Title: To Save Each other

Summary: DM/RL, with a hint of HP/SS. M/M. Of consenting ages. After the war, Voldie's dead.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea, J.K Rowling owns Draco, Remus, and all of the others/ including Hogwarts. I make no money off this story. I do it simply to entertain.

*

Remus stared at the sight in front of him and bit his lip in indecision. He could just…walk away and pretend he hadn't seen anything. But deep down he knew that he was too much of a softy to ever leave the scene without stepping forward.

He regarded the young man sitting on the window sill, about fifteen feet away from him and cursed himself for not being less caring. He couldn't just walk away while this young man cried by himself so hopelessly! He stepped forward just a step before stopping himself. He wondered how he was going to be received by the young Mr. Malfoy. He didn't know him well enough to know.

What he did know was that he couldn't leave the stunningly beautiful boy to cry alone.

Sighing Remus walked slowly over to the window and watched as Draco wiped his eyes angrily, his curses low and quiet. His heart panged in sympathy and he reached out to lightly lay his hand on the shaking shoulder in front of him.

Draco's head whipped around and he stared wetly up at Remus, who was completely still, wary of being yelled at or attacked. But the stunning blonde whimpered and wrapped his arms around Remus's waist, pulling him close and laying his face against his professors flat stomach.

Remus gaped in shock, as the Slytherin sobbed into his stomach. Whatever he'd thought to prepare himself for, this wasn't one of things he was ready to expect. He stared down at him and found his hand moving on it's own to lightly rub the white-blonde hair.

He sat slowly on the window sill and let the younger man crawl, practically onto his lap. He was even more shocked when Draco wrapped his arms around his neck and cried into his neck, his body shivering. "Draco? What's wrong?"

"I've nothing now! They've taken it all! My parents, my friends, my home, and my money! I've got nothing, I'm completely alone!" Draco cried into his shoulder, his arms squeezing Remus tightly as though he needed to be as close as he could be to the older man.

Remus carefully wrapped his arms around the quivering young man and held him, his heart beating rapidly. It was such a tender thing, to be holding the platinum beauty, comforting him and holding him close. "Shush you're not alone! You've got…" Remus desperately thought of someone for the boy to relate too but only drew on one name, "Severus and…of course me!"

The young imp in his arms snorted and shook his head, "Severus is all wrapped up in Harry Potter now! All they ever do is snog and shag!"

Not able to deny this, as it was all true, Remus frowned, "Well…I'm here. You need never be alone Draco."

Draco pulled back and bit his wobbling lip, his big silver eyes imploring Remus silently, "Really professor? You're here for me?"

"Yes, of course." Remus murmured softly, his right hand rubbing lightly up his back.

The silver eyes filled with tears again and Draco's head was buried in his neck again. "Oh Lupin…"

But it wasn't Remus who was responding to Draco in his arms, it was Moony. He stretched inside of Remus and practically purred at the feel of the young mans mouth moving against his neck as the man talked.

Pulling in a deep breath Remus realized his thumb was tracing circles into Draco's neck and that the man in his arms wasn't crying anymore, no…he was breathing deeply and arching into Remus's touch, his arms tight around his neck.

When his lips opened over Remus's pulse and Remus felt Moony howling in approval, he pulled back and sucked in a ragged breath, relieved when the sting of it brought him back to his common sense.

He gently pulled at Draco's arms and winced when the boy whimpered in protest. He pushed Draco back enough so that he was staring into the again- wet eyes and bit his lip, "Draco…We can't."

But Draco's eyes were on his mouth and his fingers were wrapped in Remus's hair, "But you said…"

"I meant I could help you, talk to you, and comfort you."

"You are…"Draco whimpered, trying to move close again and pouting desperately when his professor wouldn't let him.

Fighting Moony's urge just to pin the blonde down and ravage him, Remus stood, moving Draco back off his lap. "I'll always be here to 'talk' to you Draco."

"You said you would comfort me!" Draco whined, reaching out for him.

"I will…Just not in that way."

Deep inside him, Moony was growling at Remus, angry that he wouldn't do what he wanted him to do. Remus bit his lip and watched different emotions flash across Draco's face. It went quickly from pain filled to angry.

He hated that look and knowing that he caused it. He reached out and whispered, "Draco…"

"No!" The young Slytherin shook his head anxiously and hurried away, tripping and stumbling.

