Summary: Severus Snape was the bravest man Harry ever knew. What would of happened had Severus been sorted into Gryffindor instead. What if he only loved Lily like a sister and became friends with the Marauders.

Marauder Era, Gryffindor!Severus, Slytherin!Peter

Pairings: Sirius x Severus x Remus and James x Lily

Warnings: Homosexuality, Mentions of Abuse, Peter-Bashing, and M rated smut later on

Thanks to everyone who followed and added this story to their favorites. Here is part 13 and 14 of my story What If.

Disclaimer: These characters to not belong to me and never will, if they did Severus would still be alive and the Dark Lord would have been victorious. These people belong to J.K Rowling, a brilliant woman.

Authors note: I have no beta so sorry for any grammar mistakes, no matter how many times I go over this I won't be able to catch all my mistakes.

What If

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Part 13: Summer- Remus's Beginnings

Lyall Lupin was a calm and well-mannered man and these traits seemed to have been inherited by his son. His wife Hope was a woman of average beauty, but kind and intelligent, traits that Lyall had most wanted in a life long partner. They had fallen in love at first sight and three years later they were married with a child on the way. On March 10th, 1960 the happy couple welcomed their son, Remus John Lupin into the world. Life was grand; Lyall had a good paying job and a caring and loving wife who had just given him a wonderful child. Nothing could go wrong.

Life went on fairly well, they lived in an average community with welcoming neighbors and a very cozy environment to raise kids. This was the ideal location to raise a family and this was where the Lupin's spent four years of their life raising their son. However not was all safe in the little town nestle close to a foreboding forest. No one ever paid it any mind, as long as they didn't wander into it, the inhabitants of the forest would leave the humans alone. That was how it was and no one thought otherwise on the matter. The Lupin's lived in the house closest to it, but they didn't seem to mind its presence, in fact they welcomed it. It was something sinisterly beautiful to gaze upon and the Lupin's would sit on the patio, gazing at the dense forest while their growing child played. Neither Lyall nor Hope thought that that forest may be hiding something much more dangerous than the known centaurs that lived there.

Remus was around four years old, going on five in a couple months time. The Lupin family was getting ready for a good nights sleep, something they sorely needed after the fun packed day they had had at the park, watching Remus play and laugh with the other children. It was around midnight when the worst possible thing befell their comfortable lives. Lyall and Hope awoke to the painful cries and sobs of their son. Moving with the speed of Quidditch seeker, Lyall grabbed his wand and ran to his son's room down the hall from theirs. The sight that met his eyes when he opened his son's room would haunt the man till the day he died. It still stung the man to remember it even today, eight years later.

A creature of ones own worst nightmares stood above his weeping son, who clutched his bitten and bleeding arm. The animal, wolf like in appearance but with the distorted figure of a human stood on its hind legs. Its fur was a matted silver color and the creature smelled of blood. It was hideous with its sharp claws, razor teeth and frightening golden eyes. Lyall's eyes went from the monster to his son, who he finally noticed was sobbing, holding onto a bleeding hand. This thing had bitten his son. With an angry shout, Lyall raised his wand and through every single curse and hex that came to his head. The animal, unable to defend itself against the onslaught of magic, escaped through the window it had entered through and ran back into the forest. With the threat gone, Lyall immediately went to his crying son, who seemed to be in a lot of pain. That was the night Remus Lupin was contaminated with lycanthrope.

From that day on, Remus went through a painful transformation every full moon. To keep everyone safe, including Remus him self, Lyall would lock the boy up once a month in a cellar, protected by strong barriers. Lyall and Hope were devastated when they learned of what had befallen their son. However, they weren't just going to give up on their son, on the contrary, they were determined to do anything to make their sons life happy. That dream wasn't meant to be. Remus was terrified of his transformations and as such began to withdraw him self from the world. He was scared of what he could do and Remus no longer played with any of his friends, in fact his days were spent in doors with a book. No matter what Lyall and Hope said to their son, Remus believed himself a monster, that could hurt somebody and he didn't want to take that chance. Remus's childhood from the age of four up was filled with depressing loneliness.

