Author's Note: I do not any of the Harry Potter characters. All original characters belong to me.
Chapter Seven
Yoshi:
Severus had met me at the corner of the street of his hometown. Though I did believe he could have waited an extra week, he wasn't going to. Telling me that he wished to know what exactly had happened last weekend and 'how in blazes did Kiara end up with Remus Lupin' – his words not mine.
"I see you have Splinter with you," he noted, the wooden cage within my hands, containing my dear and humble pet rat.
"I figured Kiara would be pleased to see him," I smile, as I take out the Portkey which would take us to where we needed to go.
Severus gave a simple nod. He knew of Kiara's high affections toward Splinter.
Not before long, we arrived upon the gravel pathway that would lead to the Lupin house.
"Makes sense," I hear Severus mutter, as he was analysing his surroundings.
The door opens as we approach; emerging from were four boys, all ranging in various heights, the shortest looking to be about five foot five with hair the colour of straw with a bit of plump to him, the tallest was a clear six foot two with dark hair and almost suave like. The middle two in height was Remus Lupin, from whom I had met before, and the other a five foot eleven with messy black hair, wearing round glasses and athletic.
"What are you doing here?" spoke the tallest of the boys, when he saw us. His eyes flashing with sheer hate and grim toward us.
Remus-san was not impressed.
"Must I remind you, Sirius?" he said, with warning.
"Master Yoshi-sama! Severus!"
My eyes divert to the door once more to see Kiara coming from it and down toward us.
Severus smiled, though he had a tense air about him. We have heard of his ill-dealings with some of his fellow students at his school. I have a feeling these are the very ones, he spoke of. He was rather stiff when he and Kiara hugged.
"Good to know that you do appear to be just fine," Severus remarked when they pulled out.
"Why would you believe otherwise?" I kindly asked.
Severus wasn't sure how to answer, but his glancing over at the four who were still hanging by the house, was answer enough.
"Remus has told them to stay away," Kiara informed him, also catching on to her brother's unspoken words and demeanour.
There was doubt in Severus's eyes, I can see.
Kiara turns back to me, (she had greeted Splinter and I, before Severus).
"Your lesson will be a short for today," I explain to my adopted daughter. "For I know that there is a need for discussion to be had."
"Hai, Sensei," Kiara understood, giving a brief respectful bow, and then glanced at Severus. "Remus and his friends did request to watch today's session," she goes on to say, looking back at me, though seeming to have picked up the wariness of her brother. "I told them they would have to check with you, Sensei."
"I will inform them that I have no problem with them watching, Kiara-chan," I reply, giving Splinter's cage to her to take. "Why don't you and Severus go on to that open grass flat over there, while I go and tell them personally?"
"Hai, Sensei," replies Kiara.
I watch for a moment as Severus, Kiara and Splinter move to the grass flat to the right of the house – my right, I mean to say – before walking over to the four teens.
"I apologise for my friend's rudeness," Remus spoke up.
'Sirius', from I remember hearing made a slight face, and said;
"Rude to demand the greasy git why he thought he was even welcome here?"
"Pray that I do not hear of this attitude within my classroom, Sirius Black," I decide to say in a patient and firm manner. "The fact that you are showing much disrespect in your own friend's home, toward guests, might I add, is highly appalling to say the least."
"Again, I apologise on Sirius's behalf," Remus spoke. "I did tell them that Severus was coming today, with you, to see Kiara. I had hoped that they (shooting his friends a look), would keep their mouths shut. Even more so, with you being here."
"I didn't say a thing, Moony!" James defended, crossing his arms.
"Nor I!" said Peter.
"Yet you both support Sirius in how he disregarded what I was trying to get through to you up until this point!" Remus stresses.
"Your friends ought to know how to respect another, even without my being here, or other people in authority, for that matter," I choose to say in return, sternly to Remus, and also his friends. I look at each of the three, Sirius Black, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. "I have grown to know Severus over the many years of having Kiara in my care. So, while I have heard of you four, I am absolutely astounded that you would even dare to go and be the boy I have had plenty of news to hear about, while I, a soon to be Hogwarts Professor, and still very much a Sensei in my own right without, am present."
"Bet you're only hearing his side," James goes to try and defend.
I shake my head at this. "And what would your side of the tale be, Potter-san?"
James looks at me with his hazel eyes, trying to read me. Pressing his lips for a moment, he finds that my mind is not so easily penetrated.
"Snape has been causing more trouble than what James and Sirius have!" Peter pipes.
I move my gaze to him.
"Oh?" I simply say.
"Yeah!" Sirius jumps on this. "The people he hangs out with! And the unsavoury stuff that comes out of his mouth! Honestly, some of the stuff we do is to defend ourselves!"
"Like hanging him upside down in mid-air, while all he was doing was reading a book!" I frown a little.