"Great…" Remus whispered, his guilt flowing through him roughly.

He'd managed to make a bad situation worse! Draco had needed comfort and stupid Moony had made Remus act like a sex starved mad man. He'd come onto the depressed and desperate young man, making the poor seventeen year old cling to him and his offered comfort.

Shaking his head Remus cursed and shuffled back to his own bed. He curled up on the bed and ignored Moony's sad whines that he was all alone again. He stared up at the ceiling and hoped Draco Malfoy would make it back to his own bed alright.

*

"Lupin, what's wrong with you?" Severus asked next to him, his eyes bemused.

"Nothing. Well…I had a kind of run in with Draco Malfoy last night. He was in need of comfort and I think I just messed it all up. He left feeling worse than if I hadn't interfered at all." Remus sighed, his hand resting under his chin.

"What did you do?" Severus asked sharply, looking around for his godson.

"Um…Nothing." He hated to lie but Remus wasn't sure how Severus would react to his coming onto his young godson. Probably the same that he'd reacted when he found out that Harry and Severus were together, so not good.

Severus gave him a sharp look before resuming the search for Draco. Remus watched as the potion masters dark eyes suddenly glowed and followed his gaze. Harry had just walked into the Great Hall, his gaze on Severus immediately. He winked at his lover and sat at the Gryffindor table, next to Ron and Hermione.

Pushing back the uncomfortable feeling, Remus felt the painful edge of jealously at the obvious joy Harry and Severus got at 'just' seeing each other. He hadn't found that type of love since Sirius had gone to Azkaban. They had tried to get back together after he had escaped, but with no luck. Sirius simply hadn't been able to move past the fact that Remus had believed he'd betrayed James and Lily all those years ago. They had shagged quite a bit during those few years that Sirius was still alive, but they never really recaptured the love they had had as younger men.

Remus had been on a few dates, but the men and women hadn't held his interest and Moony hadn't seemed interested either. He knew it was weird to consider his werewolf counterparts point of view and opinion on the people he dated but it was important. His werewolf had a mate out there and if Remus ended up with the wrong person because he'd simply ignored Moony's instincts things could end disastrously.

But still knowing that didn't help with the aching loneliness that he felt when he fell asleep alone every night. He wanted to find someone both he and Moony could love. But he wasn't nineteen anymore and he was beginning to think he would never find his life and bonding mate.

Staring blankly ahead, Remus started when Severus sighed loudly, "I told him he didn't have to sit there…"

Remus followed his gaze curiously and felt a pang of sympathy as he saw Draco sitting alone at the Slytherin table. After the battle of Hogwarts the year before, practically all of the Slytherin purebloods had pulled their children out of the school, claiming that the school was being prejudiced against them and their children.

Draco's family, from what Remus had heard, was in shatters. His father was killed, his mother was barely sane, most of their assets had been seized by the Ministry and Draco was forced to take care of himself and his mother during the holidays. It seemed he had hoped that by coming back to Hogwarts he could escape his dreary home life. His hopes, evident from the night before, were failing miserably.

He stared at the seventh year, the blonde head ducked down, his red rimmed, silver eyes staring straight down at the table in front of him as he ate oatmeal and crumbled up his toast. Remus watched as Harry walked over to the Slytherin table and sat across from Draco. Draco scowled at the boy across from him but shrugged at whatever Harry had asked him.

"That's an interesting development." He muttered to Severus, who was smirking at the unlikely pair.

"Not really, Draco will always treat Harry as just Harry and Harry will always treat Draco normally. It's what they need from each other. If I hadn't shagged Harry last night, I would be slightly jealous of the two." Severus said smugly as he sipped his coffee.

Remus choked on his own coffee and gave his coworker. "Gross."

"Oh come on Lupin. It wouldn't be so 'gross' if you would just get shagged already." Severus shot back, his eyes sparkling maliciously.

Fighting back the blush that threatened to take over his face and neck, Remus stammered before blurting out, "You don't know when I was last shagged!"

"I'm guessing not within the last year."

"Oh piss off." Remus growled, his face burning with humiliation.

"See I'm right."

Remus sighed loudly and his eyes flitted to the blonde boy, talking in low tones with Harry. His eyes traced across the boys tired face and saw straight through the usual cold façade to the sad and desperate look hidden there. He frowned and looked down, wondering how his Defense against the Dark Art's class would go, as Draco was in it.

