Ladies and gents this is the first chapter in my story parallel between Severus and Sirius. Basically it is what is happening between Sev and Siri while Grace is wooing and winning Remus in Hestia's kindness.
This may seem a little repetitive if you have just read Hestia's kindness but I promise it will side track from that story and become its own thing… this story is M rated for a reason. It will eventually get to some hot and heavy stuff due to the nature of Sev's attraction for our sexy Lion.
I recommend you read Hestia's Kindness first if only so you understand Grace better, who will play a significant role in Severus and Sirius relationship and development. Plus I think HK is adorable if you like Remus at ALL! Which come on… who wouldn't love that werewolf?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or settings except Grace Leafling so no coming after me an suein' I got's no moneys!
The Snake Tames a Lion
Chapter 1
The Tearful Lioness
My name is Severus, I'm17 years old and in my 6th year at Hogwarts. Although I'm of age and all that, I feel like I'm acting more like a silly first year girl! I am basically ready to stock two people I believe myself to be in love with but it might just be the fact that I'm the most sexually deprived teenager on the planet! Anyways… I am currently on my way to go see one of my obsessions at quidditch practice.
It's sick…really, but I can't help myself he's gorgeous!
I step through the Slytherin portrait so I can make my way up to the pitch, when I look down to see a very strange sight indeed!
A young girl not older than I am, is sitting against the wall across from the door drawing on a pad of sketch paper. She's really very pretty. She has short brown hair that waves around her face. I clear my throat to get her attention… Although pretty, I do not have patience for strange people hanging around outside the Slytherin dorms.
I'm surprised however when she looks up at me with puffy swollen eyes. They too are beautiful, like tiny blue stars. Poor thing's been crying and I can't bring myself to be angry with her.
"What are you doing down here? Are you in Slytherin?"
She just shakes her head, I think she assumes I'm going to hex her and send her away. I know what it feels like to be so upset you want to cry though and I'm not going to be rude to her when she's like this."Well, what house are you in?" She looks down at her sketch book nervously… I look down at it too, the drawing is amazing, she has a lot of talent.
"I'm Grace Leafling from Gryffindor." My curiosity is thoroughly peaked now. I've heard of her before from Lily I think… I think she is Lily's other best friend.
"Are you friends with Lily by any chance?"
She nods, "yeah… she's my only friend." I frown at that and sit next to her against the wall.
"Why are you crying?" I don't want to seem nosey but I have a pretty good feeling she wants someone to talk to, and being Lily's best friend is enough to convince me that she has a spark of good in her. She looks down at her drawing again, she doesn't know if she should tell me or not. I'm even more curious now. I watch her for a few moments and then she just shakes her head.
"Someone hurt you?" It's a guess but part of me knows I'm on to something… especially when I hear her response.
"Why are you even talking to me? I'm a Gryffindor. You're supposed to be hexing me right now right?" I can't help but shake my head and smirk a little.
"You're changing the subject, how very Slytherin of you. But, I'll bite. You are friends with Lily, that is good enough for me usually. Although, her taste in men leaves something to be desired." I lean over towards her. "I would have gone for Lupin, not that prat Potter! Ugh! At least it wasn't Black! I would have had a thing or two to say to her about him!" She stiffens noticeably when I mention Black and the other Marauders.
"Oh! Not much of a Black fan either are you?" She shakes her head and I can tell she is getting angry and sad again. I want to calm her down a bit so I place what I hope is a reassuring hand on her shoulder and give it a little squeeze. "Tell me what's wrong; what did that idiot do this time?" I hope it's nothing to terrible I feel very protective over this girl but I don't exactly feel like hexing the git till I get suspended.
"He… he… called me a freak." She says it in a very angry whisper… I feel very much the same anger. Stupid prick has no right to say things like that.
She looks over at me as my rage starts to bubble up. "He called you what?" She shakes her head.
"Nothing important… he was right." That just makes everything worse! She believes him! What the hell?
