AN: This is set in the beginning of sixth year, so right after Severus and Remus's first summer together. As always, Thanks to Freyja_Luna and Ikuni Hattori for betaing and catching all of my many many mistakes :)

Severus and Remus Age 16

"Playing the Part"

Classes had started over a week ago, and Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter were on their way to lunch after Potions class with the Slytherins. James and Sirius were leading the way, roughhousing with one another as they usually did, unless Lily Evans was anywhere in the nearby vicinity of course. When she was around, James had taken to acting as if he were above such childish things.

Remus hung back, even behind Peter, who was laughing at the other two. Remus had been lost in thought since before class had even started. When Professor Slughorn had asked him to name the properties of Amortentia, he had needed to ask him to repeat the question, earning a few laughs at his expense from his classmates. After that, he had tried to concentrate, but it was no use, his mind continued to wander seemingly of its own accord.

All Remus could think about was Severus.

Severus had been ignoring Remus since they'd gotten on the train back at King's Cross. They'd had a pretty spectacular fight the night before and Severus absolutely refused to let Remus apologize, or apologize himself. It had been the same argument they had been having the last two weeks of summer: Remus wanted to tell his friends about the adoption, the whole truth about it, including that Severus was now his adopted brother. Severus disagreed completely. Remus had tried to reason with him, and had told him that if they only knew, he was sure that things would work out differently this year. That if they could get to know Severus the way that Remus had, they could all stop with the pranks and fights. Even if they didn't become friends, at least they could stop being enemies.

But Severus had been too stubborn to hear it. He didn't want them to lay off him simply because of Remus. He didn't need his new "little brother" fighting his battles for him. "And besides," Severus would say anytime it was brought up, "it's safer this way. The fewer people who know, the better." According to Severus, the last thing he wanted was for his secret to get out. It was different for Remus. He was a Gryffindor, both his parents were dead, and no one would think twice if the great Albus Dumbledore adopted him.

No, Severus wanted his secret to remain just that: a secret!

"Well, if that's how he wants it, then I suppose he's just going to have to deal with this year the same way he always has. If he wants to ignore me, I can ignore him just as well," thought Remus as he ambled slowly towards the Great Hall with his hands shoved deep in his pockets, staring down at the new shoes he'd gotten a few weeks back

The sound of someone yelling caught Remus's attention and he finally looked up. Ahead of him was the exact person he'd been thinking about, surrounded by a group of students. In front were James and Sirius.

Remus made his way through the crowd to get a better look at what was happening. James and Sirius both had their wands out, pointing them at Severus, who was pointing his own back at them.

"Ah, Moony," James said with a grin when Remus came to stand beside him. "About time you showed up."

"Yeah," Sirius chimed in. "Where've you been? We were just about to teach Snivellus here a lesson in manners."

Remus glanced from Sirius and James over to Severus, who glared at him, saying nothing and everything all at once: Don't interfere. Leave it be.

It was the same thing he'd been saying for weeks, and Remus found himself glaring back. He thought back to their argument the week before and knew what Severus wanted him to do now, but he didn't like it. He didn't want this, not anymore, not ever, really. This wasn't the sort of person Remus wanted to be. He thought quickly about his next move and turned to James, saying quietly, "I thought we weren't doing this anymore, Prongs? Wouldn't look good to Evans, would it?" James didn't lower his wand but he did cut his eyes towards him. "She's bound to be around soon and she'll just go off on you again. Besides, he's not worth it."

"It's the fun that's worth it," Sirius added with a grin. "Besides, I'm not after Evans. And since when do you care, Moony?"

"I dunno, Padfoot," Remus said sharply. "Maybe since you already came pretty close to getting us both expelled last year? Remember that?"

"Oh, come off it, Moony," Sirius replied. "you don't even have to worry about that anymore. Now that Dumbledore-"

"Padfoot," James finally spoke up, interrupting his best friend before he could accidentally let loose Remus's secret. Sirius shot Remus an apologetic grin.

Louder, so that the crowd could hear him now, Remus said, "Everyone knows Snivellus can't be taught manners anyway. Can't get anything through that thick head of his."

