The Alternate

Did he get away?

Hopefully he did.

Someone was following him, trailing after him and watching him – he could feel eyes following him what felt like every second of everyday ever since-

Severus took in a very deep breath, held it and then let it back out. Hands braced on the bathroom sink in the middle with his head cast down. Deep breaths, he reminded himself. Panicking now won’t fix anything. Losing his mind won’t help. So what can he do?

Nothing that’s what.

The raven’s hands clenched tightly against the ceramic bowl and he shut his eyes tight, fighting back against the sting he could feel his eyes, trying and failing to swallow back the lump forming in his throat. He could feel his skin flush. He can’t cry now. Crying now would be pointless and-

Merlin.

He’s such a stupid stupid idiot. He should have known it was a trap. He should have known that Black was lying about it when he convinced him that it would be safe enough. He shouldn’t have gone to the shack. He knew what was waiting for him and he went anyway and now-

Severus’ hands clenched tighter, nails now biting into his palms the same way he bit into his bottom lip trying to stop the sobs that were desperately trying to escape his throat.

He knew this would happen and he did it anyway. He knew that Dumbledore always protected his little pets, that they could do virtually anything and get away with it scot free but this… for him to be attacked by a werewolf and for the headmaster to not only do nothing in his defence but threaten to expel him as well? Threaten to take him away from the only refuge he had from his bastard father and swear him to silence.

Severus never would have imagined.

Oh but of course the cherry on top was how the utter bastard told him that he now owed Potter a life debt. Because Potter saved him so now Severus owes him. His life wouldn’t have been in danger if…

A shuddering breath in through his nose, it was hard. His nose was already stuffed up and leaking. He sniffed as he quickly walked over to open of the toilet stalls to grab some tissue and blow his nose.

He’s not going to cry. He won’t cry over those bastards, never again. None of them deserve it. Severus will not cry because he should have known. He should have expected it and known better but, its fine.

He tossed the paper into the toilet before grabbing some more, taking a deep breath. His lungs stuttered and somehow that feeling alone almost broke him, that throb of heartache almost opened the flood gates but he held strong because no more.

Screw Dumbledore. Screw Hogwarts and the marauders and all their brainless little followers they can all sod off and rot in hell. Its sixth year, he just needs to get through seventh. Just one more year. One more year and he’ll never have to deal with any of this ever again. And if Lucius comes through on his promises maybe… maybe someday he’ll have someone actually care for him. Maybe he’ll have someone in his corner who’ll fight for him, someone who’ll make it feel like all of this was worth it.

The dark lord was recruiting and Lucius promised that things would be different once he joined. Yes, he’s a half-blood but the Dark lord valued talent and intelligence above all else. He would be more than happy to have Severus join the fold.

Severus hesitated sometimes. Mostly because he knew of what would be expected of him if he did become a Death Eater but at this point, what other choice does he have. Dumbledore and the Marauders and everyone in this school have made it abundantly clear that the light would do nothing for him, that he would never be welcomed or receive any help whatsoever. So why not give himself over to the dark?

Dark magic is misunderstood anyway. There’s nothing evil or corrupt about it or at least, not the way that most people think. If he joins the dark lord he’d be able to further his studies in the arts. He’d be around people that understood his fascination and didn’t sneer down at him over it or – in Lily’s case – judge him over something they clearly don’t understand.

Yes, things would be better. Things are going to be better. All he needs to do is hold out until graduation and everything would be fine. Severus walked back to the sinks to open one of the faucets and splash some water on his face.

One deep breath, two, three, four.

More water and then he shut it grabbing the toilet paper from before to wipe his face and hands.

He’s fine. Everything is fine.

He looked up at the mirror and frowned at his own reflection. He hasn’t been sleeping well, nightmares about gleaming teeth and flashing eyes kept him up for most of the nights. On other nights he felt like someone was watching him but… that was a feeling he’d been struggling with since before the incident anyway. He’s been meaning to brew himself some dreamless sleep, maybe he should get around to that tonight.

He can slip into Slughorn’s stores, pinch what he needs from there. Normally, he’d go into the forest to look for some of the ingredients there but… with all the sounds of the forest, especially at night, he didn’t think he was ready to go in there just yet.

So he’ll sneak into the stores and get what he needs. He could ask Madame Pomfrey for some of the potion. Considering what happened he didn’t think it would be too hard getting her to give him some of what she had but… he couldn’t stand the pitying look he knew she’d give him if he explained why he needed it.

“I’m sure it’ll get better dear, the headmaster will take care of it.”

Isn’t that what she always said?

Severus scoffed. It sounded similar to what his mother used to say about his father. It’ll get better, it won’t happen again only for things to get worse as they happened over and over again.

No, enough, he’ll deal with this himself.

As for whoever is following him, if anyone is following him at all… he’ll-he’ll deal with that as well.

