Do you remember?

"Sirius, I thought we said no presents this year," Severus huffed, eyeing Sirius suspiciously as he came into the living room where Severus was sat.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, his tone innocent as he lay a soft kiss on Severus's forever wrinkled brow. 

"You've been taking secret floo calls for weeks, you're constantly taking me out of the house to do activities that last hours, and you've said you don't want me to go into the basement. You may be a vapid dunderhead, but I actually have brains; you're obviously up to something, and I deduced it's got to do with Christmas," Severus concluded with a raised brow. 

"Deduced? You sound like that muggle protective from those books you read."

Severus fought off the smile that was creeping its way onto his face. "It's detective, not protective Sirius."

"Same thing," Sirius waved his hand dismissively. "But would it be so bad if it was a present? What's wrong with spoiling you?"

"Sirius-"

"I like spoiling you. I love when you wear the robes I buy you or when you use the things I get you. It's a reminder that you're mine, like you're wearing my mark on you," Sirius grinned, his tone lowered.

Severus rolled his eyes in faux annoyance, but he couldn't help the blush that spread across his face. Even after all these years, he was still so affected by Sirius and his charm. 

It had been thirty years, and he still got flustered when Sirius showered him in love and praise. 

"I love when you blush as well, especially since I know how far down it goes," Sirius smirked, softly kissing the side of his neck. 

"Sirius!"

"It makes me smile when you put on your little innocent act too. I love it."

Severus glared at him, batting his wandering hand away. "It's not an act; I'm just not a sexual deviant unlike you."

"Don't you remember our first-ever Christmas Eve we spent together? When we spent it with my family for the first time?" 

"Of course I do," Severus wrinkled his nose in dismay. "It's hard not to when at least five very dark spells were used, including the Cruciatus Curse. That's not even mentioning the digs I had to hear about my blood status and your grandfather trying to pay me off to leave you alone; it's unlikely I'll ever forget the event."

"Honestly, that was tame. When Andy announced her engagement with Edward, her father actually tried to kill him. He narrowly missed him by inches."

Severus' jaw dropped as he shot Sirius an incredulous look. However, before he can bark out how irresponsible it was for Sirius to bring Severus around a family that clearly had a very causal approach to killing, Sirius continued on with his earlier speech. 

"Anyway, my point is that you weren't so innocent then. I vividly remember bending you over in my childhood room and fucking you in the middle of the afternoon without locking the door. Anyone could have walked in," Sirius smirked.

Severus couldn't help the small shiver as the memory made its way into his mind. 

It wasn't like Severus was particularly diffident or reticent, but he lacked the self-assured, effortless confidence that Sirius had. The things Sirius was comfortable doing, Severus wouldn't even dream of doing. Moreover, he never thought that anyone would ever want to do those things with him.

Severus was a realist. He wasn't an idiot who lived in some made-up fairytale.

He knew he was intelligent, surpassing almost all of his peers. He was perspicacious, clever, and quick-witted. He had invented a number of momentous spells and was one of the best potion masters that Britain had ever seen. 

He had won awards, cementing him as one of the brightest wizards of his age. 

But he wasn't attractive in the traditional sense. 

He was pale and not in the flawless ivory way that someone like Malfoy was; he knew in certain lightings he could often be mistaken as being sickly. His nose was too big for his face, his top lip slightly thinner than his bottom, and he had never quite gotten rid of the almost permanent scowl on his face that made him seem severe and unapproachable. 

He never thought anyone would ever look at him the way Sirius did. 

He never thought anyone could love him the way Sirius did. 

He didn't try to change Severus; he embraced all his quirks. He nurtured him, telling how brilliant and beautiful he found him. 

It was everything Severus had ever wanted and everything he had never dared to hope for.

He would never be brave enough to do something like have sex in public, but being with Sirius seemed to make him lose all forms of common sense.

"Of course I remember; how can I forget?" Severus replied, "I can't believe it'll be thirty years ago tomorrow."

