InsaneJournal

Fic: Of Wolves and Boggarts RL/SS
Sort of for Cliché month at lupin_snape, although I'm not sure whether it qualifies, as it doesn't really deal with a popular cliché, and even if it was one, I sort of spin it around (The fic is better written than that last sentence, I promise think.)

Title: Of Wolves and Boggarts
Pairing: Snape/Lupin
Rating: PG
Warnings: It's un-beta'd :P
Summary: Remus is still a Marauder at heart. And surely Snape can survive just one more April Fool's prank?
Disclaimer: (I keep forgetting to write these) J.K. Rowling owns all, I just dream.

()

~*~

“So in conclusion, never attempt to walk a duck in the rain on an empty stomach.”

The latest of Dumbledore’s pre-dinner announcements drew the usual amount of stifled giggles and rolled eyes from the Great Hall.

“I would also like to draw to your attention, while I have it for a little while longer, that tomorrow will be April 1st. Apart from meaning that a ridiculously large amount of sweets and cakes will be smuggled out of the kitchens at midnight this evening,” Dumbledore smiled at Fred and George, who weren’t even trying to hide their attempts to enchant red and gold birthday streamers. “It also means that April Fools Day will be upon us again. Now while I see no harm in a little good-natured fun, Madam Pomfrey has expressed to me that she would prefer not to grow any of you new organs and limbs this year. Please use good judgement.”

---

“Any plans for tomorrow, Severus?”

Remus’ latest attempt to befriend the potion’s master drew a scornful glance. “The usual, I imagine. Setting up extra wards around my room and preparing various antidotes all night.”

Remus smiled amusedly. “Actually, I meant to find out whether you had any surprises planned for your students. You know, pretend not to deduct points from Gryffindor for breathing, actually smile. I imagine the latter would be horrifying enough.”

Severus smirked. “I never indulge in such frivolity, Lupin. That is more the activity of you and your former friends. I had hoped that I'd cease to be bothered by such inconveniences now that Black and the elder Potter are finally…well.” He suddenly averted his eyes and pretended to lose interest in the conversation. Knowing that this was as close to civility as Severus had ever come, Remus attempted to swallow the rage collecting at his throat.

---

Remus spent the remainder of the evening staring vacantly into the fire in his room. By his 4th year, there was no question as to the identity of the Marauder’s April Fool’s victim. When the guilt got the better of him, Remus would find himself wondering whether he and his friends were the cause of Snape’s defensive personality, and inevitably, his pledge to Voldemort. But such thoughts pained Remus, so he attempted not to linger on them. There was always, after all, at least two ways of looking at each situation. Perhaps Severus had returned to their side because of being bullied during his school days. Perhaps it had encouraged in him a sense of dignity. Unfortunately, Remus was not nearly deluded enough to believe this latter theory.

Sometimes Remus wondered why he cared so much, why he endured Snape’s biting retorts. Sometimes he feared he knew the answer for his affections that he never thought could be reciprocated.
Other times, he wondered whether Snape ever really deserved any of what they had done to him.
Tonight at least, the answer to that question was a very resounding yes.

---

Which was why the next morning found him up bright and early, a glimmer of the old Marauder mischief in his eyes. The plan was simple, really. All one had to do was remember that Severus always preferred a cup of strong black tea after lunch, no cream, no sugar, and also that the man had a curious habit of lingering whenever Remus was around. Remus casually let slip that he would be using the staff room for his 3rd year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw boggart lesson, and let everything else fall into place.

When he arrived at the staff room, Snape had just finished his lunch and was boiling water. Lupin offered him a smile, which drew a nod of acknowledgement. He carefully moved the wardrobe to the centre of the room.

“Still hoping that my boggart lesson will backfire, Severus?” Lupin couldn’t help but smile wickedly.

“I actually had hoped to catch you alone.” Severus hesitated. “I believe I owe you…an apology.”

Had Severus said these words any other day it would have been odd enough, but on April Fool’s, it was undeniably suspicious.

So Remus laughed.

“Now Severus, although that is quite the surprise, you didn’t think that I’d fall for it, did you?”

