Unwanted pet (Snupin) *Complete*

Part 20: Tentative beginning

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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Snape softly sighed. Sadness lingered in his eyes resting on roaring flames.

Remus was sometimes childishly naive, but Severus knew better. Caring about needs of others was not in nature of circles he was frequenting. Slowly, Snape regained his calmness. Years of self-control made imperative in his head, some emotions had to be buried deep inside.

Now, as his head cleared, he started to think. It was too soon, change in Remus' was faster than he predicted.

I did not take into account regenerative powers of a werewolf. They affect even his brain patterns and emotional responses, how interesting.

With a sigh he turned to sulking Lupin, his real task starts now.

"Lupin," no response . . .

Merlin help me!

Carefully measuring emotions called again "Remus, I do believe we have to talk."

Lupin looked at him, with a pouting expression he walked and slumped in the other armchair.

"I know that this is at the moment hard for you to accept, and trust me when I say that I am doing both of us a favour, your ...feral side starting to surface."

"Severus, I do not have the desire to rip you to shreds, I just want to try to be your friend."

"I know," He sighed. "I will not pretend that I am not baffled with that. Nevertheless, we will have to start working on your self-control. These...urges...will not just go away, they are here to stay. I am confident enough that your, more aggressive side, will start to show fast enough. In that stage, you may be a danger, to yourself and your surroundings. "

"What's the plan?"

"For a start, conversation, a lot of it. I will try to explain to you your needs and urges, their origin, from a physiological point of view, as much as I can."

Remus looked at him, reminding him of a student wanting to ask a question but too shy or scared to try. Maybe a joke will reach him better than lecture if I can muster some.

"You may ask now Mr Lupin," He said with his 'professor's' voice and Remus snickered

"I what to set some rules, if that is alright with you."

"That depends on a rule." Severus sighed, he was tackling a teenager now.

Looking carefully at Lupin, wondering if potions did do some damage to his brain after all. Albus would not be pleased if that were the case. "Let me hear them."

"I will be allowed to try befriending you..." stated Remus

"Is that all?"

"And you will, at least, make an effort to accept those attempts."

"I can ...live... with that, but I do not make any promises." Sighed Severus "But Lu...Remus, I have to warn you. This...us...no one can know - ever. Not even Albus. No one. I...I dance on the edge of a very sharp blade, and weakness, any weakness is a death. Mine, but if you persist in this...yours. No one can know, or we are both doomed."

"I understand that all too well, and I promise I will growl and argue, be mean to you in front of the others, but don't take away my attempts when we are alone. In addition, I will be allowed to ask questions, to get to know you." Lupin had a stubborn look on his face.

"I will do my best to answer them, within the boundaries of what I think, what my ...friends... should know about me." This was a very slippery field, still tired from the days of taking care for Lupin, he was not even remotely ready for this.

"Then let me ask you, what did you mean, that morning after I spent my first night here? What did you mean with that sentence?" Snape looked at him in confusion; he had no clue about what Remus was talking " I was considering it, but then again you might enjoy it, really unsettling thought. "

"Wolfs and their hearing, there should be a law against that" Severus rolled his eyes and Remus chuckled.

"And?"

"And, nothing." Evenly replied Snape, teasing Lupin's curiosity amused him.

Lupin looked frustrated by the reply at first but then he just smiled.

"I really thought that you might, after that night in my office." Remus suddenly kneeled in front of his chair again. "Yes . . . about that night - what happened that night exactly?"

Kneeling in front of him, head tilted to one side, Remus reminded him of a puppy.

"All I did . . . is to . . . perform a bit of magic on you. I just watched. It could be anything really. I could see myself jinxing you, pouring some nasty acid on you. You have a very peculiar mind, Remus. And too high of an opinion of my skills. All I did was to let you decide your own punishment."

"But..."

"I simply put you in the same position you put me."

"And I wanted to be under cruciatus?" mumbled Remus "No, not wanted, but I did think it is ample punishment. I had to take into account not only what happened in the classroom, but for as long as we know each other. That punishment was a reflection of my personal feelings of my actions towards you!" Remus looked troubled.

"I would award points to Gryffindor for that."

"We cleared that out." Nodded Remus. "What do you like?"

"I beg your pardon."

"What do you like, save from potions and Dark Arts. I see those decorations on your walls and yet, that is not you. You do not have a need or use of those. In addition, if I take into consideration all I know about you and that isn't much at this point . . . You have either too much control in your life or no control at all."

Severus blinked at maybe the most accurate summarization of his life he ever heard, warmth spreading through his chest as elevating giddy feeling that scared him. At least, one person in this world who understand, and that is Lupin of all.

"What do you like? What do you want from your life?" Lupin persisted in his question.

"That is for me know, and for you to discover if you can." Smiled Severus secretively.

In all honesty, he had no answer to that question, not even to save his own life. No one in his entire life even asked him what he wants. Expectations, from his parents, from Lilly, from Dark Lord, from Dumbledore - expectations were all he knew.

He had desires, but he also always wondered how much they were directed by actions of others. As a true Slytherin he acted upon those desires, on hatred, even despair - but never in his life he paused for a moment to ask himself 'what he likes'.

What do I like? What do I need?

There was the answer, he was sure of it but buried so deep, hidden even from him.

"If nothing else, Gryffindor really deserves 10 points, for having at least one smart student in its mites. Even if that student is a teacher now." Sneered Severus finally. "Stubborn but smart."

"Miss Granger is smart." Lupin was quick to notice.

"Yes, yes she is. Maybe too much for her own good." Grumbled Severus.

"You know, you just awarded points to my house." Grinned Lupin.

"I know what I did." Scoffed Severus. "Merlin knows you need them. Rest now, we will start working on that paper Albus gave us shortly."

He needed time, tired as he was, realizing that he was opening, too much for his liking. Remus just nodded and walked to his bed.