Full Moon

10. Full Moon

"Do you mind if I take a shower before I leave?" The words were spoken coolly, and Remus fully woke to the harsh light of the morning sun. A moment ago he had been lingering between half-sleep and wakefulness; now his eyes were blinded by the light and his heart stabbed by the fact that Severus was up already with a blanket wrapped around his waist and clothes tucked under his arm.

Trying to cope with the sudden change in the mood, Remus pushed himself upwards. The bed was too big all of a sudden, and he shivered in the chilly air – the fireplace was as cold and empty as Severus's voice. The werewolf managed a, "Sure you can," before his throat tightened with dread.

It was morning. He had signed the parchment, they had completed the binding during the night, and now it was over. Nothing but a necessity. No deeper meaning. You can leave Hogwarts in the morning – the words Severus had said the previous evening rang in his mind, bounced up and down behind his eyes, and hurt more than he would have expected. Much more.

"You always were a stupid idiot when it came to relationships," Remus murmured to himself. He pulled the bedcover up to his chin, hoping in vain that his trembling would stop. But the tremble wasn't caused by the coldness in the room; it emanated from deep inside him. The prospect of having to leave Hogwarts was awful enough; leaving Severus was simply unthinkable.

From the bathroom, he heard the water gurgling down the drain and imagined Severus washing off the night's passion with calm, controlled movements. Remus promised himself he wouldn't tremble; he wouldn't try to keep the memories of the past night alive by hugging himself, imagining it was his lover doing so. "Damn shit," Remus murmured. "I didn't expect this to get worse. Obviously, I was wrong."

That was the moment when Severus came out of the bathroom, dressed in jeans and shirt, buttoned all the way up. The werewolf's bite was concealed by the shirt's soft fabric and the long, freshly washed, black strands of his hair. Severus had pulled most of it back into a braid again, but only loosely. It looked so damn good Remus nearly choked at the sight.

"You should get up, Lupin. Classes start in half an hour, and I assume you want to have breakfast first." The Potions master took his wand and turned to leave.

"I'm not hungry," Remus managed.

Impatiently, Snape crossed his arms over his chest. "Then get dressed at least. I had no intention of holding out your trousers for you, but it seems you are incapable of even the smallest tasks before a transformation."

Suddenly angry beyond recognition, Remus jumped out of bed, the bedcover held to his chest. "I prefer to get dressed without a witness," he snapped. "Get out, will you?"

Snape stared at him for a very long moment, then closed the distance between them with a few steps. "You are angry at me," he said, surprise in his voice. "And you feel uncomfortable because I am dressed and you are not. Considering that after last night I know your body in detail, this is positively ridiculous."

"Get. Out!" Remus snarled through gritted teeth.

"I can detect a pattern here. Whenever you don't want to talk about something that bothers you, you try to throw me out of your rooms. You should have learned by now that that doesn't work. So tell me: what's wrong?"

"I don't..."

Snape reached out and pressed his palm against the werewolf's cheek. His fingers parted the short hair; the thumb brushed across Lupin's lips. "You want me to leave?"

"Yes."

Snape's lips twitched ever so slightly. "Liar," he said and stopped the werewolf from jerking away by grabbing hold of his shoulder. "Did you forget that we are bound? No lies will stay hidden, wolf. We cannot lie to each other anymore, at least not whilst having body contact. Tell me again: do you want me to leave?"

Remus paled. The situation was bad enough for him without Severus standing so very close, and if this lying-thing was true... "I need you to go," he finally said. "It will be easier for me if you just walk out through this door and let me pack my things and..."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "You want to leave Hogwarts?"

"That was the sole reason for the damn marriage, wasn't it?" Remus bit out through gritted teeth. "You said the legal binding would nullify the effects of the curse. That means I am free to go. And if you don't step back, I will break your arm!"

Ignoring the threat, the Potions master pulled the werewolf another bit closer. Only the duvet was between them, trapped tightly between their bodies. "You could leave Hogwarts if you really wanted to. But you don't. And I never intended to end this marriage as soon as the contract was signed. I'm quite old-fashioned; once I marry, I think I would prefer to remain married for the rest of my life. Hold up your left hand."

Too stunned to do otherwise, Lupin did as ordered. In the morning sun, his skin looked golden. At his ring finger, a golden band glittered in the pale, wintry beams. Waggling his fingers, he could feel the ring now as well; it fitted perfectly. Not caring about his nakedness anymore, Remus dropped the duvet. It slipped towards the floor, and he raised his other hand to touch the piece of jewellery he couldn't remember having put on.