He didn’t think that it would be the Marauders. Surely the idiots would leave him alone long enough for things to cool off at least or maybe-

Maybe not. Clearly they can get away with murder, why would they allow their favourite victim to have even a moment’s peace?

Severus internally sighed.

He was in the library earlier trying to drown himself in his studies so he wouldn’t have to think about anything that’s been happening the past few days only to get that feeling, the feeling of eyes on him and after what happened-

Severus just couldn’t deal with that. He hurriedly grabbed his things and stuffed them into his bag before leaving the library as quickly as possible until he finally felt like those phantom eyes were off of him.

He needs rest, he needs sleep. He needs to get that potion finished and then just hide away in his bed for the rest of the night, maybe for the rest of the next day as well. He doubts any of the professors would note or care about his absence and even if they did, they probably wouldn’t do anything about it. Give him detention probably but Severus didn’t care, it would just be more of what he’s used to anyway.

He needs rest.

First things first, he needs to sneak into Slughorn’s stores. That’s easy enough, it wouldn’t be the first time Severus has pilfered the man’s supplies anyway. The Slytherin head of house was careless and so enthralled by his own hubris that he barely notices when something is amiss. It should be fine.

Severus was just reaching for his bag when the bathroom door opened. He looked up and froze when he saw Potter coming into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.

He froze for a split second. He hasn’t spoken or had to deal with the Marauders since the incident a few days ago. Severus was desperately hoping for a miracle in which they’d finally seen the error of their ways and finally decided to leave him alone.

Of course that wasn’t about to happen.

Instinctively he reached for his wand only for his heart to skip a beat when he realised that it wasn’t in his pocket the way it usually was.

Shit.

He must have stuffed it in his bag when he was shoving his things away earlier. His bag is on the floor, but depending on how far deep it is, he might not reach his wand in time for it to matter. Accio wouldn’t work either, not with his wand stuffed in between his things.

He should really practice his wandless magic more.

“Snape.” Potter said just as he shut the door, not like he was surprised to see the Slytherin, it was more of a greeting. Severus wouldn’t be surprised if he was in fact being watched and this twat is the one that was doing it.

“Potter.” He hissed out and the hazel eyed wizard stepped forward, Severus quickly reached down to grab his bag and stepped back, making sure there was at least a foot of space between them. The Gryffindor noticed, he stopped with a somewhat sheepish look came over his face.

“I… uh, how are you?”

How is he?

Severus didn’t answer his moronic question. In fact he was absolutely offended by it. How is he? How is he supposed to be after almost being fed to a werewolf?

He didn’t answer, he just glared hard.

“Right, stupid question.” Potter swallowed hard he took another step closer, Severus stepped back.

“What do you want Potter?”

“I wanted to talk about the other night and just… everything.”

“I don’t. Go away.” Severus hissed and to his utter annoyance Potter gave him this look. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, looking at the shorter raven the way you would look at some small child throwing a tantrum.

“No, we need to talk, Severus.”

He tensed. Potter has never ever uttered his first name. And then Severus felt fury begin to surge through his veins, after what happened, what gives this bastard the gall to even try to utter his name? His hands clenched tightly around his bag.

“Sod off.”

To his confusion, the prat actually cracked a smile before he quickly wiped the look away from his face. “Things can’t go on like this. You realise that you could have died the other night don’t you?”

“And who’s fault is that?!”

“It’s Padfoot, he shouldn’t be interfering I know alright, but that’s why I’m saying that we can’t go on like this. It needs to stop, before things get completely out of hand.” Another step forward, Severus back hit the wall and he almost missed the Gryffindor’s next words, “It’s been fun, you know.”

“It’s been fun?” Severus blood started to boil, “Fun for who?”

“But it needs to stop.” Potter said with a sigh, like Severus never said a word to begin with, “Sirius doesn’t get it and the other night I realised that its dangerous, so for both our sakes we need to stop.”

The conversation was…

It wasn’t making sense-

“Potter, what the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about us, this thing that we’ve been doing.” Potter reached out to brace his hand on the wall beside the Slytherin’s head and Severus had to fight back hard against the urge to flinch or move. Hazel eyes behind the frame of spectacles locked onto his own. “I know you fancy me.”

Severus is exceedingly intelligent, arguably one of the smartest students in their grade, possibly the entire school. He did his best to always challenge himself intellectually, always in the library finding some new book to read, working on new spells or tweaking potions in his text books to make them more potent and efficient.

So it was incredibly rare for any situation to leave him so completely flabbergasted, that his brain seemed to just completely refuse to process it and he was left unable to understand what was happening.

“What?”

“Look I get it.”

“You get what?”

“We’re both so different, you know. I’m me and you’re you so, I get it, you don’t want to admit it and that’s fine I won’t try to make you. But, I know you fancy me Snape. I’ve known for quite some time actually.”

