(no subject)
Title: Soutien
Author: hpsauce
Rating: R
Category: Slash
Prompt: Prompt #28a, for the snappy_endings pre-DH Multi-fest 2007
Summary: Remus/Severus - a combination of curses cause Severus' preferences to change. Lupin just wants to talk - or so it seems.
Warnings: Slash, language, implied sexual situations
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
The last thing Severus could remember was a flash of red light. If he cast his mind further back, he could recall how Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange had stood over him, wands drawn. There was little time for memories, however, especially once Poppy Pomfrey had found a theory.
He was hardly arguing that it was impossible for two curses to combine to cause a 'disturbance of the mind', hypothetically. It was fairly obvious, however, after seven days of conciousness and dull, painful tests, that he was perfectly free of any disturbances of the mind, body or spirit.
It did nothing to stop her from fussing whenever he retreated into his thoughts. Which would have been his normal means of passing seven dull days in the infirmary.
Instead, he had been forced to spend time reading the scribble which passed as apologises in Gryffindor Tower, as if believing him a traitor and a Death Eater was the same as accidentally spilling pumpkin juice on his robes. However, it was that or listen to Lupin sighing, laughing and humming in some form of ignorant bliss from the other side of the curtain.
When a week had passed, however, he was finally allowed to leave.
The 'get-well-soon' and 'thanks-for-saving-my-life' and 'sorry-for-calling-you-a-greasy-git' cards had been burned that morning. The packets of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans had been buried in the rubbish bins. Any trace of red had been removed from the surrounding area.
Severus was looking forward to going home. Even if home happened to be his father's house, dusty and decrepit and full of painful memories. Just being free of the usual background noises (sighing, laughing, humming and the nagging).
He turned the corner of the curtain and was assulted by a mass of blinding red. He reeled slightly, trying to see beyond the scarlet coveret, gryffindor-striped scarf and mass of flashing, brick-red cards.
And when he did, all he could see were two smiling, amber eyes.
His stomach clenched strangely, making him feel like he might need to prolong his stay, and his head seemed to spin. He could do nothing but stare as Lupin's smile faltered and he stood, moving across to support him.
"Are you alright, Severus?" Lupin asked.
Severus wanted to point out that he had never offered his first name - especially not since the last time they had met and Lupin had called him a 'fucking traitorous coward' (he hadn't known Lupin could swear).
But all his could think about was the fact that Lupin was standing there, surprisingly tanned and toned and smooth skinned, wearing nothing but a pair of crimson shorts.
That in itself was worrying enough. Severus had never much worried about how much of Lupin was on display before. In fact, had he been in the mood for sexual delight, he would have been wondering when Mrs Lupin would arrive.
So it was understandable that all Severus could do was stand there like the proverbiable deer in headlights before turning around and storming from the infirmary as quickly as he could, completly ignoring Lupin's startled yelping.
-
Lupin was stood on his doorstep.
This took a moment to rationalise this observation. During which time Severus noted that he was wearing a bright orange scarf which complimented both the autumn leaves collecting across the garden path and Lupin's shining eyes.
"Lupin," he growled finally. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Poppy told me," Lupin said with a rather pathetic attempt at a smile. He backed away as Severus' glare strengthened. "About your...condition. I thought, well, you might want some support."
"You thought wrong," Severus said, moving to close the door. "I have fought against some of the darkest wizards of our time, Lupin, I doubt a small...change of orientation would be enough to send me crying for help."
"Exactly," Lupin replied, advancing and moving into the house through a space Severus had not been aware of making. "I know you would never ask, Severus, which is why I thought I should offer."
"You're a married man," Severus muttered weakly, following Lupin into the house. He must be weakening if he had decided that was to be his main issue. But he could do a lot worse than Lupin, he supposed. The man already knew where the tea was, despite it being his first visit. He might as well get a few cups out of the werewolf before he sent him packing.
"There's Darjeeling on the top shelf," he stated, as Lupin stretched up to reach it, stretching out long legs behind him, his jumper riding up to reveal tight, dark denim. Severus coughed and turned away, looking into his mess of a living room. "No milk, no sugar," he instructed. "As it should be."
"Of course," Lupin replied. "I expected you might have some English Breakfast left."
"Vile stuff," Severus said. He flicked his wand at the living room, tidying away phials and robes and journals. He decided not to bother with any freshening spells. New scarf or none, the werewolf would probably be pleased with anything better than the Shrieking Shack.
