The morning passed quickly with the arrival of the Weasley brood. However, what mattered the most to one Sirius Black was the grinning face of Harry Potter who followed Ron into the house.
"Harry!" The animagus lept from his seat in the den and literally ran over two of the Weasley's to pick his godson up in a giant hug. The raven haired young man clutched onto his godfather for dear life, afraid to be shaken to pieces and beaming. "It's good to see you young man!"
"Thanks," Harry grinned. "It's good to see you too."
Remus stood from his seat on the opposite side of the Exploding Snap table and tugged his robe shut a little more. He nodded politely and made his way upstairs to dress. If he had known they would have so much company he would have earlier.
A bit embarrassed by the stares that followed him, he stayed in his room a few minutes extra after he dressed. Across the hall, Severus' door was shut and he could hear the man moving about inside.
"Severus?" Remus knocked lightly.
"What do you want?" Snape barked from the inside without opening his door.
"Molly and Arthur are here with the children. Would you like to come down and visit?"
The door snatched open and Snape's glowering face made Remus regret stopping to ask. "If I wanted to be annoyed beyond belief and have my IQ points lowered to a dullard degree, I would have returned to my teaching post against Albus' wishes," he hissed.
"Alright," Remus frowned. "I'm sorry for bothering you."
Severus snorted, but the look of intense irritation faded on his face to a vague look of distaste. "I'll be sure to speak to Molly before she leaves. It will give you some peace from her, at least."
The wolf smiled a little, "Thank you."
"Hnn." Snape toed the door shut none-too-gently and Remus shook his head as he returned downstairs.
"Remus!" Molly latched onto his arm as soon as he was within grabbing distance and dragged him into the kitchen. She pushed the door mostly too and gave him a very stern once over. "How are you feeling? And don't lie to me, I'm a mother of seven children, I'll know if you do."
"I'm doing better." Remus told her. The woman didn't look the least bit convinced. "Honestly, Molly. Severus has been working carefully with me. Just this morning he said things were looking up."
"Very well," Molly nodded, still clutching his hands in hers. "I believe you. Now," She eyed his mouth for a moment and then glanced up to his eyes. "What has happened to you?"
Remus felt his skin flush with color and he looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry," his stomach fell to his feet. "Should I stay upstairs until you've all gone. I forgot about it." He shook her hands off and gingerly touched at his lips. His large, overly-sharp teeth were packed tightly in his jaw. He'd forgotten about his deformity in the joy of the morning.
"Nonsense," Molly gasped. She took Remus face in her hands and forced him to look up at her. "There is nothing here to be ashamed of. You're still sick. And I'm sorry that I was so blunt," she finished softly.
Remus smiled weakly. "It's alright, Molly. Only a couple of days ago, even Tonks and Kingsley had a hard time looking at me. I don't want to frighten the children."
"Oh dear," Molly hugged him tightly. "Come on," she said sternly, dragging him from the kitchen just as easily as she had hauled him in.
The kids had all lounged about in the den, laughing and chattering with Sirius as the animagus told raucous stories to Harry. "Remus," Sirius barked out in laughter, "Come here and help me tell Harry about when James got his arm stuck in the prefect's bathroom loo!"
Remus reluctantly entered, noticing how the Weasley children quieted and elbowed each other. "I'm afraid I wasn't there for that one, Padfoot."
"Cor, professor, what happened to your face?" Ron blurted, flushing red and wincing as Hermione pinched him repeatedly for his stupidity.
"What Ronald meant to say, is that we're glad to see you up and about." Hermione smiled softly, sending a scathing glare at her friend.
"You heard I was ill then," Remus nodded, knowing that even if they hadn't heard officially, the little bushy-haired witch had probably figured it out weeks ago when they had visited Hogwart's. "I am getting better, slowly," Remus admitted. He was amazed to see that with his highly vague and short explanation that all of them seemed appeased with his presence.
"We heard Snape is sick too," Harry said suddenly. Both Sirius and Remus gazed at him in surprise.
"Professor Snape is on sabbatical, Harry," Remus amended.
"Yea, that's what we were told," Ron rolled his eyes. He leaned forward conspiratorially, ignoring the rolling eyes of Hermione. "But we saw him leaving the gate with a whole trunk behind him. He was raving mad, talking to himself and waving his arms about."
"I highly doubt your medical opinion, Mr. Weasley."
Ron blanched and sat back in his chair, slowly sinking into it like a puddle.
"I see you've come down then," Sirius frowned. Snape had paused outside of the den doorway and was looking highly irritated.
Severus sneered, "Quite obviously. Sit up, Mr. Weasley. Poor posture does not become you." The potions master turned on heel and stalked into the kitchen where Molly had returned to make tea.
Ron swallowed hard, "You didn't tell me he was here," he squeaked.
"Why is he here?" Harry muttered, eyes on the doorway just waiting for Snape to pop back in.
"He's--"
"Assisting me," Remus interrupted. He wasn't sure what Sirius was going to say, but time and trial had told him that nine times out of ten, it would not have been the proper thing to tell impressionable children.