Severus just stared at the Gryffindor. He was a master at hiding his emotions, considering all that he’s been through he’s had no choice but to develop that talent at a very young age. But right at that moment he was so dumbfounded he could do nothing as his expression twisted in hopeless incredulity.

“I’ve been playing along with your little game because; it was cute the way you’d follow us around being all weird and strange, just to try and get my attention. Really it was adorable.” Potter smiled, “And again, it’s been fun playing around and flirting with you-“

“Play… when was I flirting with you?”

“You know,” Potter’s smile turned into a smirk, “All the pranks and the duelling and arguments, spending all your time with Lily so you could try and spend some time with me.”

“What?”

“Really I enjoyed it, you’ve been adorable and I love that look you give me whenever you’re trying to look angry and upset.” Potter then put his other hand up on the other side of the raven’s head as he leaned in, “In another world, maybe we could have had something more but in this world it could never be. Severus I hope you understand that.”

Severus’ brain was still refusing to function.

“What?”

“I know it’s hard, it’s hard for me too, but for everyone’s sakes it would just be better if we stopped, alright?” Hazel eyes started to flit over him, “It’s a shame, really it is but it’s getting too dangerous. So this is goodbye Severus. I wish you all the best, I’m sure one day, you’ll find someone who’ll help you move on from this, but I… I can’t do it anymore. I just, I shouldn’t.”

Wait… hold on.

Severus brain was finally starting to kick in. Does Potter somehow think that Severus has feelings for him-

Well if that isn’t the most-

Severus glared, “Are you insane?! You can’t possibly believe that-“ Severus was cut off and his eyes went wide when the Gryffindor put his forefinger against the Slytherin’s lips and shushed him.

“Shh Severus no, I know it’s hard. But you need to accept that it’s over.”

He shoved the other’s hand away, “Accept that what is over?!-“

“You’re only hurting yourself at this point. You need to move on.”

Seeing the look on the other’s face he realised that the utter prat was actually serious in whatever delusion he thought this was.

“Oh dear sweet Circe, you’ve lost your mind.”

Potter shook his head and clicked his tongue, “It’s for the best.” And then he leaned in a bit more Severus instinctively squirmed back almost like he could move right through the wall if he tried hard enough-

“What’re you-“

“One first and final parting gift, with this Severus, I hope you’ll finally be able to move on.”

Potter was leaning in-

“What-“

And he sealed their lips in a kiss. Severus’ eyes went impossibly wide. Instinctively he dropped his bag and his hands went up to twist in the Hazel eyed wizard’s clothes to try and push him away but Potter had moved his hands from the wall to Severus’ waist, wrapping his arms around the Slytherin and turning his head to the side to accommodate his nose in the kiss. Severus has never been very athletic, he wasn’t exactly frail but Potter played quidditch. Despite everything even Severus could admit that he was quite strong and right at that moment that strength was being used to pull the shorter raven in as close as possible just as a tongue was forced through his lips in a rough kiss.

“Ngh!” Severus squeaked his knuckles going white as he tried to shove the other away. Potter moaned, Severus’ back hit the wall all over again and he could feel the Gryffindor’ move his leg in between Severus’, almost lifting the shorter raven off of the ground and grinding into him and – oh dear sweet Merlin, he’s hard?!

Severus turned and twisted his head just enough to latch onto the hazel eyed wizard’s lip biting down hard enough to draw blood.

“Ow!” Potter hissed as he pulled back a bit and Severus was breathing hard as he kept trying to shove the other away.

“Potter-“

“C’mon Sev, I thought I told you we needed to stop.” He said with his eyes somehow darkening with lust, a smirk spreading over his lips even as a single drop of blood dropped down to his chin, “You can’t keep trying to seduce me like this.”

“Seduce-ah.” Severus gasped quietly just as Potter gave one very rough grind and practically growled against his ear.

“Merlin, what I wouldn’t do to just sink into you right now. But I can’t, we can’t.” He took a deep breath and pulled back a bit to look into the raven’s eyes, “No more flirting. We stay away from each other and that’ll be the end of it.” He quickly leaned in to press one more kiss on the Slytherin’s lips before he pulled away completely.

Severus stayed plastered against the wall, breathing hard to try and catch his breath. Potter looked at him and let out this sound. This low groaning whining noise, like a low bellow from some ill creature before he looked away and started fixing his robes.

“No, no. I should go and you need to stay away from me.” He took in a deep breath. “Goodbye Severus, I’m sorry for this but, I hope one day you can be happy.”

Severus’ eye began to twitch and he couldn’t even glare at the other. He just gaped.

Potter turned around and left the bathroom. The moment the door shut behind him. Severus just tried to breathe, breathe as hard and fast as he could because what in the ever-loving fuck was that?!

