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.
We found Thistle Audleys Bed and Breakfast1 down past Ollivanders Wands. It was a narrow old house in the alley, at the edge of the residential section, with an old wooden sign hanging from the second level. The front door brought us into a parlor that smelled faintly of old lavender flowers. In the hall was a small table with register book and a bell.
Remus tapped the bell, sending a gong ringing through the house. We waited until the innkeeper, a little old wizard, toddled down the hall. He had snow white hair that stuck out in forty different directions. He smiled in greeting.
"Ah, and who do we have here?" he asked nodding to us and checking his book. "Two for the night?"
"Yes," Remus told him. "We owled ahead. Professor Remus J. Lupin and the Lady Caitlin Shaw."
The wizard traced his finger over a list of name in the book and paused at our reservation. "Here it is." His head bobbed up. "You are from Hogwarts, then?"
That struck me as an odd question. Remus answered that we were, frowning slightly. The wizard coughed and seemed flustered.
"There was something in the Daily Prophet," he said, "a while back. Do you teach Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Remus' jaw worked for a moment, and he nodded firmly. The little wizard seemed to wobble from foot to foot.
"Is there a problem?" I asked, making my voice sound as pleasant as I could. "We would like to settle in our room before dinner tonight. There is a concert we are down to hear."
The wizard looked from Remus, to me and back. There was something terribly fishy going on in his head and I did not like the attention he was giving my paramour. I laid my hand gently on Remus' arm. The silence lengthened.
"Well," I said at last, no longer pleasant, "we can find another room for the night. I dare say the Shaw family gold spends well elsewhere."
With that I turned and made to leave. I felt Remus beside me do the same.
"Wait," the man stammered. "I'm sorry." He tried to laugh. "The Thistle is honored to have the Lady Shaw and her companion for the night."
I stared at the little man until his fidgeted. "Remus? What would you like to do?"
Remus examined his fingers. He shrugged as if it were no matter. "Here is fine, I suppose." He picked our bag back up and prepared to follow the innkeeper.
The innkeeper took a key from the rack and motioned for us follow him. We climbed a narrow staircase up three floors and down a dark hallway. He showed us into a spacious room with a fireplace and a small loo. A lovely quilt covered the bed.
"Everything seems in order," Remus said. "Thank you."
The wizard scurried out of the room and Remus soundly shut the door. He sat down in the arm chair beside the fireplace and covered his eyes.
"What the hell was that about?" I demanded, hands on my hips. The desire to climb back down three flights of stairs and throttle the innkeeper was painful in my chest.
"Rita fucking Skeeter," Remus said, eyes still closed. "Former reporter for the Daily Prophet. That is, until your girl Hermione persuaded her otherwise. During the Tri-Wizard Tournament she wrote Dumbledore had dangerous taste in teachers, disclosing to the world Hagrid was half-giant and I am a werewolf."
"You are so kidding me," I said in horror. "That – downstairs – was about your lycanthropy?" I had sat down on the bed, picking up a small china flower vase, turning it over in thought.
"Yes, pet," Remus said. His voice had the tired tone that indicated disgust and acceptance.
The vase exploded in a shower of shards and dust against the far wall. I had hurled it with all my strength, my anger finally getting the better of me. Remus' eyes were open and he was instantly at my side.
"Bastards," I whispered furiously and he gathered me in his arms. "Who cares? It's an illness, Remus. They can't treat you that way. In the pub and now here. It's wrong, love, it is wrong."
Remus made soothing sounds until I caught my breath. He separated us just enough to look in my face clearly. "You may view it as an illness," he said gently, "but among our people the memory of werewolves savaging people is still very fresh. The Wolfsbane Potion is barely 12 years old and not everyone can afford to have it every moon. They are still afraid and they have reason to be."
"Bigotry is still bigotry," I said. I gripped his hands. "It's not like this at home. When this war is over, come back with me. They won't treat you like that in Washington. Fuck, in D.C., the muggles might even see it as a political benefit."
