Fixing the Future

“Are you sure about this, Severus? Nobody would think badly of you for not going to see them.”

“Yes,” Severus looked at his dad, unwilling to change his mind, “It’s something I need to do.”

He watched Hadrian sigh reluctantly, “Alright. You know where I’ll be if you need me then. Just don’t forget that neither of them has any more hold over you than what you allow them.”

The young man nodded, knowing his dad was just worried about him. A part of him wanted to scoff – he was no longer six years old and knew he could handle the likes of muggles like Tobias Snape – but he knew that whatever he found in Cokeworth would be emotionally exhausting, and that was what made his dad worried. Confronting not only his abusive father, but his mother – who he has a confusing mix of emotions for at the moment – was going to be difficult.

“I know. I’ll join you at Hogwarts soon.”

Hadrian scrutinized him for a moment, as if making sure he actually planned to do so, before nodding and pulling him into a hug. Without letting him out of the hug, the older man almost instantly complained as he had since Severus had reached and passed him in height, “Stop growing. I can’t properly pull you under my chin for comfort anymore.”

Severus quietly chuckled at the familiar words, easily accepting the hug and leaning his chin on his dad’s shoulder to better take comfort in the gesture. After a minute of just basking in the warmth of his dad’s hug, the Ravenclaw pulled away, “I’ll be fine. You better go before McGonagall gets upset with you for being late.”

His dad rolled his eyes, “Alright, I’m going. I’ll see you soon, Sev.”

The seventeen-year-old watched his dad floo to Hogwarts for the first staff meeting of the year. When he was out of sight, Severus headed for the door of the cottage and made his way outside the wards. As he passed them, he took a calming breath and apparated away.

The first thing he noticed was that Cokeworth had not changed at all; it was just as dirty and poor as it had been over a decade ago. Severus slowly began the familiar walk to his parents’ house; even after all these years, he knew exactly how to get to the house due to the route being ingrained with the amount of times that he had fled his father during the day as a boy (when Tobias had better aim due to his sober state). When he reached his destination, he stared at the run-down building. He tucked his emerging memories away carefully behind his Occlumency walls to stay calm, before walking up to the door and knocking.

There was a small thump and a curse before what felt like the longest silence of Severus’s life. Finally, the door opened to a tall, brown-haired man with a scruffy looking beard. The man’s clothes were disheveled – as if he had slept in them and just woke up – and under his squinted brown eyes there was dark bags. Severus found he wasn’t surprised to see Tobias hadn’t changed beyond a few more age lines and an even more sickly pallor than he remembered, which was no doubt from the booze he could smell on the man.

“What do you want?”

Severus raised an eyebrow at the familiar tone and sarcastically quipped, “Not happy to see me then I take it? Or are you still too drunk to recognize me?”

“What the fuck are you talking about, boy?” Tobias glared at him.

The Ravenclaw couldn’t stop himself from sneering at the man, “Figures you wouldn’t recognize your ownson with how deeply you seemed to have crawled into a bottle. Where’s my mother?”

Tobias ignored his demand as a glimmer of recognition filled the man’s eyes. He then seemed to size Severus up as he slowly smirked, “Well, look who’s returned all grown up! Come back to beg me for scraps, Sevvie? Or do you just want to hide behind your mother’s skirts again?”

“As if you had anything that I would want, you disgusting inebriate. Now, where is my mother?”

The older man smiled viciously, “Oh, now I know why you’ve come. Little Sevvie’s come to pick a fight with his old man! Spit out a few big words in an attempt to show me who’s better, then perhaps try and save mummy? It’s too bad your too late then, boy!”

Suddenly getting a bad feeling at the cruel laugh coming from Tobias, Severus snarled, “Where is she?!”

“Cokeworth cemetery.”

Without thinking, Severus punched Tobias in the jaw, sending the man sprawling to the floor. Before the drunkard could even think of doing anything, he pinned Tobias to the floor and pointed his wand at the man’s face.

“Legillimens.”

Without mercy, Severus shoved his way into Tobias’s mind, having no care for what pain he might cause. He quickly brushed through the memories of the previous night’s drinking and all the similar nights before that, until he finally caught a glimpse of his mother in one of them. He watched Tobias enter the house, sloshed as usual, stumbling his way into the bedroom. His mother jumped out of bed, having obviously been asleep previously, when Tobias slammed his way into the room. Severus was unable to tear his horrified gaze away from the man shouting at her, before finally becoming violent in the most despicable of ways. It felt like a lifetime later when Tobias finished with her and, angered by her continued struggling, slapped her hard enough for her to fall to the ground, hitting her head on the bedside table on the way. Feeling sick, Severus quickly removed himself from Tobias’s mind.

As soon as he blinked back into his own mind, seeing the man pinned under him further lit his rage. Severus shoved his wand in the man’s neck and snarled, “Give me one good reason not to kill you now.”