Lupin said nothing when he entered five minutes later, carrying two cups of darjeeling, although he did look rather worried about sitting anywhere near the paisely sofa.
"Well," he said, sitting down. "You would be able to tell, so I might as well tell you, Severus, I didn't expect you to agree so easily."
"So you have nothing prepared," Severus said. "Poor show, Lupin, no wonder the brats you taught loved you if you took a similar approach to lessons."
"We could just talk," Lupin said. "It's not meant to be a lesson, Severus, I didn't offer you a crash course in Beginner's Homosexuality. I just want-."
"To support me." Severus finished, tired of Lupin's mumblings. "Lupin, if this is the only insight you are going to offer me, then you are free to leave."
"I'm always free to leave," Lupin said. "If you do not need my help, however-."
"Drink your tea," Severus muttered. "That darjeeling didn't come cheap."
Lupin smiled, his face bathed in an amber glow as the sunset behind the faded curtains. Severus' stomach gave a odd tug and he felt a familiar twitch in his loins. He swallowed his tea quickly.
-
"Is there anyone on the scene?" Lupin asked, sipping at his cup of coffee and reclining on the garishly yellow sofa.
"I have been a homosexual for exactly three weeks, Lupin," Severus replied lowly. "During that time, I have not become an effeminate, prancing, love-sick fool and the use of the word 'gay' continues to elude me. I am not pleasant company, Lupin, a fact which it appears you are alone in your unawareness of, and I am definetly not going to spend any time in those loud, airless chambers which men of your persuation seems to enjoy so much."
Lupin blinked and set his mug down. "I was simply asking," he said with a small sigh. "There are other ways to meet people, Severus. There is, of course, the QPBA."
"I refuse to discuss the delicate art of potion making with a group of-," he twitched and closed his mouth quickly. "Did you have to bring me to his place, Lupin? I understand you might enjoy these 'mochacinos' if, perhaps, your senses of taste and smell were cruelly ripped from you during the war, but it hardly seems necessary to keep bringing me to...these places."
"Desensitisation," Lupin stated. "It's important."
"Nonsense," Severus muttered, looking at Lupin as if he saw right through his ruse. His lips twitched as Lupin's eyes moved to the young man at the counter, before a feeling came over him which felt not unlike being kicked in the stomach - hard.
"How you can even think of wooing anyone dressed in yellow is beyond me," Severus stated, pushing his only half-empty mug away from him. "Especially since you are reportedly aiding me."
"Severus," Lupin said. "I'm here for support, but you can't expect me to put my life on hold until you find your feet."
"I don't need to find my feet," Severus said. "I know exactly where they are and I know exactly where I'd prefer them to be. The spells change my orientation, Lupin, not my outlook. I don't want a lover. I want to be left alone."
The yellow light above them flickered slightly and Severus stilled for a moment before standing and walking away, dropping a few coins on the table for the dreadful, muggle coffee.
Lupin made no move to stop him. When Severus turned back, looking through the window at the man, the muggle in yellow had already taken his place.
-
"Happy Birthday," Lupin said, standing on Severus' doorstep dressed in green robes and carrying a small pile of presents. "Just tokens, I'm afraid. I suppose I thought I might be a reasonable present."
"I might have prefered socks," Severus said. "But come in." He led Lupin down the hallway. "I recieved your card, reasonably formal. I was mildly impressed."
He stilled, turning back to Lupin, all too aware of the man's eyes on him. He was surprised to find Lupin's cheeks oddly flushed as the man looked down at their feet and then moved forward, pressing his lips against Severus'.
The kiss was...passable. Severus had no idea how he had managed to woo such charming specimens as Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shaklebolt with such ordinary kissing skills, but it was far from unplasant nonetheless.
They pulled apart and Severus moved towards the kitchen, trying his best to hide his aroused state. "You will be pleased to hear I have invested in some English breakfast tea. Do you still insist on poisoning yourself with foru sugars?"
"Severus," Lupin said. "Are you going to ignore the fact that we just kissed?"
"Four sugars?" Severus asked, answering the question.
"Yes," Lupin said. "There's a reason, Severus, for the kiss."
"Of course," Severus muttered.
"It was stupid of me to try to make you more comfortable by taking your out for coffee in Soho," Lupin said. "Sexuality is all about sex. That's exactly the angle we should be tackling this from."
