Exact Words

Severus and Remus Age 16

Right before sixth year

Severus knocked on Remus's bedroom door and opened it when he heard a quiet, "Come in."

"Come downstairs," Severus said as soon as he saw Remus sitting at his desk. He didn't even wait for an answer before he turned to walk away, just assuming that Remus would follow.

"Why?" Remus called after him. "I'm busy."

Severus turned back around and glanced over at the homework that Remus had spread out on the desk. "Bring it with you. I'll be in the kitchen."

Remus groaned, hating the way that Severus just demanded he do things, even as he was already gathering up his books and supplies.

The two teenagers had actually become quite close over the last two months of summer holiday, which was the expected outcome when you all but forced them to live under the same roof for such a long time. Though neither would admit it, of course, they had developed at least the beginnings of a friendship. In any case, Albus and Minerva no longer had to listen to their near-constant arguing.

Remus came downstairs and into the kitchen where he found Severus leaning against the counter next to the sink with his arms crossed over his chest. His cauldron, Advanced Potions book, and several ingredients were laid out behind him. Remus took in the sight and raised an eyebrow at his newly adopted brother. "What are you doing?"

"I'm about to brew the Elixir to Induce Euphoria."

Remus shook his head. "I don't think so."

Severus honestly looked confused by Remus's reaction and tilted his head to the side.

"Yes, I am. I've got an idea to counterbalance the side effects of it."

"No," Remus said again as he dropped his Transfiguration book down onto the table and walked over to Severus. "Remember what you said about the Gigglewater, Sev? This is what we with brains call a really bad idea? Albus said you couldn't brew without them here."

"No," Severus corrected, "his exact words were, "Severus, you are not allowed to brew alone." And I'm alone, am I? That's why you're here. Besides, nothing is going to happen. They're not due back for hours and by then, I'll be finished and no one will know."

Remus still wasn't convinced. "We haven't learnt how to brew this potion yet!"

"I've been studying it for days, Remus. It'll be fine."

"Oh, well as long as you've studied it," Remus said sarcastically, moving away back to the table before dropping down into a chair to work on his homework. He had a sinking feeling that this wasn't going to end well.

Quite a while later, Severus was about halfway through brewing the potion and Remus was still sitting at the table. He'd finished the essay he had been working on and was now quietly watching as Severus dropped a few porcupine quills into the cauldron before continuing to stir it. He took a moment to read over the next step in his book before murmuring something about needing as many as the book had instructed.

Once the potion had changed from yellow to dark blue, Severus reached over the counter and picked up a sprig of peppermint before stirring it in as well.

"Perfect," Severus said when it turned purple.

"Sev," Remus suddenly said, standing up from the table. He was sure that he had just felt someone enter the wards around the house, and that could only mean one thing.

Severus held his hand up, concentrating on adding in the correct number of sopophorous beans into the potion.

"Severus, I think Min-"

"Would you shut up, Remus?" Severus spat, whirling around to face him. But as he did so, his arm knocked against the pedestal that the cauldron was sitting on, tipping it over. Both boys watched in horror as the potion spilled out onto the counter and mixed with other ingredients that had been sitting there.

Severus let loose a string of curse words as he scrambled to get the other ingredients out of the way, but it was no use. Smoke was rising from the spilled potion and Severus had no choice but to leap out of the way just as the entire cauldron exploded.

It all happened within seconds. One minute Severus had been brewing a near perfect Euphoria Elixir and the next he was staring out at the back yard instead of the kitchen wall. They both stood up and looked around as they brushed themselves off. Sunlight beamed down like a spotlight on the debris that now lay all around them. Broken pieces of wood and a chunk of the counter top were everywhere, while the kitchen sink itself had been blown into the backyard. Water was spewing up from the broken waterline soaking the entire mess.

Seconds after that, Minerva McGonagall herself burst into the kitchen, (or what was left of it) her wand raised and ready to fight whatever would dare blow up her house.

"What in Heaven's name is going on here?!" Her eyes were wide as she took in the destruction around her and the expressions on the two boys. One looked guiltily down at the floor while the other looked furious. She waved her wand at the spraying water and it immediately stopped. "Are you both alright?!"

"Why didn't you tell me she was here?" Severus exclaimed loudly, rounding on Remus.

Remus turned to him, his eyes flashing amber. "I tried, you moron! You were too caught up in your precious potion!"

