Chapter 53
Sirius very carefully did not scowl at the sight of the Order tromping into his house without waiting for him to answer the door. It was bad enough that they had helped themselves in while he was in prison – but now he lived here! Surely it crossed someone’s mind that perhaps they ought to wait until the door was opened to them by the owner of the damn place!
He shouldn’t have let the wards admit them.
Too late now – and Severus was right anyway – it wasn’t time for that yet.
‘Hi!’ he said brightly, stuffing down the simmering anger. ‘What are you all doing here? Is it someone’s birthday? Is there a party? You all look very serious for a party.’
‘There’s no party, Siri. We’re here for a meeting.’ Lily said, voice overly saccharine as she gave him a gooey smile.
Ugh. Simpering was as bad as pity.
‘What’s been going on with the wards, Siri?’ James asked bluntly.
‘The wards are very strong.’ Sirius said, looking confused. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘Yeah mate – you locked us outside of them!’ James was doing a poor job of trying to temper his frustration.
Sirius frowned. ‘Didn’t you tell me not to let them down?’
‘To Death Eaters! Not to us, mate! We need to be here, we need the Headquarters to plan and coordinate strategies, to have somewhere safe to meet! You can’t lock us out, we need to get in.’
Sirius blinked slowly. ‘Headquarters? This is not a safe house, Jamie.’ He said warily. ‘This is the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black’s family home – for more than nine generations. This is not a safe place to be.’
James gave him a suspicious look, while Lily began to dart her eyes around as if the walls might suddenly grow arms and grab at her. Behind them, the Weasleys also glanced around warily, and Sirius could see Diggle and Dung Fletcher shuffling back towards the door.
Dumbledore’s arrival prevented anyone backing out and leaving though. ‘What are we all doing in the hallway? Shall we head to the kitchen?’ he asked jovially, as if there were some amusing joke buried in the scene before him.
‘Sirius says the house isn’t safe, Albus.’ Lily piped up, hands twisting together.
Albus’ expression flickered for a fraction of a second before he carefully schooled it into a smile. ‘I’m sure we’ll be alright, my dear. We have been meeting here for some time without issue. And we have removed several Dark items that might have caused problems – but they are gone now. This house is well concealed and quite safe for our purposes, I’m sure.’
‘What did you remove, Albus?’ Sirius asked sharply.
Albus’ expression dipped into a slight frown at Sirius’ sharp tone. ‘Sirius, my boy. How are you feeling today?’
‘You cannot take things from this house, Albus, no matter your opinion on its purity.’ He almost spat the last word, eyes flashing with anger.
‘Come now, my boy, no need for such anger. Let’s all take a breath and head into the kitchen. We can speak later, if you are concerned. I assure you, nothing of sentimental value has been taken. Come along now.’
Sirius felt the simmering anger build to a blazing fury, and he was dangerously close to exploding at the interfering, manipulative old man. A slight pinch at his calf coincided with the front door opening again. Sirius took the momentary distraction to glance down, and saw Kreacher’s sly smile and headshake as he pressed a finger to his lips.
‘Kreacher has it all, Master. Kreacher rescues it all from filthy old man and filthy beggars.’ The elf whispered, before disappearing from sight again.
Sirius breathed a sigh of relief, then turned back to the front door. He relaxed further when Severus entered, then quickly stiffened again. Couldn’t have anyone thinking there was anything positive between them.
Then again…
He watched quietly for a moment, as James sneered and sniped at Severus, while Dumbledore pretended to be oblivious, chatting with Doge, and Lily watched on in morbid interest. Severus bore it stoically, barely acknowledging the sharp barbs thrown at him, face impassive and posture straight and tall. It might not be affecting him, but that didn’t mean he should be subjected to it.
Sirius might not be able to make big declarations in front of these people – but Severus had agreed to his courtship, and that wasn’t to be taken lightly.
Sirius bounded down the stairs, stopping in front of Severus and bouncing on his toes. ‘More ice-cream?’ he asked hopefully, eyes big and round and beseeching.
Severus’ cold expression cracked just a fraction – just a hint around the corners of his eyes, as he glanced over Sirius.
James yanked him back harshly. ‘Sirius, what are you doing?!’ he hissed.
Sirius hunched in on himself. ‘Sorry, Jamie. Just want some more ice-cream.’ He mumbled, looking dejected.
James ran a hand over his face in frsutration. ‘Why on earth would you ask Snivvy for food, mate? He’ll probably poison it before he gives it to you!’
‘Now now, James, I’m sure Severus would not do such a thing! He’s on our side, after all. Come now, let’s go and sit down.’ Dumbledore chided, ushering everyone along.
Towards the end of yet another tedious and mostly pointless meeting, Sirius piped up out of nowhere. ‘What ever happened to that little boy? Baby-James-looking kid?’
