The Date

When he woke the next morning, Snape was gone.

That was… well. It was slightly unnerving knowing that the Slytherin had been the first one between them, to regain consciousness and then be able to leave the rented room without him knowing but honestly-

What was he expecting?

Was he actually expecting Snape to not immediately leave when he realised who he was sharing a room with? No not really, but Sirius hadn’t really been expecting anything. He didn’t think his actions through the night before so he had no idea what he was expecting to happen the next morning.

In a way he was relieved. Snape spared them both the discomfort of dealing with each other after what happened the night before. On the other hand, he was a little miffed. Of course the greasy git would take advantage of his momentary act of kindness and hospitality and then take off in the dead of night, or morning rather or whatever.

But there’s no use in worrying or even thinking about Snape now. He has other issues to deal with. Namely what to do next.

After all, he’s still disowned. He still has nowhere to go home to and the twenty-five galleons he still has on him will only get him so far. So what does he do?

He went through his previous check-list from the night before.

Cousin Andromeda? No, she really is dealing with so much already having been disowned herself. Sirius didn’t want to become a burden on her.

James? No, he still isn’t ready to see his best friend yet.

Then… uncle Alphard.

Hopefully Walburga hasn’t gotten to him yet.

Sirius got up and went to get ready. He took a quick shower but didn’t bother changing his clothes. His uncle wasn’t at the party last night, he hated those formal affairs and usually just sent his apologies with some sort of gift in leu of his presence.

He went downstairs and forked over yet another ten galleons for a port key. Apparently, Sirius managed to fly all the way to some muggle area called Cokesworth. He had no idea where that was or how far away it was from uncle Alphard’s house, so he got the port key to get him as close as possible so he could fly the rest of the way there.

He left the inn. Sirius still felt off. He didn’t feel himself, he couldn’t-

Merlin.

He went too far.

He shouldn’t have said what he said to his mother the night before. Even the Potters, with their infinite patience and understanding natures, would be horrified if they found out about what he said to his mother and in front of company no less.

Maybe he coul-

No. He’s not going back. Sirius won’t apologise because he doesn’t regret what he said, just how he said it. He won’t apologise… he can’t.

The animagus took in a deep breath to calm himself down only to frown at the awful stench in the air. Looking around he couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but judging from the shabby dilapidated buildings around him, the cracked streets and sidewalks and the trash littered here and there he’s in a rather poor area. If he hadn’t been disowned, his mother would probably be horrified to know that he was hanging around a place like that.

He almost let out a snort at the thought, before he just took another deep breath and kept walking. He was looking for a place where he could safely use the port key, since the innkeeper decided to be completely unreasonable and refused to let him use it there.

As he walked, he vaguely realised that he recognised his surroundings. Now much different with the morning sun rising up into the sky, but he recognised the street as the one he walked along with Snape the night before. He remembers bracing his arm on that light pole over there because Snape kept struggling and he needed a moment to pause. He remembers looking over to that trash can over there when a cat suddenly let out an earbursting screech… and then the alley.

Sirius paused at the entrance of the alleyway. He half expected to see Snape senior still lying on the ground passed out, but there was nothing there. Merlin, he lost it last night. He lost it at someone he doesn’t even know but…

He was hurting Snape. Even if it’s just Snivellus, it would have been wrong to just turn around and walk away right? Of course, it would. He did Snape a favour. If he didn’t want to stand up to his father then it’s alright because Sirius did so for him. He should be grateful. The old man is probably fine anyway.

The Gryffindor swallowed hard when he remembered a flash of Snape senior’s face, bloodied and bruised. He was so still it was obvious that he’d lost consciousness but Sirius kept going.

Shit.

No no no.

He’s probably fine… right?

Just then he looked up at the sound of sweeping.

A man was standing outside of a building nearby, sweeping the ground just outside of the green door that had a sign that read Spinner’s Pub just above it with faded red paint.

Snape’s dad was pissed last night, that’s probably where he went drinking.

Without even thinking about it, Sirius walked over to the man.

“Good morning.” He said with as charming a smile as he could manage at the time. The man didn’t even bother looking up as he kept sweeping.

“We open at five.”

“Oh… no I’m not looking for a drink.” Sirius started, “I’m looking for someone.”

“Never heard of ‘em.”

Sirius let out a scoff, “I haven’t even said who I’m looking for.” He gave another smile.

The man stopped to look up at him and frowned, looking the wizard up and down before they suddenly narrowed in a glare.

“I ain’t ever heard of ‘em. Now piss off.”

Sirius blinked. Never before has he encountered someone who encountered his smile and didn’t immediately fold to give him whatever he wanted. No one except for Snape of course.

The man was glaring hard.

Blimey, is everyone around here like this? Prongs would be miserable here.

Sirius let out a sigh, realising that charm didn’t work around here.

“Look, I’m looking for… Severus Snape. Have you heard of him?”

The man’s eyes narrowed even more and he stood up straight, hands tightening around the broom.

“No. Even if I did, why should I tell you?”

“He…” Sirius swallowed, “We go to the same school.”

The man’s head tilted up, “That boarding school in Scotland?”

Boarding school? Well, he is a muggle.

“Yeah. I just wanted to check on him, that’s all.”

“What for?”

Sirius tried to think of any excuse he could think of but couldn’t-

The night before came back to him.

“I heard… about his mother. I just wanted to check on him.”

Did that even happen recently? Sirius had no idea.

The man looked him up and down one more time and seemed to make some sort of decision. “So you’ve heard. You’re a friend from school?”

Not exactly. Sirius almost cringed.

“It’s an awful thing, to lose your mum so young. And with Tobias being the way he is.” He shook his head.

Tobias?

