "Here, Moony." His hand hovered over the doorknob until he heard Remus ask him in.
Remus had dried off and wrapped his waist in a towel much like Sirius had earlier. He tried to smile reassuringly but it slipped from his face.
"Molly's just about finished with breakfast, you have good timing," Sirius smiled, hoping it didn't look too fake as he helped Remus out of the tub. "I've got a change of clothes for you here."
"Thank you," Remus pawed through the clothes and took out a pair of underwear. "Would you--"
"Oh," Sirius' eyes widened, "I'll be in the hall if you need me."
Another round of waiting left Sirius tapping his foot. Remus opened the door, clothed completely from the waist down. He held out the dress shirt to Sirius reluctantly. Sirius took it from his fingers and snapped it open. With a bit of careful tugging, the shirt was pulled up onto Remus' shoulders with as little discomfort as possible.
Remus quickly buttoned the shirt up and followed Sirius into the kitchen.
"Just in time," Molly beamed, heaping two plates with food. Before the plates touched the table, identical Weasley twins came barreling into the room, snatching bacon from their mother's fry pan. "Get out of that!" She called, swinging a wooden spoon at them.
"Come on, Mum!" Fred cried.
"We're starvin' here!" George finished. Both clutched their stomachs and made pitiful noises.
"You ate before we got here," Molly sighed, setting the plates down in front of Remus and Sirius.
"But we're growing, lads." Fred mentioned.
"Yea, we need the nutrients or you'll stunt our growths!" George nodded his agreement, distracting his mother with his theatrics so that his twin could snag some toast and bacon from their dishes.
"You two are already growing like weeds," Molly rolled her eyes. Without turning around she brandished her spoon and snapped it soundly onto the palm of her hand. "Fredrick if you don't return that to the plate this instant I'll have you both cleaning the attic!"
Fred's hands snapped open and dropped the food back where it came from. He quickly skirted around his mother so that he stood beside George. He clutched at his heart, George quickly pantomiming his twin.
"You wound me. How awful it is to have an untrusting mother," he cried, touching the back of his hand to his forehead.
With a heavy sigh and shaking her spoon at them, Molly pointed at the door. "To the second floor, both of you! No goofing around." The two saluted smartly and retreated to the stairs. Molly followed them to the hallway and called up, "I'll be checking up on you two!"
"Those two, we'll be lucky if they don't make more of a mess," Molly sighed and sat down with a cup of tea.
Remus was picking at his food, smiling at the boys' antics. Sirius had nearly devoured his mound, laughing between bites.
"Would you like some more tea?" Ginny asked innocently, trying to be a help and already holding the pot in her hands.
"Thank you, Ginny," Remus nodded, pushing his cup and saucer toward her. She smiled brightly and topped off his cup before she looked up at Sirius.
"Just a spot more," Sirius winked, chewing noisily. Ginny blushed and filled his cup, nearly overflowing it.
"Alright," Molly said sternly, taking the pot gently from her daughter's hands. "Go on upstairs and help your brothers. We have a lot to do."
Ginny nodded, rushing from the room and tromped up the stairs two at a time.
"For goodness sake, Sirius, do try to behave. That girl won't be good for anything if you keep it up," Molly carded her fingers through her hair.
"Sorry, Molly, I couldn't resist." Sirius grinned as he finished his meal. Molly took his plate to the sink and set the dishes to cleaning themselves.
"I'll go check on those boys. Ron and Arthur should be by soon," Molly informed them as she slipped away.
Sirius shook his head, it was really good to see a normal family around Grimmauld Place. Perhaps a few days of the Weasley's adding their touch would clear away some of the drear and dread of the place.
Remus set his fork down beside his plate and rested his forehead in his palms. Sirius frowned. The werewolf had barely eaten anything. "Are you feeling alright, Remus?"
"Bit of headache," the wolf mumbled, pushing his plate away.
"Do you want me to get you something?"
"No, that's alright," Remus gave him a grimaced smile, "I think it's fading already."
Sirius didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Feel like helping the others clean?"
Remus frowned, "I don't think I can handle the stairs," he admitted softly.
"Well, there's still plenty down here to do. If you want to help, you certainly don't have to." Sirius rambled.
"Of course," Remus waved his hand. "I want to help, Sirius. I can't sleep all the time."
Sirius nodded, smiled and stood up. "Well, what should we tackle first?"
"That horrific bathroom, I think," Remus smiled.
Sirius wrinkled his nose, "I agree. Shall we?"