Severus let go of the werewolf's shoulder and pressed his own left hand to the other man's palm. On his ring finger a silver band was to be seen. When both rings touched, the same tiny stars as the previous night sparked up. "I told you the rings would appear after the contract was fulfilled," the Potions master said softly. "They can't be taken off; they can neither be destroyed nor concealed. Only if we decide in mutual agreement that we wish to end the binding can we demand the parchment to be destroyed, and only then will the rings vanish again. Do you want that?"

Remus shook his head.

"Nor do I. I am at a loss to understand how taking a shower might have offended you, but I clearly managed to do so. I apologise. I am grumpy in the mornings. Maybe I should have been... friendlier."

A disbelieving grin crossed the werewolf's face. "You are grumpy all the time. I should have expected it. I just assumed you wanted me out of your eyesight."

Snape snorted and took a step back. Taking in every inch of the werewolf's naked body, he said, "I didn't expect to ever get married, but now that I am, I consider you a good catch, so to speak. We're bound. Get used to it, Lupin."

Remus flinched.

"You don't like me calling you by that name?" Snape asked.

Remus shook his head. Stepping into the bedroom, he finally pulled on a pair of trousers. "I didn't mind until last night. But now... it sounds far too cold and distant."

"I see." The Potions master opened the door and stepped into the corridor. "Hurry. I dislike having breakfast without you by my side. Remus," he added and grinned when the werewolf blushed.

*****

Snape was surprised at how hungry he was, and he devoured double the amount of porridge that morning. When Remus arrived about ten minutes after him, he cast him a thin smile and handed over the pot of tea and the sugar. "Good morning," he added belatedly. "About time you turned up."

He didn't expect the stunned silence from his colleagues that accompanied the small gesture and his words.

"Erm, Severus, are you feeling well?" Minerva asked. "Headache, maybe, or dizziness? You are unusually friendly this morning."

Sybill fanned her face dramatically. "Ah, the dark shadow is near!" she exclaimed. "Remus, you must be careful. It might be your end, getting too close to it."

The werewolf stared at her for a moment, and then looked at Snape. His eyes widened for a moment, then he chuckled. "I doubt it, Sybill. Occasionally, dark shadows turn out to be quite harmless. Although... harmless might not be the right word. Fascinating, maybe. Thanks for the sugar, Severus."

"Hmm." Snape just nodded. "Dinner in my dungeons tonight. I know you don't eat before a transformation, but I would like to see for myself how the Wolfsbane works."

This time, the werewolf nodded, having his mouth full with toast. "Eight o'clock," he suggested after he'd had a sip of tea. "You sure you want to see that?"

Snape barked out a laugh. "I've seen Greyback and most of his pack transform more often than I care to think about, Remus. One single little werewolf won't manage to terrify me. Especially not when the werewolf in question is you."

Every teacher at the High Table stared at the two men. Only Albus Dumbledore hummed a merry little tune and added some cream to his coffee. When the – quite stunned – silence stretched uncomfortably, Snape looked up from his plate only to see the questioning faces of his colleagues.

"What?" he snapped.

"This is the first time ever that you talk to Remus without a sneer in your voice," Pomona Sprout said accusingly and put her fork down. "And you called him by his given name! It is certainly a novelty that you volunteer to witness a transformation. And you, Remus – I know that you don't allow anyone to watch when you turn into a wolf. You yourself told me so. So what is going on here?" She'd been talking quietly, but already some students seemed to have noticed that something was amiss at the teacher's table.

"Damn," Snape murmured under his breath, realising that for once, he had talked too much. He watched the students chat over their breakfasts, he saw an owl flying in, delivering a parcel. He remembered that the Dark Lord was dead and he was free to do what he wanted. In between two heartbeats he made a decision. Lazily, he leaned back in his chair, holding his teacup between his hands. "Did you want to keep this a secret, Remus?" he asked, rolling his head towards the werewolf.

Remus coughed violently, and Snape had to slap his back for a couple of times. "You are kidding me!" the werewolf finally managed, wiping a tear out of his eye. "You don't really think about telling them? Now? Here?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Snape asked, pretending that he wasn't very aware of all the ears listening to their conversation. "Eventually, they will find out anyway. Like this, there won't be rumours."

Exasperated, the werewolf crookedly smiled. "You never fail to surprise me," he said. "Right. Go on. Tell them."

"Tell us what?" Minerva McGonagall asked sharply. "Severus, if there is any information you held back from us, either concerning Death Eaters or You-Know-Who himself, you must..."

"Good gods," Snape sighed, put his cup onto the table, leaned over, and kissed the man sitting next to him.

*****

It was a deep kiss, filled with longing and the memories of the night they had shared. Tongues touched, and somehow, Snape's hand decided that it wanted to grab hold of the werewolf's neck. The fact that all his students and colleagues could clearly see what he was doing, the fact that this kiss was something he had never dreamed of doing in front of witnesses, didn't bother him. All that counted, all that mattered were Remus's lips on his, the warmth of his lover's skin under his fingertips, and the knowledge that his kiss was welcomed.

