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Research and Development Part I; Hunger	By : Aubrey Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 8765 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
TITLE: Research and Development Part VI; The Dominant Partner

AUTHOR: StarryGazer

EMAIL: foppagal@yahoo.com

PAIRING: Remus/Harry

RATING: R

FEEDBACK: Always appreciated, feel free to send to the above
address

DISCLAIMER: Belongs to JKR. No profit. No infringement etc.

SUMMARY: Harry wants Remus. Remus wants Harry. It should be
simple, right? After Grimmauld Place is destroyed, Harry and Remus find
themselves on the run, unable to do magic, and having to hide their
relationship from an unlikely roommate.

CATEGORY: (Drama / First Time / Humor / Hurt-Comfort / Romance)

BETAS: The Stupendous ShadowPhoenix, The Effervescent Elizabeth,
and a hint or two from the Adorable Adele Sparks.

NOTES:
Features the long-awaited leash scene, you little perverts. I love it.

THANK YOUS: At the bottom of the page

Part VI: The Dominant
Partner

Remus got to
his feet and helped Harry up, as well. �Are you all right?� he asked the youth
quietly. Harry only nodded, looking more vulnerable and confused than Remus had
ever seen him, his eyes wide and blank, and missing their trademark glasses.
�Did you manage to grab your wand?� The werewolf�s own wand was tucked in the
waistband of his pajamas. There was definitely something to be said for
werewolf reflexes.

Harry
nodded dully, brandishing it with a rather abstracted air. Suddenly, a loud
�pop� split the night beside them, and there stood a tall, masked Death Eater.
It pointed its wand at Harry�s head, and Harry�s quick reflexes responded by
flourishing his own, ready to hex and curse.

�NO!�
a voice roared from nearby, and Harry was abruptly on the ground and rolling,
tackled by a shadowy figure. Remus, gaping, tried to decide between the Death
Eater before him and the unknown quantity attacking Harry. On the whole, anyone
attacking Harry pretty much automatically became his first order of business.

He dove
into the struggle, managing to kick the dark body away, snatching Harry from
its grip. He heard Arthur Weasley shout a curse behind him, felling the Death
Eater. As Remus aimed his wand at Harry�s assailant, the man lunged forward
once more, grabbing hold of Harry�s wand, completely ignoring Remus.

�POTTER,
YOU IMBECILE! If you don�t give me your wand this instant you will suffer
such indescribable pain that even I would feel some small measure of
pity for you!� Severus Snape proceeded to wrench the wooden object from the
boy�s grip, scowling dreadfully at him. He turned to Lupin. �And you!
Don�t you pull your wand on me, you worthless, walking catastrophe! You were
WARNED, damn you! You deserve to be skinned and mounted in a Death Eater�s
trophy room! WHAT DID YOU LET HIM EAT?�

Remus
flinched, lowering his wand. �I�what? I�I didn�t. I never,� he stuttered,
trying to sort the situation out in his head.

�It was
something I ate?� Harry asked, obviously baffled. �I only ate Mrs.
Weasley�s pot roast. Oh, and those new candies the twins came up with.�

The
werewolf�s mouth fell open as it clicked into place. �Dear Merlin! Oh,
no! You ate that gag-gift candy from the twins! And so did I,� he added as an
afterthought. He looked at Harry. �Your dream. Don�t you remember?�

�It
would be a good joke�� Harry muttered, his face gone white. His terrified eyes
searched his lover�s face. �Was it poison? Did he poison me? Did he poison
us?� he cried, his voice rising in fright. Oh God, oh God, please don�t
let me have poisoned my own lover, he thought wildly, his stomach abruptly
contracting in nausea.

�I would have thought only an utter fool
would take candy from a Weasley, even if the Dark Lord were in no way
involved,� Severus remarked darkly, still glaring at them. His dry, cool tone
calmed Harry somewhat; surely if two people were about to die horrible deaths
right in front of him, Snape would be more upset, wouldn�t he? Besides, he was
a Potions Master, and knew all the antidotes. �No, Potter, you haven�t been
poisoned. The Dark Lord has tried that route, repeatedly, but has found
it to be, for some reason, a great difficulty. What few poisons which really were
poisons have never been subtle enough to make it through the many defenses the
Headmaster has set up for you.�

Snape
sneered at Harry, looking as though he would only be too happy to watch the boy
twitch and convulse as he succumbed to a deadly poison. He was about to
continue, but Tonks� shout interrupted. �Bus is here! We have to go, now!�

Harry found
himself swept onto the Knight Bus, which jumped from place to place at a
dizzying pace, outrunning the Death Eaters and keeping on the move. Harry had
no idea how it had been arranged, and he didn�t much care at the moment. He
just went and sat right next to Snape, glaring at the man. �What happened? Why
didn�t anyone tell me I wasn�t supposed to eat anything?�

�Because
the Headmaster has a ridiculous urge to coddle you mercilessly, and save your
poor, innocent soul from dealing with such nasty things, I assume,� Snape spat
angrily. �And if he continues to do so, he will pamper you straight into an
early grave.�

�It was
the potion you made, wasn�t it?� the werewolf quietly asked.

