8th May 2007 Exchange Entry - Any Other Way
FIC FOR: darkshimmer
FROM: odogoddess
TITLE: Any Other Way
PAIRING: Snape/Shacklebolt, Snape/Lupin
RATING: NC-17
WORDCOUNT: 6,670
WARNINGS: Slavery, humiliation, bondage, voyeurism, h/c, hand job, rimming, borderline dub-con
SUMMARY: Given to Remus in payment of a life-debt in lieu of life in Azkaban, Severus slowly comes to terms with being a slave.
DISCLAIMER: The world of HP and it's characters belongs to Rowling. The author of this fic has borrowed them for the purposes of storytelling. No profit was or will be made.
AUTHOR NOTES: I really did try for bleak, but Remus simply refuses to have a bleak outlook. Otherwise, I hope it's acceptable. Happy Masturbation Month!



* * * *


Severus kept his eyes on the floor, on his master's shabby shoes. He felt an unaccustomed and unexpected sense of shame at knowing his owner was not a man of means.

He nearly had been, but when Potter refused him as a twenty-year servant in reparation of his war crimes, the next claimant the Ministry was willing to consider was Remus J. Lupin, as a surviving member of the Order Of the Phoenix and someone with a life debt owed him by Snape.

Snape had admitted with no small amount of reluctance that the werewolf had fired a blocking hex that had saved his life during the firefight at Hogwarts on the night he had killed Albus Dumbledore. Lupin informed the Wizengamot that he had not known at that time, that Snape was a traitor or a murderer. He had acted at the time with the belief that Snape was a fellow Order member in trouble and automatically gone to his aid. The fact it was accidental did not matter. Nor did the fact that Snape had killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore's own orders. Murder was murder, and a life debt had been accrued.

The deeds were done, verified by witnesses and Severus Snape himself, and so he was remanded to the custody of Remus J. Lupin for a period of twenty years servitude as punishment for his crimes.

Until that time, he was Lupin's slave.

What this meant, aside from the glowing red DE spelled into his forehead and magically bonded to Lupin's intent, was a collar and chain in public, or if his owner permitted him out alone, a collar and leg irons.

Snape devoutly hoped Lupin would not need him to go out on his own.

It also meant he had to ask for anything he needed. The Servitus spell, cast by Lupin himself before the Ministry official, ensured Snape could not do anything without his permission. Not even to go to the loo.

It also meant addressing his owner as Sir or in the manner his owner asked, or have the Servitus take effect.

Snape fought impotent fury at the knowledge, but there was nothing to be done. It was either that or life in Azkaban. He was a wizard. He was only 39. He would only be 59 when he gained his freedom, still young by wizarding standards and with nearly a hundred years of life ahead of him. Or he could spend the next a hundred and twenty years in desolate isolation in Azkaban. He swallowed down his anger until it turned into a queasy ball of heartburn and kept his thoughts to himself.

Lupin did not do him the disservice of walking him through the streets like a chained animal. They Flooed directly to Grimmauld Place. This surprised Snape.

"You-- we live here?"

The Servitus made him gag, and then cough, before he abruptly remembered to add, "Sir."

Lupin nodded. "Sirius left it to Harry. Harry allowed the Order to use it. He doesn't like the place and has his own home. After the war, he gave it to me."

Snape nodded, then the Servitus kicked in again and he choked out, "Thank you, sir."

"You may call me Lupin when we are alone. But call me Sir at all other times."

"Yes, s-- Lupin."

"Good. Now. Let's wrap up some matters before anything else." Lupin gestured him to sit on the couch after he sat in an armchair by the fire. Snape did.

"First, I don't want to have to give you permission for every damn thing, so you are free to eat and drink when you wish, unless we are not alone. You are free to use the loo as needed without permission unless we are not alone. You are free to sleep without seeking permission when you are tired, unless we are not alone. You will have tasks here, but hopefully not onerous ones. You will do them to the best of your abilities without complaint. You will keep your own room, preferably tidy, and you may read whatever you wish unless it is a book on Dark Arts. That is not my proscription, but the Ministry's. All such books have been removed from the premises anyways."

"Si-- Lupin. What tasks am I to be given?"

