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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.

Chapter List
- 34
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- 36
Severus reached Teddy’s room, knocking lightly before pushing the half cracked door all of the way open. Teddy and Fred were seated on the edge of the bed. The elf had his long bony fingers resting on the boy’s knee. They both looked up in trepidation as he appeared in the doorway.
“It’s time, sir?” Teddy asked.
“Yes, it is,” Severus answered. He’d had a difficult enough time watching the Inspector asses Remus as if he were a piece of livestock for trade, he didn’t know if he could do the same with Teddy, at least not without carving that damnable man a new arsehole.
“Sir is taking care of the little one,” Fred assured Teddy, patting his knee. He gave Severus a look that said ‘or else’.
Snape rolled his eyes. “Come on then, let’s get this over with.”
“Okay sir,” Teddy took a deep breath and climbed off of the bed, moving to stand beside Snape.
Severus turned and went back to his room, levitating Remus down the stairs alongside them.
“How much longer is this going to take, Mister Snape?” the Inspector asked peevishly as they passed through the living room.
“Only a moment,” Severus said, not even pausing as they went through the room.
He set Remus at the table, filled a cup with water, charmed it hot and put a tea bag into it. “It isn’t much,” he said in way of apology. That wasn’t the way one properly served the beverage, in any world, but it was the best he could do in a very short time span.
“Don’t worry about it sir,” Remus said, wrapping his hands around the warm cup. “It’s perfect the way it is.”
Snape nodded. “This will all be over soon. You should be able to hear most of what is going on in there. We’ll come back in here as soon as we’re able.” He put his arm protectively around Teddy’s shoulder and walked with him into the living room.
“It appears this one isn’t too lame to stand on its own?” Anthony snapped.
Teddy took a chunk of Snape’s robe in his hand. He looked up at his master, trying to figure out why this man was talking like that about him and what had made him so angry.
Severus didn’t move his arm from the boy’s shoulder. “This is Teddy,” he said firmly, “you’ll find him to be a perfectly healthy young man, other than the obvious factor of his lycanthropy.”
Anthony looked between the two, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “That’s one way of saying it. Well, have it disrobe and we can get on with it.”
Severus recognized the mistake he had made with Remus immediately. “Can you not scan him with his clothing on and then go over the distinguishing marks after?”
Anthony gave a longsuffering sigh. “Why would you want me to do that, Mister Snape?”’
“Because I know what it is like to be… exposed to strangers,” Severus said truthfully. “I would have requested the same for Remus if I had better understood the procedure.”
“You seem so bloody concerned with procedure; is that only so that you can insist I change it?” Anthony asked, ire showing.
“Change it?” Severus said, a small sneer settling across his lips. “You informed me earlier that you Inspectors were so valued by the Ministry that they basically allowed you to dictate what procedure is. You’re trying to tell me it is an impossible inconvenience for you to scan this boy now and to have him disrobe while you write your notes?”
“I will allow it if you will let us be getting on with this,” the Inspector said impatiently. “I do have other cases to attend to today.” He came nearer to where they were standing.
Severus felt the child’s hand grasping for more of his robe. He slid his arm from around Teddy’s shoulder and brought it to rest at his side, his own hand finding the boy’s and holding it. Teddy’s fingers threaded thankfully through his own as they stood there together.
Anthony took out his wand. “I’m going to need you to step back, Mister Snape.”
Severus felt Teddy grip his hand more tightly, he looked down to see a very grim expression on the child’s face.
“I think ‘need’ is a bit of a reach, Inspector. I know for a fact that my minimal contact with this boy is not going to affect your spells in any way.”
“This is getting more unconventional by the minute!” the Inspector proclaimed.
“Please tell me, Mister Harforth,” Severus drawled, “what exactly is the convention for making a small child undergo an experience that will more than likely terrify him without having even the slightest bit of care or compassion?”
“Care and compassion? Interesting sentiments for someone who used to run in the circles you did,” Anthony muttered. “Fine, hold its hand.” He came nearer yet and raised his wand, scanning Teddy much as he had Remus.
Teddy whimpered and tried to pull away from the wand. Snape’s grip on his hand allowed him to move around a bit but not to completely retreat. He knew that the other man wasn’t hurting him, though the boy was clearly not comfortable having that thing pointed at him in the least. Teddy had closed his eyes and was holding desperately onto Snape’s hand.
When Anthony lowered his wand, shaking his head in disgust at the trembling boy, Snape breathed a sigh of relief. He knelt next to Teddy, who was just opening his previously clenched eyes.
“Is it over, sir?” Teddy asked him, eyes darting briefly to the Inspector, who was sitting and filling out the results of his scans.
“Unfortunately not quite yet,” Severus said, placing his hands on Teddy’s shoulders. “You were very brave to let him do that, Teddy. I know you’re uncomfortable with someone pointing their wand at you.”
Teddy gave him a weak smile. “Thanks, sir. It wasn’t so bad, I guess.”
“Okay. Well I’m going to need you to be brave for me one more time. This man is going to want to scan you again. It is going to be a little different than last time, though.”
“Okay…”
“When he is done filling out what his last scans told him about you, he will want to do some more of them. In order for him to do these, he will need to scan your bare skin. His wand will be much closer to you, and you will need to hold as still as you can.”
“Will it hurt, sir?” Teddy gulped.
“No, it is the same type of spell that was cast on you earlier; you won’t even feel it.”
“I have to be… naked?” Teddy asked reluctantly, colour tinting his cheeks.
“Yes, you do,” Snape said. He rather wished the floor would swallow him up at this exact moment. “There is nothing I can do about that.”
“Will you still be here with me?”
“Do you want me to be?” Severus asked, unsure how Teddy would feel about more people than necessary seeing his body.