Remus smirked and stroked my hair. "How is it you came into my life?" he asked, almost to himself.
"Blame my mom," I said and rested my head on his shoulder. His scent relaxed me and I softened in his arms.
Remus chuckled in my ear, a deep, warm sound. I snuggled closer to him. "You're sniffing again," he said.
I licked his neck. "Can I help it if you're yummy? How long until dinner? I've been waiting to get you alone all day."
Remus leaned in and kissed me, his tongue tracing the inside of my mouth and his hands slipping down over my shoulders. "Have you, now?" he said, pushing my robe off and slipping his hands to the hem of my blouse.
Remus selected a small dinning room for dinner. It was the Blue Star and close to the opera house. The matre'd seated us in a warm little cove, bringing a bottle of wine and fresh bread. We moved our chairs around so they were next to one another and our knees were touching under the table. Dinner was a lovely roast and fresh vegetables, followed by tiramisu and coffee.
"Thank you," Remus said as we sipped coffee and listened to a charmed violin. "I don't believe I have ever had a happy Valentine's day."
I smiled and bobbed my head. "It's been years since I've spent Valentines in love, let alone with someone I love. But," I said mischievously, "it's not done yet." I opened my handbag and took out a small velvet box. "I have something for you; something to remind you of how much I love you."
Remus took the box, his eyes registering the surprise. He turned it over twice. I nodded and pecked his cheek. Slowly, he creaked open the hinges. Inside laid the medal I had requested from my friend, strung on a thin silver chain. For a moment Remus was confused.
The medal depicted St. Francis of Assisi and the wolf of Gubbio. Francis had his arm around the wolf with his other hand raised in blessing. The wolf was looking back toward the saint. The back of the medal had the words "Pray For Us" in raised letters.
Remus took the medal from box to examine it more closely. He weighed it in his hand, sensing the charms Dumbledore and I had added.
"Francis didn't fear the wolf," I told him softly, "and because of that he was able to call him brother." I squeezed Remus' hand. "I have no fear of the wolf; the spirit of the Wolf has been my patron since I was 12-years-old. I love you completely."
Remus looked at me with shining eyes. "You've charmed it," he said. "Protection and love."
"Of course," I told him. "I can't let you go about without my love to protect you." I took the medal and undid the clasp on the chain. "The chain is unbreakable, too. It will add links as it needs to stretch." Remus leaned in to allow me to fasten it around him. He took that moment to catch me in a kiss.
"I love you," he said, his voice steady and strong. "I love you, Caitlin. There is no other woman like you."
I flushed and twined my fingers in his, left my hair fall forward to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks. "You are my mate," I said, barely audible. "There can be no other."
Remus pressed his forehead against mine and gently brushed the tears away from the corner of my eyes. "And it is so," he whispered. "You are my mate."2
We slept late the next morning, curled against each other's bare skin. House elves left a full breakfast for us beside the fireplace. Remus waved his wand at the tray and it floated to the bed where we picnicked before bathing and dressing. We checked out mid-morning, finished our shopping and headed toward the Leaky Cauldron and the train home to Hogwarts.
The trolley witch shoved hot chocolate on us throughout the ride back, until Remus charmed the door locked. He taught me one of the kids' games, Exploding Snap, and we played until it was dark outside the window. I curled against him when the lights came on, while Remus read aloud to me.
A horseless carriage waited for us in Hogsmead. We climbed aboard and it lurched into the night, up to Hogwarts Castle. The school was quiet when we arrived and no one, save Mrs. Norris, noticed Remus follow me behind the tapestry of Hekate and her Familiar.
Monday morning arrived. Remus and I entered the Great Hall together. We passed the students, also drifting in, and took our usual seats. Minerva greeted us and returned to her conversation with Hooch about Quidditch. Dumbledore was absent; Severus sat alone. He seemed to be waiting for something. I smiled in his direction and received a brief nod.