"I'm getting to that. You will be allowed to brew Potions, but only under supervision. I would have had you be responsible for brewing Wolfsbane for me, but some of the ingredients are prohibited to you by the Ministry. No Dark Arts or dangerous ingredients allowed. However, I don't see why you couldn't brew all our household needs potions and any medicinal potions that don't fall under Ministry purview. You will also be partially responsible for cooking, clean up and laundry. The ministry would prefer you work without a wand, but I see no reason you cannot be allowed a moderated wand of the sort prisoners are given to attend to their work details. So to that end," he reached into a pocket and extended a short length of thick polished wood.

Snape took it uncertainly. "What is it? Sir."

"Olive wood, unicorn tears. For purity of intent. That wand can't be used for any dark spell, or any spell cast with dark intent."

Snape stared at it, feeling his throat start to contract, but it was the hated feeling of wretched gratitude and not the collar. He finally nodded.

"Thank you, Lupin."

What was worse was he meant it, he knew. The future could have been bleak, indeed, if he was owned by almost anyone else.


* * * *


The next morning, Snape was lectured by a chagrined Lupin.

"Whilst I appreciate the breakfast you made very much, Severus, you just cooked several days worth of food. Despite the fact I have my own home now, I'm a man of limited means. You must be far more frugal in future. One egg each. Porridge, preferably, for most days. And we re-use the morning leaves in the strainer for our afternoon tea."

"Yes. Sir."

Snape seethed as he ate.


* * * *


"Severus, the laundry is impeccable. I'm impressed."

Snape waited, already knowing by that tone that Lupin had far more to say and that he probably would not like it.

"We cannot afford to do laundry so frequently, though. The soap alone is exorbitant and you only wore your clothes once before washing them. I only wash the clothes and sheets once a week unless they're soiled."

Snape scowled, this was easy for Lupin to say; he actually had more than one change of clothes, even if they were threadbare. Remus was still lecturing.

"We air out our clothes during the week and re-wear them, again, unless they're soiled."

"No wonder you always look so pathetically shabby," he muttered, accepting the choking sensation he knew would follow.

Lupin watched the collar choke him, a look of hurt and dismay on his face, before he got up to stroke the DE on Snape's forehead, which instantly stopped the collar's action.

"Not all of us are lucky. Not all of us have choices. You, of all people, should know this," was all he said before leaving the room.

Snape lay on his back next to the table full of folded laundry and wondered how they would manage. Lupin's means of earning any kind of living were severely restricted thanks to various laws enacted by Dolores Umbridge a few years back. Werewolves could not hold down most jobs in the Wizarding World except the most menial and even those were usually given to friend or family Squibs in a sort of nepotistic form of noblesse oblige among the working class wizarding world.

Which did not bode well for him, Snape knew.


* * * *


As the full moon approached, Remus ate less, Severus noted. He thought back over what he knew of werewolves and could not recall any reference indicating a loss of appetite before the full moon. Afterward, sometimes there was weakness and loss of appetite, but before, there was supposed to be a corresponding hunger surge. Still, Lupin ate little; so little that they would have twice the normal amount for their household budget the following week, Severus noted.

Or they did until the day Remus disappeared to return with a jar of familiar liquid that he was handling very gingerly.

"Hot," was all he said as he used gloved hands to carefully manoeuvre it to the kitchen table.

Snape said nothing. Wolfsbane was best taken hot, and magic interfered with it, which was why Lupin had not used a hovering charm or cooling charm to handle it.

Remus did not bother pouring it into one of the cups, merely opening the jar and tipping it to Severus.

"To our good health."

Snape nodded and shivered. This was not lost on Lupin.

"Not to worry. I'm going to lock myself in the cellar this evening."

Snape nodded again, but said nothing.





The next morning he waited until full day, and then went down to the cellar. He carried a blanket, a jar, and his wand.

Without a word, he laid out the blanket beside the aching, shivering man who lay naked on the floor, groaning.

He gently manoeuvred him onto the blanket, and then opening the jar, he scooped out a generous dollop of unguent and rubbed it between both palms, then proceeded to massage Lupin, starting with his back and shoulders, and moving his way along his limbs and torso.

He ignored the erection that Remus developed, although he rubbed unguent along his hips and groin muscles. He finished finally, by gently rubbing along his jaw, the joint he knew was most radically distressed during transformation.

Then he cleaned his hands with his wand, recapped the jar, and carefully levitated Remus up the stairs atop the blanket, putting him to bed.

Once he was asleep, Severus went downstairs and drank tea and ate cold toast and mulled over events.