“Oh please, sir. Please stay,” Teddy pleaded, panicked at the notion that Severus would leave him alone with this man.
“Of course I’ll stay, don’t worry. This will all be over soon.”
“Okay, sir. You really don’t mind?”
“No, I don’t mind, Teddy. Not even a little.”
“Are you two done having your moment? Or should I come back later?” Anthony asked, moving closer to them.
“I believe we’re finished,” Severus said tersely.
“I wish I could say the same; let’s get on with it already.”
Teddy looked at Snape for instruction.
Severus nodded and then moved between Teddy and Anthony. He levelled the Inspector with his best death glare while Teddy undressed behind his back.
“I’m done,” Teddy’s insecure voice said.
“I’m done, sir,” Anthony corrected.
“Do shut up,” Severus said to the man. He paused, and then stepped aside. Teddy stood with his arms at his sides and his gaze trained directly on the floor in front of him.
Anthony walked up to Teddy and went to scan him from head to toe, much the same as he had Remus. The boy made a nervous sound as the wand was pointed at him, stepping back as the man went to scan his head. Anthony stilled as Severus took a step nearer.
Teddy reached out his hand in Snape’s direction. He didn’t hesitate to take the smaller appendage in his own and give it a reassuring squeeze.
Anthony huffed and went to do the scan again. This time Teddy closed his eyes; he seemed to manage it a lot better that way. The Inspector continued to scan down the boy’s front. The quill dictated the results of the scan, not writing anywhere near the amount of information it had for Remus, though still making more notes than Severus was comfortable with. The Inspector moved to the back to repeat the scans, pausing to look at what Severus assumed was the mass of scars on the child’s back from his whipping.
“These look like they were rather serious. With all your fancy potions you didn’t bother to take them away? Or did you just like the look of them after?”
Severus took a visibly deep and steadying breath. “They were given to him by Macnair before he came here.”
“Hmm,” the Inspector said as he began to move his wand across Teddy’s back.
The quill scratched quickly across the page.
Anthony paused when he reached the small of Teddy’s back.
“Do you want me to remove the brand?” Anthony asked, peeking over Teddy’s shoulder at him.
“What brand?” Severus asked, startled. Remus didn’t have a brand, not one that he’d seen anyway. Why would Macnair have branded Teddy and not Remus?
“The one that says ‘WM’ on his left buttock. If you want it gone, now is the only time. It had to have been done magically, and the only time it can be altered or removed is when a slave changes hands. I can either do it now or you’ll have to leave it permanently.”
Severus craned his head to see what the Inspector was talking about. Surely enough, Walden’s initials had been clearly imprinted on Teddy’s smooth skin. The marks appeared at first to have been made by hot metal, but he could tell that they had been done magically, as the Inspector had said. His stomach turned. The placement of it was so that when Teddy was the age Macnair preferred, he would be able to see his ownership of the boy whenever and almost however he used him. Perhaps Remus had just been filler until he considered Teddy ready.
“Do you wish for him to remove it?” Severus asked Teddy, knowing the answer already.
“Yes! Yes please, sir,” Teddy said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it but it was… embarrassing.”
“Don’t fret about that,” Severus said to Teddy. “Remove it,” he told to the Inspector.
“There will be quite a bit of pain,” Anthony’s words sounded cautionary, though he didn’t appear to mind that notion one bit, the edges of his lips curling just slightly.
“What type of spell do you use?” Severus asked, trying to ignore the other man’s expression.
“It acts as kind of a magnet, pulls the branded tissue out and causes new tissue to grow in its place,” Anthony explained.
That would be quite painful. “Allow him to dress and calm down for a moment; I’ll need something from my lab.”
“You’re determined that this will take all day, aren’t you?”
“I’m determined to do this correctly, Inspector. Your bellyaching won’t deter me from that. Finish your notes and we’ll be back shortly. Go on and get dressed, Teddy; I’m going to take you to see your father for a moment.”
Teddy slipped quickly back into his clothes, following Severus into the kitchen. He scurried up to Remus and climbed onto his lap, the older man wrapping him in his arms instantly.
“What did you all overhear?” Severus asked Remus.
“He branded him?” Remus said, aghast. He tightened his arms around his boy and set his cheek on the crown of his head. “He branded my son?” He was beyond furious. He’d been good; he’d done whatever Macnair had wanted, accepted any humiliation or punishment. He had done that as willingly as possible so that that bastard wouldn’t touch his son. That had been the deal. Remus wondered if he were angrier with Macnair or himself for believing him.
“It would appear so,” Severus frowned. “Our friend in the other room will remove it, but it won’t be pleasant.”
“How bad will it be?” Remus asked, not positive if he wanted to know.
“Bad enough,” Severus said.
“Is there no other way?” Remus near pleaded.
“No, I don’t believe there is. I have an analgesic that I can apply topically, as well as one he can drink. They will likely make him tired after everything is done, but I believe it would be wise if he took them now.”
“Do whatever you think is best, sir,” Remus said.
Snape gave a nod and hurried down into the lab. He gathered the topical analgesic ointment and a pain blocking potion and returned upstairs as fast as he was able. He went immediately to Remus’ side, stooping down so he would be at the same height as Teddy, who gave him a concerned look.
“I have a potion that I need you to drink,” Severus explained to the boy. “Can you take two swallows for me?” he handed Teddy the vial.
Teddy looked at it skeptically, holding it up to the light. “What does it do?”
Had the situation not been so pressing, Severus would have delighted at Teddy’s inquisitiveness and paranoia. “It will help when the Inspector removes your mark, it will take away some of the pain.”
Teddy gave a shaky nod and took two glugs from the bottle, handing it back to Snape and making a face. “Tastes better than that Wolf potion at least,” the child tried to smile.
