Wolfsbane
Chapter 3 of 31
quaffswinegailySeverus decides whether or not he will work with Remus.
ReviewedWolfsbane
Disclaimer: They are all hers, not mine.
Severus was ticked off. He scowled as he tucked into his breakfast of kippers, toast and marmalade.
How dare that witch imply I am merely adequate. She has no idea. I could do the work, but who in their right mind wants to work on Wolfsbane? If I show her some of the alterations I have been making in my Potions book, she might reconsider and let us work on something else.
And Lupin! What's the woman thinking? He is such a non-event of a person; he’s so bland. I suppose he might be smart enough, but he should really keep better company, being a Prefect. Those bloody Gryffindor twats.
Snape continued to muse on the Gryffindors, Potter and Black in particular.
They had made his life miserable ever since their first encounter on the Hogwarts Express at the start of first year.
Last year had been the worst, especially the incident when Sirius had lured him to the Shrieking Shack. Potter had only just managed to haul him away from the thrashing branches of the Whomping Willow. Now he owed the jerk a debt.
They had left him alone then, lying Stupefied on the lawn, in the middle of the night. He had listened to the howling from the Shack all night as he watched the willow tree’s limbs outlined against the full moon, unable to escape back to the castle.
Arrogant pure-bloods.
He wondered where Lupin had been that night.
Tucked up in bed, no doubt, scared of the full moon or frightened of werewolves, the soft git.
On reflection, he realised Lupin seemed to be more on the periphery of their clique recently, and there were times when he disappeared altogether. Maybe those pure-blood tossers picked on him as well. He was a half-blood after all, the same as Snape. Perhaps it did all come down to blood in the end, like Avery and Mulciber kept telling him.
Now the Potions teacher wanted him to work on Wolfsbane, and he had to give her an answer before his Potions lesson today. He supposed it might be a challenge, especially if she let them do some research and a bit of lab testing. It would be more of a challenge working with someone he didn’t really like. His thoughts circled around werewolves and Lupin again.
He paused.
Surely not!
He leaped to his feet and swirled out of the Great Hall.
Who should he talk to about his theory?
Lily. She had always been his confidante.
He couldn’t find her in any of her usual spots in the library.
He sighed and started to drift back downstairs. As he rounded a bend in the corridor, he bumped into someone hurrying towards the Gryffindor common room. Lupin grunted and recoiled. He looked haggard and tired. Snape’s nose wrinkled reflexively in disgust. A strong, musky odour rolled off Lupin. One would think by the smell of him he lived with a pack of animals. Severus couldn’t be bothered trying to be polite, so he pushed past him without a backward glance.
Eventually, he found Lily in a quiet courtyard. Taking a seat next to her on the stone bench, he stretched out his long, skinny legs in the morning sun, leaning back with his hands behind his head.
“What do you reckon, Lil?” he asked after explaining the offer to her.
Before he could take his hands from behind his head, she gave him a quick hug and jumped up from the seat, facing him with excited, shining eyes.
“You’re amazing, Severus. Imagine being invited to do research in Potions. I can’t believe you didn’t say yes straight away. I love you, Severus, but sometimes you need a real kick in the butt.”
She was right. Standing up, he placed a hand on her shoulder and kissed the top of her smooth, auburn head in gratitude.
“Thanks, Lil. You’re the best friend a guy could have.”
“Best friend? Is that all, Severus?”
“Yes... No! What I mean is...”
“Boys! You’re all hopeless,” she muttered.
Turning on her heel, she stomped away from him, shaking her coppered mane.
“Lily, wait!” he called after her, but she strode on, ignoring him. Shrugging, he turned towards the dungeons in confusion. He hadn’t had a chance to ask her about Lupin.
The Potions classroom door was ajar as Severus approached prior to his next lesson. He could hear someone moving things around inside.
Knocking quietly, he heard no answer. He hesitated briefly, then he eased himself around the edge of the heavy door.
Muffled muttering emanated from the Potions store room, piquing his interest. Peering into the small, multi-shelved room, he saw a pair of bare feet close to his eye level. Their owner was on tiptoe on the top rung of a ladder. As his eyes trailed upwards, he noted the shapely calves, then up past the creamy backs of a pair of knees, which lead his gaze higher. He realised he had an unobstructed view right up the short skirt of the delectable Mademoiselle, who was at the top of a step ladder vigorously cleaning shelves the Muggle way. Her blouse strained and clung to the curve underneath her breast as she stretched to pick up the final jar from the end of the top shelf.
He swallowed nervously and took a step backwards, trying to leave before she noticed him. His foot caught on a stack of cauldrons, knocking them over with a resounding clang.
Charmaine flinched, startled just at the tipping point, causing the ladder to wobble.
“Hold the legs,” she yelped.
Severus lunged forwards and took a firm grip around her bare legs, catching her unceremoniously as the witch, ladder and jar crashed earthwards. A cacophony of splintering glass smashed around them. Her smooth, bare legs slid through his encircling arms until her fall arrested with his hands around her hips. He lowered her the remaining short distance to the ground.
