Work Text:
To be honest, she still isn’t quite sure how it happened.
Lupin had always been a bit strange since he started visiting for his weekly dose of Wolfsbane: first a bit embarrassed, then oddly chummy. Perhaps he was trying to get on her good side? Albus had done everything he could to convince her not to curse him on site when she found out he would be teaching Defense this year. The Dementors were almost bearable compared to seeing Lupin everyday with his twice patched robes and his simpering weak little smile. He had changed so much since their schooldays, but was still irritatingly fawned over by the rest of the faculty. Minerva was practically spying on him, asking him to her office to tea. Even Pomona was giggling to her that Lupin had filled in. Snape didn’t really see it, he looked like he was going to collapse, even if it was in a tragic and handsome way. Either way, she found it irritating.
He asked her if she had any plans for the holiday. Snape looked at him and responded with a deadpan, “Grading.”
Lupin stammered, and backtracked, but she noticed he was leaning closer towards her, a bit too close. It must be something to do with the moon. Werewolves tended to get a bit…overstimulated if the literature was to be believed.
“I am however, free for the next hour or so if you are interested.” Snape offered.
“Interested in what?” Lupin asked. Snape scowled.
“Intercourse, obviously.”
Remus couldn’t believe he was even doing this, with her of all people. But he had to admit, she was good. Bloody good, no less. And there was something about her scent that was driving him mad, he felt he was losing control near her. Good god, why her of all women?
He watched as she rode on top of him, and let out a whimper. She had taken over for the most part, he just had to concentrate on not finishing too soon. When was the last time he had sex? After the temp job, or before the brief stint at Waitrose? He’d been freelancing for years now, so he certainly hadn’t met anyone new or cared to.
And he might have had a few flings at Hogwarts, but this was certainly the first time he ever had one in a bed. In the Potions Masters quarters no less. Not that he would have had any reason to before, but still.
At least he didn’t have to worry about telling Severa the truth, or any of that first date small talk because she knew him. All the awful terrible parts of him that he was ashamed of. But she initiated this. Why?
Remus stared at her left forearm, she saw the faint red scarring and shuddered. She must have noticed, because she got off of him and used her hands.
“I hope you don’t mind a rather lackluster finish,” she said as her fist gripped tightly to his member.
“This is more than I expected,” he answered honestly. He whimpered as he felt her thumb circling his tip and her other hand massaging his testicles. He felt his body twitch as he released. Severa grabbed her wand and cleaned up the mess. He stared at her chest, grabbing one of her breasts to feel them. Underneath her robes, he had to admit she had a great figure, and it wasn’t just his usual restlessness from the moon.
Snape lifted his hand off of her deftly. “Remember to keep taking your potion. You can stop by my office for your next dose at the same time next week.”
“And this?” Remus asked.
Snape thought about it. “Very well, I can work you into my schedule. Are you free on Thursdays?”
Snape was surprised at how terribly bad Lupin was. Not awful, certainly. She’d been with enough men to know what truly terrible was - and a few who were more interested in the sado aspect of sadomasochism.
Though she had to grimace at his pretence at foreplay. Dolohov tried more, and she was certain he hated her. If she was going to get anything out of this, she was going to have to take over.
As she straddled him, she felt his fullness inside of her and moaned in pleasure. It had been a while since she had been with a man certainly, not since the war ended. She and Charity had an understanding, of course, and there were always magical aides, but there was something to be said about the experience. As she increased her speed, she could hear him moan in satisfaction as she grinded against him, her own desire increasing her speed. She kept going, completely focused on her own needs, using him until she felt that jolt of a climax, then slowed her pace down. She had to admire Lupin’s tenacity to not finish so soon.
They arranged to meet again, though part of her knew she should have kept this a one time thing.
They kept meeting weekly, and while the sex had gotten better, she was starting to suspect others had caught onto their affair. Snape noticed that Pomona and Minerva were giving her sly looks in the staff room that she scowled away, and even Albus had to ask if they were “getting along,” the old coot.