"I'm afraid," Severus said, with an ease that only came from lying continuously for decades. "That you have been 'pipped to the punch' as it were. Did you fail to notice the green cloak hanging in the doorway, Lupin?"
"You have visitors?" Lupin asked. "Malfoy? Severus, it pains me to say it, but you could do much better."
"You, I suppose?" Severus asked.
Lupin smiled and moved forward, attempting to kiss Severus again. The man moved his face away, pushing Lupin from him. "If you wish to participate in sexual intercourse with me, Lupin, you should ask. This pretence is rather tiring."
"You wouldn't agree," Lupin said. He gave a weak smile and lifted his cup of tea. He turned back to Severus, his eyes blank. "I suppose Mr Malfoy and yourself will be wanting some privacy."
-
Lupin's kisses were...well, not to die for. Severus had definetly had better in terms of skill. However, they were passable and Severus rarely pushed the other man away if they were in private.
Outside, though, that was a different story all together. Lupin's pathetic chat-up lines of 'isn't the sky blue?' and 'i can't reach to cover my back' were not going to work to change that.
Instead, Severus sat perfectly rigid, reading through the attrocity that dared to call itself the QPBA journal. How there could be a monthly magazine devoted almost entirely to enlargement spells and lubricants, Severus had no idea.
"You broke up with Blaise," Lupin said suddenly.
Severus stilled and looked up over the edge of the journal. The other man looked back to his own magazine, arching his bare, golden back in the sun. Severus rolled his eyes and turned back to the magazine.
"We did not 'break up', as you put it. We are not teenage sweethearts nor were we in any kind of relationship. He was simply seated next to me at a variety of rather dull engagements."
Lupin smiled slightly. Severus stilled as he felt a cool sole touch his calve, resisting the urge to push the man away. There was no reason to cause a scene. It would only call attention to the fact that he was laying beside a half-naked homosexual werewolf.
"Get off," he hissed finally, as Lupin's foot moved higher, brushing against his thighs.
"Never," Lupin chuckled.
Severus made no further comment, instead turning back to the journal.
Lupin moved closer. "Does this mean you're finally-?"
"Never," Severus said, echoing Lupin's words.
He was surprised when Lupin's foot moved away and the man sat up, glaring at him with more ferocity than Severus had ever seen in the werewolf's human form.
-
Severus felt somewhat sorry for hitting Lupin.
Of course, the man should not have called him a heartless bastard. He may have been called that a thousand times before, but there was something all too insulting about being told that while the very heart that was being questioned was threatening to give in all together as it beat against his chest.
He dropped the phial on the desk before Lupin and nodded grimly. The werewolf's face was already darknening, a large circle of purple visible under his eye. He didn't look up as he took the phial, instead he stared out of the window.
"I-," Severus said, for the first time lost for words. He had no reason to feel ashamed, Lupin had hit him back, leaving a black bruise across his chest. However, when Lupin looked at him finally, he felt the need to defend himself. "I may not have meant the things I said and my...actions to be taken in the way you took them."
"Spoken like a true Slytherin," Lupin said without humour. "Severus, I could be in the world right now. You need only tell me I'm not needed and I shall be gone."
He sounded like a woman. Severus sighed and looked down at the table. Then again, most men began to sound like women after a few months of forced celibacy. Severus' plans to keep as large a distance between them as possible couldn't have helped either. Not that he would admit it.
"I don't want to be-," Severus began.
Lupin leaned forward and kissed him tenderly before placing a hesitant hand against his crotch. He pulled back with a withering look and stood, moving from the room as quickly as he could.
-
Severus knew they could tell.
He might as well be wearing a flashing sign proclaiming he was now officially a werewolf's bitch. Instead they smiled politely and pretended nothing was different. Hooch enquired after his weekend and poured him a cup of black coffee and smiled sweetly. Granger nattered on endlessly about shrivelfig. Malfoy didn't even bother to look up from his copy of Quidditch Weekly. The rest were silent.
Severus sighed to himself, opening the textbooks before him and asked himself how he had ended up teaching, only months after celebrating his freedom.
"May I welcome you all to this," he began. "The January meeting of the Queer Potion Brewer's Association. If you will turn to page seventeen of your books, you should find any number of reasons why Mr Weasley's recipe for 'everlasting lubricant', with added bubotuber pus, would be unsuccessful."
Lupin sniggered at the back at of the hall and Severus rolled his eyes, looking back down to the notes and hoping no one could see his smile.