The whole room snapped to attention, eyes darting between Dumbledore and James and Lily and Sirius.
‘You let the wards down and he was taken by Death Eaters!’ hissed James, face red.
‘Oh. Why?’
‘Because you’re insane!’ snapped James, anger still rising.
Sirius’ face twisted. ‘No, why did they take him?’
Dumbledore held up a hand for silence before anyone else could reply. ‘There was a prophecy made, Sirius. About the boy. I cannot tell you more, I’m sure you understand.’
‘Who is he? What sort of prophecy is made about a little kid?’
‘He was the son of Lily and James Potter.’ Severus said, watching carefully.
‘WAS?! What the hell do you mean, was?! What happened to him?! What do you know, you filthy Dark bastard?!’ James roared, surging to his feet.
‘My apologies, I’m sure is must be more appropriate.’ Severus replied, voice carefully apologetic.
‘Your son?’ Sirius interjected, voice slightly unsteady. ‘Little Harry? That was him?’
James was still scowling at Severus and gave Sirius a distracted nod.
‘Why aren’t we looking for him?’ Sirius asked blankly. ‘I haven’t heard either of you ask about him once!’ Sirius’ gaze flicked between James and Lily, both of whom seemed uncomfortable – but not panicked or heartbroken or frantic, like he would expect a parent to look upon hearing their child was not only missing, but apparently in the hands of the enemy.
‘It’s fine, Sirius, don’t worry. He’s safe, wherever he is.’ James said dismissively, finally stopping his glaring match with Severus.
‘How could you possibly know that?!’ Sirius cried.
‘The prophecy.’ James shrugged. ‘Harry is destined to kill the Dark Lord, so he can’t be dead or whatever. We’d like him back, sure, but it isn’t necessary. He’ll fulfil the prophecy one way or another.’
Sirius gaped, face white with shock. He’d already known that his childhood friends weren’t as squeaky clean as he’d once thought, already known back when he’d let the wards down and Harry had been taken that they didn’t love the boy like parents ought. Already known just how damaged Harry was, from spending time with him in the Dark Lord’s camp.
But hearing it all laid out so… callously, so heartlessly... Sirius stood abruptly, his chair almost tipping back.
‘Out.’ He said hoarsely. ‘Now.’
‘Siri – ‘
‘Out.’ He repeated coldly.
‘Now, my boy, let’s not – ‘
‘Out! I warned you earlier – I told you! This house isn’t safe! Harry Potter is my godson, which makes him my Heir unless I have my own children. He is the current Heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, and we are sitting within the walls of its ancestral home. And you have just callously and carelessly admitted that you have no concern for the Heir’s well-being or safety. This house is sentient. This house is listening – has been listening since you first invited yourselves here however long ago. You have stolen from it, you have entered it without permission from its Lord, and you have been careless with its Heir. I may be its Lord, but even I have limited influence when the house becomes enraged. If you do not leave immediately, the house itself will destroy you all as enemies.’ Sirius’ voice was colder than it had ever been.
Gone was the addled, chaotic, exuberant young man, and in his place was Lord Black – a perfect example of his House. He stood tall, eyes cold and flashing with fury, posture stiff and straight, and not an inch of flexibility or compromise in him.
Before anyone could object, could try to reason or wheedle or negotiate, the lights began to flicker. The floor – the very foundations – shuddered, making people clutch for tables and walls. The normally heavy, oppressive air of the house intensified, making it almost hard to breathe, and rattling and thumping from other levels of the house began to echo.
‘Sirius, enough!’ ordered Dumbledore. ‘Be reasonable. We can speak about this like rational adults, I’m sure. Cease these theatrics and – ‘
‘No, Dumbledore. You have crossed too many lines. You are no longer welcome within the boundaries of this house, nor any other Black property. Leave, before the house makes you leave.’
Dumbledore’s careful façade was cracking at Sirius’ stubborn refusal to bend.
‘Sirius, stop this! You’re being ridiculous!’ James shouted, before giving a loud yelp as a floorboard flew up, hurling him shoulder-first into a wall. ‘What the hell, mate?!’
‘I have warned you already. This is not my doing – you have angered the very foundations of this house. Get out before it destroys you all.’ Sirius stood still and rigid, voice raised over the echoes and creaks of the house as it awoke.
Dung Fletcher practically bolted for the door, moving so fast he stirred a breeze and opened the curtains over Walburga’s frame. Her screeching and wailing added to the chaos, and Doge, Diggle and the Weasleys hurried out too. The rest of the Order followed, until it was just Dumbledore, the Potters, and Severus, standing before Lord Black.
Silence reigned between the group, even as the house flexed and shuddered and groaned. Finally, Lord Black broke it.
‘I am the godfather of Harry Potter. Tell me the prophecy.’ He said coldly.