Remus answered by standing up and making his way to the bathroom. Sirius followed, carefully noting how little Remus ate and promising to keep an extra keen eye on his friend.
...oOo...
When they all broke for lunch, Arthur and Ron had arrived and made innocently smart-mouthed comments about how dirty they all were.
Remus sat propped against the table, looking exhausted but refusing to take a rest. Sirius and Molly both took long glances at him, waiting for him to keel over onto the tabletop.
The morning's embarrassment had passed and Ginny was happily chatting away with her father about all of the odd things she had found in the upstairs rooms.
"Bill sent a letter," Ron told the lot of them happily. He distracted the whole of the Weasley clan by spouting off the contents word for word from memory. Sirius took the time to quietly ask Remus if he was feeling alright.
The werewolf looked indignant for a moment before sighing heavily, his face crumpling in defeat. He cleared his throat and shook his head reluctantly. Sirius pursed his lips tightly and helped lever his friend up from the table among several quick looks from the Weasley's. Thankfully, not one of them said a word and Sirius had to practically drag Remus across the hall into the den.
Remus was fitfully asleep only moments after Sirius laid him out and pulled the covers up. He stared down at the wizard for a long time, praying to any deities that would listen to help his friend get better, and fast.
Finally, he turned away and shut the door quietly behind him, setting up a silencing charm to keep outside noises from waking up Remus; but allowing any noise from the inside out in case the lycan needed anything.
The room grew instantly quiet as Sirius returned alone and looking wounded. He sat down heavily and Molly sat a short glass half full of whisky in front of him. He looked up at her in curiosity but took the drink in one hard pull. He coughed and rubbed at the burning in his chest as he set the glass down.
"Thanks," he growled out between wheezing coughs.
"You looked like you needed it," Molly smiled gently. "Not that you will drink often," she chastised quickly. "You need to be in the right frame of mind to take care of him."
"I know," Sirius nodded, then as an after-thought, "I won't."
"What's wrong with him?" Arthur asked gently, catching a scathing look from his wife.
"It's alright, Molly," Sirius held up a hand. "We don't really know. It's all theory yet. All we can be sure of, is that it has to do with his other side."
Molly took in a short breath and held it, nodding silently. Most of the children looked a little confused, unsure of what they just learned but too shy to ask. Arthur looked pensive. "Who's doing the research?"
Molly threw him another reproachful look and her husband shrugged.
Sirius smiled a little at them, before he grimaced. "Snape."
"Severus," Molly's eyes widened. She appeared in thought before nodding tightly. "Good."
"Good?!" Sirius snapped, instantly calming himself as the children in the room flinched. "I don't see the good in it," he tried again with restraint.
"You lot go upstairs and get back to work," Arthur told them quietly. They all shuffled away quickly. Sirius was awed at how quickly the brood snapped to attention when their father spoke softly; it worked far better than if their mother screamed at them until she was blue in the face. As soon as the children were safely upstairs, Arthur turned back to the conversation. "Severus is a bit abrasive--"
Sirius snorted loudly and opened his mouth to retort but the hard look Molly sent him made him clack his mouth shut.
"Professor Snape is a good man, Sirius, regardless of what you think. He's also very diligent when asked to help. He doesn't seem like it, but he's eager to please." Molly finished her husband's thought, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Eager to please?" Sirius laughed, "More like eager to betray! Why is everyone so quick to come to that man's--and I use the term loosely-- rescue?!"
"Sirius, you've been gone for some time," Arthur tried carefully. "You've missed the trials and time and effort Severus has put in trying to prove himself. He doesn't do it boldly, it's subtle, but he does try."
Sirius looked unimpressed. Molly sat down beside him and put her hand on his arm. "Alright, Sirius. Regardless of how you feel about him, Severus is all you have right now. Hopefully you won't be jaded enough to ignore how hard he will try. It wouldn't do to push the man out when he's your only help."
"I know," Sirius ground out through clenched teeth. "And believe me or not, but I am trying. Luckily he hasn't been around enough to ruin it."
Molly rolled her eyes heavenward and shook her head. Arthur laughed lightly at them both. "Very well, I do say there's more to do. Sirius, I'm sure Molly could use some help sorting through things upstairs. It's hard to tell what you might want to keep."
"But Remus is down here, I don't want to be out of earshot if he wakes up."
"Don't worry, Black. I'm sure I'll be able to hear from the kitchen."
