Silent Agreement - SS/RL

[imma]

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Title: Silent Agreement
Pairing: SS/RL
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: The slightest coercion, but then again, not really. OoTP lerslers.
Summary: Snape and Remus are eternally on edge, but are there ways to turn that into a benefit?
A/N: A thousand thanks to my beta raven, who did an excellent job.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, and I don't make any benefit out of it. It's just a figment of my imagination.


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SILENT AGREEMENT

Remus jumped in his seat, torn out of his musings when the door opened suddenly and Severus Snape stalked in, a smoking goblet in his hand. With an impatient movement, Snape put the goblet on the table next to Remus and looked at him, his face expressionless, lips tightly pressed together. How the man was even able to talk seemed a mystery to Remus, and yet he did.

"Your Wolfsbane." The dark voice was devoid of any emotion, as though reciting a list of potion ingredients. No, on second thought... Severus would probably have a faint tinge of excitement in his voice at that. It was more like... stating a fact that held no importance whatsoever.

"Why, thank you, Severus. How kind of you to bring it personally." Remus smiled warmly at Snape, knowing it would only infuriate the man further. "I hadn't expected you so early, otherwise I would have had some tea and crumpets ready for you."

The huff Snape made was very rewarding. It was a gratifying and very fulfilling thing... annoying Snape. He always reacted so wonderfully to even the slightest kind remark.

"Just drink it, Lupin." The folded arms over Snape's chest clearly indicated his impatience to be gone.

"Yes, of course, Severus." The taste was, as always, offensive and nauseating. "One would think that over time, your extensive research and experimentation could have improved the taste a little." He grimaced slightly as he swallowed the last gulp. "Urgh...awful."

"Well, Lupin - that's the price you pay for sanity." Was that a smug tone? Remus looked at Snape's face, but his expression hadn't changed... or did the corners of his lips quirk just slightly? It looked like a smirk and yet too subtle to be sure of.

"It is indeed, but it wouldn't harm anyone if it tasted a bit less like dead worms warmed over with a sprinkle of sewer goo." Remus wrinkled his nose and put down the goblet.

"You should know, Lupin." Long thin fingers snatched the goblet and the tall Potions Master turned to out out of the room.

Remus chuckled softly. "Smooth, Severus." He wouldn't let the snide remarks get to him.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" He purposefully let it sound like they would be having a date.

"I don't see how that may be avoided, unless I order a House Elf to deliver the Potion, and they cannot be trusted not to be careless. We wouldn't want you prowling the house come full moon, would we now." If the voice had got much colder, he would have been spitting ice cubes.

It never ceased to surprise Remus how resentful and sarcastic that son of a bitch could be. It should have, but it didn't. Maybe it was just his fancy that deep down, somewhere in the dark recesses of that twisted and angry mind, there was a human being with feelings other than hate and anger.

"Ah, well...you'll survive, I'm sure. It's not full moon for another seven days, after all. I'm not going to maul you....yet." He grinned when Snape turned his head to look at him, a faint sneer on his lips.

"No, you wasted both the chances you had for that." And without another word, Snape briskly left the room, not bothering to close the door behind him.

Remus sighed and leaned back in his chair. Well, it could have been worse; much worse. Snape hadn't even yelled at him. On the other hand...Yelling would indicate emotions, which would be slightly better than the icy cold treatment he was getting at the moment.


~~ * ~~


The next day, Remus was in the kitchen when Severus arrived, preparing tea... and crumpets. He smirked slightly when he heard the familiar sharp footfalls approaching and entering the kitchen. He could almost smell the potion as the man approached him. Vile concoction, that, but efficient and necessary.

The smirk changing into a brilliant smile, Remus turned towards Snape. "As you see, I was expecting you." He gestured towards the mugs and the small plate of crumpets.

Snape's reaction was quite... unrewarding; a mere quirk of an eyebrow. "So I see. Well, as much as I *hate* to waste such an obvious effort on my behalf, I merely require you to drink the potion and I'll be on my way again." Snape held out the smoking goblet towards Remus.

Taking it, Remus sat down and placed it on the table next to his mug. "I will, don't get your knickers in a twist. Still six days to go, you know." The corners of his lips twitched slightly as he watched Severus scowling at him. "Come on, Severus. A deal. You drink a cup of tea, I swallow this hell-brew, and you'll be on your merry way in no time."

