innerslytherin (innerslytherin) wrote in viciousmoon, @ 2007-04-21 12:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | albus dumbledore, remus lupin, remus/severus, severus snape |
Remus is fed up; Dumbledore is disapproving; Severus' work is interrupted
Remus got home from work tired and hoping Severus had actually been arsed to make something for tea. He'd ended up working the whole day without a lunch break because the other person scheduled had called off. He knew Severus didn't like cooking, but Remus was bloody tired of being the only person who knew how to cook in the house, and he just wanted to have a lie-down before eating something and collapsing in bed again.
He pushed the door open and paused to take off his shoes. "I'm home! Tea ready?"
"Why would tea be ready?" Severus snapped, not bothering to look up from the sheafs of notes scattered across the table. His quill made loud scratching noises as he wrote at a furious pace. "You just got here."
Remus blinked at him for a moment. He said nothing, but went slowly upstairs and laid down on the bed. He was tired, and he was tired of this. If Severus was planning to rely on Remus for tea today, he'd be disappointed.
Severus looked up when Remus didn't say anything further and watched him trudge upstairs. He shrugged to himself and went back to writing, figuring Remus would be back down in a while.
A half an hour went by, and he finished what he was doing. He looked up, checking the time, then decided he wasn't bothered by it, and cleaned up the table, waiting for Remus to come down.
Another half hour went by, and Severus wondered if Remus had fallen asleep upstairs. He scooped up his notes, quill, and ink, and carried them upstairs to check on Remus.
Remus woke up to find Severus staring down at him. Remus just blinked back at him.
"Are you all right?" Severus asked, brow furrowing.
"I'm tired," Remus said, and rolled over. He pulled the blanket up over his head.
Severus huffed and went to put his notes and things away. "Why are you acting like that?"
"Acting like what?" Remus muttered.
"Like you want me to go away," Severus said, voice low, as he closed the dresser drawer he kept his notes and quills in.
Remus felt a wash of remorse and sat up. "I don't want you to go away," he said. But he wasn't going to make tea. He didn't want to do anything.
"Then what is it?" Severus asked, turning around and leaning against the dresser. He rubbed at an ink stain on his index finger, but forced himself to keep looking at Remus.
Remus really didn't want to get up. But Severus looked surprisingly vulnerable like that. He got up and went to put his arms around Severus. "I'm not cooking tonight. I want to sleep."
"All right. Are you hungry?" Severus' upper arms were trapped by Remus', but he put his arms around Remus as best he could.
"Mmhmm," Remus said, nuzzling against Severus' neck. Sod it. He'd meant to come in and be firm, and one vulnerable look from Severus and Remus' resolve melted.
Severus relaxed at the feel of Remus nuzzling him, some of the tension leaving his posture. "I'll bring you back something from the chip shop, then."
Remus sighed. "Why don't you just learn to cook?" he said, trying not to sound too exasperated.
Severus arched a brow and looked down at what he could see of Remus' face. "I didn't want to poison you when you weren't feeling well."
"I'm just tired, Severus. I'm tired of cooking all the bloody time. I'd just like a bit of help around here, that's all."
"I can't cook, Remus, it isn't a matter of learning. I can't even bloody make toast without almost setting the kitchen on fire!" Severus would have thrown up his arms in exasperation, but Remus still had them pinned. "I don't know what you want me to do about it."
"That's bollocks," Remus said, pulling back to look at him. "You can brew the most complex potions with no trouble. If you can follow a bloody potions recipe, you can follow a bloody meal recipe!"
"Potions is an art," Severus insisted, only keeping from shouting by conscious will. "It isn't a matter of just following a recipe! I know how the ingredients are going to react, how they combine to form the potion, and how to combine them! Cooking is... it's not the same! I do not do it well, and there is no point doing something if you can't do it well."
"You're not going to be an expert at something the first time you try it," Remus retorted. "You have to practice. Merlin, Severus, d'you think I got to be a good cook overnight? You're a bloody genius! You can learn!"
"If can't pick something up right away, I don't do it, Remus. That is just how I've always been. I don't bloody want to cook. Take away isn't going to kill you."
"Yes, well, get used to bloody takeaway for the rest of your sodding life, then!" Remus snapped, and went back to bed.
Severus stared after Remus, jaw dropping. "Where the fuck did that come from?" he demanded.
"I'm done being your fucking house-elf," Remus said, pulling the covers over his head.
"How is doing one thing being my house-elf?" Severus demanded, folding his arms and glaring at the Remus-shaped mound. "It's not like you cook just for me!"
Remus ignored him. He wasn't going to wash Severus' dishes anymore, either. Or unpack the rest of their books.
"Merlin, you are such a fucking child," Severus muttered, then turned around to dig angrily through his top dresser drawer for his wand and wallet. He had a theory that if he tried putting his wand in the same place, he might actually keep track of it better.
"Fuck you," Remus muttered back, though he wasn't sure Severus could hear him.
Of course, the key was actually putting his wand in that designated place, which Severus realized as he shifted around belts and ties and a few odd stones, he hadn't done. Severus shoved the drawer closed with a satisfying slam and went over to the laundry hamper to find the robes he'd worn yesterday, in case he'd left it in his pockets.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Remus muttered. Was it really necessary for Severus to slam everything around before he left?
"Piss off, I'm looking for my wand," Severus snapped, and resisted the urge to ball up the shirt in his hands and throw it at him. It wouldn't be strong enough to really hurt, which was a pity, he thought -- and then instantly felt bad for it, but it didn't make him feel any more well-disposed towards Remus.
He was angry enough to want to stay out for a while, and considered going up to the castle. He could nick something from the kitchens and brew potions all night. That would run off his energy.
Remus flopped over and sighed loudly.
Maybe he left his wand downstairs. He stomped out of the room and down the stairs with as much noise as possible. Then he stomped around his front room until he found his wand, sticking out from under the couch. Severus grabbed it and prepared to Apparate to Hogsmeade, glaring at the archway sticking out of the middle of his wall and the staircase just inside, when he remembered he'd promised to bring Remus something back to eat.
