An Experiment Gone Wrong

Severus gazed down at the still unconscious Remus with a sigh. It was hard to believe that someone so innocent, so purehearted could have turned to the dark arts. Yet clearly Remus had, though why was still somewhat of a mystery. Was it possible that Remus was suffering that badly that he thought it was the only way out?

Gently he lifted Remus in his arms and took him back over to the bed. He could have woken him at anytime but too much was still flowing through his mind yet. This might be the only opportunity to find out why Remus was doing this, and what he was disappearing lately to do. Going over to Remus's case, the one thing Remus always had in his hand when he would go somewhere he unzipped it, and found exactly what he was looking for.

The book was old, no question there. Dark arts magic oozed from it causing even him to shudder, yet Remus obviously had had little problem touching it. Steeling his nerves he picked up an extra candle and walked over by the fireplace, settling himself down to figure out what exactly this book was doing to Remus.

Half an hour later he still had few answers. He was having a bit of trouble deciphering the Welsh, so he assumed that it could have just been in his translating, but most of it didn't make sense to him. *Could it be meant just for the werewolf to understand then? Is that why I don't understand? Remus does understand though, even if he can't control it yet...but he does understand....*

Rubbing his temples he flipped over to the next page of the book and after a quick glance at the chapter sat up straight. As he started to read the chapter finally he began to understand a part of what had happened a little while ago. What Remus's words meant when he told Severus he wanted to 'claim' him for his own.

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The process of the lifemating is one of complex situations. It was once thought that the claiming rites could take place during any sexual act, only an exchange of words would trigger the occasion, however that is not that case. The werewolf in question needs far more that simple words to claim a person to their souls.

The process is formed by many stages including the time, place, emotions, and the inevitable exchanging of love, passion, trust and blood. Even if the rite is performed during the correct time, without the exchanges of the other parts of the rite the claim will not consummate.

First and foremost the timing is essential. The only time that a werewolf can claim another is the day of or the day after the full moon cycle. The lunar phase during this time causes the highest peeks in the werewolf's body, mind and soul. It is recommended therefore that the rites take place during or right after sexual passion on those days, since the werewolf and it's mate are already in position to accept the claiming with little efforts.

Emotions play a key role in the claiming. The werewolf must want the person enough to have them as their own for life. Lust does not play into the scene, only pure love can be used. The werewolf must love the second party, if need be to the point of pain, even if the second party is not of the same mind. The werewolf must be the one with the key emotions, which provides that if it is the unwilling party it cannot be forced into the rites.

Trust and understanding is essential. The werewolf must believe in itself and that what it is doing is right or the claim will backfire. If the werewolf is of the mind to do tis claim then it will do what is necessary to provide and protect, going so far as that it would even kill to defend it's claim. Werewolves are territorial, and it's lifemate will be considered it's property once the claim is made, therefore it must willing to accept it's mate as a sharer in it's territory, trusting that the mate will provide and protect them back.

The final exchange of the blood is the sealing of the rites. No instrument other then it's own teeth is acceptable for the exchange. It doesn't matter where on the body the bitemark is made as long as blood is drawn from it. Every werewolf is an individual in scent, it's blood is as well is marred with that scent, and the blood exchange will allow that scent to be transferred to the second party.

Taking the blood upon it's lips, the werewolf will merge it with another blood drawing bitemark placed anywhere upon it's mates body. The blood will mingle instantly, marking their mate internally as well as externally. The bitemarks made by the werewolf during the rites will never fade. It is the only physical mark of the claiming.

Internally once the blood is mingled, if their mate is a non-wolf, it will intertwine the properties of the werewolf within them. Though the non-wolf will never have to submit to the transformations themselves, they will become aligned to the werewolf. They will find during the full moons a heightened sense of reality. Hearing, touch, taste, smell, instinct, speed and strength become advantages.

Once claimed both werewolf and it's mate will find a spiritual link as well. Even if separated for vast amounts of time or area, they will always know if the other is safe or endangered. At times even strong emotions can be sensed or focused to the other person. They can share a mindlink as well, but refer to chapter 18 - Uses of the Dark Arts in Psychic Connections, for more information on that.

The claim must be treated with caution however. Though essentially easy to consummate, it is a claiming of forever. With the blood exchange the two become one soul, and therefore should the werewolf or it's mate die so shall both die. Therefore it is advised that should a werewolf choose to take a non-wolf as a lifemate, that it is done willingly by both parties, and that they are both in control of all functions at the time of the exchanges.~~

Severus wasn't sure what to make of all this. The fact that Remus had wanted to claim him as his own meant that...could it be possible Remus wanted him that much? Not even that Remus wanted him but...that he loved him as well? *It can't be possible though...he's never once made me think he's interested in anything other than the potion I'm making him....even after I let him know how I felt he didn't say he felt the same way...then again he wasn't quite himself either at the time...*

A sound from the bed alerted him Remus was coming out of the spell on his own, so he quickly shut the book and put it back in Remus's case, making sure to close it back up. Going over to the bed he saw Remus's eyes were open, but he was staring up at the ceiling still a bit dazed.

