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The Long Road	By : SinisterMe Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 63598 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 18
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

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Lunch came and went uneventfully, cold sandwiches and a plate of sliced vegetables was served. Even though the oven was back to the same state of repair as it was before Harry hit it with his magical burst, Fred wouldn’t look at it even once. He pondered out loud what he would make for supper, not being able to cook. Teddy and Remus stifled their laughter at Severus’ rolling eyes and longsuffering sighs.
Crafting thoroughly exhausted for the day, they settled down in the living room for a while. Severus pretended to be reading his own book while Remus read stories out loud to Teddy, who sat as close to on top of his father’s lap as he could manage without cutting off circulation to his still healing feet.
Snape barely dared to sneak a peek at the two of them together from where he sat across the room, periodically flipping pages in a book he wasn’t even reading. They were so animated together, laughing over pictures in the book or at voices Remus used to represent the characters. He couldn’t ever remember being that free with anyone ever in his whole life; yet it seemed to come to these two very naturally, despite the recently difficult years. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe in appearances though; both father and son were changed by their experiences; exactly how much and how permanently was yet to be seen.
When Teddy started getting restless, Severus suggested they step outside for a while. The afternoon was overcast with brilliant patches of blue splashed across it, the sun peeked from between those spaces every once in a while. They didn’t go far from the house this time, even though Remus was in much better condition than when they had all gone down to the garden. Off the side of the house was a small patio, its lattices covered in creeping vines. The furniture looked to be from another era but that didn’t seem to concern Severus, who promptly set Remus beside the table and took a seat as well.
Teddy and his dragon were standing right beside them; Remus wished his boy didn’t look so nervous. He understood that Teddy was uncertain in large spaces and couldn’t help but notice the way he had a handful of Severus’ robe clutched in his small hand the entire way from the house. Snape had pretended not to notice, but Remus had seen plain as day how short the long legged man’s strides were as they walked out to the patio’ he wasn’t all that sure what to make of it.
Now that they were where they were going, Teddy must have relaxed a little, moving away from them slightly to look around. “This place is neat!” he declared, looking at the trellis above their heads.
“I thought you might like it,” Severus said. “We’re outside, but still within a defined space.” The boy really did need to get some fresh air and sun.
The boy nodded, looking at his father, “Do you like it out here too, daddy?”
“I do, actually,” Remus agreed. He turned to Severus, “Do you come out here often, sir?”
Severus shrugged. “I spend most of my time in the lab or the garden; I just thought the two of you could use a change of scenery. Occasionally I have a cup of tea out here,” he admitted.
“Tea?” asked a voice from behind them. “Someone is wanting tea?” Fred approached them, tray in hand, which he set down on the table between the two adults. “There is being juice and biscuits to be tiding over the little one until supper.”
“Thank you, Fred,” Severus said, pleasantly surprised.
“It is never being a bad time for tea, sir,” the elf smiled.
“I suppose not. Lupin?” he asked, offering a cup to him.
“Oh yes please, sir.” To tell the truth, Remus was still a little rattled about the events of the morning; a nice hot cup of tea just might be what he needed to calm his nerves.
Fred disappeared back the way he had come as Severus poured two cups of tea and dished Teddy some biscuits.
Remus seemed content to sit and enjoy the sunshine, so Snape sat quietly as well, appreciating a moment of stillness after the trying day. In the short time since the arrival of the Lupins, Severus had had more dialogue than in all of the years since the trials combined. It was almost refreshing to sit in peace. Teddy had eaten his biscuits and drank his juice, now was playing with his dragon around the patio, making him fly about and climb the lattice.
The sun was just beginning to set, so Severus collected the tray and led Remus and Teddy back into the house. Fred was getting close to having supper done, so he took Teddy to wash up before sitting down at the table.
Compared to the morning, the evening was blessedly uneventful. Severus allowed Remus and Teddy a few hours to themselves in Teddy’s room. After the shocking introduction Potter had made, he supposed they had some things to hash out that Remus would be more comfortable discussing without him in earshot.