"Professor Lupin!" Hermione gasped, palm to her mouth. She pointed with one at him but couldn't seem to gather herself enough to speak again.
The rest of the room's occupants turned to look and half a dozen sets of eyes widened. Remus looked down at himself and frowned.
"There Moony," Sirius stood from his chair and tugged his friend into the hall. "Your scar is bleeding." The animagus frowned and pushed him toward the kitchen.
Severus and Molly were sitting at the table talking quietly about something or another. "Snape!" Sirius burst out, startling Molly enough for the woman to drop her teacup.
"Sirius Black, what are you doing?" She gasped with a hand pressed to her heart.
The animagus apologized weakly and tugged Snape from his chair. "Remus is bleeding."
The annoyed look that had been on Severus' face disappeared and he turned his attention to the werewolf that stood meekly in the doorway.
"Come here, Lupin," he motioned. As soon as Remus was within reach, he tore the man's shirt open and frowned harshly. "Does it hurt?"
"No," Remus mumbled numbly. Blood trailed down his chest and began to seep in the waistband of his trousers.
"What can I do?" Molly said quickly.
"Keep the children preoccupied, the last thing we need are gawkers." Severus told her brusquely. The Weasley matriarch nodded and quickly gathered the wayward kids back into the den and had them under control.
"What's going on?" Sirius demanded, flitting about and trying to see.
"Come with me," Severus commanded, hauling Lupin behind him with his shirt tail. Sirius followed obediently. They tumbled into Snape's rooms and the potions master deposited Remus on his bed. "The sealing potion has worn off. Right now, binding the wound and stopping the blood flow would be prudent."
Without bothering with pleasantries, Snape tugged Remus shirt off completely. "Black, get something to bind this with."
"Like what?" Sirius twitched.
"Clean linen, your bathrobe, anything!" Severus barked.
Scowling but doing as he was told, Sirius bound into the hallway and rifled through the linen closet. He returned with a folded sheet. Without being told, he started to rip it into neat strips.
As Sirius set to his task, Snape bundled Lupin's shirt and pressed it to the scar tissue.
"Why?" Remus mumbled, taking hold of the bunched cloth. "I thought I was doing better?"
"You are," Severus said coolly. "Remember, the wound was always open. The elixir that was applied to it only prevented it from doing this for a time."
"Why doesn't it hurt?" Remus whispered, eyes wide in slight panic.
Snape paused to stare hard at him. "I do not know." Remus nodded, swallowing hard and turned his gaze elsewhere. "But I will find out," Severus finished quietly.
Sirius dropped an armload of linen strips beside them. "Do try not to move," Snape told Lupin. He took hold of the wolf's hand and rested it on his shoulder. Remus was surprised to find that he eagerly gripped hold of Snape's shirt collar.
Severus took one of the strips in his hands and began to expertly wrap Remus' shoulder. Before long, the whole pile of linen was gone, and Lupin's shoulder was bound tightly. Only a small spot of crimson had seeped to the outermost layer. Snape surveyed his work and nodded imperceptibly.
Remus watched the intensity on Severus' face as the wizard worked. The crease between Snape's brows remained as he was engrossed in his work. The werewolf was lost in his own thoughts once Severus had finished and didn't recognize the curious frown the wizard was giving him.
"You can release me now," Snape mumbled. Remus blinked, fingers twitching on Severus' shoulder. The potions master didn't look angry or irritated, only inquisitive. Daring to do so, only because Snape was in such a mild mood, Remus didn't take his hand directly away. He turned his hand palm up and curled his first two fingers into Snape's hair.
The darker wizard's eyes narrowed but he didn't jerk away as Remus had expected. A bit emboldened, Lupin gave him a brief flickering smile and let the strands run through his palm before he set them free.
"Do you need some help, Remus?" Sirius interrupted. The animagus was standing beside him looking mildly worried.
Startled, Remus shook his head and mentally slapped himself for forgetting that Sirius was still there. He released his hold on Snape and watched as the wizard nearly lept out of his reach and only stopped once he reached the far wall. The darker wizard was staring at him through his swaying hair and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I could use help with another shirt," Lupin stood and sighed. Sirius nodded, stalking across the hall and already burrowing through Remus' dresser. "Thank you, Severus," Remus spoke quietly. The potions master grunted and didn't so much as twitch from his spot.
Remus nodded sadly and followed Sirius to his room. Now he had estranged Snape further, and he had more gawking and questions to deal with once they returned downstairs.
...oOo...
The Weasley's were polite and careful for the rest of their visit. Hermione and Ginny had offered to retrieve everything for him and Remus was never more thankful to see them leave than later that afternoon.
"They were just trying to help, Remy," Sirius grinned, cleaning up the cups and empty cookie tins.
"I know," Remus laughed. "It's just a bit disconcerting. Every time I started to daydream one of them was asking if I was alright. I don't think I've drank so much tea in one sitting before."
"You could have told them no," The animagus laughed with him. "Just because they ask if you wanted more doesn't mean you had to say yes."