Draco's silver eyes flashed up to him and his face burned when he realized how completely he was staring at him. But it was only a moment that the cold gaze was on him, because Draco simply looked away and started talking to Harry again.

"This is going to be an interesting day." Remus sighed, and shook his head.

*

Nearing the end of his last class for the day, the class that Draco Malfoy was in, Remus rubbed his temples and felt his head ache building. The seventh year had done such a good job of ignoring him that he was beginning to be severely annoyed by it, instead of the relieved than he thought he would be.

At the moment he was studying the Slytherin from behind his desk, Moony stretching contentedly inside him. Remus was almost as annoyed with his wolf as he was with Draco because the entire lesson he could feel Moony urging him to just push aside his desk, grab Malfoy and just shag him into the floor. This of course left him half erect and stressed out the entire lesson. He even had to toss out his active lesson for the day and had the class reading out of the book.

When Moony filled his mind with another scorching image, Remus cleared his throat and said firmly, "You know what? Why don't you guys go ahead and leave early? I'll see you the day after tomorrow! No homework."

He smiled when the class cheered and called out, "Malfoy wait a moment please."

He saw the boy stop and waited for the class to step around his desk and say, "About last night…"

"Professor, stop. I wasn't in my right mind last night and I just…needed to be close to someone. I'm sorry I threw myself at you, it was inappropriate." Draco said coldly, only betrayed by his eyes shining brightly.

"Draco…I wasn't lying last night when I said that I'm always here for you, anytime you want." Remus said slowly, his eyes begging Draco to believe him.

The blonde gave him a simple smile and nodded, "I'll remember that Professor."

"Please do." Remus's eyes flickered between the silver eyes.

"Can I go?" Draco asked looking toward the door.

"I suppose if there's nothing you want to talk about…" Nervous at finding himself, half wanting the student to stay and pour his heart out again, Remus shuffled and sat on the edge of his desk, his fingers gripping the edge so hard it bruised them.

Draco gave him a placating smile, "Not at the moment professor. I'm rather hungry, so off to dinner."

Remus watched him leave and felt a tinge of regret in not being able to urge the boy into staying. He sighed in frustration with himself and with Moony who was now whimpering at the loss of the boy he was enamored with. "It's not right and you know it!" He hissed to the wolf with in him, receiving an angry growl in the deep of his mind that was so loud, his head began to throb immediately.

*

Looking at the clock beside his bed, Remus yawned and curled under his blankets. It was eleven o'clock. Usually he was asleep well before then. His body was so alert, so anxious that he kept squirming in his bed, resisting temptation to get up and prowl around the castle. He knew why his subconscious was keeping him awake and alert. He wanted to go and see if Draco was back by the window, needing 'comfort' again.

'At least I can control these urges.' He thought triumphantly to himself. It was a small victory, but he celebrated it as if it was much bigger.

No, he wouldn't go search for the young, shining man who kept popping into his mind. He would stay in bed, fall asleep, awake the next morning refreshed and 'rational', and would do it all over again. There was no possible way he was going to lurk around the castle like a love sick teenager.

So when he found himself standing and pulling his robes over his pajama's he scowled and stopped his hand from turning the doorknob to his private chambers. He didn't even recall getting out of his bloody bed in the first place!

He cursed and pulled at his hair frustrated, how could his body be so insistent that it was refusing to listen to the sane, rational part of his brain? It didn't make sense! He was the rational, patient, calm Remus Lupin, the one who would occasionally talk the marauders down from an outrageous prank, the one who had always done his homework on time and even now had his grading done before it was on his desk longer than a day, and he was the one to turn down the infamous sex god Sirius Black the first time he'd come onto him, just because he hadn't loved him yet!

So why was it so hard to control his, own bloody emotions and body? "It's not bloody fair!" He haggardly whispered to himself, his body shaking.

He was cursing his own lack of self control when there came a quiet knock on the door he was still attached too. He jumped, cursed and slowly turned the knob, whispering the unlocking spell he placed on the door every night.

His first thought was that he was going mad with delusions and his second was that his luck was shit and the god's must be amused by fucking with him. Because a teary eyed and even paler than usual, Draco Malfoy stood in his door way sniffing and begging with his eyes for entrance.

"Draco?"

