Hi!
I´m very thankful for the reviews I got. From now on too, if I do some repeating mistakes be so good and correct me. I know, it can be very annoying. To see that someone enjoys my writing also pushed me to write more and post sooner. I really value it. This is a long chapter and I spent lots of time to get the personalities right. I really like this story I have in my head so I try to do as good work as possible in writing it down.
-EveryJohn
The platform 9 3/4th was full of happy parents and siblings who had been waiting for the arrival of the train. While the other children hurried to greet their loved ones, Severus was one of the last to descend from the Hogwarts Express. He put away the book he been reading during the travel and carefully straightened his back. He shaded his eyes from the sun and looked around the platform. Then he spotted a certain fifth year Slytherin and his parents standing away from the biggest crowd. Severus grabbed his luggage and began to clear his way towards the Blacks while ignoring the snares and yells he got from the other students.
/
Walburga Black would have been a beautiful woman, if it wasn´t for her unfriendly expression. Her yet black hair was tied high on a bun, which was decorated by an expensive looking hairpin with green emerald embeddings. Her black cloak was made from the most expensive materials and was brilliant handcraft. The little details in the cloak and it´s silk lining were exactly the same shade of green as the gemstones in her hair decoration.
"I have understood that you are a half blood and still sorted in Slytherin, mr. Snape? I suppose that your other qualities must compensate for your lesser blood, then." Walburga Black stated as she measured Severus with cold eyes. "Our son has told us that you are apparently very talented in potions." She snorted as if questioning the truthfulness of this credit. "Regulus´s career choice is to become a healer in St. Mungos´s. My son is, naturally, moderately skilled in potions already, but for this career choice he needs outstanding grades in upcoming N.E.W.T.s. Unfortunately, the potions master that headmaster Dumbledore hired is absolutely inadequate."
Mrs. Black leaned over her son and straightened his tie. Her husband, Orion, had greeted Severus quickly and almost immediately disappeared somewhere to discuss the recent politics with his acquaintances. Severus doubted that the man had even heard his name. Maybe he hadn´t needed to. The Blacks had obviously made a profound background check on him.
"I suppose that the ancient customs of proper wizarding families are completely foreign to you, Mr. Snape. You grew up with the muggles, I´ve been led to believe." She didn´t even rise her eyes and made it sound equal to being risen in pigsty. "As a tutor of our son you are to obey me and my husband in everything." He gave Severus a contemptuous look. "And just in case, I beg to remind that, even though, we have many beautiful and valuable possessions in our home we have also very convenient spells cast on many of them and those spells can unfortunately end up being deadly for those who attempt thievery..."
Severus had to grit his teeth with all his might not to say anything too provocative. "Thank you for the warning, Mrs. Black. Just in case.", he finally answered icily.
Walburga frowned her thin eyebrows. "I hope for you to remember that disrespectful behavior of any kind won´t be tolerated while you work in our family. I and Regulus´s father expect you to be thankful for this opportunity to make connections in pureblood society."
Severus resorted to a stiff bow as an answer.
"Those robes need to go. I won´t let you in my house in anything which obviously bustles with vermin. You are to have clothes that meet our standards. We, the noble and most ancient house of Black, can´t have a tutor that dresses like a house elf." Mrs. Black stated. She cast an openly hateful look to Severus´s worn out robes, which had, arguably, seen better days and were now a bit faded. Severus blushed and Mrs. Black smiled self-satisfiedly. Her good mood reached the tone of her voice when she continued: "We initially planned to stop by Diagon Alley today. We may as well visit madam Malkin´s on the way and get you something to wear, Mr. Snape. I will pay it, naturally."
Severus didn´t thank and neither did Mrs. Black seem to expect that.
"I expect you to have a complete list of ingredients and equipment you need for teaching. I also wish to remind you, that we, naturally, require notes and occasional displays of the progress of our son. We also expect you to turn in a complete curriculum for the summer months before the end of this week", Mrs. Black listed.
Regulus cast worried glances between Severus and his mother.