* * * *


"Is the Black solarium still on the roof, Lupin?"

Remus blinked his surprise at breakfast the next day.

"I believe so. It's probably full of dead or rotting vegetation."

"I could clean it out, Lupin. We could use it."

"While I like the idea, Severus, I don't think flowers are very essential to the day to day."

"I was thinking more along the lines of herbs I could use for our potions, Lupin. Also foodstuffs. Tomatoes, onions, carrots and eggplants. It would save us money in the long run."

Lupin nodded. "Good idea that. It might not be fruitful to start, but in a year or two we could be eating from our own garden."

"Yes. And it would save money. Sir."

Remus looked at Severus, but his gaze remained firmly on his plate of watery porridge.


* * * *


Thankfully, Lupin chose to go shopping in the very early morning, avoiding most people. Snape avoided looking at anyone as he followed at the extent of his chain, which is why he nearly ran into Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Your slave appears tired," he said politely to Remus.

"It's early," Lupin said.

Snape winced as he realized that Lupin was picking through a box of vegetable discards, marked TWELVE FOR A SICKLE!

Kingsley stepped closer to Remus, despite the fact it was only three of them in the shoppe. Snape felt his blood freeze at his words.

"I know the restrictions are tough, Remus. I'd be perfectly willing to pay you fair market price for use of your slave, say every two weeks."

Lupin pursed his lips and hesitated, so Shacklebolt quickly added, "Under your supervision or mutually agreed upon spells or charms, of course."

"What did you plan on using him for? If may ask."

Kingsley looked amused.

"Should I spell it out here? Let's just say the same services I could get in Diagon's Bowery, but with a very specific concubine in mind."

Kingsley eyed Severus with a speculative gleam in his dark eyes.

"Well. You've certainly given me something to think about."

"Please keep it in mind, because I am definitely interested."

"I will. What, if I may ask, is fair market price?"

"The alley pro's earn around 12 galleons per customer."

"Twelve galleons."

"Yes. Every two weeks. But if it were to be a one-time event, I'd, of course, make it worth your while. Say... 75 galleons?"

Remus blinked, absently pulling Snape's chain. Severus moved to hunch by his side as quickly as he was able.

"I'll think about it."

Shacklebolt beamed.

"Do."


* * * *


"You're thinking of taking Shacklebolt up on his offer? Sir."

Lupin looked troubled, but he merely sighed.

"What I think is that we're both fond of eating at least two meals a day."

Snape said nothing, burning with shame and fear and hating every second of it, wishing he simply knew, even if he could not gainsay it.

Lupin did not seem to notice, his tone becoming distant, distracted.

"My Ministry War Funds stipend is barely enough to feed me, much less feed and keep two. Winter is coming on and you need clothing and warmer bedding, we're likely to need medicine... all things I can't guarantee us in the foreseeable future if nothing changes."

"I could make potions. You could sell them."

Remus turned to look at him, almost apologetically.

"I'm bending the law in allowing you to make our household potions, Severus. They would never let me sell anything you brewed. I couldn't even pass it off as my own as people know I'm not a brewer."

Snape stayed silent, refusing to consider his future if Lupin accepted this offer, looking away. The room was silent for many long moments.

He almost didn't hear Lupin's murmur several moments later. He wished he hadn't.

"I could purchase Wolfsbane without skimping on any necessities, either."


* * * *


The next morning, after a bowl of watered down porridge and reheated tea that barely settled thanks to the miserable expression on Lupin's face, Snape finally snapped.

"Just send me, Lupin. I can't stand watching you weigh the matter any longer."

Lupin blinked.

"I'm not sure I can countenance that."

"Neither am I, but you're right - I'd rather not starve... or be turned into a werewolf because you couldn't afford your Wolfsbane, Lupin."


* * * *


To Snape's surprise, Lupin refused to leave him alone with the Auror.

Remus's smile was regretful.

"I take my responsibility for Severus very seriously. I don't want him marked nor seriously injured. He's valuable to me. I will not leave him alone in anyone's hands. It's nothing personal."

Kingsley's basso profundo laugh was just as Severus remembered it.

"But of course! I know what that's like. Everyone keeps an eagle eye on their new broom at first when anyone else asks to ride it, lest it lose its polish too soon."

Remus's lips quirked. "Just so."

"In that case, follow me.".