This allowed him precious time to further his research on the bonding that would be taking place soon; they had about a week’s for him to make all of the preparations. He put Teddy’s Wolfsbane back on the burner to heat it to the appropriate temperature, checking Lupin’s potion as he did so. He then settled down in front of his still open books and began to read.
Around the time Teddy usually went to bed, Severus ascended from the lab, a steaming goblet in each of his hands. He toed the door to Teddy’s room open, clearing his throat to alert them of his presence.
Remus turned his head to look at Snape, feeling a distinct mixture of fear and relief at the sight of the two prepared doses of Wolfsbane. Relief that they wouldn’t have to face another transformation without it, but terrified that something would go wrong with his son’s portion. He barely contained a sigh.
“Hello, sir,” Teddy said cheerfully. “What do you have there?”
“I have Wolfsbane potion for both you and your father,” he handed a goblet to Remus, who took it in both hands and drank it as quickly as possible. The face he made as he handed the empty cup back to Severus was much the same as it had always been; Severus resisted the urge to smile thinly.
“You want me to drink one too?” Teddy asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“And it’s for my transformation,” the boy confirmed.
“Yes, it most certainly is,” Severus replied. Thinking back to his and Remus’ conversation the other day he asked lightly, “Teddy what do you know about your condition?”
“My condition, sir? You mean being a – werewolf?” the boy whispered the word.
“Yes, what can you tell me about that?”
The boy looked quite perplexed for a few seconds. “I know I have to change into an animal every month; and nobody likes it, not even me. It hurts so badly and I’m so scared because I can feel it coming, for hours even before it really starts. I don’t remember anything the next day, but I think I hurt myself sir, because I wake up and sometimes I’m cut up and I’m always sore.” Teddy was looking at the floor, fidgeting his feet around nervously.
“You change into – something very close to a wolf; however it is only temporary. I understand that it is frightening and that it hurts very much. If I could take that away completely, I would. The potion I’m going to give you will help with the pain, both during and after, though I regret to say it will not take the pain away entirely. It will also allow you to remember some of what happens and it will prevent you from hurting yourself without your knowledge,” Severus explained slowly. “Am I correct so far, Lupin?”
“Yes sir, you are,” Remus added weakly.
“What do you know about why this happens to you?” Severus asked. He wasn’t trying to be cruel but he did need to know what Teddy knew about his lycanthropy. If he asked him too many questions, he may end up leading the boy and not getting the truth.
Teddy paused even longer before answering this time. “I really don’t know, sir. I think it’s because I’ve been bad. Or maybe because I’m a slave, the only slaves I’ve met have been monsters like me.” The boy sounded despondent, looking at the floor when he said it.
Severus didn’t need to glance at Remus to know that he would be writhing in his seat hearing his son speak those words, but he didn’t think the other man would say anything unless he gave him the go ahead. He would give them time to discuss it when he had said his peace.
“Do you know that I have spent a large part of my life on the study and research of lycanthropy?” Severus asked the boy.
“Lyc-” Teddy started to attempt the pronunciation but stopped before he was halfway through. “What is that, sir?”
“Lycanthropy is another term for the condition you and your father both have. Since I have studied it for so long I know a good deal about it and how it works. I can tell you that in all the uncountable years since people first began to contract it, not one single time was it because that person was not good enough, nor was it because they were bad or because they misbehaved. Not once. A person normally contracts lycanthropy because they were bitten by a transformed werewolf. The condition is transferred in their saliva, which gets into the bloodstream through the wound and turns the person being bitten.” He left out the part about that only happening if the individual didn’t die.
“I was bitten, sir? Was I a baby?” Teddy asked, wrinkling his brow and peering closely at him from where he sat on the bed.
“You are special,” Severus said immediately; Remus jerked his head up when he did. “You were never bitten; you were born with lycanthropy. You are one of only a few of people to ever be born that way.”
“It doesn’t feel very special,” Teddy said petulantly.
“I imagine not,” Severus agreed. “But it is special all the same. Your parents were very remarkable people who each gave you many things that help make up who you are, don’t ever forget that. You will grow and you will change; you will not be defined by your lycanthropy, because you have so much more to offer.” He couldn’t believe he just said that out loud to the boy, especially in front of Remus, who he was poignantly not looking at.
