Chapter 5- Remus Gets a Detention

Professor Lupin kept walking around the two of them. Glancing up slightly to peak at the man when he walked passed Remus, Severus could tell that the man was a lot more anxious than he wanted them to believe. His eyes shown with amazement and confussion as he looked down upon his teenage form. Severus realized that it had been a long time since Remus had seen that form, except in pictures perhaps.

Lupin looked up and smiled at Severus, who blushed lightly and looked down at his test. He hated being caught staring like a Muggle child at a 'magic' show. He forced himself to take in the questions on the paper.

1. How can you tell the difference between a werewolf and a real wolf?

Severus raised a brow. Was this supposed to be a joke? He was a werewolf and surely Lupin realized that he already knew that he was. It was how he found out that had made him hold off Remus's offer of friendship. He was never sure if he really had anything to do with it, though he wanted to believe he hadn't.

He started writing and went through question after question, ignoring Lupin when he passed by his desk. Before long he placed his quill in the inkwell in front of him and looked up to find Remus had just finished as well. He smiled and Severus could tell that he too felt odd in the presence of his future self. Lupin, who had since taking a seat at his desk, looked up and smiled pleasantly.

"Very good," he said. "You've both finished and with ten minutes to spare. You may leave early, but come in tommorow so we can discuss your scores. Just "

Severus stood with Remus and the two started for the door, Lupin calling back to him.

"Severus, don't forget your detention after dinner."

Severus merely nodded and left with Remus, shutting the door behind them.

"He's just going to torture me," he groaned to Remus, who laughed.

"You don't know that. What makes you think so?"

"Remus, he was smirking when he gave me that detention. And who knows what things the older me has done to him. Now he's going to take revenge on me since he can."

Remus blinked and looked at him with disbelief. "Okay, Sirius. Shall we head to McGonagall's. You have her next too, right?"

Severus growled at the name the Gryffindor used. "Don't ever call me that!" He took a deep breath and took out his schedule as Remus took out his. Handing it to the boy he watched as Remus looked them over and grinned.

"We have all of the same classes," he announced and returned Severus's schedule to its owner. "As to calling you Sirius. I won't do it if you don't act like him. Don't scowl at me. You were and you know it. Come on, or we'll both be late for McGonagall. I'd rather not get stuck with a detention on the first day."

Unluckily for Remus, just as they arrived in the dungeon classroom for Potions and sat down for the last test a few seats away from one another, Pofessor Severus Snape entered with a very sour look on his face. He looked from his younger self with reluctant surprise and disgust, to Remus with the same disgust and weariness. He passed out the test and informed them that they had an hour to finish before walking back to his desk and settling into it. He stared silently at one and then at the other, which didn't help Remus or Severus. Unfortunately, it was Remus who rose his hand.

Snape sneered and nodded. "Yes, Mr. Lupin," he acknowledged.

"Sir, it's just that... wel, I'm afraid I can't focus on this test with you staring at me."

"Is that so," the man said slowly. "Unfortunately for you, I am well within my allowences to stare at whomever I please, Mr. Lupin. If you cannot focus on as simple a test as that which lays before you, then perhaps you belong in a lower class."

Remus looked scandelized and even Severus wasn't sure he liked the man he would become.

"But, sir-"

"Twenty points from Gryffindor, Mr. Lupin. You'll do well to raise your hand every time you wish to speak. Also, a detention for your disrespect. You're to call me Professor, not sir."

Remus fell silent and Severus saw a blush rising in the boy's cheeks as he trained his eyes to his paper. He believed he was right in thinking that a teacher had never before talked to Remus like that, or that Remus had never caused his house points to lower. He slightly felt bad for thinking it was well passed time that the goodie-two-shoes got in some form of trouble.

There were no other inturuptions and Snape continued to stare at them, not making the task of finishing the test easy for either of them. When the bell rang, Snape waved his wand and both of their papers soared to rest upon his desk. Glancing at each, he sniffed loudly before nodding.

"Very well, you both finished. I suppose you can go onto dinner. Mr. Lupin, you are to report back here after dinner. Don't be late or it'll be another twenty points and a second detention."

Remus rose quickly and Severus had to rush to catch up with him.

"You know, that's the first time I've ever lost points or been assigned detention," the Gryffindor admitted when they were well away from Snape's classroom. Severus nodded. His guess had been right.

"It's not that bad, Remus," he said. "You'll probably just get some lines to write over and over."

Remus, however, wasn't listening. He stopped and Severus stopped, raising a brow when the boy looked at him curiously for a moment.

"Severus," he said. "You do believe I had nothing to do with what Sirius did to you, right? I would never. You know that, right?"

Severus's face smoothed and he sighed. He realized that he'd always known; that he'd just been looking for someone easy to blame.

"I know, Remus. No need to get sappy. Let's just get to dinner and get the detentions over with."

Remus smiled and nodded. Together, they headed for the Great Hall.