‘I cannot, my boy. The information cannot be passed around willy-nilly-‘
‘I am the boy’s godfather! It is my right to know and my duty to protect him!’ roared Lord Black.
‘Sirius, mate, you don’t understand. We don’t need to protect him – the prophecy protects him. He is destined to kill the Dark Lord. He can’t die until that happens.’ James explained, aiming for soothing with his words, but only incensing Lord Black further.
Before he could let loose the vicious words that burned in the back of his throat, Severus spoke.
‘Lord Black.’ he said respectfully, and the man turned to look at him. ‘I wish to offer my apologies for overstepping. I was not aware that we did not have permission to enter this house. Had I been aware, I would not have entered. As to the other matters – ‘
Lord Black waved a hand. ‘Understood. You may leave.’
Severus hesitated. ‘Lord Black…’
‘You will not at this point be considered an enemy of House Black.’
Severus gave a nod, a shallow, stiff bow, and then spun on his heel and marched out the front door.
The others stared after him in open shock.
‘What the hell, Siri?! Snivvy is ‘not an enemy of House Black’?!’ James cried. ‘You need a bloody mind healer, mate!’
‘Severus Snape entered this house without the Lord’s permission. He has apologised. He has no responsibility to the Heir of House Black. He has not stolen items from this house. He has not made himself an enemy of House Black.’ Lord Black explained shortly, eyes icy.
‘Yeah, but he’s a right bastard! And he’s Dark! Even if he is on our side – his core is Dark.’
‘A Dark core is not a crime!’ snapped Lord Black.
‘A Dark core leads to corruption and cruelty, my boy.’ Dumbledore said sadly. ‘We must work to – ‘
‘Get. Out.’ Lord Black ground out. ‘You are wrong, you are disrespectful, you have offended the house and myself. Your ignorance is infuriating, and I will tolerate it no longer. Leave. Now.’
The trio exchanged glances, before finally Dumbledore gave a slight nod. ‘Very well, my boy. We shall give you some time to cool off, and we can speak again soon. Be safe, Sirius.’
Lord Black sneered at the familiarity, but held his tongue. The quicker they got out of here, the better. Anything else he said would only drag things out into another argument, another attempt to stall, to sway him, to try to convince him that abandoning their child and invading and interfering in his home were actually reasonable and correct things to do.
No sooner had James’ foot crossed the threshold than the door swung violently shut, banging loudly. Sirius had time to relish the surprise on their faces before it closed. Clearly, they were hoping to have the last word just outside the door before they left.
The house began to settle, and Sirius laid a hand on the wall in thanks. He leaned harder, slumping wearily. He ran a hand over his face and sighed.
‘Severus is in the library.’ Walburga informed him suddenly. ‘He is waiting for you.’
Sirius blinked in surprise, before he began trudging up the stairs. He was eager to see Severus, if a little nervous after his display – but he knew he still wasn’t up to racing up several flights of stairs. He paced himself as he climbed, and braced himself for potential rejection. He had hoped Severus wouldn’t ever have to see him like that – cold and unforgiving and vicious. He knew it lived inside him, that coldness, that ruthlessness, he was Lord Black after all, but even so… to hold it inside your chest was one thing, but to take it out and show it to the world…
Severus was standing by the window when Sirius entered the library, and he turned slowly to face him.
Sirius took a deep breath. ‘I am so sorry, Severus. I had hoped you would never have to see me like that. I tried to tamp it down when you spoke up, but – ‘
Severus had frowned slightly when he began, but now he was striding across the room, stopping right in front of Sirius.
Sirius’ eyes widened. He swallowed convulsively. ‘I – I – ‘ he stumbled.
Severus’ flat expression twisted into a smirk. ‘That was…’ he leaned down, pressing his lips to Sirius’ ear. ‘Intriguing. Captivating.’ Severus moved closer again, their chests brushing together. ‘Hot as hell.’
Sirius shivered, one hand coming up to weakly grasp at Severus’ robe. ‘Wh-what?’
Severus let his lips trail over Sirius’ ear as he spoke again. ‘I hope we will meet again soon, Lord Black.’ He whispered, and Sirius whimpered as his knees wobbled.
‘Enough!’ screeched Walburga. ‘Step back at once!’
‘Apologies, Walburga.’ Severus said smoothly. ‘I believe I shall take my leave now. I will see you both soon.’
Sirius just stared after him, still dazed. He shifted his feet, tugging at his trousers uncomfortably.
‘Oh, for Merlin’s sake, get out of here and go tidy yourself up!’ snapped Walburga, although her voice lacked venom. ‘You’re not a teenager anymore! Pull yourself together. And think of an appropriate courtship gift while you’re gone!’ she called, as he shuffled from the library and towards his room.