Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery

Chapter 73 ~ An Awakening

Severus and Hermione had a rather heated argument the following day as to who should tell Isadora his decision. Severus wanted Hermione to do it, but Hermione said it would mean more to Isadora coming from him. Severus really didn’t want to tell Remus he was going to help him, but the werewolf would have to be present to agree to the conditions.

Finally, Hermione won and Severus found himself outside of his mother’s flat in muggle London, getting curious stares from her neighbors and passersby because of his robes. He scowled at them blackly before knocking on the door rather impatiently. He had a large vial in his pocket.

After a moment, the door opened and his mother peered out at him.

“Severus?” she said, looking surprised.

“Unless you have another son hidden someplace, yes…it’s me,” he said in an obvious bad temper.

His mother gave him a small scowl, then opened the door.

“Come in,” she said. Severus swished past her, through the foyer and into the living room, where he immediately frowned.

Remus Lupin was sitting in front of one of two computers, staring at a book on a stand next to it, his fingers on the keyboard slowly tapping out the letters he read. The werewolf was concentrating hard so didn’t see Severus staring at him.

The Potions Master looked at the computer setup. Both monitors were side by side on a rather long table. He noted the chair next to Remus was pulled out and rather close to him. His mother must have been sitting there, watching the wizard work.

Isadora walked up to him.

“What brings you here, Severus?” she asked him.

At the sound of Isadora’s voice, Remus looked up and saw Severus scowling at him. The wizard stood up rather quickly, the chair scraping the floor as he did so.

“Hello, Severus,” Remus said, his eyes shifting toward Isadora nervously.

Severus looked at the wizard coolly as Isadora crossed to him, then nodded. He had promised Hermione he would be ‘nice’. The things he did for that witch.

“The reason I am here, Mother is because I have decided to work on the cure for Remus,” he said.

Remus looked startled.

“Cure?” he repeated.

Severus looked at his mother. Obviously she hadn’t informed the werewolf of her plans.

“My mother asked me to work on a cure for you, Remus. Against my better judgment, I’ve agreed,” Severus replied. “But there will be conditions.”

Isadora was smiling broadly. Remus simply looked stunned. A cure? For the past few years Severus had been supplying him with wolfsbane potion for a fraction of the cost due to Albus’ influence, but he had never shown an inclination to try to cure his malady. He looked at Isadora. She had obviously influenced her son to do this. But why?

“What are the conditions, Severus?” Isadora asked excitedly.

“The first is that Remus reimburse me for my work when the cure is completed. I have done some preliminary work years ago and made some advances, but stopped my research due to other pressing business. So I do have the groundwork for a feasible cure. Now, when I say Remus is to reimburse me…I mean Remus,” he said, looking sharply at his mother.

He didn’t want her covering the werewolf’s costs. Let him carry his own weight like a man.

Isadora nodded, understanding.

Severus’ eyes narrowed as he gave the second condition.

“Remus is not to be in your presence in any way, shape or form three days before the full moon, or three days afterwards. This condition must be strictly adhered to, or I will cease working on the cure,” Severus said, his dark eyes leveled at Remus, who nodded assent.

Isadora looked perplexed.

“Why?” she asked, “Why can’t he be near me?”

“There are reasons, Mother,” Severus replied obliquely. “Just trust me on this. Are you in agreement, Remus?”

“Yes,” the wizard replied shortly.

Isadora looked at the gentle-eyed wizard with narrowed eyes. She was going to get to the bottom of this as soon as her son left.

“Do you agree to abide by these conditions, Mother?” Severus asked her.

Isadora looked from Severus to Remus before she answered. If agreeing to her son’s terms was the only way to get him to work on a cure, she had no choice.

“Yes, I will abide by them Severus,” she responded.

The Potions Master looked at both of them in silence for several moments before pulling a large vial from his pocket.

“Sit down, Remus,” he said, “And roll up your robe sleeve.”

Remus walked back to his terminal, pulled the chair out and turned it to face Severus. He sat down in it, and began rolling back the sleeve of his worn robe.

“What are you doing, Severus?” his mother asked as she watched Remus bare his arm.

Severus pulled out his wand and walked over to the werewolf. He jabbed his wand not too gently against a vein and Remus hissed, his face going taut. The vial in Severus’ hand began to fill with thick, red blood. After a minute or two the vial was full. It held about a pint of blood. Remus looked weak and pale. Severus pulled his wand away and cast a stasis spell on the blood to keep it viable. There was a small wound on Remus’ arm.

