Romulus Et Remus

Wherever there is a Remus there's a Romulus too.

A friendly note: I own nothing here, sadly, I hate writing these notes. I own nothing, not even the man next door.

Chapter One

Enter Fate, Stage Left


James, Remus, and Sirius were walking out of that class. They were walking at a slightly faster pace, hoping Peter Pettigrew wouldn't catch up to them when James had yet to ask Lily to accompany him on the next trip to Hogsmeade.

They were walking as quickly as they could without running, giggling along the way about their little prank on Severus, when a large hand grabbed James by the shoulder and swung him around.

'You thought that was funny, did you?' said the low voice of Severus.

'Matter of fact, we did,' James said casually, flipping back his messy mop of jet black hair.

'I'll get you for this, Potter. And you too, Lupin, Black,' Severus spat, poking James squarely in the chest. James took a step back, as Severus poked him away further and said, 'I will get you'.

'I wouldn't count on it,' Sirius said, and pushed Snape away lightly with one hand. Severus stumbled back, into Lucius. 'Oh, sorry, Lucius. I was just ...you know, Potter.'

'I know,' Lucius said boredly, yawning, and pushing back his slick blond hair with a hand.

'Say, you wouldn't want to help me get back at those bastards, would you?'

Lucius gave him a look that said, Do you know who you are speaking to? He chuckled arrogantly and said, 'Only for my only glory, not yours.' He walked away, his boots leaving a fleeting echo behind him.

Severus grumbled at this and turned around sharply, marching off to Potions like a terrible storm.

And Remus, that fuck, dared to laugh at him.

Indeed, Remus enjoyed this occasionaly cheap thrill. Especially when it had to do with Severus. Severus loved to spoil his fun, attempt to push him around, and get him in trouble with teachers, simply because he was a Gryffindor, and Severus a Slytherin.

In turn, Remus and his comrades, enjoyed evoking revenge upon Severus Snake, as they called him. This banter, which Remus' side often won, Remus found quite refreshing. However, he had no idea how significant a role Monsieur Severus would later play in his life.

'Ha!' James guffawed. 'And to think, he thought he could push us around as he pleased.'

'You have to admit,' Sirius laughed along, 'we made a perfect team.'

'Yes, we are uncannily like brothers, aren't we? Come to think of it,' James pondered. 'It's a perfect fit, really. I mean, not one of us has any brothers. Isn't that right, Remus?'

'...'Remus had a rather queasy look on his face.

'Remus?'

'REMUS!' Sirius barked in his ear.

Remus awoke from his reverie.

'Works everytime,' Sirius said. 'Like a charm.'

'You allright?' James asked.

'Fine...'

'Right, you don't have any odd brothers we should know about, now, do ya?'

'If I did, it would be highly unlikely you wouldn't know,' Remus replied, choosing his words carefully to avoid a flat-out lie. 'Um, I'm going to duck out to the...loo. I'll see you in class, boys.'

'Right then,' James said. 'We'll save you a seat.'

He and Sirius went in the direction of History of Magic, while Remus went the opposite way.

He walked at a rather brisk pace, sometimes bumping into other students, tripping twice, and dropping his book once. He didn't know why he was in such a hurry, but his rush to a quiet corner was slowed down by several miles per hour, when he literally bowled over another student.


'LUPIN, YOU TWIT!!' Snape cried, leaning his hand on the table at the house in Grimmauld Place. 'How could you think Sirius wouldn't get caught in the form of the dog? He is to stay inside, and not accompany Potter to the train station!' He spat as he talked, Remus noted.

'Severus, Sirius is not a child, he can go where he pleases!'

'And have PETTIGREW find him? Don't be a bigger arse than you already are, Remus,' Snape retorted, his voice very oily and emphasizing the Remus bit. 'Do you want Voldemort to find us by the end of the week? Is that it? Honestly, you have no idea how many people, death eaters, spies, could know that Sirius is an Animagus. Pettigrew could have told the whole world by now.'

'I doubt Voldemort would be so blatant as to put spies out at the station. If you're so smart, you'd know his ways are more subtle. You should know, with all your experiences in his little circles.' Lupin shot back quietly, surprised at himself for his own immaturity and juvenile willingness to participate in such mindless banter.

'I--' Snape was taken aback, and at a complete loss for words. He made a sudden flapping gesture with his arm, and stormed out of the house, opening the door to the dining room, having Fred and George Weasley fall onto the floor, still holding their Extenable Ears. 'You're insufferable fools, all of you!' he barked and left the house, disapparating in the backgarden.

Lupin, meanwhile, sat down tiredly in a chair, and gave the Weasleys a menacing look. They quickly picked up their things, and left, leaving Remus alone to grouch at himself for being the insufferable fool.

He really shouldn't have said those things to Snape, now that they were both adults and working for the same cause. Besides, he needed to stay on Snape's good side. All the adult members knew Remus' seceret. The other one, that is. And, truth be told, there was only one member who had any cause or anything to gain (ie, glory, revenge) from unsealing the truth. That would be Snape, and if he said a word to Harry, the boy would be become overworked and concerned, probably ending up looking for trouble, a trait he'd inherited from James. Secondly, the secret Remus held had been so carefully hiding was not likely to ever come up again.

Not probable.

But possible.

He banged his head on the table as he let it drop.

Molly Weasley came in. 'Are you allright, Remus?'

People seemed to ask him that quite a lot, he obserced.

'I'm quite fine.'

Molly didn't quite look as though she believed him.

'I am, really.' He emphasized.

'Allright then. Would you like some tea?'

'I could use some tea,' Remus admitted and had two cups, while explaining to Mrs. Weasley what his argument with Snape had been about. He felt better knowing that she was being more sympathetic and rational than Snape, even if she was concerned about Sirius' idea to accompany Harry.

Molly left to go see to some gnomes in the garden, and Remus promised to join her later. He drained his teacup, and returned to his thoughts of several minutes before.

Not probable.

But possible.