Someone even had the nerve to schedule them for patrol together. If any of the others even volunteered for the task, they’d know it was a one person job. Pomona giggled, as if there was some clever matchmaking scheme afoot.
“I haven’t told them if that’s what you’re worried about,” Lupin said reassuringly to her in a low voice. She wanted to curse him. Everyone probably heard that. She glared at him, and he just had to grab her hand under the table.
The next time they were in bed, she made a note to tell him to be more careful.
“The next time there is a war…”
“There won’t be,” Lupin dismissed, kissing her clavicle as his other hand grabbed her hair.
Snape pushed him away and looked him in the eye. “There will be, and I need you to be aware that I’m going to be in a well, a difficult position. Don’t interrupt me please,” she added when she saw the mischievous grin on his face and his attempt to throw the conversation into innuendo. “I am going to have to prove my loyalty to the Dark Lord, and any presence of a relationship will jeopardize us both.”
“Can’t be seen shagging a werewolf, I get it,” Lupin grumbled. “Also, I wasn’t aware this was a relationship.”
“Dalliance. Tawdry affair, I’ll leave the terminology to you, you were always better with words.” Snape quipped.
“What makes you so sure?” Lupin asked.
“I’m sure you are aware of a few of the incidents that have occurred on a yearly basis since Mr. Potter first arrived here, and with Black’s escape…”
“You think he’d bring him back?”
“I’m…not sure,” Snape confided. “I don’t know his motivations as well as I thought I did.”
“Neither did I, it seems.” He mumbled. If Snape was a more understanding woman, she’d ask him to open up and confide in her. She was not.
“But either way, he is coming back, and we have to prepare whether it’s in five years or more, though it seems like the threat is getting closer each day. My Mark had completely faded until recently.” She had noticed him staring at it, though he didn’t have to look quite sheepish about it.
“But for now?” Lupin asked hopefully.
Snape sighed. “For now, we wait.”
She let him kiss her.
Things changed after Halloween. Black had entered the school and breached the premises. Heaven knows if anyone could, he would, but he had been so close to killing Potter.
Everyone had to sleep in the Great Hall that evening, including the professors. Snape made an effort to keep her cot by the Slytherins as Minerva had done for her House, and exchanged glances with Lupin from the other end of the Hall. The staff was to take shifts to keep watch, hers was assigned for three o’clock.
When she awoke for her post, she found Lupin waiting for her.
“Did you know?” She asked. The glow of her wand sharpened his features in the darkness, making his scars more pronounced.
“Of course not,” Lupin said emphatically. “I would never have put the students in danger, especially Harry.” He looked contemplative. “Azkaban must have changed him, he was never this unhinged, this violent.”
Did we know the same person? Snape almost wanted to ask.
“Either way, we’ll have to block those passageways leading out of the castle.”
“Not all of them,” Lupin reminded her. Snape frowned.
“What? You can’t just walk out through the front door?” She asked sarcastically. Lupin chuckled.
“Look at you, trying to be funny.” He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek, much to her annoyance.
“But we are clear, we are unified in this front, if you see Black, you are going to report him.”
“Of course.” He placed his hand around her waist. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it, if anything happened to you or Harry…”
“I would be fine.”
“Yes, you would. But that doesn’t mean I can’t worry about you.” Lupin replied.
Snape looked upward at the starry ceiling. “Perhaps we should get some rest soon. I’ll wake up Fillius for his shift.”
A month later when Potter fell from his broom, Lupin spent his free time in the Hospital Wing visiting the boy, who was mostly asleep. Snape went to check on him, and found him staring at the sleeping child.
“He’ll be fine, he’s here every fortnight,” Snape muttered.
“I should have done something,” Lupin said quietly.
“You couldn’t have, you were recovering. And I hardly think you could have done more than Albus did.” Snape said reassuringly.
“But he could have died, he was so close this time, all because of the Dementors.”