Severus had told me about what had happened just after an OWL exam they had taken. He wasn't even going to mention it, until the poor lad broke down. The humiliation of what they had done on him. Not to mention nearly being killed, but I refrained from mentioning it.
James, Sirius and Peter all stared at me with such forlorn expressions upon their faces, while Remus was showing on how embarrassed he was.
"He used the M word!" James tried to say.
"After you were told to let him down, and he has regretted the use of it!" I raise my brows. "Now, I am sure Remus has asked you to have some respect while Severus is here. How well you can keep your word remains to be seen. You may watch in on the lesson I am to conduct with Kiara and Severus, or if you find that you cannot refrain from being disrespectful toward my students, myself or your friend here, then I suggest you do not join."
Remus simply gave his friends a quiet look, as if to tell them something that he may have already told them, before going to walk along side me.
Remus;
I had told my friends over and over to not carry on like they usually would with Severus. They assured me they wouldn't. Only to witness Sirius fold on this the second he laid eyes on our schoolmate of the Slytherin House. James seemed to be caught somewhere between a rock and a hard place, yet I had to give him some points for not dropping everything, until the end.
However, I had to agree with him on that note with the 'M' word that was a serious matter of offences to use, in the Wizarding World.
Unfortunately, since finding out about her connection to Severus Snape, Sirius, as much he said he wasn't going to hold it against Kiara, tried to do just that in a matter of hours.
When Kiara had gone to turn in for the night, leaving us four in the guest room, Sirius turned to me and said straight out;
"Can't you just ditch her? Do you really want Snivellus as a brother-in-law?"
"And what are you gonna actually do, Padfoot?" I say, disproving of his words. "The only way we can separate is if one of us dies! Is it not interesting that only earlier before you were saying how hot she was!
"I'm only going to say this once, my friend! This goes to all of you! I don't care if you don't like her for a stupid little fact on who her brother is, that is your damn problem! Not mine! Kiara is my mate! And forever will be! So you best get used to that, for if you dare try and insult, or hurt her, in anyway, I will flatten you!"
"You only met her last week!" Sirius tried to justify.
"Drop it, Padfoot," said James, in a manner of maturity I don't think I really hear from him, unless he was truly being serious. "Moony, don't worry. I don't think I actually thought of having that sort of a grudge on a girl before. Even one who is Snape's sister "And … Moony is correct, Padfoot, you did claim that she was hot and sexy before."
Sirius saw how shot down he was and stopped. Peter said not a word on the matter.
Interestingly, once morning came, Sirius was exchanging pleasantries with Kiara, as though the night before was nothing. I don't know if he took me seriously, or if a good night sleep woke him to his senses. Whatever the fact, I was satisfied enough, until just now, where I wanted to thump Sirius.
Yoshi began the lesson with Kiara and Severus.
I had no idea that Severus even did Martial Arts! Yet, it did explain on how he was able to get out of some of the non-magical gets ups with near ease. Even planting a few well aimed elbows or kicks in for good measure.
While the lesson was going on, I got a little more 'acquainted' with Splinter. He was a good rat. What was just as amazing about him was that he was mimicking the moves that were being made by Yoshi, or Kiara, or Severus! Like he too was doing Ninjitsu.
James was the only one who came to join me to watch. Peter and Sirius stayed back.
"No bloody wonder you could get away the way you have!" he shouts at Severus, with arms crossed and a face that was of surprise.
The lesson had ended when he said those words. Severus simply ignores him, and thanks Yoshi for the lesson, before walking away toward the forest. I could see that he wanted to talk to Kiara right now.
Kiara gives me a glance, before following to catch up with her brother.
Yoshi placed an assuring hand on my shoulder.
"All will be fine, Remus-san."
Severus;
I am not going to lie, having Potter find out how I've been able to win, or get out of, in most fist fights with him and Black was satisfying. My knowing some basic Ninjitsu has never been of common knowledge to people, except for Yoshi and Kiara.
I wait until we were a good enough distance before turning to speak to my sister, who I knew was following.
"How … how did you come to know Lupin?" I dare to ask straight away.
Kiara knew I wasn't really one to beat about the bush, and shifted a little. "How much exactly do you know about werewolves?"
We both sit down near the edge of the forest.
"Ever since finding out you had become one, I've done as much studying as I can find!" I answer truthfully, with a small frown as if to quietly tell her that she should know that information. "Also wanted to know more when I found about Lupin was one. Don't let him know that, as much as I hated what he and his gang had done, but it certainly had me look more into the subject more…"
"But how much do you know?"
I stared right into Kiara's eyes. Knowing full well that there was no way to do Legilimency, I had to speak.
"I will admit, only what they explain in books," I answer. "Why?"
Kiara softly bit her lower lip before saying; "I hadn't yet read any of the documents Remus does have on the subject. However I knew that whatever the books were saying about Werewolves it was pretty limited, especially on the she-wolf. Even I know that now, considering on just how much Remus actually knew compared to what I did until we met."
