He's My Mate! -reposted-

Author’s Notes: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! They all mean the world to me, especially considering I haven’t had access to my computer for I don’t know how long… It’s been a long chain of unfortunate events… But I do plan on finishing this story… When, I have no clue…

Warnings: Swearing, the usual…

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Chapter 11

Severus and Remus sat in silence, with Severus watching the werewolf and Lupin examining the floor. Lupin was also playing absently with his left hand. Severus realized, after a few moments of staring, that it was wrapped tightly in a strip of Nicole’s skirt. He frowned at it and stubbornly stood and hobbled clumsily into his bathroom. When he emerged Remus was staring at him curiously, his mouth opened in the smallest of ‘o’s. Severus ignored the look for the most part as he moved to sit beside Lupin on the sofa and pulled his injured hand onto his lap.

“Stupid werewolf.” He chided, hoping his tone wasn’t in the slightest bit affectionate.

Remus smiled slightly, but it was gone quickly as Severus gently spread an orange, non-scented cream over his knuckles. He flinched and bit his lip as Severus added pressure and proceeded to rub it in.

“What did you think it was going to do? Tickle?” Severus said, scowling as Remus smiled bashfully at having been caught cringing. He wiped his hands on a towel he’d brought with him, and took a small bandage from his pocket. “Tell me if it’s too tight.”

Remus nodded, though he hadn’t heard the words; he was too mesmerized by Severus’ hands and the way the usually stoic Potions Master was taking such care in him and his injury…

… And how those hands would feel on other now aching parts of his anatomy.

Remus wondered if he was truly completely over his heat. Usually he was able to control himself better than this, usually there were near none of these suicidal, perverted thoughts. He’d managed to last a good decade or so, really it shouldn’t be too hard to handle another one.

The werewolf was disappointed to find Severus had soon finished with his hand, and was tucking the last little bit under the tight wrapping. He could have sworn that before Severus had pulled away, he’d allowed his own long, pale fingers to link with his – he wished he hadn’t seen things.

With a buzzing nervousness in his limbs and blood, Remus remembered his plan from that morning, about courting Severus Snape. Should he ask now? He’d just successfully rescued him from a cold, Sirius-filled torture room – though Remus doubted that that fact would have the same effect on Severus that it’d had on some of the ladies in the books he’d read. He seemed immune to kind acts. Severus seemed to be in better mood than he usually was too, if he’d managed to stay in the same room as Remus and to have only insulted him once.

The potions master returned momentarily, his least favourite cane in hand, because the other was still in the little dungeon room. He was limping badly again. Remus set golden brown eyes on him, carefully watching to make sure - Remus was by Severus’ side instantly as he swayed, his hands out to steady him.

“I really can massage it for you.” He offered lightly, one hand clutching Severus’ shoulder, the other holding his left wrist. He chuckled nervously when all he received as an answer was a displeased look.

“I do not ever want you to ask me that again Lupin. You are over your ‘heat’, you may go back to not making any sexual insinuations.” Severus looked up at him with narrowed eyes, “Go back to your old, shy, quiet self.”

Lupin almost chickened out of staying and asking him about his planned date when Severus once again turned his eyes on him, “I’m not a cripple, Lupin.” Remus was surprised to find his hands empty as Severus seemingly tore himself away from him. He watched sadly as Severus fell back onto the couch. He heard the man grunt as he shifted his crook knee rigidly and laid it in front of him, rubbing at it gingerly.

Better to get this over and done with Remus decided quickly as he felt a small bubble of determination well in him – aided by his wolf’s support and growing impatients…

“Erm, Severus,” The potion’s master turned his attention on Lupin again, “I was wondering… I mean, I know it might be a little late in asking this and all, but your cousin seems to think it’s a good idea-” Oh, his wolf had had enough! In a burst of confidence, Remus’ voice became laced with a growl, “Severus Snape, would you like to accompany me for dinner tomorrow night?”