“Snape’s live at the very edge of Spinners End.” The man said pointing in the direction of a street over to the left, “Grey house, old, you won’t miss it.”

“Uh, thanks.”

“It’s nice to know Severus has good friends.” The man gave him a slight smile, “He’s a good lad. Smarter than most of the fools around here.” He chuckled and then shook his head, “It’s not fair that life’s so hard on him.”

Sirius hesitated, “R-Right.”

“When you see him, you tell him my offer still stands. The name’s Charlie, by the way.”

“Oh, uhm… mine’s Sirius.”

“Sirius?” He blinked, “Odd name.”

Sirius almost tensed.

“Then again, suppose the same goes for Severus.” He turned around and then just went back to sweeping. Sirius took that as his cue to leave.

He shouldn’t go looking for Snape. He should find a safe place to use the portkey and go see uncle Alphard.

Sirius looked over in the direction of where the man was pointing before. He doesn’t even really have a reason to go looking for Snape anyway. His father is probably fine… right? There’s no way he actually hurt the man too badly, right?

He remembers Snape senior’s face again and immediately turned to follow Charlie’s directions.

He just wants to make sure.

Sirius followed the old man’s directions and made it to the house at the end of Spinners End quickly enough. He almost thought he’d gotten it wrong as he approached the old grey house at the end of the street. It was nothing like how he thought Snape’s house would look.

Though if he’s being honest, he didn’t know what he thought Snape’s house would look like. He never had a reason to think about it.

Yes, it was known around the school that Snape was a halfblood and yes, anyone with eyes could tell that the Slytherin didn’t have much money. If his oversized robes weren’t enough of a clue then his books and stationary were a definite giveaway. But he never expected this.

The houses on the street weren’t mansions or anything of the sort but they at least looked a bit better than Snape’s house.

It looked like it could barely stand, like a strong enough breeze could just lift it up and carry it away. The house was grey, but not like it was painted that way. Sky blue paint had faded and chipped away under what looked like years of wear and tear. Sirius could see multiple shingles missing from the roof from where he stood on the sidewalk just outside of the steel fence surrounding the house. That is of course ignoring how the left side of the roof looked about ready to cave in on itself. Big windows, which may have looked quite pretty if they weren’t covered in that light layer of dust. The dust might not have looked so obvious if not for the yellowing of the glass panes surrounded by heavily chipped white framing.

A cracked stone path led up to rickety wood stairs and up to a door that had somehow managed to retain some of the blue that was lost by the rest of the house. It had a rusty looking door handle and a silver bell.

This isn’t what he was expecting.

Sirius swallowed hard and steeled his nerves together to open up the gate on the steel fence. It squeaked open so loudly Sirius half expected Snape to come running out wand aimed at his face with some kind of curse on his tongue. So much so that he stopped once the gate was open and waited.

Nothing happened. So, he pushed on with his moment of hopefully temporary insanity and walked up the path. As he made his way to the front door, he felt the phantom touch of wards. Something that was used to keep the house protected. Powerful wards. They’d have to be for Sirius to be able to feel them even in their absence.

Snape’s mother is a witch… was a witch. She must have made them before she-

Sirius forced that thought to the back of his head. The wood creaked under his shoes as he stepped on the steps, sounding a bit close to cracking honestly.

He stopped at the door and just stared for a moment. There’s a good chance no one is home.

Just then he heard some sort of noise on the inside. It sounded like plates clinking together. Dishes? Footsteps

So someone is home.

One more deep breath, he reached up to ring the silver bell only to notice the little ball on the inside was missing so he just knocked instead.

Whoever was moving about on the other side seemed to pause. It was quiet for five seconds. Sirius knocked again, louder this time.

Footsteps rushed to the door a voice quietly hissed, “Who is it?”

Snape.

He couldn’t answer. Merlin knows Snape wouldn’t open the door if he did. He just knocked again, even louder than before.

“Go away!” Another irritated hiss. Sirius’ eyes narrowed down and he knocked yet again, this time the hinges were clinking with how hard he did.

There was another growl as Snape seemed to fiddle with the door before it unlocked and he pulled it open, just enough to see who was on the other side.

“What do yo-“ Dark eyes went wide at the sight of him, Sirius couldn’t help but smirk at that. “Black.”

“Morning Snape.”

“How-how did you find this place?” The raven stuttered out and Sirius shrugged.

“I have my ways.”

Snape instantly went from shocked to completely pissed as he pulled back to slam the door shut. Sirius moved forward to grab hold of the door before he could.

“Not so fast Snivy.”

“Piss off!” Snape hissed still trying to shut the door while Sirius kept it open. He leaned into the chipped panel to look down at the raven.

“Is that really the way to talk to someone that helped you? Not very polite of you is it.”

“Go away.” Snape’s glare somehow got darker, his lips had pulled back in a snarl and Sirius would have scoffed were it not for the bruising on the raven’s face. Soon to heal, especially with the help of the inn keeper last night but Snape was so impossibly pale you could see the marks clear as day. The blue around his left eye, the cut on his bottom lip. Sirius felt a very unfamiliar feeling of something go through him right at that moment and he almost lost his grip on the door. He held fast and the words tumbled from his lips.

“Are you alright?”

Snape blinked, “What?”

“I…” He swallowed, “After last night.” He could feel Snape tense right through the door, “You were hurt pretty badly, I just-“

Snape looked away, his hair covering his face as he spoke, “What do you care?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t ask.” Sirius snapped back before he paused to collect himself. How does this stupid prat manage to piss him off even at a moment like this? “I saw what happened with… with your father. You know I did, I just-“

“Wanted to come and mock me for it?”

