FIC: Aftermaths, Part 78

[geri_chan]

Title: Aftermaths, Part 78
Rating: NC-17 overall, but most chapters are closer to PG-13
Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise, and a few other minor pairings
Word count: ~10,050
Warning: AU; written pre-HBP
Author's notes: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising
Summary: A confrontation in the courtroom between Lukas and Amos; Snape and Lupin have a picnic on the Astronomy Tower.

Part 77 (Previous chapters can be found under the aftermaths tag.)

***

Things were fairly quiet for the next couple of weeks. On one hand, Snape being under house arrest was one step closer to getting him arrested, but on the other, that made it more difficult for Williamson to frame him. Cyril Diggory was being very careful, too; Williamson wrote to Stewart Ackerley, asking him to keep an eye on the werewolf, and Stewart wrote back that Diggory was spending nearly all his free time in the company of his fellow teachers. Obviously he'd learned his lesson from the first incident, and was being careful to establish an ongoing alibi for himself. The only small consolation was that the werewolf didn't really enjoy being sociable, and the enforced companionship was getting on his nerves--Stewart reported that Diggory had been in a very bad mood lately, being irritable and short-tempered during class. And the other teachers, except for Lupin, weren't enjoying spending time with a grumpy werewolf, although they still took turns pulling "alibi duty". They were mostly sympathetic, and inclined to make allowances for his behavior under the circumstances. Except for Trelawney--it seemed that the werewolf had thrown her crystal ball across the room when she predicted that dire misfortune would befall him.

Williamson smirked; maybe things weren't so bad, after all. The werewolf was obviously on edge, and it probably wouldn't take much to provoke him into violence, which would then give the Aurors an excuse to arrest him. An attack on one of his pack members would probably do the trick, but Williamson found himself thwarted again. The pack didn't venture out of their townhouse unless they absolutely had to, and when they did, they Apparated or traveled by Floo, giving Williamson few opportunities to attack them unseen. He did not dare attack them at their residence, since he knew that Blackmore's elementals would be watching. On the bright side, a few more of the werewolves had lost their jobs, including the girl who worked at the Magical Menagerie. Parents buying familiars for their children made up a large portion of the shop's clientele, and what parent would want to bring their children to a shop where a dangerous beast worked? And Williamson had of course made sure that word got out that a werewolf was working there. Maybe if he could drive the rest of the employed werewolves out of their jobs, that would be enough to provoke Diggory into doing something foolish. Either that, or the werewolves would get desperate enough to resort to illegal methods of earning income, and the Aurors would be ready to arrest them when they did. But that would take time.

And Snape was the one that Williamson really wanted, not Diggory. But still, Snape was protective of the werewolves since his lover was one. Arresting Diggory or one of the other werewolves might be enough to goad Snape into breaking his confinement or doing something else that would get him arrested. Or maybe he could coerce one of the werewolves into testifying against Snape--not likely, since they were a stubborn lot, but in Williamson's experience, there was always one person in a group who would fold under pressure, who could be threatened or bribed. A parent, for example, might do anything to protect their child and avoid being separated from them, especially when they were the only parent that the child had left to depend on. And there were at least two single mothers in Diggory's pack.

So Williamson decided to bide his time for the moment, and wait. Besides, he and Dawlish were spending so much time together on the investigation, that he had little free time to be carrying out fake werewolf attacks or planting evidence. But neither could he afford to let the public's animosity fade. If something didn't happen soon, the fickle public would begin to forget, and the outrage would die down. So Williamson waited, but he was not idle during that time. With Dawlish's help, he continued to put pressure on the werewolves' employers, and spread dark rumors about the werewolves throughout the wizarding world, hoping that would be enough to draw Diggory and Snape out into the open. But in case it wasn't, Williamson secretly continued to plot and plan his next move...

***

Meanwhile, Lukas's trial resumed. The full moon passed without incident, and both Pritchard and Baddock were declared healthy and uninfected. But although Pritchard's wounds had long since healed, he had come close to suffering a nervous breakdown, and it was not until the end of May, when the fifth and seventh-year students were taking their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, that he was both physically and mentally strong enough to resume his Wizengamot duties. Arthur had proposed appointing a substitute, but the rest of the Wizengamot, as well as Lamont Whitby, had objected. Lukas and Morrigan had not fought them on it, since that would only make it look as if Lukas were trying to get Pritchard out of the way, and they hoped that the extra time would give them a chance to find proof of the werewolves' innocence. However, the attacks were still unsolved, and the public was still restless and suspicious when the trial resumed...

Whitby, of course, tried to implicate Lukas in the werewolf attacks, while Morrigan argued that there was no proof that he was involved in them, and that he even had an alibi for the second attack. But Whitby didn't have to prove that Lukas was involved; all he had to do was plant doubt in the minds of the Wizengamot. He brought in Dawlish and Williamson to testify about the details of the werewolf attacks, and although there was no direct evidence linking Lukas to them, the lawyer's ploy seemed to be working--Pritchard was far from the only member of the court to cast fearful and hostile glances in Lukas's direction. Morrigan cross-examined the Aurors thoroughly, and forced them to admit that they had no grounds to arrest Lukas or any other member of his pack, but the damage was already done. She also brought in the Peasegood family to testify about Lukas's heroism in the Graphorn incident, but she feared that it didn't make nearly as much of an impression as the Aurors' insinuations did.

"I propose that we call for a vote now," Whitby declared, when all the witnesses were done testifying. "We are ready to rest our case." He smiled maliciously at Morrigan. "Unless Ms. De Lacy has further evidence to present."

Morrigan did not, and they both knew it. "I object, Madam Bones," Morrigan said. "It would be unfair to my client to take a vote now, when a cloud of suspicion has been cast over him, even though there is no evidence that he is guilty of any wrongdoing." She glared at Whitby.

"Are you doubting the integrity of our honored Wizengamot members, Ms. De Lacy?" Whitby asked, affecting a look of shock and indignation. "Are you suggesting that they would not judge your client strictly on the evidence presented in court? That they would allow themselves to be swayed by rumor and gossip?"