At this, the group around them started to laugh. But before anyone else could speak, Lily came into view, casting a nasty glare towards the boys. James was quick to stow away his wand, Sirius following suit a second later. The crowd began to disperse, evidently deciding that nothing else was going to happen and heading either into the Great Hall to eat or towards the staircase.

Remus began to walk away as well, but as he passed by Severus, he bumped into him hard with his shoulder causing Severus's bag to fall to the ground. Behind him, Sirius, Peter and James howled with laughter and high-fived each other like the masters of the universe that they each thought they were.

Remus thought about what had happened for the rest of the day. It was like a pot on the stove that was very close to boiling over. He didn't know how much longer he could last before he exploded, and decided that he needed to get away for a bit to try to clear his head.

He left the others in the Common Room and made his way down to the library, deciding to work on his Transfiguration essay from the comforts of his favorite squishy chair in the back corner. Unfortunately, he wasn't the first one there.

Severus sat quietly with his Potions book open in his lap, though he wasn't reading it. Instead, he was staring out the window towards the Whomping Willow, a thoughtful expression on his face. He hadn't noticed Remus come up beside him, so he jumped when he heard him drop his bag next to his chair. He glared up without a word.

"That's my chair," Remus said, glowering himself. He felt tense and frustrated, and the last thing he wanted right now was to have to deal with Severus.

"It's the library's chair," Severus shot back, though he did get up and move to one next to it. Remus sat down with a huff and pulled out his book. He opened it to the page he needed but after rereading the same paragraph three times in a row, he sighed before closing it again with a snap.

"Are we going to do this all year?" he asked Severus, who didn't even look up at him.

"If we have to," Severus answered. "It's not my fault your friends enjoy tormenting-"

"Oh, shut it, Sev," Remus interrupted him as he shoved his book down between the cushion of the seat before leaning towards his brother. "It's not like you're innocent in all this either. None of us are, but Merlin, the three of you act like absolute toddlers."

Severus looked around to see if they were being overheard by anyone before saying, "What would you have me do, Remus? Do you want me to just bow down to Potter and Black and let them do whatever they want? Because that's not going to happen!" Severus's voice was quiet enough that Madam Pince didn't come over to tell them to be quiet, but there was still a forcefulness in his tone that belayed his emotions. "As far as anyone besides the two of us is concerned, this year is no different than last! Nothing's changed!"

"Everything has changed!" Remus's anger had finally boiled over and he found himself standing up, towering over Severus who remained in his seat. "And I don't care what you said over the summer, I'm not doing that again!" He pointed towards the door of the library as if to show he meant what had happened before lunch. "I'm not going to spend all year standing by while you all fight and I'm certainly not going to join in on it! If that's what you want, you're on your own!"

At that, Madam Pince did rush over, a scowl on her wrinkled face as she pointed her finger at Remus's chest. "Out!" she ordered. "Out of my library this instant, young man."

Remus didn't even protest, he simply turned on his heel and stalked away, leaving Severus watching. When Madam Pince turned on him as well though, he held up his hands in surrender. "I'm going." He grabbed his things and Remus's and left the library.

Once outside, he spotted Remus halfway down the deserted corridor and jogged to catch up. Severus grabbed Remus's shoulder, forcing him to stop, before he shoved his bag into his hand and said, "Sorry." Remus didn't respond. He just glared at him, his frustration with the whole situation still too close to the surface. "I'm a prat and you're right. Things have changed but I don't know how to fix it. If anyone finds out... I told you before, I don't know how to have a brother."

"Neither do I!" Remus ground out.

"We'll figure it out then," Severus said with a shrug. "I'll see you Thursday at breakfast."

Remus sighed. "I'll be there."

Severus took off in the opposite direction and Remus headed towards the staircase, thinking about everything that had happened that day. Last year, he probably wouldn't be in this mess at all, but he didn't want to spend his last two years at Hogwarts the same way he'd spent the first five. Someone had to change and he didn't know if it would be Severus, or his friends, or Remus himself, but someone definitely had to change. He had a brother now.

End