"I know. Mad, isn't it?"

Severus nodded before Sirius stood up and pulled him with him, his handsome face almost ethereal as it split into a grin. 

"Come on, your gift is ready. I want to show it to you."

"Sirius!"

"Don't be such a party pooper; come on."

As Severus allowed Sirius to drag him to the basement, he couldn't help but let his mind wander as he remembered the day Sirius officially asked him to be his boyfriend and meet his family for Christmas thirty years ago.

He could remember it so vividly; it really did feel like yesterday...

~

"I changed my mind!" Severus suddenly exclaimed, a burst of panic shooting through him as they apparated outside of Grimmauld Place. 

Number 12 Grimmauld Place was an intimidating, unplottable townhouse, ridiculously grandiose and stately in nature. Just looking at the house made you aware that whoever lived inside there was wealthy, and it made Severus feel inadequate.

It was just another reason that reinforced why he and Sirius wouldn't work, why Sirius was too good for him. 

Sirius didn't just come from a rich family; he came from the family. The Blacks were the closest thing wizarding Britain had to royalty. Their ancestry can be easily traced back to before the Middle Ages. They were the poster family for purity; their family motto Toujours Pur quite literally meant always pure. 

How could Severus not feel intimidated? 

Sirius, who already had an incredibly rocky relationship with his family, was bringing home a male who was a half-blood and dirt poor. Moreover, Severus was aware that his looks more than paled in comparison to Sirius's.

Sirius was undeniably handsome with a cocky and mischievous nature that seemed to draw everyone in. Everyone wanted to be surrounded in his bubble; everyone wanted his attention and approval, and yet, for some reason, he had chosen to be with Severus. 

It didn't make any sense, and that was why it had taken Sirius almost eight months to even get Severus to agree to a first date. Severus had thought it was some cruel prank at first, but Sirius had been persistent, sending Severus the most outrageous and extravagant gifts until Severus finally said yes. 

Severus had been awkward at the beginning, which manifested into him being surly, rude, and snappish. He was defensive after every compliment and suspicious after every kind gesture, waiting tensely for Sirius to reveal his nefarious plans. But when Sirius seemed to like his standoffish nature, playfully riling him up or being just as sarcastic and cynical, Severus relaxed.

But never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be spending Christmas Eve (or Yules Eve, as Sirius kept reminding him) with the Black family. 

It was a daunting prospect, and Severus had gone to school with Regulus, Narcissa, and Bellatrix Black, so he knew how awful and cruel they could be if they put their mind to it. He had seen Narcissa eviscerate girls with her words, and he had seen Bellatrix use borderline illegal dark magic on people she didn't like. 

He knew just how powerful and frankly insane the Black family could be, he had heard all the rumours about what a terror Walburga Black was, and it made his anxiety skyrocket. 

Sirius and his mother had a notoriously strained relationship, and every time Sirius came back from visiting her, he was always wound tight with anger, aggression, and hurt. But he was still insistent on seeing her at least once a month for tea since his father died six months ago.

While Sirius had a temper, it took a lot to get under his skin and hurt him, yet Walburga Black managed to do it every single time.

What chance did Severus stand against her?

"Sev, you're going to be fine." Sirius took his hand and squeezed it lightly. “I love you, and I'm never letting you go. We'll grow old together, so my family may as well get used to you because you aren't going anywhere."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Severus huffed, allowing Sirius to walk him up the stairs.

"If you think I'll let you go then you're crazy. You're the best thing to happen to me, so now it's time to dazzle everyone else with the optimistic, merry personality that captured my heart." Sirius grinned, ringing the doorbell.

Severus gave him a dry look, his lips thinning. 

"You'd make the perfect scary professor with that look. You'd have scared me shitless. Much more effectively than Dumbledore."

"As if anyone could tame you," Severus sighed, tapping his foot impatiently.

Before he could complain about being left to loiter on the doorstep, an elderly house elf opened the door, a look of disgust on his face as he scrutinised Severus.