They both knew that the Wizengamot--most of them, anyway--would do exactly that, but Morrigan could not say so out loud without offending them and generating further hostility against her client. Madam Bones rapped her gavel on the desk, an impatient look on her face. "Stop posturing, both of you. Ms. De Lacy has a point, but we cannot delay these proceedings indefinitely."

"I merely ask for some time, Madam Bones," Morrigan said respectfully, "to allow the Aurors to finish their investigation and discover the true culprit behind these crimes, and clear my client's good name." She knew that Dawlish and Williamson wouldn't bother conducting a fair investigation, but she knew that Tonks and Shacklebolt were working hard to prove Lukas's and Severus's innocence.

Bones thought it over for a few moments, then decided, "I will give you two weeks. At the end of that time, a vote will be called for if there is no new evidence to be presented."

Morrigan only hoped that two weeks would be enough time. "Thank you, Madam Bones."

"Then court is adjourned," Bones said, rapping her gavel again. "We will meet again two weeks from today."

The Wizengamot and the spectators began to file out of the room. Normally, Amos would have done the same, but following some advice that Williamson had given him, he began to taunt his nephew. "You will never inherit the title! You will be caged and locked up like the beast you are!"

Lukas merely gave him a contemptuous look. "You already tried to lock me up, Uncle, and your cage could not hold me. Oh, excuse me--it was not you, but the Gravenors who locked me up. You couldn't even do your own dirty work. You let a family of Slytherins, whom you claim to despise, do it for you. But you didn't mind reaping the benefits of their work, did you?" He spat on the floor at Amos's feet. "You are nothing but a common thief, Amos. You stole the title that belonged to your brother, my father!"

The people who were leaving the courtroom suddenly paused to watch the argument, and Morrigan whispered, "Don't let him bait you like this, Lukas; it will do you no good to be seen arguing in public. Come, let us go."

Lukas started to follow her, but Amos shouted, "Your father did not deserve the title! He was the thief--he stole the money that belonged to our parents to try to buy cures for your lycanthropy! He sullied our name by becoming a Slytherin and dabbling in the Dark Arts! Who knows, maybe it was his meddling with Dark Magic that caused you to be born a werewolf!"

Lukas slowly turned to face Amos. "Is this really about me and my lycanthropy, Uncle?" he asked softly. "Or has it always been about my father?"

"What are you talking about?" Amos blustered.

But Lukas saw him flinch, and he smiled in a very sinister and predatory way. Amos turned pale and took a step backwards; Lukas did not realize it, but he looked very much like his father at that moment--the same way that Cynric used to look when confronting an enemy. Lukas took a step forward, like a wolf scenting weakness on its prey. "I thought it was me that you hated, Uncle--your inconvenient werewolf nephew. But perhaps it was Cynric that you hated all along. Mother told me once that they used to call him the golden boy; Snape would probably get a laugh out of that. It's what he calls Potter sometimes, but he means it sarcastically, while people at Hogwarts used to say it in earnest about Cynric, for his golden good looks, his charm, his cleverness. Were you jealous of Cynric, dear Uncle, the older brother that you could never live up to, that outshone you in class, on the Quidditch Pitch, and with the girls?"

Amos's face turned red, and his mouth opened and closed, but no sound emerged from it; the crowd watched in fascination, and even Madam Bones seemed enspelled, making no move to reach for her gavel. Lukas's eyes narrowed and he said, "Ah, I've struck a nerve, haven't I? Yes, my father was interested in the Dark Arts. He devoured knowledge as eagerly as any Ravenclaw; it was that impulse that drew him to Slytherin, because he wanted to pursue avenues of study closed to the other Houses. And regardless of what they thought about his House or his morals, his teachers all praised his abilities as a mage. Did it bother you, Amos, when your teachers said what an excellent student your brother was? Did they regard you with just a touch of disappointment when you didn't prove to be his equal? Not that you were a bad student--just not as good as Cynric. You were hardworking and reliable, like a good Hufflepuff, but never exceptional. Did it bother you that the girls all chased after Cynric and ignored you, even though he was never interested in anyone but my mother? Did it eat away at you to know that your golden brother was a rising star at the Ministry and the heir to the title, while you would never be anything more than good old dependable, mediocre Amos? To know that you would always be in Cynric's shadow?"

"Shut up!" Amos screamed. How had the mangy werewolf managed to turn the tables on him so quickly? Now he was the one losing control, not Cyril. He looked at the mocking smile on his nephew's face, and saw instead his brother, whom he had always loved and hated at the same time. Cynric, who had always laughed so easily and carelessly, and had always done as he pleased, ignoring generations of Diggory family traditions, rejecting their Hufflepuff values to become a Slytherin. He had flaunted it, too, wearing that damned snake-headed torc like a badge of honor, as if to deliberately mock his family.

The werewolf gave him that same condescending smile that Cynric had so often used, then turned to leave with his lawyer. But if Cyril knew Amos's weak spot, Amos also knew his nephew's weak spot, because they were one and the same--Cynric Diggory. He knew exactly what to say that would most hurt and enrage Cyril.

"Your father deserved to die!" Amos shouted, and Lukas abruptly spun around on his heel.

Bones finally snapped out of her daze and said sharply, "That's enough, Mr. Diggory!" But both the Diggory men ignored her, eyes fixed on each other and oblivious to anything else around them.

"What did you say?" Lukas growled softly, his voice low and menacing.

"I said that your father deserved to die," Amos repeated defiantly.

"Enough, Amos," Whitby whispered to him nervously. "Don't do this, at least, not in public."

"Don't let him bait you, Lukas," Morrigan pleaded, grabbing hold of his arm in an attempt to lead him away, but he jerked his arm free of her grasp.

"He was a thief, a liar, and a blackmailer," Amos sneered. "What kind of son blackmails his own parents?"

"A father who wants to protect his own son," Lukas growled.

