Three\'s A Crowd

Part - 17

It was morning. Snuffles bounded out into the hallway. The dog sat and wagged his tail as Remus bowed Severus out of the door.

They all felt refreshed, having slept in what Severus had derisively called a \'puppy pile\'. They had awakened sprawled all over each other. Severus\' nightshirt had disappeared, (he swears he does not know how) as had Remus\' pajamas (same answer), leaving the three able to snuggle together for maximum contact.

At least Sirius had not reverted to human, or Severus would not have been in nearly so calm a mood.

They all felt very content, until Snuffles smelled something nasty. He turned and growled as a sour face Draco Malfoy appeared at the far end of the corridor with his ever-present shadows, the almost portly Crab and Goyle in tow. \"Professor Snape, may I have a word with you?\" The young man asked, with a withering glare in Lupin\'s general direction.

Snuffles growled.

Remus somehow managed not to growl at the young men, but it was not easy.

\"Of course Mr. Malfoy. My door is always open for those of Slytherin House.\" Snape turned back to his door. \"Lupin, inform the Headmaster that I will be up for breakfast shortly, and that he need not send those annoying House Elves or Poppy to \'corral me\'.\" He gave a curt nod, and a covert glance at Remus, then opened the door to Malfoy.

Unaware of what transpired between the two men, Malfoy flashed Lupin a smug smirk as the door closed behind him. Crab and Goyle took up positions on either side of the door and glared at him like a pair of very dull witted gargoyles.

Remus stood staring at the door for a moment, unaware of the look of pure rage on his face. Only the sudden expressions of fear on the usually blank faces of the two Slytherin snapped him out of it. The overwhelming possessiveness that had shot through him had been frightening. The first thought that had come to his mind had been to blast the door off its hinges, beat Malfoy to bloody pulp, drag Severus out by the hair back to the bed and fuck him.

He did not want to return to the Great Hall without Severus. He certainly did not trust Draco Malfoy. Very primitive feelings almost overshadowed his reason, and that frightened him. He had to go back to Dumbledore\'s office. (Where he seemed to live these last few weeks). This sudden fury could be dangerous. If the usually even-tempered Remus felt this blinding possessive rage over Severus what about Harry and Sirius? Snuffles did not seem as angry as he was, his hackles were raised, but he did not bare his teeth.

Was Sirius not affected at all? Or did only Remus feel the anger so intensely because of he had consummated the relationship?

And what about Severus, what changes were occurring within him now that he had begun to give himself over to the bond?

He should have gone right away as Severus asked, but Remus was rooted to the spot. Not moving even though he had to fight to keep from attacking the dull witted Slytherins.

No matter how many times he told himself that the annoying blond looked up to Severus, that he would not harm him, certainly not where he would be blamed. A very large nagging doubt remained. Remus Lupin did not trust the junior Death Eater alone with Severus, or his children.

Remus would wait for his husband.


---

In the well lit sitting room. Draco watched a very tired Severus Snape walk over and sit heavily in his well-padded black chair his eyes caught just a hint of the bulge of the older man\'s belly as he leaned against the backrest. He gave Severus a sympathetic smile. \"That Gryffindor should not be allowed to look at you like that sir. It is disgusting.\"

\"He may look all he likes Mr. Malfoy. And that is all he may do.\" The Head of Slytherin House looked at Draco with half lidded eyes. He had to be completely in control, not to allow any of his awakening feelings for Remus to show.

\"It is still degrading. Forcing you to let him live with you.\" The young man growled. His stormy gray eyes looked at him with an oddly disturbing luster. \"You deserve better then a mangy werewolf.\"

\"Be that as it may Mr. Malfoy, I was not given a choice in the matter.\"

\"I know.\" Malfoy was faced towards the wall as he spoke. There was an eerie quality to his voice that sent a shiver up the older wizard\'s spine. \"Is this place secure from prying eyes and ears?\"

Severus stiffened, bracing his hands on the desk. \"My wards are secure Draco. Not even a ghost or House Elf may enter without my permission.\"

The young man nodded. \"I received a communication from our Lord.\"

\"Go on.\" Severus stood slowly, and folded his arms over his chest. He had known that Voldemort would want to contact him soon after what happened to his father.

\"You are to come with me tonight.\" Severus stifled a gulp, had Voldemort discovered his duplicity?

\"Draco, I cannot.\" He had to fight to keep his voice even, to not reveal the near paralyzing fear that welled in his heart.

\"That was not a request,\" The boy\'s voice was hard. \"Sir.\"

\"There is a locator charm on me, Mr. Malfoy. If I leave the castle Dumbledore will know it in a heartbeat and send a dozen Aurors after me. I am a prisoner here.\"

\'Prisoner,\' he thought sadly. \'I am in protective custody.\'

Draco took several deep breaths to calm himself. The young man was, at least in Severus\' mind, overreacting to the news. Why was he so angry? Why did Severus suspect that the anger had nothing to do with Voldemort\'s thwarted summons?