Tobias smirked at him and pushed himself into the wand further, “Do it, boy. Show everyone exactly how much you take after me, despite your freakishness.”

The man’s words felt like cold water dumped over his head. He had let his temper take over and punched his father like a muggle brute before pinning him, mind raping him, and threatening the man… just like his father would do in his position. He blinked and took in the way the man under him was smirking triumphantly, still pushing himself into Severus’s wand. But when he looked into the man’s eyes, Severus saw not just the vicious anger that Tobias always had, but also pain. As if he truly wanted Severus to end it. The sight filled him with pity, despite the disgust he held for his father.

At the thought, Severus quickly removed himself off the man, holding his wand at his side, trying to get control over himself once more.

“I knew you didn’t have it in you, coward,” Tobias snarled, not moving from his position on the floor.

“And you are the same pathetic, worthless man I knew as a child,” Severus glared, “Look in the mirror if you want to see who the true coward is.”

Without another word, Severus walked out of the house, not even bothering to slam the door behind him on the now-silent, pitiful man on the floor. He tucked his wand away and stalked out of Spinner’s End, his thoughts swirling. He tried to push it behind his occlumency shields, but the effort was futile. Was he more like his father than he thought? Raging and violent with a near uncontrollable temper? Would he become the same disgusting drunken abuser if he allowed himself a family? Unable to answer those questions or tuck them away, Severus didn’t realize where he had been going until he was standing outside of the town’s cemetery. He stared at the small plot of land and the open gate. Did he even want to go in there? Did he want to find his mother’s grave and find out just how long she’s been dead, find out exactly how long his putting off visiting or even contacting her caused her death? Did he want to see her grave with such mixed feelings he had for her at the moment? Seeing her final resting place would make her death more real, and despite the confusing emotions, Severus knew he still loved her. She had stepped in front of his fath–Tobias too many times for him not to. She was his mother. Severus took a deep breath and stepped through the gate.

***

Lucius was in Malfoy Manor, researching more ways he and Hadrian could continue getting more equality for creatures, when his wards alerted him that someone had apparated to his home and passed his wards. He frowned, wondering who would have arrived that way; Hadrian was getting prepared for the school year at Hogwarts, and last he knew – when he left Peverell Cottage for his manor earlier that morning to have breakfast with his mother – Severus was planning to join him.

Before he could wonder further, one of the Malfoy house elves popped in, “Master Severus be on his way, sir.”

Lucius frowned in confusion but nodded, causing the house elf popped away. What was Severus doing here? Had he decided to take the train since it was his last year at Hogwarts this year? If so, then why did he come to Malfoy Manor? Not that Lucius wouldn’t be happy to see the younger man, but Severus hadn’t come to visit the manor on his own before.

The man in question interrupted Lucius’s thoughts as he walked through the door, likely having been told by his house elf where the blonde was. Seeing Severus’s appearance, immediately put Lucius on alert; the Ravenclaw’s neutral mask was nowhere to be found, instead being replaced by so much anguish that it hurt the blonde to see. Severus’s dark green eyes held so much pain and anger that Lucius felt a bit of panic and dread fill him as he stood to meet his friend. Had something happened to him? Or to Hadrian?

“Severus?”

The younger man opened and closed his mouth a few times, seemingly unable to get the words out. When he saw the emotion further fill those dark eyes, without any thought to what he was doing, Lucius instinctively moved to the Ravenclaw to wrap him in a hug. As soon as he touched the seventeen-year-old, everything just seemed to spill over and Severus released a small sob into Lucius’s shoulder, before coming quiet and gripping his robes as tears began to soak the blonde’s shoulder. Despite his confusion and worry, Lucius just held onto Severus, doing his best to give as much comfort as he could. When the younger man didn’t seem to be calming down, the blonde carefully maneuvered Severus to sit with him on the couch in his office, the dark-haired man’s head still tucked into his shoulder. The two remained there for a few minutes until the blonde heard Severus’s quiet voice.

“My mother’s dead.”

Lucius blinked in shock. Had Severus gone to Cokeworth? Did Hadrian know? Why had Severus come to him instead of his dad? The blonde shook the thoughts off for now, knowing that now wasn’t the time to ask those questions. He swallowed his shock and focused back on the young man in his arms, waiting for Severus to continue.

“Tobias raped her then killed her in a drunken rage, and that bastard is going to get away with it.”

Knowing there was nothing he could say to make it better, Lucius just remained where he was, not even realizing he was soothingly rubbing Severus’s back. After a long moment, Severus pulled away, quickly wiping his eyes and hid behind his hair. The blonde shook his head to himself slightly, realizing Severus was embarrassed for his outburst.

“Severus, it’s okay. You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” He watched Severus nod at him, no longer quite hiding his face, but posture still slumped, “Tell me what happened, Severus. How did you find all of this out?”