"Lupin...?" Severus said gently sitting down on the bed next to him.

Remus looked over at Severus as if he wasn't sure who he was at first, but after a few seconds his memory began to return to him...or atleast some of his memory. "S-Sev..erus?" Remus said in a raspy voice while thinking *What happened to me? Why do I feel so drugged?*

Remembering that he still had the vial of Curacion Potion on the bedside table, Severus reached over and uncorked the vial. "Drink this." he said and with his help Remus managed to drink down all the contents. Lying Remus's head back down on the pillow he said softly, "It's allright. You're still feeling a bit of the effects of the stupefy spell, but the potion will work quickly."

Remus could feel the potions effects working allready, and he became strong enough to focus himself now. "St-stupefy spell? I dont understand..." he said confused.

"Don't worry about it now. Just let the potion work." he said. After a few moments he said, "How do you feel now?"

"Better, thank you....but what happened? The last thing I remember was..." Remus began and certain memories came flooding back into his mind. Blushing a bit he said, "I'm...I'm sorry...that...I asked about your hair. It wasn't my place to do that..."

Severus put the vial back on the dresser and looked at Remus oddly. "What exactly do you remember about that?"

Remus tried to concentrate further on the events but found something was blocking his memory. With a sigh he said, "Not much. I remember you told me about the Bervani Charm...that's how you're hair is so...er...that is..." For some reason it embarrassed him a bit to be discussing Severus's hair all of sudden.

Severus gave him a small grin though in reassurance. "Soft..yes. Now you're the second person who knows that I really do take good care of my hair actually. First of course being myself." he said with a chuckle.

Remus grinned. "Well after two months I did have to say I wondred. The shampoo...is that the scent I smell all the time?" he asked questioningly.

Severus tried to think of what scent it was Remus was speaking of. "Scent? I"m not really sure actually.....my shampoo isn't normal wizarding stuff if you hadn't realized it. It's my own concoction, though most would say it's something hardly worthy of a potion master's skills eh?" he said grinning.

Remus laughed. "You are full of surprizes sometimes Severus Snape. Vanilla by the by...with traces of patchuli oil and musk. That's the scent."

"Ohh...yes I understand now. The vanilla is the extract for the shampoo, the patchuli oil I use as a base for the conditioner. The musk however...that's cologne. Something from France actually. It....it was a gift from...a friend...you could say..." Severus said slightly embarrassed. Stephan had been the one to give him the cologne each year on his birthday, not that it was something he was going to tell Remus of course.

"A...friend huh?" Remus said and a pang of jealousy suddenly struck him at the way Severus had said the word. Shaking it off though he said, "Well...I like it. It smells nice...all of it does. I guess it's still a bit strange when I'm here looking at your hair as it appears, but knowing what it really is like..."

"Well perhaps one day you'll get another chance to make sure it's really not what it appears." Severus said with a smile, aware of the strange look Remus gave him for that comment.

"Perhaps..." Remus said reflectively. Which led his thoughts elsewhere for a moment, and as to why he was lying here in the bed. "Severus what really happened? I know something did, but I...I dont know what...." Remus said with a sigh.

Severus looked at Remus for a moment debating what exactly to tell him. He knew parts of what happened he did have to tell him, but exactly how much of what happened was the issue. Finally he decided to tell him as close to the truth as he could. He explained how Remus had gotten himself lost over to the dark arts powers, how Severus had tried to bring him back (without telling him of his offered emotions at that time of course), and how in the end the dark arts won.

"Albus came in perfect timing however, I couldn't control what was happening any longer." Severus said with a sigh. "He had to stupefy you because you tried to attack him."

Remus was paler than a ghost at hearing all this. "You...I....I attacked Albus? Oh Merlin what have I done?!" Remus said with a half sob and put his hands to his face in shame.

"Lupin no, listen to me. Albus isn't angry with you, I promise you that. What happened....was unfortunate. You didn't know, it's not your fault. It doesn't make you any less of a person, believe me I know." Severus said softly.

"You don't understand...how could you possibly understand what it's like Severus? You've got everything here...a home, a job, security...you know who you are, you accept it..." Remus said looking at Severus with tearstained eyes.

"You're wrong, I don't. You don't know what I've done, what depths I've sunk to thinking it was the only way out. I"m hated because I choose to be hated, because it's easier for me. What I know of the dark arts...what it has done to me...noone would want to like me...." Severus said sadly.

Remus stared at Severus as he spoke. He didn't know why but it hurt him to hear that from Severus. Shaking his head he said, "Not everyone hates you Severus, whether you know it or not..."