"That's doesn't give him the right to say hurtful things!" I start to stand to go find the stupid Gryffindor but she grabs my arm.
"Snape don't! Please, I know you and him just stopped hexing each other. Please don't start again on my account. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt because of me."
I can't help but just blink down at her. She doesn't want me to go hex him because she's worried about me? I feel an overwhelming need to protect this girl and see her smile. I sit down next to her again.
"You and Lily would be friends you're both so noble and Gryffindor like. She is remarkably kind as you are. Although you might be more so even. If you don't mind me asking why did he call you a freak in the first place?" It's very true, I love Lily because she is so kind and generous… but this girl seems she would give up all her happiness for someone else if she thought they needed it more.
She looked down at the floor and begins to play with her pencil. "I'm always alone these days. Lily is always off with James, and I don't have other human friends. He saw me hugging the Whomping Willow and thought I had lost my marbles and that it was going to kill me. I tried to tell him it liked me and wouldn't hurt me if I wanted it to. But he doesn't understand. He's Mr. Popular. Can get anyone he wants, bloke or bird. He doesn't understand what is different from him. And I am as different as they come."
I'm happy to know she is wise for seeing through Black's stupidity. But I can't help but feel as though she has lost her marbles also for hugging the Whomping Willow. Although I am also smart enough to listen to what she has to say about it, and if she says it won't hurt her I believe it. I go for the polite thing and honestly I've heard much weirder then a girl who hangs out with a potentially dangerous tree.
"How so, you seem normal enough to me?" She gives me a sideways smirk that I don't quite understand.
"I read Greek myths and American comics. And, when I'm not doing that I just study or draw. I'm nerdy, and that confuses him. He thinks girls should flip their hair and bat their eyelashes at him." I can't help but snicker as I pat her knee in good humor.
"Black is an idiot, plain and simple. Why are you letting it get to you like this? Is there more to the story then what you're telling me?" She smiles a little.
"You Slytherin's! You just have to figure everything out don't you? How do I know you won't just go off and tell your little snake friends all my secrets?" I am very amused by the snake comment but I just shrug. Things are getting more serious with this conversation… but I think talking to her would not be a bad thing.
"You don't, unfortunately you only have the word of a Slytherin. But at least believe me when I say that you are not the only one in need of a few friends. I am mostly a loner like yourself." I lean over to whisper the next part. "I think you are intriguing, if I were to have a friend, it would be someone like you." I hold out my hand to shake hers. She looks down at it curiously. I can't help but be a little anxious myself Gryffindor's and Slytherin's are rarely friends and if they are… they aren't for very long. There is something amazingly devious and… Slytherin about her though. I can't help but hope she accepts my offer of friendship. I'm relieved when she grabs my hand in her warm one and gives it a good shake.
"Good! Now, what else is on your mind Leafling?" I beam at her as she begins to speak.
"If we are going to be friends it's going to have to be a first name deal. Call me Grace or Gracie Severus." I can't help but smirk again.
"Okay I'll call you Gracie but you have to call me Sev." No one ever gets to call me that. I barely like it when Lily calls me that… but this is different. She laughs at my nickname for myself and I return the gesture inwardly.
"Deal!" We shake hands again and she begins to explain more.
"It's Lupin… I'm the one that likes him. He's not as foolish or ignorant as the other Gryffindor boys; he actually cares about things and has a general interest in something other than quidditch! Anyway, he was with Black when he called me a freak. He looked angry, and I didn't really give him a chance to get angry at Black, but I can't like him knowing that if we ever got together he might feel he has to choose between me and his friends. I know more than some that friends are important wherever you can find them, and I would never be able to let him pick me over them and go away happy. So, I'm angry that because Black is a PRICK! ... I sacrifice dating the one boy that has ever shown a genuine interest in me…." I look at Severus. "Other then you that is." I just nod at her. She makes some very good points. And I'm glad that if she had to have a crush on any boy… at least it's Lupin. But she's also right there might come a time where Lupin would have to pick between her and his friends.