"And he was a murderer, too," Amos said, ignoring him, and the spectators gasped. This was hurting the Diggory family image that he had worked so hard to protect all these years, but he was too far gone to care. "More than one of those potion-peddlers who swindled him disappeared and was never seen or heard from again."

"That's how con men work," Lukas snarled. "Once they're exposed, they move on to greener pastures."

"But one didn't just disappear," Amos retorted. "One particular swindler didn't just sell Cynric an ineffective potion; he sold him one that made you sick and almost killed you."

Lukas fell silent; he remembered that potion, remembered becoming violently ill and throwing up until his stomach was empty, and then coughing up blood when there was nothing else left to vomit. Looking back, he realized that it had probably contained aconite--but in too high a dosage or improperly brewed, which was not surprising. It had taken over a decade for two of the most talented Potions Masters in the world to come up with the proper formula, and that swindler had been no Master. He remembered how terrified his parents had been, and he remembered how his father had left the house the next day, looking furious, then returned hours later with a grim but satisfied smile on his face. Neither Lukas nor his mother had ever asked Cynric where he had gone or what he had done.

"He turned up floating in the river two days after the full moon," Amos continued. "It appeared that someone had force-fed him one of his own potions."

"Some might call that poetic justice," Lukas said caustically.

"Some might call that murder," Amos snapped. "He did that for you, too, Cyril--how does it feel to know that you are the reason that your father sank to such depths, to lie and blackmail, to deal in illegal drugs and even murder for your sake?"

This time it was Cyril's turn to flinch, and Amos smiled in satisfaction. But that still was not enough; he had to make the werewolf lose control completely. "Your father was always cocky and reckless," he taunted. "He always had to show off on his broom, fly higher than everyone else. He swam in the lake despite the mermen and giant squid, and even once snuck into a dragon's pen on a dare."

"Mr. Diggory!" Bones said, pounding her gavel on the desk.

"Only an idiot would have gone out flying during a thunderstorm!" Amos continued, heedless of the warning. "Your father thought he was better than everyone else, thought he could break the rules and get away with it! Well, he finally took one chance too many, and he got exactly what he deserved! He's got no one to blame for his death but himself!"

That finally broke Lukas's self-control, and he lunged forward at Amos with a howl of outrage, his teeth bared and his yellow-green eyes glittering madly; there was no humanity at all left in them. The spectators cried out, and Amos blanched in fear, suddenly realizing that he had not fully considered the consequences of provoking a werewolf into a state of fury, and he silently cursed Williamson and his crazy ideas.

"NO!" shouted Morrigan, and grabbed him from behind, trying to restrain him--with limited success. She was not strong enough to hold him back, but the weight of her body did slow Lukas down, and he looked back to see what was hindering him. The sight of Morrigan's face--angry, concerned, and determined--restored just enough of his sanity for him to halt his attack, although he was still wild-eyed, and panting heavily with his teeth bared, staring at Amos as if he wanted to rip his uncle's throat out.

Both he and Amos gradually became aware that Madam Bones was still pounding her gavel loudly, shouting, "Order in the court!" And then Lukas also noticed while most of the spectators and Wizengamot members were frozen with fear and shock, a few had managed to keep their wits about them and had their wands out and pointed at him, apparently prepared to stop him from attacking Amos. One of them was Mathias Donner, looking grave and concerned. When he saw that Lukas had come to his senses, he smiled in relief and put his wand away. Another was Percy Weasley, looking pale and frightened, but he held his wand steady. He too looked relieved when he saw that he wouldn't have to attack Lukas, after all. Lukas knew from overhearing Ron talking with his friends that the younger Weasley boy did not think too highly of his older brother, considering him something of a prig and a pest, but perhaps Ron was wrong about Percy. Or maybe the war had changed and matured him, as it had matured many of the other Hogwarts students, particularly the Slytherins. And as he stared at Percy's pale face--the boy still looked almost young enough to be one of his students--Lukas finally shook off the wolf's anger and became completely sane once more, and he realized the magnitude of what he had just done and how badly he had damaged his case.

Whitby looked as stunned as everyone else, but he was quick to recover. "Did you see that?" he demanded. "The werewolf tried to attack my client! I could have him brought up on assault charges!"

"My client was provoked!" Morrigan said hotly. "Amos deliberately goaded him--"

"Both of your clients behaved in an inexcusable manner!" Madam Bones interrupted, glaring at all four of them. "I am sorely tempted to slap both of them with a contempt of court charge!" Whitby started to protest that court had not been in session when the quarrel broke out, but saw the look in Bones's eyes, and quickly fell silent. "Your behavior was deplorable, Mr. Diggory," Bones told Amos sternly, "and it is obvious that you were trying to provoke your nephew." Then she turned to Lukas and said in an equally stern voice, "But no insult, however deplorable, is justification for assault. At least, not in my courtroom! If either of you step out of line again, I will let you cool off in a prison cell! Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Lukas said in a subdued voice.

"Yes, Madam Bones," Amos said, but he did not look particularly repentant.

"Very well," Bones said. "We will meet again in two weeks; hopefully the break will give you time to get your tempers under control. I expect your behavior to be impeccable at our next session." She rapped her gavel and said pointedly, "Court is adjourned--again."

Whitby hustled Amos out of the courtroom whispering, "That was a foolish move, Amos. You should not have lost control in front of the Wizengamot--and the public--like that."

"What are you talking about?" Amos asked. "They all saw that Cyril is a dangerous beast!"

"Yes, and they all heard you say that you hated your brother and thought he deserved to die!" Whitby retorted tartly, giving Amos a disapproving look. "Whatever animosity there was between you and Cynric, you went too far today, Amos. Rita Skeeter was in the audience, and what if she prints an article in the Daily Prophet quoting you on saying that your brother deserved to die? She could twist your words around and give credence to Cyril's accusations that you killed his father. At the very least, you will come off sounding cold and callous--not exactly the image we are trying project!"

Amos looked a little uneasy, but he said, "People will understand that those words were spoken in the heat of anger, and that I didn't really mean them. There was bad blood between Cynric and myself, but he was still my brother, and I still loved him even though I was angry at him."