He had a bulbous, snout-like nose, bloodshot eyes, many folds of skin, and white hair growing out of his bat-like ears. 

"Please come in, young master; Kreacher is happy you are here. Even if you are a disgusting blood traitor, bringing filthy and dirty half-bloods to the noble house of Black. Kreacher hopes the ugly half-blood does not soil the hou-"

"-Oh fuck off, you little imp, move out the way before I order you to iron your ears," Sirius snapped, barging the house elf out of the way and storming into the house. 

Severus didn't bat an eye at Sirius's sudden foul mood. The Blacks were notorious for their ever changing moods and anger issues, but he was taken aback by the house elf. The only house elves Severus had ever encountered were at Hogwarts and Dobby at the Malfoy mansion, where Lucius had extended him an invitation to one of his grand parties once he and Sirius had become official. 

However, poor Dobby barely said a word, eyes downcast and tense. He reminded Severus of himself when he was a child, and it made him uncomfortable, so he made it his mission to avoid him. However, Kreacher was so brazen and, well, rude.

Severus wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn't that. He supposed it figured only a Black would have a creature known to be submissive be so insolent and ill-mannered. 

"Is he always like that?"

"Yes. Well, with me anyway. He's a creep, I saw him snogging a pair of my father's old trousers once. Ignore him; it's what everyone should do," Sirius replied, shooting the house elf a glare.

"Rude and insolent blood traitor, always causing mistress distress," Kreacher grumbled before disappearing with a puff.

Sirius threaded his fingers with Severus's "Come on."

They walked into a living room that was opulent but in such a quiet way that it screamed generations of wealth. It was full of portraits of important-looking people, too, and as someone who was fascinated with history, Severus spotted a few former Hogwarts headteachers, prime ministers, Supreme Mugwumps, and a variety of different significant men.

Severus couldn't help but feel envious as he looked at them. It must be such a surreal feeling to know that every single person in your bloodline was important enough to be in the history books. Even Sirius would remain in the history books long after his death as one of the heads of the House of Black.

It was a little peculiar to think of.

"Sirius!" Bellatrix exclaimed, her wild eyes beaming with glee as she threw herself at Sirius and wrapped her deceivingly small arms around his torso. "I knew you'd turn up," she said.

"Why wouldn't I?" Sirius asked, his chin jutting out stubbornly as he regarded the critical faces of his family. "I told you as long as Severus was welcome, then I'd be here."

The first thing Severus noticed when looking at the judgmental eyes of Sirius's family was how alike they all looked. 

Walburga was well into her fifties, but her beauty was undeniable. Bellatrix was the spitting image of her, and in fact, so was Sirius. 

They all had the same identical flawless skin, pouty lips, wild black hair (but Walburgas looked tamer, clinched into the perfect bun with a few loose ringlets), and the same grey eyes.  

Even some of the older men who stood around the room looked the same, all of them regal and handsome. 

It made Lucius stand out sorely.

He was of course handsome but his icy blonde hair made his features softer, prettier even. A very stark contrast to the dark features of the Blacks. 

It was odd because even though Narcissa had long blonde hair, her features were those of her family, and she didn't look mismatched at all. She blended in perfectly with them, her face expressionless as always.

The room was flooded with an oppressive atmosphere, and after a beat of silence, Lucius seemed to take pity on Severus and stood up to shake his hand.

"Severus, my friend, it's a pleasure to see you again. How are you keeping?" He asked, giving him a small smile.

"Good, thank you, Lucius. It's lovely to see you as well." Severus cleared his throat and made his way to Walburga. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Black. I'm Severus Snape."

"Mother," Sirius's voice was sharp, though Severus could sense the anxiety underneath his words as Walburga opened her mouth.

She shot Sirius an irritated look before looking back at Severus.

"Of course it's a pleasure to meet you; it's something some people dream of. So tell me, Mr. Snape, how did you manage to worm your way so far into my son's heart that he would threaten to give up his very birth rite if we refused to meet you? You must be something very special," Walburga said, her tone mild. 