He almost considered not -- after all, they were fighting -- but Severus sighed and made his way out the door instead, heading down to the chip shop. He'd bring back something for Remus and then go sulk in Hogwarts' dungeons.
Remus was worked up enough that he got up and stalked around the bedroom for a few minutes, but then he went back to bed. Severus could call him downstairs when he got back with takeaway. Why couldn't he just fucking learn to cook? Remus sighed and eventually slipped back into a fitful doze.
When Severus got back to the house, all was silent. He supposed Remus had fallen back to sleep. Severus carried the plastic bag with a portion of wrapped up fish and chips upstairs, setting it on the dresser and casting a charm to keep it warm. "Brought you food," he informed the Remus-shaped bed mound flatly.
Remus woke when he heard Severus coming up the stairs. He sat up at the sound of Severus' voice, feeling bad for having argued with him. "Thanks," he said quietly. "Will you sit with me?"
Severus hesitated, then nodded and approached the bed cautiously. Just in case Remus had his wand hidden beneath the blankets.
"Sorry I shouted at you," Remus murmured. "Thanks for bringing food."
"No problem," Severus said, frowning, then retreated back to the dresser under the pretext of bringing Remus his food because he was a little wary of Remus suddenly forgiving him. Was it a trap?
He grabbed the bag and walked back over to the bed, sitting very carefully and holding out the food. Maybe Remus wouldn't hex him if it might hit the food.
Remus frowned slightly. "Are you all right?"
"Fine," Severus said, forcing himself to relax. Remus could be devious, but he didn't think, from Remus' actions, that he was planning anything. "I was going to go up to the castle next, and do some brewing."
Remus' frown deepened. "Why?"
"Well, one, so you can sleep uninterrupted, because you seem very tired," Severus ad-libbed, "and two because I am very far behind on my work for Dumbledore." He tried not to look guilty.
"Are you still angry with me?" Remus asked softly.
Severus wondered if he should be honest. He supposed his hesitation had given him away, anyway. "A little."
"I didn't mean to make you angry. And I'm sorry I got angry."
"It's okay." Severus sighed, peering down at the bedspread. "I know it's my fault, anyway. I'm a prat. I'll learn how to cook."
Remus stared at him. He couldn't possibly be giving in that easily.
Severus looked up when Remus didn't say anything to that, and met Remus' gaze. "I have been treating you like a house-elf. I'm sorry."
"What?"
"What?" Severus repeated, feeling defensive. He bloody apologised, and all Remus could say was What?
"Um, okay." Remus blinked. "I--erm, you're forgiven. I mean, I know you weren't, you know, you didn't mean to."
Severus stared at Remus a moment. "Right. Okay." He mentally shook off Remus' odd response. "Anyway, I really didn't mean to, and I'm sorry you feel like that."
Remus sighed. "I was probably over-reacting." He'd forgotten about the food; he picked at the foil wrapping it.
Severus searched Remus' gaze, but it was on his food. "Did you not want me to apologise?" he asked, confused.
"That's not what I mean," Remus said, looking up again. He couldn't explain why he felt guilty that Severus had apologised to him. "I just...I'm sorry too, that's all."
"Oh. Ok." Severus watched Remus a moment, wanting to reach out and touch him. He eyed his arm a moment, but didn't. "I ought to go to the castle tonight."
"Do you have to?" Remus asked, moving closer to Severus.
"I am behind on my work," Severus said apologetically. "Dumbledore gives me a lot, anyway... I mean, not more than I can handle, but he's started giving me more orders for Pomfrey's stores, and then I have all the antidotes to my own poisons." He wasn't sure he should mention those; he hadn't really spoken much of them before. "Oh, and I suppose I should, you know, tell him we moved."
Remus sighed. "I suppose." He leaned lightly against Severus. "D'you want me to come with you?" Now that they weren't fighting, he felt suddenly clingy.
"Well, you said you were tired, right? You said you wanted to sleep. I don't want to drag you up there. I have a lot of work, but telling him my new address won't take much time."
Remus frowned at his food. "I don't..." He scratched his neck awkwardly. "I don't want to be away from you."
Severus arched his eyebrows. "All right, then, I don't mind if you come along. He's probably going to be angry, though." He wondered why Remus so adamantly didn't want to be away from him.
Merlin, now Remus just felt stupid. "Well, he ought to be angry at both of us, then," he said doggedly.
Severus smiled a little, watching Remus' arm again. "All right."
"Did you eat?" Remus asked, lifting his head to nuzzle Severus' neck gently.
"No," Severus admitted. "I'm not really hungry."
"Is it because we had a row?" Remus whispered.
Severus shrugged, feeling slightly annoyed that Remus had guessed it. "Doesn't really matter why."
"I'm sorry," Remus said, feeling miserable. He didn't usually feel this bad about rows. Then again, he'd started this one, completely unnecessarily. He kissed Severus' neck.
"It isn't as though you weren't justified," Severus pointed out, feeling unsettled. He tried to covertly take a deep breath, and cleared his mind.
"All right, I'll shut it." Remus took a bite of his food and concentrated on chewing.
Severus sat with Remus while he ate, silent. After a while of staring, he reached out and brushed his fingertips across the back of Remus' hand, the one just holding the food wrapping.
Remus smiled without looking up and turned his hand over, catching Severus' fingers gently in his own.
Severus let him for a moment, then drew his hand away. He tried to think of conversation, but drew a blank.
The food was like chewing sawdust. Remus swallowed and took another bite, because if he didn't eat it he'd look like an ungrateful berk.
While waiting for Remus to be done, Severus got up to gather what he'd need to take to the castle.
Remus tried to think of something to fill the silence in the room, but all that came to mind was another apology, and he didn't think Severus would like it. Finally he finished his meal.
