DAMNATION
The blood was almost like a syrup as it slid down Lupin's throat. He wanted to vomit, to expell it from going any further, but the damage had already been done. He could feel the wolf inside of him devouring the foul substance as if it were life itself, and everything he had ever feared of becoming was beginning to take over. He understood now what it was like to thirst for blood, to feel as though you would die without it. The thought that he needed more itched within his brain and he couldn't fight it.
Lupin fell to the ground, curling in against himself as he snarled and growled wildly. Voldemort seemed pleased with himself and silently dismissed the Death Eaters as he returned to his throne. Peter was horrified by what he had seen but straightened himself quickly as his master sat down. One Death Eater lingered to the side and cautiously approached Voldemort.
"What shall I do with him, my Lord?" Snape asked, his voice impassive.
"Do as you wish with him, but make sure Dumbledore gets the message." Voldemort hissed, then stood and apparated with Peter, leaving Lupin to Snape.
Severus turned around, kneeling beside Remus and placing a hand on his shoulder. Lupin was trembling and growling quietly between painful sobs. Snape wasn't sure if he was in any physical pain, but he didn't doubt that it was mostly emotional. Remus looked up at Snape, his eyes the colour of amber rather than their normal greyish tint.
"Can you apparate?" Severus asked gently. He received only a nod and waited for Lupin to apparate first.
Remus lay on the floor of his room with one thought on his mind. Blood. He looked at his hands and saw the blood of the girl and without another thought began licking at it greedily. The taste was even more metalic now that it had almost dried, but it seemed to satisfy the craving within him for the moment.
Pushing himself off the floor, Remus looked around. He felt more on edge than he normally did, but otherwise he seemed okay. He wanted a shower more than anything, but he paused at the bedroom door. What if someone saw him? What would happen if he saw them? Would he want to attack them and tear at their flesh? Lupin shuddered at the thought, horrified by the images that filled his mind, and ashamed that it had caused his thirst to flare up once again.
Remus sank down to the floor against the door and covered his face with his hands. I've become a monster, he thought silently. A single teardrop slipped from his eye and he wiped it away angrily. He wondered what would happen when Dumbledore and the others found out, and sighed in resignation. They would ask him to leave. He was more of a threat to them now than an asset.
A sudden pop made Lupin look up and he was surprised to see Snape standing before him, still clad in his Death Eater robes, but without the offensive mask. For a moment, Severus seemed unsure, but then he sank down to his knees before Remus.
"Dumbledore knows." He began and Lupin buried his face again. "Listen, Lupin, as you know I am quite extraordinary with Potions and I have done extensive research on the Wolfsbane Potion. If my work is correct, then I believe I can better the potion so that you can keep the blood thirst at bay."
Remus looked up hopefully, "Tell me I heard you right, Severus."
"It has never been tested, but my theory is probable." He hesitated before continuing. "It will take me quite a while to make the brew, and the normal wolfsbane will be utterly useless to you now, which means that when the full moon arrives, your urges will be even stronger than ever, and may stay just as strong one the moon begins to wan again."
"If you think you can do it, Severus, please do. I cannot live like this, but even death will not spare me." Lupin's voice shook with fear and Snape nodded his agreement before disapparating. "Oh, Padfoot, if ever I needed you beside me, now would be that time."
Chapter Four
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