Sirius prickled and turned in his chair to glare at Severus Snape who stood in the entryway. "I think you can shove that idea up your--"
"I think that works out well," Molly interrupted loudly. "Come along Sirius," and she grasped the animagus roughly by the shirt collar and dragged him from the room.
Severus smirked, watching as Sirius was hauled bodily up the stairs by the Weasley matriarch. "You might want to invest in a leash and muzzle for that one," he called up after them, turning happily back to the kitchen when Sirius let out a howl of anger from the second floor landing.
Arthur sighed heavily as Snape came in, but he didn't comment about it. He watched quietly as Severus took a package from his pocket and engorged it with his wand before unwrapping it. A selection of various potions and other oddities were inside.
"I hear you've been delegated to help Remus." Arthur said quietly, giving the potions master a little smile as he looked up from his work.
"Unfortunately," Severus answered with a sneer.
"He couldn't be in better hands, then," Arthur said lightly as he made his way out of the kitchen and upstairs to help his wife and children.
Snape watched the man go with carefully guarded eyes before chuffing through his nose and returning to his work. A series of potions were lined carefully along the tabletop, followed closely with a set of notes and then a well-worn book. From the bottom of the package, Severus withdrew a small, personal journal.
He checked off each potion on a piece of note parchment and opened a nearby cupboard, lining them up in the same order they had been in on the table. On the inside of the cabinet door, Snape pinned another piece of parchment with a set of spidery instructions on it.
He returned to the table, book and journal waiting and sat down to continue with his research.
Snape had been through the library's stacks and come up with the same few, pitiful books as before. After surveying his funds in Gringott's, he took out an ample sum and went searching along Knocktrun Alley. He scared the wits out of several Apothecaries as he promised swift retribution if they did not get in the herbs and other potions ingredients he demanded on time, before putting the fear of God into several other bookstore shops.
It took very little time until Severus had gotten a response from three of the shops. They had ordered the books he wanted, and would he kindly come retrieve them promptly once they arrived.
What he wanted was not entirely illegal according to current wizarding law. He had worked the fastest and hardest he could when faced with this mystery, and he was not left wanting. Snape got in touch with Lance Scorch's family, asking for whatever work their forefather had left behind. Thankfully, the family was willing to give Snape everything they had. No one besides their great grandfather had had any interest in lycanthropy and after years of others coming to them for all their werewolf needs, they were only too happy to be able to tell the nitpickers that they no longer owned the works.
After Scorch's paperwork--bought for a hefty sum-- Severus found another reputable resource from an old wolf pack. The lot of them refused to hear him out as soon as he found them. The old alpha sat back, watching the youngers under him deal with the outsider until Snape said the words 'Lupus Disvestare Apostasis'. A shocked growl left the old man's mouth and the whole pack fell silent immediately. The alpha quickly granted their knowledge to be shared only if Severus promised to use the information and return it to them.
In order to take the documentation, Snape had to leave something valuable behind him. He returned to his vaults and brought them the only thing that ever meant anything to him; a badly bound original edition book on beginning magical defense. The first book he had ever gotten, and the only one that survived his father's wrath.
The young pack pups laughed when he brought it to them, scoffing and refusing to allow the trade. The alpha stood for the first time since Severus had been with them and they all fell to the side and silent. He took the book reverently from Snape's hands and smiled as he looked at it. "It has seen love and use," he spoke quietly with a deep rumble. The pups tittered and he held up a hand to quell them. "It is acceptable." He motioned for the others to bring their trade item and Severus took the heavy tome into careful hands. The alpha smiled knowingly and nodded, returning to his seat with the book on his lap.
Severus turned to leave but panic gripped him and he had to stop and take a deep breath. He looked over his shoulder and the old man met his gaze with his steady one. "I will keep it safe with me." The pups looked confused but nodded solemnly when their alpha looked down at them. Severus left quickly before he could lose his nerve.
The other books were sent for from various sources outside of England.
One from Russia where the first pack family to ever be recorded had written a series of books. They did not get popular as the family had hoped, but they were full of relevant life information that Snape knew would be invaluable. Unfortunately, without multiple production, he could only find the first volume and should it prove useful, he would have to contact the family for other editions.
Another text from Germany where a pioneering wizard spent three years in the life of a pack though he was not a lycanthrope himself. The book focused on the 'berserker' mode of life and hunting that some wolves took.
The last was from North America, also old and carefully bound, written in foreign languages. It was the written documentation of lycanthropy in the eyes of the Navajos. The book was a compilation of works that all spoke of werewolves and other beasts that roamed across ancient North America, well before white Europeans decided to traipse toward the continent. A good section of the book was written entirely about the use of specific herbs and plants that the Navajo burnt to keep lycanthropes at bay in the night. That, if nothing else, was wholly intriguing to Snape.