“When we get back into the living room, I would like to spread this on the mark before he removes it. This will help even more,” Severus said. “Though you will likely still experience quite a bit of discomfort,” he warned.
Teddy looked out from where his face was pressed into his father’s chest. “You’ll still be there with me?”
Severus found it odd that Teddy wasn’t asking for his father to be there. “Of course I will,” he said.
Apparently Remus found this strange as well because he asked his son, “You don’t want me to be with you?”
Teddy shrugged.
“Why not?” Remus asked, seemingly forlorn at the idea.
“Because… I just don’t want you to be sad,” Teddy said, putting his hand on Lupin’s forearm.
“I love you Teddy,” was all Remus could say back to that. He felt shocked that his son was handling this so well; proud that somehow, despite everything, he could be growing up to be so strong.
“I love you too dad,” Teddy said. “Everything will be okay.”
“I know it will be,” Remus said, moving to hug him tightly for a brief second before letting him go. “Please at least bring me in to room, sir,” he asked Severus.
Remus was trying to ignore the irony of Severus defending his exposed son from the cruelty and derision of someone more powerful than him, while he himself had done nothing but walk away when Severus had needed someone to do that for him years ago when they were boys.
“I will. We shouldn’t keep him waiting much longer than needed; I don’t think he’s going to get friendlier as time wears on.” Snape stood, levitating the chair with Remus and Teddy both on it, bringing them into the living room where Anthony was standing tapping his toe.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Anthony said giving his to an exceptionally hard tap on the floor. “If you want that mark removed, get it ready now. If not, make me wait another five minutes and just see if I stick around.”
“We’re ready,” Severus said. He reminded himself that it would be highly inappropriate to curse this man, especially with Teddy in the room.
Teddy climbed off of his father’s lap and came to stand near Snape. “What do you need me to do, sir?”
“Turn so that you’re facing away from me and move your pants just enough so I can see the mark. I’m going to put some of that cream we talked about on there.”
“Yes sir,” Teddy said, turning around and doing as Severus asked of him.
Snape quickly and liberally applied the potion, trying to ignore the anger rising in him at the sight of that brand.
“Okay,” he said, “now turn and face me. I don’t want you to try and look at what is happening behind you.” Severus pulled an ottoman closer and sat on it; this way he was nearly the same height as Teddy without putting too much stress on his knee. “What I do want you to do is to wrap your arms around my neck and when it starts to hurt, I want you to squeeze my shoulders. Just close your eyes and hold onto me as tightly as you can. Do you think you’re able to do that for me?”
“Yes sir,” Teddy said, again doing as Severus asked him without argument or hesitation. He stood with his back facing Anthony and his small arms around Severus’ shoulders.
Snape said, “If I have even a suspicion that you are drawing this out longer than absolutely necessary, I will show you what it really means to be without care or compassion, Inspector Harforth,” Severus said dangerously. “I believe it will be a revelation that you find most unpleasant.”
Anthony cleared his throat in what may have been nervousness. “Does that mean you’re finally ready, Mister Snape?”
“I believe we are.”
“Here goes,” Anthony said more cheerfully, casting the spell.
Snape barely heard him mutter the incantation, but there was no doubt in his mind when the spell was cast. Teddy began to squirm immediately, squeezing his shoulders with a strength Severus found surprising. His breathing was ragged for a brief second before a keening sound began to come from him that cut Snape right down the middle with an emotion he wasn’t sure he could name. His arms came up instantly to curl around the child, one around his back and the other cupping his head.
It seemed to go on forever, Severus found the rest of the world evaporating, condensing down to nothing more than this little boy in his arms. He wished he could take the child’s pain upon himself, felt like he should be able to shelter him from it somehow. He found himself scrunching his own eyes shut as well, whispering into that small ear a litany of mindless comfort as Teddy sobbed into his shoulder.
“I’ve got you, Teddy; just a little longer, you’re being so brave.” His hand was idly stroking the boy’s hair; he felt his hot tears on his neck. If you had asked him, Severus would have said that this, what he was doing right now, was an impossible thing for him; that these mindless words of encouragement and support were a language unknown to him. Yet here he was, doing it almost without as much as a thought. “It’s almost over, I love you, child; it’s going to be okay.” It continued for what felt like eternity before finally seeming to peter out, with Teddy sagging against him, his breath coming in little hiccoughs.
Severus didn’t release him, only helped steady him on his feet. Teddy kept his arms locked in a death grip around his shoulders; the sound he was making was residually desolate but had lost the urgency that signaled pain was present. His sobs slowly diminished, his fingers curling idly in Snape’s hair, his arms still holding tightly to his neck.
“Get it sorted out already and make it stop that bloody whining. I need to finish my paperwork and then I can finally be out of here.” Anthony sat down and began to look over his papers.
Ignoring Anthony completely, Snape slowly pulled Teddy and himself apart, looking down at the boy’s red and distraught face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.
“Wipe your eyes and face, then blow your nose,” he instructed in a quiet voice.
Teddy did as he was told, dabbing at his eyes and then blowing his nose wetly. He handed the hanky back to Snape who tucked it into his pocket.
Severus leaned around his shoulder, looking to find the place that had previously held the brand now nothing but clear skin, the mark having been completely extracted. He tested the flesh tentatively with his finger. When Teddy didn’t flinch or give any other sign, he pulled the boy’s pants back into place and replaced his shirt over top of them.
Teddy swayed slightly on his feet, steadying himself by resting his hand on Snape’s knee.
Severus, knowing that what was causing the boy to become unsteady was the analgesic potion he’d drank earlier, carefully lifted him off the floor, standing in one swift motion and walking with Teddy in his arms to the sofa. He perched himself on the edge and laid the boy down so that his head was cradled on a pillow and the rest of him was comfortably positioned across the cushions of the couch. Looking around for the blanket and remembering that he had used it to take Remus upstairs and then left it there, peered around the room for something to cover him in. Finding nothing, he removed his outer robe and placed it across the child, whose eyes were closed and breathing even.