The location of the tryst gave them both pause, but Shacklebolt was beaming in anticipation.

Lupin had quietly nodded agreement, a disapproving expression in his eyes, but he merely turned and stripped Snape with a spell, then Scourgify'd him.

Severus burned with shame and tried not to cringe or hide his body. He knew his actions would reflect on Lupin and possibly be taken as cause to pay less. He forced himself to stand and wait. Lupin swiftly stepped out of the way and stood off to the side, as unobtrusively as possible.

They had both been chagrined when Shacklebolt had positioned him.

"If you wish to kill me, I'd prefer if you just did it," Severus declared.

Before Remus could admonish him for speaking out of turn, Kingsley had laughed, even as Severus began to choke.

"Spirited! I like that," he declared as he stroked the DE on Snape's forehead with surprisingly warm and gentle fingers. Snape shuddered.

"You needn't worry, either of you. This is just a bit of spice to sweeten my dish. I've no intention of harm, although I make no claims as to how you will feel on the morrow, aside from very well used."


* * * *


He clutched more tightly to the stone, pushing back from it, pushing into the heavy mass that threatened to split him, to rupture him...

"Not so eager to die, after all," the Auror intoned.

Snape said nothing. It wasn't like he could speak anyway with the collar nearly choking him, neck pulled back tight, drawing his back into a painful arch.

The thrusts Shacklebolt was making were causing him to grunt with every clench of those strong, meaty fingers on his chain. Sweat was gleaming from every pore due to his pain and exertion.

It was really unnecessary. The Ministry had assured his compliance with the spell that bound him to his owner. His owner had given him over for use. Severus was earning his keep with his arse and the sweat of his brow.

The thrusts and yanking on his chain grew almost vicious and he issued a strangled groan, clenching his strained fingers hard on the stone, terror forcing him to keep his attention lest he falter and fall into the stone archway and through the Veil that separated him from one world and the next.

This world might have turned to spattered shite, but it was shite he recognized, shite he could live through.

By all accounts, no one could live if they passed through the Veil.

Kingsley's climax was a shuddering pressure Snape could feel as clearly as those weighty bollocks that ground against his arse cheeks and his own bollocks. He could hear the filthy words the man murmured as he came, and feel the warm tickle of spunk as it seeped from him. He swallowed and fought to keep from cringing or vomiting, or worse, weeping.

Lupin still watched, and he knew Remus wanted him to please Shacklebolt. It was worth the entire rest of their year.

Severus nearly sagged with relief when the Auror withdrew and yanked on his chain, pulling him back from the Veil and onto his knees before the two men.

He heard the clink of chain, felt the cold links slide along his back and dared to glance up. Thick dark fingers dropped the chain into a pale, weathered hand; the hand of his master.

Nothing Snape had been through so far in his life had established that knowledge in his heart as well as his mind, until now... not even Voldemort marking him.

"Spirited," Shacklebolt said, a touch breathless. "I like that. In fact, I'll give you 15 more galleons because it was so very fine."

"I'm glad his service was pleasing," Remus said with a sense of calm Snape knew was a facade.

Shacklebolt grinned. "That it was! Well, thank you for the ride. I might well like another in future."

"We'll have to see."

"Here is the agreed on fee of 75. I'll owl you the rest this afternoon."




Severus managed to wait until they had Flooed back home before vomiting.


* * * *


Lupin said nothing as he cleaned him up, although he longed to. He felt wretched about the entire situation, but especially about the fact he had gotten extremely aroused at watching Severus submit and be taken.

Snape said nothing as Lupin washed him with his own hands and treated his various scrapes and bruises, although he closed his eyes and fought humiliation when Remus's fingers gently cleansed, then assessed his anus, and he was grateful when those fingers pulled away.

He did not hear Remus speak, but he felt the warmth of a healing spell as it dissipated throughout his opening. Snape trembled.

"There. Right as rain."

Snape said nothing, then choked out a "Thank you" before the Servitus could admonish him.

"Severus..."

"Leave it, Lupin. It's done. There's nothing to be said."

Remus didn't argue, but he did finally leave him alone, for which Severus was grateful.


He hated anyone seeing him cry.


* * * *


That night he discovered another aspect of the Servitus that had not occurred to either of them.

Severus had fallen asleep only to dream of his earlier experience, waking with a gasp as he could feel himself falling into the Veil.