Now, finally sitting down with the pack's book for the first time, Severus began to skim through it to match what he could and possibly find more references to use.
Of course, his best intentions were foiled by a low keening moan from across the hall. Cursing his luck, Snape stood and crossed the hall, pushing open the door and waiting to see if Lupin was awake or simply dreaming.
The wolf wasn't awake, per se, but he was certainly not dreaming. Remus was on his back, face crumpled in pain and clawing uselessly at his shoulder. Severus quickly strode in to stop him before he tore himself open.
"Lupin, wake up," he said sternly, grasping the wizard's wrist to haul his hand away. The man growled deeply in his throat, beastly and eerie. Severus released him and stepped back, heart leaping into his throat. "Lupin," he spat.
The lycan jerked awake, the growling stopping just as abruptly. Remus' rough breathing smoothed out and he blinked amber eyes at the ceiling before looking over at Snape. "Severus?"
"You were clawing at yourself," Severus explained stiffly, still at a safe distance.
"I was?" Remus started to sit up, but as soon as he set weight onto his left shoulder he winced and fell backward, quickly cupping his shoulder with his hand.
Biting his tongue to keep from saying something snappish to cover his fear, Severus stepped forward with resolve and began to unbutton Remus' shirt. The werewolf blinked in surprise, but was too slow to react and Snape had the shirt undone and pushed aside before he thought to stop him.
"Move your hand, Lupin," the potions master ordered quietly. He peeled back the shirt and scowled. "Get up." Remus blinked up at him in confusion. "Up, Lupin, up!" Snape took hold of him, drawing the wizard up from the bed. Lupin bit his tongue to keep from crying out and followed after Snape.
They wound up in the kitchen where Severus pointed at a chair and busied himself in a cabinet. "Take off your shirt," Snape snapped, returning to the table with a small vial. Remus, still half out of the waking world, blinked fuzzily at him. "The shirt, Lupin, take it off."
Nodding, Remus tried to shrug out of it and hissed in pain, inches away from clutching at his shoulder again. Severus sighed heavily in irritation from behind him and Remus stiffened in panic, expecting Snape to bodily remove him from his clothes.
It was with some surprise that Remus breathed a little easier when Snape carefully peeled the shirt away and flung it onto the tabletop.
"Hold still, this is going to hurt," Snape said in his stern lecture voice. In a quiet tone Remus almost didn't hear, he added, "A lot."
The vial from the table was plucked up in Severus' thin fingers, and moments later the contents were dribbled into the crescent bite mark on both sides of his shoulder. Snape was right. It was as though liquid silver had been poured into his wounds and Remus let out a scream that could wake the dead.
Before he could touch the shoulder, Severus had clamped his arms tightly to his sides, chin clamped tightly on Lupin's right shoulder and both arms wrapped tightly around his waist; effectively pinning his arms in place.
As soon as one scream ended, Lupin drew in a ragged breath and let out another. His throat was raw, his lungs burning but his shoulder felt like it was being torn from the socket. No matter how hard he struggled to loose Snape, the potions master had a firm hold and didn't give him an inch. It probably helped Severus that Remus was weakened and half starved.
It did not take long for the whole upstairs crew to barrel into the kitchen. Sirius' eyes were ablaze with fury and it took him no time to cross the room, his gaze intent on Severus. Remus panicked, knowing that even though Severus had caused this pain, he was preventing him from hurting himself.
Taking in another breath, he forcibly stopped screaming nonsensically and bit out, "Don't Sirius! No!"
Both Severus' and Sirius' eyes widened. Remus shook his head violently from side to side as the animagus took another step forward, repeatedly he butted the side of Severus' face with his skull.
"What is going on?!" Molly shrieked, trying to push the children out of the room and having no success.
Remus bit his tongue as the pain ebbed and flared again. Tears ran down the sides of his face and tried to tell them it was fine but knew if he opened his mouth he would scream enough to shatter the windows.
"Treatment," Severus grunted, breathing hard as he clamped down again as Remus struggled.
"Treatment?!" Sirius yelled, overturning chairs in his path. He got close enough to stare straight into Snape's face and curled his hands into fists. "I have half a mind to--"
"NO!" Remus growled out, his throat working to form the word through the bestial grunt. Blood trickled down from the corner of his lips, down his neck and chest and seeped into Severus' robe sleeves.
