Some Dangerous Liaisons

Chapter 28: The Wizard of OZ-Kaban

A/N: Forgive me.

Thanks to all who kept this story in their thoughts.


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Chapter 28: The Wizard of OZ-Kaban

Ron stared gloomily at his plate of bacon and eggs, while he half-heartedly pushed them around the dish. It was one of the few times in his life that he didn’t have much of an appetite. The rest of the occupants of the Great Hall seemed to be feeling pretty much the same as he did. There wasn’t much conversation going on and those that were talking were whispering in dull tones.

After another poke at the egg, Ron looked over at the Slytherin table. There were hardly any students there and the only seventh years were Crabbe, Goyle and Tracy Davis. Ron realized that those three were the only seventh years left in Slytherin.

Nott’s death had struck the Slytherins pretty hard. The Greengrass girl had left Hogwarts earlier in the week but not before her outraged mother had shouted angrily at McGonagall. The Deputy Headmistress had only stared solemnly back at Mrs. Greengrass, while the blond witch raved about the injustice of Nott’s death and

Zabini’s injuries. She didn’t seem to care that another student had been killed by a member of Slytherin.

The Hufflepuffs certainly cared though. Justin was deeply loved by his housemates and his death had devastated them, just as Cedric Diggory’s had three years earlier. Ernie hadn’t been seen since the tragedy, and poor Hannah had cried so much that her eyes could no longer be seen because they had swollen so much. Susan Bones, normally a sweet, quiet girl, had ran over to the Slytherin table at dinner last night and screamed at Crabbe and Goyle. It took both Professors Sprout and Sinestra to pull the distraught girl from the Great Hall, all the while screaming that Draco Malfoy was the devil.

Ron whole-heartedly agreed. Not only was Malfoy responsible for Justin’s death, but he had also bewitched his best mate into some sort of relationship. A most unforgiveable act as far as Ron was concerned.

Best to not let Hermione know that he still held serious misgivings about helping Malfoy, even though Harry had asked them to. He glanced across the table at Hermione, grateful that their truce was still holding. After his family had received the news of Ginny’s sentence, he had practically fled back to Hogwarts. He couldn’t take another minute of his mother’s crying and wailing.

Bill and Charlie had bore up stoically, alternating rubbing her shoulders and trying to get her to eat something. Fred and George had been worthless of course. Their attempts at humor had only sent his mother into more hysterics, which finally ended when his dad told them to shut up.

Fred had stormed out, angry at the world, while George had gaped in disbelief at his father’s harsh, shouted words. He sat down on the couch like a scolded puppy and didn’t speak for the rest of the night. Ron had shouted that at least Ginny wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life in Azkaban or get the Kiss. That despite everything, she got off pretty lightly.

Arthur had stared in amazement at his youngest son and then nodded firmly.

“You’re right, Son.”

Ron had nodded in return and left.

Hermione was looking at him now.

“Ron,” she said, “Professor Lupin will need some help today on researching the spell to call the Vargulf. Will you help?”

Ron nodded quickly. “Of course, Hermione. I told you I would help Harry as much as I can. I owe him that. He’s my best mate.” He looked down at his plate again. “And I owe you as well.”

Hermione smiled weakly. “You don’t owe me anything, Ron. Just be there for Harry’s sake.”

Ron shook his head adamantly. “Yes, I do! I didn’t treat you very nice, Hermione. You didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry.”

Hermione reached across the table and squeezed Ron’s hand. “It’s over, all right? I…didn’t make things much easier for you either. I’m sorry too.”

Ron smiled shyly and returned the gesture.

The screech of owls distracted them, as several owls descended upon the tables for the morning post.

Ron watched as the barn owl dropped the morning Prophet in Hermione’s cereal bowl. He frowned as he realized that the headlines were probably going to be screaming about Ginny’s sentencing.

“Why do you still get that thing?” He knew the answer of course, but it still needled him that the Prophet managed to mostly spread bad news for him, his family and his friends. “It only has bloody bad news in it.”

Hermione nodded grimly. She knew that it was going to be all about Ginny as well. She sighed heavily and unrolled the paper.

Ron was not prepared for her horrified gasp.

“Noooo!”

“Hermione?”

She lifted big brown eyes to his and he watched as tears filled them.

“Ron…H-Harry..”

A boulder-sized knot forced its way down Ron’s throat and crashed into his innards.

“What? Bloody hell! What?” He reached out to seize the paper from her, but was interrupted by a smattering of applause from the Slytherins.

“Haa! The Golden Boy has finally fallen!”

“It’s what he gets!”

Ron whipped his head around and stared at the Slytherins. His fists clenched in anger as he half-rose from his seat.

“You got something to say?” Ron barked.

The Great Hall erupted into loud talking by the student body. There were gasps coming from all directions.

Ron stared around in confusion until the fifth year Slytherin boy stood up and flicked the copy of the Prophet towards him. Ron glared at the boy’s smirk and was hard-pressed not to run over and punch him right in the mouth.

But he was immediately distracted by the bleating headlines of the paper. He stared dumbly at it.

HARRY POTTER: AZKABAN’S NEWEST RESIDENT

There were several pictures under the caption. One was a picture of the Minister being interviewed. There were pictures of both Nott and Zabini taken somewhere at Hogwarts, probably at a Quidditch game. Then in the center, there was a rather large picture of a cell block at Azkaban prison with its cold and foreboding walls. Ron could see the flowing presence of a malevolent Dementor hovering in the background. Hands from at least five Aurors or prison guards were dragging a struggling Harry to one of the cells.
Despite Harry’s hands being bound with metal cuffs, Harry must’ve been giving them hell.

Ron’s mouth dropped open as Harry faced the camera, his eyes flashing with a murderous glare of such intensity that Ron winced. Harry then gave a sinister smile and leaned closer to the edge of the picture. There was a blur of movement and Harry disappeared from view and then screaming was heard. The wizarding camera dropped to the floor, evidenced by the fact the film was now showing everyone’s feet, running and scrabbling around and then the picture faded to black. It began its arc again.

Ron backed away from the paper, his face white and his hands trembling and bumped into Hermione, who had come around to Ron’s side. Her wide frightened eyes met his.

“When did this happen? No one told us!” Ron bellowed. He ran his hand through his hair, making it stick up like Harry’s used to.

