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You Will Not Kiss Me	By : Prosperosdaughter Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 22836 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: JK Rowling & her associates own the Harry Potter universe and I make no money from my stories.

Chapter List
- 68
- 69
- 70
Chapter 69: Perception and Deception

Remus Lupin was on his knees in the cellar. He shifted uncomfortably. The slave collar shone and pulsed, its innate charms now activated keeping the wearer in place and silent. He wore only his shirt and his arms were bound behind his back. His head was bent forward, his hair hanging in his eyes, a film of sweat covered the visible skin on his thighs from a Glamour. Snape stood before him in his Death Eater robes, unyielding and sneering, as he spoke the incantation. Lupin's face broke into a silent yelp as an ejaculation was torn from him by the spell and his ejaculate directed to the phial in Snape's hand. Lupin collapsed on himself, panting as Snape stoppered the phial and carefully affixed a label, "Lycanthrope Semen" as he placed his booted foot seemingly on Lupin's back and pressed down.

"It's not enough for the Restorative Potion. Kneel and we'll go again," Snape sneered.

Lupin lifted his face to Snape's, mouthing a silent plea for mercy.

"I said, sit up, you foul beast!" Snape hissed malevolently. The collar pulsed and Lupin pulled himself quickly into the kneeling position before Snape whose lip curled unpleasantly once more as he raised his wand and he picked up another phial ...

That would do. Snape undid Lupin bonds carefully and helped him onto his feet.

"That was remarkably unpleasant," Lupin said, trying but not quite managing to smile. "It stings. A lot." Snape apologised as he helped Lupin into his trousers, but Lupin chuckled slightly as he gave Snape a slight nudge. "I've seen the spell now, Severus," Lupin said as he manoeuvred his wrists and arms to get feeling back into them. Snape rolled his eyes as he massaged Lupin's shoulders. Lupin laughed. "I don't think he's doing it as a favour to Bellatrix, you know. There was no fun in that at all."

As they walked up the cellar stairs, Lupin leaning on Snape, his knees clearly still weak, he said, "You know, Severus, that would be a hell of a thing to do to an enemy in a duel."

"What ..?" Snape stopped on the stair, and stared at Lupin, appalled.

"Just saying." Lupin gave a small shrug. "Imagine their surprise."

"You astonish me, Remus, you really do. Come on, let's get you in the bath."

Lupin tried to smother his smile, but didn't succeed. Then he sniggered, "Imagine using it on Voldemort himself."

oooOOOooo

They sat in bed, freshly bathed. Whilst Snape knew that he was an accomplished liar and an Occlumens second to none, his husband, he discovered, had a flair for deception all of his own. Snape sat with his eyes closed. Lupin sat next to him, concentrating, his voice measured, low and hypnotic, watching Snape's reactions intently.

"Push all emotions of sorrow and regret from you. No, you must do it." Lupin said softly. "Now: recall the memory of how it looked when the Cruciatus struck me by the statue of the one-eyed witch. Do you have it in your mind's eye?"

"Yes," Snape said quietly. The recollection sickened him.

"Push that emotion away." Snape's eyes snapped open to look at Lupin. How could he read him so easily? "Close your eyes, Severus." Snape closed his eyes again and pushed, thinking of the darkness behind his eyes. "Focus only on me, my body, what it's doing, my pleas, my screams, the convulsions. Do you have it?"

"Yes."

"Change the clothes to the trousers I have here. Can you visualise them?"

"Yes."

"Bring it to the fore. Blur the corridor and the statue and push them away. Do you have it?

"Yes."

"Now visualise my body under the Cruciatus exactly in that way in your cellar. Picture the potions equipment, the phials, flasks, jars, the benches, the cauldrons. Can you do it?"

"Yes."

"Can you hear me screaming? Am I begging?" Lupin's voice was modulated and calm. Snape couldn't understand how that could be. If he could see what Snape was seeing, Lupin wouldn't be calm, Snape was sure.

"Yes. Please stop it," Snape whispered.

"No!" Lupin's voice was insistent, but kind. "Entrench it, Severus. Our lives depend upon it."

Snape blew out a harsh breath and then continued to think on the memory.

"Now: you are in your Death Eater robes just like you were today. Do you have it?"

Snape nodded.

"Imagine the pleasure Voldemort would take applying the torture curse to me."

"No!" Snape whispered, his voice no more than a breath of air.

"Imagine you take the same pleasure. You are eighteen years old. You have not yet asked Albus for guidance. You are a Death Eater. Your allegiance is pure. I am at your mercy. The beast, the werewolf of your nightmares. Imagine how you would have felt to have had me in your power then."