Once he caught his breath, he angrily turned toward the wall and resolutely closed his eyes. He refused to allow the experience to affect him. He soon fell back asleep.

This time, however, he dreamt of Remus bathing him. His weathered hands were gentle as they stroked along his skin, and he felt himself harden as they stroked his cock.

Remus had not stroked him so long in reality, but in the dream, he kept stroking until Snape was achingly hard and Severus woke, gasping again, this time for an entirely different reason.

He was almost painfully engorged and he finally gave in and tried to reach down to gently stroke himself when the Servitus made him freeze. He tried again, but his hand would not get any further than his abdomen.

Even as he cursed and pulled his hand to his chest, the door to his room opened. Lupin stepped in with wand drawn.

"I can feel it, Severus. What were you trying to do?"

Snape glared, but felt his throat start to clench. Damn the spell!

"I... I needed to toss off, Lupin," he finally muttered, face heated with shame.

"Oh!" Remus calmed. "I guess that's not come up before, eh? I mean... oh, never mind! I..."

He sighed, and then to Severus's chagrin, sat on the edge of Snape's bed.

"Severus, I need to say this. I haven't slept a wink yet, and it's because of today. I, um, wanted to apologize for, um, not stipulating that Shacklebolt, um, make sure you ... well, found pleasure in it, too," Lupin finally managed to say. "I'm terribly sorry, but I guess I was so appalled about the whole thing--"

"Lupin."

"No let me say this. I feel wretched. I can't imagine how you must feel."

Snape said nothing.

"I'm a very poor owner. In every sense of the word."

Snape remained silent.

Lupin finally sighed.

"I'm sorry. I guess that's what I needed to say. I'm so very sorry."

He finally left the room. He had not, Severus noted, given him permission to wank, however, it no longer mattered. His erection had disappeared and felt like it might never return.


* * * *


It did return, however, a few days later, along with the urge to take care of it.

Severus excused himself to go to the loo, but whilst it allowed him to empty his bladder, when he tried to start actively stroking his cock, the Servitus froze his hand. He cursed.

His organ was not swayed by the spell, surging to fill his hand, but he could not stroke it. He shut his eyes and fought fear and rage and humiliation.

"Severus?"

The door creaked open a bit and he kept his back to it.

"I'm busy. Lupin."

"You're trying to do something I haven't given you permission for."

Snape's anger surged and he saw red. Stuffing himself back into his trousers and buttoning them, he turned, mouth pursed, and glared.

"Is that your way of telling me you won't allow me? Is the thought of me needing to toss off too dirty and sordid for you?" Snape began to choke as the Servitus took hold. "I may be a slave... but I'm still... a man!"

Severus fell to the ground, choking, and he pulled away even as Remus bent over him. Better, he thought, to die than go on like this.

He felt those calloused fingers stroke his forehead gently and gasped for breath as his throat opened up again. He lay gasping, glaring at Remus as those fingers continued to stroke. This had the effect of sending surges of pleasure through Severus's body.

His mark and their shared bond had the power not merely to provide pain, but diminishment of pain at the behest of his owner, that much he knew. This was the first time, though, that Severus had realized it could provide pleasure, also.

"Severus."

Snape said nothing, fighting the reaction, even as he craved the soothing warmth and the comfort those fingers were imparting. He felt his erection returning full force and trembled now.

"I didn't know what you meant. I wasn't saying I wouldn't give you permission. I forgot I hadn't given you permission the other night. I was so caught up in my own shame the thought didn't occur. I'm sorry."

Those fingers had not stopped stroking. Snape was unable to speak as the pleasure grew, his body responding to its master.

"How could you think I would deny you pleasure after what you've done for me, for us? That's the last thing I would do. You wank when you need to. I want you to feel pleasure, Severus, and without any shame. Just pure pleasure," Remus whispered, as his fingers shifted from Severus's forehead to his temple before he gently outlined the letters on that furrowed forehead with his thumb.

Snape gasped, then convulsed as orgasm struck without warning. He jerked and trembled and tried to catch his breath as semen flooded his underpants and pleasure flooded his body.

"Severus..."

He was unprepared for this level of fulfillment. He had never had so powerful a climax, nor had he ever felt so ashamed.

"Y-your touch," he managed to mumble. He deliberately withheld the honorific for a few moments and felt relieved when the Servitus contracted his throat. "Sir."

