Who: Severus Snape and Remus Lupin When: Backdated: Saturday, October 12th. Afternoon Where: Severus’ House What: Picking up a Potion Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete
With the next Full Moon a little over a week away, Remus was getting restless. There was no way of telling whether or not he would actually change, but over the last few months each Full Moon had been a little different; the last one, he’d woken up in the middle of the night in so much pain that it had felt like his bones were trying to pull free of their sockets. It felt like the change in his dreams. Whether he changed on October 18th or not, Remus knew it was only a matter of time before it happened and he wanted to be prepared, so he was on his way to Severus’ to pick up the week’s supply of Wolfsbane that he would have to start drinking exactly a week before. If he did happen to change and the Wolfsbane did what it was supposed to do then he should be able to keep his wits about him while in wolf form. Another comfort was the fact that Sirius could now become Padfoot and would be there with him no matter what. He only wished that James was there as well.
Reaching Severus’ house, Remus parked his car in the driveway and headed up the steps of the porch where he rang the bell and waited.
Severus was inside his makeshift laboratory in the garage. Romana had taken Daisy out for an errand, or something, and wasn’t home. At the sound of the bell, Severus came through the garage’s side-door, and waved over to Remus. “This way.” He said, once he was sure that he caught the other man’s attention. It was a short cut. That way they wouldn’t have to walk through the whole house to get to the lab.
Upon hearing Severus’ voice, Remus glanced over and smiled as he made his way down the steps to where his friend was waving him over, “How’re you today, Severus?” It had been awhile since the two Wizards had actually seen one another when at the same time Remus had only recently seen him in his dreams. Dreams in which Severus was the exact opposite from how he was in reality.
“Good. Very good.” Severus said, nodding. Romana was pregnant, his Potions were going swimmingly, and Daisy had an amazing day care provider, when she wasn’t at her Preschool. His life was surprisingly good. Perhaps the opposite of what his Dream Life was like. He had a lot of traits similar to his Dream Self, but for the most part he was a very different man. “How about you?”
Remus nodded, smiling, glad that his friend was doing well, “I’m good as well. Sirius asked me to move into his house,” It wouldn’t be the first time the two had lived together; after all, they’d been living together when they dated the first time, but Remus certainly hadn’t expected it. It made sense of course. Remus was there quite a lot and a lot of his things were already there; not to mention, Sirius had a basement at his house that Remus could use to transform in if and when he started changing each month.
“That’s… good.” Severus said, giving a nod. He thought of the dreams for a moment, of Remus and Sirius staying at Grimmauld Place together before Sirius died. He swallowed, one hand instinctively moving to the sleeve of his left arm. “Congratulations on that step.”
“Thank you. It won’t be the first time we’ve lived together, but we were quite young the first time,” Not that they were that much older now really. They had been in their early twenties then and were in their mid thirties now, but a lot had happened during that time. “Have you had anymore dreams?” Remus asked, deciding it might be a good time to change the subject, “I was teaching at Hogwarts in my last dream, but I think I told you that already.”
There was a huge difference between early-twenties and mid-thirties. Huge. Severus led the way into the garage and over to his makeshift potions laboratory, where he started to dig around in his shelves for the Wolfsbane. “...I’ve Dreamed through to my death.” Severus responded, quietly.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t even imagine what that would be like,” Remus had dreamt about James and Lily’s deaths and that had affected him more than he could have expected, so dreaming about your own death had to be even worse. “But that means you’re done then, right?” He wondered what it felt like to know that you weren’t going to have anymore of the dreams. That you wouldn’t know what happened after that point.
“I think so.” Severus said, nodding. He found the wolfsbane. There was enough for a couple of wolves for a couple of full moons there, but werewolves in this world may have a different tolerance than the ones in the Dreams. He was prepared to have Remus take a double dose for the first moon, just in case. And there was another would-be wolf? Severus thought he remembered mention of that. He turned around carrying a large flask. “...though, I am having repeat dreams.”