�The
potion the Dark Lord demanded,� Severus corrected, looking irritated.

�Dear God,
Severus,� Remus berated, �and you prepared it for him? Why couldn�t you
have just faked it, like you did with the others?�

�One does
get tired of just faking it,� Snape mocked. �The Pursuing Potion is,
unfortunately, easily recognized, if not easily made. It had to pass,
Lupin. I made what adjustments I could, given the specifications that had to be
met. I was able to make it�more difficult for him, I believe. The potion will
work correctly, when it is first taken. But it dissipates, and after it
encounters the blood stream, only magic will render the drinker visible to the
searcher.�

�Does that
mean he can�t use magic without risk of being traced?� Remus replied, his brow
lowering.

�It means neither
of you may use magic. It means no one who has eaten that candy can
use their magical abilities without drawing the Dark Lord to their side. Even
being near magic is dangerous.� Snape closed his eyes, looking suddenly
tired. �It was the only protection I could offer; it is a very powerful potion.�

�Indeed it
is,� a new voice put in, and Harry looked up to see Dumbledore standing beside
them, looking grave in his blue and pink sleeping gown. �And we are very
fortunate that you were able to alter it in the way you did,� he added, patting
Severus lightly on the back. The man merely sniffed in return.

�Headmaster? Sir? What�s going to happen to me? To us?� Harry asked,
blinking a little. �How can I go back to school if I can�t do magic? And what
about Ron and the twins? The twins didn�t do it on purpose�I know they didn�t.
They would never betray me.�

Remus felt
a worrisome twinge at that. The truth was the Weasleys could and might betray
Harry. You never really knew. Remus had learned that the hard way. He made a
vow to keep a closer eye on Harry�s friends, and prevent them ever having a
chance to harm him again. He looked towards the rear of the bus, where Hermione
was crying, and Ron had his arms around her. They were obviously too absorbed
to be worried much about Harry, although they did spare an anxious glance or
two at him.

�Oh, I
have no doubts as to Fred and George or their motives; they are excellent young
men, really. They seem to have chosen their most recent supplier rather
unwisely though, I�m afraid. This should teach them a valuable lesson about
people who seem to offer a good deal for very little in return.�

�Not to
mention learning something about acquiring business contacts through Mundungus
Fletcher,� Snape rjecrjected, his eyebrow arched.

�As for
what will happen to you, you need not fear overmuch. Since it is dangerous for
you to be near magic, we shall be keeping you away from it, at least for the
time being. And there will be no reason you cannot attend Hogwarts at the usual
time, as the potion should have passed through your body by the time the school
year starts.�

Harry�s
eyes gleamed. �It will?�

Dumbledore
beamed at the boy, but it was Snape who answered, in his usual acerbic style.
�Of course it will, you little ninny�a week from now, your body will have
entirely forgotten the serum was ever introduced to your system. That is, of
course, if you are still alive by then.�

Harry
ignored this. �Will I have to go back to the Dursleys�, then?� he inquired
rather hopelessly.

Dumbledore
hesitated before answering. �Not just yet,� he finally replied. �I�m afraid
there are�complications with your Aunt and Uncle.�

�Complications as in, �they don�t want you back,� which I don�t doubt,
or complications as in, �something�s happened to them�?� Harry queried
shrewdly. �Has something happened to them? Are�are they all right?�

At this,
the Headmaster smiled a little. �They are fine, Harry. They have simply been
relocated for the moment for their own protection. I�ve decided it is�prudent
at this time to split you up. To split everyone up, actually,� he explained
apologetically, and Harry felt the bus rumble to a halt. �Come now, boy, this
is your stop.�

Harry made
sure Remus was following before walking to the front of the bus and hopping
lightly to the sidewalk. The night was still pitch as sin, but from the glow of
the streetlamps the young wizard saw that they were in the middle of a Muggle
city. He felt suddenly quite embarrassed that he was standing out there for all
to see, dressed in his pajamas. He wasn�t even wearing underwear, for Merlin�s
sake.

Then Remus
joined him, and Harry felt immediately better. The werewolf had no compunction
about his couture; he seemed perfectly at ease like this, and he wasn�t
even wearing a shirt. Harry felt an inexplicable thrill that the masculine
marks across the man�s chest were displayed for one and all. And the way Remus
moved, all sinew and control, his self-possession evident despite his state of
undress�Harry shivered. The man was almost pornographic, and he wasn�t even doing
anything.

Dumbledore
joined them shortly, along with Professor Snape, who looked as though he�d
rather be anywhere else. �Harry,� the Headmaster was saying, �You�ll be going
with Professor Snape. Each person who was subjected to the potion will have to
be paired with someone still capable of performing magic. Remus will be staying
with me.� He turned to re-board the bus as though the subject was settled.

Harry
shared a panicked look with the gray-haired man, before shaking his head
wildly. �No! You can�t separate us like that!�

�Cease
behaving like a stubborn jackass and come along at once,� Snape snapped,
snatching at Harry�s wrist and yanking. He turned and began hauling the boy
along behind him, like he was a particularly recalcitrant wagon.

