Porcelain King

~Snape Estate~

“What does Royal Advisor Dumbledore want?” Severus demands after bursting into the bathroom, having just heard of the invitation that had come for Lily.

Quickly Marlene puts a towel in front of Lily, shooting her a disgusted look just at the sight of her husband.

Grateful for her Lady’s maid, Lily takes it, shuffling behind the divider to be dressed with Marlene’s help.

“I do not know, Milord.”

“It is my family that had a relationship with the Royal Advisor for ages.” His voice brimming with unearned pride.

“That is true.” Lily agrees, rolling her eyes, glad to be hidden away from view.

“You are no one.” He says it like it is an insult to him, to be picked after his own wife, trying to put her down a peg.

“I am no one.” Lily just agrees, knowing it is easier to just play along, trying to keep her frustration bottled up.

“So why should he want to see you?” He asks like she had to have done something to have caused this.

“I do not know! I don’t know what is going on in Sir Dumbledores head, nor what he plans.” Noticing her voice grow agitated, she takes a deep breath.

“Dearest.” She tries not to mind Marlene’s scowl at the words as she ties her corset.

“I am sure it is only because of you and your reputation that he would want to meet with me. I promise to tell you every single detail upon my return. How is that?”

“I suppose that will do.”

He still doesn’t sound too pleased, but there is not much for either of them to do about that.

It is however enough to get him to leave, finally letting both women speak freely again.

“Do you really not know?” Marlene asks, intrigued, while tying the last ribbons on her dress and directing her over to the vanity in order to get started on her hair.

“No, I really do not. I mean I did meet the new King, but I don’t know what it is Dumbledore would want from me. But I will tell you about it.”

Adding with a wink and a mischievous smile, “And not the version Snivels will get to hear.”

__

“Please, elaborate on your meeting with King Regulus.” Dumbledore begins, only seconds after Lily had taken her seat in his ornately decorated office.

“I am… not sure I understand.” Lily replies with feigned tranquility but acutely aware of his secretary noting down every word.

Dumbledore’s icy blue eyes, fixated on her.

“You met with His Majesty.” He says calmly.

“I did.”

“I am asking you to elaborate.”

“We had tea.”

“You had tea?” His left eyebrow rising in scepticism.

“Yes.”

“And?”

Lily knows exactly what he wants of course, but she won’t be made to spill secrets this easily.

“I met his puppy.” She instead says, lightly.

“Puppy?”

“Yes. He has a Pomeranian.”

“What did you speak to His Majesty about?” He keeps going, not rushing but with clarity of someone who knows exactly how to get information out of someone.

“Does it signify what two nobles speak about over tea?” She chuckles lightly, trying not to show her nerves. “Tea is often about gowns and flower arrangements, about
embroidery and the social season gossip. If we are bold, about the latest musical compositions.” Smiling up at Dumbledore with false innocence.

“Lily.” He stands up, slowly striding through the room. “I know what tea is generally about. What was this tea about, girl?” He looks down at her, his stare intense, like he is trying to read her mind.

“This tea?” Lily says, still trying to keep her face neutral, her eyes big.

“You are being purposefully obtrusive Lily. And I will not have it.” His voice not growing louder or more agitated but emphasising his last sentence, making clear that she won’t get away with playing dumb.

So she changes her strategy. Dropping the facade of innocence that works on most men.

She stares him directly in the eyes, not wavering as she says,

“Lady Snape.”

“Excuse me?” Dumbledore asks.

Lily smiling smugly at his momentary confusion.

“Lady Snape. That is my title, Sir. The one were kind enough to bestow upon me and my husbands family. Lady Lily Snape.”

“And I do remember one thing about this tea. It was when I realised that our new King does not yet know about the significance of this union for many other people in this country. Including you, as I have heard in rumours. I am sure a lot of people would like to hear about this at one of the next teas.”

At her words, Dumbledore just gives his secretary a nod, making him stop writing and scurrying out of the room.

He squints his eyes at her, with more respect than before, a hint of fear in his eyes.