"But their faces, Sirius. I just couldn't." Remus deposited his load of dishware in the sink.
"From now on they'll treat you like a crippled old man," Sirius told him.
As they rinsed the cups and laughed with each other, Snape snuck into the kitchen behind them and minded his potions. The darker wizard had not escaped from his room since Remus' bleeding problem. Both Sirius and Remus assumed the man was doing research or just avoiding the mass of children below.
"Good afternoon, Severus," Remus smiled as he noticed the man loitering about the cauldrons.
Snape's left eye twitched and he nodded stiffly before stalking into the pantry without a word. Remus shared a worried look with Sirius and wiped noncommittally at a saucer. The potions master returned from the pantry empty handed and stood by the sideboard clenching his fists.
"Are you looking for something?"
Again, the man nodded and would not meet Remus' gaze. Instead, he glanced up at Sirius. "Do you have any Fennel seed? I appear to have run out."
Sirius shrugged. "If we did it would be in the pantry. Or maybe in this cabinet," he pointed with a dripping finger to a row of cabinets to his left.
Grunting, Snape stalked past them quickly, clasping his hands in front of him and skirting around Remus very carefully. He pushed the contents of the cabinet about, turning jars of dried herbs in his hands. At the very back in a jar with a rusty lid, he found what he was looking for.
"Thank you," he sniffed, stalking back to his potions. He dropped a few of the seeds into one of the pots and recapped the jar before stalking back out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"What's gotten into him?" Sirius murmured, shaking tea leaves from his fingertips.
Remus frowned and felt a guilty flame flicker in his stomach. "I'm not sure." Sirius paused and looked carefully at him. Remus swallowed hard and dropped his head. "I might have done... something."
"Like what?" Sirius leaned against the sink, dishes all but forgotten.
"Well, I--" Remus looked up at Sirius and sighed heavily. "Oh hell. I touched him."
"Touched... Snape..." Sirius' eyes were wide. "You mean you touched him... how did you touch him?"
"Christ Sirius not like that," Remus flushed pink. Sirius let out a relieved sigh and all but fell into the sink. "Earlier, when he wrapped my shoulder."
"Well of course you touched him, he's the fool that put your hand on his shoulder, isn't he?" Sirius snorted, as though the conversation was over and Severus was still a git.
"After that," Remus cleared his throat. "I didn't take it back right away. And I might have... stroked his hair."
"Might have?!" Sirius choked. "Don't you know?"
"I did alright!" Remus huffed, shoving a saucer roughly into the cabinet. "I wanted to know what it felt like," he admitted quietly.
"Oi, Remy," Sirius bemoaned. He returned to his cups and saucers for a few minutes in silence. "So, what was it like?"
"Eh?" Remus blinked.
"Well," Sirius elbowed him in the ribs and cocked his head toward the stairwell. "How was it?"
Scoffing, Remus returned a cup to the shelf and leaned against the counter as Sirius had done earlier. "Not as bad as it looks actually," he grinned as Sirius choked again.
"So what are we going to do with him?" Sirius wondered aloud.
"I don't know," Remus frowned, feeling guilty again.
"Maybe you should talk to him," Sirius suggested, draining the water from the sink.
"Me? But you just saw, Siri, he won't even say hello back, he won't listen to me."
Groaning, Sirius threw his head back and rubbed at his eyes. "So it's down to me is it?"
"I'm afraid so," Remus admitted. "And if you can't help him, we'll have to tell someone impartial about it to help. Like Albus."
Sirius' eyes went impossibly wide and he laughed manically. "Imagine that, Albus impartial. He'd have a bloody field day!"
Remus grimaced, "That's why you've got to do it."
"Fine," Sirius huffed, slapping his dish towel onto the counter. "I'll do it."
"Thank you, Sirius," Remus smiled softly.
The animagus melted a bit and rolled his eyes heavenward, "For you, Moony. Only for you."
Snape's door was ajar when Sirius got there. He had expected it to be shut tight, locked and triple warded. He knocked for custom's sake but entered before Severus could respond. The potions master was not sitting and reading or scratching in his notebook like Sirius had expected. Severus was standing at the grimy window with his hands behind his back, staring down through the grime at something indistinguishable.
"Snape?"
"What do you want, Black?" Severus sighed, not bothering to dredge up any spite for the animagus at the moment.
"You seem a bit off," Sirius struggled for the proper thing to say and wound up stopping there instead. Remus was always better at talks than he was.
Severus snorted. "And you've come because you're worried?"
Sirius narrowed his eyes at the amount of sarcasm Snape had packed into the single question. "In fact, I did."
The potions master turned from the window at that and leveled him with a look. Sirius resisted the urge to prickle under the stare. "What do you really want?"
Tamping on his frustration, Sirius helped himself to a seat and leaned back until he balanced on the back legs. "I want to know why you're being so distant and touchy with Remus."
Severus' face shuttered and he began to stalk from the room but Sirius kicked the door shut before the man could escape. "Come on Snape, answer. This isn't about prying into your business, it has to do with Remus and what has to do with Remy has to do with me."
