WARNING: This is a slash story, which means it contains male/male erotic content involving consenting adults. If you're not of legal age or are offended by such material, please go find something else to read.

 Title: Werewolf, Farewell
By: Spiral 24
Email: spiral_24@hotmail.com>
Rated: NC-17
Category: Drama/Angst, H/C
Summary: Snape and Lupin reach a fragile understanding.
Disclaimer: Severus Snape and all other characters mentioned belong to J.K.Rowling, I am merely playing with them for my own perverse gratification :P
Notes: This story is set within the timescale of 'The Prisoner of Azkaban'. It covers what *may* have happened in the brief period of time from just after Severus Snape stormed out of the hospital wing to the time just before Snape revealed to Slytherin house the next day that Remus Lupin was a werewolf (page 307, where the * is).

Severus Snape stood at the opened mullioned window of his chamber listening intently. His black robe fluttered slightly in the warm night breeze and the silver disk of the full moon was reflected in his dark eyes. The hushed sounds of the castle grounds below him rose up clearly - the quiet rustling of the trees and the gentle lapping of the water at the shore of the lake, punctured every so often by the sudden hunting call of an owl.

He stood motionless as the moon and the constellations arced across the sky in their slow dance towards the dawn. He was listening for the call of another hunter in the forest, much larger and far deadlier than any other creature out there this night. The breeze ruffled his long black hair and he moved a strand of it away from his eyes.

Then he heard it, the sound he had been waiting for, dreading, since midnight - the distant, chilling howl of a wolf seeking its prey. But this was no ordinary wolf. The howling that made him grip the window ledge, and for a moment forget even to breathe, was that of a werewolf. A werewolf that, in his human form, answered to the name of Remus Lupin.

Snape prayed that no human was afoot in the forest this night. He shuddered as an image of the wolf came to his mind, bidden by the unearthly howling from outside. He remembered the red eyes, bulging muscles and slavering jaws with their sharp, white fangs. And the claws - he would always remember the claws. Absent mindedly he touched his right shoulder, which still bore the scars of that encounter almost twenty years ago. Then... silence returned and only then did Snape realise he had been holding his breath.

He stood listening until the sky in the east began to lighten and the moon dipped behind the horizon of trees. He rubbed his eyes and considered whether it was worthwhile retiring to his bed for a couple of hours. No, he would remain awake, might as well. He had another batch of Wolfsbane Potion to prepare, so that this should never happen again. There was a quiet knock at the door and he turned quickly from the window.

'Enter...' His voice sounded strange to him after so many hours of his silent vigil. The heavy oak door swung open with a slight creak and Lupin stood at the threshold.

His short, greying light-brown hair was streaked with dirt and his body was covered in bleeding red welts where he had been scratched by brambles and thorns. He wore what looked like one of Hagrid's tea towels around his waist and his bare feet were caked in thick, black mud. He was shivering slightly, and his eyes had a haunted, inhuman look.

'Severus...' he whispered, his voice almost still a growl.

'Come in man,' said Snape sharply. 'Look at the state of you, you need to clean yourself up.'

Lupin shook his head and closed the door. 'No, not yet. I need to talk to you first.'

Snape narrowed his eyes and leaned back on the windowsill. 'I don't think that we have anything to say to each other that hasn't already been said.'

Lupin paused. 'How is your head?' he enquired.

'It throbs a little...but I will live,' replied Snape.

Lupin sighed and nodded towards an overstuffed leather chair in the corner of the room.

'May I?' he asked. 'I am a little tired'.

Wordlessly, unsmiling, Snape gestured towards the chair and Lupin sat down heavily.

'I have not eaten tonight, you know, Severus...' Lupin began. 'I saw the light in your chamber, saw you at the window...'

Snape folded his arms across his chest. 'It was my fault,' he said coolly. 'I should have reminded you to drink the Wolfsbane. I could not sleep knowing that you were out there.'

Lupin nodded. 'I know. That's why I'm here, to let you know I haven't...that I didn't...'

'This must never happen again,' Snape interrupted.

'I know,' said Lupin quietly.

'So, you didn't run into your friend Black and rip out his throat?' said Snape. 'Pity.'

Lupin sighed again. 'I know I will never convince you Severus, but Sirius is innocent. He has suffered for twelve years in Azkaban for a crime he did not commit - can you even begin to imagine what that must have been like?'

Snape snorted distainfully. 'Really? I know what he is capable of, what you so elequently and - creatively - recounted to Potter and Co. last night.'

Snape leaned forward, his lips curled into a snarl. 'He sent me to my death Remus - at your hands. And he very nearly succeeded didn't he, as you neglected to mention - or has your memory become as cloudy as your judgement these days?'

