Disclaimer: I don't own anything nor do I get paid for doing this. This is purely a creative outlet.
A/N: Just wanted to remind everyone that this story is very AU and some blood statuses have been changed as well as back stories. I'm sure you would have guessed that already given the civility of Sirius and his family. Also sorry it's been awhile I've been at grad school but I'm on break now. Onwards!
Sirius spent the first few weeks of summer peacefully with the exception of developing mild insomnia. He learned quickly that his dreams were where Lucius lurked and he had no intention of unlocking those memories, no matter what Healer Turner said. He would start his entire life over if that meant avoiding remembering the trauma of being Lucius's suitor. Unfortunately, it seemed as though he would have to do just that.
The Black Heir would remember small things; Regulus punching him playfully in the arm would stir up a brotherly memory of the two when Regulus started school. James would refer to him as Padfoot and a flash of what a full moon with Moony was like would surface. He still had major chunks missing, however, and Healer Turner said the key to the rest of his memories was through those dreams. Sirius decided he didn't need them.
A lovely upside to not having his memories meant that Sirius was free to fall in love with Remus all over again, much to the wolf's chagrin. Remus tried to convince him that they were only setting each other up for disappointment when his new suitor was chosen but he would not have it. Remus, not being able to help himself around the dark haired lad, could not resist rekindling the flame. This led the werewolf to begging his mother to allow him to court Sirius.
"I love him, mum," he pleaded, "I can't see him with someone else; it will kill me."
"Don't be so dramatic, Remus," his mother replied. "What will kill you is the Blacks finding out our secret after being with their son so long."
"Walburga and Orion love me! And they would never find out. That's why I'm registered in France. I've been so careful and I just want to be with him. Please ask for an arrangement."
Rachel looked at her husband. "What do you think, Lyall?" she asked, seeing the desperation in her son's eyes.
Remus's father sighed. "The Blacks love to do moonlit ceremonies. It might catch up with you one day," he replied.
The werewolf sighed. "Sirius wouldn't let anything happen to me, I'm sure of it. Please just ask. I'm begging you- time is running out."
His parents exchanged a long look. His mother, unable to bear the sadness in her son's eyes, sighed and said, "I'll Floo them now."
Remus grinned harder than when he and Sirius first kissed. He wrapped his arms tightly around his mother. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"I wish you would've Floo'd yesterday, Rachel! Remus would have been wonderful for him. The two are already fond of one another. We just signed an arrangement this morning, however." Walburga's voice deflated Remus. He was too late - he was forever doomed to be the other man.
"Oh he'll be devastated. Walburga, is there any way to void the contract? You said it yourself the boys are perfect for one another."
"His suitor would have to violate the terms set but they're going to be pre-bonded so I doubt he'd have the power to do such a thing. We can't risk another Lucius incident happening."
"Oh alright. I'll tell him. We'll see you at the ceremony."
Sirius sat in front of the mirror as his mother slowly brushed his thick, black hair back into a low ponytail. He was to meet his new suitor today and was less than thrilled. "Can't I decide who I want to marry? I promise I'd pick a pureblood," he whined.
Walburga sighed. "We can't risk losing magic, Sirius. You might fall in love with a muggle. Your powers are too great to risk. Besides, there are no rules against mistresses as long as they're pure."
"Mother!"
Walburga laughed. "Oh please, Sirius. We all know you have eyes for the Lupin boy. Now stay still I'm trying to get the ribbon just right."
Sirius gazed into the mirror, trying to recognize himself. He had grown up nicely during the three years he could not recall. His blue eyes were a wonderful icy contrast to his long, jet black hair. His jaw was more angular, looking every bit the aristocrat he was. His shoulders were broad in his deep blue dress robes. If he ran into himself on the street he would assume he was very powerful. It made him a little sick to think about it.
He caught his mother's eyes in the mirror who gave him a tight smile. He wished his parents were more liberal like the Potters. He could choose whomever he wished then. James had no idea how lucky he was to have one foot in the Old Ways and another in the New. Mother Magic hadn't punished them, either. He was sure She would be cross from joining with anyone but Remus.
"You ready?" his mother asked. Sirius mustered up his courage and gave a curt nod. "Excellent. Let's go to the drawing room."