Severus looked over at Remus, who was drying his leaking eyes on the sleeve of one arm silently. His other hand was still clasped tightly onto the arm of his chair, fingers digging into the fabric as if he had been the one in excruciating pain instead of Teddy. He levitated the lycanthrope’s chair over so he could sit by his son and hold the sleeping boy’s hand if he so desired. It was obvious that Remus was very softhearted when it came to his son and Severus found himself wanting to indulge that as much as possible.
“Are we finished here, Inspector?” Severus asked, more impatient than he had felt in years. He sat in one of the chairs near Anthony.
“Do you wish to replace the brand with anything? I can put one on both of them if you like,” Anthony offered, smiling handsomely at Snape.
“I’d rather not, thank you,” Severus said stiffly.
Anthony flipped through his papers again, looking at one page very closely. “This can’t be right,” he said in a skeptical voice.
“And what would that be?” Severus inquired. He was eager to have this man on the other side of his property line.
“This pup doesn’t have an infection site. How is that possible? Have you ever seen it transform?” Anthony asked, shocked.
“Not personally. He is without a doubt a lycanthrope, if that is what you’re getting at.”
“How was it infected then?” Anthony demanded.
“I know not how he came across the condition, only that he is afflicted with it,” Snape lied. He didn‘t know what would happen if this man found out that Teddy was born lycanthropic, but he didn’t want to find out.
“Do you realize that this could change everything for you?”
“How so?” Severus asked, feeling distinct unease.
“The Ministry has requested that I, and all Inspectors, inform them of any strange occurrences, and this definitely qualifies as strange. They’ve already collected two or three of these things for one reason or another. I’ll have the little critter off your hands by the end of the day. They’ll either send him back to you in one piece or comp you one of equal or greater value at the next auction.”
Remus expression was that of shocked desperation. Fear clamped its icy fingers around his heart, he couldn’t move, his son’s hand held in his own. Surely Severus wouldn’t allow this man take Teddy, would he? Would he even have a choice? He pondered what would happen if his son was not brought back ‘in one piece’. The implication of the Inspector’s words made Remus want to vomit, his mind drawing away from it in horror.
Severus wondered if there could be any child of equal or greater value on the entire face of the Earth. “You’re saying that you’re wanting take Teddy away from here?” Severus said. “I don’t believe I can let you do that, Inspector.”
“And why not? I don’t see how you plan to stop me. Unless, of course…” Anthon trailed off, lowering his papers so they rested on the table and looking at Severus in a meaningful way.
“Unless, what?” Severus said neutrally, making a show of examining his fingernails as if in disinterest. He idly picked at something nonexistent under his ring finger with the nail of his thumb before looking up at the Inspector.
He was thinking about doing something he hadn’t done since before the war ended. It was easier to decide than he had thought it would be. This man couldn’t be allowed to walk out of here with Teddy or information that would make someone come to take him. There was almost nothing he could think of that he would not do to prevent this arrogant arse from taking Teddy away to be cut up and examined like some newly discovered potions ingredient, which was by the sound of it, just what would be happening.
“Well; I suppose I could do you a favor. I’ll fill out the remainder of this one’s sheet by hand if you give me a little something that would be good for me too. I give you something, you give me something; trade is a beautiful thing.” Anthony leaned back in his chair and gave Severus a roguish grin.
“And what would you charge for such a thing?” Severus was almost afraid to ask.
“I can tell you’re really fond of the little beast,” Anthony started, leaning forward in his chair to look at Teddy. “I don’t want your money, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“What is it that you would desire if not gold, Inspector?” He would gladly open his vault rather than pay whatever Anthony was likely getting around to demanding.
“Twenty four hours alone with that one,” Anthony nodded his head towards Remus.
Severus searched his mind desperately for an alternative; something to blackmail this man with. Yet he wasn’t familiar enough with the Inspector or his family to be able to turn this back around on him. He was going to have to do something else then. Snape made a quick decision, choosing to stick with it and follow through to whatever end it brought about.
“In no way, shape or form will I allow you to remove Teddy from this house,” Severus said with finality.
“I thought you might say something along those lines,” Anthony acknowledged, “and he can stay, for a small price. I’m not asking for much; you wouldn’t have to lift a finger.”
“Indeed. And just what kind of guarantee do I have that once we have come to and fulfilled this agreement, if I do in fact find it acceptable, that you will not continue to extort me?”
“My word isn’t enough?” the Inspector asked with feigned surprise.
Severus gave a snort of derision, “Absolutely not. I’ll take it in writing that there was nothing peculiar or outstanding about your visit today, on the proper Ministry stationary and imprinted with your magical signature,” Severus said, “and nothing less.”
“So you agree then?” Anthony asked eagerly.
“Do I have a choice?” Severus asked, looking over at Remus in what appeared to be a silent request for his approval.
Remus felt stifled, he was too hot, he could hardly breathe. For some reason he had thought Severus would have fought just a little bit harder before giving into anything this man wanted, let alone… that. Of course he would do whatever was necessary to keep his son with him, he had endured worse things for no reason at all; Teddy was the most important thing in his life, he would undergo anything for that child. Still, the realization that Severus would just permit this man to take and use his body hurt more than he had expected.
Just by looking at the Inspector and listening to the way he talked, watching how he moved, Remus knew that twenty four hours would be all this man would need. There would be no empathy or mercy forthcoming from him; he hoped he would manage well enough in his still weakened state. Whatever he would do to him, he would feel entitled to do. However, no amount of fear or pain would stop him from doing everything in his limited power to keep Teddy near him.