"Fine." Sitting down opposite Remus, Severus began to drink his tea. Of course, it was very hot, so he couldn't drink it down in one gulp as he was obviously attempting to do... and quite clearly regretting that attempt, judging by the small hiss Remus heard.

"Crumpet?" Remus held out the plate with a solicitous smile on his lips.

"No, thank you." Another, more careful, sip of hot tea.

"Anything new happening at school?" He tried again for idle conversation.

"No." The slightly disinterested tone spoke volumes of how little Severus wanted to talk.

"Hmm..." Remus took a sip of tea as he kept on looking at Severus

"Nothing at all? No detentions lately? No excessive house-point deductions?

"That wouldn't be news, Lupin." Snape emptied his mug with a small grimace and put it down slightly harder than necessary. "Now, if you would kindly drink your potion..."

Remus shrugged and put down his mug. This was not moving forward at all. With a sigh, he downed the potion and waited for the horrid taste. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Snape. "This isn't Wolfsbane." The accusatory tone in Remus' voice spoke clearly of how deeply concerned he was about his condition.

Snape merely smirked slightly and rose, leaning forward to gently pry the now empty goblet from Remus' fingers. "I can assure you it *is* Wolfsbane."

"But it tastes nothing like it!" Remus rose from his chair and went around to Snape. He looked searchingly into his dark eyes. "Give me your word of honour that it was the Wolfsbane potion and nothing else."

"Think what you wish, Lupin. You relish taunting me with your silly little game... but maybe the countdown to the full moon, isn't so interesting anymore, now the end suddenly seems to be... uncertain, hmm?" He sneered slightly and with a swift turn, he made his way out of the kitchen and out of the house, leaving a confused and frustrated Remus behind.


~~ * ~~


The wall was a reassuring presence against his back, slightly cool and smooth through the worn fabric of his robe and shirt. He didn't quite know why he needed that wall, but he suspected it had something to do with the lack of sleep he’d had last night and the man he knew he would be facing shortly.

Last night had been... not good. Endless worries had rushed through his mind, wondering whether Snape would be capable of doing something like that, endangering Remus' surroundings just to get back at him for the taunting and teasing. Sleep had been quite out of reach.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, back against the wall, Remus sighed as he began patching yet another hole in his robe. He could use magic, but he actually preferred the manual way, the movements of the small task both soothing and meditative. He looked up briefly when Severus entered, the old faithful smoking goblet safe in the man's hand.

"Severus." Remus nodded and then looked back at his handiwork, wrinkling his nose slightly at the offensive odour coming from the potion.

"Lupin, your..."

"Yes, yes, my Wolfsbane." He wasn't really in a mood to play today. "Just put it on the desk, I'll drink it when I've finished this."

"I need the..." Snape began.

"Don't tell me you don't have other goblets suited for this purpose, Severus. You would disappoint my fantasies about your well-stocked labs." He snorted softly and recommenced sewing, not sparing Snape even a glance.

"I *do* have other goblets, but I would rather witness you emptying this one before I leave again." Snape's tone of voice was slightly corrective, but also dark and... sexy?

Remus looked up. "Then you will just have to wait until I'm done, won't you." His own tone was faintly challenging.

The challenge was not accepted. At least not creating the rise he had aimed for. "Then I will." Snape sat down at the desk, placing the goblet next to him.

"Are you that afraid I might not drink it?" Remus looked down at what he was doing again. "You seemed to have no qualms yesterday, leaving me doubting whether I had in fact been given the potion at all."

"The last time you failed to ingest the potion was rather disastrous, wouldn't you agree?" Snape's voice was spiteful and biting. "So doubts can only be healthy, reminding you of the importance of the potion and its effect, and the outcome if not taken."

"Indeed." Remus suppressed a shudder at the thought of what could have happened that night. "I won't forget."

"Of course not." The added disdain in Severus' voice grated against Remus' nerves and composure, as if he had done it on purpose, forgetting that blasted potion. He looked up again.

"Do you really think I would do something like that on purpose?" he asked incredulously. "Endanger people around me wilfully?"

"Isn't that what you did in the first place, accepting the position?" So smooth, so sharp, so cutting.