Snape's stared at Lupin now, his eyes bright with tears. He knew Lupin wanted to galvanise him to give him the attitude for the memory but to hear what he had been from his beloved's mouth was torture to him.

Lupin's hand cradled the side of Snape's face. "It is a testament to your character that you are not that man any more. But call up his ghost for this memory, Severus. Put the ghost to work for us."

Snape gave a small nod, and closed his eyes, feeling dampness in his eyelashes. He wouldn't have reacted like the Dark Lord, whose face would either light up with fiendish delight if torturing a Muggle or blood traitor prisoner, or with fierce disgust if correcting his acolytes. No. If he had been eighteen years old and had had Lupin in his power, his reaction would have been one of anger and triumph. He would have reanimated his fear and then applied the curse to hear Lupin beg for his life, and then revelled in his power and triumph over the beast. He knew it as truth and he disgusted himself.

"Do you have it?" Lupin asked gently.

Snape nodded. He could see himself perfectly, casting his curse at the beast who he had thought had tried to kill him. It was written all over his face – because you had to mean it. Intention in casting was everything: the greater the hatred, the more excruciating the torture. Eighteen year old Severus leered and turned his wand savagely, his whole body pushing itself to the curse as his eyes flashed with this triumph over his enemy, twisting, writhing, Levitating and screaming before him.

"Do you have it?" Lupin asked quietly, taking Snape's hands in his.

"I have it now." Snape's head was bowed in shame.

oooOOOooo

Lupin had applied a Glamour to himself so he was dripping with sweat, and then cast a convulsion hex and shakily got onto all fours, sweat dripping from his nose. Lupin stretched out blindly and grabbed the rack of phials as planned as Snape stood brushing down his robe and pointed his wand in the end movement of the Cruciatus.

"Fill the phials, beast!" Snape ordered, his voice strong and poisonous.

Lupin collected his sweat in the phials, and Snape labelled them neatly.

oooOOOooo

"So, what do we have?" Lupin said as he set out their breakfast after the morning's memory-forging in the cellar.

"The memory now is: I have tortured you in the cellar, you fall onto your hands and knees when I release you, sweating with it, and I make you collect your own sweat," Snape advised.

"Nice." Lupin nodded. "Toast?"

oooOOOooo

Dumbledore sat in the armchair, and Lupin and Snape sat at the dining chairs by the table. Lupin served them all tea.

"I say you're wrong, Albus. I don't think Severus could have done it any differently and have saved my life. It was almost moonrise and Greyback was practically salivating to fight me. I'd have been dead within minutes, even if Moody had managed to mount an attack."

"Which he wouldn't have," Snape interrupted. "The Dark Lord has strengthened Malfoy's wards with the Darkest of curses. It would take hours for the Order to break all the wards, especially as there's only one Curse-Breaker amongst them. There would have been an all-out battle and we'd have lost too many in the Order."

Dumbledore held up his hand for silence. Both men obliged.

"It's done now, and I won't insult either of your very strongly-held views by disagreeing with you. The question is: what happens now? Humm?"

"I have been putting together a plan for Remus's escape and I need your help with a memory," Snape said. And a little plan for revenge on Greyback for good measure.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and looked over his glasses at Snape, and his eyes began to twinkle.

Snape sighed.

oooOOOooo

"You are hardly trying, Severus. Where have you searched? Who have you asked? I expect a full report at the weekend. Do I have to question where your true loyalties lie after protecting you all these years?"

The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed at Snape, who knelt before him in answer to his summons.

"And where was the beast during this meeting?" the Dark Lord said softly, his wand turning dangerously in his hand.

"Bound and silenced in my cellar, my Lord," Snape replied. "The old man tried to pry surreptitiously to see if I had seen the beast, but I felt him and blocked him. He is angry that I have not been more proactive in finding him, as if I should care what happened to such an animal. It may be appropriate to tell them the beast died at the full moon so I can continue with my researches with the beast without their expectations. But only if it pleases my Lord." Snape bowed his head.

"His own self-defeating decency prevented him from opening your mind too deeply, no doubt. Weak, old fool. I will need to consider what is to be done," the Dark Lord ruminated. He then tilted his head and regarded Snape with interest.

"Lucius tells me you use the beast as a house servant under the Imperius?" the Dark Lord said lightly.