Hermione turned to look at the dais and realized that none of the teachers were even there.

“Where is Dumbledore? Where are the teachers?”

Ron was already on his way out of the hall. Hermione hurried after him.


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Severus had no intention of obeying the summons he had just received.

His trunk was packed and he had sent house-elves to fetch more packing supplies in order to transport his many cauldrons and potions supplies. He had accumulated quite a bit of possessions in eighteen years.

A small voice in his head was feebly protesting about this cowardly act of defiance. Dumbledore had expressly forbade him to leave the castle, but packing bags and trunks was clearly the very opposite of what Dumbledore had said.

After last night’s horror of his sodomizing a student, Dumbledore’s rather calm viewing of said student’s semen on his lips and Scrimgeour’s disgusting display of Ministry incompetence and arrogance by his arrest of Potter, Severus had apparated back to Hogwarts without another word to Dumbledore, determined to leave before his mentor returned.

He hadn’t even managed to pull a trunk from his closet, before an owl had swooped into his quarters and dropped a note into his hand and disappeared.

“Don’t leave.” It wasn’t signed, but then again it didn’t need to be.

Severus had cursed and tossed the note into the fireplace.

It had been pointless to sleep. His stomach had churned all night, just like it used to when his father would come home after his drunken nights at the local pub. He now understood why his father drank. Severus upended almost every single alcoholic beverage he had in his cabinet. But no matter how many liquids passed through his gullet, he still couldn’t forget the image of Potter writhing in his bonds, the taste of him on his lips or Dumbledore’s look of absolute disappointment. Severus had never been this horrified since Lily’s death was placed squarely on his shoulders.

His self-loathing grew exponentially throughout the rest of the night.

By morning, his decision to cast “Avada Kadavra” on himself was thwarted by his inability to lift his hand up. Had he even drank from his inkwell?

A crack had sounded in the room to rival a shot-gun blast. Severus hoped it had been a gun…aimed right at his heart. His head throbbed in agony at the noise.

But it had only been a house-elf, its ears twitching anxiously. It peered at Severus with uncertainty.

“Master Headmaster is telling Winnie to tell Master Potions Master to come to his quarters.”

Severus stared at the elf and then let out a snort. The elf’s eyes widened.

“Master is not looking so well. Master is…is stinking of numerous spirits.” Winnie wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Winnie is hearing things about Master Potions Master from other house-elves. Winnie is not knowing that Master has weakness for drink.”

Severus snorted again and growled out, “Apparently that’s not all I have a weakness for.” He struggled to an upright position and groaned. With even more difficulty, he staggered to his feet, the room spinning and nausea rising quickly. He lurched towards his potions cabinet, his hands out to steady himself. Severus’ hands fell on a vial of Hangover Helper and he quickly gulped the contents. He grabbed a second one for good measure.

He sighed in relief as the pounding in his head melted away. He then turned to scowl at the elf.

“Why are you still here?”

Winnie blinked. “Winnie is making sure that Master is going as Headmaster requested.”

Severus rolled his eyes. “I’ll be along in a moment. Now get out. On second thought, send another elf here in your place. I am in need of some assistance.”

“Winnie can be helping you, sir! Master is not needing another elf.”

Severus felt his headache threatening to return. “Do as I said! Just send another elf!”

Winnie nodded solemnly and disappeared.

Severus immediately set to work pulling trunks from storage spaces. A house elf appeared two minutes, bowing low to the floor.

“Winnie is telling Blinky that Master Snape is needing Blinky?”

Severus directed the elf to his storage room in his quarters and told him the locations of various store rooms in the castle that held some of his other belongings.

“Have them brought here. And if one thing is damaged…”

Blinky looked horrified at such a suggestion. “Damaged? Blinky is never damaging things, Sir!”

Severus waved him away and the elf disappeared with a pop.

Now blessedly free of meddling house-elves, Severus’ mind began to work in overtime drive. He was really leaving Hogwarts; his home for the last twenty years or so. Why did he have to go to the hospital? Why couldn’t he have just stayed away from Potter? Why did Albus have to show up right at that moment?

Twenty years down the drain. Potter Senior had been his downfall while he was a student, and now Potter Junior had destroyed him as an adult. The irony of it all…

No sense in dwelling on it now. Severus moved quickly around the room, flicking his wand at various things and sending them into boxes and trunks.

There was a sudden flash of flame in the hearth and Severus whipped around to glare. His retort died on his lips when Dumbledore stepped from the flames and calmly surveyed the evidence of a hasty fleeing.

“Are you going somewhere, Severus? I was not informed that you would be taking leave any time soon.”

Severus could feel the beginnings of an embarrassing flush start to creep along his neck. This was not happening.

“I resigned my post, Headmaster. I informed you of that last night.”

Dumbledore nodded slightly. “And I told you it was not accepted.”

Severus pursed his lips. “Headmaster, I am no longer fit to teach. My judgment is…impaired.”

“Indeed. Professor Lupin was kind enough to fill me in on the details of your impairment.”

“He had no right!!”

Albus raised his hand, effectively silencing the other wizard’s righteous indignation.

“He has every right to express concern when a fellow colleague is displaying dangerous and detrimental behavior, especially when it involves someone who he considers a god-son.”

“That cur Black was his god-father…not Lupin…” Severus hissed.

Dumbledore fixed Severus with a firm glare. “Does it really matter, Severus? The bigger issue is obviously of more importance. Or are you really going to argue that point and ignore the very real transgression?”

Severus lowered his eyes, not wanting to look Dumbledore in the eye. “I have no explanation for my actions, Headmaster. Please allow me to leave with some modicum of dignity.”

Albus sighed. “Severus, Remus gave me some detail of what happened. I would like to hear it from you.”

Severus’ head snapped up. “I have no wish to ever speak of that.”

“Then perhaps a pensieve?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Severus, please. I am trying to help you.”

“Help me what? Relive one of my newer worst memories? Your compassion is touching, Albus.”

“We need you, Severus. You are invaluable to me and to the Order. Your work…”

“What work? What have I done that is so invaluable?? The precious Savior, who is now a complete psychopath, is locked up in Azkaban and Draco is lost to me! I haven’t been able to stop anything! It didn’t work with Lily and it’s not going to work for her son, either!”