Author: hpsauce
Rating: R
Category: Slash
Prompt: Prompt #28a, for the snappy_endings pre-DH Multi-fest 2007
Summary: Remus/Severus - a combination of curses cause Severus' preferences to change. Lupin just wants to talk - or so it seems.
Warnings: Slash, language, implied sexual situations
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
The last thing Severus could remember was a flash of red light. If he cast his mind further back, he could recall how Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange had stood over him, wands drawn. There was little time for memories, however, especially once Poppy Pomfrey had found a theory.
He was hardly arguing that it was impossible for two curses to combine to cause a 'disturbance of the mind', hypothetically. It was fairly obvious, however, after seven days of conciousness and dull, painful tests, that he was perfectly free of any disturbances of the mind, body or spirit.
It did nothing to stop her from fussing whenever he retreated into his thoughts. Which would have been his normal means of passing seven dull days in the infirmary.
Instead, he had been forced to spend time reading the scribble which passed as apologises in Gryffindor Tower, as if believing him a traitor and a Death Eater was the same as accidentally spilling pumpkin juice on his robes. However, it was that or listen to Lupin sighing, laughing and humming in some form of ignorant bliss from the other side of the curtain.
When a week had passed, however, he was finally allowed to leave.
The 'get-well-soon' and 'thanks-for-saving-my-life' and 'sorry-for-calling-you-a-greasy-git' cards had been burned that morning. The packets of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans had been buried in the rubbish bins. Any trace of red had been removed from the surrounding area.
Severus was looking forward to going home. Even if home happened to be his father's house, dusty and decrepit and full of painful memories. Just being free of the usual background noises (sighing, laughing, humming and the nagging).
He turned the corner of the curtain and was assulted by a mass of blinding red. He reeled slightly, trying to see beyond the scarlet coveret, gryffindor-striped scarf and mass of flashing, brick-red cards.
And when he did, all he could see were two smiling, amber eyes.
His stomach clenched strangely, making him feel like he might need to prolong his stay, and his head seemed to spin. He could do nothing but stare as Lupin's smile faltered and he stood, moving across to support him.
"Are you alright, Severus?" Lupin asked.
Severus wanted to point out that he had never offered his first name - especially not since the last time they had met and Lupin had called him a 'fucking traitorous coward' (he hadn't known Lupin could swear).
But all his could think about was the fact that Lupin was standing there, surprisingly tanned and toned and smooth skinned, wearing nothing but a pair of crimson shorts.
That in itself was worrying enough. Severus had never much worried about how much of Lupin was on display before. In fact, had he been in the mood for sexual delight, he would have been wondering when Mrs Lupin would arrive.
So it was understandable that all Severus could do was stand there like the proverbiable deer in headlights before turning around and storming from the infirmary as quickly as he could, completly ignoring Lupin's startled yelping.
-
Lupin was stood on his doorstep.
This took a moment to rationalise this observation. During which time Severus noted that he was wearing a bright orange scarf which complimented both the autumn leaves collecting across the garden path and Lupin's shining eyes.
"Lupin," he growled finally. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Poppy told me," Lupin said with a rather pathetic attempt at a smile. He backed away as Severus' glare strengthened. "About your...condition. I thought, well, you might want some support."
"You thought wrong," Severus said, moving to close the door. "I have fought against some of the darkest wizards of our time, Lupin, I doubt a small...change of orientation would be enough to send me crying for help."
"Exactly," Lupin replied, advancing and moving into the house through a space Severus had not been aware of making. "I know you would never ask, Severus, which is why I thought I should offer."
"You're a married man," Severus muttered weakly, following Lupin into the house. He must be weakening if he had decided that was to be his main issue. But he could do a lot worse than Lupin, he supposed. The man already knew where the tea was, despite it being his first visit. He might as well get a few cups out of the werewolf before he sent him packing.
"There's Darjeeling on the top shelf," he stated, as Lupin stretched up to reach it, stretching out long legs behind him, his jumper riding up to reveal tight, dark denim. Severus coughed and turned away, looking into his mess of a living room. "No milk, no sugar," he instructed. "As it should be."
"Of course," Lupin replied. "I expected you might have some English Breakfast left."
"Vile stuff," Severus said. He flicked his wand at the living room, tidying away phials and robes and journals. He decided not to bother with any freshening spells. New scarf or none, the werewolf would probably be pleased with anything better than the Shrieking Shack.
