Looking Glass [Snapey!]

[Remus Lupin]

Tell me what I want to say
Save me for another day
Break me, it's the game you play
Hate me as I turn away


Remus sighed as he ascended the stairs for what seemed like the thousandth time. Of course, when Professor Snape was assigned a different position – the position he had always wanted, in fact: DADA teacher – he hadn't bothered to let Remus know where to find him to pick up his Wolfsbane potion.
At first, out of habit, the lycanthrope had gone to the dungeons only to find the place empty. Oh, yes, of course – Snape had moved. Had Remus really believed the potions master had actually liked sleeping in that dank, dreadful place? Of course he hadn't, of course he had moved.
He had started walking towards his old teacher's quarters, only to find them vacated as well, and had now ended up wandering around a little. He smiled a little at the idea Umbridge would have a fit if she knew a werewolf would be wandering through the hallways of Hogwarts freely and without anyone knowing. Well, anyone save the headmaster and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, wherever the hell the latter was. Maybe he was walking rounds? Remus remembered having to walk rounds in Hogwarts, both as a Prefect and as a Teacher.
Maybe, he thought for a moment, maybe he didn't want to find Snape at all. He liked walking in these familiar hallways (maybe just a little bit too much). Then again, he knew as well as any other that he shouldn't be walking about here. One, he wasn't supposed to be here and two.. it wasn't doing him any good, being nostalgic like this.

The Marauder Map was no longer in his possession, but Remus had done most of the spellwork on it, really, and especially the measuring had been largely his responsibility, as he had been a Prefect and able to go places where his friends hadn't been able to go. Due to all this, he knew just about every nook and cranny of the castle and, being a lycanthrope, Remus had a very sharp nose and hearing. It shouldn't be so much of a problem finding Snape.
It really wasn't, Remus found once he tried to locate Severus' scent. He wasn't too far away, maybe two or three corridors, and appeared to be walking (or so he heard). Maybe he was doing rounds. It would be typically Snape not to care if Remus was going to be here to pick up his wolfsbane potion and couldn't find him, after all. Ascending several staircases and rounding a few corners, Remus could make out the potions' master's dark silhouette not too far away. “Evening,” he muttered softly (knowing Severus would hear him).

[severus snape]

Well what could he expect from a Marauder? Remus Lupin didn't seem to appreciate the gravity of his situation were he to miss a Wolfsbane dose. The ex-potions professor marched back and forth in front of his door.

After the irritating recipient of the flask in his office was five minutes late, Severus felt his impatience justified by the unnecessary and [to his mind] purposeful tardiness.

The ex-gryffindor had been to school here for seven years and had a refresher not three years ago when he had taught the position that Severus now held. And as if the tall Professor had nothing better to do, or anything else to occupy his mind, like the worrying visit he had been paid at Spinner's End and the Headmaster's reaction. Not to mention the fact that the white-haired madman he called his employer had managed to fall foul of a curse that it had taken all his considerable expertrise to slow. Not even stop, but slow.

When the werewolf's voice broke in on his thoughts, he spun in a nigh on military fashion on his heels, strode towards Lupin, and stopped at the perfect distance to give him a roasting without having to shout.

"I wonder that you can tell it's evening since your watch evidently does not work. You're late." He jerked his head towards a door, limp fringe flicking over his face slightly.

[Remus Lupin]

Remus didn't have to look at his old classmate's face to know the man was, least to say, annoyed with him. Though he would've felt intimidated by the man's proximity twenty years ago, he no longer did and he met Snape's dark eyes in a manner that was remarkably calm. It even surprised Remus himself.
“You'll be happy to find, I'm sure, that I do not own a watch, save for the one that was my father's and which is, unfortunately, silver,” he softly answered and he couldn't help smiling. “I'm aware I am late. I wasn't late, really, but I was not informed you had changed quarters. Finally out of the dungeons, hm?” Years of trying had taught him it was hardly any use trying to be nice to Severus. Remus had certainly tried a few times, but, unsurprisingly, Severus had never allowed him to get close in any way, hating Remus by association as he was friends with Sirius and James. So, now, Remus didn't try anymore, he just tried to remain calm and polite as he always did, but Severus didn't always make it easy, not at all.

He entered the room after Snape had done so and looked around. Remus just wanted to get this over with, leave again, and go home.
“You know that had I been able to brew it myself, I would not bother you,” he commented, still looking around and taking in the new chambers in which Severus now resided.

[severus snape]

Throwing the door open, Severus' boots tapped out a rhythm on the floor, and he came to a stop by his desk which had a steaming flask of wolfsbane Potion on it. Severus kept his face straight, but he didn't envy the werewolf for having to drink the bitter smelling brew.

Actually he rather enjoyed watching. It served Lupin right for stanidng by and watching him suffer throughout their education at this hallowed institution. And perhaps it was sadistic and cruel, but it was so satisfying.

Severus ignored the comments, sure that they were pointed remarks, designed to insult him. At that last simpering little remark, Severus made a sound of utter contempt.

"Perhpas if you had paid more attention in Potions lessons you wouldn't have to rely upon me quite so heavily? Yes, I suppose you're right." He hated that he had to help the werewolf who had almost killed him in his sixth year, but he couldn't deny the joy at being needed by the shorter man.

Because by proxy, it meant that Sirius Black had to rely upon him too. And that was absolutely delicious as far as feelings can be. He wondered if Black watched his flea-bitten friend come home, the taste of Severus Snape's charity in his mouth...It must be twice as bitter for the mutt. But it just proved that Sirius Black, for all his trials and years of imprisonment, was still just a child. Still immature, headstrong and reliant upon other members of the order. Yes that was the part, severus liked best.