Remus narrowed his eyes and looked directly into Severus' eyes. "Dumbledore asked me, and how could I refuse? I have the skills and the knowledge to teach the children-" He was interrupted bluntly.

"And the ability to slash them open and gorge yourself on their blood at every full moon!" Severus paused, his eyes narrowing as well. "Excuses, Lupin. You didn't take onsionsibility for your... condition then, and you still don't. Don't push the blame around just because it doesn't agree with your flawed perception of yourself; the blame is fully *yours*." The snarled voice left no room for misunderstanding Severus’ deep contempt.

"Thank you, Severus, for that profound and deep-felt assessment of my personality." Remus stood, strode over to the desk, downed the potion in one gulp, then slammed the goblet down next to the pale, long-fingered hand resting on the desk. "Now get out. I don't know why I even bothered in the first place." He turned his back to Snape again and moved towards his bed to resume his menial task.

Snape silently left the room, the door falling shut behind with a small click


~~ * ~~


The potion lingered unpleasantly on Remus' tongue. It couldn't break down his renewed cheer. Yesterday and the day before yesterday, Severus had clearly intended to hurt and put Remus in his place. That wouldn't do to give him that satisfaction.

"Do you remember the room of requirements?" Remus asked playfully as he leaned against the doorjamb, effectively blocking the way. Unless Severus wanted to push him to the side to get out of Remus' room, which would involve voluntary physical contact, something that surely wouldn't agree with the man's sensibilities.

"Faintly." The clipped answer told Remus it was remembered well, but not fondly... or perhaps too fondly? He wasn't sure... yet.

"So, it wasn't something that stuck in your mind, then. You seemed to enjoy it immensely then." He smiled, letting his eyes roam Severus' form quite openly, lingering over a few choice spots. "In fact, I clearly remember..."

"Shut up, Lupin. Of course I enjoyed it. I was fifteen, had raging hormones in quantities that would rival even the combined forces of all four houses, was generally deprived of gentle physical contact...You kissed me. What the hell do *you* think? Now get out of my way so I can get back to my work!" A truly withering glare was directed at Remus.

"So, which of the points should bear the greater importance? The age, the hormone levels, the contact or the fact it was me, hmm?" His words were softly spoken, but the slight taunt was still th He He wanted to know, though. Somehow it felt important, suddenly. Taunting Severus with innuendoes and flirtation was nice, but in the long run...

"Does it matter? It's in the past." Snape assumed his normal deflective posture, arms crossed over his chest, face once again dominated by the well known scowl.

"Yes, it does." No further explanation would come from Remus just now.

"Do you want the list of priorities now or should I take some time to consider them?" One eyebrow was slowly arched.

Just for one moment, a mere heartbeat, Snape had Remus baffled into silence, lips parted in surprise. "Uhmm..." He closed his mouth before opening it again to respond. "You can give it to me at your leisure."

"Fine. Now, if you would please move your corpus, Lupin, so that I can remove myself from these premises..." Ah, yes... there was a definite note of amusement there, hidden behind the sarcastic bite. Severus had clearly aimed at that reaction from Remus. Two could play this game, it seemed.

"Of course." Remus moved slightly to the side, but still remained in the doorway, looking up at Severus as the man brushed past him. The faintest hint of touch... contact... human physical contact, sent a tiny shiver through Remus, the scent wafting past him still enticing to his senses - arousing him with hints of bitter potions, rare spicy ingredients, smoke, a faint hint of plain soap. It had been so long since he had touched a person. The last thad had actually been when he had held Harry back, preventing him from storming after Sirius into the veil and oblivion.

The tight knot was still there, but faintly smaller. Well, time was bound to pass, and time had a way of lessening pains, with or without the consent of the bearer. And there was Severus...

The landing wasn't broad and Remus managed to catch a glimpse of Severus' face before the man let himself out to Apparate back to Hogwarts and heloveloved dungeons. His expression was faintly unguarded in that moment, relaying an impression of confusion and puzzlement. Most odd for someone like Severus Snape.

Remus shrugged and went back into his room, closed his door and sat down at his desk again to read on. His thoughts kept wandering, though, to that expression. He couldn't help a small smirk from forming on his lips. He still had four days until he would have to wait again. Four days; much could happen in that expanse of time. How much still remained to be seen.