"I believe you, Amos," Whitby said, "but other people might not! This might even generate sympathy for Cyril, if people see him as a son defending his father's reputation."

"They might, if he were a normal human," Amos conceded. "But he isn't. He's a werewolf, and all they'll see is a beast showing its true nature."

"Hopefully they will," Whitby said, still looking disapproving. "But no more outbursts in court, Amos. Leave the defense up to me in the future--that's what you're paying me for, after all."

"Yes, Lamont," Amos said placatingly, but no matter what the lawyer said, he still felt that he had done more good than harm today. But he would have to be careful about provoking Cyril in the future. Amos did want his nephew to be arrested, but he wouldn't be able to enjoy his victory if he got killed in the process.

***

Meanwhile, Morrigan was likewise dragging her errant client out of the courtroom. Lukas opened his mouth to speak, and she snapped, "Not one word out of you until we're alone!" At the moment, she looked furious and almost as intimidating as Snape and Blackmore, so Lukas kept his mouth shut as they made their way past the exiting spectators (who gave him a wide berth) and Rita Skeeter. Morrigan gave a curt, "No comment," to the reporter as she shouted questions at them.

Finally, when they were alone in her office, Morrigan shouted, "Didn't I warn you before not to lose your temper? You played right into their hands back there!"

"Look, I know I screwed up, all right?" Lukas shouted back, although he was more angry with himself than he was with her.

"No, it's not all right!" Morrigan shot back. "Your impetuous action may very well have undone everything we have worked to accomplish these past five months! I've told you over and over, that we have to convince the Wizengamot that you are a man, not a beast--"

"I AM a beast!" Lukas shouted, and Morrigan stared at him in shock. "That's what none of you seem to understand, not even Lupin!" Lukas raged, although he knew that he was unfairly taking his frustration out on the lawyer, who was, after all, only trying to help him. "In a way, those bigoted purebloods are right; I'm a beast pretending to be a man! Lady Selima can dress me up in velvet robes and teach me fine manners and how to dance, but in my heart, I am a wolf!" His anger suddenly drained out of him, leaving him with a sense of weariness. "You don't know how hard it's been, trying to keep the wolf under control all these months, trying to act like a 'proper' pureblood. I have to think about every move I make, every word I speak, so that I don't reveal my true nature, so that I don't growl and snap at the people who annoy me."

"I'm sorry, Lukas," Morrigan said quietly. "I know it's been difficult for you, but I didn't realize just how difficult."

"It was different once, when my parents were alive," Lukas said. "I tried very hard to be human then, to fight my wolfish nature as Lupin fought his. But when they died and I was left alone, I had to become the wolf in order to survive."

"I'm sorry," Morrigan repeated. "It's not fair that you should have to put on an act to regain your rightful inheritance, but we both know that life isn't fair. We've come so far; can't you maintain the act just a little longer? Or will you give up your father's inheritance to Amos?"

"Maybe it's not worth it," Lukas growled, beginning to get angry again. "It's because of this damned lawsuit that Amos and the Aurors have come after my pack and my friends. They have the head of the Snape family under house arrest, for Merlin's sake! Can you imagine what they could do to a werewolf with no clan and no wealth?"

"That is why you must win this case, Lukas," Morrigan told him. "As head of the Diggory family, you will be better able to protect your pack." Her anger, too, had receded, and she gave him a sympathetic look. "Go back to Hogwarts and get some rest, Lukas. Don't make any decisions that you might regret later until you've had a chance to calm down and think things over."

Lukas nodded and took the Floo back to Hogwarts, and was almost immediately sought out by an anxious Lupin and a sour-looking Snape.

"We heard what happened today, Lukas," Lupin said.

"Bad news travels fast," Lukas said sarcastically.

"Math sent us word," Lupin said. "He was concerned about you."

"And I've no doubt that we'll be getting an owl from my mother before long," Snape grumbled. "If we're lucky, that is. If we're not, Lady Selima will come in person to vent her wrath upon us. Like the time she decided that we had to throw a party at Snape Manor to make up for you howling at the moon."

"Severus," Lupin said nervously as he saw the look on Lukas's face. At least one of them was able to pick up on the fact that Lukas wasn't in the mood for this right now. The other, unfortunately, was not.

"I don't know why I always get blamed for everything you do," Snape continued. "I swear, Diggory, if my mother decides to hold another party--"

"Tell your mother to stop interfering in my life!" Lukas snarled, and the Potions Master stared at him in shock. He knew that Snape's complaining was mostly good-natured, but Lukas's nerves were on edge, and he was heartily sick of the pureblood world and its cutthroat politics. And he also couldn't help but remember that it was Selima who had gotten him into this mess in the first place, first by exposing his identity and then by urging him to challenge Amos for the title. If he had remained an anonymous werewolf, then perhaps his pack would not be suffering the way they were now, losing their jobs and being threatened by Aurors and vigilantes. He should never have let Lady Selima badger him into this lawsuit...no, that wasn't really fair. His real mistake was taking this damn job at Hogwarts in the first place. He should have known that sooner or later, with all the pureblood children that attended the school, he would have encountered someone who would notice his resemblance to his father.

"We'll go now, Lukas," Lupin said quietly. "It's obvious that you need some time alone. But please don't forget that you have friends who are willing to share your burdens. Don't make the same mistake I once did, of shutting out the people who care about you."

"Does he always lecture people this way, even when he's not in class?" Lukas growled.

"Constantly," Snape said, rolling his eyes. "He's a typical sanctimonious Gryffindor; you're lucky you don't have to live with him." Lupin just smiled at his lover, gave Lukas one last worried look, and then both of them left.

Lukas paced around his quarters restlessly, still feeling like he wanted to pick a fight with someone, or at least smash some of the furniture. Then he noticed that there was a letter lying on his desk; could Lady Selima already have gotten word about today's fiasco?

