Chapter Thirteen – Remus Lupin, Whom Severus Always Despised

When Remus was bitten as a young child, he couldn't understand the seriousness of what had happened to him. Remus couldn't understand why his father suddenly pushed him away, why he suddenly couldn't look Remus in the eye. At the young age of five, Remus didn't understand that being a werewolf outcasted him as nothing more than a beast in wizarding society.

And with each passing month, came the full-moon that brought him nothing but pain, blood and horrors that stripped him of his childhood innocence.

Remus' father began to teach him that he wasn't a normal boy. He had to close off his emotions, control the thing inside him. And Remus hated it. He couldn't understand why he had to listen to his father's lectures and rules, Remus was so young. He only wanted his father's love. And at age eleven, Remus once thought that by going to Hogwarts and receiving top marks in his classes could change their relationship, but it never did….

And now, as Remus laid on that cellar floor with his father's voice in his head:

Never lose control. Never give into the wolf inside.

Remus finally began to understand what he couldn't as a young child. His mother was always able to still see past the werewolf and love Remus, but his father was never able to. He always saw the monster Remus held inside. The monster he was capable of being. His father tried his best to protect Remus in his own way, but fate still landed him in that cellar, broken and monstrous, a murderer of children just like Fenrir Greyback.

His father's words were ringing in Remus' head as he slowly came back to the world. He opened his eyes to blurry faces and colors, with no idea where he was or that his body was covered in blood. All Remus knew was the excruciating pain. Pain so intense, Remus thought he was dying.

"Remus, look at me."

It was a voice belonging to a blurry face above him. Remus squinted his eyes, trying to get a closer look, but his head began to pound and his vision grew dark. Remus couldn't hold on much longer. He closed his heavy eyes again, giving into the darkness that called him.

.

.

This time Remus wasn't just plagued by memories of his childhood and of his father, but of nightmares... Nightmares of wolves, blood, killing and pain. It took over his mind and spirit. Remus had no idea who he was anymore. Nothing else existed, and he was just this floating and lifeless ball of energy.

.

.

Remus opened his eyes again. This time he was alone and the night sky could be seen from the tiny window above. Remus briefly wondered how much time had passed before mentally assessing his body, but it was no use figuring out where the pain was coming from. It was everywhere. Remus curled up into a ball. He had no idea what happened to Kaylie, had no idea if she was alive, the cellar reeked of her blood and fear.

I killed her… a small voice in Remus' mind whispered. I killed my friend's daughter… And Remus wished for death to just come and take him. Closing his eyes tight, he waited for the darkness, but all Remus saw was Kaylie's young face, Johnathan Porter's angry gaze, and the disappointed and cold hazel eyes of his father.

His father who'd always told Remus to never lose control. Never become the monster deep inside him. And Remus failed him… His father was right, he was always right…. He saw what Remus was, and he'd trusted Remus to obey, to control himself…he had failed him….

I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry… Remus mentally repeated over and over until the darkness finally came back for him.

"Just hold on a little longer, Moony..."

"Wake up, you bloody beast!"

Greyback watched Remus Lupin open his eyes briefly before closing them again, he was able to see that they were unfocused and glazed over with fever. Greyback could feel the blazing heat from the infection raging through his bloodstream, coming off of Remus' body in waves. It caused the room to become warm and stifling, paired with the scents of sweat, sickness and blood.

"Get up!" Dolohov shouted again.

The traitorous wolf only groaned.

"Lupin's as good as dead now." Dolohov smirked, looking to Greyback for their next course of action.

Greyback smiled sadistically at his son who was laying broken and beaten on the floor.

This was perfect... Remus Lupin was now broken enough to reveal the information he had of Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. This would bring glory to Greyback and his kind from the Dark Lord. And once the Dark Lord was done with Remus, his son would be forever his….

"Dolohov, summon the Dark Lord," Greyback ordered happily. "We're about to learn the secrets of Albus Dumbledore and his little Phoenix club."

