A proper life

“It seems, Mr. Black, that your father’s birth name was Finnlay Rowle, after his eleven birthday he was removed from his family inheritance line. Soon after, we’ve got records from the Ministry that he had legally changed his name in the muggle world, a formal registry was officially made by the Reedham Orphanage in Richmond, London. The only reason for this is that your father was likely a squib, and the Rowle Family made him disappeared for it. It was a merciful act.”

Severus couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of his father being a squib. Since the moment he heard it, everything started spinning and then he was being held by his husband. He went through the last motions needed to set his account, get Lady Black to give him and his husband and allowance, and lastly sent a notice to both the Rowle and the Prince Family.

He was led mechanically by his husband to their room. He almost didn’t register how his husband went through the pleasantries of sending off his mother. He was brought back to reality after the drop on his stomach that signaled him an apparition. He was breathing long and hard trying to suppress something, everything.

But he could only hold until he was in his bed, in his husband’s arms. Safe.

Severus’s eyes were like faucets. He couldn’t stop crying and he didn’t even know the reason why.

Sirius was whispering sweet nothings in his ear while rubbing small circles on his back and he only ventured to ask what was wrong with him until he went from a full-brown hurt cry to soft breathy hiccups.

- My mother met my father on a club, here in London. She was looking for new adventures and she met my father instead. She said she fell in love with him, came looking for him many times before deciding to let him bed her. He married her after. He had a weird sense of honorability.

Later, she told him she was a witch, and my father was averse to her, to her magic. He couldn’t stand her and then she was disappointed, but they were married, and I couldn’t understand why, but they wouldn’t leave each other no matter what. They were chained to that marriage in weird sense of honor and engagement. I could understand my mother, she was a pureblood witch and she always talk to me about how she was raised, but my father I couldn’t understand.

He never mentioned parents or being an orphan at all. Although, he was disgusted by mom and her magic, sometimes even to my own magic, he never left. Not mother, not me. He never cheated, he sired no other children and he just stayed with us, disgusted as he was.

And now, my mind cannot stop thinking about how his memories should have been erased to forget his family, his name. But they couldn’t erase his upbringing, or else he wouldn’t be a functional child when left alone on the streets, he would have been mentally incapacitated if they just take everything that made him who he was.

So, I can only imagine that they put a compulsion spell to make him hate magic, be disgusted, and get away as soon as it was mentioned. But then, my father ended up on an orphanage where religion was involved, now magic was not only disgusting but demonic and he had to share his home with two demons, one he had married and the other he had sired. His upbringing, as unconscious as it was, wouldn’t let him leave or deny me. And we were condemned to live such a miserable life.

My father wouldn’t let my mother get an income from potions because it was demonic. He couldn’t get a good job because he was only taught a little in the orphanage and there was no money to further education. I had to live through poverty and a cold war, no warm love between my parents as it ended up being corrupted.

Then, I went to Slytherin, and everyone looked down on me and wanted to trample me just because I was a lowly half-blood with a muggle name, and then my mother was a crazy a muddleheaded woman for dishonoring herself like that.

Then, money ran thinner at home and then everything I owned became second-hand, third-hand, four-hand. I couldn’t get enough money to eat during summers so I couldn’t fill out as I should while I grew taller and you and your gang, and the rest of Hogwarts took advantage of me.

How different would my life have been, if only I have been a Rowle all this time?
Wouldn’t I have been respected, at most ridiculed because father was a squib but squib or not, they would have had to respect me, because the very same blood that does run in my veins. Blood is nothing”

By the time he finished, he had his hand covering his face, the tears were rolling down his cheeks again and Sirius’s heart was broken.

He knew that he fucked Severus up that he couldn’t bring himself to ask for forgiveness. He just wanted to atone sins by loving his husband the rest of his life and he made him know so.

“I know it was hard and the only comfort I can offer is the promise of a future. Once the Rowle and Prince families are notified and my mother sorts that out, you’ll be recognized as Black née Rowle-Prince. Everyone will need to respect that and bow to your proper station, and our children will never know what it is to be scorned because of their blood. You will lack nothing, neither love nor money nor respect.

My mother loves you and that’s mind-blowing for me, but she does. You’ll be the revered son-in-law of the Black Family and then, you’ll become Lord Consort Black in due time. Mother to the next and only heir of my family. Everything that is mine or will become mine, is yours. Everything. I cannot change what I have done, I can just give you a better future, the future that you deserve.”

Sirius’s eyes were blazing with confidence. Severus couldn’t help but believe him.

They embraced each other and soothed their mood until falling asleep.

Walburga came home and asked Kreacher to serve a bottle of champagne for dinner. She wanted to dance and laugh and cry because everything was perfect once again. She was so happy that Kreacher made her favorite dessert without anyone asking him to.

She barged in his husband’s office, getting just an eyebrow raised in response. She brought with her the papers that he needed to sign to reinstate Sirius as their heir and when he asked why, she only said that because he had come back to the right path.

Orion Black had learned to trust his wife many years ago. He signed quickly and demanded more details, but she was tightlipped. She wanted to make the announcement at dinner. He was not a young boy anymore, and dinner would come soon enough. He was amazed by the happy dance his wife allowed herself after he finished signing. She didn’t even wait before asking Kreacher to send copies to their family lawyer and Gringotts. It would be official by tomorrow morning. Everything was saved. Once she finished the talks with the Rowles and Princes to set what they would give transfer to Severus as dowry, she will start to iron the details of Regulus’s engagement.

Soon, she dragged her husband to the dinner table and Regulus was curious at her mother happiness, a happiness she hasn’t allowed herself since Sirius’s left home.

The dinner went through smoothly and she became impatient.

- Regulus, I have great news for you today – Her smile was sunny while she uttered those words.

- What’s happening mother? – big, rounded eyes looked at her.

- I am happy to announce that as of tonight, your brother has been reinstated as the Black Heir – she said proudly.
Regulus was gobsmacked. He was grateful he had put down his glass because he was sure he would have dropped it at the news.
- Now, Burga, would be a good time to explain why – his father said softly.
- I am the bearer of good news it seems. Sirius, has decided to fulfill his duties as the heir of the family and his first one fulfilled, was marrying a bride of excellent standing.
His father that was drinking down some whiskey couldn’t help but choke.

- He’s married? To whom? – He had never witnessed before his father widening his eyes in such an undignified manner.

- To one of your friends – She said looking him in the eye – Severus.

It was Regulus’ turn to spluttered. Severus? There was no fucking way his friend married his brother, there was no fucking way that his mother was okay with him being his brother’s bride.

- Mother, are you aware of Severus’ surname? – he asked tentatively.

- Of course, how would it be possible that I don´t know my own son-in-law’s name – her smile turns to a smirk – Today, we went officially to Gringotts to settle things with his family. Afterall the children married hastily and there was no negotiation between our families.

- What was the name of our new son-in-law? – His father asked.

- Oh, I didn´t really tell you dear. Severus Black née Rowle-Prince. He is definitely a paragon of our pureblood values. I’ve gotten the records of his purity check, and the witnesses were envious he was marrying our son instead of theirs.

Walburga couldn't contain her bliss, she laughed openly and then dissolved into giggles under her son shocked face and her husband’s indulgent eyes.