Unwanted pet (Snupin) *Complete*

Part 10: On the day of the full moon

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

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Lupin woke up rather late, with a yawn, stretched. His head was clear and thoughts coherent. He had a distinct feeling that he is not alone in the room. Remus glanced around and saw Snape dozing off in the armchair.

"There was plenty space in here you know." He chuckled.

"Yes." Mumbled Snape sourly. "You are still undressed I believe."

"It is not ..." He felt almost giddy at the prospect of teasing Snape.

"Do not even dare to finish that sentence. Not if you do not have a desire for particularly nasty hex, this early in the morning." Hissed Snape angrily. "I will, however, leave you to maybe ... I don't know ... try and dress for a change."

He chuckled, while Snape left the room.

Getting up from the bed Remus noticed that the slight dizziness returned. He shook his head and with a small hint of panic, realized that he could feel the moon. Being what he is for so long, he was familiar with that feeling and yet - he did not feel it for years.

The cacophony of sounds was now a constant murmur in the back of his head.

The smells were the direct cause of nausea.

He had those symptoms before - as a kid, but they were after-effect, they lasted for a day or two after the transformation, never before.

Lupin stumbled to the other room and frowned on a breakfast consisting of unappealing looking porridge.

"Yuck" He mumbled.

"Just eat" Came a terse reply from Snape. Severus had his head bowed over his porridge.

Sitting at the table and trying to shove disgusting mush down his throat he carefully listened. Snape's heart was still calm and even.

"What do the improvements do?" He asked.

"Beg your pardon." Severus's head sharply snapped up.

"My senses - smell, hearing, even eyesight...they are all influenced. Too much, for my taste. But symptoms are mixed-up. It was like that, or at least something like that, at the beginning. I did not feel like that for a very long time." Explained Remus.

"This brew of Wolfsbane will draw your more...primal...nature close to the surface. Connect you with your...other nature." Snape replied.

It appeared to Remus that Snape had no problem talking if he was asked about potions. More shocking than having a chat with Snape were, however, were Snape' words.

"You meant my wolf" Gasped Remus.

"If you like to call it like that. The more your conscious mind get a hold of those more ... wild and primal ... aspects of your personality, the transformation should be easier and your human consciousness easier to retain during transformation." continued to explain Snape.

"But that..., I have heard about that. That is dangerous! What if I go feral..." He stuttered.

"You will not. The second potion will take care of that. Until... Well, I will help you to control your...urges... for the rest of the month, until you do not need me anymore." Snape' voice sounded bitter.

"Will I have to drink that other potion for the rest of my life?" Remus felt torn now, hopeful and scared in equal measures, not happy at the prospect of depending on two potions instead of one.

And who is going to brew them once the experiment is done?

That was worrisome. The Wolfsbane potion was expensive on its own.

"No. The second potion will build up in your system over time. No more than 6 to 8 months. After that, you will not need the second potion at all." Severus was still calm, oblivious to his predicament as it appeared.

"And how long are you going to breathe behind my neck?" He growled and Snape looked at him as if he lost his mind. "How long will you...monitor...me?"

"6 to 8 months." Came short reply. Apparently, Severus wasn't too happy with this arrangement either. Remus had no doubt that Albus was behind all, he sighed.

Deeming that he already ate as much of a breakfast as he could stomach, Remus pushed his plate and stood up. But, after only a few steps the dizziness hit him again. He wobbled to the bathroom and turned the water on the shower, crunching on the shower floor, fully dressed.

He was shivering.

Remus remembered this as well - the bite of chill in bones, freezing him from inside on the day of the moon. For all these years he fought so hard to progress. He fought this problem with more and more success. At this point, it felt like a major setback.

He shivered again, water wasn't hot enough.

Strong arms pulled him off the ground and wrapped a towel around him.

"Take off that wet clothes, I placed dry one at the cabinet." Snape's voice had more than little annoyance "I should ask Albus for another paycheck, babysitting you is not in my job description."

The sound of water stopped but the steam still lingered in the air. Opening his eyes, he could not stop chuckling. Snape was standing in the bathroom, in what appeared to be Muggle raincoat and Muggle fishing boots.

"Will you watch me undress?" The teasing smile appeared in the corner of his lips. Chuckles erupted into a heartfelt laughter when Snape frowned and silently turned on his heel, leaving the bathroom with the attempt of dignity. To him, Snape looked like an oversized penguin.