In a scarily monotone voice, Severus looked just over the blonde’s shoulder and began to explain. Lucius was surprised to know that the younger man had been considering going to Cokeworth since the letter from his grandfather came, until he had decided to go this morning rather than joining Hadrian in Hogwarts. It wasn’t until Severus began to talk about seeing Tobias that the monotone voice left in favor of the Ravenclaw’s anger. Lucius was horrified when Severus admitted to witnessing his mother’s death in Tobias’s memories – that was not something Severus should have seen. The only positive about watching it was that the younger man would never have to wonder what happened to his mother. It didn’t make it any less appalling that Severus effectively witnessed his mother’s rape and murder and would be unable to do anything to get the man convicted without muggle evidence.

When Severus finished his story with his finding and visiting his mother’s grave, Lucius knew by the look on the other man’s face there was more Severus had to say, so he simply waited for the younger to continue

The Ravenclaw was silent for a moment longer, moving his gaze from just over Lucius’s shoulder to his own hands and softly said, “I should have contacted her. I had an entire decade to see her, try and get her out of that house despite whatever her reason for not leaving with me in the first place, but I did nothing.”

“Severus, it’s not your fault. As awful as this may sound, she made her choice*. You were a child up until recently – there is nothing you could have done.”

Severus didn’t reply. Lucius knew the young man didn’t agree; perhaps after the raven talked to his dad, he and Hadrian would have to work together to get it through the stubborn man’s skull. He pushed the thought away for later thought.

Having a feeling that there was more the younger man wasn’t saying, Lucius spoke up again, “What else is bothering you?”

“I punched him like a muggle,” Severus stated. He then paused and looked directly at the blonde for the first time since walking into the office, “Lucius, what if I am just like my father?”

“You are nothing like that brute, and you know as well as I do that he is no father to you,” Lucius couldn’t help his swift and slightly harsh denial. Severus twitched slightly at the tone, so he took a breath to calm himself and soften his tone, “Severus, you let your temper get away from you in the extenuating circumstance of finding out that someone you care about was hurt. The fact that you are worried of becoming him further proves how much you are not him. You are a kind and intelligent young man with a very large heart, even if you hide it behind your masks and sarcasm.”

Severus sported a very light blush at the complements as he visibly swallowed but didn’t look away from Lucius’s gaze. Slowly, the young man nodded in acceptance, causing Lucius to smile at the young man, “You are much more like your real father than you realize, Sev.”

The younger man smiled a very small smile at Lucius’s final comment, causing the blonde to internally cheer. He knew he had in no way made everything better but seeing that his words had at least slightly comforted his friend made Lucius extremely glad that he was able to do that for Severus.

“Now, I believe this situation deserves a drink, don’t you?”

***

The day before, Hadrian had been extremely worried about his son. He knew Severus was no longer the little boy he had taken home all those years ago and could protect himself, but it didn’t make him any less worried. Especially considering it was Tobias and Eileen who Severus was going to see. Those two had more capacity to hurt his son than most and had certainly done so effectively up until now. So, Hadrian spent most of the day stewing in his worry, despite the staff meetings – in which the other professors kept glancing at him in worry, but thankfully didn’t push further – and his attempts to keep busy.

It wasn’t until late afternoon that he got word from Severus, but it was not in the way he predicted. To say he was shocked at the note via house-elf from Lucius saying that Severus was staying the night at the manor and would contact him the next day, would be an understatement. It was not so much that Severus would talk to Lucius that surprised him, but that his son was willing to talk to Lucius about this. Outside of telling his friends why he didn’t want to go to Cokeworth and filling Regulus in as to the more specific details of his reasons, as far as Hadrian knew, Severus had only been willing to talk to him about his past. He couldn’t decide if he was more thankful that Lucius could be one of the people for his son to talk to about Severus’s past, or worried at what occurred that made Severus decide to stay at the manor for the night rather than go to the cottage, meet up with one of his friends (likely Regulus), or come to him. When he remembered how much of a bastard he knew Tobias could be, the worry won out.

As ramped up with worry for his son as he was, Hadrian was able to get absolutely no work done for the rest of the day or the morning of the next. Instead, he impatiently waited in the living room for Severus to floo through as Lucius indicated he would. When his son finally did show, the muddled emotions of exhaustion, sadness, and anger seemed to radiate from his tall form. Unable to help himself at seeing the bo–young man in such a state, Hadrian immediately wrapped Severus up in a hug. He wasn’t particularly surprised when the Ravenclaw melted in his arms like he did whenever his emotions were running high.

After a moment, Hadrian allowed his son to pull away, but didn’t release him fully, “Are you okay?”

Severus shook his head, “I will be.”