~~ * ~~


The next three days, however, Remus waited in vain, pacing his room angrily, his plans thwarted by the appearance of a house elf - every time holding a smoking goblet, nothing spilled. He faintly suspected Severus had threatened the poor creature so it wouldn't spill anything. Not even the truth, when Remus questioned it as to why it was sent here.

So, Severus had decided he didn't want to play after all. Too bad, really, since Remus wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon. It was time to put the ball in Severus' court.


~~ * ~~


Snape hadn't seemed very surprised at seeing Remus entering his office the following afternoon, only acknowledging his presence with a curt nod and a clipped "Lupin," as he passed him to pick out a few ingredients for the next day's classes.

He had even not seemed surprised when Remus had grabbed his wrist to stop him. He seemed surprised only when Remus had shoved him a few steps backwards, effectively slamming him against the wall, both slender wrists caught in a tight hold.

Snape growled. "I know what it is you want, but I cannot give it to you." The contempt was still there, but also a form of understanding. Of course Severus knew; how could he not, bodies pressed hard together... It was quite obvious what Remus wanted, and by Merlin he was going to have it.

"You can." Remus' thumbs circled on Severus' wrists lightly as he licked up the pale, exposed neck. And there was no doubt about that statement, either, as Remus felt Severus' cock twitch against his hip at the purposeful caress.

A soft moan rumbled in Remus' throat as he latched onto Severus' throat, suckling almost gently, but still with a hint of teeth as he teased the captured skin. So delicious, the strong tang of potions' fumes combined with Severus' own unique taste - faintly bitter but also sweet to Remus' senses, fitting his palate perfectly as had another...once.

The moan was echoed, but the echo was also swiftly stifled. Remus heard it, pulled back and looked into Severus' eyes. "Are you so sure you can't give me what I want?" His thumbs circled again, slowly, purposefully, over the slightly rapid pulse he could feel beating under the skin.

"Yes - I'm quite sure." Snape attempted a strong glare, but Remus chose that exact moment to prove Severus wrong by sliding his thigh against the prominent bulge in the other man's trousers. Snape gasped lightly, the pressure just right, damnit.

A smug smile spread on Remus' lips. "Of course you are." He purred and leaned in to kiss, but Severus turned his face away.

"Let me go, Lupin. This game has gone too far." He struggled faintly against the hold, but only managed to rub against the thigh still inserted between his legs.

"I think the game hasn't gone nearly far enough, Severus... and neither do you." Again he moved to kiss Severus, and again the tempting lips were averted. "You could at least struggle properly, then, if you really don't want this. I've always known you fight like a girl." Remus smirked as he repeated that almost ancient line, the words tasting slightly bitter in his mouth... Sirius' words, after all. But they would probably serve their purpose.

And yes, they did. Almost before he could even end the thought, he inn fon found himself pinned against the wall in a blink of an eye. Severus had always moved almost scarily fast, reminiscent of a cobra in his speed, if goaded strongly enough.

Their faces were close, slightly laboured breaths mingling between them. Anger or arousal...or both? Remus inhaled deeply; even though his senses were already filled with Severus, there was never enough.

The dark eyes boring into his sent a shiver through him. Oh yes, the words had worked admirab



"How childish, actually...to abuse the words of a dead comrade." The overbearing tone in Severus' voice proved him wrong, though, but there was a certain amount of smugness as well. "But I shouldn't be surprised, really. You haven't changed, have you? The eternal young spirit, caught in an unwillingly human body, always pining after the things you can't have." Severus tilted his head slightly to the side, his gaze roaming Remus' features.

"It's time you woke up, Lupin. Your games are getting old and very transparent." He leaned closer, their lips almost touching, Severus' nose pressing lightly against Remus' cheek as he whispered softly. "I don't think you even know what you want anymore." Slowly he pulled back, only to tilt his head to the other side and lean in again, again stopping just short of Remus' lips. "Do you? Do you know what it is you want? Or are you just playing this game because it's the only one you've got left, hmm?"

Severus came a fraction closer, causing Remus to inhale in anticipation of the kiss he thought would come but never came. A hair's breadth was all there was between them, and Remus would only have to shift his head ever so slightly to close the distance, but he didn't. Severus' words had paralysed him, as had the dark, dark eyes, forever questioning, searching, doubting...