Dolohov wasted no time in summoning the Dark Lord. He lifted up his sleeve and pointed his wand to his Dark Mark. The Dark Mark shuddered and grew darker on his skin.

"And now, we wait," Greyback laughed as he knelt down, running his filthy fingers with yellow long nails through dirty and matted golden-hair.

"You think you're in pain now, son? Just wait until our Dark Lord arrives. He knows magic that you've never dreamed of. Horrors, you've never imagined in your life. And after he deals with you, you'll be mine!"

.

.

It was reaching nightfall as the werewolves and Death Eaters around the camp waited in apprehension for their Dark Lord to arrive. Greyback paced on the porch of the little run-down cottage, full of suppressed excitement. He couldn't wait to hear the screams of his traitorous son.

A loud pop suddenly rang throughout the clearing, the Dark Lord was the only one who could Apparate through the wards that protected the camp.

Greyback tried to suppress his shudders of horror and excitement as the dark-robed wizard walked nearer to him, until he was standing right in front of him.

"Tell me, Greyback, why have I been summoned? I've told you to not bother me, unless it's something important!" Red snake-like eyes glared down at him.

"It's of the utmost importance, My Lord. I'll explain why I've summoned you here on the way to our cellar."

As they made their way down to the cellar, Greyback explained, "I've recently just got a new batch of werewolves to train. You'll be pleased to know who I've found, he can be valuable to us. He has information about Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. All we have to do is get the information out of him, something that you might even enjoy, My Lord."

Lord Voldemort only glared at him. Greyback had no idea if he was pleased or not. He could only hope the Dark Lord was, because if not… Greyback didn't want to think about his fate.

"Let's just say I left the fun part for you," Greyback growled as he opened the door.

He didn't dare look at Lord Voldemort's face as the dark wizard took in the scene. A dirty and stinking cellar with a prisoner chained to the floor, looking like death had taken him already.

"Ahhh… Well done, Greyback. I see you've captured Remus Lupin. Albus Dumbledore's pet! And, I see you had fun with him already," Lord Voldemort hissed in a slithery tone as he walked around the unconscious prisoner, quietly observing. He moved Remus' head gently with the tip of his foot smiling sadistically.

"Wake him," the Dark Lord ordered.

Greyback signaled to the waiting Death Eaters at the door to wake up their prisoner. He hoped the mutt would finally give in and reveal the precious information... This could change everything... This would make them one step ahead of Albus Dumbledore.

"Wake up, werewolf!" Macnair kicked the prisoner.

"Rennervate!" Dolohov yelled, pointing his wand at Lupin.

The werewolf's eyes snapped open. Greyback could see they still had that glazed feverish look. He growled under his breath. The sickness had completely taken hold of Lupin. He won't be in his right mind. That was either good or bad because Lupin might reveal the information without a fight, but if the sickness ravaged his mind badly enough, he might not remember it at all.

The Dark Lord wasted no time at all to torture Lupin. "Crucio!" he yelled.

Lupin screamed in pain and writhed his body, trying to curl up and escape from it. Greyback couldn't help but smile at his son's screams.

After a few moments of Lupin being under the Cruciatus Curse, Lord Voldemort finally lifted it. Kneeling down to the prisoner, he whispered in a soft crooning voice, "Tell me, Remus Lupin, where are the headquarters to Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix? Where is the old fool keeping Harry Potter?"

Lupin turned away his feverish eyes from the Dark Lord. He was breathing heavily, sweat was pouring down his face. "No…" he mumbled. "Don't make me forget, please…."

"I've seen you've done a job on this one, Greyback! This wolf isn't even sane enough to reveal the information!"

The Dark Lord was furious as he subjugated Greyback under the Cruciatus Curse.

Greyback screamed in pain. Then the curse was finally lifted.

"Call Severus," Voldemort hissed to Dolohov and Macnair, both left immediately to follow orders. "Call him! We shall use Veritaserum on Dumbledore's favorite werewolf!"

Severus Apparated in front of a small run-down cottage. The first thing he'd noticed was the strength of the wards around him, this place was heavily guarded. He looked around and noticed the werewolves all training or standing around in groups.