"Severus!" Remus breathed after a small eternity. His fingers had opened the top button of the Potions master's shirt. "You need to get away from me, or I will have to take you right here on the table, between butter, milk, and porridge." The werewolf's pupils were dilated, his nostrils flared. Snape could easily see how close his lover was to losing control again.

"Interesting fantasies you've got, wolf," he murmured, but reluctantly leaned back into his chair again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a Gryffindor stepping back from the High Table, red as a tomato and hiding something behind his back. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered but the simple fact that, for the first time in more than two decades, he had taken his life in his own hands and had steered it into the direction he wanted it to go. Tucking a lose strand of hair behind his ear, he looked at McGonagall. "The Dark Lord is dead, Minerva, his Death Eaters are either in the graveyard or in Azkaban. There are only my personal secrets to reveal. One, as you just have witnessed, is not a secret anymore. Any further questions concerning my friendly behaviour towards Remus?"

Minerva McGonagall blushed deeply and didn't say a word.

Snape got up. "I will see you later," he said to the werewolf and left the Great Hall.

*****

Admittedly, Snape hadn't expected many reactions to the kiss he and Remus had shared at the breakfast table. After all, teachers were allowed to have a private life, and students as well as colleagues had never dared to make assumptions or talk behind his back.

Today, things were different. Wherever he went, he heard whispers; wherever he looked, he saw frowning faces. At first, he didn't think much of it. But after a few hours, he sensed a certain hostility towards him, something that hadn't happened since the end of the war. The stares were distinct, direct, and angry, and Snape didn't have a clue what he had done to earn them.

The last class of the day was double potions with Seventh-year Gryffindors and Slytherins. Usually this class was easy to handle – since Potter had killed the Dark Lord with the help of Malfoy's mother, the enemies had buried the hatchet and behaved like civilised human beings. Today, though, teaching the class was nearly impossible. Whenever Snape turned his back, he felt their eyes in his back, and not one student seemed able to concentrate on the given task. Snape could nearly hear the unspoken questions without being able to understand what they were about. It was unnerving, and he was more than glad when the bell rang.

He was just about to leave the classroom when Hermione Granger raised a hand. "Professor Snape?" she said, and without waiting for his allowance to speak, continued, "Is it true that you put Professor Lupin under the Imperius Curse so he wouldn't fight you kissing him?"

The whole class seemed to hold its breath. Shocked silence followed the girl's words, and Snape, feeling as if she had punched him hard in the stomach, just managed not to sag against the doorframe. He didn't even give a sharp and nasty reply as he would have done under usual circumstances.

The girl got up. Every other student was rooted to his or her chair. Only she stood on her legs, chin raised, hands pressed to the table in front of her. Snape saw that she was trembling and wasn't really surprised that she seemed frightened to death – he was quite close to strangling her, and he guessed this could be easily seen on his face.

"Is it true you put a potion in his tea so he would fall in love with you? Is it true you hexed him? Is it true that you tortured Professor Lupin last month and that you killed him and buried his corpse in the Forbidden Forest and replaced him with someone who just looks like him?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Snape croaked. Only very slowly he regained control over his muscles. Stalking back into the classroom, he had to ball his fists or he would have taken his wand out, aiming at his students and maybe even risking committing murder.

"I'm talking about the rumours that are spreading through the school, Professor Snape. I am talking about the fact that Rita Skeeter arrived shortly after lunch, asking most private and improper questions and taking notes. Dennis made a picture this morning and Miss Skeeter convinced him to hand it over. It shows you and Professor Lupin kissing, and everyone thinks you forced him... somehow. He was so very pale this morning, and I figured you possibly didn't know about all what was being said, and I thought you should know, sir." Sweating slightly, she refused to look down when he took a step towards her table.

"Lupin was pale because tonight it is full moon. He's taught you for an entire year – you should know that he always feels unwell at this time. Go and ask him. Tell him what you have told me, and he will answer all of your questions," Snape said, dangerously calm. Hadn't the sole reason of the kiss been to avoid rumours? he wondered. Where do these children get such idiotic ideas?

The girl nervously dug her hands into her open bag. It was lying in front of her, and Snape could see an Arithmancy book, parchments, and quills. "I would have, but... We all are very fond of Professor Lupin," she whispered. "He is not in his rooms. Rumours say he's under your spell or Polyjuiced or dead, and I don't believe any of that nonsense, but if you don't stop them now, they will get out of hand!"

"He is in my rooms, Miss Granger," Snape bit out. "He doesn't teach before the full moon, as you know. I advised him to take a rest, and I considered my rooms the better place to do so." Snape felt fury boil up inside him and decided that it would be best to leave before he did something stupid.

