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.

Hermione came in for morning break with Harry and Ron. Harry looked bemused but Ron's face was more flushed than usual. I watched them from my computer; Hermione crisply instructed the boys to sit at the work table and spread open a text book, her own set of notes and rolls of parchment.

"I'll check it over for you when you're done," she instructed. "We have an hour and a half, that's plenty of time to write 18 inches. Honestly, Ron, are you trying to fail out of potions at this point? You know Professor Snape is looking for a reason to cut you."

"No," Ron denied. "I just forgot it was due our first day back." He glanced at Harry for moral support. "Harry didn't do his until last night."

"Well, at least his is finished," Hermione snapped, and snatched up the roll Harry was holding. "And you're not going to copy it."

I suppressed my laughter, although my shoulders shook. There is one in every group, I thought, listening to Hermione play professor with her friends. Ron groaned and started scratching at the parchment while Harry opened a different textbook. Pretty sure I had my amusement under control, I swiveled around.

"Hello," I said. "And why are they doing this in my lab?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Because they wouldn't get it done in the library," she said. More hesitantly, she added, "If that is alright, Dr. Shaw? Professor Lupin suggested it would be alright."

"Yes, it's fine," I reassured her. "How was your vacation?"

Hermione's eyes shone. "We went skiing," she said and then dropped her voice. "And I met another wizard. He finished Beauxbatons last year."

"Oh, sixteen," I laughed. "That's wonderful, Hermione." I nodded toward the boys. "Have you told them?"

Hermione twisted a strand of hair around her finger and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "No," she admitted. "I'm not sure I want to."

I shrugged. "I'd wait a while," I told her. "See if there's anything there, first."

She looked a bit relieved. "So, what are we working on this semester?"

I opened up my note book and used my quill to point out parts of the formula. "Refining the Gubbio Potion. There are still some side-effects that wouldn't be good for general distribution. Also, it needs to be replicable in other labs and results before healers can prescribe it and pharma-wizards can concoct it. I'd like to present my prelims at the annual British Conference of Potions and Alchemy."

Hermione leaned over the notebook, reading. She nodded as her eyes skimmed the page. "So it did work? Professor Lupin hasn't transformed?"

"It worked," I said. "I was told he didn't transform either night. We have to start the next dose this coming week. Madam Pomfrey will be here Wednesday to draw some more of my blood for it."

Hermione made a face, scanning the notes. "You have that listed as one of the draw backs," she pointed out.

I nodded. "Because of the magickal aspects of our blood and the potion, it creates a bond between the donor and the patient. As it is, Remus can only have doses made with my blood."

I watched Hermione press her lips together, thinking. She stared at the notebook before finally saying, softly so the boys couldn't hear, "What does Professor Snape think about that?"

That was the opening I was hoping for. I couldn't help grinning. "Hermione, how good is the Gryffindor rumor mill?"

She smirked and glanced toward her friends. "Very good. What do you want to know?"

"Actually, I want you to help me feed it," I told her. "I wasn't conscious following the full moon. I had an accident and spent a few weeks in the hospital wing."

"What happened?" Hermione looked concerned as she climbed on the other swivel chair at the counter. "Are you alright?"

"I am now," I said. "Remember I said it was private why I married Professor Snape?" She nodded. "Well, it was a contract marriage that we were forced into, bound by a charm that held until one of us died."

I waited for the implication to register with her. Hermione's expression changed from interest to shock.

"You didn't die, did you, doctor?" she asked loudly. Both boys looked up at us.

"Yes," I said, glancing toward the boys, who had now forgotten their work. "Or, at least, as far as Madam Pomfrey could determine. It broke the spell and ended the contract. I am no longer married to Severus."

The boys exchanged glances and then looked at me with happy grins. Harry bobbed his head. "I am so happy to hear that, madam. You're too nice to be married to that git."

"Thank you, Harry," I said, letting the 'git' part slide by. "So, what I'm hoping your rumor mill can do is counter any concerns that students have about Professor Snape and me. I don't want people to think I'm cheating on him. But I'm here for the duration now, I think."

