InsaneJournal

LMOM: Collared- Part 17
Title: Collared Part 17
Author: KateKintail
Rating: NC-17
Warnings/Kinks: mentions non-con
Pairing: mentions Remus/OMCs, Remus/Snape?
Disclaimer: This story is NOT of JKR’s making. I make no money from this at all. I also do not condone the keeping of werewolves as unwilling sex slave love pets.
Summary: Unable to make ends meet after the war, Remus submits himself to the Ministry’s program for werewolves.
Word Count: 1,038
Notes: Written for pervy_werewolf’s Lusty Month of May 2010

Snape stood over the open flame, contemplating a pinch of cinnamon to balance out the mixture. After deciding in favor of it, he took the tea kettle off the stove and poured himself a steeping cup. Tired beyond belief and rubbing at his eyes, he headed out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and through the hallways. His home at Spinner’s End wasn’t safe to return to just yet. Many of Voldemort’s supporters were still at large and would want to find him, and many of the wizards and witches in the anti-Voldemort camp didn’t fully realize the part he had played in bringing down the Dark Lord. It was safer to stay off the radar entirely but he just couldn’t stand spending the holidays at Hogwarts this year, not after everything that had happened.

There were two bedrooms in the house, and one of them was his current destination, along with the hard-backed chair within it. Snape sat down, sipped his tea, and let his gaze fall on the bed. Remus had been asleep nearly a full three days. And while Snape wasn’t worried now, he certainly had been at this time when he’d brought the man home.

Remus’ fever had been dangerously high. Remus had recognized him at the Market, Snape had been sure of that, but fastening the collar around the neck of a man who wasn’t sure what was going on brought no pleasure of satisfaction whatsoever. In fact, the feeling of violation remained with Snape even now. If Remus woke and reacted badly to his circumstances, Snape would have no choice but to let him repudiate the collar. And Snape couldn’t allow that to happen. He couldn’t let Remus go back to that Hell of a place that had nearly killed him. Lots of people deserved that place, but Remus wasn’t one of them.

Snape had spent hours at Remus’ side over the past few days. He had tried compresses, herbs, and spells to bring Remus’ fever down and rouse the man. When nothing seemed to work better than anything else, he had opted just to sit beside Remus and wait it out.

The waiting was brutal. Every minute that passed made Snape feel like a failure. A hundred time he debated taking Remus to St. Mungos, but the man’s injuries were extensive and if he were found brining a purchased and collared werewolf in that state, the blame would have been placed on no other than Snape. They would whisk Remus away for treatment and Snape would be sent to Azkaban and he’d never see Remus again, or have the chance to—

Remus exhaled deeply, whole body shaking.

Snape leaned forward. Remus had spoken, moaned, even flailed about in his fevered sleep before. But this time felt different. Snape reached out and placed his palm on Remus’ forehead. It felt warn but certainly not unreasonably so.

Suddenly, Remus’ amber eyes flew open. They quickly darted around the unfamiliar room before finding Snape. Realizing he was still touching Remus’ forehead, Snape drew back with such suddenness that he almost spilled the tea.

“Do you remember me?” Snape asked, kicking himself for that. Of course Remus knew who he was. Every time Snape had seen Remus at the Market, the man had called out to him by name. Quickly, Snape clarified, “Do you remember what happened at the Market? Me selecting you, bringing you here, putting you to bed?”

Remus blinked at him, and Snape got the feeling that the man was unsure. Perhaps he was overwhelmed. “You were ill, Lupin. You had a bad flu and some nasty injuries from your transformation. The other werewolves didn’t want me to take you—one of them tried to fight me and the other two staged some utterly ridiculous production as if were in any condition to fuck or get fucked. You weren’t doing well and…” Snape paused, wondering how much he could get away with saying. “You looked bad. You looked like you needed more than those stupid Ministry officials were giving you. More than the werewolves could do for you. So I collared you and brought you here.”

Remus gave a start and reached up. His body stiff and tired, his coordination was lacking. It took him three tries to get his hand out from beneath the sheet and, when he did, he practically punched himself in the chin trying to reach for the collar. Snape knew better than to help guide his hand into place.

Remus’ fingers finally located the collar and shook as they made contact. The collar had been buckled loosely and the layer of plush padding on the inside kept it from choking Remus. He already had marks around his neck from previous collars and Snape didn’t want to contribute to that, especially not when Remus was having trouble breathing already.

Snape couldn’t quite figure out the look in Remus’ eyes. He had a sense that the man was still confused, but Snape’s powers as an Occlumens were far better than those as a Legilimens at the moment. He had tried to force his way into Remus’ mind a half dozen times over the past two days but something had blocked him out. He had suspected originally that it was the fever, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Turning his head, Remus sneezed freely, shaking in bed.

“Bless. Tea,” Snape said, putting the still steaming and untouched cup on the nightstand. “There are a few handkerchiefs and a basin here if you need them. There’s a bathroom just down the hall and a chamber pot under the bed if you can’t make it that far.”

Remus’ look was still indescribable but now laced with confusion. Remus gathered his strength and threw off the covers. He looked a bit shocked to suddenly find himself in pajamas, but he pushed through that to plunge a still-shaking hand into his pants.

Looking disgusted, Snape reached over, yanked at his forearm, and covered Remus back up. “Stay warm. The last thing you need is to get chilled.” Indeed, Remus was shivering just from that. “Rest, Lupin. I’ll be back later.”

He left, heart racing, and closed the door to the guest bedroom behind him.