Potions in the Moonlight

The next morning Severus awoke with a splitting headache once again, but had to admit he was feeling much better. He had slept over forty eight hours which shocked him completely. He hadn't woken up once in between. Then again his body probably needed it.

He stretched and suddenly became aware of his full bladder and slowly padded out of the common room towards the boys bathrooms.

He knew he should have gone before he went to bed and the slight twitch of his cock and the pressure in his stomach was enough proof of that.

Finally reaching the washroom he pushed the door open and moved quickly to one of the urinals. To be honest he always hated this bathroom. It was always so dark and dismal. But as he relieved himself of the constant pressure causing fluid he didn't care.

He nearly moaned having not gone for so long it felt good. One could almost say better than sex... Almost.

After he was finished he fixed his pants once again before making his way down to the Great Hall. His neglected body was one by one reminding him that he needed to catch up on a lot of things. Like eating.

Remus and his friends sat in a huddle around the middle of the Gryffindor table. James and Sirius were full of laughter and ideas, as usual. They hadn't been able to meet up in the Shack so now Remus was recovered they needed to plan something really spectacular before the holidays ended.

It surprised Remus how hungry he felt, he had already eaten his usual toast and milk, but he had already moved onto a massive plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, muffins, more toast and he was now constructing some sort of massive breakfast sandwich containing everything within easy grab. Even Sirius couldn't match him when he ate like this.

A few of the students had arrived back early from the holidays as some usually did. Severus didn't seem to care as he sat at the table in just his pajama pants and a loose white shirt. It was a week end and was to tired from over sleeping and hungry to care what other people thought.

He piled some food onto his plate though it wasn't much. Even though he was starving he knew his stomachs limits. He ate two pieces of toast and an egg and downed it with some milk before he was full.

Remus was only faintly aware that he was staring at Severus from his table. Was Sirius talking to him? He hadn't laid eyes on him since that night, it made him sick thinking about the abuse Severus had suffered. Just to see the older boy smile again would be perfection.

Peter had caught Remus's staring at Severus and looked back at the pajama clad boy eating his toast. Peter bit his lip as he smirked.

Of course Remus didn't notice, he was lost in his glass of milk. Trying to ignore that dull pain in his chest.

Once Severus was done eating he made his glass and plate disappear with his wand and moved out of the room with the intention of either laying down again or getting dressed, he wasn't quite sure which one yet.

Trying not to watch him leave Remus waited for as long as he dared. He blinked at the table, then slid to his feet throwing his satchel to Sirius.

"You guys carry on. I don't think I feel great, I should probably stretch my legs a bit..."

No one argued. Remus often did strange things in his recovery time. None of them could really know what it was like and what a toll it really took on his body.

He noticed Wormtail smirking but didn't acknowledge it in any way. He often saw Peter with an odd mischievous grin on his face and was used to it by now. He could swear Peter should have been placed in Slytherin.

Remus sighed, rubbing the back of his head. He knew the way to the Slytherin common room in the dark, but now he was almost nervous that he could be discovered. He hoped he would meet Severus before he reached the entrance, he knew there were some people who had come home from holidays. He did not want to run into them.

Severus approached the entrance to the Slytherin common room and said the password. The door slid open and he was greeted by none other than Lucius Malfoy as the older boy was leaving.

"Ah Severus... just the man I was looking for. Did you have.... fun... on the break?" He asked a smirk on his face.

Snape schooled his face into his usual deadpan.

"My break was adequate, Lucius. I trust yours was the same."

"Apparently not as... eventful as yours." He said his eyebrows raised. "Who is she?"

"I'm afraid I don't follow..."

Severus could feel the little colour that he possessed was draining from his face, but he kept the emotion from his voice.

"Come now Severus. You know better than anyone I'm not stupid." He said as if stating a fact. "My bed is different than the way I left it... who is she?"

Setting his mouth into a hard line, Snape maintained his tone devoid of emotion.

"I'm afraid I still don't follow."

"You had sex... in my bed and I know you did so stop playing stupid." Lucius whispered as he moved closer to him. "Now.... who is she?"

Snape wanted to look away but he knew showing weakness now would be a fail, so he tilted his face to look Lucius squarely in the eyes.

"I'm sorry Lucius. You have the wrong man."

Severus tried to get past Lucius but was stopped by a strong arm as Lucius placed his hand against the door frame to stop him.

"You... where the only one here other than the two girls... so don't tell me it was the Bloody Baron." He said.

No matter how much he hissed and flailed, Lucius could never get the truth out of him. Snape kept his mouth tight shut and just looked at Malfoy with his black eyes.

"Or maybe it's a he." Lucius said mischievously and moved closer to Severus. "Do you prefer men?" He asked.

A raised eyebrow.