“What… No that’s not-“

“What you had nothing to amuse you for the summer holidays so you decided to come and drag me into whatever sick games you’ve decided you want to play?” Snape is looking at him now, glaring hatefully as his hands clenched on the door, “Of course, Snivellus is so worthless why not try to humiliate him away from school. Did you have a good laugh with your mates Black? Laugh about how Snivy’s father beats him when he’s drunk?”

Sirius flinched but still managed to hold onto the door, “No.”

“No? Then what, you’re here to get a repeat performance, beat me yourself this time. Or did you come here to finish the job, make sure you kill my father this time?” Snape stood back from the door. Sirius almost stumbled inside as Snape held the door open and stood at his full height. Still about a head and a half shorter than him but with the glare in his eyes it didn’t really seem to matter. Snape seemed to swallow hard, his lips pursed. That cut on the bottom wrinkling before relaxing again, the bruise around his eye fully on display as he looked up right into Sirius’ eyes.

The words however, had Sirius letting go of the door as well.

“I wasn’t trying to kill him. But he looked about ready to kill you! I was doing you a favour, Snape. I could have just walked away-“

“Then why didn’t you?! I didn’t ask for your help and I bloody well didn’t need it.”

“Oh bullshit! That’s a boldfaced lie and we both know it. That bastard was-”

“My father is none of your concern.” Snape practically spat, “I know it’s hard for a heartless bastard for you to understand, but you can’t just kill anyone you want just because you feel like it! Just because your family gets off on murdering and torturing muggles doesn’t mean you get to come here and flaunt your sick demented privilege-“

Sirius’ eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare as his hands clenched, “Shut up.”

“Dumbledore isn’t here, I can say whatever I want!” Snape hissed, “Leave. You have no business being here. If you ever come near me or my father again, I swear to Salazar-”

Sirius’ hands clenched, “Oh please, what are you going to do if I don’-“

“Severus?”

A voice croaked out, bringing the argument to an immediate halt.

Snape froze for a split second and his head snapped back, eyes going wide as his whole form tensed tremendously. Sirius looked up, a few meters away, at the archway leading to what he assumed would be the rest of the house was a middle-aged man. Dark hair, large stocky build, he had a bit of an oddly shaped nose-

Sirius swallowed hard when he realised that he was looking at Snape’s father. The man looked ill. His skin was pale and sweaty, he was leaning his weight into the wall with one arm braced on it. He squinted at the two wizards standing across the room.

A flash went by Sirius’ eyes just then, the image of a bloodied face, still and unmoving. He might have flinched back a bit were it not for the fact that Snape senior looked like he was completely healed, like the night before never happened. But Sirius is pretty sure he broke that nose. He remembers both hearing and feeling the bones crack beneath his fist even through the rage.

But now… bloody hell, he looks better than Snape right now.

“Severu-“ He took a step forward only for his legs to seemingly give out underneath him and he fell to the ground. Without a second thought Snape rushed to his side.

“Father.” His voice was filled with concern as he crouched down beside the man, an arm going around his broad shoulders as far as it would go and putting a hand to his chest to try and help him up. “Father, are you-“

“I’m fine, stop fussing, you spineless boy,” the older man hissed harshly, he seemed to be ready to force his son away only to stop and frown when he looked at him, “What… what happened to your face?”

Snape quickly looked away, “Nothing-“

“Don’t nothing me. I-“ His eyes widened a fraction as some sort of realisation dawned in them, “Did I-“

“Nothing happened. I’m fine.” Snape hissed when his father grasped a hold of his chin and forced the wizard to look at him. His frown returned,

“Severus-“ And then he stopped, as though he could feel the eyes watching them from across the room piercing blue eyes snapped up to find and then lock onto Sirius’ own. “Who’s this?”

Snape looked up at Sirius and the hand on the older man’s shoulders seemed to clench reflexively before he spoke, “It’s no one.”

“No one?”

“They’re about to leave.” He said pointedly looking at the Gryffindor. Said Gryffindor stared back at him. He should have left, the moment he realised that Snape senior was fine he should have gone but he didn’t. One moment, he felt frozen as he watched Snape rush to his father side and then…

Then he’s not sure how he felt.

It’s different, seeing Snape like this. Speaking so softly and seemingly trying to be so careful. And with someone that hurt him so badly mere hours before, it felt unreal. He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but the sight made his anger subside for just a moment and he stood almost… transfixed at the scene.

But now both of the Snapes were looking at him. He cleared his throat. He should leave but-

He felt his jaw clench at the sight of the older man for reasons that he can’t even begin to explain.

“Sirius Black, sir.” He said and the man just stared back at him. Snape looked close to screaming at him. “I’m Sn-Severus’ schoolmate.”

First Snape senior frowned at his name and then…

Then something filled his eyes, shock first and then oddly, revulsion. Pure seething disgust as his lips pulled back in a near snarl. Sirius noticed how Snape seemed to have paled even more than normal, how he looked like he was holding his breath.

What-

“Schoolmate. So, you’re from that school. Hogwarts?” He said the name like it tasted particularly foul on the tip of his tongue. Sirius frowned, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Severus.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“You’re not welcome here.” The older man said and Sirius noticed the way his arm went up and curled around Snape’s waist, pulling him in tightly against his side and causing the raven to jump in what looked like surprise and pain. “I don’t want your kind in my house. Get out.”

“My kind-“

“I said get out!” He suddenly shoved Snape back and then stumbled up to his feet, looking ready to try and lunge at the teen despite his ill state and still glaring hard.

Sirius glared, like hell if he’s going to listen to this guy.

“Or what?” He growled as he stepped into the house, “What are you going to do if I don’t, old man?!”

