Back to the Pub

[ensnared_senses]

12 September, 1999, late afternoon

Severus looked to see who else was about as he walked in; he noticed Hagrid secluding himself in a dark alcove -- as well as a half-giant could seclude himself, anyway -- with his nose in a bucket. The Weasley twins were also present, looking as if they were up to something, which was nothing new. Severus decided that he would make certain whatever he ate or drank didn't leave his sight as long as they were in the room.

He had taken pains with his appearance, using a shampoo that helped with his hair's natural oiliness so that it didn't look greasy and lank for once, and a tooth-whitening powder. He couldn't do anything about his sallow complexion except perhaps get out in the sun more, which he wasn't willing to do for the sake of vanity, and he didn't intend to go so far as to have his teeth straightened either. Nor had he changed his wardrobe, wearing the same austere, concealing clothes that he always did. Change was all very well and good, but he preferred it in gradual increments, and considering the events of the weekend, he thought he'd had quite enough change for the present.

The specials of the day were the ubiquitous pea soup and something called a Frozen Squid. Since he hadn't got to enjoy his soup yesterday, Severus ordered a bowl and, on impulse, ordered a Frozen Squid as well for the sake of variety. If he didn't like it, he would switch back to brandy or absinthe.

With food and drink in hand, he scanned the room for a suitable table. Instead of seeking out a secluded table, he moved to a more visible one -- still near the wall, but not shrouded in shadow or hidden behind a pillar. Thus settled, he tucked into his food.

The Frozen Squid, he decided, was not bad at all.

Bill came into the pub shortly after Severus. He saw his twin brothers, and grinned. "Where have you nutters been," he muttered to himself, resolving to go into their pranks as soon as possible. But he had another need now, one he was nervous about, but something that had to be done.

He wasn't really used to having a case of the nerves about anything, but he needed something from someone who probably despised him. Still, perhaps there was something Bill could do to get Severus to help him with the memory. Something. Anything. Perhaps he could start with a drink.

The object of his search was at the Leaky already. He walked up to Severus' table, standing rather awkardly. "Hello, Severus. We haven't talked in a while, I realize - but I have a favour to ask. And please hear me out before you tell me to fuck off, okay? It's not personal, it's business, I promise."

Severus turned his head slowly to look up at Bill, his expression closed and forbidding. It had indeed been on the tip of his tongue to tell Bill to piss off, even though he knew his animosity towards Bill was irrational. Lupin could shag whoever the hell he wanted. Damn him.

Inwardly, Severus grumbled at the unwanted intrusion, but "business" probably meant "Order business", and so he gestured to the chair across from him. "What do you want?"

"Thank you for listening," Bill said. "Look, I am not sure who else can help. You know I wouldn't bother you about it if it wasn't potentially important. It's about...well, I appear to have a modified memory of something that happened before the War ended. I remember something that, apparently, could not have happened - an Auror confirmed this to me last night. I was wondering if there was a way that you - in your capacity at the only Legilimens I know other than Dumbledore, and I'm not going to ask him about this and get him all in a knot if I can help it - can help me determine anything about it. And, possibly, what's being hidden, but I don't want to trouble you much."

Bill had a bit of a lump in his throat, because he could see the hostility in Snape's eyes. Perhaps the "fuck-off" option would have been easier...

"A modified memory?" Severus raised one eyebrow, his intellectual curiosity piqued in spite of his dislike. He never could turn down a challenge -- it was one of his weaknesses. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try."

"Okay..." Bill said, even more nervous now that Snape seemed to be interested in the problem. "Here's what I know. I have a scar - um, a scar of a skull, the same mark that we saw floating above houses that Death Eaters hit. I got it right before the War ended. My memory is of Lucius giving it to me in a duel, using Morsmordre. But Tonks explained to me yesterday that Lucius was in Azkaban at the time I remember the duel. I'm kind of forced to conclude foul play, not only for obvious reasons, but because the memory is so clear and strong when other memories about that time are rather weak. I'd really like to know what's being hidden and how I got this scar, but I'd honestly just appreciate verification that I'm not insane. What do we need to do?"

Severus listened intently, frowning but not in anger. This was an interesting puzzle; he knew of one or two people capable of modifying memories rather than simply Obliviating them, but he'd never had the chance to see the results for himself, and he wondered if this was their handiwork.

"I can take a look right now, if you like," Severus replied. "It's a relatively simple procedure." He bared his teeth in amusement, but it couldn't be called a smile. "As long as you don't fight me."