"Do you?" Lucius smirked and evil glint in his eyes.

"I don't prefer one over the other. I find both sexes.... exquisite." Lucius said his body almost flush against Severus's.

Severus did not move. In all the time he had called Lucius his close friend, he had never been this forward or aggressive. He knew that Malfoy had scope to behave exactly as he wished, but right now Severus had no idea how to react.

"Tell me Severus. Do you prefer men over women." He said his eyes boring into Severus's, his lips mere centimeters from his own.

What would Malfoy do if he told the truth? He was holding his breath. He couldn't even think of the right words to speak.

"Your silence is answer enough but I want you to say it." He said.

"I don't have to tell you anything... Lucius." Severus glared at him.

"As you wish." Lucius said leaning forward and pinning him against the wall. He kissed him passionately holding him in place.

A sharp intake of breath from a few metres away met Snape's ears. Someone was watching them. Somehow, even though Lucius didn't break away, Severus knew who it was. His heart sank.

Lucius deepened the kiss and placed his hands on Severus' hips bringing his crotch closer to his own.

Remus couldn't turn his eyes away. This is why Severus had done what he did. This is why Severus had targeted him. Did he have some sort of twisted thing going on with Lucius Malfoy? Oh God, is that why they did it on his bed?

Severus put his hands up to Lucius' shoulder and tried to push him away. It wasn't working. The older boy was larger and much stronger than him.

Taking two steps back, his head swimming, Remus knew he had to get out of there, or else risk making Severus mad at him. He placed a hand against the wall, ready to bolt.

Severus groaned as Lucius moved his lips to his neck before he practically yelled at Lucius to stop.

A racking sob broke from the Gryffindor's throat as he turned and ran. He hated himself for feeling like this. He hated himself for being this weak.

"Get off of me!" He growled in a loud voice as he pushed Lucius with about as much success as before. "Help!" He cried as Lucius moved to unbutton his pants.

From his point halfway down the next corridor he heard Severus's call. Every protective instinct he had was on fire. What was Malfoy doing to him? He spun on his heel and raced to where he had seen them.

By the time Remus got back to where they had been Lucius was trying to force Severus' pants off his hips. He was suddenly reminded of the night in the potions store with Severus. Only this time it was Severus being attacked.

Without thinking the younger boy shoved his hand into his pocket and jabbed his wand against Malfoy's blonde head. Remus's voice shook as he forced out,

"You get off him Malfoy."

Malfoy slowly looked over at Remus amused. "Ah... so his boyfriend comes to his rescue." He said smirking. "Never thought you'd go for a Gryffindor. If you wanted a real man you should have come to me."

Remus was not used to being confrontational, he had never drawn his wand in anger before. He tried his best to channel James as he glared at the smug blonde.

"I said. Get off him, Malfoy."

"Or you'll what?" He asked turning back to Severus. "Tell the little boy to go away Severus. You know you want a real man." He said rubbing against him.

He tried not to, but Remus couldn't stop his sadness from seeping into his big brown eyes. He looked at the pinned boy.

"Severus..."

"Let me go Malfoy." He said quietly.

"Are you sure you really want to do that?" He asked. "I can make your life so miserable.... but... I can also make it worth while..."

"He doesn't want you!" the shout escaped from Remus before he could stop it. His cheeks were flushed and his wand shook in his hand.

"Ah how naive." Malfoy laughed. "I could pleasure Severus far better than you ever could. And I have a lot more power than you as well."

Remus gritted his teeth, he had so much hatred for Malfoy he couldn't take it.

"Shut up Malfoy." Why wasn't James here to help him? He always knew what to say to make Malfoy shut his big, smug mouth. Remus shook his head, he could handle the situation on his own. "Shut up and get off him."

"Well Severus." He said grabbing the younger boys cock through his thin pajama pants. "Tell me to go and I will." Severus hissed as he felt his body betraying him. His cock swelled and he clenched his eyes shut disgusted with himself.

"Leave... me alone." Severus said quietly.

Remus's hand trembled, he was gripping his wand so tightly. His eyes fixed on Severus's ever changing expressions. There was something about seeing another's hands on him that made him angry. It was an anger he couldn't stop.

"Aw you know you don't mean that Sevy." Malfoy laughed. Severus suddenly looked at him angrily.

"Get.... AWAY FROM ME!" He yelled. He didn't have his wand but a sudden blast of magic shot Malfoy back into the wall.

Remus fell back and covered his face. Malfoy took the worst of Severus's rage, but even so the backs of his hands felt hot and itchy. He strained to look at the two by the wall.

Severus stood staring at both of them, confused by what had just happened. His breath came in short labored pants, his eyes filled with fear and confusion. He looked to Remus before he moved to go back into the common room. He paused realizing that he wouldn't be able to hide from Lucius in there and turned and ran down the hall.