“I-“ then he stopped and frowned, his eyes narrowed down at Sirius before suddenly going wide, “I know you… last night… I saw you last night! You were.” He stopped and then froze for a split second, glancing back at Snape who was still on the ground. Snape senior swallowed hard, before just looking back to Sirius and glaring. “Get out! Get out this instant!”

“No, I-“

“Leave!” Snape suddenly screamed. His voice rising to a similar pitch to last night. Panicked and desperate as he got up to his feet and stepped up in front of his father. “You have no business being here now go.”

He was standing at his full height again, but this time there was an odd sort of desperation in his tone, it was almost pleading. He looked stressed and scared and Sirius could almost see him tremble.

“Snape-“

“Go, leave right now.”

“You heard him now get out! Get out and don’t come back!” The older man bellowed, but somehow Sirius wasn’t bothered by it. He stepped back, but not because of Snape’s father; because of Snape. The way he pulled his lip into his mouth. The way his hands clenched.

The way his eyes gleamed with tears before he quickly looked away.

“Fine.” He was out of the house again, but he didn’t turn away almost waiting for the Slytherin to just look at him again.

“GO AWAY! DON’T COME NEAR MY SON AGAIN!”

Sirius’ eyes snapped up to look at the man and he sneered.

“I’ll see you later, Severus.”

The raven looked up, blinked in shock.

“No you fucking won’t-“

The man was raging as he rushed, stumbling for the door. Sirius just turned around and walked away, that last image stuck in his mind. Snape’s face slightly flushed, tears in his eyes, his lips parted slightly in a gape. The door slammed shut behind him before there was more shouting and screaming.

He was tempted to go back but-

He should leave.

He should leave right now.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Uncle Alphard lived on the one estate that Orion, and therefore Walburga, had no access to. It was yet another townhouse on the edge of London, right in the middle of a muggle area. With all of these properties in muggle areas, one would assume that house Black would be more tolerant of their non-magical counterparts than what they actually are.

His uncle looked surprised for about four seconds when Sirius showed up at the gate just outside of the wards, but ultimately just shook his head with a sigh and let the young man in.

Apparently, word spread fast and Walburga made sure that every member of the family and all associates were made aware of his disownment and knew to turn him away should he show up at their doorstep. Fortunately, his uncle has never liked Walburga and agreed to let Sirius stay with him for as long as he wanted. There’s a small cottage in the ridiculously large garden out back. Alphard made sure to tell Sirius that he could take up that space if he wanted a little privacy. Growing young man and all that.

Sirius was grateful to have a place to live and at least one family member that hadn’t cut him off yet. Uncle Alphard left him alone in one of the guest rooms so he could get comfortable and Sirius decided to use that time getting his head on straight. He took a shower and changed his clothes, with Snape taking up residence in his mind the whole entire time as he did these things. He still didn’t know what to make of the situation. He knew that he didn’t really have the right to have any sort of opinion on the matter at all, considering his relationship with Snape.

But thinking about Snape somehow seemed better than thinking about his own situation so he just focused on his favourite greasy haired git. The same git who seemed so… protective of his father. The same father that clearly hurt and abused him. The drunk that treated him so roughly.

Sirius didn’t understand it.

Why didn’t Snape hate the man? He should, right? Sirius still remembers all the awful things Snape senior said in his drunken stupor the night before. He remembers the way the man attacked his own son and yet-

The night before, Snape stopped him from… going too far. This morning when the old man collapsed Snape rushed to his side, tried to help him up. He tried to hide his injuries and the fact that his father is the one that put them there.

Sirius didn’t get it.

His thoughts were filled with nothing and no one other than Snape for what felt like hours, before one of the house elves came in to call him down for lunch. Which is great since he was starving and didn’t get the chance to eat breakfast.

He found uncle Alphard already sitting at the dining room table. He offered the teen a smile as the elves levitated the food into the room and set them on the table. Sirius’ stomach growled loudly at the smells that drifted throughout the room and Alphard laughed grey, eyes gleaming as he smiled. It’s been a while since he’s seen his uncle, maybe that’s why it looks so strange to see his trimmed beard peppered with white hair while his short-cropped hair with similar grey hairs speckles through it.

Sometimes he forgets, uncle Alphard was meant to take the position as head of house Black. He stepped aside since he had no desire to burden himself with the weight of succession. Supposedly, his father – Sirius’ grandfather – didn’t mind to much. Alphard was supposedly a bit too disobedient to lead house Black.

Maybe that’s why they get along so well.

“Hungry?” He asked and Sirius rolled his eyes.

“Starving, I haven’t eaten anything since last… since last night.”

Alphard nodded, “I never asked where you spent the night.”

“I found an inn.” Sirius said shortly, “It was in a muggle area but the man running it was a halfblood, he’s the one that sold me the portkey.”

“Right… we might as well eat up.” The older man said already reaching for the nearest dish to start filling his plate, “I’m a bit peckish myself if I’m being honest.”

It was a hot lunch, lamb stew with vegetables and freshly baked bread, a few salads that Sirius ignored in favour of baked potatoes covered in some sort of cheese. His goblet of juice kept refilling itself the same way it did with Uncle Alphard’s wine glass.

Sirius gave a pout as he spoke with a mouth full of potatoes, “Why can’t I have any of that?”

The older man gave him a dull look, “You’re underage.”

“Why does that suddenly matter? You let me drink all the time.”

“Only because I knew it would annoy my sister in-law, but if you’re actually going to live here full time, I need to at least attempt to be more responsible with you.” Alphard said as he reached for his glass, “Neither of us would be in this mess if you learned to control that temper.”

Sirius swallowed, “How much did they tell you?”

“Enough to know you went too far.” He said shortly, “I’m sure you know that as well.”

Sirius said nothing as he looked down at his plate and kept eating.

“Do you plan on apologising?”