The two went down a spiral staircase that led to a large foyer. Black Manor was impressively vast; it made Sirius miss the slightly smaller Grimmauld Place that he grew up in. When his grandfather died they had relocated so Orion could take over lordship. It was all so droll and stuffy it made Sirius feel like he was suffocating: or perhaps it was the fact that he was about to meet his husband for the first time.
What awaited him in the drawing room made Sirius's heart drop to the pit of his stomach. The boy was very tall and had very large, dark blue eyes. His hair fell softly to his shoulders and he wore simple, black dress robes. This was not the person he remembered from Third Year. This was the grown up version of the child he had got along with very well up until 10 years old. "Hullo, Severus," the Black Heir stammered, holding out his hand.
Severus took it, gripping a little too hard, his hand shaking slightly. "Hello, Sirius."
"Oh good, you remember him," Walburga sighed happily. "Severus was engaged to our Narcissa, but given recent events we believe he may be more suited to you."
Sirius gave a curt nod. The Snape's were of lower status than the Black's; not everyone could be a Most Noble House. However, they were quite involved in politics and Sirius could see why his parents would want the two to be together. This did not make him feel any better about not being with Remus, however, and he wondered how the werewolf in question would react when he told him.
He looked over at Regulus and, for a moment, wished he could switch places with him. He led quite an uncomplicated life; being engaged to one of the female Malfoys, and was quite happy. No, Sirius had to fall in love.
"Why don't the two of you get to know each other better in the gardens while we finalise some paperwork?" Orion suggested, ignoring the glare he received from his eldest son.
"Fine," he replied, grabbing Severus by the arm and hauling him away.
"You're squeezing a little tightly, Black," Severus gritted through his teeth as they walked out onto the terrace.
Sirius let go of him abruptly. "Sorry. What does your family think they're doing, pairing you with me? The last thing I recall is not being on the best of terms."
"We're not. We don't even speak to one another. We hate each other. You know that."
"No I actually do not, Snape. Weren't you informed of my brokenness?" he grunted bitterly as the image of Lucius resurfaced to the forefront of his mind.
Severus's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Sirius chuckled darkly. "You can't be serious? You don't know why my engagement was broken off?"
Severus looked uninterestedly at his finger nails. "I heard you breached contract and Lucius couldn't stand you anymore."
"He- what?" Sirius bristled.
"Apparently your whoring around with Lupin was enough to break contract. I wonder if ours will be different to allow your infideli- argh!" Sirius had cracked Severus across the face. "Piss off!"
"For your information, Snape, Lucius and I were not married, therefore my infidelity was of no consequence. Furthermore, everyone has mistresses. My own father has one. It's not uncommon for my family." Sirius grabbed Severus's face roughly, forcing him to look into his icy blue eyes. "Lucius beat the shit out of me. He probably raped me. Lucky for me I don't know the gritty details because he roughed me up so bad I can't remember anything further than Third Year. Congratulations, your new husband is broken." The Black Heir pushed him to the ground. "See you at the bonding."
Sirius briskly walked back to the house, leaving a very shocked Severus Snape behind.
"He's awful, Rem! He called me a whore for being with you. He was on Lucius's side!"
Remus was absentmindedly smoothing his boyfriend's hair as he prattled on and on. "I know, Seer. We'll find a way out of it," he soothed.
"I don't want to be pre-bonded. I don't want to have to be around him."
A pre-bonding was an old custom Sirius always hoped he wouldn't have to endure. It was essentially a ritual that forced the couple to be around each other with the consequence of pain if they did not comply. It also forced emotions out of the two, causing them to care for one another in some way. This type of bonding only occurred if there was fear of one harming the other, and after the way Lucius had treated Sirius, his parents didn't want to take any chances.
"Maybe you and Severus can be friends. Merlin knows you and James tortured him enough. Some forced affection might be good for the two of you," Remus murmured as he placed gentle kisses on the top of Sirius's head. Sirius merely huffed in response. "It's not like I'm thrilled about sharing your attention again, but until we figure something out you're just going to have to go with this. James is great a finding loopholes, he'll find something in your contract."
This was true. The Potter heir always had a way of bending the rules of Hogwarts to his own will. It's what has kept him from most detentions. He probably should have been a Slytherin with the way he could spin words. "Fine. But Mother Magic will be cross when She feels me bonding to someone else," he responded.