It would have been intimidating if Severus hadn't spent his schooling with the likes of someone like Bellatrix Black or the Lestrange brothers. 

He wouldn't be cowed. 

"I'm the youngest and most decorated potion master in British history, and I have invented over six spells. I dare say I am something special, Mrs. Black," Severus replied, his tone slightly amused but his face perfectly blank. 

Walburga scrutinised him before looking over to Sirius, a small smile on her face. "He isn't a coward; I like him." She paused for a second, a frown marring her beautiful face. "Or I like him as much as I can like a half-blood anyway."

"Mother-"

"Sirius, you should be grateful we are even allowing this....person into the halls of this great house. There hasn't been a person who didn't have the purest blood to ever step foot in here. However, we have accommodated you, so cease your whining. We are being cordial as we agreed; anything else is a bonus," interrupted a severe-looking man, his eyes burning in hatred as he glanced at Severus. 

Severus knew that look of burning fury, laced with madness. 

He must be Bellatrix's father and Walburga’s younger brother, Cygnus Black.

It was a little disorienting hearing someone talk to Sirius so rudely because no one ever dared to, frightened of his poorly concealed temper and, of course, his family name. The only person who ever really challenged Sirius was Potter, and even he almost always agreed with him, both of them as ridiculous and moronic as the other. 

Lupin and Pettigrew didn't have a backbone between them, so of course, they agreed with everything Potter or Sirius did. 

But he supposed Sirius couldn't bully or intimidate his own family because they were all of equal status and importance. Besides, he had seen Sirius and Bellatrix or Regulus and Sirius have the vilest arguments before making up as if nothing had happened. 

"I don't have to do anything, actually," Sirius snapped.

Severus tensed, expecting an argument to break but the room was suddenly flooded with intense silence as a tall man entered the room. 

He was notably older than the rest, but his very presence seemed to hold weight and influence. He carried himself like someone of royalty, his shoulders back and his head raised high. 

Even Sirius became taut, quickly coming to stand side by side with Severus.

Arcturus Black. 

Orion's father and Sirius's grandfather.

He was one of the few people that Sirius respected and actually feared. 

Arcturus was legendary around pureblood circles, and as Sirius introduced Severus to these circles, he had heard endless stories about him. 

He had been awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, for "Services to the Ministry." A large chuck of the modern British law had been changed thanks to Arcturus, he was labelled as restoring Britain back to its 'former glory'. Everyone knew that the current Minister of magic was simply a puppet, and it was Arcturus who was currently running the country.  

There wasn't a person brave enough to dare say no to him. 

Especially since the last person who did had mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again. 

He was a severe-looking man who was clearly no-nonsense and was back to being the current head of the house Black since Orion's death. He was now grooming and teaching Sirius on how to take over the house.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Surprise!" Sirius exclaimed, wordlessly and wandlessly turning the lights on in the basement. 

The basement had been completely redone. 

It looked wholly different. Severus barely recognised the room. 

But the biggest difference was that Sirius had given him a brand new potion lab. It was full of the newest and most expensive equipment. Severus didn't even want to think of the cost.  It looked professional, like something he would see on the cover of Brewing Monthly. 

It was stocked with every ingredient that Severus could think of, and one wall was full to the brim and labelled alphabetically with every potions book in existence, including the ones written by Severus. 

Severus was well into his fifties now, with a very successful potions empire, but he found himself spending a lot of time managing his business and his employees. 

He rarely found himself having the time to actually brew for fun, but looking around the lab, a thousand different ideas were coming to him.

He felt a jolt of intellectual excitement.

"Sirius, I don't even know what to say or how to thank you," Severus murmured in awe as he looked at his husband, who was aging gracefully.

It always baffled Severus how Sirius just seemed to get even better looking with age. 

But it wasn't just his looks either. Sirius was just good overall.

He fought for injustice. He was so giving and loving.

He was someone that little Severus used to pray for. 

