-1Chapter 11: You Wouldn't Understand

It wasn't until his DADA class that Severus was able to read his letter. Simon was well known for being late on Tuesdays (why, no one was sure) and that gave the students ample time to waste.

He opened the letter carefully and pulled out the small parchment. He unfolded it and saw more of the loopy yet at the same time almost printed handwriting that was on the envelope.

Severus,

I am so sorry that I wasn't able to let you know before today. I'm sure you've all ready heard that my grandmother has died and that I will not be back to Hogwarts until late tomorrow. I know that today would have been our second study meeting and I hope you don't think I am intentionally missing it. I promise to make it up to you. And I hope you aren't too mad that I had to send your letter with Remus' - we only have one owl and I wanted to write both of you so you'd know I was okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Sorry again.

Yours,

Lana

It was short and concise, but Severus had expected no less from the girl. He tucked the letter back into its envelope and back into his robe pocket. A few moments later Simon came in, surprisingly a bit out of breath.

"Sorry about that ladies and gentlemen," he said walking swiftly towards the front of the room, "hit a bit of traffic."

A few giggles later and the lessons began.

"So what was that envelope Remus handed to you?" Tristessa asked as Severus packed up the rest of his books after class.

"What?" Severus asked, "Oh, nothing. Just a letter."

"Who from?" Tristessa asked.

"No one of any importance," Severus said dismissively.

""Who's not of any importance?" Simon asked coming over to the two students.

Tristessa smiled at him.

"Severus seems to have acquired a secret admirer," Bella said as she sauntered up to the trio, "He received a letter this morning and won't tell anyone who it's from,"

"You act as though you have all been asking me about the letter all morning," Severus asked, "and I am refusing to answer you. So far Tess is the first one to ask about it,"

"All right then," Bella said mischievously, "who's it from, Sev?"

Severus smiled.

"That's none of your concern," he said smugly.

"All right," Simon said, "enough of this. Ladies, I wonder if you would give my brother and I a moment alone."

Bella smiled sweetly and continued out the door. Tristessa looked at both the dark eyed men before sighing.

"I'll see you at lunch then," she said to Severus as she walked out the door.

Severus nodded and finished putting his books back into his satchel. Simon stood before him holding back a grin that threatened to reach from ear to ear.

"So you have a secret admirer?" Simon finally asked.

Severus sighed loudly, "Not you to, Simon,"

Simon chuckled.

"Then who was the letter from?" Simon asked, "A girl?"

"Yes, if you must know, it was from a girl. But it's nothing even remotely close to what you are thinking."

"What's her name?" Simon asked leaning back against one of the long desks.

"Lana Lovegood," Severus said doing the same.

"Lana Lovegood?" Simon asked, "The first year? A bit young for you, isn't she Severus?"

"It's nothing like that," Severus defended, "She's just… a friend. We study together. She has a great mind, that one."

"Explains why she's a Ravenclaw," Simon said thoughtfully.

Both men were silent for a moment. Severus swallowed the small lump that was forming in is throat and took a deep breath.

"Simon, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

Severus slowly let the breath he had been holding out.

"Why are you tutoring Tristessa in the Dark Arts?"

Simon sighed heavily and brought his fingers up to the bridge of his nose.

"So she told you," Simon said with his eyes closed, still pinching the bridge.

"Yes, she told me," Severus said a bit angrily, "quite by accident, if you must know, but she told me just the same. Why are you doing it, Simon? Why are you tutoring her in the Dark Arts and not me?"

"All right Severus," Simon said, "lets get one thing perfectly clear. I am not tutoring her in the Dark Arts. I am tutoring her in the Defense of the Dark Arts. There is a big difference."

"But why?" Severus asked, "I've asked you hundreds of times to take an extra hour to review work with me but you never have the time."

"That's different Severus," Simon said, "you ask me to teach you the dark spells - not how to ward against them."

"That's not the point right now," Severus said, "the point is you never have the time. Why is it you suddenly have the time for Tristessa? Is she doing that poorly in class?"

"No," Simon said softly.

"Is she planning on going into an auror program or something?"

"No," Simon said a bit more annoyed.

"Is this some kind of cover?" Severus said in a near yell, "Are you really just fucking her?"

"That's ENOUGH!" Simon yelled standing upright.

Severus gulped. He hadn't intended for the argument to progress this far. He hadn't meant to say the last sentence. It had slipped out in anger - and now it seemed he would suffer the consequences.

"There are things in this world bigger than you, Severus," Simon said in a low yet angry voice, "bigger than your wants. You want to know why I am tutoring Tristessa? I am GLAD you don't know why I have to spend extra time with her. If you understood even for a moment what that girl is going through…" Simon bit off the end of his sentence. His voice had slowly reached a loud crescendo and he had caught himself, it seemed, before he revealed too much.

Simon had again closed his eyes and leaned back onto the desk. Severus stared at him in disbelief. His brother so rarely raised his voice to him.

"Is someone hurting her?" Severus asked in a careful voice.

Simon shook his head no.

"Is someone going to hurt her?"

Again, Simon shook his head no.

"Then what other reason could there be?" Severus asked impatiently.

"You wouldn't understand," Simon said softly, "not right now."

"You have got to be joking," Severus said, his voice raising in anger. He wouldn't understand? What was he, some sort of child?

"Severus please," Simon said, "I don't want you involved in this. Just leave it alone."

"Leave what alone, exactly?" Severus asked.

"Enough Severus," Simon said abruptly.

Severus nodded slowly and frowned. He knew his brother would tell him no more.

"Fine," Severus said grabbing his bag, "If you won't tell me, I'll just ask Tess," and he stormed out of the classroom before Simon could stop him.