Potter couldn’t possibly actually think-

The door suddenly opened again.

“Just one more.”

Severus squirmed back against the wall just as Potter put his hands on the sides of his face and gave him another deep kiss. He squeaked again this time managing to push the other away. Potter didn’t seem like he cared as he wore just the biggest grin on his face.

“Goodnight Severus.”

And then he left. Out the door and Severus waited in case the utter psychopath came back but he never did. He took the time to go through his bag to finally find his wand, once he did he made sure he had it in hand as he carefully crept out of the bathroom, looking every which way to make sure that Potter wasn’t anywhere nearby before he walked out and made his way to the dungeons as quickly as his feet would carry him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next few days were rough. If he was having trouble sleeping before then he was getting absolutely no sleep now.

He did eventually manage to brew some dreamless sleep. Though even that was a mission of its own as he was constantly checking around him and moving if he heard the slightest sound in case… whatever else happened this time happened.

Three days later he’d finally managed to brew his potion and he was finally finally able to get some rest. Thank Merlin for that much at least. As for everything else well, Severus didn’t know what to think.

For some mind-boggling reason, Potter thought that Severus fancied him. How the utter twit came to that conclusion is something that Severus would never understand but the sheer audacity of it all had Severus feeling even more wary around the Marauders than he was before. First they try to kill him and now Potter is… doing whatever the fuck it is that he was trying to do.

True to his word though, the Gryffindor chaser had been keeping his distance and staying away, him and his little mates but he would still catch them staring at him. Black usually gave him his usual look of hatred and disdain but these days Potter would sometimes… smile at him?

The sight was so utterly horrifying Severus would just look away and do everything in his power to ignore him if he couldn’t just leave whatever class or place where they were.

Three days later Severus was in the library with Lily. The girl insisted.

They hadn’t been talking much and she worried that his housemates were the reason he was avoiding her.

Was he avoiding her? Yes, but it had nothing with anyone in Slytherin house.

He just had absolutely no idea what to do. He wished that he could talk to her about everything. Tell her about what happened with Lupin and Black and Potter, but the headmaster would expel him if he even tried to speak out about the night he was almost murdered and as for Potter, well.

Even if he told her, he didn’t think that Lily would believe him. She never really seemed to believe him when he told her just how awful and terrible the Marauders were even when she was there to witness all of their humiliating and violent acts against him. She was quick to point out the faults of the students in his house though wasn’t she?

Severus internally sighed.

If he told her about what Potter did, Lily wouldn’t believe him. But in her defence, who would?

Who would believe that the great handsome charming pureblood James Potter had cornered him in a bathroom and kissed dirty ugly poor Snivellus of all people? No one would believe him, so what would be the point?

Yet another secret he has to bear because of the bloody marauders.

“Sev?”

Severus looked up at the girl beside her. Lily was frowning at him, her herbology text and notes seemingly forgotten as she looked at him in concern.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine.” He said quietly as he returned his gaze to his own homework.

“It’s just that, you’ve been off for days and I can’t help but feel like something is wrong.” She sighed, “Was it Potter and the others again?”

Severus’ hand clenched around his quill “What if it was Lily? What difference would it make telling you?”

“Sev I-“

“You do nothing but defend them just like everyone else in this bloody school, despite knowing about the things they do oh but of course you’re quick to complain about Mulciber and Rosier aren’t you? I suppose it only matters if someone outside of Slytherin is being hurt.”

Lily blinked and then her own hand clenched, “That’s not fair, you know what Mulciber is like-“

“And you know how the Marauders treat me.” He snapped before he stopped and took a deep breath, “I-I’m… I’m sorry for snapping at you. I don’t want to talk about Potter and his minions, so please don’t ask.”

“Severus-“

“Not today or ever, talking about it has never helped with anything.” He said as he flipped the page on the book before him, “I’m tired of wasting my time trying.” Severus looked over to the notes she was making, before he started back on his own homework. “There’s a text on Gilly weed over there on that shelf, fifth row from the bottom. It should help you with your essay.”

She looked at him, opened her mouth like she was going to say something before simply letting out a sigh as she got up from her seat.

“Fine.” She went over to the row not too far away.

Severus sighed in a pause. He’s been losing his patience with her more often these days though he tried not to. It’s not her fault after all, she isn’t the one making his life at school so difficult but sometimes it was hard. There was a voice, somewhere in the back of his head. A voice that whispered about how Potter and his brood probably wouldn’t even glance in his direction if it wasn’t for her. That if she was out of his life then the Marauders probably would be as well but-

No, it’s not her fault. Lily has been his best friend for years. She was kind and thoughtful and sweet, though some days he did get annoyed with her. Her black and white mentality and her almost self-righteous condemnation of those that were around him. What did she expect him to do? He’s a poor half-blood, he can’t go about acting out against the students in his house. He doesn’t need a bigger target on his back, not when he was already being condemned and ostracized by most of the students and teachers anyway.