I give a single nod. Then frowned at this. "What documents?" he asked curiously.
Kiara looked away and toward the house. "Please do not go talking about this to anyone. Only so many know about this, for the Ministry want to ensure that certain facts are … well … kept under lock and key. They don't even know that Remus has some of it."
"Secret information about Werewolves? Why?"
She shook her head. "I do not know why. Nor does Remus." She looked back at me.
"What information exactly are we talking about?"
"I don't know as of yet. Remus hasn't had the chance to even show me anything yet."
"Is he trying to keep it from you too?"
"I don't think so."
"How can you be so sure? You only just met haven't you?"
"Yes to both questions. It sounds crazy I know, but … I just sense that he is waiting for the right time to show me these documents and whatever else he may have."
"Sense? Like some Ninjitsu training thing you've been doing?"
"No, this type of sensing is … different."
I was now frowning even more deeper, trying to delve into Kiara's mind. But Kiara was blocking me out.
"I know what you are trying to do, Severus," she said. "You know part of my training for those able to practice in magic are encouraged to take up Occlumency at once they turn nine or ten. In some cases, if they wish to, Legilimency."
I stop trying to enter her mind, knowing she was correct.
"So what are you talking about when you say you can sense Lupin? Is it the fact you are both Werewolves and something like an actual wolf, just know the other is there?" Severus then asked.
"It's … it's more than that. Yes, we did sense the other during the last full moon. At least on the first night we did. But … come the second it escalated."
"How? He didn't hurt you!" I bolt to his knees, just about ready to pounce if that was the case. I know my sister can handle herself just fine. But, I am not in favour of anyone trying to bring her any harm, whatsoever!
"No, Severus. He didn't hurt me," Kiara said, with a heavy exhale.
"Then what did he do?"
"Only way I can put it is …" Kiara said carefully and slowly, "He's male and I am female …"
I stare at her for a moment. The wheels were starting to click into place.
"You … and he … you had sex?" I shout
Kiara didn't flinch. "We did more than that. We became mates for life," she said without hesitation and keeping her voice firm.
I jumped to my feet to run off, but Kiara was quicker. She shifted her position and quickly did a sweep kick, causing me to call right on back to the ground. Kiara, then, just as swiftly, went and sat straddled on my midriff, to stop me from getting up.
"Before you go running off to do whatever it was you were even planning on doing. You are going to hear what I say! You may be my brother; as such, I know how much you would love to deck anyone who so much as gives me a sexy smile! But you will listen me on this! Remus has not laid a hand on me in any shape or form. Because of this, I am not allowing you to sock one to him because you think that he ought to pay somehow! It wasn't just him that wanted it that night, I did too. The wolf was clearly the most dominate in that sector.
"I am not asking you to like the situation. But I am telling you to accept it for what it is, for neither Moony or I can change it! The fact that I even told you just now, should tell you how much I am trusting you on this! I didn't even have to tell you until much, much later. But by then you would have probably figured it out yourself. I just saved you on that!"
I could see the hazel of Kiara's eyes being very firm as she stared down at me. Letting out a sigh, I say.
"What about his pals?"
"What about them?"
"How are they treating you?"
"As far as I know, fine. Remus seems to sees to that."
"What do you ... will you get off me?" I reply, trying to shift from under Kiara's weight. Kiara did so and sat beside me, as I sat back up. "What do you mean Lupin sees to that?"
Kiara told me about her overhearing Black talking to Lupin the night before and how Lupin had to shoot Black and his words down. He apparently had to speak up a few times, until Lupin nearly socked one into Black's jaw.
"Remus almost ripped into Sirius, before James and Peter had to pull them apart."
She could see a slither of a smile on my face and spark in the eye.
"And you were about to go and plant one into his jaw!" she raised her brow at me
"Clearly a knee-jerk reaction which you stopped. I had only just found out what had happened between you and him. However … I think I can accept that Lupin is now, I suppose, my brother-in-law. Since you said something about for life in that speech of yours."
Kiara had to smile. "Thank you."
"Yet, I still do not understand how that even works."
"I'm still learning that, myself, Severus. But … though it has only been a week, I do trust Remus enough."
"He hasn't tried to go all grabby on you, has he?"
Kiara made a face at this. "No!"
"Good!"
Shaking her head, Kiara knew I just wanted to be sure.
Disclaimer; Remus, I believe sort of downplayed what had happened between him and Sirius over Kiara. But, I think he was simply being in two minds on how to deal with his friend being a jerk and maintain a friendship.
Severus, well, I did say there would be a slightly softer side to him, and I quite like this side. Don't worry, he will still be the Potions Master we love, or love to hate.
As for Yoshi speaking to the Marauders, felts like something either he - or even Splinter (though he's not yet mutated here) - would do.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you thought. As feedback does sometimes help a writer to know where they stand on their work, and how to either better themselves, or if things are fine, keep it going, if that makes sense.