Bill thought a minute, worrying about the look on Snape's face. There was a fresh set of memories in there that he didn't particularly want Snape snooping in, but his life was generally an open book. And if Snape found those memories, well. He couldn't help it if Snape might be snooping in the wrong places. "Okay," Bill agreed, "I will do my best to not...fight it. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this."

Severus scowled and waved one hand irritably. "I'm not doing it for you. I simply want to satisfy my own curiosity. I know who might have done this, and I want to confirm it and see the results for myself, nothing more."

Drawing his wand, he leaned forward, fixing Bill with an unwavering stare as he aimed. "Legilimens!"

Bill was suddenly not in control. He felt a presence pushing into his mind, and had a natural urge to resist; after all, he was a cursebreaker and had spent his life attempting to rebuff such unnatural advances. He struggled to *not* struggle, and tried to relax as he felt the spell - Snape - in his mind.

Was this what happened to him? he wondered. Did someone else do this to him? Had he been hurt in other ways? Bill tried to push down the fear, and just trust that Snape would do the right thing.

He closed his eyes, and began to see scenes from around the time the War ended in his mind. Most of them were very familiar; teaching younger men and women to block common curses, being in the Ministry, Order meetings, nights out with friends. Suddenly there was a memory he didn't have at all. Snape must have sensed that this was new, because it was in full force very quickly.

Bill was strapped, naked, face down in a dark room. A man Bill didn't recognize had his wand out, cutting him, making him scream. The man would caress him lovingly with each cut, as if admiring his handiwork.

"You're His, now," the man was saying. "Oh, you won't remember why, but you'll know when you look in the mirror or when you take a lover or when you sit down in that cozy chair, won't you? Bastard. You won't dare cross us again."

Bill was trembling visibly as he remembered the man casting a Memory charm, and tears came to his eyes. He jerked away from Snape, knocking over the chair. "What was that?" he said, a little wild-eyed. "I think I need a whole bottle of Firewhiskey now. Was that what happened to me? Was that real?"

Severus blinked, momentarily disoriented at the sudden shock of being knocked out of Bill's mind, and it took a moment before he realized Bill was speaking.

"Yes," he said at last. "That was the real memory. The man you saw -- the man who altered your memory -- was Horatio Brocklehurst. A Death Eater. Dead now, I believe, although I'm sure you can confirm that with the Ministry if you wish to make certain."

He reached for his Frozen Squid and downed the remains, but it wasn't enough; he wanted something stronger. Poking around in someone else's mind was an intimacy he didn't enjoy, especially when it yielded results like this.

Bill struggled to get himself under control, and finally stopped shaking. "I..." he turned to Tom at the bar, spread apart his hands about the size of a bottle of Firewhiskey, and looked over to Snape. "Whatever you're drinking and eating today? On me. Least I can do. I know you didn't do it for me, but...please let me do that much."

Bill had a lot to think about, now, but he was surprised enough that Snape had actually done anything to help him that he figured the best thing to do now was to walk away while he had a chance. "I'm going to get pissed. Please, do the same, on me."

"Fine," Severus replied, his tone clipped and icy. The puzzle was solved, his curiosity had been satisfied, and he had no desire to have any further dealings with Lupin's playmate. "Now piss off."

Bill managed a weak smile - that was more like it, and made him feel better - and bowed. "As you wish," he said, going off to a table near where Remus and Draco Malfoy were talking to do some thinking.

Severus pushed aside his empty glass and turned his attention back to his food, giving himself time to settle his mind and push aside what he had seen.

A quick glance around showed him that Draco had arrived and was currently staring at Lupin. Severus scowled and looked away. Perhaps Weasley was right; getting pissed didn't seem like such a bad idea at that.

--

Remus had been in The Leaky for several hours, writing diligently in a bound book. A tumbler and a half-full bottle of Firewhiskey sat by his elbow, fueling the creative burst which had been pouring forth. He was so intent on his writing that he had noticed very little going on around him, but he felt content, lost in the fictional world that poured forth beneath his quill.

He paused, taking a large swallow from his glass, mulling over his plot. His eyes widened as he noticed for the first time Severus and Bill talking together at a nearby table. He felt a moment of panic as he wondered exactly what the two of them might possibly be discussing, but he forced it down, taking another healthy swig. And another.

Oh, bugger all. So much for his writing.

Draco had left the bar early the previous night, having found nobody to really take his interest. Professor Snape had remained sober and hunched over in private, not very conducive to conversation, and the wolf had left before Draco had been able to make his move, and so he'd made his way to Muggle London and had engaged in rather a lot of 'dancing' with an attractive boy, who had consented to a quick and dirty blowjob in the lav. That one he actually remembered, because Muggle drinks were never able to get him quite as drunk as Wizarding ones.