“There is still hope for Draco. We just need to get him away from Tom. You are the only one who can do that.”

“To deliver him into the hands of the Ministry and the Aurors? Did you forget about his killing the Hufflepuff boy?”

“He would have a better chance with the Ministry then he will with Tom. You know that, Severus.”

Severus huffed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “What would you have me do, Albus? I…obviously can’t be around Potter.”

Dumbledore gazed intently at Severus. “Your feelings for Harry have complicated the demon affect, made it more…difficult to resist.”

Severus didn’t think the conversation could get any worse than it had been at that moment. But he was about to find out it was going to get a lot worse.

His attempt to sharply reject Albus’ absurd notion of him having feelings for Potter never made it past his lips because all that came out was flustered spluttering. Would his humiliation know no bounds?

Albus held up his hand again.

“Severus, I know this has been a horrible ordeal for you, knowing your history with the Potters, but I need you to have your wits about you. You will have to be in proximity of Harry and we just have to take all precautions that his lure will not distract you. There is another way, one that I hope you will not be so disinclined to reject.”

Severus glared at Dumbledore suspiciously. “Now that you have prefaced it with that sentiment, I am sure that it I will be entirely up to rejecting it.”

Dumbledore’s mouth quirked into a small smile. “I really wouldn’t have expected anything else, Severus.”

Severus huffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “And what is this lofty solution of yours?”

There was an abrupt knock at the door and Severus stiffened. He turned towards the door, but Dumbledore was already striding over to open it.

Severus’ eyes narrowed in cold fury to see Lupin standing in the doorway.

“Come in, Remus,” Albus said cheerily, “thank you for coming.”

Remus nodded stiffly and stepped over the threshold and Severus immediately held up his hands. “What’s this? I don’t recall inviting you in, Lupin.”

Remus fixed Severus with an icy look. “Well your powers of observation must be lacking, Snape. It clearly looked as if the headmaster had invited me in. I guess you are more addled in the brain then Dumbledore let on.”

Severus blinked. He could feel the waves of anger radiating from the other man and Severus wondered which event had pissed him off more; his involvement with Potter or the young man’s incarceration.

He growled out, “Get out! I won’t have you-“

He was cut off by Lupin when the man crossed the small space and grabbed him by his collar.

“I warned you, Snape! I told you to leave off, but you still persisted!”

Severus shoved Remus away and pointed his wand in his face. “If you ever touch me-“

“Gentlemen, please! Calm yourselves! I know this is a rather difficult situation, but we must compose ourselves.”

Neither man moved, each glaring at the other with unbridled fury. Albus sighed softly and walked to them. He gently lowered Severus’ arm and pulled Remus’ hand away from Severus’ neck.

“Please. For the sake of both Harry and Draco, we must work together.”

“He did it again, Dumbledore! Harry is defenseless against him and Snape keeps violating him like he’s nothing but a toy!”

Severus growled angrily, “Defenseless?? That shameless incubus needs to be put down!”

“He’s not an incubus! You know he’s being controlled, but you would use this situation to hurt him! You’re worse than a hormonal teenager!”

Severus sneered, “No worse than your hormones around the full moon or have you forgot that?”

Remus winced, pursed his lips and stepped back. He turned to Dumbledore to complain and the old man frowned at him. Remus sighed heavily.

“Fine, Dumbledore. What have you called me here for?”

Severus stifled a snort at Remus’ reprimand and was rewarded with a glare from his mentor. Severus rolled his eyes and slowly put his wand back in his sleeve and said sharply,

“Yes, please do tell, so we can get this over with.”

Dumbledore nodded and said, “After last night’s events, it’s obvious that we are going to have to act quickly in order to deal with Harry’s imprisonment. Azkaban guards are not going to be able to handle his medical situation. I don’t want Harry or anyone to be hurt or killed, which will most likely happen if he is not removed from there. The Dementors have a profound effect on Harry under normal circumstances. I don’t even want to begin to think what will happen to him now under their influence.”

Remus let out a slow breath and said, “What are we to do?”

“We need to meet with the Order and decide the best course of action. But nothing short of removing Harry from Azkaban is going to work. This means that we are going to be going up against the Ministry. Are you both prepared for the consequences?”

Remus nodded slowly. “I am already on the Ministry’s undesirables list, even with this job. I’m already prepared for the worst with dealing with them.”

Severus nodded as well. “I won’t allow Draco to be persecuted. While I sorely regret what happened to the Finch-Fletchley boy, Draco was not in his right mind. The Ministry will not be lenient on him. I will do what I can to protect him.”

Dumbledore gave a small smile and turned to look at Severus. “Speaking of not being of sound mind, but there is also the issues of the demon allure affecting your judgment.”

“That will no longer be an issue, as I said before! I will focus my attention on Draco, while you deal with Potter.”

“Severus, it will be impossible to guarantee that you will not be in Harry’s presence. As a matter of fact, you will have to be eventually. There is a way to dampen the effect.”

“How?”

Dumbledore glanced at Remus. “Professor Lupin will be of service in that regard. He has his own…appeal.”

Surely Albus couldn’t be suggesting…

“Yes, Severus. Remus can mark you and well…claim you as his own. Temporarily, we hope.”

Dumbledore watched as both of his professors shared identical expressions of shock. If the situation wasn’t so grave, he would have chuckled at the sight. But he needed their cooperation to make this work. He couldn’t allow Severus to continue to molest Harry or avoid him. Both were unacceptable.

“Albus, that’s impossible. I can’t mark him now, the full moon has passed. And it will be another two weeks before the next. We can’t wait that long,” Remus said.

Severus hissed, “And then there’s the problem of my refusal! I won’t allow this.”

Dumbledore pulled a vial from his robes. Remus peered closely at it. It was labeled Lupin, Remus J. age 11.

“Is that-“

“Yes, Remus. It’s blood and saliva from during one of your transformations. It was used in research for the Wolfsbane and other things. It can be used here for the purpose we need.”

Remus glanced at Severus, who was visibly glowering with rage. “I have already said I’m not doing this! I won’t be marked by that animal! No!”

Dumbledore looked at Severus over his glasses. “But am I mistaken that you and Remus have already claimed one another?”

