Chapter Text
More than a year after James and Lily’s funeral, they bumped into each other again at that club. A Muggle club. Somewhere in London. Remus was planning on drinking himself blind, and maybe finding a warm body for the night. He just wanted to forget the pain; losing three of his close friends, and finding out that one of his best friends turned out to be a traitor. Even after a year or so it still hurt. It may have been so long ago, but it was still fresh in his mind. So, he wandered into that particular Muggle club, just a little after 8pm.
As he sat by the bar nursing his third (maybe fourth) drink, Remus glanced across the dance floor. Then he blinked rapidly and began to stare hard. Yes, there in the corner was the unmistakable form of Severus Snape. He was dressed in Muggle clothing (as Remus was), and he had a thin line of kohl around his dark eyes. Gorgeous Remus thought. His inner wolf growled. The thumping bass from the speakers helped hide Moony’s rumble. Downing his drink, Remus made his way through the crowd towards Severus.
It wasn’t the first time they’d bumped into each other like this. After they’d left Hogwarts, The Marauders parted ways. Sirius and Remus got a flat together. But Sirius was always out, chasing girls. Peter, it seemed, moved in with his girlfriend (whom Remus had never met). James and Lily were of course engaged and so madly in love with each other. Then one night at this same Muggle night club Remus bumped into Severus. It was a week after James and Lily got married.
First, they started trading insults. Remus could see the slight fear in Severus’ ebony eyes, thinking that he’d out Severus to the Marauders. But I’m gay too, Severus was Remus’ subtle reply. Later, they called a momentary truce and had a few drinks. Well, Remus drank. Severus only had soda, sometimes with a little gin. Then it became a norm, every other Friday or Saturday night. Drinks, later a little dancing. One night they were both lamenting their horrible fates. Remus had just lost his job (again, damn lycanthropy); Severus was regretting his hasty decision in joining the Death Eaters.
Yes, Remus had seen the Dark Mark that night. He and Severus realised that drowning their sorrows in alcohol wasn’t enough, so Severus followed Remus back to his place. (Good thing Sirius was out with yet another girl). Who made the first move he didn’t know. But once he started kissing Severus, Remus couldn’t stop. All those years of longing, lust, passion, he put everything into that kiss. And Moony, his inner wolf, howled with joy. Thus, began their affair of sorts. They never really went further than kissing and jerking each other off. Both still wary of the other.
This night seemed no different from all the other nights. Perhaps, it was the knowledge that Remus lost his friends almost eighteen months ago. Maybe it was the alcohol, or the lighting, or the music, maybe it had been a while since he got laid, maybe it was the whole atmosphere of the gay club, but somehow, they managed to gravitate towards each other. Severus and Remus ended up on the dance floor, grinding against each other. At one point Severus shivered when he felt Remus slip his broad hands under his shirt, those same broad hands rested on Severus’ slim hips while they danced. Severus in turn gripped Remus’ shoulders, a knowing look in those dark eyes. This night, Remus decided to take a risk. He wanted to go all the way with Severus.
It wasn’t long before Remus followed Severus out of the club, back to Severus’ flat. By the time they reached the front door, Remus surrendered to his animal instinct. He pulled Severus close and captured his lips. When he felt Severus’ long fingers in his hair, Remus groaned and began sucking the pale skin of Severus’ throat. It had been more than eighteen months since his last encounter with Severus. And now, Moony refused to be tamed. Moony wanted to claim his mate.
Gasping, Severus pulled back. “Not…here…neighbours…”
“Then open the damn door and let’s get in” Remus grumbled, his hard cock straining against his jeans. He made a quick pat of his back pockets, feeling the familiar outline of a couple of condoms he’d shoved in before heading for the club.
Severus fumbled a few times with the key before he managed to open the door. Once inside, Remus pinned Severus against the door and kissed him again. Both men moaned as they fumbled with their clothing. Remus then dropped on his knees just as he pulled down the zip of Severus’ dark jeans. Sev isn’t wearing any underwear…MERLIN! Remus looked up, grinning like a loon.
“Get on with it!” Severus huffed, breathing heavily. Head against the door, he then moaned as Remus began licking his cock. When he felt Severus’ hands in his hair, Remus wrapped his mouth around Severus’ hard member.