“That only happened to me once so far. After I dreamt about being attacked by Greyback, I dreamt about Dumbledore coming to my house again.” Remus said, recalling how confused he’d been the first time he’d had the dream about Dumbledore because he hadn’t been able to hear what the Wizard had been saying to his parents.
Severus nodded, moving over to dole the potion out into several smaller flasks. He started pouring, using skills that he’d gleaned from the dreams, and ended up with a dozen small flasks, which he stoppered. Then he turned around, holding the rack out to his friend. “I’m sorry to hear it. I understand how awkward the dreams can make you feel.”
Remus took the flasks, eyeing them for a moment before looking back to Severus, “That hasn’t been the worst by far.” No, the worst was James and Lily’s death, but he wasn’t about to bring that up. He was sure that Severus could assume what he was implying though. “Thank you for this.” He said, indicating the flasks, “I’m not sure if I’ll transform or not, but if I do, I’d rather be able to keep my senses.”
Severus nodded. His own death came second to Lily’s death. It had been the most emotional and traumatic thing for him to dream out of anything he’d ever experienced. But that was neither here nor there. Severus was trying his best to pretend that didn’t exist. “I’d much rather you were inside your own head as well. In a place with such a dense population, I can only imagine how bad it might spread if you were to get out and attack people.”
Remus nodded, “Me too. I don’t know what I’d do if I hurt someone.” He knew that Sirius would be able to take care of himself, seeing as how he could do magic and turn into Padfoot, but that didn’t mean he’d be able to stop Remus from hurting someone else. “I’ll be sure to let you know if I even transform.” Of course he hoped he wouldn’t, but over the last few months he’d begun to feel different as each full moon approached and it was best to be safe rather than sorry.
Severus nodded. “Please keep me informed. I may be able to do more things for you, should more books from our world appear.” He paused, then moved toward the door into the house. “Would you like a cup of tea before you go?”
So far Remus only had Hogwarts: A History, but he knew that Hermione had received some other books from the dreams. Secretly he hoped a Defense Against the Dark Arts books showed up. Now that would prove to be some interesting reading, “I will. And I’d love a cup of tea. Thank you.”
“Sure.” Severus led the way into the house and put the kettle on. “...this other woman who dreams about being a werewolf,” He said, softly. “Do the two of you get on?”
“I’ve only met with her once, but we got on well then.” Remus said as he followed Severus into the house and took a seat at the kitchen table while Severus put the kettle on, “I’m unsure if she’s changed yet.” Remus hadn’t actually spoken to Nina since they’d gotten together just before the full moon in September.
Severus nodded. He moved around his kitchen, collecting the kettle and filling it with water, then putting it on the stove. He drew his wand to light a fire underneath it, and it was boiling much faster than was possible in the real world. He set about collecting teacups and tea bags, and then poured the boiling water over them, all as they talked. “It must be nice to have someone who’s going through something similar.”
Remus nodded, “It’s a double edged sword, really. Yes, I don’t necessarily have to go through this alone, but at the same time, I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.” He hadn’t even transformed yet, but he already knew from the dreams that the pain was excruciating. He didn’t want anyone else to have to suffer like that, but there was nothing that could be done about it now.
Severus nodded. Remus had a point. From what Severus knew about lycanthropy, it sounded like a really rough deal. He wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy, either--especially considering the damage that his worst enemy could do with such a power. He nodded. “I am sorry for…” It sounded so small.
Remus shook his head, “It’s quite alright, Severus. There’s nothing we can do to reverse it now, so all we can do is our best to get through it.” While Remus was worried about what might happen on the upcoming full moon, he didn’t want anyone to pity him, because whatever it was, he already knew that he could handle it. “And as long as you’re making the potion and I have Sirius, I think I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll do whatever I can do to help.” Severus said, earnestly. He didn’t want to feel pity. And, quite honestly, he could understand some of the pain. It was how he felt in the dreams. They were in very different situations, obviously, but Severus felt they had some similarities, too. “Good.” He brought the tea over and set a cup in front of Remus on the table. “It’s my pleasure to make it.”