He was already at the door when the girl called him back. "Professor! Please, I know this will earn me detention for the rest of my life, but you need to answer my question!" There was a great deal of desperation in her voice.

Snape didn't turn. "It's none of your business, Miss Granger. Ten points..."

She pushed her chair back and went after him, interrupting his sentence so boldly that Snape couldn't do anything else but admire her nerve. "It might not bother you, but those rumours... they are bad. They accuse you of Dark Magic. You can't afford that, not after two decades in Voldemort's service. And Professor Lupin won't like to be called a victim of your magic. Everyone thinks... they think..."

Finally, Snape understood what she was saying – the rumours weren't only about him, but about Remus as well, and for his sake, he needed to end them now and here. "Do you know what a legal binding is, Miss Granger?" Snape had difficulty keeping his voice calm.

The girl nodded. The rest of the class, even Potter, watched in silence, wide-eyed and with clenched fists, ready to start a fight if someone said a wrong word.

Snape forced himself to relax, enough to indicate that nothing bad would happen in his classroom as long as he was in control of the situation. "Then you know that it cannot be forced," he continued. "No spell, no hex or curse, no potion or drug must be at work. The contract can only be signed strictly voluntarily."

"Are you saying..." Slowly, a knowing smile spread on her face. "You and Professor Lupin are married?"

His short, brisk nod caused the class to gasp in unison.

Triumphantly, Hermione added, "And the contract is filed at the Ministry of Magic once it is validated, where it can be displayed, if necessary." She beamed, her wild, crazy hair standing up around her head like a dandelion. "In addition, rings appear on both partner's fingers. Magical rings. Impossible to overlook. Easy to recognise. And there's no way to fake them."

Deliberately slowly, Snape folded his arms over his chest. The ring on his left hand sparkled. He didn't say another word, but more gasps from his students indicated that they began to understand what the existence of the ring meant.

"I should have noticed them!" Hermione exclaimed, and then added, more calmly, "Thank you, Professor Snape. I assume you wish to spend the evening with your bound partner. If you don't mind, I will have a little chat with Miss Skeeter."

Another brisk nod; Snape finally left the classroom. Over his shoulder, he said, "Fifty points to Gryffindor for exceptional bravery and thoughtfulness," which caused several shocked outcries from the Slytherins and joyful Gryffindor cheers.

*****

Remus was pacing the Potions master's rooms nervously. He had slept for the better part of the day, now feeling weak and dizzy and nervous at the same time. Odd dreams had plagued him, but that was nothing new – the full moon always had this effect on him, and he had learned to cope with it many years ago.

What he hadn't expected was to wake up in Severus's bed, with the man's smell in his oversensitive nose and the knowledge that he was in the very rooms where it had all begun. Equally strange was the feeling of contentment that spread through him at the sight of the bookshelves, the stony walls, and the dozens of phials on the worktable in the next room. "I'm an intruder," he murmured, rubbing his hands roughly across his face. He had been the last time he'd been in these rooms, he certainly...

When the ring on his finger lightly touched his skin, he remembered. He wasn't an intruder – Severus had given him the password to his wards and had told him to make himself at home as soon as it had become obvious that Remus needed a quiet place to rest. "Your rooms are out of the question, wolf," Severus had stated. "Too many students will knock at the door, demanding to know why you put up with me. Lie down and sleep. I will be back after dinner."

Now it was past seven, the moon, although not yet up, called for the wolf inside him and Remus longed to get outside into the woods. Except he needed the Wolfsbane first, of course, and then there was the problem that his human part was pretty much scared of the woods right now. It was only a month since Bellatrix had taken him to the garden shed, had bound and tortured and nearly killed him. A short four weeks since Severus had found him, had brought him back and not only saved his life, but had literally brought him back from death's dominion. The woods held a lot of horrible memories for the werewolf. Currently, he didn't have an idea what to do about the problem. Pacing from wall to wall, he tried to no avail to get rid of at least some of his tension.

It was nearly eight when, finally, the door opened and Severus was back after a day of teaching his own classes as well as the werewolf's. He looked tired and pleased at the same time. In his hand he held a steaming goblet of Wolfsbane. "I'm late. I had a task to attend that couldn't wait."

Remus couldn't help the wide grin that spread over his face. Too much had happened in too short a time, and every moment had a nearly surreal quality. He was alive, married, and happy on top of it – now which part of that was most unlikely?

"Drink the Wolfsbane, Remus," Severus said. No sneer, no growl – there was warmth in the Potions master's voice, and tenderness. Not much, but enough for Remus to hear it. It made his heart beat a little faster.