After an eternity of pain, it stopped just as suddenly as it came on and Remus sagged gratefully into Severus' hold. The potions master drew away quickly when he realized and carefully checked over Remus' shoulder, ignoring the strange looks and flying questions.
"I doubt that much screaming comes from a decent treatment," Sirius was fuming, holding himself in check by mere threads.
Snape ignored his comment and pressed around the edge of the scar with his thumb. Remus stiffened in surprise and rolled his head on the shoulder to see what he was doing. "What was it?" He asked in gasping breaths.
"A concoction I read about in theory. It took me ten hours of brewing and several batches of failure within the first few minutes to make." Snape reached past Lupin and pulled his journal toward him along with the loose pieces of parchment and his quill. He began to write quickly, periodically checking the bite mark and prodding carefully at it.
"A theory?" Sirius' eyes widened. "You mean you didn't even know if this would work?"
Snape's quill stopped scratching and he glared at him through his swaying hair. "I still do not know if it did."
"You son of bitch!" Sirius started back down the length of the table, intent on braining the dark wizard.
"Shut your filthy mouth," Severus hissed, his ebony eyes were blazing. "You have no right to speak of my mother."
Sirius grinned viciously and opened his mouth.
"Sirius, don't," Remus croaked, gently running his fingertips around the rough edge of the scar. He turned his gaze to Severus and cleared his throat. "What is it supposed to do?"
Snape took several slow, deep breaths before answering. "It prevents the wound from getting infected while allowing it to remain open. There's a long term pain reliever naturally made within the potion and should numb most of the pain. It's lycan specific."
"Why wouldn't you heal it?" Arthur piped in from the entry, blushing slightly when everyone looked at him.
"Part of Lupin's problem is psychosomatic. Healing it would do nothing, it would only open again. This way it stays clean and healthy until Lupin's comes out of this..." Snape waved his hand at him, unable to think of the proper word. "This."
"Why didn't you test it?" Sirius asked angrily, trying to remain calm.
"Excuse me, Black. I must have forgotten to ask one of my many werewolf colleagues to assist me." Severus sneered, returning to his paperwork.
"It's fine," Remus waved his hand dismissively as Sirius opened his mouth. "All of this is entirely new. We won't know what works if we don't try."
After a few minutes of only Snape's quill scratching to break the silence, the potions master finally put his papers away. He straightened and looked over everyone, everyone but Lupin was watching him.
"Well, since you are all here," Snape walked to the cupboard and pointed at the layers of potions that lined the shelf. "These have been created specifically for lycanthrope use. No one but Lupin is to take them. Some are pain relievers, others sleeping aids. They have no silver in them, have not been strained through silver grating, and have been altered for such. They are marked so even you can't confuse them, Black."
"Thank you, Severus," Lupin said softly. It was oddly touching that the man went so far out of his way to make him comfortable.
The potions master fidgeted, nodding stiffly in response. He cleared his throat, "There are dosing instructions written on the parchment here. For those of you with dubious reading ability," he pointedly looked at Sirius and smirked slightly, "the usual rules apply. Do not take something if you don't need it. Do not double dose. If you run low on something, let me know before you run out so that you have it when you need it."
The room remained quiet after Snape stopped speaking. He ignored them again and returned to prodding at Remus. The lycan sat still through it, grunting now and then.
"It appears to be working," the potions master mumbled to himself. To Remus he continued, "Mark down any side effects of the potion. It should not do anything than what it already has. New pain or returning pain, infection, anything else that seems abnormal, I want you to write it down and tell me immediately."
"Of course," Remus nodded.
"What if what you've given him prevents him from writing it down?" Sirius asked, partly accusatory.
"Then I suggest you floo me immediately since he will likely be screaming his fool head off or will be half dead," Severus quipped. "Write it down," he reiterated.
"What is this?" Molly asked quietly, flipping idly through a dog-eared book.
Snape's eyes widened in panic and he gently took the woman's hands in one of his and closed the book delicately. "It is borrowed and very fragile."
"Sorry, Severus," Molly smiled, taking back her hands. "Is it very important?"
"I think it has some merit," he said carefully. "But it is not mine and irreplaceable."
"Perhaps we should get ready to go home, kids," Arthur said conversationally. The sun was starting to go down and the lot of them were surprised to see how late it had gotten.
"Would you like me to make something before I leave?" Molly asked politely.
"I'm sure we can manage," Sirius reassured her, following the whole group to the door.