He needed someplace of refuge, somewhere he wouldn’t constantly need to have his guard up and as long as he played nice with the students he shared a dorm with, he had that in Slytherin.

Sometimes he thought her to be too childish and naïve for words. They may live in the world of magic, but this isn’t some muggle fantasy where everyone is destined to live happily ever after in the end. Lily doesn’t understand it because she’s pretty and popular, with plenty of people around her who would rise to her defence whenever the need came up, she never really struggled with anything, she never had to.

Severus didn’t have that. Severus had to fight and scrape all on his own, when he finds a moment where someone is in fact willing to offer him genuine help. When someone like Malfoy or Mulciber or Rosier pays attention, someone in his position can’t just snub them. You scrape and claw and you grab onto whatever little sliver of hope you can and you never let go. There is no knight in shining armour waiting to save him, no, Severus has always had to save himself. He tried, tried very hard in fact, and most times he was unsuccessful. Lily didn’t understand that.

Lily had a family that loved her and cared for her. Friends and classmates that adored her and suitors even outside of Potter just lining up for her.

What did Severus have? A father that abused him and his mother, extended family that despised him, classmates and professors who’s best act of kindness would be to ignore him. That is of course, ignoring the bullies and tormentors that harmed him, a mother that tried but ultimately struggled and failed just as much as he did to protect him. What did he have? What did he have to help him ignore the offers from Malfoy and Mulciber?

Nothing.

So Severus won’t apologise.

No one is going to save him so he’ll just have to save himself. By any means necessary.

A pretty girl who’s cared for by her family and loved by everyone around her wouldn’t understand and Severus is starting to realise fairly quickly that maybe… maybe she never would.

Severus shook his head as he tried to focus on the next paragraph of text in his book, when a figure slid into the seat beside him. His first thought was Lily but her things are on his right not on his left.

“Afternoon Severus.”

He tensed tremendously. Slowly, very slowly Severus lifted his gaze to look up at the figure beside him through his hair only to completely freeze when the hair was brushed aside behind his ear by broom calloused hands.

Potter.

“What do you use for your hair?” The chaser asked with a frown, “Usually it looks sort of greasy but now it feels almost bone dry.”

Severus’ eyes darted around them and he shrank away from the Gryffindor beside him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.” Potter smiled, “Its been days and… I know, I know I said that we should stay away from each other and end it but…” He moved his chair closer and Severus’ eyes widened just a bit, “I can’t stop thinking about you.” A hand was placed on the back of his chair as the hazel eyed wizard leaned in, “I just keep remembering what you were like the other night in the bathroom and-“

“Stop it.” Severus hissed before the Gryffindor could make contact with him, pushing the other back, before he spoke clearly with the darkest glare in his eyes, “I don’t fancy you Potter.”

Potter scoffed, “Severus, there’s no use denying it now.”

“I’m not denying anything. I don’t know where you managed to get that ridiculous idea from but I don’t want anything to do with you.”

Potter shook his head, “Always playing hard to get.”

“I’m not playing anything.”

“Then why are you always flirting with me?”

“I have never-“

“Yes you do.” The Gryffindor said with a sigh, “Like that time after quidditch practice. You were waiting for me outside of the changing rooms just so we could talk.”

That time, when Avery asked Severus to meet him before Slytherin’s quidditch practice to ask him about his potions essay. Or more accurately to try and bribe the raven into doing his essay for him. Avery had of course forgotten to mention the fact that Gryffindor had practice before Slytherin on Wednesdays.

Severus glared, “I wasn’t waiting for you.”

Potter rolled his eyes, “Or last week in Transfiguration, you came in late just so you could sit next to me since Remus was sick and Peter wasn’t in class that day.”

Last week, he overslept and ended up arriving late for class. There were only two open spots left in McGonagall’s class since Lily was sitting with one of her other friends that day. His choices were either Potter or Black. If Severus had had the option he would have sat on the floor. But since the floor wasn’t an option he paused outside of the classroom to literally flip a coin.

He got heads.

He got Potter, unfortunately.

“I did not-“

“Or that other time, when our prank went wrong and you came to check on me in the hospital wing.”

The Gryffindor idiots set off some sort of itching bomb prank near the Slytherin common rooms. Apparently something went wrong and about ten students ended up getting caught in the blast including Potter and his morons. Severus went to the hospital wing purely because Evan asked him to bring him something from his trunk in their room. He hadn’t realised that Madame Pomfrey had finished treating most of the Slytherin students so only the Marauders were left to be treated. He missed Evan by about two minutes.

There were curtains drawn up around the beds, he played hospital bed roulette as he checked a random bed to see if Evan was there only to get Potter, just as he was waking up from a nap apparently and of course Potter is Potter so he ended up telling the Gryffindor chaser to drop dead before storming out of the infirmary.