Snape narrowed his eyes. “I already told you, Lupin, I do not believe in this blasted free-for-all of a holiday. It has been the cause of too much…frustration.” Remus almost felt sorry for the man as he watched a look of pain flicker across his face, but the expression disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

“I fail to see how anything I might say today would stand any less true than if I had uttered them tomorrow.”

The man was positively pouting, and Remus couldn’t help but find it endearing.

“Why Severus, if I didn’t know better, I would have thought that you were feeling guilty.”

The look that Severus shot him after that comment could have seared a hole through the wall behind the werewolf’s head.

“I do apologize,” Remus was still grinning uncontrollably. “Perhaps it would be better if we spoke on this tomorrow. I do have a class to teach.”

“Very well,” Severus rolled his eyes in disgust. “I had taken you as the most mature of them, yet you are still reduced to a tittering schoolboy just because today happens to be April 1st. Perhaps you will consider meeting me tomorrow night in my chambers after dinner then.” He suddenly seemed very interested in the state of his boiling water. Remus shrugged off his curiosity which questioned this action.

“Of course, Severus,” Remus said, walking towards the door to let his class into the room. “But please, Professor Snape, don’t let us distract you from your tea.”

Several students cowered behind Remus as Severus sent a sneer in his general direction.

“I had no intention of letting you distract me.” Snape answered smoothly.

“Just as I had hoped,” Remus murmured.

Whoosh.

Just as Severus opened the tea cabinet, a dark, formless creature shot out, knocking the potion’s master over.

The class gasped.

“This is a boggart,” Remus said calmly, unaware that Snape’s wand had rolled underneath the table. “As we’ve discussed, it has no form of its own, but instead assumes the form of what it believes its victim will most fear.” He turned his gaze towards the greyish mass, which was advancing towards Severus, waiting expectantly.

With a loud crack, the boggart took the form of a light-brown werewolf, whose fur was flecked with grey. Remus instantly recognized it and frowned slightly, dismayed.

“Really, Severus, I had hoped that we were beyond that.”

Snape didn’t answer. His face was contorted in both fear and fury.

The fear was what made Remus uneasy. Snape knew that it was a boggart, and not Remus in werewolf form. The boggart’s form wasn’t completely unexpected. What else could Severus fear to expose? Perhaps, Remus thought, he had gone too far. But no, Remus was resolved. This was not for himself, but for Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and Prongs. It was not for his frustration at having every attempt to befriend the man foiled, but a parting salute to old friends lost. Unfortunately, Remus could not lie to himself for long. It was revenge, and that was all.

“Seeing that Professor Snape has wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for years, I am certain that he will be able to show us the proper means by which to eliminate this particular dark creature.” Said Lupin, with an impish smile. The students laughed nervously, eyeing each other with concern.

“Lupin, stop this…now.” Severus hadn’t taken his eyes off the boggart. It was then that Lupin noticed both that Snape’s wand had rolled across the room and that the boggart had actually split in half. The other half of the creature emitted a loud crack, and turned into an immaculate copy of Lucius Malfoy.

With a silver pistol.

“What…”

Bang. The werewolf fell over with a whimper.

“Professor!” Ginny Weasley shrieked.

Snape too had fallen over with a gasp, and the boggart lost its form, swiftly moving in for the kill.
Remus threw himself in front of Severus. The boggart transformed into a round, glowing moon with another snap. “Riddikulus!” Remus roared.

The moon fell to the floor with a clunk, and rolled into the wardrobe, which Remus slammed shut with a flick of his wand. Remus quickly turned to Snape, and propped the man up.

“Severus…I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

Severus interrupted with a laugh that was a little too loud and a little too forced for comfort.

“He always said he’d kill you. He always did.” Snape was raving feverishly, obviously not himself. He suddenly grabbed Remus forcefully as he spoke, eyes were wild and unfocused. “So I pushed you until you hated me, until it hurt. Oh it hurts.” He had begun to mumble incoherently, trembling under Remus’ grasp.

“I don’t hate you.” Remus protested desperately.

“I think that perhaps we should end class here. Please gather your books.” Remus turned to find Dumbledore staring at him in disappointment.

“Remus, please help Severus to the hospital wing. I believe you should have a talk with him after, in all seriousness.”

Lupin nodded numbly, uncomfortably aware that he had once again failed Severus Snape.