"But, of course, Mrs. Black!" Severus promised so happily, that Walburga Black´s smug expression turned suspicious. "Unfortunately I don´t have an actual list with me as I wasn´t expecting your request, Mrs. Black. But if you give me a moment and let me search for my quill, I will write it down for you."
When Severus correctly and shockingly easily listed the names and amounts of ingredients for nearly 50 different potions and even took into account that Regulus would inevitably waste some of the ingredients while learning, Mrs. Black had to grudgingly admit that the half blood boy at least knew his subject. Severus could hear her hiss and grit her teeth. Then she turned sharply towards her son and decidedly ignored Severus for the rest of the time.
"Regulus, dear, your father has once again disappeared. I will go look for him. When I find him, we will head straight to Diagon Alley, so don´t go anywhere from here, dear. I have Margot´s evening party to attend and therefore it is important that we are home early today." She looked behind her shoulders in hopes of catching a glimpse of his husband. Then she turned her delicate nose up and marched to search for him. Something in her posture indicated that Orion would be told off, when she finally found him.
/
There was a long silence between the boys.
"So what do you think about my parents?" Black blurted finally, when he couln´t stand it anymore.
Severus frowned and took his time to answer,
"I must admit that I´m impressed. Especially how your mother manages to be both perfectly polite and horribly rude at the same time. I didn´t see your father enough to say much about him. But... what I find it hard to believe, is that they were so impressed by my skills that they insisted on you to ask me for tutoring. If I didn´t know better I would think that your mother is devastated by a mere thought that the precious heir of Black family is to be tutored by a filthy half blood."
Regulus squirmed under Severus´s piercing gaze.
"I told them that you are the best one around. I know that they can be prejudiced and well... judgmental", he murmured.
"Oh, don´t take me wrong. I´m sure I couldn´t have better employers. I get to teach the very subject I like most, they will let me live in a mansion and I even get paid..."
Suddenly Severus looked Regulus with suspicion.
"I suppose that they are still going to pay for me?" He confirmed.
"Their dignity wouldn´t allow otherwise", Regulus hurried to assure.
"It´s not all bad then", Severus concluded grimly.
/
Boys didn´t get to be alone for a long time before, Regulus´s father, Orion Black, approached them with long strides. He looked quickly around himself as if to make sure that his wife wasn´t with them. Then he offered them a lopsided grin that reminded Severus eerily of the man´s older son.
"Hi, boys. I got stuck. Old friends and all, ha ha... Where is Walburga? I thought she was in hurry, because of that evening party of hers. What was her friend´s name again? Margheta? Margarita?" Orion shrugged his shoulders boyishly to show that he didn´t really care about the name.
Severus noticed that Mr. Black´s eyes were brilliant blue, whereas both of his sons had inherited their mother´s dark eyecolor. All in all, Mr. Black was a handsome man. He also seemed to pay much attention to his looks. His curly dark hair was long enough to reach the shoulders and, even though it looked like it had been just casually cast back, Severus´s keen eyes could detect traces of expensive charms keeping every wisp perfectly on it´s place. Mr. Black´s neat black mustache was, if possible, even more carefully maintained than his hair, shining from the finest products on the market. Even his outfit was extravagant consisting of green tartan robes, black shirt, dark purple satin west and carmine red silk neckerchief. He was also wearing a detailed pair of dragonhide boots, which were rumored to be the latest fashion trend among wizards with too much money.
When he got closer, Severus noted that he reeked strongly of a certain perfume. Putting a label on the product was easy for someone trained to differentiate potions by smell. Severus was aware that many middle class witches wore this particular scent nowadays. What he doubted, though, was that it was Walburga Black´s style...
"You are the famous half blood Slytherin, that Regulus has told to us about. Splendidly pleasant to meet you! Your name was... S... hmm... Sem... Stephenus Snark, wasn´t it?" Orion Black flicked his fingers. He looked very satisfied of himself and obviously thought that he had recalled the name correctly. He stretched out his hand to Severus and smiled disarmingly. "Our Regulus has talked about you a lot, Stephenus. He says that your potions skills are a way above your age. I was wondering, if you could provide some potions for me during the summer in side of the tutoring? I must admit that potions was never my strongest subject in school. Truth to speak, I was always more interested in teasing beautiful witches during the school lessons and by doing that probably caused many grey hairs to my potions master then. I would of course pay for the ingredients and work."