“I can’t find a cure for him without his blood, Mother,” the Potions Master said, depositing the full vial in his pocket. He looked at the pale wizard.

“Get him something to eat. Drawing blood from a werewolf makes them extremely weak. He needs nourishment. Red meat will do nicely…rare,” Severus said, turning to go. “I will get back to you when I have something. You will still receive your wolfsbane as usual, Remus.” Remember what I said. You stay away from my mother during the time period I’ve outlined. I will be quite vexed if I find you’ve ignored this condition,” he said warningly.

Isadora walked up and kissed Severus on his cheek, smiling at him.

“Thank you, son,” she said softly.

He studied his mother, his eyes softening a bit, then they hardened as he looked at Lupin.

“I hope I don’t regret doing this, Mother,” he said. Then he exited the flat. Isadora heard a crack of thunder.

“I hope he at least disillusioned himself before he did that,” she commented. She turned to Remus who was quietly looking at the witch from the chair.

“Why did you ask him to find a cure for me, Isadora?” he asked.

Remus had been coming to Isadora’s flat two or three times a week for the past three weeks, learning about the computer and the Internet. He seemed to grasp it quite quickly, though his typing was not yet up to par. He had also gone through the travel agent training program the witch had installed on his computer several times. It was quite simple really, and he had done well with it.

Isadora found the wizard very willing to learn. He was quiet and attentive, and carefully listened and watched everything she did. What was more, he was a perfect gentleman, though sometimes he tensed up when she touched him or sat too close. Isadora found his reaction to her kind of alluring. She wasn’t used to retiring men. In Naples, and here in London she was always being hit on by muggle and wizard alike. Remus Lupin was like a breath of fresh air. What struck her most about him was the aura of sadness he seemed to exude. Even when he smiled, there was a sense of mourning and grief about the wizard. Not once had she felt true happiness radiate from him in the time they spent together. She hoped by the time she finished with him and he was earning his own money that his demeanor would change.

“Because life would be much easier for you if you didn’t transform. If you weren’t a werewolf,” she said simply. “It’s also in my best interest that you remain human. You can earn more money for me and yourself if you are able to work through the full moon.”

Remus looked at her consideringly.

“So you want me cured so I can make more money,” he asked her.

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?” Isadora replied a bit snarkily.

Remus shrugged, then wobbled a bit in the chair. Isadora was alarmed.

“Let me get you something to eat,” she said, hurrying off to the kitchen.

Remus watched her go, his throat tight. She had convinced Severus Snape, probably the most able Potions Master in the wizarding world to find a cure for him. The witch was too kind. She was also too beautiful. He looked forward to working with her the two or three times a week he came to her flat. Being near her was heady. Because of his malady, Remus had the heightened awareness of an animal, so he was very aware of her when in her presence. And his awareness went far beyond what, in his estimation was proper.

In Isadora’s presence he didn’t feel nearly as tired as he usually did. It was as if he fed off her energy, drew some of her life force into him. That he was attracted to the witch was a given. He had been on point from the first time he saw her at the wedding…when he first held her slim, warm hand in his. Still, he was a werewolf, unfit for a true relationship with any witch. He was too dangerous…even in his human state. Even casual intimacy had proven disastrous for him, his animal nature coming out when he was in the throes of passion. The wizard was even banned from all the local brothels because the prostitutes complained about his ardor and the length of time involved with satisfying him. In addition the madams lost money waiting the several hours it took for the girls to recover. Gentle as Remus was by nature, he was an animal in the bed. So he lived a celibate lifestyle, though he had desires like any other man. He had been fine with this, until he met Isadora.

Isadora Snape was beautiful, kind and alluring…but she was also the mother of Severus Snape, which was quite daunting in itself, though she seemed to be able to handle her son and live as she pleased. Even if Remus dared court Isadora, and she accepted him with his malady, the wizard doubted the witch would want him after experiencing what he was like in an intimate situation. Hopefully her training would pay off and after a short while he could branch out on his own, leaving the witch unscathed. But then again, if Severus found a cure…

No. It was better he didn’t think like that.

Isadora came back with two rare roast beef sandwiches topped with lettuce and tomato, and a glass of pumpkin juice. She sat them on the end of the long table and pulled the other chair over to it.

“Come and eat, Remus,” she said, helping him up. He was very weak.

