AN: This came from a dialogue prompt on Pinterest. And also from something that mentions that Remus probably did loads of stuff on his own that the teachers just assumed James or Sirius was to blame for. Remus was way too smart not to have had thought up his fair share of pranks! Anyway, I hope y'all like this and thanks to Freyja_luna for beta-ing for me again.

Red Handed

"You didn't get into trouble for lying, Remus," Severus remarked from where he sat up against the headboard of his bed. Severus's usual ebony hair was currently a bright shade of red. That morning he had woken up to find it much darker but throughout the day, it had gotten lighter, then darker, and then lighter again. "You got in trouble for lying badly."

Remus turned his head and glared at Severus. "I really appreciate that, Sev. I really do."

He rolled over onto his back and watched as the bewitched stars on the ceiling danced across the sky. "It's ridiculous anyway," he said. "There was no way that they should have found out. We were so careful."

"You can't have been too careful," Severus replied. "You got caught."

"You're really not helping, Severus. I know you're mad about your hair, but it's your own fault that you won't let me tell them. If they knew, we could leave you out of things."

Severus smirked before going back to his book. Remus lay there for a long while afterward watching the twinkling stars and thinking about the unfairness of it all. How had it come to this? They really had been so careful!

The plan had gone exactly as it should have. James and Sirius had been in charge of getting the supplies, Peter was the lookout, and all Remus had to do was perform the spell that would turn Professor Slughorn's hair a deep shade of crimson. They had already snuck into the Slytherin dorms and dyed their classmates' hair, but they were saving Professor Slughorn for last, figuring that if they got caught before finishing, they would rather have the Slytherins wake up in the morning to red heads instead of just their Head of House.

How had it all turned out so wrong?!

One minute, Remus had been standing inside the Potions Master's rooms, muttering the spell, and the next, Minerva McGonagall herself had been there. She had both James and Sirius by their scruffs and was glaring at Remus as if he had single-handedly brought about the apocalypse. As of yet, no one knew where Peter had gone off to, and the other boys had pretended that he hadn't been a part of the prank in the first place.

Remus had been brought home for the weekend as soon as classes had ended the next day, and Severus, not having the desire to stay at Hogwarts when he could be home enjoying some peace away from his dormmates, had decided to come home too. Besides, Lily had gone to Hogsmeade with the rest of school and Severus hadn't felt like being out, Especially while his hair was still changing colors. So here they both were, hanging out in Severus's room while Remus waited for the other shoe to drop.

It wasn't even as if he would have been in much trouble for the prank itself. Actually, Professor Slughorn hadn't even been angry about his hair and there were always pranks to be pulled, so that would really only have gotten them a couple of detentions.

No, what got Remus into trouble was the lie that came after.

Minerva had brought him up to her office right after she had caught them and had given them all an earful, Letting them know in no uncertain terms just how disrespectful it was to prank their teacher, even if said teacher hadn't minded.

She had fully intended to take a few points from Gryffindor, give them each detention, and send them up to the tower until she noticed Remus's hands. They had been stained with the red dye that she'd caught him using on Professor Slughorn's hair.

"Remus?" Minerva had called him back and he looked up at her. "Where did you get the dye?"

Remus had swallowed hard as he looked from his mother over to his two best friends. Thinking quickly, he'd answered her with the first thing that popped into his head. "We ordered it. By owl from the joke shop."

Minerva had narrowed her eyes at her adopted son. "Is that right?"

"Yes, ma'am," Remus had lied, glancing around the room in an effort to not meet her gaze. Had he been looking up at her, he would have seen the way her face fell slightly at his words.

"I only ask because Mr. Zonko wrote to me several days ago and he was quite sure that someone had broken into his shop." Closer to the door, Sirius and James had exchanged a look that did not escape Minerva's notice. "I explained to him of course, that there was simply no way that any of the students would dare do such a thing. But it is interesting that one of the things he mentioned as missing was several boxes of color-changing hair dye."

Remus should have confessed then and there. He should have opened his mouth and told the truth, but instead, he had shoved his red-stained hands into the pockets of his grey trousers and shook his head. "I don't know anything about that, Mum."

Minerva had sighed, "That's disappointing, Remus." She had turned away from them to scribble a note on a piece of parchment and the boys had taken that as their cue to leave. However, before Remus could close the door behind him, she had called out to him once more, "Remus, you're going home this weekend."

"I am?" Remus had asked as innocently as possible.

"Yes," Minerva didn't up from her notes.

"But why-"

"Do not," Minerva's tone had been hard as she cut her eyes up to her son, "insult me by continuing to lie to me, Remus John." Remus dropped his gaze but still, he hadn't confessed. "We are going home tomorrow after classes. Maybe by then, you will be more forthcoming with the truth." She had returned her gaze to her desk and said, "Now, go to bed, and wash that dye off of your hands."

Remus groaned as he pulled his hands down his face in frustration. "I don't understand. If she knows I lied, why didn't she just say so last night? Why are they making me come home and then just not bringing it up the whole time we're here?"