“You really think so, sir?” Teddy asked.
“I would not have said so if I believed otherwise.”
“Well everyone I’ve met so far hates me for it, sir, so I don’t know if I believe you.”
Remus drew in a sharp breath at his son’s cheeky words. He shuddered to think what Walden would have done if Teddy had ever spoken those words to him, never mind in that tone of voice.
Snape gave a huff of laughter at the boys lip. “Everyone? Do you believe that I hate you?”
“Well no, sir. But you don’t know me very well yet.”
“And you don’t know me very well yet either. That is because we’ve only just met. I can tell you that I very much like the part of you I’ve come to know so far.”
Teddy smiled behind his hand. “I like you too, sir.”
Severus’ eyebrow rose of its own accord. He continued all the same, “Your father was a very popular young man when we were in school together, as well as after, when people knew about his condition. Some people may have negative feelings towards you or him because you are lycanthropes but that is a reflection on them, not on you. If they are so bitter and closed minded to judge you just because you are different from them, so be it; those will not be the people with which you will choose to surround yourself. Pity them; I know for a fact that the world is a very small, very frightening place for such people.” He would know, as he had been one for a large portion of his life.
Teddy soaked in what he had just said. “I think I understand, sir,” he said.
“It is not something you need to comprehend all at once; it is a way of looking at the world that you create within yourself. But you will not need to do it by yourself; your father is here for you if you need anything. So am I,” he added softly.
“Okay sir; thank you,” Teddy said, giving him a watery smile.
“Do you think you’re ready to drink this potion? It will help you, but I have it on good authority that it tastes like Hippogriff pee,” he said derisively; Teddy giggled.
He handed Teddy the cup, sneaking a peek at Remus as he did so. The man had the oddest expression on his face and seemed to have something stuck in his eye, what with the way he was blinking and rubbing at the thing.
Teddy took the cup and peered inside.
“I recommend holding your nose while you drink it,” Remus said, his voice sounding a little off. “It really is awful, but you have to drink it all.”
Teddy hesitated, but put the cup to his lips and drank it back in a few big gulps, his one hand pinching his nose in an attempt to stave off the taste of it. When he was done, he stuck out his tongue and shuddered, handing the goblet back to Snape.
“That was terrible,” the boy said. “But thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome. You won’t be thanking me by the end of the week though; you and your father will need to drink the same amount of this every night until the full moon.”
“Really?” Teddy seemed fairly horrified at the thought.
“There is no other way,” Remus agreed.
“Okay,” Teddy said resignedly.
“Do you have anything you’d like to ask me about what we just discussed?” Severus asked.
“Not right now, sir,” Teddy said.
“Alright, then I’m going to leave you and your father alone for a while longer. It’s almost bedtime, so you might as well brush your teeth and all that. Remus will read you another chapter in your book and tuck you in. Sound good?”
“Sounds great, sir.”
“Okay, well you have a good sleep. I’ll be in to get you in a while, Lupin.”
“Yes sir,” Remus agreed.
Severus walked from the room, two empty goblets in hand. He took them straight back to the lab, washing them out immediately. The Wolfsbane was notoriously difficult to scrub off anything once it was cold and he never felt certain he got all of the contaminants out otherwise.
He went back up to his own room, opening the long closed door that led to the en suite wash room. The tub in there was just as large as the one in the Prefects bath at Hogwarts. It felt gluttonous to him, so he mostly used the shower in the house’s communal wash room. He’d had Fred clean it out of the dust and cobwebs it had been accumulating when he’d discovered the ritual bath recommended in Lupin’s ceremony. They would both fit in there with ease, perhaps even comfortably, without needing to maneuver too terribly in their old age.
Severus thought that perhaps Lupin would take his medicated bath in here; now that he was healed to such a degree he should be better able to manage the deeper water. Severus decided he would still be there or at least cast the charm to keep the other man’s head above water if he desired privacy, which given the option he most likely would.