"It has nothing to do with you," Severus snapped.
"No? Then tell me and prove it," Sirius crossed his arms over his chest, leg propped up to prevent Snape from making another attempt at the door.
He watched in mild interest as Snape shook as he restrained himself. After several seconds of Snape not breathing and clenching his fists, Sirius was expecting to get blown back through the wall. However, before the wizard could explode, he let out a long, slow hiss of air and deflated right before Sirius' eyes.
Severus sat down on the bed and looked out the window again. "Why does he do it?"
"Do what?" Sirius' eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Touch me, for no reason," Snape babbled. He closed his mouth tightly and clenched his fist on his lap. "Why does he touch me; like he's familiar with me?"
"That's just Remy's way of showing affection," Sirius scratched at his head. He didn't understand why it was such a big deal.
"Liar," Severus hissed.
"I am not," Sirius scowled. "In case you didn't notice, Remus doesn't just run about hugging people freely." For a reason Sirius didn't understand, Snape winced and color tinted his cheeks. "He hasn't had many people he's felt comfortable enough with. You should feel lucky he's comfortable enough with you."
"Very well," Severus said stiffly. He turned toward Sirius and frowned deeply. The color on his face deepened. "Then why me?"
"I don't know," Sirius shrugged. "If I had to guess, it's because he trusts you."
"Hnn," Snape looked out the window.
"I have a question," Sirius sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Why does it bother you?"
Severus sat rigid and glared over at Sirius, gauging whether the man was trying to toy with him. "Why should I tell you, Black?"
"You don't," Sirius shrugged. "But if I don't know, I can't help Remus leave you be. He's set in his ways you know."
The relative truth of the statement made Snape grumble. He didn't want to lay out his insecurities for people to prod at, especially Sirius Black. "The problem isn't with me, it's with Lupin."
"Fine," Sirius sighed, standing and pushing the chair back to the desk. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Hardly," Severus huffed.
"Good," Black frowned over at him, "Then stop being touchy near Remus. He's used to people thinking he's something to fear and pity without you doing the same."
Snape scowled and waved Sirius out of the room. The animagus gladly took his leave and left Severus to his own devices, hoping that Snape wouldn't remain tetchy.
...oOo...
Remus was playing solitaire at the kitchen table. He looked expectantly at Sirius as the animagus sat down and set his playing cards in a neat pile. "How did it go?"
Sirius shrugged. "Fine. It seems Snape's just being his uptight self."
"Sirius," Remus frowned. "What did he say?"
"Well, he seems awfully confused about why you want to touch him. I think he's paranoid."
A sad smile graced Remus face. "Yea, I assumed that much."
"Moony?"
"Yea, Padfoot?"
"Why do you want to touch Snape?"
Remus blushed hotly and took up his cards. He played two of them before he managed to gather his thoughts enough to answer. "It's natural to want human contact. I don't know how he's managed to stay sane so long without it. Severus intrigues me. "
"That doesn't answer my question," Sirius frowned.
"He knows what I am, Siri, and he doesn't treat me carefully. He doesn't pity me, doesn't play nice or give me false sympathy. I appreciate that more than anything." Remus lay his cards on the table again.
"So do you... want," Sirius made a face, "Snape? That way I mean?"
"I don't know," Remus admitted with a blush. "I just want him to know what it's like. He deserves to be handled like everyone else."
"I don't think I want to know this," Sirius banged his head on the table.
"You are the one that asked," Remus grinned, returning to his game. He lay out several more cards before he glanced up to see Sirius watching him play and he paused. "You deserve it too, Padfoot."
Sirius blinked in surprise and gaped a little. "Uh, thanks, Remy."
"I mean it," Remus returned to his game. "All three of us haven't had the best lot in life."
The animagus smiled over at him, "I know. And I hope you realize that if I deserve it, and Snape of all people deserves it... then so do you." Sirius levitated a tray of biscuits from the counter and took one. "You of all of us."
Remus shook his head and shuffled his cards together into a pile. He hadn't seen Sirius get up from the table or heard him as he sat down beside him.
"Moony," Sirius smiled a little.
The werewolf jumped, startled, and gave him a questioning look. Sirius took Remus' face in his hands and kissed his forehead. Remus stopped moving, the cards falling from his hands into a mess along the table.
"I mean it," Sirius said quietly. "And I promise to stop teasing you about Tonks." He brushed Remus' fringe from his face and let him go. The wolf's cheeks were pink and he was staring at the tabletop. "Whoever you want in your life, Remy, I don't care who it is, I'm with you. Alright?"
"Thanks, Padfoot," Remus smiled, daring to look up at his friend. Sirius gathered the cards together and shuffled them. Remus watched him with hooded eyes, wondering if Sirius would be alright with his decision if he decided it was the animagus he wanted.
Sirius dealt them out a hand and set the cards down on the table. "Poker then. What shall we use for ante?"