Severus snorted. "Besides Albus, name one person who doesn't hate me Lupin."

"Me." Remus said softly, almost more of a whisper than anything else.

It was Severus's turn to stare at Remus this time. *Did he just say what I think he did? Does he really mean it? Merlin tell me he does...tell me I have a chance here!* "You...?" was all he could say outloud however.

Remus nodded and a small smile came to his lips. "Yes me. Why is that so surprizing?"

"Because...you...all of you I mean...you always hated me. Even when I wanted to try to be friendly...oh hell Black tried to kill me because of..." Severus said stopping what he was going to say.

"Because of what Severus? Sirius never told me what happened that night, not till I got to Albus's office and was facing you and everyone else. What was it?" Remus said in a low voice.

Severus looked at Remus and sighed. "You want to know the truth...I"ll tell you. Black found out the real reason I always followed all of you around. It wasn't because I was jealous of Potter's abilities...no. It was you Lupin. I wanted to...I wanted to get to know you....to talk to you...I wanted to be with you...."

"Why...?"

"Because I liked you Lupin...that's why. Of all the people in our year...you...you were the one that I wanted to be most like. Everything about you I was envious of...I wanted to be everything but what I was...there were times I wished the sorting hat had put me anywhere but Slytherin...just so I'd have had a chance to talk to you..." Severus said quietly.

"You didn't want to be a Slytherin?" Remus said surprized.

Severus gave a weak laugh. "Merlin no. I wanted to be a Ravenclaw. But...my father...if I hadn't gone to Slytherin he would have probably killed me...or disowned me which was about as bad. Now I wish I had been brave enough to go to Ravenclaw, it would have saved me from what I've become now." he said sadly.

"But look at what you have accomplished Severus. Professor at Hogwarts, Head of Slytherin House, Potions Master...and all by the age of 24! Do you know how rare those honours are for someone that age?" Remus said.

"And I'd give it all up in a moment to get my soul back Lupin! Honours mean nothing when you've turned your back to the right side and joined the wrong side...when you're alone and afraid...what good is awards when you have nothing to base them on?" Severus said resentfully.

Remus didn't know really how to respond to that. "What...what do you mean...to get your soul back..? What have you done?" he asked questioningly.

Severus sighed deeply and shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore. From now on I'm going to do what I have to do to fix what I've done....and to try and mend myself. I"m so tired of being what everyone expects of me. That's why I envied you so much back in school Lupin. You were everything I wasn't...gentle, kind, caring, giving, accepting. You're eyes always held so much expression in them...I wanted those eyes to show that towards me..."

"Oh Severus...I'm so sorry. I didn't know...I wish...I wish you had told me the truth back then." Remus said sadly.

"How could I? You're a Gryffindor...I"m a nasty slimy Slytherin. But Black...he found out the truth. He saw how I watched you, how much I wanted to be near you. He was so jealous that he could burn holes in me with his stares. Of course I didn't know that you and he were....lovers...." Severus said painfully.

"So that's why he did what he did, of course...now it makes sense. He didn't want the competition, especially from you....a Slytherin. What he really wanted though was to keep me on a leash...his pet..I know that now..." Remus said bitterly.

"I'm not going to ask what happened recently between you and Black but...I know he hurt you. He's a fool to have done that. How could anyone ever hurt you?" Severus said softly.

"Because I let them Severus. I"m weak. Powerless to stop the pain...powerless to stop the fear that when I die it's going to be alone...that no matter what I do it can never be good enough because...because I am a monster...a freak who can't even get a job and support myself..." Remus said with a sad bitterness.

Severus couldn't take hearing that, not now. Taking Remus's hand in his he looked into Remus's eyes and said softly, "Remus Lupin, you are not a monster. You are not powerless...you can stop the pain...and you don't have to be alone..."

Remus was surprized this display of emotions from Severus, not to mention how good it felt to have his hand being held by him. "But...who would ever look past the monster Severus? Who would ever just want....me?" he said with a deep sigh.

"I would...and I do...I always have...even after I found out what you were. I tried to hate you, I wanted to hate you...but I couldn't...I couldn't hate you Remus...to hate you would betray a part of myself that still believed in you...in who you were when you weren't the wolf...which is why when I finally mastered the animagus potion...I too became a wolf...because of what I still felt...for you..." Severus said tenderly.

"You're...an animagus? A...wolf?" Remus said shocked.

Severus smiled then and nodded his head. "Unregistered though...easier that way. And yes, a wolf. They say that your animagus form reflects what animal you are in your heart...so to me becoming a wolf was no surprize. You've always been a part of what's left of my heart Remus J. Lupin...I just wish I had the courage to tell you sooner. I never would have made a good Gryffindor eh?" he chuckled.