He leaned back and smiled coldly. 'But of course, this is simply a stupid 'schoolboy grudge' isn't it? I should just forget about it.'

'No,' replied Lupin. 'It happened. But Sirius has changed. We all have.' He looked down at a gash in his arm that was still bleeding, as if he was not able to meet Snape's gaze.

Snape remained silent, watching him intently through narrowed eyes.

'I never intended for it to happen,' said Lupin suddenly, looking up. 'You do know that, don't you?'

'I know,' said Snape quietly. He paused. 'I was never that important to you'.

Again there was a tense silence between the two men.

'I suppose it must have seemed that way,' said Lupin sadly. 'But you were - important - to me. You still are, Severus.'

Snape stiffened, his eyes widening slightly, but when he spoke next he merely said 'Let me draw you a bath, Remus, and tend to those wounds. You are bleeding all over my favourite armchair.'

Lupin got up wearliy and followed Snape into the adjoining bathroom, where the bath was already filling with steaming, bubbling water scented slightly of patchouli.

'Get in,' said Snape, with his back to Lupin as he looked through a cabinet for a healing potion.

Lupin obeyed, and winced as the hot water came into contact with the numerous cuts on his body. He washed away the blood and the dirt while Snape examined a variety of bottles. Then, almost instantly, the bath emptied and re-filled with clean water, just as hot and soapy as the first.

'Right,' said Snape, his back still turned. 'This should be adequate, it will sting a little, although it...' He stopped speaking as he turned around.

Lupin was standing up in the deep bath, his body soaped and clean, his cock as big, hard and thick as Snape remembered it.

'Why don't you join me, Severus?' he said quietly.

Slowly, not taking his eyes off Lupin, Snape put down the potion. He felt himself twitch, and thought about how long it had been since he had touched anyone. A long time. Too long.

He took off his boots slowly, peeled off his long black cloak and unbuttoned his high collared black robe. The bulge in the front of his black silk shorts told Lupin all he needed to know, and he reached over and eased them down Snape's thighs to reveal his cock.

Snape heard his own sharp intake of breath and then closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of Lupin's lips and tongue around him. After a moment Lupin moved away and finished undressing him, pulling him gently towards the bath. Snape got in and sighed as the hot water covered his body. He felt the rays of the dawn sun on his face as he sank deeper, and smiled.

'You should do that more often, you know,' said Lupin.

'What?' said Snape, arching an eyebrow. 'Get a bath?'

'No,' said Lupin. 'Smile'.

'Turn around,' said Snape. 'Let me look at your back - that's a nasty gash, quite deep...' Lupin winced in pain, but at the same time enjoyed the sensation of feeling Snape's long, delicate fingers brushing carefully across his back.

'Kiss me, Severus,' he said simply.

Behind him, Snape froze. He hesitated for several seconds, and then, quite gently, kissed the nape of Lupin's neck, sending tremors of pleasure flowing down Lupin's spine.

Lupin turned to face him, and Snape ran his fingers through Lupin's damp hair. Lupin pulled away and looked into his eyes, almost quizzically.

'You have no idea how much I have wanted this,' he said. 'Ever since I saw you in the Great Hall at the start of term - but I never believed it would happen though...' he laughed, '...seeing the way you were scowling at me all evening.'

'Hmm...even though I knew that you were arriving it was still a shock to see you again, after all those years,' Snape admitted as he began to wash in the scented, soapy water.

It was then that Lupin noticed the scars on his shoulder; four broad, pale arcs, each an equal distance apart, running from his shoulder blade down his spine to the small of his back. He ran his fingers over the raised ridges of scar tissue.

'I did that?' he asked slowly.

'Yes. Yes, you did,' said Snape. 'Do you really not remember?' he asked softly.

'I knew I'd wounded you, but - ' Lupin paused. 'I'm sorry,' he said finally. 'I don't remember.'

'I suppose you would not,' said Snape. 'You never saw me until I came out of the hospital wing, and when you are the beast you know nothing, except hunger and the desire to kill.'

Lupin was silent and suddenly looked very tired.

'You must have hated me,' he said eventually.

'Yes,' said Snape. 'For a while I did hate you. Pettigrew saw to that by telling me at every opportunity he had just how much the three of you wanted me dead. Then Potter came to me and told me you had nothing to do with it. For some reason, I believed him. I just hated the beast in you after that.' He turned and gazed at Lupin. 'But I've never stopped hating Black, and I will not stop until the day I die.'

Lupin sighed. 'I should go. It's past dawn.'

'No,' said Snape sharply, and then his tone softened. 'Please, stay. I would like that very much.'

They both got out of the bath and towelled themselves dry. The sun was shining through the open window, having risen just above the trees. The sound of birdsong rose up from the forest.