"I wish I could inject the stuff right into my veins," the werewolf muttered, took the goblet, and downed its contents. Naturally, he expected the potion to taste as it always had – far too sweet, reminding him of foul fruit and rotten flesh. Instead, it tasted just bitter. Not too bitter, more like a grapefruit was bitter and definitely not sweet anymore. The taste still wasn't nice, but it wasn't unpleasant, either.

When the last drop was gone, Remus quite disbelieving stared at if for a moment, then slowly placed the goblet on the workbench. "What have you done?" he asked.

Severus's smile deepened. "I altered the potion. It's easily done, but a little time-consuming. Had you told me about the foul taste before, I could have done so years ago. Is it acceptable now?"

In a swift move, the werewolf grabbed hold of his lover's head and kissed him hard on his pale lips. "More than acceptable," he murmured. "For the first time ever, I don't feel sick after drinking it. Thank you. I wish it wasn't full moon tonight, though. I wish I didn't have to transform, but unfortunately..."

Snape pushed the door open. "Let's go, then," he said. "And don't look so surprised. I need to know if the altered potion has any side effects, and besides, did you really think I would let you go to the Forbidden Forest on your own again? You'd possibly manage to get stabbed by a unicorn or shot by a centaur. I'll come with you. I want to see you transform, and I will make sure that you are back home before sunrise."

*****

A month ago it had been autumn; now it was winter. The ground was frozen, and the branches of the trees were bare of leaves. Like a dark, threatening wall, the forest seemed to forbid entrance to anyone who was human – at least, this was how Snape felt when walking towards the ancient oaks that warded the wood. Next to him, Remus walked in silence. He radiated nervousness as well as anticipation, and every now and then, the Potions master felt his – lover; husband – friend's gaze drift towards him. "I do understand if you would rather be alone," Snape said casually, knowing well that he had forced Remus to take him along. "I assume a transformation is a very personal thing. I do not want to intrude on your privacy."

Remus laughed, deep and clearly amused. "I think we are past this point, Severus. After all that has happened, after last night, I consider it only fair that you see the real wolf as well, not just the one that hides in my human form every now and then." Nearly running now, the werewolf pushed past bushes and branches, feeling so obviously at home in the woods that Snape could do nothing else but follow him. Very quickly they reached a clearing, and before the Potions master could wonder what would happen next, Remus had already shed his coat onto a pile of shrivelled leaves. Next, he kicked his shoes off, standing barefoot on the winter grass, ripping away his scarf, dropping his gloves, and opening the first buttons of his shirt.

Snape leaned against a fir tree and watched. It was a strange and surprisingly private thing to do, watching someone getting undressed whilst the wind was blowing its icy breath in his own face.

Remus didn't seem to notice the temperature. Now naked, he just stood in the darkness, head down, waiting. "I don't want to scare you, Severus. The transformation is not a pleasant thing to watch. It is a brutal, painful change, and although it happens fairly fast, I suppose... I mean, if you'd rather turn round..." A shiver claimed the werewolf's body; he looked lost and vulnerable in Snape's wand light.

"I can deal with the wolf, Remus," Snape said firmly. "In all his forms. I want to watch, and you will stop talking nonsense."

Remus smiled, and maybe he wanted to give a reply, but at that moment the full moon came up and shot its silvery beams straight into the werewolf's waiting body. It didn't matter that he was surrounded by trees, that there were shadows and darkness preventing the light from actually touching his naked skin. The moon called, and Remus's physiology answered. Each cell did so, each muscle, each bone. A yell pierced the night, high and pained. Remus threw his head back, screaming, spread his arms wide and dropped to his knees. Where there had been fingers a moment ago, there were now claws. His spine arched and seemed to break, arms and legs changed, hair grew. The scream turned into a howl, and always, there were the pale beams of the moon, now streaming down through the dry branches and leaving a pool of light around the werewolf. He wasn't human anymore, but he wasn't wolf yet, either. He was somewhere in between, and with every heartbeat, he became more animal and less man.

It was a scary sight, eerie and tantalising. Snape, who had thought it wouldn't be a big deal to watch just another werewolf's transformation, discovered that it was a totally different thing if the werewolf in question was someone dear to him. Greyback had considered the transformation a matter of pride, had loved the sound of ripping fabric as he had never bothered to undress beforehand, and had eagerly welcomed anyone who wanted to witness it. Remus, on the other hand, was shy on that matter. As far as Snape knew, he had never allowed anyone to be there during the change, had hid either in his rooms, in the woods, or in the Shrieking Shack.

The fact that he howled with pain, being on all fours now and with fur and paws, a tail and fangs long as daggers, was disturbing, to say the least. He was bigger than any normal wolf and beautiful in his own way. Snape took a step, then hesitated – he didn't know if his touch was still welcome, and he couldn't even guess how long the pain from the transformation would last.