Lupin said nothing when he entered five minutes later, carrying two cups of darjeeling, although he did look rather worried about sitting anywhere near the paisely sofa.
"Well," he said, sitting down. "You would be able to tell, so I might as well tell you, Severus, I didn't expect you to agree so easily."
"So you have nothing prepared," Severus said. "Poor show, Lupin, no wonder the brats you taught loved you if you took a similar approach to lessons."
"We could just talk," Lupin said. "It's not meant to be a lesson, Severus, I didn't offer you a crash course in Beginner's Homosexuality. I just want-."
"To support me." Severus finished, tired of Lupin's mumblings. "Lupin, if this is the only insight you are going to offer me, then you are free to leave."
"I'm always free to leave," Lupin said. "If you do not need my help, however-."
"Drink your tea," Severus muttered. "That darjeeling didn't come cheap."
Lupin smiled, his face bathed in an amber glow as the sunset behind the faded curtains. Severus' stomach gave a odd tug and he felt a familiar twitch in his loins. He swallowed his tea quickly.
-
"Is there anyone on the scene?" Lupin asked, sipping at his cup of coffee and reclining on the garishly yellow sofa.
"I have been a homosexual for exactly three weeks, Lupin," Severus replied lowly. "During that time, I have not become an effeminate, prancing, love-sick fool and the use of the word 'gay' continues to elude me. I am not pleasant company, Lupin, a fact which it appears you are alone in your unawareness of, and I am definetly not going to spend any time in those loud, airless chambers which men of your persuation seems to enjoy so much."
Lupin blinked and set his mug down. "I was simply asking," he said with a small sigh. "There are other ways to meet people, Severus. There is, of course, the QPBA."
"I refuse to discuss the delicate art of potion making with a group of-," he twitched and closed his mouth quickly. "Did you have to bring me to his place, Lupin? I understand you might enjoy these 'mochacinos' if, perhaps, your senses of taste and smell were cruelly ripped from you during the war, but it hardly seems necessary to keep bringing me to...these places."
"Desensitisation," Lupin stated. "It's important."
"Nonsense," Severus muttered, looking at Lupin as if he saw right through his ruse. His lips twitched as Lupin's eyes moved to the young man at the counter, before a feeling came over him which felt not unlike being kicked in the stomach - hard.
"How you can even think of wooing anyone dressed in yellow is beyond me," Severus stated, pushing his only half-empty mug away from him. "Especially since you are reportedly aiding me."
"Severus," Lupin said. "I'm here for support, but you can't expect me to put my life on hold until you find your feet."
"I don't need to find my feet," Severus said. "I know exactly where they are and I know exactly where I'd prefer them to be. The spells change my orientation, Lupin, not my outlook. I don't want a lover. I want to be left alone."
The yellow light above them flickered slightly and Severus stilled for a moment before standing and walking away, dropping a few coins on the table for the dreadful, muggle coffee.
Lupin made no move to stop him. When Severus turned back, looking through the window at the man, the muggle in yellow had already taken his place.
-
"Happy Birthday," Lupin said, standing on Severus' doorstep dressed in green robes and carrying a small pile of presents. "Just tokens, I'm afraid. I suppose I thought I might be a reasonable present."
"I might have prefered socks," Severus said. "But come in." He led Lupin down the hallway. "I recieved your card, reasonably formal. I was mildly impressed."
He stilled, turning back to Lupin, all too aware of the man's eyes on him. He was surprised to find Lupin's cheeks oddly flushed as the man looked down at their feet and then moved forward, pressing his lips against Severus'.
The kiss was...passable. Severus had no idea how he had managed to woo such charming specimens as Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shaklebolt with such ordinary kissing skills, but it was far from unplasant nonetheless.
They pulled apart and Severus moved towards the kitchen, trying his best to hide his aroused state. "You will be pleased to hear I have invested in some English breakfast tea. Do you still insist on poisoning yourself with foru sugars?"
"Severus," Lupin said. "Are you going to ignore the fact that we just kissed?"
"Four sugars?" Severus asked, answering the question.
"Yes," Lupin said. "There's a reason, Severus, for the kiss."
"Of course," Severus muttered.
"It was stupid of me to try to make you more comfortable by taking your out for coffee in Soho," Lupin said. "Sexuality is all about sex. That's exactly the angle we should be tackling this from."