Severus shrugged, "Maybe she's hoping you'll tell her on your own?" Remus sat up and rested his elbows on his knees as he looked away from Severus without saying anything. Sighing, Severus closed his book and looked at Remus closely, but the other boy was resolutely staring at the opposite wall. "You know that's what she wants, don't you?"

Remus hung his head but after a moment, he answered. "She said that maybe I'd be more willing to tell the truth once we were home."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Severus asked with a huff. "Go downstairs and tell them you lied. Say you're sorry and get it over with. Trust me, the longer you wait, the worse it will be."

"But then I'd be admitting to more than just a lie, wouldn't I? I'd have to tell them that I snuck out of the castle, broke into Zonko's, and stole the dye. Not to mention the other stuff."

Severus grimaced, "Alright, well then at least it wasn't just you. You know, maybe the punishment can be split between the four of you?" Severus offered, trying to be helpful, but Remus dropped back onto the bed with a groan as he shook his head. "You mean it was just you? They weren't in on this?"

Remus nodded. "James and Sirius were in detention with Filch. I used James's cloak."

Both were silent for a long moment before Severus spoke up again, "You have to tell them, Remus. It'll only be worse if you keep putting it off."

"I know," Remus agreed though he remained where he was. "I just need a minute."

Remus found Albus and Minerva sitting together in the living room, a tray of tea between them. Albus smiled fondly at him as he came down the last few stairs and took a seat on the couch. "Would you like some tea, Remus?" Albus asked.

He shook his head. "No, thank you, sir." The room was silent for a moment while Remus tried to collect his thoughts. Across from him, his parents exchanged a look.

"Is there something you wish to say, Remus?" Albus finally asked.

Remus sighed, then looked over at Minerva, "You already know, but I lied to you last night when you asked where we got the hair dye. I didn't order it through the owl post. I stole it. Which means I lied to you twice because I said I didn't know about the robbery."

"Thank you for telling us, Remus," Minerva said, replacing her teacup on the tray and folding her hands in her lap. "And what part did Mr. Potter and Mr.-"

"None," Remus said quickly, "they didn't even know about it. The only thing they did was the prank itself, I swear."

"So, then, the sneaking out? The thievery?" Minerva asked.

"Not to mention the little matter of breaking and entering in the first place," Albus added, a note of sternness now in his voice as he pierced Remus with those blue eyes.

Remus sighed as he dropped his head, unable to meet their gazes any longer. "Yes."

"Do you realize," Albus asked, "that had this happened in a few months when you turned seventeen, you would be of age and you could be charged as a fully grown wizard? The Aurors could arrest you. Or at the very least you would get some really heavy fines."

"I-I didn't think about that," Remus said, his voice thick with emotion as he tried to swallow around the lump in his throat. Their disappointment in him was almost too much to bear.

"That," Minerva said sternly, "is very clear, young man."

"I'm sorry," Remus sincerely apologized. "It'll never happen again, I promise. It was a stupid thing to do."

"I'm glad to hear that," Albus nodded. "Unfortunately, apologies do not always fix as much as we would like them to, do they?"

"No, sir."

"Then how about we see what we can do to fix this, shall we?"

"I think we can start with a very sincere apology to Mr. Zonko," Minerva said.

"I will," Remus assured her.

"What all did you steal from him, son?" Albus asked and Remus lowered his head again.

"The dye, some dungbombs, a few other prank supplies."

"Then I think perhaps six weeks of extra chores may be enough to pay him back, at least for products themselves. This won't be taking into account what he deserves for having you break into his business. For that will be his decision and you will not argue with him about it. Is that understood?"

Remus felt his stomach drop at his dad's words but he knew better than to argue, so with a sigh, he simply nodded. "Yes, dad."

"And you will of course be on restriction during these next six weeks, both at Hogwarts and when you come home each weekend," Minerva added with a frown.

"Six weekends away from Hogwarts?" Remus complained even as he gave her his best puppy dog look, which he was unsurprised to see didn't sway her in the slightest.

"Six weekends," she said again. "All the usual restrictions still apply. You'll go to classes and the Great Hall for meals, and then it's back to your Common Room. In your dormitory by nine-"

"I know how it works," Remus interrupted, his somber expression from a few minutes ago now replaced with one of annoyance.

"Remus," Albus warned and Remus sighed.

"Sorry."

Minerva nodded at his apology. "I think that's everything. Why don't you go upstairs and get Severus for dinner."

Without another word, Remus stood to do as he was asked, making his way back upstairs and to the doorway of Severus's room.

"Dinner's ready," Remus said glumly.

Severus was already closing his book and standing up. "It went that bad, eh?"

Remus shrugged. "Let's just say, seeing your hair turning blue now isn't worth it."

Severus's hand immediately went to his hair, carding his fingers through the strands, "Blue? How many more colors is it going to turn?" Remus didn't answer; instead, he turned back towards the hallway and started walking away. "Remus! How long until this wears off?!"