Severus threw everything into a bag and dropped back down onto the bed, watching Remus. "Sorry, did you want something to drink? I completely forgot to bring you something."
"S'all right," Remus said. "I'm sure Dumbledore will pour tea down our throats before he gets angry at us."
"True," Severus agreed ruefully. He smiled a little more at Remus. "Ready?"
"Yeah, let me just get my shoes on." Remus went downstairs, hoping Severus would follow him.
Severus did, shrugging the bag's strap over his shoulder. He still had on his shoes, so he just threw on his robes and waited for Remus, grabbing the bucket of Floo powder for the fireplace.
Remus tugged his shoes on and joined Severus at the fireplace. "Right. All set."
Severus took another deep breath, nodding, then tossed the powder into the fireplace and announced their destination to the green flames, then stepped inside and braced himself as the Floo system sucked him through.
He wondered as he stumbled out into Dumbledore's office if the man ever got annoyed with them just showing up unannounced. Then he moved out of the way for Remus to come through.
"Why, Severus, what a surprise," Dumbledore said, looking up from the book he'd been perusing. He stood, smiling. "And how are you today?"
Remus stumbled when he arrived at Hogwarts, and he thumped into Severus' back, gripping at his lover's shoulders to hold himself upright.
Severus' expression lightened when he returned Dumbledore's greeting (well, he wasn't smiling, but neither was he scowling), but then his eyes bugged out when Remus ran into him, and he smirked back at Remus. "I'm fine, sir."
Dumbledore chuckled. "I see. And Remus, hello. How nice to see you."
"Hello, headmaster," Remus said, still leaning lightly on Severus. He let one hand slide down to rest lightly on Severus' hip.
Severus tensed a little for Remus' casual display of affection, but he didn't want to draw attention in front of the Headmaster, so he just moved over to a chair. "Are we interrupting?"
"Of course not, my boys! I'm always pleased to see you. I hope nothing is amiss."
Trying not to feel hurt that Severus had moved away, though he knew it was really just because Severus disliked public touching, Remus took the other chair. "No, sir," he said.
Severus sat down, glancing at Remus and then the Headmaster. He set his satchel at his feet. "No, not at all. I came up to do some work, and Remus wanted to come. But we wanted to let you know that... we've moved."
"Moved?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.
Remus cleared his throat. "Moved house, sir."
Dumbledore blinked at them over the rims of his half-moon spectacles. "Forgive me, I've neglected to offer you tea." He poured cups for both of them, without waiting for a response. "Moved house?"
"Thank you," Severus said, taking a cup. Even though he'd started accepting tea more often, he hoped the good-faith gesture would put Dumbledore in a better mood when he got ready to shout. "I've bought a house."
"A house. Ah. Well, congratulations, then." Dumbledore took a sip of his tea and cleared his throat. "And am I to understand that you both are living in it?"
Remus sipped at his tea, but decided that while Dumbledore was welcome to shout at them both, Severus might as well be the one to do all the talking.
Severus glanced at Remus, then sipped his tea. After he swallowed, he answered, "Of course."
Dumbledore was silent for a moment. "Chocolate biscuit?" He offered them a tin.
Remus stared at it for a moment, then shook his head. He certainly couldn't add anything else to the lump that was sitting in his stomach.
"And how are you friends taking this, Remus?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
Remus turned his stare on Dumbledore. "Are you mad? They don't know."
Severus took a biscuit and decided he was too busy eating it to add anything to that.
"And how, precisely, are you hiding this relationship from your friends?" Dumbledore folded his hands on top of his desk and surveyed them both.
"Severus' friends don't care," Remus said. "And my friends...well, Lily knows. She found out accidentally. She helps us keep the secret."
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up. "Certainly they'll be surprised if they decide to visit you and find you've vacated your former domicile."
"They're too busy for visiting me, these days," Remus said. He tried to keep the grumbling note out of his voice. Dumbledore, it seemed, had work for everyone but him.
"He was going to say the Floo was broken," Severus added. "And make plans that don't involve them coming over."
Remus shrugged. "They'll believe me. I've been working hard to get them to trust me more." Or at least, he'd been available more often than James and Sirius and Peter were, these days.
Severus doubted that would be enough for Dumbledore. He knew the Headmaster wouldn't like Remus' answers, but it was mostly just a matter of weathering the storm, then telling Dumbledore he couldn't do anything about it, and leaving.
Dumbledore frowned, first at Remus, then at Severus. "I'm surprised you went along with this, Severus. You said you were trying to get Remus to be more careful."
Severus sipped his tea, gazing back at Dumbledore without concern.
Remus sighed. And of course Severus wasn't going to say anything to that. Why was it he'd suddenly stopped shouting at Dumbledore and started shouting at Remus? It used to be the other way round. "Well, I'm sorry you don't like it, sir, but considering the Prophecy, we reckoned we couldn't put our lives on hold for, you know, twenty years." He met Dumbledore's gaze defiantly.
Dumbledore watched him in surprise.
Severus nodded in agreement. "Remus has put it succinctly. Sometimes you simply have to be selfish."
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose even higher. Remus hadn't thought that was possible. "Selfish? You think--"
"Look," Remus interrupted furiously, "you didn't say a bloody word when James and Lily decided to get married! You didn't say a bloody word about Frank and Alice! You only care when it's me and Severus, and that's pretty fucking hypocritical, if you ask me! I'm tired of having to make sacrifices for no bloody good reason! I want to be with Severus, and he wants to be with me! And if our friends don't like it, if the rest of the fucking world doesn't like it, well, they can sod off! I'm tired, Dumbledore!"
He broke off, his chest heaving slightly, and was appalled at the way he'd spoken to Dumbledore, but he meant every word.
Severus' expression matched Dumbledore's pretty well as he glanced at Remus. His lips parted, because he knew, knew that it was different when two Order members decided they fancied each other. Severus was a Death Eater, and nothing in the world could change that, not even how much Remus wanted to be with him. But he couldn't bring himself to say that, or anything.