“I wasn’t there for you.”

“Severus really, you can stop denying it now. I promise it doesn’t bother me in fact I’m actually quite flattered. Always following me around and trying to get my attention.” Potter smirked, “And you’re always staring at me with that look in your eyes, just begging me to take you right there and then.”

Severus almost gaped, “Pardon me?”

“So how often do you think about it? Every day or is it just every other night?” Potter asked, his tone filled with curiosity while his eyes slowly started to darken, “Do you touch yourself while you think about me? What do you think about?”

Severus glared “I have never-“

“I said it’s alright, don’t be shy.” Potter moved in a bit closer, “I’ve thought about it. Once I thought about taking you right here. I’d pin you down to the table and fuck you until you start screaming, just as Pince catches us and then I keep going anyway because you beg me not to stop.”

Severus’ eyes widened with horror and he instinctively flinched away from the table, only to jump when he felt Potter’s hand in his hair again. He smacked the chaser’s hand away.

“Stop it.”

Potter grabbed his wrist to pull him close as he whispered, “It’s O.K, you can tell me... What do you want me to do to you Severus?”

“What do I want you to do?” Severus glared hard, “I want you to-“

“Potter?!” Lily was finally back. Potter immediately let go of Severus’ wrist, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh just having a little chat with Snape, over here.” The chaser said with a charming smile that made Severus feel nauseous, “We’ve decided to bury the hatchet so, I was just stopping by for a chat.”

Lily was frowning as she walked around the table back to her previous seat. “Severus, are you alright?”

“He’s fine, right Snape.” Potter seemed to answer for him as he tapped his fingers on the table before he got up, “I should get going. We’ll finish our discussion later.” He then reached over to take Lily’s hand and pressed a kiss on it. “It was lovely as always seeing you miss Evans.”

Lily flushed even as she pulled her hand free from his and huffed and Severus just glared. Potter smirked as he stepped away from the table to leave.

“I’ll see you later Snape.”

They watched him go all the way out the door. And then-

“What was that all about?” The girl asked. Severus looked over to her and saw that the blush in her cheeks hadn’t faded as she brushed her hair behind her ear and he felt the most overwhelming sense of annoyance just wash over him.

“I need more references.” Was all he said as he got up from his chair and resisted the urge to stomp his way away from the table towards one of the shelves near the back.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He’d been doing everything in his power to avoid the marauders the rest of the week.

Though the past few times Potter had made sure he was alone when he cornered he Slytherin, in the following days he’s started to get bolder. Nodding in Severus’ direction in greeting between classes and actually trying to sit down next to him in classes. Whenever a professor or student asked him what he was doing he’d usually say the same thing.

“Snape and I have decided to bury the old hatchet. Make an effort at getting along you know.”

They’d always stare incredulously, Severus would glare at him before immediately looking for some other place to sit. It was utterly bizarre.

It was a week before Easter break when things finally came to a head.

Severus was alone, having decided to just sit in an abandoned classroom to read rather than the library since he knew that Potter would find him there and he didn’t want to deal with the Gryffindor’s baffling behaviour. He even decided to skip dinner, instead choosing to head to the kitchen to ask one of the elves to give him a sandwich before going down into the dungeons.

Down down as far away from the rest of the general population as he possibly could, he sat in an abandoned classroom at the furthest corner of the dungeons. It was rumoured to be one of Salazar’s personal Dark Arts classes. It had alabaster marble floors with windows that led to the great lake that somehow illuminated the room in this soft blue light. If you look through the windows you could see the squib moving about in the dark waters. Sometimes, on very rare occasions the mermaids would come close to the glass, seemingly drawn in by the torches that Severus would have lit up sometimes. Though most of the time they didn’t seem to notice and he’d be treated to that eery haunting singing while their silhouettes moved in the distance. It wasn’t used purely because it was too small to accommodate a class of students. Apparently the Slytherin founder would choose a selection of students from the school to take his Advanced Dark Arts class, apparently Merlin himself had been one of them.

What a time that must have been.

Severus found the classroom years ago, the first time he was bullied and ran down to the dungeons trying to find some place where he could just be alone. He never told anyone about it. It was his private sanctuary. A space that even Slughorn only knew of and had never seen himself. He never tried to brew in here purely because there was little to no ventilation and potions fumes could be dangerous.

Yes, if he wanted to get away from the Marauders then this would be the perfect spot.

He used a cleaning spell to get rid of the dust off of the desk at the front. It’s been quite a while since he’s felt so distressed that he’s felt the need to come down here.

The mermaids started singing again, their echoes softly bouncing off of the walls while Severus settled into the dragon hide chair behind the desk, curling up and opening up one of his books to read beneath the light coming in through the window. It was all so relaxing, all so calm that he was able to forget about everything for a brief moment-

“Wow.”