He nodded in understanding and finally released his son. Hadrian then moved to the kitchen and began making them some tea. As soon as he was done, he brought over to the couch where Severus was sitting and was surprised to see his son was watching him. He raised an eyebrow in question, causing the young man to blink whatever thoughts away and shake his head. Hadrian let it go for now.

“Will you tell me what happened?”

The Ravenclaw closed his eyes for a moment to take a breath, before opening them again showing Hadrian the sorrow and anger he was feeling, “My mother is dead.”

Hadrian reached over to take his son’s hand, quietly asking, “Tobias?”

Severus nodded and he could feel the young man fighting to keep his emotions at bay. He pulled the young man into his arms, bringing up a hand to stroke his fingers through Severus’s hair, not unlike he used to when Severus had nightmares as a boy. Hadrian heard his son take a shaky breath as he leaned into him.

After a long moment of silence, Hadrian spoke again, “It’s not your fault, Sev.”

The young man shifted to look at him with a frown without removing himself from his position. Hadrian raised an eyebrow in return.

“I would be a pretty lousy father if I didn’t have at least some idea of how you would react to such news, Severus.”

The Ravenclaw returned to his position as he muttered, “Not as lousy as Tobias would have been.”

Hadrian didn’t respond, fully agreeing with the young man. They sat in silence for another moment before Severus spoke again.

“Lucius got me drunk for the first time last night.”

The thirty-one-year-old snorted, “Of course, he would. What did you think about it?”

There was a small silence before Severus admitted, “I understand why Tobias took to drinking.”

“But?”

“But I can’t understand how he could choose the bottle over his own family.”

“Of course, you don’t. You are much too caring to ever consider it as a choice at all. Unfortunately, some people are too filled with their own pain to think about anything else and then lose themselves in it,” Hadrian looked down when he heard his son’s sharp intake. Seeing both the fear and slight relief in Severus’s eyes, he softly said, “Severus, you are not Tobias. It is entirely impossible for you to ever become him with how deeply you care for the people you consider friends and family.”

Severus gave a slightly wet laugh, “Lucius said something similar.”

“Did he? I knew there was a reason I am planning to marry him,” Hadrian said flippantly, smiling when Severus laughed.

The Ravenclaw looked up at him again from his position cuddled into Hadrian’s side, “Thank you, Dad. For taking me in and making me your son. I love you.”

“I love you too, Sev,”

***

It had been months since Severus had decided to tell Regulus how he felt, but every time he went to, he couldn’t get the courage to do so. Then the letter and his visit to Cokeworth happened, so he had been too preoccupied to come up with a plan in the last month. However, now that he had decided to leave his mother and Tobias to the past (after Lucius and his dad’s lectures about his mother’s death not being his fault finally got through to him just before school began**), Severus found he was even more determined than before to admit his feelings to the Slytherin. Both Lucius and his dad had been great with comforting him after what occurred in Cokeworth, and he wouldn’t change anything about that. However, it did enlighten him to how much he wanted to have someone of his own – someone who was not his father or friend/future step-father – to comfort him in those situations. More specifically, he wanted Regulus to be the person he knew he could go to when he needed him, just as Regulus would be able to come to him.

So, now that school had been going for a few days and his friends (mostly Lily and Remus) were reassured that they did not need to walk on eggshells around him (Regulus just asked if he was okay and thankfully mostly let it go after that, even if he did seem to be keeping a close eye on him), Severus was subtly watching Regulus eat at the Slytherin table, waiting for the other boy to finish. The sixteen-year-old had already agreed to meet with him at their tree by the lake after lunch, but Severus couldn’t help but feel both impatient and nervous. Impatient because it felt like too long since he first decided to admit to his feelings (which is admittedly partially his own fault), and nervously because he couldn’t help some of the doubts creep in. What if he had read the whole thing wrong and Regulus wasn’t interested in him that way?

Severus shook the thought away as best he could when he saw Regulus moving to stand. He did the same, heading to meet the Slytherin at the entrance of the Great Hall so they could walk to their tree together. As soon as Severus joined him, Regulus sent him a small smile.

“Hello, Severus.”

“Regulus,” Severus said with a quirk of his lips, only just keeping from grinning at the other boy like the besotted fool he was.

The Slytherin smirked slightly, almost as if he knew what Severus was thinking, but didn’t say anything more. The two walked the rest of the way to their tree in comfortable silence. Severus couldn’t help thinking how, amongst his peers, it was only with the younger boy that silences were this comfortable; Lily tended to come up with something to say after a while (not that she was annoying or overly loud about it, thankfully), and Remus was the same as her unless they were working on homework, even if he was more soft-spoken than his fellow Gryffindor. It didn’t even need saying that their respective boyfriends were much more brash and loud than those two on the rare occasion they joined Lily and Remus when they spent time with him and Regulus (which was happening more and more frequently, and Severus wasn’t sure how he felt about spending more time with those two). Admittedly, Potter had at least gotten marginally better (especially compared to Black) since he stopped pranking Severus.