The man´s overly friendly manner only installed mistrust in Severus. He couldn´t imagine liking anyone, who thought that fooling around during the potions making process was a good idea and even worse, worth bragging. Besides, Mr. Black´s gestures reminded him too vividly of Sirius Black and therefore provoked immediate dislike.
Severus griped the man´s offered hand, but instead of commenting his request in any way, he murmured two words in a low voice. "Seductive Duchess..." Mr. Black startled, even though, he tried hide it in a confused smile. Severus grinned inside, but was careful not to show it on his face. "I meant the name of the scent, that you are wearing. It´s curious..." he explained silkily and looked Mr. Black straight to the eyes. Without even noticing it, Mr. Black gulped. "I thought only witches wore it. I never thought that it may suit a wizard as well", Severus marveled innocently.
Poor Mr. Black stared the young man in front of him with suspicion and uncertainty, but nothing on Severus face revealed that there was an intentional thorn in his words. Mr. Black didn´t know, what to do and eventually he gave out a forced laugh.
"ha ha... You are funny lad, Seamus... Such a joke... Ha-ha", he blabbered and was about to pat Severus´shoulder, but then he suddenly fell silent. His wife had spotted them and was now closing the distance.
/
Several hours later Severus threw himself on the bed in the room that the Blacks had prepared to him. To Sirius Black´s bed apparently. He hadn´t even lit the lights so the room was pleasantly dark and quiet. The bed was comfortable and the sheets smelled clean. Not so bad for something that had once belonged to Sirius Black.
He was exhausted. He had always been a loner and avoided crowds when possible. Meaningless chatter of fellow students in the middle of lessons already made his head pound. Crowded areas such as Diagon Alley were basically a hell. So many people. So many emotions. He had to be cautious of everyone. Keep up his defenses. Be aware of everything before it even happened.
They had gotten the essential potions ingredients, though. And he had gotten new ropes, which was nice, Severus admitted. On the negative side, Black´s mother had been insufferable. Walburga had gone to every store assistant and unsuspecting passerby and told them to be understanding of the ways of the dirty half blood, that they had with them today because he was new to magical world and didn´t know any better. She had elegantly nodded her aristocratic head to them and proudly announced that as true nobility of wizarding world it was the duty of Black´s family to provide for the more unfortunate.
Severus grit his teeth during that shopping so much that any dentist would have worried for him. He refused to let out even one sarcastic comment. He knew well that, what Walburga spouted wasn´t true. This wasn´t charity. He was capable of tutoring potions. Severus had faith in his abilities on that field and he swore to work for every knut he got from the vicious woman. Walburga Black could go around telling whatever she wanted, but Severus knew that he had paid every coin with his sweat and devotion
/
"Severus... Can I come in?"
"No."
"Are you sleeping?"
"Yes. And not only sleeping but also sleep talking. Why even bother asking?"
Black chuckled nervously.
"For the politeness?" He suggested.
It was too dark to see, but Severus had creeping suspicion that he was laughing.
"Should I tell you, what to do with your politeness ...", he spit,"But then again, my vocabulary wouldn´t probably be fitting for your delicate pureblood ears."
"I understand that Walburga can be kind of oppressive", Regulus admitted choosing his words carefully.
Severus snorted.
"So what do you want? Tell it, so I can get rid of you that much sooner."
Severus heard Regulus lurk in. The bed creaked and he could feel someone sitting down next to him. The sheets rustled a little.
Regulus needed some time to begin and Severus didn´t pressure him.
"Do you believe in blood supremasy", Regulus finally huffed.
Severus couldn´t help wrenching an eyebrow. That had been kind of... unexpected. Why would Regulus Black ask him that? (On the other hand, it was kind of nice that he bothered to ask compared to rest of the school, who claimed to know without confirming.)
"The blood supremacy according to which pureblooded wizards are superior to all others? And in all known ways?" He scoffed. "Wouldn´t that mean that Valentin Crabbe and Graham Goyle are above me, Black? They are pure bloods." He let that sunk in. Those two seventh year students were stupid as trolls and according to the rumors they had graduated only by powerful connections after having flunked most of the subjects. "Besides, not even that dunce Potter could beat muggleborn Evans in the charms exams. Evidence seems to point somewhere else..."