"Professor, I know it's late…But I just need…" The boy's words kept breaking with his soft sob filled inhales.

"Come in." Remus said softly, pulling the boys arm gently, bringing him into his rooms.

The boy immediately settled on his bed and covered his face with his hands, his breaths harsh and low. Remus stared at him for a moment, his mind racked with indecision, before stepping forward and settling himself a few feet away from the distraught man.

His fingers tightened around his soft pillow and he asked, "What's wrong Draco?"

"I feel so alone…I don't want to be alone!" Draco whimpered, his silvery eyes, wide with un-fallen tears locked on Remus's as he edged closer. "Please I just can't be alone, I've got all these terrifying thoughts in my mind and I don't want them to happen!"

Knowing what sort of terrifying thoughts a man so alone as this one could be having, Remus felt a sharp tang of sympathy and something that tasted like fear, hit him and he reached out to rub Draco's shoulder soothingly, "What thoughts?"

"I could just…End it and be with my friends and my father. I wouldn't have to be alone anymore!"

The fear in Remus and Moony doubled at the Slytherin's calm words. He shook his head anxiously and scooted forward a bit more, his thigh almost touching Draco's knee. "No Draco. That…Suicide or hurting yourself is not the way to fix your problems. I know how lonely you are and how much pain you're in, but you can't do that! Think of Severus, and your mother and…Me. We would all be devastated! Your father wouldn't want you to do that either!"

The younger man sniffed and pushed his white blonde hair out of his eyes, "My father's dead, and my mother barely knows me anymore."

"They love you. They wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. Neither would Severus or I."

"He'd get over it. He has Potter. And you…Would you really care?" Draco asked his voice half contemptuous and half pleading. He seemed to want to know, need to know Remus's answer but was afraid of it at the same time.

"Of course I would care Draco. Of course."

His body stilled when Draco leaned heavily into him, his head resting heavily on his shoulder. But Remus couldn't seem to pull back, it wasn't about him at the moment, it was about comforting and reassuring the young man quivering in his arms. It was about stopping the tears from falling down from stunning silver eyes, to slide down his porcelain skin. Draco needed to in arms that were truthfully comforting and Remus could do nothing but oblige.

When he realized that Draco's tears had stopped, he turned his head but still couldn't see the boys face. His free hand reached for the arm looped around his shoulder and he sought out the pulse on the slender, warm wrist. It was slow and evenly beating, Draco was…Asleep.

Smiling at how suddenly the boy had fallen asleep Remus shook his head and carefully pulled the boy back from his body. Draco long thick lashes were closed over his eyes, eyes that were hooded with purple, almost black bags, suggesting that Draco hadn't slept well, or at all, in days.

He couldn't bring himself to wake the student, so he gently laid him out on his bed and covered him with his blanket. He moved to get off the bed and over to the couch to sleep, but a sleepy arm curled around his waist and Draco cuddled into him with a whimper.

Looking down, Remus felt a stir of anxiousness, he knew he shouldn't stay here on the bed with Draco, but the grip around his waist and the panicked whimper from the sleeping boy had him stretching out on the bed next to him.

He sighed guiltily when Draco immediately curled up as close to him as possible, but found his own eyes slipping closed. He yawned exhaustedly and through the fog of his sleep filled mind he felt his own arm pull the boy closer to him, eliciting a relieved sigh from both of their sleeping bodies.

*

Remus woke the next morning, breathing in a warm, sweet scent. It was the most amazing thing he or Moony had ever smelled. It was husky, deep and made his eyes flutter closed again in contentment. His hand reached out to smooth out over the bed and his hand closed over the wrinkled, empty spot next to him.

He frowned and opened his eyes, he remembered falling asleep wrapped around Draco. He just wasn't sure if it had been a dream or not. The boy had been so warm and soft as he clung to him. It was like he was afraid of losing him in his sleep, like he would wake up and find Remus gone.

Taking a deep breath Remus sat up in his bed, the blanket pooling around his waist. His rubbed his eyes and stared around his room. Draco was nowhere in sight and the clock by his bed indicated that he was late for breakfast. He swore and jumped out of bed, but at the same time realizing how completely rested he was. He felt like he'd gone to sleep early not late!

"Mm wow." He sighed, smiling even though he had to hurry to get to breakfast.