What is this place?

Greyback stepped out of the cabin, Macnair and Dolohov at his side. He had a maniac gleam to his red eyes and a sadistic smile on his scarred face.

"Ah, Snape, I hope you have some Veritaserum with you."

"A Potions Master always arrives prepared..."

To prevent information coming out, Severus made sure to always bring his own Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion. Only a truly gifted Potions Master would be able to tell with one glance at the vial that Severus had spiked his own brew, which caused the drinker's mind to create a false image in their head, making them believe it was the truth. Therefore, the drinker would be forced to say the false images when investigated.

It was the safest way for Severus to prevent important information from leaking out, keeping the Order and Harry safe from the Dark Lord.

"I'll lead you to the Dark Lord and our prisoner," Greyback growled. "Follow me."

Severus did just that, wondering who the prisoner was.

It could be Lupin….

Severus right away began to form a plan of escape. If Lupin was here with Greyback and the Dark Lord, there was no knowing how bad his condition might be.

Greyback led Severus to a dark and foul-smelling cellar with a stone floor that was covered with scattered bits of straw, with stone walls that had chains attached to the furthest one. There was a rusted tin bucket in the furthest right corner, and Severus figured out where most of the smell was coming from. He wrinkled his nose in disgust, trying not to inhale the horrid stench. There was one small window high above that despite the cool breeze flowing in, it provided little relief. It didn't have a windowpane and it was small enough that one could only fit their head through it. A soft glow of moonlight was filtering through the window and Severus followed its soft glow to a small emancipated figure on the floor.

Severus frowned as he took a closer look.

And to his horror, his suspicions were confirmed. The broken figure that he was seeing was Remus Lupin.

Remus Lupin, that quiet bookworm at Hogwarts. The Marauder who Severus obsessed about, once he'd grown suspicious of Lupin's disappearances. Remus Lupin who became a werewolf every full-moon, who'd almost killed him in their sixth year of Hogwarts. Remus Lupin, the clever one in Potter's little gang, who'd never joined in on their bullying of Severus, yet never stopped his friends. The mastermind behind most of Potter's and Black's stupid pranks. Remus Lupin… Lily's favorite Marauder. Remus Lupin, whom Severus always despised.

Remus Lupin who was deathly pale, covered in blood and chained to the wall by a metal collar around his neck like a dog. His golden hair was a dirty tangle. His neck and wrists had deep, serious-looking burns that were a furious red, showing signs of infection. Wounds covered his whole body. And Severus could see from the way Lupin was breathing, that his ribs must be broken. Severus could feel the heat from Lupin's high fever as soon as he stepped into the cellar, and the stench became highly overpowering.

Trying his best to not vomit, Severus tried to keep his mind blank by Occluding even more. But then… He noticed the brand on Lupin's chest.

Werewolf:

Classified Dark Creature

Fury swept over Severus, fast and powerful. He didn't even know where it came from, and he fought with all he had to keep his body language and face relaxed. He mustn't give away his true loyalties right now. Not now, if he wanted to get Lupin out of there safely.

"Ah, Severus, glad you could join us," the Dark Lord hissed, once he noticed Severus standing in the shadows.

"I assume there is no need to introduce you to our prisoner. I know you've known him at school. This beast is one of James Potter's old friends, is he not?"

"Yes, my Lord," Severus pulled out the Veritaserum from his robes. "I brought you your potion, shall we get on with it?"

"Yes, of course, Severus, you were never one for wasting time. You may administer the potion to him now."

Severus knelt down in front of Lupin, so that his body was blocking them from the eyes of the Dark Lord and Greyback. He pushed the hair out of Lupin's eyes, which fluttered open. His bloodshot hazel-green eyes were tinged with gold. The eyes of the wolf. Severus could still feel the fear he'd once felt after Black and Potter had played that terrible, idiotic prank on him. He forced himself to not think about that right now. This was no time to be thinking about old school grudges.

"Drink this, Lupin," Severus murmured. "It will take away your pain."