The seventeen-year-old shook himself out of his thoughts again when he and Regulus reached their tree. They sat down across from each other like they usually did when they met there. Severus instantly felt his heartrate pick up in anticipation. He swallowed thickly, trying to think of how to start the conversation without just blurting his feelings out at the other boy. Thankfully, Regulus beat him to it before Severus could make a fool of himself.

“Is everything alright, Sev?”

“Yes,” he said quickly at the worry Regulus was looking at him with. The Slytherin raised an eyebrow at his quick answer, clearly not convinced. Severus swallowed his nerves as best he could and tried to reassure the sixteen-year-old, “Everything is fine. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“We do that every day, Sev,” Regulus teased him with a small smirk. Severus rolled his eyes at the response, relaxing slightly at the younger just being himself. Regulus smiled before turning the conversation serious, “So what do you want to talk about?”

“Well, I… uh,” Severus internally cursed himself for losing his usual eloquence like a typical teenager. He was a teenager, but he was always articulate, dammit. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, the Ravenclaw started over, “If I have been reading things correctly, you have been flirting with me at least since January.”

Regulus smiled predatorily, “Oh, I’ve been flirting much longer*** than that, Severus.”

The seventeen-year-old swallowed roughly at the look on his friend’s face, though he felt his nerves being soothed slightly at the younger’s blatant admission of, at the very least, his attraction.

“How much longer?”

“Just after Lily got together with Potter, the June before last. Even asked you out that following October, but I don’t believe you were aware that’s what I was doing.”

Ignoring the slight jab at his obliviousness for now, Severus asked, “Why?”

Regulus raised an eyebrow in response, looking at him a bit drolly, “You’re intelligent, Sev, I’m sure you can answer that without me having to tell you, despite your apparent obliviousness regarding romantic feelings.”

Severus felt himself blush slightly at the second jab, reminding himself to both explain his needing to figure out his sexuality at the time and how to get back at the other man for the jabs, but otherwise didn’t address it for now. Instead, he clarified, “No, I mean what would you expect to happen were I to… return your flirtations?”

The smile returned, though it was softer this time.

“That is entirely up to you, though I am hoping for something much more serious than simple attraction and sex.”

Severus considered his friend for a moment, and only saw hope and sincerity with a small glimpse of that predatory desire in Regulus’s eyes. The look washed away most of the remaining nerves that the Ravenclaw had been feeling during the conversation, reassured that he was not the only one to want more.

“Well then, would you care to accompany me to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?” he returned the smile Regulus was still wearing.

Amusement flashed over the Slytherin’s face even as he beamed at Severus asking him out. Before he could ask the younger what was funny, Regulus mockingly replied, “I assumed we were already going together like we always do.”

Severus frowned in confusion for a moment before it dawned on him that he had said the same exact words to Regulus last October. When his friend – boyfriend? – had apparently been asking him out. The realization must have been clear because the sixteen-year-old began laughing. Severus rolled his eyes at the younger man’s antics.

“I’m sorry, I just had to get you back a little for when I asked you,” Regulus chuckled, “Yes, Severus, I would very much like to go to Hogsmeade with you.”

The Ravenclaw couldn’t stop smiling in what was likely the same goofy sort of way he has seen his dad smile at both him and Lucius. Regulus chuckled again with a small shake of his head. Suddenly, the smile on the Slytherin’s face faded a bit, making Severus’s happiness diminish into worry.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’d just like to ask something of you, but I am not entirely sure how you are going to take it.”

“Well, you won’t find out unless you ask, will you?”

Severus felt a little better at the small smile Regulus sent his way at his snark before gathering his thoughts.

“You know my mother is not very tolerant,” the other man looked up at him in confirmation and Severus nodded, having a feeling he knew where this was going. He shifted a little closer to Regulus so that their knees were brushing, in hopes that it would comfort the other man, but otherwise waited for Regulus to continue, “As much as she and my father have been forced to accept your presence as my best friend, I’m afraid that neither will be very accepting if they were to find out we were dating.”

Regulus winced at his own words, so Severus said what it was obvious the Slytherin was trying to ask of him, “You want to keep our relationship a secret.”

The sixteen-year-old nodded, “Until I have a chance to talk to my grandparents, yes. My parents may not be the Lord and Lady of the Black family, but they could make my life a living hell if they chose to, so I’d like to get a little… protection from my grandparents****.”

“Seeing as how that will help me put off the interrogation from my dad, I don’t mind,” Severus shrugged.

Regulus laughed, instantly relaxing at the response, “Thanks, Sev.”

The Ravenclaw’s smirk turned into a soft smile, “Of course.”