Remus grinned widely and flicked his wand toward the cabinet and then levitated himself the plate of cookies Sirius had brought to the table.
"Sweets, Remus?" Sirius laughed.
"Nope, the cookies are for me." Remus grinned as the cabinet opened and several large bottles of grain alcohol floated to the table with two clean shot glasses.
A wicked grin split Sirius face, "You do realize it's only a little past noon?"
"Yup," Remus nodded, biting a cookie in half.
Sirius barked with laughter and poured them both a shot. "Then get ready for a trouncing, Moony!"
...oOo...
"Hey, hey, hey!" Sirius howled from the kitchen. Severus slapped the quill onto his desktop and stared at the closed door again for the fifth time that hour. He didn't know what the fools were doing, but as time passed they were getting much louder.
For the past three hours, Severus had finally found the influence to start researching what was happening with Remus' shoulder. Apparently, the lack of pain wasn't something to be overly worried about. According to three of his texts, it was part of the healing. The worry over the wolf's problem eased considerably as all three of them said the same thing.
He needed to help Remus fix his teeth next. As much as he didn't want to be in the wolf's personal space anytime soon, he should probably do it sometime this evening. The revision of Lupin's hand had been a big step in his healing process. Not only was it good for Remus, but to Snape's horror, he was actually starting to find the odd beauty in the beast's transformation. It must be the dark side in him.
"Ha! Padfoot! Drink!" Remus crowed from the kitchen. Severus rolled his eyes heavenward and marked his place in the book. He opened his door and was nearly bowled over by the raucous laughter coming up the stairs.
Something shattered on the stones and both men burst into laughter again. Steeling himself for more Gryffindor stupidity, Severus stalked down the stairs and cautiously entered the kitchen.
Remus and Sirius were sitting near each other, two empty bottles of whisky were on the table on their sides, and one of them appeared to be broken to pieces on the floor. The werewolf was grinning widely as he moved his cards around, the buttons of his shirt undone to his navel. Sirius had taken his shirt completely off and was snickering as he poured more alcohol into their glasses; his long locks dangling into the glasses though neither seemed to care.
"What do you have, Moony?" Sirius grinned, leaning back in his chair.
"Three 6's," The werewolf dropped the cards onto the table for Sirius to see.
"Ha!" Sirius crowed in triumph and threw a full house onto the table. "Drink up, Moony!"
"Did I say, three 6's? I meant four," Remus grinned evilly and dropped the fourth onto the table with the first three. Sirius let out a groan and took his shot, slamming the glass onto the table.
"What are you buffoons doing?" Severus sighed, checking on his potions to make sure the idiots hadn't thrown something into them in their drunken stupor.
Remus' glowing honey eyes flew to the doorway and his surprise melted into a wide, happy smile. "Severus! Come and play with us!"
Sirius refilled his glass and waved the potions master over. "Yea, come on, come on!" Sirius stood up, wobbling dangerously for a few moments until he grabbed the side of the table. He hobbled over toward Severus and slung an arm across the man's shoulders.
Remus kicked out a chair near him for Severus to sit in. He grinned as the duo made their way to the table. More like Sirius dragging Snape. Even with the glowering, the two of them mashed together made for a temptation Remus had a hard time ignoring.
"I refuse to play this infantile game with either of you," Snape huffed as Sirius pushed him down into the chair.
"That's only because you don't know how to play," Sirius chuffed in the man's ear.
"We'll teach you," Remus supplied helpfully, glaring a bit as Sirius clung to Snape a little longer than necessary. Finally the animagus left the potions master alone when he knew Snape wasn't going to run off.
"First," Sirius spouted, holding his glass high and mucking up the word so that it sounded more like 'fusht', "you must take a shot for ante!" The animagus grinned and downed his shot, letting the air out with a hiss.
Remus followed suit quickly and looked expectantly at Snape. "Come on, at least give it a try."
"I would," Severus huffed, "had I a glass."
Nodding his head, Remus refilled his own and passed it over. "You can share mine," he grinned.
Severus took the glass and eyed them both skeptically before drinking. It was the worst quality liquor he had ever had the privilege to try. "This is disgusting."
Sirius snickered and refilled the glass again, only managing to spill a little. "It gets better as you go," he promised with a wink.
Remus dealt their cards and scooted a bit closer to help Severus figure his hand. The potions master shied back from the proximity, barely understanding what it was he was supposed to do. "Get it?"
"No," he told the wolf bluntly. Remus frowned and cocked his head to one side. He smirked at Severus and pointed at each card in his hand, "Keep that one, that one and that one. Throw those in that pile there."
Remus returned to his own hand and waited patiently for Sirius to pick up his cards that he had dropped on the floor. He then dealt them their seconds and slapped his hand on the table. "Bust," he sighed, swallowing his drink and leaning into Snape's space again to see.
"Here!" Sirius laughed, "Two jacks!"
Remus smirked, grabbing hold of Severus wrist and drawing the man's whole arm across the table. "Read 'em and weep, Padfoot!"