Near the end of breakfast, the owls arrived with the morning post. There was a commotion as students started to notice and point at a large blue jay carrying an oversized red envelop. It soared toward the head table and landed with a 'thunk' in front of me. It dropped the envelope and screeched angrily at me.
"Oh, my goodness…" I stared at the envelope in horror. Remus was out of his seat as I shoved my chair back and made to grab the Screamer and run. I was not fast enough; after all it had been 14 years since one of these had been dropped on me and I was out of practice.
The envelope jumped in the air, enlarging to resemble a giant mouth. A furious woman's voice poured out:
"ARE YOU INSANE? HAS MY ONLY CHILD FINALLY LOST HER MIND? I SEND YOU ENGLAND TO MAKE A RESPECTABLE MARRIAGE AND THEN FIND OUT YOU NOT ONLY DIE BUT YOU SHACK-UP WITH A WEREWOLF? I DO NOT WANT A LETTER OF EXPLINATION; I WANT YOU BACK IN THE UNITED STATES, CAITLIN, WHERE I CAN SEND YOU FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP!"
The envelope shredded itself into tiny pieces. The blue jay screeched again, just to make sure I had taken the point. Every eye in the Great Hall was turned on me.
Dramatically, I waved my hand toward the remains of the letter. "Ladies and gentlemen," I said with my head high, "my mother." I bowed slightly toward the students.
After a moment of hush, the students erupted in applause. Severus looked far too smug at his end of the table to be surprised by the display. I stalked down the dais to stand beside him.
"Severus Snape," I hissed. "A word, please?"
He is very bad at looking innocent. Severus followed me into the anteroom. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed. He was the model of self-satisfaction.
Remus entered behind us and took a seat, folding his hands on the table.
I closed the door and pulled my wand, waving it toward the lock. One of the few charms I could do was seal a room.
The three of us waited in silence. I waved my wand in Severus' general direction as I fought to control my fury.
"Is there a point to this?" Severus finally asked. "I do have a class to teach, unlike some members of this castle."
"How could you do that?" I stormed. "This is my mother, Severus! I have a right to tell her about my relationships. That was in front of the entire school."
"I know," Severus drawled. "I was there. And do be careful were you point that thing."
So I pointed my wand directly at him. Severus looked totally unconcerned. Remus was frowning and his hand went to his own wand.
"I may not be able to hurt you with this," I said, my voice low and deadly, "but that does not mean I am without resource. We agreed to be friends. I want to be your friend but you are making it very difficult."
"So what are you proposing?" Severus said, looking slightly less bored. His posture was very much one of a professor but interested flickered across his face.
The problem was, that was a good question. I didn't dare look to Remus with Severus watching; I would lose what credibility I had with the potions master.
"Severus, you back away from my relationship with Remus," I said, "no snide remarks, no letters to my mother, nothing, and we continue a professional working relationship."
"And if I don't want to find a cure for werewolves?" Severus asked. "What shall we collaborate on?"
"The Order of the Phoenix," I said. "My skills are at your service in any manner to bring He-Who-Is-Evil down. And not that they wouldn't be anyway," I interrupted as he started to point out they were already, "but this is different. We work together and we share credit."
"Done," Severus said quickly. "We share credit."
"But not on Gubbio," I quickly amended. "That is mine, especially with the upcoming presentation."
Severus' lips curled in his customary sneered and he made a slight bow. "Of course, Caitlin," he said. "I wouldn't want to be associated with it anyhow; what with the blood bond it creates."
I pointed to the door and unsealed it. With a tilt of my head, I said, "Don't you have a class, dear friend?"
Severus nodded in return and swept from the anteroom. I sat heavily beside Remus and dropped my head to the table. He laid his hand on the small of my neck and gently massaged the tight muscles there.
"Pet?" he asked softly.
"Why is it," I asked without looking up, "only my dead relatives write to say they love me?"
1 I liked the name so I borrowed it. Here's the real place: http/ Wolves mate for life. These two don't give a wit about my script and just declared themselves married. sigh