Dumbledore seemed to take a very long time sipping at his tea and then placing his teacup down just so. He folded his hands and glanced at Severus, then back at Remus. Finally he sighed.
"I know this is difficult, Remus, Severus. I apologise for the sacrifices I have asked and continue to ask of the two of you. I realise that the sacrifices you both have made have been more costly, more painful, than those made by other Order members. That does, truly, pain me. However, I cannot condone the idea of your openly being together. I see no need to restate the reasons I believe it best to keep your relationship a secret. I honestly believe that you both know them as well as I do." He paused for a moment, rubbing his hands together lightly. "I believe I shall let certain members of the Order hear me asking Remus to take an undercover position among an at-risk population. It will give the others a reason to believe Remus has let his flat go, and it will enable the two of you to live together without repercussion." He sighed and took off his spectacles, pressing his forefinger and thumb to the bridge of his long, crooked nose. "I wish there were more I could do for you. I do wish to see you both happy. I wish you could believe that." His voice was soft.
Well. That was quite a neat idea, and Severus wished that he'd thought to ask Dumbledore about such a thing sooner. But honestly, he hadn't expected the Headmaster to come up with that at all. He'd expected endless rowing until they stormed out. Severus bowed his head a little, partly because he couldn't seem to meet the Headmaster's gaze when he spoke disapprovingly about their relationship, and partly because he felt a bit embarrassed that he hadn't thought to go to Dumbledore sooner. "I apologise, sir. I should have come to you for help in the first place."
Remus was softening towards Dumbledore when Severus bloody apologised. Stupid git! What was he doing that for? "Yes, well, it's about time," he muttered. If Severus was going to take the overly-polite route, against his own character, Remus would take the role Severus usually played. He drained his teacup and scowled at the desktop.
Severus glanced at Remus, frowning.
Remus just glared back at Severus.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "More tea?"
Severus raised his eyebrows at Remus, then turned back to Dumbledore. "I'm still working on mine." He took another sip to illustrate.
Remus bit his tongue and then sighed. "Yes, please." He held out his teacup. "I appreciate your helping us, sir."
"Not at all," Dumbledore said. "I wish I could do more."
"Yes, thank you very much," Severus said, resisting the urge to sigh as well. "I understand why we can't be open about it, and I understand that sacrifices are necessary in wartime, but..." He shrugged. "I can't be without him." It felt... incredibly odd, to be admitting such a thing, out loud. He didn't think he'd ever said that explicitly to Remus, let alone Dumbledore.
Well. That killed Remus' strop entirely. He stared at Severus for a moment before he caught himself and focused his gaze back on his teacup to compose his expression. Then he looked up at Dumbledore. "The same is true for me," he said quietly. "Severus is absolutely necessary to me."
Something in Dumbledore's expression softened at their words. Perhaps it was the quiet certainty with which they were spoken, or the light in Remus' eyes when he looked up. Whatever it was, Dumbledore dipped a biscuit in his tea and ate it, watching them together.
"I must think about this," he said finally. "Of course, to your friends, Remus, the obvious place to send you would be the werewolves. There are, however, obvious reasons why that will not work. I must consider who else might be at risk from Tom's machinations." He nodded, as if to himself, and finished his biscuit.
Severus ducked his head again, this time so his hair could shield his vision protectively after he'd made such an admission. He snatched another chocolate biscuit off of Dumbledore's desk without looking up and drew it behind the curtain of hair quickly. Chocolate made everything bearable.
Remus really just wanted to drag Severus off somewhere and snog him desperately, but he knew Severus wouldn't appreciate that just now. He sipped at his tea and wondered how much longer they would have to talk to Dumbledore before Severus could get them excused to go brew potions. Not that Remus was planning on doing anything but watching Severus and groping him occasionally.
Severus ate his biscuit slowly, concentrating on the act in order to clear his mind and sweep away unwanted emotions. When he was finished, he sat up straight and pulled his head up, watching the Headmaster impassively once more. "I need to do some brewing, sir, I hope you don't mind if we leave now."
"Ah, of course," Dumbledore said, smiling vaguely at them. "Of course. Poppy has said highly complimentary things about your potions, Severus. She is very pleased with the quality of your work."
Remus gave a little smile, pleased that Dumbledore realised how talented his lover was.
Severus finished off his tea, setting it on the Headmaster's desk. "Please convey my thanks to her, sir," he said politely, and stood, shouldering his satchel. "Here's our address," he added, placing a scrap of paper next to his tea cup.
Remus drained his teacup quickly and stood up, too, not wanting to be left behind. "Thank you for the tea, sir," he added.
"Of course, of course. Take care of yourselves, lads." Dumbledore gave them a last benevolent smile.
"Thank you," Severus said, then grabbed Remus' sleeve and dragged him out of the room.
Surprised at being dragged like that, Remus nevertheless followed willingly.
Severus shut the door and pulled Remus onto the staircase, which started moving them downward. "Sorry, I just never know how to end a conversation with that man."
Remus looked at him in surprise and then laughed. "God, I love you," he murmured, and kissed Severus fiercely.
Severus gasped softly but kissed Remus back passionately, one hand in his hair. "I love you, too."
"I don't care if no one else ever understands us," Remus said. "We belong together." He gazed heatedly at his lover.
"Yes." Severus smiled, slipping an arm around him. "We do." He stayed like that until the staircase reached the ground floor, then stepped back from Remus (just in case) as he peered around to make certain the coast was clear. Then he led the way across Hogwarts' entrance hall and down into the dungeons.
Remus was glad the school year was over, so they didn't have to worry overmuch about passing unseen in the halls. Not that they should be seen together anyway, but he knew that Poppy, at least, was aware of Severus' role. He wouldn't be surprised if McGonagall knew, too, though he hadn't seen her at many of the Order meetings. Remus settled himself on an empty table as he watched Severus begin preparing for his work.
"So, I was thinking," Severus said, checking a list he pulled out of his bag. "How would you like to watch someone fuck me?"
