Chapter 52
‘Are you sure I really have to?’ Sirius whined. ‘Can’t I just keep them out and ignore them?’
‘No, Sirius, not yet. You know the plan.’ Severus said quietly. ‘We need to stay close just a little longer.’
‘Just until the book comes out, then we have an excuse.’ Sirius repeated dutifully, then sighed. ‘I know. I just don’t want to deal with James haranguing me and Lily simpering and Albus doing his disappointed grandfather routine. It’s exhausting. Plus, I don’t even know how confused I’m supposed to be acting! What if they’re suspicious now?’
Severus held out a hand to tug Sirius up from the couch. Sirius took it after a brief hesitation. Severus let the touch linger, before smoothly sliding his palm free. ‘I have a distraction, if you need it?’
Sirius raised a brow in question.
‘I accept your offer of courtship.’
Sirius’ jaw dropped briefly before he snapped his mouth shut again. ‘Really? You accept?’
Severus nodded stiffly. ‘I accept.’
Sirius beamed, wide and bright. ‘I already have our first date planned!’
‘It had better not be something over the top, Black.’ Severus warned.
Sirius faltered. ‘I already have a backup plan?’ he tried, looking sheepish.
‘Whichever is quieter and more discreet. I – nothing public. Yet.’
Sirius nodded. ‘Understood.’ He said seriously. ‘I won’t make you uncomfortable, Severus. I don’t take your acceptance lightly.’
Severus gave him a stiff but grateful nod. ‘Thank you. Now, let’s get downstairs before anyone else arrives.’
‘Too late.’ Walburga stepped into her library frame. ‘People have arrived.’
‘Bugger. I can cover for you?’ Sirius offered.
‘No need,’ said Severus, ‘There’s a staircase here that leads to the side garden.’
‘What?! Why have I never seen that before?! I’m coming down too, I want to see where it goes!’
Severus huffed a laugh as Sirius bounced over to look down into the dark stairwell. He stopped at the top, fidgeting.
‘Need help getting down the stairs again, Sirius?’ Severus teased.
Sirius blushed a fierce red and shook his head, lips tight shut.
Severus raised a brow. ‘Sore spot?’ he teased again. ‘You know I don’t hold that against you – that I held you against me.’
Sirius let out a muffled squeak. ‘Please stop!’ he whimpered.
Severus frowned. ‘I only meant it as a joke,’ he apologised, ‘I’m sorry if-‘
‘No, gods above, I’m not offended! It’s – it was –‘ Sirius broke off with another whimper.
‘What?’ asked Severus, confused.
‘Fucking hell, it was so hot, alright! You just scooped me up and carried me down the stairs like it was nothing and – oh gods, I could not stop thinking about it! And now you’ve brought it up again right before we have to go down there and pretend everything is normal – while my trousers are too tight, and you keep smirking at me like you were a moment ago, and you are an incredible flirt when you actually bother to do it, and my brain cannot handle it! Seriously, Severus, you’re going to kill me!’
Severus gaped at him. ‘You – oh.’ His cheeks burned hotly as he looked away, down into the dark stairwell. ‘Oh. Oh dear. Now – now I’m thinking about… oh no.’
‘There will be no shenanigans before you are betrothed, do you hear me!’ screeched Walburga from behind them. ‘If I have so much as an inkling that you’ve done anything indecent, I will find a way to make you both regret it for the rest of your lives! There is a portrait frame in the master bedroom I have access to, you know!’
Sirius whipped around, eyes bugging out of his head. ‘You wouldn’t!’ he yelped, half begging.
‘I would!’ retorted Walburga.
Sirius turned to Severus, looking slightly green. ‘Not that – not to jump the gun, but… Wedding night.’ He swallowed roughly. ‘It’s a Black tradition – in the master bedroom…’
‘Where my third portrait frame hangs!’ screeched Walburga.
Severus paled too, looking rather ill. ‘I’m going now!’ he blurted, scurrying down the stairs.
Sirius turned the other way, hurrying out of the library and heading for the main stairs to the front door.
Walburga cackled to herself. ‘That ought to keep them in line for a while!’