"When are you completing the ceremony?"
"Before term starts. You're invited to the ceremony and gathering."
"Oh joy."
"You're coming."
"Of course, Seer."
The day arrived far too quickly for Sirius's liking. He was currently standing in the middle of a circle containing his and Severus's family. His and his family's close friends were outliers, waiting for the ceremony to take place. He looked up at Severus who answered with a sneer; Sirius wished he could transform into Padfoot and run far away from Black Manor.
"Thank you all for coming," Orion boomed. "Today, we let go of the past as we join a family together. Our son has come out of a horrible situation and is recovering well." Sirius snorted, earning a severe look from his mother. "We hope that Severus and his family will be able to help him heal more quickly and a true bond will form between the two." He looked around at Severus's family. The Snapes were much taller than he was and looked as though they would intimidate rather than help heal. Severus's mother offered him a small smile, however, which softened her face. He wished Rachel Lupin was smiling at him instead.
Sirius was shaken from his thoughts as Severus grabbed his hands. He looked at the Slytherin in surprise. The boy raised an eyebrow in response. The ritual was beginning. His and Severus's family raised their wands. Golden light was released from the tips as they encircled the two betrothed. Sirius could see nobody but Severus and his father and was beginning to feel faint.
"I, Severus Gideon Snape, pledge my heart and mind to Sirius Orion Black to enrich our pre-bonding lives," the Slytherin muttered at Orion's prompt. He would not meet Sirius's eyes but he felt his grip tighten on the Black Heir as his magic stretched to meet Sirius's.
Orion looked at Sirius expectantly. He looked back at his father blankly, briefly considering not pledging back. Severus's magic angrily responded to his thoughts, zapping his hands. He flinched and almost let go but Severus's grip was too strong. "Sirius, if you would," Orion pressed.
"Right," he replied bluntly. "I-I, Sirius Orion Black, pledge my heart and mind to Severus Gideon Snape to enrich our pre-bonding lives."
The golden light suddenly tightened around the pair and Sirius grew dizzier by the moment. He felt like his body was splitting in two directions as part of his magic pulled towards Severus and part of it reached out past the circle. He cried out in pain. As the light reached the contract the pair had signed to finalize the pre-bonding contract Sirius cried out louder. This is how Mother Magic would get her revenge, he thought bitterly. The next thing he remembered was darkness as he slumped against Severus.
The room immediately began to panic once they realized Sirius was unconscious. Severus laid him down gently on the ground and knelt next to him. "Was this supposed to happen?" he asked worriedly.
"No," Orion responded tersely, not happy about his most trusted friends witnessing the transgression. "If you would all go to the gathering in the ballroom while we attend to our son that would be ideal." Severus got up to leave. "No. You stay." He looked at Remus who was lingering at the door, his face white. "He'll be fine, Remus."
"Isn't he still concussed? His memories aren't even back. Is he in a coma again?" Remus sputtered out. At the mention of the word "coma" Regulus ran over to his brother and knelt next to his father.
Orion laid his ear to his eldest son's chest. "He's breathing. Regulus, Floo the Healer please. I'm going to move him to his room." Regulus nodded and ran out.
"I don't think we should move him," Remus interjected.
"We're not leaving him on the floor, Lupin," Severus sneered, surprised at how protective he felt of Sirius. Stupid pre-bonding, he thought angrily. A day ago he would be happy to leave him for dead and now he was worried about his comfort.
"His concussion is gone, Remus," Orion said gently, knowing how the boy felt of his son. "I'm not sure what happened but I'd rather him in his room and not on the cold floor. Where's Walburga?"
"She went with Regulus," Severus supplied. Orion lifted Sirius's short frame gently off the ground with ease and carried him out of the room, Remus and Severus quickly on his heels.
"Go to the gathering, Lupin," Severus bit out. "I'll take it from here."
"In your dreams, Snivellus," Remus responded angrily, feeling Moony growl inside of him.
Severus tutted. "I'd check your jealousy if I were you, wouldn't want any secrets revealed because you can't keep your emotions in check."