Scrambling to his feet Remus grabbed his fallen wand and gave chase. He spared a final glare at the stunned blonde, slumped against the wall. But then all his thoughts were on Severus.

Severus practically dove into the boys washroom, tears streaming down his face. Luckily for him there was no one there. The last thing he needed was for Sirius fucking Black to be in the washroom to see him. He leaned against the wall and hit his head back against it before he fell to the ground to sit against the wall. His arms rested lazily on his upraised knees his head hanging down as tears fell onto his pajama pants.

The door creaked open very slowly. Remus was almost hesitant as he came to kneel beside him. He placed a tentative hand on Severus's bent shoulder. Seeing him cry like this was heart breaking, it made him hate Malfoy even more; especially after the night Severus had.

Severus shook as he leaned closer to him as Remus put his arms around him in a tight hug, which only caused Severus to start crying harder.

Taking a deep breath, Remus ran his warm hand down the weeping boy's back. He laid a gentle kiss on the side of his head and held him there. It didn't matter how long he kept crying for, Remus would stay right where he was to hold him together.

It was nearly a full fifteen minutes before Severus' crying slowed to soft gasps as he tried to control his breathing.

Remus had shifted his back against the wall and was cradling the older boy. He stroked his hair trying to let him know that it was alright. Finally, after an age of sadness he whispered.

"Severus?"

"Nai?" He asked softly his voice sounding a bit harsh from crying.

He wanted Severus to know that he wasn't alone. He wanted to let him know a lot of things, but decided that if he said too much it would diminish what it was he was trying to say in the first place...

Without pushing him away, Remus dipped his head and kissed his lover's forehead.

"I... I love you..."

Severus physically tensed in his arms. He pushed himself away from Remus and looked at him shocked. "You..." He paused thinking he may have heard wrong. "What did you say?"

Remus winced, he knew it had been a bad idea saying it. He had been bursting to say it for two whole days now. It had been eating him up inside. He thought Severus felt it too... forgiving him for his horrifying lack of control, choosing him over Lucius. He noticeably crumpled.

"... nothing..."

Severus felt sudden anger building up in the pit of his stomach. "What did you say Remus!"

At least he wasn't upset about Lucius any more...

"I... said I think love you..."

Severus felt his anger build and his tears spring back to his face. "How can you say that?" He asked. "Now of all times? You're exactly like Lucius." He said standing up and turning away from Remus with the full intentions of leaving.

Remus blanched and grabbed his hand.

"How can you say that! How can you even think that I am anything like him. Maybe I shouldn't have said it in a bloody toilet, but I was holding you, and you were so sad and cold and it just slipped out."

Severus turned to him again. "You're exactly like him in the way that you have used me and then are quick to proclaim your love as soon as you see there is a possibility of someone else just get keep me with you!" He said angrily his tears falling again though more from anger and frustration. "If you really did love me.... Why not say it sooner?"

Remus kept his voice calm as he sadly blinked at the angry boy.

"Because I didn't think there was any way you'd ever say it back. I expected you to laugh at me."

"Right..." He said rolling his eyes. "Then answer me this.... if you love me.... Why? Other than the fact that you like having a fuck buddy that isn't Sirius."

The Sirius barb hurt, Remus markedly recoiled.

"Does there need to be a reason? I know what love feels like and I can feel it now. Whether or not its logical..."

"There's always a reason." Severus said. "And if the only reason is cause you like the sex then you ARE no better than Malfoy."

Remus didn't know what to say, his voice was fast becoming quieter and quieter. Severus had a way of making him feel so small and unloved.

"It wouldn't matter to me if we never had sex again..."

"Well you don't have to worry about that." Severus said moving out of the bathroom. He bumped into Sirius and pushed past him not even acknowledging him.

Remus sat on the cold tiles, feeling shell-shocked and alone. He didn't cry. He didn't really know what to do. It felt like his stomach had been torn out and in it's place was... nothing.

He had to try again. He stood up and moved out of the washroom.

"Severus!" He called out. Severus whirled on him, his whole body tense.

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" He yelled. Sirius snickered as he watched Severus storm down the hall.

"Way to go Remus... I didn't know you had it in you." Sirius said clapping him on the back.

The smaller boy balked, feeling like he was about to be sick. He blinked sadly up at his friend, not sure what to say.

"He's... mad at me."

He hated how his voice sounded now. Everything he said to Severus was somehow wrong.

"Yeah... it feels weird at first but after a while it feels great, you'll get used to it." Sirius said walking away to catch up with James for some ordeal or another.

((Short but more to come... please rate or review PLEASE!!!! I'm begging on bended knee.... figuratively speaking of course, hard wood floors... murder on the knees.))