Snapedom

Title: Afraid of You
Author: sweetmelodykiss
Pairing: Lupin/Snape
Rating: PG-13
Timeline: Just after the final battle.
Summary: Remus returns to life and goes on a hunt for his lost love.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 2000
Disclaimer: I do not own them. All are owned by JKR.
Written for: snapedom‘s Summer Fest 08
This is for: ghot’s adorable sketch Afraid of You
A/N: Thank you to angela_snape for the fabulous beta job!




Wind whipped through the trees and rain pelted the earth in steady sheets. Severus’ robes were soaked and his skin was cold. The trembling had gotten progressively worse as he traversed through the Forbidden Forest on wobbly legs. He had to reach safety soon. The wetter he became, the more risk there was of hypothermia setting in. He couldn’t take a chance on using his magic. He knew it would instantly alert the ministry to his whereabouts.

The Bezoar had done its job as did the Blood-Replenishing potion, but it was not enough. He was weak, cold and exhausted. Too much time in the rain would kill him faster than Nagini's venom. He had supplies stashed in the cave, a warm bed and dry clothes, if only he could get to them. A strong gust of wind finally knocked Severus off his feet. Falling in a crumpled heap to the ground, he lay unconscious as the rain and wind beat down on his already battered body.

The snake slithered around his body, effectively mobilizing its prey. Severus struggled against the strangling coils, but he couldn't free himself. Wandless curses had no affect on the beast. A hideous head with long, sharp fangs moved ever closer to his neck. Severus screamed as the fangs sank deep into his tender flesh.

In his fevered dreams, Severus' screams could be heard above the booming thunder until unconsciousness stilled his body once more.
~~~~~~

As the full moon rose, an eerie howl echoed through the Great Hall. Something stirred among the bodies of the dead. Shock froze people in place as Remus Lupin miraculously returned to the land of the living. He growled low and sprinted through the crowd. In a matter of seconds, the wolf was bounding out the door. There was no time to react to the situation. Minerva couldn't spare a single person to send after Remus. Too many people were wounded and in need of medical care. Moony would have to be all right on his own for the time being.

Moony took off in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. Severus' scent was heavy in the air. Moony sniffed the ground and followed his nose into the tunnel. The smell of fresh blood clung to everything and it made Moony shake his head from side to side. A blood pool lay in the middle of the floor, but no body was present. The shack was empty and Moony howled again in distress. He had to find Severus. Remus and the wolf within him had loved Severus for years. The wolf never doubted that Severus was still alive. He had to find him.

Moony stuck his nose in the pool of blood. He quickly picked up the scent again and rushed out of the Shrieking Shack, following the smell into the Forbidden Forest. The wolf was frantic. With the heavy rains, Severus' scent wouldn't last long. It would be washed away and then Moony's chances of finding him would be erased. Severus had obviously lost a lot of blood. Moony had to find him, and quickly before it was too late.

The wolf kept his head down as he moved through the forest. His waterlogged fur weighed him down and made the going slower. He would never give up though. The scent was growing fainter, but it was still present. Moony's heightened senses could track Severus to hell and back if need be. Moony's ears picked up and above the howl of the wind a scream radiated through the wolf's body. It made his hair stand on end and Moony took off at a gallop in the direction of the scream.
~~~~~~

A black shape crumpled on the ground came into view. Moony rushed toward it and nuzzled the unmoving body of the man he loved. Cold--so cold, Severus' body was like ice and his breathing shallow. Moony could hear the faint heartbeat pounding in his ears. Severus was still alive but just barely. He had to get the feverish man to safety, had to get him warm, but he didn't know how. Dragging Severus would probably kill him.

Moony began rapidly licking Severus' face. He gently nudged him with the weight of his body, trying to warm him a little and wake him at the same time. He continued to lick Severus' face until a soft moan escaped the prone man's lips. The body moved slightly and Severus' eyes began to flicker open.

Severus' mind was playing tricks on him. A wet tongue lopped up and down the side of his face. It was disgusting and he tried to push it away. He was too tired for this. All Severus wanted to do was sleep. 'Whose bloody dog had the nerve to violate his home and lick his face?'

Sharp yips penetrated Severus' brain and he dared to crack one eye open. The initial shock of seeing a large, grinning werewolf finally gave way to uncontrollable shivering. Severus tried to hug himself, but his arms were numb and the blasted wolf kept nudging him until he rolled over on his back.

Wolf--werewolf--oh dear. Severus groaned and tried to sit up. There was no way he could escape from a hungry werewolf in his present condition. When Severus finally managed to right himself and get a good look at his attacker, a wet tongue licking a stripe up his nose assaulted him.

"Ewe, stop that, you infernal creature. Bloody hell, Lupin, is that you?"

"Woof," the wolf replied.

"Apparently so, but what in Merlin's name are you doing in my house?"

The wolf looked confused, and then Severus took a good look around. "Ah, I see, not at home then."