"I'm afraid," Severus said, with an ease that only came from lying continuously for decades. "That you have been 'pipped to the punch' as it were. Did you fail to notice the green cloak hanging in the doorway, Lupin?"
"You have visitors?" Lupin asked. "Malfoy? Severus, it pains me to say it, but you could do much better."
"You, I suppose?" Severus asked.
Lupin smiled and moved forward, attempting to kiss Severus again. The man moved his face away, pushing Lupin from him. "If you wish to participate in sexual intercourse with me, Lupin, you should ask. This pretence is rather tiring."
"You wouldn't agree," Lupin said. He gave a weak smile and lifted his cup of tea. He turned back to Severus, his eyes blank. "I suppose Mr Malfoy and yourself will be wanting some privacy."
-
Lupin's kisses were...well, not to die for. Severus had definetly had better in terms of skill. However, they were passable and Severus rarely pushed the other man away if they were in private.
Outside, though, that was a different story all together. Lupin's pathetic chat-up lines of 'isn't the sky blue?' and 'i can't reach to cover my back' were not going to work to change that.
Instead, Severus sat perfectly rigid, reading through the attrocity that dared to call itself the QPBA journal. How there could be a monthly magazine devoted almost entirely to enlargement spells and lubricants, Severus had no idea.
"You broke up with Blaise," Lupin said suddenly.
Severus stilled and looked up over the edge of the journal. The other man looked back to his own magazine, arching his bare, golden back in the sun. Severus rolled his eyes and turned back to the magazine.
"We did not 'break up', as you put it. We are not teenage sweethearts nor were we in any kind of relationship. He was simply seated next to me at a variety of rather dull engagements."
Lupin smiled slightly. Severus stilled as he felt a cool sole touch his calve, resisting the urge to push the man away. There was no reason to cause a scene. It would only call attention to the fact that he was laying beside a half-naked homosexual werewolf.
"Get off," he hissed finally, as Lupin's foot moved higher, brushing against his thighs.
"Never," Lupin chuckled.
Severus made no further comment, instead turning back to the journal.
Lupin moved closer. "Does this mean you're finally-?"
"Never," Severus said, echoing Lupin's words.
He was surprised when Lupin's foot moved away and the man sat up, glaring at him with more ferocity than Severus had ever seen in the werewolf's human form.
-
Severus felt somewhat sorry for hitting Lupin.
Of course, the man should not have called him a heartless bastard. He may have been called that a thousand times before, but there was something all too insulting about being told that while the very heart that was being questioned was threatening to give in all together as it beat against his chest.
He dropped the phial on the desk before Lupin and nodded grimly. The werewolf's face was already darknening, a large circle of purple visible under his eye. He didn't look up as he took the phial, instead he stared out of the window.
"I-," Severus said, for the first time lost for words. He had no reason to feel ashamed, Lupin had hit him back, leaving a black bruise across his chest. However, when Lupin looked at him finally, he felt the need to defend himself. "I may not have meant the things I said and my...actions to be taken in the way you took them."
"Spoken like a true Slytherin," Lupin said without humour. "Severus, I could be in the world right now. You need only tell me I'm not needed and I shall be gone."
He sounded like a woman. Severus sighed and looked down at the table. Then again, most men began to sound like women after a few months of forced celibacy. Severus' plans to keep as large a distance between them as possible couldn't have helped either. Not that he would admit it.
"I don't want to be-," Severus began.
Lupin leaned forward and kissed him tenderly before placing a hesitant hand against his crotch. He pulled back with a withering look and stood, moving from the room as quickly as he could.
-
Severus knew they could tell.
He might as well be wearing a flashing sign proclaiming he was now officially a werewolf's bitch. Instead they smiled politely and pretended nothing was different. Hooch enquired after his weekend and poured him a cup of black coffee and smiled sweetly. Granger nattered on endlessly about shrivelfig. Malfoy didn't even bother to look up from his copy of Quidditch Weekly. The rest were silent.
Severus sighed to himself, opening the textbooks before him and asked himself how he had ended up teaching, only months after celebrating his freedom.
"May I welcome you all to this," he began. "The January meeting of the Queer Potion Brewer's Association. If you will turn to page seventeen of your books, you should find any number of reasons why Mr Weasley's recipe for 'everlasting lubricant', with added bubotuber pus, would be unsuccessful."
Lupin sniggered at the back at of the hall and Severus rolled his eyes, looking back down to the notes and hoping no one could see his smile.