He had never known true goodness, true love, until he had met Sirius Black.

Sirius gave him a wicked smile, wiggling his eyebrows playfully. "I've got a few ideas of how my beautiful husband can thank me."

"Flattery won't get you anyway, I'm far past the age of beauty," Severus replied, rolling his eyes. 

"Doubtful. Only last year, I was voted the sexiest wizard in Europe according to Witch Weekly, and I'm older than you."

"Yes, well I'm not-"

"You're the most beautiful person I've ever encountered, Severus. There hasn't been a single person who has been able to move me in the way you do. I count my blessings that you agreed to be with me, especially after our first dreadful Christmas Eve," Sirius said, his tone serious as he kissed Severus's forehead. 

"Yes, I suppose most people would have left after seeing a Cruciatus Curse being thrown around."

Even after thirty years, it still seems surreal that Severus had seen it happen.....

--------------

"How's pregnancy treating you, Cissa?" Regulus asked, taking a seat at the table next to his heavily pregnant cousin. 

"Terrible, I hate it; I feel like a whale," Narcissa replied, her perfect ski-sloped nose wrinkled in dismay. 

"Don't be ridiculous, my love. Your looks are still the envy of everyone," Lucius chimed in.

Severus barely refrained from rolling his eyes.

"I didn't say I look like a whale; I said I feel like one," Narcissa hissed, snatching her hand away. 

"I- yes, I know that, my love. I was just reaffirming common knowledge."

Narcissa gave him a scathing look before turning towards Regulus and continuing their conversation. 

"You better not be upsetting my sister, Malfoy," Bella threatened, glaring at him.

"I don't need your input on my wife," Malfoy replied tightly.

"And I don't need your input on if I can or can't get involved with anything to do with my sister, you little weasel. You're already stealing her away for the rest of winter."

"Don't be so ridiculous, I'm not stealing her away. She is a Malfoy now; it is required of her  to spend the remainder of the winter with my family and get acquainted with her duties."

"Duties? She's not a house elf, you pompous little-"

"Rodolphus, if you could control your wife, it would be much appreciated," Lucuius hissed, glaring daggers at her. 

It took a lot to break Lucuius's perfect emotionlessness mask, but if anyone could do it, it would be Bellatrix. She had a talent for riling up even the most subdued person. 

In response, Lestrange leaned back with a smirk, his eyes sparkling in amusement.

"Control? Control? No one can control me, Malfoy. I am my own woman. I am independent; I do as I say and please," Bellatrix snarled, standing up so abruptly that her chair went flying.

The dinner table went silent, everyone turning towards her. 

"Sit down!" Hissed Cygnus, glaring at his daughter, obviously annoyed at his conversation being interrupted. 

Lucius let out a wolf-like grin at his words, his eyes lit up in glee at her father's order that proved she most definitely wasn't as uncontrollable as she liked to think. 

However, quicker than anyone could even fathom, she had her wand out as she snarled out, "CRUCIO!"

Everything quickly erupted into chaos after that. 

Lucius just about managed to dodge the curse, diving sideways but not before spitting out a wandless curse of his own that hit Bella on the tailbone.

However, the girl barely flinched before spitting out another dark curse that was quickly joined by one of Rodolphus' own, his face crackling in fury.

Everyone began shouting, Regulus quickly rushing a pregnant Narcissa out of the room as the elders tried to quickly get everything under control. 

"Will Lucius be okay?" Severus asked, unable to keep the worry out of his tone. Sirius hurried him out of the room, and Cygnus took out his own wand. 

"Oh please, this is tame. Bella and Lucius always argue" Came Sirius's dismissive reply. 

"Argue?" Severus raised a brow. "I think it's fair to say this is a little bit more than an argument. She used an unforgivable!"

"Malfoy is just being dramatic, besides he had it coming speaking to her like that."

