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Remus resisted the urge to eye Professor Dumbledore with disbelief. After all, how could he mistrust the only person who had looked past his 'condition' to permit him to come to Hogwarts all those years ago? Those years which were the happiest ever in his life? The very man who was offering him another chance to return to that wonderful, blessed place? Not only return, but to teach; to have some purpose in his life again? and to spend time with the son of his dear friend who had remained friend to the end? Who offered him this slim chance to curb his 'condition' & make him safe? He could not. For not only did all those personal reasons to trust the Professor come into play, but there was an even greater one: Professor Dumbledore needed him. The great wizard would never lead him astray.

Still, to trust Severus Snape -the former Death Eater, the one his friends had tormented all their years in school- was quite a challenge. What would James Potter say if he knew? Remus never agreed with how James & Sirius had treated Severus in school, and he felt slightly guilty for never stopping them. Perhaps Severus would not have turned Death Eater if they had not.

That train of thought fragmented as he thought about his once friend: Sirius Black. Anger, outrage, sadness, & pain stirred at Black's traitorous actions that had caused the death & loss of all of Remus Lupin's friends. Death of Lily, James, & Peter... loss of Sirius.

Then he knew what James would say if he knew... anything to protect his son. Yes, Remus would trust Dumbledore's trust of Severus to help Harry. It was the least he could do for his friends' memory.

At least he did not have to worry about it being brewed correctly. Severus Snape's own pride in his potion making would see that the difficult potion was brewed to perfection. Remus had to give the Death Eater start thinking it, Remus former Death Eater credit on always having been excellent at brewing potions. A genius really when it came to potions. Remus could see why Dumbledore kept him there instead of letting him take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts class where Snape would possibly be equally as good: no one else would be as good at teaching Potions as Severus Snape was.

His thoughts had come full circle to the present. Dumbledore watched him; with that quiet, knowing way the great wizard had that never made you feel foolish or slow or mistrusted. That way that made you feel he believed he was doing the right thing... and that you would do the right thing. Still holding the potion, Severus Snape sneered at him. There was no loss of love there. Again Remus wished he had stopped James & Sirius more when they were children.

"Thank you, Professor Snape." He reached to accept the potion, still smoking over the top of the goblet in its creator's hands. With a final leer Snape handed the goblet to him. Trying not to tremble, Remus drew the odiferous brew towards his lips. "You have always been an excellent potion maker."

Was it his imagination or had Severus seemed momentarily touched & taken aback by the complement. He would need a Pensieve to ever know for sure. Pushing thoughts aside Remus gave a weary smile to the two professors & tilted the Wolfsbane Potion into his mouth.

It burned. Remus Lupin tried not to sputter. His mind overcame his instinct to spit it out & he swallowed the horrible mixture. Of course it burns, you fool. Anything with Wolfsbane will be painful to a werewolf, & of course you are a werewolf!

He could feel their eyes upon him: Dumbledore's kind & compassionate; Snape's narrowed & analytical. Remus was certain his interest was purely in seeing how the Wolfsbane Potion worked. Then again, Snape's way with potions -his need to know how to brew them & how they worked- was part of why he trusted him now.

Suddenly Remus was very tired. An odd thing when he was so close to a change. It must be starting to take effect. He did not feel well. He felt chilled. Their voices seemed distant when they spoke.

"Come Severus. Let us put him in his bed. We can watch to see that the potion works while he's comfortable."
"I've no doubt the potion will work, Professor." Remus felt the two of them lifting him into his bed. His befuddled mind & senses knew it was Dumbledore who made sure he was covered. "If I had any doubt I would have insisted on keeping him in that shack of his." At the bitter spitting of the word Remus had no difficulty knowing Severus was remembering the time Sirius had nearly gotten him killed by Remus the werewolf if it had not been for James. Remus wished there was some way to apologize; he hoped trusting in the potion was a start. "It is more how it works that interests me."
Remus heard no more as the potion took full effect & he lost consciousness.