He needn't have worried. Remus shook his huge head, quickly followed by his body and tail. The motion even lifted his paws off the ground, and when the wolf scratched himself heartily behind the ear with one hind leg, Snape couldn't help but grin at the sight.

Remus looked at him with big, golden eyes. They were lighter than his human eyes, but no less intelligent. "I take it the altered potion is still efficient?" Snape asked.

Remus bowed his head once in agreement. Then he jumped, and dug his teeth lightly into the Potions master's calf, being careful not to break the skin. Running away, he vanished between the big old trees, yelping once when Snape didn't follow. In less than a second, the wolf was back in the clearing, ears pricked, tail high. He circled the tall man, clearly waiting for another chance to nip him.

"You want to play?" Snape made it sound as if playing was right next to child molesting. "I do hope this is a side effect." Then a smile curved his lips. "I'll show you how to play, wolf," he murmured, pocketed his wand, and threw himself with his full weight on top of the werewolf. Too surprised to react in time, Remus wriggled, tried to get away, and failed. Snape had dug his hands deep into the thick fur; they were rolling across the frozen ground, Remus yelping and Snape laughing.

Last full moon he was out here alone and I was hiding in my dungeons, trying not to scream with pain and fear, Snape thought. This here is much, much better. It's... fun! Then he managed to get up, just for a moment, at least, before the wolf brought him to his knees again, stole his glove, and ran away.

"Wait till I catch you!" he murmured and followed Remus into the darkness. "I'll take you for a ride, wolf!"

*****

Around three in the morning, Remus was tired in a way he hadn't been tired in a very, very long time. When he was a wolf, he usually went outside, as inside, caged by walls, doors, and furniture, he felt uneasy. However, outside, he never felt well, either. He was always aware that someone might see him, that animals fled from him, and in addition, he had to suppress the urge to hunt.

Being tired, just tired from running, playing, and a good bit of scuffling, was a wonderful change. The wolf inside him demanded exercise; the human had never seen a chance to innocently stretch his muscles.

Until tonight. Until Severus had come outside with him, had watched him transform, and hadn't been scared at the visible change in him. Severus hadn't turned away. Instead, he had come closer, had touched him, and on impulse, Remus had nipped his lover before considering the possibility that Severus might take it as an offence or even an assault.

And again he had been wrong. The tall, dark, snarky man had played with him! They had scuffled like boys over a favourite toy, and the close body contact, the easiness of the game, had made the werewolf happy beyond belief. As a human, he had found a lover, a husband, even. As a wolf, he had found a mate – a month ago, even two days ago, he would have sworn both events to be impossible to achieve.

They were lying on the ground now, protected by a warming charm. Severus's head was resting on the werewolf's flank, and they both watched the bright, round moon setting slowly closer to the horizon. The wolf longed for sleep, right here in the grass. His mate, though, seemed to be of a different opinion.

"Let's get back home," Severus said and yawned. "Not too long until the moon is gone. And I need a bed for a few hours before I can consider teaching." Getting up, he brushed dry grass and dirt off his trousers.

Remus growled. Going back to the school was not an option, and Severus should know it.

His mate just raised an eyebrow, gathered the werewolf's clothes, and took a step.

Remus blocked his way and growled again.

"You are not trying to tell me you are afraid of Hogwarts?" Severus sounded genuinely surprised, and Remus shook his head in frustration, unable to explain where the problem was.

His mate seemed to understand, though. "I assume you don't like to go back home whilst being in your wolf form. Well, you are with me. If anyone sees us at all, no one will dare to say a word – they know you've taken the Wolfsbane, and if they don't, I'm there to explain. I don't want to stay in the woods until morning, Remus. I think you don't want that, either. Let's go home. Now."

Maybe Remus should have refused, but he didn't. He wanted to go back to the school. After a night in the woods, he always longed for the warmth and the light, for the smell of humans and the small sounds the sleeping students made, reminding him that he was human himself. Therefore, he followed the tall man who carried his clothes and had promised to make sure no one would be scared at the sight of him once they were back behind walls.

They reached the dungeons without interruptions. Warmth greeted them, and Remus shook heartily in order to rid himself of at least some of the twigs and leaves that stuck in his fur. Dropping in front of the fireplace, he fell asleep quickly: he was safe, he was back home, and his mate was with him to make sure nothing happened to him in the few hours left until moonset.

*****

Pain woke him, and Remus knew the moon would be gone in another few minutes. His muscles cramped, his throat was dry, and he felt panic wash through him as it always did when he was about to become human again. Getting up from the rug he'd been sleeping on, he staggered into the middle of the room and howled.