Severus’ mouth fell open and he turned murderous eyes towards Remus. “Lupin! How dare you sully my name with these lies!”

Remus’ face was pale and he stammered out, “I did no such thing, Severus! I-“

“That’s enough. No one told me anything, but it’s not that difficult to figure out. The two of you have enough sexual tension to rival the tension of Gryffindor and Slytherin during a Quidditch game. And I saw you two at the hospital. Holding hands, I believe?” He peered at them over his glasses, his eyes glinting with amusement.

“We were not holding hands!” Severus shouted. “Nothing of the sort!”

Albus raised his hand again and Remus huffed angrily, “This is getting us nowhere, Albus! Severus is a stubborn mule who only cares about himself! I don’t know what I ever saw-“ he trailed off, shaking his head.

Severus set his jaw stubbornly. “Headmaster, there has to be some other way to do this.”

“I’m afraid this is the best option and the quickest. A werewolf allure is strong and a claimed mate will usually not be able to be attracted to another allure. A demon allure is something that I don’t know much about unfortunately, since there hasn’t been an active demon presence in a number of centuries. But this is the best plan we have for now.”

“And what will happen after this forced bonding? I will be Lupin’s mate?”

“Not exactly, since Lupin is not in his werewolf form. With this blood sample, we will be able to give you enough of his essence and saliva to create a temporary allure, but not a full claiming. I certainly don’t want to force either of you into a bonding situation. That is grossly unfair to both of you.”

Severus snorted and Remus rolled his eyes. “I certainly don’t want you for my mate, Severus.”

Severus cocked his eyebrow, “Oh really? That’s not what you were saying a little while ago, was it?”

Severus smirked as Remus blushed a deep crimson. Dumbledore coughed and both men looked over at him. The old man was attempting to hold back a smirk, but Severus was not fooled for a second.

“Severus, will you do it? I know you won’t be permanently bonded to Remus, but there will be an attraction to him, at least for a while. But our main goal is to combat Harry’s appeal to you. After this is over though, I must insist that you speak to a crisis counselor. What you experienced was a violation of your person, which has had profound effect on your dealings with Harry. Remus was not the only one who noticed how you changed around Harry. Madam Pomfrey also noticed your excessive attention to him.”

Severus made a promise that he would be make an untraceable poison to give to the healer at his earliest convenience.

His thought was interrupted by a hand on his arm. He looked down at it first, then up into the face of Remus, who was now standing so close to him that he could see the darker amber iris of his eyes.

“Severus, I know that you hate me and you’d rather gouge your eyeballs out with a fork then do this, but this is still about saving Harry and Draco. Dumbledore would not ask this of us-you…if he didn’t believe that this would help.”

Remus lowered his voice and said softly, “Once this is done, I…I promise that I will leave you alone. I’ll…deal with my feelings and move on, but I won’t bother you again. I won’t take advantage of the allure, even if there is anything left of it by then. My word as a Gryffindor.”

Severus snorted again, but he knew that Remus was sincere. One of the worst traits of their house, that nobleness…the honesty. Severus wanted to gag. How anyone could survive being so bloody honorable was mystifying to the Slytherin head of house. But the bigger picture was Draco and Severus’ own guilt at not doing more to save him. He wasn’t a bloody Gryffindor! But he knew he would never forgive himself if Draco came to more harm then he was currently in.

“Fine.”

Remus looked surprise and even Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment on Severus’ quick acceptance of the allure. The older wizard stepped forward and handed the vial to Remus, who took it gingerly.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Dumbledore said cheerily, and Severus longed to hex the old man to the lowest bowels of hell. To his credit, Remus didn’t look any happier then he did, but Severus honestly didn’t know why that would be. He would have loved to have had this power over the werewolf.

“I will be calling a meeting with the Order,” he called out as he hurriedly departed from the room, “please come see me later.” The door snapped shut and Severus made an irritated sound in the back of his throat.

Remus was fidgeting with the vial, seemingly transfixed by the liquid in the bottle.

“Oh for heaven’s sake! Can we get this unmitigated disaster over with? I take it that I have to ingest that somehow?”

Remus sighed heavily. “Yes, but…this is complicated. Under normal “claimings”, I would simply bite you while…having sex with you, but after that…you would be a werewolf and my mate. This…” and he shook the vial, “is totally different. Obviously, I am not transformed and you’re not meant to be changed. I don’t even know if this will work. What we are essentially trying to do is create a partial bond, but…a…master and slave type bond.”

Remus winced at the sight of Severus’ face drawing into a tight knot. This was not what he wanted at all. True, he was in love with the man and wanted a bond between them, but not one that was forced and certainly not because said man was completely taken by his much younger god-son, who happened to be possessed by a demon and suffering from an infection that causes insanity.

Not the best way to start a relationship.

Severus turned abruptly and headed to his cabinet. He pulled out a bottle of Ogden’s and dumped most of it in a nearby goblet. He quickly downed the contents and poured again.

“That’s probably not the wisest thing to do, Severus.” Remus said quietly.

Severus rolled his eyes and without turning toward the other man simply said, “Lupin, I said to get this over with. What needs to happen?”

Remus fiddled with the vial again. “I need to drink this. It’s my own blood and saliva when I was in a transformed state. I won’t turn, but it will make my blood a bit more wolfish. It’s best if you…ingest some of my bodily fluid too.”

Severus slammed the goblet down on the cabinet edge and turned to Remus. “You’re loving this, aren’t you? Finally getting this bond, you’ve been begging me for?”

Remus rolled his shoulders and glared at the other man. “This was not my idea, Severus! And if you had gotten help for this, you wouldn’t have had the pleasure of Albus walking in on you molesting Harry! This is your own fault!”

Severus stormed across the floor and got in Remus’ face. “Don’t blame me for your god-son’s depravity! This is solely his fault for allowing himself to get maimed by a werewolf!”

“You’re unbelievable! Do you know how ridiculous you sound? Blaming a boy for being attacked, like he asked for it or something! I need to have my head examined for even wanting to deal with someone as hateful and cruel as you! I wish I had killed you back in school, because none of this would have even happened! James and Lily would still be alive, Sirius wouldn’t have been in Azkaban and Harry wouldn’t have to be dealing with your sick perversion with him now!”