“Apologies mean nothing to that harpy-“

“Sirius.” Alphard interrupted and Sirius sighed.

“She won’t care. You know she won’t, it would be pointless so why bother?”

“Because she’s your mother-“

“Uncle Alphard-“

“Regardless of whether or not she accepts your apology, you should at the very least try.”

“Everything I said was true anyway! You know it, they all know it. But I have to apologise because I actually had the nerve to say it?!” Sirius growled in frustration, “I didn’t actually do anything wrong-“

“You went too far.” Alphard said clearly as he set his glass down to look at the teen, “And you did so, in front of the family associates. You pushed her to a point where she had no choice but to disown you. I mean really Sirius what…” He paused to take a deep breath, “I know Walburga is difficult, Merlin knows Walburga Black is a raging bitch of a harpy-“

“Thank you-“

“But that does not mean that you get to behave the way you did last night, let me make that very clear.” He let out a sigh, “You’ve been disowned, Sirius. The family has cut you off. The only reason I’m even able to have you here right now is because Orion doesn’t have access to this estate or my vault and I… I know you well enough, to know that you know better. So I’m going to ask, what were you thinking?”

Sirius set his fork down, “Nothing.”

“Were you drinking?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I just… she’s so-“ Sirius cut himself off as he struggled to find the words, “She was there with the Malfoys crowing about the Dark Lord and how wonderful things will be once the magical world has a proper leader and how mudbloods and their stain on society will be a thing of the past – even though she knows the Dark Lord is a halfblood. Everyone knows he’s a halfblood! All I did was point that out! And she berated me for telling the truth! She said that she wished she’d aborted me so she wouldn’t be stuck with me as an heir-“

“So you said, ‘if you’re so eager for a Dark Lord of your own, why don’t you go spread your legs for a muggle like the power hungry whore you are’.”

The words coming out of someone else’s mouth, made him flinch and he instantly shrunk back into his seat. His hands went down to clench on his lap as he stared down at his plate. Uncle Alphard sighed again as he picked up his glass and took a sip.

“That was uncalled for… though I suppose, I shouldn’t be surprised. What Walburga said was wrong as well. You two never seem to know how to behave when you’re around each other, I almost want to blame Orion. He should have brought a stop to this madness a long time ago. But there’s nothing to be done about it now.” Alphard took a gulp from his glass and then another deep breath. “You should still apologise, or at least attempt to-“

“But-“

“She is your mother. I believe she spent eight hours in labour bringing you into this world, you owe her at least an attempt at reconciliation.” He looked over to Sirius and found the teen glaring at his plate and shook his head, “Family is important, Sirius. You can’t just turn your back on them and move on with your life-“

“Why not? That’s what they’re doing with me.”

“But you’ve never been like them, have you?”

Sirius looked up at the man with a frown, “So you’re saying I should just put up with it? You know it’ll only get worse-“

“I’m not telling you to put up with it. Even if Walburga forgives you and reinstates you as heir, you can still come back and live here with me. Regardless of what happens, I think some separation is best for everyone involved here. She’s your mother. They are your family, if you don’t sort this out now this madness will follow you for the rest of your life.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can-“

“Then I won’t.”

Alphard sighed, “You know, you could stand to learn just a little bit of humility.”

“Why? So she can treat me like shit all over again later?”

“This isn’t just about Walburga, Sirius. What about your father? Have you even thought about your brother? How is Regulus supposed to deal with this disownment? You know what happened to Andromeda, how heartbroken she is since she hasn’t been allowed to see Bella or Narcissa? Is that what you want? To have no one in the family on your side.”

“I have you, don’t I?”

“You’re missing the point.” Alphard took in a deep breath and let it back out, “Sometimes in life, you need to swallow your pride and make sacrifices for the people you love. Walburga may be awful, but you love her, don’t you?”

Sirius’ lips pursed, “I don’t think this is what love looks like.”

“Love can look like many different things.” Alphard said as he leaned back in his chair, “It doesn’t need to be pretty and sweet for it to be real. Sometimes it can be poisonous, the type of feeling that drives you mad and almost kills you, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t love.”

A flash from the night before came back to him. When he watched as Snape’s father insulted him and called him names, just before he hit his own son. That morning, when Snape still seemed so protective of someone that hurt him so badly.

“Even if it’s wrong?”

“Wrong for who?” Alphard asked with a scoff, “It’s easy to judge others in situations like these. When you’re on the outside looking in nothing ever seems right, but when you’re in that situation; when you feel emotions as strong and deep as that it doesn’t have to be right. It doesn’t need to make sense. For a lot of people, when you love someone, you’ll put up with anything so you can stay with them.”

Sirius’ lips pursed together tightly and his eyebrows furrowed together. Alphard shook his head, “But I’m not asking you to put up with it, Sirius. Bonds as ugly and intense as those shouldn’t be entertained and love isn’t enough to maintain them anyway.”

“It’s not enough?”

“Of course not, you need to feel safe with them as well, accepted. Secure in the knowledge that this is what’s best for you.”

Sirius’ brows released as he continued to stare at his plate and his hands unclenched. Snape’s eyes were gleaming with tears before he left.

“You shouldn’t put up with it.”

“I just want you to make an effort to make things better with Walburga. If she insists on behaving like a harpy, then you can walk away but you need to try. If for no one else then try for Regulus, make sure he knows he still has his big brother; no matter what.”

Sirius blinked, “Right, Regulus.”

“But you don’t have to do any of that yet. You can take your time, get some rest.” Alphard said with a smile, “I noticed you brought your broom, you know there’s a patch of woods not far from here. The muggles that live around here are somewhat oblivious, you can go flying if you like.”

“I… yeah.” He nodded and gave the older man a strained smiled.

