A special thanks to my beta Kodiakmac, without whom this chapter would have had some very odd spelling and grammar. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Chapter six: On packs and leadership.
"We need to chat. Be in my chambers at seven." Remus whispered into Severus' ear as he passed him at the head table at dinner. He clasped the Potion Master's shoulder in what would look like good-natured gesture, but as he moved towards his own chair he heard Severus calling him back; he ignored him. Instead he sat down beside Dumbledore and calmly poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Everything alright, my boy?" Dumbledore asked and looking up Remus noticed that telling twinkle in his eyes. Remus gave him a soft smile and nodded.
"Yes, Albus, everything is quite alright."
"That's good, that's good." Albus murmured before he tucked into his dinner. Remus glanced at the Headmaster's plate but had to turn away at the sight of what looked and smelled like haggis doused in vanilla cream.
He let his eyes roam the Great Hall, giving Harry a smile and only glancing over the Slytherin table long enough to see that Draco Malfoy was firmly back in control and started on his dinner.
The clock on his mantle indicated it was a quarter past seven when the knock on his door finally came. Not that Remus had expected Severus to actually be on time. Hell, part of him was surprised Severus had answered his summons at all. That didn't mean he had to like it, though.
"Enter." He said and the door opened on its own accord.
Remus himself stayed comfortably seated in his chair, twirling a glass of wine in his hand.
Predictably, Severus had already started speaking before he had even entered the room fully.
"You called, Lupin?" he said, rather than asked in a tone filled its usual disdain. Merlin, Remus hoped that he didn't use that tone with James.
"Ah, Severus, please do have a seat." Remus returned in his own congenial tone, waving towards the armchair opposite his. Severus wavered for a moment before sitting on the very edge of the cushion, glaring all the while.
"Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee,…"
"Lupin, just say what you have to say. I honestly do have more important things to do." Severus interrupted him.
"Butterbeer, wine, or a nice glass of Ogden?" Remus finished unperturbed, rising from his seat.
Severus' glare intensified and he grounded out a warning.
"Lupin."
"Nothing? Oh well." Remus said with a beatific smile as he sat back down. Oh, he was enjoying this. He leisurely took a sip from his wine before speaking again, paying no heed to Severus' growing frustration.
"You don't actually," Remus started and he waited for the Potion Master's ire to kick up another notch before clarifying, "Have something better to do this evening."
"Pardon?" Severus all but growled in a mixture of disbelief and affront. "Everything is more import…"
"You really do not know all that much about werewolves, do you Severus?" Remus cut him off taking another sip of wine. It was nice to be able to afford a good glass for a change.
"Pardon?" Severus repeated and Remus silently congratulated himself on making Severus lose his composure, at least somewhat.
"You ridiculed me that day in Albus' office, saying it was utterly ridiculous for me to have bonded with a boy in less than a day. You were only patronizing me when you accepted my request. Remember that?" Remus asked and finally saw comprehension dawn the other's face as to what this was all about.
"Of course I do. Not likely to forget the day I found Draco, now am I?" Severus retorted curtly, crossing his arms in a gesture of defiance.
"I imagine not, no. I'll never forget the day my beta turned out to be your godson and the son of a man I thoroughly despise." Remus returned calmly.
Severus snorted derisively and opened his mouth only to shut it again.
"Now, I'll explain some things I should have explained to you far sooner Severus," Remus said in an almost conspiratorial way. "It's not the Alpha who is harmed when a member leaves the pack. Some members simply need to strike out on their own, as chicks leaving the nest. However, a basic connection will always remain." Remus said and took a deep breath. A pause Severus decided to use, unfortunately.
"Oh please, Professor Lupin, do tell about the idyllic family life of the werewolf."
Whether it was the mocking impersonation of a student or simply the words and sarcasm, Remus didn't know but he laughed out loud. It only aggravated Severus more and, even though he did slide back into the chair a little, his posture became more rigid.
"Sure you don't want anything?"
"Just get on with it, wolf." Severus sneered.
"Oh, well. No, idyllic really isn't the word I'd use, but that's beside the point. The point is that when a werewolf bites someone, be it human or werewolf there is a connection. And it's always stronger between children and elders. If Greyback had shown up in the first few weeks after he had bitten me I would have gladly followed him." Remus finished slowly, trying to be as objective about that subject as he could.
"The bite in itself makes a connection but of course personalities do too. Greyback's most important betas, Freya and Thor have been by his side for some twenty years now. And trust me when I tell you do want to meet them anymore than their glorious leader."
Remus must have been a little too sardonic and spiteful with his last words because he could swear he saw Severus' lips quirk upwards by a fraction. He wondered just how much Severus, or Lucius Malfoy for that matter, actually knew about James' stay with Greyback, which was still the longest period the boy had been in anybody's care, to use the term loosely.
"So what I'm getting at with all off this that while you might find it all ridiculous and possibly even disgraceful and insulting in some fashion, James and I most definitely do not." Remus said, slowly let the lecture tone change into something darker.
Severus blinked before the patented scowl returned.
