AN: This is a oneshot set at the very beginning where Albus first brings up the possibility of Remus coming to live with them. I'm not sure how I like it so let me know what y'all think.

Severus and Remus age 15

Severus sighed as he stood inside the spiraling staircase that led to the headmaster's office. Albus had sent word through a third-year Ravenclaw that he wanted to see him during his free period today and Severus had no idea what it could be about. He tried to think over the last few days and aside from a few insults that he had exchanged with James Potter's gang, he couldn't think of anything that he might be in trouble for. Certainly, there had been nothing that warranted Albus calling him to his office instead of just talking with him later in their quarters.

He knocked on the door and waited for the quiet "Enter," from his adoptive father.

Severus walked inside to find Albus sitting behind his desk, a smile on his face at seeing his son. "Severus, have a seat, my boy." Severus sat down across from him and shook his head to decline a lemon drop from Albus. "How have your classes been, Severus? Minerva tells me your Transfiguration grade has improved. We're both very proud of you."

"Thanks," Severus replied. When Albus didn't say anything else, Severus glanced around the office for a moment, taking in the many whirling and twirling objects that Albus kept there. "Dad," Severus finally spoke hesitantly, "did you need something?"

Albus smiled. "Ah, yes, I'm afraid I suddenly seem to be at a loss for words."

Severus raised an eyebrow, that was certainly a first. "Is everything alright?"

Albus waved his hand dismissively as he began to shuffle through a stack of papers on his desk. "Everything is fine, Severus. No need to worry. I admit that I'm rather unsure how to bring this up, so I believe it best just to come right out with it, yes?"

Severus nodded. "Yes."

"Right, then." Albus straightened up in his chair and focused all of his attention on his son. "Now, I would appreciate it, Severus, if you would allow me to say everything I need to before you interrupt. When I am finished, you will of course be able to give your thoughts and opinions. Can we agree on this?"

Severus had been living with Albus and Minerva for a year and a half now. Since the beginning of his fourth year when secrets about his home life came to the surface and he had been removed from his father's custody. They adopted him only a few months after taking guardianship of him and while it had all happened very quickly,- and despite those terrible first two months - Severus couldn't imagine his life without them now.

"Yes," Severus finally agreed, still not understanding what this could be about.

"You may remember several weeks ago, that Remus Lupin left school for a few days," Albus said, watching his adopted son intently.

Severus thought back and he did seem to recall not seeing Lupin in class a few times. He and the Gryffindor weren't friends on the best days but had been even less so since Sirius Black had tricked Severus into following Remus down the passageway under the Whomping Willow near the beginning of the school year.

"I think so," Severus replied warily.

"His father passed away and he had left Hogwarts in order to attend his funeral. He has no other family now. While term is in session, the school acts in loco parentis for the students, but when the summer holidays start, Remus will have to go to an orphanage. I imagine that you can guess why that would be less than ideal for him?"

Severus nodded, but he kept his word and did not interrupt. He suddenly had a sinking suspicion of where this conversation was leading and he was not ready for it.

"You're mother and while we feel like the decision should be a family one, sometimes it's not that easy, which is why I wanted to talk with you about it today." Albus took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Severus, I am well aware of the feud that you have with a certain few Gryffindors, but even still, I want you to consider my words very carefully. We would like to take in Remus."

"No," Severus said flatly.

"Severus-"

"No! Dad, you can't be serious! Remus Lupin? He's a were-"

"What he is, has absolutely nothing to do with it." Albus spoke calmly as he stared over his half-moon spectacles at the boy in front of him. "Remus is just a boy, who has been dealt a rather unfair hand, and now he has no one. Can you not sympathize with him at all?"

Severus stood up and paced the length of the office, from his chair to the door and back again. "Yes," he said, his dark eyes flashing, "and I'm sorry about that, but why you? Why us? Can't someone else step up for once? Couldn't he go to the Potter's? I'm sure they would love to have him!"

"He can not," Albus said, a sadness in his tone. "Remus will need to be somewhere that he can get help when he needs it. As much as I'm sure the Potter's would love to have him, it is just not feasible. Severus, he needs us, just like you did."

"Don't make this about me!" Severus shouted, his hands balled into fists at his sides. "Don't try and make me feel sorry for him! He's done nothing these past five years except stand by as his little pack makes my life hell! Do you really think I want to live with him?!"

"Severus," Albus stood up and walked around his desk to lean against it as he spoke, "we both know that none of you are blameless when it comes to this feud. Yes, Remus and his friends start quite a bit with you, but to say that you don't retaliate, or that you don't start just as much with them, would be a lie." Severus grit his teeth and looked away from Albus, who dropped a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm asking you to try, son. I won't ask you to put yourself in his shoes; you've already been there, but I hope you can find it in that heart of yours to offer someone else the chance at a better life."

"You've already decided, so what does it matter?" Severus shrugged Albus's hand off and turned away.

"It matters, Severus, because you matter," Albus moved around so that he was once more in front of Severus. "We want you both to be happy."

"But you're still going to do this anyway? You're still going to adopt him?"

Albus sighed, "We want to take him in, yes, but adoption is not something we've decided on yet. Not because we don't want to," Albus was quick to add, "but because we both feel like the more permanent matter needs to be thought over more. Remus may not even wish to be adopted by us. But someone needs to assume guardianship of him. You're both only fifteen. I know it doesn't seem like a long time, but you're still over a year away from being adults."

"He'd be stupid to not want you," Severus replied after a long moment. "No one in their right minds would say no to you and Mum."

Albus smiled, "I appreciate that, Severus. Though right now, Remus is hurting and he's angry. He may not want anything to do with any of us."

"What would happen if he said no?" Severus asked.

"He would go to the orphanage. He has no one else."

"I don't like him," Severus murmured.

Albus chuckled, which was not the reaction Severus had been hoping for. "Yes, well, he's not your biggest fan either."

"What if I say no?"

Albus studied him for a moment and Severus began to fidget under his sharp gaze. "I do not think you will," he finally replied. He gave another long sigh then, "However, if indeed you do, know that we will still love you and we won't think any less of you. We understand that it will be hard for you both, but I don't think either of you is a stranger to difficulties."

Severus walked over to the window and stared out across the grounds towards the quidditch pitch. He could just make out the figures of a group of kids flying around.

"Okay," he said finally as he turned back to face Albus, "but don't expect us to become friends or anything. It won't happen. And I don't want him telling anyone about me. The last thing I need is for James Potter's gang to find out about us and ruin everything."

"He will have the right to tell his friends about his new home. Assuming he even wants it." Albus said sternly.

"That's fine, he just needs to leave me out of it. I've got a right to my own secrets, right?"

Albus nodded, "Of course, my son."

As if Severus's agreement had been all that was needed to summon him, a knock came to the door, and at Albus's call to enter, Remus Lupin walked inside the office.

"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?" Remus said, quietly. Shyly standing just inside the office with his bookbag slung over his shoulder and his hands shoved into his trouser pockets.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Can I go now?" he asked Albus.

"You may," Albus replied before turning to smile kindly at Remus. "Come, my boy, take a seat. Would you like a lemon drop?" Remus took one with a murmured thanks before sitting it on the arm of the chair.

"Severus," Albus said just before the boy could open the door, "don't be late for breakfast in the morning. You know how she wants us all there on Thursdays."

"I'll be there," Severus said without looking back before walking out so that Albus could talk to Remus. This is going to be a very long year, Severus thought as he made his way back down the spiraling staircase.

End