But tonight...he grinned to himself as he adjusted his black shirt, nearly see-through and clinging attractively to his form, knowing he looked good and certain that this time, he wouldn't have to settle for a Muggle for his entertainment.

The door to the pub opened, and Remus' eyes were drawn in that direction, as he tried to distract himself from staring at Severus and Bill. His eyebrows went up in surprise as he noticed Draco Malfoy make a entrance.

There was no other term for it. The blond flowed into the room as though he owned it - which, had Lucius not currently been in the position he was, might not have been out of the realm of possibility. He looked... well, good didn't begin to describe it. And it was obvious that Draco was well aware of that as well.

Remus took another deep drink from his glass. He would not ogle former students. Hadn't he just castigated Severus for the same thing only yesterday? But it wasn't his fault, really. He was only human, and he had an appreciation for good looks. Looking was fine. Touching... no. That was a definite no. He was just rattled at seeing the man he was in love with deep in conversation with his most recent - only recent - lover. That would rattle anyone. Draco was off limits.

He took another drink, just to underscore the point.

Draco sauntered over to the bar to collect his first drink of the evening, coolly scanning the room as he went. He saw Professor Snape there again, this time in conversation with...oh, another Weasley. Why was everyone entranced with Weasleys? At least it was one of the more attractive ones - not that that was saying much, but...Draco turned away, only to see MORE Weasleys, the twins, looking subterfugic. He'd entertained the idea of a Weasley sandwich once when he was really drunk, but...he shuddered, gaze settling instead on the wolf, who was once again sitting alone, drink in hand, looking thoroughly miserable.

Well then.

Draco arrived at the bar, lip curling as he noted the special...SQUID. Honestly. He ordered himself a frozen Mai Tai, heavy on the rum, and fixed his eyes on the back of Lupin's head as he waited.

Remus was distracted from Draco by the sight of Severus pulling his wand on Bill. He relaxed only marginally when Bill was unperturbed by the action, and was thrown almost into a panic when he distinctly saw Severus say Legilimens.

Sweet Merlin! What in the hell is he trying to see... and why is Bill allowing it?

The panic didn't lessen when, as Remus watched in horror, Bill overturned his chair. The werewolf half-rose from his seat, ready to sprint over to see what in the bloody hell was going on, when Bill and Severus feel into earnest discussion.

Oh. It hadn't been about him, then. Thank Merlin for that!

Remus subsided into his seat, taking another deep drink and watching as Bill left and sat at another table. Another drink followed that, as he speculated what Bill could have been asking Severus to look for in his memories. At least it didn't have anything to do with him. He started to relax, relieved.

Then he suddenly stiffened again, eyes widening once more. Bloody hell. It didn't matter what Bill had asked Severus to look for! Severus was a powerful Legilimens, he could have seen anything.

"Bloody hell," he groaned, dropping his head into his hands. He peeked out through his fingers, but Severus sat alone, not looking in his direction, giving no indication what he may or may not have witnessed in Bill's mind. And while he knew Severus was quite aware that he and Bill had been together, the thought of Severus actually seeing...

Remus shuddered. Then he took another drink. Merlin, this was turning out to be one hell of a night.

Oh, the delicious tension in the other man's shoulders was just begging for fingers and lips, Draco thought as he reclined against the bar, running one long-fingered hand through his hair. He followed the wolf's gaze to Professor Snape and the Weasley, who seemed to be engaged in some sort of staring contest with the table - he briefly toyed with the idea of approaching him instead, but his sights were set, and that sparkle of silver nipple ring flashed behind his lids as he raised his hand to order another one of whatever Lupin was drinking, and then scooped up both glasses and strolled over in Lupin's direction, fixing his face into a predatory smirk.

Remus continued to drink, watching Severus eat, a cold knot in his stomach from the tension. He became aware of footsteps behind him, and half turned in his seat to see Draco Malfoy sauntering in his direction, a sensual smile curving a mouth that had been made for sin.

I am pissed, Remus thought muzzily. Or rapidly on my way there. Oh bugger.

"Mr. Malfoy," he said with dignity, inclining his head. "My, how you have grown."

Oh, you've no idea, Draco thought to himself with a slight broadening of his smile.

"Mr Lupin," he murmured, offering up a slight bow, although his eyes lingered on Lupin's face for an extra few moments before flickering downward to complete the bow. "How you've...changed." He let his eyes slide up the length of Lupin's body as he straightened, and then fixed silver eyes on Lupin's face and blinked once, languidly.