The momentary pain had grounded him and he began to sit up, grimacing at the sodden mess in his underdrawers. He fought the urge to shake off Lupin's hands, which were helping him sit. It would only bring about renewed pain and he felt he had quite enough to deal with.

"Lupin," he finally growled. There was a warning twinge from the Servitus, but he could still breathe. He sighed. "Just let me... clean up."

Remus nodded and sat back, looking at his hands whilst Severus shakily waved his wand and cast the necessary charms in a somewhat breathless voice.

"I'm sorry if that embarrassed you," Lupin finally said. "But I'm not sorry you found pleasure. It was never my intention to curtail that for you. I'm not a monster."

"Except on full moon nights," Snape muttered, then met his eyes. "Sir."

To his surprise, Lupin did not bristle. His expression, if anything, was amused.

"Yes, and if I ate you on any other night, the principle fluid involved would not be blood."

With this salvo, Remus left the room, leaving a stunned and rather nerveless Snape.


* * * *


The galleons went a longer way than Snape had expected. Lupin went to Muggle London. Since Severus's glowing slave mark and the chains required in public would raise too many questions, Remus went alone. He returned with new and practically new clothes he'd scrounged from charity shoppes for a pittance.

Severus was bemused to discover Lupin had bought him clothes in dark colours, charcoal, dark green and blue and purple. The only things he could consider light were the jeans and even those were a faded black and immensely comfortable. The boots he'd purchased, once magically resized, were also comfortable.

"And all with less than one Galleon," Remus enthused.

Severus remembered where the money had come and his pleasure dimmed considerably.




At dinner that night, Lupin eyed him.

"You've been awfully quiet."

"What would you like me to say? Sir."

Lupin put his fork down.

"Severus, I understand how you feel--"

"So you've prostituted yourself for food before, Lupin? I wish I'd known that."

Lupin drew in a deep breath and fought to keep from reacting.

"I had rather thought we had gotten past the animosity."

Snape looked at him incredulously.

"You can't be serious, Lupin. You honestly feel we'd have a congenial relationship? I. Am. Your. Slave. Sir."

Lupin glared at him.

"So you want me to treat you like a slave, with no consideration of your feelings?"

Snape scowled.

"You and your friends never let me forget what I was when we were in school, Lupin. Why should that change now?"

"That was a long time ago. We're not boys anymore."

"No. I am a convicted murderer and a slave, and you are my owner. You can, and have, whored me out, Lupin. You even interfered with me in your bathroom. I have no rights, but what you allow me. I am grateful for my clothes and food and bed, but I do not wish to forget what I am. You are proscribed from earning a living, so I am your commodity. It may be necessary for me to be whored out again. So however pleasant you make my enslavement, I do not want to fool myself into forgetting this basic fact."

There was a moment of weighted silence before he said softly, "In fact, it might be of value, to both of us, Lupin, for you to occasionally remind us of our unique situation."

Remus studied the pale and austere face before him. It was carefully masked, revealing nothing of Snape's feelings. He finally nodded, lips pursed.

"Very well. In that case you're excused, Severus."

Severus nodded and told himself as he stopped eating and stood, that it was for the best.

"Go to my room. Take off your clothes. Wait for me."

He looked then to Lupin, but his face was as masked as his own had been a moment before. Oddly, a shiver ran through Snape's spine, but he merely nodded and left the kitchen.


* * * *


Severus trembled, although the room was not cold. It was dim for he had not turned on a light. He hated, almost more than anything, being made to feel on display.

He was naked, standing uncertainly before Lupin's bed when Remus stepped into the room. Wandlessly, he made the wall lanterns light, casting a warm glow throughout the dim room.

"Very good. Lie back on the bed, Severus."

Snape moved to the bed and sat down, scooting himself back until he lay with his head on a pillow. He did not look at Remus.

"Very nice. You're very symmetrical, Severus, did you know that? Well-proportioned. The length of your legs and torso are evenly distributed. I noticed that the other day when you were with Shacklebolt."

Severus closed his eyes and fought the imagery that assailed him.

"Look at me, Severus."

He shivered convulsively, and then raised his eyes to defiantly meet Lupin's.

"Now. I want you to tell me one thing you admire about your body."

Severus frowned.

"I..."

"One thing. No matter how small it might be."

"I..." Severus swallowed. He shrugged. "My feet. They're... elegant."

"So are your hands. Long and elegant," Remus agreed. "Use them. Run your hands along your body."