Harry gave
Remus a pleading look, and the man stepped forward and grabbed hold of Harry�s
other wrist. �Stop, Severus,� he ordered. He looked back at Dumbledore, giving
him a rueful shrug. �Albus, I�m afraid I must insist on staying with Harry.� He
gave a gentle tug, pulling the youth back toward him.

�Remus,
I�m afraid I don�t�� the aged wizard began, when Snape interjected vehemently.

�Lupin, be
an imbecile on your own time!� He gave Harry�s arm a jerk, nearly
toppling the boy, and causing him to stumble into the man. �We are wasting
precious moments out here!�

Lupin
responded by wrenching the young wizard right back away from the Potions
Master. �You�re the one wasting time by arguing!�

�Remus, I
think�� Harry started to say, before his professor interrupted by wresting him
away from the werewolf.

�I hardly think
you have any right to voice your opinion at this stage, Lupin,� the man
sneered. �So far your astounding feats of guardianship have led to nearly
getting the boy killed not once, but twice! And however little I like
being stuck with him, it�s far less unpleasant than being stuck with you,
so let go!� He pulled harder on Harry�s arm, trying to get him loose
from the werewolf�s grip.

Remus
snarled, showing teeth. �Sod off, Snape!� He clutched Harry more tightly. �As
if anyone in their right mind would leave him alone with you! And you
let go, damn it! He�s mine!�

�All
right, now, that�s enough,� Dumbledore�s stern voice came from the dark night,
and the men released their grip on the boy.

�It really
is, too!� Harry complained, rubbing at his sore arms. �The two of you can just
stop trying to rend me limb from limb for a few moments, if you don�t mind!�
Remus bowed his head, looking abashed, but the Potions Master merely scowled.
�Anyway, I�m not going anywhere without Remus, and that�s the way it�s gonna
be, so you all can just get used to it.� He crossed his arms stubbornly, and
saw Snape out of the corner of his eye, shaking with suppressed anger.

�You know,
it may not be a bad idea,� Dumbledore told them thoughtfully. �You wouldn�t be
able to keep an eye on the boy all the time, Severus, with all of your other
duties that need attending. And Remus has some experience of the Muggle world.
I t I think it would be best to keep the three of you together.�

�What?� Severus and Remus demanded
in unison.

�What?�
echoed Harry.

�Severus,
I do believe the same plan may be adapted to fit three, would it not?� That
damnable twinkle was once more evident in the old man�s eyes. �Well, then. It�s
all settled. Now, don�t forget yourselves, and use no magic whatever. Let
Severus handle all of that. I�ll keep in touch. Remus, do try not to despair; I
may have an odd job or two for you in spite of the situation. All right, I�d
better be getting on with it. If I assign Minerva to keep an eye on the twins��
he muttered, stepping back onto the bus.

Snape gave
Harry his patented, award-winning look of pure loathing. �This wasn�t my
fault,� Harry protested weakly. Giving the bus one last look, he saw Ron and
Hermione waving apologetically at him. He managed a half-hearted wave in
return, before the bus abruptly leapt out of sight.

Severus
took a deep breath through his distinctive nose. �Let�s not stand out here all
night, looking like complete fools�fitting though the look may be, for the two
of you. Come along!� he bit out, sounding very sour. He whirled on his heel and
began marching away.

Harry
trotted to keep up, and Remus swiftly plucked him off the ground, letting his longer
strides eat up the pavement. He spared Harry a contrite smile. �I�m so sorry,
Green Eyes,� he murmured. �I don�t know what I was thinking.�

�From what
you were saying� it was something like, �Mine! Mine! Back off, bitch!
If you touch him I�ll bite you! Mine, mine, mine!�� He giggled a little,
and Snape shot them a suspicious look over his shoulder, although he was far
enough ahead not to overhear the conversation.

�You�re
right,� Remus sighed, chagrinned. �Oh, dear. I�m really going to have to work
harder at controlling myself. I�m sincerely sorry, Harry. I�ll try very hard
not to let it happen again.� He said this with such a hangdog look that Harry
couldn�t help laughing once more.

�I
wouldn�t worry too much. The only part I really objected to was playing the
rope substitute in your little game of tug-of-Potter-war. The hot-blooded
possessiveness and the surprising, totally baseless jealousy were really kind
of cute.�

Remus
looked deeply offended by this, giving a harrumph of protest. �I was not
jealous,� he insisted. �I was simply concerned about your welfare.�
Harry snorted in response, but didn�t disagree.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The tiny hotel
room was dingy and decrepit. There were twin beds, a television, a small
kitchenette, and a feeling of hopeful desperation, like a middle-aged divorcee
with a slew of bad memories visiting a singles bar. The wallpaper was a rather
outdated succession of purple and yellow flowers, and Harry noticed several
spots on the walls where the damp had seeped through. �Boy, what a sodding
dump,� he noted with indifference.

�Mind your
mouth, Potter,� Snape replied. �Far be it for you to show some gratitude,
considering how difficult this all was to arrange on such short notice. Of
course, if the great Harry Potter�s standards are not being met��

�I didn�t
say that,� Harry disagreed. �It�s okay.� The room was cheerless, but it held
Remus Lupin, and that was all he really cared about.

�There are
only two beds,� Remus said slowly, glancing cautiously at Snape.