"How does he get a straight on his first hand of poker... ever!" Sirius was indignant even as he swallowed down the whisky and refilled his glass. "You know," he pointed between the two of them, "I think you dealt him that."
"I did not!" Remus huffed, taking Snape's cards from his fingers and pushing the pile at Sirius. "I dealt that fair."
"Did not," Sirius pouted, "you dealt him that cause you like him. Don't deny it, Moony! It's not fair to play favorite's!"
Remus turned two shades of red and threw the remaining cards in his hand at the animagus. "I am not!"
Severus looked between the two of them, making a mental note never to get drunk with them. Or to be around them this drunk ever again. He followed the odd conversation with no small amount of surprise. Remus didn't refute to liking him, only that he did not cheat.
"I think that you have been playing too long," he told them both. He levitated the remaining bottles to the cupboard and locked it.
"Hey!" Sirius pouted, trying to catch the bottles as they floated and fell into the closed cupboard.
"Lupin," Severus rubbed at his temples, "I was hoping to help you with your mandible problem, but you are in no condition."
"I am," Remus pleaded, grabbing hold of Snape's arm. "I can do it, just trust me."
"It is not a matter of trust," Severus supplied, warily eyeing the animagus as the man grew eerily quiet after so long being loud. "You do not have the constitution."
"Please," Remus pouted, glowing eyes wide and wet.
Severus sighed heavily and extracted himself from Lupin's clutch. "Lean forward into the light," he commanded. Remus instantly obeyed, moving too quickly and nearly falling into Snape's lap. Regretting his decision, Severus took hold of Lupin's face turned it carefully so that the light illuminated his mouth. "Open," he demanded.
Remus nodded, barely breathing. Severus was concentrating on his mouth, that little moue of intense thought on his lips. It was one of the most endearing things he had seen. He opened his mouth slowly, watching Snape's expression and unconsciously licked his lower lip, sweeping it across one of Severus' thumbs.
Snape chose to ignore what happened and instead examined the teeth in Lupin's mouth. "Do you remember what I told you when you fixed your hand?" Remus began to speak and Severus tightened his grip. "Just shake your head yes or no." The werewolf nodded slowly. "Good. Remember what it was like, and try to revert. Feel it."
The lycan nodded again and narrowed his eyes in concentration. It was much harder to remember what it was like during reversion. Slowly, he could feel the pressure increase in his jaw as his teeth began to shift. He grunted as the bones began to twist and move. Severus' pleased face was the only thing that kept him on track.
"Good, Lupin," Snape muttered. "Very good."
A tingle of pleasure flushed through his skin at the praise and Remus tried harder. The pain grew and blood began to pool in his mouth. He felt a little panicked but Snape seemed to sense it and the hands on his face smoothed across his cheeks.
"Concentrate."
Remus nodded, clenching his eyes shut and wished that it was finished. An agonizing thirty seconds passed and the pain ceased. He opened his eyes, blurred with pain-tears and saw Severus smiling that little quirky smile again.
"You can spit that out or swallow it, I don't care which."
Color fled to Remus' face at the innuendo and he swallowed the bloody saliva in his mouth. He allowed Severus to tug his jaw open and look again at his teeth. The potions master looked content. Remus brought his own hands to his face and touched. The bulk of the large incisors was gone.
"I did it," he breathed.
"You did," Severus smirked, wiping his hands on his pants. "I'm not sure how to help your eyes..." Severus frowned in thought, staring straight into Lupin's gaze.
The wolf shivered at the intense stare. "Why not?"
"It isn't quite the same as bony structure," Severus supplied in his professor's voice. "I would have a similar problem had you retained wolf ears." He suddenly stood and Remus nearly fell out of his seat. He didn't realize he had leaned into Snape's space quite that much.
The potions master put out the flames from beneath his cauldrons after checking them carefully. He disappeared into the pantry for some jars and returned, ladling them full and stoppering them with cork.
Sirius had returned to his seat and he and Remus watched Snape move about. Once the potions master had finished, he set all he brewed into a box and set it aside on the counter. The dark wizard didn't spare them another glance and disappeared back into his room.
Sirius and Remus both stared at the spot where he had gone. "Cor, Remy," Sirius breathed. The werewolf looked over at him, waiting for him to finish. "I think I get it."
"Get what?" Remus asked, confused.
"I get what you see," Sirius looked shell-shocked. "He looked... he seemed..."
"Human," Remus finished. He grinned over at his friend and nodded. "And edible."
Sirius made a disgusted face and dropped his head to the table. "Yea... that too."
"Let's follow him," Remus smirked, feeling mischievous.
"Yea?" Sirius grinned. It was rare that Remus broke the rules, but when the lycan did, much fun ensued.
"Yea," Remus nodded again, standing up and dragging Sirius with him to the stairs.
It took them five minutes to climb twenty-three steps. They stumbled, fell down a few, sat for a break and nearly broke the banister. By the time the made it to the top, they were sure Severus knew they were coming.
"What do you fools want?" Severus growled. He was sitting back to them at his desk, and still he knew they were there to pester him.