"Draco." he corrected. To Remus it seemed more a divisionary tactic than anything else.
"We've already agreed to disagree on that one and now is not the time for you to start up again."
Severus actually sputtered before regaining his composure. Remus Lupin unnerving Severus Snape, would wonders never cease? Quite the morale booster too.
"The boy's name is Draco Lucius Malfoy, you stupid mutt. Not James Potter, not Peter Pettigrew, and not Sirius Black." Severus hissed through clenched and more was the pity. But then again Severus always did get most adversarial when uncomfortable and scared and yes, he was most definitely both those.
"Severus," Remus started, barely more than a growl, "What I'm trying to explain to you is that pack alliances are more important and can overrule blood relations. Especially when it involves cubs, children, who are taken from the pack unwillingly."
"But, and this is the part that truly concerns you, I made you his Alpha in my stead, thereby handing you complete responsibility for his welfare. However, that does not mean you can simply disregard me or withhold any of my missives from him."
"So I would appreciate it if, in the future you don't keep any letters from him, or try to discredit me."
During his speech Remus had kept his voice calm, with just the slightest undercurrent of danger. Severus had held his gaze and now the fear had abated slightly but anger was taking its place.
"I did it to protect the boy. Lucius has been keeping him under tight surveillance ever since he entered the house. Any sign of Draco allowing his beast to rule him will be punished severely. If any letters were to be found it could prove disastrous!" Severus almost yelled. He had gotten up from his chair and talking into the fire. Remus was slightly startled by the man's vehemence, although he shouldn't have been. It was clear the austere Severus truly did care for James.
"Yet you did give him my gifts." Remus began only to be interrupted.
"And I shouldn't have!" Remus ignored him and continued.
"Those letters didn't just contain fanciful writing, they contained guidelines and explanations as to how we should relate to each other in school. Had he read them he might not have been so stupid as to draw a Hippogriff out and insult me in my class. I understand the reason for the 'Draco Malfoy' façade and to a large extent I trust you to guide him. But I did not give you a license to use my beta as an instrument for your petty school grudges."
"Petty school grudges?! You…you… you tried to kill me." stammered Severus furiously and of course he would concentrate on that part of the statement.
"Oh for Merlin's sake," Remus got up from his seat and stood before Severus. As Severus kept staring at fire Remus grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him to face him forcefully. "We are not going into that. You don't like me and I don't like you, fine. But James is our responsibility and he will not be made to suffer from our animosity."
"By knowing the truth about his precious Alpha and his precious friends?" Severus spat out and he tried to back away and shrug Remus' hand off but Remus was not having any of that.
"Oh for the... .You're jealous, aren't you? Unbelievable. This is not about us. This about doing what's best for James, or Draco. And whether you like it or not that includes me. You might want to deny it as much as possible, and trust me I know all about that, but he is a werewolf."
Remus felt Severus' shoulders slump beneath his hands and finally Severus met his eyes. They were wary. Remus stepped back and conjured up a glass of wine and handed it to Severus, who accepted it without a word and emptied it almost in one go.
"Lucius means to control Draco, far more than he would have if he had not been… what he is. He spoils him rotten in hopes of buying his good favor on the one hand yet retaliates with extreme force when Draco breaks any of his rules." Severus said.
Remus felt his stomach tighten once again and he gripped onto the mantle of the hearth until his knuckles turned white. Looking up at Severus he saw the other man was staring intently at said knuckles. Remus pushed himself back and dropped down into his chair.
"Has Lucius ever laid a finger on him?" Remus asked.
"As far as I know, no. Draco seemed to understand the situation quite clearly for the beginning."
Remus nodded. James would only understand all too well.
"Good, otherwise I'd …"
"You'd what, storm the Mansion?"
"I might, yes."
"How utterly Gryffindor."
Remus smiled faintly at Severus' mocking words, which seemed to have lost their sharpest edge. Taking in a whiff he also noticed Severus now smelled more of worry and discomfort than anger and fear.
"Lupin, I can't say that I understand any of this. I'm appalled, to say the least, to suddenly find you a defender of your animal practices, but you do seem to have Draco's wellbeing at heart." Remus barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes at those words, recognizing that Severus was acting in the only way he knew how.
"And as such I will take your suggestions considering Draco under advisement."
At this Remus snorted and rolled his eyes.
"Ta, ever so." he said, not bothering to make it sound the least bit sincere and it earned him a withering scowl.
"Consider this then the first of my suggestions: never come between me and James again."
Severus stared him long and hard and Remus let him. Finally Severus seemed to have reached some sort of decision.
"Very well, Lupin. Now am I allowed to return to my more pressing duties or was there something else?" Severus' tone was, of course, biting but the words and the fact that Severus had not stormed out told Remus he had done the impossible. Severus Snape was deferring to Remus Lupin. Moony was pleased and Remus had to admit he was, too.
With a small wave of his hand Remus dismissed Severus.
"No, that was it. Have a good evening, Severus."
Only now then did Severus storm out, coats billowing, and without another word.
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