Recent events flooded Severus' mind, the fight, the snake and his escape from the Shrieking Shack. It all came back with perfect clarity. He spared a look at the wolf. He'd been terrified by Lupin in wolf form on more than one occasion, but it was decidedly better than that damned snake.

"There's a cave nearby, Lupin, but I'll never make it. I can't walk, so just go on about your business and let me die in peace."

"Grrrrrrrrr."

"I'll take that as a no then. Stubborn wolf," Severus muttered to himself. "And stop grinning at me."

Moony sank low to the ground and crawled in front of Severus. He kept giving the injured man an expectant look, but Severus didn't know what the idiot wolf wanted.

"What do you want me to do?"

Moony rolled his back into Severus' stomach and gave Severus a pleading look.

"Wait a minute. You want me to climb onto your back? Are you daft?"

"Woof, woof."

"At least we agree on something."

Basically all Severus had to do was roll over onto Moony's back and hold on for dear life. With that accomplished Severus told the wolf to head north about a hundred paces. The ride was bumpy, but it was far better than walking. Moony stopped when Severus commanded, but he didn't see anything.

"It's warded, Lupin. Just walk through the shrub."

Moony hesitated a moment and then plunged through the shrub with his charge clinging helplessly to his back. Once inside, he found himself in a large open cavern. It was dry with a fire burning in one corner. There was a large bed, shelves filled with potion ingredients on one side and shelves filled with food on the other. Moony started for the bed, but Severus yelled, "Stop."

"Put me down on the rug in front of the fireplace. I don't want to get the bed all wet."

Moony slowly lowered his body to the ground and let Severus roll gently off his back. When Severus sat up and moaned, Moony couldn't resist getting in one more lick to his face.

"Some werewolf you turned out to be. You wouldn't frighten a kitten. Now, get me some dry clothes. They're over on the bottom shelf in the black bag. Try not to drool on them."

Moony grinned and padded off to retrieve Severus clothes. In the meantime, Severus pulled his wand from his sodden robes and summoned a vial of Strengthening Potion from the shelf. He removed the stopper and downed it in one gulp. It should take effect soon, but his greatest need at the moment was warmth.

Mooney returned with the dry robes and dropped the bag in front of Severus.

"Turn around and close your eyes. I'm going to spell my wet clothes off."

Moony stood his ground, waiting with bated breath.

"Turn around or I will not remove these wet things."

Moony looked highly put out, but he turned around and closed his eyes. Well, he closed one of his eyes.

"No peeking, wolf."

"Grrrrrrrrr."

"Caught like a rat in a trap. Even in wolf form you're too easy to read, Lupin."

Severus spelled away his wet clothes, cast a quick drying charm over his entire body and spelled on a dry robe. That was bloody exhausting. "Lupin," Severus moaned.

Moony turned in time to see Severus fall over onto the rug. He hurried to his side and tried to rouse him, but Severus was out like a light. Remus dragged a duvet off the bed and pulled it over himself and Severus. The fire blazed high, filling the cave with warmth and Moony's body did the rest as he snuggled close to Severus. Sleep and heat was the best medicine for Severus' depleted reserves. His breathing was even, his pulse stronger, so Moony relaxed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep snuggled as close to Severus as he could get.

The next morning, Severus awoke wrapped in the arms of a very warm, naked body. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and looked upon the sleeping face of Remus Lupin.

"Hmm, I guess it wasn't a dream after all."

Remus stirred and moaned, obviously in pain. Severus recognized the after effects of transformation. He summoned his wand and pulled another Strengthening Potion from the shelf. He poured the potion down the sputtering man's throat and smirked when Lupin glared at him.

"You needed that, wolf. Don't give me any arguments."

Remus' glare changed to a look of amusement and he smiled softly at the glowering wizard.

"Thank you, Severus, but I'm supposed to be taking care of you, remember?"

"Bah, don't be an idiot. I seem in much better shape than you do this morning. Now that I have you back in human form, would you kindly explain exactly what you thought you were doing last night."

"Rescuing you, of course."

"Why?"

"Because, I love you, you silly git."

Severus might have doubted Remus' words if it weren't for the fact that the man's hard cock was stabbing him in the hipbone.

"Is that right?" Severus sneered.

"Yes, that's right." It almost came out as a challenge.

"Took you bloody long enough," Severus smirked.

"And for that, I am eternally sorry. We've wasted so much time and I don't want to waste another second."

"Romania."

"Huh?"

"They have fewer restrictions on werewolves in Romania. We will go there as soon as we're sufficiently recovered."

"Alright. So, you're not afraid of me anymore, love?"

"Afraid of you," Severus snorted. "You couldn't frighten a kitten. You're nothing but an overgrown grinning fleabag, in or out of wolf form."

Remus smiled. He'd waited a long time for an actual romantic moment with Severus, and he figured this was as close as he was ever going to get. He pulled Severus into his arms and ravaged his mouth thoroughly. Severus only fussed for a moment before giving in and kissing back.

Smiling slightly, Severus grumbled, "Some werewolf you turned out to be."

^^^^^^