"I don't know." The breathy words seemed almost too loud in the silence and Remus winced slightly, the truth escaping him more willingly than the pain.

"Then I suggest you find your way out before going on a journey you don't really want to take." And in a swirl of hot air and black robes he was gone, the heavy wooden door sliding closed behind him. Remus didn't move for several seconds, his mind more occupied with Severus' words than his disappearance. He knew, after all, where the man had gone to, so there was no need to go rushing after him like a desperate teenager.

The more Remus thought about Severus' words, the more incensed he became. He knew what he wanted, and it was more than a game now. It had been a game for a long while, gratifying in its eternal status quo. Or rather, stalemate. However, it wasn't enough anymore. The excitement of seeing Severus sneer in disgust over a kind word; the deep scowl when subjected to a pleasant smile; the lips pressed tightly together, as the man obviously battled his own wish for verbal retaliation, not wanting to stoop to the imagined low level... all very nice, but never enough.

He wanted more.

Slowly and deliberately, Remus moved out of the office and towards the dungeons, knowing the way by heart. He didn't bother with knocking on the door; this was not the time for courteous pleasantries.

This time Severus was surprised, the slightly frayed tome he had just extracted from the tightly-packed bookcase almost slipping from his hold as Remus entered without a word.

"Lupin, I must ask you to leave my private quarters!" He pushed the tome back into its place and turned to face the trespasser. "I have not invited you here."

"I couldn't care less." He pushed the door closed behind him. "We have unfinished business." He stalked towards Severus; there was simply no other word for his approach.

"We have no such thing, Lupin." Indignantly, Snape reproached Remus. "There is no business betwes; ns; now remove yourself before I do it for you!"

Remus stopped in front of the slightly taller man and looked up into his eyes, unwavering determination lending a gleam to the locked gazes. "No." Without further words, Remus curled his fingers around Snape's neck and pulled him down into a hard kiss, lips and sharp teeth grinding almost painfully against each other, the suddenness stunning Severus into an initial passivity.

As Remus pulled away again, both were slightly breathless, but Snape also emerged from his stupor. With a snarl, he tried to pull away. "Get your hands off me! You have no idea what you're asking for." But Remus was a fair bit stronger than he looked, and there was no way to draw away, short of violence. Apparently Snape wasn't ready to take that kind of action quite yet.

"Why?" Remus' lips curled into a faint smirk. "I know what I want; isn't that what you wanted me to find out by giving me that little lecture?" His fingers circled into the soft hairs at the nape of Snape's neck, moving sensually against the sallow skin.

Before another retort or scathing remark could cross Snape's lips, they were reclaimed, this time less forcefully, but still demandingly, as Remus pushed his tongue in between tightly sealed lips, running its tip along Snape’s uneven teeth, tasting. The taste was intoxicating in its simplicity. He had expected the multitude of scents that always fold ind in the wake of the Potions Master to be duplicated, but there was only the faint traces of black, unsweetened tea, along with an underlying hint of... Severus? He wasn't quite sure, but it was a taste to relish. And he did, even as Snape refused to return the kiss.

Both were breathing noisily through their noses, and as Remus reached up with his other hand, tracing over Severus' high cheekbone, fingers only faintly brushing the pallid skin, he was sure he heard a small hitch in tbreabreathing, as he was equally sure he felt a shiver in the body against his.

Finally, he drew away enough to be able to look at Snape with a pleased smile. "Should I leave, then?" He looked searchingly into Snape's eyes, looking for an answer that might disprove the words he was expecting to hear.

"No."

For a moment Remus merely looked, still waiting for the harsh rejection that should have crossed Snape's lips. He didn't wait long, as his lips in turn were claimed in an aggressive kiss, which he, after a short moment of stunned stupor, eagerly responded to.

Pushing his tongue into Remus' mouth, Snape dominated the kiss, taking what he wanted, giving what he deemed enough. If he was letting himself into this, he refused to relinquish any form of control to the other man.

Remus gave as he was given, sucking hard on the offered tongue, nipping at Snape's lips, battling for dominance more for the sake of the battle than really obtaining it... the control. Now that he had won the prize he was really after, he didn't mind sharing control, power. That was, after all, a very small price to pay in the face of the reward.