He held up the drink, letting it catch the light so it winked and sparkled hypnotically - a good trick to entice tipsy patrons into drinking more. "I hope you don't mind if I join you? I took the liberty of buying you a drink."

Remus wasn't at all certain that taking a drink from Draco Malfoy was a good idea. Nor was he completely certain why the young man seemed to have picked him - him - out of all the patrons in the place. Still, good idea or not, he found himself reaching for the glass anyway.

He needed a distraction, after all, to take his mind off what Severus might have seen in Bill's mind. As long as he didn't leave the pub, nothing could happen. Safe as houses.

"Thank you, Draco," he said, raising the glass. "Er... would you like to join me?"

Draco let the slightest hint of surprised pleasure touch his expression, although he was actually very much unsurprised. After all, who in their right mind could resist his charms?

"Thank you," he murmured, sliding gracefully into the seat next to Lupin, although there were two other seats at the table as well. "I should be delighted." He raised his own glass, tapping it lightly against the other man's, and flicked out his tongue to catch the straw, drawing it into his mouth for a deep sip. "Mmmm."

Bugger.

Remus watched the younger man sip at his drink as though he were performing a licentious act upon it.

Sweet Merlin, he thought, downing the contents of his own glass in a single gulp.

Draco savoured the drink as it slid past his palate and down his throat, eyes shut and head tipped back as the fruity coolness brought back memories of white, sandy beaches, cool, clear ocean, tanned skin hot and slick against his...

His eyes fluttered open and fixed intensely on Lupin, who was looking rather flushed and who seemed to be once again without a drink.

Good, he thought slyly, tilting his head.

"Oh dear," he breathed, resting his hand over Lupin's on the glass. "You must have been awfully thirsty. Another, then?" A flash of pale wrist in the dim light as he ordered another round, his other fingers still lingering atop Lupin's.

Draco's hand on top of his was warm, almost hot, and Remus had to suppress a shiver. Part of him wanted to get up and leave before he did something irredeemably stupid. Another part told wanted to stay, to prove that he was almost forty years old and could bloody well withstand the temptation of a man half his age.

"Yes, another," he heard himself saying. Apparently he had something to prove.

Draco shifted slightly in his seat with a rustle of fine fabric and a slight tightening of his hand over the other man's. He reached for his drink and another fortifying sip - didn't want to be too drunk tonight, because he wanted to savour every moment of this - before turning toward Lupin, a soft smile touching his cold-reddened lips.

"I never got the chance to tell you how...entranced I was by your performance the other night," he murmured, eyes flickering demurely (well, as demurely as he could manage - he might have been a good actor, but there was only so far that skill could stretch) over Remus' face.

Performance?

Remus was confused for a moment, the amount of alcohol he had consumed dulling even his thought processes. Then it hit him, and he smiled, not seeming to notice Draco's hand still on his.

"Did you? I love that song. It means... well, it means a great deal to me," he said, eyes flicking quickly towards Severus, and then away. No, he wasn't going to look over there again and drive himself insane with wondering.

"It's Muggle," he continued, nodding to emphasize the point. He picked up his freshened drink, taking a sip and launching into teacher mode. "An old band. Love Spit Love. Isn't that a marvelous name for a band? A brilliant play on words."

He was babbling now. Excellent.

But Draco was hardly surprised. He was only about two thirds of the way through his Mai Tai, and his former professor had already had at least two and a half, if not more.

"Love Spit Love," Draco murmured thoughtfully, leaning a bit closer again and darting his tongue out to moisten his lips. "I think I would prefer Love Swallow Love, personally."

"I need another drink," Remus said, unnecessarily loudly.

I am in so much trouble. Help. The voice of reason was going down for the last time, and the drunken wolf waved it goodbye sadly.

Remus downed what remained in his glass, and sighed. His amber eyes were wide. "You know, I spent twelve years studying to properties of various intoxicants on the human body. Very interesting things happen. Lycanthropes, for instance have a remarkable tolerance for alcohol, normally. I can drink and drink and..."

He paused, blinking. "What was I saying?"

Draco blinked once, taking another sip of his drink as he studied the babbling man. "That's...very interesting," he breathed, sliding his fingers up over Lupin's wrist, pausing as he felt the fluttering pulse beneath his fingertips.

"Did you study...all...sorts of intoxicants?" he murmured, thumb drawing circles on the back of Lupin's hand as he gazed at the man from beneath curling, silvery lashes.

Draco was... petting him.