"You," Remus blurted, covering his mouth and looking horrified. "You to, uh, to play your violin." He recovered quite nicely for being three-quarters tanked. Sirius snickered and dropped sloppily onto Snape's immaculately made bed.
"That isn't going to happen, so you can leave now." Severus snapped.
"Why not?" Sirius groaned, rolling onto his stomach and hanging half off of the bed to rummage beneath it. He got hold of the violin case and pulled it a whole two inches before Severus grabbed him by the hair and hauled him up.
"Do not touch," Severus hissed into his ear.
"Fine, fine!" Sirius yowled, prying Snape's fingers from his hair. He fell back to the bed roughly as soon as he was free and scowled.
"Please, Severus?" Remus pouted. The werewolf sat down next to Sirius on the bed and stared up at the potions master.
Three long minutes Severus stared back unmoving. He finally growled and pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you promise to leave directly after--"
"I promise! We promise!" Remus interrupted, nearly bouncing.
The case came from beneath the bed easily. Severus opened it and ran his hands carefully across the smooth wood within. A sad, wistful smile twisted on his face and he pulled the violin free. It was like he had forgotten he had company.
The instrument snuggled neatly beneath his chin. Carefully, he bent his fingers around the neck and set the bow to the strings. He played slowly, very shakily and stopped. The violin was back in the case a moment later and Severus was bent over it, breathing heavily.
"Are you alright?"
Snape jumped in his skin. He had forgotten the duo was there. "I--fine." He lied.
"You don't have to play," Remus soothed, walking cautiously toward him. Sirius nodded, sitting up on the bed and actually attempting to smooth the wrinkles he had made.
"Could I...?" Sirius came up behind the potions master and motioned idly at the violin. He couldn't help it. He was mostly drunk and intrigued as hell with the instrument.
Snape sent him a scathing glare.
Sirius shrunk in on himself and nodded, "Right... Sorry."
Something seemed to release in Severus and he bit his lips before taking the violin back out of the case. He offered it over to Sirius, fingers twitching as the animagus took it. Sirius, even inebriated, understood the ramifications of what had happened. He cradled the instrument carefully and tucked it under his chin like Severus had done.
Snape watched the awe on Sirius' face and felt his insides twist. He had seen himself in the animagus' moments ago; hurt, confused, even flinching. If Black had acted as he did, that meant he had become his father. It was with disgust and hatred that he realized he had been bitter and cruel over something so simple.
"Here," Severus croaked, offering Sirius the bow. The animagus' blue eyes went impossibly wide.
"I don't know how to play. I wouldn't dream of--"
"It's not so difficult." Severus turned the animagus and stepped behind him, he curled his fingers over Sirius' and gripped the man's other wrist to raise the bow. Sirius stared in shock at Remus. The werewolf smiled gently and shrugged.
"Now, press these strings," Severus curled Sirius fingers down. Sirius concentrated as best he could; he would never be allowed this luxury from Snape again. "Lightly, draw the bow across the strings starting at the bottom of the bow."
Sirius clamped the instrument tighter beneath his chin as Severus snugged up behind him. He could feel the man's chest pressed tight to his back and Snape's chin rested on his shoulder. Carefully he drew the bow across and laughed lightly as the violin played a very light and simple melody.
"Let me," Severus paused in the thought, stepping back and giving Sirius his space. "Let me see."
The animagus passed the instrument back and returned to Remus side on the bed. The wolf leaned into him and smiled. He and Remus watched Severus take several deep breaths--eyes clenched shut--and place the violin back under his chin.
This time, when Severus began to play, he played. The notes were sweet and wrenching. Never outside of potion brewing had they seen the man so engrossed in what he was doing. They could tell he was no longer with them as half way through, the man lost his usual cool composure and played hard enough to make his hair fly about his head.
The song ended on a long, low note and Snape stayed poised with the bow resting on the strings, and his eyes were closed.
"That was amazing," Remus sighed happily.
Snape blinked his eyes a few times and returned the violin to its case as though he hadn't just played his heart out.
"Snape, you're bleeding," Sirius pointed out.
Severus paused and curled his fingers, hissing and swearing under his breath. He went into his bathroom and held his hand over the sink as blood dripped slowly from the soaked bandages. Sirius stumbled after him to help.
"I can do this on my own, Black," Snape grumbled, peeling the wrap off and tossing it into the garbage. Sirius made a rude noise and ignored the glare Severus sent him.
Just as they had done repeatedly, Severus cleaned it and Sirius wrapped it without a hitch. When the animagus returned to Snape's room he began to laugh and waved Severus over. Remus had lain down and fallen asleep on Snape's bed.
"Come on Remy," Sirius prodded at him.
The lycan groaned and rolled over. He latched onto Sirius' arm and used the man as a post to cling to as he got up. Now that the wolf had slowed down, the amount of alcohol he had consumed was catching up to him.
"Little help, Snape?" Sirius pleaded. Remus was swaying a bit and though Sirius could have handled it, he himself was three sheets to the wind.