“But that’s after lunch. Do you fancy joining me for evening tea later, Flopsie’s been making treacle tart all day?”

“Sure, but I might go flying later. I might not make it back for dinner, is that-“

“Its fine, Sirius.” Alphard said warmly and Sirius nodded again as he started eating.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He knocked three times on the dirty window. Snape’s head snapped up and his eyes went wide at the sight of him, Sirius just smirked.

Why is he here? Because uncle Alphard’s words struck a chord in him, it clicked. It was a strange thought, almost otherworldly. The idea that Snivellus – that Snape loved anyone, let alone loved them so much that he would just put up with the sort of treatment that his father was giving him.

He needed to be sure and then-

And then what?

Honestly, Sirius hasn’t thought it out that far.

As usual, Snape’s eyes narrowed into a glare. Sirius couldn’t help but scoff at that familiar hostility seemingly radiating right though the house.

“Let me in, Snape.” He called out and the Slytherin stood right where he was.

“Piss off!”

“Let me in, or I’ll break all the windows and then; I’ll break down the door.” He said with a smirk, “This thing is barely hanging on as is, so let me in.”

Snape stood still.

“You know I’ll do it.”

Snape stared back at him, his hands clenched and he seemed to look back at something before he made a decision and rushed over to the door. Sirius scoffed as he walked over to the door just as it opened.

Snape stood in the doorway and glared hard, “Piss off.”

Sirius just rolled his eyes as he pushed the other back and let himself inside. They were in the kitchen. It didn’t look much better than the rest of the house. Clean, yes. But there were years worth of stubborn stains on the cream and blue vinyl floors, some of the tiles were cracked and lifted off the ground here and there. The chairs at the table all looked the same, though they light green pain was chipped in many places just like the kitchen table. The harsh lighting from the light up on the ceiling didn’t really make the wood of the cupboards look much better. It actually made the peeling varnish on the wood that much more obvious.

The sink looked decent, the steel was bright and almost glaring in the harsh lighting of the room and the fridge in the corner hummed loudly in the otherwise silent room. He’s never been in a muggle style kitchen but it didn’t look that different from home. There were a few appliances he recognised. A white electric kettle, a toaster and one of those things. A microwave, the food warmer thing. He remembers Marlene telling him about making popcorn with her sisters whenever they watched muggle pictures – movies during the holidays. Maybe Snape has some popcorn. He should have a television too right-

“What the hell do you want?!”

He turned to face the other who was fuming at him only to pause.

It wasn’t clear when he was looking through the yellowed window and he didn’t notice when he forced his way inside but… there were marks on Snape’s face. Marks that couldn’t have come from the incident the night before.

No these were too fresh.

An angry swell beneath his right eye, a cut above his left brow and a scrape on his chin and across his nose.

“What happened to your face?”

Snape tensed but didn’t respond to the question.

“You have no business being here, Black. Get out and don’t come back.”

Some people are willing to put up with anything to stay with the ones they love.

Stormy grey eyes narrowed slightly at the raven as he took a step closer to him, Snape instinctively stepped back and Sirius realised-

“Did he do that to you?”

“Who?”

“You know you, he hit you again, didn’t he?”

“That’s none of your business, now get out or I will hex you into oblivion! Ministry be damned.” Snape practically snarled only for Sirius to let out a growl of his own.

“Where is he?”

“What?”

“Is he here?” He turned and headed for the doorway away from the kitchen into the living room, “HEY! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU MISERABLE BASTARD!”

“Black?! What do you think you’re doing?!” Snape hurried to catch up with him and grabbed a hold of his arm, “Stop you idiot!”

“Not till I teach him a lesson! Where is he?! OLD MAN!”

“This has nothing to do with you!” Snape bellowed as he moved in front of Sirius and pushed him back, his eyes narrowed in a glare though Sirius could see the slightest edge of panic in those dark depth. “You are intruding! So, fuck off!”

“No! I don’t care if he’s your father, he can’t keep putting his hands on you like this!”

“Why not?!” Snape screamed as he shoved the Animagus back yet again, “Why do you even care Black? What you’re jealous?! No one’s allowed to hurt me but you?!”

“Yes!”

Snape stopped, his eyes widened and Sirius almost froze, swallowing hard as the Slytherin looked at him in complete confusion.

“What?... Are you insane?”

He could feel himself flush, but Merlin be damned if Snape’s ever going to see him looking embarrassed. He straightened his posture and lifted his chin before taking two purposeful steps towards the Slytherin. Snape stumbled back in surprise until his back hit the wall before leaning in to look right into those dark dark eyes.

“No one, is allowed to touch you but me.” Snape’s mouth opened in a slight gape and Sirius pulled back, “Now, where the fuck is he?! HEY! WHERE ARE YOU YOU FUCKING DRUNK-“

Snape was startled back to reality by his shout just as Sirius walked around the banister to go up the stairs and grabbed a hold of the Gryffindor’s arm again.

“Stop that you psychopath! He isn’t here.” Sirius stopped and looked back at the raven on the first step, he was on the third and fourth. “He’s out, he’s not here. Stop it!”

Sirius’ eyes narrowed down at the other, “When’s he coming back?”

“Even if I knew I wouldn’t tell you.” Snape growled as he let go and stepped back, “Get out.”

Sirius turned around, “Where is he right now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is he at that bar? Spinner’s Pub, right?” Sirius went back down the stairs and Snape’s eyes widened all over again.

“Black, don’t you dare!” He said going around to stand between the Gryffindor and the door, “I didn’t ask for your help and I don’t want it!”

Sirius’ eyes went up to the door and then to Snape, “Fine. You want me to leave, right? Get out of the way and I’ll go.”

Dark pools narrowed down, “Stop it.”