Severus hoped the small lie would reassure Lupin to drink the potion, but instead, Lupin's eyes gave him a terrified look.

"No, no!" Lupin muttered and turned his head away. "I don't want to forget…no!"

"Lupin, this won't take away your memories! Now drink this!" Severus hissed.

Lupin shut his lips tight. Tears started to pour down his cheeks. The sight of Lupin actually crying took Severus off guard. It scared him deeply. Lupin was always the sensible one of the Marauders. The one who always kept it together. Always level-headed. Always too proud to admit how hurt or tired he was after each full-moon. And now, to see this broken man crying in front of him, it was just terrible and scary to witness.

Severus wasn't even sure what made him do it. He placed his hand on Lupin's face, gently wiping the tears away as he whispered, "Do this for me, Lupin. Drink this, and I promise you'll be safe."

Lupin opened his eyes. They were so clouded with confusion, Severus doubted that Lupin even knew who he was.

"Trust me, Lupin," Severus whispered.

The wolf briefly looked at Severus. In that second, Severus suddenly felt overwhelmed with the pain and fear in his eyes. Lupin closed his eyes once more, taking a few deep breaths before finally opening his mouth. Wasting no time, Severus immediately poured a few drops of the Veritaserum Potion inside the werewolf's lips, along with a few drops of a Mors Somono Draught.

In three minutes time, Lupin would fall back to sleep. His heart rate would stop, making the Dark Lord and Greyback believe their prisoner had died.

Severus then stood up and said quietly, "You can start your interrogation, My Lord."

"State your name, beast!" The Dark Lord nudged Lupin's side hard with his foot.

"Remus John Lupin," Lupin said hoarsely.

"How old were you when you were bitten by Fenrir Greyback?"

"Five years old."

"Who are you loyal to?

"Albus Dumbledore."

"Where are the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix located?"

If the spiked Veritaserum Potion worked as Severus intended, it would place a false image in Lupin's mind, making him believe it was the truth.

"The Order disbanded after the death of Sirius Black. Dumbledore has locked himself in his office at Hogwarts. No one knows what he's planning to do or what his next move will be." Lupin's voice was robotic and hoarse.

"Tell me the whereabouts of Harry Potter."

"No one knows where the boy is. Dumbledore moved him to a secret location."

"And not one person knows about this location?"

Lupin's eyes closed and his breathing became shallower. It seemed as if his body could only take so much.

"No..." Lupin only managed to gasp, before passing out.

"That was bloody useless," Severus snarled.

"No, it was not. The Order of the Phoenix disbanded. That means Albus Dumbledore has given up," the Dark Lord laughed. He suddenly turned to Severus with his wand raised. "Diffindo!"

Severus felt a cut open on his cheek. He barely managed to not grunt in pain, keeping his shields up.

"You're spying on the old coot, are you not, Severus? Why couldn't you tell me this information before?"

"My Lord," Severus said hoarsely.

"Crucio!"

Severus knelt to the floor, trying not to scream. Everything hurts! Nothing existed but pain!

After a long two minutes, the spell was lifted.

"My Lord, Dumbledore has gotten suspicious of me. As soon as I heard the news of Black's death, I've been laying low."

The Dark Lord knelt down and looked straight into his eyes. Severus knew what he was doing. He was using Legilimency to see if Severus was telling the truth. Severus threw up his shield with all his might, creating false images of himself laying low, lying to Albus...

"Very well, Severus," the Dark Lord hissed.

Greyback knelt down and checked Lupin's pulse. "Lupin is dead, My Lord."

"That doesn't surprise me," The Dark Lord hissed, stepping forward with his dark robes sweeping the cellar floor. He knelt down and cradled Lupin's cheek with his hand. "Remus Lupin was always a weak half-breed. I expected nothing more from him."

Severus had no idea why the sight of the Dark Lord caressing Lupin's face like that made his stomach twist in anger or the fact that he called Lupin a weak half-breed. Maybe it was because Severus knew Lupin was made of stronger stuff. He was stronger than every damn werewolf or Death Eater in this place!

"Severus!"