“Well, we ought to head back before Lily and Remus take a breath from their respective snogging sessions and realize that we are nowhere to be found,” Severus snorted at the description, but before he could respond further Regulus continued with a smirk, “However, before we go, I demand we make the change in our relationship official with a kiss.”

The seventeen-year-old raised an eyebrow, “Demand it, do you? And what makes you think I will just bend to your demands?”

“Oh, Severus,” Regulus purred silkily, the predatory gaze, “You will find that you are going to very much enjoy bending to my demands.”

Severus felt desire begin to burn through him at both the voice and the gaze. Not wanting to reveal how much he was affected by the younger’s response (despite the growing smirk on the Slytherin’s face indicating the younger man already knew), he huffed and rolled his eyes in fake exasperation before leaning into Regulus’s space. The sixteen-year-old quickly captured Severus’s lips as Regulus’s hands moved to gently hold his face to keep him from going anywhere, catching Severus off guard. Brushing the surprise away, Severus quickly kissed back, unconsciously moving his own hands to grip Regulus’s waist as they fought for dominance in the kiss. After a long moment, he found himself relinquishing that control to the younger, who took it eagerly. When Severus’s lungs began to burn in protest at the lack of air, Regulus softened the bruising kiss, pulling away slowly. Severus could only blink at his frie–boyfriend as he tried to catch his breath.

“Mmm, we must do that again, very soon.”

The Ravenclaw laughed, feeling his cheeks warm slightly as he internally agreed with Regulus.

***

Lucius took a sip of his tea to try and hide his amusement. He and Hadrian were having tea in their quarters in Hogwarts with his mother, Narcissa, and Melania at the women’s request to ‘catch up’, as they put it. Both of them had known they were likely wanting to find out about their plans for their bonding but witnessing their subtle attempts at gaining information was amusing. Going by the glint in his fiancé’s eyes, Hadrian was also finding it amusing. The women’s subtlety was as good as any Slytherin’s, but neither of them were fooled by it. The older man looked over at him with a knowing look and a slightly raised eyebrow. Lucius smirked and inclined his head, knowing exactly what his lover was asking. He then looked back at the three women and saw Melania was looking at them with amusement and Narcissa with narrowed eyes. His mother had a similar look as Melania, but also was waiting expectantly. Lucius stifled his amusement as Hadrian spoke up.

“You all realize that we know what you are doing?”

The Malfoy matriarch smiled innocently at Hadrian, “I have no idea what you mean.”

Lucius had to stop himself from snorting at the comment, knowing his mother and Melania would look at such an indignant noise with disapproval.

“Right,” Hadrian replied with a tone that made it clear he didn’t believe that for a second, “Well, Lucius and I were wondering if the three of you would like to help us plan our bonding?”

Much like when Lucius told them that Hadrian had said yes when he proposed, the three all made varying sounds of excitement that they would all deny later. The blonde smiled, only just keeping from outright laughing. A glance at his fiancé showed he was doing the same, and they gave each other knowing looks again.

Melania drew their attention as she asked them, “First thing that needs to be figured out is when you intend to bond. The season will entirely affect the color scheme.”

The other two women nodded in agreement, but Narcissa couldn’t help but quipping, “I’d be entirely unsurprised if they’ve yet to discuss it.”

Lucius rolled his eyes at his friend but didn’t deny it, ignoring the knowing looks from his mother and Melania, instead saying, “I know we both would like Severus to be apart of it and with him in his NEWT year, it would be unrealistic to pull him out of Hogwarts for a day. So, no earlier than summer.”

He looked over to the older man in confirmation, only to find Hadrian had a thoughtful look on his face while nodding his agreement.

“I think,” the other man began slowly, “It would be best if we were to bond just after he graduates in June.”

“Why is that, love?”

The raven looked over, “Nothing is finalized, but I know Severus has been in discussion with some Potions Masters that Horace Slughorn has sent his way. He mentioned to me the other day about paying to get at least the result of his Potions NEWT early so I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts his mastery within two weeks of graduating.”

“That is not surprising in the least,” agreed Lucius, “But you realize Severus would likely be able to request the day from whoever he chooses as his teacher?”

“I know, but I don’t want to take the chance that my son would miss it,” Hadrian told him before smirking lightly, “Plus, I’ve always been partial to the Manor’s beauty during the summer.”

Lucius blinked a moment, processing what his lover was suggesting, “Really?”

The older man nodded. Before either of them could say anything more, Acacia spoke up, “Oh good, that saves me from… suggesting the garden.”

Once again, the Malfoy Lord had to stop himself from snorting, though his fiancé had no such reservations.

“You mean bully us into choosing the Manor as the venue to our bonding.”

His mother smiled at Hadrian, “Of course, darling, but it is rather uncouth to admit such plans out loud.”

Hadrian laughed while Lucius rolled his eyes at his mother before the three women began making suggestions.