It was very rare that Severus was lost for words, but this time, he genuinely was.

~~~~~~~~~

"I feel like my present isn't much in the grand scheme of things, especially after seeing yours," Severus confessed, handing over a neatly wrapped parcel when they made their way to the sitting room.

"Don't be silly. I'll love anything you get me," Sirius assured him before tearing open the wrapping papers. 

Despite knowing his husband like the back of his hand, Severus suddenly felt nervous. 

If there was one thing Sirius wasn't good at, it was hiding his emotions. He wore them all over his face. So Severus made sure his eyes were transfixed upon him.

Confusion fluttered over his face first, his mouth quirked in bemusement before genuine joy and wonderment took over his features. His grey eyes were wide and thankful. 

"How?" Sirius breathed, incredulous.

"There's nothing that I cannot do; I would think you'd know that by now," Severus grinned. 

Sirius gently placed his gift to the side before standing up, carefully grabbing Severus's hand. 

"I know you think I saved you-"

"You did. I was filled with so much anger and resentment because of my father. I hated myself and wanted to punish everyone, but you showed me how to love. You made it okay for me to show emotions. You never scorned me when I confessed some of my disturbing thoughts, and you never made me feel less than. You showed me patience, something I had never been accustomed to." Severus hastily interrupted.

He wasn't one for overly dramatic proclamations of love, but he wanted Sirius to know exactly how he felt and that the years had reinforced every single one of his feelings. 

"Well, you saved me, too. I didn't know what healthy love was. I never knew what it was like to be challenged both emotionally and mentally. You made me want to strive to be great so you could be proud of me." Sirius gave him a teasing smile. "Having a genius as a husband is definitely hard to keep up with, you know. I had to make sure I was striving for continued greatness."

"Well, someone had to do it."

In the early stages, it used to baffle Severus how free Sirius was with compliments and expressions of his emotions. It was one thing that was foreign to Severus, especially as the only emotions anyone ever had towards him were disgust and distrust. 

"I suppose so, but I really love my gift. It's most certainly a step up from the gift you gave me on our first Christmas."

Severus groaned, grimacing. "Please don't remind me."

~~~

This is beautiful. Where did you get this?" Narcissa breathed, stroking the snake silk woven charmed baby comforter that she had opened. 

Severus couldn't even begin to imagine the cost of such a thing. 

"I had it specially made and commissioned, of course. Only the best for a little baby Black," Walburga replied, smugly sipping her hot chocolate.

"Baby Malfoy," Lucius added hastily, looking up from the shimmering fox fur-trimmed robe he had been gifted from Regulus. 

Both Walburga and Narcissa glared at him.

"Honestly, you can't win with this lot; they're insane," Lucius muttered, his voice lowered as he came to stand next to Severus.

"That much is obvious. They're all so volatile. It doesn't take much to wind them up; I still can't believe Walburga threw that gravy at Sirius," Severus whispered back, watching as Druella ( Cygnus's wife) squealed in delight as her husband presented her with an enormous ruby ring. 

"I don't know why he even bothers to try and argue with her anymore; she can't be reasoned with." Lucius suddenly stopped, giving him a sly look. "I must say, my friend, you have climbed incredibly high. You've come a long way from the surly unkempt outcast that I avoided like a plague. I mean, just look at you. Those robes must cost more than your peasant muggle father's yearly wage, yes?"

Luckily, Severus had years of practice keeping his patience when it came to Lucius or pompous purebloods in general, so he refrained from snapping something rude at him, showing him that he was just as surly as he had been before. But he knew that despite his words, Lucius had no idea that he was being incredibly rude and borderline disrespectful.

Severus purposely avoided talking about his childhood, especially his father, and he didn't appreciate any reminders from Lucius.

However, he was saved from thinking of a reply as Arcturus cleared his throat, making the room descend into silence.

"Mr. Snape, do you not have a gift for my grandson?" His eyes raked distastefully over Severus's form. "If so, now would be an appropriate time to give it to him."

"Of course I do," Severus replied, offended. 

Arcturus raised an uncannily perfect eyebrow. 