�You will not
be sharing mine,� the Potions Master replied with disgust. �Can�t you
just curl up on the rug or something?�

�I don�t
mind; he can share with me,� Harry offered instantly, lookinappnappropriately
hopeful, and causing a wry smile to pull at the corners of the werewolf�s
mouth.

Snape
frowned, looking at the small beds. �I�ll find something I can transfigure into
a cot tomorrow,� he said slowly.

Remus
shrugged carelessly. �If Harry doesn�t hog the covers, then I�m sure I
don�t care. I�ve slept in far worse places, at any rate.� It was such a pity to
be forced to sleep in such close proximity to his mate and be unable to claim
him if the desire arose. Which it inevitably would, and likely five times a
night, at that.

Severus
glanced at the man, looking as though he felt vaguely uncomfortable but
couldn�t put a name to it. ��At any rate,� he muttered at length, �I�m sure
I�ll be gone often enough, and you can have mine when I�m not here.�

Remus
nodded, attempting to appear appreciative of the offer. The only time he�d get
a bed to himself would be the nights he wouldn�t need one. He sighed. Looking
down at Harry, he said, �Are you tired?�

Harry
shrugged one shoulder casually. �After all that excitement? Not likely. But it
probably won�t be long before I�m ready to kip. It�ll catch up with me, no
doubt.�

The
werewolf patted him tentatively on the back. �We�re going to have to get you
new glasses, aren�t we?�

�The hell
with the glasses; nearly all my clothes were at Grimmauld Place. And
yours. We�re each going to have to get a whole new wardrobe, not to mention
anything else we left there. I guess I�m glad Hedwig was still at the
Dursleys�. I�m grateful I never got around to sending for her or the rest of my
stuff.� Remus was looking�almost cross, although he didn�t say anything. Harry
could sense he�d touched a sore topic, and hurried to change it. �Oh, let�s see
what�s on the telly, shall we? I never get to pick what to watch.� He flicked
on the screen, and he and Remus tried to make themselves comfortable on the
bed, Snape flicking his wand at various objects and transfiguring them into
useful items before entering the bathroom and, after an initial gasp of horror,
using scourgify on every accessible surface.

The only
show that came in clearly was a re-run of Cagney and Lacey, and it bored Harry
about to tears. He ended up falling asleep in the crook of Remus�s arm, while
Snape perched on the edge of the bed, scowling at the flickering screen with
absorbed concentration. The man only spoke once all night; to tell Harry, who was
in the process of trying to get more comfortable, �Shut that damnable snoring
mongrel up! I want to know why they don�t think the purse-snatcher was involved
in the rest of it.�

Harry hid a
grin as he poked Remus in the ribs, causing the man to grunt andn onn onto his
side. The werewolf slept more quietly after that, and Harry fell back to sleep
with an abiding sense of coziness. Whatever else the next week held, he was
sure it was going to be greatly entertaining.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next
morning, Harry woke to Remus bustling about in the kitchenette, making a couple
of weak cups of tea. As soon as he saw Harry was awake, he came over and leaned
down to press a soft kiss to the boy�s lips. �Good morning, Sunshine,� he said
in a soft voice. �Would you like a cup of truly awful tea?�

Harry gave
him a grin, swinging his legs off the bed. �Oh, why not? You�re awfully
affectionate this morning, considering that �Hurricane Snape� would do terrible
things if he caught us like that. Do we have anything to eat?�

Remus shook
his head sorrowfully. �Not yet, Cupcake. Snape�s out taking care of all that
right now. Which is why I�m being so affectionate,� he added with a small
smile. �Trying to meet my quota before Tall, Dark, and Nosy returns to ruin
it.� He pressed another kiss to Harry�s temple, and handed him a chipped cup.
�If you drink enough, you won�t feelhunghungry. Old trick.�

Harry
frowned into his cup, blowing the steam away. �Yeah, I know that one,� he said
quietly. He glanced up and their eyes met before both looked away in mutual
shamed embarrassment. �So. I wonder if there�s anything better to watch this
morning. It�s not like we can do much of anything, when neither of us even has
any clothes. I never thought I�d miss my underwear quite so keenly. Of course,
we could always��

Before
Harry could even finish his sentence, a grouchy Severus stomped in, holding a
couple of parcels under his arms. He glowered when he set eyes on the student.
�Ah, Mister Potter. Now that you�ve finally abandoned your thoroughly futile
beauty sleep, perhaps we can get some of the day�s more repulsive chores done
with. Here,� he thrust a package at Harry. �Put those on.�

Harry
unwrapped the clothing, only to find it would never fit him. �Snape, these
clothes are for someone much taller and thinner than I am.�

�Ah, yes.
Somehow I�d completely forgotten how extremely obtuse you really are. Do you
remember that insignificant thing called magic, Potter? Surely if
Quidditch played any part in transfiguration, you wouldn�t be so dismally slow
to catch on.�

�Stop it,
Severus,� Remus admonished. �I know how much enjoyment you must be getting out
of the fact that you�re the only one of us capable of doing magic just now, but
you�re not going to hold your little power trips over Harry�s head. Just make
the damn clothes fit him.�

With a
grimace, Snape brandished his wand, and Harry soon found himself in a pair of
gray slacks and an itchy sweater. A very itchy sweater, which Harry
wanted out of almost more than anything, but he realized this would not be a
tactful thing to say. �Thank you,� he grated, trying to subtly reach up between
his shoulder blades. Snape threw another parcel to Remus, and changed the size
of the outfit accordingly.