He moaned into the kiss as his fingers deftly started to dives Snape of the multi-buttoned robe, nimble fingers quickly opening it and pushing it off his sharply-defined shoulders, the plaiite ite shirt following in its wake not long after. Allowing his hands and fingers to roam the naked chest presented to him, he was quickly stripped in the same manner.

The room was warmer than he had expected, but still small goosebumps formed on his skin as skilful, strong fingers mapped him in turn, brushing lightly over his already taut nipples. They stood for a while, kissing and touching, both selfish in their pursuit of pleasure, only giving when it fitted with their wants.

Snape made the first move, pushing Remus backwards as they continued kissing, until they were stopped in their movement by a massive wooden desk. A few more movements saw them divested both of their trousers and underwear, quite clearly revealing the level of arousal in them both, as hard, eager erections rubbed against each other in the tight, explorative embrace.

Cupping Remus' buttocks, Snapeagedaged to manoeuvre him up onto the edge of the desk, the difference in height then nullified, making access easier. He broke the kiss only to attack Remus' neck, abusing his skin with suction and small bites, soothing with his tongue before inflicting yet another tiny bruise. Remus moaned, his fingers curling into Snape's hair, fisting in it to pull his face and evil mouth closer for more.

Working his way down Remus' body, inflicting the sensual torture on every sensitive spot he could find, pushing Remus down on his back on the desk in the process, Snfinafinally reached his goal. Without preamble, he curled his fingers tightly around the base of Remus' cock and stroked it firmly once.

With a loud moan, Remus bucked up into Snape's hand, wordlessly asking for more. Snape didn't hesitate, and before long Remus was writhing on the desk, lost completely in the onslaught of sensation radiating out from where Snape's mouth and fingers were working on him.

Remus didn't quite know where the lubricant coating the fingensidnside him had come from, and frankly he didn't give a Hinkypunk's arse about it, as long as the fingers kept delivering those sharp jolts of pleasure. He growled in disappointment when they disappeared, but the replacement was infinitely better.

He cried out sharply as the burning hot length of Snape's cock slid into him, stretching him beyond pain - it had been so long - pain he needed to push away another pain. Pain that made Remus shiver against the strong hands on his hips, keeping his legs in place around Snape’s waist as the man started thrusting into Remus in search of his own pleasure.

The pain swiftly turned into a burning and then a fire of pleasure as the cock inside him was angled against his prostate again and again pushing him further into oblivion and bliss, the firm strokes over his cock following the same merciless rhythm. Merlin, he needed this more than he'd thought and Snape was the one who could give it to him. He didn't care if he would have to give up control in order to get it. He welcomed it, a chance to put responsibility aside for a short while.

His fingers gripped the edge of the desk tightly to counter the forceful thrusts into him. His toes curled slightly as he could feel the fire inside him well up through his body, filling everything, the void. The fire forced out a loud cry of pleasure as he arched off the desk, all muscles tensing for short, intense moments, as ecstasy claimed his body and his release pulsed into Snape's hand.

Boneless, Remus slumped back against the desk, moaning with every continued move into him, keeping him on the edge of his pleasure until Snape finally succumbed to his climax with a low groan, fingers digging into Remus' hips, bruising his skin.

Sated, they remained still for a while, Remus sprawled on the desk, Snape leaning over him, panting as he supported himself on his hands. As Severus eventually drew out of him, Remus sat up gingerly and slid off the desk. Silently, they dressed; no words were needed, a kind of agreement reached. Both had achieved what they had wanted, for different reasons, but with the same result. None felt the urge to endanger that balance with pointless words.

Fully dressed, Snape disappeared into his laboratory for a few moments, to return with the obligatory smoking goblet. The tiniest smirk curled one corner of his mouth as he handed the potion to Remus and threw a quick look at the large clock. "You should probably drink it right away, since there's only twenty minutes to moonrise."

Remus paled. "Merlin, I hadn't thought of the time." Swiftly he downed the potion.

"I'm not surprised, Lupin. You have never paid much attention to details such as the time of day." Snape took the goblet and disappeared into his laboratory again, closing the door softly behind him.

"Snarky bastard," Remus muttered as he left the chambers, heading for the shack. Snape had been right, but he was still a bastard. That was probably why this would work. Both knew each other only too well.