'Remus, lie on the bed and I will heal those cuts,' said Snape. Again Lupin obeyed him, wincing as the potion touched a wound on his back and then feeling relief as each wound in turn healed up and disappeared completely.

As he applied the balm to Lupin's warm, scented skin, Snape experienced a strange sense of tenderness overcoming him, and was surprised. He also felt the flood of desire that he had experienced earlier, and as he tended to Lupin on the bed in front of him he felt himself becoming aroused once again.

'There' he said hoarsely. 'It is done. Take the bottle, you should be able to apply the remainder yourself'.

Lupin sat up and, looking down at Snape, smiled. 'Thank you Severus,' he said, and pulled Snape towards him.

This time, as he teased his tongue around Snape's throbbing cock and ran his fingertips lightly over his balls, he did not stop so quickly. Again and again he speeded up and then, just before the crucial moment, as Snape's body tensed, eased off to leave Snape writhing and moaning for release.

'Not yet...' Lupin whispered, and moved his hand back, searching for the place he wanted.

'Ahh...' he smiled as he found what he was looking for.

Snape, turning, moaned, 'Yes - yes...'. Briefly he fumbled in his bedside cabinet, and brought out a small vial.

'Here...you will need this...' Snape whispered. Lupin took it and squeezed out a small amount of the clear, thick liquid, warming it in his hands before smoothing it down the shaft of his cock and dabbing it where he was just about to slide it.

He teased first with his fingers, feeling Snape tense again and then relax, and then with his cock until Snape begged 'Please...' Lupin smiled and slid inside slowly, carefully, feeling the spark of an almost orgasmic sensation as he did so. He moved gently at first, but the moans of pleasure from beneath him spurred him on. He took Snape's long, elegant cock in his hand and matched his rhythm. He lost track of time and space, letting the incredible sensations engulf him.

Snape felt his orgasm building as Lupin's strong fingers stroked him and thick cock filled him. It was exquisite and he wanted to experience the sensation for as long as he could, but eventually it became too much and he cried out 'Remus, I'm coming'. He heard Lupin cry out too, felt him shudder at the same moment as his own orgasm exploded through his body and he gasped with the pleasure of it.

They lay together, entwined, panting slightly as they recovered. Snape smiled and felt that he would probably not stop smiling for the whole day, which he felt would be sure to shock many people and make them wonder precisely what he had been up to. Lupin lay back and stretched, yawning.

Presently they got up and began dressing, Lupin borrowing what he needed, in preparation for going to the Great Hall for breakfast - separately of course, for the sake of discretion. As he dressed, Lupin talked idly about Hogwarts.

'Finally Severus,' he said, 'I have come home again - this time perhaps for good.'

Snape put down his robe suddenly, as if he had been stung. He turned to Lupin.

'But Remus, you cannot stay,' he said quietly. Lupin looked stunned and it took him a moment before he could reply 'Why?'

'Don't you see,' hissed Snape, his eyes suddenly narrowing, 'What happened last night, with you roaming the grounds in your beast form, it must never happen again. The school will be closed if you are discovered. The only way to ensure that you are not is if you leave.'

Lupin still looked shocked. 'But the Potion - the Wolfsbane...'

Snape shook his head.

'You cannot take it forever, Remus. It is only a temporary solution. If you continuously take it, it will eventually kill you.'

Lupin sat down heavily on the four poster bed and put his head in his hands. After a while he looked up at Snape.

'I cannot leave,' he said. ' I am tired of wandering through life, penniless and friendless. Please... I would rather risk being poisoned.'

Snape shook his head again.

'No, I will not do it. Watch you die slowly and painfully by my own hand? I will not prepare the bane for you for much longer. As you are well aware, there are few of us skilled enough to do it. Even with your salary here, you could not afford it from another.'

Lupin was silent. He knew this was true.

'Then I will be shut in a room when I can no longer take the bane, like before, in the Shrieking Shack.'

For a third time Snape shook his head.

'You know as well as I do that it would not work. You would escape or...or someone would find you.'

Snape gazed into Lupin's eyes as he spoke quietly. 'I would do it Remus, if you left me no choice. You know I would. I am powerful enough now to face the beast inside you if I must. Don't make me have to do it, I could not bear it...' He moved away and continued dressing in silence.

'I understand what you have said Severus,' said Lupin. 'But I am sorry. I will not leave.'

Snape was silent for some time, until they were outside his chamber on the deserted landing. At the top of the spiral staircase he turned to Lupin.

'Very well then Remus,' he said. 'You leave me no choice. Please know that I do this because... because I care deeply for you.' He leaned forward and kissed Lupin briefly on the lips before turning sharply away, his cloak and his long black hair streaming behind him as he disappeared down the stairs towards the Great Hall.