"I understand. I think though, that if you always let your kindness come between you and your own happiness, you are going to be a very sad and lonely person. Although a commendable quality that many will love and appreciate in you… you will find yourself unhappy more than often, it's time to worry about things like that when the time comes. The world usually has a way of working things like that out in the end. The world isn't going to ignore a kindness such as yours."
She just shrugs, a million things must be going through her mind. The poor girl just wants to be loved and everyone is making it difficult for her. "Thanks Sev, I feel a little better." She just barely smiles at me as she turns and hugs me around the neck. I'm surprised that someone is voluntarily touching me… it feels nice to be hugged like this and I can't help but hug her back. We stay like that for a nice length of time before letting go with small smiles.
"Oh! Sev, I'm sorry you were headed off somewhere weren't you?"
I totally forgot although this seems to have been a much better use of my time then gawking at a boy I know I will never have. So, I nod. "Well, yes but it's not important, just a little stroll." I can't help but feel my cheeks heat up at the lie. I hope she doesn't see through my lies.
To my horror and relief she just giggles at me. "What are you laughing at?" But… I can't help it, I start to laugh too. "Oh my, your laugh is infectious!" It really is. Her laugh is like a tingling mess of tiny bells and I love it. At this point she begins to assault me with tickles! It's frightening and exhilarating. I'm irritated but can't bring myself to ask her to stop.
Finally she stops and we stop laughing as we try to catch our breath.
"So, Sev, you going to tell me where you were headed that was embarrassing enough to make a Slytherin blush?"
I blush again. This is not a question I want to answer! "Just the Library, thought I would get some light reading material." My face flushes more, I'm pleased that she decides to ignore it and stands up.
"Well, I need to go work on my wordless charms for class tomorrow. I'm utter rubbish at them and I haven't studied at all since my little fight. Been too busy crying, didn't want to drip on my homework you know?" She smiles at me as I stand up, that smile is so fake and it breaks my heart. I wisely try to go for the other matter to comment on.
"I could help you with those if you like. I'm not bad myself and I think we could both use some company."
"Agreed, tomorrow in the Library after dinner then?" She immediately agrees. That too is surprising, she just surprises me at every turn and I'm not sure what to think of her. She has the loyalty and love of a Gryffindor while also showing a great understanding of the world around her that is very Slytherin.
"Deal, see you then Gracie." I must think more on this and I turn to go back into the common room. She grabs me and spins me before I can get to far away and pulls me in for another hug. Again I return it instantly. Affection is not something I thought I would do well with, but she is so easy to be with. She smiles once more before turning away and running down the corridor back to her tower.
I climb through the portrait hole after she is completely gone from my view. As always when I walk in there are a few brief glances to see who it is and then when they see it is me they immediately turn back to what it is they were doing.
Even in my own house I do not have friends, it's a sad reality that I have dealt with my entire life. But that's going to change now. Because although I have been friends with Lily for years now, it has seemed since we arrived at Hogwarts that I am second to most others. But that's not what I feel when I'm with Grace, she makes me feel special. And knowing that I am currently in the same boat with the fact the Lily spends all her time with Potter means that I get left behind.
I can't help but roll my eyes at the thought of Lily spending time with Potter over me and Grace bless the girls heart. At least there is a legitimate excuse to not like me. I'm snarky, rude and arrogant in my abilities in DADA and Potions.
I don't understand teenage logic. We award the stupid and arrogant but punish the truly gifted and kind. It is a cruel truth to our society. I can only hope that eventually most of us will grow out of it.
I know that by a select few this has been well anticipated and wished for. I hope those of you enjoy it! And all those who are new to Hestia's Kindness plot of mine welcome and enjoy this pair.
I don't know how often I will update since I am also working on To Wound a Lion, A Field of Possibilities, Two at the Cost of One and random one shots.I'm exhausted lol! And after those I have a third sequel for Mate's of Moony to start and a third installment for Hestia's Kindness!
Yeah, reviews would be awesome. I don't know why I bother asking though at this point because no one does it no matter how I beg!