Snape/Lupin Drabble Community

When Remus awoke, he felt disoriented, confused. The pains in his limbs confirmed that he had transformed last night – so why was he in his bed, rather than on the pile of musty blankets in the cellar?

When he realised he was with Severus, who must have let him out, Remus was furious.

“Are you mad? Don’t you realise I could have killed you, turned you – oh God, I didn’t bite you, did I?” Suddenly concern outweighed the anger.

“Relax, Lupin, you were perfectly house-trained.”

“But why take such a stupid, pointless risk?”

Now, Severus seemed embarrassed. “You sounded lonely.”

………………………………………..

They’d made love – fucked – whatever, again, then improvised some breakfast out of the sorry contents of Remus’s larder.

Remus found himself wondering again about this dark, unusual man who seemed in no hurry to leave. Didn’t he have a job to go to?

“So, er, what do you do? For a living, I mean – “

“These days, I write. Crime novels.” He named a couple of titles, and Remus was surprised to realise he’d read one of them. It had been rather gruesome and depressing, as he recalled.

“Semi-autobiographical?” he asked sardonically.

“Not…exactly.” So why was Severus avoiding his eye?

………………………………….

“I’m a teacher, myself – at the local tech college. Pay’s not awfully good, but the long holidays are useful – gives me time to, um, research stuff.”

“Werewolves.”

“Yes. So, you live down South now?”

“London. I found it helpful when I was seeking a publisher. Recently, however, I have been considering a move.”

“Well, I suppose you can write anywhere, can’t you? What did you do before you started on the novels, by the way?”

“Ask a lot of questions, don’t you, wolf?”

Remus was stung. „It’s called making conversation – perhaps you’ve heard of that?”

Severus glared. “I was unemployed.”
…………………………………………


“You don’t ask many questions, do you Severus.”

“I was not aware you required new acquaintances to interrogate you.”

“It’s just that I’d have thought you’d have wanted to know all about the – werewolf thing.”

“People lie. I prefer to make my own observations.”

“Do you think I’m lying to you now?”

“We met yesterday. You know almost nothing about me, save that I possess a secret that gives me great power over you. You would be foolish not to lie to me, should you feel the truth might turn me against you.”

“Well, I’m not lying.”

“Even by omission?”

……………………………………

“I do have one question. Are you in contact with others of your kind?”

“No.”

“By choice?”

“No. Believe it or not, there don’t seem to be any werewolf contact agencies out there. My theory, for what it’s worth, is that if there are others in this country, they keep themselves to themselves, as I do. I’ve often wondered about visiting countries where there are wild wolves – there’d be less need to hide, there.”

“Although perhaps more risk of being shot. So why have you not?”

“Money, for one. And, I suppose, fear of what I might get myself into”

……………………………………….

“Will you answer another of my questions now, Severus?”

“Which is?”

“Why do all your relatives hate you?”

Severus looked away. “I killed a man.”

That was – not, perhaps as unexpected as it should have been.

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Well, if it turns out he was a lover who, I don’t know, forgot to make your tea in the morning, I should think in the circumstances – “

“Lupin. We have fucked twice. That does not make us lovers.”

Technically, Remus supposed, the man was correct. He still made damned sure to slam the door hard on his way out.

…………………………………………

When Remus returned, Severus was staring into the fire.

He didn’t look up as he spoke. “Someone about whom I cared deeply was killed. She died protecting her baby. When I found out what had happened, I murdered the man who was responsible. I served 15 years, which is what passes for life imprisonment these days.”

It was – actually not so bad, Remus thought.

“Was it your baby?”

“No. We were not lovers. A childhood friend. Her husband was killed also.”

“Put that way, it sounds almost like a public service.”

“I choose to think so. The courts did not.”

………………………………….

Remus sat down beside the man still gazing moodily into the fire. “Will you stay - at least for a while?”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Why not? We seem to get on OK. And to be able to tolerate each other’s, ah, darker sides.” He smiled. “And a lot of writers have found inspiration from the moors. If nothing else, it’s quiet up here.”

He grinned, now. “It’s not so far from your old home town, either. And you can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy flaunting your “fancy man” around your relatives.”

Severus would stay. He could tell.


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