Lupin would have laughed at the comical expression that overtook Severus’ face, had he not been so scared stone-still from nerves and fear. Really, why did he have to have such an insistent wolf? Didn’t it understand that humans couldn’t just give into their lusts, even when it was obvious from their scent that they indeed wanted what was suggested? They needed love… Most of the time. And it didn’t matter that Severus had already slept with him a couple of times! He’d been doing him a favour, now was time for the real thing – when he could look after Severus’ needs without having to turn it into a sexual experience Remus was sure to remember.

Severus seemed to have turned paler than normal, his eyes having grown to at least twice their original size. Perhaps he should explain? Remus straightened himself, standing taller than he had ever had, and smiled down at Severus – his future mate, his mind supplied, “I know we’ve slept together, but you really don’t seem to believe that I care about you and I would like it-”

“Fine.”

Remus’ explanation died on his lips, “You will?” Snape nodded, looking mildly amused, but again his eyes widened with shock as a pair of chapped lips covered his own, “Thank you! I’ll be down here at seven tomorrow, alright?”

The werewolf seemed stunned by his own actions – and somewhat angry with himself, hadn’t he agreed to not do this anymore, just this morning! - but then smiled and kissed Severus again. Severus hadn’t pushed him away. Perhaps he’d already managed to warm Severus to his presence?

A second later, Remus found himself sitting stupidly on Severus’ carpeted floor, blinking up at him owlishly as Severus stared down his nose, “Don’t get too confident, werewolf.”

- - -

Nicole stood by Black’s bedroom door, having ignored his orders to leave. He was bruising in uncomfortable and hard to reach places, and was stubbornly refusing to accept her offers to hold icepacks where he could not reach.

He giggled as she heard him mumble a collection of colourful crude words. He glared at her for it, “What are you still doing here? I thought you might have been better at listening than Snape; you don’t have any disgusting substances stuck in your ears.”

She snorted, “Black, cease being so stubborn.” A moment later, as though attempting to insult him she added, “You remind me of Severus when he’s injured.”

Black glared, he was sure she was smiling smugly at the dark look he was giving her. “Listen, get lost.” He cursed as he managed to poke himself on one of the dark purple/black patches on his shoulder.

Nicole gave an exaggerated, exasperated sigh, rolled her eyes and moved to stand behind Black, “Here.” She snatched the ice pack from him, and held it to his side, she smirked as he hissed at its temperature.

“Fuck!” He swore.

“It’s your fault. You shouldn’t threaten Severus.”

Black lowered his voice, almost growling out his words, “He was asking for it.”

“You deserved those kicks if what you did was true, Severus is injured as it is without you rough housing him.” She sadistically stabbed his side, right in the centre of the largest patch, “You threatened him.”

Sirius hissed, cursed, wriggled and glared, His already grated nerves paper thin when all he received was an innocent smile in return, “He’s the one changing Remus. There was a day when he wouldn’t look twice at the prat.”

“I’m glad to see he’s matured over the years.”

“Fuck you, woman.” Sirius grumbled in return.

All went silent, as Nicole swapped icepacks, handing the one at his side to Sirius, before taking the one he was holding to his shoulder – it seemed he’d landed on it when they’d first slid down into the dungeon.

“So, my dear Mr. Black, have any special men in your life?”

Sirius’ reaction to the question rivaled that of the hare he’d taken to tormenting when he’d first escaped Azkaban. He spun around on his stool, “I’m not like that!”

“Oh? Really? I’m sorry,” Nicole seemed sincere, “I just thought you might have been – Severus mentioned something your mother had been yelling sometime ago.” She beamed mischievously, “You kissed a boy when you were younger, ay? And you were caught?”

“I did not!” Sirius’ face flashed red, burning like the fire he’d started in his fireplace. “He was one of my cousin that had moved to France or somewhere around there!”

