A proposal
- You cannot expect everybody else to want to live that wayward life that you want. I know that it is not your case anymore, but I do am the rightful Heir to my family. I’ll do what I must do and that is marry a pretty wife and have lots of children to expand my legacy. I want that, I want to go home to a pretty woman waiting with the dinner served and a bunch of children excited to see me. I think that Lily is that woman, she just needs time to adjust to my ways and she’ll see what’s best for her, for us. I’ll go with her to Albania if that is what it takes. – James' eyes were fiery, but it could not compete with the fire that had been ignited in Sirius’ heart.
- Your ways? Do you really believe that is your way? It is simply the pureblood way! – Sirius couldn’t contain his laugh anymore but you could see in his eyes fury mixed with a hint of madness – Let me tell you something, James Potter, you may think that Lily is what you want but she is just an obsession for you, believe me I know best about obsessions – a weird glint made his way in Sirius eyes while he formed a disdaining smirk – An obsession that will not allow you to play house with her, because let me remind you, you can pretend all you want but you cannot lead a pureblood life with a mudblood.
Before James could retort anything, Sirius had apparated out of his house. James could feel his blood burning from the insult Sirius had just aimed at his Lily. He really didn´t think that things would come out like that. Yes, they have been fighting a lot about Lily recently.
Sirius disliked Lily and that was obvious but now it seemed to be more. Pure unaltered disdain and contempt, that’s what he saw.
His Lily also disliked Sirius a lot too, she has been complaining about him since they started dating, she always attributed it to Sirius being a prat to Severus, but she always overlooked James’s part on the very same endeavors. James was literally between the love of his life and his best friend.
He recognized that he had been tough on Sirius today and he didn´t deserve it. Sirius just had advised him not to uproot his life and his plans to go chasing after Lily. But they didn’t agree even less when they talked about how Lily hasn’t said yes yet to James’s marriage proposal.
For Sirius, it was unbelievable that he wanted to chase a silly girlfriend that wasn’t willing to give anything up for him. But for James, it was unconceivable, it was his Lily, his dream come through, the future mother of his children. He had to give his all.
Sirius didn’t give a shit about Lily, and he just worried about his best friend. Never, not in his wildest dreams would he had known that one day, James, his brother in all but blood would mock him for not being the Black Heir anymore. He really thought that he was family, but that taunt touched a fiber that he didn´t know he had. But he will not let it rest like that. Sirius could do whatever he wanted to, and if James liked Lily enough to turn up on him, he will do the same.
Sirius knew for sure that one day the information should be useful so when he heard once Snape’s address from Regulus mouth, he learned it by heart. If James Potter was obsessed over Lily Evans, he was obsessed over Severus Snape. That was the reality he had come to terms with after the big incident in Fifth year. He firmly believed that Severus would still live in Spinner’s End, they have just graduated a few days ago after all. And if he didn´t, alas, he would have to start looking for location spells.
He apparated there and used the point me spell to march straight to one of the most rundown houses near the river. He knocked respectfully and waited. Soon, a muggle-dressed Severus Snape opened the door for a few seconds until he recognized Sirius and tried to close the door as fast and hard as possible.
Unfortunately, Sirius’s foot didn’t allow him to. - Let me talk, please. – Severus’s eyes widened at hearing Black say please. He was so stunned that he forgot to struggle to try to close the door. Black was quick, he entered and swiftly caged Severus in his arms.
Severus thought he was dreaming, in which alternative reality would Black hug him without hurting him. - As you already know, Lily accepted to be James’s girlfriend at the beginning of seventh year – he breathed out some exasperation by rolling his eyes, not letting go of Severus even for a second – She has decided to go try to be a Potions Master – Severus’s brows furrowed at that, why would she do a Potions Mastery if she has always preferred Charms? – the Potters could only get her one under an unknown Albanian Master who didn’t care about her blood status, James has decided to chase after her foregoing his own dreams. I don´t like Lily Evans and I like even less her relationship with him. But I cannot do anything. I feel betrayed and I want them to feel the same. – he made a pause and stared straight at Severus dark eyes – I need you to help me. - What… -
Severus started saying a little bit furious, how dare Sirius Black come to his door and ask for his help, after everything he did, but then he thought… - What would I get out of this? – he asked tentatively, the fire in his eyes muted. At this, Sirius beamed at him but look more like a cat that got the canary than anything else. - Me. I’ll give you me. – Severus was weirded out from the words Sirius uttered but he made an expression to urge Sirius to explain. – James was always blinded by his jealousy, I’ve heard the talks you had a crush on Evan Rosier, he was a few years ahead of us, you like men and I am one hell of one. – His face was full of pride when he said that.