Remus's depression became even more pronounced as he got older. Now that Remus was getting bigger, his werewolf was getting stronger. Add to the fact that the neighbors were beginning to wonder did not bode well for the Lupin family. It was a quick decision without a lot of planning, but the family immediately moved to an isolated country farm. Remus was even more alone then ever, now he couldn't even watch his once friends play around anymore. The full moons were getting more painful as Remus's werewolf now took to biting and scratching its self in a frustrated manor, wanting human flesh. Lyall and Hope and to put even more spells and charms around the shed were they kept Remus during his transformations. The reason they left civilization was that if Remus did manage to escape, he wouldn't be able to reach the town over until morning, where he would then transform back. This was the only way to secure not only the safety of innocent people, but to protect their son from his condition being found out. Werewolves were treated horribly by the public and discriminated against, and that was the last thing Remus needed.

Remus's eleventh birthday was one to celebrate, though it was also one to dread. Lyall knew it was an unlikely wish, but he still wished that his son would get his letter to Hogwarts. However as they days went by and no letter came and Lyall and Hope were sure that the Headmaster knew what there son was and was against enrolling him. They knew perfectly well why, but it still stung to know that there child wouldn't be able to go to school and make friends. Remus had been so lonely here, even with his parents showering their attention on him whenever they had the chance. Lyall could teach his son magic, but it wasn't the same as getting to experience the wonders of Hogwarts. Two months had passed and Lyall and Hope resigned themselves to teaching their son because no letter for their son was going to come. However later that day they got an unexpected but very welcomed visitor. Albus Dumbeldore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, was standing in outside the Lupin family's door, smiling serenely. Lyall and Hope were all to eager to let the esteemed man into their quite home.

Albus came in with a bow of his head, waiting patiently to be escorted into the leaving room. Albus smiled brightly at Remus as he walked into the leaving room, where Lyall and Hope took a seat next to their son.

"What brings you here Dumbeldore?" Lyall asked hurriedly. Albus just smiled brightly and asked Hope if he could have some tea. Hope immediately went to go do that, while Albus turned back to address Lyall.

"It is about your son's condition in accordance with attending Hogwarts," Albus stated simply.

"Will he be able to go?" Lyall blurted out desperately. His son deserved some type of happiness in his life and he was sure that Hogwarts would be able to revive his son from his loneliness and depression.

"I don't see why not," Albus replied cheerfully. Lyall looked about ready to burst with happiness and Remus looked hopeful. Albus smiled at Remus, letting the boy know that it was okay to speak in his presence.

"What about my condition, surely I can't go to a school filled with children? No parent would allow such a thing," Remus asked sadly. He didn't want to get his hopes up even though Dumbeldore had just said that he saw no problem with it. Maybe he didn't know what kind of problem he had.

"Ah, yes. Your werewolf problem will be tough but manageable. You are a harmless boy and I think that just because you are dangerous for one day at night that you shouldn't be left out of getting a good education." Remus looked reassured by the kind old man's words. Just then Hope came back in with four steaming mugs of tea.

Everyone was seated and drinking their tea as they talked about various ways that they could hide Remus's condition so that he may attend Hogwarts. Albus came up with a brilliant plan to build a shack in Hogsmeade that was attached to a secret entranceway that would be constructed under a newly planted Whomping Willow. The idea seemed fool proof and Albus quickly stated that he would be making arrangements and that they should expect a letter in about a month's time. Lyall and Hope nearly wept with joy, thanking the Headmaster for his kindness and understanding.

"I just don't want to see a bright student such as Remus not to get the proper educations he deserves, not that you wouldn't be able to teach him, but Hogwarts staff are the prime professors of their subject. It would also due for Remus to finally make friends after spending so much time away from kids his own age because of something he had no control over. It would not do for you to miss out on something this beneficial because of someone else's prejudice. Now I look forward to seeing you again at Hogwarts." With those parting words, Albus Dumbeldore left the Lupin family feeling the happiest they had ever been since the night Remus was bitten.

