A/N:
Remus and Severus's school days AU. The timeline doesn't really matter. No dark lord...etc.
First started this story in 2009~! There is hope for those dead fics! I came back and finished it in 2025 (15 years)
Remus speaking telepathically = ~This~
Severus speaking telepathically = *This*
Remus rolled over onto his stomach. The drapes around his bed fluttered as a cold breeze blew through the crack in the open window. A light tap brought Remus out of his thoughts. Quietly, he swung his legs over the side of his bed and made his way to the window. When he saw the owl perched there, he pushed the window open wider so she could come inside.
"Hello," Remus whispered as he stroked the bird's silky feathers. The owl lifted her leg, waiting patiently while he removed the letter attached to her.
"What have you got here?" he asked, giving the owl a treat before returning to his bed. He sat down and looked at the letter in his hands.
The envelope had his name written in a fancy script.
As he opened the envelope, Remus blinked several times at what he saw.
Dear Mr. Remus J. Lupin,
I regret to inform you of this: Due to an error on my part while trying to develop a cure for your condition, a potion has backfired. Mr. Severus Snape, who was serving his detention with me for the disturbance he and Mr. Sirius Black caused recently, was unwillingly made to assist me in its preparation. As you might know, he is one of the best in potions.
The potion should have been harmless, and I still believe it to be so for your physical health, though perhaps not for your mental well-being, considering the feud between you and Mr. Snape. The potion we created was intended to utilize the properties of wolfsbane along with several other key ingredients to make your transformations less painful.
Unfortunately, when the potion backfired, it exploded, coating Mr. Snape from head to toe. Among the ingredients were some very personal items of yours, hair and fingernail clippings I had a house elf collect.
At this very moment, Mr. Snape is unconscious in the hospital wing, being attended to by Madam Pomfrey. When he awakens, I cannot predict what will happen. Since Mr. Snape was doused in a powerful potion containing some of your essence, I suspect you will experience a temporary mind bond, though I cannot say for how long.
Once again, I apologize. I was only trying to make your transformations easier on you. Please keep this information to yourself. Explaining why this has happened will raise too many questions about your condition. Mr. Snape is already aware of your situation, as you know from Mr. Black's actions at the Shrieking Shack. He has agreed to keep it a secret. I encourage you to consider this an opportunity to befriend Mr. Snape. The feud between houses has persisted long enough, and I know you have nothing personally against him.
Just some food for thought.
Respectfully yours,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
With wide eyes, Remus closed the letter and put it away with the rest of his belongings. 'Mind bonding? A cure for my condition?'
He shook his head. 'Dumbledore knows there is no possible cure... and now look what has happened.' Although Remus couldn't help feeling a little pleased that the professor cared enough to try to make his condition easier, the thought of having Snape help was unsettling.
It was true that Remus bore no ill will toward Snape, even though he knew that Snape felt differently. Snape hated Remus simply because he associated with James and Sirius, who often bullied him. Remus despised bullying and tried to convince his friends to stop, but they never listened. He even felt a twinge of pity for Snape, half wishing they could all move past their houses petty feud and become friends. After all, they had known each other for almost seven years.
'Mind bonding. Sirius would probably die if he knew. Godric, how will Snape react to this? Just how far will this mind bonding go? Will it be like telepathy, or will we seriously be able to hear everything the other thinks and dreams? Will we hear every thought or just those directed at each other?'
Confused and anxious about what tomorrow would bring, Remus lay back down and tried to fall asleep.
Severus woke with a start, his eyes wide and wild. He looked around the room, trying to remember where he was. Oh yes, he remembered. He had been helping Dumbledore with a potion meant to ease Lupin's pain when he transformed. Severus scowled, annoyed that he had to assist the very person who had tried to kill him.
~That isn't true!~
The voice in his mind was so loud and painful that it made Severus yell out in alarm. That was not his voice.
*What the hell? Lupin...?* Yes, Severus would recognize Lupin's voice anywhere, even if it was in his own mind. *I must be dreaming, but why would I dream about you?*
~If you're dreaming, then so am I. Dumbledore hasn't told you the side effects of the potion you were making, has he?~
*I've only just woken up,* Severus replied, rubbing the back of his head. What was going on? Why could he hear Lupin's thoughts? Why could Lupin hear his?
Quickly, Lupin informed him about the letter he had received. All color drained from Severus's face. *You've got to be joking. We're to share a mind!*
~I'm not exactly thrilled by the idea either,~ came Lupin's quiet voice. His voice tickled Severus's mind, and for some reason, Severus shivered.
~Meet me in the library,~ Remus thought, knowing that whatever he now thought, Snape would hear. It was unsettling, to say the least. Remus had more than one deep, dark secret, some of which might be just as bad as being a werewolf.
*I already knew that one,* came Snape's voice. *An idiot child would even be able to pick up on how you follow around Black like a lovesick puppy.*
Remus flushed. ~I do not follow anyone around like a lovesick puppy. You have no idea what you are talking about.~ Though Remus knew Snape probably did know what he was talking about, and for some reason, Remus could feel jealousy coming from him, which he didn't understand. ~I see no reason why I should have to explain myself to you. I do not feel anything other than friendship for Sirius.~
*Doesn't change the fact that you're gay, does it?* As soon as Snape asked that, Remus had a very vivid image of them kissing in the broom closet, and he wasn't the one thinking about it either.
"I'm not the-" Remus stopped when he realized he was speaking out loud, though Snape probably clearly heard what he had thought. ~You're the one who just thought about kissing me.~
*I did no such thing!*
~Whatever.~
They sat across from each other, glaring and blushing as well, though neither would admit it. They couldn't deny what Severus had thought when the subject had been brought up. The air around them was very awkward, and neither seemed to want to be the first to speak, though no words were needed.
~I can't believe... he has a crush on me,~ Remus thought, despite trying to keep his mind clear.
"I do not have a crush on you," Severus growled lowly.
"Then what was that?" Remus asked. He glanced down at the table, obviously shy about the situation.
*I don't know,* Severus answered, though Remus could tell that that wasn't the whole truth.
Looking up, Remus gave the other boy a gentle smile. ~It's okay. It doesn't have to mean anything. We're teenage boys, as simple as that. You know hormones can be wild when you're stressed... What's more stressful than sharing a mind with someone you'd rather have nothing to do with?~
That wasn't true for Remus, but it seemed as if Severus was never going to believe that he had not been a part of the shrieking shack plan.
Severus wouldn't meet Remus's eyes, and it was clear that he had heard everything the other person had thought, even the things that weren't directed toward him. Severus sighed.
Finally, he glanced up and let himself study Remus's face. He was handsome, for sure. As soon as he thought it, he knew Remus had heard him, though Remus was pretending to ignore what he was thinking. Severus sighed again.
"Truce," Remus offered, holding his hand out for the other. "I've said sorry I don't know how many times. Will you believe me now?" He asked quietly.
Studying the hand for a few moments, Severus rolled his eyes before reaching out and clasping it. "Yeah, fine..." He grunted. "Truce."
*Your friends won't like it.*
Remus's eyes sparkled. ~Too bad for them.~ He did care for his group of friends, but the ridiculous rivalry between them and Severus had gone on for too long.
*I didn't start it,* Severus reminded Remus.
Remus frowned. ~Yeah, I know.~