***

As he expected after the first time, Regulus very much enjoyed kissing Severus. They had been unable to do so as much as he wanted to since they were keeping their relationship a secret, however, as disappointing as that was, the anticipation between each kiss seemed to make each one that much more exciting for the time being. He was surprised to find that the secrecy seemed to add a little thrill, but Regulus knew that they would likely both get tired of hiding their relationship eventually. Which is why Regulus was currently searching for his grandfather, hoping the man would be alone.

Regulus had utilized the irritation he knew his grandmother was feeling towards his mother and owled her just before Yule break let out, asking to stay with her and his grandfather at least until the Malfoy Yule Ball that they always attended. The woman’s irritation made it easy to get an agreement and have his grandmother inform his parents that he would be staying with them, though the knowing look she gave Regulus when they picked him and Sirius up from the train station made him think his grandmother knew what he was doing. Luckily, she didn’t ask him why.

For the first few days, he just enjoyed not having to be at his parents’, biding his time for a chance to talk to his grandfather. Today was the first time he saw his chance. The last he saw Sirius, his brother was sulking in his room for whatever reason, and his grandmother was at tea with the other ladies. While not afraid or embarrassed to inform the woman that he and Severus were dating, Regulus felt it would be best to discuss his mother’s reaction when she wasn’t around. He knew that his grandmother had become even more irritated with his mother since he last saw her in person, so he didn’t feel this was the time to poke that particular bear more than he already had with his request to her to stay at Black Villa.

Regulus looked into the library and was glad to see his Grandfather there, going through paperwork that was likely for the Wizengamot.

Without looking up, the Black Lord asked, “Are you going to finally tell me why you asked your grandmother to stay with us, rather than just trying to convince your parents to allow you to come either here or to the Peverells’ like you usually do, Regulus?”

“Yes,” he told him, unsurprised that his grandfather had figured something was on his mind, “I have a request to make of you, Grandfather.”

The older man looked up from his paperwork with a raised eyebrow, “Is this request for your grandfather or for your family Lord.”

“A bit of both, actually.”

Arcturus considered him for a moment before placing his quill down and indicating for Regulus to sit in the chair across from him. The sixteen-year-old did so but didn’t speak right away, trying to gather his thoughts.

“When I asked Father why Sirius was no longer living with us, he told me you enacted family law, which was even more important since Sirius is heir,” the Black Lord nodded in confirmation at the unspoken question, so Regulus continued, “Would you be able to do the same with me since I am considered to be the ‘spare’?”

“Yes,” the older man slowly stated, “but I am sure I don’t need to remind you that family law is only used with a very good reason.”

Regulus nodded, “I know.”

The Black Lord looked at him in consideration again, “Alright, then explain to me why you would want me to enact family law especially since you would only need to wait until a few weeks after the end of the school year to be seventeen and able to live elsewhere.”

“If I were to make a choice that my mother does not approve of, she could make my life much harder than just the desire to live somewhere else,” Regulus was unable to stop himself from pointing out to his Grandfather. Arcturus surprised him when he nodded his head, conceding Regulus’s point but didn’t otherwise say anything, obviously waiting for the rest of the sixteen-year-old’s explanation. The Slytherin did so carefully, “When you talked with Sirius and I when I was twelve and he thirteen, you said that you and Grandmother didn’t care if we like either men or women.”

A glint of understanding sparked in the Black Lord’s eyes, “I did.”

“Father doesn’t seem to care either, but Mother does.”

“Indeed. I presume you have begun seeing someone?”

Regulus nodded, “But it’s not just his gender that will get Mother in a tizzy.”

“Oh?” Arcturus asked curiously before narrowing his eyes, “You didn’t get him pregnant or him you, did you?”

“No,” the sixteen-year-old quickly reassured, “And any children we would have, if we do, would be considered pure-bloods.”

The older man frowned at the wording, “They are not pure themselves?”

“It depends on how you view blood adoptions,” Regulus saw understanding come to his Grandfather and confirmed what the man was thinking, “It’s Severus.”

“Yes, that could cause some problems with your mother,” Arcturus agreed, looking down in thought. Regulus waited patiently for his grandfather to come to a decision over what he was going to do about Regulus’s implied request. A long moment later, the man nodded to himself and looked back up to the young man, “You and Severus are serious? It is not just a dalliance between friends?”

The sixteen-year-old nodded, “I am serious about him and I believe Severus to feel the same, yes.”

His grandfather nodded again, “Very well, in a few days, you will come with your grandmother and I to inform your parents of your choice and enact family law. You will then move in before you return to Hogwarts, where I expect you to stay at least until you have graduated and turned eighteen.”

Regulus nodded, easily agreeing with the condition.

“Before we go and do this, however, we will need to come up with a plan should something happen to me before you have graduated.”