Just as he began to suck on Severus’ cock, lights flooded the hallway. Remus stumbled back in shock, landing on his arse. Severus quickly tucked himself back into his jeans.
“What in Salazar’s name is going on here?!” A woman’s voice called out.
“Mum!” Severus choked out. “I…you…erm….”
“I did tell you I’d be home this weekend”, Mrs Snape walked up to them slowly. Her eyes narrowing at the sight of Remus, taking in his dishevelled state.
Remus quickly got up and muttered a greeting, to which Mrs Snape replied, “Eileen. I don’t go by Mrs Snape anymore”. She then turned to Severus. “Who’s this, Sev?”
“Remus Lupin, mum…” Severus muttered his cheeks almost scarlet.
“Ah, the werewolf who almost ate my son”. From the look on Eileen’s face, Remus almost blurted out a hasty apology.
“Mum!”
Remus chuckled nervously. “Well, I was…maybe…trying to…eat Severus…a while ago…” A cold palm was slapped across his mouth.
“Shut up” Severus hissed. Turning towards his mother, he said “Mum…can we…NOT….”
Eileen rolled her eyes. She then motioned for Severus to follow her. “Remus can have your bed. You may be an adult, Sev, but I will not have the both of you fornicating in the flat while I’m around”. She then proceeded to grumble about delinquent youths and their follies, while Remus followed them.
Still red-faced, Severus motioned Remus towards his bedroom. He then followed his mother down the corridor towards the master bedroom. All that time, Remus tried hard not to burst into laughter. It was rather funny, trying to give your boyfriend a blowjob and then being caught by said boyfriend’s mother. Was Severus really his boyfriend now? Remus wasn’t opposed to the idea. Lord knows Remus had wanted very much to have Severus as a boyfriend back at Hogwarts. If only their lives weren’t governed by House Rivalries and prejudiced friends. If only a mad, blood thirsty Dark Wizard didn’t threaten the wizarding world. Those were his last thoughts as Remus fell asleep in Severus’ bed.
The next morning found Remus sitting at the small round table in the kitchen. Severus dished out some eggs, scrambled with cheese and mushroom. There was also a bowl of diced fruits, along with toast, marmalade, and a pot of tea.
“No bacon”, Severus muttered. “Not that we don’t eat it…just that…we never…” He huffed, pushed a lock of coal black hair behind his ear. “We didn’t have much to live on when I was younger. Meat was…a luxury. The first time I ever had bacon was the morning after our Sorting. I remember gorging on it, until I ended up sick in the toilet”.
Severus never spoke about his childhood. But from what Remus observed, he’d had a hard life. Just like Remus, Severus too wore hand-me-down clothes and second-hand robes. He reached out and touched Severus’ knuckles, ignoring the slight flinch from Severus. “I know…I mean, I understand. I used to envy James and Sirius; they were never in want of anything”.
Severus poured Remus another cup of tea. Eileen then walked into the kitchen and sat across from Remus. She nodded thanks to her son as he poured her a cup. She then looked Remus in the eyes and said, “What are your intentions towards my Sev?”
Severus groaned, head in his hands, while he muttered to himself. Remus just smiled. “I’d be lying if I said I have nothing but the purest intentions towards your son, Eileen. But in all honesty, I just want Severus to be happy”.
“Hmmph. Good enough. Pass me the pepper, Sev”. She took the shaker from Severus, who was still avoiding everyone’s eyes. While they ate, Remus noticed how similar Eileen and Severus looked. It seemed that Severus inherited most of Eileen’s features – her dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin, nimble fingers, and thin mouth. Perhaps that prominent nose is from his father, Remus mused as he chewed his toast.
Eventually, Remus became a regular at Eileen’s flat. He and Eileen became good friends, especially after Eileen showed him a handful of Muggle photographs of little Severus, each with a funny story to tell. Severus of course scowled and gave both of them the silent treatment. But Remus knew Severus would never throw him out of the flat, not while Eileen was there at least. He supposed that did make him and Severus boyfriends. Childish rot, Severus would say since he preferred being called Partner or Companion. Remus was just glad he didn’t feel so alone anymore. (They eventually made it to bed, uninterrupted, one afternoon…when Eileen was away visiting her cousin in Wales).