With a long suffering sigh, Severus looped Remus' arm over his shoulders and the two of them managed to shuffle out of the door sideways. Remus groaned and staggered along with them.
"If I have to dump out the entire contents of alcohol in this house, so help me I will," he threatened.
The three of them sat as one on the edge of the bed and Severus let go. Remus, however, did not. "Lupin," he threatened.
"Severus," Remus hissed in a sigh. The wolf laughed to himself like he had told a great joke and finally let the man go.
Sirius helped him roll to the center of the bed and fell across him as he lost his balance. Snape watched bemused from the entryway. "Remy, help me up," Sirius mumbled through the pillow. The wolf giggled and pushed him with one arm. The animagus all but flew off of the bed and landed in a strange heap in a chair.
"You are both utterly helpless," Snape smirked. Sirius stood and shook a blanket across Remus' already dozing form and followed Snape into the hall.
"You should have seen him when we were still in school. He still had his strength then," Sirius barked hard laughter at the strange look Severus gave him. "You're alright when I'm drunk," he confided.
Snape snorted and watched Sirius stumble down the hall, bouncing off of one wall and ricocheting into another. Feeling a sense of pity and odd peace from earlier, he walked behind the man and took hold of his upper arm tightly.
Sirius grinned like a fool as he led him to bed. The animagus fell onto his back in the mess of blankets and sighed deeply. "Remy's right about you," he smiled up at Snape.
"Indeed." Severus ignored him, turning about to leave without the pleasantries of covering the man as he had done for Remus. The wizard shut the door solidly behind him and Sirius sat laughing lightly.
"You'll get yours, Snape!" He yelled after him. He didn't know if Severus heard him or not, but he meant it. If it took he and Remus to hold the man down, he'd get a thorough snogging before he left the house again.
...oOo...
During the rest of the early evening, Severus was able to do some decent research in the silence. Remus was now nearly healed. The problems with the lycanthrope, however, were not over. All that had happened to date were to make the man strong enough for what was to come. His body was whole, but his soul was still separate. He still needed to get in touch with his inner wolf.
Around eleven, the pain of his hand kept him sidetracked, and due to his own fear and injury he changed topics. Everything he read was not calming. Some said there was no other option than infection, others said it was fifty-fifty. Apparently he was going to agonize about it until the next full moon.
One of the Gryffindors was not feeling well. He could hear them groaning pitifully through the walls. He was going to silence his room and ignore it, but if the ill person turned out to be Remus, he could be setting back his healing.
With an irritated grunt, Snape rummaged through his bathroom cabinet and removed two vials of hangover cure. When he stepped into the hall, it was apparent that both of the Gryffindors were having problems.
Remus was his main concern, so Severus went there first. Lupin was on his side, facing away from the door. He had removed his shirt at some point and toed off his shoes.
"Lupin." Severus didn't bother trying to quiet his voice. The wolf flinched and moaned, pressing a pillow over his head. With a smirk, Snape entered and moved around the bed. Remus cracked open one eye and glared up at him.
Popping the cork out, Snape held the vial down toward Lupin. "Drink this."
The lycan struggled to sit up, clutching his head in one hand and pushing with the other. He took the bottle and drank the contents without bothering to ask what it was. The lines of pain around his eyes and mouth smoothed out and he sighed deeply. "Thank you, Severus."
Honey eyes blinked in the dark, glowing faintly. Suddenly, Snape didn't think Lupin should revert his eyes at all.
"Are you all right?" Remus asked quietly.
"Hmm?"
"You haven't gone yet," the wolf smiled slightly.
Sirius let out a wet retch and both Snape and Lupin winced. "That would be my cue," Severus growled.
He had burst into Sirius' rooms, wincing at the smell of bile and rolled his eyes.
"Here, Padfoot," Remus shuffled in behind him, brandishing his wand and clearing the mess away. The wolf crawled up onto the bed beside his friend and pushed his scraggly hair from his face.
Severus watched them quietly through hooded eyes as he uncorked the second bottle. It was a strange stab of jealousy at the sight that brought him out of it and stalked across the room.
"Black," Snape smirked as Sirius, too, winced at his volume. "Drink."
Remus helped Sirius with his potion, propping the animagus up against him and helping him hold the vial and not drop it. Sirius sighed happily as the lightly minted taste rolled across his tongue and cooled the alcohol that fueled his illness. He relaxed against Remus and nearly fell right to sleep.
The werewolf laughed softly and shifted until he was comfortable. When he reached for the blanket at their feet, he realized Severus was still standing beside them. In the dark, it was hard to gauge what exactly was etched on the potions master's face, but it looked remarkably like envy and muted pain.
"Severus?" Remus paused, turning his face up and trying to see better. Snape blinked, and the emotion was masked quickly.
"Good night, Lupin," he said stiffly, walking quickly from the room and shutting the door softly behind him.
"What wuzzat?" Sirius mumbled, turning on his side and clumsily curling an arm around Remus' waist.
"I don't know, Padfoot," Remus sighed, "but I think we may have mucked up again."