Severus cringed in pain... The Dark Lord had sent a silent cutting spell on his face again.

"I want you to take Lupin's body back to his beloved master. Let's see what Albus Dumbledore thinks when he sees his beloved pet dead at my hands," the Dark Lord laughed cruelly before leaving the cellar.

Greyback stood in front of Lupin's body and growled, "Over my dead body you're taking Lupin! He's mine!"

In a flash, Severus shouted, "Incarcerous!"

The werewolf was suddenly tied up by a thick rope. He struggled and growled, gnawing at the rope viciously. He had no time to play games with Greyback! No time to waste. The Mors Somono draught in Lupin's system was going to wear off soon and Severus didn't want to still be in the cellar when it did.

However, despite the circumstances, Severus couldn't believe his luck! He was given a free reign to take Lupin to Hogwarts without a fight or raise suspicion that he was a spy for Albus Dumbledore.

Severus knelt down near Lupin and brushed his matted hair out his eyes. Severus' hand then traveled down Lupin's cheek and onto the thick metal collar. He waved his wand, making the collar disappear, revealing burnt flesh around Lupin's neck, just like the burns on his wrists. All of them were swollen and the color of an angry red, crusted with dried blood. They smelled horrible, and Severus could guess they were the source of the infection, causing the feverish heat coming off his body in stifling waves.

Severus just hoped Madam Pomfrey was a good enough healer to fix Lupin up. He didn't know what he would do if Harry lost another of his father's friends.

Just hang on, Lupin. Don't you dare bloody die or I swear I'm going to go after you and pull you back down to earth! There's a teenage boy who needs you! Severus thought. He didn't dare say those words out loud for the tied up Greyback to hear.

Suddenly footsteps were heard and Severus instantly covered Lupin's body with his own.

A skinny, tall man with glasses opened the cellar door, he was carrying a young girl….

Severus looked at him trying to understand what he was seeing.

The man looked hesitantly at the tied up, growling Greyback, as he laid the girl next to Lupin. "She's dead. Take her out of here, so she can be buried," he whispered.

Out of Greyback's line of sight, the man gave a small wink. Severus looked down at the girl to see her faintly breathing. She was alive! The healer was just trying to keep her safe from Greyback!

"Who are you?" Severus asked.

"I'm the healer in this camp, my name is Matthew Chase. Kaylie was a close friend of mine. So please, just take her out of here!"

Suddenly footsteps were heard.

"There's no time to explain! You must take her with you! Dumbledore knows who she is!"

"I can't Apparate with both of them!"

"Here, take this! The wards are down because of You-Know-Who, so you can use this as a portkey!"

Severus took the object, an empty potions flask.

"Portus," Severus whispered.

Severus put the girl's cold hand on the portkey along with Lupin's blazing hot one. And as he felt the familiar pull from the portkey around his navel, the last thing Severus heard were Greyback's howls of rage. The next thing he knew, Severus was falling in front of the gates of Hogwarts, along with Kaylie and Lupin.

A special thanks to girlyninja for sending me a message to update as soon as possible. It cheered me up a lot and it helped me get back on my feet with this story. So thank you so much!

Review Responses!

GunsFallSilent: sorry :( I made sure not to do that in this chapter.. there might still be some.. I honestly never noticed that. Thanks for informing me. I hope you liked my story still.

Jamage: Yeah things are starting to go well, Sev is finally breaking down Harry's walls. Thanks for your review! I'm always looking forward to them.

SevHarry: ha-ha, okay, I'm proud then! ;) And I'm glad you're enjoying my story.. I hope Harry and Remus will be okay! But I think I know ha-ha

Anonymous: I do that too, when I'm reading a really good fanfic and then I start crying when there is no more to read and the writer hasn't updated in years. For example, An Aunt's Love... *sigh*... you have to check that story out. Trust me you'll fall in love with it and really cry when you finish, cus she updates once in every 100 years! Also, I'm so glad you're enjoying my story. It makes me happy that people out there are still reading lol

Merlins-Wolf: Thank you soo much! :D