It took a minute for all of this to settle in for them. Hermione was the first to react, simply putting her arms around me in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you're alright," she said at last. "You really died?"

I nodded. "I think so. I fell from one of the staircases. Madam Pomfrey said I broke my neck in the landing part of it. She used Skele-Grow and some other magicks on me when I started breathing again."

"Oh, that stuff is nasty," Harry said with disgust. "I had to take it second year to regrow the bones in my arm."

"Well, I don't remember," I said with a shrug. "What I'd like, though, is if you could let people know Professor Snape and I are not married. I don't want to ruin his reputation when they see me with Remus."

"Oh, I don't think you could do anything to his reputation," Ron said, making a face. "It's pretty well shot."

"Ron," Hermione scolded, "you need to have that essay finished."

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered and returned to his scroll.

I set Hermione to breaking down my notes while I sent email to colleagues in the States. Dennis TwoWorlds had written he was impressed with my formula and was interested in replicating the results in Arizona. Hermione left the notes to check Ron's essay for a few minutes. Having them back, in my lab, was pleasant.

They left for classes again and I wrote letters to my counterparts in the Ministry of Magic. It had started to snow outside when classes ended for lunch and Remus arrived to fetch me. Even though we didn't hold hands in the halls, we still drew a fair share of stares.

The afternoon sped by on its own accord. By the last class of the day, I collected the research I wanted to take home for the day and headed to the defense against the dark arts classroom. I took a seat in back and opened a notebook. A few students said hello and nodded in my direction as they came in, clearly surprised to see me. Remus had invited me to audit the sixth-year class. They would be discussing werewolves that term, along with other creatures created by infection, such as vampires. I hoped the discussion would spark some ideas and I had the opportunity to learn from Remus as a student.

Remus entered the classroom from his office in the front and nodded to me. Through the blood bond I could feel his relief and pleasure at seeing me in his classroom. Ron and Harry came in late, earning another eye-roll from Hermione seated near the front of the class.

I was thoroughly wrapped up in his lecture and didn't notice how quickly the class went. Remus dismissed the students while I was still jotting notes. I watched as they left and he closed up his briefcase. Remus set it in his office before coming to my desk.

"So how did you enjoy your first Hogwarts class?" he asked as I stood up from the desk.

I leaned in and kissed him. "Very pleasant. Now if Instructor Martinez had been half as interesting as you, I might have passed my defense class."

We were again in the halls, on our way to dinner. Remus gave me a sideways glance and chuckled. "You failed defense against the dark arts?"

"Dark magicks," I correct. "And yes, I did, but there was a lot of practical to it and I just can't do the wand work. Superintendent Kincaid eventually had to exempt me."

I was in my usual position, curled up on the davenport with notes surrounding me, when Remus came home for supervising study hall. He was looking tired. The lunar clock noted it was still a week and a half to the full moon.

"Long evening, love?" I asked, glancing up from my pages.

"If we ever have children, none of them will be as spoiled a brat as Draco Malfoy," Remus said. He dropped his briefcase beside my small writing desk – I never used it, but he often did – and crossed the room to kiss me. "Further more, he doesn't realize I've heard it all before."

"Heard what?" I asked absently, returning to my formula.

"The insults." Remus' voice was exhausted as he sank into the fireplace chair. "I've spent 30 years as a werewolf. There is really only so much that can be said."

I stuffed away my work and leaned back to see him better. Remus' eyes were closed. I reached out and took his hand. "Draco Malfoy is an ignorant brat who is proud of that fact," I reminded him. "He's also one of the biggest bigots in this school."

"Perhaps," Remus replied, eyes still closed. He shuddered a bit and opened them. "Have you read your letter?"

I got up and went to my room, where I had left my robe. I returned with the envelope at sat at Remus' feet to pull out the letter.

"Here goes," I said and read aloud:

"To my dearest granddaughter and only grandchild, greetings from an erstwhile Grandfather. I left this letter with my solicitor to have delivered to you in the event of your grandmother's and my death and upon your return to Great Britain. Contained herein are the documents you will need to claim your inheritance and your rights as Lady Shaw, Peer and Landholder. Those are the legalities to which you must attend. I recommend my solicitor and have included information on contacting her.

