Disclaimer: I do not know J.K. Rawling, I have no ownership of any of her characters, storylines or ideas. I admire her world from afar and find myself walking through the dreamscapes of Harry Potter's adventures. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Brother Wolf continues where The Potion Master's Wife ends. Would you believe the characters just took over and Caitlin and Remus felt like having their own epic love story? If you don't care for an original character, then they respect your preferences and ask you find another story to read.

As a refresher, Caitlin Scott, the American granddaughter of Lord and Lady Scott, who perished in the first war, is a former bio-alchemical researcher for the American Department of Magick. She was recalled against her will to Hogwarts to fulfill a marriage contract with Professor Snape and had the better fortune to meet Remus Lupin. Upon the dissolution of that forced marriage, Caitlin and Remus were free to pursue their own romance.

I missed Christmas that year. Between throwing myself into creating the Gubbio potion and being temporarily dead, the holiday had been pushed from my mind. I know I saw the Great Hall decorated and I remembered Hermione and the other students leaving for their vacation. Otherwise, I was preoccupied.

It was mid-January before I recovered from my tumble off the staircase. When I could stand again, even though it was only for short amounts of time, I returned to my lab to prepare the next course of the Gubbio Potion for Remus. While he prepared his lesson plans at my worktable, I snuck some time to write to another college friend, asking for something special.

The intravenous potion needed a name. Wolfsbane Potion was named for its primary ingredient, aconite. Its invention had been a major break through in lycanthropy treatment. Unfortunately, tied to the prejudices faced by lycanthropes, there had not been much detailed research after its discovery. With Remus' help, I was preparing a journal article on the new potion, hoping it would spur interest.

It was while I was doing random searches for name ideas that I came across a beautiful story concerning Francis of Assisi and the wolf of Gubbio, Italy. It seemed the wolf had taken to hunting not only the villagers' farm animals but had attacked several people, also. A war of sorts sprang up between them – the villagers feared the wolf and wanted it dead and the wolf was so hungry that it risked its life to find food anywhere it might.

Francis was called upon to assist. Instead of praying for the destruction of the animal, he went to the wolf and called him Brother. "Brother Wolf," he said, "I want to make peace between you and the people of Gubbio. They will harm you no more and you must no longer harm them. All past crimes are to be forgiven."1 Miraculously, the wolf agreed. Francis led Brother Wolf into the very center of the village, surrounded by those who had wanted to kill him. And he brokered an agreement between the wolf and the people: If the people would feed the wolf, the wolf would accept what was given him and never hunt them again. The people agreed and the wolf placed his paw in Francis' hand to signify his agreement. There was peace in Gubbio. The wolf was no longer feared.

I kept my head turned toward the computer when I read that. I knew the name of the potion had to be in honor of that wolf, the people who had been brave enough to make peace and a saint that looked a dangerous creature in the eye and called him brother. Remus was behind me and I didn't want him to see me cry.

My friend, fascinated by my description of the potion and the story, had quickly written back and enclosed the small gift I had requested for my lover. I did the small amount of magic I was capable of on the metal and quietly took it to Dumbledore. The headmaster smiled at my request and added the additional charms.

I sat next to Remus as the students filed into the Great Hall for the start of spring term feast. Severus was down the table from us, glaring at individual students who dared to look at him as they entered. The hall was warm and I was feeling calm and relaxed; a completely different state of mind from one I had at the beginning of the last term.

Remus squeezed my hand under the table and smiled at me. I squeezed back, delighting in simply being able to touch him. Our isolation of the past semester made every moment now seem even sweeter.

There were a few whispers and pointed fingers from students who glanced our way. We knew this was coming and were as prepared for it as possible. Severus had no problem telling students last semester that he and I were married. My new place at the table was going to elicit comments. I already had a plan to clear some of the confusion away, but I needed to wait for Hermione to return to work for me to carry the plan out.

When my girl came in, she promptly ran into the arms of Harry and Ron, grinning happily. I could see her chatting quickly with the boys before slipping an arm around Ron's sister, Ginny. I was the last one she remembered and received a brief wave from across the hall.