Instantly Severus was next to him, put a soothing arm round his neck, using his strong fingers to ease stiff muscles. It felt good, and the panic subsided. I'm not alone, the werewolf thought, and then the moon touched the horizon and he began to change. Claws became nails, fur vanished, joints cracked under the brutal pressure of the transformation. Bones became longer, and muscles stretched to a point that Remus thought they would snap in half. His howls became screams, and he shook violently, lying naked and freezing on the hard stones in the Potions master's living room.

Warm hands stroked along his aching limbs; long, skilled fingers worked against the pain. The werewolf's skin was damp and sweaty; he was dirty and exhausted and longed for sleep more than anything else.

"Get up, Remus," Severus said. "Come on, I'll help you. First a shower, then bed. You look horrible, wolf. You should have told me that the transformation is that painful."

"Always worse from wolf to man," Remus breathed and tried to walk towards the bedroom. His legs gave way, though, and his mate caught him, half carrying him towards the bathroom instead.

"No wonder Bella could catch you so easily," Snape snarled. "Come on. The hot water will ease the cramps in your muscles. Damn you, Remus, you complain about the taste when it is so very obvious that it is the pain that causes you the real problem? Didn't you ever consider asking me to blend the potion to make the transformation easier for you?"

"Please let me go to sleep." Remus was barely able to mumble the words. He shivered when his feet touched the cold tiles, and he knew he wouldn't be able to stand on his feet on his own. "I'm too tired."

"I'll make it quick," Severus said, and Remus ripped his eyes open at the mock in his mate's voice. "Come on, under the shower with you."

Warm water hit his head, became warmer, then hot. It washed away the dirt, and as predicted, the heat loosened his muscles. The pain in his joints didn't vanish, but subsided at least slightly.

The smell of soap; shampoo in his hair. The same warm, strong hands as before, now washing him, cleaning him from head to toes. All Remus had to do was stand there under the spray, leaning against his lover, his eyes closed, already half asleep. There was nothing arousing in Severus's touch, but still, it tightened their binding in a way neither of them expected. This was beyond sex, beyond desire. Severus caring for him, his easy acceptance of the werewolf's needs, meant more to Remus than he would have ever admitted.

A fluffy towel and rough, rubbing movement: Severus dried him and then, finally, led him towards the bedroom, one arm around his waist. Remus was as weak as a kitten now and would have dropped to the ground without support. The sheets were warmed, the mattress soft and welcoming, and Severus began to massage his still burning muscles, working a salve into his skin as soon as he was stretched out on the bed. When he was nearly asleep, he felt the mattress dip under the additional weight of his lover, and Remus sighed contently when he found himself in a tight embrace, his whole body pressed back against the one who was lying behind him. "Sleep well, wolf," Severus murmured, placing a kiss on his neck.

"Night," Remus managed, and was gone.

*****

Another day, more classes to teach, and as expected, there was curiosity written on the faces of the Potions master's colleagues as well as his students. It didn't bother him. Once he had made a decision, he would stick to it no matter if it was for the good or the bad. In this case, it very well might have been the best decision he had made in his up to now quite lousy, bitter life. Snape had no intention of having his happiness dampened by a few rumours or some nasty comments.

Not that there were any of the latter, though. Many couldn't suppress a knowing grin, and Poppy beamed when she saw him. "You look good, Severus," she said, leaning over at the breakfast table. "I want you to come to the infirmary at ten. There is a way to confirm if... well. You know."

He nodded. "At ten. Very well."

Albus caught him on the way to lunch. "Tell me, my dear boy, did it work? Poppy told me about the spell that can confirm if a forced binding is at work. Did it..."

"Yes," Snape hissed, eager to prevent anyone from eavesdropping in on their conversation. He could deal with the fact that the whole world knew he was married. That the marriage was the result of a forced binding was something he would like to keep a secret. "The legal binding, as expected, nullified the forced one. No more dangers. You are free to fire either Remus or myself or even both of us, if that is your wish."

The old man took off his spectacles and polished them with the end of his white beard. "I have no intention of firing either you or your husband, Severus," he said and grinned mischievously. "You would possibly turn me into a... I don't know... dungbeetle? for attempting to do so anyway. What I would like to know, though... Will there be a divorce anytime soon?"

"No," Snape snapped, very well aware that the old man was mocking him. "Now let me grab something to eat before I have to go and torment your precious Gryffindors."

The day went on like that. Unlike the previous day, students seemed neither scandalised nor horrified at the thought that one of their teachers had married another one. Hermione, though, came to his desk after classes and handed him a newspaper. "I thought you might like to have today's issue, Professor," she said. "It's a quite nice picture."

Still, Snape was more than happy when the day was over and done with. Instead of going to the Great Hall for dinner, he went back to his private rooms in order to see if Remus was awake yet. He was hungry and guessed his lover would be, too.