\"For tonight I will give our Lord your deepest regrets. But this does not change anything. Your presence is required. A way will be found to extract you from this place without Dumbledore knowing of it.\"

\"But why?\" Asked Severus, trying to hide his nervousness. \"This is a very great risk. I do not understand why he must see me personally?\"

\"That is not your concern. Your purpose is to obey.\" The gleam in the young wizard\'s eyes sent a stab of pure terror through his heart.

\"Yes, of course Draco.\" Severus felt a sick with a growing fear that would have threaten to separate him from the contents of his stomach, had there been any, as his looked into the eyes of madness. He must let Dumbledore know and hope the Headmaster could find a way to discreetly remove Malfoy from Hogwarts.

Ideally without anyone linking it to Severus.

But if his duplicity had already been discovered, would one of the other Junior Death Eaters come after him if Malfoy failed?

Should he tell Remus, or keep him in the dark? The Gryffindor might not be able to keep himself in control if he thought that his mate and the children were in danger.

He had to see Dumbledore as soon as possible.
---


About an hour later in the Headmaster\'s office, Severus had tea in one hand, a lemon cookie in the other and a plate of assorted pastries on his lap. The cup shook very slightly.

Sirius, who stayed a dog, had his huge head on his lap, edging ever closer to the plate. Meanwhile a very stiff Remus stood behind his husband with his hands on his black clad shoulders. Which one of them he was attempting to comfort, Remus was not sure.

\"So, it would seem that Voldemort wishes your presence at his court,\" Said Albus Dumbledore almost to himself.

\"He suspects me, he must or he would not take the risk of alerting you,\" whispered Severus, trembling even with the comforting touch of Remus and Snuffles. His nerves were worn.

\"I fear you are correct Severus. We will have to change our tactics. I never thought I would say this, but perhaps there is a way to provoke Mr. Malfoy. Harry Potter could easily get a response that gives us a legitimate excuse to make sure that he and any other suspected Death Eaters are either removed, or at the very least very closely monitored.\"

\"Yes, everyone will believe Potter was wronged, since Malfoy is an Evil Slytherin.\" Severus looked down at his lap.

\"This is not a house rivalry Severus.\" Said Dumbledore softly. \"We are trying to save your life and that of your children. Mr. Malfoy is dangerous. We both know that he has done things that should have gotten him expelled every year he has attended this school.\"

\"As did Black, Potter, Pettigrew and...\"

\"Severus you know that is not true,\" Remus said squeezing his shoulders tighter, amber eyes blazing with anger. He felt the Slytherin stiffen and quickly slump beneath his hands.

\"Yes Remus.\" He said meekly.

As he spoke Sirius licked Severus, knocking the plate to the floor. The long tongue lapped at Snape\'s hands. At first anxious, but quickly he stopped whining and almost climbed into the other man\'s lap in order to lick his face. \"Sirius, Remus!\" This short angry order came from Dumbledore. \"Please restrain yourselves.\" The massive black dog dropped back to the floor and hung his head in shame.

\"It is not his fault Albus,\" Said Severus as he rose from the chair. \"It is not either of their fault. They cannot help wanting to touch me, or command me.\"

\"It may be true Albus,\" Remus said softly stepping away from Severus to clear his head. \"That is something that I needed to speak to you about. I am becoming almost obsessively possessive of Severus. When Severus was alone with Malfoy, I was ready to kill him and his two trolls. And, wanting to,\" he hesitated. \"I would have forced Severus into having sex if he were capable of refusing me.\"

\"What about you Sirius.\" Dumbledore looked down at the dog. Knowing what was needed, Black also stepped away from Severus and returned to his human form.

Severus flinched as he changed, gripping the chair arms and turning his face away.

Sirius felt his heart clench at the sight, but he concentrated on Dumbledore. \"I have an overwhelming need to touch him, and am hard pressed not to kiss him when we are close together. But I have not felt the violent possessiveness that Remus speaks of.\"

\"What about you Severus?\" Asked Dumbledore.

\"I am compelled to seek out physical contact with them. In Potions class, it is a struggle not to drop to my knees when I see Potter. But, not Sirius or Remus, the more I am around them, the more comfortable it is.\"

\"Remus, do you feel any anger towards Sirius when Severus touches him?\" Asked Dumbledore, popping a lemon drop in his mouth.

\"No, in fact, I am calmer when he does.\"

\"I wonder,\" The Headmaster tapped his fingers on his desk. \"Remus, you became more possessive once you became intimate with Severus. The feeling becomes less when Sirius touches him.\"

\"Yes.\"

\"Severus, do you feel, how do I put this? Do you feel, incomplete?\" The blue eyes twinkled.

\"Yes.\" The Slytherin said, realizing that it was true.

\"Remus, Sirius?\"

\"Yes,\" Said both looking at one another.

\"I believe that all of these reactions are the result of the bond itself being incomplete,\" Dumbledore smiled. \"If the three of you and Harry can complete the bond, I believe that these negative feelings will subside.\"

\"Potter wants nothing to do with me, with us.\" said Severus hugging himself over his belly.

\"Harry will come around eventually,\" noted Albus gently. \"This weekend the three of you should talk to him. Perhaps having all of you together in the same place would draw him closer?\"

\"Or send him screaming into the Forbidden Forrest.\" Severus said under his breath.

tbc