"Harry has been anxious for Hermione to return," Remus said softly to me. "I guess Ron has been pacing the Gryffindor common room trying to puzzle out dating her. Harry has had enough."

"Oh, to be a teenager," I chuckled. "I remember the first night back in Bear Lodge. You would think we were all dating each other." Shaking my head, I laughed at the memory. "Especially my clan. Actually, we may have been."

"Young and in love," Remus agreed, raising his eyebrows significantly.

"Is almost as good as being 30s and in love," I told him. "Ask me about it tonight."

Remus choked, trying not to laugh. It was a blatant invitation and he knew it.

When the hall had filled, Professor McGonagall tapped her wand against her water glass, magically magnifying the tinkling sound. When the students were still, Dumbledore stood.

"Welcome back, one and all," he said. "I trust you have had a joyous holiday and are prepared for an exciting new term." There was some applause and a few groans. "I will spare you any announcements. Far be it for me to stand between teenagers and a good dinner."

With that, the headmaster took his seat again. The serving plates swelled with wonderful things for dinner and the scent of roast turkeys filled the hall. The chatter picked right up as the students filled their plates. It was a fine feast; Professor Sprout sat to my right and we talked about some of the plants we had worked with. Remus and Professor Flitwick discussed a recent London production of "Alas, I'm Transfigured My Feet." I had avoided most of the staff last term, that night I felt as if I were a member.

The students were finishing their dinners when an owl flew over their heads to the staff table. As the mail normally arrives at breakfast, the owl caught the attention of quite a few of them. It landed in front of Remus, dropping a bright red envelop. Remus picked it up, frowning.

"That's a Screamer," I said, frowning, and using the American name as he turned it over.

"A Howler," Remus corrected. He turned down the table toward Dumbledore. "Headmaster --?"

Dumbledore had also seen the letter arrive. "The side dinning room, Remus."

Remus quickly left his chair, followed by Dumbledore. I stood and went after them. Severus entered the small room off the Great Hall behind me.

Remus dropped the red envelope on the table just as it had begun to smoke. It flew in the air of its own accord and burst open. A woman's voice shrieked: "HOW DARE YOU RETURN TO HOGWARTS! WEREWOLVES HAVE NO PLACE TEACHING CHILDERN! MY MARCUS IS TO BE REMOVED FROM YOUR CLASS AND I WANT YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM OR I WILL PERSONALLY HAVE YOU TURNED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONTROL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS FOR ENDANGERING MY SON'S SAFETY!"

The letter burst into flames and fell back to the table. Dumbledore laid a hand on Remus' shoulder as he stared at the spot where the ashes fell. I held my breath in shock.

"Remus," Dumbledore said, "you have, as always, my confidence and support. I will not hear of you resigning your post at Hogwarts."

"Headmaster," Remus said weakly. His shoulders heaved. "Are you sure that is wise?"

Dumbledore was very stern and his voice held barely controlled anger. "Yes, I am quite sure it is wise. You are the best man for the position and you have the unique opportunity to change more than a few minds and prejudices."

There was snort from behind me. I turned to see Severus leaning against the doorframe.

"Curiosity satisfied, Severus?" I asked in a low voice. I mimicked his usual posture with my arms folded across my chest.

My ex-husband regarded me with interest for a moment. We both recognized this as the first challenge our friendship. Severus nodded. "Immensely, Caitlin," he replied. "I merely followed you for propriety's sake."

"Sure you did," I snapped and chose to let the matter drop. Just because he was my friend did not mean he intended to be Remus'.

Severus nodded in acknowledgement and left the dinning room. I went to Remus, still staring at the ashes while Dumbledore spoke to him. Noticing my approach, the headmaster squeezed his former pupil's shoulder again and backed away. When we were alone, I put my arms around Remus' waist and rested my head over his shoulder.

"Love," I murmured quietly.

Remus absently raised his hand to touch my cheek. "If there is one, Caitlin, there will be others."

I listened to his breathing steady before slipping under his arm, keeping my own arm around the small of his back. "Maybe," I said at last. "And we will deal with those if they do come."