“I of course do not know what you are implying, but even if I would, I do not think it would be of anyones interest in this age.”

“Well, we both know that is not true. We are on our way there and I will let you now I am very pleased about that. But many others still would judge, would close off business and social opportunities. As a personal friend to the new King, I have many possibilities to put force behind all kinds go rumours. That could damage a lot of peoples reputations. Especially a married man’s as you are yourself. I am sure you would want to spare your wife and children the embarrassment, spare your daughters the damage to their marriage opportunities.”

“You surprise me.” Dumbledore says through a thin smile. “I alway thought you were a quiet one.”

“I am not quiet.” She holds her head high. “It is simply that my husband is loud.”

“Ah.”

Lily waits. Both of them studying each other. After a second, Dumbledore sits back down.

“Lady Snape. I need to know what is going on at the Kings’ house. I need a trusted ear. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“Well, then.” He smiles at her, like he finally got what he wanted.

“Traditionally, when a title is bestowed, it comes with income and land. An estate. Without those things, a title is simply that, a title. We all have need, Sir.”

“You want money.”

“Hm. I do. For my husband, but also for myself. I want to be able to pay my maids better, without having to ask my husband about it.”

“You are asking for rather a lot. A woman having her own money. Me having a hand in hiding it from her husband…”

“You said you need to know what happens at the Kings’ House. I assume that is so you can have control over the situation, as I know you have your hand in a lot of this countries goings on. Is that not a fact?”

“Careful, Lady Snape.” He warns.

“I am merely pointing out, you need an ear at King Regulus’ side. I need more independence and for my husband to be happy and busy with a new estate. We can be grateful to one another.”

For a few seconds, Lily thinks she has pushed too far. The man in front of her pierces her with his stare. But then he nods, giving her a satisfied smile.

__

Regulus does notice something different.

For one, Remus seems more busy, not trying to start a conversation with him, running around, clearly nervous about something.

Also, the servants dressing him for dinner are clearly putting in more effort than normal. Putting perfume on him, putting light blush on him and styling his hair so the curls fall perfectly.

The garment presented to him, is elegant. It is a beautiful dark green, decorated with frills and silver accents.

When Remus enters back into the dressing room, he hears him whisper to someone waiting on the other side of the door.

“Wait here. I will ask him.”

Regulus looks up at him, waiting for an explanation, not able to catch a glimpse of the person who apparently wants something from him.

“Regulus. There is someone here to talk to you.” Remus, clearly nervous, fidgets with his hands, not meeting his eyes.

“Well, who is it? Is it Lily?” Regulus asks with some hope. It couldn’t be a lot of other people and he did really enjoy talking to her. He wouldn’t mind having her over for dinner. She had been good company, someone he though he might be able to trust. Maybe if he send out the servants again, Remus would sit down with them.
But it isn’t Lily.

“It is… Sirius.” Quickly adding after “James’ Butler.”

Regulus’ blood goes cold.

What does he want? Why show up all of a sudden? He hadn’t wanted to talk before, so why now?

He should send him away. He doesn’t want to see him. But also… he does want to see him. Has wanted to see him for years now.

He wants to give back the pain he has caused him. He wants to ask why he left without keeping his promise. Why he abandoned him. What had made him hate him so much.

So he looks Remus in the eye, hoping his voice sounds more steady than he sounds.

“Send him in.”

Remus just nods, with big eyes, turning to open the door again.

Sirius looks pale, like he doesn’t want to be here. But he enters, standing by the door.

“Leave us.” Regulus orders. And they do, Remus being the last, giving Sirius a strange look.

“I will be just outside if you need me.” He adds into the room before sliding out and closing the door. Regulus isn’t sure if he meant it for him or Sirius.

As the door closed with a klick, Regulus kept silent. He wouldn’t speak first, so much was clear. He just stared at Sirius, waiting.

It was the first time he had actually the time to look at his brother in five years. Before, he had only seen him in passing, both of them avoiding the others gaze.