A growl erupted from Remus' chest before he even had time to think about it. He stared at Severus in shock. "No! What? No!"
Severus glanced up at Remus mildly. "Okay." He went back to his list, biting his bottom lip as he read over the potions he needed to brew.
Remus blinked rapidly. "Where the fuck did you come up with that idea?"
"Nowhere in particular," Severus answered, well aware that that was not an answer. "Just out of the blue."
"What? You don't want to fuck someone else! Do you?" Remus was definitely too tired for this. Two arguments in one night, and now he was working on a third? But where the fuck did Severus come up with that idea!?
"No, of course not," Severus said, then dug through his bag for the right paper. "You're the only one I want."
"But--but--" Remus spluttered. "But then why would you ask me that?"
"Just winding you up," Severus said, scanning an ingredients list.
"God, you're a prat," Remus remarked, and left his perch to push Severus against the table, closing his teeth on his lover's throat.
Severus 'oof'ed, but went still under Remus' teeth. He closed his eyes and bared his throat.
"I'd fucking hurt anyone who touched you wrong, let alone fucked you," Remus growled, his words clear despite the way he was biting Severus. "You're my mate." He sucked hard at Severus' throat.
Severus couldn't bite back a groan at the pleasure and pain from Remus' mouth. "God. I'm sorry! I know I shouldn't do it, but I can't help liking you possessive like this!" He really needed to learn to keep his mouth shut. Remus might only get angrier at that confession, but if he wanted to be mad at Severus, Severus knew he deserved it.
Remus calmed slightly, but he wrapped his arms around Severus and held him tightly. "Berk," he said, his voice more affectionate than it really ought to be. "You'll give me a complex." He nibbled Severus' throat and sucked again. He would leave a mark that proclaimed who Severus belonged to.
"Unh!" Severus wrapped his arms around Remus, clinging to him and groaning again. "Going to punish me?" he asked breathlessly.
"I might," Remus growled, closing his teeth harder. "You're very badly behaved."
Severus rubbed their hips together, his breath hot and urgent in Remus' ear. "Very!"
"Perhaps you need a spanking," Remus suggested. Ooh. He'd never thought of that. He stroked a hand down to squeeze Severus' arse. Merlin, they were snogging in the Hogwarts dungeon. The number of times he'd fantasized about that...
Oh, god, they'd never even talked about that! Severus groaned appreciatively and rubbed harder against Remus, extremely glad he'd gone and said something stupid.
They were being dangerously noisy already, Remus thought. He didn't care, not with the way Severus was rubbing against him. His cock sprang to enthusiastic attention and he ground against Severus. "You've been a naughty mate," he growled in Severus' ear. "Yes, you definitely need a spanking." He wondered if Severus would agree to drop trou in the middle of the dungeon.
Severus smirked at him with heavy-lidded eyes, leaning in to nibble Remus' earlobe. He really liked being naughty.
"Don't think you're going to get away with it," Remus warned, though he sounded breathless. He pulled up the bottom to Severus' robes and slid one hand around underneath to Severus' zip. "Your punishment is coming up." But he hadn't forgotten the conversation they'd had about Lucius Malfoy's domineering ways. He wanted to shove Severus down over the table and slap his arse, but he didn't want to do anything that might make Severus uncomfortable.
"Mmm, lucky me," Severus murmured darkly into Remus' ear. He arched against the hand on his zip.
What had got into Severus? Remus rubbed Severus' cock through the fabric, then unfastened his trousers and pushed them down. "Naughty you," he murmured.
"Yes, I've been very bad," Severus agreed, smirking. "Need to learn my lesson." He wriggled to help his trousers down and hiked his robes up around his waist, wondering just how many schoolboy fantasies he was fulfilling right now.
Oh God. Remus groaned and bit Severus' throat, then turned him to face away from Remus, bent over the brewing table with his cock trapped between his body and the work surface.
"You've been very naughty," he murmured breathlessly. "And now you must be punished." He smoothed his palm lightly over Severus' arse, then pulled away and smacked it, hoping he wasn't hitting too hard.
Severus let out a breathless exclamation that ended in a smirk Remus couldn't see. He'd never done this, but he definitely liked the light sting Remus' hand left behind. He braced himself on his forearms, because the worktop was a bit cold.
Severus' noise made Remus' cock give a little jump. He caught his breath and swung again, a bit harder this time. His hand made a satisfying crack upon contact.
Severus surged forward a little from the second, harder blow. "Oh, fuck!" he gasped, delighted to discover that the stronger sting felt good, too.
"Is that all right?" Remus asked anxiously. He didn't want to really hurt Severus, after all.
Severus nodded in answer, shifting impatiently.
Remus smirked and smoothed his hand over Severus' arse again, then smacked it again.
Severus let out another gasp, his hips jerking. The entire situation had him incredibly hard, and the stinging smacks were fading to a pleasurable heat.
Remus growled. "Such a naughty thing you are." He spanked Severus again, his free hand working at his own zip. God the sight of Severus like that had him hard! He bent down to kiss Severus' reddened arse cheek.
"Yes," Severus gasped quietly, almost inaudible. He would be embarrassed to admit how much he was enjoying it, but he also didn't want Remus to think he wasn't enjoying it.
Remus groaned and straightened, smacking Severus' arse again, harder this time. How much was too much, he wondered. He shoved his trousers down, freeing his cock. Biting his lip, he worked his free hand along the length of his erection, staring at Severus. God, he wanted to take. He rubbed his cock over the hot skin, smearing precome over it. "You're so sexy," he breathed.
"Fuck," Severus gasped, arching his hips, his fingertips scraping bluntly over the surface of the table. Fuck, he liked that.
Remus let out another soft groan and rubbed his cock between Severus' arse cheeks. "God, Severus," he breathed, and slapped his arse again. The skin was very red. He wondered if Severus would tell him to stop if he went too far. He should stop, shouldn't he? He bit his lip and let his hips jerk forward, pressing his cock against Severus' arse.