A month later and true to the Headmaster's word an owl appeared one day with a letter of acceptance into Hogwarts for Remus. The Lupin family had celebrated that night and Remus had finally been able to smile a truly breathtakingly happy smile that warmed Lyall and Hope's heart. They were forever indebt to Dumbeldore for what he had done for them. Remus had loved going to Diagon Alley, were he met students just like him. Some older and some starting their first year as well. During this trip is were he first seen Sirius Black, who had been getting dragged reluctantly by his stern faced mother. Remus had been confused as to why a mother was being so harsh with her son and why said son looked to be trying to desperately get away. He however didn't get time to think on it, as his parents were eager to get some shopping done. They were a relatively poor family, but that didn't mean they weren't going to try and spoil their son the best they could.

Lyall and Hope were dragging their curious son throughout Diagon Alley, when Lyall spotted a familiar face.

"Charlus," Lyall called excitingly. He hadn't seen his school time friend since they had to move into that isolated house a few years back. Charlus Potter smiled at his old time friend, walking up to Lyall and giving the man a hug.

"Lyall, it's been so long, how are you?" Charlus asked.

"I am doing fine. You remember my wife Hope, though I don't think you've met my son."

"Yes, it is good to see you again Hope."

"Likewise," Hope replied.

"So you must be Remus, your father would never stop talking about you. Had to cast a silencing charm just so we could focus on our work," Charlus laughed, holding out a hand for Remus to shake. The little boy did so hesitantly and Charlus beamed down at him.

"You know I have a son your age, you'll be great friends. He's with his mother right now getting some dress robes fitted."

"That's great we were just heading there our selves," Lyall stated excitedly. Charlus smiled at his old friend and they all walked to Madam Malkin's for robes.

Once they got there, Remus noticed that two boys were talking animately to each other. The boy from before who had been dragged by his mother was talking to a young boy their age who strongly resembled Charlus. The stern woman was talking quietly with who should be Charlus's wife and mother to one of the children talking.

"Dorea, hunny. Look who I found," Charlus called out. Dorea, a beautiful fair skinned, black haired woman cast her hazel eyes upon Lyall and Hope and her lips twiched up into a smile.

"Lyall and Hope, how good it is to see you both," Dorea gushed, immediately cutting off her conversation with the stern woman to hug Lyall and Hope. The stern woman looked put off and sneered nastily at the Lupin family, especially at Remus, who coward away. The son of the glaring mother looked sypathetic and apologetic all at the same time, while Charlus's son seemed to prefer glaring at the woman, hoping to make her back down with his stare alone. Remus felt safe with these two and he smiled up at them and was over the moon when they returned his smile.

"Hi, I'm Sirius Black," the son with the stern mother introduced, much to his mother's distaste. Charlus's son also introduced him self as James Potter, while Remus introduced him self.

"Since were going to be in the same year, do you guys want to be friends?" Sirius questioned, looking at the two people he had just met. James and Remus agreed, they felt that this was the start of a friendship that would last forever. Remus would once again met his two new friends on the train ride were they would met another friend, who would later become one of their most hated enemies. Remus was very content and overly happy to finally have some friends to play and joke with. He would do anything to keep his friends, for they were the most precious things in the world to him.

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Part 14: Summer- Remus's Life

Remus came home from another fantastic year at Hogwarts to once again find himself bored and alone. He knew he shouldn't complain about the three months that he would be by him self, no one to talk to other than his parents. It wasn't like he didn't like talking to his parents; it was just he missed his friends. After spending so much time alone before going to Hogwarts and then being given friends only to suffer through three months without their constant presence was very depressing. Remus knew he should have been thankful to have any friends at all; Dumbeldore could have easily ignored him and not helped him hide his condition so that he could attend Hogwarts. So just like last summer, Remus would deal with the three months of loneliness and three transformations before going back for his third year, where his friends would once again surround him. It was thoughts like these that kept Remus going, he would wait out the any length of time if only he could see his friends again. They were his light at the end of the tunnel, and what a long tunnel that had been.