Remus startled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Severus could respond, Orion interrupted. "Boys enough." They had reached Sirius's room. "Severus I know it's difficult dealing with the bond tugging on your emotions strongly but Remus is very close with Sirius. He's staying." Severus's eyes flashed angrily but didn't press further. Healer Markus entered the room, Regulus and Walburga in tow.
Markus scanned Sirius with his wand. He hummed unhappily. "His core is very weak. Was the ceremony Dark? It seems like his magic has been in conflict with itself," Healer Markus said.
"It was Neutral. His magic shouldn't have been conflicted. We just wanted to ensure his safety with a pre-bonding after what happened," Walburga replied.
"Who was he bonded with?" Severus raised his hand. "Did you try to taint the ceremony in any way?"
"No! I wouldn't even know how," Severus responded. "Is he going to be alright?"
Markus didn't look like he trusted Severus as his eyes narrowed towards him. "Are you positive you weren't trying to steal magic? His core is torn."
"No! I wouldn't want the wrath of Mother Magic upon me. She would take all of mine."
Remus's eyes widened in realization of what had transpired. He couldn't out the two of them like this, though, so he kept silent. "If you're telling the truth then I need you to take Sirius's hand. Your magic should help him repair his core."
Severus nodded and gripped Sirius's hand. He felt his own magic reach out towards Sirius's core, but only felt a weak pull back. Sirius didn't even stir. The Slytherin's brows furrowed in frustration. "Nothing is happening," he claimed.
Markus's eyes darkened. "Are you feeling his magic respond?" he asked.
Severus shook his head. "It's very faint. It feels far away."
"This isn't good. He may be comatose for a very long time if he isn't responding to you."
Walburga began to cry. "This can't be happening again. He was finally getting better!" she sobbed.
"He's not responding to Severus; I'm not sure what else we could do."
Remus swallowed hard. He had felt the pull of Sirius's magic as soon as Severus took his hand. His core really did attempt to split in two directions; Remus just didn't notice the bond take hold because he always felt this way about Sirius. He slowly walked over a grabbed the Black Heir's other hand. His magic responded immediately. Severus gasped, feeling Sirius's magic tug more strongly when Remus joined them. Remus and Severus's magic intertwined, repairing Sirius's core. Sirius let out a soft groan and his eyes fluttered open.
Orion and Walburga's eyes widened in surprise. "What happened?"Sirius asked. "Where am I?"
"In your room," Remus replied. "You fainted."
"I did? I just remember feeling like I was breaking in half. What went wrong?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Orion said. "It appears you have bonded with both Severus and Remus. Care to explain?"
Sirius looked down at his hands and noticed that it wasn't just Remus holding them. He shook his hands free. "Promise not to be mad," he mumbled.
"I'm not promising anything at this point. How did this happen?"
Sirius looked at Remus who wasn't willing to meet his gaze. "Apparently Remus and I have been grooming each other's magic," he muttered, not wanting it to reach his father's ears.
"You've been what?"
"I don't remember when or why but we have each other's brushes."
"You have got to be kidding me," Severus interjected. Sirius started at his outburst and looked at the dark haired boy. "I'm marrying an amnesiac who can't even fully commit to me because he's been- been playing house with his Hogwarts boyfriend?!"
Sirius looked down. "We apparently mean a lot to one another. It got serious."
"No wonder Lucius didn't want you." Sirius sank further back into his pillows, unable to disagree.
Walburga gasped and Orion's eyes hardened. "Listen here, Severus. Sirius is not the most perfect pureblood but nothing warranted what that sorry excuse for a man did to him," his father spat. Sirius looked up at his father who gazed back at him. "Why didn't you tell us? The pre-bonding could have killed you."
"I didn't want you to be cross with me. Everyone's always so cross with me over tiny details like forgetting my manners or not taking my heir lessons seriously enough. I couldn't bare what anger would come from revealing this."
Walburga took her son's hand and squeezed it. "Nothing is more important to us than yours and Regulus's health. No matter what you do we just want you to be safe. Do you understand?" she said. Sirius nodded, eyes shining. "We're going to figure this out, okay? Right now, though, we'll leave you to rest awhile." She gave his hand a final squeeze and stood to leave, motioning to the rest of them. They departed, leaving Sirius to mull over his mother's words, happy to feel cared for.