The younger boy seemed to accept his worlds and pondered them. "Some people say that muggleborns, who do well, have stolen their magic from pureblood children."
Severus snorted again. "Yes. And they must have stolen Crabbe´s and Goyle´s brain too when they were at it", he confirmed sarcastically. Regulus gave a quiet laugh. Severus´ words seemed to cheer him up for some reason.
"But if you asked me, whether or not wizards and witches should marry muggles, I think no. Too much suffering results from that", Severus continued, not knowing, why he said it.
Regulus was silent for a while.
Then he asked in very careful way: "So your father and mother... I mean... Which one of your parents is muggle?"
"Father. The drunkard", Severus answered bitterly. "But my mother, while she lived, wasn´t any better. She was evil and bitter woman. More so than my father. Sometimes I actually think, that without her and me, Tobias might have turned out quite okay."
Now he really didn´t know what had come to him. Why he said things he had never said to anyone to Regulus Black of all people. Maybe it was the darkness that made the situation strangely intimate but also allowed him to lower at least some of his usual shields, because there was no way they could see each other´s faces. Or maybe it was because he sensed Regulus´ honesty. When you have been lied to all your life and have had to lie to everyone all the time no matter where or with whom you are, honesty was something that caught you out of guard.
They spent time in silence. Then Black uttered:
"Walburga is quite nasty too, but I think my father would be worse off without her."
"He cheats on your mother", Severus stated.
"You found out so soon? Walburga is going to be furious, when she realizes", Regulus mumbled gloomily, but didn´t deny it.
"How can she stand it?"
Regulus shrugged.
"She doesn´t, but what can she do? She pretends that she doesn´t know. As long as it´s not an open secret, Walburga will play perfectly happy noble family and take all evidence of anything else to grave with her. It would go against her pride to hold on a man, whose heart is somewhere else. Besides, she could never love anyone as much as she loves power and status."
Severus though about it and decided that he could very well believe that about Walburga Black.
"What about your father. Doesn´t he want to be officially with that Seductive Duchess of his? I assume, that they are in love?"
Cynical laughter, that burst out from young Black´s mouth seemed unnatural for him.
"Love? That man doesn´t love anyone but himself! In addition to Seductive Duchess -woman, he has at least five other witches and at least one muggle woman on top of that. Talk about blood supremacy! Talk about pure blood honor! He doesn´t care, who they are as long as they keep flattering him. I´m quite sure that he married Walburga only because someone accidentally let out that they would make a most beautiful couple. That man jumps to anything that boosts his ridiculous self worship. Good for him and good for the Black family, though. Without Walburga he would have already gambled the manor. Only good thing about him is that he is a coward. He would never stand against my mother."
Severus was surprised to hear Regulus talk that much and with such emotion. Darkness seemed to lower his inhibitions too. He heard the younger boy take muffled breaths trying to calm himself down.
"Why don´t you leave then, like your brother did?" Severus let out, before he could stop himself.
Regulus gave a resigned sigh. He mumbled downwards barely audibly: "They are still my family..."
Severus patted the younger boy´s shoulder sloppily. The need to comfort others was almost foreign for him.
"It´s most surprising..." he muttered, " that such an insufferable combo managed to get even one sensible offspring." (He didn´t need to clarify which one he meant, Regulus or Sirius.)
After a moment of silence Black began to giggle softly and soon it grew into hearty laughter. Severus felt something surprisingly warm twinkle inside himself. His lips curved in secrecy and he smiled in darkness. This must be what it feels like to have a little brother, he wondered. He had always known that Sirius was an idiot, but to cast his own brother away... Well, maybe it wasn´t that big deal to someone, who was used to hang around three extremely close friends, but Severus, who had never had anyone except from the time when he had Lily for a brief while, knew a dunderhead when he saw one. And Sirius certainly was one. He had already taken the bastard´s bed, if he took even his little brother, how furious would Sirius be then?