Severus pressed his face to the worktop, groaning again. He shifted his legs apart, trying to find relief for his aching cock and wishing desperately that Remus would fuck him. He was surprised by Remus, but loved how much desire built in him from Remus' teasing.
Remus leaned down over him. "You've been very bad," he murmured in Severus' ear. "But I think you've learned your lesson, haven't you? If you've learned very well, I'll let you have want you want." He caressed Severus' arse.
"Oh yes, I have!" Severus gasped, turning his head and panting.
Remus smiled. "You want me inside you, don't you? Inside you, pounding into you, taking you like the naughty boy you are."
Severus shifted again as Remus' voice and words made his cock throb. "Yes, yes! Please!"
"God, you wanton," Remus uttered, pleased. He did the charms to prepare Severus, then pressed inside without pausing. "You're gorgeous, begging me for it like this." He slid a hand between them to fondle Severus' bollocks, caressing them and then squeezing lightly.
Severus let out another groan, relishing the feel of Remus filling him and unable to keep silent at Remus' words, as well as the hand on his balls. "Oh Merlin, oh fuck! So good!" he gasped, rocking back on Remus' cock.
Remus gasped at the tight sensation of being in Severus and began thrusting. "God, Severus," he breathed, bracing himself with his free hand against the table.
Severus spread his feet a bit further apart, bracing himself against the table's work top as Remus began to move. It didn't occurr to him until just now that he'd been acting like... like an eager tart, though he supposed that Remus shouldn't mind that. And it wasn't as though he'd do this for anyone besides Remus.
Merlin, this was fantastic. Remus lifted his gaze to stare around the potions laboratory, marvelling at the fact that he was currently fucking Severus over a work table, as he'd fantasized about doing, years earlier. He looked down at Severus' back, at the way he was positioned, so eagerly, just for him. "Oh, fuck, love you so much," he groaned, thrusting harder.
That made Severus smile as he panted against the black countertop. His sight was in line with a shelf of ingredients, but he supposed staring at dried cockroach legs wasn't the most romantic scenery for being shagged, even if it was this sort of shagging, so he shut his eyes and concentrated on the way Remus felt inside him, on the things Remus said. "Love you," he gasped.
It was strange, doing this with all their clothes on. Remus tried to remember, as he stared at Severus' robes, relishing the way they were hiked up around his waist, if they'd ever done anything like this. Fuck, this was good. He shifted one hand to lift Severus' hips, the other still massaging Severus' balls.
Severus lifted his hips as Remus encouraged, arching his back a bit and feeling a bit of embarrassment for how bloody eager and desperate he was acting. But Merlin, Remus' cock felt so good inside him, and he'd absolutely loved being spanked (which he had a feeling he might feel embarrassed about, later), and truth be told there wasn't anything he didn't think he'd do if Remus really wanted. "Fuck," he gasped again, enjoying the hand on his balls but wishing his cock could get some attention. "Remus!"
Remus grunted and leaned down to kiss Severus' ear. "What?" he murmured, thinking that had sounded more like a Remus I want something than an Oh God Remus you're so good at this.
Severus writhed as Remus leaning over him changed the angle of his thrusts. He broke off gasping for air long enough to pant, "So hard! Need--nnng." But that was about all he could manage just then.
Oh. Shifting Severus' angle earlier had freed his cock. Feeling a little embarrassed that he hadn't noticed, Remus released Severus' balls and reached around to squeeze his erection lightly. "That better?" he said, stroking and squeezing.
"Fuck, yes!" Severus shouted, and hoped no one else had heard that. If he'd had the foresight to realise they'd be shagging instead of working, he could've put up a privacy ward. He shivered with pleasure, curling his toes in his boots and tensing all over as he rapidly approached orgasm.
Remus smirked and growled in Severus' ear, stroking Severus a little more roughly. "I love it when you're like this," he murmured. Merlin, he was getting close, and hearing Severus shout like that was so fucking sexy.
Severus gasped and swore and shuddered as he came, his eyes opening as he let out another entirely-too-loud noise of pleasure. He rocked back into Remus' thrusts as he rode out his orgasm, squeezing his muscles around Remus.
"Oh, oh, fuck!" Remus gasped, pleased and surprised by the way Severus tightened around him. "God, yes." He gentled his hand on Severus' cock, stroking until he felt Severus shudder the last of his orgasm. Then he braced that hand against the table, using his other to hold Severus' hips at the right angle, and fucked Severus hard for the dozen thrusts it took him to give a growling cry and come deep inside Severus.
Severus braced himself as best he could against that onslaught, loving the way Remus used his body for his pleasure. It didn't make him feel bad, the way it had when Malfoy had done it. He clenched around Remus again as the other man came, smiling in satisfaction to himself when he felt Remus' release flood him.
Remus groaned and slumped against Severus' back, panting. "Oh, Merlin, Severus," he breathed. "I love you so much. That was--that was fucking brilliant."
Severus reached back to caress Remus' hip in acknowledgement. "Yeah, it really was. Love you too."
Remus smiled and nuzzled Severus' neck, trying to muster the energy to move. He shifted his weight to his arms, instead of Severus' back, though he kept the contact. He wanted to be close to Severus. In fact he wanted to make Severus Floo home with him and snuggle, but he knew Severus had brewing to finish. "You're so wonderful," he whispered, nuzzling him again.
Remus thought he was wonderful. Severus smiled again, his eyes slitting, and wished they were lying down properly so he could put his arms around Remus. "You, too."
They couldn't stay like this forever. Heaven help them if Sluggy decided he needed something from this classroom. Remus finally sighed and let out a small groan, but pushed himself up away from the table and Severus' warmth. "I really don't want to let you get any brewing done," he said, letting his voice slip into a teasing note. "Perhaps you ought to tie me to a chair." As he spoke, he pulled out his wand and flicked it in cleaning spells.
