My Brother is a Teenage Werewolf

Chapter 5

Severus and Remus Age 16

Beginning of Sixth Year

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Classes had started over a week ago, and Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter were on their way to lunch after Potions class with the Slytherins. James and Sirius were leading the way, roughhousing with one another as they usually did, unless Lily Evans was anywhere in the nearby vicinity of course. When she was around, James had taken to acting as if he were above such childish things.

Remus hung back, even behind Peter, who was laughing at the other two. Remus had been lost in thought since before class had even started. When Professor Slughorn had asked him to name the properties of Amortentia, he had needed to ask him to repeat the question, earning a few laughs at his expense from his classmates. After that, he had tried to concentrate, but it was no use, his mind continued to wander seemingly of its own accord.

All Remus could think about was Severus.

Severus had been ignoring Remus since they'd gotten on the train back at King's Cross. They'd had a pretty spectacular fight the night before and Severus absolutely refused to let Remus apologize or apologize himself. It had been the same argument they had been having the last two weeks of summer: Remus wanted to tell his friends about the adoption, the whole truth about it, including that Severus was now his adopted brother. Severus disagreed completely. 

Remus had tried to reason with him, and had told him that if they only knew, he was sure that things would work out differently this year. That if they could get to know Severus the way that Remus had, they could all stop with the pranks and fights. Even if they didn't become friends, at least they could stop being enemies.

But Severus had been too stubborn to hear it. He didn't want them to lay off him simply because of Remus. He didn't need his new "little brother" fighting his battles for him. "And besides," Severus would say anytime it was brought up, "it's safer this way. The fewer people who know, the better." According to Severus, the last thing he wanted was for his secret to get out. It was different for Remus. He was a Gryffindor, both his parents were dead, and no one would think twice if the great Albus Dumbledore adopted him.

No, Severus wanted his secret to remain just that: a secret!

"Well, if that's how he wants it, then I suppose he's just going to have to deal with this year the same way he always has. If he wants to ignore me, I can ignore him just as well," thought Remus as he ambled slowly towards the Great Hall with his hands shoved deep in his pockets, staring down at the new shoes he'd gotten a few weeks back.

The sound of someone yelling caught Remus's attention and he finally looked up. Ahead of him was the exact person he'd been thinking about, surrounded by a group of students. In front were James and Sirius.

Remus made his way through the crowd to get a better look at what was happening. James and Sirius both had their wands out, pointing them at Severus, who was pointing his own back at them.

"Ah, Moony," James said with a grin when Remus came to stand beside him. "About time you showed up."

"Yeah," Sirius chimed in. "Where've you been? We were just about to teach Snivellus here a lesson in manners."

Remus glanced from Sirius and James over to Severus, who glared at him, saying nothing and everything all at once: Don't interfere. Leave it be.

It was the same thing he'd been saying for weeks, and Remus found himself glaring back. He thought back to their argument the week before and knew what Severus wanted him to do now, but he didn't like it. He didn't want this, not anymore, not ever, really. This wasn't the sort of person Remus wanted to be.