“I’ll do it, sir,” he mumbled, looking at his knees. He knew, somehow, that Severus was waiting to hear those words from him.
“Interesting, you make it verbally consent?” Anthony said.
“I needed to hear it, yes,” Severus allowed.
“It will do whatever I say?” Anthony asked.
“When the time comes, Remus will do as you ask him, yes. Of course there will be some rules,” Severus informed him.
“Rules?” the Inspector asked, lips twisting in disapproval. “For me or it?”
“Both of you. You are not to do anything permanent to him. You will not make him stand for any extended period of time and his feet will be left completely alone. This last one shouldn’t be a problem for you since you’re such an outstanding Ministry employee, but absolutely no Unforgivables.”
“I suppose that isn’t too restrictive. And for it?”
“Remus will follow your commands as if they were my own. In no way will he disrespect or attempt to harm you.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. I’ll want that paper today, right now if possible.”
“And when will you pay up? Can I have it tonight?”
“Yes, yes; I’ll have to get him cleaned up for you first. You can pick him up later this evening.” Severus was unable to look at Remus as these arrangements were being made. It made him quite angry to see how well the Inspector and he were getting along now that he had stopped stressing the notion that Remus was a person.
Anthony smiled brightly, pulling a new sheet of his official paper out and filling it out as Severus requested. He handed the paper over. “Ridden hard and put away wet?” he joked, filling in the necessary sections of Teddy’s paperwork.
“Something like that,” Severus frowned. Remus hadn’t moved since giving his consent. Snape wished there was some way to tell him that everything would be all right in the end.
“You know, Mister Snape, for a while there I didn’t think you were going to be quite so agreeable. I’ll have to make sure to get myself permanently assigned to your case; that way when the pup has its checkups at twelve and eighteen years our secret will still be just between us. Our offer would have to stand, of course, though at the pup’s last check in I want a piece of him instead. That last part is non-negotiable.”
“Don’t overturn your hand, Inspector. I’ll make no promises in respect to that, you’ll have to make the deal all over again when the time comes,” Severus said.
“Well I suppose that’s half the fun anyway,” Anthony smiled. “Well looks like I’m all done here for the day. I’ll show myself out and see you later tonight then?”
“Not at all, Inspector, I’ll have Fred show you off the property.”
“Odd little chap, for a house elf,” Anthony said, sounding almost nervous.
Severus wondered what kind of conversation Fred had had with the Inspector on their way up to the house. He shrugged. “He does his job very well.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Oh, I have something that might interest you down in the basement, Inspector,” Severus said suddenly, appearing to perk up. “I was going to try it out myself in the next day or so, but it never hurts to add a little padding to a deal, does it?”
“Oh, and what would that be?”
“It’s a little something that came with Remus, actually. It arrived here a few days before either of these two did. Macnair was kind enough to leave me with a few of his favorite accessories as well.”
“You don’t say?” Anthony asked, his eyes glinting. “You’ve more than caught my attention. What do you want in return for this little gem?”
“A guarantee that I won’t see you outside of these Investigations, ever.”
“Done!” Anthony chimed. “Will you at least allow me to see it before I go?”
“I suppose that would be alright. Follow me, we’ll do it on your way out.” Severus stood, waiting for the Inspector to do the same. He walked from the room, motioning the other man to follow him.
“See you tonight,” Anthony smiled toothily at Remus, following Severus out of the room.
Snape walked down the stairs and through the lab. Right across from the door that led to the transformation space was another door that was identical to it. Severus opened this one a crack, waiting for Anthony to catch up to him.
“It’s in here, you may need to shrink it in order to get it home and I’d prefer if you brought it back in the same condition I’m lending it to you in,” Severus said, opening the door and gesturing for Anthony to go before him into the dim room.
The Inspector laughed, “Good think you didn’t say that about the werewolf or you’d have been out of a deal.” He went into the room ahead of Snape.
Severus followed him quickly into the room, the door falling shut behind him of its own accord.
Anthony looked around the room. “What the hell? What is the meaning of this?” he demanded, looking at Snape with outrage and confusion on his face.
Meeting his icy blue eyes, Severus said, “Legilimens.”
He entered Anthony’s mind with the absolute ease of a fox walking through the open door of a chicken coop. There were no defenses in place, nothing to even slow him down as he rustled along this despicable man’s thoughts, swiftly collecting any that had to do with today, with this man being at his house, with Remus or Teddy.
What he was doing violated several agreements he had with the Ministry, who, if they found out about it, would not hesitate to ship his arse straight to Azkaban. The idea didn’t hold the same horror it used to, now that the Dementors were gone from the place, but it would still be an overwhelming inconvenience.
He was about to basically tear up the memories of what had happened today in Anthony’s mind and then put them back together in a different order. He would add a little something here, take away a little bit there; the Inspector’s mind would fill in the rest on its own. By the time he was done in this man’s head, Anthony would remember things very differently than they had actually happened. He would touch nothing else, just what was needed to get them out of this situation. The hard part would be finding all of the strings of memory, things that had been tied to other thoughts or emotions and getting them all out without toppling the tower accidentally. It was a good thing that this was far from his first time doing this.
It was apparent that this man craved power in a way that was very unhealthy. While the Inspector did actually find Remus quite attractive, what made the man want him more was the fact that Remus would not be able to defend or protect himself. He would be able to do whatever debasing, humiliating and excruciating things he desired to him with no repercussions. But that alone was not enough. He was also relishing in the fact that he had manipulated Severus into doing something he had had no desire to do. His control was over both of them, over all of them because if he so desired he could do all of this and still remove Teddy from the house if he chose.
How many people had he done this or something similar to? Severus wondered.