"Well you didn't-"

"That's enough!" Minerva glared at both of them, completely understanding now what had happened. "I want you both in the living room, now!"

Finally seeming to realize how much trouble he was in, Severus skirted quietly past his mother and followed Remus into the living room. They both sat on opposite ends of the couch without a word. Minerva didn't follow them, though. Severus thought she might be taking a moment to calm down before dealing with them.

He looked down at his hands noticing for the first time that they were burnt from the reaction caused by the mixing ingredients. His shirtsleeves were also stained and in one place a hole had been burned into it. "Damn," he muttered, wincing as he stretched his fingers out.

"Remus," Minerva appeared beside them and glanced down at Severus's hands, "go upstairs and get the burn-healing paste. It's in the cabinet."

"Yes, ma'am," Remus said as he quickly stood up to do as she asked.

Minerva moved to sit beside Severus and took his hands in hers carefully. She took her wand out and waved it across his shirtsleeves, repairing them easily before pushing them up his arms so that she could make sure his forearms weren't also burned. When she saw no further injury, she gave a small sigh of relief. "It's not that bad," she reassured him.

"I know," Severus replied, keeping his head down so that he wouldn't have to look up at her.

A minute later, Remus came back and handed Minerva the jar of orange paste. She opened it and dipped her fingers into it before gently spreading the paste onto Severus's palms and fingers. He sucked a breath in through his teeth and jerked back slightly, though Minerva kept a firm hold on his hands to keep him still. Once she'd worked the paste in well enough, she recapped the jar and Remus passed her a towel so she could wipe off the excess from her own hands. Then she stood up and glared at her boys.

"What were you thinking?" she asked, her tone sharp as she tried to remain in control of her emotions. But each time she thought she had calmed down, she remembered how that blast had blown off an entire wall, and that her boys could have easily been killed. The fury then rose back up in her all over again.

When neither of the teenagers were forthcoming with any answers, Minerva turned to Severus. "What were you brewing?"

"The Euphoria Elixir," he answered flatly.

Minerva narrowed her eyes. "That is a sixth year potion, Severus Snape. You haven't yet started sixth year."

"Oh, that's okay, he read about it," Remus said sarcastically from where he still stood next to the couch.

This only caused Minerva to round on him. "And just what part did you play in this fiasco, young man?" she asked before motioning for him to reclaim his seat.

"Well, I-"

"He didn't have anything to do with it," Severus spoke up in Remus's defense, once more drawing her attention back to him.

"How many times must we tell you that you are not allowed to practice brewing without one of us present? Severus," she paused to take a deep breath, "you could have been killed. Both of you could have. As it stands, I'm surprised you don't at least have more injuries than you do! You blasted off the back half of the house, Severus!"

"A minor thing that can be fixed-" Minerva's glare intensified and she crossed her arms over her chest. Beside him, Remus dropped his head into his hands with a groan.

Severus huffed and stubbornly crossed his arms as well before saying, "Technically, Dad only said I couldn't brew alone, and I wasn't alone. I had Remus here."

A little while later, Remus was lying on his stomach across his bed. His head and one arm was dangling off the side as he read a book that lay open on the floor. He'd been sent upstairs after Severus had reminded Minerva of Albus's 'exact words' and then a silencing spell was cast over the living room. Remus knew this because he had tried to eavesdrop from the top of the stairs but had been unable to hear a word.

He heard a soft knock on his door and looked up to see Severus standing there.

"I'm going to assume that she didn't care about his exact words," he stated smugly.

"Not hardly," Severus replied as he came into the room and sat at Remus's desk, "and you don't have to look so happy about it."

Remus grinned as he sat up. "So how long are you in trouble for?"

"A month," he answered, "and I have to clean up the backyard. Without magic."

"But school starts next week," Remus's brows knit in confusion. "How's that going to work?"

"I have to come home every weekend til I get it done. Mum and Dad will fix the wall themselves." Then he rolled his eyes, "'Course they could just clean up the backyard themselves, too, but apparently that wouldn't teach me enough of a lesson."

"I assume I'll be helping you?"

Severus shook his head. "No, you didn't have anything to do with it. No point in us both being in trouble."

"Thanks," Remus said softly.

"What? No 'I told you so'?"

"I think my exact words were, 'This is what we with brains call a really bad idea.'"

Severus reached over and picked up the pillow from Remus's bed before hitting him in the face with it. Remus only grinned wider.

End