The younger man frowned for a moment before realizing that if something did happen to his grandfather, he would be right back under his Mother’s control, making this all for nothing. Before Regulus could make a suggestion, however, Sirius interrupted unexpectedly.

“Make him your heir. I don’t want to be lord and Reg has always been better with the political stuff than me. If you make him your heir, you can have Reg be emancipated and become lord in your will.”

Regulus stared at his brother in both suspicion and surprise. Suspicion because he wasn’t entirely sure if Sirius had heard that he and Severus were dating and the old Sirius – the one before he made a truce with Severus – would use the information against both him and his boyfriend (though mostly Severus). Surprise because despite his knowledge that Sirius wasn’t one for politics and pure-blood niceties, he never expected his brother to give up the power that came with being a lord.

“And how much of this conversation did you eavesdrop?” Arcturus asked Sirius with clear disapproval.

Sirius shrugged, “Only long enough to hear that Regulus is or has made some choice Mother won’t approve of so you are enacting family law.”

Regulus relaxed slightly, but still wondered why the other man was willing to help him. They hadn’t been on good terms with one another since Sirius went to Hogwarts for his first year.

“You are willing to give up everything that comes with being a lord?” Their grandfather asked, obviously leaving the eavesdropping for a later discussion.

Sirius nodded, “I’ve made it pretty clear of the years that I don’t care for most of the particulars that being Lord requires. We all know Reg will make a better lord anyways.”

The younger snorted. Both he and Sirius had been saying that since their grandfather first began training the two of them when they were kids. Surprisingly, his brother smiled at him the way he used to when they were close, likely knowing what he was thinking.

“Very well. If you are still sure about this decision in a few days, Sirius, that will be the plan we use.”

Both Sirius and Regulus nodded, and the sixteen-year-old told the Black Lord, “Thank you, Grandfather.”

Arcturus nodded, sending them both the small smile he used when he was proud of them. He then turned back to his paperwork. Taking that as the end of the conversation it was, Regulus turned to leave the room. He felt excitement finally fill him at the realization that he would finally be escaping his mother. He needed to owl Severus like he had promised he would.

“Regulus.”

The young man stopped a few doors down the hall from the library he had just exited at the sound of his brother’s voice. He turned to see his older brother looking at him a bit nervously.

“Can we talk?”

Regulus looked back at Sirius impassively, trying to figure out what he wanted. Not able to come up with anything, the younger asked, “Why?”

Sirius swallowed, “Because I’ve been an idiot and a horrible brother, and I’d like to make it up to you.”

“No, I meant, why are you giving up the lordship?”

The older frowned in confusion but answered, “All of the reasons I told Grandfather, plus I love Remus – a half-blood – and have no intentions of ending things with him just to keep the line pure as is expected from the heir. But I also wanted to protect my brother from the harpy we have for a mother as I should have continued doing after I started Hogwarts.”

Regulus raised an eyebrow at his brother, “You mean you wanted to get one over Mother.”

“Well, yes, I always want to get one over her, but I mean it. I am trying to protect you.”

“And yet you are selfish enough to pass the responsibility of keeping the line pure when you are having that issue yourself, not knowing if that will also be an issue for me as well.”

Sirius shook his head looking both exasperated and slightly guilty, “No. I wasn’t entirely truthful to Grandfather about how much I heard, but I wasn’t going to say anything because I figured you didn’t want me to know. I heard when you said that any children you would have would be pure before you admitted that you are dating Peverell, so that particular responsibility wouldn’t matter for you anyways.”

Regulus narrowed his eyes at his brother, trying to figure out how sincere Sirius was being. He wouldn’t be surprised if this was something the other man was doing because Remus told him he should. Nor would he be surprised if he used the information that he and Severus were dating against them somehow. However, as far as Regulus could tell, Sirius was being entirely truthful.

“You abandoned me to her. You promised you would still be my brother despite making friends at Hogwarts.”

Sirius frowned in confusion again before catching up with the conversation shift and looking ashamed. He opened his mouth to speak up, but Regulus didn’t let him.

“Just because she told you that I was her favorite didn’t make her any more tolerable for me. You know better than anyone how awful she can be.”

“I know. I’m so sorry, Reg.”

“That doesn’t just make things better Sirius.”

“I know,” the seventeen-year-old said again.

Regulus considered the slumped way Sirius was standing, sincerity oozing from his posture. He thought about how much better the older man has been since making the truce with Severus and what he was now doing for him. Regulus internally sighed, knowing he was going to give his brother a second chance despite the way Sirius had been for the past seven years.

“Keep being as good a brother as you were today is a good way to gaining forgiveness, Siri,” the sixteen-year-old told his brother before quickly turning back around to continue he way for his room, not really wanting to see his brother’s reaction.

Severus was not going to be overly happy to find out that he may end up spending even more time around the Gryffindor if Sirius worked his way back into Regulus’s good graces.