Isadora walked him to the chair. He thanked her and sat down. Slowly, the wizard began to eat as the witch drew up the other chair and watched him intently. He looked better immediately after eating the first sandwich…his metabolism enhanced by his werewolf blood. Isadora decided he looked well enough to answer a few questions for her about the second condition Severus set.

“Remus, why doesn’t Severus want you in my presence three days before and after the full moon,” she asked him.

The werewolf almost choked on his sandwich, and took a large sip of pumpkin juice to wash the lump of food in his throat down before looking at the witch…trying to give a response that was suitable for mixed company.

“It is because as the full moon approaches, my…er…animal instincts become more pronounced,” he said.

“But you don’t transform. I don’t see how that could be dangerous,” Isadora said, her black eyes leveled at him. Remus stared into those eyes, lost.

“Remus?” Isadora called to him, seeing the wizard had phased out. Lupin started.

“Sorry,” he said, taking another bite of his sandwich quickly.

Isadora would not be sidetracked. She wanted to know why Remus couldn’t be around her.

“As I said, Remus…I don’t see how enhanced instincts that you can control could be dangerous,” she said. “You are still human when that happens.”

“Yes…yes I am. But it has an effect on me regardless. On my…reactions to stimuli,” he said haltingly, “My senses are sharpened and I interact with my environment on a more physical rather than mental level. Let’s just say I don’t think as well. My inhibitions are significantly lowered. I am more likely to act on my urges at those times. He’s right to request I not be near you,” Remus said.

“Urges?” Isadora asked. She was rather intrigued now.

Remus was ready to depart Isadora’s flat now. Talking about this with the witch was having a physical effect on him. He didn’t want her to notice. It would be better for him to just tell it to her straight, then leave quickly.

“During those three days before and after the full moon, all of my natural urges are enhanced to an almost animal level. I stay in control, but they are very compelling. The mating instinct becomes very strong, and I am much less likely to act the gentleman towards you, Isadora,” he said, his gentle eyes meeting hers with a bit of pain in them.

Isadora studied him.

“You would be sexually attracted to me,” she said softly.

“Yes. Strongly,” he replied. “I generally avoid being in the private presence of any female during that time. It’s better that way. Less temptation to seduce them.”

Isadora’s eyes swept over the wizard. She couldn’t help wondering how this gentle, quiet wizard would be under that kind of influence. Most likely not so gentle.

“I see,” Isadora said.

For a moment witch and wizard stared at each other. Remus swallowed, then rose abruptly. He had to get out of here. The wizard prayed his erection was not discernable through his robes. He stood a bit oddly, his hips pulled slightly back so his loins didn’t press against the worn fabric.

“Isadora, I need to go. There are…are things I need to take care of and Rosmerta asked me to come in early tonight,” he lied.

Isadora knew he was lying. It was too obvious the wizard was running. He was standing funny too. She thought she might know why. The Slytherin in her almost made her protest his leaving, wanting to torment him a little by forcing him to stay in his condition, but the desperation in his eyes made her relent.

“All right, Remus. When will I see you next?” she asked him.

He considered. The next full moon was in four days.

“A week from now,” he said, mentally doing the calculations. “There is a full moon in four days, so to comply with Severus’ wishes I can’t return for further lessons for at least seven.”

“A week then,” Isadora said, extending her hand to shake his in goodbye.

Remus stared down at her proffered hand, not wanting to touch her. But it would be rude not to.

The werewolf grasped the witch’s hand, and Isadora started as she felt a delicious jolt of fire shoot from his body, through their hands, up her own arm and down into the pit of her stomach. The witch gasped reflexively. She hadn’t felt anything like that since the early days of Darius. She stared at the wizard.

Remus felt it too, but his jolt went straight to his loins. He pulled his hand from the witch’s quickly and strode for the door.

“Goodbye, Isadora,” Remus said hurriedly as he exited, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Goodbye Remus,” Isadora said falteringly to the closed door. She placed her hand on her lower belly and slowly sat down in the chair Remus had occupied. She took a deep, calming breath.

“Dear gods,” she whispered, looking toward the door again.

This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

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A/N: Woo hoo. Severus started something here. If he didn’t come with his conditions, possibly neither Isadora or Remus would have felt that sudden, strong attraction when the werewolf explained why her son wanted them separated during the waxing and waning full moon. Ah, well. A little fire has started. Now back to Hermione and Severus. Please review.

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The Burning Pen

Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery
by Ruth Solomon

 

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence. Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately. You are not welcome here. The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 74

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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