“Because of Black,” Snape corrected. She cast a glance at the boy and pursed her lips. She didn’t particularly like seeing him in this state, it reminded her of when she had to step over his father’s corpse on…that night. “I need to head back to the dungeons. Will I see you tonight?”
Lupin kissed her goodbye. “Do you need to ask?” He paused, and looked contemplatively at Harry. “You’ve taught him longer than I have, in your opinion, do you think Harry could handle a Patronus Charm?”
Snape furrowed her brow. “While Potter fails to achieve his potential on a regular basis, he has accomplished some impossible things. If you want to waste your time trying, by all means go ahead. Though you shouldn’t expect a miracle.”
Lupin gave a weary smile. “I’m certainly an optimist. I believe in you after all.”
Snape scoffed and left him at the doorway.
After that disastrous night, Snape had every thought of writing an anonymous tip to the Prophet about that lying, spineless, careless…
She heard a knock at the door. Silently, she waved her hand and it opened. “Why are you here, Lupin? Shouldn’t you be harboring your fugitive?”
He looked terrible, more so than his usual state post Moon. There were scratches on his arms and legs, claw marks running down his neck. His eyes were bloodshot and baggy, and he was exhausted. Even his limbs hadn’t properly aligned into their human form this late in the morning.
“You don’t understand Severa, he was innocent. He never betrayed James and Lily, he never killed those Muggles. It was Peter! The Map…”
Snape lifted her hand to silence him. “I don’t care about the Map, I don’t care about Black, or Pettigrew. You lied to me. You came into the Shack with me as backup, and you turned on me for Black. How can I trust you? How do I even know you are telling the truth about Pettigrew, who is conveniently missing by the way?”
Lupin couldn’t hide the hurt etched in his face. “I know you were unconscious for most of that, but Harry and his friends can vouch for…”
“Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are children. They shouldn’t have to be involved. And you,” she seethed. “How could you? You could have killed all of them with your thoughtlessness tonight, and once again you have gotten away with it. You might as well go back to your friend because you are both well suited for each other.”
“Severa,” Lupin murmured as he moved towards her.
Snape lifted her wand, pointing it at his chest, her arm shaking. “Stay back!” She screamed.
Lupin paused. “You…you are afraid of me, ” he whispered in horror.
“No, I’m not,” Snape replied angrily. “Just leave me alone. I never want to see you again. I hope our paths never cross in the war.”
Lupin wavered. He put his hand to his face, and stood there breathing deeply. Once she saw he was not going to leave, she lowered her wand.
“Remus, please leave.” Snape repeated in a low voice.
He nodded, and blinked rapidly, wiping his face with his left hand. Severa noticed a small scratch marks down to his wrists.
“I just wanted to say goodbye, that’s all. For your information I’ve been sacked. I have a few hours and then I’m on the train to London with the lot.” Snape noticed the suitcase outside the door and for once was surprised that Albus had made the right decision. Or perhaps Lupin was no longer useful.
“Is there any need for you to be on a train full of children in your state?” Snape asked with acid in her voice. Lupin flinched.
“I…I don’t have a floo connection anymore, I can’t pay the fees. And I can’t apparate in this state. Albus allowed me on as a courtesy.”
Snape opened her mouth to say something, but couldn’t.
“Don’t pity me.” Lupin begged.
“I’m not. I’m thinking. Where are you again? Up in Yorkshire?” Snape asked as she flicked her wand, turning on her fireplace. The flames roared high in the coals.
“Somewhere near abouts,” Lupin admitted wearily.
“You can use my floo, it will take you to a village called Spinner’s End. From there you’re on your own for transport, but it saves you a bit of the indignity of four hours with the brats.”
She floated over a pouch of floo she kept by the fireplace and landed it in his hand. “Have you finished your business here?”
“It seems so, I’ve said what I’ve had to with Harry, and that was all I needed to do. Severa, you don’t have to do this.”
“Shut up with your false modesty and get on with it,” Snape grumbled.