Eyeing the
faded corduroys and the grubby t-shirt, Severus mocked, �I shouldn�t doubt
these are the finest garments you�ve ever worn.�

Remus merely gave Snape a resentful
look, but Harry bristled. �Don�t you dare do that again,� he shot. �You spent months
ridiculing Sirius, and I�m not going to let you pull that on Remus, too. No
more goading, do you understand? He�s always been perfectly respectful to you
around me, even when you�re acting like a total arse. I�m sick of it. Play
nice, Snape.�

�Professor
Snape,� Remus automatically corrected. �Don�t worry about it, Harry.
Self-control is practically my middle name. You need to learn to not let these
sorts of things bother you. There are much more important concerns, all right?�

Harry gave
Snape a disgruntled look�one that was met by the man�s lip curled in an
expression of disdain�and went over to Remus. �Yeah, all right, I guess. What
are our concerns right now? Besides breakfast, I mean.�

�Your
concerns are clothing, supplies, and staying the hell out of everyone�s way
until this has passed. In other words, for once in your life, you are going to stay
the hell out of trouble,� Snape informed him. �Lupin, on the other hand,
will be fulfilling a duty set by the Headmaster, as well.� He handed Remus a
folded slip of paper. �This is from Fletcher. You will be meeting him tomorrow
evening. I have an appointment I cannot miss, so you will have to take the boy.
I have some of Mister Potter�s funds, which Albus has seen fit to have released
in order for the two of you to clothe yourselves for the duration. Since yours
were lost in �the line of fire� or some such obviously fabricated nonsense,
he�s also seen fit to give you a small reimbursement. It must be such an
indignity, knowing you�re an unequivocal charity case.�

Harry
gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists, but Remus calmly put a hand on his shoulder.
�It�s nothing, Green Eyes. Bullies always derive satisfaction in provoking
intelligent people into doing stupid things.�

�Like
James so often did? Or were you accusing me of provoking the mutt to his
eventual death?� The Potions Master gave them a smug look when they both turned
faces full of disgust and fury toward him. �Oh, but no provoking mild-mannered
Lupin, I see. Always the calm one, unless you�re ripping peoples� throats out
with your teeth. At any rate, here are the funds,� he thrust a small purse at
Remus, who caught it awkwardly. �I will be back later this afternoon, and I
will expect to meet the two of you here. You will not cause any trouble
while I am gone, is that perfectly clear? You will make your purchases, return
to this room, and work on your best imitations of mimes. If I, for any
reason, have to save your sorry excuses for lives again, you will wish devoutly
that I had let you die.�

�Fine,�
Remus replied shortly through gritted teeth. Snape merely wrinkled his nose and
flung himself back out the door, slamming it behind him. The werewolf shook
inside with anger, but outwarwas was as composed as ever. He sighed, about to
suggest they get going, and turned to see Harry, already in a state of
undressing himself.

�I hate
this sweater,� the youth said sheepishly. �Could you scratch my back?�

�You do
realize that my laying hands on your bare skin will almost certainly lead to
carnal activities which have nothing whatever to do with clothes shopping?� He
traced Harry�s slender throat with his eyes, sighing inwardly.

�Oh, but
Remus,� Harry grinned wickedly. �I�m counting on it.�

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Afterward,
Remus read Mundungus� note several times, while Harry whined about wanting
food. �In a second, kiddo,� he said absentmindedly, missing Harry�s dark scowl
in response. �The Ride �Em, Cowboy? But�but�why the hell would Fletcher
want to meet in a place like that? And what is Snape thinking? I can�t take you
to a place like that.�

�Why not?�
Harry demanded, brow lowered. �I can take care of myself.�

�Yes�but��
Remus trailed off, not certain how to express hims

�But
what?� Harry�s foot was tapping in a rather alarming way.

�Harry.
You�re just�too young for something like this, and far too delicate.� He
sighed even as the words left his mouth, knowing he�d put it exactly the wrong
way.

�What?�
Harry shouted. �I�m delicate? You think I�m too young and I�m delicate?
I�ve already lived through at least four separate attacks by Voldemort, so just
how damn delicate could I possibly be? You think that just because I�m not some
middle-aged cynic who couldn�t be hurt by anything less than a silver bullet,
that I�m somehow some kind of weakling? Is that what you really think?
Huh?� Harry was right up in Remus�s face, hands balled into fists once more,
chest heaving. His teeth were clenched but his eyes were bright, and the
werewolf worried the youth might fall apart completely. They�d been through a
lot recently, after all.

Instead of
denying anything, Remus tilted his head and kissed Harry long and gently,
feeling the tension ease from his lover�s slender frame. �Poor choice of
words,� he whispered when they broke away. �I meant that I always hated the
place, and that you would be a very tempting plaything to most of the patrons.
It�s a rough sort of place, and you�one shouldn�t go in, looking as innocent as
you do now.�

�Well��
Harry considered this. �So then we make me look less innocent, that�s all.� He
gave Remus a rather cunning smile.