"For the time being, yes. It humiliates him to serve me and it amuses me. I have taken certain – ah – elements from him for potions, but the new moon is the most auspicious time for harvesting his blood, bone and organs for potions when the beast is at his healthiest."

"Of course, of course," the Dark Lord nodded in agreement, to Snape's Occuded amusement. It was complete rubbish, of course. If Barty Crouch had still been alive, he would have known that it made no difference when blood, bone and organs were harvested. Luckily, he was not and Snape was free to peddle such hocus pocus, if he wished. "What have you taken from him so far?" the Dark Lord enquired.

"Only sweat, semen and hair so far," Snape recounted, with a bored tone.

The Dark Lord was in his mind instantly. Not brutally, but none too carefully either.

Remus Lupin was on his knees in the cellar. The slave collar shone and pulsed, its innate charms now activated keeping the wearer in place and silent, no matter what indignities or pain were visited upon its captive. He wore only his shirt and his arms were bound behind his back. His head was bent forward, his hair hanging in his eyes, as Severus Snape snatched a handful of hair from him leaving a small bald patch. A film of sweat covered the visible skin on his thighs. Then Snape stood before him in his Death Eater robes, unyielding and sneering at his prize, as he spoke the incantation. Lupin's face broke into a silent yelp as an ejaculation was torn from him by the spell and his ejaculate directed to the phial in Snape's hand. Lupin collapsed on himself, panting as Snape stoppered the phial and carefully affixed a label, "Lycanthrope Semen" as he placed his booted foot on Lupin's back and pressed down harshly.

"It's not enough for the Restorative Potion. Kneel and we'll go again," Snape sneered, taking his boot from Lupin's back.

Lupin lifted his face to Snape's, mouthing a silent plea for mercy.

"I said, sit up, you foul beast!" Snape hissed malevolently. The collar pulsed and Lupin was yanked into the kneeling position before Snape whose lip curled unpleasantly once more as he raised his wand and he picked up another phial ...

He heard the Dark Lord chuckle.

Snape stood, his legs braced astride as he cast, Crucio! at Lupin, whose body twisted and convulsed and Levitated as he screamed. Snape ceased the spell sharply and Lupin fell the the floor, gasping.

"Get up, beast and collect your own foul sweat!" Snape snarled, pointing at a rack of phials.

Lupin shakily got onto all fours, sweat dripping from his nose and stretched out blindly and grabbed the rack of phials.

"Fill the phials, beast!"

Lupin collected his sweat in the phials, and Snape labelled them neatly as he held Lupin in place with his boot.

"No collar, Severus?" the Dark Lord asked.

"I wished to hear him scream, my Lord," Snape responded, his face impassive.

The Dark Lord nodded his approbation. "Very good, Severus. Lucius, shallow man that he is, seems to be affronted that you have not had sex with the creature."

"My Lord! It is not even human. You know how I despise desires of the flesh. But with a creature, my Lord: it is not even natural." Snape emanated affront.

"You are quite right, Severus, quite right. But sex is also power, is it not? Lupin is a werewolf. Consider the humiliation and pain he would suffer to be subjugated sexually by a wizard. I am not surprised you haven't considered it. But then, you are not Lucius, after all." The Dark Lord's tone was disdainful. "There are prophylactic enchantments that can protect your flesh from contact with the beast's whilst still achieving your purpose." The Dark Lord looked at Snape, as an enthusiastic school master would a particularly talented prodigy. "I will teach you them."

"You honour me, my Lord."

oooOOOooo

Snape and Lupin sat in silence.

"Say something, Remus. Please," Snape said. His face burned with embarrassment in relating the Dark Lord's edicts.

"Piece of work, this master of yours, isn't he?" Lupin said, with a resigned air. "I confess to you – sado-masochism really is not my bag at all, but I think you know that. We need to find a way to do this. You and I, Severus, are not without resource, after all." A small smile started to play on Lupin's lips.

"You are the master dissembler. But, Professor Snape, I think I can teach you a thing or two. For each of us: things are seldom what they seem. You'll find my history of pranking that you so deplore has its uses."

"Explain," Snape asked, the chill he felt lifting as he watched his husband's smile grow broader.

"We will base it all on how you enchanted your wand with that paint-flinging jinx."

As Snape started to understand, he slowly returned the smile.

oooOOOooo

They were in the cellar once more. It was now Snape's torture chamber. Conjured chains, manacles and hooks adorned the plain cellar that had been his potions laboratory. Snape thought it was perfectly ridiculous but Lupin had been busy utilising all his not inconsiderable transfiguration skills and Snape had to admit, it looked to all the world as if he'd harboured a torture chamber in Spinner's End for decades.