He looked older. He had always had sharp features, but it had lost the rest of its baby fat. He had been just a kid when he left after all.
Now there was a shadow of a beard, clean shaven but the ability to grow one was visible.
He also looked much healthier. Shortly before he left, Sirius was always looking very pale, eyes sunken in, dark circles around them.

But now, he looked healthy.

He looked in good shape, like there was nothing he was nothing in the world was missing from his life. His skin still pale but not sickly, not strained but with a rosy shade to it.
His hair was longer. Longer than their mother would have ever allowed. It went down to his shoulders and was flowing down in dark glossy curls.
But his eyes were the same. The same ones that were looking at him while telling him jokes to cheer him up or who looked up defiantly at their mother when he took a punishment.

The same ones that told him he will leave. And promised he will write, that he will get him as soon as he has the money to take care of him.

The same ones that lie.

„Hello Re-“ stopping himself. Clearly not happy about what he knows he is supposed to call him.

„Hello.“ he says instead.

„Hello Sirius. What is the reason you asked to see me?“ Regulus‘ voice deliberately neutral, formal.

It has the intended effect. Sirius openly scowls at the way he talks. But he answers anyway.

„I wanted to talk to you. I - uhm won’t stay long. But I feel there is need for us to talk about what to do.“

„What to do?“ Regulus raises an eyebrow. 'What the hell was he getting at?'

„Yes. About James. I haven’t told him about our past. Well, he knows I have a brother. But I never told him your name. Never told him he married my brother. And I think it is better to leave it like that. For all of our sakes.“

Regulus snorts, coldly. So that’s what it was about. He didn’t want to be associated with his brother, didn’t want him to destroy the good situation he has going for him. He had gotten away from their family after all. Gotten away from him.

He clearly didn’t want him to take James away, as if there was even a change of James choosing him over Sirius. James clearly didn’t want anything to do with him anyway. Why now come to him about it?

But Regulus wouldn’t let him get away this easily. He would find away to take revenge on him. Let him feel the way he had felt. If it wasn’t through James, he would find another way. But for now, he decided to let him think he was safe.

„I agree. There is no need to tell him.“ still staring at him, his face a mask of neutrality.

„Was there anything else you wanted?“

Sirius‘ eyes widened in surprise. He had never been good at hiding his emotions.

„Oh, well, good then. I - no there is nothing else. Unless there is something you would like to discuss?“ Sirius‘ gaze clearly searching for more of a reaction from Regulus but not finding one.

„No. That is all. You are dismissed.“

The look of disgust that blooms on Sirius‘ face from being dismissed by his younger brother like the servant he is now, gives Regulus a spark of satisfaction.

It reminds him again that their positions have changed. A lot. He can make his life a living hell. And he doesn’t have to get in between him and for that. He can just use every opportunity he has to make clear that he is beneath him now. That he has all the power. He is the King, and Sirius is nothing.

He will never be able to hurt him again but Regulus can treat him as he pleases.

So as Sirius wordlessly turns to leave, he doesn’t stop his mouth from growing into a smirk.

„I think you forgot something.“

Sirius turns around, looking at him in confusion.

„That is no way to leave when dismissed by your King.“

„What? You can’t be serious.“ The stare of disbelief Sirius gives him is everything Regulus wanted and more. But he keeps going.

„No, of course not. You are Sirius. A servant. So bow!“ he commands.

It is clear how utterly revolted Sirius is by the thought of bowing to his younger brother.

But after a second of tests grinding, he does it. Very stiffly, he bows, not looking up as he says it.

„Thank you, Your Majesty.“

Regulus has the urge to laugh, could roll around on the floor, cackling about how stupid his brother looked. How he had really made him bow. He wouldn’t have thought it possible. That he would rather die than do this. And his eyes certainly look like he would like to kill for what Regulus made him do.

But he just leaves and Regulus lets him.

Starting to chuckle as soon as the door falls shut. Still grinning, when Remus enters shortly after.

„Are you alright?“ he asks, looking at him warily.

„More than alright! I am amazing! Let us go to dinner.“