In search of some wolfsbane.... Who: Remus Lupin and Severus Snape What: A meeting about a new potion When: Late afternoon Where: Hogwarts Warnings: PG...nothing more than a little snarkiness.
Hands shoved in pockets, Remus Lupin strode across the lawn of Hogwarts and into the main hallway. He had an appointment with one Severus Snape, and although the two men were often at odds, Remus needed a rather large favor. He hoped (because hope was really all he had at this point) that Severus would be in a helpful mood.
Several months prior, Remus had been privy to a test sample of a rather intriguing new potion for lycanthropy victims. The potion, called "Wolfsbane Potion" for it's primary ingredient, was a concoction that allowed the user to retain his human mind while in wolf form. While it didn't remove any of the physical pain or stress of the transformation, it did remove the most dangerous symptom of all- the loss of self. Remus had the chance to try the potion on two different occasions and both times it was an incredible success. He still took all the normal transformation precautions, but he could curl up and sleep during moons rather than gnawing his own paws raw and slamming himself into walls.
Now the issue at hand was finding a potions master who was talented enough to make the complicated brew and who would charge a fair price for it. The Ministry didn't have any programs in place to provide the potion affordably and Remus had yet to find a person who was willing to brew it for him in exchange for anything other than hundreds of Galleons. Not only was the potion hard to make, there was a stigma attached that the brewer was aiding a dark creature. Stupid, Remus knew, as the potion prevented evil actions, but people believed what they wanted to believe.
So, he'd come to the conclusion that he'd have to ask Snape for help. Snape was more than capable of brewing the mixture and Remus hoped there was some sort of moral compass in that often stoic and snarky man that would provide it to Remus for a reasonable fee.
Down in the dark and smoky dungeons, he located the Potion Master's office and rapped on the door lightly with his knuckles.