But when he took a closer look at it, he recognized the handwriting as Takeshi's. He tore open the envelope and read the letter inside:

"The other werewolves don't want to worry you, but I think you ought to know, or at least be forewarned. Rachel was fired from her job at the Leaky Cauldron yesterday, after several regular patrons threatened to boycott the inn if they didn't 'get rid of the werewolf.' And someone threw a rock through the window of the bookstore that Brian works at. No one was hurt, although they were a little shaken up. The owner refuses to fire Brian, though, saying that he's a friend and a hero of the war. And don't worry, my father and I have warded the store quite thoroughly. We should have thought of that before, that the places where the pack works would need to be protected, not just the townhouse and the clinic."

{Since when is Takeshi's father an expert on protective wards?} Lukas wondered, then recalled Snape telling him that the Kimuras were more than simple restauranteurs. Well, there was not much need for protective wards now, since nearly all the werewolves but Brian and Lukas had lost their jobs, Lukas thought to himself bitterly. The letter went on to assure Lukas that the Sakura would offer refuge to the werewolves if the Ministry came after them, but Lukas did not find that reassuring. It was his fault that his pack was in danger. Because he had allowed himself to be tempted by the offer of the job at Hogwarts and the chance to win back his father's inheritance. Their lives may have been hard before, but they had gotten by. The pack had survived because they were unimportant and had not attracted the attention of the purebloods before. It was true that most of the pureblood elite despised anyone with tainted blood, but they didn't really care if a few mangy werewolves scraped together a living by doing a little petty thievery or smuggling, so long as they confined their activities to Knockturn Alley, away from the shining mansions of the pureblood Lords and Ladies. But Lukas had challenged the social order, and that they could not ignore. He had been a fool not to realize that there would be consequences for his actions.

Lukas suddenly found his heavy velvet robes oppressive; what the hell he was doing, trying to ape the manners of a pureblood Lord? Why on earth was he trying so hard to become like the people he hated? He tore off the robes in revulsion and flung them to the floor, not wanting to wear them even a second longer. What was the point in trying to become something he wasn't, anyway? Putting a jeweled collar on a wolf wouldn't turn it into a pureblood lapdog. And then the gold torc suddenly seemed too tight, as if it were choking him, although he knew it was only his imagination. But it was the wolf who reacted, and not the man, the wolf who could not stand to be bound or confined--or collared. Without thinking, Lukas pulled the torc off his neck and flung it across the room.

It hit the wall with a loud clang, and one of the snake-head knobs broke off, and both pieces of the broken torc fell to the floor with a clatter. And as the wolf's rage receded, Lukas was filled with remorse as remembered that the torc was not simply part of his pureblood costume, but a cherished love-token, a gift from his mother to his father, one of the few keepsakes he had left of his family. And he was also reminded that he did not hate all the purebloods; he had loved his parents, who had done their best to protect him, and of course he cared about Gwen and Tristan. And even if most of the purebloods were bigots, there were still a few who were his friends and were trying to help him: Arthur, Morrigan, Snape, Branwen, Sirius, and even Lady Selima, as annoying as she was.

Lukas crossed the room and knelt down to examine the torc, thinking that perhaps he could have it repaired. But as he picked up the torc, he saw a bit of parchment sticking out of the end, and realized that it was hollow. He picked up the snake-head knob and examined both pieces more closely, and saw that the knob was actually a cap designed to close off the hollow ring of metal. The knob had not actually snapped off; the force of the blow had simply loosened it. Lukas smiled; people had sometimes said that his mother Anya was too gentle and good-natured to be a Slytherin, but she had certainly been as sly as anyone else in that House. The torc was not a just a piece of jewelry, but a receptacle to hide important documents. His curiosity piqued, Lukas gently eased the tightly-rolled piece of parchment out of the torc, moving very slowly and carefully since the paper looked brittle and yellowed with age.

Just as carefully, Lukas unrolled and flattened out the parchment; it turned out to be not just one, but two handwritten pages that, judging by the jagged edges on the left side of the papers, had been torn out of a book. Lukas let out a sharp hiss of surprise as he read them; he immediately understood why Cynric had stolen and hidden these papers, and he also understood why the Diggory family might have wanted to kill their own son and brother. Cynric must have hidden the papers as a form of insurance, but he had never passed down the secret to his son, probably because he had not expected to die so young.

"Oh, Father," Lukas whispered sadly. "Amos was right about one thing--you were always reckless. Ruthless Slytherin that you were, did you never imagine that your family might seek revenge for this?" But Cynric had probably thought that his Hufflepuff family was too meek and mild to resort to murder. Or perhaps it had simply never occurred to him that his own family would turn on him that way, no matter how angry they were.

Lukas stared at the sheets of parchment for a very long time, torn as to what he should do. He was certain now that his father's death had not been an accident, but the papers were only proof of motive, not murder. They were not enough to get Amos sent to Azkaban. But the information in them was damaging enough that he could probably blackmail Amos into surrendering his claim to the title. The practical side of him told him that was exactly what he should do, to use the papers as leverage to win the estate, and then he could use the Diggory wealth and name to protect his pack. But the wolf--no, not just the wolf, but the young boy who had been orphaned at an early age--wanted revenge. It was not enough for Amos to be humiliated and stripped of his title; Lukas wanted Amos to pay in blood for Cynric's death.

"An eye for an eye," Lukas whispered, still staring at the yellowed pages of parchment. "A life for a life."

Except that the wizarding world would not see it that way. They would see it as murder. And if he were caught, he would be sent to Azkaban or executed. Right at his moment, Lukas didn't particularly care what would happen to him afterwards; his own life seemed like a small price to pay in order to finally avenge his parents. The only thing holding him back was the knowledge that his pack would be alone and unprotected if anything happened to him.

Finally he cast a spell that made copies of the two pages. A magical examination would prove them to be duplicates, and they would not be admissible in court, but they should be proof enough to Amos that Lukas possessed the originals. He rolled up the duplicates, slipped them into the torc, and put the knob back on the end. Then he placed the originals in an envelope and sealed it with wax. He pricked his finger and let a single drop of blood fall onto the wax, then took out his wand and chanted a brief incantation.

