Who?
The sound of a teacup breaking shook their peaceful reunion in the sitting room. The peaceful landscape of Potter Manor was abruptly disturbed.
- Tilly, another of our cheapest China! – the tantrum voice shouted to the air.
- Mom, what is it? – James jump in to try to calm his mother.
- You! – she shouted while taking the cup out of the elf’s hands.
Euphemia Potter was a temperamental woman. She didn’t hesitate to throw the teacup directly to her son.
James dodged while giving a little jump to avoid the shards of glass.
- Me? What did I even do? – he shouted.
- Yeah, what did he do? – Fleamont asked suspiciously at his wife tantrum.
Lady Potter approached menacingly and poke her manicured finger into James’ forehead.
- You! You went there and decided to fund that Lily’s career and then made me lose face by not marrying her!
You went after her like a lost child and not the proud son of House Potter and then… - she wanted to keep ranting, but Fleamont approached from behind and embraced her to calm her.
- Mom, I get you are upset but you already knew all of this, why are you bringing it up now? – he said softly for fear of being hit.
- You want to know why? I just came from the monthly Tea Reunion in Lady Parkinson’s Manor just to be mocked by that witch Walburga! – He could see how his mother was seething so he decided to make himself smaller.
- Walburga? – Lord Potter intervened – Hasn’t she stopped going to those a year ago? I remember you were extremely giddy about it.
- Humm – she rumbled – That she did after Sirius’ didn’t go back to her house and stayed with us for the summer, but now she’s back and I don’t know how she knows about Lily, but she pulled that card today and humiliate me in front of the ladies.
- Dear, don’t get so flustered up, you know she’s only riling you up because we received Sirius last summer and she hasn’t established an heir to House Black since Sirius escaped and – He was cut off by Euphemia’s enraged shout.
- No heir? You think she has no heir? She has established Sirius back as their Heir! She was gloating about how her perfect son is the only Heir of House Black, and how well he had married and …. –
- He did what? – James shrieked with all his might.
- I don’t know how it is possible but Sirius, as unstable as he looked, managed to marry a pureblood of good standing after he left Hogwarts and now, he is back to being the heir –
- Mom, but! – James couldn’t continue because his lips were shut up by a spell his mother knew just to well.
- You’ll let me finish or so help me James Potter I’m going to strike a contract with the first wixen that appears good enough for me to safe some face after this stunt you pulled up.
James was frozen in his place, his mind flooding with the fact that Sirius had married, his best friend got married and he didn’t invite him. He was full of astonishment, hurt and a strong feeling of sadness when the real question popped up in his mind. Who? Who did Sirius marry?
- He was perfectly put and after Hogwarts contracted marriage with a child of the Rowle family, a perfect little pureblood to be proud of while my child, the child I raised with my bare hands, was running after an undecisive mudblood that could talk the talk but not walk the walk – Euphemia’s voice went up a few octaves, but her husband was still as perceptive as always.
- Wixen? Child? Was it not a woman? – he asked intrigued.
- That unruly child has gone and married a born male carrier, Walburga said his son in law was Severus.
Severus?! As in Severus Snape?! He wanted to shout and ask his mother to stop the prank, the hell would freeze if it was real. How could Severus be a male carrier?
That’s not even important, how the hell did those two got married? It was not possible, they were enemies, they were fire and ice, oil and water, there was no way. No way.
James was fighting so fiercely to speak, to complain and shout at the top of his lungs that he ignored completely the side effects of the spell his mother seemed to prefer. The more you tried to talk the more an invisible force would constrict his throat and cut his air supply.
Euphemia and Fleamont saw speechless how his son turned blue and fell down unconscious.
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Walburga had an airy step while she got to her manor. Life was just so beautiful. She had been waiting for this moment when she could come back at the bothersome Lady Potter, trying to steal her child from under her nose and making snide comments about Sirius’ departure for everyone to see her jokes.
Now, she had resolved efficiently her problems. Sirius was back at home, he brought home a beautiful perfect consort and now she was waiting for her first grandchild.
There, at the top of the stairs, was an angel waiting. Severus.
- Severus, oh dear, what are you doing there? – She shouted hurriedly – It is so dangerous to be going down the stairs, where is Sirius?
- I’m right here! – the cheerful tone of her son’s voice was accompanied by her son-in-law’s scoff.
- Oh, dear, husband of mine, please accept this offering of peace – her dramatic son said while putting a plate with petit camembert and green cold grapes in front of Severus.
Severus frown softened and a sweet smile spread through his countenance.
- I forgive you – he said while taking a grape.
- What happened? – she asked Severus.
- Your son took more than fifteen minutes to get me the food I was craving – he said as if Sirius had just put on fire the Buckingham Palace.
- Sirius, how can you be so slow? I’ve told you; you’ve put a baby in Severus, it is your duty and your pleasure to go and get Severus what he needs.
At Walburga’s words, Severus flashed a pleased grin to Sirius, and he seemed to deflate like a kicked puppy.
- I’m sorry dear, I’ll be quicker next time – he said putting his puppy eyes to work.
- Ah, you are already forgiven honey, just do not repeat it – Severus said not really paying attention and focusing on eating the cheese.
Severus was already two months along with his baby, he wasn’t showing yet, but he had cravings every few days. He was tired and sleepy most of the time, his baby taking his energy to grow. He was not having morning sickness, but he did have bouts of nauseousness and dizziness. He was absolutely forbidden from using the stairs alone and he was being pampered as if he was a treasure.
Maybe it was because of all the pampering or the baby itself, but Severus has mellowed his speech. He was calling Sirius honey and love and babe and dear. Sirius was losing it and now he had even started to copy his puppy eyes to ask for things he wanted.
Now, there was no limit for his basic needs, and every luxury he wanted, Sirius was eager to get it just to make him happy.