Seeing the ideas Anthony had been entertaining in his head, Severus didn’t feel one iota of guilt for his actions. The things this man had been fantasizing about doing to Remus made his blood boil with rage. He destroyed thought upon thought; it was only a shame he had to look at them as they disappeared. It took every bit of his self-control not to leave Anthony a drooling heap of flesh without a thought or identity of his own.
The story he built in place of the things he was erasing was a simple one: Anthony had come to Snape’s house, assessed the spaces and the werewolves. He had found nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, this visit was the most boring of his entire week so far. The werewolves were model slaves and Severus, though strange, was compliant with regulation, and therefore completely fine in his books. The reason he was down in a large closet full of potions and their ingredients, was that it had somehow come up in conversation that Anthony had a rather unique rash, and in quite an embarrassing place (which was true, Snape had seen it clearly in his memories). Severus was kindly giving him a remedy, no charge, for all the trouble he had gone through coming out here.
Severus released the spell. “Ah, here it is Inspector,” he said as if he had been mid conversation with the man. He reached over and retrieved a small glass pot with a thick cork in the top. “If you apply this twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, your little problem will go away in no time.”
Anthony blushed, probably knowing what Snape was talking about but not exactly being able to trace their conversation back to how exactly he knew. “Erm, thank you, Mister Snape, that is most generous of you.” He stood there, dazed for a moment before shaking his head. “You have something for a headache as well? I think I can feel the start of one coming on.”
And what a headache it would be! Severus bit his tongue to keep from grinning. “Of course Inspector!” he selected another small bottle from one of the shelves, handing that to the man also. What Anthony didn’t know was that the bottle he had just handed him was not going to help him with his headache at all and was much more likely to cause him be incontinent for the next seventy two hours or so. “I find this to be effective in almost everyone.”
“Thank you again.” Anthony pulled out his pocket watch. “Merlin, where does the time go?”
“I’ll walk you to the back door, Fred will have it from there,” Severus said, opening the door and going back out into the lab. He did just that, escorting him to the back door and calling for Fred, who seemed a little put out to be babysitting the Ministry worker for a second time.
“So when will I be hearing from you?” Severus asked.
“Me?” Anthony asked, sounding surprised. “Unless something radically changes, you likely won’t be seeing me again at all. There are quite a few Inspectors about and unless there is some reason I’d need to personally be responsible for your case, you’re likely to get someone else next time.”
“Hmm, what a shame,” Severus said. “Well do have a good day, Inspector.”
“You as well, Mister Snape. Tight ship you run here, wish I could say the same about more owners. They let just anyone have these creatures, you know, as long as they can pay.”
“I know,” Severus said, letting his displeasure show. “Good day, Inspector.”
“Mister Snape.”
Fred led Anthony out through the hole in the wall and off towards the edge of the anti-apparition wards.
Severus watched them go feeling nothing but sweet relief. There was no doubt in his mind that his fabricated story would hold; Anthony would never know just what had happened here. It would be a while before they had to deal with another Inspection, but he would definitely have to come up with a better plan for next time. This had been cutting it close.
He wished there was a moment to sit down and regain his bearings, but his feet were leading him back into the living room instead. Remus was still sitting in there thinking he was going to allow the Inspector to take his body as boon without even attempting to find an alternative.
Remus was still sitting by his son, holding his hand on both of his own. He didn’t look up from their combined hands as Snape’s footsteps got nearer. How was he supposed to look him in the eye? He felt despair and anger equally, or was that fear and resentment? Either way he was a roiling mess of emotions and he was sure they would be clear on his face for Snape to see.
“He’s gone, Remus,” Severus said softly at his side.
“Yes, but he’ll be back later, sir. T-thank you for letting me do something to help my son.”
“I’m not letting you do anything,” Severus said.
“Sorry sir, I’ll rephrase that. Of course it was my decision, but you allowed it all the same.”
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, crouching by the couch near Teddy’s slumbering form. His fingers brushed lightly across the child’s forehead, trailing back into his fine auburn hair.
“I would never concede to allow that man, or any other, to take Teddy from me and especially from you, without at least making my best attempt to stop it.”
“I know, sir,” Remus’ face was twisted with an overwhelming emotion. So his master’s best attempt was to give in and give his body away. At least he knew where he stood: equal unless otherwise specified. He supposed it was better than he should have hoped, really. His distress was a clear sign to him that he had been getting too comfortable, forgetting what he actually was to Severus rather than what he wanted to be. If Snape had kept whatever tools Walden had left him, there was little doubt in his mind that he’d been intending to use them at some point.
“Good. Do you also know that I would never let someone do something to you that you either didn’t want or didn’t deserve, if it was in my power to stop it?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me, sir.” Was Severus trying to justify his decision by telling himself that he had wanted to submit to the Inspector or that he deserved it; maybe both? He would have to quickly find a place to stuff his emotions so as not to betray his weakness. Remus wished, and not for the first time, that he had taken the time to learn even the most basic of Occlumency techniques.
“Do you really think that I would have kept a single – instrument – that Macnair left me?” Severus asked, looking up at Remus’ face from where he was crouching and rather wishing the other man would meet his gaze.
“This morning I would have said ‘no’, sir.”
“And now?”
“What do you want me to say?” Remus asked desperately. “That I was starting to think you were a different person? That you might actually care for me in the slightest? I always knew I was a fool, sir, but I draw the line at putting on that kind of a display.”
Severus found himself approving of Remus’ anger. Now it was time for him to make a point.
“Do you want to see what is in the basement, Remus?” he asked calmly.
Remus looked up at him. The anticipation would kill him otherwise. Was it the pillory? It had to be large if it required its own room. He wanted to say ‘no’, he really did. “Yes please, sir,” was what he said instead, defeated.
Severus stood, peeking in at Teddy and finding him predictably asleep. The boy likely wouldn’t wake up until after supper, and even then there was no saying for how long. He had been surprised to see how much pain he had still been in, even with such a strong potion in his system.