Lyall and Hope bombarded their son with questions the minute they came home from King's Cross. Remus felt cornered but knew his parents wouldn't let up from their constant questioning until they were satisfied. It warmed Remus's heart to know that his parents were so interested in his school life. Before he had gone to Hogwarts his mother and father were the only people he could talk to. Whenever he wanted to play, he was on his own as his parents were busy people, but they always had time to sit down and listen to their son venting whatever he had on his mind. Remus decided to start with the train ride where he told his parents that he had told his closest friends his secret. Lyall and Hope had been shocked, upset and worried, however Remus convinced them that his friends hadn't cared and that they had sworn to keep his secret. Lyall and Hope were relieved slightly that there were some people out their that wouldn't judge Remus for what he couldn't control and that Remus had made such good friends. Remus's story soon got boring with all the details about his classes, but his parents listened anyway, something Remus was grateful for. However soon he had to get to the part where he almost got expelled form Hogwarts for attacking the snake pit.

Remus hoped that he could skip over that but Lyall stopped him with a pointed look. It seemed that they had been contacted about what had happened and had only been waiting until Remus told them him self. At least this would give his a chance to defend him self.

"They started it," Remus immediately defended. Lyall and Hope said nothing, just waited for Remus to continue. Remus began to explain how this had manifested in their first year, after Peter was sorted into Slytherine and Severus into Gryffindor. Remus told them how Peter had tried to play up the 'sweet, innocent raven' as a horrible, dark arts loving evil sociopath. On how they had believed him and ousted Severus before he was even sorted and only found out after Peter got sorted into Slytherine, where that nasty boy belonged. Remus told them about how Peter and his cronies kept on flirting and being out right cruel to Severus. It wasn't the boy's fault that Peter got sorted where he was and lost the friendship two of the most popular boys that had money and connections. It also wasn't Severus's fault that Lucius had decided to bully the boy after Severus had knocked him into a table full of food after he had called his best friend a Mudblood. However the Slytherine didn't see it like that and repeatedly bullied the defenseless child, even going so far as to tie up Severus, and hex him into a oblivion.

Lyall and Hope listened attentively as Remus poured his heart out over the injustices that the Slytherine had done against one of his friends. Hope smiled lightly, it seemed by the way her son talked about Severus that he felt more than a deep friendship for the boy. She was happy that her son was crushing on some one he deserved to live contentedly with someone and she could understand why her son had done what he did. Sure she didn't condone it but she understood it, especially reading that werewolves were extremely protective of their loved ones. Nevertheless she was a parent and she had to let Remus know that such behavior is frowned upon, no matter how much one deserves it. Lyall was one the same page as his wife, although he hadn't connected the dots that his son may be crushing on little Severus. He did though see the reasoning behind what Remus did; it was still to be punished. Remus accepted the fact that he would have to be grounded for a month to think about what he did, but he knew in his heart he would never regret what he had done that day and if need be he would do it again.

The first month passes by relatively smoothly, with Remus doing nothing but his homework. There was quite a lot of it, but he had three months to do it, and besides this month of grounding made it disappear faster, as he had nothing to do but homework. The end of the month brought another full moon, something he had grown to resent. Lyall and Hope walked their son to the shed where they kept him during his transformation. Lyall and Hope regrettably chained Remus down with heavy duty and spell fortified chains that tied around his neck, wrists and ankles. Remus hated this, he felt like a mindless animal and he hated even more to see the pained faces of his parents as they tied him up and left him here. Remus watched tiredly as Lyall and Hope waved their wands and cast as many spell and barriers to keep Remus from getting out as possible. Once they were done, they left Remus to wait for the horrible, spine ripping sensation of the transformation to kick in. No sooner had Remus though of when his transformation would begin that it began.

Remus felt sick to his stomach as he heard the all to familiar sound of bones cracking. He could honestly feel every single bone breaking and rearranging itself and it was the most painful experience in the world. He could feel parts of his body elongate or shrinking into the body of a beast. He could feel wolf ears forming, his nose was turning into a nuzzle and sharp teeth sprouting out from his normal human teeth. His cloths were shredding up and his body was becoming coated in fur the color of his hair. His eyes were probably the color of molten gold and he could slowly feel his mind slip, becoming more primal. That was the worst feeling, to feel his intelligence fade, something he had always prided himself on. To know that during these nights he was nothing but a mindless monster, who's main goal in life was to either kill or infect as many people as possible was truly frightening. Just as his mind finally tuned to that of his inner wolf, Remus could feel the last traces of his transformation, the elongating of his arms and legs, as well as the hunched spine that rippled his back.