Severus’ head snapped up and his eyes went wide when he saw that the door was open and Potter was standing in the doorway.

“What-“

“That’s just incredible.” Severus blinked and looked back at the direction where the Gryffindor was looking only to almost jump when he realised that a mermaid was at the window just beside the desk where he was sitting, apparently watching him as he read from his book. Its head gave a tilt just as Severus looked back at it, hands pressing against the glass, long blonde curls floating in the water while stark white eyes watched his every movement.

Usually, as long as he sat still then they would remain still as well.

“Do they always do that here?” Potter said as he stepped forward. Almost like it could hear his footsteps the mermaid’s head snapped up before it quickly swam away and disappeared in the waters dark depths.

Severus let out a heavy sigh before he looked back at Potter who was pouting as he stared at the glass.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

“You’ve been avoiding me.” Potter said as he walked over to the window and frowned at the glass.

The raven let out a sigh of exasperation through his nose before he got up from his seat and quickly pulled out his wand, “How did you find me?”

Potter gave the window one more hard look before he turned to face the other, “That doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t-“

“I wanted to see you.” And then the utter twit had the nerve to smirk as he leaned against the desk, “We never finished our conversation from the other day.”

“I don’t like you.” Severus said clearly, “I don’t know where you got that ridiculous idea from but I do not nor will I ever have any sort of romantic feelings for you whatsoever.”

“Severus,” He rolled his eyes, “I’m not going to argue with you over this because clearly you’re never going to admit it and that’s alright.”

“Do you have a hearing impediment or something?! I do not fancy you! In fact I want nothing to do with-”

“Expelliarmus.”

A wandless spell, Severus’ eyes went wide when the wand left his hand and hit the opposite wall with a clatter. Dark dark eyes almost bulged right out of their sockets when Potter was suddenly upon him, backing him up against the desk so the wooden edge was digging into his lower back.

“I know, I said we should stop-“

“Stop what?!”

“-but I can’t stop thinking about you Severus. It’s like, I close my eyes and you’re always just there and since we kissed all I can think about is all the other things I want to do to you and I know you want it too. So I was thinking that maybe we could and we’ll just… keep this between us.”

The implication of what Potter was asking clicked surprisingly quickly for Severus and surprisingly enough his first thought wasn’t “Get away from me you psychotic bastard I want nothing to do with you.”

Instead it was-

“What about Lily?”

Potter shrugged, “She doesn’t have to know.”

“No, I’m asking what your intentions are for her if you’re doing this with me.”

“Like I said, she doesn’t have to know.” Potter lifted a hand to brush the hair away from the side of his face, “In a different world Severus, I’d take you for my bride. But in this world, I am heir Potter. My parents wouldn’t care too much about you being a half-blood, the only issue is bearing a child you see. If you were a bearer, it would all be quite simple but that’s unlikely. The last known bearer came from the Prince line and they haven’t produced another one in generations. Plus the last heir was disowned, no one’s seen her in years.”

Severus tensed tremendously, his hands clenched against the edge of the desk behind him. Luckily Potter didn’t seem to notice.

“Under these circumstances you’d need to take potions to bear my children but…” The hazel eyed wizard sighed and shook his head, “Potter traditions and all that, the first child born from the heir needs to come about through natural conception. No potions or spells.” And then he sighed, “I’m sorry Severus, really I am. But as things stand Lily is the only future I have.”

Severus took in a deep breath wondering exactly what he’d need to do in order to end this madness.

There was a hand on his chin lifting it up to force the Slytherin to look at the Gryffindor, “But we can still have some fun, before graduation.”

Severus glared, “No.”

“Sev-“

“Don’t call me that, stop touching me and just-“ He lifted his hands to push the Gryffindor chaser away, he only managed to get him back a few inches. “JUST STOP!”

“Severus.”

“No, I-“

Before he could finish his sentence Potter grabbed him again and locked their lips in a bruising kiss. Severus’ hands went up to his robes to hold on tight and try to push the other away but he found himself unable to. The hazel eyed wizard lifted him up onto the desk and moved in right between his legs, Severus’ eyes went wide until-

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”

The kiss broke, Severus was breathing hard, his hands still clenched in Potter’s robes when he looked up and his heart dropped right into his stomach.

“Black…”

Oh how did things get so much worse?!

Sirius Black stood in the door, looking murderous as he glared at them. Clenched hands quickly turning white, his entire frame was tense and his eyes had darkened to a point where even Severus had never seen them.

“Uh… Padfoot.”

“What are you doing James?” His voice was unnervingly quiet.

Potter gave an awkward chuckle, “I was… I was just-“ And then he sighed as he let the Slytherin in his grasp go and turned to fully face his friend, he dragged a hand through his hair and let out a chuckle, “I guess you caught us.”