Remus turned and kissed me, slow and lingering. He looked in my eyes, his own filled with sadness. "Do you understand what you are getting yourself into by becoming my paramour?"

"Bed, I hope," I said as lightly as I could. "Soon, too. When are all these kids locked up in their common rooms for the night?"

Remus laughed a little at my comment. We kissed again, pressing hungrily against one another.

Dumbledore is a sly and generous man, who cares very deeply for his people. Even though I was thrown into the mix and not a Hogwarts alumna, he treated me no differently than any other member of his staff. With my connections to Severus and Remus, I had become a de facto member of the Order of the Phoenix. It was his consideration for Remus, though, that moved me the most. That, and the special arrangement placing a magickal door between our sets of rooms, even though I was in a west tower apartment near the Ravenclaw House and Remus lived near the Gryffindor tower. This door allowed us the privacy, and respectability, of separate rooms and the privilege of quietly sharing rooms. It was, as Dumbledore confided in me, one of his more brilliant ideas.

The morning sun illuminated the sky when I rolled over to curl under Remus' chin. He growled gently in his sleep. I sighed contently. There was another week before I needed to start the Gubbio Potion again. The sound was merely part of who he was, the wolf that dwells within Remus.

I went to breakfast for the first time that morning with Remus. During the previous semester, I had avoided the students and most of the rhythms of life at Hogwarts. If I couldn't be with Remus, I hadn't wanted to be with anyone, let alone students who could sit in his classes. Hermione had been the only exception. Now I was curious about the school my own Lake Placid had been model against.

There were again stares from the students when we entered the Great Hall. Remus held his head up and ignored them out of long practice. I simply nodded to Hermione and stopped beside her to ask that she come to my lab during her break so we could work out her schedule.

"Classes will be interesting," Remus said to me, serving eggs on my plate. He passed a pot of hot chocolate to me. "The students are really trying to figure us out now."

I poured the chocolate and passed him a plate of toast. "Hermione is coming to my lab this afternoon," I replied. "They'll have something new to whisper about soon."

There was the sound of hundreds of wings as the owls arrived for the morning post. I watched, fascinated, as the owls swooped above the students' head, dropping packages into eager hands, or landing on the tables with letters from home. A few owls simply flew in to visit with their young witch or wizard if they didn't have anything to deliver.

"That's so cool," I said. "Our birds came to the separate lodges with our mail."

Remus seemed to be surprised. "You didn't see them last term?"

"I didn't go to breakfast," I reminded him. "I was taking my meals in my lab."

"Well, that would do it," he said. Remus squeezed my hand under the table. We had talked about it a few nights ago – it hurt less to avoid one another last term than to be near each other.

One of the owls swooped down to the head table and landed in front of me. It was a tawny colored bird and very large. It dropped a manila envelope on my plate. It turned around and shook its tail feathers at me before flying away.

I picked up the envelope and turned it over, checking the seal. It bore a double mark, a scripted "S" and "R." Taking out my seldom-used wand, I gently tapped the seal. The edges broke apart and a letter slid out. Remus leaned over to read it with me:

"To my dearest granddaughter and only grandchild, greetings from an erstwhile Grandfather."

A lump caught in my throat. I set the page down and sipped my hot chocolate. "I think," I said hoarsely to Remus, "that I would like to read this later. Not here."

Remus nodded and collected the pages, slipping them back into the envelope. I took the envelope and tucked it into the inside pocket of my robe. Remus checked his pocket-watch and nodded toward the dispersing students.

"Classes are going to begin shortly, Caitlin," he said. "Would you like me to walk you to your lab?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm alright," I told him. "I'll read the letter tonight when we get home." I gave him a smile. "You could stop by and remind me when it's lunch though. I could easily forget."

Remus chuckled. "I have yet to see you forget to eat."

"Ha," I replied. "When I'm in full-on research mode, it does happen. Travis used to bring me Chinese and pizza from the muggle restaurants when I was too wrapped up to leave."

"I'll have to remember that," Remus said. He slid his chair out. "I will see you for lunch, then, pet."

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