“Sirius!” Nicole couldn’t help but laugh at his expression and his face’s colouring; he reminded her of a beetroot, just peeled, he was so red.

“Don’t ‘Sirius’ me! He kissed me first! He said it was a custom where he came from! I didn’t know!”

“I’m telling Severus!” Nicole sang, looking truly pleased with herself. “It’s true, it’s true!”

Sirius felt his blood freeze, “You will not!”

“Why? Not man enough to handle a little friendly teasing. Don’t you like being picked on?” She sent him one last grin, chucking the ice pack to him before she finally left the room.

- - -

“What do you mean you ‘want to come’?” Severus found that he was receiving quite a few surprises (some bad, some better) today. “You will not! You’ll only distract me and Lupin’s nose will pick your scent up and – Why would you want to follow us?”

Nicole sent her cousin an exasperated stare as his hands were yet again flung around in front of him, as though he were trying to attempt sign language. She knew it was a nervous habit Severus’ had picked up from his mother, she hadn’t ever been able to keep them still while talking.

She flicked her wrist lazily, “Something to do. Gabby would love to go out and see the wizarding world.” She fingered her chin curiously, “Perhaps Mr. Black could show us around.”

Severus glowered at his innocent wall, “He will most certainly not! It’s bad enough he enjoys insulting me, but I will not have him being rude to either of my cousins.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Especially Gabby, you can hold your own, she is but a child.”

“Severus, we’ll be fine. And I have plans for Black, he’ll regret having ever commented on your hair.” Nicole reached for her cup of tea, gently flicking a stray brown bang of hair away from her face. “Albus seems to think it’s a good idea.”

“You told him that you wish to torture Black?”

“I told him, I’d like to get to know him and force a truce between you both.” She held up her hand when Severus moved to speak. “You will be happier for it Severus. And why must you date Remus again? Haven’t you both already slept together? Aren’t you doing things backwards?”

Severus rubbed at his temples, “That was a – a favour of sorts. He would have driven us all to suicide with his howling and whining. He’d have given the older members of staff a heart attack if he’d appeared outside one of their windows.” Severus almost smirked as the image of a fainting Minerva appeared before his mind’s eye.

Their cups clinked together sharply, and the armchair Severus had been resting in whined sourly as he moved to stand and take the tray of tea and cookies away. Nicole was on her feet faster and snatched the tray from his hands, “Your injured Russle, I’ll take this. Where do I go?”

Severus glowered up at her, “On the cupboard over there, Winky will retrieve it shortly.”

She did. Nicole smiled sadly down at the picture present on that cupboard. One of the entire Shickles family, Severus and his mother were present in the front row. The peaceful expression was destroyed by a yawn, and spurred Severus to glance over at his bronze and silver clock. It was getting late.

“Well, dearest cousin, I bid the goodnight. I’m afraid I’m falling asleep where I walk. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to help you ready yourself for your date.”

“Don’t call them that.”

Nicole laughed, “Night.”

“Goodnight.”

Severus glanced at the clock again. He should get to bed, he’d managed to sleep for the past week, no insomnia or anything, he should get some sleep tonight too. He attempted to ignore the fact that he’d been worn out enough to sleep all of last week.

He changed, neatly setting his clothes in a small basket, meant for his dirtied clothing. Severus pulled a night shirt over his head and collapsed back onto the bed.

As he turned over and pulled the blankets around him tightly, he could help the heavy feeling of loneliness and disappointment that weighed down his chest. Did he really want to be stubborn about this entire love business? He sighed; Remus would eventually end up in bed beside him…

He just wasn’t there tonight…

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DF: So, so sorry! Like I explained in my author’s notes, it’s been a long chain of unfortunate events… I’ll attempt to update sooner than I have, but I’m busy – so busy… T_T Anyway…

Review please, what shall we have Severus and Remus do on their date? Or outing as Severus calls them? ^_^

Thanks for reading…