He was still not certain what he intended to do, but he had two weeks until his next court date. Two weeks to decide between practicality and revenge. But whatever the outcome, the original documents needed to be stored in a safer place than the torc or his quarters.

***

A few minutes later, Morrigan looked up in surprise as Lukas stepped through the fireplace into her office. "Lukas? Is something wrong?"

"Yes and no," Lukas said with a mirthless smile, and Morrigan gave him a puzzled look. "Never mind," he said. "There is a decision I must make on my own, and I am afraid you cannot help me with that."

"Then what can I do for you, Lukas?" Morrigan asked.

He handed her an envelope with a glowing red wax seal. "Please keep this safe for me," he said. "If anything happens to me, I want you to make the contents public." He smiled again, that strangely grim and humorless smile. "Have Rita Skeeter print it in the Daily Prophet. She'll be delighted to have such a juicy scoop."

"What do you mean, if anything happens to you?" Morrigan asked in alarm.

"Just a precaution, Morrigan," Lukas replied. "Will you keep it safe for me?"

"Of course," Morrigan replied. "But--"

"Thank you," Lukas said, and vanished back through the Floo.

A concerned and puzzled Morrigan examined the seal more closely, casting a few exploratory spells to determine the exact nature of the enchantment, and what she learned alarmed her even more. The envelope was protected with a Blood Ward that could only be released by Lukas's personal command or upon his death. It was considered to be a form of Dark Magic, and only a Slytherin, or someone who had been raised by a Slytherin, was likely to know how to cast it. Technically, it was a defensive rather than a combative spell, and did no harm to anyone, but most wizards tended to see any type of Blood Magic as evil.

Morrigan was very curious about the contents of the envelope, but her duty as a lawyer was to respect her client's wishes. And besides, the Blood Ward was a simple but very strong spell that was almost impossible to break. If the envelope had not been warded, perhaps she would have given in to temptation and snuck a peek at what lay inside, and Morrigan wondered, smiling wryly, if that was why Lukas had warded the envelope.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she sighed, and locked the envelope away in a safe that was not only sealed by a combination lock and magical wards, but was hidden behind a panel in the wall. But she still wondered what information Lukas had that was so sensitive that it could only be released upon his death. The most likely answer was some secret scandal in the Diggory family, but in that case, she did not understand why he would not let her use it against Amos. Perhaps it was something that might make his own parents look bad? But then, why not destroy the evidence altogether? Why give it to Morrigan to be published after his death?

She uneasily hoped that he wasn't trying to cut a deal with Amos on his own, and that he wasn't going to do something stupid that might get him killed. But she kept remembering Lukas saying, "If anything happens to me," and she also remembered Amos saying how reckless Cynric Diggory had been. From things Lukas had said in the past, and the gossip Morrigan had heard from her own sources, it was a cruel but accurate description, and she hoped that Lukas had not inherited this particular weakness from his father.

***

Although Snape normally spent most of his time in the dungeon and rarely left the castle except on business, now that he was forbidden to leave it, the huge building seemed strangely claustrophobic. No wonder Black had nearly gone insane being cooped up in the mansion on Grimmauld Place, which was a much smaller and much less pleasant place to live than the castle. Snape became more ill-tempered than usual, and frequently found himself snapping at Lupin even though he knew that his lover didn't deserve it. Lupin was compassionate and understanding as always, but Snape suspected that even his saintly patience was being sorely tested what with having to keep company not only with a cranky Potions Master, but also a surly werewolf. Lupin pulled "alibi duty" with Diggory more often than the other teachers, mostly because he was the least intimidated by the way Diggory growled and bared his teeth, and partly because Diggory seemed more at ease in the company of another werewolf than with a human.

But it seemed that Lupin had finally had enough, because he showed up at Snape's office a couple of days after the trial with a picnic basket tucked under one arm. "Let's go, Severus," Lupin said firmly. "You need to get some fresh air."

"Go where, Lupin?" Snape asked irritably, as he looked up from the papers he was grading. "You know that I'm not allowed to leave the castle."

Lupin grabbed him by the hand and pulled him up from his chair. "We don't have to leave the castle to get some fresh air," Lupin said with a wink. "Come on, follow me."

Since it was obvious that Lupin wasn't going to take "no" for an answer, Snape let his lover lead him out of the dungeon and up to the top of the Astronomy Tower. Grinning proudly, Lupin pulled a blanket out of the basket and spread it out on the Tower landing. "You see, technically we are still in the castle. But I thought it might be nice for you get a little fresh air and feel the breeze against your face."

Snape took a deep breath, drinking in the fresh air, and looked out over the castle grounds, admiring the view. He hadn't been up here in years, except for the time that he had come to apprehend his two wayward Slytherins, Malfoy and Dietrich, when Sinistra had caught them drinking, and he hadn't really been paying much attention to the view at the time. There was indeed a gentle breeze blowing, and it did feel very pleasant against his face. "Thank you, Remus," Snape said, feeling much calmer than he had in weeks. "It is nice."

Lupin beamed at him, obviously delighted that he'd made Snape feel better, and Snape felt touched, that making him happy should make Lupin so happy. "Come and eat, Severus," Lupin said, and began unloading the picnic basket, laying out bread, cheese, sliced meats, fruit, and a bottle of wine on the blanket.

Well, it was almost dinnertime, and although he had not had much of an appetite lately, Snape suddenly felt hungry. So he sat on the blanket beside Lupin, and they enjoyed a picnic dinner together.

Later, after they had devoured most of the food, Lupin snuggled up against Snape, resting his head on Snape's shoulder, looking sleepy and contented. Snape sipped at his glass of wine, feeling equally contented. He supposed that they should get back to the dungeon, but he didn't feel like moving, and Lupin didn't seem inclined to move anytime soon, either. He probably shouldn't let Lupin fall asleep up here, though, since he didn't fancy trying to carry the werewolf down the stairs.