Those are the words of a Lord of the realm to his only heir. Now let me speak as a grandfather to his granddaughter."

My voice caught. Remus placed a reassuring hand on my hair. I paused before continuing.

"My foolish son caved to his wife's insistence you be promised to the son of Snape. For failing in my ability to prevent this, I offer my humblest apologies. I pray that yours is the happiest of marriages."

I chuckled and leaned against Remus' legs. "Well, it was happy only in that it was brief," I remarked.

"The first time I held you in my arms, I wept. You were so tiny and yet absolutely perfect. I could not let you inherit a world of fear and hatred. Because of you, I have taken up the cause against Lord Voldemort. Perhaps by this time these dark times are a distance memory. Your grandmother told me to make this world a better place for you, and I always listen to your grandmother.

"You, child, are very much loved. This you must always remember.

Your doting grandfather."

Remus stroked my hair. I passed the rest of the pack back to. "I'm making tea," I said gruffly and retreated to the kitchen.

When I returned with two steaming cups, Remus was reading the documents through. He gave a low whistle.

"Cait," he said, "you are well provided for."

"I'm what?" I asked, handing his a cup and taking my place at his feet again.

"Provided for," Remus repeated and passed the document to me. "I've only known James' family to have this much gold."

"Gold makes life easier," I said, reading it through. "Gringotts Bank. I guess we're going on a field trip. Buy you dinner?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Remus said. He touched my cheek. "Are you well?"

I nodded without a word. "I have you," I said tightly. "I'm always well."

Hermione and I started the Gubbio Potion later that week, after Poppy had drawn more of my blood. I focused my research on refining the potion and what aspect of magickal blood prevented the transformation. Often Ron or Harry, or both, would come with her to my lab. When she didn't have them working on their courses, I set the boys to cleaning or taking care of more simple projects.

The whispers and rumors picked up during the next week. Slytherin students were down-right hostile toward us; their head of house didn't show much interest in reigning them in. Hufflepuff students seemed bewildered by the commotion while the Gryffindors formed informal honor guards around us, due mainly to my friendship with Hermione and the boys and Remus' alumnus status. Ravenclaw just seemed to adopt me. Students from that house stopped me in the halls, sought me in the library and two even came to my apartment door.

The moon approached and Remus underwent the injections of the intravenous potion again. Severus once more gladly prepared the dungeon cell for Remus. We were concerned the potion might not take a second time and viewed it as precaution. This time, though, I sat with Remus.

"Take this," Severus had ordered as we prepared to close the door. "It's a stupefy potion. Spray it at him if he begins to transform. It will give you time to get outside and bolt the door."

I took the little spray bottle and slipped it into my robe pocket. "Thank you, Severus," I said.

He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head toward me. "I would be most disappointed if anything happened to you, Caitlin," he said gravely. Severus gave an exaggerated sigh. "And the consequences on Lupin's behalf would be most unfortunate."

"I knew you had his well-being at heart," I said cheerfully.

Severus glared. "Hardly."

Moonrise arrived an hour after the door closed behind us. Remus paced worriedly in the cell. His hands were clasped behind his back.

"I shouldn't have allowed you to stay with me," Remus said. "If I transform —"

"I'll spray you with the potion Severus gave me and run like hell," I reassured him, watching the clock. "Sit, love. Trust me. Look." I pointed to the clock. "The moon rose and you haven't transformed."

Remus scrutinized the clock and then examined his hands. I went to him and took his hands, kissing each smooth palm.

"See, no wolf," I said gently.

Remus kissed me. "It is almost too much to believe." He put his arms around me and I pressed to his side. "I can feel you. Not just here, but inside. I know what you're feeling, where you are."

"Blood knows blood," I told him, kissing him again. I started to giggle. "So name one thing you've never done on the night of the full moon."

"There are a great many things I've never done," Remus said. I nipped his neck. "Oh. Oh." The clue arrived. He kissed me deeply. "There is something I've never done during the full moon. And oddly, here we are, locked together for the night."

"Just look at that," I said. I grinned mischievously. It was a good night.