Lupin had had to Conjure and transfigure it all because if Snape's wand did it, the minute he tried to bind Lupin, the spells unworked themselves because Snape's wand was bonded not to hurt Lupin. As Lupin worked, he talked.

"Realism is the key, Severus. Sirius and James were always impatient – wanted to get the prank done. They didn't properly savour the triumph of a prank well executed. I was the lynchpin, as it were." Lupin thought for a while.

"Do you remember when we charmed the Slytherin goblets to sing madrigals every time one of you tried to take a drink?" Lupin asked, with a smile.

"Bloody idiotic, it was too," Snape grumbled.

"Couldn't undo it though, could you, mister smarty-pants?" Lupin crossed his arms, smiling more broadly.

Snape frowned. He remembered that no-one at the table could, not even the seventh years. Dumbledore had undone with a small flick of his wand, but only after renditions of "The Silver Swan" and "Now is the Month of Maying" had nearly driven them mad.

Lupin tapped his nose conspiratorially. "Fine charm work, if I say so myself."

"You?"

"Of course, me. But, that's not the point. Level of detail. That's the point. Did you notice the madrigals had eight part harmonies?"

"Actually, I did. And Flitwick went on about the 'exquisite harmonies' for weeks," Snape said, his voice bored.

"Yes, level of detail, you see. It must convince those who are masters of the art. Would you say Voldemort was a master of the art of torture?"

Snape raised his eyebrow at the idiocy of the question. "Of course he's a master of torture!"

"Do you recall the prank when we charmed the armour of the Uther the Undead to fly at the Slytherin table?"

"That was dangerous and stupid!" Snape said dangerously, remembering how the armour had nearly hit him full on. Of course, Black had been aiming it at him.

"And a complete hoax," Lupin said with a smug look.

"Pardon."

"A complete hoax. It was a Perception charm. The armour was ten feet away from all of you. The Levitation charm of the armour was easy, but working a Perception charm on a whole table of students – not so easy."

"You?" Snape pointed at Lupin with one long finger, and a look of resignation.

"Me," Lupin confirmed, pointing to himself. "Do you recall the charm I worked on your boot so it looked like it had pinned me, but actually, it hadn't. That was the same Perception charm. It's all about layers upon layers of charms so we can build your memories from component parts so we can create things that are monumentally unpleasant, but a complete fabrication, and hopefully, I'll have nothing worse than grazed knees. Are you up for it?"

"Possibly," Snape said uncertainly, a little taken aback by Lupin's less than serious approach to the problem at hand, although he could never underestimate Lupin's knowledge of charms and spellwork.

"Your wand is bonded not to harm me so, luckily for me I think, we won't give him a real show of your torturing me by magic. But we'll charm your wand together using the same spell you used to deceive me with the Killing Curse. What was it?"

"Abscondo incantores cum quod incantores,*" Snape said, "inserting the spells you wish to hide, then speak the other spell."

"We'll need to practise the look of a whip lash Glamour as clearly Voldemort will expect me to be whipped soundly, I'm sure."

"So am I. So I vocalise the whipping hex, but I cast a Glamour for the wounds, am I correct?"

"Exactly, Severus," Lupin grinned.

"Are you able to take this seriously at all?" Snape said smartly, a little unnerved by Lupin's humour.

"I don't think I can, no," Lupin kissed Snape on the mouth, and then continued.

"Let's see: we need you create Glamours of wounds when you apply a whipping curse. The Glamours must be highly detailed. They cannot be poorly applied or Voldemort will see through it easily. We can transfigure my appearance at various points. I can do a certain amount wandlessly."

"Can you make an aura?" Snape asked.

Lupin tilted his head, interested.

"Do you recall that first time with me, how resistant your body was. Your magic tried to defend you and I saw your aura. Can you try to Conjure it? That will surely convince the Dark Lord?"

"Well done, Severus! That is absolutely the level of detail that's needed," Lupin said. Snape felt absurdly proud of the praise.

"Of course, some things happen naturally. You have sex with me, we'll both sweat and become tousled anyway, so no need to worry on that score." Snape could tell Lupin was mentally ticking things off his own list. "I assume this is the kind of stuff he's going to want to see. Pranks take planning."

"This isn't a prank, Remus. Our lives – your life – depends upon it." Snape said, his stare boring into Lupin's. And still, the man smiled hugely at him.

"Then it will be the greatest prank of all time. Think of it Severus! Pranking Lord Voldemort. Doesn't that have any attraction for you?"