Snape closed his eyes then, and obediently placed his hands on his chest, then ran them down to his hip bones and back up again.

"Tell me how it feels."

"L-like skin. Sir."

"You don't have to call me sir or Lupin or anything at all right now. Do that again and tell me more."

"I feel hair. I can feel my ribs."

"Warm or cold?"

"Cold," Severus admitted. He gasped as a warming charm suddenly wafted over him, causing him to open his eyes. "Thank you."

"How about your nipples. How do they feel?"

Snape swallowed. He reminded himself that he had asked for it, before forcing himself to answer.

"The skin is rough... pebbled."

"Rub them some more." Remus's voice was low and pleasant. "Now how do they feel?"

"H-hard."

"How does it feel to you?"

Snape closed his eyes tightly and finally choked out, "P-pleasant."

"Has anyone ever watched you do this?"

Snape shook his head.

Lupin nodded, then gestured with his hands.

"Sit up a little. I want you to feel your legs."

Severus did, running his hands along his legs, eyes still closed.

"Tell me."

"They... they feel like legs. I'm not sure what you want," Snape admitted.

"Of that I have no doubt," Lupin said. "Get on your hands and knees, facing away from me."

Severus froze momentarily, then opened his eyes and did it, feeling acutely aware of Lupin's eyes on him in the well-lit room.

"Put both pillows beneath your chest." Remus waited until he had done so. "Now lean on them and run your hands back and down to your arse. Feel it."

Shivering assailed Snape as he did this, but he complied. At least, he thought, the position hid his face.

"Tell me."

"I-it's warm. It's... firm and a little bony."

"It's beautiful. Quite pleasing to the view."

Severus said nothing. He heard a raspy sound like a jar being opened, and then saw Remus moving to stand beside the bed out of the corner of his eye.

"Reach your hand out, Severus, and get a bit of this on the tips of your fingers."

Snape reached out the hand nearest to Remus, found his fingers sinking into something silky and slippery. He withdrew them and waited.

"Now I want you to stroke gently along your anus."

Snape cringed, but his hand moved back even as his eyes closed again. His fingers hesitated at the cleft of his arse cheeks, and then slipped in a bit, complying with his instructions.

"Stroke gently, up and down. Tell me how it feels."

"I-it's... very warm. There are hairs. They're a little rough."

"Tell me how it makes you feel."

Severus bit his lip, fingers frozen.

"Keep stroking your opening and tell me, Severus."

He said nothing and the Servitus began to choke him. Severus fell sideways, then onto his back as his hands reached for his throat, burning with pain and shame and fear.

Remus watched him, an odd expression on his face.

"Tell me," he said implacably.

Severus swallowed painfully and managed to cry out, "Ashamed!"

He gasped for air and glared at Remus.

"It makes me feel ashamed," he breathed, a single tear sliding from his eye and slipping down his temple into his hair. He shuddered.

Lupin's expression did not change. He sat by Snape and his hand stroked the tear track free, then his fingers returned to stroke his forehead.

"I'm not asking how it makes you feel emotionally, Severus. I'm sure you feel shame, although I hope you eventually learn that you have a beautiful body and nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of. What I was asking of you, though -- what I wanted to know -- is how it makes your body feel."

Severus shuddered at the pleasurable feelings emanating from those fingers, which stroked the charmed initials on his forehead. Waves of warm pleasure ran down his spine and centered in his crotch. He gasped as his cock began to grow hard.

"Tell me."

"W-why are you doing this, Lupin?" he finally managed to murmur.

"Tell me."

"W-what is this in ... aid of?" he gasped.

"Just tell me what I want to know, Severus."

Snape's face screwed up and he fought his reaction, finally crying out, "It makes me excited! Damn you, it's making me aroused!"

"Now," Remus stopped stroking his forehead, looking only into Severus's eyes as he slowly opened them. "Tell me - do you like it?"

Snape fought to keep from shifting his hips and swallowed, catching his breath. He finally sighed.

"I can't deny it."

"Bravo, Severus." Remus stroked his forehead again and Severus arched his back. "Someone has always kept you under their thumb, haven't they? Your father, Malfoy, the Death Eaters, even Albus."

Snape could barely hear him through the lustful daze of sensations those fingers were stroking into him. Each brush of those fingers was as if it was being stroked along his aching, swollen cock.