Waving his hand with faux confidence (it had taken Severus almost a month to perfect this particular type of magic, but it was worth it to see the look of begrudged awe on everyone's face), he waved his hand lazily, and the gift appeared in his hand.

It had taken a shocking amount of his savings, but Severus had bought Sirius a handsome watch that was encrusted with a variety of jewels. It was engraved with a short but sweet message, and Severus charmed it to show different information about the stars and different Celestial bodies. 

Severus personally found astrology to be hogwash but he knew Sirius believed in it and that the house of Black was linked to it, always naming their children after the stars. 

It was a watch that he knew Sirius would love. 

Which is why Severus’s insides froze with confusion when Sirius opened it and the smile he had on his face was fake. 

"I—oh, wow. Sev, this is brilliant. Thank you! It's beautiful," Sirius said with a wide smile on his handsome face. 

Bellatrix practically pushed Severus out of the way as she came storming over. 

"Let me see it. How have you gotten it linked to the stars? Did you make it yourself?" She demanded, snatching the watch out of Sirius's hand.

"Give it back!"

"Well?" She asked, ignoring Sirius.

"Yes, I made it myself," Severus replied slowly, not liking the malicious smile on Walburga’s face as she watched the scene in front of her. 

"An incredible feat of magic," Rodolphus announced, but something in his self-satisfied voice made Severus bristle.

"What? What's the issue?" Severus asked, attempting to keep his tone as civil as possible. 

"Sev, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a thoughtful gift that I appreciate," Sirius said hastily. 

"A thoughtful gift for a plebeian perhaps," Arcturus chimed in, derision costing his tone. 

"Grandfather, despite what you think, your input isn't always necessary. Severus meant well," Sirius snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin as he snatched the watch back off Bellatrix.

"I'm just saying he clearly doesn't fit in. He doesn't know our culture and customs. His gift is thoughtful, as you say, and a very nice touch of magic, but that doesn't take away that he isn't one of us," Arcturus drawled, unbothered by Sirius's tone. 

Severus looked towards Sirius, confused.

"It is tradition for a boy to be presented with a watch on his seventeenth birthday, a sign of being a man. It's a watch that you wear until you die. In pureblood culture, you're even buried with it as well as your wand. You never take it off, either. Another watch is seen as disrespectful," Sirius sighed, giving Severus a guilty look. 

As all eyes looked at Severus, he felt himself turn an unflattering red colour and it took everything in him not to turn around and dart out of the room.

This was just another thing to reinforce the idea that he didn't belong with Sirius and that they both belonged in two different worlds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You made tea? What a nice surprise," Severus said, attempting to smile.

Sirius rolled his eyes. 

"It's been thirty years, Severus, I know when you're lying, but I've been practicing. My teas are much better now," Sirius insisted, climbing into the bed. 

"If you say so."

"I do say so!"

"Sirius, you've got lots of talents, but unfortunately, anything to do with the kitchen isn't one of them. It's not your fault, though; you're a spoiled rich pureblood. Do you remember when we first moved in together, and you'd just leave your clothes lying around, confused as to why they weren't being picked up and cleaned because you just assumed everyone had a house elf?" Severus replied, unable to keep the smile off his face. 

Sirius groaned, dropping his face to Severus' shoulder in embarrassment, "Please don't remind me."

"It's okay. You've come a long way since then. I've trained you up to be a big boy now so you can wash your own clothes without adult supervision, so well done," Severus teased.

Sirius playfully nipped Severus's neck. "Shut up, before I hex you. I don't like it when you're like this."

"Why not?"

"I prefer it when you're nice to me." 

"I'm never nice to you."

"Yes, you are," Sirius gave him a smouldering look. "You're nice to me when you're begging me to let you cum. In fact, I'd go as far as to say you're my very good boy. So desperate and needy." 

Severus bit his lip, heat travelling through his body as he sucked in a deep breath.

Sirius's eyes were dark and smouldering, promising Severus pleasures of the flesh, making him squirm. 