“I’m trying to leave, like you asked. You want me to fuck off right?”

“I-…” Snape swallowed hard, Sirius almost growled again when he noticed the bruising around the Slytherin’s pale neck, “What do you want?”

“I’m intruding. I want to leave.” He grabbed hold of Snape’s arm to drag him out of the way, only for Snape to grab him back and attempt to hold him still.

“STOP!” Snape finally screeched, “I don’t need your help! I don’t want your help! For once in your miserable life Black, why can’t you just piss off and leave me alone?! Why don’t you ever stop!”

Sirius looked back at the other, the panic in his eyes now much more pronounced. Snape finally let go.

“I want you to leave! I want you to leave me alone and leave my father alone, why is even that much impossible for you to do?! Are you really that much of a monster?! You’re only going to make things worse! Like you always do!”

Snape was breathing hard, his voice seeming to crack and rasp a bit in some parts of his rant while Sirius just continued to watch him. He finally turned to fully face the other.

“I’m doing you a favour.”

“I didn’t ask-“

“That doesn’t matter! What the fuck is this anyway?!” Sirius said as he stepped towards the other and gestured towards his face, “Why are you letting him do this to you?!”

“I’m not-“

“I saw you the other night, he was being disgusting and you just let him say the shit that he said! Where the fuck is that submissive shit when we’re at school?! What, you can talk back to me but not to some drunk old man?!”

“You don’t know anything!”

“I know enough to know that the Slytherin snake, wouldn’t let some muggle talk to him like that let alone touch him! Snivellus might be a coward, but you wouldn’t put up with that! Snivellus-“

“THAT IS NOT MY NAME!” Snape suddenly screeched, “You don’t know anything about me! You think because, you’re popular and Dumbledore lets you get away with everything and because those brainless sycophants at school, run around kissing the ground you walk on that you know anything! That you have the right to judge me or anyone else for that matter but you don’t! You don’t see what you are.” Snape came closer and shoved him back against the wall beside the door, “You’re an egotistical, self-righteous, bigot who only gets away with his prejudice because the idiots around you are too stupid to see you for what you really are. Heir Black! The same prejudice sadist just wrapped in a different package. You think you get to judge me and treat me like garbage, but you don’t have the right! My name isn’t Snivellus. It’s Severus Snape, so fuck you!”

Sirius just stared back at the other as he rushed to the door to open it, “Now get out and stay the hell away from my father!”

Sirius’ jaw twitched and-

“No.”

Severus glared at him, “You-“

“I know exactly what I am and you know what, you’re right,” Sirius pushed off the wall and stepped closer grabbing hold of the door to wrench it free of Snape’s grasp and slam it shut, causing the walls to shudder slightly. But he didn’t move his gaze away from the raven’s for one second. “I like hurting people. I like hurting ‘you’,” Severus blinked and kept stepping back as the Gryffindor came closer, “But the difference between me and your father is that I wouldn’t hurt someone who wouldn’t protect themselves. When I fight you, you fight back. But now, this muggle hurts you and you just let him?!”

“I-“

“You are a stubborn slimy snake. You think, just because you’re smart it means you get to look down on everyone else! You think it means that everyone else is beneath you and they owe you something, but they don’t! You think I don’t see it? That martyr act you put on around Evans. Like everyone’s trying to hurt you, like they care about whatever the fuck it is that you’re doing, but somehow I’m the one with the ego?! Yes, I’m the conceited one! You’re so far up your own arse, I’m surprised you haven’t suffocated yet!”

Snape’s hands clenched, “If you don’t care then-”

“If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here!”

“Then why are you here?! Why don’t you ever leave me alone?!”

“Because I don’t want to, so why should I?!” He screamed, “Be honest Snape, if I left you alone, you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself. You think you’re special! Like you’re better than everyone else, so you deserve something because of it! If I stopped you wouldn’t know what to do, you’d be completely fucking lost.” Sirius sneered, “You know, I bet you get off on me hurting you just like I do.”

Snape’s chest heaved with fury, “You’re disgusting-“

He stepped forward again and Snape’s back hit the wall again, he jumped when Sirius put his hands up beside the Slytherin’s head and leaned in, “Is that why you let the muggle hurt you, does it remind you of me?”

Snape lifted his hand to shove him away only for Sirius to push him back against the wall and whisper harshly against his ear-

“You can call me Daddy if you like, or do you prefer Father?”

He knew it was coming, but he made no effort to stop the Slytherin from doing it. First he was shoved back hard and then a punch landed square on his jaw causing him to stumble back against the opposite wall. He expected something so the sudden pain only surprised him for a moment and he was able to catch himself just in time to look up at Snape-

“My father is nothing like you, you repulsive heartless bastard!” Snape screamed, Sirius paused when he saw the tears barely shining in Snape’s eyes, “How dare you – YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!“ He cut himself off with a chocked off croak and grabbed the door to throw it open. “GET OUT!”

“Sn-“

“GET OUT RIGHT NOW!”

Sirius took a deep breath and rubbed his jaw. It didn’t hurt that much, but it still surprised him. He sniffed as he looked up at the other.

“I guess the difference here is that you actually love your father, right? He hurts you but you still love him?”

“I said get. Out.”

“And its hilarious because you actually do deserve better than whatever the fuck this is supposed to be, Severus.”

Snape seemed to tense slightly and he almost faltered.

Sirius sniffed again, “I’m not calling you by his name and you said not to call you Snivellus, right?”
Severus took in a deep shuddering breath as he roughly wiped his face with the back of his free hand, “What do you want, Black. Why won’t you leave? I’m asking you to go.”

“I…” Sirius swallowed hard, “I don’t want to.”