He slid the flask forward. "Drink up." What was that saying? Revenge is sweet? And a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down? Not even a whole plantation of sugar was as sweet as the knowledge that Remus Lupin was indebted to him, and not even that much sugar would help ease the passage of the aconite rich potion.

[Remus Lupin]

Remus involuntarily shivered as he watched the steaming, vile, nasty, rotten flask on the desk. The first time had been a surprise and not so badk, but all the times that had followed had been particularly unpleasant, simply because he knew what was coming. Because Remus knew he would not be rid of the taste until after the following evening. It lingered, somehow, and Remus would rather experience a thousand after-drinking-with-Padfoot mornings, to be honest.
He guessed Snape couldn't care less. Maybe even enjoyed it. Remus couldn't really blame him, though part of him was convinced he'd never actually harmed the Slytherin. Not willfully, anyway.. Oh, well, they both got what they wanted: Remus remained sane during full moon, Snape got to see him gag and grimace. It seemed like an honest deal.

“Perhpas if you had paid more attention in Potions lessons you wouldn't have to rely upon me quite so heavily? Yes, I suppose you're right.” Remus decided not to answer that and picked up the vial, blinking to keep his eyes from watering at the scent alone. If Snape thought it was bitter, he should try smelling it with werewolf accuracy..
“Drink up.” Remus smiled wryly. “Oh, with pleasure..” he muttered, reluctancy in his voice. Turning away from the potion's master (Remus just didn't want to look at the man and see the satisfaction in his eyes), he attempted to swallow the terrible stuff in one go, but his stomach refused and immediately forced the liquid back up, forcing Remus to swallow it twice.
With a slightly trembling hand, he put the flask back on the desk and gave a wry smile.

[severus snape]

Severus' black eyes caught the shiver and he kept the small smirk from his face. It wasn't that he enjoyed making people suffer. Just watching those who deserved it. And Remus Lupin certainly deserved it.

As a consolation, he had played about with the ingredients again and this time, he was convinced that the werewolf would be much more inclined to just sleep and that the recovery time after the change would be shorter, only marginally though, he couldn't risk annuling the effects of the aconite or the Wolfsbane would just be a particularly disgusting restorative draught.

As the slightly greying hair of the werewolf greeted him, he was to be disappointed, or not, considering the framed picture of a man who had suffered the Killing curse acted rather like a mirror and he could see a ghostly outline of the disgusted werewolf in the glass in front of the dead man's glassy eyes.

When Lupin turned back to him with a smile, the taller wizard did not return it. He didn't have to. the distraction of medicating Lupin had worn off leaving him to faace the onerous tasks given to him by Narcissa and Headmaster Dumbledore.

[Remus Lupin]

Oh, Remus didn't doubt that Severus thought he deserved this. Sometimes, he even thought so himself. Besides, a vile taste in his mouth, wasn't that a small price to pay for sanety in stead of animalistic instincts he had no power over?
Honestly, Remus didn't know how the potion worked, really. He had trouble enough understanding the aconite wasn't killing but actually helping him. If he tried, he could probably grasp the main theory behind the potion (only the main one, though), but Remus had never really liked potions and he made no efford to understand now. What was the use? Plus he was rubbish at it, either way.

Remus coughed as Snape neither spoke nor acted. “Well, I..” He coughed again. “Thank you, I suppose,” the lycanthrope muttered, swallowing and trying to calm his stomach. Had his stomach reacted like this last time? No, it hadn't. Had Snape done something different? Or maybe he had finally poisoned him, Remus mused grimmly. It wouldn't surprise him, really, the man hated his guts and it wasn't like he could do that much for the Order. Nothing a regular member couldn't do, either way..

[severus snape]

Severus ignored the weak cough and took the flask back, instantly scourgifying the last dregs of the contents away. Long fingers curled around the flask and he placed it to the side of his other potions paraphernalia. The smell of aconite still clung, and he didn't like the idea of any remnant active magical ingredients reacting with other volatile and sensitive potions. Notably the Veritaserum that he was having to brew for the Dark Lord. Dear god....Sometimes he wondered if he himself knew which side he was supposed to be on.

Lupin seemed to be coughing quite a bit more than was usual. Perhaps he was reacting to the added ingredients. Business face firmly on the taller man stepped forward, black eyes roving over the werewolf to search for any signs of poisoning or allergic reaction.

"Lupin. Follow my finger, keeping your head still." He held up one long finger and moved it slowly side to side, left then right, up, then back down. He was looking for red flecks on the eye that an aconite overdose would cause.

And the fact that if he had made an utter dog's breakfast of the potion, the other man would most likely be temporarily blind.

[Remus Lupin]

Remus swallowed again, trying to keep the potion down, but he was having a bit of trouble doing so, clearing his throat a few times and swallowing again, but bile kept rising.
In the corners of his eyes, he noticed Severus cleaning and putting away the vial, but to be honest, he was just keen on leaving as fast as humanly (well, not quite humanly..) possible. He was just about to announce that he'd be going soon when Severus interrupted him before he'd even started talking.

"Lupin. Follow my finger, keeping your head still."
"S-surely, Severus, this isn't necessary," he mumbled, already on edge because of the moon approaching. "I should r-really be off," he added, coughing slightly again and half-following Snape's finger with his eyes, half focused because he was concentrating on not letting the wolf out too much plus he didn't want to throw up all over his high school nemesis.