Severus’ lips thinned to an impossible line and his eyes sparked evilly. “Yes, so what does that say about you, Lupin? That you really are an animal? Animals have no qualms about who they co-habit with. So you would love a man who had your best friends killed and molests your god-son?”

Something broke in Remus’ eyes and he let out a vicious growl. He opened the vial, downed some of the contents and stormed over to Severus. Without waiting, Remus grabbed the man’s jaw and poured some of the acidic liquid into his mouth. Severus choked, but Remus jerked Severus’ head back and pinched the man’s beaky nose hard.

Severus gasped and the liquid burned its way down his throat. He gasped again as he felt the blood in his veins burn hot. He stared at Remus as the werewolf stepped forward, jerked his head back again and clamped his teeth onto Severus’s collarbone.

The potions master grunted in pain as Remus’ teeth broke through his skin and blood sprouted from the wound. Severus hissed as more heat flooded his body and shot straight to his groin, hardening his cock painfully. His eyes watered at the pain searing through him. If felt like he was being fired from the inside.

Remus pulled back from his neck and gazed at him. Severus could smell the coppery scent of his blood, which coated Remus mouth. He saw that Remus’ eyes were more amber than usual, like it was almost the full moon.

“Taste me,” Lupin commanded.

Severus felt an odd sensation go through him. The heady scent of blood and Lupin’s scent seemed to overwhelm his senses. He frowned at the man and Lupin snarled.

“Now!”

Lupin stepped forward again and gave Severus a searing kiss. Severus gasped again as the taste of his blood and Lupin’s werewolf mix assaulted his mouth. It coated his tongue and Severus gave a strangled moan. Before he knew what he was doing, he was kissing Lupin back frantically.

Lupin grimaced when Severus bit his lip hard, drawing blood. He reached down and pulled at Severus’ robes, ripping buttons in the process. He felt the hard pulsing cock of the other man and he pushed against it, so that Severus could feel his own.

Severus pulled back, panting wildly. His hands were shaking and his eyes darted around the room, with nothing coming into proper focus. His heart was racing and he could actually feel his blood moving through his arms and legs. The pain was almost unbearable, but his lust had suddenly bypassed the feeling of agony in his body.

Remus pulled open Severus pants and growled out, “This will hurt. I’m sorry.”

Without warning, Remus twisted Severus around, pulled his pants down and his own, bent Severus forward and pushed inside his muscled entrance. Dry.

Severus let out of cry of anguish at the brutal entry. His channel rippled around Remus’ cock, trying to push him out, but Remus gripped him hard around the waist, pushing into him roughly.

Severus understood the roughness. A claiming was not supposed to be a pretty love-making. The knowledge didn’t make it hurt any less though. But beneath the pain there was a strange feeling of…desire. Of being wanted. Of being dominated. A small voice in Severus’ soul cried out…surrender.

A wave of longing crashed over him with the force of a giant and Severus cried out at its intensity. His blood surged and boiled and Severus panted for air. Remus’ deep thrusting and heavenly aroma…heavenly…? wrapped around him like a cocoon.

Shivers ran up his back, raising the hair all over his body. An uncontrollable urge to kiss his assaulter welled up inside him and Severus struggled to remain in control of this horrible situation. Remus brushed his prostate and Severus’s mind went blank for a second, then flashed back into the here and now. Colors danced and the image of Remus flashed before him.

Severus slammed his eyes shut and groaned deeply. Then he gave a shout of surprise when Remus abruptly pulled out of him, leaving his arse stinging. More pain swept through him and he stood up quickly and spun around to face Lupin, his mouth gaped.

Remus grabbed Severus by the shoulders and shoved him down to his knees. He pushed his cock into Severus’ face and the potions master shuddered with the second wave of intense desire smashed into him. He opened his mouth and Remus shoved his slick cock inside. Severus almost gagged at the sharp and desperate odor of the red, throbbing flesh.

But he sucked eagerly anyway.

Remus growled low and feral and Severus felt his mouth fill with hot liquid. He swallowed hard and light burst behind his eyes as the come flowed down his throat.

Part of him died in that moment.

And was re-born with Remus’ touch.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucius Malfoy’s eyes snapped open at the sound of footsteps approaching his cell. He frowned to himself, not recognizing the dull thud of the guard’s feet as they hit the dank stone. It’s funny what the mind will allow you to memorize. Only a few select guards had been allowed to watch over his part of Azkaban.

Cell Block D.

Inmates in this part of the prison were the most dangerous. This was home for Death Eaters, rapists, serial killers and all those deemed undesirable by wizarding decorum. Lucius had been beyond offended that he had been placed with dregs of wizarding society.

“On your feet, Malfoy!”

Lucius scowled as the noise echoed around the chamber. This guard was obviously new. No one bothered to announce themselves like that. Sending the Dementors in was usually enough incentive to get anyone up and moving in a hurry. Those that still could get up, that is.

Lucius swung his prison-garb clad legs out of bed and stood up grabbing the slimy wall with his fingers to keep himself upright. After two years in this dank hell hole, the once proud Malfoy had been reduced to an emaciated, animate skeleton. His refusal to eat on most days hadn’t helped, but his delicate stomach hadn’t taken well to the gruel the prison claimed was food.

Lucius pushed his hair out of his face, threw his shoulders back haughtily and faced the iron bars. The guard was new alright. He didn’t have the normally gray pallor as the rest of guards here. Even they weren’t completely immune to the Dementors that dwelled in the shadows.

Right on cue, two of said shrouded monsters slid into view and Lucius fought the shiver that ran through his bones. He smirked as the guard shrunk away from them, hunching in on himself. He hastily shoved the key into the lock.

One of the dumbest but smartest things that the Ministry had come up with was not to allow wands on Cell Block D. The guards had thoroughly complained about that policy, but the Wizengamot had held fast to the new rule. There had been too many nasty accidents with inmates overpowering a guard and getting a wand.

“No fast moves, Malfoy!”

Nothing had changed about Lucius’s sneer.

“Surely you aren’t worried about little harmless me?” The Malfoy patriach drawled. “Not with your twin towers of power next to you.”

The guard blanched and swallowed heavily. He pulled the cell door opened and stepped back quickly.

“Okay…come out slowly. It’s time for your hour out.”