"I love how responsive you are towards me, even after all these years. It reminds me of how you were that night on our first yule's Eve together. How good you took it, uncaring about anything but me," Sirius whispered, his thumb releasing Severus's bottom lip and stroking it.

"Sirius," Severus groaned, his face flushed in desperation as he leaned forward.

"You had the same look in your eye, you know? Even back then," Sirius grinned before leaning forward and kissing him softly.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"So this is where you snuck away, to. I was looking for you," Sirius said, closing his bedroom behind him.

Severus turned around. "I just needed a little bit of a ...break from everyone. So I thought I'd wander around on my way back from the bathroom, but I stumbled on your bedroom. It's interesting... very you."

*His room was spacious, with a large bed that had a carved headboard, a tall window with long velvet curtains, and a candle chandelier. The walls of the room were covered with so many pictures that it was barely possible to see the wallpaper. Many of the pictures had a Permanent Sticking Charm on them, decorated with Gryffindor banners and colours. Not to mention the pictures of Muggle motorcycles and bikini-clad Muggle girls. There was also a picture of the four Marauders: himself, Moony, Prongs, and Wormtail.

"Yeah, I know everyone is a lot. I do appreciate you for coming, and I hope they haven't scared you away," Sirius murmured, taking Severus into his arms and stroking his back in a comforting manner.

"As if anyone could scare me away, I fear nothing," Severus responded, his tone faux offended. 

"Of course, how could I forget? My brave little snake," Sirius grinned, giving him a quick kiss on the forehead.

"I suppose we should go downstairs. We don't want people to get the wrong idea."

"Oh, and what idea would that be?"

Severus shot him a dry look. "You know what I mean."

"I don't, actually," Sirius let out a wolfish grin. "Do you mean that people might think I've got you bent over my bed, begging me to go faster as I cover your mouth and show you exactly who you belong to?"

Severus's eyes widened at his words, a flush travelling its way down his body. 

"When you look at me like that, all wide-eyed and innocent, you don't even know the absolutely disgusting thoughts I have about corrupting you," Sirius groaned, his tone gruff.

Feeling brave, Severus swallowed and pushed Sirius backward on the bed, towering over him as he bit his lip. "So show me."

Smirking, Sirius grabbed Severus, pulling him down with him before softly gripping the back of his head.

"Your wish is my command. Now be a good boy and turn around." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they lay cuddled up together, Sirius snoring obnoxiously loud, Severus looked to the left where the window was.

It was dark outside, but the moon was bright, the sky a dark blue, and the stars twinkling. 

It was stunning.

Severus remembered being a kid, looking outside the window, his tiny eyes squeezed shut as he begged whatever entity that was real to take him away.

He remembered promising to be good, to be well-behaved, and to do anything if someone would just take him away.

Take him away from his abusive father, who destroyed anything good in his life. 

Tobias ruined Severus before he had the chance to be anything else. He made him miserable, suspicious, and distrusting. 

It was why Severus had been unable to make friends or maintain a friendship. 

He looked dirty and unkept, his clothes second-hand, and his face always pulled back in a defensive snarl. 

Who would want to befriend someone like him?

Who would want to be with someone like him?

Severus thought he would die alone.

Friendless. 

Loveless.

He thought that's what he deserved, and then Sirius entered his life, chasing the darkness away. 

Sirius was like his own personal sun, taking away any bad from within and seeing the real Severus.

He nurtured the goodness inside of him, gentle and soft. He showed him that it was okay to be vulnerable and open up. 

He showed him how to love and be loved in return.

Sirius had saved Severus. 

He remembered every touch, every kiss, every word Sirius had ever told him. 

The best gift Sirius had ever given Severus was himself. 

That was what Severus was thankful for every year. 

He couldn't wait to grow even older with him. 

Severus closed his eyes, feeling peace settle over him. 

This was the life he dreamed of. 

He had gotten his happily ever after. 

Little Severus had finally gotten the unconditional reverent love he deserved.