Severus and Remus were left alone to stare at each other. Remus took up his shirt from the table and was able to pull it on by himself--albeit very carefully. He smiled lightly to himself at his accomplishment.
"Where did you borrow the book from, Severus? I was under the impression that there was nothing of any merit nearby."
Snape was pensive and he carefully put his texts and paperwork together. "There aren't."
Remus smiled a little. Severus always was a man of few words. The crest on the front cover looked vaguely familiar and Remus had to think hard to remember where he had seen it before. His eyes widened in realization. "You went to the McLeod pack."
"Not anymore," Snape said bluntly. "They had an uprising several years ago. The new alpha is a Kasabian."
"Either way, Severus, that was terribly dangerous. I can't believe they let you borrow it, just like that." Remus shook his head in awe. Severus said nothing and the werewolf watched him carefully. "They didn't just let you have it." Still the wizard said nothing. Remus nodded to himself.
Sirius returned then, looking sour and defunct. "When are you leaving?"
"Now." Snape tapped the neat pile with his wand and the brown paper they were wrapped in neatly folded itself back around them. He shrunk the package and quickly pocketed it.
Sirius scowled after Snape's retreating back and sat down in the chair across from Remus as the front door slammed shut.
"That man," Sirius huffed, hands curled into claws in front of him as though he were choking a ghost.
"That man is doing some very stupid things," Remus admitted. Sirius looked highly amused. "All because he's trying to help."
"Humph," Sirius crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in the chair. "I don't want to talk about him. What do you want to eat?"
"Something light," Remus smiled a little, thankful that Sirius wasn't brooding.
"Coming up," Sirius popped up from the chair and set about making them a meal. As he cooked, he spoke about the multitude of oddities the Weasley's had turned up during their cleaning. Old memories crept in and before long they were eating omelets and toast and laughing about their school days.
"...James didn't grow back that eyebrow for weeks," Sirius wheezed, laughing over his plate and banging his fist on the table.
Remus was holding his stomach and grinning like a fool. "He told Lily it was from a duel."
"He didn't!" Sirius gaped before bursting again. He sobered slowly and smiled sadly, "God I miss that man."
Remus nodded somberly, "Me too." He pushed the remains of his meal around the plate with his fork. A troubling memory kept coming to mind but no matter how he tried to ignore it, the thought wouldn't leave him be. He frowned harshly and dropped the fork to his plate. "Merlin, Severus," he whispered.
Sirius grimaced, "What about him?"
"Eh?" Remus' head snapped up and he blinked in surprise.
"What about Snape?" Sirius looked accusatory.
Remus sighed heavily, "Nothing." Sirius opened his mouth to ask again but Remus slammed his fists onto the table, making the dishes jump and indenting the wood. His honey-toned eyes flashed amber and he snarled, "It's nothing!"
The animagus sat very still and nodded, watching as Remus came back to himself. The wolf closed his eyes tightly and stood from the table.
"I'm sorry, Sirius," he whispered before crossing the room and shutting himself into the den.
Sirius cleared away the dishes, dropping them into the sink and running a hand down his face. He returned to the table, pushing in his chair and then Remus'. He paused to run his fingers over the dents in the wood where Remus' fists connected. Lupine strength in his human form was not unknown. Sirius could remember a scant handful of times that he had seen it.
The times before were violent angry times, not simple things like this. Directly after graduation Sirius had been cornered by a pack of Slytherin's--spurred on by his own brother and cousin. Remus had come out of nowhere. He had lifted Regulus completely over his head and thrown him bodily half a block down the street. Sirius had been bleeding and nearly unconscious but Remus had chased off the whole lot of them quickly enough in time for the animagus to grin weakly and sputter, "Brilliant," before he passed out.
Another memorable time Sirius was present for was after James and Lily's deaths. Remus had mourned quietly by himself during the day. When the night fell, the whole of the Weasley (Molly rushing to keep Bill and Charlie asleep) house woke up abruptly to a howl of rage in the garden. They watched from inside the house as Remus literally tore their maple tree out of the ground and threw it out of the yard. Afterward, the normally complacent man fell to his knees between the sweet peas and the carrots and wept.
It was only a few days later, when Sirius was accused and caught, that the lycanthrope destroyed his makeshift home with his bare hands. Albus found him the next morning laying huddled in the debris in a near coma from emotional fatigue.
Sirius put out the kitchen light and opened the den door. Remus was already asleep, still clothed and on top of his covers. The animagus sighed unhappily and left him to rest.