Quickly, he removed his hands from the warm, smooth skin under her skirt. As she pulled down the hem of her rucked-up clothing, he surreptitiously pressed the palms of his hands together, savouring the subsiding sensation of her on his skin.
She performed a quick Evanesco before slipping on her shoes.
“I knew it was you, Severus. I could smell you,” she said, without turning round.
Furtively, he sniffed and tucked his sensitised hands into his armpits protectively.
“I meant for you to hold the legs of the ladder, you know. I am a competent witch and wouldn’t have fallen or hurt myself.”
“Indeed, miss.”
Spinning around, she looked up at him. In the enclosed space, he was much closer than she had expected, and he loomed over her. It caught her by surprise, and, before she realised what she was doing, she lifted a hand up to his face. Her eyes travelled from where her hand rested on his cheek to his lips and up to his eyes.
“Oh! Severus, you are so...” Young... innocent... unmarked.
A noise from the classroom disrupted the moment. Hastily, she withdrew her hand and looked down. “Sorry. Em, Monsieur Snape, thank you for your aid, anyway.” She stepped past him and into the classroom. “Ah, Mr Lupin, good to see you.”
Snape took his hands from his armpits and stared at them.
What the hell happened there?
He lifted his palms to his nose; her honey scent clung to them. Inhaling deeply, he stepped out of the store room.
A/N: Thanks to sunny33 for her wonderful beta work.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Man's Best Friend
353 Reviews | 7.7/10 Average
Damn so he came back cured of the love that he had,but stilled loved them as a friend.I am not sure I understand how he was cured from being dead...did he not really die cause of the Blaze? I loved the story,felt a little rushed at the end,but it was supposed to be a one shot right!! Great work thanks!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for taking the time to read to the finish and review. I wrote this story three years ago, so perhaps would take more time on the ending now. Maybe one day I'll revisit it.
I think they could have been a triad. Do you ever write those stories? You would write a great one I know!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I haven't yet. Maybe one day.
i like the older Snape and I am sure Hermione does too!!Great story!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
He matures rather well.
If he had lived would Lupin have been thier third? I would like to think so...I LOVE this story!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Perhaps... or maybe not...
i love the way you incorporate canon and fanon!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you very much. I appreciate your reviews.
poor Severus and poor(Hermione?)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Indeed.
I never liked Lily, a real friend would have forgiven!! I hate the fact Severus never recoved from her loss and went to his death alone on a dirty floor...Thank goodness for fan fiction!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fan fiction just lets us explore other options.
i was not expecting the unicorn to hurt our Severus!! I think it is for the good in the long run!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Here's hoping...
Hermione?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Really?
Response from deedeebug95 (Reviewer)
Hahaha!
oMG, this really could have happened this way!! Poor Severus this is breaking my heart
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It's certainly a possibility.
like the start of this!! How dare they shave Severus' hair!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I know. Oily and lank though it may be at times, we do love his hair.
If the professor knew how the dance went, why would she not be prepared to be kissed by Severus? It seems odd that a professor would dance this dance with a student. Obviously she has some kind of magical sight that Severus can pick up on when he touches her. Legilimins? Could they have gotten away with a kiss on the cheek? She should chastise Snotter for trapping her and Severus and taunting him right in front of a teacher. I know I need to just buck and deal with the tragedy that is Silly Lily Evens the idiot girl who has no ability to judge character and Severus Snape. I still don't like it though. F the Gryffindors. I hates them all!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Lily is such a little airheaded dolt! She has no common sense! She knows Severus better than that! She should know he wouldn't say such a thing! And that Snotter deserves to be killed by Voldemort. The world is better off without his kind of riff raff. I know that sounds stinky, but I'm a fat, greyheaded, crotchety and cantankerous old broad so I get to say things like that.
"That little whiper snaper probably smokes dope like all them other little pimply faced reprobates! All those young people are are on dope, damn it!" 
That's the mood I'm in and it's late. So I'd better go to bed before I do or say anything else antisocial. 
If you knew the week I've been having you'd understand.
Some little wanker stole my car and got it impounded for driving with no licence and for possession. He also just happens to be married to my idiot, enabling daughter who makes excuses for the little A-hole. I have no idea who raised these damn kids of mine!
Just freeking kill me now before I ever have to live with with any of the ungrateful leeches. I'll have bed sores and a wet diaper all the time.
I could totally kick that drunk, skinny little ass of his if I wanted to, you know... he's a little putz and I weigh more than he does. All I have to do is knock him down and sit on his face until he suffocates. He just better hope I don't cough, sneeze or laugh while I'm at it! Oops! it's too late. There I went and said something else antisocial. Somebody make me go to bed! I have to work tomorrow so I can buy diapers and wipes for my spawn's babies.
If you have to have kids, for the love of god don't have girls! Drama Drama Drama! I'm just warning you now. Kids are over freeking rated.
It's time for sleeping pills. I can't believe how late it is and I'm still up bitching... 