– I want you to be my boyfriend and settle with me for a few months, to have the perfect pureblood life you had desired so much, I will pay for everything and give you a nice life. You can do whatever you want but the catch is, you’ll have to act like a dutiful wife for me. – At this sentence Severus couldn’t help but grimace – you have to clean after me, cook for me and wait for me lovingly to come home – and right in the middle of his spirited speech, he grew his smirk before uttering – also, obviously, the sex cannot be overlooked.
Severus was seething. Sirius Black was the bane of his existence, he has mocked him, fought him, beat him, taunted him, tried to feed him to a werewolf even. Yes, he was all those things, but he was rich. He had already heard from Regulus that their uncle was providing him with an allowance and had set aside a considerable amount of inheritance only for Sirius. Yes. He was not the Black Heir anymore but truly, he was not fit to be a bride to the next Lord of the Black House either, toujours pur after all.
He was a poor half-blood; he had no better prospects as he hasn’t been able to get together the money he needed to pay for a mastery. He had been racking his brains the whole week he had been hollered on the hovel that was his house in Spinner’s End. His mother passed away at the beginning of his Fifth Year and his father, thanks Merlin, had died halfway through his Seventh Year. For goodness’s sake, he didn’t even have a Gringotts Vault. He was terrified. He had been running low on money since he didn’t have anymore students to pay for his potions or essays. Admittedly, he would benefit greatly if he accepted the deal Sirius was offering. He hates Sirius, but he loves himself more. Yes, he was in dire need of money, but he was no whore.
- I cannot play housewife to you in those terms, Black. – The smile on Black’s face got a little tight but - ¿What terms would make you accept then? – Severus couldn´t help but lowered his eyes for a fleeting moment just to stare at Sirius while saying – If you want me to playhouse with you, then you’ll have to take responsibility – At this, Sirius couldn´t help but raise his brows a little – Even if I am a no name half blood, my mother was a pureblood and raised me like so. Yes, I like men, I need money but you’re asking me to be your bride, you wish for me to lay with you. – Hearing Severus pronounce those words made something in him stir – But I am no whore, if you want me to be your bride and lay with you in a marital bed, you’ll have to marry me as I am a virgin, and I will not wait until you decide to make an honest man out of me. – Severus had a firm stare, but he couldn’t help the red blotches that appeared across his cheeks and ears when he said the last few lines.
Truly, Sirius just wanted to propose the deal to Severus for a few months and then make him fall in love with him to marry him for real. But it seems that Severus was a thorough traditional man through and through. Naturally, he won’t deny his request, he understands the need for a bride to be pure until marriage.
He was raised a pureblood after all. His mother had drilled it in his head, a man can do whatever he wants but his bride cannot do the same, society will respect a man either way, but their bride had to gain the respect for both of them, for the sake of their children. No one can have even the tiniest doubt about who sired their children.
Children, oh. Having his Severus this close made him look cuter. He was really into his big dark eyes and the way he was slightly biting his lips while waiting for his answer. He wondered if they had children how would they look? Notwithstanding all the things he said to James and Remus about his freedom and expectations for the future, he had indeed fantasized about convincing Severus to marry him and bear him children.
It was a nice picture to look at, a happy rounded bellied Severus, heavy with his child, trying to cook something for him and preparing to feed their eldest. Severus’s life full of him. Severus Black, it was delicious to just think about it.
- I apologize, I didn´t mean to offend you, oh, darling maiden. You’re right, what pretty house would it be if we are not married. I’m telling you, let us go to the Ministry of Magic and get rightfully and lawfully married.