Lucius raised an eyebrow warily. “This early in the day? To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“None of your soddin’ business! Move out now, ya hear?”

Lucius strode casually towards the cell door, a smirk plastered to his face. He forced down his unease at the Dementors being so close. His breath was coming out in frosted pants and he stuck his hands out to the guard lazily.

He quickly clamped iron shackles around Lucius wrists and stepped back. The Dementors hovered eagerly, waiting for a slip up on Lucius part. He was only too happy to disappoint them.

The guard nudged Lucius roughly and the former Slytherin hissed angrily. “Keep your hands off me, got it?”

The guard laughed derisively. “You must’ve lost your mind already, Malfoy! This isn’t your Malfoy Mansion…its Azkaban, you loathesome Death Eater!”

Lucius cut his eyes at the man. “And you can only dream of the life I had, Mudblood. I can smell your stench. You’re probably even lower than that…I bet you’re nothing but a Squib, sniffing around the likes of proper wizards.”

“Not a Squib! I can see those Dementors that are next to you, Malfoy and if you’re not careful, you’re going to have a nasty accident.”

The Dementor nearest to Lucius moved forward as if anticipating the accident would happen in the next thirty seconds.

Lucius scowled in disgust and wrapped his arms around himself as if his appendages were an expensive new cloak. He refrained from flinching only by the absolute desire to show up the piece of rubbish.

Lucius strode down the corridor with his head held high. The cells around him in his part of the prison were only half occupied. Only a handful of Death Eaters had been caught with him at the Ministry debacle. Those that had been captured with him had either gone completely quiet or mad. Lucius was determined that he would not end up like Bella or the Lestrange brothers.

The corridor ended at a courtyard that was spelled to imitate the weather. The Ministry had finally realized that it was cruel and unusual punishment to not allow the inmates to at least leave their cells once in a while. Episodes of extreme bouts of violent and insane behavior had forced the guards to complain about better treatment of the prisoners.

The courtyard had a number of benches to sit on and there were several prisoners in varying stages of dishevelment sitting on them or sitting on charmed green grass. Lucius saw Rabastan squatting in one corner of the yard, his eyes glinting with a predatory gaze. Lucius didn’t see the other Death Eater often, and he was actually surprised the man was out today. Rabastan’s violent outbursts didn’t endear him to the guard staff and certainly not with other prisoners. Rabastan was prone to attack anyone in his vicinity, regardless of affiliation with the Dark Lord or not.

Lucius paused at the doorway, his eyes drawn to a bench close to his entrance. A guard stood nearby, talking causally to another.

That head of dark hair…

But what would they be doing here?

“Pansy? Pansy Parkinson?”

The girl turned slowly and Lucius’ eyes widened in recognition of his son’s betrothed.

“What…what are you doing here?” His eyes raked over her standard issue prison uniform.

Pansy’s eyes were huge in her pale face and she looked nervously at the hovering Dementor. She stepped a bit closer and tried to give a smile.

“I…I got in a bit of trouble at school.”

Lucius raised an eyebrow at that. “Trouble that sent you to Azkaban? Where is my son?”

Pansy glanced at the guards milling about and she stepped closer. “Draco is on the run,” she whispered, “he…hurt a student.”

Lucius frowned. “Explain.”

“Draco killed a Mudblood at school, because he killed Harry Potter.”

Lucius gave a slow blink. Did she just tell him that Harry Potter was dead and that his son had killed a Mudblood?

“Miss Parkinson, I don’t find this amusing. Despite my incarceration, I still demand proper respect-“

Pansy waved him off in annoyance and Lucius stared in disbelief at her gall.

“Fine, don’t believe me. Draco is completely out of control. He got involved with Potter, just to spite me and your wife. Potter got him hooked on drugs and Draco completely lost his mind. Weasley tried to kill him in Gryffindor Tower. She’s in here too. But I saved Draco, because I’m the one who really loves him. He’ll remember that when it’s too late and he’ll come begging me for help, but I’ll have the last laugh then.”

A tight, burning anger roiled through Lucius’ stomach and threatened to erupt from his mouth in the guise of vomit. That would be entirely unacceptable, even in his present condition and surroundings. He was still the head of the Malfoy line and he still had a reputation to uphold.

He fought down the rising bile with effort and managed to speak without croaking.

“My son would never get involved with a man…with..Potter. Where did you get this information, Pansy?”

Pansy gave a most unpleasant smirk, which Lucius promptly decided would bar her from ever entering his home once he left this place. The nerve! To smirk at him like that…

“-ever get letters from your wife? Surely Narcissa has told you what has been going on?” She cocked an eyebrow. “Or perhaps she thought it would be a bit much for you…”

Lucius growled in warning, his hands reaching for a wand that was no longer a part of his daily life. Pansy raised her hand in placation and glanced again at the guards.

“Mister Malfoy, please. I mean no harm. I love Draco…I still do, even after everything that’s happened. He left Hogwarts right after that boy stabbed Potter in the stomach. Potter went down and I know he was dead! Draco…he just…went crazy!”

Lucius’ mind reeled with this information. It had to be a lie. If Potter had been killed, not even the guards would’ve been able to keep that a secret. It was a rare occasion that Lucius was able to see a Daily Prophet, but the guards usually were enough to glean basic information about the day’s hot topics. The death of Harry Potter would have rocked the foundation of Azkaban to rubble, so loud would the clamoring have been for revenge against his killer.

“And you are certain that Draco killed a student? A Mudblood? And why would this Mudblood kill Potter, who is champion to all?”

Pansy shrugged. “Well, honestly, I didn’t quite see everything that happened. Professor Snape had hit me with a curse, after I was attacked by Weasley. I think he Confunded me or something, the same way he would Confund Potter when he would have sex with him.”

Lucius blinked and shook his head. Now he knew Pansy was lying. There was no way in hell that Severus Snape was having sex with Potter. The man hated that boy. And despite Severus’ proclivities with dangerous activities, there was no way that he would endanger his teaching position to have sex with a student.

“Please, just tell me of my son. The rest of that…story…means nothing to me. What of Draco?”

Pansy’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but from what I’ve been told is that the Hufflepuff stabbed Potter and he fell down dead. And then Draco went crazy, because Blaise and Theo had just been killed too and Draco killed him and then ran out. Professor Snape tried to go after him but McGonagall said no and then Dumbledore showed up and I got arrested with Weasley.”

“Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott have been killed?? By whom??”

“Well, Theo’s dead for sure. Blaise is in the hospital, but he’s dying from what I heard. Potter did it.”

Lucius had no idea what to do with any of this information. He couldn’t even figure out what was true and what was a lie. Potter being dead had to be a lie, just like Draco being involved with him or using drugs. What the hell had been going on over at the school, and why hadn’t Narcissa informed him of any of this, using their secret codes in messages?

“Pansy, what has happened between you and Draco?” Perhaps Draco had jilted her somehow, and she was lying about Draco to him for revenge.

Lucius watched as Pansy’s eyes warmed at the mention of Draco’s name, and then glittered with something that revealed her hurt and betrayal. And her anger.

“Draco has given me the Malfoy bride ring. We are engaged, Mister Malfoy. He was just trying to show some independence, seeing how you were locked up here.” Pansy tried a wane smile, while Lucius tightened his lips in disapproval.

“Draco was just confused and things would’ve worked out, until Weasley screwed everything up.” Her face set in a scowl. “But when I get out of here, everything will be set to rights.”

“Miss Parkinson, do you think it’s wise to plot vengeance against my son with me standing right here? I assure you that you would find that prospect ill-advised.”

Pansy looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “Mister Malfoy, I love your son. I always have and it’s been a dream of mine to be his wife since I was a little girl and Mum prepared me for my duty to be a good wife. I’m not letting him go, but I’m not going to forget that he turned his back on me for a boy-toy romp with that half-blood, even if it was Potter. Narcissa agreed to help me and I know she is still in my corner.”

Lucius almost let his mask slip. Narcissa knew about this? It was one thing for Pansy to lie about all of this, quite another to include his own wife in the lie, which could easily be corroborated. So either Pansy was completely out of her mind or his own wife had been keeping secrets from him. At this point, he wasn’t against either idea being true. Narcissa was a Black, and that whole family was well known for a number of secrets and mis-guided behavior. Narcissa wouldn’t be the first woman to lie to her husband.

Lucius desperately needed to get a message to his wife. He had to find out about Draco and what else had been going on. He had developed codes with Narcissa in their mailings because of mail tampering at the guards’ station. Some inmates didn’t even get mail at all, even when it was sent. The only reason that Lucius was even able to get anything at all was a weekly payoff to one of the guards that had some sympathy to the Dark Lord’s cause.

But perhaps Pansy had a bit more leeway with communication.

“Miss Parkinson, what wing do they have you housed in?”

“Ummm…cell group M.”

“Ahhhh…of course. For only mild offenders of wizarding law. You have quite a few more liberties than the rest of us.” He nodded in satisfaction. “I take it that the blood traitor is also there. Weasley, you said?”

Pansy grimaced. “Yes, she’s there. We have to have “rehabilitation exercises” together. Talk about our “feelings”. How to better handle our “anger.” Pansy rolled her eyes.

Lucius smirked. Pansy was every bit the spark that Narcissa had been when he had first started dating her. It was too bad that the girl had none of Narcissa’s looks or breeding, even if she was a pureblood. He had only agreed with the match because at the time, there didn’t seem to be any other real choices for Draco. It would now be out of the question for Draco to marry a girl who’d been sent to Azkaban. Even though it seemed that Draco was a murderer and undoubtedly a fugitive, hiding out at one of their homes.

Time to use Pansy for his own agenda.

“Miss Parkinson, might I ask you for a favor?”

Pansy’s features sharpened as she gazed at Lucius. “Only if it benefits me in some way.”

Lucius wrinkled his nose in distaste. “As if you would have to ask such a question of your future father-in-law. Have I somehow offended you?”

Pansy looked stricken for a moment and immediately moved closer to Lucius, placing her hand on his arm. A guard looked up at the sudden movement and glared.

“No contact!” He barked out.

Pansy ignored him and whispered, “Oh…Mister Malfoy! You would still…have me become Draco’s wife? You are still in support of our marriage? I would’ve thought…ohhh…yes…anything you want.”

The guard’s voice rang out entirely too close for either of their comfort.

“I said, no contact, Malfoy! Have ya gone deaf and dumb, finally??”

Lucius turned steely gray eyes upon the guard’s beefy face and sneered. The guard waved at him irritably and Lucius caught sight of the ever-present Dementor, floating gently towards them, hungry for a meal.

“You wouldn’t be so quick to interfere if you didn’t have that creature at your side,” Lucius hissed, “The tables will be turned soon enough, my friend.”

The guard’s eyes widened in surprise for a second and then narrowed. “Is that a threat, Malfoy? You talk big for a dead man.”

Lucius’ smile did not reach his eyes. “As do you.”

The guard uttered a curse, stepped forward and raised his hand as if to strike Lucius; Pansy gasped and gripped his arm tightly and Lucius simply stared at the man with a malevolent stare.

“POTTER, STOP!”

Lucius’ head whipped around at the shouted voiced from across the courtyard. There was a commotion at the entrance on the opposite side. Four guards rushed to the entrance and for several moments, there was a flurry of arms and shouts.

“-for Merlin’s sakes, bind him!”

Several guards were attempting to subdue a prisoner, but were not having any luck with the task. Lucius stared in astonishment as one guard after another was sent shooting backwards and landing in ungainly heaps on the ground. Several of the inmates began chattering excitedly and standing up. Even Lestrange had turned to stare at the disturbance.

Lucius caught a glimpse of messy black hair and his mouth fell open.

“Is that…Potter?” He whipped his head to look at Pansy, who had dug her nails so deeply into his arm that blood was now freely flowing. Pansy looked absolutely terrified.

“Oh, god! He’s alive! But…how?” Pansy’s eyes were two wide orbs of horror.

Lucius had no time to contemplate her reaction at seeing her “dead” classmate, because the next minute, Potter had broken through the phalanx of guards attempting to stop him from entering the grounds.

There was a very short list of people that Lucius either feared or respected. His father and grandfather were names on both lists. The Dark Lord’s name also fit both lists, but for different reasons than his fore-fathers. In the span of only a few seconds, Lucius had amended his list to add Harry Potter’s name under feared wizards.