Remus shook
his head, frowning. �No. Absolutely not. I�m not taking you into a leather bar,
and certainly not an S&M dive like the Ride �Em, Cowboy. You can be angry
and yell at me all you want, and you can even throw things and have a big fit
if you like. The fact remains; there is no way on God�s green earth you�re
coming with me tonight.�

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As the door
to the club swung inward, Remus wished profoundly that he�d left Harry behind.
In the first place, he was more than a little worried about keeping the other
customer�s hands off the boy, and in the second, it had occurred to him that he
was very likely going to end up being arrested. In the end, it didn�t matter what
happened; this was almost unquestionably going down in history as the worst
night of his life.

Shopping had been horrific. Harry had
enjoyed himself, and it was true that the enjoyment was contagious, at least as
far as watching Harry try on new outfits went. The trouble started when Harry
insisted on picking out his clothes, as well. At first, he had
acquiesced quite easily, reckoning the boy would soon tire and they could move
on to other things. It wasn�t that Remus particularly disliked clothes
shopping, although it held no great thrill for him; it was just that he had
very little money to his name, and was, by nature, very frugal. Harry was not.

Harry was
expansive, particularly when it came to buying Remus things he didn�t
especially want or need. He tried to voice his objections several times, but
the damn boy simply rode right over them, and proceeded to behave as though
Remus were a Ken doll that needed to look spiffy for Barbie. And numerous pairs
of jeans, slacks, button-downs, sweaters, jackets, ties, and cries of �Oh,
look, Remus! Superman underwear! Isn�t that great? We just have to get
some!� later, he was following the youth out the front doors of the shopping
complex with several bags, a glazed look, and a feeling of acute distress.

�Harry��
he�d managed weakly. �We can�t�all this�Harry. We have to take some of this
back. This is ridiculous. I can�t� These are more clothes than I usually
go through in six years. We don�t need all of this. Do you have any idea
how unhappy I am, right now?�

�Oh,
hush,� was Harry�s distinctly airy response. �If I�m going to be stuck look at at you for the rest of my life, you�re bloody well going to have to be
something nice to look at.� He displayed a particularly Slytherin smile and
said, �Now. How do we make me look less respectable?�

Remus
groaned. �This is a bad idea. Anyway, it may have less to do with whether or
not you look respectable, and more to do with whether I look intimidating
enough to chase anyone else away. And dispelling any doubt that you�re with
me�� he was saying, but Harry spoke over him.

�Yes, Remus,� he replied in a rather breathy voice.

�Remus?� someone at his elbow said,
and the werewolf turned his head. A squinting Mundungus was examining him with
great curiosity. �It is you. You look quite flash somehow. Must be
that leather jacket. Anyway, I thought I�I. Dear God! Harry?�

They found a small table to sit at,
and Remus was only too happy to accept Mundungus�s offer of a stiff drink.
Actually, when the man said, �So, who wants a good, stiff drink?� Harry had
piped up just as quickly with a bright, �I do!� earning himself a pointed snarl
from the werewolf.

Remus swirled the gin around in the
glass a few times before taking another swig. �Dear God, Fletcher; why did you
have to choose this place to meet at?� Dimly, he was aware of
sounding petulant, but decided he didn�t care. After a while he looked up, sure
he was being scrutinized.

He wasn�t. Fletcher was still
staring at the Boy Who Liked Discipline a Little Too Much. �I�thought this was
your kind of joint,� Mundungus told him slowly. �Thought it�d be a treat for
you to get out again�maybe meet someone, now that�� He went to take a sip of
his Bloody Mary and missed his mouth, dribbling tomato juice down his chin.
�Uck.� He dabbed at himself with a napkin, still looking confusedly at the boy,
taking in the feathered hair, flushed cheeks, net shirt and, of course, the
somehow very conspicuous collar and leash. �I fo you you�d have the kid.�

�I�m not a kid!� Harry retorted
instantaneously, looking furious. �And I�ve got as much right to be here as
anyone.�

�Harry�� Remus rebuked with a low
growl. One look at the werewolf�s face threw the boy into a sulky silence.
�Yes. Yes, I had to take Harry with me. I couldn�t leave him behind; it
wouldn�t be safe. But I was worried about bringing him here, as well. I mean;
you know what the place used to be like. Some people have difficulty taking no
for an answer, and Harry is so young and�slight, if you would, and I was just
sure someone would try to grab him.�

�Ah,� Mundungus tapped the side of
his nose. �I can see what you were thinkin�, now. Makes sense, makes sense.
Didn�t remember the boy was with you, or I�d have not suggested such a place.
It does make it more dangerous, him sporting that pretty face and all. Yep, I�d
have been worried, too. There�s a good deal of unscrupulous people, would take
advantage of a boy with a face such as Harry�s.�

�Yes,� Remus agreed swiftly,
relieved that the man had taken his point. �He�s perfectly lovely, but walking
into a hell hole like this with the face of an angel could only mean trouble. I
was just sure someone would have their hands on him by the time the night was
out. We�tried to make him look a little less of a complete ing�nue, but I�m not
certain it worked.�

