Tears
He had to know what was it that Snivellous was doing. He had been watching the map intently to keep Severus away from Lily and checking if he was doing some weird Death Eater shit that Dumbledore should know about.
The only thing he saw was Snape sneaking to an abandoned classroom every night for the last week.
He had to know what he was doing. It was unnerving not knowing what the geek was doing. He was too dangerous.
When he arrived, he opened the door slowly to not spook the Slytherin who was inside. He opened as slowly and quietly as he could, then he noticed how Severus was facing the wall, his back to the door. He came in quickly and with his invisibility cloak on he approached Severus.
Severus didn’t seem to notice him at all, but James did notice how Severus’ seemed to be breathing harshly and when he got even closer, he realized that Severus was crying.
He was crying desperately by the sound of his breathing and the big fat drops rolling down his hollowed cheeks, the most pitiful thing was how he was trying to stifle his crying with his hand.
He couldn’t remember the last time they had made Severus cry. Maybe back when they were firsties still. He hasn’t even cried when he was turned upside down and stripped naked in the middle of the lake. He was a tough one, and it infuriated him, but he respected him for that too. He would bend but not break.
- Why is it so difficult? I don’t want to be a death eater, please God, I don’t want to be a death eater – the muffled plea sounded sincere, echoing like drums in James’ ears.
What was it? What did he say? Severus Snape, blood purist, obsessed about the dark arts, baby death eater was saying…
The door to the small, abandoned classroom was blasted open.
Damned, he should have checked his horoscope today. After spending a week alone, exactly today when he was here, somebody came looking for Snape.
James stepped a few steps back to give room to the newcomer.
Regulus Black was in the doorframe. He looked furious. And weirdly, he also had tears bubbling in his eyes.
- What the fuck, Sev? – he almost run, and Regulus Black never runs – I cannot do it without you anymore, Sev, please, I am being harassed by them all the time – he said softly once he was near Severus.
- Oh, Reg, I know, I know, I just cannot do it anymore, If I stay there, they are going to make me commit to the cause, they are not going to accept only a few comments here and there anymore – Severus seemed to try to control his breathing even when it was perfectly clear he couldn’t deliver any speech now without hiccupping.
- I understand Sev, I do, is just that I cannot be myself there without you, not even for a second, you know that I don’t care about blood purity but if I don’t do what they say or say something to contradict them even in the slightest they are going to… they are going to hurt me again – the last part was whispered and James only heard because there was no other sound in the room but Severus soft cries that were breaking his heart.
- I know, but Reg, you know they at least respect your name and think it through before attempting to hurt you but they don’t offer me the same mercy, I am, I am their plaything- he was horrified and Severus resigned expression was botherin him – I am just so glad, so glad to Merlin, God, the Heavens whatever deity that they don’t know I am a …- then he stopped himself at Reg’s expression.
- They already know that I am one too, I’ve heard that Rodolphus is feeling vindictive over Bellatrix not bearing a child for him. Rabastan is going to ask for my hand in marriage so they, they can share me to get the heirs they need, and they were promised during Bellatrix marriage arrangement. He is going to Grimmauld Place once the summer holiday comes – Regulus broke into tears this time falling into Severus’ embrace.
- Oh, Reg, I am so sorry, I would love to help you, but you know I have no means to protect you, I cannot even protect myself, you know how Mulciber has been after me all this time, if he knew, he would claim me for himself – Severus said while trying to calm the boy sobbing in his arms.
Both boys stayed silent after that and slowly found comfort in each other. They fell asleep with face tear streaks while hugging each other for comfort.
James was dumbstruck. He couldn’t believe what he had just seen and heard. Snivellous who they belived a lost cause and the stuck-up blood purist brother of Sirius were not what they seem to be. It was obvious they were trapped in the Slytherin web of Death Eaters and if he understood well, these two were both rare male bearers, ones that could been taken advantage of any moment.
If James Potter was something it was brave and courageous. He was not going to allow these two vulnerable boys be taken advantage and trapped for the nefarious designs of the Dark Side. How have they missed how much they needed someone to protect them? They couldn’t let the Dark Side taint these two boys. He was going to make sure of it.
Sirius was going to be furious when he heard what his little brother was going through.
James checked that the two boys were deeply asleep before slowly opening the door and going out. He closed the door as softly as he could.
At the soft click sound, two pairs of eyes snapped open and sly smiles adorned the tear-streaked faces of the boys. Striking grey and deep black eyes glistening with something more than tears.