AN: So I decided to attempt Snapetober this year. I'm already behind, and I'm sure there will be other days I miss, but I thought it would be fun to try. I'm also challenging myself to fit each one into my Snape and Harry universe. For anyone who hasn't read that, it's As Potter is to Snape and also, My Brother is a Teenage Werewolf. Shouldn't be necessary to read those first though. But by all means, please do :)

And just a warning, most of these will be on the shorter side. Between 500-1,500 words probably. Some might be longer, but I'm not counting on it.

Snapetober Day 2- "You have to let go"

Remus dropped a plate of sandwiches and chocolate on the table. Severus ignored them.

"You have to let go."

"Should I know what you're talking about?" Severus asked without taking his eyes off of the potion he was brewing to even spare his brother a glance.

"She's gone, Sev," Remus said quietly as he pulled out a stool from the opposite side of the table and sat down. "They both are and there's nothing that either of us can do that will bring them back."

"Shut it, Remus. We're not talking about this."

"Then don't talk. Just listen."

Remus was determined to get through to Severus this time. It had been a year, over a year actually, since James and Lily had been murdered, and while Remus had grieved his friends, Severus still seemed to be firmly in denial.

He wouldn't speak of her. He didn't go to the funeral. He tried, Remus thought, to put her out of his mind entirely. As if just by refusing to acknowledge her death, it might mean that it hadn't happened.

But that was doing him no good. He was only sinking further into this depression and Remus couldn't bear to see him like this anymore. It was time for a stronger tactic.

"She wouldn't want this, you know."

Severus's hand stilled instantly but he said nothing.

"All of this hiding away in your little dungeon, ignoring everyone who cares about you. The self-destructive and self-deprecating attitude. You know how she hated it when you talked down about yourself. And now you've taken a step further because you seem to be going out of your way to bring harm to yourself."

"I'm not—"

"No? What do you call it then when you don't eat, don't sleep, and don't leave your rooms? Especially when you're working on highly toxic and volatile potions? It's as if you're hoping that something will happen to you."

"That's not true," Severus replied softly. "You don't know what you're talking about, Remus."

"We both know that I do. And I would even be willing to wager that if LIly were here right now, she'd put her size six boot right up your arse."

"And what would you have me do then?" Severus demanded, his voice rising as he tossed the ladle he'd been stirring with onto the tabletop. "Would you have me forget her? Pretend that that night in Godric's Hollow never happened? I suppose that's exactly what you did. Just shut them away in a nice little box never to be thought of again."

Remus knew that Severus was only trying to get a rise out of him but he wouldn't let him. Instead, he calmly replied, "You know I don't. Quite the opposite, in fact. I want you to acknowledge that it happened in the first place. I want you to mourn their deaths, grieve for them, do whatever you need to do to help yourself, and stop shutting us all out. And when you've done all that, Sev, I want you to let go."

Severus was silent and Remus sighed before standing up. He pointed to the plate of food.

"Jenka said if you don't eat soon, she'll be coming to force-feed you."

He said it with a grin but both brothers knew what the house-elf was capable of.

"Good night, Severus," Remus said as he left Severus alone with his thoughts.