“Caught you?” Black hissed and Severus stared at the bespectacled wizard with similar incredulity. Those darkened stormy grey eyes went from Severus to Potter, “What do you mean caught you? Has this happened before?!”

“Yeah, actually.”

Severus blinked, “No it hasn-“

“Been meaning to tell you for a while mate, you see, I-“ He stepped closer to his friend, “We’ve been doing this thing for a while now.”

“This thing?”

“Nothing physical just a bit of flirting and playing about you know.”

“Flirting?!” Black sounded scandalised, “You’ve been flirting with him? You’ve been flirting with Severus Snape?!”

“Pads-“

“My Severus?!”

If Severus was in his right mind, he would pause and ask “What?” At that question. Unfortunately he was not in his right mind. At that moment all Severus could think about was getting his wand, getting his things and getting away from whatever the hell this is supposed to be.

For the moment, Potter was somehow more coherent.

“Your Severus? What do you mean your Severus?!”

“I mean my Severus as in mine you fucking prick!” Black said as he stepped right into James’ space and put a hand on his chest to shove him back, “Who gave you the bloody right to touch him huh?”

Alright so that caught his attention.

Severus had just gotten off of the desk and accio’d his wand. He stopped though at the sheer madness of hearing Sirius bloody Black say that Severus was his.

“Yours? Since when?!” Potter asked and Black’s glare darkened.

“Since forever James! We’re under contract! We’re supposed to get married!”

Silence. Severus just gaped.

Potter blinked and then looked over to the Slytherin, “Severus… you’re engaged?”

The raven sputtered for a moment before he almost screeched, “I AM NOT!”

“You’re not?”

“He doesn’t know!” Black said in exasperation, “No one besides the heads of the families know. The contracts were signed before either of us was even born.”

“Well how do you know?” Potter asked with a frown and Black rolled his eyes.

“My dad told me.”

“Your dad?”

“My father was supposed to marry his mother, but since she married a muggle instead; he and I are supposed to get married to fulfil the contract.”

Severus felt like he was going insane, “What?!”

“My father is Orion Black.” Black said as he stepped closer to Severus looking him right in the eye and the raven could do nothing more than stand still, “Your mother is Eileen Prince, they were under contract until your mother ran off and married a muggle. You and I are supposed to marry now.”

Severus’ eyes went impossibly wide.

“Your mother is Eileen Prince?!” It was Potter’s turn to screech as he stared at Severus with wide eyes.

Severus’ eyes darted over to the hazel eyed wizard before he swallowed hard and used up all the composure he could muster to glare at Black.

“You’re lying.”

Black’s eyes flickered down to the wand now in Severus hand before he suddenly pulled out his own. Severus flinched, lifting his hand and aiming his wand at Black’s chest. To his surprise the Gryffindor grabbed hold of that hand and kept it exactly where it was, with Severus’ wand pressing into his chest.

“My wand.” He held it up in front of the raven’s face, “Is made of black oak, the tree was tangled into another tree, a white oak. When my father got me my wand he bought another one made from the white oak and had it sent away as a gift. To my bride, to the future mistress of house Black.”

“I-“

“You never went to Olivander’s for your wand, did you Severus?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“With your father being as poor as he is, where did you think the brand-new wand your mother gave you came from?”

Severus tried to pull away, but couldn’t. “It was hers.”

“No it wasn’t. She was a Prince, she would have had a family wand.”

“Then I stole it, Black.” Severus sneered and darkened stormy grey eyes narrowed into a glare.

“Did you ever see the letters Severus? The letters my father sent to your mother? They were carried by a pitch-black eagle owl. I used to catch him sending those letters. I didn’t know who they were going to until he told me about you in second year.”

Severus could almost feel the blood drain from his face as he remembered that owl. The owl that made Tobias snap.

“I didn’t-“

“Yes you did.” He growled, “You know I was fine with Rosier, because I figured he was just a phase and he didn’t matter, not really anyway-“

“What are you-“

“But James, Severus? My best friend?” His hand tightened around Severus’ and his glare darkened even more, “Remus was bad enough, but at least you weren’t fucking him.”

“I am not fucking Potter!” He felt enraged by the mere implication, “Your idiotic friend refuses to leave me alone even though I told him that I want nothing to do with him.”

Black frowned and looked back at said friend who seemed to be watching he entire scene with wide shocked eyes. he looked back at the raven in his grasp, it was quiet for five whole seconds before-

“I believe you.”

Severus blinked, “What?”

“But that just means I should have done this sooner, doesn’t it?”

“What’re-“

“Stupefy!”

He dropped.

“What the fuck were you doing James?!”

That’s the last thing Severus heard before he quickly lost consciousness, he felt his body drop. Felt someone catch him and he could smell the scent of cologne and cigarettes almost start to overwhelm him as everything around him went black.