Hope Has a Place
Part Three
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When Snape floo'd into the kitchen at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, it was with a heavy heart and an itchy wand hand. Lupin had been expecting him and was sitting grimly by the table. Harry's trunk was beside him, an empty owl cage perched on top of it.

"You know," said Lupin. It wasn't a question.

"Yes, I know," snarled Snape. "Well, aren't you going to deny it? Plead innocence?"

"No. What would be the point?"

"Come near him again and I'll castrate you. The Muggle way. Lots of pain and lots of blood. Just what you gave to Harry."

"There wasn't any blood," whispered Lupin.

"What? Do you think I want to stand here and listen to you explain the details of how you raped a thirteen year old boy? You sicken me." Snape placed a shrinking spell on Harry's trunk and then turned to glare at his former colleague. "Harry worshipped you! You were like a father to him, or so he thought. How was he to know that you only wanted to see him alone so that you could abuse him? Well, let's hear it then. Let's hear your excuses, your explanation for such a betrayal."

"There are none. I was wrong. I shouldn't have done it."

"No, you shouldn't, but you did it anyway."

"It wasn't like that!" protested Lupin, but Snape wasn't listening. Nothing the werewolf said could make this any better. Harry had been hurt, had been hurt by someone he thought of as a friend, someone he trusted and Snape knew that hurt Harry more than the rape had. He had so few people he truly trusted.

"No? What was it like, then?"

"I - I thought he was James."

"That's your excuse? You mistook him for one of your lovers? And what about when he was screaming for you to stop? Did you still mistake him for James then?"

Lupin didn't answer, Snape hadn't really expected him to.

"I was in his mind, Lupin. He invited me in. I saw what you did to him, not just once. Oh, you weren't satisfied with just the once, were you? I felt his fear, his humilation. Things that you caused him. Is that how you look after your friends' son, Lupin? The boy is terrified of his own body because of what you did to him."

"Oh, you're enjoying this, aren't you?" growled Lupin. "You've always wanted to turn Harry against me, haven't you? Couldn't bear to have him near me, could you?"

"I didn't turn Harry against you, Lupin. You did that yourself when you raped him."

"Oh, it must gall you, Severus, mustn't it? That I got to him first. Pity it's all a bit fuzzy, I never really remember what happens just before the full moon. But he's spoiled for you now, isn't he? I know you always like to be first."

"Fuzzy? Is that all you can say after what you did to him? I should kill you with my bare hands." Snape's knuckles tensed on his wand.

"I won't stop you." Lupin paused and then gave a strange smile. "No, but Harry would, wouldn't he? That''s it, isn't it? Harry made you promise not to hurt me."

Snape didn't deign to answer that. If he stayed in the werewolf's company much longer, promise or not, he knew he was not going to be able to reign in his temper.

"What's the matter, Severus? No reply? Or is it that you don't want to hear the truth? Do you think I'm blind? I've seen the way you look at him. I can smell you, the lust on you. For Harry. But he won't let you near him, will he? Too frightened to be touched, is he? Have you wondered why he doesn't want you to harm me? Hmm? Maybe he enjoyed it after all."

Snape didn't bother with his wand. He punched Lupin so hard that the toppled from the chair. Blood flew from Lupin's nose and mouth and it was as though Snape was seeing things through a red haze. He could not stop, there was a sickening crunch of bone as he broke Lupin's nose, but the werewolf didn't even try to defend himself. He was laughing hysterically, accepting every punch from Snape as though he wanted them.

A white projectile hit Snape on the cheek, one of Lupin's teeth and still Snape didn't stop until Lupin was a wheezing mass of mangled flesh beneath him. Snape stood up, his knuckles stinging, but he felt a lot better. He couldn't bring himself to care how Lupin felt.

Lupin sat up, wiping blood from his face. "Why didn't you finish it?" demanded Lupin. "I deserve it."

"I'm not your conscience, or your executioner. You want to die, Lupin? You'll do it without me."

"Have you kissed him yet? Have you tasted those soft lips? Shall I tell you how he was, Snape? So hot and tight, such an eager little-"

The curse was said before Snape had even given it much thought. Lupin was bound to a chair by his hands and legs, a scarf in his mouth serving as an effective gag. Snape could not bear to listen to one more word. He knew the werewolf was only doing it to provoke him and his patience was rapidly running out.

He bent close to Lupin's ear. "Not to worry, Lupin. There's an Order meeting tomorrow. You'll be all tied up until then." Snape pressed his wand to Lupin's temple and he felt the werewolf shudder in relief. He wailed in despair, muffled by the the gag, when Snape did nothing more than heal the wounds he'd just inflicted.

"You will not touch Harry again," growled Snape, clasping Lupin's genitals in his fist. "If you do, I'll hack off your balls and stuff them down your throat. Are we clear?"

Lupin barely managed a nod. Snape let go and picked up Harry's trunk, stuffing it in his pocket before heading for the fireplace.

He was hoping that Harry might have fallen asleep in his absence, but he was not to be granted that reprieve.

Harry took one look at the bloodstained robes, the scraped knuckles and he bounded up from the sofa, his tear stained face a study in betrayal.

"You promised!" sobbed Harry. "You promised!"

Part Four