He levitated Remus’ chair, walking before it into the kitchen and down into the lab. He set the chair down in front of the door to the room he’d taken Anthony into. He walked around the chair, grasped and turned the doorknob and opened the door, holding it there so Remus could clearly see inside of the room.
Remus stared into the large potions closet for almost a full minute as if waiting for something sinister to appear there.
“But…” Remus finally said, “There isn’t anything in there.”
“No,” Severus agreed, “nothing but potions and ingredients.”
“Did he already take it, sir?” Remus asked, feeling even more miserable now that Severus was toying with him about the whole thing.
“There was never anything there, Remus.”
“I don’t understand sir, I’m sorry. What did you give him if Macnair didn’t leave you any toys other than me?” Lupin asked, knowing he was stepping out of line.
“There were more things I was to inherit, but I didn’t accept anything that he left me but you and Teddy. I looked at the list and knew that none of those things would be needed or wanted here. I had them incinerated rather than delivered.”
“I give up, sir,” Remus sighed. “What am I to expect from him tonight?”
“Nothing, I don’t believe either of us will be seeing him again.”
“What do you mean, sir? You’re not going to allow him to take Teddy, are you?” Remus panicked.
“No, Remus. I would never let him take your son and I would never allow him to be alone with you for twenty four minutes, let alone twenty four hours. So instead I have done something highly illegal.” Severus almost smiled; it felt good to say that again; living by the rules had never really suited him.
Remus processed what Severus had just told him. He felt relief and then worry, looking around the room, not remembering seeing any blood on his way through the basement. Not that Severus would need to bloody a man in order to kill him in a thousand different ways. “He’s… dead?” he asked with incredulity.
Severus did smile then. “No! That would have left too many questions unanswered for too many people. Someone would have pieced it together in a hurry. I entered his mind and, shall we say, rewrote the afternoon for him.”
Remus squinted at him. “You altered his memories?”
“A bit of an understatement. He believes that he had a mind numbingly boring trip to our house and left without incident.” He didn’t mention that the Inspector would likely be having several ‘incidents’ over the next few days if he took even one swig of that potion he’d let him have. “He’d already given me the letter and filled in the proper portions of Teddy’s paperwork. All I had to do was make him trust me enough to let me take him somewhere I would have enough time and privacy to do what I had to do.”
“So, he’s fine?” Remus restated.
“Yes, he will continue to go about whatever awful life he lives on a daily basis. You can’t tell me you were concerned I’d harmed him? I saw the things he was going to do to you, Remus. I honestly thought about doing something drastic like crushing the speech and language centers of his mind beyond function or repair so that he couldn’t even try to do something like this again to anyone else.”
“But you didn’t,” Remus said as if that was a positive thing.
“No, I didn’t. Though I believe I will write a few anonymous letters, try and make someone scrutinize what he is doing; though I imagine the entire system is just as rotten in one way or another. At the very least, I’ll have a talk with Potter about it.”
Remus relaxed for the first time since Anthony had entered the house. “Forgive me, sir, I honestly thought you were going to let him take me.”
Severus let the potion’s closet swing shut. “You are worth more to me than that. If not altering his memory, I would have come up with something else.”
“I wanted to believe that, sir, I really did; but you put on a rather convincing performance.”
“So I’ve been told.” If he hadn’t, he would have been dead countless times already. “That bastard was only really deserving of doing one thing to you that I can think of; a pity it didn’t appear in any of his fantasies or I might have dallied long enough to watch it.”
Remus swallowed loudly. “And what is that, sir?”
“I believe I’d rather show you; unbutton your shirt,” Severus casually stated. He was determined to keep things on equal footing and Remus’ many submissions today somehow made him want to restore the balance. But he would do it in his own way, much the same as he did everything else. He began to work on the small buttons on each of his cuffs, moving next to the long row of them along the front of his shirt.
When Lupin hadn’t moved and was staring at him as if he’d briefly lost his mind, he said, “Please, Remus.”
That sparked Remus into action. Please seemed like a last resort to Severus, what came next he didn’t know, but he had no desire to be commanded and then to have to do it anyway. He began to unbutton his shirt slowly, feeling his heartbeat speed up. Whether it was arousal or fear he had yet to determine.
He sat still and watched in bewilderment as Severus continued to disrobe, right there in the hallway, with the lab just in sight, until he was standing before him completely devoid of clothing. Snape just stood there, looking at him blandly for a moment. The parallel to earlier, when he was standing exposed in the living room, felt incredibly clear.
The look of concern Remus gave him as he stood there was almost comical to Severus. Here he was, naked and flaccid, more than likely even shrunken in the chill of the basement, and Remus was looking at him like a man prepared for a truly harrowing experience. He slowly got to his knees on the uneven stone floor.
“Sir? I don’t know that this is a good idea,” Remus started.
“Are you kidding? I’ve been full of good ideas all day,” Severus said with playful sarcasm. He put his hands on either side of Remus’ legs on the chair cushion and pushed himself up, laying a brief kiss on Lupin’s lips. “Let me do this for you,” he said more seriously. He kissed down Remus’ chest, pausing briefly to undo the buttons on his fly and pull the material back from Remus’ half hard cock.
He began mouthing over Lupin’s cotton covered member, cupping him gently before carefully pulling the last layer of material away, leaving as much of the other man’s body covered as was possible. Remus was standing at attention now, which suited him just fine.
Holding the base of the erection, he lazily wound his tongue over the head, continuing on down the thick vein on the underside and then back up. He looked up to see Remus’ eyes were closed, his hands in fists at his side.