"Pass me a grape, will you, love?" Lupin asked in a lazy voice. Snape obligingly reached over and plucked a grape from the nearby plate of fruit, and held it to Lupin's lips. Lupin took the grape from Snape's fingers, but not before allowing his lips and tongue to brush against Snape's fingers in a deliberately sensual manner. Startled, Snape glanced down at Lupin, and saw that while his eyes were still half-lidded, he no longer looked sleepy at all. Lupin calmly chewed and swallowed the grape, then smiled at Snape in a very predatory manner that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Ah...Lupin..." was all Snape managed to say before Lupin sealed his mouth over Snape's. He felt Lupin's tongue slide into his mouth and playfully dart around his own tongue, thereby distracting Snape from any protests that he might have made. A very long moment later, they came up for air, and only when Snape felt a breeze blowing through his hair did he remember that they were on the Astronomy Tower.

"Lupin!" Snape said indignantly, when he felt the werewolf's hands unfastening his robes and then sliding beneath them. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Why, I thought that would be obvious, Severus," Lupin said coyly, batting his eyelashes at Snape. One of his hands caressed Snape's chest, and the other dropped lower, into his lap.

Snape's pale face turned beet-red, and he jumped to his feet, shouting, "LUPIN!"

Lupin burst out laughing, and stared up at Snape with that boyish, mischievous grin that he remembered so well from their schoolboy days--Lupin looked more like a Marauder than a Professor at the moment, and Snape didn't know whether he wanted to kiss him or kill him.

"Please get your bloody exhibitionist urges under control, Lupin!" Snape growled, glaring at him.

"My goodness!" Lupin chortled. "And you always talk about how prudish and priggish we Gryffindors are! Have I, a noble Gryffindor prig is the phrase I believe you like to use, actually managed to shock a jaded Slytherin? With such a little thing as a kiss and a grope on the Astronomy Tower? Why, I'm sure that half the students in the school have done as much!"

Snape tried to regain his composure, gathering his robes--and what remained of his dignity--around him. He looked down his nose at Lupin in a superior manner (not difficult, since Lupin was still sitting on the ground), and said coolly, "That is because the students do not have places more private in which to conduct their amorous activities. But we do. I believe it's called a bedroom. This is not quite what I had in mind when you mentioned 'getting some fresh air.'" But the werewolf had meant well, after all, and Snape's temper was beginning to cool while certain portions of his body remained quite heated, so he said in a slightly more conciliatory tone, "I do appreciate your attempts to cheer me up, Remus, but perhaps we should go back to the dungeon and continue this in our quarters?"

"But we've never made out on the Astronomy Tower, Severus," Lupin protested.

"There are many things we have never done, Lupin," Snape said dryly. "For example, we have never run through the castle courtyard in our underwear in the middle of winter. That doesn't mean that we should do it."

"James did," Lupin snickered. "When he lost a bet with Sirius."

"Yes, I remember," Snape said. "It was not a pretty sight. I recall wishing that I could Obliviate the sight from my mind."

"James was a handsome lad," Lupin defended his old friend, "if not quite as good-looking as Sirius or Evan. But I suppose that he wasn't really your type."

"You were my type, Lupin," Snape said solemnly. "You and no one else."

Lupin rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around Snape. "There were so many things denied to us when we were students, Severus," he said softly. "We couldn't hold hands in public and stroll by the lake, or go to the Yule Ball together, or make out on the Astronomy Tower, or even simply tell our friends that we were seeing each other. So I suppose I'm attempting to make up for lost time."

"Silly werewolf," Snape said gruffly. "We've already gone strolling by the lake, and you made me dance with you at the Yule Ball. And just about everyone in the wizarding world knows that we're a couple now. Exactly how many more of your childhood fantasies am I expected to fulfill?"

But Lupin just smiled tenderly at him, unfazed by Snape's snarkiness, probably because he knew that Snape didn't really mean it. "One more?" Lupin asked. "And can you honestly say that it was never a childhood fantasy of yours?"

Snape's teenage fantasies had not really involved making out in public places, mainly because he had wanted to keep Lupin all to himself, like a miser hoarding gold. Most of his fantasies had contained only himself and Lupin, with no teachers, parents, classmates, and most of all, no annoying Marauders to interfere with them. But he had to admit to himself that the thought of snogging Lupin on the Tower had once or twice crossed his mind during Astronomy class.

"What if Sinistra catches us?" Snape asked. "Or worse, the N.E.W.T. examiners and students--aren't they holding the Astronomy N.E.W.T. up here tonight?"

"Not for another three hours," Lupin assured him. "I checked with Sinistra. And I...er...asked her if I could borrow the Tower for our picnic, so we don't have to worry about her interrupting us, either."

Snape groaned, wondering if Sinistra had been able to guess that Lupin had wanted the Tower for something more than a picnic--as if the idea of the Head of Slytherin having a picnic wasn't embarrassing enough in itself! "What if a couple of students get the same idea as you, and aren't aware that the Tower is currently occupied?" Snape asked sulkily.

"Well, everyone should be at dinner for at least another half-hour," Lupin said reasonably. "Assuming we don't waste any more time arguing. And didn't you tell the boys once that it's easier to give in when the werewolf has his mind set on something?"

"Very well," Snape sighed with a show of resignation. "But you owe me one, Lupin."

"I am sure I can find a way to properly repay you, Severus," Lupin whispered, and kissed him.

Snape kissed him back, then quickly pulled away and said, "But let's ward the door first, just to be on the safe side!"

Lupin laughed, pulled out his wand, and cast a warding spell on the door that led to the Tower landing. Then he kissed Snape again and pulled him back down onto the blanket, shoving aside the empty and half-empty plates of food. Then Lupin resumed what he'd been doing earlier, sliding his hands beneath Snape's robes. Snape responded to Lupin's caresses and returned them in kind, but he tensed a little when Lupin started to undress him, feeling uncomfortable with the idea of being exposed out in the open (well, under the open sky, anyway, although the walls of the Tower landing surrounded them). Lupin seemed to sense his unease and immediately backed off, then smiled at Snape and began to doff his own robes instead. Snape watched spellbound as Lupin slowly slipped out of his clothing in a deliberately enticing way, then stood up, flung out his arms, and tilted his head back, laughing as the wind blew through his hair and against his bare skin.