Lupin stepped forward, moving closer to her. “Come with me,” he said softly. “We could start over, maybe have a real go at this. Us.”
Snape scowled. “Charming, but one of us is still gainfully employed and I’m not putting my career on hold for you.” What career? Probably easier to explain than the truth.
“Very well then.” He walked past her, placing the floo powder on the desk. She turned around to face him, only to have him grab her wrist and pull her towards him, tightly pressing her body against his as he desperately kissed her, his mouth eager for hers, as his hand ran over her body. He grabbed her buttocks, and lifted up her robes, fondling her. Snape in turn, was unbuttoning his robes and pulling off his shirt. His chest was covered in gauze. She reached down underneath his trousers and started to gab his member, running her palms over the shaft as he shuddered.
“Are you capable, after your…activities?”
“Honestly, I just want to forget for just a little,” Remus said. “Just a few moments together before reality sets in.”
Snape nodded, and guided him to the bed. She wasn’t going to get on her knees for him. Once he was lying down, she joined him, unbuttoning his trousers as she ran her thumb over his member, which was increasing in size. Lupin was beginning to sigh as she placed her mouth over it and began to run her tongue up and down, then her lips. She watched as he writhed in pleasure underneath him and reveled in the power she had over him.
“Don’t finish me,” Lupin pleaded. “I want you Severa.”
“How do you want me?” She asked curiously.
“On your back. I want to look at you,” he answered. The way he said it, she was beginning to think missionary sounded absolutely scandalous.
Lupin lifted himself up and began to help her undress, using it as an excuse to grab her breasts and to suck them. Meanwhile his hands were spreading her legs open and fingering her, his nimble hands running over her clitoris as she tried to keep quiet.
“Don’t,” he whispered in her ear. “Let them hear.” He continued his ministrations as the pressure built inside of her and she let out a whimper of surprise.
“Do you feel good, darling?” He asked as his fingers went deeper inside her, she felt like her was going to burst.
“Yes, Remus, yes.”
Gently, he helped her onto her back and watched her as she was panting, catching her breath. She spread her legs open and looks at him expectantly. “Well, I am waiting for you.”
Eagerly, he climbed on top of her. She felt him as his fullness entered her and she let out a gasp. She grabbed his back as he started to increase his pace, and she started to match him. The intensity of their movements increasing as they started to lose control in the feeling of their own pressure mounting, until it led to a release. Lupin kissed her mouth as they were at it, and kept his eyes on her the whole time, though Snape made sure to look anywhere else.
When it was over, the finality of it all was almost numbing. The air stank of the two of them and the fireplace was still roaring in June, soaking them in sweat.
“Any regrets?” Snape asked idly.
“No,” Lupin replied. “I’ll…I will write, when I can.” He hastily started to get dressed.
Snape made a noncommittal noise.
“I’m sorry to have wasted your time.” Lupin said apologetically.
“Likewise.”
Lupin laughed, but it was mostly out of politeness. “Are you going to the World Cup?”
“Is Quidditch your normal post-coital smalltalk Remus? No wonder you’re single.” Snape found one of her outer robes for her nightgown and draped it over herself. It was a bit thin, but she was too tired to dress now. Somehow she lifted herself out of bed.
“I can’t send you Wolfsbane, but I can send some basic first aid to you if you need it. Dreamless Sleep, Pepperup. Who knows what trouble you’ll get into out there.” Snape offered.
Lupin smiled. “Thank you.” He clasped her hand and she accepted it. His thumb briefly running over hers. He made a motion of leaning over, but shook his head. “Farewell, Severa.”
He grabbed a handful of powder, flinging it into the fireplace. The flames gleamed bright green.
“Spinner’s End. That’s where Lily was from isn’t it?” Lupin asked curiously. Snape arched her eyebrow.
“Another time then,” Lupin acquiesced. He stepped into the fire, calling out his destination.
Then the flames engulfed him with one final burst before extinguishing, leaving behind ash and a darkened room.