“Right, of course and you and all your friends are used to getting whatever you want-“

Sirius rolled his eyes, “Can you get over yourself, for one second? That’s not what this is.”

“Then what is it?!”

“I… You always fight back, so why aren’t you?”

Snape gave a humourless scoff, “You want me to fight my father? The only person I have left in my life-“

“What about Evans?”

“Lily?! The same Lily who’s constantly complaining about how I don’t try hard enough to fit in. Why are you always around those gits in your house? You should just stop reading those Dark books. Potter wouldn’t be so bad if you tried a bit harder with him, Sev-“

Sirius blinked, “She actually said all that-“

“Lily is-“ He cut himself off with a croak and looked away, “Lily sees only what she wants to see and she rejects anything that she doesn’t. She’s my friend and she’s good but I’m not stupid. I know it’ll only be a matter of time before she-“

“Before she what?”

“My father is nothing like you. He doesn’t enjoy hurting me.” Severus said lowly, “My father is not a monster.”

“He acts like one-”

“You don’t know anything! You come here and you decide you know everything about me and my family, you fucking imbecile, you know nothing!” His head snapped back to Sirius and the Animagus almost flinched when he saw the tears now fully falling down the Slytherin’s pale cheeks. “My father cares for me-“

“You can’t honestly-“

“He worked at a factory that specialised in metal works. Every week he’d bring me one of the metal pieces that the machines twisted up and ended up looking like metal figures. He still brings those back for me every week-“

“Severu-“

“And when I come home for the summer there are always raisin cakes. He used to bake them when I was little and every time I come home, there are fresh raisin cakes waiting in the pantry because he knows I’m coming home-“

“I-“

“He is not a monster and you don’t have the right to say anything about him or me, when I know better than anyone that you don’t actually give a toss about me! Why are you here? Just leave.”

He should leave, but leaving felt wrong. There’s something he should say but Sirius doesn’t know what that is supposed to be.

He kept staring at Snape, the bruises around his face and on his neck. The greasy strands of hair that were now very obviously caused by more than just a lack of care for his own hygiene, the Slytherin’s worryingly slim frame and those eyes.

Still dark and endless but this time, for the first time since first year, they were filled with tears that streamed down those sallow cheeks and suddenly, Sirius knew exactly what he wanted to say.

“I want to make a deal with you.”

Snape started to frown, “What deal?”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The door opened. Alphard didn’t even bother glancing up from his book. The elves just popped in and out of every room so it must be Sirius.

“You were out for quite a while, did you see anything interesting while you were-“ He stopped when he finally looked up and found another figure standing beside his nephew. It was a boy who looked like he could be around Sirius’ age. He was shorter and much slimmer than Sirius. Pale skin with dark hair and dark eyes to match, wearing an oversized coat and brown trousers. There was a black bag slung over his shoulder, the boy only looked at him for a second before looking away, bringing his gaze down to the wood floor.

“Who’s this?” He asked and Sirius cleared his throat as he glanced at the teen beside him and gave his uncle a slight shrug.

“This is a friend from school.”

“A friend from school?” Alphard said as he shut his book and set it aside to stand.

“Yeah, his name is Severus Snape. Severus this is my uncle, Alphard Black.”

The boy looked up yet again just as Alphard crossed the study to stand closer. He frowned when he noticed the bruising on the boy, not just on his face but on his neck as well. His eyes looked red, but not from any sort of bruising. It looked like he’d been crying.

“A pleasure to meet you, Master Black.”

He blinked, that’s quite the voice. Deep and steady as he spoke so softly even as he quickly averted his gaze to look elsewhere again. Alphard gave a slight smile.

“Alphard is just fine, you’re Sirius’ friend after all. Are you here for a visit?”

“Yeah.” Sirius answered for him, “I was hoping that Severus could stay with us for a while. I kind of promised him the cottage out back.”

“The cottage… well,” He started to frown, “That’ll have to wait till morning, the elves will have to get it ready first. But you’re more than welcome to one of the guest bedrooms, Severus.” Alphard said looking at the boy who looked up at him again-

“That’s perfect.” Sirius answered for him as he lifted a hand to put on the shorter raven’s shoulder. Said shorter raven tensed under his touch and Alphard’s frown grew. Sirius immediately noticed if the look in his eyes was anything to go by.

“Flopsie!”

The elf popped into the room looking up expectantly at the teen, “Yes, master Sirius.”

“Show Severus to the guest bedroom, the one across from my room.”

“Yes sir. This way mister Severus.” The elf said as she turned to lead the way, Severus seemed to hesitate for a brief moment when Sirius’ hand clenched and his head snapped up, something dark and unpleasant settling there before Sirius spoke.

“Get comfortable, we’ll speak later.”

Severus shrugged his hand off roughly and followed the elf from the room. Alphard silently watched the entire exchange with a frown. Sirius dragged a hand through his hair as he watched the shorter teen leave the room, once he was out of sight the older man spoke.

“Sirius, what’s going on?”

Sirius looked back at his uncle but his gaze didn’t settle fully on him, it went over to the wall behind him near the window. “I… its complicated.”

“Complicated?”

“I’ll explain everything I promise I just.” Sirius let out a heavy sigh, “I’m exhausted, I really need some sleep.”

“Sirius-“

“Uncle Alphard, I promise I’ll explain. Just not right now.”

Alphard shook his head, “Why are there bruises on his face? Sirius did you-”

“No, I didn’t put them there. Like I just said, I’ll explain later I just…” He turned and started to walk away, “I just need some rest. I know its late, but Severus hasn’t eaten anything all day, is it alright if I ask the elves to bring him dinner?”

“Fine, but I expect to get answers in the morning.” He said clearly, the teen paused before he spoke.

“You’ll get them.”

With that he left the room and headed up the stairs.