"I feel ill."

oooOOOooo

Four days later, Snape was summoned. He knelt before the Dark Lord, who was quiet for a long time. Snape was nervous.

"How goes it with the beast, Severus?" the Dark Lord asked eventually.

"I have followed your sound advice, my Lord. It has had its own gratification."

"Indeed. Show me these memories in full, Severus."

Snape was shocked. The Dark Lord had never asked, only taken using varying degrees of force. Snape understood that it was because the Dark Lord didn't want snatches of memories; he wanted them all. Clever Lupin had realised this. It was why he had been so painstaking in his detail. Snape's forgeries were ready.

Legilimens!

Lupin's wrists were bound with a thick leather strap, and he was suspended by the strap from a hook from the ceiling. He was naked, his head hung forward, his back and butt criss-crossed with open whip marks and he sobbed, "Please Severus, I beg you not to do this!" "Silence, beast!" Snape yelled, as his wand made the wide motion to whip, and the crack of a whip was heard, and another bleeding stripe opened on Lupin's back and his body spasmed and he cried out in pain.

Lupin was on his knees, his arms bound behind his back, tear tracks down his face. Snape's left hand held Lupin's hair knotted hard in his fingers and his wand was pointed at Lupin's temple and he thrust his cock hard into Lupin's mouth. "It's all you're good for. Look at me! Don't you dare take your eyes from me, beast!"

Lupin was bent forwards across a work bench, face down, his hands chained above his head, his ankles manacled harshly, his legs spread. He was naked, covered in sweat, the stripes from the whip now congealed, the skin inflamed around them. Lupin's magical aura pulsated Snape poured some water over them, Lupin hissed in pain and whimpered, "You bastard!" "What's a little salt water, beast? It keeps the wounds clean." Lupin sobbed.

"That's right, beast. You cry like a baby. Weak, pathetic beast!" Snape moved between the beast's legs. "Severus! Don't! I beg you! Please!" He undid his robe just enough to bring out his cock, casting the spell the Dark Lord had shown him and pushed against the beast's arse. Lupin whimpered and begged him not to do it, over and over again. "It's all you're good for, Lupin," Snape snarled, lining himself up as Lupin whimpered in fear and tried to wriggle but could not. Snape leaned forward, pushing down with one hand on Lupin's shoulder and rammed himself in as Lupin cried out in pain. "You foul, dirty animal, Lupin." He began to thrust in hard.

The Dark Lord left his mind without hurting him and smirked at him appreciatively.

"Very good, Severus, very good. You didn't enjoy it though. Your revulsion is quite palpable."

"I enjoyed the creature's pain and discomfort, my Lord, but I would rather not have sullied myself with him."

"But you used the spell I taught you."

"I did, my Lord, thank you. But I could still -" Snape shuddered for effect "– feel him."

"I understand, Severus. You have done well. Have you done any permanent damage to the him?"

"Nothing I couldn't heal, if I chose to, my Lord. However, any internal damage I may have caused won't affect taking the bones and tissue I want."

"I regret that I must disappoint you Severus. I have given this a great deal of thought since we last met. I cannot have you distrusted by the old man. You are more strategically important than what the creature manages to achieve with the werewolves. I need my eyes and ears on the old man. If you restore their pet to them, that would place you in a greater position of trust with the old man, do you agree?"

Snape schooled his expression to one of quiet resignation. "As you wish, my Lord," Snape said, allowing a trace of bitterness in his tone. "Strategy is more important. And I will have my memories anyway."

"I realise this is a severe disappointment for you, Severus. You have been so patient. If the creature survives the war, I will ensure you are given the honours for his destruction. In the meantime, tell the old man, you have located the beast, and you have a plan to free him. It would be prudent to look to Obliviating those memories, as deliciously evocative as they are for you. We cannot afford for that prying old man to find them. Then, I suggest you tell him I have given him to you for a specific potion and that you need some time to heal him. Then that is what you must do so you can present him in pristine condition. Can the beast be Obliviated of what you have done to him before you yourself are Obliviated?"

"I believe I have weakened his mind enough to do so now. I have constantly Legilimised him after I violated him to try for your information in the pack in Wales."

"Do not carry on hurting him, Severus. Concentrate on the Memory Charm. We cannot return the beast with a brain of mush," the Dark Lord sighed, with clear disappointment. "However, did you find out any more?"

"The only item so far from bits and pieces of beastly gossip is why Idris is so resistant to you," Snape said calmly, baiting the hook.