"Still, it's comfortable, isn't it? Letting someone else have control. Someone else taking responsibility. You know, I think you were hoping someone would take you, would keep you out of Azkaban, but not like the others have. Someone that would want you for yourself, for what you alone could do. Am I right?"

Snape gasped, fought to say something, wanting to stop the powerful sensations even as he wanted to give in to them. He gasped again.

"Severus?"

"R-remus," he managed to croak.

Lupin brightened. "That's the first time you've used my given name." He gently traced the glowing initials. "You please me, Severus."

Snape cried out, convulsing as semen began to spurt from him, and then screamed as Remus's hand slipped down to take his cock into a firm grip and stroke out the remainder of his climax.

When it was over, as he lay trembling slightly, feeling boneless on the bed, Remus gently leaned over and began to lick him clean.

"Gods, but Severus you taste incredible."

He said nothing. He wasn't certain he could even speak after his shattering orgasm.

He gasped, though, as Remus finished licking up all traces of his semen and continued to lick downward, lapping at his bollocks.

"Mm... these are quite handsome."

Snape lay there uncertainly, as Lupin licked and gently sucked his scrotum, then trembled as that tongue slipped back and along his perineum.

"But I think I'm extremely overdressed and that you, my dear Severus, are in the wrong position."

Remus retrieved his wand, and soon he was as naked as Severus. Snape found himself hovering on his back, arse up and legs splayed wide to either side of Lupin's shoulders. Remus sat cross-legged on the bed, trying to appear a calm he did not feel; Snape's arse was so close the musky scent of him made Remus go achingly hard. He growled, causing Snape to jump, which made him smile.

"Tell me, Severus. How does this feel?"

Remus parted those firm cheeks and swiped his tongue from the top of his crack up toward his perineum in one stroke.

"Ah! It... wet."

"Yes. Keep telling me."

Remus began to lick all along his opening, wriggling the tip of his tongue along the pucker, whilst gently holding those firm, resilient arse cheeks with his large hands.

"It... it's g-good. It's... exciting."

"Good," Remus murmured, using his nose to rub Snape's perineum. He shifted briefly, there was a slight, unidentifiable sound, and then Severus felt those fingers sliding back along his cleft, this time slippery with lubrication. They stroked along his already sensitized opening and he shuddered.

"Oh, gods..."

"Is it good?"

"Yes."

Remus smiled as he gently worked a finger in to that tight channel and felt Severus jump.

"Easy. I won't hurt you."

He crooked his finger, seeking and finding that warm swell of flesh, not all that different from the rest of the tissue inside, but resilient and ever so slightly swollen. He caressed it and Snape arched and gasped.

"No, I won't hurt you. I want, as much as possible, to give you pleasure."

Snape writhed as Remus introduced another finger, then another, opening him gently, relentlessly. Not long after that, Lupin got up to his knees and placed his swollen erection to that moist, inviting entry. Severus, he noted, was hard once again.

"Look at me, Severus."

Black eyes, dazed with sensation, stared back at him.

"You are mine," he said, as he gently slid inside, and then took Snape's cock in his hand. "But you are not a slave. Not here. Not in this room."

He began to thrust, squeezing and pulling on that hard cock as he did. He kept speaking, even as Snape moved beneath him in mid-air, reaching for him, holding onto his arms.

"Outside this room the world may think what it likes, but in here, we will both know that you are mine, not because of slavery, but because you belong to me, entrusted to me by my own sense of duty to Albus, because he asked you to do what you did, and because you do not deserve Azkaban. Because you are honourable and allowed me to commit the unthinkable just so we would have food and clothing. Because you are you, Severus, and because I know that you need someone to accept you as you are."

There was silence then except for ragged breaths and the slap of skin as both men worked for their release.

When it finally came they both cried out -- out of sensation, but also at the loss of it. Soon they lay atop the bed, replete and exhausted.

Snape stirred as Lupin brushed lips against his forehead, sending one last wave of warmth and comfort through him.

"Lastly, Severus mine," Remus murmured against his mark. "Because we both know you would never accept submitting to me any other way."

Severus clutched at Remus's hand; the gesture rapidly accepted. After a moment, Lupin waved the lights off with his other hand, then turned to him.

His whisper was loud in the dark.

"Is that enough of a reminder?"

In silence and the dimness, his black eyes bright with emotion, Severus painfully swallowed and nodded.



* FIN *