Remus couldn't believe what he was hearing. *Is it real? He...likes...no...maybe loves...me? Not the wolf...but just...me?* Suddenly Severus's words seemed to bring back a strange feeling that he had to find out if it was real or not. "Severus...?"

"Yes?"

"You...have you been coming to the shack with me during the full moons?" Remus asked hesitantly.

Severus was surprized at that question. To reveal he had been at this point though wouldn't make much of a difference so he decided to tell him the truth. "Yeah. I have been..but that was because the potion wasn't working. I came across some research many years ago that said that an animagus is in no danger by a werewolf, and can sometimes even be a calming influence. That's the whole reason I became an animagus actually..."

"You mean you did all this before you even knew I'd accept you're offer?" Remus said half awed.

Severus grinned. "I've been planning this for 6 years now. There was noone else in the world I wanted to do this for but you. Professor Daniel's asked me to help you back then, he didn't know that I would have anyway. Even if he hadn't given me the original recipe for the Wolfsbane, I would have tried something like it on my own after that because I knew how much you suffered from what you are."

Remus chuckled. "You do make a good Slytherin Severus, sly and cunning to perfection. Why were you so sure though I would even come here?"

Severus shrugged. "I wasn't. I hoped you would. If you didn't though I was prepared to seek you out, and make you listen to what I had to say. I always get my way in the end you should know." he said with a grin.

Remus laughed and nodded. "Seems so." he said. "What do we do now though? We have only one more chance left with the potion..."

"Don't worry about the potion, I'm positive it will work this time. What we need to worry about is what you're doing to yourself right now." Severus said firmly.

"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Remus asked surprized.

"I mean you're dabbling in the dark arts Remus. I'm not going to tell you to stop, that would be hypocritical coming from me...however, if you are going to continue to seek out the dark powers, then..." he said hesitantly.

"Then what?" Remus asked.

"Then I want to be the one who teaches you. Though I think Albus has other ideas...for us both." Severus said with a grimace.

"Albus? What does he have to do with this?" Remus asked puzzled.

Again Severus shrugged. "I don't know exactly, but we're both to meet with him after dinner tonight. Something about meeting certain people who will help us."

"Sounds like something typical of Albus actually." Remus chuckled. "Whatever it is though, will you be with me?" he said looking up at Severus now worriedly.

Severus smiled and nodded. "Always Remus, that is a promise. I think now though you should get up and freshen up. My internal clocks tell me dinner will be served in about half an hour now, and you certainly can't go to the Great Hall like this now can you!" he half teased.

"Oh really? And what exactly does that mean?" Remus said coyly.

"It means...that if you don't get up out of this bed right now Remus Lupin...I am going to have a hard time explaining to Albus of exactly why we didn't make dinner...or his little meeting. So I highly suggest you get up soon..." he smiled all too sweetly.

Remus laughed. "You are incorrigible Severus Snape, and it's actually a shame we have to obey the whims of our esteemed Headmaster at the moment...because I now have no desire to get out of this very luxurious bed!" he said playfully.

"And you...are a test of my soul Remus Lupin. Now I'm getting up, and I suggest you head into the shower yourself." Severus said letting go of Remus's hand and got himself off the bed. He had meant what he said actually, if Remus didn't get up...Albus be damned.

"Oi allright allright I'm going." Remus said half groaning as he did get out of the bed himself now. "Cripes did he have to hit me that hard with the spell?" he said muttering at how sore he felt.

Severus nodded his head. "Trust me, he did. The shower will help though. Oh, and by the by...Albus told me to tell you why he wanted us in the first place earlier."

"Oh? What was it anyway?" Remus said halfway to the bathroom.

"Lily Potter gave birth at exactly midnight last night to a boy. His name's Harry." he said with a grin.

"A boy eh? Well James will be thrilled! Harry...Harry Potter...nice name you think?" Remus said with a huge grin.

Severus chuckled. "Yeah, actually it is. Now go will you? You're allready giving me ideas I can't afford to have at the moment. Not unless you really do want Albus mad at us?" he said grinning.

Remus shook his head. "Gods no, not today! Despite the fact the day started rather badly, I think things are beginning to look up!" he said as a parting shot and dashed off towards the bathroom whistling.

The fact that Severus had been calling him by his first name for the past few moments was icing on the cake. If Remus hadn't been sure before bout what Severus felt towards him, he certainly did now. *And now James has a son! No, this day just couldn't get any better!* were his last thoughts as he closed the door to the bathroom and got ready to face the evening.

Severus stood there a minute with a grin on his face as he heard the bathroom door close. There was only one thought running through is mind at the moment, and he had every confidence in what it was. *You have no idea how much things are looking up Remus...no idea at all....and if I have my way....this day is far from over....I've waited over 6 years for this...and now there's nothing to stop me...*

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