Severus shivered as the cool charm worked over him, then straightened stiffly and pulled his trousers up and his robes down. He'd liked the feeling of his robes bunched around his waist and his trousers bunched around his knees.
Glancing at Remus in amusement, Severus smirked. "That could be arranged," he pointed out. "I'm not particularly interested in work at the moment, either, but I did come here to try and get caught up. We should have probably left this for the end," he added, as if the entire thing hadn't been a direct result of his deliberately baiting Remus' possessive side. But he did pull out his wand and transfigure one of the stools at the table into a sofa, levitating it across the floor to the far wall.
"Mmm," Remus said, and kissed him. "Well, I do like watching you work."
"Lie down, then, and I'll work," Severus said, brushing his fingers over Remus' sleeve before turning away to the table his cauldron and notes were on. The table they'd just shagged on. Merlin. Maybe working wouldn't be so easy.
Though he'd come home from work exhausted and discouraged, Remus felt positively energised by their activities of the past half hour. All the same, his body was a bit fatigued, and lying down sounded like a nice idea. He did as Severus suggested, pausing only to transfigure a scrap of parchment into a thick blanket. He curled up on the sofa and watched Severus.
Right. Working. Yes. Severus picked up his list again and chose the four easiest potions to brew from it, setting up four cauldrons. He re-read the formula for each to make certain he would be able to time them correctly so they could be brewed together by only one person, then rolled his sleeves up and began preparing and blending ingredients.
Before long, he had four softly simmering cauldrons on his table, and had more ingredients prepared for further potions, though he didn't think he'd start any more tonight. Severus began clearing up his workspace and putting away what he didn't need, and when he was done with that, returned to the table. He checked on everything, then turned to Remus, lowering himself onto the stool.
And quickly rose back up from said stool, his bum smarting.
Remus blinked and raised his eyebrows. "All right there, Severus?"
Severus narrowed his eyes from where they'd shot open wide, frowning. "Fine." He turned back to the cauldrons, embarrassed. Perfect. Now he wouldn't be able to bloody sit down.
Oh, now Severus was going to get stroppy about it because he was embarrassed. Remus stood up and went up behind Severus, moving stealthily but not being completely silent. He reached down and massaged Severus' arse gently. "Do you want a soothing charm?" he asked, nuzzling Severus under the ear. He really didn't want Severus to be unwilling to do that again, because that had been bloody sexy.
Severus hissed, very quietly, but his head tilted automatically to give Remus more room to nuzzle. "No," he admitted in a whisper.
"That was a very big turn-on for me," Remus murmured, "but I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
"Well obviously I liked it too," Severus uttered, as if saying it quietly were somehow less embarrassing. "If I get tired of it, I'll accept your offer of a soothing charm."
Remus growled comfortingly at Severus and wrapped arms around him for a moment, pulling him back against Remus' chest. "I love you," he whispered, and kissed Severus' neck. After a minute he went back to his transfigured sofa.
"I love you, too," Severus murmured, and went back to work.
It was over an hour later when he unspelled the heat on the last cauldron and bottled the contents, with labels he'd made while simmering took place. When he finally finished that painstaking task, Severus lined all the bottles up and turned to see if Remus had fallen asleep; he'd been very good, and very quiet, the entire time. Severus generally knew that if Remus was being good and quiet, it usually wasn't under his own will.
Remus enjoyed watching Severus work, but after a while he found himself fighting to keep his eyes open. Eventually he slipped into a doze that gradually deepened into true sleep. He was dreaming that he was a student again, dressed--oddly enough--in Slytherin clothes, and partnering Severus in Potions.
Severus knew he'd be right; asleep! Well, Remus had said, earlier in the evening, that he was tired. Merlin, how had they gone from a nasty row at home to telling Dumbledore they moved to shagging over Severus' work table? Severus sighed softly, then stepped over to the sofa and wondered if he could get away with sitting very gingerly on it. He leaned down and brushed Remus' cheek, thinking he ought to take him home and put him to bed.
Remus shifted and smiled. "Three stirs anticlockwise," he mumbled.
"Hmm?" Severus asked quietly, surprised, before he realised that Remus must be talking in his sleep. Severus smirked and ran a hand lightly down Remus' chest, pausing to knuckle the bulge in Remus' trousers ever so faintly.
Remus let out a soft moan and shifted. "Sev'rus..." He hadn't been expecting Severus to grope him under the table in the middle of Potions! Slughorn turned from the blackboard and looked at him expectantly. Remus let out a sharp exhalation.
Remus was dreaming...of him? Severus blinked, then a moment later felt something in his chest constrict. He felt so stupidly happy, even if he told himself that there was no reason to be that hung up about Remus having a dream he was in. All the same, Severus slowly and carefully eased his way onto the sofa so he was lying next to him.
"Mmmm." Remus turned and nuzzled against Severus, grateful that Slughorn (and the rest of their class, apparently) had vanished. It was just the two of them--Merlin, Severus was in Gryffindor colours! That was odd.
Severus slid an arm around Remus, feeling content and wondering if he could get away with tormenting Remus further. "Love you," he whispered, oh so quietly.
What? Severus might suddenly be a Gryffindor, but he wasn't about to say that. Remus snorted and woke up. "Huzzurwha?" he blurted, staring at Severus. Oh. The real Severus. Ooh, and Remus was hard from that dream.
Severus chuckled, deeply amused by the way Remus woke. "Thought you might be ready to go home," Severus murmured, brushing his knuckles over Remus' arousal again.
"Oh, God, only if you promise to molest me," Remus said, shifting closer and kissing Severus.
"I think I can manage that," Severus agreed, kissing him back. "Mmm, yes, definitely. Come on, there's a fireplace in this room. We can Floo home and go to bed and I'll molest you."
"Good," Remus said. He sat up. "The Sorting Hat didn't hesitate when it Sorted you, did it? I seem to remember your saying something about how it shouted out the moment you touched it."
Severus shook his head, feeling oddly but suddenly unhappy now that it didn't, because he thought Remus would have liked that better. "It seemed to have its mind made up before I even sat down."