Now you know why I read Harry Potter fan fiction. In my head magic is fixing everything right now and Snape thinks I am the sexiest thing he's ever seen!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
What special gift does she have? Oooooo, I know! She must be a werewolf! No wait. She does't smell of dog. But maybe she just knows how to keep the smell away. Hmmmmm. Touching Snape's face would have been OK if he had been a 4th grader but, teenager? Does she uderstand teenage male hormone function? Or should I call it a disorder? Just kidding. When I was a girl I didn't know what not to do around boys. I don't think I got wise until my mid 30's. I'm thinking she must be at least that old, however or she wouldn't have been thinking the things she was thinking. Women at the bottom of the hill wouldn't notice such attributes. Interesting.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Hmmmm. She wants to let Severus know that Lupin is a Werewolf? I sincerely hope she isn't the one behind the prank that almost killed the young Severus.
Why would Dumbledore want the two boys to work together? Training them for something? Are you saying that the speech on the first day of potions isn't Severus Snape's original work?
I am very surprised he would use someone elses speech, but I guess if she turns out to be someone he truely admires I suppose he might use it to honor her. Maybe it caught his interest so well that it inspired him for life and he uses it hoping to inspire other young people the way he was. I guess we will find out. Black is such an arse! No wait, worse, he's a vulgar dick head.
I take it we won't be super attached to Sirius Black in this story. That's fine with me. I read for the love of Severus Snape and the love of Snape/Granger romance.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Bummer! They shaved his beautiful long black hair. Hasn't the poor man suffered enough assault to his dignity? I wonder why they let him out of Azkaban for the funeral? Is it to humiliate him? Is he out of Azkaban but under house arrest with guards? It must be shocking to Hermione to see Snape sobbing. I guess you'll tell us how he survived the war. An ausicious beginning!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
This has got to be one of the most gorgeous convoluted twisty exciting mind bending epic stories I've ever read!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
I started reading this just before bed time, telling myself that I'd only read a chapter or two then off to bed... its now 5:30AM and I just finished! I just couldnt stop reading! I loved it. I really enjoyed every word! Great job and I look forward to reading more from you!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm absolutely delighted. Thank you very much. Now, go and get some sleep!
What a fun roller coaster! Thanks for posting it where we can read it.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for taking the time to stop and leave a review.
Charming story! I've definitely never read anything like it. I love the Portkey idea, and how the story flowed between the past and the present. Thanks.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for reviewing. This was my first ever long fic. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm not sure if I loved the story more or the A/N! Fabulous write;)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I really appreciate your review. A/N: must remember to give everyone squishy hugs for reviewing...
Thank you for a happy ending - Severus & Hermione wedded, and Remus brought back, as well as Remus finding another special person to love and share/continue a new life with! I can't believe you intended this first to be only a one shot - thank Merlin's Beard that you got carried away or we all would never have had this wonderful, creative adventure in our ff lives - big heartfelt thanks! Looking forward to more of your multi-chaptered works as well as all others!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It was a one shot, but the darned thing wouldn't lie down. Normally I struggle to string more than a couple of words together, so this was a bit of a one off. Thanks very much for your encouragement. Cheers, qwg
Ah-ah, Quaffie. I told you quite a few chapters back that you couldn't kill off Remus and you told me to get some new specs or something of that ilk because your prologue dictated that the lovely werewolf had shuffled off his mortal coil or pelt or whatever. Hmmmph. I'd like you to know lassie that I have 20-20 vision....and hindsight and can see through walls too. I enjoyed this ending but I secretly thought that Remus was going to end up with Harry. No??? Anyway thank you for a wonderful story. I have thoroughly enjoyed both Remus and Severus' and indeed our banter over the last few months and look forward to hearing from you again in the near future. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxxx.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fie on you, and your xray, 3D, perception... glasses... thingies. It was very tempting to set Remus up with Harry, or in a threesome, but Jo was looking a bit left out. And being a true Aussie sheila used to wrangling crocs and dingoes, I reckoned she'd be able to manage his scrawny, flea-bitten hide.And the bloomin' happy ending fairy took over...I'm away to sink into the slough of despond, or onto the couch, or anywhere out of this infernal summer heat. Thanks for all your edifying reviews.Cheers, qwg
So glad this was more than a one shot! I've loved every minute of it. I'm really loving this unicorn magic. You should explore it more in future stories. Beautifully written and one of my favorite fics.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm very glad you liked it. The story just kept expanding - in some part due to sunny33, who read the original, and never made a comment, but the look on her face just said 'crap ending, write some more' - so I did (but not exactly what she wanted).As for more unicorns - not sure if I trust the mutant horse much - we'll wait and see.Thanks for all your lovely reviews.Cheers, qwg
Yay for you! Your first long fic and it went out on top. This was an even better ending than expected. I have to have my happy ending, always, and I knew you would let Severus and Hermione end in that fashion, but I was so pleased to find that they were able to have their friend back, even if it was through a portrait. THEN, you went and did one better by bringing him back for real. I, for one, am pleased that this one-shot got carried away. Feel free to let that happen again ...
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Darn! The happy ending fairy got a bit over exuberant, didn't she? I'll have to go and think up something evil she can't tamper with. I hope you enjoyed the read. Really, it shouldn't have worked - a story about a time travelling poisoner, a dead werewolf and a hard drinking wizard with memory defecit. What a load of tosh!Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, they are much appreciated.Cheers, qwg