Prophecy Child

Sirius’ growling stomach roused him from his drifting, and he blinked his dry eyes. The warm weight in his lap stopped him from panicking at the sight of stone walls.

He wasn’t in Azkaban anymore. He was… Somewhere with his godson. The Dark Lord’s manor?

Sirius began to stretch, jostling Harry gently as he moved, and the boy blinked awake blearily.

‘Hey pup. Time for lunch. You hungry?’

Harry shrugged.

‘Let’s go see what sort of feed ol’ Tommy puts on, and we’ll decide then, yeah?’

Harry gave a tired nod, but didn’t budge.

‘I’m not strong enough to stand up while holding you, Harry. We’ll both have to stand up, then I’ll pick you up again.’

Harry’s fist tightened reflexively in Sirius’ shirt, before slowly loosening. He reluctantly moved, but stayed practically hovering over Sirius, who tried to stand carefully so he didn’t knock Harry over by accident.

Sirius leaned down to pick Harry up, but his legs started to buckle, and he let go of Harry, trying to catch himself before he landed on the boy. Harry had startled and grabbed for Sirius’ shirt, ending up tipped back in the air, held up by his own grip with Sirius on his hands and knees over top of him.

‘Shit.’ muttered Sirius. ‘Sorry pup, think I might have worn myself out carrying you up here.’

Harry carefully let go, sitting on his bottom, and Sirius sat back on his knees. They looked at each other for a moment, before Harry tried to reach out with his glow to help Sirius.

Sirius shivered again but shook his head. ‘No, love, don’t hurt yourself. I’m alright, just need more time to heal. Let’s call someone to help us down for lunch. Watch this!’

Sirius closed his eyes and took a slow breath, concentrating. A silvery-white wisp began to form in the air. Harry could feel warmth and happiness radiating out from it. He stood slowly, reaching out a hand to touch it, but it just glided right through.

‘Not quite able to make it fully corporeal – er, you don’t know what that means. Anyway, one day I’ll be able to show you a proper one. Much more impressive than this mist.’

Harry looked utterly delighted by it anyway.

Sirius spoke his message, and the mist streaked away, heading for its target. Harry watched in wonder.

Severus arrived a minute later at full speed, Lucius on his heels. His sharp black eyes flicked all over the owlery, assessing for danger, before landing on Sirius, a hint of anger in their depths.

‘‘Need your help, Severus, I can’t get Harry down’?! Are you trying to make us all panic?’ Severus growled.

Harry shrunk away from the angry voice. Severus shook his head, ‘I’m not mad at you, Harry. Your godfather is just being a menace!’

Sirius gave him an offended look. ‘How is your overreaction my fault?!’ he squawked. ‘I didn’t say we were under attack or anything – I just said I can’t get Harry down! For lunch!’ 

‘Why not?’ snapped Severus. ‘Not enough drama in coming quietly to a meal?’

Sirius’ expression suddenly became eerily blank. ‘I’m too weak to carry him back down the stairs.’ He said, voice empty. ‘I called to ask for help.’

Severus’ ears began to burn. ‘Oh.’ He said, looking away. ‘Right. Um.’

‘Merlin’s crooked teeth,’ groaned Lucius. ‘Harry, let’s leave these silly old sods to their petty nonsense, and head down to eat.’ Lucius held his hand out, and after a quick glance around, Harry took it.

Just before he ducked out of sight, Lucius called over his shoulder, ‘Severus has a crush on you, Black!’, then the sound of running footsteps echoed back up the stairs.

Severus gaped in horror, turning to leave.

‘Stop.’ Sirius said flatly.

Severus froze, one foot at the top of the stairs.

‘We’re not going to ignore this. Either thing. Both things. I’d like to offer to hold this conversation till after lunch, but I have a feeling if I do that, I won’t see you for 6 months.’ Sirius said drily. ‘So, here’s another option. We can sit on the floor, or you can transfigure us some chairs.’

Severus dithered, mind torn. Finally, feeling Sirius’ expectant eyes on him, he flicked his wand and two chairs appeared.

‘Good choice. Move yours over there.’ Sirius directed, and Severus glanced up in confusion. Sirius was pushing his chair over by the open window, looking over the grounds. After a pause, Severus did the same.

‘Easier to be honest when you’re not face to face, you know? My father always got information out of me by making me stand beside him and help prepare potions ingredients.’ Sirius’ voice was calm and even.

Severus heart was thumping, but he tried to keep his expression blank.