"This feels wonderful!" Lupin said. The sun was setting, and Lupin looked beautiful, bathed in its red-golden light.

In fact, he looked so beautiful that Snape was struck speechless, and it took him several tries to get something more than a hoarse croak out of his throat, but finally he managed to say, with something approaching his normal sarcasm, "You're such an exhibitionist, Lupin."

"No one else is around, Severus," Lupin said serenely. "There's no one here to see me but you."

{Good,} Snape thought possessively. He liked the idea that this beautiful vision of Lupin was only for him and no one else. He silently held out his hand, and Lupin dropped back down to the blanket to take it. Snape pulled Lupin into his arms and kissed him, running his hands along Lupin's bare skin as the werewolf gasped and moaned.

After a few minutes, Lupin squirmed away and reached into the basket, then grinned as he held up a small jar of lavender oil. Snape raised an eyebrow and tried not to smile. "So you had this planned all along, Lupin? I should have known."

"I just wanted to be prepared for whatever might happen," Lupin said with a look of wide-eyed innocence--or at least as much innocence as a naked, aroused werewolf could manage, which was to say, not very.

"Come here," Snape said, and Lupin came over and handed him the jar. He coated his hands with the oil as Lupin let out a little whine of anticipation, but Snape did not try to enter him right away. Instead, he slowly caressed Lupin's chest, arms, and thighs, admiring the way that the oil glistened on Lupin's body in the fading sunlight, and enjoying the way that Lupin was whimpering in an increasingly frustrated manner.

"Please, Severus," Lupin whimpered. "At this rate, we'll still be up here when the N.E.W.T. class arrives."

"And you'd probably get a kick out of that, you exhibitionist," Snape retorted tartly as he continued to stroke the inside of Lupin's thigh. But the werewolf did have a point. He did want to finish this before dinner was over and teachers and students started roaming the castle again.

"Severus, please, I--oh!" Lupin's pleas dissolved into wordless moaning and growling as Snape's fingers slipped into him, stretching and preparing him. After a few minutes of this, Lupin groaned impatiently and pushed Snape's hand away. Then he opened Snape's trousers just enough to free his erection, and coated him with what remained of the oil, running his hand slowly up and down the shaft.

"Remus," Snape moaned, wrapping an arm around Lupin's waist and pulling him closer.

"Now who's the impatient one?" Lupin teased, but he crawled onto Snape's lap and slowly lowered himself down, and Snape felt himself sliding into his lover's body. He just sat there for a little while, moaning softly, as Lupin straddled and rode him, allowing himself to drown in the delicious sensation of being sheathed within Lupin's body. And then he heard Lupin growl in his ear, and felt Lupin's teeth nipping at his throat, and suddenly enflamed, he abruptly pushed Lupin onto his back and began thrusting hard into him. Lupin responded with equal enthusiasm, wrapping his legs around Snape's waist and raising his hips to meet each thrust, urging him on with hungry wolfish growls that excited Snape even more. It was not long before Lupin tilted his head back and Snape leaned forward to bite down on his exposed throat, and they both came as Lupin howled.

They lay there panting quietly for a couple of minutes, trying to catch their breath, then Snape said, "I really hope that they couldn't hear you howling all the way over in the Great Hall!"

Lupin laughed, "As long as no one sends the Aurors out to investigate the noise!" Then a look of consternation crossed his face; he obviously regretted bringing up the Aurors when he had been trying to distract Snape from being under house arrest.

But Snape's mood had improved dramatically, and he grinned as he imagined Dawlish and Williamson showing up, hoping to catch Snape in some sort of Dark Magic experiment or Death Eater ritual, and finding instead only an amorous werewolf. Although he probably wouldn't have found it quite so funny if the two Aurors actually had shown up right now, Snape laughed and Lupin smiled in relief.

"Well, we'd better get back to the dungeon before either the Aurors or the N.E.W.T. class shows up," Snape said. He cast a quick cleaning spell on his now rather damp and sticky robes, and Lupin got dressed and packed up the picnic basket.

The werewolf rubbed his back, wincing a little as they made their way down the stairs. "My childhood fantasies never included bruises from lying on a stone floor," he said with a rueful grin.

"This was all your idea, Lupin," Snape informed him in a haughty voice. "You could have had a nice soft bed to lie in, but no, you had to indulge in your little exhibitionist fantasy about the Astronomy Tower. You have no one but yourself to blame."

"That's true, Severus," Lupin said cheerfully. "I'm not complaining."

"Oh, and Remus?" Snape asked.

"Yes, Severus?"

Snape looked away, avoiding Lupin's gaze. "Thank you," he said gruffly.

"You're welcome, Severus," Lupin said tenderly, and Snape felt Lupin's lips brush lightly against his cheek. Then the werewolf quickly moved away before Snape could scold him for "mauling" him in public. Lupin smiled at him mischievously, and although Snape tried to glare at him, he felt his lips curve upwards into a smile.

***

Lukas was heading from the Great Hall to his quarters, when he happened to pass by Lupin and Snape. Lupin smiled and nodded at him pleasantly, and Lukas nodded back, then wrinkled his nose. "Phew, Remus, you reek of lavender!"

Lupin grinned widely, and Snape's sallow face turned bright red. "Oh, you know how clumsy I am," Lupin said innocently. "I'm afraid I managed to spill a bottle of lavender oil all over me."

"Yes, I'm not letting the werewolf anywhere near my potion supplies again," Snape snarled, his face still red.

But Lukas's keen sense of smell picked up a faint whiff of something muskier beneath the cloying perfume of the lavender, and that, along with Snape's red face, gave him a much clearer idea than he really wanted of just why Lupin and Snape had been absent from dinner. "That would probably be wise," Lukas said, trying to keep a bland expression fixed on his face.

Snape quickly grabbed Lupin's arm and hustled him off in the direction of the dungeon as Lupin giggled. Lukas shook his head and continued on his way, muttering to himself sourly, "Well, at least someone around here is getting laid."

Part 79