The other wizard squinted at the
boy, who was now working to keep the flush from his face. Remus thinks I�m �lovely?� And Mundungus
said I have a pretty face. He bit
his lip and tried not to preen, his earlier irritation with Remus almost
forgotten. �Nah,� Mundungeplieplied after inspecting the boy. �I reckon the
leash and collar didn�t help much. He looks even more inexperienced with
that stuff on. Ah, well. It was a good thought, all the same. Helps to keep him
from wandering off. In my mind, all teenagers oughta be leashed like that.
Anyways, there�s not much you can do about this one�s looks. He�ll always be a
bit of a Bambi. It�s the big eyes does it.� He took another large gulp of his
drink, his eyes flickering around the crowd. �Anyway,� Fletcher added casually,
�I�ve got something we need you to look into.�

Remus nodded. Thank Merlin they were
finally getting to the point. He couldn�t wait to get out of this place, back
to the hotel, alone with his mate�who was wearing a leash. He licked his lips
and shifted in his seat, his new pants abruptly feeling too tight. Pulling
himself together, he asked, �What is it?�

Mundungus pulled a handkerchief out
of this pocket. Something was wrapped inside it, but he made no effort to
unfold it. �Here. Take this. You can�t do it here, Dumbledore said, �cause
there are too many people about. Just have Snape take the�the you know what
off, and have a close look. Then send him to tell us what you think.�

�Couldn�t you have given it to
Snape in the first place? And why is it so important?� he frowned at the
package before slipping it into his jacket. Obviously it was something that
shouldn�t be opened until later, but he�d have liked to know why.

Mundungus gave a slight lift of his
shoulders. �I don�t know nothing about nothing. Just tell us what it reminds
you of, got it? Anyway, I�ve got to go.� He got up and nodded goodbye.

Remus watched at him uncertainly,
and opened his mouth to question the man further when he felt a hand on his
shoulder.

Reaching
down between their bodies, he grasped Harry�s prick and began making strong
pulls on it. Breaking the kiss, he thrilled at the frenzied squeaks the boy was
making. He leaned back a little further, and Harry attempted to follow, sitting
up to capture the man�s lips again. Remus allowed this for a moment, before
choking up on the leash and pressing it against the bed, so that Harry had no
choice but to follow. The youth didn�t seem the slightest bit upset about this;
his eyes were raging with want, and his body writhed with passion, seeking
Remus�s hand and pushing into it with fervent abandon. Remus stared avidly,
taking in every detail of Harry�s flushed face, the sheen of sweat on his body,
the puffs of breath, and the way his jaw would clench as each eager whimper
escaped his mouth.

�That�s
enough,� Remus barked suddenly, and the boy fell still, chest still heaving, a
cross between a snarl and a smile on his face. His fists were twisted in the
blankets, and Remus let him have a few moments to calm down. �Ready?� he asked,
when the boy seemed to have a bit more control. Harry nodded and began to say
something, but Remus covered his mouth. �No. You need to remember to be quiet,
so no talking. Understood?� Harry nodded enthusiastically, his eyes as large as
dinner plates. The werewolf was glad he remembered the delightful way the boy�s
appetite was whetted by a few simple commands. It took so little to keep Harry
stimulated, and if Remus wished to derive any pleasure from the experience,
then Harry would have to enjoy himself as well.

He gripped
the youth�s hip with one hand and spun him over onto his stomach. �Spread your
legs,� he commanded, and Harry did immediately, although he also began humping
the bed. �Stop that,� Remus sighed. The boy tried, but the man knew it was
difficult. �Get up on your hands and knees,� he finally suggested, reaching for
the lube. They were going to have to be careful to hide the tube from Severus;
there was really only one thing it could be used for, and that was obvious.
Massaging Harry�s arse with one hand, Remus remembered to keep hold of the
leash with the other. He brushed a finger against the boy�s entrance, and Harry
gasped. �Oh, you like that, do you?� Remus could hear the wolf, the growl in
his voice, and couldn�t even bring himself to be appalled. The wolf would not
hurt its mate. He took comfort in that, and slowly slipped a finger inside the
youth�s body. Harry let out a loud, inarticulate moan, and Remus froze.

He hadn�t been joking when he�d said
Harry needed to be quiet. The walls were paper-thin in this place, and the last
thing he needed were meddlesome neighbors, especially if they happened to
mention to the hotel�s owner or, God forbid, to Snape, that the sound of two
males rutting had kept them awake at night. �Harry�keep it down,� he warned.

�S�sorry,�
Harry�s sibilant reply came. Remus moved his finger carefully, and Harry moaned
once again. �Can�t help it!� Even this was loud, and the werewolf
cast about for a solution to the problem as he gently penetrated the youth with
his finger. The noises Harry was making only increased in volume, and Remus was
forced to stop. �Oh, Remus, please don�t stop,� the boy pleaded miserably.
�I�ll try harder, I promise.�

�Shhh��
Remus admonished him, twisting a handkerchief and pulling it between Harry�s
teeth. �This�ll muffle things a bit, hopefully. But for crying out loud, keep
it down! I mean it.� He tried to think of a way to phrase it that would
walk the line between keeping Harry aroused and still dampening his
vocalizations. He finally settled on, �You are not to make any noise.�
Harry nodded again, and only whined shrilly when Remus pushed himself inside
his body. �Did that hurt?�

Harry shook his head violently, bucking
back against Remus, nearly causing the werewolf to lose control. �Fuck,�
he grunted, �don�t do that to me.� He pulled out and slammed back in,
already very close to the edge.