It had been a long time since someone had petted him, and Remus smiled, eyes fluttering closed so he could concentrate on the sensation of the light caress on his skin. He growled with contentment, the sound rumbling low in his throat, and his head fell to one side and right onto Draco's shoulder.

"S'nice," he said. "Very nice."

Draco's eyes widened a tad at the sudden increased contact. Not that it was entirely unexpected, of course, but...he certainly hadn't expected such an...easy acquiescence, nor one quite so...affectionate.

He could do hot, and sexy, and fast, and slow, and thorough, but affectionate...

He took a large gulp of his drink, cooling his insides, and signaled for another as he forced himself back under control. Have to stay cool.

He glanced down at Lupin's face to make sure the other man hadn't seen any of that, and relaxed as he found those eyes shut, fingers continuing their steady strokes across his hand and wrist, slipping up his arm a bit to caress the inside of his forearm, the soft skin of the crook of his elbow.

Remus continued to growl softly, oblivious to everything but the warmth of the alcohol in his system and the warmth of the body next to him. It was nice, but.. it could be nicer. Yes, indeed it could.

Sliding further sideways, Remus pulled himself off his chair and shifted until he was in Draco's lap, wrapping his free arm around the blond's shoulders and burying his head in the crook of Draco's neck. He gave a gusty sigh of contentment, relaxing into the cuddle happily.

Now that was definitely unexpected. Draco managed not to stiffen (well, not his muscles, anyhow), and drained the rest of his glass just as another drink appeared on the table, which he also collected and sipped from strongly.

Lupin's weight was warm and pleasant, but very...close, and the arm around his neck was equal parts pleasant and stifling. But the wolf smelled good, that was for sure, and his body was firm and strong against Draco's, and...

Draco ran a hand down his back, two fingers tracing his spine.

The caress down his back felt so good, and Remus growled again, wriggling into the caress like a puppy.

"Mmm..." he sighed, warm breath gusting against Draco's neck. "Smells good." Remus tongue flicked out against the warm skin of Draco's neck. "Tastes good, too."

Draco sucked in a breath at the sensual flicker of tongue over his throat - a weak spot of his, really - and pulled Lupin a bit closer with one hand as he lifted his glass to his lips with the other and took a long swallow, tilting his head back with the slightest hint of a moan. Liquid heat and frosty drink pooled in his belly, leaving him goosepimpled and sensitive, and his hand slid up into Lupin's hair, carding through the thick, wavy strands.

Remus nuzzled against Draco, still growling happily. The hand in his hair felt so good, and he wrapped his other arm around Draco, clinging onto the blond.

He rubbed his nose against Draco's throat, liking the sounds he got in response to his actions.

This time, the sound Draco made was more of a throaty whimper-slash-growl. He swallowed hard, setting his nearly empty glass down on the table, hyperaware of everywhere the other man was pressed up against him. But instead of feeling stifling, now it just felt good, and he bent his head to that fall of hair, breathing hotly against the other man's head as he continued to stroke him firmly.

If there were anything more pleasant in life, Remus was far too pissed to remember what it was.

His hands moved into Draco's hair, running his fingers through the silken strands, delighting in the soft spill of it through his fingers.

"Feels good, too," he murmured huskily. "You're good. Really good."

The compliment added to Draco's already swirling senses, and he smirked, relieved to now be back on familiar ground. A compliment, he knew how to answer.

"Oh," he breathed, dipping his head so his voice spilled across Lupin's ear, "you don't know the half of it." He released his glass and brought cool fingers to the other man's face, caressing the high cheekbones, the strong, lean jaw, the full, parted lips.

Shivering at the cold, damp fingers on his skin, Remus tilted his head back, smiling. He sighed, tongue flicking out to taste the finger that stroked his lips.

Images danced behind his closed eyelids, and he nipped down on the finger, not hard enough to hurt, but playfully. He felt wonderfully relaxed.

Recognising that he'd thoroughly brought the other man into his thrall, he smiled, parting his lips and darting out his tongue to taste the heady flavour of maleness and sweat and arousal against Lupin's throat.

He rasped a thumb over one cheek, trying to keep his breathing under control as he leaned close and murmured, "Perhaps we should retire to somewhere more comfortable...Remus?"

A silken voice was speaking to him, breath warm on his ear. "Yes," he said, not caring what he was agreeing to, so long as he didn't have to move. "Yes, anything."

Draco felt a thrill thrum through his veins at that ardent answer, knowing he could do anything to the other man and he'd like it, and gathered the warm, firm body more closely against his own.

"Hold on tight," he whispered, reaching for his wand. "You're in for the ride of your life."

And with a softly murmured spell, he Apparated them away.