Severus went in for real this time, sliding his lips about three quarters of the way down Remus’ prick. He curled his tongue around the shaft to increase suction and began to move slowly up and down, descending a little further every time. When the light dusting of Remus’ pubic hair began to tickle his nose, he heard him finally let out a sound, a low long moan was drawn from his lips even as Severus began to ascend for air.
Hands settled tentatively on his body, one on his shoulder and the other stroking down the length of his dark hair to rest at the back of his head. He took these actions, very forward coming from Remus, as a good sign. One hand came up to feel the other man’s trouser clad thigh, the other continued to stroke the length of Lupin that currently wasn’t in his mouth, as he was paying homage to the man’s throbbing head currently.
Remus was being swept away by sensation. The part of him that would have been stable through all of this was also stuck in the shock of exactly what was happening. He was looking down at Severus, who was not wearing a stitch of clothing while he reclined in his chair with all of his clothing on, just his cock and a bit of his chest exposed. He groaned again and fought the urge to thrust his hips up to meet that gloriously slick heat. The sight of Snape doing this was almost enough to push him over the edge. He’d been blindfolded last time his master had done this for him; still, he’d no idea that it would turn him on this much.
Severus was in no hurry, he varied the speed and depth of his bobs, bringing Remus just to the tipping point and back again. He glanced up to meet Remus’ honey brown eyes and swallowed him to the root. He saw Remus open his mouth in a surprised gasp just as he felt him coming, pulsing down his throat. He swallowed every drop, moving his mouth over Remus until he felt the other man settle back into his chair.
He gave Remus a half smile. “And I don’t know if he would have even deserved to do that,” Severus said, licking at a spot on his lower lip. Remus gave him such a look that he actually laughed.
“I don’t seem to know what to make of you, ever,” Remus said, finally.
“I’d be more concerned if you did,” Severus said, spelling Remus clean and standing with an audible creak of his bad knee. He slowly dressed, making no rush about the whole thing. He looked over, seeing that Lupin was doing the same.
When they were done, he levitated the chair through the lab and back up into the living room. He set the chair down near a still sleeping Teddy.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Severus said at length, deciding that it couldn’t go unsaid after all. “If I had any idea the Inspection would go like this, I would have had a plan already in place. I will be more prepared for the next time.”
“Thank you,” Remus said, not sure what else to say.
Teddy stretched out on the sofa, or more like he tried to, his leg and arm hitting the back of it.
“I’m going to take him upstairs and put him to bed, I’m sure he’ll be more comfortable there,” Severus said.
“I know it’s a hassle, but will you take me with you? I’d like to see him tucked safely in bed.”
“It’s no trouble,” Severus said. He carefully hoisted the boy off of the couch, robe and all, settling him on one hip. He was thankful for his proficiency in wandless magic as he levitated Remus up the stairs before them.
In Teddy’s room, he set Lupin by the bed and walked around his chair. As he pulled back the blankets, Teddy stirred in his arms. He stood a little straighter as the boy opened his eyes blearily.
“Oh, hello, sir,” he mumbled.
“Hello, Teddy,” Severus said softly, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
Teddy laid his head tiredly on Severus’ shoulder, one arm wrapping around his neck. “Is that man gone?”
“Yes; he’s gone and he won’t be back.”
“Oh, good,” Teddy yawned, too tired to sound enthusiastic about it.
Severus set him on the mattress, feeling the little arm around his neck as the last point of contact lost. He pulled the blankets up over him.
“Is my dad okay?’ Teddy asked, eyes closed and his head on the pillow.
“He’s just fine, he’s right behind me,” Severus assured.
“Love you, dad,” Teddy sighed quietly.
“I love you too, Teddy,” Remus said, thanking the gods above that the day had went as it had and that Severus was so quick on his feet.
Snape went to rise, finding a little hand clutching the cuff of his sleeve.
“What is it, child?” he asked, allowing himself to sit on the edge of the bed again.
“Thank you for taking care of me today,” Teddy said, eyes still shut and his breathing starting to deepen.
“I was glad to do it,” Severus said.
“When you said you loved me before, did you really mean it?”
Small eyes peered at him though the dark as Severus felt his heart seize. He thought back, yes, perhaps he had said it. Had he meant it? Did he mean it? It would do no good to lie to Teddy about such things.
Love had always been one of those elusive emotions to him. It wasn’t searing like anger or unforgivingly hard like guilt. He’d thought he’d loved people before. He knew he loved potions; brewing them, studying them. Did he love this child? Well, if the emotion this line of thought brought up in him wasn’t enough of an indication, the terror he had experienced at the thought of losing the boy was. If he didn’t love Teddy, then he supposed he had never really loved anything or anyone else in his life.
Even the admission came more easily than expected. “Yes, I did.”
Teddy closed his eyes and smiled. “I love you too.”
“I’m honored you would say it in return. Now sleep, you’re almost there already.”
“Okay, ‘night.”
“Good night,” Severus said, though really it would likely be only a couple of hours until Teddy was awake again, at least for a while.
Severus sat a moment, looking down at the peaceful face, unable to process what had just happened. He felt totally undeserving of that kind of emotion from someone as trusting and innocent as Teddy. No matter, the boy would come to his senses eventually, once he was old enough to understand that he represented the barrier between him and freedom.
He looked over at Remus who had his hand over his mouth and was sitting there tensely as if waiting for him to snap. Severus stood and straightened the blankets carefully over Teddy, looking at him a moment longer before levitating Lupin and walking from the room, leaving the door further ajar than normal. He was taking them downstairs to chase away the happenings of the day in the sunny kitchen, a single malt scotch in each of their hands.
A/N: Again, thank you for your words of encouragement and your patience with me while I worked on this chapter! This one got away from me a little, I was kind of surprised how everything ended up. Hope you enjoyed it. Please, let me know your thoughts! More to come as soon as possible.
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The Long Road