The next morning found Remus naked and alone in the small shed with a pounding headache and some knew scratches that would never be able to heal. Hope came down shortly after Remus had woken up with a fresh change of cloths. She unlocked her son from his bind with a flick of her wand, a sad expression etched on her face. Remus smiled lightly at her and took the offered cloths. Hope left with a sad smile of her own and went back into the main house to finish cooking breakfast. This is what he had to go through every month since he was bitten, and even if it had been years; it was still no easier to live with. However he was just going to have to live with it, no matter how much he wished and preyed that one day he would wake up cured.

Walking back into the house, Remus greeted his mom and dad with a good morning kiss, letting them know that he was fine and that he didn't blame them. Remus knew how his parents beat themselves up about what had happened to him. They were his parents and they were supposed to protect him against anything that may hurt him. They believed that they had failed when a werewolf had gotten into their home and attacked him that fateful night. Remus saw it differently; he didn't blame his parents. If there was anyone to blame it was Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf that attacked children just for the sport of it and so he could build up an army werewolves to take out the witches and wizards. He had to reassure them like this that he held no negative feelings towards them for what he had to go through. Remus knew that his parents would never get over what they had let happened to their son, but Remus would always be there to love them and tell them that this was not their fault.

The next two months went by much the same way. In his isolated little world, if he wasn't doing homework or talking with his parents, then he would be reading some book. His parents spoilt him with books. Whenever he had no more reading material, Lyall would go out immediately and buy al least five more knew books. While Remus was all alone, book were the closest things to friends he had. Sure they would never compare with the real thing, but here in his home they were the only things that kept him sane. He also had two more transformation that was just as bad as the one before it had been. Remus believed that he would never get use to his transformation and as long as there was no cure or potion to help with the more negative effects, then Remus wasn't sure he would ever be able to live life to the fullest. He would always have the shadow of his disease following him wherever he went, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and make his life hell.

Remus couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts to be with his friends. He had missed them desperately over the summer. He wondered how his love was going, what with his abusive how. Remus's heart stung at the though that something had happened to him and he hadn't been able to do anything. He just hoped the boy was on the Hogwarts Express, but hope wasn't helping much as he still felt the painful ache at the notion that something horrible may have happened to Severus. The boy had been so scared of his father when he told them about what his father did. How could he just now remember? He should have offered the boy refuge here. Severus knew he was a werewolf so it wouldn't have risked anything to allow the boy of his dreams over. He would just have to hope then that his mistake hadn't cost Severus his life. Next summer he was going to insist that Severus come spend the summer with him. He would not allow for that angel to ever set foot into that abusive house again. This he swore.

Remus went to sleep the night before going back to Hogwarts thinking of his friends. He was resolved to take Severus in, but now he was curious about his other friends. How were James and Sirius? Remus knew that Sirius had spent the summer with James so that he wouldn't have to deal with his bitch of a mother yelling at him, while she fawned all over Regulus. Remus was sure that James and Sirius had had the summer of their life. James parents were great people, though he only knew this from what his parents had said and what he witnesses that one time when they had met in Diagon Alley before his first year. Lily however was a different story. He didn't know anything about Lily's home life, except that it was a loving home. She didn't seem to be abused in any way and talked about her family with affection. At least Remus didn't have to worry about her. The only one he was worried about was Severus; he was the only one that came from an abusive home. Sirius may hate his family, but they had never laid a finger on him, just yelled and tired to push their pure blood ideals. Remus fell asleep to the though of seeing Severus tomorrow, hopefully well and healthy, though he knew he was only fooling him self.

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Authors note: Another chapter done, please review. The more reviews the faster I go, they give me the inspiration I need to keep writing. Sorry it took me so long, my schoolwork has been catching up with me, and my AP exams and finals are growing closer. I have to focus most of my energy into this last month or so before I graduate high school, I still need to pass four more classes and I can't afford not to. I will try to have the next chapter in about a week's time, maybe more, maybe less. It may take longer as I have things to do, but know that I am not giving up on this story. I hope you all like it. Next chapter is going to be about James and Sirius's summer and then I can resume with their third year.