Remus grinned. "I was dreaming you were in Gryffindor and I was in Slytherin. Bizarre, innit?" He got up and held out a hand to Severus to help him up.
"Very." Severus stared at him dubiously, then reached out and pulled Remus to his feet. "Did we do anything interesting?" he asked, leading Remus to the fireplace. It was the main reason he'd chosen this room to use for his work.
"Mmm, you were groping me under the table in Potions class," he said, liking the way Severus' hand felt in his.
"Ooh, kinky," Severus commented, partly interested and partly amused. "Maybe we should enact that fantasy sometime."
He took down a bowl of Floo powder and tossed some in, announcing their destination, and let go of Remus' hand long enough to go through, but he would wait on the other side, in case Remus wasn't quite awake enough to manage the Floo network gracefully.
Remus blinked at the fireplace for a moment, thinking about what Severus had last said, then Flooed home. He managed to stumble on his way out of the fireplace this time, too. He gave an exasperated sigh. Usually it was Severus who had trouble with the Floo.
Severus caught him with an arm around his shoulders, nuzzling Remus' ear with a small smile. "You're just tired," he murmured. "Come on, let's go to bed."
"Mm, you're nice to me," Remus murmured, and leaned against Severus, letting himself be led.
"Don't tell anyone," Severus joked quietly as he led Remus across the room. A short trip up the staircase later, he got Remus into their bedroom and then sat him on the bed, then began undressing him, too, beginning with his shirt and working down.
Remus was sleepy, but it felt so nice, the way Severus was undressing him. Little brushes of his fingertips against Remus' chest and stomach were sending little thrills through his body, which was waking up more than his mind.
Severus was careful to hide his smirk as he worked, sliding Remus' shirt sleeves down his arms and tossing the garment in the direction of the laundry basket. His touch was more business-like on Remus' trousers, though he continued the little touches down Remus' thighs and calves. The trousers and pants followed the shirt, the shoes and socks got shoved under the bed, and then Severus lifted the covers for Remus, not hiding how much he obviously liked watching Remus naked.
Remus' mouth had gone dry; he loved how Severus touched him. He scooted back and lay back, resting his head on one arm so he could watch Severus.
Severus stood and undressed, perhaps a bit slower than normal, but still efficiently. He tossed his clothes at the basket, less worried about neatness than usual just then, and once he was naked, slid beneath the covers next to Remus. He shifted so they were lying side by side, facing his lover, and smiled at him.
"God, you..." Remus murmured, reaching up to stroke Severus' face. "Love you."
"Love you, too," Severus whispered, his eyes slitting slightly at that touch. He couldn't have been happier in that moment, though he reminded himself it wasn't time to relax and get sleepy. He reached between them to curl his hand lightly around Remus' cock.
"Ohhh," Remus gasped, shifting against Severus' hand. "Ohh, Merlin, that feels so nice."
Severus' smile grew in strength. He whispered a slicking charm and stroked Remus to full hardness with feather-light touches. "Good."
Remus' breath turned ragged and he made a needy noise, trailing his fingers down Severus' face and neck to find his nipples and play with them lazily.
Sucking in a surprised gasp for that, Severus' eyes widened a bit, but his hand didn't falter. He wanted to shift closer, but that made it more difficult for his wrist. He watched Remus' expression as he stroked him, slowly increasing the pressure, enjoying the need and desire he saw.
Remus whimpered and leaned in to kiss Severus, pleading wordlessly for Severus to demand this, to take.
Severus was a bit surprised with the strength of that kiss; it was a little at odds with his light touches. He sped up his pace, deciding Remus didn't want light, and squeezed the head of Remus' cock every time a stroke brought his hand there.
Remus gasped and reached up to slide his fingers into Severus' hair. "Oh, God, take me, Severus," he breathed.
Severus stared in surprise, though his hand didn't falter. "I thought you just wanted a hand job. Aren't you sleepy? Just relax."
"But you feel so good," Remus murmured, but he stroked Severus' hair and relaxed back against the bed again.
"Just let me do this for you," Severus said, enjoying the hand on his hair. He wanted more of Remus' touches, but he just wanted Remus to lie back and relax, without having to give anything in return.
"Mmm." Remus nodded and relaxed more, but kept his fingers in Severus' hair. "Feels so good."
"Good," Severus uttered, increasing his strokes. He shifted his other arm around so he could fondle Remus' balls only slightly awkwardly, and twisted the wrist of his hand stroking him.
"Oh, oh, yes," Remus gasped, arching in pleasure. "Oh, Severus--"
Severus quickened his pace, thinking that Remus seemed close. He absolutely loved Remus like this, and continued to increase speed and pressure, hoping to increase Remus' pleasure.
Remus gasped and groaned, tensing. Merlin, he could feel himself just hovering on the edge of climax.
"Love you, Remus," Severus murmured, trying to ignore that his arms were tiring from the awkward position.
With another groan, Remus came, his fingers tightening and tugging lightly at Severus' hair. "Ahh! Oh, I love you, too. Unnnnh." Breathless, he slowly relaxed again, watching Severus with a heavy-lidded, sated expression.
Severus shifted forward when Remus came, feeling warmth flood his hands and his stomach. He watched Remus relax, smiling faintly.
"Mmm, Severus." Remus snuggled against Severus, letting his tongue flicker out to taste Severus' throat.
Feeling warm and content, Severus curled towards Remus, enjoying his presence at his side.
"Need you," Remus murmured, warm content filling him.
"Mmm," was Severus' answer. He was aroused, but tired and content, and unconcerned with doing anything besides relishing the comfort of Remus next to him.
Remus gave a happy sigh and kissed Severus' neck, the nuzzled his face against it. Sleep was creeping up on him.
After a moment, Severus sighed and muttered a cleaning charm so he could put an arm around Remus without worry. That done, he closed his eyes and let himself drift towards slumber.
Remus slept.