‘Are you freaking out?’ Sirius asked wryly, leaning forward to catch a glimpse of Severus’ face. ‘Yep. Nobody’s face is that blank when they’re looking at scenery as nice as this, not unless they’re trying to hide something.’

‘Your face is pretty blank too.’ retorted Severus, deeply uncomfortable. ‘What are you hiding?’

‘My interest in Lucius’ comment. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t really thought about it – about you, for a long time. But I have been locked in a cage for three years staring at walls. I’m a bit scrambled. Maybe once I’m unscrambled, I’d be interested though. In a bloke like you.’ Sirius said, voice too casual and posture too relaxed to be genuine.

Severus glanced over at him. ‘Not as funny as your usual sense of humour, Black.’ He said, voice cold.

‘Sirius. Please. And it’s not a joke.’

Severus’ suspicious expression didn’t change, and Sirius sighed, slumping a little. ‘I’d start trying to woo you, to prove my sincerity, but like I said, I’m not ready for… that sort of thing.’ He sighed again. ‘I was such a shit as a kid. No idea how far-reaching the consequences of my actions could be. Cock-blocking my future self? Utterly unexpected.’

Severus snorted in surprise, glancing across again.

‘Not going to convince you of anything today though, am I? Let’s address the other thing. Why did you think I was playing a joke when I asked for help?’

Severus shook his head. This was easier ground. Slightly. ‘I thought you were in danger. When I arrived and saw no danger, I thought it was a prank.’

Sirius frowned. ‘But in my message, my voice was calm. Why did you think I was under attack?’

Severus’ cheeks felt a little warm. ‘I suppose… I was worried. About Harry.’

‘The unflappable Severus Snape, flapped by a little boy?’ teased Sirius.

‘The Dark Lord would have my head if something happened to the boy, and I wasn’t there to protect him!’ Severus snapped. 

Sirius watched him quietly. ‘I think you were worried about us both.’ He said quietly. ‘You came up and checked on us, didn’t you? You knew we were up here, and you were worried. You arrived very quickly.’

Severus scowled. ‘My… feelings, however unfortunate, are not a joke! As much as you might find it amusing to-‘

Severus stopped abruptly when Sirius moved, sliding off his chair and kneeling in front of Severus. ‘I have already made you a vow not to harm you. Will I make another?’ he asked, utterly sincere.

Severus gaped, confused. ‘No, I – ‘

‘I can’t make any other promises, Severus. I’m not well enough yet. But I have already sworn not to harm you. Can you at least trust in that?’

Severus nodded slowly, cheeks burning and completely flummoxed.

When Sirius sat back with a sigh, Severus stood abruptly. ‘We should – lunch.’ He stuttered. He headed for the stairs, then paused. Sirius was standing awkwardly, leaning against the window ledge. He gave Severus a rueful smile.

‘It might be better to let you run away and stew over all this in private, but I’m afraid I do actually need some help to get down these stairs.’

Severus stood stiffly as Sirius approached, and awkwardly reached to lay an arm around Sirius’ shoulder. Sirius lifted his arm and Severus ducked down, allowing Sirius to wrap his own arm over Severus’ shoulders and lean against him.

He was warm, and far too thin. Severus could easily feel his ribs through the layers of clothes. Sirius’ breathing was laboured as they descended, and Severus could feel the way Sirius was trying to avoid leaning too hard against him. The third time Sirius’ knees tried to buckle, Severus sighed.

Before Sirius could withdraw himself and apologise, Severus reached down and swung an arm below his knees, lifting Sirius into his arms. Sirius gave a yelp of surprise, then pinched his lips tightly shut.

‘No comment about damsels or the like?’ snarked Severus, feeling more than a little embarrassed but determinedly pushing through.

Sirius shook his head, still silent. Severus looked at him with a slight frown.

‘What?’ he asked roughly, still embarrassed.

Sirius’ face heated as and he shook his head, looking away. Severus frowned harder but let the matter drop.

Severus ended up carrying Sirius nearly the whole way to the dining room. Everybody was already at lunch, so the halls were empty, no witnesses to their unexpected little journey.

He set Sirius down outside the dining room and they both took a moment to smooth their robes before they entered.

Severus stepped in first, firing a rapid hex at Lucius, whose lips were pursed ready to whistle. He gave Lucius a look between a triumphant smirk and a sneer, but Lucius just grinned mischievously, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Harry’s eyes lit up when Sirius came in, and he shyly waved him over. Sirius slid into a seat next to Harry with a grin.

‘What’s for lunch, pup?’