Harry
couldn�t help himself. Another passionate sound welled up from his throat, and
he tried to bury his face in the pillow. Maybe that would stifle the noise
better. �Don�t do that,� Remus ordered, pulling back on the leash until the
youth�s back was horizontal again. �I don�t want you to smother yourself.� He
thrust in again, and Harry�s cry was only partially diminished by the cloth in
his mouth. Remus awkwardly kept hold of the leash with one hand and used the
other to cover the boy�s mouth. �Try that,� he panted, continuing his rhythm in
and out of the hot channel before him. This time, the sound was satisfactorily
muted, although the vibration it caused in Remus�s hand sent him spiraling
right out of control.

Driving
into the boy with abandon, he could feel the harsh breaths against his hand,
and when he tightened his grip on the leash and used it to pull the youth back
against him, Harry�s cry�however muffled�left no room for mistaking its
meaning, especially since jets oite ite fluid were coming, hot and thick, to
mar the bedclothes.

With an
overly raucous shout of his own, Remus shoved Harry flat on the bed and let the
clenching, squirming muscles push him over the edge. Feeling himself erupt deep
within his lover, Remus shuddered as he felt Harry�s face, making certain the
boy could still the.the. He yanked the handkerchief off as soon as it was over.
�God, I�m sorry, Harry,� he whispered. �We just have to be careful in places
like this and�here, let me take off this leash.�

Harry
rolled over, his eyes glazed with bliss. �No, don�t,� he mumbled. �Don�t be
sorry. Felt so good. Merlin�Remus�that was brilliant. You�ve never lost
it like that before.� His voice held a note of awe, and Remus ducked his head a
little.

�Mmph.
Yes. Well. We need to shower. Come on. I know you�re tired, but we haven�t a
magical way of cleaning ourselves, so up you get.�

�All
right,� Harry sighed in agreement. �But I still want to wear the leash to bed,�
he told the werewolf, who stared. �I like the leash.�

�Don�t be
stupid,� Remus grinned. �You�d only get all tangled up in it. Now come on,
let�s get cleaned up.�

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next
morning, Remus woke to a banging noise, as things were thrown about the room in
a hurry. �Get up! Get up, you fools! We have to get moving! Here; let me shrink
your effects.� The werewolf watched, blurry-eyed, as Severus shrunk his
belongings into a compact little bundle.

�What�s
going o�aaahhhh�on?� he yawned, stretching greatly.

�They�ve
found you. You have to move. Now. I�m going to Apparate out of here;
Mundungus should be here in exactly five minutes, to pick you up. You�re to get
in the car as quickly as possible, and I�m going to meet you several blocks
away. Now get moving, you infuriatingly indolent bastard!�

Harry
grunted, waking. �Umph. What�s all the noise?� he groaned, sitting up and
fumbling for his glasses.

Snape gaped
at the boy, shock and abhorrence written across his face. �Dear God! Why
the hell is Potter wearing a dog collar!?�

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```
Thanks to: TeamExtremeGurl,  LeprechaunQueen, GryffRavHuffSlythendor, goody2sho, Yuku no Yatsu, HecateDeMort, Frenchy, Me (That�s funny; I can thank me!), Katte, Dracula5555, Gia, the perpetual Poicale, 
```
Prlrocks: There was less angst in this one, but more Dom!Remus, so hopefully it evens out.

silver-sunn101: I hope this chapter is as much of a pick me up as
the last one! Building plans? I don�t remember that. Where was that? Hm. That
is interesting, though. I didn�t like the place, so I blew it up. Fanfic
writer�s prerogative. Snape is like me�in the sarcasm and cynicism. I don�t
much look like him, though. Well, on the other hand, I do have very dark eyes�.

HellPhoenixSirius: Don�t worry about the Hermione thing, I was
just giving you grief. She is a little too convenient, isn�t she? I�m trying
not to put anything TOO intimate on FF, keeping those bits on AFF instead. I
try to take out the dirtier bits and make it milder. Is it working?

Hakkai - Gojyo - Goku � Sanzo: (Laughs) I actually just realized I
needed a plot. I got as far as the leather bar and meeting with Mundungus,
where Remus said, �Why are we here?� type of thing, and I went: �I�don�t�know.
Huh. How �bout that?� So then I had to brainstorm and come up with some
possible directions. I�m such a doofus. Sorry that there are less mirror-emotions
here, but there�ll be more in the future.

Phoenixdreams: I�m glad you�re enjoying it. Different things make
different people squick; my goal is to write well enough that even people that
would ordinarily squick discover that they�re enjoying themselves.nks!nks!

Immortal Memories: I want a Remus, too! Let�s start a Remus
factory and sell them in bulk! We�d make a bundle.
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Research and Development Part I; Hunger