"Tell me!" the Dark Lord hissed.

"In the last war, Idris and Greyback fought in wolf combat – that is, without magic, my Lord," Snape sneered in derision. "Idris defeated Greyback and sent him and his pack running with their tails between their legs. They have no respect for Greyback – he is, I believe the term is Omega – and accordingly your reputation is tainted with his failure and dishonesty."

The Dark Lord's slitted nostrils flared and his mouth became an ugly frown as he inhaled deeply with offence. "Tainted with a beast's failure?" the Dark Lord whispered dangerously.

"Indeed, my Lord," Snape confirmed, never dropping his gaze so the Dark Lord didn't doubt his sincerity.

"What dishonesty?" the Dark Lord hissed. Taking the bait ...

"Greyback had taken Idris's mate hostage, promising to release her if Idris won. Idris won but Greyback violated her, and slaughtered her."

"These animals have no restraint and we have no way of monitoring him. But if Greyback doesn't keep his word, my pledges to the werewolves will be seen as worthless," the Dark Lord seethed. Bait taken – hook, line and sinker.

"Indeed so, my Lord." He felt the Dark Lord's magic pulse and build.

"Bring him to me, Severus. He must be taught a lesson. One he must not forget..."

oooOOOooo

Yes, Snape would have those false memories Obliviated, he thought as he made his way out of Malfoy Manor. They couldn't be gone fast enough for him. Lupin would do this for him. Only Lupin could be trusted with his open mind. He hadn't confessed to Lupin that even these false memories haunted him. They broke his heart. They'd made the concoctions look so realistic. He wanted them gone.

He wanted gone the picture in his mind of Lupin's head thrown back in pain. It didn't matter that it was false. He didn't want it. He only wanted to see Lupin's head thrown back in ecstasy – exposing his tendons and his Adam's apple so beautifully - or in laughter. That's what he wanted to recall.

He wanted gone how he had told Lupin when he pretended to force him orally, he would force him to look at him. "But I always look at you," Lupin had said, guilelessly. "Yes, you do, because you are willing and it is wonderful. But if you were unwilling, it is complete humiliation." Lupin had caressed him to calm the painful memory. He only wanted to remember Lupin being willing. Never with tear tracks down his face. It didn't matter that it was play-acting and a Glamour. He wanted it gone.

In the fabricated rape, even though he prepared Lupin thoroughly and the both knew he had not been hurt, Snape recalled how he had lost his erection the second Lupin had begged him to stop. When they knew they had enough for the memory, Snape had rushed to release him from the fetters, kissing him and stroking him, even though Lupin had hurried to reassure him he was okay. Snape couldn't bear it, massaging Lupin's stretched back and arm muscles as they sat on the floor and how Lupin had held him so tightly in Snape's horror at the life-like pleas that he never wanted to hear from his beloved's mouth.

These forgeries had served their purpose. He wanted them gone.

oooOOOooo

Snape came out of the Floo, into Lupin's waiting arms. Lupin led Snape to a chair. Snape took it gratefully.

"My head hurts," Snape said, cradling his head in his hands.

"What has he done to you?" Lupin said quickly.

"No, no. I am unhurt." He turned to face Lupin, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "The Dark Lord wants me to heal you, Obliviate you of my abuse of you, then pretend to be your friend and return you to the Order to show Albus I am loyal."

Lupin let out whoops of joy and took Snape in a bear-hug. Snape had pranked the Dark Lord as far as Lupin was concerned. Snape certainly hadn't considered what he had done in those terms. He had thought of it as Machiavellian scheming, not Marauder Perception charms: things are seldom what they seem, after all.

"It worked!" Lupin laughed, as he held Snape at arms' length to look at him.

"It worked." Snape smiled with satisfaction.

"You are the master of manipulation, Severus."

"I have been taught by the very best," Snape nodded sagely, then grinned as he grabbed Lupin's hand and led him up the stairs to claim his prize.

oooOOOooo

When they had made love, Snape was sure that neither man had ever been so gentle as if to give the lie to the false memories they had made. After they had come together, Snape had been shocked when Lupin had begun to weep quietly, holding Snape so close. What a fool Snape had been to think Lupin had been dismissive of those false memories or had found them amusing: Lupin whose gentleness and passion had been a life-changing revelation for Snape; Lupin who had begged not to be involved in even passionless sex when they had first had sex together; Lupin who feared the animal within.

He kissed Lupin's tears away, strong for Lupin's sake.

* Hide this spell with that spell.
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You Will Not Kiss Me