Unwanted pet (Snupin) *Complete*

Part 14: The morning after

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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Remus woke up, surprised that he slept through change.

His head rested on the Snape's hand.

Snape slept in front of the cage, his hair fell over the face rested on the bend of another hand. Standing up and stretching, he was pleasantly surprised with the absence of pain. With a yawn, Remus tried to find something to cover himself. Pieces of torn clothes laid all over the cell, his wand was across the room, near the opposite wall.

"Severus. Severus. Snape!" He called at first softly then sharply. The other man opened his eyes slowly.

Looking at Snape's foggy eyes, Remus realized that the man probably wasn't fully awake. Finally, Snape carefully pulled back his hand and sat, still sleepy, Snape took the wand and mumbled the spell to lower the wards.

"I will bring you some clothes" Snape' voice was harsh from sleep and somewhat softer than usual.

Remus' ears filled with fast thumps of Snape' heart, he nodded silently.

Snape' heartbeats were slow and steady when he returned with a house robe and two small phials. Snape cover his lower body with a robe and showed the phials into his hand. One was pain-numbing potion and he welcomed it, even if there was no need for it. The second potion tasted odd and unfamiliar, but he drank it anyway.

In the meantime, Snape was spreading healing salve on wounds and bruises. First on his back, then on the torso - rubbing them in precise, gentle moves. Facing the Potion Master, Remus observed with wonder as Snape took a small amount of salve and spread it carefully over his fingers, then leaned and touched his face. He flinched, stiffening back, and Snape grabbed him by the chin firmly, touching his face again.

"You mangled your face last night. Now stand still and let me help you." Growled Snape.

Remus felt lost in face of this change. Snape' behaviour was far from familiar. He was not sure, what was going on or how to react to this change.

Why do you have to be so caring? I need you to spill your poison at me as you always do.

Gentle touches stopped. "Can you stand?" Asked Snape softly

"Yes."

"Then we can go to the room, the food and clean clothes are waiting for you."

"Can, ...can I take a shower?" He asked, confused, unused to this kind of treatment not only from Snape but after the transformation in general. Last time someone cared for him was when he was a student at Hogwarts.

"Later, yes. Salves need time to soak in." Nodded Snape

"All right, you go and I'll come a bit later if you don't mind?" He smiled, he needed time to process the change.

"Are you sure you can?" Snape continued with his odd behaviour.

"I am not little kid anymore, Severus." Remus answered, maybe more sharply than he wanted. "Before you came to nanny me, I did all this by myself. I will be fine, just need few moments alone."

"As you wish." Coldly replied Snape and left the room.

Shakingly he tightened the house robe. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he tried to remember when was the last time he was so confused by the situation. Testing the effects of this new potion, he tried to remember, something... anything from the last night.

The image of Snape' face during his transformation... the expression of shock on Snape' face and horror in his eyes, came to mind. Fear, fear that almost had a taste. Fear that filled his nostrils for the good part of the night. Fear still present even after Snape fell asleep.

Why did you stay?

Suddenly, he felt sick and throw up before he could even try to stop it. And then everything went black.

Surrounded by blackens, Lupin could feel two strong arms lifting him, pressing him to the chest like a small child and placing him on a soft bed. The smell of lavender underlined with chamomile and cedar filled his nostrils.

"I know who you are" He mumbled as the darkness overtook him.