The boy he had seen at the Department of Mysteries two short years ago was no more. The person that now stood in this place was nothing like he’d ever seen before. And he was well acquainted with madness and what it does to people. Tom Riddle’s hideous transformation into the red-eyed monster and Bellatrix’s gaunt face and insane cackle were images permanently burned into his psyche.

The green eyes were now a blazing shade of gold, which darted rapidly around, taking in the details of the yard, obviously calculating how many victims were going to be taken in the next moments. Potter’s hair had always been wild, as had the elder Potter’s, but it now looked to be sizzling with electricity, its strands standing at attention all around Potter’s head.

Potter was dressed in prison garb, but the clothes seemed to be smoldering on his body. They clung to him like melting wax and Lucius swore he could see steam rising off of him. Potter’s hands were curled in claw-like fists and his panting reminded Lucius of Greyback. Had Potter been turned into a werewolf?

The guard standing next to Lucius had snapped out of his shock and backed away, not even attempting to help his fellow guards. Pansy had shrunk behind Lucius as well, her eyes riveted at the Boy Wonder.

Rabastan decided then that Potter deserved a nice welcome to Azkaban.

“Potter! Filthy half-blood! You will die this time!”

He leapt up from his crouched position and darted forward, shoving another prisoner out of the way in his haste. The sudden movement attracted two Dementors, who swiftly followed Lestrange across the yard. Inmates began to shout and shriek, trying to get out of the way of the agitated creatures. Potter had cocked his head towards the man in curiosity, but didn’t appear to be alarmed at a crazed man running at him, followed by two Dementors.

The guards had rallied again, and some had pulled forbidden wands out of pockets and were sending hexes at both Lestrange and Potter. Lestrange managed to duck and roll out of the way from a nasty Stinging Hex and came up a few feet away from a guard, who had his back turned to Lestrange. It was over instantly.

The sound of the guard’s neck snapping filled the air and more shouts erupted. Lestrange had grabbed the man’s wand before his body had even hit the ground and began to fire off his own hexes. The door leading to the courtyard was suddenly filled with more guards and Dementors. Three prisoners decided to join Rabastan, and attacked two guards who also had wands. The rest of the prisoners were running pell-mell towards Lucius, who instinctively pulled Pansy with him, trying to shield her from the chaos.

He pressed Pansy against the wall behind him, covering her with his arms and he turned to see what had happened to Lestrange. Perhaps if he was able to get a wand himself…

“Stay here!” Lucius hissed as he shoved Pansy down to the ground. “Keep your head down and don’t look at them.”

He headed off towards Rabastan, who had downed several guards, even though more were pouring in the opening. His fellow rioters had also managed to get the wands of their guards and hexes flew, although sloppily. Many of them hadn’t touched a wand in years, and these unfamiliar ones might as well have been kindling.

Lucius had crossed the yard and saw Potter casually glance at Rabastan, who was now firing a hex in his direction. Potter gave a snarl that froze Lucius in his place. Potter moved towards his fellow Death Eater so fast, that Lucius had a hard believing that Potter hadn’t Apparated the distance. Potter slammed both his hands into the man’s abdomen and the resounding sound of Rabastan’s flesh tearing and igniting in red flames, sent the man reeling and the wand flying straight at Lucius.

Lucius was so shocked at the sight of Rabastan bursting into flames, that he almost missed the wand flying right at him. It actually hit him in the shoulder before he twisted and caught it. Rabastan’s screams were drowning out the rest of the noise and Lucius was riveted to the spot.

“DEMENTORS! GET POTTER AND MALFOY!”

Lucius spun around and growled at the approaching wraith. His swung the wand out, grasping tightly to the alien wood and poured his weakened magic into it.

“Expecto Patronum!”

A bit spark of light erupted from the wand but nothing else. Lucius tried desperately to calm himself in order to cast the spell again, but the Dementor was closing fast and Lucius shivered in the cold of its arriving breath.

“Expecto Patronum!”

There was less spark then before and Lucius had just run out of options.

Then suddenly there was a shift of wind and Lucius watched in disbelief as the Dementor glided right past him. Lucius stumbled as he twisted around to see where it was going and received his fourth shock of the day.

Potter stood with his hand out and every single Dementor in the area had floated over to him and hovered patiently, as if waiting for a treat or a pat on the head.

The guards were as dumbfounded as he was.

“GET HIM! DEMENTORS!”

None of the black shapes moved, as if waiting for Potter’s command.

An awed whispering began in earnest and guards began shrinking away from the Savior. Potter lowered his hand and glanced sideways at Lestrange, who was lying curled in a burnt and charred mess of his flesh. Lucius bit back his rising bile at the sight.

“Finish him.”

Potter’s voice was ice.

The Dementors moved as one and Lestrange’s howls resumed, as a ripping sound rendered the air. Lucius, having seen his fair share of horror on Death Eater raids, shut his eyes. Even he couldn’t bear to watch this.

He felt a movement in front of him and he opened his eyes quickly. Potter stood in front of him, staring at him. Lucius instantly pulled the wand and pointed it at him. He didn’t even care in the slightest that his hand was shaking. Badly.

Potter looked at the wand, blinked once and touched it. The wand disintegrated with a flash of heat and Lucius gasped. No one could do that to a wand.

“What do you want, Potter?” Lucius asked, putting all of his strength into keeping his voice haughty and disdainful. It was a difficult task. He’d seen some things today that defied all known magical belief. Potter could control Dementors? How was that possible? And everything he’d done had been wandless.

Potter gazed at Lucius and then his lips parted in a small smile. He stepped forward and grabbed Lucius’ head roughly with both hands.

“You left me to rot in that hospital. But I forgive you.”

Lucius blinked in confusion and attempted to push Harry’s hands from his face.

“Take your hands off me-“

Harry reached down and grabbed Lucius’ arm and pushed the sleeve up. Lucius’ mark glowed brightly against his pale skin, even though the mark had been there for almost twenty years.

“You didn’t have to do this. It would’ve been okay. It can still be fixed.”

Lucius stared at him.

“Is this why you’re here? The Aurors caught you?” Harry whispered, his golden eyes now tinged with specks of green.

Lucius blinked again as comprehension dawned on him. Potter thought…

“It’s going to be okay, Draco.”