Pen Name: StarrAngelofNarnia
Team Name: Those Who Wander
Category: Drabble
Prompt: (action) Hitting your head
Rating: T
Warning: mentions of injuries and blood
WC: 987
Author's Note: AU established Snupin
Severus sighed from the top of the stairs as he watched his love thrash around the basement of their shared home. Did the dunderhead believe he had spent months of his time concocting a potion that could prevent the harsh symptoms of phasing for the fun of it?
Remus Lupin had suffered from Lycanthropy since he was a child. And Severus knew from their schooling just how dangerous phasing could be. As a human, Remus was soft and sweet, if not sometimes painfully shy and non-confrontational. But as a wolf, he lost sight of himself and his right mind. Or perhaps that wasn't even the right way of putting it. True, when coming to after the full moon, he hardly remembered anything that had happened during the phase, but it was more like he sensed danger from everywhere. Everything, every person, was a threat to be combatted.
Severus knew this because Sirius Black had once lured Snape out to the Shrieking Shack, where Remus had phased, resulting in scars across Severus' face and chest, but thankfully short of death. And it was that instance that had led to Severus and Remus having a tentative friendship. The boy had apologized, seeing that Potter and Black had finally taken it too far. Remus was far more like Severus than his insolent friends anyway, regarding intellect and personality.
At the end of their schooling, Severus had gone on to pursue higher education in potions, earning the title of Potions Master. One of his biggest accomplishments during his studies was inspired by his friend-turned-lover, the Wolfsbane Potion.
Though it was far from a cure for Remus' condition, when taken appropriately, it would relieve the symptoms, allowing the drinker to sleep away the phase essentially. It was a complex brew, but one that Severus happily prepared every month so Remus would be able to survive the full month semi-comfortably.
For whatever reason, Remus had not taken his dose this time and had phased full force. When this happened, Severus tried to stay away for fear of being attacked again, but certainly, hearing the commotion down below him was torture. He wished he could take it away. But once the transition had happened, there really wasn't anything he could do.
Watching from the stairs, he gasped as he saw Remus jump at a passing shadow, slamming his head into the wall and knocking down a nearby shelf, which collapsed on top of him. The wolf shoved it off, but the now glistening fur indicated that the damage had already been done. The wolf had hit his head not only against the wall, but from the fallen shelf as well.
Wincing, Severus took a deep breath and made the familiar transfiguration of his body into that of a raven. It was the least he could do until Remus came to. He swooped into the basement, landing out of reach but cawing out to make his appearance known. The wolf looked up, searching for the familiar raven.
Severus had purposefully chosen to take the form of an animal that coexisted well with wolves. The raven had worked out even better than he'd ever hoped.
The raven watched the wolf carefully, studying his movements. He would not move closer until the wolf calmed. He cawed again, and slowly, the wolf sank onto the floor, curling up but moving his gaze to watch his feathered friend.
Satisfied, the raven left his perch and landed softly on the fallen shelf, gently nipping at the wolf with his beak. Sure enough, the edge of the shelf was glistening with blood. The raven longed to do something for the injured wolf immediately but knew the best he could was be there for his love. They would wait this out together, just like always.
Severus was waiting in the kitchen when Remus finally exited the basement, back in his human body. Severus gently tossed him a fresh pair of clothes. Remus quickly changed and sat down at the table, taking the mug of hot tea offered to him. "I have such a headache this morning. Did something happen?"
Severus ignored this initial question. "You do realize I spend an entire day slaving over a hot cauldron for your well-being and not my entertainment, do you not?" Severus said after a moment of studying his boyfriend.
Remus looked down shamefacedly. "I never told you to do that for me."
"It's not your choice. I choose to make it for you. Because I care about you. When you suffer, so do I." He stood then, rounding the table to look at Remus' head, where the shelf had landed on him.
"You hit your head hard, slammed into the wall chasing a shadow and knocked a shelf onto your head. Which could have been avoided," Severus admonished, pouring some cleansing liquid onto a large strip of gauze.
"I'm sorry, Raven." He hung his head, as Severus gently moved the man's brown curls away from the gash on his scalp, but winced as his boyfriend began dabbing away the dried blood. It was throbbing now that he was acutely aware of it.
Severus cleaned the wound quickly, grateful that the wound had not been as deep as it had initially appeared. Then, he applied a healing potion to the gash, which sealed before his eyes, leaving just a pink scar. He offered his boyfriend a potion to take for the pain.
"Thank you," Remus whispered softly, taking the potion and swallowing it down in one gulp.
Severus wasn't one for much physical affection, but with Remus, he couldn't help it. He stooped down and kissed the man on his cheek and then his lips. "Don't scare me like that, you stubborn wolf. Your brains work much better when you don't rattle them around."
Remus kissed him back. "I love you."
"And I, you. So next time, show me you love me. Take the bloody potion."