He exited the bath, leaving the door open as he went. He sat down at his little table, pouring himself a Scotch and putting his feet up on the ottoman. He would relax until he was sure Teddy was sleeping.
He hoped he hadn’t overstepped his bounds earlier. Remus, who was normally a relatively strong, charismatic person, had been weakened, made completely unsure of himself while he was in Walden’s possession.
Teddy needed someone who could say these things with certainty, not get caught up in their own opinion of the disease or their guilt for causing the young man to have it. He needed to hear straight away that he wasn’t a werewolf because he was bad. From what he had seen of the boy, he valued honesty and could easily see through a lie. He would appreciate nothing less than the truth spoken logically; well, for a six year old, at least. He hoped Remus wouldn’t be upset that he had taken such liberty with the conversation. The other man could speak all he wanted to his boy about the subject; he had at least made sure of that.
Finding himself stewing over nothing he could change, Severus refilled his empty glass and checked his clock. He would go retrieve Remus in about twenty minutes, not wanting to intrude on their conversation or on Teddy falling asleep. He drank it slowly, trying not to dwell on the occurrences of the day.
He was actually quite proud of himself for not incinerating Potter where he stood upon his first realization of who the intruder was. The boy had no common sense at all; if he was half the monster he was suspected to be he would flay the skins off both father and son for the disturbance to his home and his time. Surely Potter had to realize that; if not the boy was more short sighted than he had ever feared him to be.
Regardless, he had held his anger, done all his sparring verbally. When it all boiled down, he knew that he hadn’t wanted to frighten Teddy more than the poor boy already had been. His heart softened just a little when he thought of that child and there was absolutely no point in denying it to himself. He found that he had no desire to, at any rate.
Finding his glass empty, he stood and took the short walk to Teddy’s room, collecting Remus from where he sat, holding his son’s hand much as he had the other night; almost a position of penitence.
“Lupin,” he said quietly. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir,” Remus said brokenly, setting his son’s small hand on the mattress with care.
Severus levitated his chair straight down the hall and into his own room. He set Remus down at his usual spot by the small table. Fred had somehow known to bring tea up in the short period of time since he had gone to retrieve Lupin. There were two steaming cups and a small pot of what smelled like peppermint tea sitting on the table. Snape wasted no time getting one of the steaming cups into his companion’s hands. He took one himself and sat across from the man.
“How are you holding up?” Severus felt obliged to ask.
“I’ll survive, I think,” Remus replied shakily.
Severus took a sip from his steaming cup and set it aside on the table. He stood and went into the now open door to the en suite bathroom and set the taps to filling the large basin, which he knew from experience would take some time. He set the level and charmed the tub to turn off when it reached that point. Heading back out into his room, he saw Remus looking at him with trepidation, untouched tea in his hands.
“Go ahead and drink it, Lupin. It’s only tea.”
“Yes sir, of course,” Lupin lifted his cup to his lips, taking an obligatory sip.
Severus shook his head, immediately continuing in his original task. He gathered the materials needed to tend to Remus’ feet, as well as new bandages that he sat down and began to enchant with the special waterproofing charm that would protect the other man’s appendages. Remus watched him do all of this almost without moving.
Finally, he asked, “What is in the other room, sir?”
“Pardon me?” Severus replied, looking up from the tea that had returned to his hands.
“The other room; please sir, I need to know,” Lupin said. He sounded more panicked than an open door leading into an unfamiliar space should warrant.
“That is a bathroom adjacent to the master suite, Remus. There isn’t anything more to it than that. I didn’t think it would be good for your first bath to be in there because the tub is so deep. Now that you are healed to the degree you are, it will be more than appropriate for your next medicated bath.” Severus wasn’t sure what the anxious look on the other man’s face meant and he didn’t pry.
“I see, sir,” Remus said at length. “What about you?”
“Me? If I charm the basin so you can’t accidentally drown yourself, I see no reason why you couldn’t be allowed to soak alone and in peace for a while. I would of course assist you in and out of the tub along with the more strenuous activities, such as drying and clothing yourself.”