A muttered word and the wards went down, allowing him to open his door. Expecting the quiet welcome of his rooms, he was stunned to see that things were quite different tonight.

The candles burned and the fire was lit – nothing unusual there. But it smelled of food and wine, his big worktable was freed from parchments and phials and potion ingredients and set up with plates and glasses, and there was Remus, awaiting him.

"Good evening, Severus," the werewolf said, gesturing towards the waiting chair. He was already seated, a glass of wine in his hand. "I hope you haven't eaten yet. I have prepared turkey, potatoes, and vegetables. Dessert, if you eat up. Sit, and have a glass of wine."

Stunned, Snape sat and took the glass. It was the first time ever someone had cooked for him, and he found it strangely embarrassing. So instead of saying some meaningless nonsense, he pulled out the newspaper the girl had given him earlier and placed it on the table.

Remus picked it up. Instantly, his eyes widened when he saw the headline on the front page and the picture that accompanied it. "Goodness," he breathed. "I didn't expect that!"

"Creevey made it yesterday morning. I don't know how Rita Skeeter managed to get it, but I know that without Miss Granger's interception the article wouldn't be as friendly as it is." Snape put some carrots on his plate and some meat. It smelled delicious – Remus had made an effort to order his favourite food. "I had thought that kissing you would stop any rumours before they started. I was wrong. The rumours spread faster than I would have considered possible, and they weren't nice. I was simultaneously accused of having cursed, drugged, Polyjuiced, and murdered you. Until yesterday afternoon, I didn't even know about it."

Remus, who had been just about to read the article, dropped the paper. "What? Why would anyone say something that ridiculous?"

Snape curved his lips to a humourless grin. "Because I am who I am, wolf. If I kiss someone and this someone doesn't fight me, it can only mean my victim was not in his right mind."

"Well, I am in my right mind, and if anyone dares to say anything like that where I can hear it, they will regret it."

"Read the article, Remus," Snape said, taking a bite. "Miss Granger intervened, as I have pointed out. She learned about the rumours, decided to ask a few very pointed questions, insisted I answered her, and obviously managed to blackmail Miss Skeeter to write a positive article about us."

Remus fished for the newspaper and read the article, which recalled Snape's background as well as his own. It was written without Skeeter's usual pathetic emotionalism; it was honest as well as true, and it ended with a short paragraph that called all nasty rumours a blatant lie. "I'm sure Hermione wrote that article," he said. "It's her style. Why did she do it?"

Snape snorted. "She did it for you. She likes you, or maybe I should say, everyone likes you. She couldn't stand the thought of you being in the centre of horrible rumours. I have to find out what leverage she has with Skeeter, though. Must be something big."

The werewolf had finished his own meal and waved his plate and the empty dishes away. "Unimportant, Severus. Right now, I am a lot more interested in dessert." Lazily, he leaned back in his chair.

"Not for me," Snape replied and vanished his own plate. The table was empty apart from the bottle and two glasses. "I can't believe you are still hungry, wolf."

Remus grinned and got up. A few prowled steps brought him close to the Potions master – swiftly, he pulled him up. "I'm ravenous, and I'm not talking about food," he murmured. "One side-effect of the transformation is that I get into the mood for love. Sweaty, hot, demanding, all-night-long love-making." Inquiringly, he bent over and brushed his lips across the Potions master's cheek.

Snape felt himself blush at the quite clear words of his lover. "Are you sure you want this – all of this?" he asked hoarsely. "The rumours won't stop despite that article. They will assume you have been forced into this binding, and I..."

"I have been forced." Remus's voice was tender. "Nothing of this would have happened without Bellatrix casting that curse at you. And I am sure. I want this, I want you. Satisfied?" His hand pulled out Snape's shirt, his fingers sneaking between fabric and skin.

Stunned, Snape melted to the sensation of getting undressed by his lover – husband! – and willingly allowed the werewolf to push him backwards until his bum touched the wood of the table. The buttons of his shirts were opened one after the other, and his legs got pushed apart by an eager knee.

A kiss on his lips. "I guess I told you that I love you?" Remus murmured. "Although – I can't really remember having said it, so I will say it again. I love you. I don't give a damn about rumours, and time will prove that this binding will last until one of us dies."

A hand high on his leg, whispering over the black fabric of his trousers. All Snape could think about was that hand and those lips and the fact that he was hard already. "What do you think you are doing, wolf?" he rasped and allowed his lover to press him onto the workbench.

"Trying to seduce you," Remus replied. "Unless – my attention is unwelcome?"

The sensation of Remus's lips on his, warm and greedy at the same time, of his husband's hardness pressed against his own, was overwhelming. That he was wanted for the first time in his life, all aspects of him and without hesitation, without the expectation of something in return, took his breath away. "Never," Snape murmured and pulled his husband lower for a kiss and more.