He rushed through breakfast, his eyes searching constantly for the impish blonde who had spent the night in his bed. It seemed that Draco had already been in and gotten breakfast. He bit his lip and shook his head, wondering what the boy could be thinking now.

It had been a mistake to let last night happen. He had finally gotten his student to realize that they couldn't be any more than a Professor and a student and then he'd contradicted himself by letting Draco sleep in his bed, curled up to him. Now he could bet that the boy was thinking they could be more than they could be.

"Did you get shagged?"

Remus jumped and scowled at Severus who was studying him interestedly. "What?!"

"I asked if you…"

"I know what you asked! Why would you ask that?"

"You look different." Severus leaned in and studied him closely, "Like rested and…Happy."

"I had a pleasant night's sleep."

"Was there someone in there with you?"

He couldn't help the blush that covered his face brightly. He pointedly looked away and took a drink of his coffee. Severus however was not to be deterred and leaned in, "So do I know him?"

"Mm you know I've got to get going, I got up late and haven't prepared my classes for today. I'll see you later." Remus grinned at the frustrated look on his coworkers face as he stood. He hurried through the corridors, his mind racing and his palms sweating.

He had absolutely intention of ever telling Severus that his godson had spent the night in his bed. He would definitely get cursed that way and he knew how skilled a duelist Severus was, he had no chance. He just hoped that Malfoy would realize enough of that to not tell his godfather about sleeping in his professor's room the night before.

"Remus!"

He turned and looked around, smiling a bit as Harry rushed over to him his messy hair bouncing as he swerved around people. He stopped in front of Remus with a breathless laugh and smiled, "Hi. Sev's been bothering you." He said this in a non-question way and gave him a sympathetic look.

"Er, he bothers everyone." Remus motioned that Harry should walk with him to his classroom.

"Yes but he seems to be intent on bothering you especially." Harry's tone was amused and questioning.

Remus stopped and turned to stare at him, "What did he tell you?"

"Nothing, well…Nothing much, just that he's bugging you about your sex life and that you had someone spend the night last night." Harry scrunched his nose embarrassedly and rumpled the back of his head.

"He has the biggest mouth!" Remus growled, and then scowled at Harry who giggled at his statement.

"So it's true then?" Harry asked biting his lip to hold back a big grin.

"Harry do you honestly think that I'm going to discuss something like that with you?" Remus asked walking again.

"Oh come on Moony! You need to talk to someone."

Remus smirked and opened his mouth to say something when a flash of white-blonde hair caught his eye. Draco was moving quickly through the corridor, his eyes staring straight down. But as he neared the older man, his eyes flashed up and they locked onto Remus's blinking in surprise.

Draco's lips twitched as they stared at each other, but as he neared him he just moved past him, not saying a word. Remus stopped himself from turning to follow the young man's walk. He just clenched his hands together and ignored his wolfish impulses.

"Oh…My…God. His godson!?" Harry cried out, gaining attention from not only Remus, but a few students who were walking by stopped to look at him curiously.

Paling Remus gaped and tried to say something but words wouldn't come out. Harry shook his head, his eyes wide, "You are…So dead! You do realize that Sev's gonna kill you right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Remus growled, grabbing Harry and shoving him into a more private alcove.

"Oh come on Remus! Even I could feel the heat coming off of you when you both caught sight of each other out there! A blind man would see how you looked at each other." Harry whispered.

"Nothing's happened and nothing's going to happen."

"Was it him? Is he the one you spent the night with?"

"He fell asleep in my bed, that's it."

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why was he in there anyway?"

"We were talking and no I'm not going to tell you what about." Remus said quickly, catching Harry's curious look.

"Remus…What's going on? Do you like him or something?"

"Harry I really can't talk about this right now, I have a class that I have to teach. I've got to go."

He tried to hurry away but Harry caught his arm, "Come by me and Sev's room tonight. We'll have dinner and talk."

"Fine, I have really got to go." Remus pulled his arm out of Harry's hold and hurried to his class, his mind racing.

If Harry could see the attraction he felt for Draco than what was stopping Draco or even Severus from seeing it? No wonder the boy kept coming back to Remus, he was putting out all the signals that he wanted him.

He was just going to have to stay away from both of them, because at the moment they were the two most dangerous people to him. Draco was a dangerous temptation, while Severus was a dangerous physical threat. It was an unpleasant necessary.

*