“I’m sorry, sir, I think you’re misunderstanding me. Your shoulder is in poor condition; perhaps a medicated bath will do you good also,” Remus’ voice came out more feebly than he had intended. What he was proposing just about made the hair on his neck stand up, but he had said it anyway, against his own better judgment.
“What are you suggesting?” Severus asked, having gone quite still.
“I imagine the en suite bathroom in a place like this is rather large,” Remus alluded.
“It is, that’s why I don’t use it on a regular basis,” Severus seemed more confused than he should have been.
“Never mind, sir,” Remus blushed.
“Are you trying to suggest we… share the bath?”
Remus could almost see Severus processing the information even as he said the words. “Something like that; I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds, sir.” Lupin suddenly found himself
“If you ever manage to actually offend me, Remus, there will be no doubt in your mind,” Severus assured him. “Forgive me if I find it difficult to believe you would willingly propose such a thing at this present time, for any reason.”
Remus didn’t know what to say to that. “Nevertheless, sir…”
“Drink your tea. I will prepare the tub and we will see how you feel about all of this when it is ready,” Severus said.
“Yes, sir,” Remus agreed. He couldn’t see how a few minutes and a prepared tub would change his mind. What he was doing suggesting this in the first place, he hadn’t the slightest.
Severus stood and went into the other room, adding the appropriate amount of potions to the water. He would give Remus a minute to think about just exactly what it was he was suggesting, allowing the other man to bow out gracefully.
He returned and knelt before Lupin, unwinding the bandages from his feet and applying the healing cream. Finally, his bad foot was starting to heal, though the other one was still days ahead of it. He hoped that once it began to show progress it would heal more quickly than the other injuries had, but only time would tell. He then replaced the bandages with the ones that would protect the injuries from any contact with the water of the tub, casting a protection charm over them when he was done. He stood, noting that Lupin hadn’t looked at him the entire time he was down there.
Severus noted that the other man had set his teacup aside. He levitated the chair and guided Remus into the bathroom, setting the chair down on the pristine white tile beside the tub. Wordlessly, he helped Lupin out of his clothing, floating him so that he landed carefully in the tub, resting his head on the lip of the basin and casting the spell that would keep him above the water like a buoy so he wouldn’t submerge himself too far in the water, accidentally or otherwise.
The sigh that floated out of Lupin’s lips was one of pure bliss, his eyes were closed and he looked for like a man completely contented.
Leaving him to soak in the hot water for a moment, Severus retreated back into his room. He was trying to grapple with Remus’ reasons for suggesting they share the bath. Certainly, there was more than enough room for the two of them. However, all of Lupin’s actions up to this point cried very loudly that he wasn’t comfortable with touch. Severus had been pushing him; carefully urging them onward at a rate that he himself wasn’t exactly comfortable with.
He decided to go along with it, no matter his personal bewilderment on the matter. There was no question that he would give Remus time to reconsider. Severus perched on the edge of his chair, pouring himself another rather large glass of Scotch. He wasn’t beyond going for a shot of liquid courage now that he was able. He hadn’t dared to drink very often during either war, but now that things were settled he didn’t mind dipping into the bottle every once in a while.
Severus took a long drink, collecting his thoughts as well as giving Lupin a moment of privacy. He was second guessing himself again; wondering if he was competent enough to take care of Remus’ needs the way he deserved instead of putting his own selfish desires first and trying to justify them second. He knew that he could be gentle with the other man physically; patience in that area wasn’t a problem for him. Being fit emotionally was an entirely different matter. He downed the rest of his drink; a person could only do their best and that was exactly what he was going to attempt to do.
He stood, setting his glass aside and taking off his outer robe and laying it across the back of the chair he had been sitting in. He would need it gone even if Lupin decided he would rather bathe alone. The other man’s hand would still be weak; he would need some assistance with getting out of the water at the very least; he may help him wash his hair as well. He took a deep breath and walked back into the steamy bathroom.
A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short! The next one will hopefully be coming sooner than usual to make up for it. Life certainly takes over!
Hope you liked it though. Thank you as always for your wonderful comments and ratings – you guys are so awesome!
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The Long Road